Review: 71863 Zilvar and Grimtak the Dragon Beast
Posted by CapnRex101,
NINJAGO has increasingly focused on its heroes, releasing fewer sets focused on the villains each year. On that basis, 71863 Zilvar and Grimtak the Dragon Beast stands out, featuring a new villain aboard their monstrous steed, with Kai and Nya included for battle.
Zilvar himself is certainly the highlight, as a new character and another member of the enigmatic Tiger Tribe, joining Lord Ras. The minifigure is interesting for that alone, but also wears a new sword frog piece around his waist. Grimtak looks excellent too, so there is much to like for £17.99, $19.99 or €19.99.
Summary
71863 Zilvar and Grimtak the Dragon Beast, 232 pieces.
£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99 | 7.8p, 8.6c, 8.6c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Zilvar and Grimtak feels like an essential set for NINJAGO fans, at an affordable price
- The exclusive Zilvar minifigure looks brilliant
- Grimtak is well designed, with good articulation
- New sword frog piece
- Impressive value
- Disappointing hind legs
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigures
Unusually, the ninja have not received new outfits for the summer wave, instead wearing their Draconus garb. I have no problem with this decision though, as Dragon Form Kai looks even better now than he did in January, thanks to the golden claws. These clip into the hands neatly and they complement the spiky shoulder armour.
I love the scaly designs on the torso and legs, plus the dual-moulded mask, with spikes similar to those on the claws. In addition, the tail looks fantastic and the articulated wings are effective as well, attached to pearl gold 1x1 clips and returning from the Dragonian minifigures produced last year.
Nya wears the standard Draconus gi, with the pearl gold shoulder armour, which is a welcome surprise because the armour is sometimes omitted from smaller sets. Again, the printed scales look superb and Nya's dual-moulded hair and hairband element is appealing, particularly paired with the dark azure bandana.
These two minifigures previously appeared in 71856 Jay's Transforming Car, but I am happy to see them both upgraded with Kai's claws and Nya's shoulder armour. In addition, Nya carries a golden katana and the minifigure will need to carry her accessory, without a sheath on the back of the armour.
Zilvar belongs to the Tiger Tribe, like Lord Ras, so this minifigure uses the same head element as Ras, moulded in white. This colour really accentuates the sculpted detail on the beard and it complements Zilvar's white and silver armour, which looks marvellous across the torso and legs. The various claw designs look nice too, particularly on the shoulders.
The pearl silver shoulder armour was introduced with the Master of the Mountain range in 2020 and works nicely here, making Zilvar look bulkier. This piece also covers the character's name written in Ninjargon on his back, which I choose to believe is so the armour can be returned to Zilvar in case he loses it.
The minifigure is armed with a club and a silver katana, which can be stored in a loop attached between the hips and the torso. This resembles a piece developed for Pirates of the Caribbean in 2011 and functions similarly, though the prior element featured a whole strap across the torso, while this one includes a little more moulded detail.
The Completed Model
NINJAGO features no shortage of dragons, but Grimtak the Dragon Beast seems like another kind of animal entirely, despite his name and the set description. This animal's large tusks and overall stance more closely resemble a boar or perhaps a gorilla, especially given the structure of the front legs and hands.
Regardless of its inspiration, this is an appealing model. The combination of white, dark bluish grey and dark red colours looks nice and the creature is reasonably poseable, with ball-jointed shoulders and articulated fingers. The hind legs are more limited, however, given they can only move outwards on click hinges and cannot move back and forth. Still, that is enough for some dynamic poses.
The dragon head element was originally created for the Rising Dragon Strike series, but it has since been used on a few actual dragons. It works perfectly here, including pink curved slopes for the eyes and a matching brick-built jaw. The tusks look excellent too, distinguishing Grimtak from most NINJAGO creatures.
You can adjust the larger tusks if you wish, while the smaller pair are attached to the jaw, which opens to reveal a stickered tongue and teeth inside. A couple more stickers decorate the hands and I like how 1x1 pyramids are integrated too, in case Grimtak did not look threatening enough already!
There is a saddle for Zilvar on Grimtak's back, with a few golden highlights and chains adding some detail, plus a dark red banner, again featuring Zilvar's name in Ninjargon. We know very little about Zilvar's character currently, though he evidently values self-promotion!
While the beast looks splendid from the front, its hind legs and tail are pretty underwhelming by comparison. It reminds me of 71790 Imperium Dragon Hunter Hound, which featured much the same hip articulation. Presumably the click hinges are necessary for structural integrity, or I am sure the designer would have used more versatile ball joints.
Overall
Considering the price of only £17.99, $19.99 or €19.99, 71863 Zilvar and Grimtak the Dragon Beast is almost a perfect NINJAGO set! The minifigure selection is outstanding, with a unique and highly detailed new character included, plus lovely versions of Nya and Kai, while Grimtak also looks impressive on the whole.
This creature is very different to others seen in NINJAGO and I particularly like how the head is designed, with those distinctive tusks. As I have mentioned, the hind legs are disappointing and would certainly benefit from greater articulation, although this still seems like a must-have set for NINJAGO fans.
94 likes
33 comments on this article
My favorite set out of this wave of Dragons rising.
Nice review!
Truth be told this feels to me like one of the more underwhelming summer sets, but makes up for it slightly by being one of the few Dragons Rising sets this summer with a new character in it. Zilvar presumably has some connection to Ras given that they use the same animalistic head mold.
I love the new hip-mounted sword holder. There's been a lot of options for that in Ninjago but most are mounted to the back and have integrated shoulder armor. The simplicity of this new design (basically looking like a tied sash you could slip a sword into) makes me think it could be used not just for ninja swords like these but also maybe cutlasses, if you wanted another option for outfitting pirate figs!
Set of the year
I am planning on getting 3
Can somebody tell me what a "sword frog" is?
@theplourde said:
"Can somebody tell me what a "sword frog" is? "
Took me a reread
It's a strap to wear a sword
Very cool set at that price point.
Just shows that value can be all over the place, Ninjago included, many of the larger €50-€90 ish vehicles tend to be overpriced for what they are (all of them share that they have large rubber wheels of some sort) and almost each year in the past 5 years had one of those... yes, they are larger, but smaller sets often still offer 1-2 vehicles, with usually 2-3 figures as well.
As for the set itself, nice design, even still fits right in with 71722 Skull Sorcerer's Dungeons or older skeleton based ninjago/monkie kid etc, subthemes.
@watcher21 said:
" @theplourde said:
"Can somebody tell me what a "sword frog" is? "
Took me a reread
It's a strap to wear a sword"
I considered referring to it as a sword loop, but I think any sword afficianados reading would dispute that term because I am pretty sure it is specifically a sword frog.
For anyone who's already received this set: what's the pink piece inside the head? The designer mentioned on their Instagram that it took a while to find the proper part to fit there, but I'm curious of what that part is! I'm in the US so it'll be a couple months until I can get this.
As for the set itself: I was going to pick this one up just for Zilvar, but Grimtak has so much more personality than what you see on the box art and I'm very excited to display this one now.
This caught my eye immediately, when I checked the summer wave. Great figures, cool beast, tremendous value. I might be getting this, looks like a fun set!
Invincible fans are going crazy over the Zilvar minifigure because it's perfect for a custom Battle Beast minifigure.
This is the first new Lego set in like three years that really has me excited... Can't even put my finger on what it is, but I am eagerly waiting for it to show up. Definitely looks a little unfinished in some areas, but that's nothing a little modding can't fix!
@KingShark9500 said:
"For anyone who's already received this set: what's the pink piece inside the head? The designer mentioned on their Instagram that it took a while to find the proper part to fit there, but I'm curious of what that part is! I'm in the US so it'll be a couple months until I can get this.
As for the set itself: I was going to pick this one up just for Zilvar, but Grimtak has so much more personality than what you see on the box art and I'm very excited to display this one now."
If you check the set inventory, you'll see what the pink parts are. Lego calls the color "Bright Purple", Bricklink calls it "Dark Pink".
Man, been waiting my whole life for them to make a sword frog! Back in the classic castle days used to slide/wedge the sword between the legs and wrist....which over time could result in loose arms :o) Nobody wants that.
Hope they crank these out in various themes and colours. Grey or black would be the most versatile.
Reminds me of 2232
Finally, battle beast
@Lewa8960 said:
"Reminds me of 2232"
I was just about to say the same!
@CapnRex101 said:
" @watcher21 said:
" @theplourde said:
"Can somebody tell me what a "sword frog" is? "
Took me a reread
It's a strap to wear a sword"
I considered referring to it as a sword loop, but I think any sword afficianados reading would dispute that term because I am pretty sure it is specifically a sword frog."
Maybe? A frog is the leather bit that’s used to hang a scabbard from a belt, but this is just a sword with no scabbard. Except no LEGO sword has a full scabbard, so maybe that doesn’t count, and you’re just supposed to pretend a scabbard is present when a sword is worn on the back or waist.
But I don’t think any katana is worn with a frog. Samurai wore wide belts called obi, and I believe they just jam the two saya though the obi. By combination of the width and tension of the obi, the saya pretty much stay in place. But you constantly see the katana/wakazazhi with saya displayed loose when not being worn, where a European knight would remove the entire sword belt.
So, whatever this is, it doesn’t appear to be based on anything historically used with katana.
@KingShark9500 said:
"For anyone who's already received this set: what's the pink piece inside the head? The designer mentioned on their Instagram that it took a while to find the proper part to fit there, but I'm curious of what that part is! I'm in the US so it'll be a couple months until I can get this.
As for the set itself: I was going to pick this one up just for Zilvar, but Grimtak has so much more personality than what you see on the box art and I'm very excited to display this one now."
I expect the designer is referring to the 1x2 curved wedge slopes inside the head, which are attached sideways: https://brickset.com/parts/design-29119
@PurpleDave said:
"Maybe? A frog is the leather bit that’s used to hang a scabbard from a belt, but this is just a sword with no scabbard. Except no LEGO sword has a full scabbard, so maybe that doesn’t count, and you’re just supposed to pretend a scabbard is present when a sword is worn on the back or waist.
But I don’t think any katana is worn with a frog. Samurai wore wide belts called obi, and I believe they just jam the two saya though the obi. By combination of the width and tension of the obi, the saya pretty much stay in place. But you constantly see the katana/wakazazhi with saya displayed loose when not being worn, where a European knight would remove the entire sword belt.
So, whatever this is, it doesn’t appear to be based on anything historically used with katana."
A frog can also be used to secure a sword by itself, without an attached scabbard.
@CapnRex101 said:
"A frog can also be used to secure a sword by itself, without an attached scabbard."
That seems like a profoundly terrible idea, if it’s a proper katana. European swords sure, if only the last few inches are honed, but nearly the entire length of the katana blade is razor sharp. It’d be like leaving your lightsaber turned on while hanging from your belt.
Anyways, for a sword of any type, the horizontal orientation also doesn’t seem very frog-like. Whether it’s supposed to be frog or obi, it doesn’t feel convincing as either. The PotC version wasn’t great, either, being slung from a shoulder strap. I can’t recall if that was accurate to the film, but it was awkward for posing minifigs.
So, an unlicensed 20 Dollar set can include 3 excellent minifigs, but an equally unlicensed 200 Dollar set (looking at you 60473) includes only 7, instead of thirty, or even twenty, which definitely would have made sense there.
And let's not even begin to talk about licensed sets in the 400+ Dollar range, none of which have a similar price to minifig ratio.
I don't like the fact this creature feels like an afterthought, cobbled together from leftover parts where existing, better suited elements would have looked much better. This is even more evident by seeing how key areas rely on the use of stickers where parts don't even lend their shape to the desired effect. The tusks basically cry for design ID 15107 but that element is retired. And while reusing parts are one of the key components of LEGO builds, here it also impedes functionality/movement. Not a fan.
Thanks for all the answers vis a vie "sword frog" learned a new term today.
@whiteghost said:
"I don't like the fact this creature feels like an afterthought, cobbled together from leftover parts where existing, better suited elements would have looked much better. This is even more evident by seeing how key areas rely on the use of stickers where parts don't even lend their shape to the desired effect. The tusks basically cry for design ID 15107 but that element is retired. And while reusing parts are one of the key components of LEGO builds, here it also impedes functionality/movement. Not a fan."
Hashtagging element numbers doesn't link to the element's page, you have to copy/paste the URL of the page to do that, like so: https://brickset.com/parts/design-15107. And that element hasn't been produced for a decade, so they wouldn't still have the mold.
The two rib pieces on the new 77985 Triceratops skeleton set seem like more obvious alternatives, given that they clearly still have the capacity to make that element. Not sure if either of the sizes are right, though.
But I like the set just fine with the tusks it has — the colours are fun, the minifigs are good, I like the tusked dragon beast idea, and the price is very accessible.
@PurpleDave said:
" @CapnRex101 said:
"A frog can also be used to secure a sword by itself, without an attached scabbard."
That seems like a profoundly terrible idea, if it’s a proper katana. European swords sure, if only the last few inches are honed, but nearly the entire length of the katana blade is razor sharp. It’d be like leaving your lightsaber turned on while hanging from your belt."
One could imagine an oval wooden cylinder secured within the frog to prevent the katana from cutting through the leather, but even that would not be fit for purpose. The exposed katana blade would pose a risk to the user and those around him. It would also increase the chance of the blade getting damaged. Frogs without scabbards weren’t used with many European swords not because the blade couldn’t cut through the leather but because of the same safety and maintenance reasons. Scabbardless frogs were used in Europe only with either rapiers - and thus mostly thrusting weapons - or with very short swords/long daggers where the risks to people and blade were minimal.
so excited for season 4
also whenever i look at a dragon ninja the dragons rising main theme plays in my head
@Zander said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @CapnRex101 said:
"A frog can also be used to secure a sword by itself, without an attached scabbard."
That seems like a profoundly terrible idea, if it’s a proper katana. European swords sure, if only the last few inches are honed, but nearly the entire length of the katana blade is razor sharp. It’d be like leaving your lightsaber turned on while hanging from your belt."
One could imagine an oval wooden cylinder secured within the frog to prevent the katana from cutting through the leather, but even that would not be fit for purpose. The exposed katana blade would pose a risk to the user and those around him. It would also increase the chance of the blade getting damaged. Frogs without scabbards weren’t used with many European swords not because the blade couldn’t cut through the leather but because of the same safety and maintenance reasons. Scabbardless frogs were used in Europe only with either rapiers - and thus mostly thrusting weapons - or with very short swords/long daggers where the risks to people and blade were minimal."
That sounds more like what I would have expected. I know katana even have to be worn with the blade in a specific orientation so it doesn’t get dulled by the interior of the saya. Walking around with the blade out in the open makes me thing of the time I played around with cheat codes in one of the Jedi Knight games, and I instantly lost a mission when one of the NPCs I was supposed to protect ran up to me and got too close to my activated lightsaber that had the lethality cranked up as high as it would go. Seems like the sort of thing that Monty Python would have turned into a skit.
Luckily, Lego katana are all entirely blunt.
@beatnik said:
"Man, been waiting my whole life for them to make a sword frog! Back in the classic castle days used to slide/wedge the sword between the legs and wrist....which over time could result in loose arms :o) Nobody wants that.
Hope they crank these out in various themes and colours. Grey or black would be the most versatile."
They already exist in black. Unfortunately, they only come in the Legends sets, making the cheapest way to get them $100.
@LuccaTalksYT said:
" @beatnik said:
"Man, been waiting my whole life for them to make a sword frog! Back in the classic castle days used to slide/wedge the sword between the legs and wrist....which over time could result in loose arms :o) Nobody wants that.
Hope they crank these out in various themes and colours. Grey or black would be the most versatile."
They already exist in black. Unfortunately, they only come in the Legends sets, making the cheapest way to get them $100."
Aha, interesting. Thanks for pointing that out.
I like that we're getting a new character on his own in an affordable priced set for once. No superfluous sidebuild(s) either, just a tiger-man, his beast and two enemy ninja.
I mostly like it but those hind legs just irritate me. I get not giving knees or elbows on something this size... but do kids really hate posing so much that they allow you to squash it flat but not move the legs in the way legs are supposed to move?
I swear, sometimes it feels like they just don't want their movable buildable figures to actually move. Because they CAN make a perfectly sturdy model with joints that facilitate that. But they don't.
71810 Young Dragon Riyu came out LAST YEAR and the back legs were posable. It's slightly smaller, but did that 5,- in size difference really require the back legs to be stripped of most motion?
Did have to get this. Mostly because its at a very good price for what you get, but also because I'm looking forward to the show and to see how these new characters will fit in...
=)