Review: 71721 Skull Sorcerer's Dragon
Posted by CapnRex101,
Across the extraordinary selection of NINJAGO dragons, 71721 Skull Sorcerer's Dragon seems particularly intimidating. The skeletal structure looks absolutely spectacular and this imposing model comprises 1016 pieces, surpassing even 70679 The Ultra Dragon!
In addition, various interesting minifigures are provided, including the malevolent Skull Sorcerer and updated renditions of three ninja. The accompanying scenery also seems surprisingly substantial and could definitely complement 71722 Skull Sorcerer's Dungeon. However, this dragon remains the outstanding model here.
Minifigures
Agility and stealth are important for traditional ninja, although Hero Kai is heavily armoured and more closely resembles a knight. Despite maintaining his conventional pearl gold and red colour scheme which looks marvellous, this depiction of the character is fairly unusual and represents a considerable departure from previous designs so might not prove universally popular.
Hero Jay is similarly dressed, featuring the same helmet and shoulder armour components. These pieces include exceptional moulded detail, especially on the mask where several narrow slits are found. Furthermore, an exposed stud on the reverse of the shoulder armour allows you to store weapons here. The golden 1x1 clip on Jay's back looks incongruous, hence I would recommend replacing that with a light bluish grey alternative.
Intricate detail continues across each torso. Hero Nya features pearl silver chest armour which complements her shoulder part and I like the dark tan fur underneath, although her mismatched arms appear slightly odd. Kai's torso is particularly striking though as a golden lion decorates the front while the reverse of each torso seems somewhat bland by comparison.
The three ninja are appropriately equipped for battle, carrying an array of weapons which might usually be associated with knights. Kai wields a sword while Jay carries a heavy flail and Nya is armed with a spear. These accessories look excellent but the printed shields appear even more attractive, displaying a lion insignia on Kai's golden shield while the silver shields exhibit dragon sigils.
An outstanding selection of villains has appeared throughout NINJAGO, although the enigmatic Skull Sorcerer stands out among them. This character sports an exclusive hat and mask which are dual-moulded together, including realistic texture around the brim. I am particularly intrigued by the mysterious mask which is undecorated, except for two stylised eyes, so appears suitably sinister.
Naturally, the Skull Sorcerer features black robes with bright green and lime green highlights. This unusual colour scheme looks splendid and I love the triquetra printed on the centre of his torso, between some Ninjargon letters which read 'DEAD RISE'. Presumably the character has been resurrecting the dead for inevitably nefarious purposes.
Removing the mask reveals an angry expression underneath. This design seems reasonable but I was expecting something more gruesome, befitting someone named the Skull Sorcerer! The black wings look brilliant though and I love the spring yellowish green skull that features unique decoration. I wonder whether this accessory forms part of an incantation or depicts a speaking character, perhaps advising the villain.
Two identical Awakened Warriors complete the minifigure selection. These evil soldiers share various components with the Skulkin and accordingly resemble their skeletal predecessors. I think the overwhelming use of black seems effective here and the contrasting lime green and white highlights on their faces look marvellous, reflecting decoration on the Skull Sorcerer.
Both warriors include black shoulder armour and helmets, drawing comparisons with Kruncha from 70665 The Samurai Mech. However, black bones adorn these helmets and I can imagine these elements proving popular for fantasy creations. The textured ribcage looks wonderful too and each Awakened Warrior carries their own pearl silver katana.
The Completed Model
While the eponymous dragon is undoubtedly the focus of this set, some interesting scenery is also provided. Lava bubbling around stone platforms captures the underground environment effectively and I appreciate the attractive colour combination of dark bluish grey with orange. Furthermore, the trans-orange highlights look excellent and the uppermost platform is being supported entirely by lava bursts!
This structure can be separated easily and reconfigured. The larger section seems relatively simple, featuring two steps and a rotating platform that carries minifigures to different parts of the Skull Dungeons. I love the skull torch which is placed at the centre of this platform and the surrounding details offer additional potential for play, including a bone and a blue crystal.
An imposing statue stands on the neighbouring platform, guarding access to the Ivory Blade of Deliverance. This unique accessory is dual-moulded and includes extraordinary moulded detail, particularly on the hilt where a decorative skull appears. The sword can be removed very easily but reaching it is difficult as the aforementioned statue will collapse when the platform in front is pressed, dropping an axe on any unfortunate occupants!
Further to their role as scenery for minifigures to explore, these platforms also constitute the game board for the tabletop game that appears across the new NINJAGO range. Stickers are therefore applied on multiple 2x2 plates with two studs, directing the players to perform certain actions. The spiral designs, for example, denote moving platforms and the heart placed beside the crystal represents an extra life. Gameplay will be discussed in detail after more information becomes available.
Of course, the tabletop game will not interest everybody. Fortunately, that aspect of the model scarcely interferes with its appearance as the stickers are subtle and could easily be omitted if you wish. In addition, these two sections of the Skull Dungeons environment can be combined with three other sets, thereby expanding both the scenery and the game.
Health meters are included for two characters, displaying three golden hearts and providing a space for their accessories. The hearts may be removed with ease and include 1x1 heart tiles which have not been produced in pearl gold previously. A dual-moulded spinner is included as well, determining how far players can move during the game. This element resembles Spinjitzu tornado pieces and two studs are found inside for attaching a minifigure.
Dragons have appeared consistently throughout the NINJAGO theme, varying considerably in scale and design. This example is definitely among the most intimidating though! The model measures 56cm in length and possesses a wingspan of 55cm, narrowly surpassing 70653 Firstbourne and 70679 The Ultra Dragon in every dimension! It therefore looks absolutely fantastic on display.
Furthermore, that impressive scale has not compromised the level of intricate detail. That is particularly evident around the head where angular slopes and tooth pieces are combined to create a skeletal aesthetic. These construction techniques are similar to other modern LEGO dragons and the newest creature accordingly includes a printed 2x2 brick at the centre of the head, forming the eyes.
This familiar technique works perfectly in my opinion. Lime green pieces are scattered among the white elements and that colour scheme continues throughout the model, perhaps depicting residual magic after the Skull Sorcerer resurrected this ancient dragon. Exactly the same colour appears on the Awakened Warriors and I appreciate such consistency between characters.
Ball joints connect the head to the body, enabling extensive articulation. Moreover, the mouth can open using hinges and several little spikes are also adjustable which is useful for creating dynamic motion on display. However, the exposed Technic pieces behind the neck are slightly awkward, especially since the tan and reddish brown components clearly stand out against an otherwise uniform colour scheme.
Even though they could probably have been concealed more efficiently, Technic elements are definitely required to support the enormous wings! They are connected using ball joints which offer some motion, although the wings cannot move beneath their position in the image below. That does restrict the display value which is disappointing but the printing on both wings looks magnificent and I love the tattered holes.
The fabric wings are packaged in a small box so I anticipated some creasing when they were removed. Fortunately, this fabric feels remarkably soft which reduces the potential for creases. The individual dactyls are fixed in position and the wings cannot therefore retract like those on 70593 The Green NRG Dragon, for example. They do fold against the body, as demonstrated below, but the undersides of the wings are not decorated.
Dark bluish grey 1x1 round tile launchers are placed between the wings. These weapons can hold three 1x1 round tiles and fire them in quick succession which is marvellous. This dragon lacks a saddle for the Skull Sorcerer, although he can stand in front of two flags which display his distinctive triquetra symbol. Despite their limited size, the reddish brown and dark tan flags stand out against the white dragon.
Several layers of Technic connectors and axles form the ribcage, which is probably the most unusual feature of this dragon. The design is relatively simple but looks marvellous and I love how the ribs gradually change in size. Moreover, the trans-bright green rock inside the ribcage appears interesting, presumably depicting the ghastly result of the Skull Sorcerer's magic.
The rock connects to exposed studs within the ribcage but may also be released by pressing two Technic pieces on top. A rubber band links the ribs so these will open and close in unison when deploying the rock. Two black spiders and some bones are placed inside. The bone has not appeared in black before but five such pieces are provided in this set, including one spare.
Four articulated legs support the substantial weight of this dragon. Unfortunately, the hips are locked in position towards the front but the other joints are reasonably flexible and I appreciate the adjustable claws, in particular. The hind legs include similarly intricate texture so look great, although the weight distribution here could be improved because the model often leans forward slightly. That positions most of the weight on the front legs, beneath the heavy wings and head.
Several trans-bright green 1x1 pyramids are distributed along the tail, complementing the rock inside the ribcage. The tail is divided into four segments, three of which swing sideways rather loosely while the fourth is connected using a ball joint. The swinging function is enjoyable but I would have preferred hinges with superior friction as they seem more versatile for display.
Overall
71721 Skull Sorcerer's Dragon looks magnificent, as anticipated. This impressive creature is phenomenally detailed and captures the distinctive skeletal aesthetic which is associated with the Skull Sorcerer. I am particularly delighted with the head and the ribcage, both of which are quite different to previous NINJAGO dragons, despite incorporating some familiar construction techniques.
However, there are two significant problems with the dragon. The wing movement is extremely restricted because of their size and that creates issues with the weight distribution, causing the beast to tip forwards unless its legs are positioned perfectly. The minifigures are superb though and I quite like the lava environment that is provided. Moreover, I think the price of £74.99 or $79.99 represents great value so I would highly recommend this addition to the NINJAGO range!
This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group but the review represents an expression of my own opinions.
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41 comments on this article
I've never followed the Ninjago TV show, but you can't deny the sets the franchise has inspired are consistently excellent. If I didn't have the Morro Dragon set I'd be sorely tempted by this one.
I was waiting for skeleton dragon since we saw one in the show <3
Great it does not dissapoint (besides the fabric not being black underneath)
Personally I'm not a fan of fabric wings, I think it could have looked even better with brick-built wings
Poor ninjas being exploited for another totally different theme but I don't mind :)
amazing addition to my ever growing collection of dragons.
the accessories are nice and the villain is superb.
the highlight of the wave!
It looks fantastic and is an absolute steal at £70 for over 1000 pieces. My brother collects NINJAGO and I am therefore allowed access to a very limited selection of my own NINJAGO sets. I prioritise in Star Wars, so my brother gets annoyed when I buy one of the sets. I expect he'll pick up a couple of them and I might sneak one behind his back.
Are the other sets being reviewed here? If so, I might hold on before making a decision.
Also, has anyone got an estimation on the prices of the three other sets?
Thanks for getting this review out so quickly!
Frankly astonishing set. Can't wait to display it alongside 21320
That opening ribcage reminds me a lot of an identical function from the 2008 Bionicle Phantoka sets! They've really outdone themselves with this dragon.
Dungeons & Spinjitsu
Pardon my ignorance, but do we know when these sets are going to be released this summer?
Yeah, that's a buy.
@McBrightside - I believe most themes are being released in June for Europe but certain ranges will not be available until August for North America. NINJAGO may be among them, unfortunately.
Sindragosa, is that you?
@PM0nty said:
"Personally I'm not a fan of fabric wings, I think it could have looked even better with brick-built wings"
I really miss the feathered wings of the original dragons! Some fabric/vinyl wings look okay, but I don't think they can compare to brick built wings.
I don't generally buy Ninjago sets, but this review has convinced me to add this to my wanted list.
"but the undersides of the wings are not decorated" try to flip the wings around, that should work.
I really like LEGO dragons. I’m on the fence with this one. Very nice build/set... SO MUCH WHITE. Not sure how I feel about it.
I’m not really a Ninjago fan, but I need this set in my life!
Knightgo!!
This could be a Halloween set. Love those skulls!
@darthnorman said:
""but the undersides of the wings are not decorated" try to flip the wings around, that should work."
An extra set of fabric could fix that indeed.
—- @CapnRex101
Are these skeletons faces glow in the dark?
Skeleton dragon is pure warcraft awesomeness.
@darthnorman - You are absolutely right, swapping the wings over would do the trick if you wanted to display them folded. I should have thought of that myself!
@DualBoot - No, there are no glow-in-the-dark elements.
@Slobrojoe - Yes, we will be reviewing every summer NINJAGO set, among other themes.
Cool set
This set looks amazing and has great price/piece. The included ninja are not the coolest ever, though.
Oh I am getting this one big time.
Getting a very Kubo and the Two Strings Vibe from the skull sorcerer. The hat/mask combo reminds me of the Aunts
I love NINJAGO!!
I don’t love the story or ninja figures for this line, but this set and the sorcerer figure are phenomenal in every way.
@Mister_Jonny said:
"I've never followed the Ninjago TV show, but you can't deny the sets the franchise has inspired are consistently excellent. If I didn't have the Morro Dragon set I'd be sorely tempted by this one."
I'm fairly certain the sets come first, and then the show is based around them. It gets annoying when the show includes elements that would make awesome sets, but the sets have already been made so it's too late.
@lordofdragons When was there a skeleton dragon in the show?
I’m kind of disappointed that they made it a sorcerer theme it seems kind of dark for Lego, I probably won’t be getting this wave due to that,
Maybe the next wave will be better.
The chest opening up to drop an orb full of critters really reminds me of the Tridax Pods form the 2008 Makuta.
Based on early images I was fully expecting the Skull Sorcerer to be Clouse, and the Dark Island Trilogy would finally be continued. However, here he appears to be an Oni! The Oni were such an interesting concept, I'm glad they're being kept for future waves.
Unfortunately, I'm still quite a bit behind on Ninjago. the second half of Season 11 still isn't up on Hulu, and might never be, so I still haven't seen it or Season 12. I hate being so far behind.
@lordofdragons When was there a skeleton dragon in the show?"
Overlord had one.
The more it goes, the more I turn from SW range to Ninjago. Much more creative for a while.
All hail to the next closest thing to castle theme. We are getting there guys...!!! :P
Ninjago never ceases to amaze me with each wave they bring. I find it to be the epitomy of an evergreen theme (with its relevant alterations ofc) and this set is not an exception. It is brilliant both for display and for playing, besides being a huge part pack (although it's always a shame when you have to dismantle a LEGO brick-built dragon)
epic
@GSR_MataNui said:
"The chest opening up to drop an orb full of critters really reminds me of the Tridax Pods form the 2008 Makuta.
Based on early images I was fully expecting the Skull Sorcerer to be Clouse, and the Dark Island Trilogy would finally be continued. However, here he appears to be an Oni! The Oni were such an interesting concept, I'm glad they're being kept for future waves.
Unfortunately, I'm still quite a bit behind on Ninjago. the second half of Season 11 still isn't up on Hulu, and might never be, so I still haven't seen it or Season 12. I hate being so far behind."
Yeah, definitely gives off Phantoka Makita vibes.
I half expected Clouse would be returning too, and maybe a new wave of Skulkin when we got the set names. Instead we get a guy who, without his mask, looks like another Unagami, some identical black skeletons, and a handful of goblin things. If the Skull Sorcerer did turn out to be an Oni it would be nice.
@lordofdragons the Overlord Dragon would be a great set. He never struck me as particularly skeletal though.
That shoulder armour will come in handy. Are the ninjas helmets and mouth guard all one piece?
So from TRON to zombies? Ninjago is awesome. If had the space and the extra money, I’d definitely collect Ninjago alongside Marvel and DC Super Heroes. The crossovers would be EPIC.
Good but are they skulkins ?
Hmmm... the skull sorcerer looks suspiciously a lot like Garmadon
@m0nk3yman said:
"Hmmm... the skull sorcerer looks suspiciously a lot like Garmadon
"
There’s a few similar elements. Garmadon’s eyes are red though, and he has distinctively bushy eyebrows.