Review: 71766 Lloyd's Legendary Dragon
Posted by CapnRex101,
Certain important subjects have appeared quite frequently across the NINJAGO theme, including temples, mechs and countless dragons. The new Core subtheme therefore provides various such products, with 71766 Lloyd's Legendary Dragon attracting particular attention.
The creature appears impressive and integrates majestic wings. However, the overwhelming prevalence of LEGO dragons potentially reduces their appeal because these beasts risk becoming repetitive. Fortunately, this dragon appears reasonably distinctive though, featuring some unusual colours and achieving impressive size.
Summary
71766 Lloyd's Legendary Dragon, 747 pieces.
£59.99 / $69.99 / €64.99 | 8.0p/9.4c/8.7c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Lloyd's Legendary Dragon exceeds expectations, despite certain dubious colour choices.
- Impressive scale
- Distinctive body shape
- Fantastic use of elements on the dragon's head
- Muddled colour scheme
- Limited wing articulation
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigures
The ninja generally dress for each environment, adapting their costumes to explore The Island, for example. However, the newest range lacks such distinctive locations, so Lloyd Garmadon appears unusually generic. Compared with previous designs, this minifigure seems fairly bland and lacking in personality, particularly with the clashing green and olive green colours. The lime green accents are effective though.
Lloyd also includes both his standard hair piece and head wrap, while Nya lacks her standard hair component. Nevertheless, I find this minifigure more appealing than Lloyd because the colour combination is more effective, while the wave pattern looks excellent. Metallic silver accents are also present, alongside a patch which displays the Ninjargon letter 'N'. Lloyd also features a Ninjago letter 'L' on his robe.
Both minifigures include familiar double-sided heads and pearl dark grey scabbards, securing their katana. However, these weapons are perhaps the most innovative feature of the ninja, as the lime green and medium azure colours match these characters. Additional weapons are also provided, with Lloyd wielding his dao while Nya carries a bladed spear-like implement.
Snakes dominate the pantheon of NINJAGO villains, ranging from the Vermillion and Pyro Vipers to the ever-present Serpentine. Python Dynamite represents another Serpentine faction, known simply as the Snake Warriors. This minifigure integrates shorts legs and elaborate torso armour, including a spectacular belt buckle that depicts the head of a snake!
However, this minifigure's most interesting feature is undoubtedly its dual-moulded head, which returns from the Pyro Vipers. The element includes brilliant moulded detail and I love the colour scheme of orange and pearl dark grey, especially for the eyes and teeth. These two shades are inverted for the accompanying Viper Flyer, who appears equally threatening.
Once again, the head looks fantastic and I like the continued scaly decoration on the torso, with light armour and straps. Those straps seem appropriate as the Viper Flyer includes four narrow wings on its back, although they are actually secured with a familiar component for connecting additional arms. This soldier includes a katana, while the Python Dynamite inevitably carries bundles of dynamite!
The Completed Model
Among the numerous NINJAGO dragons, some appear more focused upon speed and agility while others seem stronger and more physically powerful. This animal definitely occupies the latter category and its imposing size reflects its apparent strength, measuring 47cm in length and featuring a maximum wingspan of nearly 50cm!
That physical strength becomes particularly obvious when viewing this creation from the front, where its enormous chest is visible. This structure represents a significant change from 70593 The Green NRG Dragon, which is Lloyd's only previous green dragon of comparable scale and prioritised agility above raw power. Moreover, the addition of dark blue further distinguishes the new dragon from its predecessor.
The head looks marvellous, ingeniously comprising parts from 71754 Water Dragon, with their positions swapped to create a completely different shape! The barb hanging beneath the lower jaw on the earlier model therefore becomes a horn here, with ridges continuing across the head and transitioning into a 1x4 curved slope. The golden crest looks splendid too, incorporating the blade component introduced last summer.
I think the colour combination of green and dark blue is surprisingly appealing, although I am unsure whether two shades of green were really necessary. Even so, the design looks superb and I like the printed eyes. Additionally, the jaw opens to reveal a red tongue inside, resembling the tongue from the outstanding 71746 Jungle Dragon.
The neck features comprehensive articulation, while a reddish brown and pearl gold saddle is mounted on the dragon's back. This structure is unusually ornate and therefore looks fantastic, making clever use of curved claws to form the armrests. There is room for two minifigures here, but no reins are provided. Perhaps they are unnecessary, given Lloyd presumably has a close elemental connection with the dragon.
The saddle can also be easily removed, transforming the animal into a wild dragon. I welcome this option and leaving four pearl gold elements behind was definitely the right decision, since matching golden highlights decorate the whole model. However, the Technic structure around the saddle is more exposed after removing it, inevitably.
Collectable banners are present throughout the NINJAGO Core range, each featuring a unique design. This example is dubbed the Surprise banner and looks good, with metallic gold accents surrounding the central shuriken. Two black Technic beams are situated behind that banner and they activate the most significant function within this set.
Moving the switch causes the wings to move back and forth, between their splayed and partially retracted positions. Even though the function is smooth and cleverly integrated, I think flapping wings like those on 70653 Firstbourne would have been more effective. In fact, I am surprised that subsequent dragons have not maintained those flapping wings.
Alternatively, simple articulated wings would have been excellent for display. Their deployed position looks splendid, but these can only fold inwards a relatively short distance. Even so, I understand the motivation to include a more elaborate function for play and this does separate 71766 Lloyd's Legendary Dragon from comparable dragon designs.
Fabric wings have become a consistent solution for larger LEGO dragons, generally featuring impressive detail and offering the possibility of articulated dactyls. While this model lacks such articulation, the printed design looks superb. Various shades of green are present and the scaly texture is successful, with medium azure streaks depicting the internal wing structure.
The dragon's body becomes noticeably thinner behind the forelegs, narrowing too abruptly, in my opinion. However, the legs themselves look brilliant. I like the continued blending of green, bright green and dark blue elements, while the claws appear suitably powerful for this dragon. These are individually adjustable and the broader leg articulation is good, although lacks knee joints.
Green becomes increasingly scarce towards the back of the model, gradually being replaced with medium azure pieces. These are perhaps intended to represent Nya's influence upon the dragon, although I think four prominent colours is excessive and would certainly have preferred the green colour to continue. Despite this issue, the tail features excellent articulation and I like the stickers applied on either flank.
Despite overwhelming odds, the Snake Warriors are clearly prepared to repel Lloyd's dragon using this ballista. The weapon is quite simple, but includes a spring-loaded shooter which is nicely decorated with a pearl dark grey ingot and simulated torsion arms. Moreover, I like the tripedal base, while orange accents identify this ballista with the Snake Warriors.
Overall
71766 Lloyd's Legendary Dragon undoubtedly maintains the high standard expected of LEGO dragons! The unusual body shape is my favourite aspect of the design and definitely conveys overwhelming power, particularly with such large claws. Smaller details are also included and the head is absolutely fantastic, making tremendous use of existing elements.
Combining green, bright green and dark blue parts across the front, with subtle medium azure accents, looks great too. I dislike the increasing prevalence of medium azure towards the back though. Nevertheless, other qualities overshadow such problems and I think the price of £54.99, $69.99 or €59.99 represents fair value, so I am delighted with the newest addition to the varied NINJAGO menagerie!
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25 comments on this article
After unfinished looking dragons(I'm looking at you Wojira and Water Dragon), we finally get a realy cool bulky beast! Love it!
Great review. I think the dragon looks impressive and has a distinctive look. The color scheme is also very nice for me (I love dark blue) but I agree that the medium azure bits could have been either green or dark blue too.
I already own seven dragons from Ninjago and more is never enough. Of course I wish to buy this set, but it will probably need to wait a little more as I have little free space for it now...
Also, I would count this one as Lloyd's third full size dragon, after 70593 and 70612. I know Brickset considers the Movie sets as a separate theme, but for me it is all Ninjago, and 70612 is a great set. (almost got it last week, but had to cancel the purchase :\)
This dragon probably has a very impressive bench press but looks like he's skipped a leg day or two.
Color scheme isn't too bad. But I think I'd prefer the chest in green so that it's more of a "green with dark blue and azure accents" than "two-tone green/dark blue with azure accents"
I quite liked the brave color choice when I first saw images of this set, but the more I look at it the more I dislike it. The colors just don't work together well nor do they look natural, at all. I get that elemental/toy dragons need some flashy colors, but this combination doesn't convince me. I feel it would've been much more effective if it'd used two or maybe three shades of green with only a streak of an accent color on each side. I imagine the exact same model, but with dark green and regular green as the main colors and a dark blue section between the differently colored sections and I really think it'd look so much better. Heck, I'd even prefer lime and bright green over this, though that's ought to be a bit controversial.
Great build for the head though! ;P
Good review! I hope to get this set in a couple days along with several others in order to qualify for the Vintage Taxi GWP. I'd like to get some other Ninjago sets from my wishlist as well, but when I checked earlier this morning this was the only Ninjago set I had my eye on that wasn't sold out! Hopefully others might restock this week, or I might have to get creative with my other buying choices.
I disagree with your assessment of the color scheme. A four-color color scheme is harder to pull off than one with three or fewer colors, but as long as it's organized well, it can be quite impressive (sometimes even moreso than a less complex color scheme). And I think this one is organized really well, with azure highlights on dark blue and bright green highlights on green making it more akin to a two-color color scheme with varied shades.
As much as I like Ninjago I feel that its repetition is going to lead to its eventual demise. We’ve had dragons and snake villains in more than a few sets now, and if LEGO fails to innovate the theme’s sales will inevitably drop.
In all fairness Ninjago has been around for a long time and its primary audience (kids) weren’t around for a lot of it, so to a certain extent Lego can get away with revisiting its older concepts.
Personally I feel that it would have been better for Lego to have a revenge of the Serpentine instead of introducing another new snake faction. That way there’s an appeal for the older fans while the younger fans wouldn’t really care since for them it’s a new group of snakes either way.
The color scheme is hit and miss apparently. Personally, I love it! There are quite a few colors, but I feel like they're placed where they should be to keep the dragon "readable".
Maybe I'm a sucker for color arrangements I haven't seen before, that's why I loved the white dragon machinery in Monkie Kid using white, teal, and green!
Review Summary said:
"Fantastic use of elements on the dragon's head"
I hope to keep seeing a trend of animal elements that have the minimal amount needed to convey shapes that bricks can't capture well and maximizing connection points. This would not only be more sustainable for TLG, but also opens up a lot more imagination and customization for builders.
On the one hand, the Lego Elves dragons are super attractive because of their shape and printing. On the other, they're essentially giant minifigure heads that have a point of connection to a neck, two studs where a minifgure would have one for a head decoration ("hair/hat"), and one stud on the lower jaw. These newer dragon heads offer more potential rebuilding value (though the printing is hard-set unless you use Poh-leesh Reemover of Nah'yil).
The differing shades of green lend a slightly more organic, natural feel to the coloration and the azure is less of a problem given it is isolated at the tail.
I also like the figures from this Core wave - much more distinctive colours and thus much easier to distinguish each character.
I have a soft spot for dragons that are European in morphology, especially ones that are quadrupedal and winged. But this one is really ugly. Its head is too dinosaur-like, chest too large, hind legs too wimpy and colour scheme too busy.
Finally, Ninjago-reviews are back! Very well written review this one, as always, although this green dragon is NOT on my wishlist.
I do hope we get reviews for the 2 best sets (by far!) of this Core-wave: the great dojo temple building and the ultra mech (combining 4 ninja vehicles) !!!
So we're dealing with snake-themed villains again? Gosh, they do like going back to that well, don't they? Snakes, then more snakes, then time-travelling snakes, then Egyptian mummy fire snakes, then sea snakes, and now some orange snakes.
Not to be too critical, and maybe I'll change my mind when we see some of the reviews, but nothing in this year's Ninjago line-up really grabs me at all. The sets all seem pretty 'been there, done that', and -- with all the issues about ball joints -- I'm getting more and more wary of buying yet more dragons and mecha (it's not like we haven't seen them before). Even the villains (usually the highlight of any new Ninjago subtheme) are just more snakes. It seems very cut-and-paste.
Finally some Ninjago reviews and what a great start into the new wave this is! I like the Lloyd/Nya color combination for the dragon, it‘s different and unique. I agree on the wings, the mechanic is nice, play-wise, but I would have preferred Ball joins like on Scull Sorcerer‘s Dragon (both at the same time would be too much to ask) ;)
Anyway, keep ’em coming Rex, this is a solid wave and I am looking forward to every set review of it. :)
@Zordboy said:
"So we're dealing with snake-themed villains again? Gosh, they do like going back to that well, don't they? Snakes, then more snakes, then time-travelling snakes, then Egyptian mummy fire snakes, then sea snakes, and now some orange snakes.
Not to be too critical, and maybe I'll change my mind when we see some of the reviews, but nothing in this year's Ninjago line-up really grabs me at all. The sets all seem pretty 'been there, done that', and -- with all the issues about ball joints -- I'm getting more and more wary of buying yet more dragons and mecha (it's not like we haven't seen them before). Even the villains (usually the highlight of any new Ninjago subtheme) are just more snakes. It seems very cut-and-paste. "
That's kind of the point with the Core sets. All of the stuff Ninjago is known for, Mechs, Dragons, Dojos, and Cars and snakes being the villains make sense because Ninjago loves snakes.
Big chungus
It seems a little funny that people are complaining about elements of this wave's sets like dragons and snakes when that's a big part of the point of this wave. This wave (known internally as "Ninjago CORE") was, according to the designers, an attempt at a "back to basics" approach to bring in new fans after seasons as varied and experimental as Prime Empire, Masters of the Mountain, the Island, and Seabound. Hence the focus on some of the more timeless aspects of the Ninjago theme, like mechs, dragons, temples and snakes.
I've also not really minded the snakes in Ninjago continuing to be a recurring foe, given that the first season of the show very much built up a duality between snakes and dragons. While that's not always been a core element of the show (Hunted introduced a different foil for the dragons in the form of the Oni, and the classic Serpentine have essentially been reformed and now are allies of the ninja), it does give a lot of precedence for snakes as foes.
And as far as sets are concerned, I'm personally still not tired of these dual molded heads introduced for the Pyro Vipers, which have I think look really good in all the dual-color blends we've gotten! Apparently kids agree, since the designers said the reason they chose snakes for the smaller villain faction in these sets was because kids responded well to them and instantly recognized their antagonistic role for the ninja.
Dragon could be a similar species to the 71721: Skull Sorcerer's Dragon, but then a living version, that dragon had a big ribcage and larger legs as well.
I have acquired all the ninjago dragon sets, and even though it seems a bit repetitive at times, I love me some dragon!
Great set! I still need to finish building mine.
It would be great to see displayed with the water 71754 and fire 71753 dragons.
That’s a kick-ass dragon and the minifigs are great.
@Zordboy said:
"So we're dealing with snake-themed villains again? Gosh, they do like going back to that well, don't they? Snakes, then more snakes, then time-travelling snakes, then Egyptian mummy fire snakes, then sea snakes, and now some orange snakes. "
I feel like this gives more room to differentiate Ninjago and Monkie Kid, at least to Western eyes who seem to lump the two together as "the Asian themes." If you want crazy non-snake stuff, this season's Monkie Kid lineup includes moon bunnies, a monkey mech, and a ring-of-fire spaceship. Or look at last year's "noodle tank," which is the most stupid fun I've had with a Lego set in a long time.
I am, btw, working on a Lego Elves fire snake MOC that uses Dots bracelets to get the wiggly effect. That would be a different take on the snake
@Zordboy What issues with ball joints?
@CapnRex101 Snake Warriors? Not familiar with them.
This dragon would've been a lot better for me if it didn't lowkey look pregnant