Random set of the day: Hidden Sword
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 30086 Hidden Sword, released during 2012. It's one of 48 Ninjago sets produced that year. It contains 39 pieces and 1 minifig.
It's owned by 2,849 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you might find it for sale at BrickLink or eBay.
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29 comments on this article
Is it a ghost sword? Do I need to download an app to understand what's going on here? Where's the monster transformation?
I really like the function of this set. I honestly don't see how it could be better and still be a polybag.
Is it that hidden, though? I mean, it's pretty clearly right there.
Ah, the early Ninjago days... when I hated the theme so much for being "stupid" and not like the classic 1998 Ninja sets...
Nowadays it is my joint favorite theme with Space and Monkie Kid :)
…pretty sure that’s a sai, not a sword.
@Zordboy said:
"Is it that hidden, though? I mean, it's pretty clearly right there."
It's also not a sword. Its a sai. Like a jitte, a sai has no sharp edges, and is primarily intended for use when defending against a sword. You catch the blade between the center tine and either of the outer tines, then twist it to lock up the opponent's blade. If you twist it even harder, you could potentially snap the blade, or (more likely) wrench it out of your opponent's hand. They sometimes have pointed tips that can be used to stab, but any chopping strike is like using a short baton. This is a weapon that was used primarily by police, as it gave them an advantage in a fight where the intent was to subdue their quarry, rather than end them.
If you were to classify them in terms of bladed weapons, I think they tend to fall mostly within the size range of really long knives, maybe reaching the length of some short swords in the most extreme cases.
There are two sais right on top of the secret sai case. Why not just grab those sais and not even bother with the golden one? I'm guessing the gold one has more DPS or something.
I sure hope Zane stumbled across this and wasn't looking for it, because it would be a terrible dissapointment and waste of time to look for some kind of legendary sword that was secreted away, to then find... this.
@SearchlightRG said:
"…pretty sure that’s a sai, not a sword."
I can’t believe you’re all falling for the old ninja trick, focussing on the sais and not the hidden sword!
@WemWem said:
"There are two sais right on top of the secret sai case. Why not just grab those sais and not even bother with the golden one? I'm guessing the gold one has more DPS or something."
Color-coordinated outfit, man. He's got a big gold...thing. On his forehead. You don't mix brown and black, and you don't mix silver and gold. Unless your first name is Yukon.
Oooh, it's a scene recreation from "Reaching Ninja, Hidden Sai"!
...it could also be a part of the ancient saying: "A Sai in the case is worth two up on top"
@Kynareth said:
" @SearchlightRG said:
"…pretty sure that’s a sai, not a sword."
I can’t believe you’re all falling for the old ninja trick, focussing on the sais and not the hidden sword!"
Just don't "fall on your sword", as the old expression goes. Bound to hurt yourself, much like the old "don't run with scissors" thing
That's not in the show, is it?
Don’t have to keep it hidden; you can expose it to air, maybe put some salve on it…
Oh wait, it said sword. Oops.
Was a pretty decent hidden compartment for a polybag, being added into the table. And of course, the golden weapon is obviously more powerful than the dull steel of the decorations.
Quick Lore! Zane was a robot who's father wiped his memories when he died so Zane wouldn't have to live with the grief of having a lost parent. Also an Ice Elemental gifted him his powers. Now he's the Ninja of Ice! Quick Lore!
Love this. Contemplated getting this set for Zane ZX last year but went with 9440 Venomari Shrine instead.
@ItisNoe said:
"That's not in the show, is it?"
No it's not. Sais don't even really make an appearance in the show either, but they are often in sets.
This was the earliest Ninjago set I got. I think got this one for a birthday but started collecting in 2014 with the tournament of elements sets.
Hidden Sai-de
I thought it was a piano.
I think we may need to have a word with Sensei Wu that “inside the big obvious chest” is maybe not the best definition of hidden
Had to do a 'double take': "Did reg. Ninjago have a grey ninja...I mean Nya's outfit from the movie was...OH, IT'S ZANE"...'lighting' and that...But then again: He's been 'the Titanium Ninja'; and usually Steel, when shown 'non-metallically', is a shade of grey same as Silver or Platinum (with variations like 'Blue Steel').
@Kynareth said:
" @SearchlightRG said:
"…pretty sure that’s a sai, not a sword."
I can’t believe you’re all falling for the old ninja trick, focussing on the sais and not the hidden sword!"
No, no, no, you've all got it wrong.
The set is called "Hidden S-word", in reference to Zane's facekini and consequently muffled expletives when he finds a deadly weapon inside a memorial park bench.
It's from the upcoming episode "Love is a four-letter word (Curseworld part III)", in which Pixel's new outfit causes Zane to blow his propriety circuits and spend 22 minutes in a near-constant foul-mouthed tirade.
Highlights include-
Zane flexing in the mirror: "I look f***ing jacked"
Zane on Fugidove: "If he makes that sound one more time I'm going to kick-f*** his cloaca"
Zane to Wu: "Nice beard, you d***"
The writers of the episode hope to get around censorship with extensive use of asterisks, much like the writer of this comment.
For everyone saying the sai is not hidden enough or that it's clearly a chest. Take a second to read the instructions. The sai is fastened to the underside of the lid, which sits pretty flush under the thing when lowered. Unless you know what to look for you won't see it immediately.
And yeah. I think this is by far the best of the three main 2012 polybags. I've got 30085 Jumping Snakes and 30087 Cole's Car and the budget on those really shows!
In the UK these were given away with the Daily Mail, a rather divisive newspaper. For one balmy week each year, thousands of UK Afols would seek to acquire as many as possible for as small an outlay as possible. There was a new set each day for about 7 days. One of my local newsagents couldn’t be bothered to tear the coupons out of the paper, so you could just buy ten papers, get ten polybags, and then redeem the coupons at another store later that day (but not too late, as they would sell out. It led to many a frantic morning tearing coupons out of the paper on my drive to work. Not safe at all!
On the downside, I probably deprived many children of these toys, and I do feel bad about that.
On the upside, I took hundreds of copies of the Mail out of circulation, acquired almost all the kids party gifts I will ever need, have a bunch of repeat parts for MOCS, and had a perverse kind of fun. This process also brought me out of my dark ages.
So I remember this set very well indeed and have maybe a five of them left.
Anyone else into this wheeze? And if your child missed out in this one, shout and I’ll wing you one. redemption
@bwaaatch said:
"Anyone else into this wheeze? And if your child missed out in this one, shout and I’ll wing you one. redemption"
Round my way, newsagents including WHS were limiting the number of vouchers they would redeem. To army build the Uruk polybag, I had to go to a string of newsagents. Fortunately, I was on my way somewhere that day anyway, so was able to plan my route to hit as many newsagents as I could. It worked but took some planning: https://brickshelf.com/gallery/AmperZand/Fantasy/uruk_army_-_montage.jpg
@bwaaatch:
So you saved them from being reported as “unsold, destroyed”, at which point the shop could have claimed a refund from the printer?
@CCC:
If they were an American TV network, that would be the week they’d gauge their readership for purposes of advertising rates.
Sigh, say sai. Swear, sword word swap.