Ninjago

Cole's Earth Mech

A stocky little earth-powered brawler that punches above its piece count.

Brick Rated Score

3.7/5

Set 71806 · 2024

Pieces235

Minifigsn/a

Year2024

Set number71806

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The verdict

I love a mech that actually looks like it could throw a punch, and this one delivers on that promise the second you get the arms swinging.

It is a smaller set at 235 pieces, so it will not fill a shelf the way the bigger Ninjago mechs do, but the proportions are chunky and confident rather than skinny and awkward, which a lot of budget mechs get wrong. The cockpit opens up to seat Cole comfortably, and the drill or claw style hand gives the whole build a bit of attitude. If you are after a quick, satisfying build for a younger fan or a Ninjago completist filling out the Dragons Rising wave, this earns its spot. If you want a showpiece mech with tons of articulation and greebling, look further up the range.

Best for: younger Ninjago fans who want a fast, sturdy mech build without a huge price tag

The full review

What it is

I love a mech that actually looks like it could throw a punch, and this one delivers on that promise the second you get the arms swinging. Cole's Earth Mech is built low and wide rather than tall and lanky, which gives it a grounded, brawler stance that suits an earth-elemental ninja far better than a spindly walker would. The cockpit pops open on a hinge so Cole can climb in, and the whole thing rocks side to side in a way that makes it fun to act out little battle scenes rather than just display it.

The catch

I will be straight with you about the size. At 235 pieces this is a smaller entry in the Ninjago mech lineup, closer to a pocket-money set than a centerpiece build. The arms have decent shoulder movement but the legs are mostly fixed in a wide stance, so do not expect the full range of motion you would get from one of the bigger walker sets in the theme. It also comes with just the one minifig, so if you were hoping for a matching villain to fight, you will need to look at a companion set.

Who it's for

Get this one for a younger builder who wants something they can finish in under half an hour and then immediately start playing with, or for a Ninjago collector rounding out the Dragons Rising wave on a budget. Skip it if you want a mech that can hold complex poses or if piece count per dollar is your main measuring stick, since the bigger sets in the range give you noticeably more building for the money.

The parts story

What the build is actually like, and the pieces worth knowing about.

The build moves quickly and in a satisfying order, legs and torso first, then the arm assemblies, then the cockpit shell that clips over the top. It is the kind of sequence where you can see the mech's silhouette forming within the first few steps, which keeps momentum going for younger builders who want quick wins rather than a slow reveal.

The earth tone color blocking, browns and tans with grey armor plates, is where this set earns its keep, since it reads clearly as an earth-powered machine rather than a generic grey robot. The hand piece with the drill or claw detail is the standout element and gives the mech a distinct silhouette on the shelf next to its Ninjago siblings. It is not a set stuffed with rare printed parts, but what is here is used efficiently, nothing feels wasted for a 235 piece build.

Fun facts

01Cole's Earth Mech is part of the 2024 Ninjago Dragons Rising wave, the rebooted era of the theme tied to the animated series relaunch.
02The set is designed as an entry point mech, smaller and cheaper than the flagship walkers LEGO releases elsewhere in the same Ninjago wave.
03Cole has been one of the original six Ninjago characters since the theme launched in 2011, and his sets consistently lean on earth tones and heavier, blockier builds to match his elemental power.
04Dragons Rising era sets moved toward chunkier, more toyetic proportions on smaller mechs like this one, a deliberate shift to make them sturdier for active play.