Ninjago

Jay's Cyber Dragon

A neon blue dragon with trans-yellow wings and joints in all the right places.

Brick Rated Score

4.1/5

Set 71711 · 2020

Pieces527

Minifigs5

Year2020

Set number71711

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The verdict

The trans-yellow wings against the electric blue body are what got me here, this dragon photographs like something out of an arcade cabinet, which is exactly the point given it belongs to the Prime Empire video game season.

The articulation is the real prize, with a swivel in the middle of the body and ball joints at every leg and foot, so it actually poses instead of just standing there. Five minifigures for a dragon set is generous. If you love a poseable creature build with a strong color story, this one earns its keep.

Best for: Ninjago fans who want a poseable dragon that photographs like a video game boss

The full review

What it is

The first thing I did when this dragon was finished was tilt its head and swing the front half around, and it just held the pose. That is the whole appeal of Jay's Cyber Dragon. It comes from the Prime Empire season, the 2020 story where the ninja get sucked into a hyped video game, and the design leans all the way into that with a bright blue body, trans-yellow wings and horns, and a general look that feels like a boss you would fight at the end of a level. Building the body is pleasant enough, but it is the legs, head, and tail where it clicks into place and starts to feel like a creature rather than a pile of bricks. The finished beast is long, roughly 39cm nose to tail, and it has real presence on a shelf.

The catch

I will be straight with you about the value question, because it is the honest sticking point. At 49.99 the 527 pieces are not a lot of plastic for the price, and a chunk of the box is given over to five minifigures and their little hoverboards rather than the dragon itself. The two spring-loaded shooters are the weakest idea in the set, the sort of play feature that looks good on the box but that most builders never touch again. And the head, gorgeous as it is, sits slightly heavy on the neck joint, so if you pose it dramatically it can nod forward on you. None of this is a dealbreaker, but it is the difference between a very good set and a great one.

Who it's for

If you like poseable creature builds, or you followed the Prime Empire story and want its signature dragon, this is an easy set to enjoy, and the five minifigures make it feel like a proper little chapter of the theme rather than just a display piece. The color story alone makes it stand out in a lineup of Ninjago dragons. If you are chasing raw parts value or you want a big engineering challenge, though, this is not the set for that, and you would feel the price more than the play. For the right buyer it lands closer to excellent than good.

The parts story

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

The build itself is a friendly one, the kind you can finish in an evening without ever getting stuck, and it is a nice reminder of how far LEGO creature-building has come. Most of the magic is in the joints. There is a swivel point in the middle of the body so the front can turn independently, and each leg meets the body with a ball joint while another ball joint connects each foot, which is what gives the whole thing its lifelike stance. You spend the back half of the build adding the wings and tail, and watching the silhouette come together is the most satisfying stretch.

The standout elements are all about color rather than brand-new molds. The wings, horns, and various accents come in trans-yellow, and that translucent glow against the solid electric blue is the reason the dragon looks the way it does, a combination you did not see much before this set. Digi Nya is the piece to watch on the minifigure side, an exclusive to this set at release, which makes her the most sought-after figure in the box. Each of the five figures comes with its own hoverboard, and there is a Key-tana element with a display stand, small touches that tie the set back to the Prime Empire story.

Fun facts

01Jay's Cyber Dragon belongs to Prime Empire, the twelfth season of Ninjago, built around a video game the ninja get trapped inside, which is why the whole set has that neon arcade look.
02Digi Nya was exclusive to this set at launch, making her the most valuable minifigure in the box and a draw for collectors on the secondhand market.
03The set released in January 2020 with a 49.99 RRP and retired in September 2021, so it is no longer available new from LEGO.
04The finished dragon measures about 39cm long and 33cm wide, and its mid-body swivel joint lets the front half turn independently of the back.