Ninjago

Ninja Training Center

A rip cord, a snake pit, and a big nostalgic wink back to 2011 Spinjitzu.

Brick Rated Score

3.8/5

Set 71764 · 2022

Pieces524

Minifigs3

Year2022

Set number71764

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The verdict

The moment I saw the spinner and rip cord tucked into this set, I grinned, because that little mechanism is exactly what got a whole generation of kids hooked on Ninjago back in 2011.

This is a proper play-first set, built around a training course where Zane and Jay slide, leap a snake pit, and fight a dummy mech. It is not going to wow a display-case collector, but for a 7-year-old with an imagination, it is a lovely amount of set for the money.

Best for: Ninjago-obsessed kids aged 7-10 who want to play, not display

The full review

What it is

The Ninja Training Center is one of those sets that knows exactly what it is and never pretends otherwise. It is a training course for ninja, complete with a slide, a snake pit to jump, a punching dummy mech, and a rip-cord spinner that sends a minifigure whirling through the challenges. When I first sat down with it, the spinner is what got me, because that pull-and-spin motion is the same magic trick that launched Ninjago in 2011, and holding it again felt like meeting an old friend. The 524 pieces build up into a compact but genuinely playable little arena, and there is a collectible balance banner your kid opens up when they finish the training, which is a sweet touch that gives the whole thing a sense of purpose.

The catch

I will be straight with you about the caveats. This is a kids' play set through and through, and the spinner mechanism, while charming, is not the sturdiest thing LEGO has ever made, so it can feel a bit flimsy and it does lose its novelty faster for older hands. The set is also small. At around 40 dollars it is fairly priced, but nobody is putting this on a shelf as a showpiece. And the minifigure lineup, while solid, leans on Zane and Jay rather than the fan-favorite Lloyd or Kai, so if your household has a specific ninja loyalty, you may hear about it.

Who it's for

So who should get this one? If you have a Ninjago-mad kid somewhere in the 7 to 10 range who wants to actually play, act out battles, and spin their ninja through a course, this is a genuinely fun pick that punches above its price. It also combines nicely with the Ninja Dojo Temple (71767) if you want to build out a bigger world. If you are a display-focused adult collector or you are chasing rare minifigures, this is not the set that will move you, and you would be happier saving toward one of the larger Ninjago City builds. Know which camp you are in and this is an easy call either way.

The parts story

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

Building this one is quick and cheerful rather than challenging, which is the whole point at this age range. The bulk of the fun comes from the play functions: assembling the spinner arena, rigging the snake pit, and putting together the little dummy mech that the ninja fight. A capable 7-year-old can manage a lot of it solo, especially with the interactive digital instructions in the LEGO Building Instructions app, which let them zoom and rotate the model as they go. It is a satisfying afternoon build with a clear payoff at the end.

The standout piece is unquestionably the spinner and rip cord, a nostalgic nod to the original 2011 Spinjitzu spinners that still delivers a proper thrill when you pull it. Beyond that, the real value is in the minifigures: you get Zane and Jay in their 2022 outfits plus Boa Destructor, a snake warrior from the Golden Weapons relaunch subtheme, all three armed with swords. At roughly 8 cents a piece with three figures and a working play mechanism, the parts-to-price math lands firmly in your favor for a set this size.

Fun facts

01The rip-cord spinner is a direct callback to the very first Ninjago spinners from 2011, the toys that launched the entire theme and its Spinjitzu battle game.
02The set was part of the 2022 relaunch subtheme officially named The Golden Weapons, and it was designed to connect with the Ninja Dojo Temple (71767) for a larger combined build.
03It had a short retail life, arriving in early 2022 and retiring by the end of that year, which is why sealed copies now trade above the original 39.99 dollar price.
04The snake villain Boa Destructor gives the set its baddie, keeping the classic Ninjago tradition of serpentine enemies alive for the training course battles.