Star Wars

Snoke's Throne Room

A gorgeous crimson stage for one of the best scenes in the sequel trilogy, built with more filler than I'd like.

Brick Rated Score

3.6/5

Set 75216 · 2018

Pieces492

Minifigs5

Year2018

Set number75216

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The verdict

I love what this set is trying to do.

It takes the throne room duel, one of the best sequences in the whole sequel trilogy, and gives you the rotating throne, the narrow walkway, and a sliding tile so you can actually reenact Snoke Force-dragging Rey across the floor. That play feature alone made me grin the first time I tried it. But I can't pretend the build justifies the price the way it should. Big sections of the crimson walls are just bricks stacked on plates with nothing clever going on, and you're paying for scale more than for engineering.

Best for: Last Jedi fans who want the throne room scene on a shelf and don't already own Rey, Kylo, and Snoke from other sets

The full review

What it is

I love what this set is trying to do. It takes the throne room duel, one of the best sequences in the whole sequel trilogy, and gives you the rotating throne, the narrow connecting walkway, and a sliding floor tile so you can actually reenact Snoke Force-dragging Rey toward him. The first time I pulled that tile across the baseplate I actually grinned, it's a small mechanism but it captures the scene perfectly. The oculus device, a tall magnifying lens Snoke uses to watch the battle outside, is a nice oddball touch too, and it towers over the minifigs in a way that sells the scale of his power.

The catch

Here's where I have to be honest with you though. A good chunk of the crimson walls is just brick sandwiched on plate with almost nothing clever layered on top, and at 492 pieces for around seventy dollars, that ratio matters. The Brothers Brick called out the same thing when it came out, basic techniques and a build that splits cleanly into three short, simple stages rather than one satisfying flow. And if you already picked up Rey, Kylo, or Snoke from any of the other Last Jedi sets, you're getting figures you already own bundled back in at full price, which stings a little.

Who it's for

Where the set earns its keep is the two new Elite Praetorian Guards. Their armor, helmets, and weapons (a double bladed staff and a whip staff) aren't in any other set, and they're honestly the best reason to buy this one. If you're a completionist for the throne room scene or you want those two guards specifically, get it. If you already have the three main characters and you're mainly after a display piece, I'd wait for a sale rather than pay full retail.

The parts story

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

The build itself is quick and a little too straightforward for a set at this price point. Three numbered bags, no separate instruction booklets for stages, just steady stacking of red and dark red plates and bricks into walls and a walkway. It's the kind of build you can finish in an evening without ever needing to slow down and study a tricky step, which is either relaxing or underwhelming depending on what you're looking for from a set.

The two new Praetorian Guard minifigs are the real prize here, with molded armor pieces and weapons unique to this set. The rotating throne mechanism and hidden weapon compartment underneath are simple but effective, and the oculus lens piece is a fun oddity you won't see reused much elsewhere. Piece count for the price is on the low side for 2018 Star Wars sets, and with three of the five minifigs recycled from earlier releases, the actual new content per dollar is thinner than the box suggests.

Fun facts

01The set includes two brand new Elite Praetorian Guard minifigures, while Rey, Kylo Ren, and Supreme Leader Snoke are the same molds used in earlier Star Wars: The Last Jedi sets, including Snoke reusing the figure from 2017's First Order Star Destroyer.
02Only 2 of the 8 Praetorian Guards seen protecting Snoke in the film are represented in the set, a point several reviewers flagged as a missed opportunity.
03The set's signature play feature is a slidable floor tile that lets kids reenact Snoke using the Force to drag Rey across the throne room floor.
04Since retiring, 75216 has climbed to roughly 137 dollars on the secondary market, nearly double its 69.99 dollar retail price, according to BrickEconomy.