LEGO Ninjago in 2026: which set to choose by series

Last Saturday a boy of about eight came in, let go of his grandmother's hand before reaching the counter and went straight to the shelf at the back. He didn't look at prices or at the big boxes. He pointed at one: "I want Sora's one." His grandmother looked at me, asking for a translation, because that name meant nothing to her. For the boy it was a character from the series he watches on Netflix, and that was enough.

We have been in Albox since 1923, four generations behind the same counter, and that scene repeats itself almost every weekend. The child knows what he wants because he sees it on TV; the adult who pays arrives lost among names that sound alike and can't tell whether "Dragons Rising", "Legacy" or "15th Anniversary" are the same thing or three different ones. This article is for that adult. It is what I tell, from behind the counter, anyone who comes in asking about the ninja series.

LEGO Ninjago was born in 2011 and turns 15 in 2026. It is still one of the construction toys we sell most. I start with what almost everyone asks for and finish with how to avoid getting the gift wrong.

Why the child asks for "the one from the series" and the adult gets lost

When a child comes in asking for Ninjago, they almost never ask for "a LEGO". They ask for a character or they ask for a dragon. That is the first confusion for whoever is accompanying them: they think they will choose by size or by price, and the child has already chosen by what they see in Dragons Rising. They want to hold what appears on the screen.

I have the contrast on the same shelf. On one side the Meca de Combate de Arin (71804), from €14.99, a pocket-sized box that is perfect for a class birthday or a Saturday treat. On the other the Titan Robot de Lloyd (71860), from the 15th Anniversary line, from €128.99, which is already a collector's piece and the kind of gift asked for at Epiphany. Almost the whole catalogue fits between those two extremes.

The first thing I look at when someone asks me is not the price but the age on the box. Most of these sets say 7+, in line with the series rating (TV-Y7, suitable for the whole family). But between a €14.99 box and one costing more than a hundred euros there are real differences in building. Checking that number in the corner spares you the disappointment of giving something the child can't build alone.

From 2011 to Dragons Rising: what has changed and what hasn't

Fifteen years is long enough for someone who was a child with the first sets to bring their own son or daughter to the shop today. In a family business you notice it: there are parents who recognise Lloyd or Kai before their children do, because they had them when they were little.

The heart of it is the same. Ninjas who learn Spinjitzu, Master Wu and good against those who seek power by force. Lloyd is still the Green Ninja, Kai the one of fire, Cole of earth, Jay of lightning, Zane of ice and Nya of water. Those characters haven't gone anywhere.

What has changed is the era. The current one is called Dragons Rising, it is shown on Netflix and in 2026 it is on its fourth season. It brings new faces, Arin and Sora, and dragons everywhere. The dragon is the visual signature of this era, and that is why children head straight for that shelf. A grandfather not knowing Sora is not his fault: she is a character from the new generation, just as fifteen years ago grandparents didn't know who Lloyd was.

What happens in Dragons Rising, in two minutes

I usually stop the adult here for a moment, because understanding the story saves doubts in front of the shelf. Dragons Rising begins with an event the series calls "the Merge": several realms combine into one. A new generation of ninjas comes out of that cataclysm.

Two names are worth remembering. Arin is a lad who admires the original ninjas and ends up learning Spinjitzu; he is the main character of the most requested entry-level set, the Meca de Combate. Sora is a young woman with a talent for technology who also becomes a ninja; she is the "Sora's one" I get asked for at the counter.

The mission of this era is to protect the Elemental Dragons from the villains who want their life force. That is why dragons carry so much weight in the big sets today: they are the core of the story. And the old favourites live alongside the new ones. A child can have the Arin set and the Cole set on the same shelf and everything fits within the same universe. That reassures the parent who is afraid of choosing the wrong saga.

Legacy, Dragons Rising or 15th Anniversary: how to tell them apart on the shelf

It is the question I get asked most, although almost nobody puts it like that. They put it as "is this from the current series?" or "is this the old stuff?". I translate the three names into what is inside the box, which is the only thing that matters when you have it in your hand.

Dragons Rising: what is on Netflix today

It is the standard, current line. If a set has Arin or Sora, or a big dragon from this era, it is Dragons Rising. These are everyday play sets, for building and playing hard with. A clear example: the Meca de Misión de Cole y Zane Dragón (71854), from €26.99. This is where the more modest prices fall, and most of what a child will point at.

Legacy: the classics brought up to date

The Legacy label means updated versions of characters and vehicles from the first seasons. It is for those who have known Ninjago for years and want the model they remember with today's build quality. It is not what we sell most in Albox, because whoever comes in usually wants the series of the moment, but it is worth knowing it exists so you don't confuse it with the new ones.

15th Anniversary: for the display cabinet, not for the floor

The special 15th Anniversary line has a different purpose. It is meant to be built, displayed and kept, not for rough play in the living room. They come with minifigures on new stands and the feel of a commemorative piece. You can recognise them because the box says so and because the model leans more towards a shelf object than a battle toy. Example: the Deportivo Ninja X-1 (71867), from €75.99.

Quick counter rule: if the child wants it to play with, Dragons Rising; if it is a gift for a long-time fan or for the display cabinet, the 15th Anniversary line. And if you hear "Legacy", think "classic brought up to date".

Dragons for every budget

Every child heads for the dragon shelf. It is the image of Dragons Rising and what they look for with a finger before they can read the name of the set. There is something for every budget, and that is the good news for whoever pays.

• Combate del Meca-Dragón de Jay (71853), from €17.99. The way into the world of dragons without spending much. Very handy for a classmate's gift.
• Dragón de la Concentración Arc (71836), from €97.99. Already a serious dragon, for the child who is serious about Ninjago.
• Dragón de la Vida (71859), from €97.99. Another big one, with presence on the shelf and hours of building.
• Santuario de Piedra del Dragón (71819), from €119.99. One of the most ambitious we have, a complete scene rather than a vehicle.

An honest note: from Jay's Meca-Dragón at €17.99 to the dragons of almost a hundred euros there is a big jump, and you don't always need to go for the most expensive. A child who is starting out enjoys Jay's just as much, and if the bug keeps biting, they move up a level at the next birthday. There is no hurry to spend it all at once.

For those who prefer robots to dragons, in the same play line there are the Meca Ultra Combo de Zane (71834), from €97.99, and the Meca Caballero del Fuego (71846), with 996 pieces, from €117.99. That last one is a long afternoon of building.

The 15th Anniversary sets and the options in between

To coincide with the fifteen years there is a batch of sets designed to celebrate the anniversary. They come with minifigures on new stands and are aimed more at collecting than at playing. It is the part of the catalogue that adults ask for themselves or for a gift that will be remembered.

• Deportivo Ninja X-1 (71867), from €75.99. A vehicle with a commemorative feel, the most affordable in this line.
• Herrería Cuatro Armas (71858), from €97.99. A scene with nods to Ninjago's history, the kind long-time fans like.
• Titan Robot de Lloyd (71860), from €128.99. The top piece of the series, the big gift I mentioned at the start.

If you are hesitating between a play set and an anniversary one for a small child, my shopkeeper's advice is simple: for the hands of a child who wants battles, the play line is better; the anniversary ones look better on a shelf than on the living room floor.

And if you are after something in between, between the €14.99 treat and the collector's piece, there are vehicles such as the Coche de Carreras de Lloyd (71828), from €22.99, or the Coche Transformable de Jay (71856), from €47.99. Good for the child who prefers wheels to dragons.

Buying your LEGO Ninjago at Híper Ocio

We are a shop in Albox, in Almería, open since 1923 and run today by the fourth generation. We belong to the Toy Planet chain and are an authorised official LEGO retailer, so what we sell is official product, with no surprises.

• Real stock: we have the sets in this article in the physical shop and on the website. If it shows as available, it is in stock.
• Free shipping within Spain from €49.99. Below that amount there are shipping costs. LEGO is a toy and travels to all of Spain.
• 3-year guarantee under Spanish law.
• 30 days to return it under our policy, if the set doesn't work out.
• Pay in instalments with Klarna, available at checkout, for those who prefer it.

And if you get tangled up choosing, which is normal, message us on WhatsApp at 623 04 44 20 and we will tell you the same as we tell whoever walks through the door: what is inside each box and which one fits what you are looking for.

Frequently asked questions

Which LEGO Ninjago set is best to start with?

For a first set, the Meca de Combate de Arin (71804), from €14.99, or the Meca-Dragón de Jay (71853), from €17.99, will do very well. They are small boxes, easy to build and with characters from the current series.

Are the Dragons Rising sets suitable if my child only knows the older ninjas?

Yes. The classic ninjas (Lloyd, Kai, Nya, Cole, Jay, Zane) keep appearing in Dragons Rising alongside the new ones, Arin and Sora. It is all part of the same universe, so you don't have to choose between old and new.

What is the difference between a standard set and a 15th Anniversary one?

The 15th Anniversary sets are designed for collecting and display, with minifigures on new stands and a commemorative feel. The standard line is designed for building and playing. For the hands of a small child, a play set usually suits better.

From what age are these sets?

Most say 7+ on the box, in line with the series rating (TV-Y7). Even so, the difficulty of building rises quite a lot between a €14.99 box and one over a hundred, so it is worth checking that number before buying.

How much does shipping cost and where does it go?

Shipping within Spain is free from €49.99. Below that amount there is a charge. We ship to all of Spain, since LEGO is considered a toy.

Can I return a set if I get the gift wrong?

You have 30 days to return it under our policy. LEGO products also carry the 3-year legal guarantee. If you have doubts before buying, write to us and we will advise you.