LEGO Super Mario 71426 Piranha Plant shows up early in store

This year’s LEGO Super Mario 18+ set has shown up early in a brick-and-mortar store in the US – and at least one shopper has reportedly managed to buy it.

71426 Piranha Plant is not due to launch widely until November 6, but redditor BitterDinosaur has already photographed the 540-piece model on shelves at a Target store in the US. Despite the chain’s typically strict policy on abiding by street dates, however – some commenters chimed in saying the system ‘literally won’t let [employees] sell things early’ – the redditor claims their partner managed to purchase a copy.

If you’re keen on adding 71426 Piranha Plant to your collection as soon as possible, you’d do well to check out your local Target just in case. Your mileage may vary on whether they actually have it out on the shop floor – and whether the system will allow you to buy it – but the most affordable LEGO Super Mario 18+ set yet is now less than two weeks away from launch, so you won’t have to wait too much longer either way.

Coming in at £57.99 in the UK, $59.99 in the US and €64.99 in Europe, the Nintendo set is much easier on both the wallet and your display space than its predecessors, including 71411 The Mighty Bowser, 71395 Super Mario 64 Question Mark Block and 71374 Nintendo Entertainment System. It doesn’t look to lack for its price, though: 71426 Piranha Plant includes a poseable head, mouth, stalk and leaves, and two coin elements that tease a hidden function.

This is the first LEGO Super Mario set to not include interactivity with the digital Mario, Luigi and Peach figures, however, potentially signalling an imminent shift away from the theme’s current system – especially with the three starter courses all due to retire next year. Time will tell what lies ahead for LEGO Super Mario, but the first Nintendo minifigures are right around the corner with LEGO Animal Crossing…

71426 Piranha Plant launches November 6, 2023.

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