LEGO NINJAGO designer explains minifigure in 71821 Cole’s Titan Dragon Mech

An odd minifigure selection in one of the biggest LEGO NINJAGO summer 2024 sets has been explained by a designer along with more details.

The LEGO NINJAGO summer 2024 sets have been officially revealed including the giant 71814 Tournament Temple City, an array of interesting minifigures in 71818 Tournament Battle Arena and the biggest LEGO NINJAGO mech so far – 71821 Cole’s Titan Dragon Mech.

The 1,055-piece model is measured to its shoulders for the title of biggest LEGO NINJAGO mech, as revealed by model designer turned concept designer Niek van Slagmaat. Their latest LEGO NINJAGO details thread on X (formerly Twitter) focuses solely on the massive mech and the decision to only include a single minifigure.

It features an enormous amount of articulation, including a waist swivel, thigh and bicep rotation, double jointed elbows to allow for an almost 180° bend, double piston supported ankles and knees with a sliding kneecap that moves with the joint. pic.twitter.com/JtoD6aM3HJ

— Toothdominoes (Niek) (@Toothdominoes) May 3, 2024

71821 Cole’s Titan Dragon Mech‘s articulation and design are explained in the thread including a sliding kneecap, movement in the knees and much more that should make it the most posable LEGO mech ever designed.

The colour scheme of the mech seems intended to depict Cole’s new rock-covered form wearing high-tech armour. The golden wings can be detached from the main model and the sword makes use of the piece that debuted in 10327 Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter too.

The backpack can be taken off easily for a more nimble model and the sword is the new Ornithopter wing. When that piece was first being discussed, I knew we had to use it as a sword at some point, and this set presented the perfect opportunity. pic.twitter.com/vo2eZymhzp

— Toothdominoes (Niek) (@Toothdominoes) May 3, 2024

71821 Cole’s Titan Dragon Mech only includes one minifigure despite its size and price tag of £89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99 and this decision has been explained.

Firstly, when we take a sketch model and start turning it into a real LEGO product, we often end up having to shave off expensive, superfluous stuff like joints, detail and finishing elements, to fit the set price point.

— Toothdominoes (Niek) (@Toothdominoes) May 3, 2024

Secondly, this being a set targeted at an older audience and more display than our usual assortment, having only one figure seemed like the right call.

— Toothdominoes (Niek) (@Toothdominoes) May 3, 2024

It’s stated that by only including one minifigure, more of the budget for 71821 Cole’s Titan Dragon Mech can be put towards the mech itself. It’s also mentioned that any extra minifigures would be suitably puny in comparison (not exactly a fair fight for any Wolf Mask Warriors).

Since the mech is intended for display more than play and targeted towards an older audience, one minifigure was seen as suitable in 71821 Cole’s Titan Dragon Mech. The Cole minifigure included in 71821 Cole’s Titan Dragon Mech is exclusive to the set and matches the design and colour scheme of his new mech.

71821 Cole’s Titan Dragon Mech is one of many upcoming LEGO NINJAGO sets and it launches on June 1, 2024 or August 1, 2024 in the US. Pre-orders are open now worldwide.

Every LEGO NINJAGO set confirmed and rumoured for 2024

LEGO set	Price	Pieces	Release date
30674 Zane’s Dragon Power Vehicles	$4.99	55	January 1, 2024
30675 Tournament Training Grounds	$4.99	TBC	TBC 2024
40703 Micro NINJAGO City	LEGO Insiders Reward	339	March 1, 2024
40704 Micro NINJAGO Docks	LEGO Insiders Reward	275	April 1, 2024
40705	TBC	TBC	TBC
40706	TBC	TBC	TBC
71801 Kai’s Rising Dragon Strike	£8.99 / $9.99 / €9.99	24	January 1, 2024
71802 Nya’s Rising Dragon Strike	£8.99 / $9.99 / €9.99	26	January 1, 2024
71803 Arin’s Rising Dragon Strike	£8.99 / $9.99 / €9.99	27	January 1, 2024
71804 Arin’s Battle Mech	£12.99 / $15.99 / €14.99	104	January 1, 2024
71805 Jay’s Mech Battle Pack	£8.99 / $9.99 / €9.99	78	January 1, 2024
71806 Cole’s Elemental Earth Mech	£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99	235	January 1, 2024
71807 Sora’s Elemental Tech Mech	£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99	209	January 1, 2024
71808 Kai’s Elemental Fire Mech	£24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99	322	January 1, 2024
71809 Egalt the Master Dragon	£59.99 / $69.99 / €69.99	532	January 1, 2024
71810 Riyu the Baby Dragon	£12.99 / $15.99 / €14.99	132	March 1, 2024
71811 Arin’s Ninja Off-Road Buggy	£44.99 / $49.99 / €49.99	267	March 1, 2024
71812 Kai’s Ninja Climbing Mech	£59.99 / $69.99 / €69.99	623	March 1, 2024
71813 Shadow Dojo	£104.99 / $119.99 / €119.99	1,190	March 1, 2024
71814 Tournament Temple City	£219.99 / $249.99 / €249.99	3,489	June 1, 2024
71815 Kai’s Source Dragon Battle	£31.99 / $37.99 / €37.99	120	March 1, 2024
71816 Zane’s Ice Motorbike	£8.99 / $9.99 / €9.99	84	June 1, 2024
71817 Lloyd’s Elemental Power Mech	£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99	253	March 1, 2024
71818 Tournament Battle Arena	£44.99 / $49.99 / €49.99	659	June 1, 2024
71819 Dragonstone Temple	£104.99 / $119.99 / €119.99	1,212	March 2024
71820 Ninja Team Combo Vehicle	£79.99 / $89.99 / €89.99	576	June 1, 2024
71821 Cole’s Titan Dragon Mech	£89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99	1,055	June 1, 2024
71822 Fire Source Dragon	£129.99 / $149.99 / €149.99	1,716	June 1, 2024

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