The NINJAGO theme goes back to its roots with a set based on the pilot episode of the original cartoon series, but 71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith is far more than a simple nostalgia trip.
While this set feels relatively small when built, it hides its piece count well in a dense model that’s tremendously satisfying to build and filled with Easter eggs and references that NINJAGO fans will adore. Add to this an expansive line-up of desirable minifigures, and it’s clear that the theme’s anniversary celebrations are starting on a high note.
71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith
Release: Jan 1, 2026
Retiring: Dec 31, 2027
Price: £89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99
Pieces: 1,259
Minifigures: 6
There’s a great deal of poetic irony hiding within 71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith. An adaptation of a key location from the original pilot episode of the first NINJAGO animated show, the set recreates the blacksmith that is home to future ninjas Kai and Nya before they begin their training. In the show, Kai thinks his home is an unremarkable place, before a visiting Master Wu reveals that there is more to the Four Weapons Blacksmith than meets the eye.
Similarly, while it’s instantly apparent from photos that 71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith is a beautiful model, it may look a bit unassuming when placed on display next to some of the flashier, larger NINJAGO sets of recent years – when a theme includes enormous dragons and mechs, a relatively small building will always struggle to stand out from the crowd.
Anyone who actually builds the set, however, will instantly discover that this is not just a beautiful little building. It’s also a phenomenally satisfying build experience that’s jam-packed full of inventive parts usage and tremendously fun sub-assemblies.
The 1,259 pieces that make up this set are densely packed in the final model, with Studs Not On Top techniques used throughout to squeeze as many bricks as possible into this diminutive package. As an indication of just how much is crammed in here, one of the walls is two studs thick rather than the single stud that has become standard in recent years for buildings across most themes.
The set is 14+, but the LEGO Group clearly has a higher opinion of teenage NINJAGO fans than most adults, as this build is a far more complex, engaging and interesting building experience than the majority of recent 18+ sets. That said, this isn’t too challenging or difficult to construct, as for all its complexity, the build experience is well designed and carefully laid out so that the set goes together in a logical and easy to follow process.
Once the build is finished, spending some time with the model is no less enjoyable. 71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith is packed full of interesting details and secrets to be discovered. There are the big, flashy things such as hidden ninja gear in the blacksmith’s rafters and a map that can be uncovered by pressing a button – a nod to the cartoon from which this set takes its inspiration – but there are also subtler things, such as details in stickered elements that call back to events from the past 15 years of NINJAGO lore.
71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith contains a generous line-up of minifigures. Kai is here in his blacksmith gear, alongside his sister Nya and Master Wu, all of whom appear in the pilot episode of the cartoon. This would have been a perfectly adequate number of minifigures considering the events of the episode in question.
In addition to these, though, the set also includes Kai and Nya’s parents Maya and Ray, as well as a bonus minifigure that’s unrelated to the scene – the elemental Master of Earth, one of many collectible minifigures that are to be added to NINJAGO sets in 2026 in celebration of the theme’s 15th anniversary. This is a boon for fans of the NINJAGO cartoon, as this character has never been seen in physical LEGO form before.
71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith may not be the largest NINJAGO set of all time once built, and if put on a shelf next to some of the theme’s more eye-catching sets it might get a little overlooked, but there is a huge amount of fun to be had with this build. Interesting to put together and packed with Easter eggs, references and desirable minifigures, this is a very strong set and well worth its price tag.
This will be one of the first LEGO sets to release in 2026, but it sets a very high bar in terms of quality – if there are even just a few more sets coming from the theme this year that reach similar standards, then NINJAGO’s 15th anniversary is going to be a particularly special celebration.
Our honest opinion: Highly detailed, tremendously satisfying to build and filled with interesting secrets and minifigures, it’s difficult to think of any way that 71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith could be improved.
This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.
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Which bonus collectible minifigure is included in LEGO NINJAGO 71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith?
71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith contains a bonus minifigure, the elemental Master of Earth, who is unnamed but is Cole’s grandfather in NINJAGO canon.
How long does it take to build LEGO NINJAGO 71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith?
71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith takes around two to three hours to build. The building process is easy to follow but packed with inventive build techniques.
How big is LEGO NINJAGO 71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith?
71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith measures 18cm tall, 23cm wide and 16cm deep when the build is closed – it is wider and shallower when opened up depending on display preferences.
How many pieces are in LEGO NINJAGO 71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith?
71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith 15th Anniversary contains 1,259 pieces. These are densely packed so the finished build may feel smaller than other sets with this approximate piece count.
How much does LEGO NINJAGO 71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith cost?
71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith costs £89.99 in the UK, $99.99 in the US and €99.99 in the EU.
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