Pokémon and LEGO have finally revealed the new sets where Pikachu, Eevee, and the Kanto starters can be recreated as sets. Many builders find the prices steep, yet compared to others, they are not that expensive.
What are these sets? Pokémon and LEGO are releasing a total of 5 new sets that hobby builders can construct in their own four walls. These include:
- Pikachu with a Pokéball
- Charizard, Venusaur, and Blastoise as a gigantic statue
- a cute Eevee
- The badges from Kanto
- The Poké Center in mini format
The three Pokémon are available for regular purchase, while the other two sets are only available as a pre-order bonus and in exchange for points from LEGO’s bonus program.
What do others think about it? On Reddit, many fans are shocked, especially due to the prices. Eevee starts at around €60, Pikachu is about €100, and the three Kanto starters cost a staggering €650. Many write that they are therefore looking for cheaper alternatives.
The prices of the sets may seem terrible at first glance, yet in comparison, the sets are actually relatively normally priced.
LEGO sets for Pokémon are off-putting in price, while they are normally priced
What does MeinMMO editor Jasmin Beverungen think? I also own several LEGO sets, especially regarding video games, and have contemplated on the LEGO sets. A good measure to assess the price is the “Euro-per-brick ratio.” Nowadays, about 10 cents per brick is normal in the LEGO sector. The new sets also fall under this:
Looking at the current sets, they are in the same range:
- The Pokémon trio costs about 9.5 cents per brick and is thus relatively the cheapest
- Pikachu and the Pokéball are in the midfield with 9.8 cents per brick
- Eevee is the most expensive at 10.2 cents, but still okay
For comparison: The Deku Tree from The Legend of Zelda costs about 12 cents per brick. Additionally, only about two-thirds of the bricks can be used since the tree comes with 2 alternative designs, in which not all bricks are utilized.
The Super Mario theme world is usually more expensive, here 11 to 14 cents are due. The price is somewhat justified by the fact that Super Mario includes special building mechanisms and bricks.
Another expensive candidate is the Death Star. The version from 2016 costs about 12.5 cents per brick, which means you get around 30% less value for your money compared to the Kanto starters.
Still, I can understand that some fans do not want to spend the money to bring the LEGO sets home. I also will probably not buy any of the sets, as I’ve already purchased other sets in the Pokémon area that are cheaper.
What alternatives are there? A good and inexpensive alternative are the sets from MEGA. There are comparable sets for Eevee and Pikachu. Eevee costs about the same, while Pikachu is significantly cheaper – and in my opinion, also looks better. However, a comparable set to that of Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur is hard to find.
Another option is nanoblock. The figures here look a bit more pixelated since no smooth bricks are used for the figures. The figures are also smaller than those from MEGA and LEGO and do not click together as nicely as with the competition.
Personally, I find MEGA offers the best of all worlds. The LEGO sets are more suitable for those who want a prestige object in their home. Especially the set of the Kanto starters is unique in that regard. Nanoblock, on the other hand, is suitable for those who want to start with smaller figures first.
LEGO has recently presented a “smart brick.” It is only initially available in Star Wars sets, but is also expected to be used in further sets. What the special brick can do and how expensive the sets with it will be, you can read on MeinMMO: LEGO brings a smart brick, calling it the “most significant development” in 50 years
Your opinion is important to us!
Do you like the article? Then let us know!