2017 LEGO Ninjago sets represent a pivotal era in the theme's history, split between Season 7 (Hands of Time) in early 2017 and The LEGO Ninjago Movie product line in late 2017. Highlights include high-detail builds like the flagship NINJAGO City (70620) and Destiny's Bounty (70618), alongside unique villain factions and exclusive collectible minifigures.
The Dual Landscape of 2017: Television Canon vs. Cinematic Reinvention
The year 2017 stands out as one of the most prolific and transformative periods for LEGO Ninjago. Rather than following a standard two-wave television release cycle, LEGO split the year into two distinct product lines serving completely different design briefs and audiences:
- System Wave 1 (Winter 2017): Hands of Time (Season 7)This wave completed the original "Masters of Spinjitzu" aesthetic before the major visual soft reboot of 2018. The sets featured dark reddish-brown accents, metallic copper and bronze armor, time-manipulation play features, and the snake-composite Vermillion army.
- System Wave 2 (Summer/Fall 2017): The LEGO Ninjago MovieTo support the theatrical feature film, LEGO overhauled the aesthetic of the Ninja, introducing high-detail building techniques (SNOT—Studs Not On Top), dense micro-detailing, custom fabric elements, and higher piece-to-price ratios. This wave produced sets widely regarded as engineering achievements across all System themes.
For collectors and builders evaluating these sets today, 2017 serves as the bridge between standard play-focused Ninjago sets and adult-targeted (18+) display models.
Wave 1: Season 7 Hands of Time Sets
The early 2017 wave centered on the fight against the Time Twins—Acronix and Krux—and their serpentine army made of Vermillion armor pieces animated by snakes. The primary collectible gimmick across this wave was the Time Blades: four translucent swords representing different temporal powers (Forward, Slow-Mo, Pause, and Reversal).
- Time Blades Gimmick (2017)
- Forward Time Blade (Green): 70626 Dawn of Iron Doom
- Slow-Mo Time Blade (Blue): 70624 Vermillion Invader / 70626
- Pause Time Blade (Red): 70623 Destiny's Shadow / 70626
- Reversal Time Blade (Orange): 70627 Dragon's Forge / 70626
Key Mechanical & Architectural Features
- Vermillion Armor Mold: LEGO introduced custom dual-injected helmet and armor pieces that allowed mini-snakes to clip directly onto the chest armor of figures like Commander Raggmunk and General Machia.
- Clockwork Mechanisms: Sets emphasized gear-driven functions, particularly spinning portals, mechanical tail-swings, and spring-loaded missile launches tied to central clockwork dials.
Standout Sets from the Hands of Time Wave
Dawn of Iron Doom (Set #70626)
- Piece Count: 704
- Minifigures: Lloyd, Jay, Acronix, Krux, Commander Blunck, General Machia
- Core Build: The centerpiece of this set is the Iron Doom Snake Mech, featuring a spinning time portal wheel on its chest powered by a gear at the back. It serves as the primary way for collectors to acquire both Time Twins (Acronix and Krux) in a single set, alongside all four Time Blades.
The Dragon's Forge (Set #70627)
- Piece Count: 1,040
- Minifigures: Kai, Nya, Ray, Maya, Commander Raggmunk, Slackjaw, Buffmillion (brick-built figure)
- Core Build: This set represents the blacksmith shop owned by Kai and Nya's parents, Ray and Maya—marking their first appearance as minifigures. The main build opens on hinges to reveal a forge interior, accompanied by a dual-headed Fusion Dragon (combining Fire and Water elements) with flexible wing assemblies.
Samurai VXL (Set #70625)
- Piece Count: 428
- Minifigures: Nya (as Samurai X), General Machia, Rivett
- Core Build: Demonstrates an innovative steering system where tilting the chassis turns the front wheels while simultaneously aligning the dual six-stud rapid shooters.
Wave 2: The LEGO Ninjago Movie Collection
Released in August 2017, the movie sets brought a significant leap in scale, architectural complexity, and budget. LEGO designers used this theatrical wave to test techniques that later became staples of the NINJAGO City Modular series.
| TV Series Wave (Hands of Time) | Movie Wave (Fall 2017) |
|---|---|
| Play-focused action features | Layered texture & SNOT builds |
| Standard bright color palettes | Weathered, cyberpunk Asian |
| Standard minifigure prints | Dual-molded hoods & skirts |
| Mid-range piece counts (200-1,000) | Ultra-high counts (1,000-4,800) |
Flagship Masterpieces
NINJAGO City (Set #70620)
- Piece Count: 4,867
- Minifigures: 19 (including Kai, Jay, Lloyd in High School Uniform, Misako, Officer Toque, and Severin Black)
- Design Significance: Built on a standard 32x32 baseplate, this set introduced a three-tiered vertical structure representing the evolution of Ninjago City:
- Old World (Bottom Tier): Fishing market, traditional bridge, stream, and maintenance area.
- Street Level (Middle Tier): Modern retail including a comic store, crab restaurant, and ATM.
- High Rise (Top Tier): Futuristic sushi belt restaurant, apartment, and communications tower.
The set relied heavily on creative element usage (NPU)—such as rubber belts used for sliding doors, minifigure crowbars used as roof lattice, and teacups as architectural trim. Detailed design schematics can be referenced via the official LEGO Building Instructions Archive.
Destiny's Bounty (Set #70618)
- Piece Count: 2,295
- Minifigures: Master Wu, Kai, Lloyd, Zane, Nya, Jay, Cole
- Design Significance: Widely considered one of the best value-per-piece models LEGO has produced, this version of the Ninja's flying junk ship featured printed canvas sails, intricately carved dragon head figureheads, and three fully furnished interior cabins (Master Wu’s bedroom, a training dojo, and a bathroom). The hull construction relied on inverted slopes and curved panels to create an authentic nautical profile without using large prefabricated boat hulls.
The Mech Array: Heavy Metal & Industrial Aesthetics
The movie line focused heavily on oversized mechs assigned to each Ninja, characterized by distinct color blocking and technical functional frameworks:
- Green Ninja Mech Dragon (70612): 544 pieces. Uses ball joints, curved slopes, and a flexible tail driven by an internal gear-arm mechanism to simulate serpent-like movement.
- Fire Mech (70615): 944 pieces. Features shoulder-mounted disc shooters, hand-held flamethrowers with translucent orange fire elements, and robust ankle joint locking mechanisms to support its top-heavy build.
- Quake Mech (70632): 1,202 pieces (released late 2017). Features a unique unicycle wheel construction held by massive rubber tires and shoulder-mounted sound cannons.
Exclusive Minifigures and Rare Elements
The 2017 sets introduced distinct minifigure molds and print applications that remain sought after by collectors browsing platforms like BrickLink.
- 2017 Rare Minifigure Highlights
- Hands of Time Era
- Acronix & Krux (Exclusive dual-faced head prints & copper capes)
- General Machia (Dual-injected snake hairpiece)
- Ray & Maya (First-ever physical minifigure prints)
- The LEGO Ninjago Movie Era
- Collectible Minifigure Series (71019 - 20 distinct minifigures)
- Master Wu (Movie variant with custom fabric belt/robe extension)
- Shark Army Generals (Unique jellyfish & crab headgear pieces)
- Hands of Time Era
Key Elements Introduced in 2017
- Dual-Molded Ninja Wrap (Movie Version): A two-piece headgear system comprising a hairpiece/cap combined with a removable face mask scarf piece, allowing hair to show while the lower face remains covered.
- Snake Hair Molds: Used for General Machia and the Time Twins' main henchmen, incorporating translucent green highlights over dark red bases.
- Time Blade Blades (Element IDs 6174852, 6174857, 6174855, 6174847): Four translucent sword variants molded with internal clockwork gear textures.
2017 LEGO Ninjago Sets Reference Table
The following table provides verified details for key sets released during both waves in 2017.
| Set # | Set Name | Wave / Subtheme | Piece Count | Minifigures | Core Feature / Primary Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70621 | Vermillion Attack | Hands of Time | 83 | 3 | Entry set; includes Red Pause Time Blade |
| 70623 | Destiny's Shadow | Hands of Time | 360 | 3 | Convertible hover-boat; includes Lloyd & Cole |
| 70625 | Samurai VXL | Hands of Time | 428 | 3 | Tilting wheel steering; exclusive Nya Samurai X print |
| 70626 | Dawn of Iron Doom | Hands of Time | 704 | 6 | Snake mech; only set with both Krux & Acronix |
| 70627 | Dragon's Forge | Hands of Time | 1,040 | 6 | Fusion Dragon; debut of Ray and Maya |
| 70612 | Green Ninja Mech Dragon | Movie Wave | 544 | 4 | Articulated whip-tail mechanism |
| 70615 | Fire Mech | Movie Wave | 944 | 6 | Shoulder disk launchers; high posability |
| 70617 | Temple of Ultimate Ultimate Weapon | Movie Wave | 1,403 | 7 | Interior traps, stone guardians, hanging cage |
| 70618 | Destiny's Bounty | Movie Wave | 2,295 | 7 | Detailed triple-deck ship with fabric sails |
| 70620 | NINJAGO City | Movie Wave | 4,867 | 19 | Modular 3-tier build; iconic D2C flagship model |
| 70656 | garmadon, Garmadon, GARMADON! | Movie Wave (Late 17) | 830 | 6 | Shark-mech with opening jaws & hot dog stand |
Secondary Market Values, Authentication, and Buyer's Guide
When acquiring 2017 LEGO Ninjago sets on the secondary market, collectors face challenges related to material aging, counterfeit minifigures, and complete accessory sets.
1. Brittle Brown & Dark Red Element Caution
LEGO formulations for dark brown and reddish-brown elements produced prior to late 2018 were prone to higher brittleness over time.
- Affected 2017 Sets: Dawn of Iron Doom (70626) and The Dragon's Forge (70627) make extensive use of reddish-brown clips, bars, and structural plates.
- Inspection Advice: When buying used sets, inspect high-stress connections (such as clip tiles holding weapons or vehicle frames). Ensure the plastic shows no stress fractures or hairline cracks.
2. Time Blade Verification
Because all four Time Blades are required to complete the canonical Hands of Time display, missing blades are a common issue on secondary platforms.
- Authenticity Check: Original LEGO Time Blades have the LEGO logo stamped micro-scale on the connection stud/peg base. Fake aftermarket blades often lack this logo and display uneven translucent molding or color tint variations.
| Genuine LEGO Time Blade | Knockoff / Replica |
|---|---|
| [LEGO Logo on Peg Base] | [Smooth/Blank Base] |
| Crisp Translucent Mold | Cloudy Plastic Fill |
| Uniform Color Density | Color Shift / Flashing |
3. Movie Wave Fabric & Print Checks
Flagship movie sets feature unique components that drive their secondary market value:
- Destiny's Bounty (70618): Verify that all three printed fabric sails are included, unfrayed, and free of moisture stains or UV fading. Replacement sails can be sourced via database registries like Brickset.
- Minifigure Torso Printing: Movie-line minifigures utilize metallic ink applications on the chest and back prints (e.g., Jay's scarf details, Garmadon's armor plating). Inspect photos under direct lighting to confirm the metallic sheen has not worn off from play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which 2017 LEGO Ninjago set is the most valuable today?
NINJAGO City (70620) is the most valuable set from the 2017 release year. Due to its size (4,867 pieces), high minifigure count, and compatibility with the wider Modular Buildings Collection, its market value in sealed condition has increased significantly since its retirement.
Are the 2017 Movie Ninja minifigures compatible with standard Ninjago sets?
Yes. While the facial prints and hood molds were updated for The LEGO Ninjago Movie to match their cinematic designs, all minifigure connections (heads, torsos, legs, and accessories) use standard LEGO System dimensions and are fully interchangeable with all other Ninjago waves.
How many Time Blades were released in 2017, and which sets contain them?
There are four Time Blades:
- Forward Time Blade (Green): Available in Dawn of Iron Doom (70626).
- Slow-Mo Time Blade (Blue): Available in Vermillion Invader (70624) and Dawn of Iron Doom (70626).
- Pause Time Blade (Red): Available in Vermillion Attack (70621) and Dawn of Iron Doom (70626).
- Reversal Time Blade (Orange): Available in Desert Lightning (70622), The Dragon's Forge (70627), and Dawn of Iron Doom (70626).
To collect all four in a single set, you must acquire Dawn of Iron Doom (70626).
Why do sets from late 2017 look so different from early 2017 sets?
Early 2017 sets followed the Season 7 Hands of Time television story arc, which used traditional play-focused building techniques and bright accent colors. Late 2017 sets were designed for The LEGO Ninjago Movie, which had a higher design budget, complex building techniques, and a distinct aesthetic designed to resemble real-world scale models.
What is the difference between Destiny's Bounty 70618 (2017) and other versions of the ship?
The 2017 Movie version (70618) is significantly larger and more detailed than previous or subsequent System-scale versions. It contains 2,295 pieces, three fully detailed interior cabin levels, custom fabric sails, and ornate dual dragon figureheads, making it closer to an expert-level display model than standard play sets.
Collector Recommendations & Next Actions
Whether you are completing a retro Ninjago collection or looking for a detailed display piece, here is how to prioritize 2017 sets:
- For Display Builders: Prioritize Destiny's Bounty (70618) or NINJAGO City (70620). These sets showcase advanced building techniques, offer high piece counts, and serve as strong centerpieces for any modern LEGO arrangement.
- For Story Canon & Minifigure Collectors: Focus on Dawn of Iron Doom (70626) and The Dragon's Forge (70627). These contain the key antagonists (Acronix and Krux), Kai and Nya's parents (Ray and Maya), and the full set of Time Blades necessary to complete the Season 7 TV narrative.
- Before Buying Used: Always request high-resolution photos of the Time Blade accessories, fabric elements (sails/capes), and any dark red or reddish-brown structural elements to verify structural integrity before completing a sale.
