LEGO Reviews Ninjago70666

The Golden Dragon

Name: LEGO The Golden Dragon 70666
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 70666
Rating: 4.79 (3237 reviews)

74 · RECOMMENDEDINVESTMENT GRADE: BBB2019171 pcsHigh agreement · 99%

Expert reviews

2analyzed

Owner ratings

3.2K+

Consensus

WAIT FOR SALE

BrickScore

Recommended

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"A solid Legacy rebuild that improves the original in articulation and display quality while accepting a reduction in scale, earning a BrickScore of 73.5. The Pure Spectral Overlord minifigure alone justifies attention from Ninjago collectors, and 3,237 owner ratings averaging 4.79 out of 5 confirm this is a genuinely satisfying dragon at its price point."

The Golden Dragon earns a BrickScore of 73.5 (Recommended) as a Legacy downsizing of the original 2013 set, with expert reviewers agreeing it is a worthy successor despite being 81 pieces smaller. Both Brickset and JANG praised the significantly improved articulation via Mixel ball joints, the outstanding Pure Spectral Overlord minifigure, and a lower price point that makes the reduced scale acceptable. Owners are broadly enthusiastic, with 3,237 ratings averaging 4.79 out of 5 and a 100% would-recommend rate, though the value-for-money signal on LEGO.com sits at a more measured 4.36 out of 5.

Where they split: Critics and owners split mildly on value. Expert reviewers flagged the small scale relative to the original and mediocre price-to-content as reasons for caution, recommending waiting for a sale. Owners averaging 4.79 out of 5 are more forgiving, though the 4.36 value-for-money score on LEGO.com shows some awareness of the limitation. Both expert reviewers ultimately landed at positive sentiments despite the reservations, keeping the disagreement within a narrow band.

Where to Buy

Amazon

Out of stock

Buy

Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Max Profit Opinion PREMIUM

Is this a smart buy? BrickPicker's data-grounded investment verdict.

Unlock the Max Profit Opinion: our stance (buy / accumulate / hold / pass), the reasoning, the exact data behind it (eBay + BrickLink comps, CAGR vs MSRP, our retirement model), and whether the reviewer community agrees.

Unlock with Collector or Reseller

LOVED (8)

01Superior articulation throughout the dragon via Mixel ball joints: neck, wings, limbs, tail, and individually articulated toes all poseable
02Highly detailed two-piece molded dragon head design updated from the original
03Pure Spectral Overlord minifigure with transparent marbled purple head, described as never done before for this character
04Stud shooter hidden in the jaw activated by closing the mouth
05Consistent pearl gold and dark green color scheme with no exposed mismatched colors
06Improved durability for posing compared to the original's softer material joints
07Lower price ($19.99) than the original makes the smaller scale easier to accept
08Stone Army Archer/Scout included alongside two antagonist figures for play conflict

CRITICIZED (8)

01Considerably smaller than the 2013 predecessor (171 pieces vs. 252 pieces)
02Previous Lloyd minifigure had more impressive robe and shoulder armor; the updated version feels like a step back
03Pearl gold katana replaces the Sword of Fire from the original, a downgrade for completionists
04Abrupt transition between trans-purple and black on the Overlord's lower body
05Golden Ninja torso print lacks detail and texture
06Hood shape criticized as not ideal (a recurring issue across the Ninjago series)
07Dragon is difficult to stand upright without adjustment, requiring careful foot positioning
08Small overall size disappoints older builders expecting something closer to the original

What reviewers are saying

"This design only contains 171 pieces which is considerably smaller than the previous 252-piece model. That may introduce certain issues so is disappointing, although its price has dropped to £17.99 or $19.99 and that see…"

Brickset Reviews

"I'm actually willing to bet that a lot of casual Lego fans who are not specifically Ninjago super fans wouldn't even recognize the difference between this and the previous one."

JANG's LEGO Reviews

Ecosystem

70503 The Golden Dragon — The new version offers superior articulation and more detailed updated head design. However, the previous Lloyd minifigure was more appealing with impressive robe and shoulder armour, and certain details from the older dragon have been lost. The lower price helps justify the smaller size. Overall, the reviewer considers 70666 a worthy successor despite its reduction in scale.

2013 Golden Dragon — This 2019 version is very similar to the original but with improved poseability thanks to Mixel ball joints and better articulation throughout. Not much smaller, and more durable for posing. The 2013 version had an armor piece and sword of fire that this one lacks, but the 2019 version is more fun to play with overall.

NinjagoTier 2Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 2

Avg score

Consensus

WAIT FOR SALE

Brickset Reviews

Editorial Source

Key Pros

✓Superior articulation compared to predecessor with ball joints throughout
✓Individually articulated toes providing robust support
✓Updated and highly detailed head

Key Cons

✕Considerably smaller than predecessor (171 pieces vs 252 pieces)
✕Previous Lloyd minifigure was more appealing with impressive robe and shoulder armour

READ FULL REVIEW

JANG's LEGO Reviews

Expert Video Source

WAIT FOR SALE

"I'm actually willing to bet that a lot of casual Lego fans who are not specifically Ninjago super fans wouldn't even recognize the difference between this and the previous one."

Key Pros

✓Well-articulated with Mixel ball joints allowing extensive poseability
✓Hard plastic head pieces feel better than soft material used in original
✓Stud-shooter function works really well

Key Cons

✕Golden Ninja torso print is lacking in detail and texture
✕Hood shape not ideal (criticized across series)

JUMP TO REVIEW

Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Buy now (1)Wait for sale (1)

Value drivers

Brickset Reviews: Trans-purple Overlord head is a new element; Golden Ninja Lloyd updated design

JANG's LEGO Reviews: Pure Spectral Overlord - an exclusive representation of this character with transparent marbled parts never done before.

Exclusivity

Brickset Reviews: Wide retail

JANG's LEGO Reviews: Set-exclusive minifigures, particularly the Pure Spectral Overlord.

Minifigures & Standout Parts

In this set (6)

Overlord

$13

Overlord - Legacy, 4 Arms

$13

Lloyd

$10

Lloyd (Golden Ninja) - Legacy, Pearl Gold Head

Stone Army Scout

Stone Army Scout, Green Face

Standout parts (per reviewers)

Trans-purple head (Overlord minifigure)Value
New element used for the Overlord's ghostly appearance, decorated with glowing eyes and bared teeth.
Two-piece moulded dragon head
Two unique elements form the Golden Dragon's head with dark green highlights, contrasting with brick-built designs used in other recent NINJAGO dragons.
Wraithlike component (Overlord's lower torso)
A ghostly element replacing standard legs, creating a mistlike form for the Overlord character.
Pearl gold mudguards
Create a brilliant organic shape around the dragon's body and complement the white saddle.
Mixel-style ball joints
New articulation system used throughout the dragon (wings, neck, legs, tail) allowing unprecedented range of motion compared to the original
Modified one-by-one rounded pieces with horizontal bar
Used for toe articulation, allowing individual toes to be angled in and out

What Owners Say · summarized from 28 written reviews (LEGO, Amazon, Walmart)

Owners strongly recommend this set as a well-designed, affordable Ninjago remake with excellent minifigures, though stability and size concerns prevent universal enthusiasm.

COMMON PRAISE