LEGO Reviews Ninjago71702

Golden Mech

Name: LEGO Golden Mech 71702
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 71702
Rating: 4.8 (1068 reviews)

84 · HIGHLY RECOMMENDEDINVESTMENT GRADE: A2020489 pcsHigh agreement · 99%

Expert reviews

2analyzed

Owner ratings

1.1K+

Consensus

BUY

BrickScore

Highly Recommended

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"The Golden Mech justifies its BrickScore of 83.5 as a confident Legacy upgrade that surpasses the original on articulation, finish, and minifigure quality, backed by 1,068 owner ratings averaging 4.8 out of 5 and a 100% would-recommend rate from LEGO.com buyers."

The Golden Mech (71702) is a Legacy redesign of the iconic 2013 Temple of Light mech, and both expert reviewers agreed it is a clear improvement over its predecessor in articulation, detail, and overall build quality. It earned a BrickScore of 83.5 in the Highly Recommended tier. Owner enthusiasm is extremely strong: 1,068 ratings average 4.8 out of 5, with LEGO.com buyers awarding a perfect 100% would-recommend rate and a play experience score of 4.86 out of 5. The inclusion of knee joints, a rarity among modern LEGO mechs, was the defining feature praised by both expert reviewers.

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 (10)

01Knee joints providing exceptional posability rare among modern LEGO mechs
02Perfect balance of white and pearl gold color scheme throughout
03Finished and consistent appearance around the back and sides, uncommon for LEGO mechs
04Articulated fingers and individually movable limbs
05Superior Golden Ninja Lloyd figure with pearl gold color, dual-molded headgear, and proper scabbard
06Distinctive 8x8 printed canopy dish
07Secure axle pin slot weapon-holding mechanism in the hands
08Good value at $39.99 for approximately 500 pieces
09Straightforward build with nice piece integration using modern parts
10Strong play experience that holds up for younger and older fans alike

CRITICIZED (8)

01Only General Kozu is a truly unique minifigure; Lloyd and Wu appear in other sets
02Waist cannot rotate, limiting posing variety
03Hand rotation omitted due to structural space constraints
04Exposed Technic components on the chest appear awkward
05Combination of curved cockpit slopes with shoulder armor could have been better resolved
06JANG considered it slightly overpriced and would have preferred a $35 price point
07Limited spare parts included
08Lacks the temple scenery context of the original Temple of Light set

What reviewers are saying

"It's actually a complete redesign that is on the market today basically mostly for the sake of nostalgia but also because well I mean mechs never really go out of style."

JANG's LEGO Reviews

"71702 Golden Mech looks superb in official images and takes inspiration from the attractive 70505 Temple of Light, albeit without the actual temple and focusing upon the mech."

Brickset Reviews

Ecosystem

Temple of Light (2013) — The new Golden Mech is 'unquestionably much better than the original' with more articulation, larger size, better detail, more sturdy construction, more enjoyable build, and superior finish quality. The original included a smaller mech but cost $70 originally. While both sets feel slightly overpriced, the new set offers better value considering completeness and build quality. The new golden ninja figure is also superior to the original despite being less bulky, with better quality dual-molding and proper scabbard.

70505 Temple of Light — Improved upon original model with exceptional articulation including knee joints and better proportioned thighs. Updated canopy design is superior. More substantial modern equivalents like 70676 Lloyd's Titan Mech appear more substantial and incorporate more advanced construction techniques, but 71702 offers unrivalled articulation.

70676 Lloyd's Titan Mech — Previous model appears more substantial and incorporates more advanced construction techniques but 71702 offers unrivalled articulation so looks outstanding on display.

NinjagoTier 2Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 2

Avg score

Consensus

BUY

JANG's LEGO Reviews

Expert Video Source

"It's actually a complete redesign that is on the market today basically mostly for the sake of nostalgia but also because well I mean mechs never really go out of style."

Key Pros

✓Significantly more articulation than the original Temple of Light mech
✓Larger and more imposing presence on display
✓Better detail and overall build quality

Key Cons

✕Slightly overpriced; reviewer would prefer $35 price point
✕Limited spare parts included

JUMP TO REVIEW

Brickset Reviews

Editorial Source

BUY

"71702 Golden Mech looks superb in official images and takes inspiration from the attractive 70505 Temple of Light, albeit without the actual temple and focusing upon the mech."

Key Pros

✓Exceptional articulation with flexible knee joints (unrivalled among recent mechs)
✓Perfect balance of white and pearl gold color scheme
✓Distinctive 8x8 printed canopy dish

Key Cons

✕Only General Kozu is a unique minifigure; Lloyd and Wu appear in other sets
✕Waist cannot rotate

READ FULL REVIEW

Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Buy now (1)Wait for sale (0)

Value drivers

JANG's LEGO Reviews: Golden Ninja Lloyd with superior pearl gold color and dual-molded headgear piece; Master Wu classic outfit

Brickset Reviews: General Kozu as the only unique minifigure; others are updated versions of previously released characters.

Exclusivity

JANG's LEGO Reviews: Not discussed; appears to be standard retail release

Brickset Reviews: Standard retail release

Minifigures & Standout Parts

In this set (8)

General Kozu

$24

Kozu - Legacy

$20

Lloyd

$13

Lloyd (Golden Ninja) - Legacy, Pearl Gold Head, Shoulder Armor

$10

Stone Army Scout

Wu Sensei - Legacy, Black Robe

Sensei Wu

Stone Army Scout, Yellow Face, Black Quiver

Standout parts (per reviewers)

Printed chest/torso piece for Golden Ninja LloydValue
Major print, new graphic design that is more detailed than the original Temple of Light version
Dual-molded headgear piece for Golden Ninja LloydValue
Dark green is crisp with proper edges all the way around, superior to original design approach
Single-slotted scabbard for LloydValue
Holds single sword securely; improvement over original design where sword kept falling out
Axle pin slots in hands
Allows weapons to be held securely in place without falling out during manipulation
8x8 dish element
Printed with metallic gold and red across the element; the broad canopy above the cockpit is among the most distinctive features. Pearl gold coolie at the centre.
Pearl gold Technic wingsValue
Central structure makes clever use of these elements creating delightful texture; such detail was lacking from the 2013 mech.

What Owners Say · summarized from 13 written reviews (LEGO, Amazon, Walmart)

LEGO 71702 Golden Mech is a highly praised set among Ninjago fans and mech enthusiasts, consistently praised for sturdy construction, excellent minifigures, and good value, with no significant complaints identified across 26 reviews.

COMMON PRAISE