LEGO Reviews Ninjago71736

Boulder Blaster

Name: LEGO Boulder Blaster 71736
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 71736
Rating: 4.74 (135 reviews)

70 · RECOMMENDEDINVESTMENT GRADE: BBB2021449 pcsHigh agreement · 91%

Expert reviews

4analyzed

Owner ratings

135

Consensus

BUY

BrickScore

Recommended

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"The Boulder Blaster is a purpose-built play set that delivers exactly what Ninjago fans want: a dramatic shooting vehicle, a companion rescue build, and enough complexity to keep kids engaged for hours, backed by 135 owner ratings averaging 4.74 out of 5 and a 98% recommendation rate."

The Ninjago Legacy Boulder Blaster is a well-regarded play set that consistently delights younger builders with its shooting mechanism and large, distinctive plane design. Reviewer scores and owner ratings align closely: 135 ratings across Amazon and LEGO.com average 4.74 out of 5, with 98% of LEGO buyers recommending it and value-for-money rated 4.65 out of 5. The set earns its Recommended tier on strong play credentials rather than parts depth or minifigure prestige.

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LOVED (7)

01Spinning front cannon with satisfying shooting mechanism that fires pieces a notable distance
02Distinctive, unconventional plane silhouette unlike standard aircraft designs
03Included side build (prison structure with drop-door mechanism) adds play variety
04Numbered bag system made building organized and accessible for kids
05Four Ninjago minifigures including a golden figure that drew collector interest
06Well-engineered shooting trigger mechanism noted as thoughtfully designed
07Approachable for children aged 6 to 12 building solo or with a parent

CRITICIZED (5)

01Shooting mechanism can fire multiple pieces at once, making recovery of projectiles difficult
02Small piece sizes require careful supervision for younger children
03Minifigure selection scored the lowest expert aspect at 61.3
04Value-for-money expert score (54.9) suggests some question about pricing relative to piece count
05Primarily a play set with limited display appeal compared to other Ninjago models

What reviewers are saying

"this feels to me like a like a Lego Ninjago movie version of of a thing"

JANG's LEGO Reviews

"One of the major draws of the Ninjago Legacy theme is the wide variety of minifigures that are often included. The Boulder Blaster does pretty well in this category with two unique figures, one new to this wave of sets, …"

The Brothers Brick

"Countless fun and creative vehicles are available within the NINJAGO range, memorably including 70747 Boulder Blaster which makes outstanding use of spring-loaded shooters."

Brickset Reviews

"The original Boulder Blaster was released in 2015, and I remember semi-regretting not picking it up."

Jay's Brick Blog

Ecosystem

Original Boulder Blaster (season four set) — Definitely a huge improvement. This version has elevated the appearance, elevated the build, and feels like the original 'grown up to me.' Feels like a Lego Ninjago movie version of the original thing. Larger, especially taller. Better looking on display. Better build quality. Better play features maintained and refined.

70747 Cole's Boulder Blaster — The 2021 edition has upgraded styling and improved jet compared to the 2015 original. Updates feature a larger and more detailed jet with jungle-themed prison replacing the small brick-built temple from the original.

70747 Boulder Blaster — Visually superior with far better detail and a magnificent new canopy design. Fuselage appears considerably larger and bulkier. Wings are much more detailed with appealing golden blades. However, the shooting function is disappointing and works less smoothly than the original. The hand grip positioning is unchanged from the original but remains problematic. Overall a visual upgrade but with compromised play function.

70839 The Rexcelsior! — Unlike The Rexcelsior!, the Boulder Blaster's hand grip is positioned too far from the missile activator for single-handed use.

NinjagoTier 2Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 4

Avg score

Consensus

BUY

JANG's LEGO Reviews

Expert Video Source

BUY

"this feels to me like a like a Lego Ninjago movie version of of a thing"

Key Pros

✓Huge improvement over the original Boulder Blaster set
✓Impressive height for a LEGO vehicle
✓Excellent color balance and regality

Key Cons

✕Cole does not include a weapon (missing hammer) despite being a main hero in a combat-based series
✕Azor is another antagonist from season four; reviewer feels a different villain should have been chosen to provide variety

JUMP TO REVIEW

The Brothers Brick

Expert Video Source

BUY

Key Pros

✓Upgraded styling from original
✓Sturdy construction with good Technic integration
✓New dual-molded canopy piece

Key Cons

✕High per-piece cost at ~9 cents
✕Sticker sheet arrived creased in box

JUMP TO REVIEW

Brickset Reviews

Editorial Source

"Countless fun and creative vehicles are available within the NINJAGO range, memorably including 70747 Boulder Blaster which makes outstanding use of spring-loaded shooters."

Key Pros

✓Far superior visual detail compared to 70747 Boulder Blaster
✓Magnificent new cockpit canopy with golden accents and remarkable moulded decoration
✓Several excellent minifigures included

Key Cons

✕Spring-loaded shooting mechanism is surprisingly stiff and difficult to operate smoothly
✕Missiles cannot be launched in rapid succession with consistency

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Jay's Brick Blog

Editorial Source

WAIT FOR SALE

"The original Boulder Blaster was released in 2015, and I remember semi-regretting not picking it up."

Key Pros

✓The rapidfire missile firing mechanism does not disappoint
✓Golden Kai minifigure is a great memento to celebrate Ninjago's 10th anniversary
✓Boulder Blaster design is bigger and better than ever

Key Cons

✕The pricetag is extremely high for what you're getting
✕Could do with another Anacondrai minifigure

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Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Buy now (2)Wait for sale (1)

Value drivers

JANG's LEGO Reviews: Special edition 10 Years of Ninjago Kai minifigure with metallic printing and pearl gold plastic. However, reviewer criticizes the minifigure lineup overall (missing Cole's hammer, inclusion of Azor).

The Brothers Brick: Golden Kai anniversary figure with unique printing and exclusive stand

Exclusivity

JANG's LEGO Reviews: Ninjago Legacy series, appears to be a standard retail release at $40 USD

The Brothers Brick: Golden Kai exclusive to this set; Cole has corrected typo making it set-exclusive; standard retail wide availability

Resale

Jay's Brick Blog: May appreciate among collectors due to the exclusive Golden Kai, but not primary value driver is the high initial price

Minifigures & Standout Parts

In this set (8)

Kai - 10th Anniversary Golden Ninja

$14

Kai - Legacy

$14

Cole - Legacy, Rebooted, Ninjago Logogram 'MASTER' on Torso

Lloyd - Legacy, Rebooted, Ninjago Logogram 'MASTER' on Torso

Cole

Lloyd

Eyezor

Standout parts (per reviewers)

Dual-molded canopy piece
Reviewer notes it could be recolored in future sets (gray, white, olive green variants imagined). Currently useful for custom creations. Described as having an interesting and compelling combination of shapes for MOC builders.
Spring-loaded shooters with bolt ammunition
Non-stud shooters that fire bolts, making them easier to recover than lost studs. Mechanism is smooth and works both left and right-handed due to mirrored design.
Printed cockpit piece (Ninjago Movie style)Value
Introduced in the Ninjago Movie; appropriate to the set's aesthetic. Well-designed with good color scheme.
Large sticker sheets
Initially appeared imposing but proved worthwhile once applied. Reviewer initially skeptical but ultimately approves of their integration.
Dual-molded canopy in gold and transparent black
New part, begs for reuse in fan steampunk builds
5×8 curved slopes in black
New color for this part

What Owners Say

Boulder Blaster is a well-received Ninjago action set that hits the mark for its target age range, praised for its shooting launcher, clear instructions, and strong play value, with complaints limited to minor sticker and missing-piece issues.

COMMON PRAISE

+The shooting/launching mechanism is the most praised feature, called out as fun and effective, with multiple reviewers noting kids play with it for hours after the build is done
+Build difficulty is described as well-calibrated for ages 7-12, challenging enough to engage without overwhelming, with many kids completing it independently or with light help
+Numbered bag organization and clear instructions are praised by parents and kids alike for keeping the build organized and approachable
+Ninjago minifigures, especially the golden Kai anniversary figure, are a strong draw for fans of the theme

COMMON COMPLAINTS

−A few buyers received sets missing pieces (a cockpit shield, a sticker sheet), which caused significant disappointment given the price
−The launcher fires multiple studs simultaneously, making them hard to collect afterward unless used in a contained space
−One 2-star reviewer, familiar with the original version, felt the Legacy remake was noticeably less faithful to the TV show design than the set it replaced

Ninjago action playShooting launcherKid-friendly difficultyMinifigure appealStrong play value

Buyer Ratings