LEGO Reviews Star Wars75251

Darth Vader's Castle

Name: LEGO Darth Vader's Castle 75251
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 75251
Rating: 4.9 (4247 reviews)

76 · RECOMMENDEDINVESTMENT GRADE: BBB20181,060 pcsHigh agreement · 91%

Expert reviews

3analyzed

Owner ratings

4.2K+

Consensus

BUY

BrickScore

Recommended

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"Darth Vader's Castle earns its Recommended BrickScore of 75.9 with near-universal owner approval (4.9 stars across 4,247 ratings) and reviewer praise for its atmospheric interior, exclusive Bacta Tank Vader figure, and dual role as display centrepiece and playset. The only consistent friction is the above-average price per piece and the absence of a Krennic or Stormtrooper to complete the Rogue One scene."

Reviewers are overwhelmingly enthusiastic about Darth Vader's Castle, praising it as a near-perfect blend of display model and interactive playset rooted in Rogue One's iconic Mustafar setting. Owner sentiment mirrors expert consensus almost exactly: 4,247 ratings average 4.9 out of 5 across Amazon and LEGO.com, with 94 percent of LEGO.com buyers saying they would recommend it. At a BrickScore of 75.9, the set earns a Recommended verdict that is strongly reinforced by some of the deepest owner approval figures in the Star Wars lineup.

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LOVED (7)

01Striking dark silhouette and overall castle aesthetic that photographs beautifully on a shelf
02Three distinct interior levels with unique play scenes: bacta tank chamber, meditation room, and Rogue One meeting room
03Translucent red window bricks that glow dramatically when backlit
04Mini TIE Advanced that seats Darth Vader (cape on) via a clip at the rear
05Two exclusive minifigures: Bacta Tank Darth Vader and Imperial Transport Pilot
06Build described as engagingly varied despite the castle walls looking repetitive from the outside
07Sturdy construction that can be picked up and moved without concern

CRITICIZED (6)

01No Director Krennic or Stormtrooper minifigure despite the Rogue One connection, a gap many reviewers noted
02Interior levels feel cramped once figures are placed inside
03No baseplate on the bottom, limiting stability when the TIE Advanced is docked
04One instruction-step ordering error noted (step 147 requires removing a piece placed in step 142)
05Value-for-money consensus (57.2) is the weakest aspect score, reflecting that large panel pieces inflate piece count relative to price
06Mini TIE Advanced seen as slightly underwhelming compared to the rest of the set

What reviewers are saying

"Darth Vader's foreboding fortress on Mustafar was introduced during Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and has subsequently appeared in several different comic series"

Brickset Reviews

"The Castle itself presents pretty well I would say as a display item it has good visual presence in a room"

JANG's LEGO Reviews

"We were certainly impressed with a few of the building techniques and the many play features of the finished model, at $130 for just over a thousand parts and only one canonical new minifig, 75251 Darth Vader's Castle is…"

The Brothers Brick

Ecosystem

75222 Betrayal at Cloud City — Both sets feature minifigure-scale starfighters (Slave I from Betrayal at Cloud City, TIE Advanced x1 from Darth Vader's Castle). Reviewer would love to see a range of popular vehicles matching the scale of both.

10188 Death Star — TIE Advanced x1 bears resemblance to vehicles from Death Star, constructed at similar scale, but employs several unique building techniques.

75159 Death Star — TIE Advanced x1 resembles vehicles from this set, constructed at similar scale. Latest Royal Guard version only available elsewhere in this set. Latest version of TIE Advanced x1 slightly larger than its predecessors.

75203 Hoth Medical Chamber — Luke Skywalker from this set has similar black harness detail to bacta tank Darth Vader. Bacta tank features darker color scheme than bacta tanks from this set.

Star WarsTier 2Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 3

Avg score

Consensus

BUY

Brickset Reviews

Editorial Source

"Darth Vader's foreboding fortress on Mustafar was introduced during Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and has subsequently appeared in several different comic series"

Key Pros

✓Monolithic exterior looks spectacular on display
✓Trans-red windows and trans-orange lava flow create striking visual impact
✓Excellent detail despite monochromatic color scheme

Key Cons

✕Minifigure selection disappointing due to missing Director Krennic and Vaneé
✕Back of standard Darth Vader torso not printed (though obscured by cape)

READ FULL REVIEW

JANG's LEGO Reviews

Expert Video Source

BUY

"The Castle itself presents pretty well I would say as a display item it has good visual presence in a room"

Key Pros

✓Good display presence and visual presence in room
✓Good coverage from multiple angles, not just one camera angle
✓Well-designed hinged vehicle bay for easy figure access

Key Cons

✕Price is higher than desired (JANG would prefer $110 USD)
✕Meditation chamber lacks the interlocking look desired

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The Brothers Brick

Expert Video Source

WAIT FOR SALE

Key Pros

✓Excellent building techniques, especially the clever engineering of the three-sided angled structure
✓Many play features and interior details across four levels
✓Impressive height (16 inches) and presence in person

Key Cons

✕Poor value at $130 for ~1000 parts, mostly black plates
✕Extensive repetitive sticker application required

JUMP TO REVIEW

Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Buy now (1)Wait for sale (1)

Value drivers

Brickset Reviews: Exclusive bacta tank Darth Vader minifigure with unique black breathing mask never before seen in black, plus unique facial expression

The Brothers Brick: The unique naked bacta tank Darth Vader variant could drive some collector interest, though the overall minifig selection is not strong.

Exclusivity

Brickset Reviews: Limited distribution; LEGO.com exclusive in some regions (as noted in comments), Amazon exclusive in others

JANG's LEGO Reviews: Amazon and LEGO stores exclusive in the US

Resale

Brickset Reviews: Likely to appreciate. Early comments note strong retail availability issues and region-specific restrictions (LEGO.com exclusive in some areas), which may support secondary market values.

The Brothers Brick: No strong aftermarket growth expected. The reviewer anticipates discounts relatively soon and suggests buyers wait for sales.

Minifigures & Standout Parts

In this set (5)

Imperial Transport Pilot (Athex)

$37

Darth Vader (Bacta Tank)

$32

Darth Vader (Type 2 Helmet, Spongy Cape)

$20

Imperial Royal Guard - Dark Red Arms and Hands, Spongy Cape

Mouse Droid (MSE-6-series Repair Droid) - Tile with Clip

Standout parts (per reviewers)

Black breathing mask elementValue
Exclusive to this set, has not appeared in black before, used for bacta tank Darth Vader minifigure
Trans-red windows
Beautiful pyramidal shape; look especially good when lit from behind
Trans-orange lava
Stands out against surrounding walls and flows underneath fortress into valley; creates striking visual contrast
8x8x6 rock pieces
Used for cliff formations on either side of fortress; provide excellent detail and contrast
2x2 angled tiles
Form attractive shape on TIE Advanced x1 wings
Printed trans-black dish on cockpit
Covers opaque 4x4 round plate; looks superb from exterior

What Owners Say

Darth Vader's Castle is a standout display and play set that almost all buyers love for its striking look, exclusive minifigures, and clever interior details, with only scattered complaints about fragility, price, and a missing character or two.

COMMON PRAISE

+Imposing, movie-accurate appearance that impresses on display; translucent red windows are frequently called beautiful, especially with light shining through
+Exclusive Bacta Tank Vader and Imperial Transport Pilot minifigures are widely praised as the highlights of the set
+Thoughtful interior with multiple distinct rooms including meditation chamber, bacta tank room, and command center
+Solid construction overall with a sturdy base; mini TIE Advanced is called one of the best mini builds in the Star Wars line

COMMON COMPLAINTS

−A few owners report pieces that do not stay connected, making the set feel fragile when handled
−Missing minifigures are a recurring wish: Director Krennic, Momin, and additional stormtroopers are the most commonly requested
−Some buyers find playability limited given the scale, with interior rooms feeling cramped and hard to access
−Stickers and one instruction step noted as out of order by several builders

striking display pieceexclusive minifigsdetailed interiormini TIE Advancedfragility concerns

Buyer Ratings