15 years, 22 seasons, over 400 sets, and more dragons, mechs, and Spinjitzu spins than most fans can even keep track of. LEGO Ninjago isn't just a theme world – it's the longest-running original story LEGO has ever told. If you're new or have lost track, you'll quickly run into the same questions: which season goes with which sets, where's the best place to start, and which set is actually worth your money?
That's exactly what we're solving here – with a complete, season-by-season overview of every LEGO Ninjago set, real sales data instead of guesswork, and buying advice for every budget.
Table of Contents
- The Early Days (2011–2013)
- The Golden Era of Evil (2013–2016)
- Time Travel and the Movie (2016–2018)
- Sons of Garmadon to Legacy (2018–2020)
- New Threats (2020–2022)
- The Reboot: Dragons Rising (2023–2026)
- Duskfall – The Current Era
- The Real Fan Favorites (By Clicks)
- Rankings: Biggest, Priciest, Best Deals
- Buying Guide By Budget
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Early Days (2011–2013)
It all starts in 2011 with four ninja, four elemental powers, and an evil Lord Garmadon escaping the Underworld. The early sets (Season 1) are sought-after classics today – boxy design, playful mechs, and the first appearances of Kai, Jay, Cole, and Zane as minifigures now traded among collectors.
Season 1
Season 2
The second wave brings bigger, more complex builds – the golden dragon and Kai's fire mech set the first real highlights.
The Golden Era of Evil (2013–2016)
Season 3 is where Ninjago grows up: Ninjago City as the setting, Nindroids as a new enemy faction, and with "Battle for Ninjago City" (70728), one of the best-selling and priciest sets in the entire line. Seasons 4 and 5 bring the Tournament of Elements and the Cursed Realm – two of the most atmospheric phases in the show's history.
Season 3
Season 4
Season 5
Time Travel and the Movie (2016–2018)
Seasons 6 and 7 experiment with flying cities and time travel, before the standalone 2017 feature film "The LEGO Ninjago Movie" spawns its own, visually distinct set line – recognizable by its boxier, more comic-inspired design and minifigure variants found nowhere else.
Season 6
Season 7
Ninjago Movie (Spin-off line)
Not part of the numbered main seasons, but a standalone branch popular with collectors – the sets tied to the theatrical movie.
View all Ninjago Movie sets (18) →
Sons of Garmadon to Legacy (2018–2020)
Many long-time fans consider this stretch (Seasons 8 through 12) a second golden age: elaborate mechs, the fan-favorite Oni Titan, the return of classic villains, and with "Empire Temple of Madness," one of the largest and most detailed sets in the whole line.
Season 8
Season 9
Season 10
Season 11
View all Season 11 sets (13) →
Season 12
View all Season 12 sets (10) →
New Threats (2020–2022)
Seasons 13 through 16 bring fresh enemy factions and, with the Crystal King, one of the show's most visually striking villains – before the full reboot follows in 2023.
Season 13
Season 14
Season 15
Season 16
The Reboot: Dragons Rising (2023–2026)
In 2023, LEGO takes a bold step: a complete visual reboot, new lead characters alongside the familiar ninja, and a strong focus on dragons as a core play feature. For newcomers, this remains the most recommended starting point, since no prior knowledge from 12 years of backstory is required.
Dragons Rising – Season 1
View all Dragons Rising Season 1 sets (14) →
Dragons Rising – Season 2
View all Dragons Rising Season 2 sets (22) →
Dragons Rising – Season 3
View all Dragons Rising Season 3 sets (22) →
Dragons Rising – Season 4
View all Dragons Rising Season 4 sets (13) →
Duskfall – The Current Era
The latest development: "Duskfall" gives the reboot era its darkest chapter yet – including the Ultra Dragon set, which at over 2,000 pieces ranks among the biggest current releases.
The Real Fan Favorites (By Clicks)
Storytelling is nice, but what do Ninjago fans actually care about? We analyzed our own click data from the past nine months – across every price-comparison link (Amazon, LEGO, eBay) plus the "collector info" expandable box combined. The result is surprising: the top spots go almost exclusively to older, partly already-retired classics – a clear sign that many Ninjago fans are specifically hunting for sets that have long since disappeared from regular retail.
- 1Dawn Of Iron Doom (#70626) Season 7
- 2Epic Dragon Battle (#9450) Season 1
- 3Attack Of The Morro Dragon (#70736) Season 5
- 4Ultra Sonic Raider (#9449) Season 1
- 5Fangpyre Wrecking Ball (#9457) Season 1
- 6Kais Blade Cycle (#9441) Season 1
- 7City Of Stiix (#70732) Season 5
- 8Enter The Serpent (#70749) Season 4
- 9Coles Tread Assault (#9444) Season 1
- 10Battle For Ninjago City (#70728) Season 3
Based on: internal click analysis Aug. 2025 – Apr. 2026 across all comparison providers.
Notably, seven of the top ten most-clicked sets come from the first five seasons (2011–2016) – the era in which many of today's active collectors first got into the hobby as kids themselves. That's less nostalgia coincidence than hard market logic: these sets are largely retired, which makes them pricier on the secondary market, and that's exactly why a price comparison pays off the most here.
Rankings: Biggest, Priciest, Best Deals
Most Pieces
- 1
Ninjago City Markets 6,163 pcs - 2
Ninjago City Gardens 5,686 pcs - 3
Ninjago City 4,867 pcs - 4
The Old Town 15th Anniversary 4,851 pcs - 5
Ninjago City Docks 3,553 pcs
Most Expensive Sets (RRP)
- 1Ninjago City Markets £370
- 2The Old Town 15th Anniversary £300
- 3Ninjago City £300
- 4Ninjago City Gardens £300
- 5
NINJAGO City Workshops £250
Biggest Discount Right Now
- 1
Kai's Elemental Fire Mech -37% - 2
Jay's Transforming Car -34% - 3
Zane's Ultra Combiner Mech -34% - 4
Cole's Mission Mech & Dragon Zane -33% - 5
Jay's Dragon Mech Fight -32%
Buying Guide By Budget
Under 30 €: The Affordable Entry Point
30–80 €: The Sweet Spot
Over 100 €: The Showpieces
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Ninjago season is best to start with?
For newcomers with no prior knowledge, "Dragons Rising" (starting 2023) is the most recommended entry point – the story begins completely fresh, with no need for 12 years of backstory.
Why don't the season numbers match up with TV listings?
Because TV broadcasters, streaming services, and international set numbering have historically counted differently. We consistently number by set release order here.
What's the rarest LEGO Ninjago set?
Among collectors, early, limited sets from Season 1 are especially sought-after, along with the exclusive "5002144 Dareth vs. Nindroid" set – check out our Season 3 overview for details.
Is it still worth buying retired Ninjago sets?
Yes, often especially so – the fan favorites from the early seasons listed in this article are largely unavailable through regular retail anymore and are mostly only traded via third-party sellers. A price comparison is particularly worthwhile here.
Every set, every season, live with current prices: find the complete Ninjago theme world and our current Ninjago deals updated daily on our site.
