LEGO NINJAGO 2026 set has a The Lord of the Rings connection

The first LEGO NINJAGO 2026 set to be revealed has an odd The Lord of the Rings connection, if you know what you're looking for.

LEGO NINJAGO 71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith 15th Anniversary includes several exclusive minifigures, including the special 15th-anniversary Elemental Master of Earth minifigure, taken straight from the Elemental Alliance. It's a significant minifigure for NINJAGO enthusiasts, and one that suggests the rest of the 15th-anniversary selection will follow suit.

For those less familiar with NINJAGO, know that there's another important detail to this minifigure that inherently connects it to LEGO The Lord of the Rings.

The Elemental Master of Earth from the series, first seen in 2015, reused components of existing minifigures with a recoloured design. This includes Gimli's torso from the 2012 LEGO The Lord of the Rings sets, changed to grey instead of a dark red and with a different symbol on his belt. The NINJAGO torso is still undeniably heavily based on The Lord of the Rings print, and that continues with the 2026 minifigure, where the design has been refined with minor modifications.

While Gimli's torso would eventually be amended for 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell, the 2026 NINJAGO minifigure is still based on the original torso design. It's an interesting and accurate detail for fans of both NINJAGO and The Lord of the Rings to spot and point out to their friends when the set launches next year.

The Elemental Alliance Elemental Master of Earth minifigure is exclusive to 71858 Four Weapons Blacksmith 15th Anniversary, which costs £89.99 in the UK, $99.99 in the US, and from €99.99 in Europe.

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