When the Lion Knights’ Castle set was released, it thrilled fans of medieval fantasy by delivering everything they had long awaited – a blend of classic aesthetics and modern building techniques, a variety of minifigures including knights, courtiers and villagers, and even the wizard Majisto.
The only apparent omission was a dragon, often associated with the iconic Majisto. The LEGO Creator Medieval Dragon is precisely what could complement this set, though it is well worth acquiring even if you don’t own a medieval castle.
Box Content
This is the first set in which I’ve come across paper bags. Even within the larger ones, there were smaller paper bags containing tiny parts. Although made from paper material, I can say they are sturdy and durable, meaning they won’t get damaged during transport. However, they have designated spots where they can be easily opened.
They also add a touch of mystery since they are not transparent, so you don’t know which parts to expect until you open the bag. The box includes a total of five packs and three building instructions, one for each alternate model.
Building Experience
First, a mini build is created, consisting of a chest with diamonds and a pile of gold. Judging by the two pointed rocks, I assume the treasure is hidden in a cave guarded by a dragon.
The dragon’s construction starts with the body and tail. The parts in different colors used for the alternate builds are cleverly hidden inside, behind the green pieces. The tail is made up of several joints, allowing for a high level of mobility so it can be bent in various directions.
Next, the legs are built, which are distinct enough to avoid repetition during assembly, except for the claws, which are identical. The dragon is designed to stand on four legs, but the legs are flexible enough to allow it to stand on just the two back legs with some effort to achieve perfect balance. The tail and wings, which are built last, can help with this.
Before the wings, the neck and head need to be built. Unfortunately, the neck can only move up and down, limiting its mobility somewhat. The head can rotate and move left and right to some extent, but more neck movement would provide more posing options.
As mentioned, the wings are built at the end. There are parts here that can feel a bit repetitive, which is my personal feeling, but once attached to the dragon, they give it a real sense of size and grandeur. The wings are highly movable, able to fold and spread, rise and fall, and rotate in different directions.
Storytelling Possibilities
The LEGO Creator Medieval Dragon feels like a distant relative of the dragon that could be found in the Castle sets from the 90s. Perhaps Majisto’s dragon was even the inspiration, considering the color scheme is identical – green body with red wings – except this dragon is much larger and more realistic.
You can place it in various scenarios, whether interacting with medieval knights and wizards or modern ninjas from the Ninjago world. It can be a fierce guardian of hidden treasures, a mighty adversary in epic battles, or even a loyal companion in a hero’s quest – its role is entirely up to you.
For the inspiration, you can see some of the photos I took.
Other Builds
Since this is a Creator 3-in-1 set, there are two other creatures you can build if you get tired of the dragon: a phoenix and a sea serpent. Of course, there’s always the option to buy three sets and build all three models at once.
I haven’t had the chance to assemble the other builds yet, and I’m not sure if I will anytime soon since I really like the dragon. However, if you’d like to see what the other two models look like, you can visit the Jang’s YouTube channel, he has reviewed all three variants.
Phoenix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiGGmLpMDAc
Sea serpent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj8hTeQtF5s
Conclusion
The LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Medieval Dragon (31161) is a fantastic set that combines nostalgia with modern design, offering versatility and creativity through its 3-in-1 build options. Whether you choose to display the dragon, assemble the phoenix or sea serpent, or create your own unique designs, this set provides endless possibilities limited only by your imagination. It is available at LEGO.com and is currently priced at $59.99, €59.99 or £54.99.
Thank you for reading!
Zoran Pesic (IG: Bricktoygrapher)
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