News about LEGO Lord of the Rings: Shire Marks Start of Epic Quest

LEGO enthusiasts and fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga, rejoice! LEGO is set to release The Lord of the Rings: The Shire on April 2 for LEGO Insiders, with general availability following on April 5. This enchanting set marks the third installment in the LEGO Lord of the Rings series, following the impressive 6,167-piece Rivendell in 2023 and the 5,471-piece Barad-dûr in 2024. Priced at $269.99, The Shire comprises 2,017 pieces and offers a detailed rendition of Bilbo Baggins' iconic hobbit-hole, perfect for collectors and fans alike.

LEGO LOTR: The Shire - The Beginning of an Epic Quest

The LEGO LOTR: The Shire set, available at the LEGO Store, captures the warmth and charm of the Hobbiton village with its 2,017 intricately designed pieces. The set features rounded walls and curved surfaces, all adorned with an array of accessories, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. IGN had the privilege of testing this set, and while it embodies the charm of its subject beautifully, it's worth noting that it comes with a price tag that seems disproportionately high for its piece count.

We Build LEGO LOTR Shire

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Set #10354 meticulously recreates Bilbo Baggins' hobbit-hole as seen during his "eleventy-first" birthday celebration. This set includes nine minifigures: Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, Mrs. Proudfoot, Farmer Proudfoot, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, Samwise Gamgee, and Gandalf the Grey. The hobbit-hole is built into a green-bricked hillside, with the back cut away to reveal three distinct rooms: the main foyer accessible through the round door, a study to the left, and a dining and sitting area to the right.

Each room is constructed separately and joined via clamps, ensuring a seamless exterior hillside and a cohesive interior living space. The designers have gone to great lengths to evoke the coziness of Bilbo's home, complete with patterned rugs, stacks of letters from well-wishers, and food tucked into every corner. Notable details include a wedge of cheese above the fireplace and a loaf of bread with libations on the windowsill.

The set is rich with artifacts from Bilbo's youthful adventures, including the Mithril Coat in a chest by the door and a well-worn map on a table near the teapot. An umbrella stand by the entrance holds a sword and a parasol, adding to the home's lived-in feel.

A unique feature is the single mechanical element using LEGO Technic, allowing you to switch the fireplace display between a charred envelope and the One Ring, a nod to the pivotal scene in The Fellowship of the Ring.

The rooms' design, wider than they are tall, reflects the canonical hobbit architecture and creates a sense of spaciousness. The interior construction is straightforward, while the exterior demands more attention to detail to achieve the flowing curves of the hillside, offering a tactile experience reminiscent of running your hand over a relief map.

The set emphasizes the harmonious relationship between hobbits and their environment, topped with a tree whose branches extend over the hilltop. Additional exterior elements enhance the set's playability, including a birthday cake, a Party Tree with lanterns, a patterned tent, a red dragon firework, Gandalf's horse-drawn carriage, and a set of barrels with a disappearing Bilbo mechanism.

Despite its charm and simplicity, fitting the humble hobbit lifestyle, The Shire set's pricing at $270 seems steep compared to the traditional 10 cents per brick metric. For comparison, Barad-dûr and Rivendell are priced 16% and 19% below the metric, respectively, while The Shire is 34% above. This pricing disparity raises questions about value, especially when compared to other licensed sets like LEGO Star Wars.

While this set remains the most affordable option for Lord of the Rings fans unable to invest in the larger sets, its per-brick value is less favorable. LEGO's pricing strategy may hinge on the goodwill built with fans and the enduring popularity of Tolkien's world. Only time will tell if this approach is sustainable.

For a delightful visual experience, don't miss the LEGO mini-movie showcasing this set:

LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Shire, Set #10354, retails for $269.99 and is composed of 2,017 pieces. It will be available at the LEGO Store starting April 2 for LEGO Insiders and on April 5 for the general public.

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