Put Those Bricks Together And Shout, “Dracarys!” 🐉 🔥
Back in 2024 Costco started stocking the then-new LEGO® Set 80112 Auspicious Dragon. At 1,171 pieces and a $89.99 retail price, it was a steal at the time. Now in 2026? That set is officially retired (December 2024 cutoff) and sealed copies are running around $175 on the secondary market — nearly 2x retail in under 18 months. The Auspicious Dragon was the highlight of the 2024 Spring Festival wave, and if you missed it, your best comparable today is the new Year of the Horse Spring Festival lineup (80118 Fortune Firecracker and 80119 Galloping Horse Canvas) that dropped January 1, 2026. While that newer wave does not feature a dragon specifically, the same cultural-set investment thesis applies. Below, let’s walk through four more LEGO® dragon sets perfect for fantasy brick fans.
LEGO® NINJAGO Arin’s Rising Dragon Strike 71803
Let’s be real, this set is straight-up adorable. It features Riyu, a small yellow-golden dragon that you can place Arin on top of while he faces a Wolf Mask Warrior armed with a khopesh — the cool sickle-shaped sword from Bronze-Age Egypt seen in films like The Mummy. I would buy the set just for the weapon LEGO® accessory. The dragon has unique ABS-molded pieces just for the set. Originally $9.99 retail, it retired in November 2024 and sealed copies are now around $14–$15. At a 27-piece, 5-minute build with two minifigures, this is still wicked value even at the slight aftermarket bump.
LEGO® NINJAGO Jay’s Thunder Dragon EVO 71760
Jay’s Thunder Dragon, Wisp, goes through his “EVO” or “evolve,” which is a function added by LEGO® designers to let you enhance your build with additional sets and parts. This dragon is more of a base model. Originally $19.99 retail, it retired in December 2023 and sealed copies now sit around $29. You still get Jay, Wisp, a Viper Flyer, and 140 pieces in a roughly 30-minute build that drops a detailed elemental dragon onto your shelf. The NINJAGO LEGO® set has been around long enough to amass 1,318+ Amazon reviews at 4.8 stars, and the post-retirement bump confirms the cult following.
LEGO® Creator 3-in-1 Red Dragon 31145
Truly, LEGO® must love adorable dragon sets. Moving away from NINJAGO, we get the Red Dragon 31145, a 149-piece Creator 3-in-1 that lacks minifigures but lets you build a little red dragon, a phoenix, or a bright red fish from the same parts. The dragon is easily the best of the three because it looks like a baby “Red” from the Spyro video game franchise. Still active at $9.99 retail and on Amazon, this is one of the only dragon sets in this roundup you can still grab at MSRP — best entry-level dragon buy in 2026.
LEGO® Shang-Chi Battle at The Ancient Village 76177
I saved the best for last. Set 76177 was the original LEGO® Chinese-mythical dragon — it contains the “Great Protector” from the Marvel hit Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. With 400 pieces, the Great Protector looks like a white and blue Auspicious Dragon. The four exclusive minifigures (Shang-Chi, Xialing, Wenwu, and Death Dealer) are the real draw. Originally $39.99 retail, it retired in January 2023 and sealed copies are now around $36 — still right around retail with a 4-figure exclusive minifig payload. Wicked value for any Marvel collector. Rated 4.8 stars across 1,002+ Amazon reviews, and one of the highest-rated Marvel LEGO® sets ever made.
The Dragon Investment Angle (May 2026 Update)
Here is the quiet story on LEGO® dragons in 2026: Chinese cultural and mythological dragon sets keep outperforming standard fantasy dragons on the secondary market. The Auspicious Dragon 80112 nearly doubled in 18 months. The Shang-Chi Great Protector held its full retail value through retirement plus 3 years of aftermarket trading. The same pattern is showing up in early flips of last year’s Spring Festival wave. If you missed the 80112 window, the next play is grabbing the new Year of the Horse Spring Festival sets (80118, 80119) and the summer June 1 drop (80120 Prosperity Carp Leaping, 80121 Ancient Moon-Gazing Inn) at retail — they will follow the same pattern after their own retirement cycles. For the broader investment thesis, see why big LEGO® sets are a definite buy and how LEGO® retires sets in general.
For the build-only crowd: stick with the Creator 3-in-1 Red Dragon (still under $10) or hunt the NINJAGO Jay’s Thunder Dragon EVO at its post-retirement price. Both are quick builds with strong fantasy display value. The Shang-Chi Great Protector remains the most overlooked value play in the entire dragon category.
Not All LEGO® Dragons Are Equal
This roundup covers a multitude of dragon builds that should light a fire under your hands for a great building session. Whether adorable, fierce, or mythological, there is a LEGO® dragon ready to be created, played with, or displayed in your home. The retired sets above have crossed over from cheap impulse buys to genuine collector items — the Creator Red Dragon at $10 remains the easiest entry point. Cheers and happy building.
Frequently Asked Questions About LEGO® Dragon Sets
What is the most valuable LEGO® dragon set?
As of May 2026, the LEGO® Auspicious Dragon (80112) leads the value chart, sitting around $175 sealed (up from $90 retail) since retiring December 2024. The Shang-Chi Great Protector 76177 holds steady around retail with strong long-term minifig appeal.
Is the LEGO® Auspicious Dragon retired?
Yes — the Auspicious Dragon (80112) retired in December 2024 after about 14 months at retail. Sealed copies now trade around $175 on the secondary market, with forecasts pointing to $200+ in the next two years.
What is the cheapest LEGO® dragon set in 2026?
The Creator 3-in-1 Red Dragon (31145) is still at its $9.99 retail price and remains the easiest entry point to a buildable LEGO® dragon. The retired NINJAGO Arin’s Rising Dragon Strike (71803) is the next-cheapest at around $14–$15 sealed.
Are LEGO® Chinese New Year dragon sets a good investment?
Historically yes — LEGO® Spring Festival cultural sets have consistently outperformed standard fantasy dragons after retirement. The Auspicious Dragon nearly doubled in 18 months. The 2026 Year of the Horse wave (80118, 80119) is the spiritual successor and is expected to follow a similar pattern.
Which LEGO® dragon set has the best minifigures?
The Shang-Chi Battle at the Ancient Village (76177) is the winner with four exclusive Marvel minifigures (Shang-Chi, Xialing, Wenwu, and Death Dealer) plus the Great Protector dragon. Unbeatable for the price.
