Released: June 2024
Pieces: 5,471
Minifigures: 10
Price: €459.99
Theme: Icons / Lord of the Rings
Age Range: 18+
When LEGO announced they were following up Rivendell with Barad-dûr, fans were ecstatic, I was ecstatic, and rightly so. This isn’t just another big black tower. It’s a sprawling, richly detailed love letter to Sauron’s dark domain and a masterclass in vertical LEGO design. Since my dad read me those first words “In a hole in the ground, there live a Hobbit” – I was hooked. This would have been some evening for bedtime reading in the late ’70s – we had the Hobbit at home, in secondary school it was either Adrian English or my Aunty Agnes who I’d discuss the Lord of the Rings at length with. And when LEGO releases sets like this I am still hooked
The Build Experience
Barad-dûr arrives in four weighty boxes, each bringing you deeper into the tower’s secrets. It took over 20 hours to build, and not a single moment felt repetitive. From the crumbling obsidian architecture to the eerie Eye of Sauron that rotates ominously at the top, every level feels distinct and narratively loaded.
There’s a dungeon (complete with skeleton), a throne room with a Palantír, hidden passages, working traps, and a smattering of ghoulish decor that truly makes it feel like the Dark Lord’s HQ. Even the Eye lights up with a brick-built illusion that’s far cleverer than any sticker or printed tile.
Minifigures
The minifigure lineup is stellar:
- Sauron (finally!)
- Mouth of Sauron
- Gollum
- Frodo (with the Phial of Galadriel)
- Sam
- Orcs galore
- A Gothmog-like orc general
- And even a doomed Gondorian spy
Sauron himself is a highlight, towering over the others with custom moulded armour and a mace that means business.
Display & Playability
At 83cm tall, this is a true display piece. But unlike some adult-targeted builds, it’s surprisingly playable. Hidden compartments, rotating elements, and interactive trapdoors make it a dream for storytelling. Whether you’re a kid or a grown-up reliving Second Age fantasies.
What We Loved
- The Eye of Sauron build is brilliant and imposing.
- Rich in LOTR lore and references.
- Minifig selection is nearly perfect – 10 exclusive to this set.
- Great balance of display value and play functions.
What Could Be Better
- It’s expensive, though you do get what you pay for.
- Limited to Mordor characters; don’t expect Aragorn or Legolas here.
- Not modular like Rivendell, this is one vertical, fixed unit.
Final Verdict
Barad-dûr is more than just a LEGO set. It’s an event. Whether you’re a Tolkien fan, a collector of epic builds, or someone who just appreciates darkly beautiful LEGO architecture, this set delivers.
RedmondReviews Score: 9.6/10
One Brick to Rule Them All.
