Elemental Dragon vs. The Empress Mech — LEGO set 71796

Official LEGO® image · © LEGO Group and/or the respective rights holders. Source: LEGO Italy ↗

Ninjago · SET 71796

Elemental Dragon vs. The Empress Mech

Jiro faces the Empress’s mech beside a flying vehicle and detachable upgrades.

Pieces: 1,038
Release year: 2023
Theme: Ninjago
Set number: 71796
LEGO recommended age: 9+
LEGO retail price · Italy: 104.99 €

View on LEGO Italy Official building instructions

Retired from the LEGO Italy catalogue when checked on 23 October 2026. Availability can change. Check the store for the latest information.

Retail price reported by the LEGO source for the stated market. Check the store for current price and availability; this does not establish the launch price. LEGO ↗ · Reference checked on 23 October 2026

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Official English name verified at: LEGO English catalogue ↗ · Checked on 24 October 2026.

TIME TO BUILD

How long does it take to build Elemental Dragon vs. The Empress Mech?

Active building time · one person

A starting point for planning your build. Times for each experience level are editorial estimates, not measurements submitted by HowLongToBuild users.

Editorial model estimate · no verified measured building time

Beginner

≈ 5 h 30 minSuggested range3 h 30 min – 8 h

Intermediate

≈ 3 h 30 minSuggested range2 h 15 min – 5 h 15 min

Experienced

≈ 2 h 15 minSuggested range1 h 15 min – 3 h 30 min

Based on one person building the set for the first time, following the original instructions and using numbered bags where supplied. Includes normal piece-finding and minor adjustments; excludes long breaks, filming, dismantling and modifications. Sources may use different methods. This range is neither a statistical interval nor a limit: your build may take less or more time.

How we estimate times · sources and method

Dragon, mech and vehicle with joints and combinable parts need connection tests. The three central durations are model-specific editorial assessments. Planning ranges extend approximately from 65% to 145%, rounded to quarter-hours; they are not measured experience-level averages or guaranteed limits.

Sources do not always specify the builder’s experience. The three experience bands are our editorial assessment, based on the complexity of the set and individual accounts where available.

LEGO Italy · Elemental Dragon vs. The Empress Mech ↗
This source documents the model’s features and components, not a timed build. No sufficiently verifiable individual building-time report has been identified for this set.
LEGO building instructions · Elemental Dragon vs. The Empress Mech ↗
Set-specific instructions checked against the set number, piece count and year. The duration is an editorial assessment based on piece count, construction type, mechanisms and detail.

Checked: 23 ottobre 2026 · Method v1.0 · Limited reports; not a statistical average.

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BEYOND THE BRICKS

Did you know?

The model, the history, the ideas

Inside the set

Dragon upgrades

Add the vehicle’s blade wings and shooters to Jiro.

LEGO source

Two buildable opponents

Articulated mech and dragon are separate models with battle characters.

LEGO source

Beyond the set

The stories, places and inventions behind your build.

Claws could indicate rank

On a Qing robe examined by the Met, five-clawed dragons indicate membership of the imperial family. The number and placement of details carried specific meanings.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A hidden ninth dragon

The robe features nine dragons, one inside, hidden when worn. Even a ceremonial object can hold a detail intended to be discovered at close quarters.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Written by HowLongToBuild · Sources are linked with each story · Checked on 23 October 2026. Historical facts and story details refer to the context described.

BEYOND THE BRICKS

Keep the story going

Films, series, books and music connected to this model or its universe.

TV series

LEGO Ninjago: Dragons Rising

2023

Another adventure in the same universe, for before or after your build.

Find streaming services · Italy ↗

Title search on JustWatch: choose the result matching the title and year above.

Streaming: Italian catalogue. Check availability, languages and terms on the external service. Searches are labelled; book results may include different editions.

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THE COMMUNITY’S EXPERIENCE

What was it like to build?

Three separate scores from 1 to 10. For difficulty, 1 means very easy and 10 means very difficult.

No approved ratings yet. Scores are never generated by this site or inferred from the recommended age.

Building tips from the community

Specific steps, useful checks and sticking points. Contributions appear after moderation, in their original language. Do not upload instruction pages or personal contact details.

No approved tips yet.

SET THE MOOD

A soundtrack for your build

· Selected for the subject and atmosphere

Electronic pulses and orchestral colours accompany structures, wheels and mechanical assemblies. The rhythm suggests movement.

OUR PICK

TRON: Legacy

Daft Punk

Electronic and orchestral · pulsing

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