LEGO® NINJAGO is one of those themes that never completely disappears from the shelves: new dragons, mechs and ninja suits keep pulling fans back in. Since 2011 it has grown into a full universe with a long-running TV series, dozens of seasons and hundreds of sets and minifigures.
What is LEGO NINJAGO, exactly?
NINJAGO started in 2011 as a combined LEGO theme and TV show about a team of elemental ninja protecting the land of Ninjago from villains like Lord Garmadon and the Serpentine. The core team – Kai, Jay, Cole, Zane, Lloyd and later Nya – learned different forms of Spinjitzu, a stylised spin-attack that quickly became a play feature in sets.
From the start, NINJAGO was designed as a story-driven line: sets, minifigures and vehicles are tied to specific seasons and villains, but almost everything still uses standard LEGO connections so builders can remix parts into their own mechs, temples and dragons.
Short history of the NINJAGO theme
NINJAGO was originally planned as a three-year theme, but fan response kept it alive well beyond that. After a short “finale” arc in 2013, the theme returned with Rebooted and has continued through multiple eras, including a soft reboot around 2019 and the newer Dragons Rising series from 2023 onward.
Over time, the look of sets shifted from simpler spinner-based playsets to much more complex mechs, modular temples and large dragons, while the TV show experimented with different animation styles and story arcs.
LEGO NINJAGO seasons in order (quick overview)
Here’s a high-level view of the main seasons in story order, without going into spoiler detail.
Classic era (2011–2016)
- Pilot episodes – introduction of the ninja, Sensei Wu and Lord Garmadon.
- Season 1: Rise of the Snakes – Serpentine tribes, Lloyd’s origins.
- Season 2: Legacy of the Green Ninja – Ninjago City, prophecy around Lloyd.
- Season 3: Rebooted – Nindroids, tech-heavy Ninjago.
- Season 4: Tournament of Elements – elemental masters and a battle tournament.
- Season 5: Possession – ghost villains and cursed powers.
- Season 6: Skybound – sky pirates led by Nadakhan.
- Day of the Departed (TV special) – one-off reunion with past villains.
- Season 7: Hands of Time – time-controlling enemies and Nya’s story.
Sons of Garmadon & Oni era (2018–2022)
- Season 8: Sons of Garmadon – biker gang cult, darker tone.
- Season 9: Hunted – split story between resistance and dragon hunters.
- Season 10: March of the Oni – Oni invasion and end of the original branding.
- Season 11: Secrets of the Forbidden Spinjitzu – ice and fire chapters.
- Season 12: Prime Empire – video game-themed world.
- Season 13: Master of the Mountain – underground kingdom and Skull Sorcerer.
- Season 14: The Island – smaller arc on a mysterious island.
- Season 15: Seabound – Nya’s water powers and undersea city.
- Season 16: Crystallized – major villains team-up and conclusion of this era.
Dragons Rising era (from 2023)
- NINJAGO: Dragons Rising – Season 1 – Ninjago merges with other realms, new heroes like Arin and Sora join veteran ninjas.
- NINJAGO: Dragons Rising – Season 2 – continues that merged-realm storyline with new dragons, villains and mechs.
Iconic ninjas, villains, sets and parts
NINJAGO’s staying power comes from its cast and toy-etic designs. The core ninja each have distinct colours and elements – Kai (red, fire), Jay (blue, lightning), Cole (black, earth), Zane (white, ice), Lloyd (green, energy) and Nya (teal, water). Villains range from snake tribes and ghost armies to biker gangs, ice emperors and crystal-powered foes.
For builders and collectors, certain elements have become classics: ornate ninja hoods, dragon head moulds, specialised sword pieces, printed armour, and unique recolours of slopes and blades used in mechs and temples. Those same parts are highly sought-after on the secondary market when people want to build custom mechs or expand the Monastery, City or Temple layouts.
How to get into NINJAGO now (watching and collecting)
If you or your kids are new to NINJAGO, there are two easy entry paths:
- Story-first – start with the pilots and Season 1–2 to learn who the ninja are, then skip ahead to a modern arc like Sons of Garmadon or Dragons Rising once you’re comfortable with the basics.
- Set-first – pick one current wave of sets (for example a dragon + a mech) and then watch the matching season; this is often how kids naturally discover the show.
From there you can collect minifigures by favourite ninja suits (ZX, Rebooted, Tournament, etc.), by villains, or by specific parts you like for MOCs – golden weapons, dragon wings, trans-coloured blades and so on.
Where CrocoBricks fits in for NINJAGO fans
Because NINJAGO has run for well over a decade, many of the best figures and parts are no longer in current sets. A specialist like CrocoBricks helps you:
- Hunt down older NINJAGO minifigures and rare villain factions without buying sealed, expensive sets.
- Pick up extra copies of useful parts – armour, weapons, dragon heads, coloured blades – for custom mechs and temples.
- Mix eras: for example, classic ZX ninja heads on modern Dragons Rising suits, or army-building with Sons of Garmadon bikers.
FAQ
How many LEGO NINJAGO seasons are there?
Counting from the 2011 pilots through Crystallized and then NINJAGO: Dragons Rising seasons, there are over 15 main seasons plus specials; exact numbering varies slightly between regions, but the order above follows LEGO’s own breakdown.
Do I have to watch everything from the beginning?
It helps to start with the pilots and Season 1–2 to learn the characters, but many fans jump in at big arcs like Sons of Garmadon or Dragons Rising and then go back to fill in earlier seasons later.
Are NINJAGO sets still being made?
Yes. LEGO continues to release NINJAGO waves tied to newer seasons like Dragons Rising, alongside occasional Legacy style sets inspired by classic seasons.
Which NINJAGO sets are best for getting lots of parts?
Larger dragons and mechs usually include many useful joint elements, armour panels and recoloured blades that are great for MOCs; smaller vehicles are good for specific minifigures and weapons.
Can I still get minifigures from older seasons?
Officially retired sets are hard to find new, but the minifigures and parts circulate on the secondary market; shops like CrocoBricks specialise in exactly those loose NINJAGO figs and elements.
