Struggling to decide between Rivendell and Barad-dûr for your first LEGO The Lord of the Rings set, especially now they’re both discounted for Black Friday? We’ll help you choose…
The LEGO Group burst back into Middle-earth with a bang in 2023 in 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell, then followed it up with the towering 10333 The Lord of the Rings: Barad-dûr. Both of those sets are currently 15% off at Amazon UK for Black Friday, but with their sizes and prices being what they are, you may only have the space and budget for one. So how do you decide?
Well, you could ask someone who’s built them both. Hello! I’ve been lucky enough to put together both Rivendell and Barad-dûr (though I’ve yet to pick up 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire), and there are plenty of factors worth considering when trying to choose between them, so let’s break it down to see which one comes out on top. Or, if you already know what you want, tap through below to grab your chosen set while Black Friday prices last.
LEGO Rivendell vs. Barad-dûr building experience
First up is the main consideration when buying any LEGO set: what’s it like to build? It’s the reason you’re splashing the cash on a LEGO version of Middle-earth rather than 3D-printing a diorama or something, so for the money you’re spending it needs to be a good time. Both of these sets have plenty to offer in this department, but 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell just about edges it for me.
That’s coming from someone who generally doesn’t like putting together LEGO trees, either, so high praise given Rivendell includes what feels like a small forest. But the techniques here are so next-level that you’re never going to feel bored, while the colour palette feels lovely and autumnal (perfect for this time of year).
10333 The Lord of the Rings: Barad-dûr also offers its fair share of surprises and interesting techniques, especially the further up the tower you go, yet nothing really comes close to hitting the highs of Rivendell’s gazebo or roof. Building in mostly black can get a bit wearisome, too.
LEGO Rivendell vs. Barad-dûr display potential
This is probably the most subjective category and the trickiest one to call, because both Rivendell and Barad-dûr look incredible when finished. Thankfully, they’re both so wildly different that you’ll hopefully have an easier time figuring this one out on your own: do you want a bright and inviting landscape, or a dark and imposing tower?
Consider too how much horizontal or vertical space you’ll need to display them: 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell spreads 75cm wide, while 10333 The Lord of the Rings: Barad-dûr stands 83cm tall. For what it’s worth, Rivendell currently has pride of place in my LEGO office, while Barad-dûr is squirrelled away upstairs awaiting a suitable shelf. It’s just so tall…
LEGO Rivendell vs. Barad-dûr minifigures
10333 The Lord of the Rings: Barad-dûr has some great minifigures – our first-ever Sauron, the returning Mouth of Sauron, and the debut of Gothmog – but it’s hard to look past 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell’s complete Fellowship of the Ring, along with Elrond, Arwen, Bilbo and supporting elves and dwarf characters.
The dealbreaker here might be whether this is your first dalliance with LEGO The Lord of the Rings, or whether you already have versions of these minifigures from the original 2012 range. Barad-dûr contains more brand new characters, so it’s a better call if you’ve already got the previous Fellowship – it helps that the O.G. minifigures still hold up today – but if not, Rivendell is a real shortcut to a complete collection in that regard.
LEGO Rivendell vs. Barad-dûr price and value
10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell is currently £365.49 at Amazon UK, while 10333 The Lord of the Rings: Barad-dûr is £339.85 (representing discounts of £65 and £60 respectively), so there’s not much between them from a price perspective. But when it comes to value, Rivendell does look to be the one to beat – it’s got both more pieces (6,167 vs. 5,471) and more minifigures (15, or 21 if you include the grey statues, vs. 10).
Those stats don’t necessarily tell the full story, because the size of those pieces can be misleading, while Barad-dûr’s minifigures use a greater number of unique moulds. And having built them both and placed them side-by-side, I’ve got to say that they’re pretty much an even split in terms of the amount of LEGO you’re getting for your money – one just shoots wide while the other reaches for the sky.
Suffice to say you won’t be disappointed with either from a value perspective, especially at their current Black Friday prices at Amazon UK, where both these sets are third-party exclusives.
LEGO Rivendell vs. Barad-dur: which one should I buy?
I really enjoyed Barad-dûr (you can check out my full review here), but the impression you’ve probably got from this piece so far is that Rivendell is my preference… and you’d be right. The LEGO Group shot for the stars with its first journey back to Middle-earth in 2023 and succeeded on every front, from the build experience and minifigures to the part palette and the finished model. It’s Brick Fanatics’ current number one LEGO set for a reason.
So, if you’re really stuck between them and don’t know which to build first, I can only recommend setting your sights on 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell this Black Friday. Order yours from Amazon now for only £365.49 while this price lasts.
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