Is the accidentally leaked LEGO Ideas Blacksmith too small? I don’t think so.

January 3, 2021 | 18

Yesterday, Amazon.co.uk gave us an accidental (but very welcome) first look at the upcoming LEGO Ideas set – the Medieval Blacksmith.

Update: The LEGO Ideas Medieval Blacksmith has officially been revealed! Check out the LEGO 21325 Medieval Blacksmith announcement for official photos, pricing and release details!

The LEGO Ideas 21325 Medieval Blacksmith will be released on LEGO.com on 1 February 2021.

Originally designed by Namirob, the original Ideas Project was a hit with longtime LEGO fans, and Castle enthusiasts as it represented an opportunity for a set to return to the glory days of LEGO Castle/Kingdoms, which were a huge part of many childhoods.

The LEGO Ideas Medieval Blacksmith is likely to launch on 1 February, so keep an eye out for an official reveal soon.

The difference in complexity is stark, with LEGO noticably scaling down and shrinking the build, with a drastically simpler roof, chimney and overall footprint.

Reading the comments on social media (including a very funny meme comparing it to a 4+/Juniors set), many LEGO fans were understandably disappointed that LEGO decided to downgrade and “kiddify” what was a highly anticipated Ideas set.

I don’t think it’s such a bad move, and I actually welcome LEGO simplifying and scaling down sets.

Looking at my credit card statement from last year, it has been a really expensive year for LEGO, and 2021 is likely going to be even more painful on the wallet, with what LEGO has been cooking up, and an even bigger focus on 18+/Adult-focused sets this year.

I think it’s a great thing for LEGO to focus on smaller sets that don’t compromise (that much) on build techniques and displayability, and I would love for LEGO to release more “mid-ranged” LEGO sets aimed at adults in 2021.

LEGO isn’t cheap, and not every set needs to cost an arm and a leg, and take up half a dining table to display. The recently revealed Ninjago City Gardens will retail for AU$500, and while LEGO fanatics would not hesitate to drop that kind of money on a highly detailed set, many regular fans can’t and won’t do so on a monthly basis.

Also, for many longtime LEGO fans, the number one problem plaguing us is that we are literally running out of surface area in our homes to display LEGO – so I highly welcome smaller sets that I can easily make space for.

*cough* LEGO Colosseum *cough* I’m looking at you.

I hope to see more sets like the recently released like the Botanical Collection, which are at an accessible price-point, and don’t require a ton of space to display, while looking absolutely stunning as display pieces.

“Midrange” LEGO sets are going to be extremely important to LEGO’s long term success and in pulling in new fans, so this is an exciting space to watch.

So yeah, am I mad that LEGO have dramatically scaled down the Medieval Blacksmith? Not at all – from the looks of it, it still bears an unmistakable classic Castle look, and that Nexo-Shield roof is still gorgeous.

Plus, we haven’t seen the entire set revealed just yet, so I’m reserving judgment till then. For all we know, LEGO could include 2 goats in it, and I guarantee you that all this outrage will soon be forgotten if that happens.

What do you think of the newly revealed LEGO Ideas Medieval Blacksmith? Are you overwhelmed, underwhelmed, or just whelmed? Would you like to have seen a larger more detailed set?

Keep an eye to this blog for the official announcement and reveal of the LEGO Ideas Medieval Blacksmith! You can subscribe to the newsletter and be the first to know when new LEGO announcements break, or when new LEGO reviews are published!

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