Review: LEGO Build-a-Minifigure (BAM) Q2 2023 selection

April 4, 2023 | 5

We’re now in April, the start of the second quarter of the year which means that we have a brand new selection of LEGO Build-a-Minifigure (BAM) parts and characters that will show up in LEGO Stores soon!

There are seven “official” new characters that are part of the Q2 2023 Build-a-Minifigure (BAM) selection to collect, which is much smaller than the 13 characters introduced in Q1 2023.

I was excited to find these in Build-a-Minifigure stations here in Australia, so keep an eye out on your local for when these parts and accessories start cycling in.

Interestingly, we have the blue Wizard making a re-appearance (he first appeared in the Q2 2022 selection) which is a nice surprise for those that missed out.

What are LEGO Build-a-Minifigure (BAM) exclusives?

In case you’re new to this, LEGO have been releasing new (and sometimes exclusives) into Build a Minifigure (BAM) stations that you’ll find at LEGO Stores. These are usually released on a quarterly basis, and are an intentional strategy to attract LEGO and Minifigure fans in-store.

You can customise your minifigures, and select a wig/hairpiece, head, torso, legs, and one accessory for these 3-pack blister packs which cost US$9.99 / AU$19.99.

If you want to get your hands on these, check your local LEGO Store, or if you’re in Australia and can’t get to a LEGO Certified Store, you can order them from the LEGO Certified Store’s website.

Some stores also send these new characters pre-packed, but that depends on your local store policy.

Q2 2023 Build-a-Minifigure characters

The most exciting character in the Q2 Build a Minifigure selection is undoubtedly the Unicorn Knight, garbed in Lion Knight colours. Army-builders will be pleased that she comes with a Lion Knights torso (the ornate version worn by Queen Lionne from 10305 Lion Knights’ Castle).

She also comes with an Épée and a Lion Knights kite shield, which is interesting as you’re only meant to get one accessory per BAM, but they seem to be allowing 2 accessories in this case.

I’m informed that this is because the Unicorn Knight doesn’t come with a hairpiece/headgear, so you get 2 accessories instead.

What really sets the Unicorn Knight apart is her moulded head, which has windswept hair, and horn fused to it, as well as armour plating with a lion symbol on each cheek.

It’s a relic of LEGO Vidiyo, and it looks fantastic with incredibly detailed printing on all sides. I think this is a terribly exciting head option for builders wanting more fantasy-esque medieval characters.

This isn’t LEGO’s first Unicorn-themed knight, as we had Unicorn Guy from Series 18, who was really a Knight in a Unicorn suit, but it does tell us that someone in Billund is a fan of Unicorns and Castles, and think they go well together – which I completely agree with.

Expect the Q2 2023 BAM Unicorn Knight to be really popular, and the “chase” minifigure from this quarter.

Up next we have a Skeleton Pirate, which LEGO Pirates fans will enjoy. It’s pretty self-explanatory – the decomposing remains of an unlucky LEGO Pirate, probably marooned on a deserted island.

He comes with the classic Pirate Captain hat, skeleton head, and a black roman Gladius sword. Most interestingly is the new torso which has a tattered vest and leather strap.

Here’s a look at the Skeleton Pirate’s back printing, which has more of those lovely tattered clothes.

Next we have a really funny minifigure, a short boy in teal swim shorts, with a silver fish as an accessory. He has a chipped tooth, and from the front, he just looks like a curious young lad enjoying a day at the beach. Pretty cute right?

Turns out this little lad is pretty gangster, with a Rubber Duckie back tattoo, and an alternate expression with a bandit’s eye mask!

If the torso looks familiar, it’s because it was previously available in 60333 Bathtub Stunt Bike. It’s one fo the funniest torsos that LEGO have ever produced, and I’m glad it’ll be readily available in Build a Minifigure Stations.

Next we have another previously LEGO City exclusive, with a blue Ice Cream Suit minifigure. The Blue Ice Cream suit was previously available in 60314 Ice Cream Truck Police Chase, and this time, instead of being a criminal, it’s just a regular mascot character.

The Blue Ice Cream mascot has a plain torso, and no dual-sided face but comes with a trans-blue popsicle. The Ice Cream suit is a really fun accessory to collect, and I suspect will prove popular with minifigure fans.

For more City-themed minifigures making an appearance in the BAM Q2 2023 selection, we have this Policewoman in a diver outfit who comes with a doughnut printed tile.

It’s a useful generic character that’s handy if you want to add more police characters to your LEGO City.

The torso was preciously only available in two LEGO City sets previously, the now-retired 60277 Police Patrol Boat, and 60355 Water Police Detective Missions, so it’s kinda rare.

Last but not least is a Gamer Girl, a cool, futuristic looking character with orange sunglasses, and a white game controller element.

She has a bright dress, with some cool equaliser prints on the dress part, which makes me think that this was meant to be a part of the now-defunct Vidiyo theme.

Here’s a look at the back printing, which has more prints on the sloped skirt, as well as a dual-sided face, which has some freckles appear out of nowhere.

I didn’t get the Blue Wizard as I already have one from the Q2 2022 selection, so I’m going to recycle this photo, but instead of an owl, he is meant to have a dark pink Erlenmayer flask as an accessory.

And that’s the LEGO Build a Minifigure (BAM) Q2 2023 selection! Some of these like the Unicorn Knight and Pirate Skeleton are pretty neat, but the rest are fairly middling.

I do like the inclusion of some fun torsos like the Bathtub Stunt Bike rider, and the Blue Ice Cream Suit as fun new accessories to personalise your minifigures, but you can easily find them on Bricklink for cheaper, so don’t feel like you need to go out and get these.

That said, because it’s a Lion Knight, I expect the Unicorn Knight to be incredibly popular, and for Castle army-builders to snap these up, making it relatively hard to find. That said, if you just want the Lion Knights torso or shields, it will work out cheaper if you get them via Pick a Brick Online – the exclusive Unicorn head, however will only be able to be found in Build a Minifigure stations for now.

To check out past releases, check out my older Build-a-Minifigure exclusives reviews!

What do you think of the Q2 2023 BAM minifigures? Have you seen or picked up any of these in the wild yet?

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