The Pirate week finale is here. This themed week ends with a look at the top 10 biggest pirates sets produced by the LEGO® Group! A while back, I looked at the biggest ships ever produced. However, the focus of that list was not the pirates theme (click here to view it). Additionally, it covered only on sail-and-mast ships. Today’s list excludes themes like Pirates of Caribbean, Lord of the Rings, and Ninjago. It also includes sets that are not ships. With out further ado, the top 10 biggest pirates sets based on brick count are…
10. Eldorado Fortress
- SET #: 6276
- BRICK COUNT: 506
- MINIFIGURES: 8
- YEAR: 1989
- NOTES: This was only one of two sets to feature Governor Broadside Minifigure. The other was the Caribbean Clipper ship.
09. Brickbeard’s Bounty
- SET #: 6243
- BRICK COUNT: 592
- MINIFIGURES: 8
- YEAR: 2009
- NOTES: The shark in this set was large enough to eat a Minifigure whole!
08. Imperial Trading Post
- SET #: 6277
- BRICK COUNT: 608
- MINIFIGURES: 9
- YEAR: 1992
- NOTES: This was the largest of the “good guys” sets from the original Pirates theme run of the ’80s and ’90s. Rather than a battle ready schooner, this set featured a merchant’s ship.
07. Redbeard Runner
- SET #: 6289 (also 6290)
- BRICK COUNT: 703
- MINIFIGURES: 7
- YEAR: 1996
- NOTES: This set was re-released in 2001 as set 6290. The newer version had 698 bricks. Additionally, the quarter deck of this ship was built to fall off and simulate battle damage during play.
06. The Brick Bounty
- SET #: 70413
- BRICK COUNT: 745
- MINIFIGURES: 7
- YEAR: 2015
- NOTES: This ship features a plank for captured imperial soldiers to walk, and a hold for hiding a treasure chest.
05. Pirates Chess Set
- SET #: 40158
- BRICK COUNT: 857
- MINIFIGURES: 20
- YEAR: 2015
- NOTES: While not a traditional Pirates set, this kit was branded as part of the theme. Additionally, this set comes with the largest number of Pirates Minifigures of any set in the theme.
04. Black Seas Barracuda
- SET #: 6289 (also 10040)
- BRICK COUNT: 909
- MINIFIGURES: 8
- YEAR: 1989
- NOTES: One of the most popular Pirate ships, this set was re-released in 2002 as set # 10040, with 906 pieces. It is also the first pirate ship the LEGO® Group produced.
03. Skull’s Eye Schooner
- SET #: 6286
- BRICK COUNT: 912
- MINIFIGURES: 9
- YEAR: 1993
- NOTES: This set came with four cannons, but could actually house eight.
02. Imperial Flagship
- SET #: 10210
- BRICK COUNT: 1664
- MINIFIGURES: 9
- YEAR: 2010
- NOTES: This ship was built with removable deck sections so that you could access the cannons and galley below decks. Even though it was technically a Creator Expert set, the ship was clearly designed with the Imperial Guards logo, and based on the pirates theme. As such, it is the largest classic “Pirates” ship produced to date.
01. Pirates of Barracuda Bay
- SET #: 21322
- BRICK COUNT: 2545
- MINIFIGURES: 8.5 + 2 skeletons
- YEAR: 2020
- NOTES: This set is part of the LEGO® Ideas theme. However, the story included with the set is an extension of the Pirates story from the ’80s and ’90s. Even Captain Redbeard is the same. Additionally, the shipwreck in the set is faithfully based on the Black Seas Barracuda.
Avast me hearties, this be the end!
So concludes Pirate Week at True North Bricks! I hope you enjoyed reading along as much as I enjoyed producing these posts. I am feeling so nostalgic. Consequently, the thought of dismantling my LEGO® city and building a Pirate empire has even crossed my mind! I truly hope that Pirates of Barracuda Bay proves popular and brings back this amazing theme. What are your thoughts? Do you have a favorite set from the list? Please comment below or shout out on social media.
Until next time,
-Tom
For more Pirate Weeks posts, check out:
- Let the Jolly Roger Fly (Minifigure Monday)
- LEGO® Pirates Coming Soon! (News)
- Pirates of Barracuda Bay (Review)
- Old Versus New Pirate Pieces
- Pirates coloring pages
- Classic Pirate Minifigure set (Review)
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