We take a look at two new LEGO Harry Potter sets released earlier in 2023, LEGO Hogwarts: Room of Requirement (#76413) and LEGO Triwizard Tournament: The Black Lake (#76420).
The LEGO Harry Potter theme goes from strength to strength following its reintroduction in 2018, and the first set we look at is LEGO Hogwarts: Room of Requirement.
The Room of Requirement was a secret room within Hogwarts castle, located on the 7th floor, that only appeared when a person was in need of it. We first learn of its existence in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth book of the series. This is the second time LEGO have created a set based on the room, the first was in 2020 (#75966) and was made from just 193 pieces and was based on a scene from Order of the Phoenix, whilst this years set has 587 pieces and is based on a scene from the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
The set is modular and combines in various different ways to create a LEGO version of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It features a brick-built section of the castle that opens up for easy play and can be reconfigured in different ways (see images), with a colour scheme similar to that of the other sets released from the theme over the last couple of years. The detachable upper-level room is where we find The Grey Lady, one of five unique minifigures in the set. Inside the Room of Requirement we find a bounty of items that can be stacked up, as seen in the films, along with a buildable record player, diadem, cupboard, and other objects.
Other minifigures include all new versions of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, and Blaise Zabini, plus we get a Cornish Pixie figure and a buildable Fiendfyre, a dark magic curse that produces enchanted flames capable of destroying almost anything in its path, that can rebuilt into a fire serpent. Harry, Hermione and Draco are wearing their own clothes as they are not attending school due to the return of he who must not be named.
The set is well constructed and fits well within Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with a good mix of minifigures. It is priced fairly competitively at £44.99 although we would’ve appreciated a bigger room with more accessories. We hope that the LEGO Group continue to expand the famous school over the coming years, without the need to come up with another different modular system.
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LEGO® Hogwarts™: Room of Requirement (76413)
Age: 8+; 587 pieces; Price: £44.99 / $49.99 / 49.99€
Recreate a magical room that can only be discovered by someone in need with the LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™: Room of Requirement playset (76413) for ages 8 and up. It features a brick-built section of Hogwarts castle that opens up for easy play. The Room of Requirement is packed with stacks of items, including a buildable record player and a diadem element, and there is detachable upper-level room for The Grey Lady.
Iconic characters
Bring the escape scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ – Part 2 to life with 5 minifigures – Harry Potter, Hermione Granger™, Draco Malfoy™, Blaise Zabini and The Grey Lady – plus a Cornish Pixie figure and a buildable Fiendfyre figure that can be rebuilt into a fire serpent. This LEGO set connects with others in the series to create an entire Hogwarts Castle.
The second set is based on one of the three challenges from the Tri-Wizard Tournament in the fourth Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. This is also the second time LEGO have created a set based on this particular scene, the first was in 2005 (#4762) called Rescue from the Merpeople and was made from 175 pieces. Both the old and new set depict the very same scene with a pier and underwater scene and even the same five minifigures.
The minifigures are all unique to this set including Harry Potter with flipper elements, mid-legs, and his surname emblazoned on the back or his torso with two facial expressions, one of which features gills due to Harry consuming Gillyweed. Viktor Krum features the same shark head from Series 15 of the Collectable Minifigures and his torso features the Durmstrang crest on the front. Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley are both wearing Gryffindor house robes and feature an exclusive facial expression with closed eyes. The final minifigure is a new version of the Merpeople in sand green utilising a hair and tail piece from VIDIYO. For the first time ever we get a Grindylow water demon which looks splendid, it is just a shame we only get one.
As you would expect with over three times as many pieces, the new incarnation of the pier and underwater scene are much more detailed than previously, with the sections being able to be easily separated for better play, being joined by just four studs.
The pier and viewing area is constructed from brown bricks to represent wood, with a white structure and a green roof. It’s obviously not in scale, but it represents the scene nicely and provides a place for the spectators to watch the challenge, and a place for Potter and Krum to dive off into the Black Lake, there’s even a function that helps achieve this.
The underwater section is very similar to the design of the previous set, featuring an archway on the water bed in various shades of green and blue. Hermione and Ron are held in place by flexible rods that hold the chains taut, giving the appearance of floating in the water. We also get a rowing boat, which is a direct reference to the original 2005 set.
Compared with the Hogwarts: Room of Requirement (above) this set features 238 fewer pieces and the same number of minifigures, but costs just £5 less at £39.99. We love the minifigures and the set’s design but it is very expensive and we suggest you wait for it to be discounted.
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LEGO® Triwizard Tournament: The Black Lake (76420)
Age: 8+; 349 pieces; Price: £39.99 / $44.99 / 44.99€
Kids can stage a spellbinding contest with the LEGO® Harry Potter™ Triwizard Tournament™: The Black Lake (76420) playset. A top gift idea for kids aged 8 and up, it features a buildable underwater scene with an arch ruin, 2 caves and flexible LEGO elements to create the effect of 2 minifigures floating. There is also a pier model, with a minifigure-diving function, which can be placed on top of the underwater scene.
Iconic characters
Bring a classic Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ scene to life with 5 LEGO minifigures, including Harry Potter with flipper elements and Viktor Krum with a shark head element to help them rescue Hermione Granger™ and Ron Weasley™. Fans will also be inspired to play by the Merperson minifigure, new-for-March-2023 Grindylow figure and accessory elements such as the Gillyweed potion.
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We thank LEGO for proving these sets for review. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
