Lego fans are a funny bunch. We obsess over the shiny new themes, the massive modular buildings, and the latest licensed kits, but then something happens. We look back at a random sub-theme from 2016 and realize it was actually a masterpiece. That’s basically the situation with Ninjago Day of the Departed sets.
Originally released to tie in with a 44-minute TV special, this wave wasn't even a full season. It was a bridge. A spooky, villain-heavy bridge that gave us some of the most creative vehicle designs in the history of the theme. Honestly, if you weren't collecting back then, you missed out on a weirdly specific era where Lego decided to bring back every dead villain and give them a massive tank or a specialized mech. It was chaotic. It was colorful. It was brilliant.
Most people remember the TV special for Cole finally getting his human form back after being a ghost for way too long. But for collectors? It’s all about the plastic.
The Anatomy of a Departed Wave
Let’s be real for a second. Most Lego waves follow a template. You get a small $10 bike, a couple of $30 mid-range vehicles, and one $70+ flagship set. The Ninjago Day of the Departed sets didn't really care about your budget—they just wanted to be cool.
Take the Rock Roader (70589). At first glance, it looks like just another earthy vehicle for Cole. But then you build it. It’s got this chunky, industrial aesthetic that actually feels like it could crush a ghost. It featured those massive rear wheels and a rapid-fire 6-stud shooter. It wasn't just a car; it was a statement. This was the era where Ninjago started leaning hard into the "rugged" look for the Earth Ninja, moving away from the sleek street racers of previous years.
Then you have the Ultra Stealth Raider (70595). If you grew up with the original 2012 Ultra Sonic Raider, this was the ultimate nostalgia bait. It’s huge. It splits into four different vehicles—a helijet, two tread bikes, and a big central tank. It’s peak Lego engineering from that period. It also gave us the return of the original villains, like Chen and Eyezorai, which was a massive deal for fans who had missed out on the Tournament of Elements sets.
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Why These Minifigures Changed Everything
You can't talk about these sets without mentioning the "Stone Armor" variants. Every ninja got a fresh outfit, mostly black with highlights of their signature colors. They looked tactical. They looked like they were ready for a funeral, which, considering the plot of the special, made total sense.
But the real stars were the villains. Because the story involved the "Eclipse" bringing back the spirits of defeated enemies, Lego had an excuse to print updated versions of:
- Samukai
- Kozu
- Cryptor
- Chen
- Pythor (though he never really "died," he was still there)
The Samurai X Cave Chaos (70596) is probably the holy grail of this wave. It’s a massive playset, which is rare for Ninjago because they usually focus on vehicles. It included a launchpad for the Samurai X bike, a prison cell, and a control center. But the real reason people paid $120 for it was the minifigure lineup. You got Nya, Lloyd, Jay, Master Wu, and a bunch of the revived villains. It was a "greatest hits" box. If you own this set today, you're sitting on a gold mine. The resale value has skyrocketed because Lego rarely does large-scale underground bases anymore.
The Weird Ones: Titanium Tumblr and Stealthy Raiding
Lego designers sometimes get a little experimental.
The Titanium Turbo Tumbler (70588) is a perfect example. It belonged to Zane, and it was this weird, angular, white-and-trans-blue armored car. It felt very "Batman," but for a ninja. It had a detachable flyer in the back, which became a recurring gimmick for Ninjago vehicles.
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Why does this matter? Because it showed that Ninjago was evolving. It wasn't just about katanas and dragons anymore. It was becoming a sci-fi fantasy hybrid. The Ninjago Day of the Departed sets were the peak of that transition. They felt heavy. They felt "expensive" even when they weren't.
The Ghostly Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about the Airjitzu Battle Grounds (70590). This set is... controversial. Some people loved the Airjitzu flyers; others hated them. Personally? I think the set itself was a bit flimsy, but it captured the "spooky temple" vibe of the special perfectly. It was one of the few ways to get the Airjitzu versions of the ninja without buying the individual ripcord toys.
It’s a bit of a relic now. Lego moved away from the Airjitzu gimmick pretty quickly, replacing it with Spinjitzu Burst and other launcher-based play features. But for a brief moment in 2016, we had this eerie, overgrown temple set that felt genuinely different from the bright, neon-colored cityscapes of Skybound or the digital world of Prime Empire.
Dealing With the "Aftermarket" Reality
Look, if you're trying to buy Ninjago Day of the Departed sets in 2026, I have bad news for your wallet. These things aren't cheap. Because the wave was relatively small and tied to a TV special rather than a full season, production runs weren't as massive as something like Sons of Garmadon.
If you're hunting on eBay or BrickLink, here's what you need to know:
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- The Ultra Stealth Raider is usually the most expensive to ship because of the weight. Expect to pay way over the original MSRP.
- The Rock Roader is the "sleeper" hit. You can still find it for semi-reasonable prices, and it’s honestly one of the best play-sets for the money.
- Check the stickers. This era of Lego was notorious for stickers that cracked if the set was kept in a sunny room. If you're buying used, ask for close-up photos of the decals.
Honestly, the "Day of the Departed" moniker has become a bit of a cult classic within the community. It represents a time when Ninjago was willing to look back at its own history. It wasn't just moving forward to the next gimmick; it was honoring the villains that made the show great in the first place.
Actionable Steps for Collectors
If you're looking to add these to your shelf, don't just buy the first listing you see. Start by looking for "bulk lots" on local marketplaces. Many parents sold these sets off in large bins of mixed Lego. Since the color schemes—lots of black, dark brown, and grey—are distinct, you can often spot the parts for the Rock Roader or the Samurai X Cave in a pile of random bricks.
Focus on the minifigures first. The "Departed" versions of the villains are unique. Even if you can't afford the full $400 for a sealed Samurai X Cave, you can probably piece together the Samukai or General Kozu figures for a fraction of the cost.
Keep an eye on the joints of the mechs. 2016 was a transition year for ball joints, and some of the smaller ones can get brittle over time. If you’re rebuilding a used set, having a few spare Mixel-style ball joints in your spare parts bin is a lifesaver. This wave is a piece of Ninjago history that proves you don't need a 20-episode season to create iconic toys. It was short, spooky, and surprisingly heavy-duty.
Verify the Cape. The Master Wu figure in the larger sets from this wave often had a fabric cape that is prone to fraying. If you're buying "Complete," make sure that fabric hasn't turned into a mess of threads. It's the small details that preserve the value of this specific 2016 era.
Don't sleep on the small sets either. Even the Kryptarium Prison Breakout (70591) is worth it just for the Captain Soto and Giant Stone Warrior figures. It's a tiny set, but it packs more personality than most $50 sets released today. Grab them while they’re still somewhat attainable before the 15th-anniversary hype cycles drive prices even higher.