Honestly, if you grew up as a "Lego purist," the idea of switching to Mega (formerly Mega Bloks) might feel like a weird betrayal. I get it. For years, the quality gap was basically a canyon. But things changed. Specifically, things changed when Mattel leaned hard into the Pokemon license. Now, the mega pokemon building toy kit isn't just some knock-off you find in the bargain bin; it’s a sophisticated construction system that does things the "leading brand" simply cannot do because of their rigid design philosophy.
Let’s be real for a second. Lego is about the brick. Everything has to fit that specific, angular aesthetic. That works for Star Wars or Minecraft, but Pokemon? Pokemon are organic. They have curves. They have weird, bulbous heads and spindly tails. When you try to make a Charizard out of standard square bricks, it looks like a pixelated mess. Mega realized this. They started making custom-molded pieces that blend traditional stud-building with posable action figure elements. It’s a hybrid. It’s different. And for a lot of collectors, it’s just plain better.
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The Engineering Behind the Mega Pokemon Building Toy Kit
Most people don't realize that Mattel’s engineers in Montreal are doing some wild stuff with "Motion" sets lately. Take the Jumbo Pikachu or the Butterfree sets. They aren't just static statues sitting on a shelf gathering dust. They use integrated crank mechanisms. You turn a handle, and the wings flap or the legs mimic a running motion. It’s basic mechanical engineering—think LEGO Technic but hidden inside a cute, yellow shell.
The plastic quality has also pulled a total 180. Ten years ago, Mega pieces felt greasy or didn't "clutch" right. You’d build something, and it would just crumble if you looked at it funny. Not anymore. The clutch power on a modern mega pokemon building toy kit is intense. Sometimes it's actually too strong. If you misplace a thin plate, you’re going to need a brick separator and maybe a bit of prayer to get it back up.
Why the "Motion" Series Changes the Game
The Motion Pikachu set is probably the best example of why this line is succeeding. It’s over 1,000 pieces. When you build it, you’re not just stacking blocks; you’re timing gears. If one gear is off by a single tooth, the whole stride of the Pokemon looks hobbled. It’s a challenge. It’s definitely not "just for kids."
I’ve seen adult fans of LEGO (AFOLs) pick these up and get genuinely frustrated—in a good way—by the complexity. It’s a different build flow. Mega’s instructions use a "color fade" system where the previous steps turn grey, and only the new pieces are in color. It sounds small. It’s actually genius. It prevents that "spot the difference" eye strain you get with other manuals.
Comparing Scale: From Micro-Figures to Life-Sized Models
The variety is honestly kind of exhausting. You have the tiny "Wonder Builders" sets that are like five bucks at a grocery store checkout. Then you have the massive, 20-inch tall Mewtwo or the Kanto Region Forest.
One thing Mega does better than almost anyone else is the "Poke Ball" series. They’re blind-ish boxes (usually you can see which one is inside through a tiny window or code) that give you a small figure and a ball to display them on. It’s a brilliant impulse buy. But the real meat is in the "Evolution" sets. These usually feature three versions of a Pokemon—like Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard—showing the growth.
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The Aesthetic Debate: Bricks vs. Molds
This is where the community gets split.
- The Purists: They want every single piece to be a standard brick. If it's a special mold, they call it "POOP" (Part Out Of Place).
- The Realists: They want the Charizard to actually look like Charizard.
Mega uses a lot of specialized pieces. The heads are often custom-sculpted. This allows for printed eyes and expressions that look "on-model" for the anime. If you’re a fan of the 1990s Red and Blue games, seeing a high-fidelity 3D model of Gyarados made of bricks is pretty satisfying. The Gyarados set specifically is a masterpiece of articulation. It’s essentially a long, segmented snake with dozens of ball joints. You can pose it swirling through water, which is something you just can't do with a standard brick-built dragon.
Common Frustrations (Let's Be Honest)
Look, it’s not all sunshine and Rare Candies.
There are issues.
The biggest one? Piece sorting. Mega has a habit of putting pieces for Step 1 in Bag 5. It’s gotten better with the newer "numbered bag" systems, but it’s still not as seamless as the competition. You will likely end up dumping several bags onto a table and hunting for a tiny translucent 1x1 slope. It’s part of the "hobby," I guess.
Then there’s the "marbled" plastic. Mega loves to mix two colors of plastic in the mold to create a textured look—like water or dirt. Sometimes it looks incredible. Sometimes it looks like the plastic was dirty. It’s a bold choice that doesn't always land, but I respect them for trying to add visual texture that isn't just a sticker.
Speaking of stickers: Mega mostly avoids them. Most of the details you see on a mega pokemon building toy kit are pad-printed directly onto the plastic. This is a huge win. Stickers peel. Stickers dry out. Prints last forever.
The Investment Value of Pokemon Construction Sets
Is this a good investment?
Probably not in the way "retired" Lego sets are, but there is a secondary market. Some of the older, discontinued sets like the Series 1 Poke Balls or the massive Comic-Con exclusive sets go for triple their retail price on eBay.
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But you shouldn't buy these to flip them. Buy them because the build process is tactile and nostalgic. There’s a specific "click" when a Mega piece snaps into place. It’s deeper, more metallic sounding than other bricks.
Where to Start Your Collection
If you're looking to jump in, don't start with the 1,000-piece sets. You’ll get overwhelmed by the gear timing. Start with something like the Dragonite or the Typhlosion sets. They’re mid-range. They give you a good feel for the articulation.
You’ll notice that the joints are usually "friction hinges." They’re stiff. They have to be stiff to hold up the weight of the limbs. When you move them, they make a ratcheting sound. It’s satisfyingly sturdy.
Tactical Advice for Building Mega Sets
Since these kits have unique properties, you need a different strategy than you’d use for other building toys.
- The "Knolling" Requirement: Because Mega's bag numbering can be chaotic, you must organize your pieces before building. Lay them out by color and size. If you don't, you will spend 20 minutes looking for a specific teal piece and lose your mind.
- Watch the Orientation: Mega pieces often have very subtle directional cues. A slope might look symmetrical, but it’s not. Check the studs.
- The "Snap" Test: If a piece feels like it’s not going on, don't force it with a hammer, but do give it a firm press. Sometimes the tolerances are very tight.
- Gear Alignment: If you're building a Motion set, test the mechanism every single time you add a gear. Don't wait until the end. If it binds at step 50 and you’re on step 300, you’re going to have a bad time.
Final Thoughts on the Build Experience
The mega pokemon building toy kit has carved out a niche that isn't just "cheaper Lego." It’s a different hobby. It’s more like building a posable model kit that just happens to be compatible with bricks. For a Pokemon fan, the accuracy of the sculpts and the sheer scale of the larger sets make them the definitive way to "build" the Kanto or Sinnoh regions.
Don't let the brand name hold you back. The engineering in the Motion series alone is enough to justify the price tag. Just be prepared for a slightly more "wild" building experience than you might be used to. It’s a bit messy, a bit challenging, and weirdly rewarding when that mechanical Pikachu finally starts taking its first steps across your desk.
Next Steps for Your Collection:
- Check the Year: Stick to sets released after 2020 for the best plastic quality and instructions.
- Verify the Piece Count: If you want a display piece, aim for the 400+ range. Anything smaller is more of a "toy" than a "model."
- Check Retailers: These often go on deep clearance at big-box stores like Target or Walmart during seasonal shifts, unlike other brands that keep price floors high.
- Inspect the Prints: When you open the box, check the printed face pieces immediately. While rare, printing errors can happen, and Mattel’s customer service is usually pretty good about sending replacements if you catch it early.