Lego Zelda: Great Deku Tree review

The Lego Zelda: Great Deku Tree 2-in-1 set is a perfect tribute to the iconic Legend of Zelda series. The wise Deku Tree, a figure in several Zelda games, including Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild, takes center stage in this stunning display. With this set, you can choose between two enchanting designs: a lush green tree featuring Deku Babas and the Deku Sprout from Ocarina of Time, or a cherry blossom version in full bloom, surrounded by Silent Princess flowers and Koroks from Breath of the Wild.

They both capture the beauty of the series, making this a must-have for Zelda fans of all ages. This sense of covering different eras is what makes it one of the best Lego sets for adults without losing its appeal for kids. While it might not be one of the biggest Lego sets ever made, having two huge and vastly different configurations is a really interesting distinction.

Specs

Lego Zelda: Great Deku Tree specs:

Design

No matter which design you choose to build, you’ll receive Hestu, the Sacred Pedestal, and Link’s House—providing a perfect place to display the four bundled minifigures. Both versions faithfully capture the essence of the games. And yes, Navi is included too! “Hey, listen!” You can even swap out Navi’s colors, with the blue version featuring a pearlescent finish—a nice touch that allows your Navi to change colors just like in the game. My only concern is figuring out what to do with the extra colored pieces when it’s not in use.

The Breath of the Wild set transports you straight into the heart of the Great Hyrule Forest. Adorned with Silent Princess flowers, Hylian shrooms, and even a cooking pot, the level of detail is remarkable. The Master Sword is removable, adding to the set’s playability. Hidden inside the removable sides of the Deku Tree are secret compartments containing a Sheikah Slate terminal, and spherical and cubed remote bombs. Atop the tree, a Korok and a fairy hang out… just like in the game! This set has benefited from LEGO’s expertise in botanical builds, with the cherry blossoms adding vibrant color and depth to the design. One of the standout features is its interactivity—you can move a mechanism on the back of the tree to open and close its mouth.

The Ocarina of Time version may appear more minimal, but it captures the nostalgic and untamed atmosphere of Kokiri Forest, evoking its wild and perilous nature. This set also includes interactive features: pressing a button releases a menacing Skulltula that drops down to surprise you. It also features a Deku Sprout and menacing Deku Babas. Just like in the game, the Deku Tree’s mouth opens to reveal a hidden dungeon, adding a sense of adventure to the build. Turn the set around to reveal a dungeon complete with a chest. (Queue the chest opening music!)

This set includes four minifigures—two from each game—each with reversible heads to change their expressions. They come with accessories like the Kokiri Sword, Deku Shield, Zelda’s Sheikah Slate, and the Ocarina of Time itself. But let’s focus on Hestu – he looks impressive and his little maracas even make noise when shaken! Just seeing him instantly brings to mind his delightful dance, capturing his endearing nature.

Ease of assembly

Initially, I found the instructions confusing. Being a 2-in-1 set, I expected two separate booklets, but this isn’t the case. Instead, you start building Young Link’s house, Hestu, the Sacred Pedestal, and the base of the Deku Tree before branching off into your chosen design. You can either continue with the Breath of the Wild Deku Tree or skip ahead to build the Ocarina of Time version. Whichever version you choose the instructions offer tidbits of information. For example, when assembling the mushrooms, it shares details about the various types, like Endura Shrooms.

This set is marketed at adults, however, this is not reflected in the assembly process for both designs. It offers roughly seven hours of building… more if you build both. At times steps are repetitive, like creating the branches. Some steps are technical, incorporating Technic elements for the interactive mechanism that uses several axles. I found this section tricky—not because it was difficult, but because I was building after a long nine-hour workday. This is likely where the challenge comes in for many adult builders, who, like me, maybe tackling this after a full day of work. But, overall, the build process is fun. It’s the perfect activity to pair with a lo-fi rendition of your favorite Zelda tune.

I ran into a few structural issues during each build. Since I was working on a slightly uneven surface, parts of the base kept popping off, which made the process frustrating. I also encountered a problem with one piece that wouldn’t stay attached. On top of that, there was a typo in the instructions—one step called for two pieces, but I couldn’t find them anywhere. After spending time searching, I realized the set didn’t require two pieces at all. This small error ended up causing unnecessary confusion.

Switching between designs can be difficult. I began with the Breath of the Wild set before moving to Ocarina of Time, and the process of dismantling the first set piece by piece was time-consuming. In the end, I disassembled it before sorting it into colors. This sped up the process. It’s certainly worth opening up any leftover bags and seeing what you can build. For instance, if you build the Breath of the Wild version, you can open up a leftover bag and build the Deku Babas, Sprout, and Skulltulla.

Pricing

At first glance, the price of this set—$299.99 / £259.99 —might seem daunting. That’s a lot of rupees to invest on a single set. However, when you break it down, it comes to just $0.12 / £0.10 per piece. While there’s nothing quite like the Deku Tree on the Lego market let’s compare it to the Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon’s Tale set. This costs around $0.10 / £0.08 per piece, which shows that the Deku Tree is a little pricier. But given that it’s a Nintendo-licensed product, this premium price is to be expected.

Verdict

The Breath of the Wild version immerses you in the Great Hyrule Forest with its rich details and interactive features, while the Ocarina of Time version captures the wild essence of Kokiri Forest with its own unique surprises. Although marketed to adults, the assembly process can be repetitive and I faced some structural challenges. Rebuilding the opposite design can present a challenge. However, it ultimately delivers a fun build. Priced at $299.99 / £259.99, it may seem steep but it’s worth it.

If you love Zelda and all things Nintendo, we also have lists of best Lego Donkey Kong sets and the best Lego Animal Crossing sets that are worth reading. I hope we’ll see even more in future.

Source: Wargamer