Lego Barad-Dur, Rivendell, & Orthanc Comparison | Sets 10333, 10316, & 10237

Just finished Barad-Dur. It’s an unbelievable set. I could look at it for hours, the detail and sheer size is just incredible

Rivendell had 3 of Lego’s top designers, including Mike P. working on it for over 2 years., it is a work of art. Barad Dur has just 1 regular designer and it shows look at the back of it compared to the $400 Disney Castle. My only issue with Rivendell is that almost all other builds I have done since seem like a letdown.

Good review/comparison! While I can appreciate the intellectual or factual criteria that you articulate, at the end of the day, if I'm going to spend a small fortune on a Lego set, it comes down to which one most resonates emotionally, and that would be Rivendell. From a distance, it looks like a painting come to life. It's probably the most beautiful thing Lego has produced, as much a work of art as a pricey toy. The fact that it honors the aesthetic of the movie source material and offers some really cool building experiences is just icing on the cake. Barad-Dur and Orthanc are distant seconds, and the latter selling for sky-high prices on the aftermarket really puts it totally out of any practical contention.

Me and my brother were really on edge of getting Rivendell, however when Barad dur was announced we showed up at the Lego Store June 1st and got it! Both sets are amazing and I’m hoping to get Rivendell sometime soon. Barad dur I think is a phenomenal set that blends the great interior and the outside. Lego sets have a habit of either focusing entirely on the building/vehicles and not having much for interior or figures to mess around (venetor) or the other way around (play sets in general). I love looking at the front of Barad dur and the back. The base of the set was so fun and detailed to build

Oh you made my day! I bought Orthanck when it was out and still have it brand new in perfect box. I had no idea how much it was worth!

For me, I absolutely love Barad-Dûr. Once I can, I'm getting it. The only real issue I have with it, is the dark/light bluish grey, and the dark tan used for the rocky terrain and the bit wrapping around the tower of Barad-Dûr, instead of what would look a lot better, and fit much nicer, dark brown, like Mordor in the films. Most people would say Mordor is black, but no. Paying as much attention to the terrain of Mordor as the action, it's actually 2 different colors. A dark, ashey grey near the Black Gate, while the further in you go, and the closer to Barad-Dûr and Mount Doom you get, it becomes a lot more brown, and dirty, with a bit of orange highlights, especially near Mount Doom. The color of Mordor is the most obvious when Frodo and Sam disguise themselves as Orcs, and when hiking through Mordor to Mount Doom, especially when they're attacked by Sméagol/Gollum on the hills of the volcano in Return of the King. I would've loved it if Lego used dark and some lighter browns to recreate the true color of Mordor for the Dark Tower, Barad-Dûr. Otherwise it's a 10/10 for me.

unpopular opinion: Orthanc is the best looking set for display. I think that the tower being a smaller tower and more simplistic in the movies is an advantage compared to Barad Dur. Barad Dur is cool but the tower itself is a bit too short compared to the base and some other details like the spires just look a bit off due to the sizing. And the entrance being sized to a minifig also makes it look a bit off because when you put minifigs in there they are too big compared to the tower. And again, Orthanc being smaller IRL is a benefit as it doesn't look as odd to have saruman on the balcony as it does having an orc in the entrance of barad dur. and being more simplistic there are less things that proportionally look weird. and for rivendell i can't really say anything except the fact that it's more of a doll house than a display piece. Again, it looks good but imagine having that on display in a living room. it would just look like a lego set while the tower of orthanc i think makes a great display piece on a shelf next to a flower or something.

Thanks, an excellent review as always! I've been eyeing up Rivendell for a while, 😊then Barad Dur came out... I definitely agree with you that for the complexity and beauty Rivendell is the one (to rule them all)

I really like the scaling between orthanc and barad dur. Obviously not accurate at all, but it just feels very right that barad dur is just that bit larger

I didn't know there was a orthanc set.......Rivendell is on my wishlist....and now so is orthanc. I have bardur dar .....just got it first cuz of the free set. And it's a fathers day gift...that I'm gonna wait til to open it.

I cant lie rivendell is a beautiful looking set and and incredible amount of figures but for me as a massive movie and book fan barad dur just comes out on top (Orthanc cant compare to either)

5:00 I can confirm for you that the beard is not dual-molded, but is durable nonetheless.

I just got Barad-Dur over Rivendell at my Lego store, my gf mentioned Rivendell looked like a wedding chapel and I couldn't get it out of my head lmao and it's just a smaller scale imo

I’m glad you brought up how it over hangs off the common ikea book shelve. Not as big of a deal with Barag- Dur but the angle the gazebo section takes in Rivendell is so dramatic.

Rivendell > Barad Dur > Orthanc

Rivendell is my favorite build I've ever done. I never got bored, every section seemed different and exciting, and the end result is simply stunning.

I kinda wish Barad-dur had an in scale version of Orthanc.

I like ALOT the 3 sets, however Orthanc and Barad-dur have an exterior much more accurate to the "real" buildings in the movie

Just finished building Barad Dur and this set is...MASSIVE. I love it. I also bought Rivendell last year (saved for both a big birthday self presents 🤣) And both has the same value to my heart. I'd just say that the piece count doesn't make everything, as Rivendell has HUNDREDS of 1x1 tiles for the roof.

Great Video! I think Rivendell is the best set overall but the others are great too. I wouldn’t be surprised if LEGO is designing a new orthanc right now to match the new style of the other two sets.