Ninjago retirements to watch in April 2026
Ninjago has 99 sets scheduled to retire, which is a large exit wave for a single theme. The market data here shows two very different stories at once. At the top end, the big NINJAGO City models are already trading above retail while still available, with NINJAGO City Gardens at $402.93 against a $349.99 retail price and NINJAGO City Markets at $432.86 against $369.99. That usually points to persistent demand, not just short-term hype.
Below that, several older Ninjago sets already have very large premiums. Monastery of Spinjitzu is at $351.92 on a $79.99 retail price, a 340.0% premium. Castle of the Forsaken Emperor is at $380.00 on a $99.99 retail price, a 280.0% premium. Those numbers matter because they show where collectors have historically paid up once a set leaves shelves. The ranking below mixes current premium, projected price, annual growth, and the specific traits that tend to keep Ninjago demand alive after retirement: display scale, army-building or exclusive minifigure appeal, and builds that represent a major location, vehicle, dragon, or mech in the line.
Summary table
Ranked sets
#1 NINJAGO City Gardens
NINJAGO City Gardens is the clearest blue-chip set in this group. The reason is simple: it combines large-scale display appeal with direct compatibility with the NINJAGO City sub-line, and those city expansions have a collector base that behaves more like the premium display market than the average action theme. When a set is part of a modular-style skyline and owners want the full run, demand often stays firm after retirement.
The numbers back that up. Retail is $349.99, current estimated value is $402.93, and the current premium is 15.1%. That is not the biggest premium in this ranking, but it is notable because the set is already above retail at a high entry price. The 2-year projection is $493.44, with a yearly price change of 11.2%.
It also has scale on its side: 5,685 pieces, 19 minifigures, and a 4.80 rating. A set this large does not need explosive annual growth to stay near the top of an investment ranking. It already has collector-grade positioning. Among retiring Ninjago sets, this is the one that looks most like a long-term anchor piece rather than a short spike candidate.
#2 NINJAGO City Markets
NINJAGO City Markets is close to City Gardens in profile, but the market is reading it a little differently. It has the highest retail price in this ranking at $369.99 and the highest current estimated value among these retiring sets at $432.86. That gives it a 17.0% premium, slightly better than City Gardens today, even though its 2-year projection is lower at $481.40.
The annual growth rate, 5.6%, is modest next to some of the older retired Ninjago hits. Even so, this set has a strong case because it is a giant city expansion with 6,163 pieces, 21 minifigures, and a 4.90 rating, the highest rating in the list. That matters. Ninjago collectors are selective, and the city line has become one of the few parts of the theme that crosses over cleanly into adult display collecting.
Why rank it behind City Gardens? Mostly because City Gardens has the stronger 2-year projection at $493.44 and a slightly more established role in the city lineup. Markets still looks strong, but its current story is more about broad collector demand than fast price movement. For a set at this scale, that is still a very good sign.
#3 Land Bounty
Land Bounty is where this ranking shifts from premium display sets to retired-style Ninjago performers with much bigger percentage gains. This set retailed for $129.99 and now sits at $349.98, a 169.2% premium. The 2-year projection climbs to $452.71, which is one of the highest figures in the whole group.
The Bounty name has weight in Ninjago. Core vehicles tied closely to the main team tend to age well because they stay recognizable even after the specific season fades. This version also lands in a useful middle ground. It is large enough to feel substantial at 1,178 pieces and it includes 9 minifigures, but it is not priced like the giant city builds. That makes it more accessible on the secondary market while still being a flagship-style model.
The yearly price change is 14.7%, which is healthy without looking erratic. Compared with some of the castle and dragon sets below, Land Bounty looks a little more balanced. It has a strong premium already, a high projected value, and a concept that Ninjago fans understand immediately. That combination is why it lands this high.
#4 Castle of the Forsaken Emperor
Castle of the Forsaken Emperor has one of the strongest post-retail records in the ranking. It launched at $99.99 and now carries a current estimated value of $380.00. That is a 280.0% premium, with a 2-year projection of $447.47 and yearly price change of 15.8%.
Castle sets are relatively uncommon in Ninjago compared with dragons, mechs, and vehicles. That helps this one stand out. It is also a substantial build at 1,218 pieces with 7 minifigures and a 4.80 rating. The theme context matters here because location sets that feel distinct from the usual Ninjago formula often keep collector interest longer than people expect. A snowy villain fortress is different enough to avoid blending into the line.
The one reason it is not ranked even higher is that some of its premium is already realized. The market has clearly identified it as a desirable retired set. Even so, a projected value of $447.47 on a $99.99 retail base is hard to ignore. Among sub-$100 Ninjago sets, this is one of the clearest examples of how a unique setting can drive secondary-market performance.
#5 Monastery of Spinjitzu
Monastery of Spinjitzu has the biggest premium in the entire ranking. Retail was $79.99, current estimated value is $351.92, and the premium is 340.0%. The 2-year projection reaches $425.16, and the yearly price change is 21.3%, which is one of the fastest rates here.
Those numbers are striking, especially because the set has only 1 minifigure. Normally that would be a drawback. In this case, it suggests the build itself is doing the heavy lifting. The monastery is one of the most iconic locations in Ninjago, and iconic headquarters often have a long shelf life with collectors because they represent the theme more broadly than a one-season enemy base.
At 1,070 pieces and a 4.80 rating, it is not massive, but it does not need to be. The market has already shown that buyers are willing to pay for the location. That makes this set a useful reminder that minifigure count is not always the main driver in Ninjago. If the build captures a central place in the story, demand can stay very strong even without a packed character roster.
#6 The Ultra Dragon
The Ultra Dragon is exactly the kind of set that tends to keep moving in retired form. Dragons are a permanent part of Ninjago demand, and larger multi-headed or upgraded dragon designs usually attract both character fans and general creature-build collectors. This set started at $84.99 and now sits at $324.44, a 281.7% premium.
The projected value of $385.41 is solid, and the yearly price change of 19.2% is well above the broad market pace. It has 951 pieces, 6 minifigures, and a 4.80 rating. That is a good package for a set that originally sat below the $100 mark.
Why is it behind Monastery of Spinjitzu despite a similar profile? The answer is mostly in the numbers. Monastery has the higher current value, the higher projected value, and the faster yearly growth. The Ultra Dragon still looks strong on its own merits, though. If you want a read on how durable dragon demand is within Ninjago, this set gives it to you in a very clear way.
#7 Lloyd's Golden Ultra Dragon
Lloyd's Golden Ultra Dragon has a different profile from The Ultra Dragon. It is newer, its gains are not as mature, and its annual growth rate is much faster. Retail is $149.99, current estimated value is $294.64, premium is 96.4%, and the yearly price change is 30.4%, the highest in this ranking. The 2-year projection is $336.09.
That 30.4% figure is the headline. It suggests the market moved quickly once the set left easy retail availability. The set also has 989 pieces, 9 minifigures, and a 4.80 rating, so buyers are getting a fairly full flagship-style package rather than a thin character vehicle.
There is one reason to keep it below the older breakout performers. Its current value and 2-year projection are still lower than several sets above it, which means the market has enthusiasm but not yet the same long-established pricing power. Even so, this is one of the most interesting momentum plays in the list. Fast growth plus a dragon tied to Lloyd in a premium color scheme is a combination collectors usually notice.
#8 Lloyd's Titan Mech
Lloyd's Titan Mech is a reminder that mechs remain one of Ninjago's most reliable categories. It retailed for $79.99, has a current estimated value of $244.31, and carries a 205.4% premium. The 2-year projection is $310.97, with yearly price change at 13.6%.
That is a strong result for a set with 876 pieces and 6 minifigures. Mechs often benefit from two layers of demand. Younger fans remember the action model, while older collectors still treat the best mechs as display pieces if the design is clean enough. Lloyd-centered sets also tend to hold attention better than side-character releases.
This one ranks below the dragons and major locations because the projected value is lower and the concept is less scarce within Ninjago. There have been many mechs over the years. Still, not all of them reach a current value above $240.00 on a sub-$80.00 retail price. The market has clearly separated this one from the average mech release.
#9 Skull Sorcerer's Dungeons
Skull Sorcerer's Dungeons is one of the more unusual sets in the ranking, and that is the main reason it deserves attention. Ninjago does not often lean this hard into a dungeon-crawl format, so the set has a niche identity that can age well with collectors who want something different from the usual dragons and vehicles.
The price data is good, though not elite by the standards of this list. Retail was $99.99, current estimated value is $239.29, and the premium is 139.3%. The 2-year projection is $275.87, with yearly price change at 15.7%. It includes 1,171 pieces, 8 minifigures, and has a 4.70 rating.
The lower rating relative to the 4.80 and 4.90 scores above may be one reason it does not rank higher. Even so, the set has a useful combination of a strong minifigure count and a format that is not easy to replace elsewhere in the Ninjago line. For collectors who like category variety, this is one of the more distinctive retired-era performers.
#10 Nya's Samurai X MECH
Nya's Samurai X MECH rounds out the list, and it earns its place because the market has treated it better than a tenth-place finish might suggest. Retail is $119.99, current estimated value is $228.61, premium is 90.5%, and the 2-year projection is $274.29. Yearly price change is 20.5%, which is stronger than several sets ranked above it.
The reason it sits at #10 is that the current value and projected value are both lower than the sets ahead of it. Still, there is a lot to like in the profile. It has 1,003 pieces, 8 minifigures, and a 4.70 rating. The Samurai X identity also gives it a bit more character than a standard faction mech. Nya-related flagship builds have a narrower lane than Lloyd-led sets, but they also feel more distinct when done well.
This is the kind of set that can get overlooked because it is neither a giant city build nor an older retired legend. The data says it should not be dismissed. A 20.5% yearly price change is real momentum, and it puts this mech in stronger company than many collectors might expect.
What the ranking shows
The pattern across these 10 sets is pretty clear. Ninjago's strongest retirement candidates are not coming from one single formula. The market is paying up for premium city displays, yes, but it is also paying for iconic locations, standout dragons, and a smaller number of mechs that rose above the crowded field. The weak point is not theme identity, it is replaceability. Sets that feel easy to substitute usually do not put up numbers like $351.92 for Monastery of Spinjitzu or $380.00 for Castle of the Forsaken Emperor.
If there is one practical takeaway from this list, it is that Ninjago collectors reward sets that define a category. NINJAGO City Gardens and NINJAGO City Markets define the city-display end of the line. Land Bounty defines the flagship team vehicle slot. The Ultra Dragon and Lloyd's Golden Ultra Dragon cover the premium dragon lane. That is where the strongest pricing data keeps showing up, and it is a more useful signal than broad theme popularity on its own.
Data as of April 9, 2026.
Based on historical market data from BrickEconomy's pricing models. Past performance does not guarantee future appreciation. Prices reflect estimated secondary market values and may vary by condition and seller.