Review: 76154 Deviant Ambush!
Posted by CapnRex101,Monstrous Deviants were created alongside the Eternals, sharing some abilities. These imposing creatures appear throughout the Eternals range, integrating distinct features. This example looks accordingly appealing and employs some clever building techniques.
76154 Deviant Ambush! captures an impressive organic aesthetic, including dramatic horns which distinguish this creature from comparable Deviants. Three excellent minifigures are supplied too, including one exclusive character and two which are only otherwise available in 76156 Rise of the Domo. This is certainly appealing!
Minifigures
Thena appears prominently during trailers for Eternals and I appreciate her availability here, along with 76156 Rise of the Domo. This minifigure exhibits some consistent features with her fellow heroes, although the colour combination of tan and metallic gold is unique. These designs correspond with the onscreen character and the double-sided head suits Thena nicely, featuring pronounced cheekbones.
An impressive hair component has been developed for Makkari, although these products being delayed means that 60307 Wildlife Rescue Camp actually introduced this element. Regardless, this design looks marvellous and this head also seems appropriate, despite appearing in three previous sets. However, elaborate torso designs especially distinguish the Eternals minifigures and this example continues that fantastic detail.
Gilgamesh completes the trio and appears exclusively here. The double-sided head has been created specifically for Gilgamesh, while the torso and legs display intricate pearl gold, metallic gold and bright green designs. Circular decoration links every member of the Eternals and their spacecraft, the Domo. Such consistency, balanced with differing colours, is welcome.
Each minifigure includes appropriate accessories, reflecting their respective abilities. Thena therefore carries a pearl gold and trans-orange naginata, which returns from NINJAGO, while Makkari includes a Power Blast. However, the most interesting pieces are certainly Gilgamesh's energy fists, again combining pearl gold and trans-orange plastics. This component is new and looks marvellous, slotting neatly over the hands.
The Completed Model
Among the five Deviants available throughout the Eternals range, this example is the bulkiest and contains the most pieces, narrowly exceeding the example from 76156 Rise of the Domo. The distinctive colour combination of dark blue, dark red and teal remains consistent between creatures and I appreciate these shared features, assuring an excellent balance of unique and uniform characteristics.
This creature is particularly distinguished by its unusual proportions, comprising two powerful forelegs alongside four smaller hind legs. The resulting stance resembles a gorilla and seems impressive, certainly capturing the strength associated with the Deviants. Moreover, the length of 14cm appears appropriate beside the minifigures.
Printed eyes decorate the head, complementing stickered elements and twin prominent horns. These are connected using clips so can be adjusted, while the jaw can open too. However, my favourite details are the nostrils, which are ingeniously portrayed using 1x2 rounded plates with hollow studs, partially obscured beneath a 2x2 curved wedge slope!
The head and forward legs are secured using ball joints, enabling reasonable movement. The trans-opalescent black crests are also individually articulated. They decorate multiple Deviants and such consistency between them is welcome. Moreover, I like the stickers which are applied on the forelegs, maintaining the dark red and teal accents.
These vibrant highlights continue across the rear legs, which display dramatic curvature. They look outstanding and I love the adjustable feet, although knee joints would certainly have been beneficial. The narrowing of the body could be improved too, but this shape appears distinctive when compared with the equivalent creature from 76156 Rise of the Domo.
Overall
76154 Deviant Ambush! could easily be overlooked within the Eternals subtheme, lacking the affordability of 76145 Eternals' Aerial Assault or the spectacle of larger models. However, I am quite impressed with this Deviant, which is my favourite among the five variants. Moreover, the minifigure selection is appealing and includes the exclusive Gilgamesh.
Nevertheless, other sets also contain exclusive minifigures and 76156 Rise of the Domo does include a similar Deviant, albeit noticeably simplified. I think the price of £17.99 achieves good value in the UK, but the US price of $24.99 seems expensive beside comparable sets. For that reason, I cannot really recommend this set, despite enjoying its contents.
This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group, but the review represents an expression of my own opinions.
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27 comments on this article
Thanks for the review.
I know nothing about this group of characters, so I'll likely pass on the theme overall. But I do like the character designs. I may pick this up for some of the character elements, but I don't have any attachment to the deviants so they would just be parted out. I'd say I'll wait for a sale, but those don't exist anymore it seems.
I love the Eternals sets, but this one does seem overpriced. $25 isn't a price point LEGO uses for Super Heroes sets very often and I definitely think this should be the usual $20 instead. I picked up the entire wave on Friday and while I haven't built this yet, I was surprised at how light the box felt when I grabbed it off the shelf. I really love the Eternals minifigures too, but it's so frustrating how Marvel minifigures this year keep reusing bad faces. This set isn't the worst offender but I don't think the Mantis face works for Thena and she should have a better hairpiece.
Thena looks pretty useful for castle/fantasy. Going to need to BL the torso and legs.
@TomKazutara said:
"Lego really tries to push the Eternals sets here .
Three in a row ."
Do you really think Lego has that amount of control and influence over what brickset can do? Most reviews of sets from LAN say something along the lines of “we can’t be sure if there will be a review of this set”, for example the brothers brick (another great review source) say:
“The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews”
I’m sure TLG don’t have a crazy amount of control over brickset, despite it being the main news source. They probably just sent a letter asking for the sets to all be reviewed in the same period. Either way I do enjoy this set, pretty cool thing but I’ve always liked it better without the horns.
If I like the movie I may get this set, and the smallest one. I like the sets, but I don’t know that characters, or stories.
Well people have heard of Gilgamesh- just not the Marvel version.
@Goujon said:
" @TomKazutara said:
"Lego really tries to push the Eternals sets here .
Three in a row ."
Do you really think Lego has that amount of control and influence over what brickset can do? Most reviews of sets from LAN say something along the lines of “we can’t be sure if there will be a review of this set”, for example the brothers brick (another great review source) say:
“The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews”
I’m sure TLG don’t have a crazy amount of control over brickset, despite it being the main news source. They probably just sent a letter asking for the sets to all be reviewed in the same period. Either way I do enjoy this set, pretty cool thing but I’ve always liked it better without the horns."
LEGO sometimes offers products for review and we have the right to decline if we do not think it would be of interest to Brickset's readership, although I cannot recall an instance when we have declined, to be honest!
We are not necessarily obliged to review any products provided. However, there are only limited quantities distributed among Fan Media, so consistently failing to review the sets supplied by LEGO would be somewhat disrespectful to other outlets, in my opinion.
Of course, we also review plenty of sets that we have purchased ourselves.
I have seen the pictures of Eternals sets. The figures look good but I'm not really interested in the Deviants. It's an easy pass for me.
@TomKazutara said:
" @Goujon said:
" @TomKazutara said:
"Lego really tries to push the Eternals sets here .
Three in a row ."
Do you really think Lego has that amount of control and influence over what brickset can do? Most reviews of sets from LAN say something along the lines of “we can’t be sure if there will be a review of this set”, for example the brothers brick (another great review source) say:
“The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews”
I’m sure TLG don’t have a crazy amount of control over brickset, despite it being the main news source. They probably just sent a letter asking for the sets to all be reviewed in the same period. Either way I do enjoy this set, pretty cool thing but I’ve always liked it better without the horns."
You misread that, I didn't talk about control or forced positive reviews.
I just pointed out that, it seems like Lego pushes these sets more to get viral, rather than other themes.
And this is the third one from a pretty small Lego line."
My apologies folks, it does indeed seem I was wrong, sorry about that. We’re all human here (except huwbot). thanks for clarifying guys.
@TomKazutara said:
"Lego really tries to push the Eternals sets here .
Three in a row ."
The previous Eternals review was almost a week ago, with two unrelated reviews between them. There's more than a week's gap between the 1st and 2nd Eternals reviews, with four unrelated reviews between them. I'm not sure which universe would qualify that as "three in a row."
Also, it's a "pretty small Lego line" based on a movie from one of the most popular series of all time. Totally gobsmacked that people would be interested in seeing the reviews.
@TomKazutara said:
" @fakespacesquid said:
" @TomKazutara said:
"Lego really tries to push the Eternals sets here .
Three in a row ."
The previous Eternals review was almost a week ago, with two unrelated reviews between them. There's more than a week's gap between the 1st and 2nd Eternals reviews, with four unrelated reviews between them. I'm not sure which universe would qualify that as "three in a row."
Also, it's a "pretty small Lego line" based on a movie from one of the most popular series of all time. Totally gobsmacked that people would be interested in seeing the reviews. "
The Eternals have 4 sets. Seems quite small to me."
Black Panther got two sets and the movie made just shy of $1.5 billion. The initial quantity of Lego sets is often unrelated to the popularity of the franchise.
Regardless of how big or small the theme is, the MCU is incredibly popular. So it makes sense that MCU sets get reviewed. Even if they clearly aren't in a row
I'll be picking this up and the Aerial Assault soon!
I like these Eternals sets..
@TheBrickshipyard said:
"The fig prints are eye popping and attractive. I know nothing about the Eternal theme, but have to ask if there is a coincidence why this alien creature looks like the 6 legged Pandora beasts in the James Cameron Avatar movie? "
I’m afraid they don’t really resemble the steeds ridden by the navi, however I can see the resemblance to the hammerhead elephant type beasts that where seen. Maybe by bulking out the back legs and widening the head you could get away with it.
@TomKazatura - Those new Spider-Man sets will be reviewed shortly, among others.
Unfortunately, the Shang-Chi range coincided with other sets which we prioritised. However, my quick reviews would be that 76176 Escape from the Ten Rings is rather poor, particularly since the vehicles are so generic, while 76177 Battle at the Ancient Village is more appealing. Even so, I think they are both among the weaker Marvel sets released this year.
@Goujon said:
"We’re all human here (except huwbot)."
Thank you for remembering the exception. Droids need love too!
Really like the design of this deviant, modded mine to have elbow joints, looks more organic
@Goujon said:
" @TomKazutara said:
" @Goujon said:
" @TomKazutara said:
"Lego really tries to push the Eternals sets here .
Three in a row ."
Do you really think Lego has that amount of control and influence over what brickset can do? Most reviews of sets from LAN say something along the lines of “we can’t be sure if there will be a review of this set”, for example the brothers brick (another great review source) say:
“The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews”
I’m sure TLG don’t have a crazy amount of control over brickset, despite it being the main news source. They probably just sent a letter asking for the sets to all be reviewed in the same period. Either way I do enjoy this set, pretty cool thing but I’ve always liked it better without the horns."
You misread that, I didn't talk about control or forced positive reviews.
I just pointed out that, it seems like Lego pushes these sets more to get viral, rather than other themes.
And this is the third one from a pretty small Lego line."
My apologies folks, it does indeed seem I was wrong, sorry about that. We’re all human here…"
I’m not.
Not my thing, but a pretty cool looking build with great colors!. The price is a bit too high I think, but I might pick this up if I find it on discount.
Will there be an NYC build contest article?
Got it coming in later today. I like the other-worldly style of the Deviants. Certainly a bit expensive, but I've given up on making sense of LEGO's distribution policies. Seems like chasing for sets in times of supplies being low is becoming its own sport...
Is it me or the whole movie/LEGO theme is totally boring? Once more, some superheroes save the day etc etc. Gone are the days where we could see a proper movie like Indiana Jones or POTC, or anything other than superheroes really and have some marvelous LEGO sets...
Prepare to see these sets at a steep discount imo (thus the minor risk of TLG by giving us only 4 sets of this movie)
That brickbuilt thing has a tremendous color scheme, would almost fit in Elves
And Thena is "gold" but looks... naked
Deviants are my favorite part of this line.
l think it's harmful to label our enemies as "deviants". Shame on Disney
Come on LEGO Marvel! Why are we getting so many sets for Eternals, these unknown characters getting a film we could all care less about, but we can't get some Fantastic Four or X-Men sets up in here!? I'm upset, and I'm willing to bet I'm not the only one.
I think that the Eternals sets are amazing, but they are too overpriced! Nobody knows or cares about this Movie! I think that Eternals sets are going to be clearanced as i got 76156 for %50 off.
@Isj_rocks said:
"Come on LEGO Marvel! Why are we getting so many sets for Eternals, these unknown characters getting a film we could all care less about, but we can't get some Fantastic Four or X-Men sets up in here!? I'm upset, and I'm willing to bet I'm not the only one."
I'm willing to bet you're one of the few who doesn't know why Lego makes sets based on current Marvel movies and not franchises that haven't performed well in decades
Copyrights and licensing. Lego has to work with Marvel, and Marvel has interests and priorities outside of Lego. It's a bit silly to act like Lego gets to do whatever they want and they're just baselessly ignoring sets that would be incredibly popular. It's like acting as if the MCU was purposefully not using those same characters