Review: 71316 Umarak the Destroyer
Posted by TheOneVeyronian,Firstly, I would like to express my thanks to Huw for giving me the chance to review the summer 2016 BIONICLE sets for Brickset. The largest of these sets and the one that I was most intrigued about, especially after seeing pictures from the Toy Fairs, was 71316 Umarak the Destroyer. Umarak the Destroyer is a corrupted, mutated beast form of 71310 Umarak the Hunter, corrupted by the Mask of Control, and as such takes on a fearsome, bestial appearance in this set.
It is therefore appropriate that Umarak the Destroyer is the single largest figure in the BIONICLE G2 range, measuring 28cm in height and 16cm in width when stood upright, and in terms of size it can even challenge other, more expensive CCBS-based action figure sets like 75112 General Grievous and 2283 Witch Doctor. Umarak the Destroyer retails for £17.99/$24.99 and contains 191 pieces, but how does the set fare compared to my first impressions of it from back in February? And how does it compare to Umarak’s previous incarnation from the Winter wave?
The box
The box is in the typical hexagonal style that has come to be associated with G2 BIONICLE and in person the box for Umarak the Destroyer is the same size as the box for 71311 Kopaka and Melum Unity set. The front of the box features Umarak the Destroyer looking suitably ferocious and menacing as he stomps around slashing with his gigantic claws, integrated well into a fantasy corrupted landscape backdrop. In the background you will notice Umarak’s enemy, 71312 Ekimu the Mask Maker. It certainly is eye-catching, however if one looks closely at the render of Umarak, you will notice that it is impossible to put the actual finished set into exactly the same position due to a rendering error. The set and render both use a 5M B-type CCBS bone in the lower leg, however Umarak on the box is posed as if this bone was a 5M A-type CCBS bone. I will discuss the limitations of this set using a B-type bone here later in this review.
The back of the box advertises the prominent features of the set, including the geared fingers, the rotating waist and the mask pop-off function; and advertises that the set can be combined with 71313 Lava Beast, 71314 Storm Beast and 71315 Quake Beast to create an “ultimate” version of Umarak the Destroyer. The comic on the back gives us the story of how Umarak the Hunter came to be Umarak the Destroyer, and perfectly sets the scene for play or storytelling using this set.
Parts and build
Of the 191 pieces used in the Umarak the Destroyer set, the majority of them are Technic-based and are black, a staple colour in Constraction MOCing. From an MOCer’s perspective, I was slightly disappointed to see relatively few exclusive parts and recolours in Umarak the Destroyer, and most of the exclusive recolours have fairly limited MOCing value.
The exclusive and rare parts featured in Umarak the Destroyer are as follows:
Parts and recolours exclusive to Umarak the Destroyer:
- Pearl gold/trans-neon green marbled corrupted Mask of Control (6151004)
- Pearl gold Ben 10 tail (6145484)
- Trans-neon green crystalline shell (6150528)
- Trans-neon green 5M B-type CCBS bone (6078391)
- Trans-neon green BIONICLE Head (Okoto style) (6145450)
Rare parts (appears in 5 sets or fewer):
- Trans-neon green ribcage torso shell (6114321)
- Titanium Metallic (Pearl Dark Gray) ribcage torso shell (6122337)
- Trans-neon green Skull Spider leg (6145482)
- Black Stormer XL chestplate (6014038)
- Titanium Metallic (Pearl Dark Gray) jaw piece (6150531)
The full inventory has been published by LEGO and you can see it here.
The one part that would be of most interest to BIONICLE collectors would be the corrupted Mask of Control piece. The design is asymmeterical and I do like how the mask exhibits beast-like qualities yet is still recognisable as the Mask of Control. However, the crystalline sides by themselves do not look that appealing and does reduce the usefulness of the mask, especially as it does bear some resemblance to clown hair.
This set comes with two stickers for Umarak the Detroyer’s chest-plate, while they can be left off the model, I feel that they add a lot to the set so applying them is recommended especially if you are not scrapping the model for parts.
Construction of the set begins with the Technic and balljoint heavy torso which is constructed around the BIONICLE gearbox beam, interestingly this set contains the first use of this piece in a non-function support structure scenario. By step 29 the torso is assembled:
The attention then turns to the custom leg structure, akin to Umarak the Hunter’s legs. By step 57 the legs are all done:
Then, finally, the arms and head are assembled and 94 steps and roughly half an hour building time later, Umarak the Destroyer is complete
The completed model
The completed Umarak the Destroyer is certainly impressive in terms of size, which is a given seeing as it is the single largest figure in the BIONICLE G2 range. Every bit about Umarak the Destroyer shouts “mutant evil brute” and is a good representation of what a corrupted BIONICLE beast should look like.
The front is definitely Umarak the Destroyer’s best angle. From this angle many of the gaps in the torso and legs are well disguised and thus Umarak the Destroyer feels the most “complete” when viewed from the front. However, the front does show how skinny Umarak the Destroyer’s hips are in relation to his shoulders due to the use of the Uniter torso and waist gear to add a rotating waist function. I’m not usually a big fan of skinny hips in relation to huge shoulders, but in this instance it works quite well in conjunction with Umarak the Destroyer’s wacky bestial proportions and gives the impression of immense upper body strength.
From the side, you can see just how gappy Umarak the Destroyer’s torso and neck really is, especially just behind the Stormer XL chestplate. Although hidden, there is also an unused ball-joint. Using a small L-shaped lift arm attached to the Uniter torso would have helped cover up the gaps in the torso here and improved the look of the set from the side dramatically. From the side you can also see just how far the head extends past the torso.
The back reveals another thing I am not a big fan of on Umarak the Destroyer: the fact that the neck and top of the body is almost completely flat. It clashes with the attempts to shape the torso on the rest of the build and as a result looks unfinished. The exposed grey Technic also contributes to this unfinished look, and I feel a couple of strategically placed Technic panels would have no doubt improved these areas of the model and add much needed shaping.
Umarak the Destroyer has lots of poseability and will stay in many different positions despite being very top-heavy. The waist gear has sufficient friction to enable some interesting poses. I’m pleased that the geared hands, which are designed to move like pincers in that they open and close when one finger is moved, are also mounted on balljoints so you can move each finger individually if you so wish. I would have liked his hands to have been differentiated from his forearms, however given the amount of space the hand function takes up, this would have potentially made his arms and hands as long as the entire model so I can see why forearms have been omitted.
For stability, the lower legs use a 5M B-type CCBS bone, and while it does it’s job, it does restrict poseability a bit, especially when putting Umarak the Destroyer into a walking or sprinting pose, thus I would have preferred to have seen a 5M A-type CCBS bone, which also exists in trans-neon green, used there instead. I also feel that the lower legs could have been filled out a bit, be it with a shell or a Technic tooth piece, to hide the gaps in the legs as well as add bulk as they do look quite flat from the side. The other part of Umarak the Destroyer that restricts poseability is the head. Due to the build of the neck and the orientation of the ball-joint where the head attaches to, head movement from side to side is severely restricted which can make it hard to move his head into a position that will complement certain poses.
Given the Technic complexity of the model, I can’t help but feel underwhelmed by his upper arms and legs, which I feel are a little too skinny and his upper arms especially could have benefitted from a custom limb solution. His upper legs are also very short compared to his lower legs, which I don’t really like. What I do really like about the model is the use of pearl gold Ben 10 tails for the horns of the mutated Mask of Control, even though the Technic connectors used could have potentially been cast in Pearl Gold to reinforce this fact and improve the overall aesthetics. I dislike the jaw however, as it is completely static and stuck in an open position, and any attempt to move it results in the mask popping off. I appreciate that it was designed to be a play feature, but I would have preferred a fully poseable jaw, as even if you build the head without the eyestalk, the jaw still does not close as the connectors will still hit the mask. This is however a complaint I have with all the Beasts, not just Umarak the Destroyer.
Compared to 71310 Umarak the Hunter, it is clear just how big and monstrous Umarak the Destroyer is, yet it is also clear that they are both supposed to be different forms of the same character. I really like how some of Umarak the Hunter’s design cues are carried over to Umarak the Destroyer, including the Shadow Trap shoulder pauldrons, the chest chain and to an extent, the legs, helping to make it clear that they are both the same character. Umarak the Destroyer’s colour scheme is definitely more focused than that of his Hunter counterpart, but I prefer the generally darker and more original palette of his Hunter form, which reflects his shadow origins much more effectively. However, the trans-neon green of Umarak the Destroyer help to reflect the fact he is a corrupted form of Umarak as well as tie him in better with the Beasts (though Lava Beast lacks trans-neon green in it’s colour scheme), just like how trans-neon orange was used on the Skull Villains to tie them in better with Kulta, Skull Grinder. I personally think both sets are great in their own unique way and if I were to pick one or the other, I would struggle to pick between them.
Conclusion
Overall, despite its shortcomings, Umarak the Destroyer is a satisfying and very fun set to build and play with. A common complaint I see with LEGO is value for money, as many sets slowly start representing worse value for money, I’m pleased to say that Umarak the Destroyer, and BIONICLE in general, buck that trend, for a relatively small outlay of £17.99/$24.99 you get a large and very imposing figure that will tower over your BIONICLE G2 collection, and a figure that is great fun to build, pose and display in general. And at 191 pieces, the price per piece ratio isn’t too bad for a Constraction figure either.
While the gaps and the other faults do bother me and would have preferred to have them filled out with a few extra panels and shells, most are relatively easy fixes with a little modifying, or they are faults shared with most of the other sets in the wave . Whether you are looking for a big, hulking villain to fight your Toa, a centrepiece for your BIONICLE G2 collection or just want a large CCBS figure, I do recommend this set, especially along with 71312 Ekimu the Mask Maker for Umarak the Destroyer to fight with. As to whether to choose Umarak the Destroyer over his previous form, Umarak the Hunter, it all depends on whether you prefer a giant, corrupted beast figure or a slim, shadowy villain figure. I like both versions of Umarak equally for different reasons and therefore cannot pick between them.
A big thanks to The LEGO Group for providing this set for review, and it goes without saying that this review is an expression of my own thoughts and opinions.
JANGBRiCKS' video review
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15 comments on this article
Is the timing of this article a subtle Brexit joke, or a coincidence?
Good review. I hate Bionicle though. It contributed to my Dark Ages in 2000. Without Bionicle I could now be the happy owner of UCS Falcon, Green Grocer and Haunted House.
Why do you ask, Henrysunset? I haven't seen anything wrong of the review relative to politics.
*sigh* I really don't like this set. It looks like a mess, it's hard to pose, and the "face" looks so much worse than the Hunter. Being the proud owner of Umarak the Hunter, I want nothing to do with this version.
Not a fan of Bionicle. And this is no different. But for anyone that is interested remember these are all retiring soon and currently on sale via Lego Shop @Home.
Personally glad I dropped BIONICLE. While it does look fairly imposing, the set is overall a mess. I like my bricks better.
I guess my lack of interest in the story goes a long way in no wanting to purchase these sets however I am always interested in how you can pose these figures using Lego! Tempts me just a little. Thanks for the review.
I like Bionicle. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
Hunter > Destroyer, IMHO. Just...what is that.
I'll go so far as saying that the model is shockingly bad. The neck and head just look ridiculous, sticking out so far to the front as they do.
And stickers in a Bionicle set? Really? Is that a first?
Still, I hear that this wave have been as good as killed at birth: no shops in the UK are selling them, other than LEGO stores.
I bought most of the first wave of the Bionicle reboot as I was a fan of the old ones and liked what I saw. It was great! They were well designed and looked good in a wide array of poses. This last wave, in my opinion, has been absolutely awful, and this set is no exception. It looks like garbage. It feels exposed, incomplete, improperly proportioned, and outright bad. Sorry TLG, you messed this one up big time. I do hope this wave doesn't affect the lifetime of the theme. If sales drop, the next step is the theme's failure. Will TLG get another shot at a next wave before it fails? I sure hope so.
Wow... I understand plenty of people in the LEGO community don't like BIONICLE for a variety of of reasons, some of which I don't personally agree with, but I understand where the complaints come from. However... I just don't get the hate for this set, or the theme in general. I mean, he's not perfect (but what LEGO set is), but I can overlook them for the whole of the set.
His immense size, satisfying build, and incredibly uniform and cool color scheme are all things that I love about this figure. Sure, he's gappy in some places, the neck could have been better built, and those connector pieces on his horns SHOULD BE GOLD... but this guy looks too sick, literally and figuratively. I get a sort of a video game boss vibe from him, or a giant monster movie/kaiju feel, it's great.
The bright neon green pieces look radioactive, the designs on his chest show oozing slime, and he looks so twisted, contorted, and... changed. I can't help but feel bad for him, like this was a painful process that took away his beautiful antlers and replaced them with massive tusk-like golden horns from the Mask of Control and just completely morphed his whole physiology. As far as which version is better... I like both about equally, but the Hunter is probably the stronger set objectively.
But even if he isn't the strongest set of this series, he has me excited for the future of the line. I mean, this is our first true Titan set of this reboot, $20 Toa be darned. Maybe the next big villain will be a set as big as General Grievous, or Witch Doctor, or bigger! These past 2 years of BIONICLE have been very decisive among fans of the series, as well as LEGO fans in general. I LOVED the 2015 line of Toa figures, for their distinct appearances and silhouettes, awesome functions, and more involved builds than anything in Hero Factory, or even much of BIONICLE.
However, I wasn't a huge fan of the 2016 figures for the most part (the're still neat, and I'm glad others like them), partly because I was already happy with the 2015 line, partly because I had a personal distaste for the new style, and partly because they seemed to be heading down the route that other LEGO fans hated with the original BIONICLE. Over- detailed parts that seemed less like LEGO, some awkward proportions, clashing textures, etc...
But this figure and others this year gives me some assurance that the line won't tread the same path as the original series, at least not to the same extent. Oh well, these are just my thoughts on the set and the line... it's unfortunate not everyone likes the line, but at least it will have a special place in my heart : ).
P.S. Huw, about those stickers, these stickers are easy to apply. Try 8991-1: Tuma here, he has 3 tiny stickers you apply TO HIS MASK. That is just cruel. : )
@Huw
Stickers were used on the 2005 era system Bionicle players. However, for the more traditional Bionicle sets, 2009 Tuma was the first on his mask. 2015 Kopaka master of ice and 2016 Kopaka Uniter of ice also use stickers on CCBS shell parts. Additionally 2012 Stormer XL uses two stickers on the same part and in a similar manner as Remark the destroyer.
The review is good and through. I have to say, though, the sets this wave feel very disappointing. The jaws should have been designed to open and close. While I do like some more creative builds, the beasts all feel very gappy, as if they couldn't use the larger CCBS shells or an alternative Technic build.
It's a shame that this feels like the end of Bionicle again. I was really hoping that we would get something more impressive. A $50-$70 animal based monster (lion, tyrannosaurus, crab, mantis) that would be attractive to people even if they were not into Bionicle I think would have done well.
He looks pretty cool, probably one to get. Speaking of Tuma, that's who this guy reminds me of. Honestly I prefer Hunter to Destroyer, as the former was the closest to the glorious G1.
Yeah... no. I definitely prefer the Hunter form much more. The only set I'm getting from this wave is Ekimu. Thanks for the nice review, though!