LEGO‘s new Minas Tirith set has left some Lord of the Rings fans confused by its unusual selection of minifigures. The issue is that the large-scale replica does not include all the Hobbits that fans expected based on LEGO’s apparent inspiration for the model.
Identified by set number 11377, LEGO’s Minas Tirith replica was officially announced on May 12. It is scheduled to hit the market on June 4, priced at $649.99. LEGO Insiders will be able to order it up to three days early, beginning on June 1.
Some Adorable LEGO Harry Potter Sets Coming in Summer 2026
Four LEGO Harry Potter sets targeting a summer 2026 launch leak online, with the upcoming batch including some adorable models.
LEGO’s Minas Tirith Set Contains Only One Hobbit Minifig
While initial reactions to the Minas Tirith set’s reveal have been largely positive, the announcement has also drawn some skepticism over LEGO’s choice of minifigures for the ambitious replica. The main issue raised by some fans is that the set includes only one Hobbit: Peregrin “Pippin” Took. Frodo, Sam, and Merry are not included. The overall number of minifigures is also relatively low for such a large set, with the 8,278-piece Minas Tirith including only 10. For reference, Minas Tirith is 25% larger than LEGO’s Rivendell set by piece count, but includes 33% fewer minifigures. 10316 Rivendell shipped with 15 of them, including minifigures of all four Hobbits.
Check out LEGO’s Minas Tirith Set!
Some Lord of the Rings fans labeled the omission of Frodo, Sam, and Merry as everything from “super confusing” to indicative of LEGO “losing the plot.” While Minas Tirith has a history spanning more than three millennia in Lord of the Rings lore, the newly announced set is clearly meant to depict Gondor’s capital as seen in The Return of the King, shortly before the battle with Sauron’s forces. That is why some fans expected all four Hobbits to be included.
Some Fans Were Hoping for a Different LEGO Minas Tirith Gift with Purchase
The full minifigure lineup for LEGO’s new Minas Tirith set leaked back in late 2025, but some fans continued to hope it was incomplete until the final reveal. In some cases, that optimism was tied to speculation that LEGO might include the missing Hobbits in a companion gift-with-purchase set, potentially by recreating Aragorn’s coronation scene. The Danish toymaker ultimately went in a different direction: Minas Tirith is indeed receiving a gift-with-purchase promo, but its accompanying freebie is based on Grond, Sauron’s massive battering ram. The limited-time bonus will be available only during the first seven days of June 2026, or while supplies last.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Looking more broadly, confusion and criticism over the incomplete Hobbit minifigure lineup appear to represent only a minority of online reactions to the Minas Tirith set. Even among fans disappointed by the absence of Frodo, Merry, and Sam, relatively few have suggested that the omission alone is significant enough to affect their purchase decision. Current fan discussion indicates that most Lord of the Rings collectors are more likely to weigh LEGO’s Minas Tirith set against its price and overall size, neither of which makes it an easy impulse buy. The upcoming replica of Gondor’s capital is expected to remain available until at least 2028, though it could plausibly receive an even longer production run, as LEGO’s larger Lord of the Rings sets often do.
