LEGO® Rivendell vs Barad-dûr: which should you choose?
Two large LEGO® Icons sets show opposite ends of Middle-earth: the Elven refuge of Rivendell (10316), released in 2023, and Sauron’s tower, Barad-dûr (10333), released in 2024. They cost within $40 of each other at launch and have similar piece counts, so they are easy to weigh against each other. In practice they are very different models. Rivendell is a wide, busy diorama full of the Fellowship, while Barad-dûr is a narrow dark tower that rises more than twice as high. This guide compares the two side by side so you can decide which suits your shelf, or whether you want both.
Both belong to the same Lord of the Rings series, and you can browse every set we carry from it on our Lord of the Rings category page.
The short answer
- Rivendell (10316) is wide and detailed: 6,167 pieces, the whole Fellowship, and it needs surface area.
- Barad-dûr (10333) is narrow and tall: 5,471 pieces, Sauron’s tower with the Eye on top, and it needs height.
- Timing: Brick Fanatics reports both are now expected to stay on sale to the end of 2028, though Brickset still lists earlier dates.
LEGO Rivendell vs Barad-dûr at a glance
Pieces
The figures below come from LEGO’s own launch announcements and from Brickset’s database. Dimensions are for the built model as LEGO gave them at launch. Prices are the original LEGO retail price in the US, not what either set costs today.
| Rivendell (10316) | Barad-dûr (10333) | |
|---|---|---|
| Depicts | The Elven valley home of Elrond, where the Fellowship formed | Sauron’s dark tower in Mordor, topped by the Eye |
| Pieces | 6,167 | 5,471 |
| Minifigures | 15, plus six statue figures (Brickset counts 21) | 10 in LEGO’s announcement (Brickset counts 11) |
| Built size | 39 cm high, 75 cm wide, 50 cm deep | 83 cm high, on a base of about 45 x 30 cm |
| Released | March 2023 | June 2024 |
| Original LEGO retail price in the US | $499.99 | $459.99 |
| Expected retirement | End of 2028, per Brick Fanatics (Brickset still lists 31 December 2026) | End of 2028, per Brick Fanatics (Brickset still lists 31 December 2027) |
What each set depicts
LEGO describes Rivendell as the home of the house of Elrond and the place where the Fellowship was formed. The model is split into three parts. The largest holds the Council Ring with its semicircle of chairs and the plinth where the Ring is revealed, along with Frodo’s bedroom and Elrond’s study. The second is an Elven tower with statues of Elven warriors. The third is a gazebo with a river and bridge, set up for the Fellowship’s departure.
Barad-dûr is the opposite mood: the dark tower of Mordor, with the Eye of Sauron at the summit. LEGO’s announcement says the Eye rotates and contains a light brick to make it glow. Inside are a throne room with a compartment that opens to reveal a map, and a ladder on the top floor that slides left and right. Jay’s Brick Blog notes that a small section of Mount Doom is also included.
Rivendell vs Barad-dûr: minifigures
If minifigures matter most to you, Rivendell has the stronger cast. LEGO’s announcement lists all nine members of the Fellowship (Gandalf the Grey, Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Legolas, Gimli, Boromir and Aragorn), plus Elrond, Arwen, Bilbo, Glóin and further Elves. Jay’s Brick Blog counts 15 minifigures and six more Elven statue figures, which is how Brickset arrives at 21. The Brothers Brick review also describes six statue minifigures built into the structure.
Barad-dûr’s figures tell the other side of the story. LEGO lists 10 minifigures, including Sauron, the Mouth of Sauron, Gothmog, an Orc, Frodo, Sam and Gollum; Brickset’s database records 11. Jay’s Brick Blog points out that Sauron makes his debut here as a LEGO minifigure, and the set includes new Orc helmet accessories. If you already own Rivendell, Barad-dûr adds villains rather than repeating heroes: of the characters LEGO names, only Frodo and Sam appear in both sets.
Size and display footprint: Rivendell vs Barad-dûr
This is where the two differ most, and it may decide the question for you. LEGO gives Rivendell as 39 cm (15 in) high, 75 cm (29.5 in) wide and 50 cm (19.5 in) deep. That is a wide, deep footprint, closer to a sideboard top than a bookshelf. Barad-dûr stands 83 cm (about 32.5 in) tall, but New Elementary gives its base as 30 cm x 45 cm (12 x 17.5 in). Jay’s Brick Blog adds that the tower can be made taller still by adding more tower sections.
Tip: Both are meant to be seen mainly from the front. The Brothers Brick reviewer advised that you will “definitely not want to display” Rivendell with its back facing out. Before choosing, measure the space you have: Rivendell needs surface area, while Barad-dûr needs height and a shelf that clears more than 83 cm.
The building experience
Rivendell comes with three instruction manuals, one for each section of the diorama, and The Brothers Brick counted bags running up to 49. That split lets two or three people build at once, although the reviewer noted that some of the construction is “fiddly” and needs “lots of patience” to line up. They also praised “the intricate scrollwork” above the council seating and called it “one of the best LEGO dioramas I’ve ever built.”
Barad-dûr is split into four main sections, with the tower section fully modular, according to LEGO’s announcement. Redmond’s Reviews wrote that it “took over 20 hours to build, and not a single moment felt repetitive.” The same review called it “surprisingly playable,” pointing to its hidden compartments, rotating elements and trapdoors. Brickset members rate Rivendell 4.7 out of 5 and Barad-dûr 4.6, so both are well liked by the people who built them.
Price, release and expected retirement
Rivendell launched to LEGO VIP members on 5 March 2023 and to everyone on 8 March, at an original LEGO retail price in the US of $499.99. Barad-dûr followed on 1 June 2024 for LEGO Insiders and 4 June for everyone else, at $459.99. Brickset lists expected retirement dates of 31 December 2026 for Rivendell and 31 December 2027 for Barad-dûr. Brick Fanatics reported on 7 September 2026 that LEGO had extended both sets to the end of 2028. LEGO does not publish retirement dates in advance, and these dates often move, so treat both as estimates rather than announcements.
Note: Rivendell is the older of the two, and its date has already moved twice: from 2025 to 2026, and then, on Brick Fanatics’ latest report, to the end of 2028 alongside Barad-dûr. Once a set retires, new copies can only come from existing stock, so it can become harder to find. Our guide to LEGO sets retiring soon explains how these expected dates work.
Where Minas Tirith fits
The newest large set in the same line is Minas Tirith (11377), released in 2026 with 8,278 pieces and 12 minifigures, at an original LEGO retail price in the US of $649.99. Brickset lists an expected retirement date of 31 December 2028 for it. It is larger than either set compared here, so it is worth knowing about if you plan to build up a Middle-earth shelf over time.
Rivendell or Barad-dûr: which to choose if…
Neither set is simply better. They suit different collectors and different rooms:
- Choose Rivendell if you want the whole Fellowship in one box, you have a wide surface to fill, and you enjoy detailed, sometimes fiddly building. It also suits fans who prefer the light, green side of Middle-earth.
- Choose Barad-dûr if your space is tall rather than wide, you want a striking centrepiece with a glowing Eye, or you are after the villains, including the first Sauron minifigure.
- Choose by timing if you want both but can only buy one now. Brickset still has Rivendell retiring a year before Barad-dûr, but Brick Fanatics’ September 2026 report puts both at the end of 2028. LEGO has not confirmed either date.
- Get both if you want light and dark facing each other on display. Of the characters LEGO names, only Frodo and Sam appear in both, and the shapes complement each other: one long and low, one narrow and tall.
Asking about Rivendell or Barad-dûr at Brick District
At the time of writing (October 2026), both Rivendell and Barad-dûr are in stock at Brick District, as is Minas Tirith. Each set’s page shows its current price and stock, and the “Ask about this set” button there reaches us with any question. If you are weighing up sets that have already left LEGO’s shelves, our guide on whether you can still buy retired LEGO sets covers the options.
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, LEGO Rivendell or Barad-dûr?
It depends on the direction. Rivendell has more pieces (6,167 against 5,471) and a far wider footprint at 75 cm by 50 cm. Barad-dûr is much taller at 83 cm, against Rivendell’s 39 cm.
How many minifigures come with Rivendell and Barad-dûr?
Rivendell has 15 minifigures plus six Elven statue figures, which Brickset counts as 21 in total. LEGO’s announcement lists 10 minifigures for Barad-dûr; Brickset’s database records 11.
When will Rivendell and Barad-dûr retire?
Brick Fanatics reported in September 2026 that LEGO extended both to the end of 2028. Brickset still lists 31 December 2026 for Rivendell and 31 December 2027 for Barad-dûr. LEGO does not publish retirement dates in advance, so all of these are estimates.
Does the Eye of Sauron on Barad-dûr light up?
Yes. LEGO’s announcement says the Eye rotates and includes a light brick to make it glow.
