Four minifigs in a $30 Ninjago set is the kind of deal the theme rarely pulled off — the Water Strider just happens to be the bonus.
The parts alone are worth about 105% of the street price — the basis for this C+ price read.
BargainThe parts alone are worth more than you pay — $68 of parts for $65.
The minifig haul here is the headline: four characters for thirty bucks is a ratio the Ninjago Movie line didn't always manage, and it gives this set a leg up on comparably priced competitors from the same wave. The Water Strider itself is a decent mechanical mech build — articulated, visually distinctive, reads well as a Ninjago vehicle. That said, the price grade is rough, and it shows: 494 pieces for $29.99 feels thin once you get past the minifig excitement. The build is competent without being inspired — no real 'aha' moments, just a functional afternoon. It lands at a B- overall because the strengths are real but narrow, and the value case rests almost entirely on those four figures.
This grade blends these community reviews with set facts and market pricing, and updates as new reviews come in.