Riyu is the rare Ninjago sidekick that outshines the main cast — a baby dragon with actual shelf presence and three minifigs at a price point that doesn't sting.
The parts alone are worth about 133% of the street price — the basis for this A- price read.
BargainThe parts alone are worth more than you pay — $19 of parts for $14.
Baby dragons are a tough sell on paper, but Riyu pulls it off with an expressive build that actually reads as a character, not just a creature prop. Three minifigs in a $15.99 set is a legitimate win, and the scale feels intentional rather than cheap. The articulation is limited but forgivable given the size — this is a display piece that holds its own next to much larger Ninjago sets. The B- on price reflects that it's not quite a no-brainer deal, but it's close. Where it stumbles is long-term value: Ninjago creature sets at this price tier don't tend to stick around in the secondary market. Buy it because Riyu is genuinely charming, not because you're banking on the resale.
This grade blends these community reviews with set facts and market pricing, and updates as new reviews come in.