Recap: LEGO UCS AT-AT delivers the biggest and best Star Wars set of the year (2023)

While an unprecedented three USC LEGO Star Wars sets were released in 2021, just one of them deserves the title of greatest creation from a galaxy far, far away this year. That would be the new UCS LEGO AT-AT, which towers over the current lineup with almost 6,800 parts. But is the set worth the money?sublime$800price tag? Let's take a closer look at this behemoth of a kit by the end of 2021.

Handy with the LEGO UCS AT-AT

The LEGO Group immediately sets high expectations with the unboxing experience. Ultimate Collector Series sets have long been heralded for the level of polish that graces every aspect of the collectible, and the LEGO AT-AT is itjust the latest example. In fact, it might even be one of the best executions yet.

To spread the excitement from the moment you cut the tape on the outside of the box, there's some really nice artwork all about the Imperial Wanderer. It's that kind of attention to detail that really sets the pacea $800adjust like this, and the LEGO Group really pulled out all the stops for the UCS AT-AT. You can follow my own amusementwhen opening the set right here, to.

But now it's time to build. At 6,785 pieces, there's a lot of actual assembly involved in spinning the fifty bags of bricksinto a modelready to invade the Rebel Alliance on Hoth. I'd say the UCS AT-AT took around 12 hours to put together, which means it's faster compared to some of the other massive LEGO builds I've put together over the past few days.

One of the things that made the build go by so quickly was how refreshing the experience was. There's a really nice mix of techniques like building the Technic frame to cover everything with all the detail bricks. Even with four identical legs and an overall symmetrical design, the instructions do a lot to keep things interesting.

However, once you finally place that last brick, you get an absolute behemoth of a model that is over 24 inches tall. It really sets the source material apart and looks quite menacing. Of course, all these bits make it not only the most authentic LEGO AT-AT yet, but perhaps the most accurate UCS period.

Almost all proportions are as they should be and sized to fit minifigure scale exactly. But there's so much more to the build than what meets the eye on the outside, so let's take a look at all of these remarkable features packed into the biggest set of 2021.

Highlights of the new UCS Star Wars creation

There's really no sugar coating on the outside of the LEGO UCS AT-AT making the exterior pretty flat and simple. But that's the way it should be! Aside from staying true to the overall big screen design, the real excitement is on the inside. And thanks to a series of panels covering the model, accessing everything is pretty easy.

Each side of the Imperial Walker has a removable panel that allows you to reveal all the details of the furnished interior. It gives the build that truly novel cross-section, as if you cut into the model to show what lies beneath the armored exterior. These panels are also modular in that they can be split into three different sections, allowing you to show just the engine room or another aspect of the building. However, if you just want to clear the landing area, there's a really neat mechanism that lets you raise the side door.

With the exterior removed you can get a better look at the interior of the LEGO UCS AT-AT. I bet you think right off the batWow, that's a lot of chairs!And you're right, there are four included in the set to be authentic for the real deal. Or I guess what you would actually find in the Star Wars universe.

In true UCS fashion, this also marksthe first timethat the LEGO Group has corrected one of the statements regarding the AT-AT. In the last 20 odd years of the Star Wars theme, there has never been a model that correctly placed the red visor on the front of the Walker's head. Speaking of which, the two main guns under the cockpit actually move in the right direction, because pushing one back brings the other forward.

One of the true triumphs of the UCS AT-AT was that the LEGO Group finally found a way to recreate such a lanky looking rollator in a way that it could actually support itself. Once thought to be the unclimbable mountain of a LEGO set, this newfound achievement is thanks to a unique bonding technique that allows the build to actually be strong enough to be displayed in your collection.

Each leg has two of these brick-built gear boxes that allow you to adjust the pitch and position of the limbs without sacrificing stability. There is some compromise to this approach as all LEGO AT-AT models previously (excluding the motorized version) had the option of simply adjusting the legs with easy to move ratchet joints.

Diestime around, you need to break out the included LEGO screwdriver to make adjustments. It's pretty easy, and since it's a display model, you'll probably only do it once right during assembly. Some will lament this execution, but I really think that first and foremost it's hardly a compromise and gives us what I thought would never be done in LEGO form on this scale.

Not without its flaws

As impressive as a model like the latest UCS creation is, it's not without its flaws. Earlier I noted how all the effort to create a stable model paid off with the unique leg mechanisms, but it seems like this is the end of the set designer's focus on stability. There are so many small sections throughout the build that it seems like not much thought was put into how they actually connect to the model.

The worst culprit has to be the little accents on each of the legs, which are attached with a single bolt. The LEGO Group could easily have swapped that connection for something that's a lot less likely to fall off if you even look at it the wrong way.

To be fair this is a display model and not everything needs to be able to withstand the durability you would find in playset builds. It just seems like once the designer cracked the code for the legs, everything else didn't matter. This is a minor gripe in the grand scheme of things, but worth noting that the LEGO UCS AT-AT is so good it's far from perfect.

Minifigures are a nice touch, but nothing special

As far as minifigures go, there's nothing too exciting on that front. However, it's really nice to see such a wide range of characters, with nine included in the box. In particular, there are General Veers with new dual-molded legs, as well as a pair of AT-AT Drivers. Four snowtroopers and an exclusive snowtrooper commander go a long way in filling all 40 seats of the rollator, which is also a nice touch. Luke Skywalker completes the set with his Rebel Pilot Robe.

Does the LEGO UCS AT-AT feel like it's worth $800?

The biggest question with the LEGO UCS AT-AT is whether the creation is really worth its high price. After all,$800is an absurd amount of money in any context, let alone of the collectible sort. And the short answer is absolutely. But that doesn't mean it's the best value for LEGO Star Wars fans.

The former record holder, who now shares his title with the AT-AT, ties the price of the LEGO UCS Millennium Falcon, giving the 2021 release a run for its money. I'm not necessarily going to say one set is better than the other as it really depends on what you're looking for. The Imperial Walker here is about as authentic and accurate as can be, while the brick-built replica of the galaxy's fastest ship has all the charm and scale you'd expect from Star Wars.

The attitude of 9to5Toys:

The long and short of this review is that the AT-AT is the best LEGO set of the year. OurTop Ten List of SetsDetails of who the runners-up were, but for 2021 none reigns supreme but the latest and greatest from a galaxy far, far away. For LEGO Star Wars, at least, it seems bigger is always better.

While it's not the size that makes this such a good model, it's all the details that have been packed in along the way. Quite simply, my favorite aspect of this set is that it's actually a minifigure, which means it coordinates perfectly with countless other LEGO sets. It's a perfect match for the other year's 20th anniversary snowspeeder and fittingly outshines the Microfighter Tauntaun from early 2021.

Ultimately, the UCS AT-AT is as authentic as possible from the blocky LEGO medium. Which, in my opinion, makes it everything I could wish for in a collector's item like this. I'm not going to sit here and write and say thatthe$800isn't a lot of money, but when it comes to LEGO sets, you'll certainly get your money's worth with a set like this.

If you don't plan on buying the LEGO UCS AT-AT anytime soon, you can enjoy all the details in the galley below.

Buy the LEGO UCS AT-AT now

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