2026 Lego Advent Calendars Just Dropped, and Our Favorite One Is Now On Sale

We’ll start with the best, albeit far and away the most expensive set, the three Kanto starters. Not only is it almost objectively the best-looking one, but it’s well worth the purchase. This thing is going to be worth its weight in gold in ten years. We wouldn’t suggest keeping it sealed—it’s way too good not to take out of the box and build. Or there’s always the option to buy two...Pokémon’s mascot was part of the first wave of sets and represented what we’d consider a mid-tier price point; it’s less than 1/3 of the price of the starters and more expensive than your baseline $100 set. All things considered, it’s a great price. You’re effectively getting a life-sized Pikachu here, and it’s a lot less expensive than some of the statues we’ve seen out there. And did I forget to mention it’s Pikachu we’re talking about here? A true icon.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowPokemon’s Smart Play debut was arguably more surprising than the initial drop; we didn’t expect it to be the second IP to get the treatment, especially this early in the game. It’s a welcome surprise, though, and this set features two icons in the game: Jolteon and Charizard. If you’re anything like me, these two were in my party at all times, and now you can have them duke it out IRL. At least, in some capacity.Eevee represents the best “value” option of the first wave, and it still rings true a few months later. In fact, it’s probably more relevant now than ever; it’s 22 percent off on Amazon and under $50, even after Labor Day. It makes a great display piece, and it’s fairly close to Eevee’s actual Pokedex size. It’s highly posable, fairly easy to put together, and of course, adorable.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowThere’s room to go even cheaper, and this one is an excellent candidate for a potential “stocking stuffer” or “just because” gift that doesn’t break the bank. It’s one of the smaller sets Pokémon is offering at just 320 pieces, but the fact that it features Smart Brick compatibility is a real net positive. Plus, it’s not every day you get to see Squirtle riding a car. Unless I’m missing something...Catching Rayquaza was always a nightmare for me back in the day. Now it’s easier than ever—at least if you have $130 and some free time. This is easily my favorite legendary Pokémon set out there, and the fact that it rests upon a replica version of the Sky Pillar makes it that much more nostalgic. And you don’t have to bring your Mach Bike to get up there. If you know, you know.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowSpeaking of legendary Pokemon, Mewtwo technically applies. Sure, he’s a clone, but he was essentially the big kahuna catch of the first-gen games; if you didn’t save your Master Ball for Mewtwo, you were doing it wrong. This is probably the most interactive Smart Play set out there, and for under $75, it’s an absolute steal. And we’re not talking about the Team Rocket kind of stealing.Evolving your Growlithe into an Arcanine with the Fire Stone was always the best way to get a fully evolved fire Pokemon fairly early in the game. Arcanine is also one of the best designs in the early games, which shouldn’t come as too much of a shock to those familiar with first-gen lore; it was initially intended to be a legendary. This near-1,200-piece adult set is a little more challenging, but totally worth the payoff, especially at just $110.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowUmbreon really upped the ante for Eeveelutions. It’s since become one of the more popular Pokémon out there, especially in the card collector space. Garchomp is also one of the more well-received newer-ish Pokémon to make its debut (Gen 4 is basically ancient history, but for old heads like me, Garchomp counts as new). This is essentially the face-off of fan favorites, and Smart Play functionality is simply icing on the cake.The Lavender Town arc really pulled at my heartstrings (and on a lighter note, the creepy gameplay score is now stuck in my head). This set will bring you right back to haunted Pokémon territory and features Cubone and another fan favorite, Gengar. It also comes with four smart tags, some iconic accessories, and a real Game Boy Color-inspired vibe all around.Tim Kohut is the Deals and Trends Editor for Popular Mechanics, Men’s Health, Best Products, and Runner's World. He has extensive product review and gear coverage expertise, particularly in tech, home, auto, and health. Tim was previously the Deputy Commerce Editor of The Drive and a Commerce Editor at BGR. He’s also overseen gear coverage and strategy at Popular Science, Bob Vila, Outdoor Life, and Field and Stream. He has a strong affinity for cats, Batman, and early 90’s Nicolas Cage films, in that order.