Essential info:
Price: $59.99/£54.99
Model number: 76282
Number of pieces: 566
Dimensions: 8.5 inches / 22 cm tall
Recommended age: 10+
Honestly, we weren’t expecting to be blown away by Lego Marvel Rocket and Baby Groot. On the box, this model only looks okay: we were expecting a funny-looking raccoon that didn’t really resemble Rocket. But after spotting it on a good discount (nearly half-off at Costco), we couldn’t resist. And we’re glad we took a chance because Rocket looks way better in the flesh — er, brick — than we anticipated.
Coming complete with a tiny Baby Groot minifigure, this is an excellent set for any Guardians of the Galaxy fan, and that’s why it’s earned a place on our best Lego Marvel sets round-up. We can’t resist Rocket’s face, and even despite being made out of bricks, it’s every bit as full as attitude as the real thing.
Lego Marvel Rocket and Baby Groot review: Build
- The odd fiddly section means younger builders might need help
- Some really neat building techniques
At only 566 pieces, you’d expect Rocket and Baby Groot to be a cinch to build. But because of some clever techniques and the odd tricky part, expect to spend at least a couple of hours with it. It’s a couple of hours very well spent though, as the result is something truly wonderful. It’s always a marvel when tiny Lego bricks can turn into something that exudes so much personality, and Rocket is one of the best examples of it yet.
Split into four numbered bags, Lego Marvel Rocket and Baby Groot is a fairly linear building experience. You’ll start with his body, before moving on to his legs, then his head, and finally his arms, tail and accessories.
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The body, which comes out of the first numbered bag, is solid in construction. There are some enjoyably clever techniques used here: We particularly like his chunky shoulders that give the impression of him wearing shoulder pads. The second bag contains the pieces for his legs and feet which, of course, attach directly onto the torso. There’s a fair bit of articulation in the legs, but you’re limited to the amount of poses you can put Rocket in if you want him to stay balanced.
The third bag of the build, which sees you putting together Rocket’s head, is perhaps our favorite part. There are some nice techniques used here, like his eyes and whiskers, and some great choices of brick to give the illusion of fur. It’s worth noting that one part of the head — which built up the structure of Rocket’s face — was particularly fragile, and using too much force while applying pieces caused other parts to break. You’ll need to be careful here, and if a youngster is building, they might need a bit of assistance.
Finally, bag four sees you building Rocket’s arms. There’s a nice amount of articulation here, with joints allowing you to pose them. Thanks to the joints, however, his arms aren’t the most attractive part of the build, but the large guns he holds in his hands do go some way into covering them up.
Also in bag four is Rocket’s tail, which is perhaps the most inspired part of the whole build. After finishing his arms, we were left with a set of Lego ‘tubs’ and a shrub. Wondering what on earth they could be used for, it wasn’t until we’d stacked them together that we realized they formed a bushy tail. It’s a fantastic example of Lego ingenuity and works extremely well.
Lego Marvel Rocket and Baby Groot review: Design
- Rocket is excellently designed
- But more should be made of Baby Groot
Since Baby Groot gets his name on this Lego set — it’s Rocket and Baby Groot, after all — it’s a shame that Groot is nothing more than a minifigure. He’s a very nice minifigure, sure, and it gives a great sense of scale between him and Rocket, but it would’ve been a nice touch to have a buildable mini Groot. Ultimately, it is just a Rocket set, so the name is somewhat misleading, but don’t let that put you off.
We can’t overstate how wonderfully designed Rocket is. Images don’t do him justice: his face is particularly expressive thanks to his movable jaw (which can be positioned open or closed at your will) and those whiskers and “fur” pieces we mentioned earlier. It all comes together to create a raccoon that looks every bit like his on-screen counterpart.
We can’t even complain too much about the stickers used in Lego Marvel Rocket and Baby Groot. There is a handful used here, but they’re used sparingly, and they’re all easy enough to place. Thankfully, the most prominent pieces are printed, such as Rocket’s eyes and the small eyebrows on his face.
Rocket feels sturdy enough when he’s built, but we perhaps wouldn’t recommend him as a full-on action figure as the Lego store page may suggest. Despite that 10+ age rating, this is a set better kept to the realms of display — and stood against a full-size Groot or even the Guardians of the Galaxy ship, it looks wonderful. An absolute must for any Guardians fan, we think.
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Should you buy Lego Marvel Rocket & Baby Groot?
It’s a resounding yes from us. Sure, that $59.99 MSRP is a little pricey for a 566-piece set. But even though Rocket’s only been around since January 2024, the set’s frequently on offer. Even at full price, though, the finished model packs in so much character and detail that it’s easy to justify. And if you can pick it up with a discount? Even better. We don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Other Lego sets to consider
We can highly recommend Lego Marvel Venomized Groot, who makes a great companion to Rocket. In our Venomized Groot review, we praised the unique design and the fact you’re technically getting two sets in one (a half-Venom, half-Groot hybrid, and a fully Venomized Groot). If you want more Guardians Lego, a brand new Milano set is due to come out in August, and we can’t wait to get our hands on it.
If you’d rather have a more pocket-sized Rocket, this Rocket Mech Armor set is a lot of fun — and it’ll only set you back $14.99. On the other side of the price spectrum, however, there’s the epic Avengers Tower, which costs an eye-watering $499.99, but is undoubtedly the ultimate Lego Marvel set. We’re also big fans of the more reasonably-priced Sanctum Sanctorum. It doesn’t feature Rocket but has a wealth of other Marvel characters, like Spider-Man, Iron Man and Doctor Strange.