Save On Lego Optimus Prime At Target Before It Sells Out

Optimus Prime is one of the most popular and highly rated buildable models in the Lego Icons lineup–for good reason, too. The 1,508-piece collectible display set has an exceedingly clever 2-in-1 design that allows Transformers fans to convert the Autobot leader into his signature truck. Multiple major retailers recently restocked the set with a 20% discount that dropped the price to $144 (was $180). The deal is sold out at Amazon and Walmart, but Target has restocked the discounted set.

It’s a great time to add Optimus Prime to your Lego collection, as the Transformers series is about to get its third member: Soundwave. The Decepticon joins the Lego Icons: Transformers lineup on August 4, but Lego Insiders can purchase the 1,505-piece display model for $190 starting this Friday, August 1.

Lego Icons: Optimus Prime Transformers 2-in-1 Display Model

Back to the Autobot leader: All three retailers have sold out of the Optimus Prime Lego set several times already this year. And though it has returned once again, it’s worth noting that Optimus Prime was out of stock everywhere from last holiday season until March. The Lego Store has units available at the moment, but it’ll cost you the full $180 MSRP.

$144 (was $180)

Optimus Prime is a highly detailed model of the Autobot leader’s G1-era design. With 19 points of articulation, you can create an wide range of poses by adjusting his limbs in robot mode. Lego’s detailed scale-model of the G1-era Optimus Prime is essentially a 13.5-inch action figure. You certainly don’t want to be rough with it, but it has more movable components than you’d normally expect with Lego thanks to its 2-in-1 design.

Switching from robot to truck mode and back again is a relatively straightforward process. At first, the switch might take you a couple minutes, but once you have the steps memorized, it’s possible to convert the build in less than a minute.

Beyond its ability to completely transform, Optimus has a suite of interactive features and accessories that make it one of the most dynamic builds in Lego’s lineup of collectible sets for adults. Brick-built replicas of the ion blaster and Energon axe can be attached to his hands. You can easily fasten or remove his jetpack and swap between two different waist panels. The dual windows covering his chest can be swung open to access the Matrix of Leadership artifact. It also comes with an Energon cube and an information plaque to display alongside the model.

Lego makes a ton of vehicle display models, so it’s pretty remarkable that Optimus Prime’s “secondary” truck mode looks good enough that you could mistake it as a vehicle that doesn’t transform into a robot. When displayed as a truck, Optimus is 10.5 x 4.5 x 5.5 inches.

Like many other Lego sets geared toward adults and collectors, Optimus Prime has a more complex build process than the average set. An ample variety of conventional bricks and unique piece types makes it a thoroughly rewarding set to construct. Depending on your experience with Lego sets of this size, it could take you anywhere from three to six hours to complete.

$86 (was $90)

After two years of talking to himself and converting into a truck to take long, aimless drives, one of Optimus Prime’s pals finally joined him in the brick-built world of Lego last summer.

Lego’s 950-piece Bumblebee kit has yet to receive a big discount, but this comparatively smaller buildable figure is one of the coolest Lego sets under $100. It has numerous points of articulation, and you can quickly transform the Autobot from robot to car.

Bumblebee is 9.5 inches tall in robot mode and 8.5 inches long in vehicle mode. Lego based the design on the character’s look in the 1980s. Bumblebee comes with a detachable ion blaster, jetpack, and information plaque.

$190 | Releases August 4 | Lego Insiders can buy on August 1

The latest Transformers Lego set marks the arrival of the Decepticons. Soundwave is a 1,505-piece, 13-inch display model, so it’s roughly the same size as Optimus Prime in height and piece count.

Like the other two Transformers builds, Soundwave is based on his appearance during the G1 era. Instead of transforming into a vehicle, this 2-in-1 build can be converted into a boombox. Fittingly, it has sound effects and lines of dialogue that can be heard by pressing Soundwave’s play button.

Another unique aspect here is that there are buildable figures of Ravage and Laserbeak. And just like Soundwave, these smaller figures can transform. After converting Ravage and Laserbeak into cassettes, they can be stored inside Soundwave’s cassette deck.

A brick-built information plaque details Soundwave’s technical specifications (power statistics). A miniature cassette tape sits next to the reference card.

Soundwave is a Lego Store-exclusive set at launch, but just like Optimus, it should be available at major retailers in the coming month. As mentioned, Lego Insiders can purchase Soundwave for $190 starting August 1, three days before its official August 4 launch.

Walmart and Amazon also have great deals on two other iconic vehicles from movie history. The Lego Icons Back to the Future Time Machine is discounted to $170 (was $200) at Walmart. This is a 3-in-1 build, but unlike the Transformers sets, you’ll need to pick which DeLorean model from the trilogy you want to build. If you change your mind later on, you can partially deconstruct the model and rebuild it using the instructions for one of the other designs. You can also get the set for $171 at Target, but Amazon is sold out of the $170 deal.

Meanwhile, Dune fans can save 20% on the Lego Icons: Atreides Royal Ornithopter, dropping the price from $165 to $132. The 1,369-piece build comes with six Lego minifigures. Amazon is almost out of stock, but you can also grab this deal at Walmart and Target.