LEGO Harry Potter 76433 Mandrake has taken root on LEGO shelves, but is it a growing success or a pesky weed?

On shelves since June 1st, if you haven’t added 76433 Mandrake to your collection yet, now’s the time to give it a thorough evaluation. This brick-built magical plant is part of a small but growing collection (okay, two) of fantastic sets that could fit into both the Botanical Collection and their respective themes. Along with 71426 Piranha Plant, it features the screaming Mandrake plants from Harry Potter, which can kill if you hear their screams – but can also reverse petrification with a healing potion from their roots.

Does the LEGO set kill instantly or is it a healing ointment? Find out in our detailed test.

Share: 1 August 2024 Price: £59.99 / $69.99 / €69.99 Pieces: 579 Minifigures: 0 LEGO: Order now

Authentic and true to life

From the freakishly long toes to the screaming mouth, 76433 Mandrake has captured the ugly, baby-shaped plant perfectly. Asymmetrical LEGO elements on the face and body masterfully recreate what a wooden body would look like, with posable arms and legs that move when you pull it out of the pot. This creates a pretty convincing effect, as it stretches its arms and legs when you lift it out of the pot, adding to the overall effect in a subtle but convincing way.

Admittedly, pedants might argue that the fact that the head doesn’t quite fit in the pot means you’re at risk of the mandrake’s screams. Also, it’s quite difficult to get it back in the pot without tearing off a few toes. This requires two hands: one to hold the legs together and one to lower it in. The “baby” mandrake also can’t sit upright when it’s not in the pot, but easily tips over to the side or needs to be laid flat.

Once 76433 Mandrake is set up, however, the look looks pretty authentic to the movie and you can forgive the fact that the face isn’t completely hidden as it’s so cleverly detailed. The mouth itself can be opened and closed by moving the chest, causing the arms and legs to move and mimic the way Mandrake screams and cries on screen. Could we have used a sound brick to recreate the actual noise, like with 76429 Talking Sorting Hat? Maybe, but that would probably have pushed the price up – and it doesn’t feel entirely necessary. (Plus, your ears might not have forgiven you for that.)

Creative foliage – but disappointed by stickers

The same level of detail continues through to the foliage on top, with brown whip elements used to create the effect of vines and leaf elements of all sizes used to create the illusion of bushy leaves on the head. It’s a shame that the leaf pieces aren’t printed, especially as you have to be very careful to line up the stickers on the tiles and the leaves, but from far away you can’t really tell that there are any stickers at all.

Admittedly, the leaves look drab from the back, which is equally disappointing. However, for the price of £59.99 / $69.99 / €69.99, you can’t really expect a LEGO set that looks good from every angle – and we can’t fault the way it looks from the front.

Quirky, nerdy display choice

The combination of play features and the effectiveness of the appearance (at least from one angle) makes for a pretty enticing set. The large leaves make it seem like a larger set than it is, and help justify the mid-range price. The build is straightforward and somewhat repetitive, which may work well for younger builders. Whether you want to keep it on the shelf or reenact your own herbology lesson, it’s designed well enough to do both.

Price-wise, you might be tempted to draw comparisons with the Botanical Collection, such as 10311 Orchid, the LEGO Icons set that comes closest to it in terms of piece count. 10311 Orchid is £15 cheaper despite having 300 more pieces – but when you factor in the extra interactivity features and the inevitable license price increase as 76433 Mandrake is part of the LEGO Harry Potter theme, it seems a pretty fair price.

Placed on a shelf, it’s a subtle but quirky decoration option, ideal for anyone who wants a slightly nerdy LEGO set that won’t look too out of place on even the classiest shelf. Bring it out of the pot to impress Potterhead guests, or keep it hidden away – the choice is yours.

This set was provided by the LEGO Group for review.

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Our honest opinion: 76433 Mandrake is elegant enough to display and offers enough interactivity to keep you interested long after you’re done building.

Author profile

Rachel Davis

I write about the very best fandoms – and that means LEGO, of course. Spending so much time looking at and talking about LEGO sets is dangerous for my bank balance, but the LEGO shelves are thriving. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.