Discover every LEGO Star Wars prequel trilogy Ultimate Collector Series set, beginning with some of the forgotten classics from the theme’s early years, 2001 to 2010.
The LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series began in 2000, just a year after LEGO Star Wars launched in 1999. 7191 X-wing Fighter and 7181 TIE Interceptor kicked off a decades-long series of sets that continues to bring the franchise’s most iconic ships into an impressive, large-scale collection sure to dazzle on display.
But these two sets started another trend, as well — that being the extreme focus on the original trilogy for new Ultimate Collector Series (UCS) sets. To date, only seven sets under the UCS banner can claim to be from the prequel trilogy (admittedly better than the zero the sequel trilogy has yet received). Prequel fans were starved for UCS sets for the first two decades of the series’ run, but there’s been an up tick in recent years. So join Blocks, the monthly LEGO magazine, and explore every LEGO Star Wars prequel trilogy UCS set, beginning with sets from 2001 up to 2010.
2001 — 10018 Darth Maul
10018 Darth Maul isn’t exactly what most fans picture when they think of UCS sets. Busts aren’t something all too common in the LEGO catalogue, especially in LEGO Star Wars. To date, this set is one of two busts from the theme and the only to be built at this scale. The set’s 1,868 pieces are mostly just bricks, but Maul manages a respectable amount of detail — albeit detail befitting of a set from 2001. Nearly the entire set is just bricks on top of bricks, save for dish elements used for his eyes and a little bit of detail by his ears.
Fans looking to get a sealed copy of this set today can expect prices to soar well into the thousands. Though the simple parts used for the set does make piecing it together an affordable alternative — except for the black elements used for the stand, which remain exclusive this hard-to-get set.
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2002 — 10026 Special Edition Naboo Starfighter
Just a year after Darth Maul hit shelves, the prequels received their second UCS set in the form of 10026 Special Edition Naboo Starfighter. With just 187 pieces, it’s severely undersized compared to every other set in the series, but it stands out thanks to the use of chrome elements for the ship’s silver detailing. Chrome is an uncommon colour for the LEGO Group to produce, so a set that’s packed with it is a rare treat.
Like most other UCS sets, 10026 isn’t minifigure-compatible, though instead of being too big like most other models, it’s actually too small — the cockpit is represented with two full bricks instead of a windshield piece, preventing a minifigure pilot from jumping inside. R2-D2 does make an appearance, though it’s just his head sitting in the Astromech compartment. Much like 10018 Darth Maul, this set commands a hefty price on the aftermarket, thanks in part to its chrome pieces as well as the fact it only stuck around on shelves for about two months.
2008 — 10186 General Grievous
Long before statues became commonplace for LEGO Star Wars, 10186 General Grievous appeared on shelves around May the Fourth in 2008. A stark departure from other UCS sets, Grievous was the first prequel UCS set since 2002 and the first to be a statue-style. For its day, 10186 is a solid representation of the feared General, blending Technic elements with traditional System pieces. Grievous’ face lacks the personality of later statue sets, but the creative use of slopes and dishes make for a recognisable model.
Despite retiring by the end of 2008, 10186 is a significantly cheaper investment than the previous two prequel UCS sets, likely due to its 1,086 pieces mostly being nothing too uncommon — save for a unique nameplate on the stand that gives the model much more character than the standard UCS plaque used on other sets.
2010 — 10215 Obi-Wan’s Jedi Starfighter
Following the curveball that was 10186 General Grievous, 10215 Obi-Wan’s Jedi Starfighter released in 2010, giving the prequel trilogy its first vehicle UCS set in eight years. The model is an incredibly sleek representation of Obi-Wan’s Delta-7 starfighter, able to better capture the ship’s shaping than the much smaller play scale versions. The astromech droid is upscaled as well, its head is printed on a large dome element.
With 676 pieces, the set is smaller than what fans expect from UCS sets today, but the source material doesn’t demand anything more than what’s here. That lets 10215 hold up unbelievably well, even 15 years on. Once one of the most forgotten UCS sets, it’s gained newfound appreciation (and aftermarket value) from fans looking to pair it with the new 75409 Jango Fett’s Firespray-Class Starship.
Following 10215’s retirement, things looked bleak for the prequel trilogy’s future in the Ultimate Collector Series. But there has been a resurgence in recent years — so keep your hyperdrives online, as Blocks will soon explore the rest of the prequel trilogy’s UCS sets.
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