The LEGO Great Deku Tree is a Dream for Zelda Fans
When I was young, I spent countless hours playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on my Nintendo 64. I connected deeply with Young Link and his early adventure in Hyrule—so much so that I often replayed only the opening stretch of the game. I would complete the first three dungeons, then restart entirely, simply because I didn’t want to transition into Adult Link. As a result, I’ve experienced the game’s opening dungeon more times than I can count, and I’ve developed a genuine affection for the Great Deku Tree and his presence throughout the Zelda series.
At the same time, I was absolutely obsessed with LEGO. That love never really went away—I still collect LEGO sets to this day. As a kid, I used loose bricks to build my own version of Link and imagined original Legend of Zelda adventures on the living room floor. Back then, official Zelda LEGO sets felt like an impossible dream.
That changed in May 2024, when The LEGO Company officially announced a collaboration with Nintendo: the LEGO Great Deku Tree 2-in-1 set. Rather than committing to a single era, LEGO offered builders a choice—either the Great Deku Tree from Ocarina of Time or its interpretation from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
I ordered the LEGO Great Deku Tree immediately as a late birthday present to myself. While the novelty of building both versions was tempting, I already knew which one would earn a permanent spot on display: the Ocarina of Time version. When the box finally arrived, I wasted no time—there’s nothing quite like new LEGO set day.
What's In The Box?
Opening the LEGO Great Deku Tree box reveals roughly 2,500 pieces divided across more than 20 numbered bags, along with a hefty instruction booklet. While that piece count may feel intimidating, it’s worth noting that you won’t use every piece in a single build—each version of the Great Deku Tree pulls from the same pool of elements in different ways.
This is an 18+ set, and that rating feels entirely justified. The build is complex, layered, and occasionally demanding. Thankfully, LEGO includes a brick separator, which becomes invaluable if you make a mistake along the way. My recommendation is to organize the bags in sequential order before starting, grab the instruction manual, and settle in.
The instruction manual itself is a highlight. It opens with nine full pages of stunning Zelda artwork and in-game screenshots that clearly inspired the set’s design. Interspersed throughout are short lore and development notes that feel like a thoughtful homage to the franchise. After that nostalgic warm-up, construction begins.
The Minifigures
The LEGO Great Deku Tree 2-in-1 set includes four minifigures: three versions of Link—Young and Adult Link from Ocarina of Time, plus Link from Breath of the Wild—and Zelda from Breath of the Wild.
Young Link comes equipped with his Deku Shield and Kokiri Sword, instantly recognizable and full of personality. Adult Link includes his iconic ocarina, though curiously wields a more generic sword despite the Master Sword being included elsewhere in the set. Still, both figures feel faithful and well executed.
The Breath of the Wild versions of Link and Zelda are equally impressive. Their designs closely mirror their Nintendo Switch counterparts, and Zelda’s inclusion feels especially meaningful given her personal relationship with the Great Deku Tree in Breath of the Wild. It’s a thoughtful and welcome addition.
Construction Begins
Construction begins the same way for both versions of the tree. The first section has you build Link’s tree house from Ocarina of Time, and it’s an absolute joy. While this structure has no direct connection to Breath of the Wild, its inclusion doesn’t feel out of place. The build is compact, well-detailed, and features iconic items like the Hookshot and the Hylian Shield. It’s a straightforward section that immediately put a smile on my face.
Next comes the natural foreground leading up to the LEGO Great Deku Tree. This is where the build begins to show its complexity. Using small, intricate pieces, you construct a dense ecosystem of mushrooms and plants inspired by Breath of the Wild’s cooking mechanics. The instructions even identify specific flora, including Endura Shrooms, Hylian Shrooms, Silent Princess flowers, and Hearty Radishes—a delightful detail for longtime fans.
Hestu is up next, and his inclusion genuinely made me smile. Regardless of which version of the tree you choose to build, Hestu remains part of the final display. He’s a small, simple build, but LEGO adds a charming touch by placing loose pieces inside his maracas.
The foreground is completed with the iconic Master Sword pedestal. While the Master Sword isn’t obtained from the Great Deku Tree during the events of Ocarina of Time, I’m certainly not going to complain about its presence here. The entire scene feels cohesive, vibrant, and perfectly at home beneath the tree’s roots.
From there, construction shifts to the LEGO Great Deku Tree’s foundation. Both versions of the LEGO Great Deku Tree share the same structural base, and you won’t be asked to choose which version to build until page 156 of the instruction manual.
For the purposes of this review, I focused exclusively on the Ocarina of Time version of the Great Deku Tree. While I expect the Breath of the Wild build to offer a largely similar experience, switching between the two is not especially convenient. The set uses the same pieces arranged in different ways, and LEGO does not provide guidance on disassembly—making the process of rebuilding from scratch somewhat awkward.
The Final Product
The LEGO Great Deku Tree looks incredible towering over the Deku Babas and the Great Deku Sprout. From the front, it looks exactly as I remember from Ocarina of Time. The back reveals LEGO’s playful mechanics, including a Skulltula enemy, a spider web, and a mechanism that opens and closes the LEGO Great Deku Tree’s mouth. LEGO truly outdid themselves here, and the Skulltula drop mechanic is especially fun in execution.
After completing the main build, I still had several unopened bags remaining. I enjoyed the process so much that I went off-instructions to create additional scenery around the tree. I built apple and cherry trees to help bring Kokiri Forest to life and placed several Korok figures from Breath of the Wild throughout the display. It was a joyful reminder of how flexible and creative this set can be.
Cost and Value
The LEGO Great Deku Tree 2-in-1 set retails for $299.99—a steep price at first glance. However, when broken down, the cost comes out to roughly $0.12 per LEGO piece, which is fairly standard for premium licensed sets. Unfortunately, being a LEGO collector isn’t a cheap hobby, and that’s something fans understand all too well.
So, is it worth it? In my opinion: absolutely. If you’re a fan of The Legend of Zelda or LEGO, The LEGO Great Deku Tree is an absolute joy to build, and its attention to detail is outstanding. I’ve had it on display since September 2024 and still admire it regularly. It’s a standout addition to my collection and an incredible debut for LEGO’s Legend of Zelda line.
Input Lag Score: ★★★★☆ (8/10)
Input Lag Recommendation: Highly Recommended
While the LEGO Great Deku Tree 2-in-1 set is a joy to build and an incredible debut for LEGO’s Legend of Zelda line, the difficulty of disassembling and rebuilding the alternate version holds it back from a perfect score. As a display piece and one-time build experience, it’s outstanding—but switching between builds is far from seamless.
The LEGO Great Deku Tree 2-in-1 set stood alone for quite some time, but LEGO has since revealed another Legend of Zelda set: Ocarina of Time™ – The Final Battle.
What iconic moments from The Legend of Zelda would you like to see recreated in LEGO form? And could we ever see a LEGO-style Legend of Zelda game release on Nintendo Switch 2?
About the Author
Scott (Scotty) Greenhalgh is the founder and owner of Input Lag, an independent Nintendo-focused publication. Scotty brings a player-first perspective informed by years of hands-on experience with Nintendo games to his reviews, rankings, and editorial coverage. His writing focuses on how games feel to play, their long-term value, and the impact Nintendo’s creative and business decisions have on players.
Outside of Input Lag, he also creates Pokémon-focused content online under the name Gr3atScotty.
