The set in a Nutshell:

Name: 75946 Hungarian Horntail Triwizard Challenge

Pieces: 265

Minifigures: 4 minifigures

Original Price: $29.99 USD

Recommended Age: 8+

My first used LEGO set:

I should have really been paying more attention in 2019 as to what LEGO Harry Potter sets were available. I was under the impression that sets would be available forever and I wasn’t in any hurry to purchase all the sets available – I mean I had forever! Yes, I was completely wrong. LEGO does retire sets, meaning that they will no longer be manufactured and available for sale via LEGO and other retailers. It adds a time pressure component to my Harry Potter collecting. In an ideal world I would be able to purchase all the new sets when they are released to make sure that I get them at their retail price. (Retired sets may rise in value and thus purchasing retired sets may be more expensive). However, I was late to the LEGO Harry Potter party and when I started collecting, I knew I didn’t want to purchase all the sets just for the sake of completion. I wanted to focus on the sets that I liked, unfortunately I change my mind quite often about what LEGO sets I like.

And thus, it has happened very often that I refused to purchase a LEGO set while it was readily available in stores. Only after the set has retired, have I realized how much I do want it. (So much for wanting what you can’t have). And so, it came that I searched marketplaces online to find retired sets at reasonable prices.

The one thing that has worked in my favor thus far is that when I look for retired sets I don’t care if they are brand new in the original box. I don’t keep the boxes due to limited storage. I want what is in the box and I want 100% complete.

I found the “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” inspired 75946 Hungarian Horntail Triwizard Challenge set on Ebay in 2021. It was listed as complete and used. The box had already been opened and the person had built the Horntail, however, bag 2 was still unopened. I ended up purchasing it for $39.99 US, which included the mailing. The set was complete: all the pieces, box, and instruction manual. I wish I would have reached out to the seller to ask if shipping would have been cheaper if they kept the box – again, I don’t need it. I honestly don’t know if that is a fair price – I should have done more research. In my mind I justified the set costing $29.99 USD and then $10 USD for shipping, though I was naively neglecting the fact that the set was not new but used. Since then, I have learned that you can look up on Ebay the listings of sold items, which makes it easy to compare how good an offer is – after all just because it is listed for a certain price doesn’t mean it is worth it. Brick Economy is also very helpful in tracking the value of sets. Yes, I am not a LEGO investor, but I want to be as mindful of finances as possible when it comes to purchasing LEGO Harry Potter sets.

Overall, I really love the set. One thing I must point out, the Horntail came partly assembled. I decided to tear it apart and put it back together to make sure I had all the pieces. Let me tell you, the tearing apart really hurt my fingers. That is something to keep in mind when purchasing used sets. I finished building the set, which came with two bags. Only bag one had been opened (mainly to assemble the Horntail), so as soon as I finished with bag one, I knew for sure that it was a 100% complete set! It was advertised as a complete set, but I still I was worried.

As for the set, the Horntail ended up being much larger than I expected. The wingspan is 14 inches – over one foot! But it needed to be this large to look intimidating when it shrinks the minifigures of Harry, Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour and Viktor Krum. The fire coming out of the Horntails mouth can be moved from side to side, its legs can move too, unfortunately the wings can’t. The wings are pretty much what you see. I would think a more intricate Horntail would have meant a higher price point for the LEGO set, so for $29.99 USD the steady wings seem reasonable. The tail of the Horntail is very scary looking and that can move as well. It stays very true to what is featured in the movie.

The minifigures come with a lot of details. Both Harry’s and Cedric’s last name are printed on the back of their uniforms. Fleur and Viktor are very easily recognizable, though I will say that Vicktor’s hair is a bit strange looking. I am not sure what it is, just something about it looks a bit off. Harry also comes with his trusted Firebolt broom. I also thoroughly enjoy that the Harry Potter minifigure has the longer hair, again very true to the movie.

The set comes with a tent that opens in the middle so one can access the bed and a table with goblets and a drawer – presumably holding some first aid potions. A very nice detail in the tent are the stickers that show the coat of arms for the three different schools from which the students come: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and Drumstrang Institute. As for all stickers, I struggled to get them on the wall as even as possible. Hogwarts is unfortunately a bit uneven.

The Horntail itself is chained up close to the golden egg! The golden egg is so perfect and shiny. Your eyes easily travel from the Horntail to the golden egg, and you are transported to the very first challenge of the Triwizard Tournament!

I love displaying this set because the Horntail does look very intimidating and scary, especially with the minifigures next to it. I wish I could have purchased this set at my local Walmart for the $29.99 USD when it was available, because the $29.99 USD is a great price for the set. Considering I didn’t purchase the set until 2021, I still think I got it for a great price at $39.99 USD, even if it was used. Overall, I am very glad that I changed my mind on this set and ended up getting it. It stays very true to the scene from “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” and does transport you right back to Harry fighting for his life while trying to capture the golden egg.

VERDICT: Four detailed minifigures, one golden egg and one large Horntail make this a great set to bring the first challenge of the Triwizard Tournament into your home!

The Minifigures

The Hungarian Horntail

The Tent