LEGO Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball (72152) vs Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise (72153): Which to Buy (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 21, 2026 · 5 min read
LEGO's 72152 and 72153 launched together in February 2026, and the question of which one to buy almost always comes down to two things: display space, and how many of the original Kanto starters need to be on the shelf.
Buy 72152 if you want a focused Pikachu display piece at a manageable price. Buy 72153 if Charizard, Venusaur, and Blastoise all need to be present, and you can absorb triple the outlay.
At a glance
Both sets are adult collector builds rated 18+. Neither includes minifigures and neither has play features. Both are buildable display models scaled from the Pokémon's in-game proportions, confirmed at launch by Brickset's 72152 listing and 72153 listing and by the official LEGO Pokémon product page.
| 72152 Pikachu and Poké Ball | 72153 Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise | |
|---|---|---|
| Pieces | 2,050 | 6,838 |
| Official MSRP | $199.99 | $649.99 |
| Launch date | Feb 27, 2026 | Feb 27, 2026 |
| Age rating | 18+ | 18+ |
| Pokémon included | 1 (Pikachu) | 3 (Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise) |
| MSRP per piece | ~$0.098 | ~$0.095 |
| MSRP per Pokémon | $199.99 | ~$216.66 |
| Observed prices (Oct 21, 2026) | From $189.95 | From $594.99 (open box) |
The numbers reveal a detail that surprises most buyers. At MSRP, 72153 costs fractionally less per brick than 72152. The per-Pokémon price is also close: $199.99 each for 72152 versus roughly $216.66 each for 72153.
The real gap is total spend, not value per piece or per character.
On this page 7 sections
Where the Pikachu set (72152) wins
Lower entry price
At $199.99 MSRP, 72152 is the most accessible set in LEGO's adult Pokémon collector line. For a first purchase, a solo gift, or a desk piece with a limited budget, it stays below the point where a lot of buyers need to think twice.
Several sellers listed it at or slightly below MSRP as of October 21, 2026. That is not common for large adult LEGO sets in the secondary market.
Single-subject clarity
Every piece in 72152 builds toward one image: Pikachu seated inside an oversized Poké Ball. That focused subject makes for an unusually clean shelf ornament. It reads clearly from across a room and photographs well from almost any angle without competing visual elements.
For a collector who already has a busy display, the simplicity of 72152 is a feature.
Compact footprint
The finished model fits comfortably on a desk corner or a single shelf tier. If available display space is the constraint, 72152 fits where 72153 cannot. See the full LEGO Pokémon sets guide for display dimensions across the whole range.
Where the Kanto Starters set (72153) wins
Scale and room presence
6,838 pieces produce a display piece that anchors a room. Where 72152 is a standout accent, 72153 is a centerpiece that commands attention across an entire shelf or side-table.
At launch it was one of the largest Pokémon-licensed LEGO builds released to date. The three figures are display-sized, not toy-sized.
Marginally better piece value
At official MSRP, 72153 costs approximately $0.095 per piece versus $0.098 for 72152. The difference is narrow, but 72153 does give slightly more brick for each dollar spent. For long-term display builds where you are stacking multiple sets, that margin matters.
All three original Kanto starters in one box
Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise built together are a hard argument to counter for fans of the original generation. Acquiring all three as separate sets of comparable quality and scale would cost more, and no comparable individual set covers all three in a single purchase.
The deciding question
Budget and display space settle most of these choices.
If you are spending under $250 on a single gift or a first LEGO Pokémon set, 72152 is the straightforward pick. It delivers a clean, focused display, it comes in at MSRP from several sellers, and it gives a lot of visual impact for one shelf tier. The Eevee vs Munchlax comparison covers LEGO's smaller and less expensive Pokémon sets if the budget is tighter.
If shelf space allows and the budget reaches $649.99, 72153 delivers more total brick, a larger presence, and three Pokémon for a per-character price that is only marginally higher than 72152. For Kanto-generation fans, owning all three starters in one build is genuinely different from any other option in the line.
There is also a practical third path. Start with 72152 now as an affordable anchor. Add 72153 later when the budget and the shelf both allow it.
Both sets launched the same day, and both remain in production as of this writing.
Buy 72152: Pikachu and Poké Ball
Buy 72153: Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise
Frequently asked questions
How many pieces does LEGO Pokémon 72152 have?
72152 (Pikachu and Poké Ball) contains 2,050 pieces. It is rated 18+ and is an adult collector display build.
What is the official MSRP for LEGO Pokémon 72153?
72153 (Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise) has an official MSRP of $649.99. Both 72152 and 72153 launched on February 27, 2026 per Brickset.
Do these sets come with minifigures?
No. Both 72152 and 72153 are buildable display models of the Pokémon themselves. There are no minifigures included in either set.
Are these LEGO Pokémon sets suitable for children?
Both sets are officially rated 18+. They are adult collector builds designed for display, not play. LEGO's Pokémon range includes smaller 8+ sets at lower price points for younger fans.
Which LEGO Pokémon set has better piece-for-price value?
At official MSRP, 72153 costs approximately $0.095 per piece versus approximately $0.098 per piece for 72152, making 72153 fractionally better per brick. The margin is small. The real tradeoff is total spend ($199.99 vs $649.99) against display scale and Pokémon count.
Both sets are in stock now from independent shops. Browse the full Pokémon building sets collection on DexHaul to compare current prices across sellers before you buy. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, not affiliated with LEGO or The Pokémon Company.