LEGO Icons 11390 Shenron & Goku is the first Dragon Ball set LEGO has ever made, and the box just leaked. Short version: at around $180 it's unlikely to be a quick day-one flip unless it sells out at launch. But as the first set from one of the biggest anime franchises in the world, it's a strong candidate to hold, especially if you can buy it at a discount or with a gift with purchase.
What LEGO Icons 11390 Shenron & Goku is
LEGO news account Brick Tap posted the first look at the box on September 28. It says one of its members spotted the set in stores. Here's what's been reported so far:
- Set: LEGO Icons 11390 Shenron & Goku
- Pieces: 1,764
- Price: about $180 in the US
- Release date: November 1, 2026
- The build: Shenron, the Eternal Dragon, rising above all seven Dragon Balls, with young Goku on the Flying Nimbus beside him and the original Dragon Ball logo on the base
- Minifigure: Son Goku, with his tail
LEGO itself posted an official teaser on September 22, a video of the seven Dragon Balls starting to glow. That confirms Dragon Ball is coming, but LEGO hasn't put up a product page yet. Earlier rumors listed the set at 1,760 pieces and $199.99, so treat the final price as unconfirmed until LEGO announces it.
Why the first Dragon Ball LEGO set matters
The fan base is enormous. The Dragon Ball manga has sold more than 260 million copies worldwide, according to publisher Shueisha. Dragon Ball Z is one of the most recognizable anime ever made, and those fans are now adults with money to spend. That's exactly who LEGO's 18+ Icons line is built for.
It's the first, and it stands alone. Per Brick Tap, original Dragon Ball gets this one Icons set, and Dragon Ball Z gets its own full theme in 2027. Leaks point to sets like Frieza's Spaceship, Goku vs. Raditz and a buildable Vegeta, though none of that is confirmed. So 11390 is the only set from the original, kid-Goku era, and the first set of a new license is usually the one collectors go back for once a theme takes off.
We've seen this movie before. When LEGO opened pre-orders for its first Pokémon sets in January, the $649.99 Venusaur, Charizard & Blastoise (72153) sold out within 24 hours on both LEGO.com and Pokémon Center. The Kanto Region Badge Collection that came free with it sold out too, and it was listing for A$300 and up soon after. That gift with purchase was an easy flip. Here's how we turned it into a $700 profit, and here's our original breakdown of the set and GWP.
Flip, hold or pass? Our take
Day-one flip: probably not. The Pokémon sellout was a $650 mega-set, which LEGO tends to make in smaller numbers at launch. A $180 Icons set is usually made in much bigger quantities, and licensed sets at this price regularly get discounted at Amazon, Target and Walmart within months. Unless 11390 sells out at launch, there's no reason for buyers to pay over retail on day one.
Long-term hold: this is where it gets interesting. LEGO's real money is made after a set retires. A study from HSE University looked at 2,322 LEGO sets from 1987 to 2015 and found average returns of 10–11% a year. It also found:
- Prices usually start climbing two or three years after a set retires.
- Themed sets tied to popular movies, famous buildings or holidays grow the fastest, and so do limited or promotional sets.
- Returns vary a lot, from -50% to +600% a year. Small and very large sets tend to beat medium ones, and at 1,764 pieces this one sits in the middle.
In other words, a hold isn't automatic. The license is the reason to be excited, and your buy price is what decides your profit. Buying below retail is what makes the math work.
Timing: a November 1 launch
A November 1 release puts the set on shelves right at the start of the holiday shopping season, the busiest stretch of the year for marketplaces like eBay and Amazon. And since Brick Tap says boxes are already turning up in stores, supply may reach retailers before the official date. Watch for early stock, but don't count on it.
What to watch before November 1
- The official reveal. LEGO should post a product page with the final price. $180 versus $199.99 matters for your margin.
- A gift with purchase or LEGO Insiders early access. A free promo set at launch can pay for part of the set, just like the Kanto badges did.
- Pre-order sellouts. If LEGO.com sells out of pre-orders the way it did for Pokémon, the flip math changes fast.
- Retailer pre-orders. Amazon, Target and Walmart listings let you lock in a copy, and Amazon won't charge you until it ships.
- Early discounts. For a long hold, the best buys often come a few months after launch, when retailers start cutting the price.
Keep sets sealed and store them carefully. For a long hold, box condition counts.
New to Lego flips? Start with our guide on how to start reselling, or browse more Lego guides and videos.
Get the Lego calls in our Discord
Blaine and the rest of our Lego team track launches like this every day: gift-with-purchase deals, retiring sets and the moments when a set goes from "skip" to "buy." If 11390 sells out, gets a GWP or drops in price, our members hear about it first.
Sources
- Brick Tap — first look at Icons 11390 Shenron and Goku (September 28, 2026)
- Dexerto — Dragon Ball's first-ever LEGO set leak reveals $180 Shenron and Goku
- TheGamer — Dragon Ball Z Shenron & Goku Lego set pictures and details leak
- StoneWars — LEGO Icons Shenron (11390): new teaser video from LEGO
- Jay's Brick Blog — Pre-orders sell out for the $650 LEGO Pokémon Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise (January 2026)
- HSE University — Toys prove to be better investment than gold, art, and financial securities
- France 24 — 'Dragon Ball': Japan's manga powerhouse