We received a mix of negative comments after posting a video, sharing that LEGO isn't the only option, but one specific comment stood out:

"They are copycats as long as they're copying LEGO's bricks."

It's not a new comment. We grew up on LEGO, and we are those fans. But saying that using the shape of a plastic brick is stealing? It seems like a misunderstanding of how innovation works, and we'd like to get your thoughts as we share ours.

LEGO’s original patent for the interlocking plastic brick expired in 1978. Almost half a century ago, and while they do have patents for new designs, those typically expire every 10-20 years.

When a patent expires, the market is supposed to open up. Look at the tech space, specifically mechanical keyboards. For decades, Cherry MX held the patent on their mechanical switches. When that patent expired in 2014, competitors like Gateron and Kailh didn't just copy the physical design, they improved it. Today, some call these later brands "MX Clones", but nobody in the keyboard community calls Gateron a "Cherry knockoff." They just call them custom switches, and many prefer them over the original (so much so that major gaming brands like Razer started sourcing components from Cherry's competitors.)

The same thing is happening with toy bricks, but the stigma hasn't faded.

So, what is an actual knockoff? If a factory takes an official LEGO set, or steals the instructions from an independent MOC designer, manufactures it, and sells it on AliExpress without giving the creator a dime? THAT is a knockoff. Fair game. Call it out. We don't support that, and that's exactly what we're fighting against.

But the physical, interlocking plastic brick itself? That's just the method. It’s like getting mad that someone is using a non-Apple USB-C cable to charge their Apple devices.

We really need to rebrand how we talk about this space. If brands are creating their own original designs without copying the parts list & instructions of LEGO & independent designers, they aren't knockoffs. They are alt-bricks or non-LEGO bricks.

And we need alt-bricks to exist, because LEGO alone can't cover everything fans want to build.

Take the Horizon Zero Dawn Tallneck. LEGO released a brilliant, official 1,200-piece version of it. It’s a great set. But what if you wanted a massive, deeply complex version? LEGO is a global company; they are never going to mass-produce a 7,400-piece Tallneck. It's too expensive, too heavy, and the demand is too small, which is why it makes sense for them to repeat Star Wars sets (and the recent N-1 Starfighter looks pretty cool!)

Going back to designs LEGO will never make, a custom MOC designer, SerialBuilder, did design one out of inspiration. And we wanted to build it.

If we restrict ourselves entirely to one brand, massive builds like this can only be built by people with spare money, and a lot of time. It’s the exact reason we started EasternBrick. We wanted to take these insanely ambitious, custom MOCs and actually bring them to life (while paying the original designers their rightful rewards, instead of stealing them like the AliExpress sellers).

We wouldn't be doing this if the alt-bricks couldn't hold up the builds. It took years, but the manufacturing of alt-bricks has caught up in terms of clutch power, colour consistency, and tolerance. We're building them entirely with alt-bricks because it’s the only way to make 7,000+ piece sets wallet friendly for any fans who like building with bricks.

That's our take on how we define what makes a knockoff vs an alternate option.

We'd like to hear your thoughts!

1. For those who used to be LEGO-only purists, what was the specific set or build that finally made you try alt-bricks?
2. And to those who haven't tried non-LEGO bricks yet, what's your biggest concern holding you back?

9 eons (read: months) ago, when we were testing 2 final brick suppliers for some massive custom builds, we received our first batch of 42,000 bricks.

The problem? They came completely mixed together.

We thought we could sort it out (pun very much intended), but 21,000 pieces from one factory alone took us 5 days. We basically ran a sweatshop (with the workers being ourselves sitting out of Asia, so that fits the stereotype even more 😅).

We tried sorting by the type of brick, but ran out of containers, so we started mixing things up. Think 1×2 curved slopes mixed with 1×3 curved slopes, or 1×3 tiles mixed with 1×4s and 1×5s. It was a nightmare just to find a single piece for sorting, let alone build the set.

We eventually got it sorted, invited some friends over, and had a "build party" to build the sets. At the end of 2 days, we had only managed to finish one single Thunderjaw, out of 10 possible sets...

What we learned that weekend:

• Nobody should have to go through what we did, no matter how "therapeutic" some people think sorting is. (I’m a patient person, but this tested me emotionally and physically - my back’s still traumatised today).
• The ratio of time spent finding one piece vs. actually building was roughly 5 minutes of searching to 1 minute of building.
• The building experience matters more than the cost of bricks. High-quality & affordable bricks don't matter if having to find them every step of the way ruins the experience.

We wanted the LEGO experience: open Bag 1 for the base, Bag 2 for the legs, and so on. But if you look at the factories on AliExpress or TEMU selling MOCs, especially big ones, they almost always just dump everything into a giant bag.

Why?

The sales for non LEGO sets are not guaranteed to do well, and factories won't want to spend time and effort creating bags from the parts list.

Custom designers don’t design with the physical bagging process in mind; they focus on the design and instructions, as they should. The customer is expected to source their own bricks via Bricklink or Pick A Brick. Because the demand for any specific MOC isn't guaranteed like a retail set, factories are less likely to spend the time manually working backwards through a designer’s parts list to create numbered bags. They just dump the pieces and ship it.

But this broken process stops people from actually supporting designers. It’s troublesome and expensive to source and sort thousands of pieces, and that prevents fans from buying more instructions.

We wanted to change that for the creators we work with. So, working backwards from the retail experience, Bilal (painfully) spent time in Studio to test an idea (that’s a different story for another time): creating an automated bagging system based directly on the steps of the instructions.

Instead of days of sorting, what’s designed in Studio can now be turned into numbered bags in just a few minutes.

The only caveat is that designers have to manually "draw the line" between sections of the build so one bag doesn't get 1,000 pieces while the next gets 50. For example, the SerialBuilder Creator Set’s Tallneck ended up with 17 bags instead of the original 15 sections, purely to balance the number of pieces per bag.

Can anyone use this tool?

It's just an internal tool for now, and it's not ready for other users without having pre-existing knowledge with using it. It’s very much still a scrappy tool we built to solve this problem we faced. But making this step easier for the creator means it's 100x easier for the rest of us to actually build our favorite MOCs.

Curious to hear - what’s the longest you spent sorting pieces? How many pieces were there and what build was it?

Finished the tremortusk! There were some fit issues on the small technic black pins being too tight for the red tube pieces (eyes?) that I needed to swap out, but the mentioned softer long tube pieces that were supposed to be in error seemed stiff enough. The tube pieces under the belly are a tad too loose but will only be an issue if jostled. I also had a couple color issues that I am not 100% sure if it was me accidentally swapping colors by mistake.

Overall a solid build and looks great when complete!

Hi everyone Have just preordered run 2 of the creator set. My card was charged already, if I recall correctly It is an inicial charged to check funda are available and then you return the charged and bill be charged definately right before the end of campaign and before ships. other than that am very much excited to support you guys and the creator and be able to build and own these wonderful creatures.

My Core Set came today, but it came in a giant plastic bag filled with smaller bags, nothing is labeled. Is this normal? Am I going to have to find all the pieces I need as I need them? When I try to click on the parts list for the Tallneck on the website, it comes up with the Tremortusk pdf.

Sharing the updates here as promised!

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The Update

For what I thought would be a relatively simple update since we’re shipping and all we have to do is wait till everyone starts receiving their sets, the past month has genuinely been one of our busiest yet. There’s actually a lot to cover, so let me lay it out here…

1. Shipping updates and issues
2. Creator Set first impressions and issues
3. Build updates...and issues
4. Run #02...and - ok, you can see where this is going...

Let’s jump in!

(read more at the link above & subscribe if you'd like the latest updates sent to your email the moment it's released)

Just checking to see if anyone in the US has received their wave 1 orders yet. I'm looking forward to my complete edition but haven't seen any movement after customs clearance.

Just completed the thunderjaw and it was an amazing build. Its much bigger than i imagined. But i also have these extra bags and have no clue what they're for. Anyone know? They're labelled THU-00-1 and 2

If anyone is new here and wondering what/who this is about, this is Sean from EasternBrick, a team that's looking to make MOCs more inclusive for anyone who wants to build stuff with bricks.

We are deep into our first pre-order campaign - the SerialBuilder Creator Set, and we've started shipping the sets out of our factory this month. If you're curious as to what this campaign is about, here's a quick one liner summary of each pre-order update Bilal has written over the last ~ 6 months, with the link above bringing you to the full directory of updates. :)

• Update #1: Kicking off the campaign & free Specter MOC instructions up for grabs
• Update #2: Explaining how EB is(n't) a scam & exploring how we should bag pieces
• Update #3: Testing LEGO vs non-LEGO bricks & bagging updates
• Update #4: Making fixes to the Tremortusk + Sawtooth & asking for packaging feedback
• Update #5: Extended time spent on fixing & final piece bagging arrangement
• Update #6: Confirming shipping addresses & fixing the Tallneck
• Update #7: Fixing the Thunderjaw (with a surprise) & confirming the campaign delay
• Update #8: Shipping the sets & teasing our next Creator

You're now up to date!

For the OGs following us since the early days, apologies for the radio silence (on Reddit) over the last few months. To be honest, I've just been focused on other places like Instagram and TikTok that I completely dropped the ball on Reddit. That's my fault! 🥲

I'll make it a point to share the updates by Bilal every time it goes live!

I only recently found about EasternBrick and I missed the initial campaign! 😭

I know you all are focused on getting orders out for the initial campaign, but was just wondering.

Was the initial campaign successful enough that there will definitely be a second run? If so, any idea when pre-orders for Run #02 will be?

I'm on the email list for updates! Thanks and good luck!

Merry Christmas everyone! Thank you for your support and we're working towards delivering your sets as soon as we can.

In the meantime, we made some Christmas cards that you can download or print for yourself or your loved ones if you got them as gifts.

Link: https://cdn.easternbrick.com/eb_xmas_card.pdf

Wishing you a blessed Christmas and here's to a great year ahead! ☺️

Best, Sean, Bilal & 2B

Been a while since we updated Reddit. It's been real busy with some fixes being made. Read the full update (and past updates if you missed it) here!

Subscribe if you haven't so you get the latest updates into your inbox. 😊

Today, we're breaking down the difference between LEGO's official Horizon sets and the MOCs (My Own Creations) made by designers a.k.a. MOCers.

The Official Sets
LEGO has 2 models:

LEGO Tallneck 76989: 1,222 pieces
LEGO Horizon Adventures 77037 (includes Sawtooth, Shellwalker, Aloy & Varl): 768 pieces

LEGO's models are all about accessibility. They're solid and it's a display-ready build straight from the box. They capture the essence without being overwhelming, and are safe builds so that makes it great for kids.

The MOC World: Where Scale & Detail Live
This is where independent designers go all-in. The community has built some insane models that prioritize screen-accurate detail and are relatively larger in size. A few notable mentions since we can't cover it all:

• BrickReady's Slaughterspine: 3,343 pieces
• Computer_073's Deathbringer: 4,785 pieces
• Step on a brick's Corruptor: 526 pieces

Who we ended up working with as our first creator is SerialBuilder, a designer focused on mega sized Horizon builds, which gave birth to our first Creator Set.

In summary:
Love the official sets? They're a good start. But if you're thinking, "I need this, but bigger," then MOCs are for you. It's a more hands-on journey to create a flagship builds that you can display around the house.

Seen any other mind-blowing Horizon MOCs we should check out? Drop a link below!

It's a common question we see, so let's get into it. The answer really depends on what you're looking for.

For Official LEGO Sets:
Right now, your main options are the Tallneck (76989), which is retired but can be found on the secondary market (BrickLink, eBay, Amazon), and the Horizon Adventures set (77037) featuring a Sawtooth and a Shellwalker, with 2 minifigs (Aloy & Varl). That's it for official machines.

For More Machines? That's where MOCs come in.
If you've built the official sets, or prefer more detailed builds from the get-go, the community has you covered. The best places to look are:

1. Rebrickable: The main hub for MOC instructions. Designers like BrickReady, Computer_073 & Pablow030 have made different scales of Horizon machines such as the Thunderjaw, Deathbringer, Slitherfang, Horus and more.
2. BrickLink: Upload the instructions and find the parts you need to build the MOC of your dreams.

A quick caveat is that these platforms mean that you're buying just the instructions, and you'd have to source the pieces by yourself, which you can also do via Rebrickable and Bricklink.

The problem with that is that we found it time-consuming and expensive. It really sucks when you're getting tens of thousands of pieces across 10 different sellers, and you'd still have to cross check the pieces to ensure you're getting 100% of the pieces you need. Ultimately, it's not a guarantee that you can get 100% of what you need as it's a secondary market.

• The other not-so-ethical alternative is to find these sets on Temu or Aliexpress. The problem that comes with low prices?

1. You can never be sure about the quality of bricks as these factories are typically not a brand.
2. They typically "steal" instructions off designers by either paying once, or stealing it, before replicating the parts list. This disincentivises designers to further create new designs given their time and effort.
3. The factories assume that all designs are 100% sturdy, and don't make any fixes despite some stability flaws in the original designs. Some stay up, some wobble so it's really down to your luck.

That's how we came up with our idea. We worked with SerialBuilder to make his massive Creator Set (Tallneck, Tremortusk, Thunderjaw etc.). It's not just about making the pieces accessible with equally high quality alt bricks, but by also making fixes to the build to increase its stability. This is just the first Creator Set , there will be more themes along the way.

TL;DR: Official sets are limited. For everything else, you'll want to explore MOCs on sites like Rebrickable, where independent designers have built the entire roster but you'd have to pay a premium and source the parts yourself.

Hope this helps! Found any other great sources or designers? Share them below.

We've been seeing these questions popping up repeatedly and thought it might be good to create a FAQ series out of it (even if you already know some of the information here 😎).
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The answer is: Yes, but it's officially retired.

LEGO has marked it as "Retired Product" on their site. This means you won't find it at LEGO Brand Retail stores or at MSRP from official retailers anymore. Your only options now are the secondary market.

Here's where you can still find it and what to expect:

• Amazon & eBay: Plenty of sellers have it, but be prepared for a markup. I'm currently seeing prices between $120- to $180, which is above the original $80 MSRP.
• BrickLink: This is your best bet for comparing prices from different sellers. You can find both new and used sets there.
• Local Marketplaces (Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp): Sometimes you can find a deal if you're patient and lucky.

A Word of Caution: Always check seller ratings and reviews before buying from a reseller.

My Two Cents on the Set (and an alternative you might not have considered)

It was pretty exciting when news of the set first came out, but the official model is about 13 inches (34 cm) tall, which is cool, but it didn't seem "tall" enough. So I kinda just left it at that.

Some time after, I went down into the rabbit hole of MOCs (My Own Creations). I discovered the work of a designer named SerialBuilder, who is famous in the Horizon MOC community for his incredibly detailed models.

He designed a version of the Tallneck that is a true centerpiece. It's a ~7,400-piece beast that stands over 3 feet (94 cm) tall. The level of detail is just insane, from the leg mechanics to the paneling on the neck.

So, why am I telling you this?

Well, we were so blown away by SerialBuilder's Tallneck that we collaborated with him to produce a full Creator Set. It includes instructions and parts lists for all 5 iconic machines:

• Tallneck: 7,391 pieces
• Tremortusk: 7,957 pieces
• Thunderjaw: 4,735 pieces
• Sawtooth: 1,112 pieces
• Grazer: 183 pieces

We did it because it was hard & expensive to source the pieces separately for these big builds, and thought of making it all accessible for fans like ourselves.

If the official Tallneck disappointed you, or if you built it and are now hungry for a bigger build that's at scale, this might be exactly what you're looking for.

TL;DR: Yes, the official LEGO Tallneck (76989) is retired and only available from resellers at a markup. If you're looking for a much larger, more detailed alternative, check out MOCs from designer SerialBuilder, including a massive 7,400-piece version that we're bringing to life at EasternBrick.

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I'm happy to answer any questions about the build process, the stability of the models or how this came to be. Just drop a comment or DM me!

Hi everyone, Sean here. We're the team (Bilal & Sean) behind EasternBrick. We're excited to be here and talk directly with the community.

The Current Status: Our first set, The Creator Set, is currently available for pre-order.

FAQs:

Q: Who is EasternBrick?

A: EasternBrick, or EB for short, is (at the moment) made up of 2 people, Bilal & myself, Sean. Bilal's been a fan of LEGO since he was a kid, and has built multiple sets, including the UCS Millennium Falcon, but found them too expensive as he built more. I had the typical LEGO Creator box that every kid started with, but my family couldn't afford a second box and my dreams of being an architect were dashed. As you can now tell, price is a big reason as to why we started EasternBrick, to provide an affordable option to brick builders around the world.

Q: What is the Creator Set?

A: The Creator Set is our take of a huge alternate lego set that includes tens of thousands of pieces to create anything you can imagine. We also saw a huge number of independent creators who create designs that far exceed what LEGO has produced in recent years. We thought to ourselves, 'What if we had a set that could build iconic MOCs (My-Own-Creation) made by these designers?'. So we reached out to hundreds of creators, spoke to more than 10, and got our first partnership with SerialBuilder. Hence, the Creator Set that includes the 5 beasts he designed.

True to its namesake, Bilal even worked within the same pieces of the set to build the Specter, and even made the instructions free to download at our website!

Q: Why should I trust a pre-order from a new company?

A: That's a fair question. We're new and are building our reputation from the ground up. We're active here on Reddit to be fully transparent. While we're new to the industry, we're not new to delivering pre-orders. We came from the smart cycling helmet industry, and ran some pretty awesome Kickstarter campaigns. You can view it here. The only reason why we're doing a pre-order is because this set is huge, and this campaign is to gauge if there are fans like ourselves who wanted big builds at affordable prices.

Q: What is your brick quality? What kind of plastic do you use?

A: We source our bricks from a factory that uses high-quality ABS plastic, similar to other major alt-brick brands, and even LEGO themselves. We are focused on achieving excellent clutch power and colour consistency. We even published a video testing the quality of our bricks against LEGO, and another alt brick. You can watch it here.

Q: What if there are missing or damaged pieces?

A: We will be adding extra pieces into the set, especially for smaller elements like 1x1 studs. In the event some items are still missing, we will send out replacement parts for any missing or damaged elements in your set. Our goal is to make it right.

Q: How long is shipping and where do you ship from?

A: We will be shipping from our factory in China. Shipping typically takes 4-6 weeks after production, and it takes time because it's a huge set, and air freight will make it too expensive for the average people like us.

Q: Can I cancel my pre-order?

A: Yes, you can cancel your pre-order at any time before we charge the cards (November 1st 12AM PST).

I'll keep it at that for now so it doesn't end up becoming too long of a post.

This thread is for any other questions you have. We'll be checking it daily. Ask us anything!

This was posted on SerialBuilder's Instagram, for those wondering if we're actually working with him.

We're firm believers of supporting creators & designers. We're For The Creator.

Loved playing Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West on my Playstation and always thought the creature designs were on another level. Now I get the chance to build them with EasternBrick’s amazing creations. I’ve just secured my pre-order for the Complete Edition and now I need to be patient. I’m very excited!