Lego launches smart Pokémon sets that you can battle with

If you grew up with both Lego and Pokemon, this is for you.

Announced at SXSW London on Tuesday, a new Pokémon range will be the latest addition to the LEGO Smart Play ecosystem. The interactive technology was revealed by the toy company at CES in January along with a series of Star Wars sets.

Available for pre-order starting today and set for release in August, the LEGO Pokémon Smart Play Collection aims to create a new generation of Pokémon trainers, featuring 12 new sets with interactive Pokémon, including Pikachu, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Charmander and more. And each Pokémon in the collection can battle each other. Or just sleep and eat sandwiches, whichever you prefer.

Each Pokémon, which must be built from Lego blocks and equipped with a smart block, can be trained to fight others by physically linking them with smart tags within each set. The more trained a Pokémon is, the greater its chances of winning the battle.

mashable light speed

How do you start a fight? Hold the Pokémon up to the training dummy, and bring the two Pokémon together (you can hear the music change). Then, you essentially high-five the Pokémon in the air for attacking and pull them back to defend, shake the Pokémon for charged attacks, and lights and sounds will indicate which Pokémon won. I’m worried that kids will accidentally knock their Pokemon into each other, but Lego is pretty tough stuff.

You can also feed the Pokémon Lego sandwiches with Lego Smart Tags, or you can put them to bed for a nap – and with each action, the Pokémon make little sounds. Pikachu giggles when you tickle them, Squirtle enjoys a good sandwich, and Charizard roars when you spin them in the air. It’s really enjoyable.

The new LEGO Pokemon Smart Play sets come as 12 “all-in-one” sets (which include a LEGO Smart Brick, charger, and Smart Tag) or “compatible” sets (which come without the Smart Brick and charger, but you can install the Smart Bricks with any of the Pokemon in these sets).

There’s a Pikachu-inspired tree house set, with a tiny LEGO Poké Ball all you need to catch Pikachu by hitting a smart target. There’s an impressive Mewtwo laboratory, a Charizard vs. Jolteon battle arena, a Jigglypuff concert venue, a Bulbasaur and Bidoof Berry-themed set, a beach buggy for Squirtle, a cave set with Charmander and Geodude, a scary house for Cubone and Gengar, and more, all with their own extra features like treasure chests and trophies.

LEGO Pokémon will launch in August in the US, UK, Australia, Poland, Germany and France. Prices range from $69.99 to $119.99 for the larger all-in-one set, and $14.99 to $89.99 for the compatible set, with pre-orders now open.