Comparing LEGO Star Wars 75396 Desert Skiff & Sarlacc Pit to its 2017 predecessor

There have been several brick-built desert skiffs over the years but one LEGO Star Wars set in particular came to mind when we saw 75396 Desert Skiff & Sarlacc Pit.

LEGO Star Wars 75396 Desert Skiff & Sarlacc Pit has just been revealed in full, confirming the 558-piece set will launch on August 1 for £69.99 / $79.99 / €79.99. However, it brings another set to mind, its retired predecessor from 2017: 75174 Desert Skiff Escape.

We’ve dug into what similarities the two LEGO Star Wars sets share and, more importantly, what differences the updated model introduces.

The material is virtually identical…

On the face of it, what’s actually included in each of the LEGO Star Wars sets in terms of material is pretty similar. Both include a brick-built skiff; a Sarlacc pit, complete with a creature with an opening mouth, posable tentacles, and enough space to ‘eat’ a minifigure; and minifigures based on some of the central characters from the iconic Han Solo rescue scene.

Both skiffs also have some sort of means of being able to stand on display, as well as weapons attached to the side for greater realism and play opportunities.

…but a higher piece count means more detail

When you look past those basics, however, there’s plenty more detail in the updated 2024 version. 75396 Desert Skiff & Sarlacc Pit includes a wider base on the Sarlacc pit itself, with external controls to move the creature within. There’s also more sculpting around the base, to give a sense of the sands of Tatooine and even what looks like teeth or something similar inside the mouth of the Sarlacc.

Even with all those details, we;re not sure if it’s a big enough payoff for the almost 300 piece count increase – and the subsequent price hike. But more on that later…

A wider cast of minifigures

There are six minifigures in 75396 Desert Skiff & Sarlacc Pit, as opposed to 75174 Desert Skiff Escape’s four. That includes a 25th anniversary minifigure of Nien Nunb that certainly wasn’t present in the 2017 version and adds an extra reason to pick up the upcoming LEGO Star Wars set.

Both sets include the obvious choices of Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Boba Fett, as well as different interpretations of skiff guards. The 2017 LEGO Star Wars set includes Rintel Aren, an actual guard in the employ of the Hutts, while the updated set features Lando Calrissian, merely in disguise as a guard. There’s also the extra addition of Luke Skywalker himself, complete with a green lightsaber.

Boba Fett has similarly distressed printing on his legs and torso but is lacking the shoulder fabric he has in 75174 Desert Skiff Escape. Chewbacca remains fairly similar in both versions, as does Han in his signature white shirt torso and plain brown legs.

Does all of this justify such a price jump?

One of the crucial differences between the two is, of course, the price. 2017’s 75174 Desert Skiff Escape retailed at £29.99 / $29.99 / €39.99, while 75396 Desert Skiff & Sarlacc Pit will sell for £69.99 / $79.99 / €79.99 when it comes out on August 1. That’s more than double the price and, while there’s a commemorative minifigure and almost double the pieces, you can’t really see where the extra money is going.

The seven-year gap between the set releases means you always need to account for some natural price hikes that happen over time but, even taking that into account, LEGO Star Wars fans have been quick to complain about the price, first and foremost. reddit commenters have dubbed it “the Star Wars Hoopty”, referring to the LEGO Marvel set that was similarly critiqued for its high price.

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