Lego Star Wars AT-TE Walker review

The Lego AT-TE (75337) is arguably the most hotly anticipated Lego Star Wars playset of the year and not just because its predecessor (75019) is one of the best Lego Star Wars sets and was released way back in 2013. It’s also the first time Lego has released a Commander Cody Minifigure in Phase II clone armor, as seen in Revenge of the Sith. Only two other Cody Minifigures have been released and they are both clad in Phase I armor, as seen in much of The Clone Wars. 

This figure alone makes this set a must-have for clone fanatics and if you’re still looking for excuses it also includes three 212th clone troopers and a clone gunner to boot. And all of that is alongside a pair of battle droids and a DSD1 Spider Droid. Nine Minifigures (including the spider droid) is a new record for AT-TE sets and the focus on troopers will delight clone fans and army builders alike. 

Although this set is designed for children of nine years and above, it may present something of a challenge for younger builders thanks to a substantial Technic frame and six delicate leg builds. However, once built it is brimming with playable features and its movie-accurate looks make it a great display piece for adults too. 

The hotly anticipated return of the Lego AT-TE and the exclusive Commander Cody Minifigure meant it was no surprise that this set was selling out upon its release, but if you’ve a knack for finding the best Lego Star Wars deals you should be able to find it below its $139.99 MSRP.

Lego Star Wars AT-TE Walker: Build

• 1082 pieces
• Children may require assistance
• Familiar build for 2013 AT-TE owners

The Lego AT-TE is a surprisingly quick build. It took us just over three hours at a brisk pace to put all 1082 pieces together. As you’d expect, bricks are helpfully split into a series of bags labelled from one to six, so the construction process can be broken down into more manageable stages. The Minifigures are also scattered throughout the bags so if you’re an adult building with a younger Lego fan, they’ll have plenty to occupy themselves with while you tackle the trickier bits.

The first stage is spent putting together the three battle droids and the spider droid side build. The latter uses a Ball Turret Socket and two Ball Turrets to form the droid’s rotating antenna. These same pieces are used to build the six rotating turrets on the AT-TE and there’s a knack to clipping the bowl-shaped Ball Turrets in place, so younger builders may require assistance.  

Next up is Commander Cody and the walker’s chassis. This largely comprises Technic pieces for stability and also includes a neat interior build which includes seating for troops and a control panel for the rear gunner. The third section constructs the middle portion of the AT-TE’s hull as well as the driver’s cab. This is a particularly enjoyable build that uses SNOT bricks (studs not on top) to form a clean frontage with almost no studs showing.

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The fourth stage tackles two troopers, the front-facing turrets and four of the six legs. The repetitive nature of the latter may lack enough excitement for children, but is obviously unavoidable. Lego’s instructions require you to build and attach each leg before moving onto the next and while this helps to prevent placing a leg in the wrong place, it means the walker is left lopsided as you attach a few additional details. As such, it might be easier to build each leg in turn and attach them at the same time.

The final two stages are where you’ll add most of the set’s 11 stickers. It would have been nice to see some of these turned out as printed pieces, but when you consider the five clone troopers there isn’t a shortage of printing. The penultimate stage of construction deals with the side armor and large, central legs before moving onto the final phase which encompasses the top-mounted mass-driver cannon and top armor plating.

Particular care must be taken when applying a long tapered sticker to both the Left and Right Shell 3 x 10 pieces that sit on the AT-TE’s top, rear section. The length and tapering of both the stickers and the bricks mean that even a slightly skewed application could result in noticeable misalignment (adult supervision advised).

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Lego Star Wars AT-TE Walker: Design

• AT-TE's angular form is spot on
• Spacious and detailed interior
• Cracking Minifigures but disappointing prints

This is Lego’s fifth AT-TE playset to date and fourth Clone Wars era incarnation of the vehicle – 2016’s Captain Rex’s AT-TE (75157) was a heavily modified rendition that appeared in the animated television show Star Wars Rebels. Diehard Star Wars fans will recognise the background on the box as Utapau, where Commander Cody is contacted by Palpatine and told to, “Execute Order 66.” The closest set for comparison is the 2013 AT-TE (75019) that’s modelled on the battle of Geonosis. And while that set is one of the best Lego Star Wars sets in existence, there’s no doubting this latest offering’s superiority when it comes to the walker itself.

Lego has clearly chosen to refine rather than rewrite the handbook, such is the accuracy of the 2013 model. The exterior’s angular armored plating is still a fantastic representation, but additional relief has been added via various plates and there are fewer dark grey pieces creating an overall more uniformed look.

Small gaps are still present where the plates unfold to reveal the interior, but gapping holes either side of the middle legs have been obscured more thanks to larger circular panels covering the top joints. In fact, the legs are where most of the exterior modifications have taken place. The larger middle legs sit at a tighter and more accurate angle and the circular panel at the top joint of each leg has been redesigned for the better. Bottom joints have been made thicker with the addition of a cog piece and the feet boast a much more accurate representation than the unsightly domes on the 2013 model. 

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The mass-driver cannon atop the vehicle is a longer, more accurate length and the older flick-fire projectiles have been replaced with stud shooters. While the cab’s design hasn’t change much, the frontage is now almost completely stud free for a more pleasing aesthetic.

The back, sides and top panels all fold up to reveal the most spacious and detailed Lego AT-TE interior ever. All told there’s enough seating (excluding the cab) to accommodate seven Minifigures and there’s a little standing space too. It’s just a shame the 212th battalion doesn’t feature in any other current Lego Star Wars sets (at the time of writing) so you can fill up your AT-TE. A 212th battle pack in 2023 please Lego! 

Other interior details include a rear gunner control panel, weapons rack, fire extinguisher and a mug for thirsty troopers at the back of the walker. While at the front you’ll find a thermal detonator rack, crate and spanner. The dual seating here is also removable, making it easier to insert your troops since there’s less access than at the rear. 

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The spider droid is a fun little side build and along with the battle droids provides a small pocket of resistance for the AT-TE to face. It has been widely pointed out that spider droids don’t appear on Utapau in Revenge of the Sith and that a similarly sized crab droid would have made a more accurate inclusion. While it would have undoubtedly been the icing on the cake, this is something that will only trouble hardcore fans and certainly doesn’t detract from what is an otherwise excellent build. 

The Minifigure selection is top notch. Five clone troopers in a set is almost unheard of, and three battle droids and a spider droid to boot provide plenty of playability if this is a first Lego set. The holes on the sides of each clone’s helmet aren’t as sleek as previous Phase II clones, however, which lack holes altogether, and the orange markings atop the three 212th Clone Troopers’ helmets have caused some controversy. 

Promotional material shows movie-accurate triangular markings, but our figures have rounded markings that don’t taper to a point and this isn’t an isolated incident. Fortunately, Brick Fanatics reported on an email shared by a Reddit user that suggests Lego aims to fix this problem. This might not be a huge concern to occasional set collectors and anyone buying for children, but army builders looking to compile a grand army of identical clones may prefer to hold out for a resolution. 

Fortunately, the star of the set – that Phase II Commander Cody – features no such issues and is a super-detailed figure with printing on the torso, hips, legs, feet and back. He even features a neat orange visor and a different face print to the rest of his squad. 

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Should you buy the Lego Star Wars AT-TE Walker?

The difficulty many Lego fans had picking this set up on release certainly suggests that it’s worth the hype and we can indeed confirm that it’s the best AT-TE Lego has ever produced. The absence of a crab droid, helmet holes and printing issues all exist outside of what is a magnificent Lego Star Wars vehicle. 

If you’re buying for a child, they probably won’t give a hoot about movie-accurate helmet prints or the inclusion of a spider droid over a crab droid. If you already own a Lego AT-TE, this is undoubtedly the definitive edition of the walker. And if you’re a hardcore Lego Star Wars collector, you’ve probably picked up a set already. However, if you’re an army builder then consistency is key and it might be best to wait and see whether Lego rectifies the helmet prints in due course. 

Printing aside, Lego has delivered what many fans were asking for. The Lego AT-TE Walker isn't a perfect set, but it’s a near-perfect vehicle. All we need now is that 212th clone trooper battle pack and a new Republic Gunship playset wouldn’t go amiss either… 

Other Lego Star Wars sets to consider

If you’re adding to your very own Grand Army of the Republic then the Republic Fighter Tank would make an excellent accompaniment to the AT-TE, providing an excellent selection of Minifigures for the $39.99 MSRP – including three 187th troopers. And if you’re happy to break the playset mould, you could also pick up the incredibly accurate UCS Republic Gunship. This hefty set comprises 3292 pieces and retails for £399.99.

However, if your mind jumps to the Battle of Hoth when you hear the word walker, chances are you’ll feel more at home building the Lego AT-AT (75288). This stunningly accurate playset will set you back $169.99 and will stack up beautifully alongside the Hoth AT-ST, which retails for $49.99. 

And if money’s no object and you’re hankering for what is arguably the most screen accurate Lego Star Wars set ever, you could drop $849.99 on the mighty UCS AT-AT. This Lego leviathan comprises a staggering 6785 pieces and stands 25 inches tall.