Well, “everywhere” is hyperbolic, but in the absence of blue coat Soldier parts from recent BrickLink Designer palettes, there’s been a surge in imperial minfigures that innovate using non-imperial parts.
But that harks the question:
Where is this practice steering our beloved LEGO Pirate theme in the future?
“Merchant Ship” by ElephantKnight
Are these new imperial minifigs merely sailing in for a fleeting cameo? Or are we witnessing the first ripples of something larger, a shift that could reshape the entire LEGO Pirate mythos?
So… what are these NEW LEGO Pirate factions?
Thieves of Tortuga
A most welcome revision to BrickLink Designer Program Series 5 finalist, The Thieves of Tortuga was the inclusion of brand new imperial faction, complete with unique flag.
Not actually imperials – they’re Tortuga’s concierge service
It’s assuring that the Model Governance Team has demonstrated a willingness to innovate beyond the builder’s original design and incorporate new elements.
After all, an opposing faction introduces playability (or is that displayability in the case of AFOLs?) and throws the hatch wide open for expanding LEGO Pirate lore.
910053 The Thieves of Tortuga: Price and Pre-Order Date Announced
Tension could potentially arise when formally attired visitors arrive at a pirate haven… or is there more at play? Could these imperials be in league with the pirates? Could they in conflict with other imperial factions?
Blue coats versus green coats – “November Uprising” by Michał Ch
Speculation aside, virtually nothing is known of these green coat minifigs. Not an ounce of detail was officially revealed by the BrickLink Designer Program leaving their identity and history to the imaginations of fans.
A few hundred years later the green uniform is still in use
Fans ponder such questions, like:
- Who be these imperials? If that is indeed what they are…
- What business do they have visiting a renown pirate haven?
- What be their port of origin?
- And will we ever see their hides again in future sets?
10297 Boutique Hotel built on the site of the old Islanders Inn
Could We See Them Again?
Their flag is executed by means of a sticker so perhaps that design can be easily repurposed for future use. But the torsos originate from 10297 Boutique Hotel and once that set is retired, what shall become of its minifigure torso design?
Army for sale – 📸 Antonio
The parts to assemble this yet-to-be named faction are currently available on and yer shall find various sellers on the secondary market offering ready-made minifigs to accelerate yer reciting.
The Unpredictable Privateers
LEGO Pirates returned to BrickLink Designer Program Crowdfunding once more with Series 7 finalist, Privateer Frigate Fortuna.
The formidable vessel introduced the Unpredictable Privateers, a faction carefully considered by its designer, .
Unpredictable Privateers sporting the tan coat torso
Not only did Brick Perfection name the faction, he created identities for its core characters, Captain Blackwell and Lieutenant Hazard, along with a narrative to explain how the Unpredictable Privateers unscrupulously aligned themselves with the existing, official LEGO Pirate factions, particularity the Imperial Guards.
The Unpredictable Privateers often aligned themselves with the Imperial Guards
Future Unpredictable Privateer Sets?
Beyond Fortuna, from where the Unpredictable Privateers hail remains a mystery. Surely they possess a stronghold akin to Eldorado Fortress or a port as grand as the Imperial Trading Post?
“Port Fenzance” by Ammiraglio – be this where the Privateers hail?
And what of smaller outposts and vessels? To properly flesh out a LEGO sub-theme there must be a range of sets covering various price points.
Fortuna fulfills the role of the flagship set, but that hardly seems sufficient to cement the Unpredictable Privateers’ legacy within the Pirate theme. So where next?
Unpredictable Privateer Minifigures
Fortuna employed the Pirate-themed torso designs introduced in 21358 Vending Machine, with the officers donning the uniform worn by Camilla, and the sailors sporting similar attire to Bo’Sun Will.
This approach offers a clever means of extending the torso design’s use beyond just one set, but what becomes of the uniform after the 21358 Vending Machine retires?
Shall that be it? Will the torsos fade into obscurity along with the set? Or may they surface again? Like a Gift With Purchase in the manner 40597 Scary Pirate Island reused the pirate torso from Creator 3-in 1 Pirate Ship?
Return of the Imperial Armada?
In the Coconut Cape Finalist announcement, the Classic Pirates suggested the minifigures were inspired by the Imperial Armada.
As Coconut Cape is still undergoing refinement for its June 2026 Crowdfunding, the finalised minifigures have yet to be announced, so perhaps they’ll be steered in a completely different, non-armada direction.
Coconut Cape’s Imperial Armada inspired minifigures
Nonetheless, lets remain optimistic we’ll receive a continuation of that sub-theme in some form. In the interest of adhering to the Imperial Armada’s legacy, the morion piece could be whisked from retirement.
A modern head and classic Imperial Armada minifigures
Wishful thinking! Each BrickLink Designer series has a strictly predefined palette. Therefore, in the interest of efficiency, the BrickLink Designer Team’s intent is not to deviate beyond that collection of parts.
Minifig comparison: The Cape versus the Classics
But just imagine… in the interest of providing greater authenticity to Classic Theme minfigures, what if the Model Governance Team could occasionally retrieve retired parts from the archive?
Classic Imperial Armada minifigures – 📸 郭俊德
Given the Imperial Armada has an established identity, could this sub-theme successfully return without the minifigure’s iconic helmets?
After all, these domes were a defining feature that well and truly differentiated the armada conquistadors from their tricorn and shako wearing predecessors.
The Series 5 version of Coconut Cape had different minifigures
Furthermore, if the BrickLink Designer Program strives to raise the bar and convince buyers that BrickLink sets are little more than just fan designs that offer an assortment of incumbent parts, perhaps boldly venturing beyond the advertised palette during the Refinement phase may assist in this endeavor.
The conquistador from Collectible Minifigures, Series 8 – 📸 @projetodmais
After more than a decade hiatus, the morion piece reappeared atop the conquistador from Collectible Minifigure Series 12 during 2012. The Imperial Armada’s unique vac metal curiass however, hasn’t seen the light of day since the Armada Flagship’s re-release during 2001.
Rocky Mountain Minifigures offers custom Spanish-inspired solutions
Whence these pieces will resurface is anybody’s guess, but if there were ever a time, Coconut Cape’s impending production run would be it.
What Do Yer Think?
Are yer happy to see new LEGO Pirate factions, even if they’re only comprised a flag and a couple of minifigures using existing parts?
Tell us yer strategy for helping these new factions reach their full potential in the .
