LEGO Pokémon 72164 Makes SMART Play Feel More Complete

LEGO Pokémon 72164 SMART Play: Training House with Pikachu is a 400-piece set built around a simple promise: everything needed for responsive play comes in one box. The set includes a SMART Brick, a charger, four SMART Tags, a buildable Pikachu, and a compact training environment, so its electronic features are tied to recognizable Pokémon activities rather than presented as a separate technology demonstration.

JANG’s LEGO Reviews describes the new SMART Brick experience as becoming “less dumb,” a pointed way of asking whether the technology now produces meaningful play instead of novelty sounds. The Training House is a useful test because its interactions cover movement, feeding, rest, target practice, and discovery. Each action gives the brick a reason to respond.

Video by JANG's LEGO Reviews. All video rights belong to the original creator.

Featured thumbnail is from the original YouTube video by JANG's LEGO Reviews. All thumbnail rights belong to the original creator.

What comes in LEGO Pokémon 72164

The Training House with Pikachu is an All-in-One SMART Play set for ages six and up. Its 400 pieces build a treehouse-style training area, a dummy, a patch of tall grass, and accessories used during play. The finished arrangement measures about 8 inches high, 11 inches wide, and 4 inches deep, making it large enough for several activity zones without becoming difficult to move.

The electronics package is central to the set. One rechargeable SMART Brick provides the lights, sounds, and movement-aware responses, while four SMART Tags are placed in objects that trigger different interactions. LEGO lists roughly 45 minutes of play per charge. A SMART Charger is included, which is important because the set is sold as a complete starting point rather than an expansion that depends on another box.

Pikachu is more than a static character build. A tag in the figure works with the SMART Brick so movement can wake the Pokémon and produce character reactions. This brings the recognizable creature into the same system as the surrounding activities instead of making the environment interactive while Pikachu remains decorative.

SMART Tags give each build a job

The strongest design idea in LEGO Pokémon 72164 is that the tagged accessories have clear narrative roles. A brick-built sandwich lets the trainer feed Pikachu and hear responsive eating sounds. The training dummy supports battle practice. A Poké Ball can strike a target to reveal a hidden Pokémon in the tall grass, turning a small mechanical surprise into part of the electronic play loop.

The treehouse also includes a hidden wall bed operated by a dial, so rest becomes another activity rather than an empty room detail. These scenes cover the familiar rhythm of Pokémon care: find, feed, train, rest, and prepare for battle. Because the reactions are attached to those actions, the technology reinforces the theme.

This structure is useful for builders thinking about interactive MOCs. Electronics work best when every sensor or trigger is placed inside an object whose purpose is immediately understandable. A tagged sandwich invites feeding. A target invites a throw. A bed invites rest. The physical model communicates the action before the sound or light effect begins.

Why this SMART Brick feels more purposeful

Responsive bricks can easily become expensive sound buttons if their behavior is disconnected from the build. The Training House avoids much of that problem by combining movement sensing with proximity to the SMART Tags. Pikachu can react to how it is moved as well as to the activity object brought near it, creating more combinations than a single fixed trigger would offer.

The set is also designed for screen-free play once it is running. The LEGO SMART Assist app supports setup, troubleshooting, sound controls, and firmware updates, but the core activities happen with the brick-built model. That distinction keeps the phone or tablet in a supporting role instead of making the physical set a controller for an on-screen game.

At $69.99, the set’s value depends on repeat use of the SMART Brick. Compatibility with other SMART Play sets gives the hardware a route beyond this one Training House, and the four included tags provide enough variety to demonstrate the system immediately. For families new to the platform, the complete hardware bundle is easier to understand than buying a compatible model and discovering that a separate SMART Brick is required.

Building and display ideas beyond the included layout

The model is built primarily for play, but its zones can inspire expansion. A larger Pokémon training yard could add obstacle courses around the dummy, a more detailed tall-grass landscape, or a modular interior behind the treehouse. Keeping the tagged objects accessible would preserve the interactions while giving custom builders room to improve scenery and storytelling.

Pikachu’s bright yellow body provides a strong focal point against the natural colors of the house and grass. Builders extending the scene can use that contrast deliberately: muted terrain keeps the character readable, while small red and white Poké Ball accents guide the eye toward interactive areas.

The set also suggests a practical rule for electronic MOCs. Build service access into the model. A rechargeable brick needs to be removed or reached without dismantling the entire scene, and tags work best when their positions remain stable. Planning those needs early produces a cleaner model and a better play experience.

Final Thoughts

LEGO Pokémon 72164 feels more complete because the technology, character, and scenery all support the same play story. The SMART Brick is not asked to create interest on its own. Pikachu’s movement, the tagged sandwich, training dummy, tall grass, Poké Ball target, and hidden bed give its responses a clear purpose.

JANG’s question about smarter bricks points to the right standard: useful interaction is not about the number of sounds a component can play, but whether the build gives those responses meaning. With a full starter bundle, four tags, a rechargeable brick, and several specific Pokémon activities, the Training House presents one of the clearest cases for SMART Play as a LEGO system rather than a one-set gimmick.

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Disclosure: This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed as an independent editorial spotlight. The featured video and thumbnail belong to their original creator.