Review: 30558 Raya and the Ongi

Join Raya and the Ongi as she protects the Dragon Gem from this mischievous intruder.
Raya and the Ongi is a polybag which makes a fun impulse purchase. 



The bag matches the box art for the other Raya and the Last Dragon sets. The front of the bag shows Raya and one Ongi, plus a small structure with the Dragon Gem. The set is placed in a lush, tropical setting with glowing blue flowers. The LEGO and Disney logos are prominent in the upper left corner, with the Raya and the Last Dragon logo in the lower right corner next to a movie-style illustration of Raya. 

Inside, we have 49 parts and an instruction pamphlet. No stickers. No special printed parts. We do have some new pieces, which we'll take a closer look at below.



We start by building Raya. This is the same mini-doll that appears in set 43184 Raya and Sisu Dragon. Raya is carrying her serpent-hilted sword. Unlike the other Raya sets, this one does not include the map of Kumandra.

The Ongi is Uka who also appears in set 43185 Boun's Boat. We'll give him/her a banana for distraction while we build the rest of the set. 



Here's a quick look at the new parts before we build them into the arch structure. None of them are exclusive, and most can be found in the other Raya and the Last Dragon sets.

• 4 x medium azure 1 x 3 inverted arches. These are also used in sets 43181 Raya and the Heart Palace and 43184 Raya and Sisu Dragon.
  
• 4 x dark turquoise 1 x 5 1/2 cylinder with bar handle. These are also used in set 43181 Raya and the Heart Palace.
• 2 x dark turquoise 1 x 2 modified log bricks. This is a new color for 2021. They are already in five other sets including 41449 Andrea's Family House.
• 1 x satin white minifigure helmet/fishbowl. This was first used in set 21324 123 Sesame Street and again in 43181 Raya and the Heart Palace.
• 1 x coral 2 x 4 plate (not pictured). This is more rare than I expected. It was a new color in 2020 for set 41433 Party Boat and 41914 DOTS Picture Frame. It is used one other set so far this year - 41692 Vet Clinic Rescue Helicopter (2021).

This simple arch structure captures the architectural details of the other Raya and the Last Dragon sets nicely, and does a good job of displaying the Dragon Gem. 

There are only four spare pieces. I will use two of them to make an extra flower on the base.



Here's the complete polybag build. I appreciate that there is a clip on both sides of the archway. The tree can be placed on either side. The second clip allows Raya to store her sword while she feeds Uka. 



While the arch has a definite front and back, the back is almost identical and just lacks the extra room to stand in front of the Dragon Gem. 



Here's a few more views of the structure. The tree is an interesting build. I like how the coral is used for branches, and how it can swing out on the elephant trunk piece. This allows you to move it around and adjust how it looks. Visually, it's a great choice but structurally it can get frustrating. The connection between the coral and the trunk is not very secure. Every time I tried to reposition the branches or when I wanted to put Uka and the banana in the tree, the coral would fall off. It's probably best to put anything you want in the branches, then attach it to the trunk, and then clip the trunk to the arch. 



Summary:

Raya and the Ongi is a fun little set. I'm personally partial to polybags and this is no exception. I can recommend it for a lot of reasons: 
    It makes a great addition to your Raya and the Last Dragon collection, or a good entry point if you're still making up your mind about getting them. 
    If you want the Raya mini-doll but aren't interested in the bigger sets, this is a good way to get her. 
    If you want a few more of the new pieces to expand your Raya builds, this fits in beautifully. 
    It's a fun, quick build when you just need a small reward (and it has less calories than a gelato). 

Happy Building
-prrbrix

Disclaimer:
This set was purchased by me, and was NOT provided by The LEGO Group.
Opinions provided here solely reflect those of our reviewer.
Photographs are property of Friends Bricks and are not directed by TLG in any fashion.