Skip to Content

LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar Review 75340 (Day 1-24 Photos)

LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar Review 75340 (Day 1-24 Photos)

Star Wars is one of those evergreen franchises that people always love.

The stories are fun, and the merchandise is collectible. That’s why LEGO jumped at the chance to make another Advent calendar!

As with all of the previous LEGO Star Wars Advent calendars, the 2022 version will also feature micro builds and Minifigures from across the entire franchise.

It was released on September 1st and retails for $44.99 / £29.99, which is just over 13 cents / 9p per brick. That is pretty much in line with what you would expect to pay for a set like this.

Set number75340
Release dateSeptember 1st, 2022
Price$44.99 / £29.99
Number of Minifigures8
Number of micro builds16
Total number of pieces329

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This calendar is available to buy from Amazon, LEGO, Walmart, and other retailers.

Packaging

The front of the box depicts a lovely festive scene, with various Minifigures and micro builds gathering around a giant Christmas tree. There’s a definite cool wintery vibe to the outside of the front of the box.

The top left-hand corner features the LEGO and Star Wars logos, while the top right-hand corner has a bow around it with a Death Star II shaped bauble attached to it.

There are 11 of the 24 builds shown on the front of the box, meaning that there are still plenty of surprises waiting within.

The top, bottom, and sides contain the usual logos and legal bits and pieces you expect to see with any LEGO set.

The 1:1 Minifigure image that is shown on the top of the box is the beach games Darth Vader. This gives those that are unsure about sizes a sense of scale when it comes to the LEGO Star Wars Minifigures.

Beach games Darth Vader 1:1 image LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Beach games Darth Vader 1:1 image

Turning the set around, we are greeted by the equally festive and wintery-looking back side of the box:

Back of the LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340 box

The back of the box shows off a few more Minifigures and micro builds while still maintaining a few secrets and surprises for when you actually start opening up the Advent calendar.

The back panel folds town to reveal the many doors of the calendar, as well as a snowy Hoth-looking base upon which you can play with the various builds.

Fold down panel from the LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
The fold-down play panel

Then we come to the doors themselves. They are all part of a mural image depicting an AT-AT walking through snow-covered trees.

It looks like a mash-up between the ice and snow planet of Hoth and the forest moon of Endor!

One of the things we really like is how even the AT-AT is joining in with the Christmas fun, donning a Santa hat and even a long white beard!

The festive AT-AT from the LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
The festive AT-AT

But we think we’ve pretty thoroughly covered the packaging now! So without further ado, let’s dive into what you will find in this Advent calendar, starting – quite logically – with day 1!

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

Day 1 – Republic gunship LAAT/i

Day 1 - Republic gunship LAAT/i from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
;Day 1 – Republic gunship LAAT/i

First appearance: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 30
Spare pieces: 5

The very first door, day 1, sees us discovering a Republic gunship LAAT/i micro build.

Primarily made of white bricks, the little dashes of dark red and green add some much-needed color, making the little build really pop and come to life.

We love that there is a hole in the center section where the passengers would stand. It’s one of those integral elements that LEGO could have easily left out, but it makes all the difference that they included it.

Several parts of this micro build are hinged. Firstly, the two wings can be moved up and down. The guns at the front also have some flexibility and movement to them.

And speaking of hinges, the way that a hinge was used to create the sloped down front section with the cockpit works fantastically well and looks really neat.

Overall, this is a stunning micro build to start the calendar off with. We would normally prefer a Minifigure to kick things off, but this is just as good as any character!

Day 2 – Phase 1 Clone Trooper Commander

Day 2 - Phase 1 Clone Trooper Commander from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 2 – Phase 1 Clone Trooper Commander

First appearance: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Type of build: Minifigure
Total pieces: 5
Spare pieces: 0

Behind day 2’s door is the Phase 1 Clone Trooper Commander Minifigure.

Looking like a normal clone trooper Minifigure, the yellow highlights on the helmet, arms, and torso designate him as a commander.

The head piece features a stern, single-sided face on a tanned head. There is no hair piece.

The helmet looks great, and the phase 1 fin on top adds a cool and unique element that makes this trooper fairly unique compared to all the other types of trooper.

There is some fantastically detailed printing on the helmet, the leg piece, and both sides of the torso piece. It is intricate and adds some interesting depth to this Minifigure.

He also comes with a short handheld blaster that has been entirely cast in a black plastic.

This clone trooper can be found in 2 other sets. Firstly, it comes in the 75309 Ultimate Collector’s Series Republic Gunship, and it can also be found in the 40558 Clone Trooper Command Station.

Still, army builder Minifigures like this are always welcome, and it’s great that we get the Phase 1 Clone Trooper Commander here.

Overall, this Minifigure is a welcome addition to the calendar, and it’s a strong and popular choice as far as Minifigures go!

Day 3 – Droid tri-fighter

Day 3 - Droid tri-fighter from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 3 – Droid tri-fighter

First appearance: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 25
Spare pieces: 3

Day 3 sees us opening the Droid tri-fighter; a three-pronged attack craft. This micro build is simple to construct yet extremely effective.

We love the variations of blues, grays, and blacks used in this build. It looks ominous and dark and makes the red of the translucent engine studs pop even more.

The Droid tri-fighter’s three wings are joined to the body via hinge LEGO pieces. This allows them to fold into the correct position and adds some extra dynamics to the micro build.

We really like this build. There’s always something quite cool about when LEGO makes something three-sided. It’s difficult to explain, but it’s awesome all the same.

Perhaps it’s because everyone is so used to the square/rectangular shape of the toy, so when they do something different, it stands out as different and exciting.

Overall, the Droid tri-fighter is another great micro build that looks neat and is fun to play with.

Day 4 – Acclamator-class assault ship

Day 4 - Acclamator-class assault ship from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 4 – Acclamator-class assault ship

First appearance: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 17
Spare pieces: 1

The large and relatively flat Acclamator-class assault ship is what awaits you behind the door for day 4!

This wedged shape vehicle is both detailed and not detailed at all. The center sections and the command bridge look undeniably intricate, while the rest is pretty sparse.

Having said that, we love how thin this build is. Built entirely off of a thin square 3×3 LEGO piece, it strangely gives it a sense of scale.

While the light gray can look a little plain and boring, the dark gray strip adds enough of a twist to keep things interesting. Similarly, the two gray cone-piece engines look cool at the back.

Overall, the Acclamator-class assault ship doesn’t have too much playability, and as such, some people might find it boring.

But we certainly think it has a great aesthetic that is intriguing to look at, if not play with.

Day 5 – B1 battle droid

Day 5 - B1 battle droid from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 5 – B1 battle droid

First appearance: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Type of build: Minifigure
Total pieces: 8
Spare pieces: 2

Day 5’s door reveals a B1 battle droid Minifigure.

Is this the most exciting Minifigure in the world? No. Nor is it the rarest or most popular.

But with that being said, it’s a fantastic mold, and LEGO really nailed the design when they came up with it several decades ago.

Entirely bone white/beige in color, this is just your ordinary rank-and-file battle droid. One arm is bent and has a horizontal facing hand, the other straight with a vertical hand. This makes holding its weapon easier.

Accessories-wise, the battle droid comes with a blaster that is standard to many LEGO Star Wars Minifigures that come with guns.

We’re not going to list all of the LEGO Star Wars sets that this particular Minifigure appears in. In fact, it would probably be quicker to list the sets that it’s NOT in.

Overall, the B1 battle droid might not be anything too special, but as another army builder it’s great, and it makes the perfect companion Minifigure to the Phase 1 Clone Trooper Commander from day 2.

Day 6 – The Marauder Omicron-class shuttle

Day 6 - The Marauder Omicron-class from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 6 – The Marauder Omicron-class shuttle

First appearance: The Bad Batch (2021)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 21
Spare pieces: 2

Behind day 6’s door is The Marauder Omicron-class shuttle micro build.

First seen in The Bad Batch TV show, this vehicle is made up primarily of blue-gray bricks with the occasional black and light gray highlights.

The wings are hinged and can fold upwards to allow the shuttle to land. It gives what could have just been a boring static ship a bit of movement and playability.

The cockpit is marked by a single translucent red square time. It’s simple and minimalist, but it works well, and it gets the job done.

Overall, The Marauder Omicron-class shuttle is an awesome-looking micro build that capitalizes on recent media. It’s one of the cooler micro builds of the Advent calendar.

Day 7 – Luke Skywalker’s X-34 landspeeder

Day 7 - Luke Skywalker's X-34 landspeeder from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 7 – Luke Skywalker’s X-34 landspeeder

First appearance: A New Hope (1977)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 26
Spare pieces: 5

We open day 7’s door to find Luke Skywalker’s X-34 landspeeder micro build.

This sandy-shaded vehicle looks brilliant, and everything looks as it should. The grays and reds of the engines really stand out, and the small clear windshield sits nearly in the center.

Speaking of the engines, none of them look the same. Each has their own look, giving it a more scrappy and thrown-together look.

One detail that we really do like is how the white and gold studs placed behind the windshield are supposed to represent Luke Skywalker and C-3PO riding in the landspeeder.

It’s such a little and simplistic thing, but it surprisingly works for some reason. That’s definitely a double thumbs up from us!

We will say that if you look at it from the top, the landspeeder does look a little…suggestive. Especially when you consider the look of the two quarter-circle pieces at the tip of the vehicle…!

Overall, Luke Skywalker’s X-34 landspeeder is a great little build. The only way we could improve it is with a few little clear studs underneath it to make it look like it’s floating. But that’s just a nitpick!

Day 8 – T-16 Skyhopper

Day 8 - T-16 Skyhopper from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 8 – T-16 Skyhopper

First appearance: A New Hope (1977)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 19
Spare pieces: 5

Day 8’s T-16 Skyhopper is an obscure but cool choice that does actually look pretty great.

The tall gray fin could look a little blocky and imposing, but the little red notch at the top is just enough to mix up the look and make it seem extra detailed.

The two wings at the side are on hinges, so they can move up and down to be positioned however you want. It’s certainly an interesting-looking vehicle and one we wish we got to see more of.

Overall, there’s not too much to say about the T-16 Skyhopper. Sure it looks nice, and LEGO did a great job making it in this scale, but there are some far more obvious picks instead of this for the 2022 Advent calendar.

Day 9 – C-3PO in a festive knitted sweater

Day 9 - C-3PO in a festive knitted sweater from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 9 – C-3PO in a festive knitted sweater

First appearance: Summer Vacation (2022)
Type of build: Minifigure
Total pieces: 3
Spare pieces: 0

Day 9 is the first of our LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation build, and it’s C-3PO in a festive knitted sweater.

The head piece has plenty of details molded into it, but it only has one print application: the two bright yellow eyes. They stand out well against the more muted sandy plastic.

The leg piece is interesting. As you would expect, it has lots of details printed on the front, but C-3PO’s right leg also features some silver printing. This makes him more accurate to how he looked in A New Hope.

But the main draw is the blue festive knitted sweater. It has red and white patterns printed on both the front and back, with the front also having a little R2-D2 printed onto it too.

He comes with no accessories, but then C-3PO Minifigures never do. And if you’re looking for this figure in any other sets, you’re out of luck – it’s unique to this Advent calendar.

Overall, C-3PO in a festive knitted sweater is an excellent looking Minifigure that errs more on the festive side than a lot of the other builds in this calendar. And of course, the knitted sweater is outstanding!

Day 10 – Moisture vaperator

Day 10 - Moisture vaperator from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 10 – Moisture vaperator

First appearance: A New Hope (1977)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 11
Spare pieces: 2

Day 10’s door reveals a moisture vaperator, the tall devices used to draw moisture from the air on sandy and arid planets.

This thin and tall micro build isn’t very exciting, but it helps set the scene and fits in with any Tatooine-based scenarios you have going on.

It is a flat gray color with a silvery antenna on the top. The whole thing is attached to a sand-colored base plate.

Overall, this is a bit of a lull day as far as micro builds go. Sure, the moisture vaperator looks nice, but it’s not the most exciting or logical of choices for an Advent calendar.

Day 11 – V-35 Landspeeder

Day 11 - V-35 Landspeeder from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 11 – V-35 Landspeeder

First appearance: A New Hope (1977)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 19
Spare pieces: 2

We have another landspeeder behind day 11’s door, this time it’s the V-35 Landspeeder that can be found in Mos Eisley on Tatooine.

This primarily white vehicle is pointed and sleek, and the bits of orange really make it pop and give it a somewhat 70s vibe.

While Luke Skywalker’s landspeeder has been made several times in larger form, we have only got a full-sized V-35 Landspeeder once, in the giant 75209 Master Builders Series Mos Eisley Cantina set.

Suffice it to say, it’s nice to get some other models of speeder in LEGO form – even if they are only micro builds!

The only issues we have are that the cockpit is represented with a sloped and slatted dark gray piece, It would have been better if a translucent brick was used in its place.

Also, (as with Luke Skywalker’s landspeeder) we would have appreciated some clear bricks on the underside of the body to make it look like it’s actually floating on air.

Overall, the V-35 Landspeeder is a good-looking micro build that was quick and easy to build, and it will look great in any mini Tatooine LEGO builds.

Day 12 – Beach games Darth Vader

Day 12 - Beach games Darth Vader from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 12 – Beach games Darth Vader

First appearance: Summer Vacation (2022)
Type of build: Minifigure
Total pieces: 10
Spare pieces: 2

Behind day 12’s door is our second Lego Star Wars Summer Vacation Minifigure, this time it’s a beach games Darth Vader.

We’ll start off by talking about the leg piece, as there’s not much to say. It’s a pretty standard set of legs for a Darth Vader Minifigure: black with the usual dark gray printing on it.

The torso piece is the most eye-catching thing though. This orange and red printed t-shirt features a stylized design of the planet Scarif from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

The front has a large Death Star, a sun, and silhouettes of tie fighters and palm trees. The back has a large Death Star and similar silhouettes, but this time with the inclusion of the giant Imperial antenna.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about the head and helmet. There is in fact a pasty and scarred Anakin Skywalker head, akin to what we see in the Obi-Wan Kenobi TV series and Return of the Jedi.

The helmet also comes in two separate pieces. The bottom half of the helmet is sandwiched between the torso and head pieces. The top half of the helmet slides on and clips in place, completely encapsulating the head.

The older version just slid over the head, with glimpses of the skin underneath still being visible. This newer and updated design eliminates that problem.

Accessories-wise, Darth Vader comes with some appropriately black swimming flippers for on his feet and a soccer ball so he can play on the beach. They’re definitely cool additions that make him fun to play with.

Overall, beach games Darth Vader is an absurd yet amazing Minifigure. Of course, the summer-y t-shirt is fantastic, but we’re also a big fan of the Anakin Skywalker head and the newer helmet design.

Day 13 – Sandcastle, bucket, and spade

Day 13 - Sandcastle, bucket, and spade from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 13 – Sandcastle, bucket, and spade

First appearance: Summer Vacation (2022)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 15
Spare pieces: 2

Behind the door for day 13 is another build from the Lego Star Wars Summer Vacation special, this time it’s a sandcastle, bucket, and space.

The castle is obviously built out of sandy-colored bricks and is designed to look like Darth Vader’s castle on Mustafar (the one we see in Rogue One).

It also comes with a silvery gray spade and a red bucket, both of which can be clipped securely into a Minifigure’s hand. They both look fantastic and add to the beach aesthetic.

This is a fun one to combine with the beach games Darth Vader, as it makes sense that this micro build and that Minifigure would go together.

Beach games Darth Vader and his sandcastle from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Beach games Darth Vader and his sandcastle

Overall, the sandcastle, bucket, and spade are great accessories while being a fun build in their own right. We’re certainly happy LEGO gave us something like this in the 2022 Advent calendar!

Day 14 – A/SF-01 B-wing starfighter

Day 14 - A/SF-01 B-wing starfighter from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 14 – A/SF-01 B-wing starfighter

First appearance: Return of the Jedi (1983)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 23
Spare pieces: 4

Moving on to day 14, we have another spaceship: the A/SF-01 B-wing starfighter micro build.

One of the more unusual and obscure starfighters in the Star Wars galaxy, we appreciate that LEGO included this particular vehicle micro-build in the Advent calendar.

It is constructed from light and dark gray bricks, with black guns at the end of each ‘wing’. The cockpit is marked by a clear stud and the engine by a translucent square red plate.

As with a lot of the spaceships in Star Wars, the wings are able to fold in. They are built on hinges, so they pivot down to lay flat against the main body, transforming it from a ‘t’ shape to an ‘l’ shape.

Overall, we appreciate how neat the A/SF-01 B-wing starfighter micro build looks. As we mentioned, it’s an obscure choice, but LEGO did a fantastic job bringing it to life.

Day 15 – TIE/IN interceptor

Day 15 - TIE/IN interceptor from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 15 – TIE/IN interceptor

First appearance: Return of the Jedi (1983)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 26
Spare pieces: 3

Behind the door of day 15 is the final starfighter of the 2022 LEGO Star Wars advent calendar, and it’s the TIE/IN interceptor micro build

With its angled and pronged wings, this vicious-looking starfighter is a detailed and fun little build that incorporates some nice little design features.

We love the way that the wings were engineered to bend inwards at that distinctive angle. The choice to put them on hinges was a good one from LEGO.

They could have just gone the easy route and made a normal straight-winged TIE fighter instead, so we appreciate the fact that they’re trying to mix things up a bit!

Because of the way that the wings are attached via hinges, they can be articulated backward and forwards. It’s a fun little play feature, even if it’s not accurate to the canon of the Star Wars universe!

The cockpit is a clear stud, with a translucent red stud built into the rear of the vehicle to represent the engine.

Overall, the TIE/IN interceptor is a sharp and angular-looking ship, and the design is as menacing as it is effective.

Day 16 – Shooting range and target

Day 16 - Shooting target from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 16 – Shooting range and target

First appearance: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 20
Spare pieces: 4

Behind the door of day 16 is a shooting range and target. It’s a plain-looking build, but it still has some fun playability functions.

The translucent red studs clip into the front of the cannon, and there is a gray trigger piece at the back. When it is pressed down, the stud disk is fired out at a pretty considerable power and speed.

Also included is a window through which you can shoot. It is pretty bland looking but gets the job done. The aim is to shoot it at the targets: the small mouse droid that is also included in the micro build.

It’s a fun little game that is nicely scaled for Minifigure play. Also, it sure is exciting for YOU as the builder of the set to play with, too!

Overall, this is definitely a fun build that lets you have some fun in a way that none of the other builds allow. But we just want to reiterate LEGO’s warning: never fire it at a person!!!

Day 17 – Imperial Snowtrooper

Day 17 - Imperial Snowtrooper from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 17 – Imperial Snowtrooper

First appearance: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Type of build: Minifigure
Total pieces: 5
Spare pieces: 0

If you love your troopers, then you’re going to love what’s behind door number 17! It’s an Imperial Snowtrooper!

The torso has detailed printing on both the front and the back, and the legs continue the design but with printing on the front only.

Underneath the helmet is a brown-skinned, smirking female head piece. The head features only single sided printing, and there is no additional hair piece.

This Minifigure can only be found in one other set: the 75313 Ultimate Collector’s Series AT-AT. That makes this Advent calendar a far more affordable option if you want to add it to your ranks.

We’d like to mention the Imperial Snowtrooper’s articulation. It has the usual bending arms and legs, but the design of the helmet means that the head is immovable when wearing it.

The accessory that she comes with is a longer gun – the same one that day 5’s B1 battle droid comes with.

Overall, it’s always great to get these trooper variants, and the Imperial Snowtrooper certainly is a beauty.

And as we mentioned, it’s the only way you can get hold of it other than the mega-expensive UCS set.

Day 18 – DF.9 Hoth turret

Day 18 - DF.9 Hoth turret from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 18 – DF.9 Hoth turret

First appearance: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 15
Spare pieces: 1

Day 18 brings us our first Battle of Hoth weapon: the DF.9 Hoth turret.

This tall and tube-like cannon features a large circular section at the top with the cannon itself protruding from the front.

It is made up of primarily white bricks (appropriate to say it is from a snowy planet), though there are hints of gray in there too for some contrast. The canon is a long and imposing black piece.

The top section can be rotated to point wherever you need it to, but there is no up or down movement. Still, it’s a nice little bit of articulation.

Overall, this is a fancy and surprisingly accurate-looking cannon. Looks wise and articulation-wise, it’s a lot of fun and will help make your battle scenes extra intense.

Day 19 – All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST)

Day 19 - All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST) from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 19 – All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST)

First appearance: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 16
Spare pieces: 3

Behind day 19’s door is the two-legged All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST) micro build.

This is a tiny representation of the large, mechanical, iconic ‘chicken walker’.

Design-wise, it’s not the most accurate micro build ever, but it’s certainly close enough, better matching it’s appearance in The Empire Strikes Back than Reurn of the Jedi.

(That’s right, the AT-ST was in The Empire Strikes Back, during a couple of shots in the Battle of Hotch! Go check it out, we’re not lying!)

The head rotates left and right and can spin all the way around. The gun on the left side of the vehicle’s head can also pivot up and down.

When it comes to the AT-ST’s legs, they are hinged and can bend at the top section joining the body, as well as at the foot. That means you can make it look like it’s marching along.

The white base plate is there for support, and it allows you to pose the AT-ST as you wish, but the micro build is also capable of standing without it (albeit only on two feet).

Overall, the All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST) micro build is a cute but alluring build that looks fantastic despite its minuscule size.

Day 20 – FD/P Hoth tower cannon

Day 20 - FD/P Hoth tower cannon from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 20 – FD/P Hoth tower cannon

First appearance: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 13
Spare pieces: 3

Day 20 reveals the FD/P Hoth tower cannon micro build!

Large and round, this circular cannon is made up of light gray bricks, with darker gray sections adding shadows and depth exactly where it’s needed.

This canon is hinged at the base and as such can tilt backward and forwards, meaning you can point the large dish wherever you want on a vertical axis.

Unfortunately, there is no way of rotating it at the base, meaning that it can’t be turned and swiveled to face another direction.

Still, it gives you some really good options. On top of that, there is also a control lever at the back, which a Minigifure can hold on to and control.

The whole thing is joined to a small white triangular base plate that is supposed to look like the snowy ground of Hoth.

Overall, the FD/P Hoth tower cannon is another cool addition to any Battle of Hoth scene. It looks intimidating but lacks rotation, which holds it back somewhat.

Day 21- Luke Skywalker in Hoth gear

Day 21- Luke Skywalker in Hoth gear from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 21- Luke Skywalker in Hoth gear

First appearance: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Type of build: Minifigure
Total pieces: 9
Spare pieces: 2

Coming to day 21, we have the Luke Skywalker in Hoth gear Minifigure – and what a Minifigure it is!

He has a double-sided balaclava-covered head. One side features a happier open-mouthed face, while the other has a closed mouth and looks more determined. His helmet covers the face that’s not in use.

On top of the hat sits a pair of white goggles. These goggles can also be removed and put over the actual eyes as if he was wearing them. It allows you to change up the Minifigure’s look even more.

The torso piece is primarily a tan color with a few eye-catching silver highlights. There are other details printed on both the front and the back.

The leg piece also has plenty of printing on it, providing some extra texture to his light gray leg-wear. As with all the other Minifigures, the printing is limited only to the front, with none on the back.

Luke of course comes with a blue lightsaber that clips easily and firmly into his hand. The translucent blue blade can also be removed in case you want him holding the lightsaber hilt only.

There are a few other Hoth Luke’s out there, but this specific Luke Skywalker can be found in only one other LEGO set: the 75298 AT-AT vs Tauntaun Micro Fighters.

Overall, the Luke Skywalker in Hoth gear is a treat. It looks fantastic and has plenty of ways that you can customize it and make it look different each and every time you come to play with it.

Day 22 – Hoth ice cave

Day 22 - Hoth ice cave from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 22 – Hoth ice cave

First appearance: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 16
Spare pieces: 1

Day 22’s build is the Hoth ice cave micro build. There’s not too much to say about this set on its own, but it does have some nice play options.

The Hoth ice cave is (as you might expect) made up of primarily white bricks. It forms an ‘O’ shape, with a bone attached to the bottom and icicles attached to the top.

As a set, it looks alright, but the Hoth ice cave really comes into its own when you combine it with the previous day’s Luke Skywalker in Hoth gear.

You can hang him upside down and recreate that famous scene where the wampa attacks and captures him, hanging him upside down in his cave to eat later!

Luke Skywalker hung in the Hoth ice cave from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Luke Skywalker hung in the Hoth ice cave

Overall, the Hoth ice cave micro build is a pretty boring set on its own. But then, not every day can be an awesome build! It’s when it’s combined with other things that it really gets fun!

Day 23 – Santa Claus Gonk droid

Day 23 - Santa Claus Gonk droid from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 23 – Santa Claus Gonk droid

First appearance: Summer Vacation (2022)
Type of build: Micro build
Total pieces: 28
Spare pieces: 2

Gonk. Gonk. Sorry, we mean that behind day 23’s door is the Santa Claus gonk droid.

Now over recent years, gonk droids have become more and more popular, especially in LEGO media. They are the butt of many a joke in both the LEGO TV specials and the LEGO video games.

For example, the recent LEGO Star Wars The Skywalker Saga had a whole army of Sith gonk droids hidden on the terrifying planet of Exogol that wanted to take over the galaxy. Crazy, we know! But fun!

Based on the design of a normal LEGO gonk droid, they have mainly covered this micro build in red pieces to give it a more Christmassy and festive look.

The ensemble is completed with a Santa hat that sits firmly on top of the droid’s head and a long white beard that is attached to the front of the unit.

And that’s all it takes to make a usually bland and dark droid look like jolly old Saint Nick himself! It’s all very cliché, but that’s fine because it looks amazing!

Gonk, gonk gonk! Erm, sorry, we mean ho, ho, ho, merry Christmas!

There’s not much articulation to this micro build. The only movable parts are the two legs that can swivel sideways, but this is more of a result of how it was built than actual intended articulation.

Overall, this is a fine addition to the Advent calendar. Gonk droids are becoming increasingly popular, so it’s nice to see LEGO put a twist on this classic droid.

Day 24 – R2-D2 in festive knitted sweater

Day 24 - R2-D2 in festive knitted sweater from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
Day 24 – R2-D2 in festive knitted sweater

First appearance: Summer Vacation (2022)
Type of build: Minifigure
Total pieces: 4
Spare pieces: 0

We’ve finally arrived at day 24 – Christmas Eve – and we wrap things up with another awesome Minifigure: R2-D2 in a festive knitted sweater!

We’ll talk about the legs and domed head first, as they are pretty standard to all R2-D2s. The legs are plain white with a few molded details but no printing on them.

The domed head is an almost metallic gray with printing all over it. From panels to sensors, to the main red ‘eye’ at the front, it always looks fantastic.

But with the usual stuff out of the way, let’s move on to the most fun and exciting part about this particular Minifigure!

The front of the red torso/body piece has green patterns at the top and bottom, as well as a snow effect all across it. The center of the sweater features C-3PO’s head, and it looks absolutely fantastic!

The back of R2-D2’s body has the same green pattern and snow effect, but instead of C-3PO’s head, it has the rebellion symbol.

Technically, the body could go on either way and look equally fun no matter which you choose! And of course, this Minifigure comes with no accessories, as none are needed.

This R2-D2 truly is the companion piece to the C-3PO Minifigure from day 9. They look great together, like a pair of supportive friends should!

R2-D2 and C-3PO in their festive knitted sweaters Minifigures from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
R2-D2 and C-3PO in their festive knitted sweaters Minifigures

Overall, the R2-D2 in festive knitted sweater Minifigure is a great and Christmassy choice, and it ends the LEGO Star Wars Advent calendar 2022 on a real high note!

LEGO 75340 Star Wars Advent Calendar 2022…in numbers!

So we’ve taken a deeper dive into what’s behind all 24 doors of the LEGO 75340 Star Wars Advent Calendar, but we thought we’d make things a little easier and simpler for you.

Here you can see what’s behind each door at only a glance!

DayItemNumber of pieces
Day 1Republic gunship LAAT/i30
Day 2Phase 1 Clone Trooper Commander5
Day 3Droid tri-fighter25
Day 4Acclamator-class assault ship17
Day 5B1 battle droid8
Day 6The Marauder Omicron-class shuttle21
Day 7Luke Skywalker’s X-34 landspeeder26
Day 8T-16 Skyhopper19
Day 9C-3PO in festive knitted sweater3
Day 10Moisture vaperator11
Day 11V-35 landspeeder19
Day 12Beach games Darth Vader10
Day 13Sandcastle, bucket, and spade15
Day 14A/SF-01 B-wing starfighter23
Day 15TIE/IN interceptor26
Day 16Shooting range and target20
Day 17Imperial snowtrooper17
Day 18DF.9 Hoth turret15
Day 19All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST)16
Day 20FD/P Hoth tower cannon13
Day 21Luke Skywalker in Hoth gear9
Day 22Hoth ice cave16
Day 23Santa Claus gonk droid28
Day 24R2-D2 in festive knitted jumper4

Final thoughts

Having studied the Star Wars Advent calendar in-depth and opened each and every door to build whatever’s behind them, we’ve got some final thoughts on this set.

The long and short is that it’s a pretty incredible set with some fantastic Minifigure and micro build choices. We went in with extremely high expectations, yet we were still not disappointed by what we got.

Most of the builds are interesting and intricate, and despite a few questionable choices, the overall consensus is that this is totally a worthwhile Advent calendar to pick up.

Each and every Minifigure is great, and we love the three that are wearing decorative outfits (R2-D2, C-3PO, and Darth Vader).

The other four (B1 battle droid, phase 1 clone trooper commander, Imperial snowtrooper, and Luke Skywalker) are all either useful army builders or appropriately dressed for cold winter months.

The number 1 spot has to go to the beach games Darth Vader though. Not only is his outfit great, but we love the new helmet design and the Anakin Skywalker head underneath.

All of the builds from the from LEGO Star Wars 2022 Advent Calendar 75340
All Minifigures and micro builds

Each of the micro builds are fun, but the Santa Claus gonk droid is a clear winner, partly for how good it looks, partner for how ridiculous the whole thing is.

Would we have liked to see a more focused selection of builds? Yes. It’s kind of all over the place, with some being festive and Christmassy, some having the warm summer vibe, and some just being out of the left field.

We understand the difficulties of creating something aimed at the Christmas market, though, while promoting the LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation special. They had to do a juggling act, and in all fairness, they did a pretty solid job.

So overall would the LEGO Star Wars Advent calendar be one that we recommend? Yes! We can’t recommend it highly enough!

The highs far outweigh the lows, and it’s a fine addition to any collection, whether you’re a Star Wars fan or not!

Read more: LEGO Stars Wars 2023 Sets Lineup Speculation

Steve

Wednesday 21st of December 2022

Your description of Day 16 is totally wrong! It is the Death Star Escape micro build from where Luke and Leia swing across the chasm in Ep 4. Iy even has the Mouse Droid - and the mouse hole.