MASTER WU
Master Wu is a central protagonist and legendary mentor in the LEGO Ninjago franchise. As the Elemental Master of Creation and the younger son of the First Spinjitzu Master, he has spent centuries guiding the ninja team to protect Ninjago from evil forces.
Cronologia
Biography
Master Wu (also known as Sensei Wu) is one of the main protagonists and spiritual anchors of the LEGO Ninjago saga. Born centuries ago as the son of the First Spinjitzu Master, Wu grew up alongside his elder brother Garmadon. While Garmadon was corrupted by evil, Wu dedicated his life to preserving peace and mastering the Element of Creation.
Following his brother's banishment to the Underworld, Wu took it upon himself to protect Ninjago by recruiting and training a new generation of Elemental Masters: Kai, Jay, Cole, Zane, Nya, and his nephew Lloyd Garmadon.
Throughout his long life, Master Wu has guided the ninja through countless crises, ranging from the Serpentine wars and Nindroid invasions to encounters with ancient sorcerers like Aspheera and the reality-shattering Oni. Even after undergoing dramatic physical changes—such as cybernetic corruption, rapid aging from Time Blades, and regressing into a baby—Wu has maintained his role as a patient teacher. In the post-Merge era of Dragons Rising, his profound legacy and teachings continue to inspire new heroes across unified realms.
Backstory
Master Wu's story began at a monastery where he lived with his father and brother Garmadon. During a boyhood sword fight, Garmadon accidentally knocked Wu's katana over the monastery wall. Because Wu refused to fetch it, Garmadon climbed over the wall himself and was bitten by The Great Devourer, an event that slowly infected Garmadon with darkness over several years.
As young men, the brothers infiltrated the Valley of the Serpentine and were captured. Wu befriended the sorceress Aspheera and taught her Spinjitzu, but she betrayed him to overthrow King Mambo. Wu and Garmadon used the Scrolls of Forbidden Spinjitzu to defeat her, leading to her imprisonment.
Later in his youth, Wu fell in love with Misako and wrote her a letter, but Garmadon's evil sensei, Master Chen, tricked Garmadon into rewriting the letter under his own name, leading Misako to marry Garmadon instead. Wu and Garmadon subsequently led the Elemental Masters against the Anacondrai Army, using the Sacred Flute to banish them. Later, they stripped the rogue Time Twins, Acronix and Krux, of their powers using Chronosteel blades forged by Ray and Maya. Wu also took in a homeless orphan named Morro, believing him to be the Green Ninja, but Morro departed in anger after the Golden Weapons failed to react to him.
I PEZZI DI MASTER WU
Powers & Abilities
* **Element of Creation**: Holds mastery over the elemental force of creation inherited from the First Spinjitzu Master. * **Spinjitzu Mastery**: Possesses flawless command of standard Spinjitzu, Forbidden Spinjitzu, and Golden Spinjitzu. * **Martial Arts Proficiency**: Master combatant proficient in unarmed striking, swordplay, and staff combat. * **Spinjitzu Helping Hand**: Specialized game ability allowing him to extend assistance to allies during combat.
* **Army Heal**: Tactical ability used to restore health to allied units on the battlefield. * **Signature Wooden Staff**: Primary defense and walking staff used continuously throughout his sensei years. * **Sword of Fire**: Wielded temporarily during key battles against Samukai and Garmadon's forces. * **Scrolls of Forbidden Spinjitzu**: Ancient scrolls utilized to boost elemental power during dire battles. * **Sacred Flute**: Ancient instrument used to neutralize the Anacondrai Army. * **Dragon Armor**: Specialized armor suite equipped during battles against Iron Baron's Dragon Hunters.
Evolution
Master Wu's character arc is marked by constant physical and ideological shifts. Beginning as a young, dutiful son training under the First Spinjitzu Master, Wu was forced into early maturity when his brother Garmadon succumbed to evil. For centuries, he maintained a traditional Sensei persona, wearing classic white or black kimonos and leading from his monastery. However, threat escalations forced Wu into dramatic physical transformations.
In 2014, he was captured and transformed into cybernetic 'Evil Wu' by Pythor and the Digital Overlord, sporting silver accessories and mechanical head implants. Later, during the Hands of Time saga, Wu was struck by a Forward Time Blade, causing rapid physical aging and his eventual disappearance into the timestream. He returned in 2018 as a fast-aging infant (Baby Wu), who quickly matured into Teen Wu during the Hunted story arc before regaining his elderly form. In *The LEGO Ninjago Movie* (2017), Wu was reimagined as a theatrical, comical mentor voiced by Jackie Chan. By the time of *Dragons Rising* (2023–2026), Wu transitioned from an active field combatant into a mythic figure whose unseen presence and enduring philosophy drive the new era.
Collecting
LEGO has produced dozens of distinct Master Wu minifigures since his debut in 2011. Early releases featured white robes with tan straw hats, followed by black kimono variants with golden kanji printings. Microfigure versions without separate hat/beard elements were also introduced for board games. The 2012 lineup introduced grey belt accents and gold hats in sets like Epic Dragon Battle. Collectors heavily hunt for the 2013–2014 Evil Wu minifigure due to its unique cyborg face printing, silver hat, and dark torso details.
In 2015, high-end collector sets elevated Wu's design; the 70751 Temple of Airjitzu set included an exclusive tan robe variant, while other 2015 releases introduced pearl gold hats and metallic robes. A standout unique release came in 2016's Skybound wave, where Wu sported a brown aviator cap and gray goggles—reusing molds created in 1998 for LEGO Star Wars. The LEGO Ninjago Movie (2017) introduced newly printed legs with sandal details and cloth skirt elements. The 2018 line saw the release of Baby Wu (set 70643) and Teen Wu (set 70654), both highly sought after by completionist collectors. Modern Legacy wave releases continue to reissue his classic black and white robes with updated head prints.
Trivia
* Master Wu was voiced by martial arts icon Jackie Chan in *The LEGO Ninjago Movie* (2017), who also played the antique shopkeeper in the live-action framing scenes. * Garmadon was bitten by the Great Devourer because Wu refused to climb over the monastery wall to retrieve his own disarmed katana.
* A 2016 Skybound variant of Wu wore an aviator cap and goggles that were originally molded for the LEGO Star Wars theme in 1998. * Wu's famous wisdom—'Never put off for tomorrow, what could be done today'—was actually spoken to him by Garmadon when they were young boys. * In the video game *LEGO Battles: Ninjago*, Master Wu possesses exclusive game abilities named 'Spinjitzu Helping Hand' and 'Army Heal'.
