You can't compare a MOC to a lego set, there's so many criteria Lego sets have to follow that MOCs don't. They have to work within a strict budget for one.

“My own design from instructions online” 😅

You should combine both your moc and Lego's Official Barad-Dur, it's still a great set to get, the fact we've finally gotten Sauron as a Lego Minifigure is insane, here is the stuff id put in your moc taken from the Lego official Barad-Dur set 1. Put the Lava and the chained cage in the Armoury and put the stuff to make the orc's weapons from The set into your Moc and the 2. Definitely include The Canteen from The Set into Your Moc, I think it would be funny if U had 10 Orcs in there having a feast and Sauron is looking displeased that his kitchen is a mess lol 3. Have a Torture Chamber in there, maybe if Orcs who disobey Sauron or if Sauron has captured Say Men or Elves he can have Orcs torture and Mutilate them, might be a bit dark but I think that's what Sauron would do 4. Sauron should have a Trophy Room: I think it would have been cool if we gotten Last Alliance 2nd Age Elves, Sauron would probably want to keep some helmets and their weapons as War Trophies 5. . Sauron's Tower is needing A Bedroom and a Bathroom 😂

Your custom MOC is undeniably gorgeous and I was about to buy it myself when I heard LEGO was about to release their own version of it. I am going with the Lego version for several reasons--THE EYE, the lava detail on the bottom, the interior detail, and the biggest reason being the price. I could break down some of my other sets and have a good amount of what is needed to build the MOC but I don't want to do that with my sets. I may eventually get the MOC Barad Dur because it is fantastically detailed and much larger than the LEGO version.

I agree that the height and proportions of the MOC are better, however I do think the eye of the official model looks far better. I’d be curious to see if it could fit on the MOC somehow.

I know thats weird having your custom vs the official tower of baradur

I agree with you. I will definitely get it but I feel that they could have added another section to the tower part itself. I still think this is a beautiful set regardless

You should combine yours and Lego’s official one and make one big tower

Honestly Id drop a thousand on yours I would just take the eye from Legos

If I were in your position and had the cash to get the Lego Barad Dur, I’d find a way to combine it with your MOC using the best elements of both to create a definitive Lego version of Barad Dur. My only issue with the Lego Barad Dur is the use of micro scale on the outside of the tower. It’ll work for forced perspective as a backdrop piece behind the Black Gates. But I understand why Lego went that way with the build. A true mini figure scaled Barad Dur would be massive and cost twice as much.

I'd swap the eye, the new one has a better eye, the mic has batter tower base etc. overall the moc is better

I’m gonna buy 2 official sets and combine them

In both the Lego and MOC the eye mooves.

I agree while I understand the Lego side of things, the official Lego version looks so small especially next to their orthanc set. Also, where did you order the bricks for it?

The gears are for opening the front doors

Well done

There’s only a couple sets in existence that’ll ever live up to the status of a MOC💀 this tower set isn’t one of them obviously and I’m actually not totally in love with the set design. Barad dur is a dark place but the set feels so colorful

What is that yellow gunk on your laptop 💀

The Lego one is better

Omg