Figure of the Day: Day 1,206: Battle Droid

BATTLE DROIDS Red Variant, Sliced
Saga Legends
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 87340
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, second figure, coin
Action Feature: Remove limbs and reassemble!
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The Separatists utilize battle droids as their primary infantry forces. When assaulting strategically important worlds, these droid forces can be painted with special markings to help them blend into their environment. Though not individually a threat, attacking en masse these droids can become a formidable fighting force. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: There may be no more variations on a single SKU that yielded more significant and different figures than the Battle Droid. This particular release borrows the "slice" pattern seen on earlier figures and applies it to the Attack of the Clones-style red deco. As always, you can take him apart and swap his arms and legs and head with other droids, creating whatever freak designs you want. Perhaps you want something a little "Mystery of a Thousand Moons"-esque. As custom fodder goes this is a useful figure, and as scene filler, it's fantastic. With five points of articulation he can sit just fine and as such should be able to pilot many vehicles without too much trouble. Unfortunately, the plastic is very bendy and the way Hasbro packaged him may result in a figure that doesn't stand on his own very well-- so take note, get some stands ready for this one.

For army builders, these are no-brainers. If you buy every Battle Droid variant you'll have quite the might army!

Collector's Notes: He was packaged with another red droid with "blast marks." They were repacked in the 2008 style packaging, and will probably see many more releases in years to come.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,206: January 27, 2010