Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,275: Moff Gideon (Dark Trooper Armor, The Vintage Collection)

MOFF GIDEON (Dark Trooper Armor)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. E7763 No. G0916
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #368
Includes: Blast effect, electrostaff, backpack, cape, blaster
Action Feature: Blaster fits in holster
Retail: $16.99
Availability: July 2025
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: Moff Gideon has constructed the next generation of Dark Trooper, made of beskar harvested from the depths of Mandalore. Unlike previous incarnations, this prototype is a battle suit Gideon wears. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: My big gripes these days - and I have a bunch - tend to come in with timing and novelty. It's hard to get both, or either. I like that this Moff Gideon (Dark Trooper Armor) is a largely new and interesting figure. Sure, we got two in Epic Hero Series a year ago, but whatever. We got it. He debuted on TV 2 1/2 years ago, which is a lot later than "day and date" like we used to get with the main baddies for the movies, but it's here. That's something.

The development cycle for a figure is about 18 months, so Hasbro did take some time here. But it's very good, and I'll wait for something good. We're missing Giancarlo Esposito's face, as there is no unmasked head to be found here. We only get the helmeted head here, but this is the one I would pick because we didn't already have one. The sculpt is pretty smooth and reminds me of the show. The armor looks great and is glossy in the places you want. The red highlights look good, and I assume figures like this keep Hasbro's paint budget light.

Having said that, Hasbro didn't skimp on the details. You get some silver on the chest and belt buckle, plus not all reds are the same. The visor has a different texture to it, to simulate a transparent lit-up visor. The other reds are brighter and pop more. This is how it should be. What's more, the figure has some paint on his electrostaff. I was also impressed that we got that two-fabric thin cape like we got on Lando - it's red for the lining, and black for the back. It's as perfect as you can expect at this size in 2025.

A blast effect pops on the tip of the staff, and the blaster fits in the holster. It all works, and I was able to get some fun poses out of the figure.

There's also a removable backpack that goes through a hole in the cape, and his cape is held on by subtle elastic straps over the shoulders. Hasbro didn't skimp here, and he has a lot of articulation too. I found one of the thigh swivels a little loose but it in no way hurt my ability to pose the figure or have him standing. I'm generally pretty happy to get existing figures in new costumes, and this is no exception. I'd recommend it if you're collecting this strain of figures. Honestly I have no idea how people collect anymore - do you get them all? Are you picky? I have a hard time skipping 3 3/4-inch figures, but I've made some exceptions for metallic repaints. Hasbro delivers the goods here, and I've already got a playset where he might feel at home.

Having said that, I'd also happily buy a Retro version of this one.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,275 September 11, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,234: Dark Trooper (Epic World of Action)

DARK TROOPER 2025 Kids Line
Epic World of Action "Power the Force" Basic Figure
Item No.: Asst. F9405 No. G1151
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: February 2025
Appearances: The Mandalorian
Bio: Hulking Imperial combat droids with gleaming black armor and powerful jet boots, the Dark Troopers are a powerful design.. (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary:Hey, a Dark Trooper! Previous recent versions of this Dark Forces-inspired The Mandalorian-specific robot are all pretty cheap now thanks to, I assume, expectations for a much larger customer base than actually currently exists. They're good figures - but so is this one. He's a slightly larger build, and the blaster is the wrong color, but dagnabbit he's nice. For a kid's toy, this figure - and indeed this entire line - show a side of Hasbro we rarely see in Star Wars. 15 joints and a little paint make for a really nice toy. For some reason collectors demand all the paint, all the articulation, and then don't show up to buy the now-expensive figures. But what will happen when you make a good - not perfect - figure for $8? Hopefully an audience finds it, even if the figure is arguably an awkward five years late.

When taken out of time, it's hard to dislike this figure. He stands well, he's shiny, and he has just enough paint to look interesting. Many of the droid character joints are painted - not all are functional on the toy, but at least you get the silver wrist and ankle highlights. There are some red lights on his chest, and of course red eyes. It's missing a tiny bit of paint from other figures of the day, but honestly I wouldn't have noticed had I not compared them. Hasbro did a good paint job that is - and I know some people hate this - good enough for its audience.

Articulation is nice and tight. There are ratcheting joints, and he has no problems standing. The joints don't seem to sag, and the range of motion is pretty good overall. The knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, and neck are all jointed. I don't find myself missing ankles or wrists - if I was army-building this guy, I'd prefer the slightly stockier build and joints that are less likely to slowly droop. I would not be upset if Vintage switched to this level of articulation if it meant lower pricing.

The Terminator-esque droid includes one blaster, and I admit I don't love the choice to include a permanent blast effect while casting the whole thing in clear red. The energy-crackling lightsabers made some degree of sense, but a red-hot blaster isn't something that was a big part of the show. If it sells well to kids, awesome, but to my eye it's just odd. I'd have preferred a plain black blaster with no effect, and also a way to connect it to his hip like on the show. Despite the figure line having various connection points built in - the wrist holes are still present - there really isn't any sort of interactivity with his gear. Mercifully, the hands are perfectly sculpted to hold the blaster so I doubt anyone playing with it will be the slightest bit upset with any of this toy's functionality.

Seeing how Hasbro developed this figure that's bigger and cheaper than Vintage with no pieces falling off, I think I might actually prefer it. Most of us came to this hobby from toys, and toys are a good place for it to go - kids should be able to afford this stuff. Figures shouldn't flop over or not be able to hold their gear. I get no actual benefit from alternate hands and junk much of the time, other than the perk of paying a higher price for parts I may never use. This figure streamlines the figure experience down to something that looks good and gets the job done, showing that you can indeed make a great product for fans of all ages on a limited budget. Hopefully we see more figures like this down the road.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,234: April 22, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,004: Dark Trooper (The Rescue, The Vintage Collection)

DARK TROOPER (The Rescue Set)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure PulseCon Set
Item No.: No. F5551
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #245
Includes: Blaster, alternate fists, flame wrap, plus Grogu, Mando, and Moff Gideon
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $74.99
Availability: December 2022
Appearances: The Mandalorian
Bio: The Mandalorian leads a crew on a rescue mission to Moff Gideon’s ship where a garrison of dark troopers – the advanced droids that captured Grogu – are waiting. (Stolen from Hasbro Pulse. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: I have to start by saying this set, with a gorgeous (wasteful) box and lavish accessories, feels pretty overpriced. You get about $50 worth of figures for $75, and the mass retail version of this Dark Trooper can be bought individually too. It lacks the flames and is still almost shockingly expensive for what you get, but it has a nifty alcove that you can connect and army-build - which is a clever idea. This lacks the alcove, which is unfortunate as it would actually be a pretty good reason to buy even more of these dudes.

Much like the 6-inch figure, this one is super glossy. He has a firey boa that wraps around him, and I like that. It's a great idea! You can have Mando fight him, and that's great too! What will probably sell you on this set is a unique battle-damaged droid head. You can see exposed wires and a hole in his bashed-in head, and that's not unwelcome. I like the glossy finish, the silver joints look good, and the swappable hands are an added bonus. The designers put in some good details here, and that's important - because you're certainly being charged a premium price here. Anything less than "amazing" would be a rip-off, and as it is, I'm hesitant to say this is an item that will make you think you got your money's worth.

Articulation is good, but not exceptional, and certainly not praiseworthy. The joints on this figure are a mix of pretty good and pretty unpleasant. The hips, thighs, and most of the swivels move freely and are as smooth as butter. The bending joints like the knees, shoulders, elbows, and ankles ratchet in a way that's a little too stiff to get a good pose out of the figure, and just feel unpleasant. I thought we were beyond this - in the past year we've gotten superlative articulation from Fennec Shand and Bo-Katan Kryze, so naturally, I expected the premium-price army builder would be as good if not better.

The hands are tough to pill out to swap between the fists, and the trigger hand doesn't hold the blaster tightly. I expect things to be better after these figures have been made for over 45 years but I guess that's on me. Thankfully the flames wrap around nicely and are well-engineered. It's a good, snug fit and worthy of mention. I just expect a bit more for a higher price, and to make all four figures in this set "just different enough to make you mad" without any being clearly superior to separate releases - minus Mando, he's got a lot of unique bits - is vexing. If you were packaging-agnostic, Hasbro makes most of their SDCC items as good as or better than the mass-retail release, usually granting you a bonus accessory or some other nice little extra. By leaving out the Dark Trooper's alcove and non-damaged head, you're probably going to want to consider buying both - good for them, good for fans of troop building, less good for people who just want one of everything and to call it a day.

I'll probably repeat this on the single figure - but if Hasbro included the alternate damaged head and flames with the regular figure as optional bonus parts, I'd still say they're ridiculous people for charging $11 more than a regular figure - and this is more than that. Completists will hold their nose and buy it, as will fans of the format or this particular droid. (I mean, I got it.) At or below SRP you might be happy with this set - but if it ever climbs to high secondary market prices, I would advise you to seek out cheaper alternatives. The individually packaged versions of these figures are also very nice.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,004: February 16, 2023

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,970: Dark Trooper (The Black Series)

DARK TROOPER (Mold Debut)
The Black Series 2020 Line Look Orange Star Wars: The Mandalorian Packaging
Item No.: No. F4066
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #28 - Star Wars: The Mandalorian
Includes: Helmet, backpack, pistol, rifle, rocket
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $31.99
Availability: September 2022
Appearances: Star Wars: The Mandalorian

Bio: Hulking Imperial combat droids with gleaming black armor and powerful jet boots, the Dark Troopers are a poweful design.. (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: The Mandalorian continues to be Star Wars, mercifully getting much of The Black Series' love and the ongoing storyline's best designs and ideas. This Dark Trooper was a major force on the show's second season, but older fans will recognize it as a central focus of the classic Dark Forces PC game. This figure feels like an updated pastiche of the three phases of robot enforcer, bringing in a popular and memorable character from the old Expanded Universe to the new Mouse-approved continuity. You'll also recall Grand Admiral Thrawn, loads of concept art/RPG items, and so many other goodies that I assume Mara Jade has got to be on the short list. With the Fromm Gang. Because to not do those would be cruel.

When Hasbro started doing "deluxe" figures I generally rolled my eyes - in most cases they weren't much better than the complex, multi-part basic Chewbacca figure we keep getting time and again for various Wookiees. Sometimes we get a few more accessories, but is it worth the extra cost? This might be one of the few times where I begrudgingly say yes. The figure has a lot going for it, and one thing I absolutely hate that isn't a dealbreaker. Just calibrate those expectations for a release that's almost the Dark Trooper figure of your dreams.

When it comes to deco and articulation, this figure may be the best Hasbro has ever done. The elbow rotates at both ends, and bends. The fists are removable, and the knees also swivel on both sides. He can't sit, but with close to 30 joints he's no slouch. Unless, of course, you want him to slouch, because the double-jointed neck and ab crunch let you do that. I love that he can grip his blaster with both hands, I'm loving that he can punch a door, and I'm surprised his hands hold the blaster with no fuss - that's a rarity. It fits like a glove! The glossy finish with silver joints looks marvelous, but I'm not crazy about the clear center of the joints. It's just like K-2SO - it gets the job done, but it's not pretty, it looks kind of cheap - but it's fine. For a tall, shiny robot made of tons and tons of parts, you have to do what you have to do to make it all work, and this figure is literally and figuratively head and shoulders above the basic figures.

But he's got a vest, and I hate it. Remember Masters of the Universe Classics? Those vests were largely form-fitting, sturdy things. This one is a bit of a floater - it covers up the robotic chest, so I assume it's sharing parts with another release. The shoulder pads move and are connected to it, but when you take him out of the box the first thing you realize is that the chest is hollow and squeezable. It's like a fake muscle suit on your invincible killer robot army, and while it looks superb, it feels like a cheat. I'm sure if a Hasbro designer is reading this they're rolling their eyes at me, but you don't want your big bad evil robot guy to feel flimsy. Considering just how well detailed the limbs are, how everything moves perfectly, how the sculpt perfectly matches the show, and how the red eyes peek out from the dark helmet-ish head, it would stand to reason that everything about this figure should be perfect. And let me tell you, it's close.

If your figures live in the box, you'll never notice - and if they go on a shelf and you don't touch them, who cares? But I think you'll want to play with this one. There are plenty of fun options in how to pose him, and with alternate fists and foot rockets that fit in the soles of the boots - such a clever idea! - you'll want to buy an army of these. I wouldn't be shocked to see exclusive variants with alternate parts some day, or another, similar robot sharing pieces down the road. There's a lot to like here and if they ever do a Tython meditation rock I could see them throwing in one or two more of these guys with Grogu and a price tag that would make you wince.

Should a Japanese toymaker crank out a kit with a solid chest or a die-cast metal edition, you'll probably prefer that one. The glossy black and articulation of this release is tough to beat and in a year with a lot of good figures, this could well be your Star Wars release of the year (between $20-$50, at least.) If you see it, get one. If you like it, maybe get two, and some sort of flight stand so you can use those otherwise semi-useless foot peg rockets.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,970: October 20, 2022

Figure of the Day: Day 1,338: Dark Trooper Phase I

DARK TROOPER Phase I  

The Legacy Collection Shared Exclusive Expanded Universe Wave 

Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 93301  

Manufacturer: Hasbro  

Number: #BD56  

Includes: Shield  

Action Feature: n/a   

Retail: $7.99  

Availability: May 2010  

Appearances: Dark Forces video game  

Bio: The dark trooper project is the creation of Imperial General Rohm Mohc to create advanced battle droids. The project is done in phases to refine the design. The Phase One dark trooper has an unfinished appearance and primitive programming. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)  

Image: Adam Pawlus' new bathroom. It's a very white bathroom.  

Commentary: How do you follow up a giant 2009 build-a-droid of such awe-inspiring bulk that you could never top it? Easy-- make its younger, thinner, lamer brother. Dark Trooper Phase I is a never-before-made character with a name fans should recognize. He has a shield accessory, and his vibro-blade is removable but stays on as if it were affixed there permanently. So you can take if off, but since it's part of his wrist, why would you? The figure's articulation is either exceptional or average, depending on what you consider 14 joints these days. As a robot, he works well-- red eyes, lots of silver, and cables galore. He looks like a rough first concept, and as he is one, that means Hasbro did a great job on a figure that some will find thrilling and others will find another toy for the box. I like it, but if it were never made, I wouldn't have missed it. Fans of the game need it, but everyone else? Let your appreciation of the design dictate your purchase. He's a very nicely done figure, but given you've got more than 1,000 choices, he may not be your first. (Unless you want to complete the BG-J38 droid, of which he includes a piece.)  

Collector's Notes: I never saw this one in the wilds of retail, as such, I assume your chances of finding one aren't great. Be sure to network and/or buy online, as I would assume this guy and his wave will either be in very short supply, or appear in some huge glut on clearance somewhere in the future. Either way, it's good to be prepared. --Adam Pawlus

Day 1,338: July 30, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,202: Dark Trooper

DARK TROOPER Phase III  

The Legacy Collection Build-A-Droid Wal-Mart Exclusive 

Item No.: Asst. 14860  

Manufacturer: Hasbro  

Number: n/a  

Includes: Gun, backpack  

Action Feature: n/a  

Retail: n/a  

Availability: August 2009  

Appearances: Dark Forces  

Bio: The dark troopers were advanced battle droids and infantry exoskeletons that featured heavy plating that resembled the armor of a stormtrooper, powerful weapons, and jumppacks for increased flexibility and tactical advantage. (Taken from Wookieepedia.)  

Image: Adam's back yard.  

Commentary: The biggest (and therefore best) build-a-droid from Hasbro's ongoing program is this massive Dark Trooper which towers over most other action figures in the line. While not an exact match of the game design, it's certainly cool enough and close enough to be worth tracking down. Each massive limb has at least two joints, plus there's a jointed waist, neck, and the usual spots. It kicks the butt of the 1998 release, which it certainly should given its higher price and the fact you have to re-buy figures you may already own to complete it. His unique stance and massive upper-body require extra support, so if you get one be sure to employ a display stand of some sort to keep him standing. The deco is good, the sculpt is nice, and he seems big enough to crush any of your usual Imperial action figures. Plus he's basically black, not silver like the previous release. What's not to like? (Aside from the price tag and Hasbro's making this figure hard to get, that is.) Someone is sure to want to army-build these, but this will likely remain cost-prohibitive for us mere mortals. Still, anyone can save up to afford at least one of this nifty figure and fans of the classic PC game should probably run out and do this. And who knows, maybe some day Hasbro will make a Dark Forces-specific non-bearded Kyle Katarn to go with it.  

Collector's Notes: It comes in five pieces with various Wal-Mart exclusive two-packs which, depending on your location, may have sold out incredibly quickly. Given that completing this item had an initial retail price just south of $100, the secondary market prices tend to be higher than that of other build-a-droids. It's worth getting for fans of the games, or robots, or Imperials. Really, you ought to get one of these.  

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,202: January 21, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 512: Darktrooper

DARKTROOPER Expanded Universe/Fan's Choice #1  

Power of the Force Expanded Universe 

Item No.: Asst. 85205 No. 84753  

Number: n/a  

Includes: Blaster rifle, Removable Backpack  

Action Feature: Positionable jets on pack  

Retail: $5.99-$6.99  

Availability: December 1998 & September 2007-present 

Appearances: Dark Forces, Empire at War, Star Wars Tales 

Bio: The goal of the darktrooper project was to create better battle droids. These "super stormtroopers" were used against the Rebels after the Battle of Yavin, but the project came to an end when an Alliance mercenary destroyed the production facility. (Taken from the Saga Legends Cardback.)  

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray. On the left: 1998 release. On the right: 2007 release.  

Commentary: In 1998, Kenner ended its "Kenner Collection"-branded sub-line with a bang bringing fans nine never-before-made characters (and outfits) from the Expanded Universe. The final wave proved to be very difficult to find in many markets, making figures like this Darktrooper nearly instant-collectible status which reduced the discussion on the quality of the figure and changed the focus to "so, who's seen this thing?" Overall, the figure is a perfect example of how figures were in those days, except bigger. The robot has six points, the neck is a little stiff, plus a removable flight pack with shoulder pads that don't always stay put where you want them. He's very tall and very wide, and quite cool to look at. Modern fans and picky fans may not appreciate the limited articulation, but this was the first Star Wars villain and trooper to be made from exclusively video game appearances. Compared to the 3D renderings from Lucasarts, the figure is pretty much spot on other than the lack of metallic shiny car paint. The armor is big and bulky, the hands are huge, and there's a fair amount of paint coloring to make the figure look a little more menacing, although Hasbro could stand to redecorate the mold to look a little closer to the game appearances and, dare I say it, more "real." It's still quite good and an excellent trooper, and Hasbro can't really improve on the sculpt much outside of making the backpack fit better and adding articulation, so you might as well go out and buy several to torture Rebel forces across the galaxy. Nine years after its release, I finally got my army up to two of them.  

Collector's Notes: A personal note: the 1998 Darktrooper was the only modern carded non-exclusive action figure I never, not once, saw in the wilds of retail. (I saw its casemate, the Spacetrooper, once.) For this reason, I'm pretty stoked they brought it back, but both versions are worth snagging. The 1998 POTF2 version has a pop-out display built into its packaging based on a first-person view of Kyle Katarn in the game Dark Forces. As a game collectible nerd and a Star Wars fiend, I consider this to be the absolutely single most awesome pack-in/packaging gimmick ever created by a toy company on any toy line. EVER. (Bring it back, Hasbro.) 

The 2007 version lacks this pop-up diorama, but it does feature an exclusive gold coin representing the Expanded Universe, showcasing Durge, Aurra Sing, and a third character I have a hard time identifying. It might be Thrawn. Either way, you're going to want the coin, and if you're cool, you want the diorama too. And don't tell me you aren't cool. The figure was changed slightly between releases: original release's feet say "KENNER CHINA" and "© 1998 LFL" while the new release has "HASBRO CHINA" and "© 2007 LFL." The sculpts are unchanged and the deco is nearly identical-- the 2007 release's paint seems a little smoother, but it could just be our 1998 sample wasn't perfect. The action figure design (and another toy or two) were seemingly used as models for the Star Wars Tales #4 story "Sand Blasted," in which case a Darktrooper winds up on Tatooine and is battled by some of Jabba's swoop gang members. The cardback of the Saga Legends release features art from this comic. A final note: the figure's 2007 release has a big sticker on it reading "Fan's Choice #1." What the packaging doesn't tell you is that the figure's status as grand plastic poobah means it was voted as the #1 most-wanted figure in a bracket voting tourney hosted by the mighty Curto at Rebelscum, a fan site that you probably already read at least three times a day. As of now, all releases of the figure include the gold sticker and gold coin, making this the only non-"Ultimate Galactic Hunt" figure to include a gold coin. Oh, and the coin itself is notable because none of the three figures on it are really in circulation outside of Aurra in a Battle Pack rerelease.

Day 512: September 30, 2007