Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,366: Battle Droid (Right side of tray, The Vintage Collection)

BATTLE DROID (Geonosis, far right)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. F9259
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, backpack, antenna, 2 slightly different red droids and 1 Super Battle Droid with gear
Action Feature: Blaster
Retail: $67.99
Availability: July 2026
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Battle droids, also known as combat droids, war droids,[2] clankers, droid soldiers, or battle bots, were a type of droid designed for combat. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I love a nice surprise. This is one of three barely different Battle Droid figures in a four-pack with an all-new Super Battle Droid. I appreciate there was some subtle variety, but I particularly appreciate that this figure is not identical to the 2022 Battle Droid [FOTD #2,913] from Walmart's "Clone Wars" (no "The") collection. Not only is it a different shade of red, the hands and feet had some changes.

Looking at my review of the previous red droid, Hasbro listened. The same plain basic droid is a new shade of red, with some silver enhancements painted on the arsm, ribs, and metal antenna on the backpacks. On this particular robot, Hasbro added some excrutiatingly subtle silver weathering on its right neck collar area and around the right area of its torso. It has to catch enough light just-so, or you won't even notice it's there. I wish Hasbro could have amped it up or left it off, but it's appreciated. The backpack has similar weathering, also on its right side. There are also black blast marks over the vents of the backpack, and some on the front of the figure's torso too. Check out the right thigh and a unique rusty drip coming from the nipple - the pattern is different on each droid in the set. Hasbro could have put them all out with the same (or no) weathering and while I would probably complain, I certainly would understand why they didn't go all-out. But they did! There are some black enhancements to the eyes too, but they're so small you might miss them.

Hasbro was not content to use the same body as last time. A few parts may be derived from similar CAD files or tools, but the legs are new. The arms are new. The chest seems to be new. I can tell because we have things like bend-and-swivel wrists, swivel knees, and what seem to be attempts at rocking ankles. I can't get the ankles to move much from side to side, but the pins are much more subtle and that can be said of the arms, too. Hasbro getting more movement out of one of the skinniest figures in the line is quite impressive. He can mostly fold up and crouch, but I found the telescoping neck will cause the head to bump into the backpack. 

Both the head and the backpack were knocked off when I tried to do this. (He works fine with the OOM antenna, though.)  At least he can get pretty close, though. I was particularly pleased at the range of motion given to the shoulders thanks to its ball-and-socket construction, which lets him get a few decent blaster poses when combined with the wrists. Hasbro did a generally excellent job here, and we're probably approaching the limits of what you can do with joints on very thin limbs. Swappable arms might be a way around this, or slug figures specifically meant to crouch and only to crouch.

The one accessory that I think could have knocked this set out of the park would have been a single C-3PO head to swap out on one of the droid bodies. Maybe next time. What we do get is an unpainted black blaster and silver-antenna'ed backpacks. They fit nicely, even if they sometimes get in the way of some poses. It's a pretty decent load-out given what we saw in the Geonosis arena in 2002.

While I'd be lying if I said the prospect of a new Battle Droid in 2026 was something I was excited to see, I can say it's an improvement over the ones I had at home already. It's nice to see them fit in wrist articulation, and I appreciate the attempt at the tilting ankles. I had a hard time getting this figure to balance in a lot of poses, but at least he can stand on a shelf. If you're on the fence, I'd nudge you to give this set a shot. It's slightly cheaper than four carded figures, which is nice to have in this economy.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,366: July 28, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,365: Night Trooper (Gray Jaw, The Vintage Collection)

NIGHT TROOPER Gray Jaw
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. F9259
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: Blaster
Retail: $54.99
Availability: July 2024
Appearances: Ahsoka

Bio: The Night Troopers were stormtroopers who served Grand Admiral Thrawn during his exile on the extragalactic planet Peridea, comprising the majority of his forces. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: As I finish up reviewing the many (many) figures around my desk, which will never end, let's look at the third Night Trooper from 2024. This one has a gray jaw with a lot of red wrappings, and is the only trooper in the set to have an unwrapped chest. (Well, other than Enoch.) It's funny looking back on the set - and show - with a tinge of "Maybe George Lucas was right." In the 1990s, we got a lot of stories in comics and in video games, plus a few novels - there were no TV shows and only one single new movie. By keeping things tight, fans were always left wanting more and we were really never left wanting for a new monthly or bimonthly adventure of some sort since 1991. There was really no reason to compare the new stories to the old stuff, because the medium was different. Shadows of the Empire delighted a lot of new fans on their own terms, on a Nintendo 64 or PC, or at the book store, or comic shop. You could have a new story, and not have to worry too much about a budget or the potential of changing anyone's opinion on a legacy.

Ahsoka season one wrapped three years ago in October, and left me kind of cold. I liked the concepts, I liked the costume, I liked the toys. But Thrawn may be a better character for the page, and I can't help but think I might have had more fun swinging lightsabers at an Xbox or doing some sort of Jedi training under Ahsoka. As a passive observer we got an incomplete story, and it will have been nearly four years between seasons. The entire sequel trilogy wrapped in four years, and I may be alone in saying that while I appreciated visiting with Mon Mothma, C-3PO, Sabine, and of course Ahsoka, I get the same kind of warm fuzzies from a toy or a comic. No matter how good the show is, it makes more homework for new fans and Star Wars managed to do a lot with its coursework of three (or six) movies in terms of cultivating a massive, hungry fanbase.

But, like I said, we got some cool costumes. Hasbro mixed and matched its "mummy" Stormtrooper parts and pieces in this set, and it's a pity Enoch ate a slot - otherwise I might've bought a second to swap parts between figures. This one has a distinctive white helmet with gray jaw, plus lots of gold filler. The red wrapping exists on every limb, but not the upper torso. Some subtle red wrap exists above his belt, on both shins, on both forearms, on the upper left arm, and of course the upper right thigh. Hasbro did a nice job giving us an army builder set where no two figures are the exact same mold - but enough parts are mixed and matched that it's effectively two figures in unique configurations. I bet they could sell slightly different versions again, were they so inclined. The red wrap is nicely painted, and the gold looks good. I hope it lasts for the ages as some gold painted figures sort of molds with age, or at least, that's what I saw in Fisher-Price Adventure People's space lines.

This figure uses the same basic mold we've been getting for roughly a decade. It's the best super-articulated Stormtrooper we've had to date, with better bending elbows and crisp details - but it also has those older-style hip joints and I still hate those. They're bad for getting figures to sit, but they hold up well in a diorama. Which is more important? Well, I don't hear stories of kids buying figures and vehicles these days, so we're probably throttling what would've been a potential market with how the adult crew prefers things. Comparing this older mold to newer figures from competitors in the American market, Hasbro's figures are generally superior. (I can't speak to Hiya, I haven't been buying theirs.) I really love Mattel's daffy Jurassic World creations, but they're a little puffier. But, they're also cheaper and have great hip joints and wonderful vehicle compatibility. You can't have it all, I suppose.

I really like this set. Now that we're post-tariffs (I hope) it's worth noting that this is a good deal on the secondary market, often selling under $45 for four figures. Unless you demand cardbacks, this is actually a really good deal in the modern marketplace. I'd recommend picking one up this year before the show comes back and makes people go "Oh, I should buy that." That was how I did things in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and it worked nicely for me.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. But they're sold out, so use the Amazon sponsored link.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,365: July 23, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,164: Tig Fromm (Droids cartoon)

TIG FROMM The One, The Only
Droids Basic Figure
Item No.: Asst. 71760 No. 71830
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Collector coin, baton
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $3.79
Availability: ca. Fall 1985
Appearances: n/a

Bio: The leader of an underworld gang of thugs and cutthroats who prey on the weak and helpless of INGO. (Taken from the packaging. The cartoons had bios.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I was feeling uninspired, so I decided to review an actual pre-1990s figure for a change. I got Tig Fromm from a toy dealer in 1991 (hi Ron) because, at the time, nobody really wanted the cartoon-original figures from Droids. Anyone from the Star Wars movies was a big deal, but people weren't excited by Sise Fromm or Tig or Jord or Kea - but they'd pay a princely sum for Boba Fett or an A-Wing Pilot. I saw Tig at Kay-Bee Toys in the 1980s when they had pegs of unsold figures, but as a child with zero allowance it was hard to convince my parents to get me the weird alien gangster since he wasn't in the movies they saw. I even saw this guy a couple of years later at the Horton Plaza Kay-Bee in San Diego, but I was after R2-D2, C-3PO, Logray, and Wicket - and I found Logray (and Klaatu) on that trip. The Droids and Ewoks figures were somewhat hard to find, I bought every single one carded for a couple of bucks because opened ones weren't even available - people still were hard at work getting rid of these guys. Well, bully for me I guess. Older fans didn't watch the cartoon, but I did - and that's why I have him today.

I didn't play with him a whole heck of a lot, but he did spend time in the Side Gunner. The figure included the same staff you got with 2-1B, and is one of two Tigs I would see near show business. (The other being Tig Notaro, who I had the fortune of seeing host Comedy Death Ray when I lived in Los Angeles.) This guy was a gangster, but he was actually more of a tech bro. His whole thing was robots and engineering, designing machines to do the dirty work while he put together a weapons satellite that was expensive because it was made of teensy-weensy little components. As a character, this guy was a mix of stock bad guy and evidence of some real visionary work on the part of the writers, who clearly understood that the future was in technology and automation before most people even had a computer at home. Tig was a bit of a weasel, but so was Starscream and people can't stop writing about his imagined exploits.

His sculpt was pretty fantastic - especially for 1985. Kenner's quality for humanoids was all over the map, with fat and thick necks on some characters and basically a turtleneck for the evil green Steve Jobs here. Each hand has a thumb and three fingers, with a suit that looks like it's out of some Jean Giraud art. (Actually, the whole Droids cartoon feels like a big tribute to the works of the late Moebius.) Comparing the figure to the artwork, it's a pretty good match with puffy shoulders, a big collar, a distinctive belt, bizarre toed shoes, and a few signs of what seem to be cybernetic enhancements. Tig has them, Vlix and Sise do not. Did I mention this guy was bullied by Vlix? Yeah, this is the guy who was bullied by Vlix, and a big reason why Vlix was so memorable on the show. I love the deep grooves carved in the outfit, exaggerating the belts and vests so old eyes don't have to squint. I got this guy as a child, so I never once gave that any thought - I just appreciated the fact I had another awesome alien to play with in an era where Star Wars seemed like it would be dead forever.

The sides of his head aren't a perfect match for the show. His unpainted cybernetic tabs over his cheeks look similar to what should be above his ears, but aren't. There are some odd unpainted vent-like details there instead, hinting at another character model used to inspire the toy sculpt... or maybe someone just made it up because it looked cool. The colors aren't a perfect match for his animation cel, as Tig-the-figure lacks any of the red seen in his cart art. Kenner's figure's eyes were painted a little strangely, with extra green under the peepers. He could have benefitted from a couple of black dots to bring out his eyes. There are no sculpted (or painted) red cheek dots to indicate anger/rage, but at least there's a lot here you could work from in order. If this guy were still worthless, I'd probably buy a second one to repaint it - but he's not worthless. The amount of money people spend for him today - north of $500 - is what I expected I'd some day have to pay for Vlix, given the chance. That hasn't worked out so well for me, and I'd be hesitant to recommend you spend $500 on one of Kenner's very last alien Star Wars action figures from the original era. He's one of my very favorites, and he stood up well to age.

For a five-jointed figure, the sculptor did a dynamite job. His left leg has a knee bent slightly, so it looks like he could be shifting his weight from one side to the other - Hasbro doesn't do this with their "retro" figures very often. The right hand is posed to grip an accessory, but the left is turned a bit so you can pretend he's typing at a computer or working the controls on a ship. The wide mouth is a bit of an exaggeration, but it looks pretty close to his frown on the show. I think it gets the point across - this is the bad guy.

You won't find a figure with sleeves quite this puffy from the 1980s, I'll tell you that. While sadly no longer priced as an impulse purchase, you can get one for the price of one of the more expensive game consoles. I'd love to see Hasbro reissue this guy, and if they do I'd love to recommend they cash in by doing a two-pack with "toy colors" and "cartoon colors." (I'm good for it.) I don't know if a ton of people are dying to own this guy, but he got captured by Boba Fett - that has to make him more than a little interesting to fans of the oldest-school Star Wars stories. To my knowledge this character has not had a second action figure - although there are certainly fans working in the industry who have been making requests for the past couple of decades.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Ron at a toy/collectible round-up in 1991. Thanks Ron, I owe you/I blame you for enabling me.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,364: July 21, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,363: Chopper (C1-10P in Mining Facility Disguise, Droid Factory)

 

CHOPPER (C1-10P in Mining Facility Disguise)
Star Wars Droid Depot
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: Collector card, RX-01 torso
Action Feature: Pulls apart, jointed arms, opening front repair arm
Retail: $19.99
Availability: April 2026
Appearances: n/a

Bio: All different types of droids populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors. This droid can be found aboard freighter 2716 in Faos station. Join Chopper on his adventures throughout the galaxy! May the Force be with you... and your Droids! (Taken from the packaging.) (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: While I will of course grouse about the price, as I must play the hits, I also quite like Chopper (C1-10P in Mining Facility Disguise). It's an existing mold, in a color I pretty much forgot about, despite remembering a lot from the "In the Name of the Rebellion" episodes. He's in part 2, and unlike the Imperial disguise I didn't remember the normally orange Chopper's yellow makeover until I saw the figure. I've seen this color scheme on other toys, as it looks a lot like various caution signs and an old Imaginext robot I had on hand. He has a yellow body with black and gray highlights, making the figure look like a completely new droid. If Disney wants to give me bright new colors on a mold that make it look different from my other droids, I'm going to be a lot more chipper about wasting $33 or so to ship one to my house.

The markings all match closely. The orange on the sides of the dome are actually lights, not just an orange stripe, so that doesn't look quite right - but everything else is pretty much on the mark. You don't get panel lines, but at least the sculpted panels look pretty good and I guess you could add your own grime wipe if you're the kind of person who still has the time and drive to customize your toys. I'm leaving it pristine.

There's a lot of extra paint on this one. Not only is the top of his dome silver, but the little dish has painted black panels on top. We haven't seen that on other Chopper figures. It's distinctive, making this the kind of figure you could have in a background on a shelf or in a playset to mix things up a bit.

Construction is the same as the other Disney Chopper figures, with jointed dome-arms, ankles, a rotating wheel leg, plus that pop-out claw arm. If you've bought another one, you know what to expect. Joints are generally tight, with a dome that swivels more easily than some other astromechs. I especially appreciate the black wheels. You'll probably never bother to look at them, but they pop nicely.

The figure includes the core body for RX-01, which I assume you will build out between now and December. He takes up about 1/3 of the figure's bubble. The cardback on my sample was thicker, but with some of the worst non-bootleg printing I've seen in a while. The text appears more fuzzy than usual, perhaps it's a color alignment issue. Even the portrait on the front looked a little rough.

If you're a Chopper completist, this is a decent one. It appears on an actual episode, and it brings us the mold in new colors. That's about as good as one can expect these days. I wouldn't recommend it at premium eBay pricing, but it's charming enough and different enough to warrant blowing a few bucks.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Disney Store's web site. It took a while to sell through.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,363: July 16, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,362: Zeb Orrelios (New Republic Pilot, The Vintage Collection)

ZEB ORRELIOS (New Republic Pilot)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Deluxe Action Figure
Item No.: No. G2766
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #400
Includes: Bo-rifle (pole mode), Bo-rifle (blaster mode)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $27.99
Availability: July 2026
Appearances: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Bio: The Mandalorian and his young apprentice Grogu embark on a thrilling adventure as they travel the galaxy. (Taken from the figure's cardback. At some point I hope Hasbro realizes the space for bios that say nothing may be better used for other purposes.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: "Is it worth it?" is a question I should probably stop addressing, because on the whole the answer is "not really." Is Zeb Orrelios (New Republic Pilot) good? Yes. Does he have a great sculpt and good articulation? Absolutely. Does he have as much stuff in the box as previous Zeb figures at a lower price, including 6-inch scale ones? No.

Hasbro's engineering is, without a doubt, excellent. I assume at this point they get some sort of digital model from Disney consumer products and turn it over to a vendor to slice up the design, insert some joints, and budget out what paint and accessories you get. There's really little reason for anything to look any less than "very good," especially at current inflated price increases, so you'll be glad to know that the elbows have an exceptional range of movement so he can touch his own face. Or double-grip the bo-rifle, which is not a euphemism. The joints on this Zeb are all very similar to the previous cartoony models from The Vintage Collection with slightly more subtle settings and generally improved ranges of motion. Functionally, we're better off with one of the best mid-torso joints ever hidden by his flight vest. I assume Hasbro had more time to design these guys, given how far in advance this movie was shot and mostly completed.

Historically, some of the all-digital characters were a little off-model for their first action figures from the films. Boss Nass was weird. Jar Jar's personality was wrong. Several of the first Geonosians were based on their nude alien maquettes rather than the digital armored model in the movies. Zeb avoids those indignities with a blue flight suit and a white flight vest that seems like it could have been a leftover asset from the sequel trilogy. He has a Rebel/Resistance symbol on his chest, plus very subtle upside-down Aurebesh text reading "PULL TO INFLATE." Sensible! The quilted white vest feels much softer in texture and detail than many other figures, lacking the exaggerated cuts we got in the old days. It's probably truer to the reality of being a 1:18 scale replica of a digital model, but those who know things realize a lot of action figures have oversized heads or other exaggerated details to bring out memorable features. For being a digital purple giant cat man, it's odd to say "it's more realistic" but it's certainly truer to the films.

His face is incredible. The eyes are shiny, the lips are painted and parted slightly, and depending on the lighting you might see his teeth peek out from behind a smirk. He has his beard and other hair, with hints of furry arms and painted toenails. His fingers and toes are pinker - a bit exaggerated, and that's good - and all of the textures seem a little less shaggy than his Rebels figures from this collection. He feels more alive and colorful, with gear that's a little less impressive. You get two bo-rifles, and each one has two paint applications - the grips, and little rings. It's not as impressive as the wraps in the TV-specific ones, which had energy bits that this figure also lacks. I'm sure there's some accounting reason (tariffs, oil, Q3 EBITDA) that are why they left out the extra goods but this doesn't feel like a particularly "deluxe" release. It's good - but there used to be something more to a figure, like hands and extra gear, that warranted the price. Being tall isn't "deluxe" if we get Chewbacca or a Dark Trooper as a basic figure.

Price aside, this is a good figure. If it existed for $19.99, you'd go "Oh, this has the same articulation as a regular guy and looks like a happy guy." If he goes on sale, I'd strongly recommend it.  At $28 he's not terrible, just not impressive or visibly worth the $8 mark-up. As the first live-action Zeb, Hasbro nailed it. This is good, because I don't have it in me to pay another $28 for version 2.0.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth

.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,362: July 14, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,361: R4-6D0 (Droid Factory)

R4-6D0 3 3/4-Inch Debut
Star Wars Droid Depot
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: Collector card, TC-332 right leg
Action Feature: Pulls apart
Retail: $19.99
Availability: April 2026
Appearances: n/a

Bio: All different types of droids populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors. This droid can be found in the office of the Magistrate of Nevarro. Join R4-6D0 on their adventures throughout the galaxy! May the Force be with you... and your Droids! (Taken from the packaging.) (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Expensive and maddeningly fast to sell out, R4-6D0 is nothing if not actually worth the effort. Given the build-a-droid collection was a mix of reruns and something new, this is actually new enough to make you go "oh, that was actually kind of nice." Assuming, of course, you were able to get it for around $20. At $40, I can't say it's a tour de force so much as a very good redeco of a decent mold, with the foot cables, that actually appeared on the show. These are decent reasons to want this figure which, again, is obnoxiously scarce. For large droid fans Hasbro made a The Black Series version for Walmart, if you need it.

You've seen this mold and bought it (or passed on it) dozens of times, so why buy it in white, with red legs, and peach panels? The boxes are a little different, and the colors are unique. You'll notice the dome has many silver outlines unique to this droid, plus red and black boxes painted on the sides. The orange panels on top look great, and the red ring around the base looks good too. While you may have orange or red droids, you don't have this one - and that's a nice change of pace. And it's a good match for the show!

The same is true for the body. The panels are colored in, but differently. There's a panel on his right that splits the peach color with red - a unique design I haven't seen elsewhere. There's a series of white stripes on the center foot, partially painted orange - that's new! The red legs have orange panels, and the side panels on the body have white stripes within them. I didn't think we'd see original panel designs. There's not much else I can say other than "if I'm going to have dozens of R4s, at least I got one that doesn't look like all the rest."

If this were a basic figure you could get in stores for $20, I'd say "good enough." The bonus droid parts are nice - if frustrating - because you're unlikely to be able to complete the set unless you've already got them, or if money is a non-issue. $120ish for 6 droids plus a bonus seventh isn't the worst deal, but it would be nice if they were all original and if you could combine shipping charges. Such is life. I'm not upset I bought the set but I don't know how Round Two will go. I guess we're going to find out as the months go on.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Disney Store's web site. It sold out instantly, I got it on a brief restock window of availability.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,361: July 9, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,360: Guard Droid (with STAP, ActionVerse)

GUARD DROID & Mercenary STAP
ActionVerse Target Exclusive Vehicle
Item No.: Asst. E7763 No. F9798
Number: n/a
Includes: 2-part green display base, cape, STAP vehicle, two red rockets
Action Feature: Blaster fits in holster
Retail: $21.99
Availability: April 2024
Appearances: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Bio: B-1 series mercenary sentry droids were a variant of B1-series battle droid that existed in the galaxy by the early New Republic Era. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Not planned for the 3 3/4-inch collector lines (as far as I know), this Guard Droid was something I saw at Target and planned to skip. Heck, the whole line is something I planned to skip because I wasn't in the mood for yet another new scale... but I'll buy a clearance vehicle for 66.66% off. This is a particularly interesting piece in light of the history of this toy line, because back in 1998 we got an Episode I sneak preview STAP with Battle Droid and it was $19.99. It was similarly jointed, and that was 28 years ago. If you're wondering if there's a collector tax of sorts, wonder no more - but that "tax" is also what happens when your toys stop being toys. If Hasbro made a 3 3/4-inch version of this same exact vehicle with movie-accurate bodily proportions at the very same price, I'd be screaming from the rooftops about how you should buy it, until they hauled me away.

Hasbro's figures-for-adults have exceeded their mandate, and fan tastes are a little too fancy for the price points they want. At $21.99, this whole set is $2 more than a 3 3/4-inch The Vintage Collection figure. It really does raise the question of "what are wrist and ankle joints worth to you?" The Guard Droid lacks ankle or wrist joints, but everything else is really good. The ball-jointed neck is perfect. The shoulders, hips, knees, and elbows all bend and swivel. He even has a very nice plastic cape - other than the beefy proportions I think most fans of all ages would be generally happy to have a 3 3/4-inch figure of this quality. I just don't want another (most likely temporary) scale in my collection, but I can't deny Hasbro did a nice job painting the blue, rusty, and brown parts that give us a surprisingly ornate kiddo action figure for the asking price. It isn't a perfect match for the movie, but it's not bad at all. For the money, I'm generally impressed. It's good enough, but I also don't agree with the general sense of fans demanding everything be a tiny prop replica with every detail that's perfect, and money is no object. The head is a little wide, and it's all a little silly - but it evokes the vibe from the movie.

While there's no handheld blaster in the box, Hasbro instead gives you a full-blown vehicle and a stand that's also a micro playset. Grogu can hide in the side of the 2-piece green display base, effectively giving him a little cave in a tree. That's a great, clever idea on Hasbro's part. The STAP plugs in the base nicely, and if you have any trouble you can pop it apart to remove it. There's a peg and a hole to keep it upright. Will it snap off? I have no idea, I'm old and not going to snap it. The ship itself is made out of a great hard plastic and has two firing rocket launchers. Each launcher is activated by its own unique button, so you can pick which one goes off. The red fireblasts look bright and shiny, making them easier to find in the carpet than a brown rocket. Unless, of course, your carpeting is covered in fresh blood or berries. If either of those things are happening, get the appropriate help. Our Guard Droid friend has no problems reaching the foot pedals and the handlebars, making this an absolutely ideal example of Hasbro making a toy with figure/vehicle compatibility that works without flaw.

If I bought this set at full price, particularly in this economy, I would tell you it's very good and Hasbro's changes to the STAP & Battle Droid format work well even after their cost-cutting. By changing scale, Hasbro made something I think a lot of fans have no reason to consider or even look at despite the fact their engineers cooked up a really solid-feeling toy that is a heck of a lot more fun than more expensive items on the toy aisle. For those of you who like toys, I'd strongly recommend picking it up on sale. I'll probably pick up other vehicles (and maybe figures) as they hit sale shelves. I'm a big supporter of buying what you like at full price, but I didn't want this scale because it doesn't fit in well with any of the many toy lines I collect. It's a great one-off, though, and Hasbro's toy designers should be proud that they managed to deliver a toy concept from the 1990s at the same price and same quality given all the production and freight challenges they face in 2026.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Target. It was on clearance for $6.59.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,360: July 7, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,359: Ahsoka Tano (Peridea, The Vintage Collection)

AHSOKA TANO (Peridea)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. E7763 No. F9798
Number: #338
Includes: Two lightsabers
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $16.99
Availability: October 2024
Appearances: Ahsoka

Bio: Ahsoka Tano's quest to stop Grand Admiral Thrawn brings her beyond the galaxy once more to the World Between Worlds, where she gains newfound wisdom. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: A good figure that people decided they didn't want, Ahsoka Tano (Peridea) is "Ahsoka the White," which makes her previous live-action costume her take on "Gandalf the Grey." Disney-era Star Wars seems intent on keeping people in the same clothes day after day after year, so a new costume (and new toys) can be pretty refreshing. Poor Fennec Shand wore the same armor since her The Bad Batch appearances, which is just kind of ridiculous - Ahsoka had numerous costume changes during The Clone Wars, so it's good she has yet another one. It shares parts with the previous The Mandalorian and Ahsoka live-action The Vintage Collection figures, with a new head, hew belt, and new boots.

I don't know that her lekku are a big improvement, the stripes are a different layout and it's not a perfect match for the show. Does that matter? Good question, I'm glad I asked it - not really. Unless you hold this up to the TV screen, you won't notice - but in the era of $17 (now $20) figures, plus the fact that the figure lagged the show by a year, I think accuracy is fair to expect. The face is improved, with a better paint job and skin color to more accurately match the show with a darker, more saturated color. The white markings are very similar, and there's a new "hair band" to mask the transition from the face to the head tails. For the improved face, I would say this is the kind of thing that makes the purchase worth it.

The body is functionally the same as previous releases, which is good. Hasbro did a really great job with the pants. They're not quite as baggy as on TV, but that's good - if they were, the figure's legs couldn't swing forward. The ball joints let her sit well, so if we ever get vehicles for her? She's all set. The arms have the standard amount of movement, her wrists bend and swivel, and the knee joints are just superb. The knees are hidden in the pants! How great is that? The ankles rock, and that's good - but they're stiff, so you have to get it just right or she just might face-plant. The new belt has a separately sculpted braid - with paint! - that looks better than the previous one, and the painted metal ring also looks great. Her shins and forearms have armor, and the silver has a decent shine to it. Despite being a retool, I can't knock Hasbro for taking shortcuts. They improved her where it was needed to authenticity, mostly, and didn't fix what wasn't generally broken.

I would have liked hilts for her belt - we didn't get those. Instead she just has the same two milky-white lightsabers she's had before. There isn't anything wrong with them, but again, for $17? I'd like some hilts or removable blades. I assume a cloaked version of Ahsoka the White will come in 2027 for the show, unless Hasbro has decided it has tired of seeing this mold on markdown shelves. It's not a bad figure, but the edition size for the Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. She's sold out, and about $10 on the secondary market - get her before the show returns next year.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,359: July 2, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,358: BB-PR0UD (Pride Collection, Droid Factory)

BB-PR0UD Rainbow Edition
Star Wars Droid Depot Pride Collection
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Pulls apart
Retail: $12.99
Availability: May 2022
Appearances: n/a

Bio: A In celebration of Pride and the company's Pride collection, The Walt Disney Company is giving funds as part of our ongoing commitment to organizations around the world that support LGBTQ+ communities. (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: The first BB droid in the Pride Collection and the second in the line, BB-PR0UD predated BB-YOU [FOTD #3,063] by about a year. Both make use of the same mold, but the color patterns are a little different. BB-YOU seemed to be more of a general riff on the traditional Pride flag, while BB-PR0UD... I don't know. There are a lot of different LGBTQ+ flags, as seen in the fun parties or on the backpacks of your better friends, but I can't quite place the specific dark indigo blue (I think) plastic with the specific splashes of color unless maybe someone is a fan of the Indigo Girls? I come at this from a place of ignorance, so use that comment field if you are the designer or are better informed than I.


The indigo base figure provides the manufacturer with a challenge when it comes to paint. Dark plastic will bleed through bright colors unless you apply thick, even layers of pigment on top. Hasbro and 1980s toymakers tended to forget this, which is why your Battle Beasts Hardtop Tortoise's orange armor looks a little sloppy even when it was new. On the other hand, anything Onell Design does tends to have significantly thick shells of shiny paint covering any blemishes. This droid has some issues with the orange and yellow being a bit thin for my taste, but you might be fine with it given that it gives the droid's fresh coat of paint a vaguely weathered look. In addition to six rainbow-ish colors, this droid also has silver and black highlights on some of the panels.

If you pop off the chassis, an inner gray orb has numerous painted silver elements plus a few red and blue lights. Kudos to Disney for having done it, it's detail a lot of fans will never see and it was back when these guys were a then-princely sum of $12.99. (You'll remember, Hasbro usually included BB droids as accessories rather than full-fledged action figures when it comes to smaller figure lines.)

In hindsight, I really don't get why Disney didn't just rerelease the in-demand and still expensive rarity R2-RNBW. This is fine - it's a unique color of BB droid with a lot lots of bright color flourishes, and I can't complain about that too much. But as a collector with thousands of figures (and about 10 of the 11 Pride Droids plus honorary members) this doesn't add much new to the overall collection. I assume Disney is done with BB droids unless we get a cameo in Starfighter or the Rey movie, and I hope we get a protocol droid next year, because I don't know what I need with more BB-series droids. The good news is that it's inexpensive on the secondary market, so there's nothing stopping you from picking a unique droid up today.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Disney Store's web site.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,358: June 30, 2026