For Star Wars action figure collectors, 2019 will be a year that will stand out and be talked about for years to come. The final year of this decade has been an unusual one in the world of figure collecting. It has provided us historic toys while also altering 40-year-old traditions and the combination of the two has us entering a new decade uncertain about the future of the hobby, especially when it comes to certain scales. We’ll begin our year in review by the various figure scales Hasbro now supports.

By the Numbers

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When it comes to the numbers, there were about 200 figures released throughout 2019 and as you can see 3 3/4″ figures outnumbered the amount of 6″ figures released. The breakdown graphed above is as follows:

  • 3 3/4″ – TVC (45), Value (4), Skywalker Saga (19), Retro (8), Galaxy of Adventures (14), Resistance (10)
  • 5″ – Galaxy of Adventures (14)
  • 6″ – TBS (64), Archive (8), Anniversary (3)
  • 8″ – HyperReal (1)
  • 12″ – Hero (7)

3 ¾” Figures

For longtime collectors, this was both an incredible and frustrating year. 2019 saw the release of the incredible Jabba’s Sail Barge which was made a reality through Hasbro’s Haslab crowdfunding campaign. This brought the largest Hasbro Star Wars toy into many fan’s collections. This highly detailed vehicle was limited to about 10,000 pieces worldwide and quickly became the centerpiece for many a displayed collection. The Vintage Collection continued to support the Barge with multiple releases themed around the Haslab toy. The frustrating part of the year came in multiple forms. First, many TVC figures were difficult to find at retail due to distribution issues. This year also saw the end of the 5POA line which resulted in no dedicated line for The Rise of Skywalker film. Another factor that plagued this year was the large amount of reissued figures in both The Vintage Collection and the Galaxy of Adventure figures which were released in tubes and not on traditional cardbacks. Which the Resistance line was a highlight of the year, it too was frustrating as it consisted of a single wave of figures. Another great success of the year was the Retro Collection line which was immensely popular but failed to reach retail in the numbers to satisfy collectors. The final black mark on 2019 came in the form of two very small sublines that collectors appeared to reject and refuse to pursue, Wal*Mart’s gold-painted Skywalker Saga and the 0POA Value figures found at discount retailers.

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Star Wars: Resistance

Basic Figures

  • Commander Pyre
  • First Order Stormtrooper
  • Kaz Xiono
  • Major Vonreg
  • Synara San
  • Torra Doza

2-Packs

  • Jarek Yeager & Bucket (R1-J5)
  • Poe Dameron & BB-8

STAR WARS GALAXY OF ADVENTURES Assortment - PDQ (1)

Star Wars: Galaxy of Adventures

  • Boba Fett
  • Chewbacca
  • Darth Maul
  • Darth Vader
  • General Grievous
  • Han Solo
  • Imperial Stormtrooper
  • Kylo Ren
  • Luke Skywalker
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi
  • Princess Leia
  • R2-D2
  • Rey
  • Yoda

STAR WARS SPECIAL EDITION RETRO PROTOTYPE 3.75-INCH DARTH VADER Figure  - in pack (2)

Retro Collection

Basic (Target Exclusives)

  • Darth Vader
  • Darth Vader (Prototype Edition)
  • Chewbacca
  • Han Solo
  • Luke Skywalker
  • Princess Leia Organa
  • Stormtrooper

Games

  • Escape From Death Star Game
    • Grand Moff Tarkin

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Skywalker Saga Commemorative Edition

2-Packs (Wal*Mart Exclusives)

  • Darth Vader & Stormtrooper
  • Han Solo & Princess Leia
  • Luke Skywalker & Chewbacca
  • Darth Maul & Yoda
  • Mace Windu & Jango Fett
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi & Anakin Skywalker
  • Finn & Poe Dameron
  • Kylo Ren & Rey
  • R2-D2 & BB-8 & C-3PO

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Value

  • Luke Skywalker
  • Darth Vader
  • Stormtrooper
  • Chewbacca

Jabba's Sail Barge and Millennium Falcon

The Vintage Collection

Basic

  • VC132  Saelt-Marea
  • VC133  Scarif Stormtrooper
  • VC134  Princess Leia Organa (Boushh)
  • VC135  Klaatu (Skiff Guard)
  • VC138  Elite Praetorian Guard
  • VC139  Lando Calrissian
  • VC140  Imperial Stormtrooper
  • VC141  Chewbacca
  • VC142  Captain Phasma
  • VC146  Luke Skywalker (Crait)
  • VC147  Death Star Gunner
  • VC148  Imperial Assualt Tank Commander
  • VC149  Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2)
  • VC155  Knight of Ren
  • VC156  Rey
  • VC157  Zorii Bliss
  • VC158  Luke Skywalker (X-Wing Pilot)
  • VC159  Sith Jet Trooper
  • VC160  Poe Dameron
  • VC150  Leia Ceremonial
  • VC161  Jawa
  • VC162  Sith Trooper
  • VC163  Shadow Trooper

Vehicles

  • Poe’s X-Wing Fighter

Exclusives

Amazon

  • VC162A Sith Trooper (Armory Set)

Best Buy

  • AT-ST Raider
    • Klatoonian Raider

HasLab

  • Jabba’s Sail Barge (The Khetanna)
    • Hammerhead Skeleton
    • Jabba The Hutt
    • VC000  Yak Face

Fan Channel

  • Luke’s X-Wing Fighter
  • Tatooine Skiff
  • Special 3-Pack
    • VC152  Vedain (Skiff Pilot)
    • VC153  Vizam
    • VC154  Brock Starsher
  • VC02  Princess Leia Organa (Hoth)
  • VC03  Han Solo (Echo Base)
  • VC08  Darth Vader
  • VC09  Boba Fett
  • VC21  Gamorrean Guard
  • VC23  Luke Skywalker (Endor)
  • VC145  41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper

San Diego Comic-Con

  • Special Action Figure Set – Luke Skywalker – Jedi Destiny Set 
    • Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight)
    • Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper Disguise)
    • Luke Skywalker (X-Wing Pilot)

Target

  • VC143  Han Solo (Stormtrooper)

Wal*Mart

    • Jabba’s Palace Adventure Set
      • VC136  Han Solo (Carbonite)
      • VC137  Ree Yees
    • VC123  Stormtrooper (Mimban) (Solo)
    • VC144  Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard)

5” Figures

This year at the shock of the 3 3/4″ community Hasbro introduced a new 5″ scale line which would be the replacement to the 5POA line that has been the kid-focused line since about 2013. This line includes figures in stylized versions and is surprisingly super-articulated. This line debuted in October and is expected to continue in the new year as a new few waves have been announced.

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Galaxy of Adventures

Basic

  • C-3PO
  • Chewbacca
  • Darth Vader
  • Finn
  • Han Solo
  • Rey
  • Supreme Leader Kylo Ren

Multipack

  • R2 & BB & D-0

Vehicles

  • Treadspeeder Driver and Treadspeeder

Exclusives

Target

  • Rey & Supreme Leader Kylo Ren

Wal*Mart

  • Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight)

6″ Figures

In 2019, Hasbro leaned in heavy on exclusives for their flagship line. They tended to favor single boxed figures over anything else this as they had limited multipacks, no vehicles and discontinued their Centerpiece sub-line. While The Rise of Skywalker was the intended focus at the end of the year, The Mandalorian and his compatriots stole the show from the other 6″ figures holds in their waves. Distribution of the basic line saw some of the typical problems resulting in poor or uneven distribution, resulting in figures like Ezra barely hitting retail and hence driving up his current price of around $60 on the second market. Limited numbers of stock were also an issue when it came to the three anniversary figures as both SDCC and Celebration figures were a challenge to get even for fans in attendance at the respective cons. Hasbro looked to its past for inspiration on how to sell more figures with their “First Editions” box variants which were released with the October 4th wave of figures. While casual fans paid little attention to these, fans of The Mandalorian paid steep bounties to find Mando in a white box.

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The Black Series

Basic

  • 78 – Han Solo (Mimban)
  • 79 – Dryden Vos
  • 80 – Vice Admiral Holdo
  • 81 – Padmé Amidala
  • 82 – Mace Windu
  • 83 – Battle Droid
  • 84 – Chopper (C1-10P)
  • 85 – Obi-Wan Kenobi (Padawan)
  • 86 – Ezra Bridger
  • 87 – Doctor Aphra
  • 88 – BT-1 (Beetee)
  • 89 – 0-0-0 (Triple Zero)
  • 90 – Supreme Leader Kylo Ren
  • 90 – Supreme Leader Kylo Ren (First Edition)
  • 91 – Rey & D-O
  • 91 – Rey & D-O (First Edition)
  • 92 – Sith Trooper
  • 92 – Sith Trooper (Frist Editon)
  • 93 – Cal Kestis
  • 93 – Cal Kestis (Frist Edition)
  • 94 – The Mandalorian
  • 94 – The Mandalorian (First Edition)
  • 95 – Second Sister Inquisitor
  • 95 – Second Sister Inquisitor (First Edition)
  • 96 – Offworld Jawa
  • 96 – Offworld Jawa (First Edition)
  • 97 – First Order Stormtrooper
  • 97 – First Order Stormtrooper (First Edition)
  • 98 – Jannah
  • 99 – First Order Jet Trooper
  • 100 – Luke Skywalker (Yavin Ceremony)
  • 101 – Cara Dune
  • 102 – Wedge Antilles

Archive Edition

  • Anakin Skywalker
  • Biker Scout
  • Boba Fett
  • Bossk
  • Darth Maul
  • IG-88
  • Luke Skywalker
  • Yoda

Exclusives

Amazon

  • 92 – Sith Trooper (Carbonized Edition)
  • Chewbacca & C-3PO (Amazon)
  • Emperor Palpatine and Throne (Amazon)

Best Buy

  • D2 – Heavy Infantry Mandalorian
  • IG-11

European Conventions

  • Luke Skywalker (Skywalker Strikes)

Fan Channel

  • Clone Commander Fox
  • D1 – General Grievous

Galaxy’s Edge

  • Droid Depot
    • BB-8
    • C-3PO
    • DJ R3X
    • R2-D2
  • Smuggler’s Run
    • Chewbacca
    • Hondo Ohnaka
    • Porgs (x2)
    • Rey (Batuu)
  • The First Order
    • Commander Pyre
    • Kylo Ren
    • Mountain Trooper
    • MSE Droid

Target

  • 94 – The Mandalorian (Carbonized Edition)
  • C-3PO & Babu Frik
  • Collector’s Mystery Box
    • First Order Elite Snowtrooper
  • First Order Elite Snowtrooper
  • Luke Skywalker (Death Star Escape)

GameStop

  • 95 – Second Sister Inquisitor (Carbonized Edition)
  • Purge Stormtrooper

San Diego Comic-Con

  • Boba Fett (40Th Anniversary ESB)
  • Sith Trooper

Star Wars Celebration Chicago

  • Darth Maul (Jedi Duel) (20th Anniversary TPM)
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Duel) (20th Anniversary TPM)

Wal*Mart

  • 99 – First Order Jet Trooper (Carbonized Edition)
  • Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight)
  • Yoda (Force Spirit)

Walgreens

  • Clone Commander Obi-Wan Kenobi

8″ Figures

The second new scale introduced this year, was Hasbro’s HyperReal line. While “line” is a generous term for the single figure released so far, it did provide fans a unique scale and style of figure with loads of accessories. Currently, there is one companion piece set to debut in 2020 but beyond that is anyone’s guess. The one challenge behind this figure was its lack of support at brick-and-mortar retailers.

Star Wars Hyperreal Darth Vader oop (6)

HyperReal

Basic

  • Darth Vader

12″ Figures

When it came to Hasbro’s 12″ line, the scaled way back and released a total of one newly sculpted figure this year. While there has been no word on the reason for the lack of support as this line appears to be healthy for Hasbro’s Marvel and Power Rangers lines. With no new movies on the near horizon, it is a wonder if this line will continue.

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Hero Series

Basic

  • Darth Vader
  • First Order Sith Trooper
  • Supreme Leader Kylo Ren

Exclusives

  • Throne Room Duel (Khol’s)
    • Darth Vader
    • Imperial Stormtrooper
    • Luke Skywalker
    • Yoda (Force Spirit)

Other Than Hasbro

When it came to figures released in 2019, Hasbro wasn’t the only game in town. While this wasn’t perse a huge year for Star Wars action figures, a few other lines populated store shelves these past 12 months.

  • The Disney Store continued their Toy Box line of figures, which Hasbro appeared to mimic in their 5″ Galaxy of Adventures line)
  • Bandai released multiple figures in all of their Model Kits, S.H. Figuarts, and Movie Realizations lines
  • Mattel entered the 12″ game with a trio of new Barbies dressed as high-Star Wars-fashion
  • The Disney Store also continued its die-cast Elite line as convention exclusives
  • Disney Park released a variety of multipacks and holiday-themed droids this year in their 3 3/4″ Droid Factory line (which we considered a companion line to Hasbro’s 3 3/4″ line as is based on Hasbro designs and is 100% compatible)

2020 Predictions

Now, what will the future hold for Hasbro’s action figure lines seems to be the question on everyone’s mind. It is no secret that Hasbro’s license to produce Star Wars merchandise expires in 2020. As we have stated in the past on social, on podcasts and on this very site, Disney is not a fan of exclusivity when it comes to their retail partners. Because of this, we predict Hasbro will retain the rights to produce Star Wars toys but some or all of their exclusive rights to certain action figure scales will cease. While we see the big H fighting to keep Bandai’s 6″ product from store shelves, we can see Mattel, Jazwares, Funko and perhaps Super 7 entering the collecting market with 3 3/4″ offerings in the future. Mattel has already shown its hand both the 12″ line and an upcoming Baby Yoda doll as well.

We know we can expect The Black Series, The Vintage Collection, Galaxy of Adventures and HyperReal lines to continue but it would appear that 5POA figures are truly headed the way of the Dodo. The Retro Collection will most likely reemerge but in honor of the anniversary of The Empire Strike Back and not to finish out the Star Wars line began this year. Due to package art leaks and top-notch sleuthing we know of some amazing Black Series and Vintage Collection items coming in 2020 that have yet to be announced but beyond a promise from Hasbro’s Brand Team to support the upcoming seventh season of The Clone Wars, we are unsure what the majority of this coming year will have beyond a green wave of Baby Yoda toys in May.

The Star Wars calendar for 2020 looks very sparse when compared to the past five years since The Force Awakens landed in theaters. Only five major events are currently slated for the new year and most revolve around Disney+:

  • January – Rise of the Resistance in Disneyland
  • February – The Clone Wars Season 7 on Disney+
  • August – Star Wars Celebration Anaheim
  • Fall – The Mandalorian Season 2 on Disney+
  • TBA – Jedi Temple Challenge on Disney+

And while we know there are two live-action series in the works (Kenobi and Cassian Andor), we have heard rumors of two additional animated series being worked upon, there are also three movie dates announced which may or may not be tied to Rian Johnson now that the Game of Thrones writers have dropped out of their deal with Lucasfilm but none of these properties are expected to drop in the coming year. So it seems like 2020 could be a good time to drop a season of the long lost Star Wars: Detours on Disney+ in order to fill-out a year lacking a major film release.

Now regardless of what is released next year, while we are uncertain about a great many things when it comes to Star Wars in 2020, we remain hopeful for what lies ahead both in media and in action figure collecting.

Until then,

May the Figures be with you!