VC Top 25 in 2025: Numbers 14 & 13
Going with two figures today so I can get things a little simpler, and give me time for a 20th Anniversary of Revenge of the Sith post, and make sure the final 2 figures can be done on the same day. Before I Countdown to the final 2, I'll share all the numbers, including votes and how I broke ties.
MY 14th RANKED FIGURE:
VC 162 SITH TROOPER
WHY I LIKE THIS FIGURE: While I despise the Sequel Trilogy with every fiber of my being, there are some figures from it I would like to see. Once I saw the first images of the Sith Trooper, I knew he would instantly be a troop builder for me. Sadly, he can only hold his blaster rifle, which is all you need him to do. He can't hold rhe extra weapon, nor can 162A version hold any of the other extra weapons he came with. As a bonus, the blaster rifle can fit on a notch on his thigh instead of using a holster, much like the First Order Stormtroopers could. But this figure is much better than that figure. But what really sells me on this figure is the detail in the armor. Is it Sith writing? I don't know. I have no idea why it has those designs sculpted into the armor. What I do know is, I like it. All Hasbro has to do to update the First Order Stormtrooper is smooth out the armor and sculpt a new helmet, and they're set. But, I'll take the Sith Trooper until then, as the best troop builder in the Sequel Era.
INTERESTING FACT: Red armored Stormtroopers are nothing new in Star Wars. In Legends, Lumiya had a group of red armored Stormtroopers. In Disney Canon, a red armored Stormtrooper named Cardinal served as a rival to Captain Phasma.
WHY HE'S RANKED 14th: I didn't feel obligated to put a Sequel Trilogy figure in my Countdown, but I liked him a lot. I like the Acolyte figures, the characters and the show, not much. But they can fit in on any displays, and so can these figures. I felt these troops were more bad@$$ then the FO Stormtroopers were. Whether you want to make one Cardinal, or give them to Lumiya to command, these figures make good bad guy backups.
COLLECTOR'S CHOICE 14th RANKED FIGURE:
VC 334 DARTH VADER
Photo from BanthaSkull
WHY I THINK COLLECTORS LIKE THIS FIGURE:
He utilizes the Dark Times Vader buck, but with a helmet accurate to his look in A New Hope (and Rogue One as well). His card was used before for VC 93 Darth Vader, which for a while was the best VC Vader until the Dark Times Vader debuted. Having the 1978 card on a modern Vader makes this a prized carded collectable, too many collectors, including me. He's got extra hands, and both lit and unlit lightsabers, the unlit hilt can fit on his belt.
WHY HE'S RANKED 14th: There is one frustrating thing about this figure: his tabbards are painted with a gloss finish instead of a flat black finish. Having to paint that the correct color has been a source of frustration to many, including me. But, he's still a good figure. I couldn't ignore the faults of this figure, but collectors loved this figure enough to rank him here.
MY 13th RANKED FIGURE:
VC 181 THE MANDALORIAN (BESKAR ARMOR)
WHY I LIKE THIS FIGURE: A Mandalorian figure, any Mandalorian figure is something that always catches my eye. While some collectors now feel Mandalorian burn out, I'm not quite there yet. In the middle of the 1st season of The Mandalorian, Din Djarin gets upgraded Beskar Armor, courtesy of the Armorer and using his Beskar bounty from The Client for delivering The Child (Grogu). Plus, this figure has an extra accessory: a jet pack. He still comes with his pistol, large disintegrator rifle, and a plastic cape which is removable. I was tempted to put the HasLab Mandalorian in this spot, since he has a cloth cape which is easier to manage, but I like this figure a little more. To be fair, it's the card. Chicks like the card. Especially a hot single Mom on a remote planet, that wouldn't have minded if Din stayed there forever.
INTERESTING FACT: This isn't the only Mandalorian in my Top 25
WHY HES RANKED 13th: An updated version with barbell hips would be nice, and a better jetpack hole would be nice. The recent release has the latter, but displaying this figure with the jetpack in his back causes him to lean, even with a stand. A good, not great figure. But one I like.
COLLECTOR'S CHOICE 13th RANKED FIGURE:
VC 24 WOOOF
WHY I THINK COLLECTORS LIKE THIS FIGURE:
He's essential for some scene completion, and is a random alien weirdo. Plus he checks off an Original 96 figure, which is the primary reason he made it this far. He also comes with soft goods done right, plus a blaster and I'll call it a Force Pike. Whatever the name of the bladed weapon is, it looks cool. But the face sculpt is on point, too! This is one figure I personally missed out on, and am glad I got the chance to acquire the modern version, after getting the Kenner version at a NOLA Comic Con.
WHY HES RANKED 13th:
For what I listed above, but also the card. The figure's presentation makes it versatile to display carded or loose. He's got a home in any Jabba's Palace (you know only a few of you use it for Boba Fett's Palace AND YOU KNOW IT!), the Sail Barge if you have it, and the Skiff. Could he use modern barbell hips? Yes. But does Hasbro have to use valuable tooling dollars to do that? Nope. Which is why he's ranked here.
Thanks for reading!
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