The Best & Worst of 2025

 2025 is hands down the best year of Vintage Collection 2.0, and I would dare to say it's the best since 2011, which for me was my favorite year in the VC. There were some hits, some misses, and with success there are some failures. Last year, it was a fail. But it gave us the Kanan Jarrus VC figure, which was my top figure of 2024. I also did a 25 Best VC Figures for 2025 which was successful, and a neat way to interact with collectors this year. When it came to picking 10 figures this year, I had a difficult time. Last year, I struggled putting a list together. This year, no worries! If you've read my blog, you should figure out who my top figures are. But before I get started, I like to get the bad news out of the way first. While there were many good things for the VC, there are a few more that didn't help advance the line. At the end, I'll give my hopes for 2026. So this will be a long post, grab some coffee or hot chocolate, kick up your feet, and I hope you enjoy reading! 

MY BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS OF 2025.

1. Shin Hati's head sculpt. 

Image from BanthaSkull. One of my most eagerly anticipated figures of the year, and they didn't exactly capture her face, or her hair just right. But the VC Shin fixed the problem the Sixer Shin had which is being correctly scaled to the Baylan Skoll figure. For now at $20 per figure, I hope Hasbro can find a better way to get face sculpts done. 

This was the best close up of Shin I could find. Her eyes are what stand out, but on the VC and Sixer figures, they don't. I still enjoy the figure, and I'm looking for a second figure for custom purposes, but the face sculpts on certain characters have been off. 

2. Jedi Legend Obi-Wan 

This was my biggest disappointment of the year. The sleeves stuck out too far, preventing me from getting a proper THWG and unknown to me one of the wrists was too tight, so it broke. I had to get another one, remove the writs and cut the sleeves down as you can see in the 2 photos above. Now I want onscreen accuracy, but at the same time I want toy practicality. Besides, Jedi should be able to properly wield their lightsabers, without any obstructions. If I didn't have to dremel off the sleeves, this would have easily been a Top 10 figure of the year. 

3. Dedra Meero's Legs

There's nothing worse than giving a female figure legs that belong to a male character. But that's what Hasbro did with Dedra Meero from Andor. From the waist up, it's a great figure. From the waist down, it's Moff Jerjerrod's legs. The only person who wouldn't judge Dedra too harshly is Syril Karn,  Dedra's "boyfriend" in S2, but in S1 he was simping hard for Dedra. Even with the man thighs. Had Hasbro sculpted feminine legs, they could get more female officers in the line. It's a wasted opportunity. And since figures are going for $20 each, damn right I'm going to gripe! Still got Dedra for below $17 though. 

4. Anakin's mismatched wrists. 

The Clone Wars Anakin has the up/down wrist movement that all Jedi in the line have (those recently made). However for the Anakin/Vader 3 Pack, the ROTS Anakin/Vader has a side to side wrist movement on his right hand. If you're wondering why I haven't reviewed the figure yet, it's for that reason. It makes it more difficult to get a good THWG. His left wrist has the up/down movement. The Ezra Bridger figure had this same problem. I may see if I can swap out an up/down wrist for this figure, but I'd like to see more consistent wrist joints for male Jedi. Of course until they figure out how to do ball jointed wrists in 1:18 scale, this will continue to be a source of frustration. The alternating wrist joints work well for Han and Cobb Vanth, but not on Anakin/Vader and Ezra. 

5. Sloppy paint apps on the Imperial Armored Commando. 

Check out the knee joints. The paint either smudged, or was not completed when this figure got put together. Imagine paying the new price of a badic Black Series figure, open him up and see that. I'm glad I paid about $20, but for deluxe figures this shouldn't be an issue. I get painting is expensive when putting a toy together. But this is a collector line. It's okay for the Epic World of Action, or heroes or whatever the kids line is because no kid cares about things like that. 

6. Asajj Ventress's lightsabers 

Let me first say, I like the Asajj Ventress figure. What I don't like are the brick style lightsabers she comes with. They don't fit well in her hands, so if you have older Asajj figures you might want to use her old lightsabers for your display. Her unlit hilts can be stored on her belt buckle  and are okay for displaying her with them there. But in her hands? No. Don't risk it. Yet another figure I haven't reviewed, yet. 

7. The lack of Vintage Collection figures at Wal-Mart and Target in 2025. 

2019 was the worst brick and mortar year for the the VC. Even when the line wound down in 2012, you could still find figures at any store. Not so much this year. Wally World had a $6 clearance sale where I nabbed extra Stormtroopers, plus Mae and Osha from the Acolyte so I could do simple headswaps on each figure. Target only had deluxe VC figures, but ended the year with Bom Vimdin and Bib Fortuna on racks. Wal-Mart has the 501st Clonetrooper, Jedi Legend Obi-Wan, plus the E-Wing, and that's about it. The end is better than the beginning, but Wal-Mart needs to decide on getting all their stores as consistent on action figures as they are on food and clothing. Wally World is supposed to have a collectors island, and the only one near me that has one is several towns over, and a near 45 minute drive. 

BEST REPACKED FIGURE OF 2025

Bom Vimdin 

This was a sort of Grail item for me. I had passed on him a couple years ago, but his eBay price was always high. Thankfully he got repacked as a Target exclusive, and I was fortunate to get him. So now I can finally stop complaining about something! He looks amazing, and whenever I can get the Cantina put together he'll have his home. 

WORST REPACKED FIGURE OF 2025

Aurra Sing 

Images from Hasbro Pulse. In the first photo above, that's the Aurra repack. She's even got a new card image that is better than the original, which is the lowest image. But, the new Aurra is incomplete. The briefcase containing her lightsaber hilts, taken from the Jedi she killed in the Legends Era, is gone. Missing. Incomplete. She's got her pistols and Ling rifle but that's it. And to release her incomplete and at $20 is a crime. Especially since there is a new buck that could be used to make Aurra definitive. It reeks of laziness, and while I got my Aurra figures a while back, I had to settle for the Wally World 3D carded versions, which came with the original VC accessories. 

BEST MULTIPACK OF 2025

The Heir To The Empire 3 Pack

I'm a huge Legends fan, and had to sell plasma to get a 2nd carded set. Well, not literally but I know where to go if I need to sell plasma. But getting our debut Joruus C'baoth and Captain Pellaeon figures, plus a Legends accurate uniform on Thrawn, this set hit all the right notes. We need a Mara Jade, Talon Karrde and Rukh 3 pack next please, Hasbro! And would it hurt to make 3 packs for Dark Empire I & II while you're at it?! 

THE BUGGEST MISSED OPPORTUNITY OF 2025:

No single card Sandtrooper or Dewback. 

With the Cantina being the main focus, the Streets of Mos Eisley Playset could have used a single card Sandtrooper (so could the Cantina), but also a Dewback to ride. Had this happened, this would have been literally the best VC year EVER! Hopefully this comes for the 50th anniversary of Star Wars, so there's still hope. The Sandtrooper was only available in the Stormtroopers of the Empire 3 pack. 

BEST VC VEHICLE OF 2025

Luke's Landspeeder 

Image from Hasbro Pulse. Everyone is picking Darth Vader's TIE Fighter and I get it, it's awesome! But can you find it at your local Gamestop?! Nope. But you can find this in Gamestop (you're going to pay more for it there) if you don't want to order it online. Plus it comes with a deluxe version of Luke, with a cloth skirt so he can sit down easier, and in the opinion of many collectors is better than the standard release earlier this year. The Landspeeder is an all new sculpt as well, and you can finally fit the figures just like how they were riding it in the movie.

VINTAGE COLLECTION HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Before I get to the Top 10 figures of the year, I want to go over my criteria for the rankings. They had to come in a single card, so automatically the Anakin/Vader 3 pack and The Stormtroopers 3 pack were eliminated from consideration. They could be normal or deluxe figures. And so, here are my honorable mentions for this year: 

Anakin Skywalker from Ahsoka is a great figure, and had the hair been painted the right color he would have made my Top 10. Still an excellent figure. Han and Chewbacca I recently reviewed, have their faults but aren't too bad. I can forgive the weird wrists on Han. Had Chewbacca been a brand new head to toe new sculpt, he'd have been in my Top 3 figures of 2025. Agent Kallus was my surprise hit of the year. He is well balanced, easy to pose and left me somewhat speechless as to how good a figure it is. But the Top 10 figures blow these 4 away. 

MY TOP 10 VINTAGE COLLECTION FIGURES OF 2025

Last year, I struggled putting this list together. There were few figures, mostly repacks and it was a pain in the @$$. More figures this year, meant way more problems in putting the list together. I had an easy time with my top 3. But 10-4, damn I really kept changing it up until last weekend, so here I go! 

10. Snowtrooper 

Image from Hasbro Pulse. He was ineligible for my VC Top 25 in 2025, but had he been eligible, he would have come in 2nd place. I'm not a Hoth collector, so I didn't buy him, but I have to say I'm impressed. He's the best OT troop builder. I'm wondering if he'll get an alternate card repack sometime soon like the Stormtrooper did. Because of his ranking in the Top 25, he had to take the 10th spot. Originally I had the Ahsoka Anakin here. 

9. Joruus C'baoth 

He was the only figure I didn't move up or down. His Sixer figure is amazing, and they found a way to shrink it down for The One True Scale. His face sculpt and paint apps on his hair are incredible, and the best of the year. He may be higher on your list, but he's 9th here. And he is on an HTTE card. So he's eligible for the top 10 list. 

8. Ben Kenobi 

Old man Obi-Wan has one negative thing going: you can't do a hood up version because the hood is sewn down. However, the tiny lightsaber syndrome of recent Obi-Wan figures is at an end! He comes with a larger lightsaber, making a THWG look better! I've been waiting on a new and updated version of ANH Ben Kenobi, and after my Legacy Collection one broke, the version you see above will be in my Cantina, whenever I can get around to putting it together. 

7. Baylan Skoll 

Had he come out last year, Baylan would have been in my Top 3 for the year. There isn't much wrong with this figure at all. Excellent sculpt,  articulation and accessories. Plus, it's the final role of actor Ray Stevenson who sadly passed away. I had originally put Baylan higher up my list, and he was the one I had the most difficult time in ranking because he would slide up, then down. 

6. Tonnika Sisters 

Hasbro made a mistake making these figures exclusive only to the Cantina HasLab, in my opinion. But, if there were any figures that I had wanted for years, it's the Tonnika's! I couldn't individually rank them, but they take the 6th spot. I see potential down the line to use the bucks again. Mara Jade, Aurra Sing & Aayla Secura could be used from Senni's buck. Bria is a tall drink of water, who would be harder to re-use for another figure. They are screen accurate and great detail in their face sculpts,  especially their hair. Getting these 2 figures is a dream come true, getting them before the Sixers can is a great feather in the VC cap. 

5. 501st Clonetrooper 

Image from Hasbro Pulse. I haven't got him, at least not yet. But he's an incredibly well done figure, and unlike the standard Phase II Clonetrooper released last year, his helmet does not have a head underneath it. The blue on his torso seems to be a bit weathered, like he's seen some action. He also comes with his standard blaster and long rifle. Plus he's at Wal-Mart's right now. At least ones that have the collectors aisle. 

4. Merrin

I don't play games, and I'm not a gamer. But I know a good figure when I see it, and Merrin is a very good figure. She's well balanced, sculpted and moves very well. Her spare hand and fire accessory was tricky, but I found a way to make it work. I don't know much about her character except that she makes out with Cal Kestis sometimes. I was pleasantly surprised with her. And she was the last one to make a jump on my list. 

3. Luke Skywalker 

I don't have the Landspeeder yet, but this is the base Luke. He also won my VC Top 25 in 2025. So he had to at least be in my Top 3. His hair is too dark, in my opinion, but everything else is well done. His Landspeeder figure has the extra weathering details painted on his boots, plus a cloth skirt so he can sit. Collectors waited for years to get this figure in the VC and it was well worth the wait. 

2. Greedo

I was on the fence about opening Greedo. Yes, a standard release is coming soon, and yes, I ordered one. But the HasLab Greedo just looked too good to leave on a card. He needs to be freed from it! There isn't anything bad that haunted other VC figures this year that was on Greedo. No paint smears, no sticky joints, and his blaster stays put in his holster. The head sculpt is only outdone by the top figure of the year. Once I got the ANH Han, I could finally open this, and I probably played with this figure for almost an hour. Having fun is the goal, after all. Greedo is definitely a fun figure. 

1. Monaw Nadon aka Hammerhead 

When I reviewed this figure, I said he would be my figure of the year. While spots 2-10 changed as I put this together, Hammerhead aka Monaw Nadon didn't. While being on a deluxe card ticked me off, he was the most fun figure to play with. I definitely played over an hour with it once I opened the package. A standard carded version came in his Kenner colors with the Cantina Adventure Set, and I hope Hasbro puts this version on a standard card one day. Articulation wise, no tight joints, excellent balance, and an excellent overall sculpt. The paint apps are flawless, no clothing hinders the articulation, he's as close to a perfect action figure as you can get. 

MY 2026 EXPECTATIONS 

I expect a heavy lean to AOTC, and Clone Wars. Which isn't bad. A new Obi-Wan, Anakin and potentially a new C-3PO or R2-D2 could happen. Figures like Luminara Unduli, Aayla Secura and Kit Fisto will likely be repacks. OT will be light, and the Sequels will be non-existent again. The Mandalorian and Grogu movie will have a lot of figures in the kid friendly lines, but will be limited in the VC with Mando & Grogu repacks. A Grogu that could move its arms in the VC would be nice. But the Sixers will get more movie figures than the VC. But we'll get the more popular stuff (Gunship HasLab will get delivered). 2026 may be a down year, but Hasbro is no doubt gearing up for Star Wars 50th in 2027, and the 50th anniversary of the toyline in 2028. I'm keeping my expectations low for good reason. Hopefully 2026 carries the momentum gained in 2025. 

Thanks for reading! Happy New Year!