Super Battle Droid - SW [SOTDS] - Saga Legends (SL28)

After the introduction of the massive clone army, the Trade Federation revisits the design of its battle droids and decides that a slightly smarter, more independent and more heavily armed droid is needed. The result is the much more powerful and deadly super battle droid.

Did you know that when the 2008 TLC Super Battle Droid (SL 10) Saga Legends figure was released it was technically a new figure? Perhaps we should define “new” a little bit more before it seems miselading. There are a few things that collectors need to be mindful of when carefully considering the next Star Wars action figure for their collections. The reason is that certain action figures receive updates from their original releases. We live in a collecting climate that delves us one repack after another and we sometimes overlook the same old lists of figures when they are incessantly repacked. But keep in mind that those “repacks” could be slight or even major repaints and/or they can even be retooled from their original release. Such is true for this Super Battle Droid figure. This version is certainly a slightly repainted repack, but when the figure was originally released in The Legacy Collection Saga Legends line it was truly a first time offering. If you’re a one-of-everything collector, you typically like to acquire every last difference out there. It was based on the SUper Battle Droid figure from the 2008 TAC Battle Of Mygeeto Battle Packs set. The Super Battle Droid from this set had the "flame attachment holes" filled in to assist the figure with maintaining a more natural aesthetic. This was the cast of the Super Battle Droid utilized for that 2008 The Legacy Collection Saga Legends release.

Let's back up a bit. In 2008, Hasbro managed to squeeze out the gorgeous TAC Battle On Mygeeto Battle Packs set out to the public right before The Legacy Collection came aboard. A definitely rare set of figures, it was unfortunately missed by so many collectors. But inside of it was a very uniquely painted Super Battle Droid figure. It had a stunning paint job that nearly resembled a Cortosis Super Battle Droid in many ways. Yet, its paint job wasn’t the only unique trait about it. Hasbro took 2007’s TAC Super Battle Droid (30 08) figure sculpt (and of course repainted it) but they also took the time to fill in the holes in its chest where the flame attachments were designed to plug into place. This action allowed the figure to have a smooth contour throughout its body and the glaring aesthetic issues of “holes in the chest armor” were beautifully corrected, thereby forever updating this sculpt to be more pleasing to collectors’ eyes. Well, Hasbro came back to this updated version (thank goodness) and came full circle. They repainted the figure back in its original Episode III color scheme giving us for the first time a screen accurate Super Battle Droid from Episode III sans holes in its chest. This figure made its debut in The Legacy Collection’s Saga Legends line, but now it has been included in the final 2011 Star Wars [Shadow Of The Dark Side] Saga Legends line look. It's nice to get another chance at it!

Obviously the figure has never looked better. The flames attachment was certainly scene specific and it looks great for display purposes. But once they were removed, collectors were left with a Super Battle Droid that had holes in its chest. We probably could have lived with this micro “action feature” but we’re thrilled that Hasbro took the time perfect the Super Battle Droid without the holes because we would have no problem designating this figure as definitive. The paint job is almost identical to its 2008 TLC Saga Legends iteration, but in all honesty this type of paint operations lends itself to making no two figures alike, almost like a snowflake effect. The washes collect in different spots on multiple Super Battle Droids and your eyes will easily pick up on all of the different nuances. As a result, this is indeed the best looking Super Battle Droid that our collections have seen. These look like they've been ripped right out of the films. It’s a shame that Hasbro doesn’t mention these types of enhancements in advance so media can help spread the word that it’s a “newish” type of figure, but perhaps why Star Wars fan sites have relevancy. With this release you also get a Galactic Battle Game card, a die and an action figure display stand. We this release of the Super Battle Droid is a must-have, but you'll have to ultimately decide that for yourself.