BATTLE DROIDS "Blast Damage" Variant
Saga Legends
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 87340
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, second figure, coin
Action Feature: Remove limbs and reassemble!
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The Separatists utilize battle droids as their primary infantry forces. When assaulting strategically important worlds, these droid forces can be painted with special markings to help them blend into their environment. Though not individually a threat, attacking en masse these droids can become a formidable fighting force. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray. On the left: "Blast Damage" variants. On the right: "Tan" variants. Hasbro considers these to be unique releases in Saga Legends, therefore, so do we. The "Tan" and "Blast Damage" figures are essentially identical except the silver damage markings. It's also worth noting that some of the same "blast damage" markings can be found on the red Saga Legends Battle Droids.

Note: Hasbro released multiple versions of Battle Droids in identical packaging. So far, four unique versions were released in Saga Legends.

Commentary: Since this mold was first released in 2002, the Battle Droid seen here has been repainted time and again. Now, the figure has been released with fully removable limbs, six points of articulation, and several different paint versions. With this mold alone (the one with 6 points of articulation and removable limbs), Hasbro has released one deluxe version in 2002, a camo two-pack in 2006, and four different two-packs in 2007 so far-- so that's like 11 versions of mix-and-match fun. Since you probably want figures you can have the clones "fight" (or "kill"), sets like this one are particularly awesome. The battle damage deco on the droid here (the one in the far left of the original picture) is similar to that used by Hasbro in 1999 for its individual Battle Droids (which were awesome), so we're quite glad to see figures like this-- you can have an entire army of Battle Droids with few duplicates because of Hasbro's tireless efforts to build a better army.

Collector's Notes: This two-pack's SKU started life in late 2006 where they were released with original "Kashyyyk" deco, with green and tan markings. In early 2007, there was a "Commander & Infantry" repaint in Saga Legends, followed by a pair of red droids, the blast damage two-pack, and the tan release. There may be more on the way, but these five packs are all that's confirmed for now.

Day 546: November 3, 2007