Stormtrooper

I enjoy Hasbro’s Black Series for the most part, but there is one figure in the line I particularly despise: The First Order Stormtrooper. I hated Hasbro’s version so much it’s one of the few toys I’ve actually had to return. Thankfully, Bandai came to the rescue with their SH Figuarts First Order Stormtrooper, the best SHF released to date.   

The First Order Stormtrooper has the same gorgeous packaging as the other Star Wars SHFs though using the compact box found in most of the recent Kamen Rider releases.  There are only three pairs of hands, which is a bit sparse considering the usual amount Figuarts tend to receive, but the trigger finger hand serves double duty as a pointing finger as well. The F-11D Blaster Rifle is highly detailed with clean paint applications and has an articulated foregrip. I don’t think the actual Blaster Rifle is supposed to have an articulated foregrip, especially given the awkward position it is in but it was a nice touch. I actually didn’t even realize it was articulated for quite a while.

The sculpting is incredible and fairly accurate to the actual armor, though the biggest issue I would have is how small the shoulder pads are. This can make it a little weird if you plan on having a mixed army of Stormtroopers, since figure size discrepancy isn’t much of an issue compared to the size of actual armor sizes. Unlike Kylo Ren, the Stormtrooper uses the new style Figuarts body.

Articulation is where the First Order Stormtrooper excels, and makes this the best Figuarts to date. The range of motion in the shoulders is very good, allowing the figure to hold the rifle with both hands realistically, though I do wish it had pop out shoulder joints for a bit of extra reach. What makes this figure stand above all others is the waist articulation, which features more range than any other Figuarts I have ever owned. The range of motion is incredible and I’ve been able to put it in poses that you just can’t get with the vast majority of other 1/12 figures. Leg articulation is what you expect with the new style bodies and allows the figure to get into realistic kneeling poses. The only other issues I have with articulation are the ankles, which are a bit limited due to the leg armor design rather than the joints itself. One really brilliant thing Bandai did was articulate the utility belt so that the pouches would not interfere with the leg articulation, something that has been in issue with many other figures.

I really can’t praise the SHF First Order Stormtrooper enough. I bought figures of other characters I like much more (I own 6 Nendoroid Makos), but objectively speaking, the Stormtrooper blew me away. I haven’t been enjoyed a toy so much since the SOC GaoGaiGar was released and will actively be trying to buy every Stormtrooper I can find. I currently own 2, with another on the way, and one of my goals on an upcoming trip to Japan is to buy every single one I see. I do wish the size of the shoulder pads were a larger, and there are little places where the articulation could have been improved, but as it stands, I still think there is no better Figuart than the First Order Stormtrooper. This is a figure that everyone should own and will be the benchmark in articulation until maybe the SHF Bruce Lee, but that also uses the old style leg joints that I hate. It takes a lot to make me buy multiples of something as expensive as a Figuarts troop builder, but the price is well worth it. This figure is so good you need to throw your Black Series one in the trash.