Phase II Clone Trooper (212th) - TVC - Builder Packs

Well, that didn’t take long TVC collectors have barely digested the 2023 TVC Clone Trooper (Phase II Armor) (VC269) figure, and we already have a “troop builder” set with repainted “new” characters that utilize the same buck. We’re not complaining, but it’s remarkable how fast the turnaround time is when Hasbro is motivated. The Phase II Clone Trooper (212th) Trooper Builder set is one of the freshest releases in this popular series of online exclusive multipacks. And admittedly, it’s lovely to see the 212th Attack Battalion as the next choice because it’s one of our favorites in the Star Wars universe. As a significant surprise, the set is more closely linked as sourced to The Clone Wars than Revenge Of The Sith, so if you’re a longtime fan of the series, you’ll likely eat this setup. And as a superb bonus here, we get a realistic interpretation of Waxer, complete with a “Numa-embossed” bucket, which makes this set entirely worthwhile, despite its laughable MSRP. The new take of this Star Wars character looks lovely and refreshed in the latest Star Wars tooling. The orange color flashes differ from the other three infantry clones in this set, and we appreciate Hasbro paying close attention to the differences between the two. That said, we wish Hasbro would have further developed this set with “other” specific and individually named 212th members, including Boil, to flesh this set out a little better, mainly since the style implemented here is based on The Clone Wars. The existing base figure looks fantastic, refreshed in new colors, and we wonder if this opened the door for Hasbro to update other clones like the 41st, 501st, and Shock Troopers.

Your mileage may vary, but the Clone Trooper (Phase II Armor) figure is fantastic. The white armor still has a flat matte color and works perfectly here. We’re glad they avoided a shiny finish once again. The articulation systems on these figures are astounding, and including ball-socket hips and “rocker” ankles does wonders for army-building action figures like this. Plus, Hasbro figured out the proper way to keep the friction intact so that the hips don’t get loose after articulating them several times. Hasbro did a job well concerning that. They neglected some of the finer details of the original release, like the outlining at the bottom of the boot, but maintained the distinct textures of the body glove underneath the armor. This release is somewhat noticeably smaller than most clones we’ve previously received. Still, it’s also the most accurate as clones are average height and not towering over most other characters in the Star Wars universe. The adequately sized or scaled bucket is one of the greatest gifts on the new Clone Trooper (Phase II Armor) figure. How many years did Hasbro give us that ungodly oversized helmet that barely stayed on the figure’s head? That’s no longer an issue here. Some might say it’s too small, but we think it looks excellent. As mentioned, this buck looks gorgeous and refreshed in the orange 212th Attack Battalion color flashes. And aside from wishing we received specific characters of this army, we find it difficult to complain here. As much as we love this concept and the included figures, Hasbro still needs to do a better job with the contents and the character choices.

As happy as we are to see Episode III-themed clones, we would have preferred to see all these figures released individually on cards. We wonder if Hasbro would ever change its approach with this series and include four separately carded action figures with individual numbers for unique characters. In this case, Hasbro could have placed Waxer on a unique card with a specific name and character photo and then included three identical 212th Attack Battalion infantry clones for the “army building” aspect of these exclusives. But that’s just our two cents. You might prefer the boxed packaging here. We believe that the packaging is a big part of The Vintage Collection experience, and some of that experience is getting sacrificed in this packaging approach. And since the base figure of this set is on a Disney Star Wars “Andor” card, it would satiate those who want to see these characters on George Lucas Star Wars sources. These clones include removable buckets and a DC-15 blaster, and two of them also come with a DC-15 blaster rifle. Would it have killed Hasbro to include two additional DC-15 blaster rifles so that all four figures were fully armed? These are the shortcuts that enrage us with Hasbro. They prove time and again that they’re penny-wise and pound-foolish. Both guns fit well into the figure’s hands, and thanks to outstanding upper body articulation, you can use one or two hands while holding them. The fluidity in the body movement allows you to pose these figures in various positions. Overall, the Phase II Clone Trooper (212th) set is a pleasure, and we look forward to whatever else Hasbro produces in this series.