• Discover Star Wars Action Figures

• Build a Star Wars Action Figure Collection

• Get Exclusive & Custom Star Wars Action Figures

• Select Graded Star Wars Action Figures

• Find Star Wars Action Figures on eBay

• Buy Star Wars Action Figures With Confidence

Discover Star Wars Action Figures

Discover Star Wars Action Figures

Star Wars and Kenner revolutionized the action figure industry with the popularization of the 3 ¾-inch action figure. From the shipping of the first Early Bird Certificate Package in 1977 to the Droids and Ewok line of figures and accessories in 1985, to light sabers and Master Replicas, Star Wars and Kenner were able to create an empire of merchandising.

The 3 ¾-inch figure was far less expensive to produce than the industry standard 12-inch action figure, plus it was possible to create a line of accessories the size and variety of which had never been seen before. This produced a few effects that radically changed the toy industry.

First, by producing a smaller, less expensive figure, children could literally try to collect them all. If a child wanted to re-enact the rescue of Princess Leia from the Death Star, Luke, Han, Chewie, Leia, and a couple of storm troopers would do it.

The second result was that Kenner was able to create a vast array of accessories that would not have been possible had the figures been scaled at 12 inches. Space ships, play sets, and a myriad of other accessories were all available for collecting.

With such a wide range of products, toys were available at every price point. From inexpensive figures to elaborate play sets, the Star Wars line ensured that children could get something new for almost any occasion.

Innovation continued with the pre-movie releases of action figures. Children and collectors could get a sneak peak at what the newest chapter of the Star Wars saga had in store, all while building the brand momentum that helped Star Wars movies set worldwide box office records.

Build a Star Wars Action Figure Collection

Build a Star Wars Action Figure Collection

Collecting Star Wars action figures requires passion and knowledge. While knowing the difference between a Tusken Raider and a Tauntaun bodes well, young Padawan, you'll also need to know the ins and outs of the three main Star Wars action figure eras: Vintage, Neo-classic, and Prequels.

Collect vintage Star Wars action figures (1977–1989)

Vintage Star Wars action figures produced between 1977 and 1989 encompass the original trilogy (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi), the Power of the Force collection, and figures from the Droids and Ewoks cartoons. These classic figures and play sets are the original 3 ¾-inch toys that started it all.

Most figures have very limited joint articulation and most would be considered crude by today’s standards. In 1985 many figures were re-released in a collection titled Power of the Force. These figures included a collector coin.

Collect neo-classic Star Wars action figures (1990–2000)

Neo-classic Star Wars action figures produced from 1990 to 2000 mostly consist of figures and accessories from the Power of the Force 2 collection.

The Power of the Force 2 collection released many of the original characters in new and dramatic poses. Some, like the Luke Skywalker figure, became hulking musclemen.

Some of these Star Wars action figures also took advantage of Commtech technology that allowed the action figures to recite popular lines from Star Wars movies.

Neo-classic Star Wars action figures also include Shadow of the Empire figures and the Power of the Jedi line. Shadow of the Empire action figures supported a multimedia story line that played itself out over the course of graphic novels, video games, and, of course, the action figures. The Power of the Jedi line acted as a bridge between the prequels and the original trilogy. Styled similarly to the Power of the Force line, the Power of the Jedi contained figures from both "The Phantom Menace" and original trilogy.

Collect prequel Star Wars action figures (1999–present)

Encompassing figures produced between 1999 and the present, the Prequel Star Wars action figures category has the widest range of figure types.

The Trilogy collection consists of high-detail renderings of characters from the original three movies. The Revenge of the Sith (ROTS) and Clone Wars series feature characters from Episode II and Episode III. The Star Wars saga collection unites many of the characters from the original trilogy, The Phantom Menace, and Attack of the Clones under one overarching series. Force Battlers, Star Wars Galactic Heroes, and Star Wars Jedi Force all contain popular characters from each of the movies and are aimed at younger fans.

Sideshow collectibles are 17-inch figures and are the most realistic representation of Star Wars characters ever produced.

The Unleashed series puts characters in dramatic situations, and is more of a collector’s item than a toy.

There is even a rare Star Tours line of figures that features Star Wars characters from the Star Tours ride at Disneyland.

Get Exclusive & Custom Star Wars Action Figures

Get Exclusive & Custom Star Wars Action Figures

Exclusive and custom Star Wars action figures are some of the most, and potentially least, collectible Star Wars action figures.

Special edition and promotional action figures

During the vintage age of Star Wars, department stores often offered special deals. If you bought a play set, you could send in the proof of purchase and get a special edition figure. Often these were figures that would be added to a later series.

The first special offer was the Early Bird Package. Kenner was unable to make enough Star Wars action figures to satisfy holiday 1977 demands. Instead it sold envelopes with vouchers to mail away for a set of four action figures.

After Kenner caught up with production months later, children who mailed vouchers received the first of four figures. Luke, Leia, Chewie, or R2-D2 were available in the pack. There’s even a chance you would have received the much sought-after Luke with a “Double Telescoping” lightsaber. Bossk, 4-LOM, Nein Nunb, The Emperor, or the redeemed Anakin Skywalker were all available through mail order.

However, one mail order offer trumped them all. Originally available by mailing in four proofs-of-purchase, Boba Fett had a rocket launcher that actually fired. However, due to safety reasons the firing launcher was not put into production. But working prototypes of this figure actually do exist and are the stuff of collector legend. Since they were prototypes, these figures are extremely rare, and anyone who finds one for sale should do thorough research, since forgeries are known to exist.

Recently, special editions have been made more common. Often certain models will only be shipped to certain stores. Wal-Mart, Target, and others will each receive limited quantities of figures that no other store carries.

Design concepts and kit-bashed action figures

Even rarer are pieces strictly made as early design concepts. Sometimes these pieces were hand-sculpted by toy designers to create rough drafts of prospective figures. Even more common are kit-bashed figures, which were a time-saving way for toy designers to provide a rough draft of a figure. Designers would combine parts from different existing models to create a model that would convey the general form of a new figure. For example, a kit-bashed figure might have the limbs of a storm trooper and body of a droid. Of course, due to the extreme rarity, and the nature of construction, kit-bashed figures found for sale should be thoroughly researched before purchase.

Select Graded Star Wars Action Figures

Select Graded Star Wars Action Figures

Sellers use two main grading scales to indicate the condition of collector-level Star Wars action figures: the “C” scale and AFA ratings.

Understand the “C” scale

The “C” scale rates condition on a scale of one to 10, with a C10 rating indicating high quality and a C1 rating indicating poor quality.

• C10: The C10 rating represents perfection and is incredibly rare.    

• C9: C9-rated Star Wars action figures have minimal defects and are excellent collector-quality toys.    

• C8.5: C8.5-rated Star Wars action figures are in very good condition. However, collectors may shy away from them.    

• C8: Star Wars action figures with a C8 rating, the lowest collector-grade rating, have visible flaws but do not look worn.    

• C6/7: C7- and C6-rated Star Wars action figures have rips and apparent flaws. Collect them for nostalgia value only.    

• C5 and lower: Star Wars action figures with a rating of C5 or lower are very poor quality. They often have large parts missing and well-worn features.

Use Action Figure Authority (AFA) ratings

Action Figure Authority (AFA) bases quality on a percentage scale.

• AFA 100: AFA 100 ratings indicate near perfection. As of 2002 only two vintage Star Wars toys achieved this rating.   

• AFA 95: Very rare quality AFA 95 toys have glossy cards and no discoloration.    

• AFA 90: Only 1 % of action figures have an AFA 90 rating. These high-quality toys contain only factory-made flaws.    

• AFA 85: Display-quality AFA 85 action figures have slight fraying or apparent discoloration.     

• AFA 80: AFA 80 is the lowest top-level collector quality.     

• AFA 75: Good-quality AFA 75 action figures do not stand out as excellent figures.   

• AFA 70: AFA 70 ratings indicate average collector-quality items. Discriminating collectors do not usually find them acceptable.

Lower AFA qualities are not considered collector-quality and you should buy them for sentimental value only.

Find Star Wars Action Figures on eBay

Find Star Wars Action Figures on eBay

Once you know what type of Star Wars action figures you want, go to the Toys & Hobbies portal, click the Star Wars link under Action Figures, and start searching for items on eBay.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You'll find links for Prequels (1999-Now), NeoClassic (1990-2000), Vintage (1977-89), Mixed Lots, and Other. As you dig deeper into the site you'll also be able to narrow down your choice further.     

• Keyword search:Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find Slave I, type "slave I" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Star Wars Action Figures With Confidence

Buy Star Wars Action Figures With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,000.

• eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.