Phase II Clone Trooper - TVC - Builder Packs

We received the first Phase II Clone Trooper Builder Pack based on the 212th Attack Battalion a while back. Hasbro takes a second stab at the second phase of clone troopers with a set that gives us 50% based on the 501st Legion and the other half based on the infantry soldiers or the white ones. It’s frustrating to realize that our perfect 332nd clone trooper action figure is relegated to a Build Pack set instead of single-carded. Now, we only have the ghastly 2022 TVC 332nd Ahsoka’s Clone Trooper (VC248) figures, which have aged mercilessly thanks to the upgraded clone bucks these new Build Pack figures offer collectors. We also get a near-perfect update to the 501st Legion clone trooper. Unfortunately, all past versions are outdated, even if you do not like the new bucket. And speaking of the bucket, Hasbro tooled an all-new head sculpt of a helmeted portrait, so we no longer have to futz with removable helmets. Thank the Maker! Overall, we’re pleased with what Hasbro accomplished here, and with so many other clones to produce for the line, we hope they keep banging out the Builder Packs to give us a genuinely diverse Grand Army of the Republic. We cannot get enough of them! And while the price for this set is a little too high, we’ll take what we can get!

The Phase II Clone Trooper is one of the freshest releases in The Vintage Collection. Admittedly, it’s lovely to see members of the 501st Legion represented in this format. The blue and orange flashes look splendid on the figures, and two all-white clones are unnecessary additions but appreciated. We wish Hasbro would focus on the ones that need color flashes instead! We appreciate Hasbro paying close attention to the differences between the differences of the 332nd and 501st Legion clones. Your mileage may vary, but the Phase II Clone Trooper figures are 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 didn’t neglect the finer details of the original release, like the outlining at the bottom of the boot, and maintained the distinct textures of the body glove underneath the armor. Overall, you’ll be thrilled with the paint operations given to these four figures.

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 do not tower over most other characters in the Star Wars universe. The adequately sized or scaled bucket is one of the greatest gifts on the new Phase II Clone Trooper figure. How many years did Hasbro give us that ungodly oversized helmet that barely stayed on the figure’s head? That’s significantly no longer an issue here. They designed a perfectly sized bucketed/helmeted portrait that captures the correct proportions of the character. And aside from wishing we received a little more color in this multipack, 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, especially since they sport monumental updates and are better quality than our current carded versions. These included clones come with DC-15 blasters, two of which also come with a DC-15 blaster rifle, or two clones will share them with the other two. Would it have killed Hasbro to include two additional DC-15 blaster rifles so that all four figures were fully armed?