Review: Star Wars Black Series Sandtrooper from A New Hope, Galaxy Collection Wave 23
- Mephitsu
- 6 minutes ago
- 6 min read
“We don't need to see his identification.”
The Star Wars Black Series has been running since 2013, and with the developments and enhancements the line has seen since over those years, it is inevitable that the older releases do start to become dated against the newer releases. While Hasbro has been gone at updating decor with Archive re-releases, in 2024 it started to revisit some key characters, creating a whole new figure to replace the released version from some years past. Much of this activity has been within the figures from A New Hope, and so far we’ve had full revisits for Luke, Leia, Han and Chewie. Within the final full wave of 2025, we can now add the Imperial Sandtrooper to that list. The Sandtrooper is the only Original Trilogy release in Wave 23, with the other figures being Anakin, Obi-Wan and Lieutenant Galle from Revenge of the Sith, and The Stranger from The Acolyte.
The new Sandtrooper is packaged as part of the Galaxy Collection for A New Hope, using the orange highlight colour against the black of the main box. This colour is applied to key text as well as the artwork on the side and reverse. The Sandtrooper is numbered 12 in the series, with the side artwork part of a wider montage and connecting to the Chewbacca release from earlier in 2025.
The back of the box carries the usual brief overview of the character or trooper, and for our Sandtrooper, it does not focus on their role within A New Hope but rather defines them as Imperial Stormtroopers dispatched to desert worlds while also detailing their specialist armour enhancements.
The inserted card within the box, providing the backing to the figure, uses the same orange colour and within this is an embedded image of the search around the Tantive IV escape pod crash point, one of the most detailed embedded images we’ve had since they introduced this new packaging feature in 2024.
The Sandtrooper is essentially a new figure but will, of course, use components, where applicable, from the Stormtrooper model, which was rebuilt itself in 2021 when the Galaxy Collection launched. The same principle for the Stormtrooper therefore applies with the armour parts cast in white and the connections and joints in a ridged black to replicate the undersuit of the Stormtrooper armour. The original Sandtrooper was weathered extremely well, and this replacement follows suit with the gloss of the usual Stormtrooper armoured panels dulled and given a grimy, sandblaster look across the entire body.
Our Sandtrooper comes with the tactical backpack, a black piece with painted white and grey detailing. It incorporates a flexible strap and pouch that sits over the left shoulder, while the backpack slots into the socket on the Sandtrooper's back. The fit is secure enough for display, but it is far from tight when slotted into place.
There are variations between Sandtroopers and Stormtroopers, all carried forward onto this figure. They include a different stomach section underneath the larger chest armour, a revised belt completed with two black painted storage pouches to either side. The knee panel on the left leg is also now a true diamond whereas the standard Stormtrooper has the top of the shape flattened off.
The Sandtrooper also features a shoulder pauldron, added under the neck and sitting over the right shoulder. The base colour of this is black, with the main pauldron piece painted orange to represent a Squad Leader, Sergeant or Commander. This is strapped under the right armpit, and where the strap connects to the Pauldron, a ‘stretch’ is sculpted into the panel.
The helmet is the usual fare, and as per the newer models is a hollow helmet over a sculpted head. Interestingly, while the helmet is fixed in place, the head has been cast in a flesh tone underneath. The helmet itself is the same white, with weathered grime. The visor is painted a gloss black, as is the trim line above it. There is blue on the cheek vents with grey on the other panels and silver around the filters on the main mask.
vs 2013 Sandtrooper from Phase 1, Wave 1 (right)
You can see the considerable improvements on the 2025 figure vs the original from back in 2013, where it was part of the launch wave. The new Sandtrooper is much better proportioned and has no sign of bow legs, which did plague the original. The decor on both are comparable, but the removal of pinned joints on the new figure enhances the overall look.
The Sandtrooper boasts 19 points of articulation, all built in around the armour and within the black undersuit sections, which disguises them further. The legs allow the Trooper to open up for firing positions, as well as allowing the Sandtrooper to kneel. He will probably be able to ride the Dewback if you do want to update your rider. There is a balance aspect to bear in mind, and while the ankle rockers are secure, the backpack does present a risk of the figure overbalancing backwards.
The arms feature butterfly shoulders to allow the arms a wider breadth of movement, and this helps with weapon posing and shooting positions, including allowing the blasters to be raised up as far as the head for an aim and fire pose.
There are two blasters included, starting with the standard E-11 blaster rifle, which is the newer version which is slightly smaller and crisper in the sculpt. It is made in black plastic and has no painted details. There is no holster on this Trooper, with the blaster sitting in the right hand where there is a flexible trigger finger. The left hand is updated on the Sandtrooper to a cupping position, allowing the blaster barrel to be cradled when held.
While we have seen the E-11 before, the other weapon is new to the line and is the larger RT-97C heavy blaster rifle we see held by some Sandtroopers on Tatooine. Like the E-11, this is cast in black plastic, carries lots of cast detail but is devoid of any further paint work. It fits into the Sandtrooper's grip in the same way as the smaller blaster, and can also be raised in a firing position.
The Sandtrooper is a brilliant upgrade, some 12 years after the first release, bringing these key Imperial Troops in line with the updated Stormtrooper and comparable in proportions and decor as the newer releases in the line. With the backpack and two weapons, the figure is not short of accessories. It also has the benefit of being an army builder with more than one orange pauldron Troopers seen in A New Hope, and while it wouldn’t take much to paint the Pauldron to the white or black versions to further build your Imperial Forces, it would be great if Hasbro brought this new figure out again with different Pauldrons into a future wave, or even as part of their slimmed down Army Builder 2-packs.
Keep Track of all the Star Wars Black Series figures from Hasbro at our comprehensive
If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports
About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...