The Armorer, as seen in the Mandalorian, was planned as a deluxe release exclusive for 2020 Star Wars Celebration. The set would have additional features and accessories vs the standard version which would follow in the main line in Autumn/Winter 2020. The cancellation Star Wars Celebration and most others across 2020, left the Exclusive Armorer offered as a Hasbro Pulse Exclusive in the US and Canada, and limited stocks circulated via the Fan Channel for global release. The set was released in October 2020.
Packaging 4.0
The Armorer follows the same packaging principles as the exclusive Cad Bane figure. It uses the new Phase 4 Galaxy Collection angled side box with an artwork panel down the right hand side that is done in greyscale and uses the Mandalorian Galaxy Collection accent colour of burnt orange. The rest of the outer box is a black finish, with the Star Wars Black Series logo and other text all presented in the burnt orange colour. Our review copy is a European release and that means you do get black over stickers around the box. The black box is also very very susceptible to grease marks and fingerprints - so it needs to be handled with care.
The black section is an outer sleeve and the figure is revealed when you slide out the white portion of the box from the art panel side. There is no plastic window and instead we have The Armorer and the accessories inside two metallic bronze insert segments in a gloss white inner box.
This inner box is affixed to the black sleeve by way of a cardboard tab that only allows it to be slid out so far. That means if you are an in box collector you will have to sit with the packaging not fully open and the figure and figure name obscured by the black outer sleeve and a similar issue on the back of the box over the artwork panel. There was a similar issue with Cad Bane, but the amount of figure and rear artwork covered on the Armorer is much more than the Cad Bane obstructions.
With the box now open and the white inner tray now exposed you will find a short piece of background text on the reverse next to the artwork.
"The Armorer plays a vital role in keeping the culture of the Mandalorians alive. She forges beskar armor in the ancient tradition of her people. We see her forge with exacting precision; when combat is required, she proves to be efficient and resourceful."
If you are opening your Armorer than you have to accept the box will take some damage or wear as you open it up. You need to open the black side panel on the black outer sleeve and then release the cardboard strip from the slits in the side of the white box. Once done the entire white segment slides out.
To get to the figure you are best going in via the bottom flap which is held together by one piece of tape. The inner box slides out as a full piece of brown cardboard with the bronze pieces inserted. The Armorer is held in by a number of very tricky to cut elasticated ties - they've been put in so tight there is not a lot of give to cut them from behind and care should be taken cutting them via the front. The accessories are a little easier to extract as they are all in a sealed plastic tray that is held in by two tabs that are taped at the back.
Paint & Sculpt 4.5
The Armorer comes with her gold metallic ornate Mandalorian helmet complete with short horns across the top and a gloss black visor. Beneath this is her metallic bronze chest place that extends over the shoulders with a textured panel and darker colour tone.
The cloak on the Exclusive is presented in soft goods and this hangs from a connection on the shoulder armour. The soft goods is quite soft and hangs well enough, it does shed quite easily and needs smoothing down after handling the figure.
The body is well executed with the large central belt - complete with gold & silver component insert - and a rubberised plastic ribbed skirt / apron section. The rest of the body is a grey undersuit with brown detailing. The hands end in textured gauntlet gloves with the feet ending in knee high boots with a two tone finish on the toe cap.
Accessories 4.0
The Exclusive Armorer comes with an expanded set of tools and accessories than the basic release. We get two pairs of tongs. The standard pair (right) are shorter and cast in a silver plastic. The exclusive tongs (left) are much longer and are cast in a translucent yellow then part painted - leaving the ends to resemble glowing metal. Neither of the tongs are articulated but there is some play in the handles for one and two handed posing.
We then have two hammer accessories. The standard hammer (right) is again a silver cast piece with shaped end and tapered handle. The exclusive set (left) is realised in the same method as the tongs leaving a glowing molten metal end.
There are then two more exclusive parts, starting with an FX piece that is designed to look like the sparks of a hammer strike. It is cast in translucent clear plastic that then has some light yellow paint applied. The final product is duller than I'd have liked and a different finish to the glowing ends of the hammer and tongs.
The piece is fitted with a peg that slots into a hole on the hammer for a striking effect. And to give the piece something to strike, we have a full Mandalorian helmet included in the set. This looks to be taken straight off the new Beskar Mandalorian but cast in a translucent finish. The helmet has a gradual change from a silver finish at the front to a glowing yellow to the back and a final blue panel that is meant to resemble the part being struck. Again the finish is a bit dull vs the hammer & tongs.
While the accessories offer some added value to this Exclusive set, they are screaming out for the Forge for the Armorer to work over. This would have required a bigger set/packaging and it would have cost more - but I am a sucker for the environmental pieces and the Armorer with her forge would have been pretty epic.
Articulation 4.0
The Armorer has a total of 19 points of articulation and comes with the new neck piece with articulation top and bottom, as well as the butterfly shoulders.
Head : ball joint neck, ball joint neck base
Body : torso ball joint
Arms : ball joint shoulder, butterfly shoulder, single rotating elbow, wrist pivot
Legs : ball joint hip, thigh swivel, single rotating knee, ankle rocker
It is her upper body articulation that needs most flexibility to wield the tools of her trade, and there are no issues in that respect with the arms being fully mobile and unencumbered in anyway. You can have her in a combat stance with her tools, or forging armor with hammer raised or with tongs in both hands.
The legs do have some restrictions. The skirt piece does pose some issues as it is not as flexible as some skirt pieces we've had on other figures - it is slit up the slides so will ride out with the hips as they are posed. The main issue is with the knees which do not bend enough for the kneeling poses we see The Armorer take on the show. Double joints here - even at the sacrifice of the butterfly shoulders, would have opened up that posing wonderfully. While she will kneel, you have to splay out the feet behind her to create a balance and the whole thing looks odd.
All of the joints are tight, mobile and she is a joy to stand in most posing options with ratcheted ankle rockers providing stability.
Summary
The exclusive Armorer figure is an impressive release, but perhaps is not quite deluxe enough to take it well beyond what we will get in the Galaxy Collection as a general release. The glowing hot tongs, hammer and helmet are nice - but not brilliant and are certainly not a deal breaker like TODO 360 was in the Cad Bane set. I think a more deluxe box set with her Forge might have been more appropriate?
She is however a brilliant figure, well executed in the sculpt and paint job and the soft goods do their part well enough - but they will take some looking after. I had a load of fun posing her in smithing poses or with her tools ready to take out a bunch of Stormtroopers.
The box has issues, and if Hasbro are going to continue this format they need a better mechanism to allow the inner box to slide out fully to reveal the figure and artwork. And perhaps a solution to the black finish that attracts no end of blemishes and the need for us European collectors for those unsightly over stickers.
In the end it will all come down to price. At the £29.99 UK RRP this is a good figure, go beyond that to the £35-£45 pricing I've seen on imported stock and it becomes much less in terms of value for money and in this scenario the general version will certainly do the job well enough.
I score the exclusive Star Wars Black Series The Armorer a total of 4.0
action figures, reviews, review, articulation, star wars, black series, the mandalorian, this is the way, hasbro, the armorer