Rarest Star Wars Action Figures

Who doesn’t love Star Wars at least a little bit? I loved Darth Vader when I was a child. We even have a cat named Dark Helmet from the spoof movie Space Balls, which was nothing more than a knockoff of Star Wars with laughs.

Star Wars fans span from four decades ago until the present day. That is undoubtedly one empire that will not fade away quietly. If you collect Star Wars memorabilia, I’m sure you have at least a few Star Wars Action Figures in your collection. I, for one, used to carry my super awesome vintage Darth Vader with the cloth cape around everywhere. Now, he is in storage, growing older with R2D2 but staying just as awesome as he was the day we met. I would love to add to the collection. In addition, I have always wanted a Princess Leia action figure. So now, we will go on a journey to find the very best of the very rarest Star Wars Action figures to date!

Bottom Line Upfront

* The 1978 Blue Snaggletooth is my pick for the rarest Star Wars Action Figure.*

Blue Snaggletooth was originally and mistakenly first released by Sears in 1978. The Blue Snaggletooth made his grand appearance in the “Star Wars Cantina Adventure Set” and also a Sears exclusive mail-in two-pack including Greedo. This guy is so rare because he was a big mistake that didn’t get caught in time. The intent at the beginning of the legend of the Blue Snaggletooth figure was to represent the character Zutton, also referred to in slang as “snaggletooth.”

However, Kenner’s action figure was tall, blue, and had boots on, whereas the real Snaggletooth was a dwarf wearing a red uniform and no boots. Since, at that time, we were dealing with black and white everything, the coloring of the mistake Snaggletooth was not caught before it entered the production lines. Once caught, the remaining Blue Snaggletooths disappeared from shelves and were replaced by the correct red, short Snaggletooth. Mistakes can certainly be worth money!

My Top Picks

#01 1978 Blue Snaggletooth

This fantastic example of a massive error becoming something sought after and worth a lot of money would have never been guessed when the character was released. So hang onto those “mistake” action figures. You never know what it might be worth down the road.

#02 1988 Glasslite Vlix

This strange and rarely-seen guy was only released in Brazil, which made him extra rare just with that knowledge. Then add that he was a character in a short-lived show called Star Wars: Droids, which meant that Kenner only produced a small amount of stock of this character. Vlix was made even rarer and thus more valuable because he was part of a mold for the second wave of releases that died out before they hit the store shelves. Depending on the quality, this strange dude can pull in $4000 or more.

#03 1978 Unpainted L-Lock Rocket Fire Boba Fett

Last but not least is the infamous rocket-firing, unpainted, L- lock Boba Fett. This edition of Boba Fett is worth money and ultra-rare because it was only live on the market briefly before being pulled out due to choking concerns. This action figure once sold for $27,000!

My Search Criteria for Choosing the Rarest Star Wars Action Figures

1. I search for the absolute rarest Star Wars action figures.
2. I choose only the characters that jump out at me as super special.
3. I like adding some unique characters into the mix.
4. I add Star Wars action figures for every demographic because Star Wars does not discriminate.
5. I choose the best action figures with the most fantastic accessories.
6. I am not focused on availability or cost; since these figures are all scarce, they will be tough to find and likely expensive.

Rarest Star Wars Action Figures

#01 1978 Blue Snaggletooth

In 1978 Kenner released the “Star Wars Cantina Adventure Set” as part of the Greedo two-pack play set. Nevertheless, this blatant mistake has a massive worth. The toy company, Kenner, created the Blue Snaggletooth action figure from black and white photos of the character. Unfortunately, it was not until the movie’s release that they realized how different the actual character was.

As a result, the blue Snaggletooth was quickly discontinued and replaced with a shorter red version with bare feet and hands. This is why the Blue Snaggletooth action figures are considered very rare.

This figure is ultra cool in that few know about the origin of the Blue Snaggletooth. But unfortunately, it can only be found on reseller sites.

Pros

• This is the rarest action figure from the Star Wars movies.
• Blue Snaggletooth is not, however, the most expensive of the rare Star Wars figures.
• Blue Snaggletooth was replaced quickly by a red Snaggletooth, making this toy extra rare.
• After looking on some reseller sites, you can make this guy yours. Depending on if it is in mint condition or if you’re ok with a not-so-flawless figure, you could spend +$1500 or $300.

Cons

• Most of the Blue Snaggletooth figures on reseller sites do have flaws.
• This is far from the most expensive Star Wars action figure, so don’t hold your breath if you aim to make money off it.

#02 1977 Obi-Wan Kenobi With Double-Telescoping Lightsaber

A 1978 version of Obi-Wan Kenobi sold for $75,000 in August 2017. These 1977 figures can sell anywhere from $2000 up to $10,000 generally. If you have one in mint condition, like the one from 1978 that sold for $75,000, you will see an increase in worth. Along with Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan is among the most searched-for Star Wars action figures. Over the length of Star Wars, there have been 124 different Obi-Wan Kenobi action figures, but only one with a telescoping lightsaber.

Pros

• This figure is very rare and worth a lot of money. Check reseller sites and auctions for the latest asking prices.
• This is the original Obi-Wan Kenobi with white hair.
• The double telescoping lightsaber is what makes this extra rare.

Cons

• Mr. Kenobi is a challenging find. If you do happen to find one in decent shape on a reseller site, it will cost you.

#03 1978 Death Squad Commander

The Death Squad Commander was part of the first 12 Star Wars action figures. This guy is super rare in that he was part of the original 12. Few of these action figures remain in the world, and even fewer are of quality value. You can find one from $5000 down to $30. Shop carefully. A lot of counterfeit items show up on reseller sites.

Pros

• The 1978 Death Squad Commander was one of the original 12 action figures.
• I found many available online ranging in price and quality.
• This action figure was released with variations in skin tone, uniform color, and decorative ribbon medal. I bet that there is a price difference among the variations, as well.

Cons

• This figure is counterfeit if the blue ribbon is not on top of the red ribbon. There are quite a few phony action figures out there. Buy wisely.

#04 1978 Unpainted L-Lock Rocket Fire Boba Fett

This Star Wars action figure has been called the Holy Grail for a good reason. This may be the top-selling Star Wars action figure ever! “The History of Kenner’s Rocket Firing Boba Fett” group at the Star Wars Celebration 2022 believes there are about 70 L-slots and about 30 J-slots in the universe! That definitely makes this guy super rare.

Pros

• This is the Holy Grail of Star Wars action figures. It is mega rare and worth all the money in the world. Well, not exactly, but you get my drift.
• Depending on which figure you have, you have 1 out of either 70 or 30. Think of how many Star Wars fans are out there; that number will seem extreme.

Cons

• Some collectors have reported that the safety tab holding the missile in place breaks easily, and it’s common to find them this way.
• Not child friendly due to the choking hazard the missiles present.

#05 1978 Vinyl Cape Jawa

This is the first Jawa action figure and the only one to come with a thin vinyl cape. The second release had a cloth cape. These figures can undoubtedly be expensive depending on the grade of the resold figure, but they are less costly than others. The packaging is also slightly different from the other Star Wars action figures’ packaging. It has a plastic blister but also has plastic behind the figure. Most other blister packs were figure formed.

Pros

• Fancy packaging sets this figure apart from the others.
• Jawa is a fantastic character, and this is the rarest of the Jawas.
• I like the vinyl cape better than the cloth. It looks more authentic and doesn’t lose quality over time as the cloth variety did.

Cons

• Many replicas do not have the authentic vinyl cape that came with this rendition of Jawa. Some have doctored up the vinyl capes of other figures to try to pass the Jawa figure off as an original. Proceed with caution on reseller sites and trust no one.
• If you had this as a child, I bet you threw away the “stupid” vinyl cape that just got in the way. Bet you feel the consequence of that decision now.

#06 1980 Medical Droid FX-7

This incredibly useful medical droid, who was also known as “Fixit,” made their grand appearance in 1980 following the first twelve action figures landed in toy stores and mailboxes country-wide. Something was clearly wrong though; one head mold was small and one was not. This caused a great upheaval on the production line and the collector’s line in the stores. The smaller head was designed a bit different with different markings.

Along with that mistake, you could also end up with a shorter FX-7 because the base of the figure was missing. It was told that the base frequently broke off and could have passed through to the sales shelf you were looking at hoping to buy your next Star Wars action figure.

Pros

• Medical Droid FX-7 can be spun around 360 degrees.
• The arms aren’t jointed but can be bent.
• The Medical Droid is relatively inexpensive and easy to find on reseller sites.

Cons

• Since this action figure is available fairly easily, it is only worth a little money.

#07 1980 Small Head Han Solo

This version of Han Solo comes with his infamous gun. But, of course, since this action figure is so old, the gun has often been lost. The smaller head version of Han Solo is said to be a variation, but I don’t think it was on purpose. The larger head of Han Solo looks a lot more realistic, and the overall quality is better.

Pros

• This Han Solo action figure’s hair is epic late 70’s culture at its finest!
• This is one of the oldest Star Wars action figures and one of only a handful of Kenner’s mistakes.
• The small-head version of Han Solo is one of the rarest variations in the Star Wars action figure collection.

Cons

• The smaller head of Han Solo looks weird. It’s too thin, and the hair is too low on his forehead.

#08 1983 Yak Face

Yak Face, also known as Saelt-Marae, was only available in some places globally, which is why he is so rare. In a sloppy attempt to see a small return on their expensive product, toy company Kenner sent the Star Wars Yak Face action figures to outlets in Europe and Canada instead of destroying the overstock. Unfortunately, Mr. Yak Face never made it to the U.S. Yak Face was always super secretive about his life, so he won’t be making any statements as to why he only went to Canada and Europe. Even the collectors’ Power of the Force coin that comes with the toy is worth a few hundred bucks.

Pros

• This action figure is unique and super rare.
• Definitely, a collector item because these action figures are super rare. Yak Face was only in one movie, Return to the Jedi.
• This collector figure sold for $2000 in April 2022, so they are worth thousands if you happen to have one still in the blister pack.

Cons

• This Yak Face action figure could be a lot better in terms of appearance. The face is strange, unlike the real Yak Face’s face.
• Unless you get lucky and lived abroad when this was released, you’ve probably never played with one as a child.
• There is a seam running down the center of the Yak Face’s face.

#09 1988 Glasslite Vlix

Two years after the endearing droids cartoon was canceled, Glasslite created a Vlix action figure. On eBay, the prices range all the way up to $45,000 currently. Glasslite was toy company Kenner’s sister company located in Brazil. These Vlix action figures are so rare because they were not released in the United States, only in Brazil.

Pros

• This 1988 Glasslite Vlix is in Ebay’s Top 10 Rarest Collectibles.
• Vlix “Oncard” is the rarest action figure ever commercially released.
• If you find one of these beloved and super rare action figures, you should buy a lottery ticket because the chances of winning are the same.

Cons

• There’s a good chance you will never see this action figure in real life.

FAQ

Question: What is the Rarest Star Wars Memorabilia?

Answer: The infamous Snowtrooper helmet is the rarest of the rare in terms of Star Wars memorabilia. The mint condition Snowtrooper helmet auctioned in August 2012 collected more than three times the helmet’s original auction asking price. Wowsers!

Question: How Much is a 1977 Darth Vader Worth?

Answer: A lot! The average price based upon the last 3 sold auctions is: $1,295.00 (High: $1,975.00/Low: $660.00). The average Buy It Now price is $3,238.82 based upon 21 active filtered auctions out of 22, which includes AFA auctions.

Question: What is the Most Expensive Star Wars Action Figure Ever Sold?

Answer: In June 2017, the quirky R2-D2 sold for 2.75 million. According to Profiles in History’s auction catalog, this cute little R2-D2 figure was made using steel, fiberglass and aluminum and stood 43 inches tall. It is said to be the only R2-D2 existing in the public domain. R2-D2 is one famous droid!

Conclusion

If you are interested in finding even more unique and rare Star Wars action figures, there are many out there. Star Wars has been around for more than 40 years and has created a massive amount of toys in those 40 years. Just looking at 1977-1978, the Star Wars franchises sold $100 million worth of toys.

To recap, the incorrectly made 1978 Blue Snaggletooth, the only sold in Brazil 1988 Glasslite Vlix “Onboard,” and the 1978 Unpainted L-Lock Rocket Fire Boba Fett are the winners for the rarest Star Wars figures to date. Each figure included in this guide is the rarest of the rare Star Wars Action Figures collection. If you are so lucky as to find one of these gems, hang on to it!

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