The LEGO Star Wars Battle Droid has remained the most reliable minifigure in the theme, after the LEGO Group instantly perfected the design.
Vor 25 Jahren die erste LEGO Star Wars Battle Droid minifigure was released in 7121 Naboo Swamp and it might surprise you to learn that the design of this iconic droid hasn’t changed much since that date. That’s not to say that every Battle Droid minifigure from the past 25 years is exactly the same though.
Just as the theme and franchise have adapted to changing times, the LEGO Star Wars Battle Droid is well-suited for any role or terrain. Here’s how the LEGO Star Wars Battle droid has changed over the past 25 years, including every kind of Battle Droid we’ve seen in LEGO Seit 1987.
If it’s not broken…
Es ist sicher zu sagen, dass die LEGO Group is pleased with the original design of the Battle Droid from 1999 as the head, arms, body and legs have remained nearly identical in every appearance since then. That’s an impressive achievement for the 1999 minifigure team and not something that can be said for Sturmtruppen.
There has been one major change in the design of these Battle Droids though. Today, you can find these minifigures with arms featuring a clip that is at a different angle to the other end, allowing Battle Droids to effectively hold a blaster. That wasn’t the case before 2007 though, when this piece debuted. Originally, all Separatist soldiers were holding their guns at a 90-degree angle – to earn extra style points in battle we’re sure.
Aside from this new arm, their overall design has remained relatively unchanged over the past 25 years, though they’ve still adapted to different roles and terrain.
Play your role
Bild: Bricklink
Bild: Bricklink
Bild: Bricklink
Battle Droids are certainly versatile, filling roles as pilots, commanders and additional security in LEGO Star Wars. Minifigures in all three roles have been scattered across LEGO Star Wars over 25 years, increasing in detail with each appearance. This year’s new Pilot Droid in 40686 Truppentransporter der Handelsföderation for instance adds additional printing on top of the existing printed design for increased accuracy.
The Security Droid has evolved under the same strategy as have Commander Droids. Still, all three roles had a short period where they reverted to using a single-colour body element, which may have influenced Battle Droid elements being used for other purposes in various themes. Even outside of battle, these droids can’t help but be useful.
All-terrain droids
Battle Droids have also been adapted to face combat in different types of terrain. The most common variant of these depictions of the droids is their orange paint job to blend in with the sands of Geonosis. Another orange variant also appeared briefly in 2009 and 2010 fitted with a jetpack for space combat.
Fitting in both this and the above section of this report is the Kashyyyk Battle Droid / AAT Driver Battle Droid from three sets in 2019 and 2020. While the green colouration and markings are specific to this type of Battle Droid, it also so happens to blend in perfectly with the forests of Kashyyyk.
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Author profile
Jack Yates LEGO has been a part of my life since I was a child. It all started when my brother passed on the 7657 AT-ST to me. She accompanied me through my early years, through school and finally through my journalism studies. I still proudly display my entire collection, including my many NINJAGO sets, my favorite of all the LEGO themes in the group. Outside Brick Fanatics I am an avid gamer and enjoy a good game of Dungeons & Dragons.
