If the recent Moff Gideon figure is a fumble as you’re crossing the goal line due to the plastic cape, this Armorer figure is a touchdown and a missed extra point.  It’s a nearly perfect figure except for one annoying issue along with a second nitpicky issue, but we shall get to those in a bit.  First, we have to acknowledge how cool it is that we have this figure at all.  While certainly not a “background” character, the Armorer is far from a primary character.  She only appears in a few episodes, but leaves a big impact, and is the impetus for Mando’s journey in season two.  Considering that we never got three quarters of the main characters from The Rise of Skywalker, getting a secondary character from The Mandalorian is pretty danged sweet.  This is one of my favorite figures just because it exists.

The major issue results from the massive plastic lion’s mane on the back of the figure.  Hasbro is starting to develop a habit of nerfing amazingly articulated figures with obstructive plastic molded elements.  The figure cannot move its arms backwards and the giant fur yoke reduces the ball jointed shoulders to merely swivel functionality.  This is disappointing because the Armorer wields her crook and flail hammer and tongs in combat.  It would be great to pose the figure with the hammer above her head ready to strike a blow. 

Another secondary disappointment, albeit a minor one, is the interaction with those accessories.  First, the figure doesn’t grip the hammer very securely so it has a habit of spinning in the hand.  In your collection this isn’t a huge issue, but when you need to pose the hammer in a specific direction for a photograph, it can quickly become annoying.  Second, the arms of the metalworking tongs are sculpted in the open position.  If you want to pose them closed, you have to pinch them together then place the tongs in the figure’s hand.  This effectively makes them spring loaded.  The slightest tap and they will shoot out like a Lego missile.

Once you get past those issues, you’re left with a fairly outstanding figure.  It looks amazing, though the angle of the helmet’s jawline might be a little too shallow.  The chin of the on-screen helmet seems pointier.  The plastic molded blacksmith’s apron is highly malleable and barely impacts the lower leg articulation, which is generous.  The ball-jointed hips are easy to engage, which isn’t always the case at this scale.  The legs terminate in our beloved rocker ankles.  The only issue I have with the ankle articulation is that they don’t flex upward as much as I’d like.  The neck has fantastic range of motion up and down which greatly adds expression to how the figure is posed.

The plastic fur on the back is a case of form over function, but it does look good aesthetically.  This particular part of the Armorer’s costume might actually be an impossible nut for Hasbro to crack.  Lord knows this type of soft goods could go sideways quickly (looking at you Gamorrean Guard and your giant fur diaper). For that reason, I’m only dinging the figure a single point, and it comes in at an impressive 9 out of 10.  It’s one of my personal favorites of the year…well, of last year at the time of this review.

Thank you to Greg S. for the sample used in this gallery.  These one-per-case new figures are going to be the death of me.