Darth Vader

See also: Anakin Skywalker, 75111 Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a Star Wars minifigure introduced in 1999 as part of the Classic Star Wars line. Since 1999, he has had 14 variations to date. He is a Dark Lord of the Sith together with his master, Darth Sidious, and also the Commander-in-Chief in the Imperial Military, making him the absolute martial leader second only to the Emperor himself. He was once Anakin Skywalker, the former apprentice of Obi-Wan Kenobi, although he has discarded this identity.
==Description==
===Original===
Darth Vader's original variation was his first and most famous variation, which appeared in eleven separate sets, officially representing Darth Vader as a LEGO minifigure, until its redesign in 2008.
The minifigure has black legs, black arms, and black hands. His torso has a special design showcasing a control panel with red and blue buttons on his torso, with grey outlines around it. He has a cape, and a classic grey scarred Minifigure head, which represents his battle injuries due to his Battle with Kenobi. Under his head he wears a black cape and over his head he wears an exclusive mask that covers all of his head, representing a breathing mask that keeps him alive. He comes with a red lightsaber.
He appears in this variation in the sets 10123 Cloud City, 7200 Final Duel I, 7150 TIE Fighter & Y-Wing, 3340 Star Wars, 78744 Star Wars Value Pack, 10131 TIE Fighter Collection, and 7262 TIE Fighter & Y-Wing. In 7251 Darth Vader Transformation he comes with no cape.
He has appeared in the first four LEGO Star Wars Video Games in this variation, including: LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game, LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy, LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, and LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars. He also has a cameo in LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures in this variation.
===Light bluish-grey head===
This variant is almost identical to the original version except for the grey on the head and torso outlines is updated to a light bluish grey color. This variant can be found in sets from the years 2004-2007. 
===New head===
Darth Vader was released in three more sets, 7264 Imperial Inspection, 6211 Imperial Star Destroyer, and 7251 Darth Vader Transformation, with some minor differences from the Original Variation, those being having his eyebrows removed and a few additional scars.
===2008 redesign===
In the 2008 redesign, Darth Vader comes with the same black hands, black arms, black legs, helmet, and cape as his original variation, except his torso has more details, including his belt and even more detail on his chest panel. The head also, in a strange way despite being in traditional LEGO style, has an increased resemblance to Hayden Christensen. This variation was first released in the set 10188 Death Star, and later re-released in the set 8017 Darth Vader's TIE Fighter, marking it as the new official redesign.
===2010 redesign===
The 2010 redesign has the same legs, cape, and helmet that the previous redesign used from 2008. The head has a new printing, introducing the pupils for the first time. Vader's torso buttons are colored differently, too. This current variation is only available with the sets 10212 Imperial Shuttle, 7965 Millennium Falcon, and 10221 UCS Super Star Destroyer.
===Battle Damaged Darth Vader===
Battle Damaged Darth Vader was a unique variation of Darth Vader, released only in the set 7672 Rogue Shadow, released as part of the Expanded Universe line to promote the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game.
He includes a grey headpiece displaying a black eye and scars on the left side of his face and a shattered mask on the right side. He wears a black headpiece that goes around his neck, representing his broken mask. He has a grey legpiece, one black legpiece, and a black belt. He also has a black arm piece and one grey arm piece, and two dark black hands. He also holds a red lightsaber.
The variation represents Darth Vader's appearance after being fought (and severely damaged) by Galen Marek, his secret apprentice, near the end of the storyline of the video game The Force Unleashed.
This variation is available to play after creating a minikit for a certain level on LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars.
===Light-Up Lightsaber===
This variation is exactly the same as the Original Variation, but only his left arm, left hand, helmet and lightsaber blade can be removed. His hand is attached to his lightsaber. The lightsaber has a built-in light, which lights up his lightsaber whenever his head is punched down. He has a built-in battery. This minifigure is exclusive to 7263 TIE Fighter.
===Chrome===
Alongside LEGO® Star Wars' 10th anniversary, LEGO produced Chrome Darth Vader Minifigures to promote the event, and an unconfirmed number polybags of the Chrome Vader were randomly inserted into 2009 LEGO Star Wars sets. The Chrome Vader was the same design as the 2008 version of Vader with the new torso, but shiny paint was used instead of the standard black.
===Microfigure===
Darth Vader appears as a Microfigure in the LEGO Games set 3866 The Battle of Hoth.
===2014 redesign===
The 2014 redesign has the same cape and helmet that the previous redesign used from 2010. His head has a totally new printing, showing a tan color and his facial expression has completely changed. He now also has printings on his legs. This Minifigure has only appeared in the set 75055 Imperial Star Destroyer.
===Santa Darth Vader===
The Santa Darth Vader, introduced and only featured in the 2014 version of the 75056 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar, features new prints on the torso, hips and legs. Underneath the Santa-costume-printing, the print of the 2014 redesign can be seen. Mask and head are also equivalent to the 2014 version of the figure. Additionally, this design sports a red cape instead of a black one.
===2015 redesign===
The 2015 redesign of the figure, introduced with set 75093 Death Star Final Duel in June, keeps the printing of the 2014 redesign completely from the head downwards (excluding the head). The exclusive feature to this version is the new mold and concept for the helmet of the figure, as well as the head-print. The helmet now consists of two parts: a neck piece and the mask and helmet. The former being connected to the minifigure's neck and the latter connected to the head. The face features new printing on a white headpiece.
===Rebels variation===
Vader also appeared in the Star Wars Rebels theme, specifically in the set 75150 Darth Vader’s TIE Advanced and A-wing Fighter.
==Symbol of the Saga==
Darth Vader is recognized as one of the most frequently packaged minifigures in LEGO Star Wars sets, but he falls short of Luke Skywalker. He is considered the representation of the LEGO Star Wars line to a certain extent, due to the fact that Darth Vader is the most well known Star Wars character. He was released in the set 8017 Darth Vader's TIE Fighter to symbolize the 10th anniversary of LEGO and Star Wars. His helmet was on the box art of the Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith line.
He has so far appeared in all of the LEGO Star Wars Video Games. He is the last unlockable character in LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game, that can only be unlocked after finding all the minikits in the game, which makes him one of the hardest characters to unlock. He also has a cameo in LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures. He is also on the front cover of the book LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary.
==Background==
Darth Vader (formerly Anakin Skywalker) was once a Jedi Knight and expert pilot trained by Obi-Wan Kenobi, but his emotions (particularly his fear of losing his wife, Padmé Amidala) caused him to give in to his anger and aggression, leading to him being turned to the dark side of the Force by Darth Sidious. This new path caused him to join the Sith and resulted in a duel with Obi-Wan. Vader lost this duel, which resulted in him having to permanently wear body armor and a life-support system.
Vader soon became a feared leader of the Empire. He became an enemy to the Rebellion. He killed many Jedi and Rebel leaders for around thirty years. He had a son and a daughter, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia respectively. However, due to certain complications, he did not know Luke was his son until after the first Death Star blew up, and he did not know Leia was his daughter until the day he died. Darth Vader dramatically told Luke "I am your father" in Cloud City, when they dueled at the climax of Episode V. During the same duel, Vader cut off Luke's right hand. Soon the two met again for a final duel. Luke won the duel but Sidious fired out Force lightning at him. Anakin Skywalker (no longer Vader) saved Luke and threw the Emperor into the reactor core of the second Death Star, but died shortly after. Anakin was then seen as a Force ghost at his funeral.
Although Vader died as the heroic Anakin, his Sith persona was idolized by his grandson, Kylo Ren, who strove to live up to his legacy.
===Video Game Appearances===
He has appeared in all LEGO Star Wars Video Games. In LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game, he appears in the ending cutscene after completing Revenge of the Sith, and is playable in the bonus level "A New Hope", where he uses the same animations as Anakin Skywalker. In LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy, Vader is playable in the penultimate level "Jedi Destiny", where he and Luke defeat Darth Sidious. In LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, he makes the same appearances as in the first 2 games. In LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, Darth Vader is unlockable in both his classic variation, and his battle-damaged form after collecting all the Minikits in "Asajj Ventress 6: Liberty on Ryloth" for Classic Vader and in, "Asajj Ventress 2: Ambush!" for Battle Damaged Vader. Both can be bought for 275,000 studs each. In LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars on the 3ds version you can unlock Battle Damage Vader for 10 Playcoins. 
Darth Vader also makes a cameo in LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures, where his shadow can be seen in a cutscene, but in reality, it is just the Grail Knight pulling a prank.
==Gallery of Variants==
=== Video Game Variants ===
==LEGO.com Description==
==Notes==
* In some of the 6211 Imperial Star Destroyer sets, Darth Vader was printed with eyebrows.
* A red version of Darth Vader's helmet was produced by LEGO for mould testing; however, it was not included in any sets. This color version is available via Bricklink, giving it the liberty of being considered an official LEGO part. It is the exact same part as Darth Vader's helmet, except it is the color of red.
* Darth Vader has been released for five Star Wars subthemes: Episode III, IV, V, VI and the Expanded Universe. His appearance in 10131 TIE Fighter Collection from 2004 marked his first appearance in an Expanded Universe set (7672 Rogue Shadow being his second.)
* He appears in two UCS sets, 10212 UCS Imperial Shuttle and 10221 UCS Super Star Destroyer with an appearance in the LEGO Star Wars video game, LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars.
* Darth Vader's front printing has changed more than three times over the years.
* Darth Vader was featured on the boxes for the 2014 sets.
* His 2014 variant was the first to have a head in any color other than grey.
* The Rebels variant was the first variant to have printing on his back.
* The Rebels variant of the suit is also the same version of the suit worn by Vader during New Hope and Rogue One.
==Appearances==
* Celebration IV Set 
* 3340 Star Wars 
* 6211 Imperial Star Destroyer 
* 7150 TIE Advanced & Y-Wing 
* 7152 TIE Advanced & Y-Wing 
* 7200 Final Duel I 
* 7251 Darth Vader Transformation 
* 7262 TIE Advanced & Y-Wing 
* 7263 TIE Fighter 
* 7264 Imperial Inspection 
* 7672 Rogue Shadow 
* 7965 Millennium Falcon 
* 8017 Darth Vader's TIE Fighter 
* 10123 Cloud City 
* 10131 TIE Fighter Collection 
* 10188 Death Star 
* 10212 UCS Imperial Shuttle 
* 10221 UCS Super Star Destroyer 
* 75055 Imperial Star Destroyer 
* 75093 Death Star Final Duel 
* 75150 Darth Vader’s TIE Advanced and A-wing Fighter 
* 75159 The Death Star 
* 75183 Darth Vader Transformation 
* 75222 Betrayal at Cloud City 
* 75251 Darth Vader's Castle 
* 4547551 Chrome Darth Vader 
* 75261 Clone Scout Walker - 20th Anniversary Edition
* 75279 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar
* 75291 Death Star Final Duel 
* 75296 Darth Vader Meditation Chamber 
* 75302 Imperial Shuttle 
* 75334 Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Vader 
* 75340 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar
* 75347 TIE Bomber 
* 75368 Darth Vader Mech
* 75387 Boarding the Tantive IV
* 75394 Imperial Star Destroyer
===Other Physical Appearances===
* 8010 TECHNIC Darth Vader
* 75111 Darth Vader
* 41619 Darth Vader
* 75534 Darth Vader
* 40547 Obi-Wan Kenobi & Darth Vader
===Video Game Appearances===
* LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game 
* LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
* LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
* LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures 
* LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars 
* LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
* LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
* LEGO Fortnite
===Movie and Television Appearances===
* LEGO Star Wars: The Han Solo Affair
* LEGO Star Wars: Revenge of The Brick (In a picture)
* The Quest for R2-D2 (film) 
* LEGO Star Wars: Bombad Bounty
* LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace 
* LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out
* The Yoda Chronicles
* LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales
* LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures
* LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special
* LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales
* LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation
* LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy
===Gear Appearances===
* 1709 Pen Darth Vader
* 3913 Darth Vader Key Chain
* M229 LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader Magnet Set
* W005 Star Wars Darth Vader Watch
* P2155 Darth Vader Connect & Build Pen
* P3702 Darth Vader Carabiner Pen
* 850353 Darth Vader Key Chain
* 850996 Darth Vader Key Chain
* 852243 SW Darth Vader T-shirt
* 852764 LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader T-shirt
===Book Appearances===
* 2851190 LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader Adult Watch
* 2853402 LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary
==Gallery==
DagobahDarthVader.PNG|Darth Vader as an illusion on Dagobah in LEGO Star Wars II
Damaged Vader Side.png|Side view of Battle Damaged Vader
LSW3BattleDamage.jpg|Battle Damaged Darth Vader in LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
Darth Vader (Santa).jpg|Vader as Santa
Sw586.jpg|2014 Vader's face
Vader15nomask.png|2015 Vader's face
6114015.jpg|Vader's head
6253218.jpg|Alternate facial expression
DARTH.jpg|75111 Darth Vader
Darth Vader (The Freemaker Adventures).png|Darth Vader in The Freemaker Adventures
159827369712772253.png
159857151212697524.jpg|The Skywalker Saga Deluxe Edition cover
File:Darth vader game.webp|thumb
Luke and Vader (Happy Life Day.).jpg
File:Darth Vader LEGO Fortnite promo.png|Promo for LEGO Fortnite X Star Wars.
==See also==
* Anakin Skywalker
* 8010 TECHNIC Darth Vader
==External links==
* Original Variation Torso and Appearances at Peeron.com
* 2009 Redesign Variation Torso and Appearances at Peeron.com
* Secondary Appearances at Brickset
Category:Star Wars minifigures
Category:Minifigures introduced in 1999
Category:Star Wars Rebels minifigures
Category:Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith minifigures
Category:Star Wars: The Force Unleashed minifigures
Category:Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope minifigures
Category:Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back minifigures
Category:Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi minifigures
Category:Star Wars Legends minifigures
Category:Classic Star Wars
Category:Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi
Category:Fortnite Minifigures