“How many LEGO Darth Vader minifigures are there, and what’s different about them?” “Can you still get the chrome version (the 10th anniversary exclusive)?” “Which sets had the 2014 battle-damaged version and the 2015 Type 2 helmet?”
If you collect these, you’ve probably run into questions like these. Here’s everything sorted out in one place.
Hello there! Figrou, I am — your guide, hmm. Figbase, a reference site it is, where which sets the LEGO minifigures come in, and how to tell the variants apart, across the board mapped out they are. Wherever your curiosity leads, begin there you should.
This article lays out how to tell every LEGO Darth Vader minifigure variant apart, along with about 20 of the major sets they appear in (1999-2026), all organized into a single table.
Here’s the short version: there are more than 26 LEGO Darth Vader minifigures by Brickset’s count. The first was the 1999 #7146 TIE Fighter, the rarest is the 2009 limited #4547551 Chrome Darth Vader (a run of 10,000), and the most recent are the 2025 #75419 UCS Death Star and the 2026 #75439 Darth Vader Bust.
Who Is Darth Vader?
Darth Vader is the iconic Sith Lord of the Star Wars original trilogy (Episodes IV-VI). He’s the form the former Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker takes after being turned by Emperor Palpatine, depicted as the supreme leader of the Galactic Empire, clad in full black armor (with built-in life support) and wielding a red lightsaber. In LEGO form he debuted in 1999 as one of the minifigures from the first year of the Star Wars theme (sw0004), and by 2025 there are more than 26 variants. Note that in the LEGO catalog, Darth Vader is treated as a separate character from Anakin Skywalker (pre-fall), so this article focuses on the sets where the Vader design (full black armor and helmet) appears.
Darth Vader Has Multiple Minifigures: Variant List
In the Brickset and BrickLink catalogs, there are more than 26 LEGO Darth Vader minifigures spanning 1999 to 2025. The generations break down along roughly three axes: the helmet mold (Type 1 to Type 2), torso print updates (1999/2008/2014/2019), and the special-finish version (2009 chrome plating). Here we narrow it down to 10 representative categories and lay out the key tells.
| Variant ID | Common Name | Debut Year | How to Identify | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sw0004 | 1999 / original version (Type 1 helmet) | 1999 | Full black armor, simple black torso print, original Type 1 helmet mold. Has eyebrows. Found in 11 sets from 1999-2004 | Medium (plentiful but old) |
| unknown | 2005 version (no-eyebrow face) | 2005 | A transitional version with the eyebrows removed from the face print (in circulation 2005-2008) | Medium |
| unknown | 2008 / remold (detailed torso) | 2008 | Same full black armor and Type 1 helmet, but the torso print adds belt and chest-panel detail. Eyebrows return. Debuted in #10188 Death Star | Medium (in many sets) |
| sw0218 | 2009 / chrome-plated version (10th anniversary exclusive) | 2009 | Full-body metallic mirror-black finish, a special face with no pupils. A run of 10,000, randomly inserted into 2009 sets plus the #4547551 polybag | Highest rarity (run of 10,000) |
| unknown | 2010 / face revision | 2010 | Fine detail updates to the face print (eyebrows, mouth, etc.) | Medium |
| sw0586 series | 2014 / battle-damaged version | 2014 | Tan (scorched-look) torso, damaged face, added leg print. Exclusive to #75055 Imperial Star Destroyer | High (exclusive to #75055) |
| unknown | 2015 / Type 2 helmet version | 2015 | An all-new Type 2 helmet mold (slimmer build), carrying over the 2014 version’s torso and legs. #75093 Death Star Final Duel and others | Medium |
| unknown | 2019 / printed arms version | 2019 | Type 2 helmet plus added arm printing, with further detail in the torso print. Found in #75252 UCS Imperial Star Destroyer and others | Medium |
| unknown | 2023 / current standard version | 2023 | The latest spec, with printed arms and detailed torso. Found in #75368 Darth Vader Mech and others | Low (current product) |
| unknown | 2025-2026 / UCS / Bust versions | 2025 | Found in #75419 UCS Death Star (one of 38 minifigures) and #75439 Darth Vader Bust (slated for release April 2026) | Low (latest, current product) |
Beyond these, there are a handful of “phantom exclusives” too, such as the monochrome white prototype from SDCC (San Diego Comic-Con). Since they almost never reach the market, this article keeps to the 10 main categories.
LEGO Star Wars Sets That Include Darth Vader
| Set No. | Set Name | Release Year | Variant Included | Appears In | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #7146 | TIE Fighter | 1999 | sw0004 (original version) | EP4 | One of his debut sets |
| #7150 | TIE Fighter & Y-wing | 1999 | sw0004 | EP4 | Includes the original version |
| #7152 | TIE Fighter & Y-wing | unknown | sw0004 | EP4 | — |
| #7200 | Final Duel I | unknown | sw0004 | EP6 | — |
| #10123 | Cloud City | unknown | sw0004 | EP5 | Co-stars Boba Fett, Han Solo, and others |
| #10131 | TIE Fighter Collection | unknown | sw0004 | EP4 | — |
| #7262 | TIE Fighter & Y-wing | unknown | sw0004 | EP4 | — |
| #10188 | Death Star | 2008 | 2008 remold | EP4-6 | UCS-class large set. Debut of the detailed-torso version |
| #4547551 | Chrome Darth Vader | 2009 | sw0218 (chrome-plated version) | EP4-6 | LEGO Star Wars 10th anniversary polybag, a run of 10,000 |
| #8017 | Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter | unknown | 2008 remold | EP4 | — |
| #75055 | Imperial Star Destroyer | 2014 | Battle-damaged version (sw0586 series) | EP4-6 | Exclusive mold with scorched-look torso and leg print |
| #75093 | Death Star Final Duel | unknown | Type 2 helmet version | EP6 | — |
| #75159 | Death Star (UCS reissue) | unknown | Type 2 helmet version | EP4-6 | — |
| #75252 | UCS Imperial Star Destroyer | 2019 | Printed arms version | EP4-6 | UCS-class large set |
| #75291 | Death Star Final Duel | 2020 | Printed arms version | EP6 | — |
| #75300 | Imperial TIE Fighter | 2021 | Printed arms version | EP4 | — |
| #75347 | unknown | unknown | Printed arms version | EP4-6 | — |
| #75368 | Darth Vader Mech | 2023 | 2023 current standard version | EP4-6 | Quick-build poseable mech plus a Vader minifigure |
| #75394 | unknown | unknown | Current standard version | EP4-6 | — |
| #75419 | UCS Death Star | 2025 | 2025 version | EP4-6 | The largest UCS set, with a record 38 minifigures |
| #75439 | Darth Vader Bust | 2026 | Bust-bundled version | EP4-6 | Slated for release April 2026. A bust-style display plus a Vader minifigure |
A selection of the major sets, the list above is, so the full set count on Brickset or BrickLink it does not match. The “unknown” and “(to be confirmed)” rows, spots that Figrou has not been able to verify yet are they, so as a rough guide treat them you must. A set number that catches your eye, if there is — search it directly on Brickset, BrickLink, or BrickEconomy, you should.
Vader shows up in more than just the scene-recreation sets for the original trilogy (EP4-6). As a marquee character across the TIE Fighter, Death Star, and Star Destroyer lines, he keeps appearing in new sets almost every year.
First, Latest, Rarest, Cheapest: Buying a Darth Vader Minifigure
The First Darth Vader
The LEGO Darth Vader minifigure first appeared in the 1999 #7146 TIE Fighter, as variant sw0004 (the original version). sw0004 was also shared with that same year’s #7150 TIE Fighter & Y-wing, debuting as an iconic character in the first year of the LEGO Star Wars theme.
The Latest Darth Vader
The most recent Vader appears in the 2025 #75419 UCS Death Star and the #75439 Darth Vader Bust, slated for release in April 2026. #75419 is the largest UCS set ever, bundling a record 38 minifigures, so alongside Vader you get the main Death Star cast such as Emperor Palpatine and Grand Moff Tarkin all together. #75439 is a new kind of Star Wars set that bundles a Vader minifigure with a bust-style display.
The Rarest Darth Vader
Among generally distributed figures, the rarest is the #4547551 Chrome Darth Vader (sw0218), given out in a run of 10,000 in 2009 to mark the LEGO Star Wars 10th anniversary. It’s a special version with a full-body metallic mirror-black finish, randomly inserted into LEGO Star Wars sets of the era, and it remains one of the most expensive Vader minifigures on the secondary market today. The next most sought-after is the battle-damaged version (scorched torso) exclusive to the 2014 #75055, a mold no later set has reproduced.
The Most Affordable Darth Vader
The cheapest option is hard to call since market prices are always shifting, but among current products, the relatively easy one to find is the 2023 #75368 Darth Vader Mech. It bundles the latest Vader minifigure with a quick-build poseable mech, making it an entry-priced way to secure one. For specific prices, check the official store or the secondary market (such as BrickLink) as you go.
Related Minifigures to Collect Alongside Darth Vader
Some co-star minifigures that pair well with Vader, here they are. To recreate dioramas of the Death Star battle, the Cloud City duel, or the battle of Endor if you wish, rounding up the Imperial crew and the Rebel crew together I recommend, so a look give it you should, mmm.
Darth Vader shares the screen with many of the original trilogy’s (EP4-6) main characters, so collecting the related minifigures makes it easier to recreate dioramas of the Death Star battle, the Cloud City duel, the battle of Endor, and more. Here are the co-stars that often appear in the same sets as him.
- Luke Skywalker: The protagonist of EP4-6 and Vader’s son. He frequently co-stars in Death Star and Cloud City sets.
- Leia Organa: The heroine of EP4-6 and Vader’s daughter. She co-stars in many Cloud City and Death Star sets.
- Obi-Wan Kenobi: In his elder years. You can recreate the final duel scene with Vader in #10188 Death Star.
- Emperor Palpatine: Vader’s master. He co-stars in EP6 Death Star sets (#75093, #75291, #75419, and others).
- Stormtrooper: An Imperial soldier. A staple co-star bundled with most Vader sets.
- Grand Moff Tarkin: The EP4 Death Star commander. He co-stars in #10188 Death Star and #75419 UCS Death Star.
- Boba Fett: An EP5 co-star. He appears in the same scenes as Vader in sets like #10123 Cloud City.
- C-3PO: A protocol droid present throughout EP4-6. Co-stars in many sets.
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FAQ: Darth Vader Minifigures
Q. How many LEGO Darth Vader minifigures are there?
A. By Brickset’s count, there are more than 26 variants spanning 1999 to 2025. The generations break down along roughly three axes: the helmet mold (Type 1 to Type 2), torso print updates (1999/2008/2014/2019), and the special-finish version (2009 chrome plating). This article narrows it down to 10 representative categories and lays out the key tells.
Q. Which set had the chrome Darth Vader (sw0218)?
A. It was given out in a run of 10,000 as the #4547551 Chrome Darth Vader (polybag) to mark the LEGO Star Wars 10th anniversary in 2009. It was also randomly inserted into 2009 LEGO Star Wars sets at the time, and it remains one of the most expensive Vader minifigures on the secondary market today.
Q. Which set has the 2014 battle-damaged version (scorched torso)?
A. It’s a mold exclusive to #75055 Imperial Star Destroyer (2014), defined by its tan torso print and leg print. No later set has reproduced this mold so far.
Q. How do the Type 1 and Type 2 helmets differ?
A. Type 1 is the original mold that ran from 1999, with a somewhat boxy shape. Type 2 arrived as a new mold in 2015, updated to be slimmer and closer to the film with more accurate detail. Most Vader minifigures from 2015 onward use Type 2.
Q. Is the Vader in the 2025 #75419 UCS Death Star a new mold?
A. The 2025 #75419 UCS Death Star is a large set bundling a record 38 minifigures, and Vader is included in the current modern design (Type 2 helmet plus printed arms). Grand Moff Tarkin and Emperor Palpatine are also bundled in, making it a lineup that can recreate the Death Star battle on a large scale.
Sources and References
- Brickset: Darth Vader minifigs
- Brickset: sw0180 Darth Vader (Battle Damaged)
- Brickset: #4547551 Chrome Darth Vader
- BrickLink: sw0218 Darth Vader (Chrome Black)
- BrickEconomy: #4547551 Chrome Darth Vader
- Brickipedia (Fandom): Darth Vader
- Holo-Brick Archive: Evolution of the Darth Vader Minifigure Part II
- LEGO Official: #75368 Darth Vader Mech
- LEGO Official: #75419 Death Star
- LEGO Official: #75291 Death Star Final Duel
- The Brick Fan: Yoda and Darth Vader Busts Officially Announced
- Jay’s Brick Blog: #75419 UCS Death Star Review (Minifigures)
- Brick Fanatics: UCS Death Star minifigures explained