I started to specialize my toy soldier collection in fantasy around twenty years ago when I realized just how many figures and sets are available. Nobody else I knew of was collecting this stuff. When I really got into it, I started having a blast finding and learning about a whole category of toy soldiers that other, and much older and knowledgeable, collectors were ignoring. It has been my pleasure to share what I have learned through this blog.
Some fantasy toy soldiers are much harder to find than others and some sets are very difficult to complete. Their are fairly common sets with just one or a few super rare figures that make them hard to complete, and other sets are all very rare. Below is my best guess at the twenty rarest. I have tried to add pictures of individual figures that make certain sets hard to complete. These are all complete sets of original figures, no bootlegs and no worries about color variations, just the base figure sets. These were all commercially produced and mass marketed. There are no custom figures like the insanely rare sets made by the Alliance of the Free on this list.
My list is based on twenty years of experience collecting and conversations with other collectors since I started this blog. That is all I have to go on. So, the rankings are debatable. I have looked for solid information without any success. I even summoned Cthulhu last Christmas and offered up my brother's soul but he did not have any useful insights.
20. Toyco Demons & Dragonriders.
19. Arco Dragons n' Monsters.
18. Durham Fantasy Figures.
17. Unknown 1980s Soft Rubber Weirdness.
16. Skinner The Lurkers.
15. Supreme Dragon's Lair Castle Playset Figures.
14. Simba The Legend of Zortan.
13. Percy Jackson Movie Figures.
12. HEI Vampires.
11. Larime Blacktar.
10. Galaxy Warriors.
9. Unknown Ant Warriors.
8. Games Work Shop Fighting Fantasy.
7. Oritet Elves, Dwarves, Goblins & Fairy Tail Characters.
6. Unknown Vending/Party Favor Rubber Orcs.
5. Polotoy Battle of the Ancients (and other titles).
4. TSR Dungeons & Dragons Character Figures.
3. Helm Toy Playset Figures.
2. Yolanda? Horrors n' Heroes.
1. LarGo Toys Stingers & Wings.
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amazing collection,really cool! ew
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteFascinating post. I was interested to see the Arco figures are copies of RAL Partha and Grenadier metal figures. The poses are unmistakable.
ReplyDeleteCheers Mike
They are copies of old lead figures. Someone tracked down most of them and put up side by side pictures, but I cannot find the link. You might find it with a google search.
DeleteMy toy figure bucket challenge is to be a Playset.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of the list, I have some of these figures but others i just cannot find anywhere for sale and some are to expensive when i have seen them. I have always wanted a set of the Durham figures, Skinner The Lurkers, More of The Polotoy Goblins and Demons and Warriors, And lastly the Largo figures. Hopefully i will come across these figures in the future. Great collection Shaun and your lucky to have many of these figures.
ReplyDeleteRegards Darren
Thanks Darren. Just keep looking, you will find these guys eventually.
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