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A Fortune In Plastic: Putting A Price Tag On Rare Skylanders
Game Informer's Mike Futter was lucky enough to find a Color Shift Gill Grunt at his local Toys R' Us this weekend, but most people never see rare Skylanders action figures on store shelves. And there's good reason, too. Given the limited supplies of these variant editions, collectors are willing to pay ridiculous amounts of money for them.
A couple of years ago, we tracked an eBay sale of six gold and silver variants that ended up selling for $1,355.54 after 35 bids. Today, people are asking more than that for just one figure. The E3 2011 edition of Trigger Happy, which was handed out to show attendees months before the first Skylanders game released, sold for $1,725 a month ago, and a red Camo netted $2,025 in the same month.
How are the other rare figures selling? We rounded up the latest confirmed sales for some of the more popular variants available. If you have any rare figures, list them in the comments section below and we'll do our best to figure out what they are worth!
Crystal Clear Cynder
Game: Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure
Average Selling Price: $150
This highly sought after Cynder appeared in standard retail assortments and has sold for over $300 in previous years. More second-hand listings have appeared in recent years, driving its price down.
Color Shift Gill Grunt
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $12
This figure was originally released as an exclusive at the EB Games Expo, but started appearing at Toys R' Us stores in January 2014. The value has plummeted from over $200 to just above retail price.
Color Shift Hot Dog
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $100
This bronze-colored version of Hot Dog was given out at the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo and Games Com shows.
Color Shift Shroomboom
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $800
This figure is one of the rarest in all of the Skylanders collections. It wasn't sold in stores, and was only handed out to Activision employees and people associated with the product. It often sells for over $1,000.
Next up... The Value of Gold and Purple
Gold Flameslinger
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $25
People paid over $100 for this figure before learning that it was in greater quantities than previously thought. The figure is now a common sight in eBay auctions, selling for around $20-30.
Metallic Chop Chop
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $130
This figure was only given out at Activision's booth at the 2013 New York Toy Fair.
Metallic Lightning Rod
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $115
Released to retail but in extremely limited qualities just a few months before Swap Force was released.
Metallic Wrecking Ball
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $150
This figure sells for a bit more, but is believed to have the same limited run as Lightning Rod. It was released at the same time.
Metallic Eye-Brawl
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $90
The third figure in the metallic purple line was a little easier to find (perhaps from consumer disinterest in the character), and sells for considerably less than the other two like figures.
Next up... Turns out people collect flocked things
Flocked Eruptor
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $135
Arriving during the 2013 holiday season, this version of Eruptor is one of many of the "flocked" variety.
Flocked Eruptor
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $150
Activision created two versions of this holiday themed figure: one for retail release, and another that was given out exclusively to Activision staff.
Gold Flocked Eruptor
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $650
Only handed out to employees, the Gold Flocked Eruptor is one of the hardest figures to track down, and the only that combines two variant types.
Flocked Stump Smash
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $140
This was the second flocked figure released. The first was a green version for Spyro's Adventure. That one sells for around $40.
Sparkle Hot Head
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $125
First appearing in Walmart and Target stores, this figure later reached most retail chains, driving its auction prices down.
Sparkle Sprocket
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $150
Released late in 2012 in what is believed to be just one shipment to retail stores.
Next up... Stones and glow-in-the-dark variants
Stone Whirlwind
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $200
Found on retail shelves toward the end of Skylanders: Giants release.
Stone Zook
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $220
Released to retail individually and in three-packs, Stone Zook's quantities are believed to be low.
Glow-in-the-Dark Fright Rider
Game: Skylanders: Giants
Average Selling Price: $30
Released in Europe and Australia, it was packaged individually and in starter boxes.
Gold Fire Kraken
Game: Skylanders: Swap Force
Average Selling Price: $750
Given to Beenox developers after they completed work on Skylanders: Swap Force.
Gold Chop Chop
Game: Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure
Average Selling Price: $100
Released a few months after Spyro's Adventure hit store shelves, Gold Chop Chop is a hard figure to find, and almost always brings in over $100 in auction.
Next up... Springtime fun and all red
Flocked Springtime Trigger Happy
Game: Skylanders: Swap Force
Average Selling Price: $125
There are two versions of Springtime Trigger Happy, a standard edition (which sells for just over retail price now), and this rare flocked version.
Pearl Hex
Game: Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure
Average Selling Price: $200
A 2012 Nuremberg Toy Fair exclusive.
Metallic Dune Bug
Game: Skylanders: Swap Force
Average Selling Price: $220
Handed out to a limited number of 2012 New York Toy Fair attendees.
Got a rare figure that isn't on the list? Tell us about it in the comments section below!
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