Review: LEGO Star Wars 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack

Today we are looking at a set I was highly anticipating: LEGO Star Wars 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack. It’s funny how a single minifig can create such a stir around a set. At $12.99, battle packs are often a great deal for the money, and a nice way to army build. This year, LEGO took a different route with battle packs, mixing good guys and bad guys in the same set. To me, this increases playability for kids who can only afford one set. Nice move LEGO.

The box cover:
LEGO Star Wars 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack

The contents:
LEGO Star Wars 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack

Here is the main highlight of the set, the Elite Clone Trooper. The amount of detail is really astounding, with a new helmet, tons of custom printing all the way down to the feet, plus other accessories. Really, one of the nicest minifigs LEGO has produced:
LEGO Star Wars 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack

The backpack:
LEGO Star Wars 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack

The new printing on the ARF trooper is very nice as well. I love this design, so I am glad LEGO is continuing to do new printings of it:
LEGO Star Wars 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack

From the back:
LEGO Star Wars 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack

Typically, battle droids aren’t considered as “valuable” as regular minifigs. These are new molds, the Commando Droids. They look fine – with some nice detailed printing on the head. I suppose LEGO put all of their effort into the Elite Clone Trooper, which is why they didn’t include 4 proper minifigs:
LEGO Star Wars 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack

Dark red pieces, including 4 visors:
LEGO Star Wars 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack

The inclusion of the extra visors allow you to turn regular clones into a battalion for the elite trooper to command:
LEGO Star Wars 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack

The rest of the parts, nothing very special here:
LEGO Star Wars 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack

The cannon:
LEGO Star Wars 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack

Doesn’t seem like a fair fight, does it?
LEGO Star Wars 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack

The cannon is a nice design, about what you would expect for a set of this size. Very usable in lots of scenarios.
LEGO Star Wars 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack

Overall, I really like this set, and will be buying multiples to build up a liitle Elite Clone Trooper army!

4 thoughts on “Review: LEGO Star Wars 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack”

  1. nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnThis is probably the first battle pack that I need tondecide to buy or not.nnnThe ARF trooper is really awesome and easily on my mostnwanted list.nnnu00a0nnnI usually buy 2 or more to build my clone army. But tonspent over $30 (canadian) for two pack which will add only 4 troopers to mynarmy is a bit too expensive for me. But the ARF is just so hard to resist andnthe force is not strong in me.nnnu00a0nnnThere are two things I donu2019t like about this pack.nnn1)u00a0 thennumber of troopers. Only 2 troopers u2026 droids doesnu2019t do it for me. In the pastnit always has been 4.nnn2)u00a0 Thisnis by far the worst vehicle/weapon design ever. Plus no special parts here. nnnThe elite trooper. This isnu2019t a deal breaker for me as itncan be easily fixed. I can really appreciate the details and precisions thatngoes in the paint applications. But the design is just a bit too busy for me.nIts only the legs I donu2019t really like. I think I have spare white legs parts tonswap. They changed the shoulder n skirt piece to real cloth now. I cannunderstand why they did it for greater flexibility. I like it better when theynused soft rubber/plastic. I also like the old phase2 helmet a bit more wherenthe visor arenu2019t just painted. nnnu00a0nnnTime to promote my old phase-1 clone troopers to a highernrank with sunshades u2026 ooops I mean visor.u00a0nnn

    1. Good point about the fact that you only get 2 clones in the pack. I have to say, both are really great though. Thanks for the pros and cons of the set!

    2. Good point about the fact that you only get 2 clones in the pack. I have to say, both are really great though. Thanks for the pros and cons of the set!

  2. Fun fact the arf trooper (the one on the cannon) is from the old wolf pack. The old wolf pack is maroon and turned to blue to remember the other wolf pack members that died in season 1, of clonewars. The arc trooper is commander hammer.

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