The Best LEGO Star Wars Minifigure Chosen Each Year - Part I

Table of Contents

In this article we’re going to be taking a look at what I think is the best Lego Star Wars minifigure every year from 1999 to 2011.

SW0003 'Darth Maul' (1999)

In 1999 for the first year of Lego Star Wars, there were 27 Minifigures were released. In my opinion I think the best one of all of them is SW0003 Darth Maul. It’s literally the first first iteration of Darth Maul, This version of Darth Maul was featured in five different sets. Until 2007, 8 years after its release when it appeared in the ‘7663 Sith Infiltrator’, so basically he was good enough to be used for 8 years after his original release without an update.

SW0045 'Han Solo' (2000)

Moving on to 2000, there were 17 Star Wars minifigures released. In my opinion the best one is SW0045 Han Solo. Now most of you probably recognize this Han Solo from the 2003 ‘10123 Cloud City’. But he was actually released in 2000 in a minifigure pack. He’s just most known for being in the cloud city and because he has type of association with that set he’s obviously pretty valuable. He was definitely a great minifigure and he was also one of the first Lego Star Wars minifigures to have leg printing.

SW0040 'Royal Guard' (2001)

In 2001, there were only 7 new Minifigures released, so I didn’t have very many to choose from. I ended up going with SW0040 Royal Guard, he was featured in three sets. The first one being ‘7166 Imperial Shuttle’ and the most notable one being the ‘6211 Imperial Star Destroyer’. It’s just not anything crazy or ground breaking but again like I said there were only 7 new Minifigures released in 2001.

SW0059 'Zam Wesell' (2002)

In 2002, because the movie <<Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones>>, there were 21 new minifigures released. The best one was SW0059 Zam Wesell. This minifigure and this character have only ever appeared in one set ‘7133 Bounty Hunter Pursuit’. I hate to say this and I really hope I’m wrong but this is one minifigure that Lego might never make again. I picked her because it was just way ahead of its time. The detail and continuous print from the Torso to the legs just looks incredible. For 2002 this minifigure was very impressive.

SW0107 'Boba Fett' (2003)

Moving on to 2003, there were 18 new Minifigures released this year. Obviously the best one was SW0107 Boba Fett, this minifigure was only featured in one set being ‘10123 Cloud City’. As many of you know it’s one of the most valuable Lego Minifigures of all time. I personally think the set is very overrated but there’s no denying that this was the best minifigure released in 2003. I mean it was also the first Lego Star Wars minifigure to have arm Printing and that was a very big deal and that’s why it’s so valuable.

SW0110 'Greedo' (2004)

2004, We have the second ever arm printed Lego Star Wars minifigure. That is SW0110 Greedo, he was also only featured in one set being ‘4501 Mos Eisley Cantina’. Out of the 16 new Star Wars minifigures released in 2004, I think this one is a leagues above the rest. I’d actually even argue that his arm printing alone is a little bit cleaner than the arm printing on Boba Fett the tan and baby blue color way of. This minifigure just looks really appealing to me and that’s why I picked it as the best figure from 2004.

SW0128 '327th Star Corps' (2005)

Moving on to 2005, there were 33 new Lego Star Wars minifigures released. In my opinion the best one was SW0128 327th Star Corps, specifically the one with the orange pauldron. This minifigure was only featured in one set being ‘7261 Clone Turbo Tank’. There were a lot of new clone troopers released in 2005 for ‘Revenge of the Sith’. they all look great but I think this one stands above the rest. His colors are actually very accurate and that orange pauldron isn’t much but it definitely does a lot.

SW0088 'Han Solo' (2006)

In 2006, there were 24 new Lego Star Wars minifigures released. I think the best one is kind of a lesser known minifigure being SW0088 Han Solo. He was featured in one set being ‘6212 X-wing Fighter’. I think he looks great especially for 2006, he’s got really good torso and leg printing. That I actually think would hold up today in 2025 if he just had a different head print.

SW0163 'Kit Fisto' (2007)

Moving on to 2007, there were 34 new Lego Star Wars minifigures released, I think the best one was SW0163 Kit Fisto. SW0163 only appeared in two sets, ‘7661: Jedi Starfighter with Hyperdrive Booster Ring’ and ‘75402:ARC-170 Starfighter’. In 2007, he was great and it was a really unique head mold for the time and also Kit Fisto is a figure that we just don’t see that often.

SW0180 'Darth Vader(Battle Damaged)' (2008)

There were 39 new Minifigures introduced in 2008. I think SW0180 Darth Vader(Battle Damaged) is the best one. He only appeared in one set which was ‘7672:Rogue Shadow’. 7672 was the only Force Unleashed set that Lego ever made. <<The Clone Wars>> minifigures in 2008 were great, they introduced a lot of awesome clone troopers and New Jedi. But really I think this battle damage Darth Vader is just a lot cooler than those and looks way more unique.

SW0251 'Lando Calrissian' (2009)

In 2009 there were 46 new Lego Star Wars minifigures introduced. I’m going to be honest none of them were really that outstanding but I think the best one is SW0251 Lando Calrissian. This minifigure was featured in one set being ‘7754:Home One Mon Calamari Star Cruiser’. There weren’t any like outstanding Minifigures released in 2009 but I still think this specific Lando looks pretty good. He’s unique with his sand blue legs and those combined with the white Cape make a really awesome colar way.

SW0285 'Cad Bane' (2010)

Moving on to 2010 there were 44 new Star Wars minifigures introduced . And in my opinion, the best one was SW0285 Cad Bane. This minifigure appeared in two sets, ‘8098:Clone Turbo Tank’ and ‘8128:Cad Bane’s Speeder’. I think they did a great job for 2010, minus not having leg printing the upper half of his body especially his hat and his headpiece look really awesome.

SW0307 'Embo' (2011)

In 2011 there were 63 new Star Wars minifigures introduced. And in my opinion I think the best one by a long shot is SW0307 Embo. This minifigure appeared in one set ‘7930:Bounty Hunter Assault Gunship’. I mean Embo was one of the coolest characters in The Clone Wars, Lego represented him perfectly here. The amount of detail all over from his legs to his torso to his face print to his hat. It all looks so great and I really applaud Lego for making a great character into a great figure continuing on the trend of rare Clone Wars minifigures.