Battle Droid Tan with One Bent Arm
sw0001c · Star Wars
Episode I / The Clone Wars · 2002 (Current 'One Bent Arm' variant standard since 2002-2003)
Figure ID
sw0001c
Theme
Star Wars
Year Released
2002 (Current 'One Bent Arm' variant standard since 2002-2003)
Rarity
Common. This is one of the most mass-produced minifigures in LEGO history, appearing in dozens of sets for over two decades.
Head
Standard Tan Battle Droid head mold. It features no printing; the eyes and mechanical features are represented by the sculpt of the plastic.
Torso
Tan Battle Droid torso with vertical clip. It has no printing. This specific version features two straight arms or one bent arm for holding a blaster.
Legs
Tan Battle Droid legs. This is a single injection-molded piece that represents both legs and the hip joint; it has no articulation at the knees.
Accessories
Standard black blaster (small or medium size, based on the set). In many sets, they may also include a backpack plate with two 1x1 plates.
Color Scheme
Solid Tan (BrickLink color name) or Brick Yellow (LEGO official name) with a black accessory.
Printing Details
None. The figure relies entirely on the unique mold of its five constituent plastic parts (Head, Torso, two Arms, Legs).
Variants
sw0001 (Original 1999 version with two straight arms), sw0001a (1999 variant with brown back plate), sw001c (this version with one bent arm), and various colorful variants like Security (Red), Commander (Yellow), and Pilot (Blue).
Condition Notes
Prone to loose clips on the torso and arms. Stress marks often appear on the hand clips from holding blasters too long. The plastic is thin and can snap at the ankles or neck if under pressure.
Estimated Value
Used: $1.00 - $2.50. New: $3.00 - $5.00. Value remains low due to extreme abundance in the market.
Price (New)
Usually included in sets ranging from $10 to $500. They were once sold in 'Battle Packs' (4 droids for $10).
Compatible Sets
7141 Naboo Fighter, 75086 Battle Droid Troop Carrier, 7670 Hailfire Droid & Spider Droid, 75058 MTT, and many others.
Character Background
B1 Battle Droids are the backbone of the Trade Federation and Separatist Droid Armies. Known for their 'Roger Roger' personality and numerical superiority.
Design Notes
The Droid arm mold was updated from the 1999 version (two straight arms) to include a 90-degree turned hand/arm (bent arm) to allow them to hold blasters horizontally.
Similar Minifigures
Super Battle Droid (sw0092), Commando Droid (sw0359), and Tactical Droid (sw0412).
Collectibility
Low individual value, but high demand for 'army building.' Collectors typically buy them in quantities of 10 to 100 for dioramas.
History
Debuted in 1999 with the launch of the Star Wars line. It was one of the first minifigures to use entirely unique, non-humanoid molds for every body part.
Interesting Facts
The Battle Droid holds the record for the most appearances in LEGO Star Wars sets. There are more individual LEGO Battle Droids in existence than almost any other named character.
Display Suggestions
Best displayed in 'ranks' on a large tan or grey baseplate to simulate a droid army deployment. Use a clear 1x2 brick to help them stand if their leg joints are loose.
Modification Potential
Excellent for 'Battle Damaged' customs; many fans use soldering irons to create scorch marks or cut limbs to simulate Jedi combat.
Overall Assessment
The quintessential 'grunt' figure. While not rare or expensive, it is a masterpiece of efficient industrial design and essential for any Star Wars collection.