Top 20 Most Valuable Action Figures of All Time (2026 Price Guide)
Top 20 Most Valuable Action Figures (And How to Protect Them)
🔄 2026 Update: This article was reviewed and updated in 2026 to reflect current collector demand and newly rising grail figures.
Prices and values are correct as of 2026 and will vary by condition (MOC vs loose), region, variant, and grading.
From rare Star Wars Kenner grails to elusive WWF Hasbro legends and TMNT chase pieces, some action figures now sell for thousands of pounds. This guide walks through the Top 20 of the most valuable action figures ever released – and shows you how the right acrylic display case can help keep them safe for the long term.
💡 Tip: Values below are approximate and assume a mint-on-card (MOC) or high-grade loose example. The market moves constantly – but the need for proper protection never changes.
Ready to protect your own grails? Use the Display Armour Case Finder to match your figures to the correct acrylic display case.
New Notable Grails & Rising Stars (2026)
Alongside the Top 20 below, these are three extra figures that have remained strong (or climbed) in collector demand through 2026:
WWF Hasbro The Undertaker – Series 8 (Red Card): The most desirable Undertaker release from the Hasbro line. Issued in Series 8 on the red card in 1994, this version marks the final Undertaker of the line and saw significantly lower production than earlier releases.
While Undertaker also appeared earlier in Series 4, those earlier examples are far more common and do not command the same prices. Series 8 cards are prone to bubble dents and card warp, which is why clean, unpunched examples drive strong premiums and are almost always protected in extra-deep acrylic display cases.
LJN WWF Macho Man Randy Savage (Black Card – Early Run): One of the true money-pieces from the oversized LJN WWF line. The black card variant is associated with earlier production and is significantly tougher to find in clean condition than later releases.
Because the figure is heavy and the bubble is oversized, many examples suffer from bubble stress, card bowing or edge wear. Collectors pay a strong premium for flat cards with intact, clear bubbles, which is why high-grade examples are almost always displayed in deep, reinforced acrylic cases.
Why the Right Display Case Matters for High-Value Figures
Once a figure moves into the £500–£10,000+ territory, the risks change. It’s no longer just a toy – it’s a serious collectible asset. The three biggest enemies of value are:
- UV light – fades inks, softens blacks and washes out colours.
- Warpage and blister damage – bowed cards, crushed bubbles and edge wear.
- Dust, knocks and handling – especially for shelf displays and Detolf setups.
A properly sized UV-protected acrylic case with a true MOC fit (not a loose, generic box) helps to:
- Keep cardbacks flat, supported and centred.
- Reduce exposure to UV light and environmental damage.
- Stop accidental knocks, corner dings and blister scuffs.
That’s exactly why collectors now routinely pair their Star Wars, WWF Hasbro, TMNT, MOTU and other grails with a good acrylic case – you’re essentially putting a shield around the value.
The Top 20 Most Valuable Action Figures
Below is a list of 20 highly sought-after action figures that regularly command strong prices when they surface in top condition. Values will vary by grade, card condition, region and timing – but this gives a realistic ballpark for what collectors are paying today.
1. Rocket-Firing Boba Fett Prototype (Kenner Star Wars)
Estimated value: Often well into the £100,000+ range for genuine examples.
The legendary rocket-firing Boba Fett prototype was developed for Kenner’s original Star Wars line in the late 1970s. The spring-loaded missile launcher was cancelled over safety concerns, and only a handful of prototypes survived – most in the hands of advanced prototype collectors.
Because each piece is documented and heavily researched, condition and provenance are everything. These usually live in museum-style archival acrylic with full UV protection and zero stress on the brittle plastic.
2. Double-Telescoping Luke Skywalker (Kenner Star Wars)
Estimated value: Up to £20,000+ in high-grade MOC form.
Early runs of the 1978 Luke Skywalker figure included a double-telescoping lightsaber. The design was quickly simplified, making DT Lukes on card one of the key original trilogy grails.
3. Double-Telescoping Darth Vader (Kenner Star Wars)
Estimated value: Often £15,000–£25,000+ MOC, depending on card and grade.
Produced in very low numbers, DT Vader is a cornerstone of any high-end Kenner run. Deep black inks mean edge wear shows instantly, so a snug acrylic case that keeps the card perfectly flat is standard practice.
4. Double-Telescoping Obi-Wan Kenobi (Kenner Star Wars)
Estimated value: Typically £10,000–£20,000+ in top condition.
Ben “Obi-Wan” Kenobi completes the DT trio. Clean, unpunched examples are incredibly hard to find, so collectors nearly always display these under UV-safe protection.
5. Vinyl Cape Jawa (Kenner Star Wars)
Estimated value: Around £3,000–£8,000+
The vinyl cape Jawa is another early-line correction with a very
short production window, quickly replaced by the cloth cape version.
Because of this, genuine vinyl cape examples on card are far scarcer than
later releases.
The dark cardback and brown tones make fading and edge wear easy to spot,
which is why most surviving high-grade examples are either professionally
graded or displayed in crystal-clear, UV-protected acrylic cases
where the contrast and detail really pop.
6. “Blue Harvest” & Pre-Production Star Wars Kenner Pieces
Estimated value: Varies wildly, often in the £5,000–£20,000+ range.
Test shots, first shots, hard copies and mock-up cards are effectively unique, spanning Star Wars Kenner, WWF Hasbro, TMNT, MOTU and other major lines. Because they were never intended for public release or long-term survival, these pieces are ideal candidates for museum-style acrylic housings and extremely careful handling.
7. TMNT Scratch the Cat (Playmates)
Estimated value: Often £2,000–£4,000+ MOC in top shape.
Scratch is a late-run TMNT legend who never appeared in the cartoon, existing solely as a Playmates toy release. Low production, zero screen exposure and heavy childhood play mean clean bubbles and flat cards are exceptionally rare — which is why collectors protect these quickly.
8. G1 Transformers MISB Grails (e.g. Optimus Prime)
Estimated value: Key characters can hit £2,000–£10,000+ sealed.
Window boxes and shiny foils look incredible — but they’re vulnerable. A properly sized box case helps prevent corner crush, shelf-lean, and window bowing over time.
9. Masters of the Universe Scare Glow (Mattel)
Estimated value: Around £1,000–£3,000+ MOC depending on card, region and grade.
Late-line MOTU cards often warp and bubbles lift. Landing a clean Scare Glow usually means getting it protected ASAP to keep that iconic card art flat.
10. M.A.S.K. Rhino (Kenner) – Mint in Box
Estimated value: Frequently in the £800–£2,000+ bracket sealed.
Heavy boxes are notorious for corner crush, shelf-lean and edge wear. A thick acrylic shipper-style case that supports all sides is the safest display option.
11. WWF Hasbro 1–2–3 Kid (Green Card)
Estimated value: Often around £1,000–£1,500+ MOC in top condition.
WWF Hasbro 1–2–3 Kid – Series 11 (Green Card): A late-line fan favourite from the final green card wave. Production numbers were low, and many examples suffered bubble cracks or card curl straight out of the case.
Clean cards with deep colour saturation and no lifting around the bubble are increasingly scarce, which is why this figure consistently sits among the highest-valued WWF Hasbro releases when protected and displayed correctly.
12. WWF Hasbro Dusty Rhodes
Estimated value: Typically in the £1,000–£1,500+ MOC range for top examples.
Clean Dusty cards have dried up fast. The oversized bubble is prone to cracking, and many examples also suffered damage during production. Combined with Dusty leaving the WWF part-way through the Hasbro run, carded figures are far scarcer than most realise — which is why collectors tend to case these immediately.
13. LJN WWF Macho Man Randy Savage (Black Card / Early Run)
Estimated value: Often £1,500–£3,000+ MOC depending on card strength and condition.
One of the standout LJN money-pieces. Because the figures are heavy and the bubbles are huge, clean flat cards with intact bubbles command serious money — and deep acrylic protection is the safest long-term display route.
14. LJN WWF Hulk Hogan (High Grade – Carded)
Estimated value: High-grade examples can easily surpass £1,000+.
The flagship of the oversized LJN WWF line. Because of the weight, a deep reinforced acrylic case that supports the full card is almost mandatory for long-term display.
15. ThunderCats Bengali (LJN) – Mint on Card
Estimated value: Frequently £2,500–£4,000+ MOC in strong condition.
Bengali is widely regarded as the ThunderCats grail. The bold blues show fading quickly and clean bubbles are tough — which is why high-end examples are typically slabbed or protected in deep, UV-resistant acrylic.
16. Bucky O’Hare (Hasbro) – High-Grade MOC
Estimated value: Often £300–£700+ MOC depending on character and condition.
The short-lived Bucky O’Hare line has exploded in popularity as 80s/90s collectors circle back. Neon inks don’t love light exposure, so UV-safe display is a no-brainer.
17. Real Ghostbusters Grails (Kenner)
Estimated value: Key characters and variants can reach £300–£1,000+ MOC.
Odd bubble shapes don’t love pressure, so a deep case that lets the blister “breathe” without touching the front is the safest display option.
18. Vintage Star Wars “Last 17” (POTF) Mint on Card
Estimated value: Commonly £400–£1,500+ each MOC depending on character.
Thin card stock, coin bubbles and decades in storage mean truly flat cards are rare — another perfect candidate for fitted acrylic protection.
19. Early G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Key Figures (e.g. 1982 Snake Eyes)
Estimated value: First-series stars can hit £500–£2,000+ MOC.
Long, narrow cards are easily bent and bubbles crush easily — so a case that supports the full height of the card is key for long-term condition.
20. Rare Store Exclusives, Mail-Aways & Test Market Releases
Estimated value: Highly variable, but often in the £300–£3,000+ band.
Across Star Wars, wrestling, TMNT, MOTU and more — mail-aways, catalogue promos and test markets can create true “needle in a haystack” pieces. They’re often the most personal grails too, which makes protecting them just as important.
Protecting High-Value Figures: Next Steps
Whether you own a single grail like 1–2–3 Kid or a full wall of TMNT, Star Wars or wrestling legends, the same rule applies: if you’d be upset to lose it, protect it properly.
If your collection leans into specific lines, you can match them with line-specific cases for a cleaner display:
- WWF Hasbro MOC display cases
- Star Wars acrylic display cases
- TMNT acrylic display cases
- MOTU and other classic lines
Not sure which case you need? Use the Display Armour Case Finder or read our Ultimate MOC Display Case Guide for examples and sizing tips.
Protect. Display. Preserve. Whether it’s a six-figure prototype or a childhood favourite that means the world to you, a properly sized 4 mm UV acrylic case is the simplest way to keep it safe for the next generation.