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There are some hardcore collector’s out there who like differentiate between chase variants, in-game variants, store exclusives and the like. That’s not me.

As (I hope) you’ve noticed here on SCL, I like to keep things simple. This is why I stick with the label of Variants. These are figures that VARY in some form or fashion from their base figure release with the game. I’m focusing more on the figures and less on their relationship to the game.

With that being said, here's Part 3…

PART 3 – Skylanders: SWAP Force (SSF) Variants

Bronze & Silver Trap Shadow

Bronze & Silver Trap Shadow was the first two-color Swapper to be discovered. As it is one of the newest variants to date, very few figures have been found. It is so new that it is hard to judge exactly how rare this figure actually is.

Dark Blast Zone

Dark Blast Zone was one of the five Skylanders available only in the Dark Edition Starter Pack (also known as the Collector's Edition). This Starter Pack was exclusive to GameStop.

Dark Slobber Tooth

Dark Slobber Tooth was one of the five Skylanders available only in the Dark Edition Starter Pack (also known as the Collector's Edition). This Starter Pack was exclusive to GameStop.

Dark Spyro

Alternate Names: Dark Mega Ram Spyro, Dark Spyro (Series 3)

Dark Spyro was one of the five Skylanders available only in the Dark Edition Starter Pack (also known as the Collector's Edition). This Starter Pack was exclusive to GameStop.

This should not be confused with the Dark Spyro released with Spyro's Adventure.

Dark Stealth Elf

Alternate Names: Dark Ninja Stealth Elf

Dark Stealth Elf was one of the five Skylanders available only in the Dark Edition Starter Pack (also known as the Collector's Edition). This Starter Pack was exclusive to GameStop.

Dark Wash Buckler

Dark Wash Buckler was one of the five Skylanders available only in the Dark Edition Starter Pack (also known as the Collector's Edition). This Starter Pack was exclusive to GameStop.

Enchanted Hoot Loop

Enchanted Hoot Loop is only available in a Single Pack. This was the first Walmart Exclusive in the SWAP Force release. This figure was easy to find for the first few weeks after the release. It sold out quickly, but then it was actually replenished at many stores.

This replenishment is quite unheard of for store exclusive figures. As a result, Enchanted Hoot Loop can still be found in some stores late in the release of SWAP Force.

Enchanted LightCore Star Strike

Alternate Names: Enchanted Star Strike

Enchanted LightCore Star Strike is only available in a Single Pack. This was the second Walmart Exclusive figure in the SWAP Force release.

Upon initial release this variant was very plentiful. Perhaps due to the excessive stock of Enchanted Hoot Loop, it does not seem like this figure flew off the shelves very quickly. It is still available at many Walmart locations.

Flocked Springtime Trigger Happy

Alternate Names: Fuzzy Springtime Trigger Happy, Furry Springtime Trigger Happy, Fluffy Springtime Trigger Happy

Flocked Springtime Trigger Happy is a very special figure for a number of reasons.

It was first discovered as part of a Target (Australia) contest. This contest was giving away 25 of these figures. However, the Official Rules of the contest stated that 1500 of this figure had been produced.

Now 1500 may seem like a lot compared to the 25, but as far as Skylanders variants are concerned, it's extremely rare.

A few weeks later it was discovered that Toys R Us was receiving a second shipment of Springtime Trigger Happy. Each store received just one more box. BUT in this box of 12, there was 1 Flocked Springtime Trigger Happy.

That's right, each Toys R Us location received just ONE Flocked Springtime Trigger Happy. It is rare.

Frito-Lay Fire Bone Hot Dog (Green)

Frito-Lay Fire Bone Hot Dog was the prize of the Frito-Lay Skylanders giveaway in 2014. We have seen similar giveaways in the past such as Flocked Stump Smash.

The official rules of this contest stated that there were 5,856 prizes given away. The big difference with this contest is that there were three different colors to collect. The rules did not specifically state that the prizes were spread out equally among the different colors so it is possible that one color is rarer than another, but it's unlikely and we'll never know for sure.

In any case you can be sure that this is a fairly rare variant that you won't be able to find in stores.

Frito-Lay Fire Bone Hot Dog (Purple)

See Frito-Lay Fire Bone Hot Dog (Green)

Frito-Lay Fire Bone Hot Dog (Red)

See Frito-Lay Fire Bone Hot Dog (Green)

Gold & Bronze Doom Stone

Gold & Bronze Doom Stone was the third two-color Swapper to be discovered. As it is one of the newest variants to date, very few figures have been found. It is so new that it is hard to judge exactly how rare this figure actually is.

Gold Fire Kraken

Alternate Names: Employee Edition Fire Kraken, Dev Team Fire Kraken

Gold Fire Kraken is a special gift that was handed out to the SWAP Force Dev Team in late 2013. There is no way to buy this one in stores as it was never released to the general public.

You can compare this figure to the 2012 Employee Edition LightCore Prism Break. Although it's not available to the public you can expect to see a few pop up on eBay from time to time.

Gold Wash Buckler

Alternate Names: Metallic Gold Wash Buckler, Metallic Green Wash Buckler, Color Shift Wash Buckler, Iridescent Gold Wash Buckler

Gold Wash Buckler can most closely be compared to Green Gill Grunt that was released with Spyro's Adventure. Gold Wash Buckler can only be found in a special Wii U Bundle.

Just like the original Green Gill Grunt, I do not anticipate this figure ever being released as a Single Pack.

Green Chop Chop

Green Chop Chop is one of the first three chase variants (or “treasure hunts”) released with SWAP Force. These variants were randomly inserted into various shipments of Wave 2 figures. They are not exclusive to any store or country.

Green Rip Tide

Green Rip Tide is one of the first three chase variants (or “treasure hunts”) released with SWAP Force. These variants were randomly inserted into various shipments of Wave 2 figures. They are not exclusive to any store or country.

Green Scorp

Green Scorp is one of the first three chase variants (or “treasure hunts”) released with SWAP Force. These variants were randomly inserted into various shipments of Wave 2 figures. They are not exclusive to any store or country.

Heavy Metal Sprocket

Alternate Names: Army Sprocket, Best Buy Exclusive Sprocket, Silver Sprocket

Heavy Metal Sprocket was a surprise Best Buy Exclusive variant. No one knew anything about this variant until Best Buy threw up a pre-order page on their website.

However, because this variant was available for pre-order, many fans and collectors had absolutely no trouble getting their hands on this variant. After the pre-orders were filled, excess stock was put on the shelves.

You can still find this variant for sale at some Best Buy locations.

Jade Fire Kraken

Jade Fire Kraken was the final in-game variant to be released for SWAP Force. He was not seen in stores until June. For some people this was just too long to wait and they gave up on him. For others though it was the last piece of the puzzle.

Jade Fire Kraken was widely distributed to all retailers with most stores receiving multiple cases of this single figure (which is odd for a figure this late in the cycle). In many locations it is still possible to find this stellar variant in stores today.

Jolly Bumble Blast

Jolly Bumble Blast was a special holiday variant release for the Christmas of 2013. It was released widely at all retailers, but there was only one production run.

If you were on the ball and looking for it in December of 2013, you probably had no problems finding it. Since that time it has been sold out in stores and will never be replenished. You will now be forced to pay a bit extra if you wish acquire this festive figure.

Kickoff Countdown

Kickoff Countdown was a “seasonal” variant that came out during the 2014 World Cup.

As with most seasonal variants it was widely available at all retailers for a few weeks after its' release. However, if you're trying to find it in stores now, you're probably out of luck. You will have to do your shopping online.

Legendary Free Ranger

Legendary Free Ranger is only available in a Single Pack. As with all Legendary figures, this is a Toys R Us Exclusive.

Legendary Free Ranger was one of two special figures available on launch day. Although there was ample supply at the launch, it is getting harder and harder to find in stores.

Legendary LightCore Grim Creeper

Legendary LightCore Grim Creeper is only available in a Single Pack. As with all Legendary figures, this is a Toys R Us Exclusive.

Legendary LightCore Grim Creeper was one of two special figures available on launch day. Although there was ample supply at the launch, it is getting harder and harder to find in stores.

Legendary Night Shift

Legendary Night Shift is only available as a Single Pack. As with all Legendary figures, this is a Toys R Us Exclusive. This figure was released about a month after the initial release of SWAP Force.

Legendary Zoo Lou

Legendary Zoo Lou is only available as a Single Pack. As with all Legendary figures, this is a Toys R Us Exclusive. This figure was released about a month after the initial release of SWAP Force.

Metallic Red Dune Bug

Alternate Names: Red Dune Bug, Toy Fair Dune Bug

Metallic Red Dune Bug was the figure handed out at Toy Fair 2014 in New York.

Activision has definitely cut back on who they hand out these special figures to. As a result, these trade show variants are once again getting harder to find and more expensive.

Nitro Freeze Blade

Nitro Freeze Blade was released early in 2014. Just like Nitro Magna Charge, it is a Target Exclusive.

Nitro Freeze Blade was only released in a Single Pack. It was readily available upon initial release, but like most Target Exclusives, it will soon be gone.

Nitro Magna Charge

Nitro Magna Charge was originally available as part of one of two Double Packs. These special Double Packs were a Target Exclusive. You could choose from Nitro Magna Charge and Free Ranger or Nitro Magna Charge and Rattle Shake.

The Nitro Magna Charge packs were readily available at launch. A few weeks after the launch, Target put these Double Packs on sale and the remaining few quickly disappeared.

In the first quarter of 2014, shortly after the release of Nitro Freeze Blade, Nitro Magna Charge was made available in a Single Pack.

Quick Draw Rattle Shake

Alternate Names: Quickdraw Rattle Shake, Frito Lay Rattle Shake

Quick Draw Rattle Shake first appeared as a prize in a Frito Lay promotion during the Fall of 2013. Of all the Frito Lay Skylanders promotions to date, this one has been the hardest to win. This may be due to the ever-increasing popularity of Skylanders, but in any case, many fans were left without.

…

After a long, long wait many fans were rewarded as Quick Draw Rattle Shake made a retail appearance (August 2014). This was expected as Quick Draw was an in-game variant and it just didn't seem right to limit such a figure so much, but the long wait had a lot of fans losing hope.

The retail release allowed for anyone who wanted the figure to pick one up with plenty to spare.

Silver & Gold Stink Bomb

Silver & Gold Stink Bomb was the second two-color Swapper to be discovered. As it is one of the newest variants to date, very few figures have been found. It is so new that it is hard to judge exactly how rare this figure actually is.

Snowderdash

Alternate Names: Employee Edition LightCore Smolderdash

Snowderdash was the special Employee Exclusive Skylander for Activision employees during 2013. This figure is very similar to the Employee Edition Prism Break of 2012.

This figure was only available to Activision employees. It will never be made available in retail stores. While a number of the Employee Edition Prism Breaks made it onto eBay, Activision tried to prevent the sale of Snowderdash online.

Unless you personally know someone who works at Activision there is a good chance that you will never obtain this figure.

Springtime Trigger Happy

Springtime Trigger Happy was one of a few seasonal variants released throughout SWAP Force. As you might expect, this figure was released for Easter in 2014.

It is not a store exclusive so it was readily available from whatever retailer your chose to shop at.

Volcanic Eruptor

Volcanic Eruptor is the special Nintendo 3DS Starter Pack variant that you should be familiar with by now. This means that you should be able to compare him to Dark Spyro and Punch Pop Fizz.

This figure is not difficult to obtain if you are willing to buy the Starter Pack. Third Parties will eventually sell the figure separately, but be prepared for inflated prices.

Continue Reading: Part 4 – Trap Team Variants