ARC Trooper (Umbra Operative) — Star Wars The Black Series #GG 09
The Black Series Umbra Operative ARC Trooper — Phase 4 Gaming Greats Collection #09, March 2022 GameStop exclusive. Battlefront II Republic infiltrator reinforcement class with butterfly shoulders, two blasters, articulated range-finder. First-of-kind paint deco. MSRP $26.99.
Overview
The Umbra Operative ARC Trooper at #GG 09 is the Gaming Greats Collection’s Republic infiltrator-class figure — the elite ARC (Advanced Recon Commando) Trooper variant from the Battlefront II video game’s Republic-era reinforcement units. Released March 2022 as a single-boxed GameStop exclusive. MSRP $26.99. Two accessories: two blasters. 19-joint articulation including butterfly shoulder joints. The figure features sculpted shoulder pauldron, backpack, and waist kama with holsters as integrated elements, plus an articulated range-finder on the helmet that moves up and down. The paint deco on the armour is — per detailed reviewers — a first for any Star Wars action figure released to date.
The Battlefront II Republic Reinforcement
This is the third Battlefront II reinforcement-class figure in the Gaming Greats Collection, following the Imperial Rocket Trooper at #GG 01 and the Jet Trooper at #GG 06. Where those two figures cover the Imperial flight-trooper classes, the ARC Trooper covers the Republic infiltrator class — premium spawn-in units with stealth and fast-engagement specialisation. For collectors building Battlefront II reinforcement-class displays, the three figures together form a meaningful cross-faction roster.
The Umbra Operative designation specifically refers to a Battlefront II in-game appearance variant — the standard ARC Trooper class with a specialised paint scheme that distinguishes the operative from the broader ARC Trooper population. For collectors who played Battlefront II’s Republic-era multiplayer matches, the figure captures a recognisable in-game character class with the specific paint deco the source material uses.
The Two-Blaster Loadout
The ARC Trooper came with two blasters which fit well into the holsters. The figure is able to hold both weapons well in its hands. The dual-blaster loadout is appropriate for an infiltrator-class character — fast-engagement combat doctrine favours twin sidearms over rifle-and-secondary configurations, and the in-game ARC Trooper’s combat style supports the dual-pistol display configuration.
The waist kama (the armoured skirt panel that drapes from the belt) includes integrated holsters for both weapons. Collectors can display the figure in fully-stowed configuration (both blasters holstered), single-drawn configuration (one in hand, one holstered), or both-drawn configuration (twin blasters in firing stance) — the three-state flexibility supports multiple combat-pose options from a single figure.
The Articulated Range-Finder
A specific engineering detail worth flagging: the range-finder on the helmet can be moved up and down. The ARC Trooper helmet design includes a small targeting/communications array on the side of the helmet that pivots between deployed (down, over the eye) and stowed (up, raised away from the face) positions. The articulation captures the in-game character class’s specific helmet detail — and is the kind of small engineering touch that elevates the figure above generic trooper-class territory.
For collectors who care about screen-accurate small details, the range-finder articulation is a meaningful inclusion. Most Black Series helmet sculpts treat helmet-mounted equipment as fixed elements; the ARC Trooper’s range-finder is genuinely poseable.
The Integrated Equipment
The shoulder pauldron, backpack, and the waist kama with holsters are not removable. This is the right design decision for an ARC Trooper — the equipment is the character class’s identity, and removable elements would have undermined the visual reading. For collectors who want kitbashing flexibility, the integrated approach is restrictive; for collectors who want a screen-accurate ARC Trooper, the integrated everything is appropriate.
The First-of-Kind Paint Deco
The paint deco on the armor looks interesting and is a first for any Star Wars action figure released to date. This is the second Phase 4 figure in the Gaming Greats Collection where detailed reviewers have flagged the paint scheme as a genuine line-first — the Jet Trooper at #GG 06 carries the same distinction with its blue armour markings.
The Umbra Operative deco specifically uses a darker palette than standard ARC Trooper releases — the in-game character class’s colour scheme distinguishes the variant from the broader ARC Trooper population, and Hasbro committed to that specific paint application rather than recycling existing trooper colour patterns. For collectors who care about paint-application novelty within the line, this is a meaningful design point.
The Helmet and Permanent Configuration
The helmet is not removable. There is no head underneath. Consistent with the standard Black Series Imperial trooper-class design pattern — the figure is locked into the helmeted configuration without an unmasked alternative. For ARC Trooper figures, this is mildly disappointing because all clones share the Mandalorian-DNA template face, and a generic clone face underneath would have been straightforward to include. As shipped, the integrated helmet is the standard Hasbro design choice for trooper-class figures.
Articulation
19 joints. Ball-jointed top neck, ball-jointed lower neck, butterfly joints in the shoulders, ball-jointed shoulders, ball-jointed elbows, ball-jointed wrists, ball-jointed upper body, ball-jointed hips, swivel thighs, ball-jointed knees, ball-jointed ankles. The butterfly shoulder joints are the upgrade over the standard 17-joint Phase 4 baseline, supporting the dual-blaster firing stances and the two-handed combat configurations that the infiltrator-class character requires.
The figure stands well on display without falling over. Hasbro’s articulation engineering on the Umbra Operative is among the better Phase 4 trooper-class implementations — the butterfly shoulders unlock screen-accurate combat-pose configurations that most Imperial trooper figures can’t achieve.
The Mural Collection Position
The ARC Trooper sits at the ninth position in the Gaming Greats Collection mural display. For loose display, the figure works best alongside the other Battlefront II Gaming Greats figures (Imperial Rocket Trooper at #GG 01, Jet Trooper at #GG 06) for the cross-faction Battlefront II reinforcement-class display, or alongside other Black Series ARC Trooper releases (the various Clone Wars-era ARC Trooper figures, the Mandalorian and TBOBF clone troopers) for a broader ARC Trooper class archive.
Secondary Market
Single-boxed GameStop exclusive, March 2022. Aftermarket prices on the secondary market have generally tracked at or near the original $26.99 MSRP, with the Battlefront II tie-in and the unique paint deco keeping demand stable. Verify both blasters are included; the small range-finder on the helmet should be present and articulating freely. No production variants documented.
Verdict
The ARC Trooper (Umbra Operative) at #GG 09 earns its Gaming Greats Collection position through the first-of-kind paint deco, the dual-blaster loadout with three-state holster flexibility, the articulated range-finder on the helmet, and the butterfly-shoulder articulation that supports dynamic combat poses. Hasbro’s engineering commitments on this figure are stronger than most Phase 4 trooper-class releases.
The integrated everything-equipment design limits kitbashing flexibility but is appropriate to the character class. The lack of an unmasked head underneath the helmet is the standard Hasbro design choice for trooper-class figures — disappointing but expected. The two-accessory loadout is lean for $26.99 pricing, though both accessories are the same blaster type rather than distinct weapon variants.
Buy this figure if you collect Battlefront II, if you build ARC Trooper class displays, if you appreciate butterfly-shoulder articulation upgrades, or if the unique Umbra Operative paint deco appeals to you. The $26.99 MSRP is fair for the engineering commitments, and the GameStop distribution makes it accessible through standard retail.
The Battlefront II Republic infiltrator reinforcement. The ARC Trooper with the butterfly shoulders, the dual-blaster holsters, and the first-of-kind paint deco. GameStop exclusive, March 2022.
Part of Star Wars The Black Series | Phase 4 Gaming Greats Collection. Related: Imperial Rocket Trooper P4-GG-01 | Jet Trooper P4-GG-06 | 13th Battalion Trooper P4-GG-12.