Escape From Destiny 2-Pack (Poe Dameron & Riot Control Stormtrooper) — Star Wars The Black Series

Overview

The Escape From Destiny 2-Pack is a Target exclusive released October 2015 at $39.99, containing Poe Dameron in his X-wing pilot gear and the First Order Riot Control Stormtrooper. The set name references the opening act of The Force Awakens — Poe’s capture on Jakku, his imprisonment on the Star Destroyer Finalizer, and his escape with Finn. That same sequence is also when we first see Riot Control Stormtroopers deployed, making the pairing narratively coherent. Both figures have 19 joints using the standard articulation scheme of the era, and this was the first time the Riot Control Stormtrooper configuration appeared anywhere in the Black Series 6” line.

The set launched during the Force Friday product wave and was exclusive to Target stores throughout the 2015 holiday season. For The Force Awakens collectors trying to build out the Finalizer sequence, this is the set to own.

Poe Dameron

Poe arrives in his distinctive orange Resistance X-wing pilot flight suit — the outfit he wears during the opening Jakku sequence before being captured by Kylo Ren. This is a different configuration from the earlier single-boxed Poe Dameron X-Wing Pilot (id=3453) — here the sculpt, paint, and accessories are all geared specifically toward the pilot-in-the-field look rather than the cockpit configuration.

19 joints — ball-jointed dual-axis neck, lower swivel neck, ball-jointed shoulders, elbows, wrists, upper body, hips, swivel thighs, swivel joints above and below knees, ball-jointed ankles.

Three Accessories

X-Wing pilot helmet — fits perfectly over the head. The yellow visor sits correctly above Poe’s eyes, matching the on-screen look well. One specific detail worth knowing: the Aurebesh writing on the back of the helmet spells out “POE” — a small, screen-accurate touch that rewards collectors who look closely. It’s exactly the kind of detail that separates a good figure from a great one.

Blaster rifle — this is the accessory highlight of the Poe figure. Hasbro gave it a dirty, muddy paint application — weathered and well-used, not the clean grey plastic that often ships with blasters at this price point. Poe holds it well in both hands, and a proper two-handed grip configuration is achievable. The paint work on the rifle is noticeably better than average for the era.

Removable jacket — the outer orange flight jacket is a separate piece that can be taken off. The practical catch: the jacket’s sleeves are moulded and painted directly onto the figure’s arms. Removing the jacket body exposes mismatched arm surfaces beneath it. There is no practical reason to display the figure without the jacket on — it’s listed as removable technically, but in practice you’ll leave it in place.

Paint and Sculpt

The overall paint quality is excellent. There’s subtle dirt applied to both the front and back of the jacket — not overdone, just enough to suggest a pilot who’s been in the field. Poe also has a sculpted three-day beard which adds character to the face sculpt. Height proportions are appropriate for Oscar Isaac. No significant balancing issues.

First Order Riot Control Stormtrooper

The standout figure of the set, and the reason most collectors seek this 2-pack out. The base figure is identical to the standard First Order Stormtrooper (id=3462) — same body, same blaster, same blaster rifle — but the Riot Control configuration adds two accessories that make it visually and functionally distinct from every other FO Stormtrooper release at the time.

19 joints — ball-jointed neck, swivel neck, ball-jointed shoulders, elbows, wrists, upper body, hips, swivel thighs, swivel joints above and below knees, ball-jointed ankles.

Four Accessories

Blaster — fits the right thigh peg hole for storage. Standard FO Stormtrooper blaster, all carried over from the base figure.

Blaster rifle — again carried over from the standard release. Both weapons allow the right index finger to be placed onto the trigger — a detail worth noting because it’s not a given on every figure.

Baton — the electrostatic baton that defines the Riot Control configuration. Fits into the right hand, though the grip is loose rather than tight. For display purposes it holds well enough, and the loose fit means posing isn’t overly stiff. This is the piece that, combined with the shield, transforms a standard FO Stormtrooper into something distinctive.

Riot control shield — attached to the left arm. From the factory it is permanently fixed — it doesn’t simply pull off. However, the source documentation notes that a video exists demonstrating how to remove the riot shield without breaking the figure if you want to display it shield-free. For most collectors it makes more sense to leave the shield in place; that’s the defining visual feature of the figure after all.

The TR-8R Connection

When The Force Awakens released in December 2015, one moment from the film became immediately iconic among fans: a Riot Control Stormtrooper facing down Finn with a baton and shield, shouting “Traitor!” That trooper — nicknamed TR-8R by the internet within hours of the film’s release — used the exact same equipment configuration as this figure. If you’re looking for the TR-8R Stormtrooper in the Black Series 6” line, this 2-pack is where you find it. The figure predates the film’s release and was designed from production materials, so the on-screen accuracy is solid.

No head under the helmet. Belt and thermal detonator not removable. Well-hidden joints throughout. Balances cleanly even in more dynamic baton-swinging poses.

The Set as a Pair

The Escape From Destiny name and the figure pairing both point to the same scene: Poe is captured, escorted, and then escapes. The Riot Control Stormtrooper is the kind of specialised trooper deployed when things get chaotic — exactly the situation during Finn’s defection. For anyone building a Finalizer or TFA opening-act display, Poe in flight gear and the Riot Control Stormtrooper are the two figures that anchor the sequence.

The $39.99 price for two figures at the 2015 standard rate was reasonable, offering both characters in a single purchase that otherwise would have required tracking down separately — the Riot Control Stormtrooper had no single-card equivalent at the time.

Secondary Market

Target, October 2015. Usually sold and searched as a complete set. When buying loose, verify all accessories: Poe’s helmet, blaster rifle, and jacket; the Stormtrooper’s baton, riot shield, blaster, and blaster rifle. The baton is the smallest piece and most likely to be missing from a loose set. Confirm the riot shield is still firmly attached to the left arm rather than snapped off.

Verdict

Escape From Destiny is a strong 2-pack built around one standout figure. The Riot Control Stormtrooper — TR-8R configuration, baton, shield, excellent FO Stormtrooper base — is one of the better TFA-era trooper figures in Phase 3, and this 2-pack was the only way to get it at launch. Poe holds up well too: the Aurebesh helmet detail, the dirty-painted blaster rifle, the beard, and the subtle jacket weathering all deliver. Buy it for the Riot Control Stormtrooper; keep it for both.

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Part of Star Wars The Black Series | Phase 3 Red Line. Related: First Order Snowtrooper Officer P3-EX-TRU-SNOWO | Kylo Ren Starkiller Base P3-EX-KYLO-SK.