R2-D2

This article is about the minifigure. For any of the sets with which to actually build a bigger version of R2-D2, see R2-D2 sets.

R2-D2

Theme:

Star Wars

Variations:

Classic
New Head variation
Clone Wars
Serving Variant (version 1)
Snowman
Serving Variant (version 2)
2014 redesign
Christmas Tree
Head only

Accessories:

Goblets and serving tray
Top Hat

Years:

1999-2023

Appearances
4475 Jabba's Message (Original design) 4502 X-Wing Fighter (Original design) 6210 Jabba's Sail Barge (Serving variant 1) 6212 X-Wing Fighter (Original design) 7106 Droid Escape (Original design) 7140 X-Wing Fighter (Original design) 7141 Naboo Fighter (Original design) 7142 X-Wing Fighter (Original design) 7171 Mos Espa Podrace (Original design) 7190 Millennium Falcon (Original design) 7256 Jedi Starfighter and Vulture Droid (Original design, head only) 7283 Ultimate Space Battle (Original design, head only) 7660 Naboo N-1 Starfighter and Vulture Droid (Original design) 7669 Anakin's Jedi Starfighter (Original design) 7680 The Twilight (Original design) 8037 Anakin's Y-Wing Starfighter (Clone Wars Variation) 8038 The Battle of Endor (2008 Redesign) 8092 Luke's Landspeeder (2008 Redesign) 7877 Naboo Starfighter (2008 Redesign) 9490 Droid Escape (2008 Redesign) 9493 X-Wing (2008 Redesign) 9494 Anakin's Jedi Interceptor (2008 Redesign) 9509 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar (Snowman) 10026 Special Edition Naboo Starfighter (Original design, head only) 10144 Sandcrawler (Original design) 10188 Death Star (New design) 10225 R2-D2 (New design) 75020 Jabba's Sail Barge ^[1] (Serving Variant 2) 10236 Ewok Village (Ewok Village variant) 75059 Sandcrawler (2014 Redesign) 75136 Droid Escape Pod (2014 Redesign) 75096 Sith Infiltrator (2014 Redesign) 75038 Jedi Interceptor (2014 Redesign) 75159 The Death Star (2014 Redesign) 75092 Naboo Starfighter (2014 Redesign) Dagobah Mini-build (2014 Redesign) Tatooine Mini-build (2014 Redesign) K10131 Battle of Yavin Collection

R2-D2 is a Star Wars minifigure first released in 1999, and has been released at least once every year since.

Description[]

The Minifigure of R2-D2 has come in eight variations: the classic variation, the 2008 redesign, the Clone Wars variation, two serving tray variations, the snowman version, the 2013 redesign and the Christmas Tree version.

Original Version[]

The original version is the most famous variation, spanning the LEGO Star Wars theme from 1999 to 2008.

Unlike most Minifigures, all of R2-D2's parts were first exclusive (later becoming a standard for other astromech droid Minifigures such as R4-P17) not sharing the same components of standard LEGO Minifigures. He was composed of four parts: the Headpiece, the two leg pieces, and the body piece. The head was shaped like a dome, featuring blue designs all over, making it resemble Artoo's head. The Leg pieces were plain white. The body piece was cylindrical, featuring blue designs on it to make it resemble Artoo's body.

He has appeared in this variation in thirteen sets.

Head Only[]

The Head Only variant refers to when only Artoo's head comes in a set, due to Artoo having the ability to enter vehicles with only his head being exposed in the movies in order to do repairs. All the sets in which this version appears have the head of the original variant.

He has appeared in three sets in this variation.

2008 Redesign[]

The 2008 Redesign, also known as the New Head Variation, is the variation of R2-D2 that came with a new head as first seen in the set 10188 Death Star. This R2-D2 minifigure came with almost the exact same body as the original variant, but utilized a new headpiece. The new head piece had more thick shades of blue compared to the earlier variation, along with a more cartoon-like appearance. Also, the holes in the bottoms of the head and body were changed to axle holes instead of round Technic pin holes.

He has appeared in this variation in nine sets.

Clone Wars Variation[]

The complete new variation uses the exact same pieces as the previous two variations, but has a head that resembles the New Head Variation and the body is reprinted to follow the style implemented in a similar head seen in the New Head Variation; thus a new body print with thicker blue details and less details was created. The body has a more cartoon look just like the new headpiece.

This variation has so far only appeared in one set.

Snowman[]

In the 9509 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar, R2-D2 appears as a snowman with carrots on his body and wearing a top hat. ^[2]^[1]

Ewok Village variant[]

A special variant is included in 10236 Ewok Village. This version uses a Titanium Metallic version of the head from the Clone Wars variant, atop the body from the 2008 version. It is only seen in this set. The promotional materials for the set use the regular 2008 version, possibly indicating that the existence of this version is an error.

2014 Redesign[]

In 75038 Jedi Interceptor, a new variation was introduced. This one has more detailed markings on the head and body, and the head is now coloured Titanium Metallic. There is also a slight variation where the dot on the front of the head is not coloured red.

This is the current variant and has appeared in eight sets.

Christmas Tree[]

In the 75056 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar, R2-D2 appears dressed as a Christmas Tree with the normal head piece replaced by a nose cone to emulate the tall look of a tree. Artoo also sports a star on top of his head complete with an Earth Green re-color.

Serving Variant[]

When aboard Jabba the Hutt's Sail Barge, Artoo has a tray with drnks on it. This variation has appeared twice, in the two different LEGO versions of the Sail Barge. It is represented by placing a 2x6 plate between the head and body of a regular Artoo variant. The original version uses the original design, and the new version uses the 2008 redesign.

In the Video Games[]

C-3PO and R2-D2 in *LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy*.

LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game, The Original Trilogy and The Complete Saga[]

In the first three LEGO Star Wars video game entries, R2-D2 has appeared as a playable character with a design identical to his original variant that was released in the early waves of LEGO Star Wars sets. He retains the same white, gray and blue color scheme as his minifigure counterpart, with additional game-exclusive pieces on his model such a rotating head plate, leg joints and a third leg to mirror his appearance in the films. Much like the other playable astromech characters, he is able to unlock droid panels, hover across large gaps using rocket thrusters and stun other characters with a built-in arm.

LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures[]

Although R2-D2 does not appear as a playable character in LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures, he makes a brief cameo in the "Desert Ambush" mission during "The Last Crusade" campaign, being one of five Star Wars characters featured in order to unlock Han Solo as a playable character. His appearance is identical to his playable counterpart from the previous Star Wars games.

LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars[]

In LEGO Star Wars III, R2-D2 returns as a playable character, with a new design mirroring his Clone Wars minifigure variant. He retains the same astromech droid abilities from The Complete Saga, but can additionally damage characters and pilot land vehicles and starfighters.

LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens[]

In LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens, R2-D2's design was updated to match his 2014 minifigure variant, with his dome being colored silver rather than gray in his previous iterations. He retains similar abilities from previous LEGO Star Wars video game entries, but much like other astromech characters, he can no longer fly using rocket thrusters or pilot vehicles, and has an added sprint when walking for an extended period.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga[]

In LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, R2-D2's design was changed to match his 2020 minifigure variant, and his model was changed to more closely resemble the physical astromech droid minifigure design, no longer having additional joints or plates as he did in previous LEGO Star Wars video games. Though he retains most of the same abilities from previous game entries, his combat and movement was overhauled to match the chain-combo style of The Skywalker Saga, and has access to the upgradable Astromech Droid skill tree that was added among other character classes. Additionally, R2, as well as every astromech character, can access grapple points seen on walls and high surfaces, a feat that was previously inaccessible to astromechs in prior game entries.

Background[]

R2-D2, phonetically spelled Artoo-Detoo and nicknamed R2 by his various masters, was an R2-series astromech droid, and was undoubtedly the most famous unit of the R2 series. R2-D2 started his existence on a Naboo ship of which Padme Amidala, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, along with other natives of Naboo, used to escape Naboo and reach the Galactic capital Coruscant. The ship's astromech droid repair team were requested to fix the shield generator while being blasted by the Trade Federation in space. R2 succeeded in repairing the shield generator, thus saving the lives of everyone on board. The ship soon had to stop at Tatooine. There, the ship's crew recovered a new hyperdrive and R2 befriended the young Anakin Skywalker and C-3PO. R2 soon helped in the recapture of Naboo. Soon, R2-D2 became an ordinary companion of the now-Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, helping in the Battle of Geonosis by keeping Padme alive. At the outbreak of the Clone Wars, R2-D2 served aboard almost all of Anakin Skywalker's Jedi starfighters, accomapnying the Jedi on countless missions with Anakin, Obi-Wan, and several Jedi, including Ahsoka Tano he even saved himself and Mace Windu after the endurance crashed when Anakin and Windu after Skywalker picked up Jango Fett's helmet which was rigged with explosives by Boba Fett. At the end of the Clone Wars, and Anakin's fall to the dark side, R2 and 3PO eventually fell into the hands of the Rebel Alliance's Princess Leia, until her ship was boarded. She inserted the plans of the Empire's Death Star inside Artoo and sent him to Tatooine. R2 successfully brought the plans to the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker, son of Anakin. Luke soon joined the Alliance, with R2-D2 becoming his X-wing co-pilot in various missions, including the destruction of the Death Star. The Alliance soon defeated the Empire and afterwards, R2 continued his duties as Luke Skywalker's co-pilot until the remaining fragments of the Empire could be eliminated.