Yoda is a Minifigure based on the Star Wars character of the same name. He has had two different variations over the years in four different sets and is a playable character in all four LEGO Star Wars video games.
To date, Yoda has appeared in two different forms- one for sets based on scenes from the main Star Wars movies, and the other from sets based on The Clone Wars. His first variation came about in 2002 with the release of Episode II: Attack of the Clones sets. Yoda appeared in 7103 Jedi Duel armed with a green-bladed lightsaber with a chrome silver hilt. This variation had a light brown torso piece with some darker brown printing on it to better represent Yoda's clothing, and green hands. The leg piece is also light brown, and is a shorter version of the standard Minifigure leg. Yoda's head piece was specifically designed for this Minifigure, having been shaped to a likeness of the Jedi Master's head. The piece is naturally the same colour green as the hands.
This Minifigure made its next appearance two years later, this time in a set from the Original Trilogy4502 X-wing Fighter. Yoda once again came with a green-bladed lightsaber, but with a bar piece (the same piece used as a lightsaber blade) in dark brown. This piece is used to represent the gimer stick that Yoda is known to usually walk with.
The last appearance of this version of Yoda so far was in 2005, in the Episode III: Revenge of the Sithsubtheme. This Yoda also had his walking stick as an accessory, but did not have a lightsaber.
Yoda's original appearance, front and back.
Yoda's second variant is exclusive to the 20098018 Armored Assault Tank (AAT). This variant retains the same color and type of leg piece and hands, but his torso piece differs in its printing. The darker brown printing representing Yoda's inner tunic is more predominant in this variant, and some green also appears at the top of the torso piece to show a neck. This variant also has a completely new headpiece, with a larger head and ears. The head piece is also made of a rubbery material, and usually turns much more easily than a normal Minifigure head. The head piece also has printed eyes, being consistent with the design of giving Minifigures from The Clone Wars subtheme a more "cartoon-like feel". In the set this variant appears in, a green-bladed lightsaber with a chrome silver hilt is included for Yoda. This version of Yoda will also be released in 7964 Republic Frigate.
Yoda has made five video game appearances, once in LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game, and twice in each of LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy, and LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga. Each of these appearances are based on the Yoda minifigure used in the sets based on the movies. In these video games, Yoda walked with his cane, usually more slowly than other minifigures, but could attack by pulling out his lightsaber, which would also result in him moving much faster, and performing acrobatics while attacking. In the first game, LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game, if Yoda jumped while walking with his cane, a hoverchair would appear and Yoda would sit on it. This way, Yoda moved at the same speed as other minifigures. The hoverchair did not make an appearance in either of the subsequent video games however.
As well as his standard movie variant in LEGO Star Wars II and The Complete Saga, Yoda appeared in a ghost form, representing Yoda as a Force Ghost as he appeared to Luke Skywalker after he died. This variant had the same design and moves as the normal Yoda, however this Yoda was semi-transparent and coloured blue (as was his cane and lightsaber).
Yoda is also likely to appear in the upcoming LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, as he has appeared in the only image to date of the game. This time, Yoda appears to be based on his The Clone Wars variant, with animated eyes and longer ears. He can be seen holding his green lightsaber.
Background
Yoda was a Jedi Master and leading member of the Jedi High Council for centuries. Later on he would become a Grand Master. In his time, Yoda had a hand in training a large number of Jedi to some extent, including Count Dooku, Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker. Yoda participated in many battles during the Clone Wars, including the first battle on Geonosis, where he rescued the remaining Jedi in the Geonosis Arena along with several Clone Troopers in Republic Gunships. He then confronted his former Apprentice Count Dooku, now a Sith Lord in a lightsaber duel.
Towards the end of the Clone Wars, Yoda was fighting on Kashyyyk, when Order 66 was given out to all Clone Troopers by Chancellor Palpatine, ordering them to eliminate any Jedi they saw. Yoda escaped from the planet with the help of the Wookiees including Chewbacca, and made his way to Coruscant. On the way, he met up with Obi-Wan Kenobi who had also managed to escape, and they proceeded to the Jedi Temple. They discovered that the Jedi had been massacred there, and that it was Obi-Wan's former Apprentice Anakin Skywalker, now the Sith Lord Darth Vader who had led the assault. Yoda ordered Obi-Wan to confront Vader while he attempted to neutralize Palpatine. Yoda made his way to now-Emperor Palpatine's office, knocking out his Royal Guards on the way. The two then entered into a duel, however Yoda was unable to defeat Palpatine and had to escape, and retreated to the remote planet of Dagobah.
Twenty-two years later, a Jedi-in-training named Luke Skywalker along with his droid R2-D2 crash-landed on Dagobah in an X-wing, after Luke received a message from his now-deceased Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke and R2 eventually came to find Yoda, and Luke underwent some Jedi training from him in the ways of the Force. It was during this training that Luke had a vision of his friends in pain in a city of clouds, and set off in an attempt to rescue them, despite Yoda urging him to remain on Dagobah and to complete his training.
One year later, Luke returned to Dagobah to complete his training. However, in this time Yoda had grown sick, and knew that death was upon him. He informed Luke that his training was complete, and confirmed that Darth Vader was Luke's father after Vader told Luke during their duel on Cloud City. Close to death, Yoda also told Luke that there was another Skywalker, and it turned out to be Princess Leia. At the age of 900, Yoda died, becoming one with the Force.
During the celebration on Endor after the second Death Star was destroyed, along with Emperor Palpatine, Luke saw the spirits of Obi-Wan, Yoda and his now deceased but redeemed father Anakin Skywalker.
