The LEGO Star Wars Episode III subtheme (based on Revenge of the Sith) was first introduced in 2005 to coincide with the film's release. Spanning from 2005 through 2025, this subtheme encompasses 48 sets covering the movie's iconic vehicles, battles, and characters. It includes both the original 2005 product wave and many later additions, totaling over 100 different minifigures from the film's storyline. For collectors, these sets offer a rich variety - from dramatic duel scenes to massive clone trooper vehicles - and many have appreciated significantly in value (averaging ~9.6% annual growth) over the years.
The Original 2005 Wave
LEGO launched the Episode III line with a bang in 2005, releasing a large wave of sets to recreate the movie's most memorable scenes. In fact, 13 sets were released that year alone, covering everything from the opening space battle to the final lightsaber duel on Mustafar. This initial wave introduced fans to the first LEGO versions of key Revenge of the Sith vehicles and battles, many of which are now considered classics. Notably, several 2005 sets have become highly sought-after on the secondary market, such as the Ultimate Space Battle exclusive and the tiny but value-skyrocketing Darth Vader Transformation scene. Below are some of the standout sets from the inaugural 2005 release:
- Clone Turbo Tank (7261) - A massive juggernaut of the Republic's army with rotating wheels and a full squad of Clone Troopers. One of the largest 2005 sets with over 800 pieces, bringing the imposing Turbo Tank from the Battle of Kashyyyk to LEGO form for the first time.
- Ultimate Space Battle (7283) - A retailer-exclusive multi-vehicle set depicting the opening space battle over Coruscant. Included two Jedi Interceptors (for Anakin and Obi-Wan) and two vulture droids in one box. Its limited release has made it the most valuable Episode III set today.
- Ultimate Lightsaber Duel (7257) - A playset of the climactic duel on Mustafar between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, featuring a collapsible lava bank and two minifigures.
- Wookiee Catamaran (7260) - One of a pair of Kashyyyk-themed sets, including the Wookiee flying boat, Chewbacca, and clone scout minifigs. Its companion, Wookiee Attack (7258), expanded the Kashyyyk battle scene.
- Anakin's Jedi Starfighter (7256) - Paired Anakin's green Jedi Interceptor with a Separatist vulture droid, launching a lineage of Jedi Interceptor models revisited in later years.
These 2005 sets covered nearly every major action sequence from Revenge of the Sith: space battles, lightsaber duels, and ground combat on multiple planets. Most of them are now retired, and some (like the Turbo Tank and Ultimate Space Battle) have become expensive collector pieces. The subtheme's early popularity is evident in how many of these original sets have seen dramatic value increases - for example, the small Darth Vader Transformation (7251) has exploded to over 2700% growth in value since release. For collectors, the 2005 wave is both nostalgic and significant, establishing the core of the Episode III collection with many unique models that set the stage for updates in later years.
Expanding the Collection (2006-2010)
Following the initial wave, LEGO continued to expand the Revenge of the Sith lineup in the late 2000s with new sets and upgrades. In 2006, a second edition of the Clone Turbo Tank (7261-2) was released, and in 2007 fans saw the introduction of battle packs to build armies - notably the Clone Troopers Battle Pack and Droids Battle Pack. These army-builder sets were extremely popular, allowing collectors to amass Clone armies and Droid forces to reenact the film's large-scale battles. LEGO also introduced more vehicles and starfighters during this period, including some designs not seen in 2005:
By 2010, the Episode III collection had grown to incorporate many supporting vehicles and alternate scenes beyond the initial 2005 wave. Important additions like the hyperdrive booster ring and Palpatine's Shuttle filled gaps in the lineup, while the affordable 2007 battle packs made it easier to collect multiples of standard troops. Many of these late-2000s sets are also retired now; for example, the 2010 Palpatine's Shuttle and the 2007 Jedi Starfighter w/ Booster Ring have each seen values climb a few hundred percent above retail. This period solidified the breadth of the Revenge of the Sith theme, setting the stage for even more advanced remakes in the coming decade.
Revisiting Episode III (2012-2014)
After a short lull, LEGO returned its focus to Revenge of the Sith content in the early 2010s with several notable sets. In 2012, LEGO finally released Palpatine's Arrest (9526) - a long-requested scene of Mace Windu and Jedi Masters confronting Chancellor Palpatine. The same year also brought Anakin's Jedi Interceptor (9494), an updated model of Anakin's yellow Eta-2 starfighter. These 2012 releases signaled a renewed interest in Episode III, which continued in the big 2013-2014 waves that followed.
The year 2014 in particular was a major revival, roughly the film's tenth anniversary. LEGO launched a comprehensive wave revisiting many vehicles and battle scenes with modern designs and detailed minifigs. Highlights from the 2013-2014 offerings include:
- Homing Spider Droid (75016, 2013) - Featured the Separatist spider droid with Jedi Stass Allie, a Clone Trooper, and two Super Battle Droids, nodding to the Order 66 scene on Saleucami.
- Battle of Kashyyyk sets (2014) - Updated AT-AP Walker (75043) and Droid Gunship (75042), plus battle packs Kashyyyk Troopers (75035) and Utapau Troopers (75036) to bolster armies.
- Jedi Interceptors & Vulture Droids (2014) - Jedi Interceptor (75038) for Anakin, Vulture Droid (75041), and a new V-Wing Starfighter (75039) offered modern versions of key starfighters.
- General Grievous' Wheel Bike (75040, 2014) - A fresh take paired with Obi-Wan Kenobi and an updated tan Grievous figure.
- Droid Tri-Fighter (75044, 2014) - A sturdier remake including three buzz droids and a pilot droid.
- 20th Anniversary Clone Scout Walker (75261, 2019) - An homage to the 2005 Clone Scout Walker (7250) with a Kashyyyk scheme and a bonus 20th anniversary Darth Vader collectible.
The 2012-2014 period greatly enriched the collection by filling key scenes and updating older models. By the end of 2014, almost every major vehicle or battle from the film had a modern LEGO representation. Many of these sets, such as Palpatine's Arrest and the 2014 AT-AP, have since appreciated in value as well, given their desirable minifig selections and scene significance.
Modern Releases (2016-2020 and Beyond)
The momentum continued into the mid-2010s and 2020s, as LEGO periodically revisited Revenge of the Sith with new sets and refined minifigures. 2016saw a concentrated push with three sets based on Episode III: an updated Clone Turbo Tank (75151), Obi-Wan's Jedi Interceptor (75135) in dark red,and a new Homing Spider Droid (75142). These refreshed older vehicles and introduced improved minifigs such as a more detailed Episode III Obi-Wan and the first Phase II Commander Gree. All three 2016 releases are now retired and have collectively seen significant value growth.
Subsequent years brought additional iconic scene sets. In 2017, LEGO released Darth Vader Transformation (75183) - a modern remake of 7251 with more detail and six minifigures. In 2019, new editions of the AT-AP Walker (75234) and Droid Gunship (75233) arrived, followed by Duel on Mustafar (75269) in early 2020, a compact diorama of the climactic duel.
Also in 2020, LEGO launched General Grievous's Starfighter (75286) and Anakin's Jedi Interceptor (75281), giving fans updated hero vehicles and Utapau-focused play. Together with the Mustafar duel, the 2020 wave showcased over a decade of design improvements since first renditions.
More recently, AT-TE Walker (75337) arrived in 2022, the first categorized under Episode III and the largest Episode III set to date at 1,082 pieces. It included the long-awaited Phase II Commander Cody and a robust lineup of minifigures. In early 2025, a brand new ARC-170 Starfighter (75402) was introduced, updating the 2010 classic with modern parts and a crew of clone pilots plus an astromech.
Nearly all modern sets (2016 onward) have been short-lived at retail and are now retired, aside from the most recent releases. Many have appreciated in price accordingly; for instance, the 2020 General Grievous's Starfighter and Obi-Wan's Interceptor more than doubled in value within a couple years of retirement. The Episode III subtheme remains enduringly popular, and LEGO periodically revisits it, so collectors should watch for new waves every few years.
Minifigures and Collectibility
One of the most exciting aspects of collecting the Revenge of the Sith LEGO sets is the minifigure lineup. Across the 48 sets, there are about 104 unique minifigs tied to Episode III, covering main characters, clone trooper variants, Jedi, Sith, droids, and Wookiees. Fans can obtain multiple versions of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, iconic villains like Emperor Palpatine and General Grievous, and numerous clone troopers from various legions - 501st, 212th Attack Battalion, 41st Elite Corps, shock troopers, and more - making it a paradise for clone army builders.
Collectors tend to army-build the basic troopers heavily: the two most-owned Episode III minifigs among BrickEconomy users are the plain Battle Droid and the standard Clone Trooper, outranking named characters. Certain minifigures have become extremely valuable rarities. Interestingly, the single most valuable “minifigure” in this subtheme is actually the brick-built Dwarf Spider Droid, likely because it appeared in only one set and collectors treat it as a figure. Among human characters, figures like Commander Cody (Phase II) or the unique Jedi Masters from Palpatine's Arrest are highly sought after. Exclusive variants such as burned Anakin (from Palpatine's Shuttle) and softgoods Vader (meditation chamber version) also draw interest as niche collectibles.
From a value perspective, the Episode III sets and minifigs have shown strong growth over time, with the subtheme experiencing roughly +593% total growth (about 9.6% annually) since its introduction. Many individual sets have far outpaced that - for example, the Ultimate Space Battle and Ultimate Lightsaber Duel from 2005 were relatively inexpensive at retail but are now worth many times their original prices. Collectors entering the hobby now should note that all are retired, so secondary markets (BrickLink, eBay, etc.) are the main avenues to find them. The good news is that LEGO periodically re-releases updated versions of the most important ships and scenes, so there's always a chance to grab a modern set without paying vintage prices. Still, for completionists chasing every Episode III set, some older items like Palpatine's Arrest or Wookiee Catamaran command a premium today.
All told, the LEGO Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith collection offers a thrilling journey for collectors. It captures the epic scope of the film - from intense lightsaber duels to grand battles with clones and droids - across a span of sets old and new. Whether your interest lies in building a clone army, displaying the iconic Jedi starfighters, or collecting every obscure Jedi Council member in minifig form, this subtheme has something to offer. With nearly two decades of releases, LEGO continues to refresh these sets for new generations. For those looking to start or expand an Episode III collection, this guide covers the essentials - and with it in hand, may the Force be with you on your collecting journey!
