Review and comparisons on the Black Series Artillery Stormtrooper Helmet from Hasbro – packaging, impressions, materials, aesthetics, features!
The Mandalorian introduced so many cool and interesting characters: Din Djarin, Grogu, the Armorer, Moff Gideon, etc.
One of those characters was the Artillery Stormtrooper but he was overlooked due to the fact that Boba Fett made his return in the same episode. That was his first and last appearance but it certainly made an impression among the fans.
Luckily for us, the folks at Hasbro made their homework and in November they released the Black Series Artillery Stormtrooper Helmet.
These are my thoughts, impressions, and experience with it.
Disclaimer: This review is not sponsored. I bought the product with my own money. The thoughts in this review reflect my personal experience and it may be different from yours.
First impressions and unboxing experience
Hasbro may miss the point on many things but the packaging is not one of them. I really like how the box is shaped. I’d say that it is medium-sized; with 36cm (14.1 in) height x 32cm (12.5 in) width it can fit in most closets or bookshelves.
The box shows how the Artillery Stormtrooper helmet looks from different angles, as well as a picture of an Artillery Stormtrooper.
The helmet comes in two pieces, both are covered in thick paper, and cardboard is used to protect the top and bottom of the box.
I consider that it’s well protected but avoid dropping it.
It’s very easy to put together so even without instructions you can do it without any problem. Speaking of instructions, the ones included are surprisingly decent for today’s standards. Reading the instructions tells you how to assemble, adjust it and change the batteries.
Aesthetics
Hasbro loves repaints and this helmet is no exception. They used the same mold as the “old” Stormtrooper and the more recent Stormtrooper Incinerator helmets.
The paint job is very nice for a product of this price. If you’re into cosplay and don’t want to do a complete repaint job it’s going to look just fine. Unlike some Mandalorian helmets, this one doesn’t come with an interactive accessory like a rangefinder.
Hasbro added a weathered effect to the yellow sections, it’s certainly not the best one I’ve seen but if you’re afraid of trying to do it yourself then I suggest you keep it as it is. I think it’s pretty decent.
The interior is nothing impressive. It includes the standard straps and rubber nose piece to make it less uncomfortable.
Materials and features
I have mixed feelings about this, the helmet looks and feels like how I think a “real” Stormtrooper would be, but at the same time, it feels too fragile. The back side of the helmet is very thick but that doesn’t make me feel any less nervous about dropping it.
The visor is ok, you can see without any trouble but I think it could be a little darker to keep the immersion. If you use it in highly illuminated places then people around you might see your eyes. Something like this probably doesn’t matter to most of us but I still wanted to mention it.
Like other Stormtrooper helmets, this one comes with a voice changer. I’m not gonna lie, it’s nothing special and I’m probably not gonna use it since it requires three AAA batteries that I rather put in my lightsabers.
Is the Artillery Stormtrooper helmet comfortable to wear?
The straps are very decent if we consider how cheap they feel. I thought that the biggest problem with wearing this would be adjusting the straps but I was wrong.
Using the Artillery Stormtrooper helmet for a few minutes is something that anyone can do without any issues, so I tried to wear it for two hours straight. This would give me a closer idea of how it is to wear it for a convention or costume conquest.
It was fun and entertaining for the first twenty minutes but then it became a very uncomfortable experience. My vision was extremely limited and this made simple things like walking or using the stairs difficult.
It didn’t take long for me to start sweating which made it even more uncomfortable. Despite looking like a big helmet, there’s very little space inside; using my glasses while wearing it was impossible. If you are claustrophobic this is not a helmet you want to wear for extended periods of time.
The previous points don’t affect all users but the lack of ventilation is something that everyone is going to feel after a few minutes. This is what made me decide that I’m never going to use it for more than thirty minutes straight.
How much does it cost? Is it worth it?
I’ve seen the price go from 140-200 USD. It varies depending on where you live and who you buy it from. Personally, I’ve never liked the idea of paying full price for the Black Series Helmets, they are cool but expensive.
I was able to get the Artillery Stormtrooper helmet for just 90 USD, there are still many retailers doing special sales in order to make room for the upcoming 2023 products so keep an eye out for good discounts.
If you want to pay the full price that’s absolutely fine, it’s your money and only you can decide how to spend it. This is only my very personal and subjective opinion.
How does it stand against other helmets?
Since there are many options out there I’m going to compare it with the other helmet that I own, the Death Watch Mandalorian helmet. They’re both good options but it all depends on your needs and what you like more. Hopefully, this allows you to make a more informed decision.
Let’s start with the build quality. The Stormtrooper helmet is bulkier but the plastic feels cheaper and way more fragile, the Death Watch one feels sturdier and of higher quality overall.
Unlike the Artillery Stormtrooper, any Mandalorian helmet will allow you to see where you’re walking. This is important particularly if you plan to use it outside of your home.
If you plan to go to a convention make sure that you are comfortable wearing something that gets hot quickly and lacks ventilation. Both helmets suffer from this and this might be a deal breaker for cosplayers.
As much as I like the Death Watch helmet, I can’t deny that the Artillery Stormtrooper looks better on my bookshelf. The intense yellow makes it stand out, even when comparing it to other Stormtrooper helmets.
Should you buy it?
This is a tricky question and I’ll try to answer it as best as I can. The quality-price relationship can be very good depending on how much you pay for it. It looks amazing either being displayed or used for a costume.
As far as Stormtrooper helmets go this is one of the best-looking ones. If getting something that looks cool on your bookshelf this is a perfect choice.
If you plan to use this at a convention make sure that you’re comfortable wearing it for more than 20 minutes. It gets hot, lacks ventilation, and doesn’t allow you to move comfortably. Perhaps it would be a good idea to find a custom one or make one yourself.
I don’t plan to use it for a costume so I don’t mind some of the negative points. It’s going to look really good displayed with my other Star Wars items. If you’re in a similar situation then I think it you should consider buying it.
