Kenner was in trouble. By the time 1985 rolled around, the galaxy far, far away felt like it was shrinking. Return of the Jedi had been out for two years, the cartoon shows Droids and Ewoks were struggling to find an audience, and kids were moving on to Transformers or G.I. Joe. In a last-ditch effort to keep the fire burning, Kenner released the "Power of the Force" line. These potf toys in box 1985 are now the holy grail for anyone who spent their childhood making lightsaber noises with a plastic stick.
They didn't just dump more figures onto shelves. They changed the game.
The packaging was gorgeous. You had that silver bordered cardback or box, a special collector's coin, and photography that looked lightyears ahead of the 1977 stuff. But because the line was produced in such low numbers—retailers were already slashing prices to make room for Teddy Ruxpin—finding them today in their original packaging is basically like finding a winning lottery ticket in your attic.
The rarity of the 1985 "Last 17"
When people talk about potf toys in box 1985, they’re usually obsessing over the "Last 17." These were the final seventeen figures released by Kenner before they pulled the plug on Star Wars entirely. We’re talking about characters like Amanaman, the EV-9D9 droid, and that weirdly buff Luke Skywalker in his Stormtrooper disguise.
If you have a Yak Face? You’re sitting on a gold mine.
Actually, Yak Face is a weird one because he wasn't even released in the States on a Power of the Force card. He was mostly a Canadian and European release (Tri-Logo). Finding a mint-in-box (MIB) or mint-on-card (MOC) POTF figure is difficult because, frankly, we played with our toys back then. We ripped the boxes open. We threw the coins in the dirt. We lost the tiny blasters in the shag carpet.
The survival rate for these toys is incredibly low. Unlike the modern era where "adult collectors" buy two of everything and keep them in plastic cases, 1985 was a graveyard for Star Wars. Clearance bins were overflowing. You could get an Imperial Sniper or a One-Man Sail Skiff for three bucks. Now? You might pay three thousand.
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Why the packaging matters more than the toy
The boxes were art.
Honestly, the photography on the 1985 boxes had this moody, cinematic quality. If you look at the potf toys in box 1985 like the ANAKIN SKYWALKER (the "ghost" version) or the vehicles, the silver foil branding stands out. It felt premium. It felt like a farewell.
The Collector's Coin Factor
Every single figure came with a specific aluminum coin. There were 62 different coins in total. Some were easy to get, like the ones that came with Luke or Han. Others? Nearly impossible.
The "Category 4" and "Category 5" coins—like the ones for the Droids or Ewoks line, or the fabled 63rd coin (the Gold Archive coin)—are the stuff of legends. If you find a POTF toy in a box or on a card and that coin is missing or swapped, the value plummets. Collectors check the "weld" marks on the plastic bubble to make sure it hasn't been tampered with. People are that serious about it.
The vehicles and playsets of '85
It wasn't just the little guys. The big stuff in the silver boxes is where the real drama is.
The potf toys in box 1985 included things like the Battle Wagon and the Tattooine Skiff. The Skiff is notorious. It's one of the most fragile toys Kenner ever made. Those little clear plastic "landing struts" break if you even look at them funny. Finding a Skiff in an original 1985 box with the inserts still crisp is a feat of engineering.
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Then you have the "Body Rig" vehicles. These were smaller, cheaper toys designed to keep the price point down. Things like the One-Man Sail Skiff or the Imperial Sniper. They weren't in the movies, but they fit the aesthetic. They represent a weird, creative period where Kenner designers were just riffing on George Lucas’s ideas to try and save their jobs.
Spotting the fakes and "recards"
Look, the market for 1985 Star Wars toys is dangerous.
Because a carded Amanaman can sell for $5,000 to $10,000 depending on the grade, scammers are everywhere. They use high-end printers and "aged" bubbles to make a 2024 fake look like it’s been sitting in a basement since 1985.
- Check the seal: A real 1985 bubble seal has a very specific "waffle" pattern or a smooth factory press.
- The "Pop" test: Look at the Proof of Purchase on the back. Is the cardboard thickness right?
- The Coin: Real coins are struck aluminum. Fakes are often cast or lead-based and feel "mushy" in the details.
Expert collectors like Kim Simmons (who did the original photography for Kenner) and sites like the Star Wars Collectors Archive have documented these things extensively. If a deal looks too good to be true on eBay, it’s probably a reproduction card.
The "End of the Line" irony
It’s kinda funny. In 1985, nobody wanted these. Kids wanted Optimus Prime.
Because the potf toys in box 1985 were the "flops" of their era, they are the "kings" of ours. Supply and demand is a cruel mistress. Kenner actually had designs for a 1986 line—often called "The Epic Continues"—that would have featured a new villain named Atha Prime. It never happened. The 1985 POTF line was the hard stop.
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This finality is what drives the price. When you hold a 1985 boxed toy, you’re holding the end of the original trilogy era. Before the prequels, before the sequels, before Star Wars became a "forever franchise," there was this moment where it almost died.
How to actually start collecting 1985 POTF
Don't just jump in and buy the first thing you see. You'll get burned.
First, decide if you want AFA/UKG graded toys. These are toys that have been sent to a third-party company, verified as authentic, and given a numerical grade (like 80, 85, or 90). It’s expensive, but it’s insurance.
If you’re looking for potf toys in box 1985 to actually display and enjoy without a plastic tomb, look for "nrfb" (never removed from box) items with some shelf wear. You’ll save thousands. A "beater" box—one with some creases or a price tag tear—still has that 1980s soul but won't require a second mortgage.
Second, join the community. The Imperial Gunnery or specialized Facebook groups for "Vintage Star Wars" are better than any price guide. Prices change weekly. A guide from 2022 is already useless in 2026.
Your 1985 Checklist
- Verify the Coin: Is it the correct coin for that specific character?
- Inspect the Bubble: Is it yellowed? (Common for 1985, but clear is more valuable). Is it cracked?
- Check for "Touch-ups": Scammers use black markers to hide edge wear on the silver borders.
- Sniff test: Honestly? Old cardboard has a specific smell. If it smells like a fresh laser printer, run.
The market for these toys isn't slowing down. As the kids who played with them in '85 reach their peak earning years, the competition for a boxed 1985 Luke Poncho or a carded Lando General is only getting fiercer. It’s not just about plastic; it’s about a specific year where the galaxy felt finite and every new toy felt like a secret.
Take your next step by verifying any potential purchase through the Star Wars Tracker database to see historical auction prices. Before buying any POTF figure on a card, request a "backlight" photo of the bubble seal to check for modern adhesives.