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Power Rangers Toy FAQ

1. Who produces the toys?
Bandai America has and continues to produce the official line for each Power Rangers series. Bandai America is a subsidiary of Bandai, a company based out of Japan which has been responsible for the toys for the Sentai genre for years.

2. Where can I get the toys?
Almost all larger stores that have a toy section will carry a close-to current line of Power Rangers toys. If a store near you does not carry the Power Rangers line, you can check websites such as eBay or Amazon, as well as many other small business sites.

3. What about getting sentai toys?
You can usually get the current toys at online retailers such as Hobby Link Japan, BigBadToyStore, or Toys N Joys. Additionally, items appear on the American based auction sites, as well as Yahoo! Japan Auctions. However, to use the latter, you must utilize a third-party bidding site unless you can read and have a computer that can type in Japanese.

4. What's the difference between the American and Sentai toys?
Depends on the toy itself. Sometimes, they're practically identical. Other times, that couldn't be further from the truth. Bandai Japan tends to produce toys made of a stronger plastic, using higher-quality paint, and throw in Diecast metal whenever it could possibly be warranted. This produces a stronger, nicer piece to look at it, but also one that is much more expensive to produce, and that expense is passed on to the consumer.
Bandai America doesn't use as high of a quality plastic, and usually resorts to a cheaper, less shiny paint, or choose stickers over heavy paint-detail. In addition, many items usually lose their die-cast parts, which therefore makes the items more reasonably priced to the American consumer. This keeps the price down for mom and dad.

Witchblade, one of the many ESAs that were cancelled before release.

Dredwing. Look familiar?.

5. What's the difference between the American and Sentai toy lines?
Both always feature the Deluxe Zord line (DX in Japan) as well as the release of most of the weapons used in the show in a child-size.
Japan tends to release two figures per Ranger, the usual Hero figures which are most for display than anything else, and then more posable ones with the Ranger vehicles of the year.
America, in turn, tends to release numerous lines of Rangers, usually a basic line, a morphing line, and then at least one battlized line, which features the Rangers with excessive armor and firepower. In addition, America releases a couple bad guy figures -- whereas Japan almost never does.
In general, the American toy line is MUCH larger, featuring numerous additional items to sell to the American public, while the Japanese line limits itself to items that appear on the show.

6. Why do some Sentai toys not make it to the American lines?
Numerous reasons. Often times, they do not pass the American Toy Safety regulations (Spiral Saber). Sometimes, it's just hard to figure out where to fit them into the line (Elephantzord). Sometimes, the sheer size and potential price is believed to make production non-profitable (Mighty Mammoth).

7. What items did they release in Japan that they didn't release here?
Some that come to mind include the Thunder Slinger (weapons from Gung Ho), Dragon Buckler (MMPR Green Morpher and Power Coin), Defender Wheel, Deluxe Mega Tank, Spiral Saber, Light of Ginga Power-Up Set (Lights of Orion), Lifeforce Megazord, Providus Base (Transwarp Megazord set), GaoElephant (Elephantzord), Revolver Mammoth (Mighty Mammoth), and Pakikero Knuckles (Cephalazord).

8. I went on eBay and there were lots of confusing abbreviations. What do they mean?

  • MIMB = Mint in Mint Box -- item and box are in pristine condition.
  • MIB = Mint in Box -- item is in pristine condition whereas box may not be perfect (box probably has "shelf ware", denting of corners and such.)
  • NRFB = Never Removed From Box -- box should still be sealed with original tape and item is in pristine condition.
  • MOMC = Mint on Mint Card -- applying to figures, item and card are in pristine condition.
  • MOC = Mint on Card -- item is in pristine condition whereas card may not be perfect (card probably has "shelf ware", bending or torn corners, damaged peg-hole, or even bubble indentations.)
  • C-#.# = A grading scale, from C-10.0 (absolute mint condition) all the way down to C-1.0 (barely recognizable). Most items that have been cared for by their owners fall in the C-9.X range.
The Alien Rangers, easily the rarest assortment of Power Rangers toys -- production of these and the Battle Borgs lasted about a month. Expect to pay AT LEAST $20USD for these MOC.

9. Why don't they make more playsets from the show?
They do, it's just that they aren't always on the show or show-accurate. The Command Center was released in the Fall 94 line as the "Power Dome". Lord Zedd's Chamber of Command was prototyped and was to be released as in Fall 95, but got scrapped before if reached production. In addition, the very rare Turbo Rangers Garage Playset was released in the Fall 97 line. Recently, playsets started popping up again, and were best known for containing rare figures you couldn't get anywhere else. These include the Time Force Control Center Playset, Wild Force Temple Ruins Playset, and the now yearly release of a semi-truck-like toy.

Lord Zedd's Chamber of Command, would of seen production if the incorrectly named 'Power Dome' had done better, sales wise.

Auto Morphin Tommy the White Ranger -- one of the top two rarest of the MANY White Ranger variations.

10. Was there ever a toy made of *insert good guy here*?
The following allies (non-Rangers) made the cut:

  • Alphas: The exclusive figure included with the Power Dome (Command Center Playset). He also got a 3" Collectable Figure in the Spring 94 line. Additionally, there was a 1" Mini-Figure with the Fall 98 Delta Megazord Playset.
  • Blue Senturion: Part of the Key Double Action Turbo Line, the 8" Repeat Action Turbo Line, as well as packaged with his Senturion Cycle.
  • Bulk & Skull: These guys got 3" Collectable figures.
  • Lerigot: With the extremely rare Turbo Garage playset.
  • Magna Defender: Magna Defender was HIGHLY featured in most PRLG lines.
  • Ninjor: In a DLX transforming version.
  • Phantom Ranger: Part of the Turbo Shifters Turbo Line, the 8" Repeat Action Turbo Line, and re-released in Power Rangers Heroes Series 1
  • Princess Shayla: Released with the Temple Ruins playset.
  • Sensei: Released in Guinea Pig form with the Mobile Command Center.
  • Zordon: Eh, his head is featured predominantly on his tube in the Power Dome playset.

11. Was there ever a toy made of *insert bad guy here*?
The odds answer: probably not. But, here's where you can find some of them (currently, the list only goes through Power Rangers Lost Galaxy):

KEY:
Figures in GREEN were RELEASED.
Figures in RED were PROTOTYPED.
8" -- Deluxe Evil Space Aliens
6" -- Action Feature Evil Space Aliens (also, 5.5")
4" -- Playsets (also, 3.5")
3" -- Collectable Figures
1" -- Micro Playsets

Name
Format Series
8" 6" 4" 3" 1"
Baboo           MMPR
Bones           MMPR
Calcifire           MMPR
Dramole           MMPR
Erik The Barbaric           MMPR
Eye Guy           MMPR
Finster           MMPR
Goldar           MMPR
PRZ
Goo Fish           MMPR
Grumble Bee           MMPR
Guitardo           MMPR
Hornitor           MMPR
Hydro Hog           MMPR
Invenusable Fly Trap           MMPR
Ivan Ooze           MMPR
King Sphinx           MMPR
Knasty Knight           MMPR
Lord Zedd           MMPR
Master Vile           MMPR
Merrick The Barbaric           MMPR
Minotaur           MMPR
Mordant           MMPR
Mutitus           MMPR
Peckster           MMPR
Pete & Repete           MMPR
Pirhantishead           MMPR
Pudgy Pig           MMPR
Putty Patrol           MMPR
Putty Patrol (Z)           MMPR
Pythor           MMPR
Rhino Blaster           MMPR
Rita Repulsa           MMPR
Rito Revolto           MMPR
PRZ
Robogoat           MMPR
Scorpina           MMPR
Scorpitan           MMPR
Silent Knight           MMPR
Silver Horns           MMPR
Sinister Simian           MMPR
Skellerina           MMPR
Slippery Shark           MMPR
Slotsky           MMPR
Snizard Lips           MMPR
Soccadillo           MMPR
Spidertron           MMPR
Squatt           MMPR
Stag Beetle           MMPR
Steamy Meanie           MMPR
Tengu Warrior           MMPR
Vampirus           MMPR
Witchblade           MMPR
Cogs           PRZ
Drill Master           PRZ
Mechanizer           PRZ
Quadrafighter           PRZ
Silo           PRZ
Staroid           PRZ
Mace Face           PRZ
Digster           PRZ
Punch-A-Bunch           PRZ
Hydro Contaminator           PRZ
King Mondo           PRZ
Name
Format Series
8" 6" 4" 3" 1"
Rygog           PRT
Elgar           PRT
Chromite           PRT
Griller           PRT
Divatox           PRT
Visceron           PRT
Amphibitor           PRT
Hammeron           PRT
Terrorsaur           PRT
Maligore           PRT
Purtrapods           PRT
Ecliptro           PRiS
Craterites           PRiS
Darkonda           PRiS
PRLG
Manta Menace           PRiS
Powerdriller           PRiS
Space Buccaneer           PRLG
Space Android           PRLG
Diabolico           PRLR
Magmavore           PRLR
Cyclobot           PRTF
Frax           PRTF
Gluto           PRTF
Ransik           PRTF
Putrids           PRWF
Jindrax           PRWF
Retinax           PRWF
Mandilok           PRWF
Zen-Aku           PRWF
Master Org           PRWF
Zurgane           PRNS
Kelzak           PRNS
Kelzak Fury           PRNS
Choobo           PRNS
Motodrone           PRNS
Vexacus           PRNS
Lothor           PRDT
Black Triptoid           PRDT
White Triptoid           PRDT
Green Triptoid           PRDT
Zeltrax           PRDT
Crimson Zeltrax           PRDT
Mesogog           PRDT
Monster General #1           PRDT
Monster General #2           PRDT
Krybot           PRSPD
Bluehead           PRSPD
Orangehead           PRSPD
Broodwing           PRSPD
Evil Space Alien           PRMF
?           PRMF

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Last editted 11/20/2005.

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