Hasbro’s latest Star Wars reveals give collectors two very different ways to expand their The Mandalorian and Grogu displays: the 3.75-inch Vintage Collection Amani Guard and the 6-inch Black Series Embo & Keibu set. Both went up for preorder on July 30, 2026, following their San Diego Comic-Con reveals, and both stand out for bringing unusual alien characters into Hasbro’s modern collector lines.
The Amani Guard is priced at $27.99 and is scheduled for November 2026. Embo & Keibu carries a $59.99 price tag and is currently listed for fall 2026 shipping, with retailer estimates pointing toward October or November. The releases also reflect the growing scope of The Mandalorian and Grogu merchandise, which is moving beyond the franchise’s core heroes and armor-heavy character selection.
Amani Guard Gives TVC a Distinctive New Alien
The Amani Guard arrives as a deluxe-style Vintage Collection figure under the VC419 designation. Based on the character seen in The Mandalorian and Grogu, the figure depicts one of the imposing Amani hunters used as guards and enforcers. Its long-limbed silhouette and oversized head give it considerably more visual presence than the average 3.75-inch humanoid release.
That unusual body design is the main attraction. The Amani Guard has the kind of exaggerated proportions that can easily disappear in a crowded shelf lineup, but the figure’s height and distinctive profile should help it command attention among standard TVC releases. The sculpt also gives collectors another large alien presence for cantina, criminal-underworld, or broader galactic dioramas.
Available product information confirms that the figure includes a staff accessory. That is a relatively restrained loadout for a deluxe-priced Vintage Collection release, but the staff is an important visual element for the character and should help create a recognizable silhouette in both neutral and action poses.
The $27.99 price places the Amani Guard alongside other recent deluxe-format TVC figures rather than standard carded releases. In collector terms, the value proposition will depend heavily on how substantial the finished sculpt feels in hand and how effectively the articulation works with its elongated proportions. A tall, well-engineered alien can justify the premium, particularly when the character cannot be represented by a simple human-scale body reuse.
Embo and Keibu Expand the Black Series Bounty Hunter Shelf
Embo has been one of The Clone Wars’ most memorable bounty hunters since his appearance in the Season 2 episode “Bounty Hunters.” His return in The Mandalorian and Grogu gives Hasbro an opportunity to reinterpret the character in a live-action setting while also pairing him with Keibu, his loyal anooba companion.
The Black Series Embo & Keibu set includes the same general Embo design introduced in the earlier single release, but with updated decoration and a soft-goods skirt piece. His signature hat is removable, and the accessory selection includes two melee weapons along with an articulated bowcaster. That combination should give collectors more flexibility than a strictly display-oriented version of the character.
Keibu is the new centerpiece of the set. The anooba features articulation at the head, neck, legs, and feet, allowing for more than a static animal companion pose. While the articulation is not as extensive as what collectors might expect from a fully engineered action-figure creature, it should be enough to create tracking, alert, and companion poses beside Embo.
The packaging is also designed with display collectors in mind. Reports from the convention presentation describe a window box with an outer sleeve and a two-sided presentation, with Embo and Keibu posed inside the hold of their ship. That format gives the set additional appeal for collectors who keep selected releases boxed while still wanting a presentation that feels more substantial than a standard figure package.
A Strong Character Pairing, With a Familiar Pricing Question
At $59.99, the Embo and Keibu set is positioned as a premium or deluxe Black Series offering. The inclusion of a full-size six-inch figure, a newly sculpted animal companion, soft goods, and multiple weapons helps explain the cost. Even so, collectors who already purchased the single-carded Embo will have to decide whether Keibu and the revised decoration justify buying the character again.
That is likely to be the central consideration for established Black Series collectors. The set is much more compelling as a first Embo purchase than as a simple accessory pack, since it provides the complete bounty hunter-and-companion pairing in one package. For collectors who prioritize character relationships and scene-building, Keibu adds considerably more display value than another isolated version of Embo would have offered.
The timing is especially appropriate because Embo’s live-action debut gives the character relevance beyond nostalgia for The Clone Wars. Official franchise coverage has emphasized the Kyuzo hunter’s distinctive design, including his metal hat and long-limbed physique, while the new film establishes Keibu as an important part of his on-screen identity. That makes this release more than a straightforward animated-series update.
How These Releases Fit Into Current Star Wars Collections
The Amani Guard and Embo & Keibu serve different collector priorities. TVC fans get a rare alien body type that can strengthen background populations and underworld displays, while Black Series collectors receive a character-focused set built around a recognizable bounty hunter partnership.
Neither release is aimed primarily at army building. The Amani Guard is a characterful one-off alien, and Embo & Keibu is fundamentally a paired display set. Their appeal instead comes from expanding the visual variety of a collection and representing corners of the galaxy that are often overlooked in favor of Jedi, Sith, Stormtroopers, and Mandalorians.
The Amani Guard is arguably the more surprising reveal because of its scale and sculpting challenge. Embo, meanwhile, is the safer character purchase, particularly for fans who have been waiting for a modern representation of the bounty hunter and his animal partner. The two releases together suggest that Hasbro is continuing to use The Mandalorian and Grogu to introduce both newly created characters and legacy favorites across multiple scales.
Collector verdict: The Amani Guard is best suited to TVC collectors who value unusual aliens, large silhouettes, and modern interpretations of new film characters. Embo & Keibu is the stronger choice for Black Series fans who want complete character pairings and missed the opportunity to stop at the single Embo release. For dedicated Star Wars collectors, both are notable additions, but Embo and Keibu offers the more immediately distinctive display concept.
Preorder details: The Vintage Collection Amani Guard is priced at $27.99 and is expected in November 2026. The Black Series Embo & Keibu set is priced at $59.99 and is scheduled for fall 2026, with preorders opening July 30 through Hasbro Pulse and participating retailers.
Sources
- toyark.com
- starwars.com
- mephitsu.co.uk
- yakface.com
- jeditemplearchives.com
