Is the LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader Helmet (75304) a Good Investment Set?

3rd September 2022

The Darth Vader Helmet is one of many Star Wars sets that will retire by the end of 2022, meaning time is running out to purchase it at retail price. Whether you’re wanting to add this set to your collection, or thinking about buying it as an investment, knowing how its price will perform post-retirement will influence if and when you decide to buy it. In this article we consider whether the value of the Darth Vader Helmet will go up or not, and by how much.

The set

The Star Wars Helmet Collection began in 2020, and since that time it has brought us a range of iconic headwear belonging to both heroes and villains from a galaxy far, far away. Darth Vader’s Helmet was released in the second wave of sets in this sub-theme, alongside the Scout Trooper Helmet, which is also due to retire this year.

You would expect all the sets in the Helmet Collection to be designed to the same proportions, but the Darth Vader Helmet is noticeably bigger than the others. This is reflected by it having the highest piece count (834) and RPP (£59.99 / $79.99 / €69.99). Vader’s helmet, as seen on-screen, is bulky and taller than most others, so the set’s relative size is accurate when compared to the source material. The larger scale means that in general it offers better value in terms of price per piece than other helmet sets.

All the helmet sets impressively capture the curves and angles of the various Star Wars headgear, and this set is no exception. Darth Vader has one of the more intricate designs and the set’s internal infrastructure is one of the most complex and advanced. Certain elements have been done particularly well, such as the eyes and cheeks. The respiratory filter is one of the least successful areas, as the grille does not cover the whole triangular section. The top of the helmet also needed to be elongated to improve the accuracy. However, those criticisms aside, this is an excellent set that looks great on display and nicely complements the others in the sub-theme.

The relatively low price point means it's affordable for most collectors and is a convenient size for storage.

Unique Parts

What’s impressive is that this set does not rely on any unique moulded pieces to achieve all the design elements. Given that black is one of the most common colours in LEGO sets, there are no unique parts, with only a few pieces having been used less than ten times previously. Rare pieces can add significantly to a set’s value post-retirement, but this won’t be the case for the Darth Vader Helmet.

Looking to the future

Darth Vader is one of the most iconic and well-known characters from the Star Wars franchise and has become a cultural icon. He is also a popular character amongst LEGO fans, as minifigures of him tend to sell well on the aftermarket. LEGO Star Wars is also one of the most collectible themes, with many of its sets and minifigures from the early days seeing huge price increases. The hype surrounding the galactic franchise shows no sign of calming down, so we envisage he will always be a sought-after character in LEGO form. All these factors bode well for this set’s investment potential.

The Helmet range has also proved highly collectible since it was introduced, thanks to the high quality of the sets, excellent display value, adult marketing, and attractive price point. The Darth Vader Helmet is arguably the flagship helmet in the collection so there is likely to be high demand for this set once it retires from collectors who missed their chance to pick it up the first time round.

Conclusion

Investment opportunity: GREAT

This is a well-designed recreation of Darth Vader’s iconic helmet that looks fantastic on display. In addition to the high quality of the set and popularity of Darth Vader, its investment potential is helped by the fact that it belongs to a very collectable subtheme. Two sets from the helmet subtheme have already retired, so looking at the value of these sets now can provide an indication of how well Darth Vader’s Helmet is likely to perform. The Stormtrooper Helmet (75276) was only seen a slight price increase, while the TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet (75274) was the best performing set of those that retired at the end of 2021, and is already nearly twice as expensive as its RRP. This was helped by its very distinctive look and useful parts list, but nevertheless we expect Darth Vader’s Helmet to also show a good price increase when it retires.

Disclaimer: This article or any others on brickranker.com should not be considered financial advice and investing in LEGO is risky.

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