After the reveal of the spectacular Halo Mega Bloks Hierarch’s Shadow Convoy on the 4th of July–including the long-requested Covenant Shade vehicle and the first-ever Mega Bloks figures of Sergeant Johnson and the Prophet of Truth–what more could Halo collectors really ask for? But while MEGA Brands didn’t really owe us anything else after such a landmark unveiling, they promised to debut another set this weekend anyway. And while it isn’t as monumental as the Halo Mega Bloks Shadow Convoy set, the Halo Mega Bloks Anniversary Collection Battleground set does include another headliner unique character: Tartarus!

After years of very few unique characters being released, MEGA Brands is now in a frenzy of rapid-fire in-game Halo characters making the transition to Halo Mega Bloks figure form!

Not only will we be completing Noble Squad this year (though the Jorge and Kat Mega Bloks figure we have aren’t “official” ones), not only will we be getting our first Covenant Prophet Mega Bloks figures, not only will Sergeant freakin’ Johnson be getting his first Halo Mega Bloks figure–but now we’re getting the most iconic villain from Halo 2: a Mega Bloks Tartarus figure!

The Halo Mega Bloks Tartarus the White Brute figure will not only contain several all-new body mold pieces, but from the image MEGA Brands has released, it appears that he’ll actually be taller than your standard Halo Mega Bloks figure!

Although the Didact Mega Bloks figure coming with the UNSC Broadsword later on in 2014 will also be a larger figure than usual, I never thought that MEGA Brands might do the same for a Brute figure like Tartarus. We’ll have to wait and see if this scale speculation turns out to be true or not, but it certainly looks that way from the image MEGA Brands sent out.

This is the first action figure of the White Brute Tartarus to be released since the McFarlane Toys Tartarus figure way back in 2010, so this is definitely a figure worth getting psyched over!

In addition to Tartarus, the Halo 2 Mega Bloks Halo 2 Anniversary Collection Battleground Battle Pack will contain two Brute figures (with Red Back Fins as seen in Halo 2!), as well as two UNSC Marines.

The only real disappointment I have with this set is that it’s coming with an inaccurate Fist of Rukt Gravity Hammer for Tartarus, as MEGA Brands have just repainted a standard Gravity Hammer with a gold lining instead of creating a unique mold. Honestly, I would have preferred MEGA Brands charged us an extra dollar for this set and gave us a game-accurate Fist of Rukt weapon, but alas, it appears that that was just not in the cards (or the budget).

However, as the Assault Rifle will be appearing in the Halo 2 Anniversary portion of the Halo: The Master Chief Collection video game, one of the UNSC Marine figures will be toting an Assault Rifle to commemorate the occasion! In addition, one of the Brutes will be wielding an awesome translucent red Brute Plasma Rifle for the first time ever!

The Halo Mega Bloks Halo 2 Anniversary Battleground set is scheduled for release in late summer 2014, with a currently unknown retail price-point (of likely $14.99-$17.99). I’ll post an update once we have confirmation of where this set will be available and for how much, and you can ‘Like’ Halo Toy News on Facebook to have news and updates sent right to your Facebook Newsfeed.

What do you think of the second Halo 2 Anniversary Mega Bloks set, Halo fans? Will you be picking up this set for Tartarus (or any other reason), or does this sort of Halo Mega Bloks Combat Unit set just not excite you?