Earlier this week I wrote an editorial discussing the question of whether or not the McFarlane Toys Halo action figure line is dying. As distressing as that topic is (and it definitely distresses me), it gave me the opportunity to reminisce over what is one of the most expansive toy lines of the past decade. During my stroll down memory lane, I got curious about which McFarlane Toys Halo figures are the rarest (and therein most expensive) entries from the Halo toy line. A few hours of research later, and I present you with my list of The Top 10 Most Expensive McFarlane Halo Figures…

The Top 10 Most Expensive McFarlane Halo Figures

Runner-Up. Arbiter (Halo 3 Series 2): Prices on the very first McFarlane Toys Arbiter figure in his controversial gold armor fluctuate wildly. I’ve seen them sell for as little as $30 and as much as $80. Basically, once the Campaign Co-Op set was released that included almost this exact gold-armored Arbiter and three other figures for under 50 bucks, paying $80 for this Arbiter became a whole lot less attractive. Even so, it’s remarkable to see this figure still selling for a respectable price when the same figure is still available as part of the Halo 3 Campaign Co-Op set for under 50 bucks.

10. Brute Chieftain (Halo 3 Series 1): Seriously?! There used to be Brute Chieftains literally falling off the pegs at KB Toys (back when KB Toys existed). This was the pegwarmer of the first-ever series of McFarlane Halo 3 figures. So to see it generally commanding $40-$60 online was pretty surreal for me. It’s a wonderful figure, really it is. But wow–really never thought this figure would go beyond its retail price, and now it commands 400-600% of it.

9. Hellspartan (SDCC Exclusive): If you had told me that people would eventually pay $50-$60 for this EVA Spartan painted up to look like Spawn, I would have laughed in your face. I briefly had this San Diego Comic Con exclusive in my collection, before I ended up selling it for less than its original cost at SDCC. Evidently, I should have held onto my Halo 3 Hellspartan figure just a little while longer!

8. Halo Wars Spartan Soldier Mark IV [Black] (Halo Series 8 Target Exclusive): I’m going to be honest here–I didn’t even know this figure existed until I stumbled upon it at Target one day. That was the one and only time I’ve seen this Halo Wars Black Spartan Soldier Mark IV action figure in person (and yes, he resides permanently in my collection). This is easily among the rarest Spartan figures out there, and while you can find him for sale today for as low as $40-$60, at times he’s sold for upwards of $150. Being the only official black Spartan figure released by McFarlane, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this figure sell for $100+ again someday.

7. Elite Shipmaster Rtas Vadumee (Halo Series 6): Seeing as how Rtas ‘Vadumee is essentially a slight retool of the same Halo 3 Elite Combat action figure McFarlane Toys released about a million times, I didn’t expect him to have much value. But evidently, being one of only two Sangheili anyone gave a crap about in the Halo video game trilogy still counts for something. If you want an Elite Shipmaster Rtas ‘Vadumee of your very own today, he’ll set you back $40-$75.

6. Weapons Pack (Halo Series 5): Personally, I think this is the most bizarre entry on this list. What is it that compels collectors to pay $50-$80 for a blister pack full of Halo weapons? Yes, the Weapons Pack gives you an instant armory–but at this ridiculous price, you might as well be buying 5-8 less popular figures, taking their weapons, and throwing the figures in the trash. There’s no denying that this set is still popular to this day, but I just don’t ‘get’ why.

5. Veronica Dare [Helmetless] (Halo Series 8 Gamestop Exclusive): $50-$100: I genuinely thought that this figure would be higher on the list, but I suppose being the fourth most-expensive Halo action figure is still a pretty respect-worthy number. I thought this figure was going to be a total b*tch to find at retail after I heard it was a one-per-case Gamestop exclusive. I happened to find mine in the very first Gamestop store I visited on the first day I went out to look for helmetless Dare. On a good day she can sell for upwards of $130, but on a bad day (or a good day, depending on your point of view) you can now pick up an ONI Operative Veronica Dare without helmet for about 50 bucks.

4. Elite Assault [Gold] (Halo Series 6): This is one of the few McFarlane Halo action figures that I don’t own. Why? Because this Gold Elite Assault figure was sold exclusively in Australia and England. Thanks a lot, McFarlane Toys. Seriously–I hated these international exclusive figures, and I am exceedingly grateful that they don’t happen any more. If you want an Elite Assault [Gold], you can get one for under $60 on Amazon now, but it’s still a bit too rich for my blood.

3. 12″ Master Chief: Here’s a figure that definitely surprised me with its high selling price! I remember seeing several 12″ Master Chief McFarlane Toys Halo figures in every store I went to for the better part of a year, so who would have imagined that such a shelf-warming 12″ figures would explode in price from $25 to an average selling price of $80-$130 in just a few years?

2. Halo Wars Arbiter (Halo Series 8): Ripa Moramee, the Halo Wars Arbiter, is easily one of the coolest figures McFarlane Toys has ever done. Whereas the Sangheili figures released from Halo 3 Series 1 to Halo Series 7 were all fairly interchangeable, this Halo Wars Arbiter literally broke the mold. With an awesomely massive size and an appearance bursting with power, it’s no wonder that this Halo Series 8 Arbiter Ripa Moramee figure usually sells for $80-$100+ on the secondary market.

1. Hunter (Deluxe Boxed Figure): Anyone who entered Halo collecting in the last two years likely knows that the deluxe Covenant Hunter figures regularly command the highest prices of any Halo action figures McFarlane Toys has released. It looked like McFarlane Toys was trying to get stores to take a reissue of the Hunters as part of the Halo Universe line last year, but just like Halo Universe, that idea seems to be dead. As the largest, most powerful and formidable members of the Covenant, I don’t see prices on the Hunter deluxe boxed figures coming down substantially any time soon from their present $80-$160 market price.

What do you think, Halo collectors? Am I right on the money with this list or have I omitted something precious? Leave a comment and let me know what you think!