The newest Fire Emblem figma’s here and she is, in a word, regal. Good Smile Company launched Edelgard von Hresvelg worldwide, and this rendition of the Black Eagles leader is quite elegant. While, at a glance, the Edelgard figma might seem like she doesn’t have as many bits and pieces as others in the line, the build quality is amazing and she’s absolutely stunning. Taking a bad picture of her is impossible.
First, let’s go over what you get in the box. You have the Edelgard figma of her in her academy attire. She has a cape with two jointed parts fixed to her left shoulder. Her legs bend at the hip, knees, and angles, and you can twist and arrange them for different poses. Both of her arms bend at the wrist, elbow, and shoulder. While her leg joints are more noticeable, the color and design does a great job of masking her joints better than most figmas. She also turns at the neck, has an adjustable waist and torso, has two face plates, and the two sides of her hair in the back can flare out. She comes with a basic Killer Axe and the Aymr Crest Stone weapon she wields in-game. Aymr actually is jointed in two places, allowing you to flare it out a bit as well. She comes with nine hand parts.
The paint job is absolutely exquisite on the figure. The Garreg Mach uniform for Black Eagles has a lot of embellishments and piping, and everything was accurate and perfect. There wasn’t a smudge or any imprecise issues. Paint is only where it is supposed to be. I also appreciated how the boots seemed a bit glossy compared to the black of her uniform and the metallic gold accents. Her face plates also have fantastic expressions that are great for poses.
All of those joints are precise and tight too. If I put the Edelgard figma into a position, she held that pose. Even if it was precarious and involved holding one of her axes at an angle that messed with her center of gravity. The stand and joints held up, which was very much appreciated.
I was also impressed with her hand joints and parts. Edelgard wears white gloves, as she does in the game. You have nine options, with most being paired sets and the “odd one out” being a right hand with what I like to think of as a flourish look. (It can also look like she is pointing elegantly or extending a hand up to someone.) The different grips allow her to hold both Aymr and the Killer Axe perfectly. They’re also great at gripping Rement items.
But what I appreciated is how well she works with even flesh-toned figma hands from other Good Smile Company models. She has a white joint, to match her normal gloves. When paired with other hands, it creates the illusion of a white shirt underneath her uniform top. In my example image here, I used the Hibiki Ganaha hands to make her look like, well, perhaps a school idol?
While that is a great example of the mix-and-match versatility, there is a downside involving the Edelgard figma’s faces. Rather, her face plates. Most of Good Smile Company’s figures are interchangeable. With figmas and Nendoroids alike, you can swap heads, hands, accessories, and even face plates. (It’s why you’ll see things like the swimsuit bodies with generic heads, as you can pair those bodies with your existing characters.) Most face plates and hair parts are separate, so you could swap. Edelgard’s bangs are attached to both of her two options, so… you’re limited. I can see and understand why, because her bangs are so long, but still.
I will say that her two included expressions are very all-purpose. Her neutral face plate features a soft, gentle smile. She can look professional, like she’s about to walk into a presentation, or like some sort of crazy, axe-wielding girlfriend who is also somewhat naive and innocent. The shouting face plate is good for expressing not only anger, but a general shout. Like you’re prepared and covered for probably her two major emotions.
Which is great, because she is a joy to photograph. I couldn’t seem to find a bad pose for take a bad picture with her. She fits in any sort of situation. The way she’s constructed allows her a wide range of mobility. Her facial features are very defined, so even when I purposely attempted a shot where her face would be obscured by the shadows, you could still make out her features. The lines in her hairstyle and molding to indicate clothing are easy to capture on film. She’s a delight.
The Edelgard figma is probably the best looking one I own. Like I love my Idolmaster Hibiki and Fate/Apocrypha Rider of “Black.” But Edelgard has so much going on with her design. She’s a joy to work with and it feels like she got the royal treatment.
The Edelgard von Hresvelg figma is sold out at Good Smile Company’s store, but the figure has launched and people might be able to find her in-stock at other retailers. She is Good Smile Company’s first Fire Emblem: Three Houses figure.
