If you like Masters of the Universe and you experienced the magic of the 1980s, you probably heard about Eternia Vintage Playset. In fact, it is the Holy Grail for all MOTU collectors, and one of the rarest collectibles of the period. In this article we will review this memorable toy, understanding what makes it so valuable.
Eternia Vintage Playset was released in 1986. The toy drew inspiration from the Masters of the Universe mythology, and it represented He-Man and Skeletor‘s ultimate battleground. In fact, the toy allows to bridge Castle Grayskull and Snake Mountain sets, featuring a number of new inspiring scenarios. Probably, it is Mattel’s biggest set ever, with three towers connected by a monorail track and loads of weapons and accessories.
Let’s dive into this mighty set and explore its unique features!
Art of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
The Toys of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
Contents
- Dreaming of Eternia Vintage Playset
- Exploring Eternia Vintage Playset
- Exploring Eternia Vintage Playset
- Eternia Vintage Playset Parts List
- How Much Is the Eternia Vintage Playset Worth?
- Conclusions
Dreaming of Eternia Vintage Playset
Eternia Playset is a premium playset of the Masters of the Universe collection. It first appeared in “The Ultimate Battleground”, one of the 1986 mini-comics. The set was designed by Ted Mayer, one of the line’s original creators, who designed most of its iconic vehicles.
The item is really impactful. Surely, as children, many of us Masters of the Universe fans have seen the set and kept the memory as a forbidden wish. Yet, back in the days, it was already way too expensive for most of our families to afford .
Unboxing Eternia Vintage Playset
The box is in full MOTU style. In fact, it shows a classic MOTU illustration, which provides a basic inspiration for the play. It depicts a furious battle between heroes and villains, emphasizing the features of the toy. On the back, a blueprint of the toy highlights all the components. Finally, inside the box, the instruction sheet and a black-and-white story explain the functioning scheme.
Once open, Eternia is huge. In fact, it measures almost 1 mt lenght by 30 cm height. In detail, it includes a wolf-shaped tower sided by the Tower of Grayskull and the Viper Tower. The set features lots of weapons and vehicles, which expand the gaming possibilities. In addition, a monorail track runs all around the towers, allowing a spaceship or jet pack to fly above the action.
Exploring Eternia Vintage Playset
The Central Tower is the key point of the set. Indeed, its main features are the wolf mouth and claws, which allow to capture and push away figures. The side towers also interact with the monorail track, in order to make the play even more dynamic. More specifically, a prison gate on the Tower of Grayskull closes when the Jet Pack passes by. On the other side, the Snake on top of the Viper Tower rotates to threaten vehicles on the monorail track. As you can guess, the motor is the key part of the set, allowing to activate its incredible features. Make sure it works in case you find one.
The playset offers a number of evocative spots, providing engaging scenarios and inspirations. There you find an incredible amount of weapons and features, which make the set even richer. Among these, the Laser Blaster is surely the most interesting, featuring the classic MOTU style. The accessory is a removable part that can both work as a vehicle and a shooting station.
Eternia Vintage Playset Parts List
Given the rarity, Eternia playset often requires an exhausting search of its pieces before you get to a complete version. Fortunately, the original packaging included a detailed sheet with a complete list. You can use it as a reference, in order to keep track of the missing parts.
Eternia Parts List
- A base
- The arms of Eternia’s Wolf
- A large central tower divided into two parts
- A wolf head for the tower’s body
- 3 detachable shelves to be placed inside the tower
- A wolf mouth
- A red tower
- A serpent head at the top of the red tower
- A green prison tower
- Two bridges
- An elevator with a corresponding rod of the length of the central tower
- A control center
- A throne with support to attach inside the central tower
- 5 blue supports for the central tower
- 4 brown supports for the prison fortress
- 4 brown supports for the serpent tower
- 4 metal chains for the serpent tower
- A collar for the serpent
- A spiked ball
- Two gargoyles
- A small wrench tool
- 13 blue monorails on which the battle ram moves
- An engine with a battery
- A rifle for the engine
- A purple Sky cage vehicle with a hatch and parts
- A battle tram
- A jetpack
- An armory
- An engine battery hatch
- A battle tram rifle
- 4 silver grappling hooks
- A silver bazooka
- A silver crossbow
- A golden manta
- A golden harp
- A golden bow
- A golden gun
- A ladder
- Three flags with three supports for the top of the tower
- A sword
- A blue monorail clip
- A cannon at the top of the central tower
- Instruction booklet
- Stickers
- Screws
How Much Is the Eternia Vintage Playset Worth?
The Value of the Eternia Vintage playset depends on multiple factors. First of all, you have to consider that Mattel only produced 4000 units,. Therefore, it is hard to find a copy in good conditions. The average value for a complete version can be up to $ 4000.
As you guess from the list above, one of the key parameters to the estimation is the fact that the set comes with a large number of parts, with a specific value price. The final value is, therefore, determined by the accessories included.
Finally, you have to know that Eternia appeared in multiple versions, according to the destination market. The rarest version is probably the Italian one, with the Wolf featuring blue eyes, instead of red ones.
Conclusions
In conclusion, Eternia Vintage Playset is a lost treasure for Masters of the Universe collectors. This playset dates back to 1986 and represents one of Mattel’s biggest playset ever. It offers an incredible amount of inspiring scenarios and features, which help building an engaging gaming experience. From the outer box to the numerous inner parts, the toy confirms the uniqueness of the Masters of the Universe line, with its incredible attention for accessories and details.
In addition, Eternia Vintage playset is very hard to find, and requires a long and exhausting research to achieve a complete unit. This makes it one of the most expensive collectible toys of the 1980s, reaching an estimation up to $ 4000. It is an incredible item, bringing us back to the magic of the 1980s. If you are a fan of the Masters of the Universe or a nostalgic of that period, it will truly make your heart skip a beat.
