Nottaa Collection 1/12 Figures Compared: Which to Buy First?

"The most expensive part of a 1/12 action figure is never the one you buy first—it's the one you buy to replace it."

I feel this deeply whenever I reorganize my collection shelf.

Both carry the Nottaa Collection 1/12 name: on one side, a body for HK$230; on the other, a pre-order Enveloped Yaomo for HK$650.

They're both called "1/12 action figures."

But they solve completely different problems.

So the real question isn't "which one is most worth buying"—it's: are you buying it to display, or to play?

Get that wrong, and you'll regret whatever you buy next.

Why can the price differ by three times when both are labeled 1/12?

Let me start with the most common misjudgment.

Most people start buying figures because they look good in photos.

They see the eyes, the wings, the flowing clothes in the official images, and they order.

But the real differences only appear after you unbox:

Are the joints tight enough to hold a pose without flopping?

How many head sculpts are included? Can you change expressions?

Are there enough hands to hold the sword?

Does the paint job hold up under close inspection?

None of these four things are shown in official photos.

Worse, these four things have completely opposite priorities for "display" versus "play."

Display collectors want head sculpts, paint, and dynamic poses; players want joints, accessories, and durability.

If you don't figure out which type you are first, the most common scenario happens: you buy a beautiful figure but are afraid to touch it; then you buy a durable one that doesn't look good on display.

You end up with both, and the problem still isn't solved.

Before choosing Nottaa Collection 1/12, understand these 4 key points

First, movable eyes and interchangeable head sculpts determine whether the figure can "act."

Even within the same body规格, some come with only one head sculpt, while others include two or three, plus a tool for adjusting movable eyes.

What's the difference? It's whether you can change expressions and make the eyes look at the camera when taking photos.

Take the Chinese Paladin Li Xiaoyao figure as an example: the specs list three head sculpts—movable eyes (calm), fixed eyes (smiling with leaf), fixed eyes (angry)—plus three front hair pieces. This configuration is essentially selling "expression packs," not just a body.

Second, the accessory list is more honest than official photos.

I highly recommend a habit: before ordering, read the accessory list on the retail page item by item.

For the Enveloped Yaomo Thunderbolt, the standard version lists: heads x2, body x1, hands x8, feet x4, large movable wings x1 pair, small non-movable wings x1 pair.

The God Ver. lists: head x1 (magnetic LED light-up), body x1 (pearl paint finish), hands x8, feet x4, large transparent movable wings x1 pair, small transparent non-movable wings x1 pair, plus a necklace.

See the difference? One box is "two heads, regular wings," the other is "one light-up head, pearl paint transparent wings."

It's not about which is stronger—it's about which thrill you want.

Third, scale doesn't equal size.

1/12 only indicates relative scale, not that every figure is the same height. For those with specified height, like Li Xiaoyao at 16.5 cm, you need to consider that number along with your shelf, diorama, and other characters.

If no height is listed, don't guess.

Fourth, in stock, pre-order, and out of stock are three different things.

I saw all three statuses on retail pages: Thunderbolt at original price HK$550, sale price HK$370; Lion Ridge at HK$650 as pre-order; White Cat Legend Li Bing Deluxe and Blade of the Guardians rooted hair version are out of stock.

What does that mean? It means you can't treat them all the same way.

Sale means the store is clearing inventory, pre-order means waiting for production, out of stock means waiting for a re-release.

The risks are completely different.

The four Nottaa Collection 1/12 lines are essentially four different products

Comparing the retail page data, the positioning of these four lines is clear.

Body line: you're buying a "body."

Middle Aged Notaman Body re-release is HK$230, and there are also female bodies like Female Body Xiao Fang/Selina (NT-04).

These aren't flashy, but they're the foundation for all customizers. Swapping head sculpts, clothes, and poses all rely on them.

If you're new to 1/12, I actually suggest starting here—it forces you to confront "joint feel."

Enveloped Yaomo line: you're buying "styling."

Thunderbolt, Lion Ridge, plus YM005 Qingshi Blood Version (a body with blood-stained air-cushion gear joints) and YM004 Thunderbolt God Ver. The keywords for this line are wings, paint, and special effects.

Its design logic isn't "for daily play"—it's "so people ask what it is when displayed."

The material is ABS, with movable wings—a configuration meant for display.

Xtreme line: you're buying "tension."

Like Kui Li under Nottaa Xtreme (HK$625), positioned more toward extreme styling than the main line.

I'd categorize it as "you already have a few and want something different," not as a first purchase.

Licensed IP line: you're buying "characters."

This line is the most diverse and emotionally driven.

White Cat Legend's Li Bing (often written as White Cat Legend on English pages): the standard version lists ABS, movable eyes and ears, serious head sculpt; the deluxe version includes two highly articulated bodies.

Jigong is HK$500 original, HK$450 sale.

Blade of the Guardians comes in rooted hair and plastic hair versions—the difference isn't accessories, it's whether you want to maintain the hair.

The Li Xiaoyao box is the most luxurious, mixing PVC, POM, fabric, and metal, with talismans, money bag, gourd, Wuchen Sword, Seven Star Sword, large and small scarves, and six hands.

The logic is simple: it's not selling a figure, it's selling "bringing the character home."

Besides Nottaa, what other 1/12 figures are worth considering?

Coser Toys 1/12 Armored Titan.

Original HK$440, sale HK$350. This is a single-character, single-design armored figure, priced between Nottaa's body and Enveloped Yaomo lines.

If your goal is "one box to display," its design is highly complete.

But if you want the "participation" of swapping heads, changing expressions, and adjusting eyes, Nottaa's licensed line (like Li Xiaoyao with the eye-adjustment tool) offers noticeably more flexibility.

Tunshi Studio 1/12 King of Fighters '95 Omega Rugal.

HK$640. A licensed fighting game character—the type you buy if you recognize the character.

Its price almost overlaps with Nottaa's Enveloped Yaomo, so the key isn't price—it's whether your shelf lacks a "game character" or an "original fantasy design."

By the way, both of these only show a single version in the data, unlike Nottaa which splits into standard and God Ver.

Pitfall guide: 4 most common mistakes when choosing 1/12 figures

Pitfall 1: Only looking at official photos, not the accessory list.

Official photos show the best angle; the accessory list shows what you'll actually get.

Two pairs of hands and one head sculpt versus six hands and three head sculpts—the difference in person is night and day.

Pitfall 2: Treating "sale" and "pre-order" as the same thing.

Sale means in stock now, pre-order means in stock later, out of stock means unknown restock time.

Seeing all three on the same page makes it easy to be swayed by "cheap" and end up with a version you didn't really want.

Pitfall 3: Ignoring materials and preservation.

These products often mix ABS, PVC, POM, fabric, and metal. Fabric absorbs moisture, metal oxidizes, and transparent parts fear sunlight.

Leave it by the window, and six months later you won't recognize it.

Pitfall 4: Treating "out of stock" as "discontinued."

Out of stock just means this store doesn't have it now.

The out-of-stock items I saw don't mean they'll never be available again; conversely, rushing to pay a high price for an out-of-stock item is often the worst decision.

First confirm whether you like the character or just the thrill of "can't buy it."

So, which one should you start with?

I won't give a conclusion; I'll give you a flowchart.

Want to practice handling, customize, and swap clothes → Body line (Middle Aged Notaman Body re-release at HK$230).

Want a box that displays with presence, wings, and paint → Enveloped Yaomo Thunderbolt, and decide first whether you want the standard two heads or the God Ver. with LED head and pearl paint transparent wings.

Want to collect characters with emotional connection → Licensed IP line. The most accessories come with Li Xiaoyao; for double bodies, movable eyes and ears, choose Li Bing Deluxe; if you don't want to maintain fabric hair, choose the plastic hair version.

Already have a few and want different tension → Look at the Xtreme line (like Kui Li).

One last tip: online, Nottaa Collection is sometimes confused with the recording tool Notta—they're completely different. When searching, look for "1/12" and the product name to avoid the wrong aisle.

Quick start checklist

1. Ask yourself first: display or play.
2. Open the retail page and read the accessory list aloud.
3. Confirm the version: standard / God Ver. / deluxe / rooted hair.
4. Confirm the status: in stock, pre-order, or out of stock.
5. Confirm the price and currency (prices in this article are in HKD and may vary by store and time).
6. Decide where to put it before ordering.

Collecting is never about who buys the most—it's about who buys accurately.

Start with one box, get familiar, and you'll naturally know what you truly like. Test gradually, and you'll master your own collecting rhythm.

(Prices and specs are compiled from public retail pages including Toy Box, HsunnyToy, and GunDamit; actual prices and stock are subject to each store's page.)

References

• Nottaa Collection 1/12 Female Body - Xiao Fang/Selina NT-04 | Toy Box
• Official Notaman Studio Collectibles | 1/12 Scale Figures – HsunnyToy
• Nottaa Collection - White Cat Legend 1/12 Li Bing Action Figure Deluxe
• Nottaa Collection 1/12 Enveloped Yaomo - Thunderbolt | Toy Box
• Nottaa Collection 1/12 Chinese Paladin Li Xiaoyao - GunDamit Store