Update: The release of Skylanders Giants in October introduced 16 new characters to the Skylanders’ Roster. The Giants list contains the characters’ official bios and their availability. They are also grouped according to their elemental types like the original list for the Spyro’s Adventure roster.
Original Story: Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure has been a big success for Activision, which is probably crystal clear if you're the parent of a young Skylanders fan (or a fan yourself). Tracking down the figurines is almost a game of its own. To further complicate the process, the game's 32-character roster has been split among various retail configurations, making it tricky to track down specific figures if you don't know what you're looking for. With that in mind, I've compiled a list of all of the game's roster, along with their official bios and how they're available – individually or as part of a bundle. It may not make particularly elusive critters pop up on shelves, but it could make your life a bit easier.
The characters are grouped below by their elemental types. If you just want the info and don't care how a particular character became infused with their magical powers, skip to the last page for a text-only version.
Giants
Air Elemental Types:
Swarm
Swarm was once a prince from a proud race of mysterious insect warriors that had built their entire civilization inside a giant honeycombed pyramid. Growing up as one of the 9,000 members of the royal family, he was never permitted to leave the hive. But unlike his brethren, there was a magical quality to Swarm that caused him to grow much larger than the rest of his kind. No longer able to fit amongst the rest of the colony, the young prince broke the long standing tradition and stepped out into the open world – where his size and strength would be put to good use in the legendary battle between the Giants and the Arkeyans.
Available individually.
Jet-Vac
Jet-Vac was the greatest, most daring flying ace in all of Windham. He was given his magical wings when he was young, as was the tradition for all Sky Barons. But when his homeland was raided, he chose to sacrifice his wings to a young mother so she could fly her children to safety. This act of nobility caught the attention of Master Eon, who sought out the young Sky Baron and presented him with a gift – a powerful vacuum device that would allow him to soar through the skies once again. Jet-Vac accepted the gift with gratitude, and now daringly fights evil alongside the other Skylanders.
Available individually, in a legendary triple pack with Ignitor and Slam Bam, and in a starter pack with Tree Rex and Cynder.
Life Elemental Types:
Tree Rex
Long before the Giants protected Skylands, Tree Rex was a majestic tree living peacefully in the ancient woods. But this tranquil existence came to an end when the Arkeyans built a nearby factory to produce war machines. After years of his soil being poisoned by the magic and tech waste from the factory, he mutated into who he is now – a powerful Giant who will crush anything that threatens the natural order of things.
Available individually in the Portal Owner’s Booster Pack and in a starter pack with Jet-Vac and Cynder.
Shroomboom
Shroomboom was most unfortunate to have been born in a pizza topping garden belonging to the Kaos. Growing up among his fellow fungi, he knew it was only a matter of time before a late night craving would bring about their demise. So Shroomboom took a twig and a strand of spider web and made a slingshot. One by one, he launched all of his friends over the garden fence before flinging himself over to join them. Then he guided them all to the edge of the island and leapt to freedom, using his mushroom cap to catch a friendly breeze. Now as a member of the Skylanders, Shroomboom continues to perform courageous deeds… but he can be hard to find on pizza night.
Available in a Battle Pack with Chop Chop and a Dragonfire Cannon.
Undead Elemental Types:
Eye-Brawl
Throughout history, there have been many epic battles, though none more bizarre than the legendary brawl between the headless giant and the infamous flying eyeball. It all started with a staring contest, but with the headless giant having no eyes and the flying eyeball unable to blink, it soon escalated into an all our war as the two rivals fought fiercely throughout the land of the undead for over a hundred years! With neither opponent backing down, the two combatants were eventually struck with the realization that if they were to combine their formidable powers, they would be a force to be reckoned with. By teaming up, the infamous flying eyeball and the headless giant became known as Eye-Brawl – one of the most powerful Skylanders ever known!
Currently unavailable.
Fright Rider
Rider and his magnificent ostrich, Fright, were the finest jousting team in all of Skylands. But after winning the championship for the 3rd straight year, a jealous competitor placed a curse on the elf that sent him to the Land of the Undead. Not wanting to be without his partner, Fright, who up until this point had been afraid of nearly everything, ate a bag of skele-oats that turned him into a skeleton so that he could brave the journey to the underworld to save his friend. Grateful for being rescued, Fright Rider returned to the surface dedicated to helping others – while still dominating an occasional jousting tournament from time to time!
Available individually.
Earth Elemental Types:
Crusher
Crusher knew from the moment he put on his father’s mining helmet that his true passion in life was crushing rocks. He was fascinated with rock-lore and traveled all throughout Skylands in search of rare minerals to pulverize with his powerful hand-crafted rock hammer, which he also named Crusher. But along his travels, he discovered that the evil Arkeyan King was also searching for rocks – to melt down into weapons of war. Crusher’s fury built up like an avalanche. After all, crushing was his job! So he put aside his hammer for a greater purpose – crushing Arkeyan Robots!
Available individually. A Granite Crusher is available exclusively at Target.
Flashwing
Flashwing’s true origins are a mystery. But her first appearance came when Bash made a wish that he could fly and looked up to see a shooting star streak across the sky and land in a valley below. In the center of the lowing impact crater was a large, brilliant geode – which suddenly cracked open to reveal Flashwing. Bash may not have soared that day, but his heart sure did, because Flashwing was beautiful… and lethal. As soon as Bash stepped closer, the gem dragon turned towards him. Not knowing if he was friend or foe, she blasted him off the cliff with a full force laser pulse from her tail! Perhaps Bash flew that day after all.
Available individually and in a triple pack with Gill Grunt and Double Trouble.