Unleashing Strongheart: The Legendary Paladin’s Bio & Best Figure Ever
Since the early 1980s, Dungeons & Dragons has brought countless heroes to life through modules, toys, animations, and modern adventures. Among the most enduring is Strongheart, the lawful good human paladin who stands as a timeless symbol of justice, courage, and unyielding goodness. First introduced in 1983 as part of LJN’s official Advanced Dungeons & Dragons action figure line—where his packaging boldly declared him “the most honest and brave of all the types of fighters” who “desires nothing more than a good fight against evil”—Strongheart quickly became a fan-favorite archetype of the noble knight.
From his canonical details in TSR modules like AC1: The Shady Dragon Inn and XL1: Quest for the Heartstone, to his cameo in the classic D&D animated series, appearances in video games such as Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms, and his leadership of Valor’s Call in the 5th Edition adventure The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Strongheart has evolved while remaining true to his core: a fearless seeker of justice who risks everything to ensure good triumphs over evil.
This article compiles his complete biography from official sources and reviews NECA’s 2023 Ultimate Strongheart figure, a modern high-end collectible that revives the classic design with stunning detail and articulation.
Strongheart, the noble human paladin—known as the “Good Paladin”—stands as one of Dungeons & Dragons’ most enduring heroes. Debuting in 1983 as part of LJN’s official Advanced Dungeons & Dragons action figure line, where his card proclaimed him “the most honest and brave of all the types of fighters” who “desires nothing more than a good fight against evil,” he embodies lawful good valor. A towering 6’2″ knight clad in shining plate mail and helmet, this level 10 fighter (S13 I9 W13 C11 D9 CH17, AC 3, 68 hp) atop his great white stallion is ever ready to aid the needy and smite evil, his deeds throughout the land standing for justice and right. Strongheart’s life is defined by unyielding commitment to these ideals: once friends with his arch-nemesis Warduke, the corrupting Heartstone artifact amplified their opposing natures—Strongheart’s goodness prevailed with aid from elf Peralay and wizard Ringlerun—while it twisted Warduke and others to evil; his loyal steed Destrier, a rare nihrain horse that has aided him in many adventures; and his +2 magical sword Purlblade, bestowed by grateful dwarves he once helped.
Origins & Backstory
Strongheart burst onto the scene in 1983 as part of LJN Toys’ official Advanced Dungeons & Dragons poseable action figure line, the first licensed D&D toys produced in partnership with TSR. His card back artwork depicted the heroic paladin in gleaming plate mail, wielding a sword, and proclaimed him “Strongheart the Good Paladin. The most honest and brave of all the types of fighters, this human desires nothing more than a good fight against evil.”
His canonical lore first emerged in TSR’s AC1: The Shady Dragon Inn (1983), a Basic/Expert D&D accessory by Carl Smith providing 32 pre-generated characters (and 10 more special characters) for use at the titular inn, many tied to the LJN toy line. Here, Strongheart is detailed as a 10th-level lawful good paladin (fighter) who “aids any who need his help,” establishing him as a towering paragon of chivalry.
| Attribute | Shady Dragon Inn (AC1, 1983) | Quest for the Heartstone (XL1, 1984) |
|---|---|---|
| Class/Level | Fighter (Paladin) 10 / Paladin (Fighter) | Paladin 10 |
| Alignment | Lawful Good / Lawful (L) | Lawful Good |
| Ability Scores | S 13; I 9; W 13; C 11; D 9; CH 17 | – |
| AC | 3 | 2 (plate mail + shield + helmet) |
| hp | 68 | – |
| THAC0 | 12 (10 using sword +2) | – |
| Movement | P/D 6; MW 7; S/P 8; DB 9; SP/MS 10 | – |
| Mount | Destrier (nihrain horse) | – |
| Weapons | Sword +2 (Purlblade), dagger, polearm | Intelligent lawful sword +2 (detects evil, heals 6 HP/day), dagger |
| Equipment/Armor | Plate mail, helmet | Plate mail, shield, helmet |
The module’s special characters section (pp. 26-27) provides his full profile: “STRONGHEART™ Good Paladin, Fighter […] STRONGHEART is a Paladin, a lawful, good fighter who aids any who need his help. His worst enemy is WARDUKE. Years ago the two were friends, but the Heartstone brought out their strongest qualities. STRONGHEART, aided by PERALAY and RINGLERUN, escaped unharmed, but WARDUKE and his friends became twisted and evil. STRONGHEART’s horse, Destrier, is a nihrain horse, and has helped him in several adventures. STRONGHEART’s sword Purlblade was given to him by some dwarves he helped. Few folk argue with this 6’2″ giant clad in shining plate mail atop his great white stallion. Throughout the land his deeds have made his name stand for justice and right.”
This introduces key elements:
- Arch-nemesis Warduke: Once a close friend, but exposure to the Heartstone—a magical gem that amplifies hidden traits—twisted Warduke and his allies to evil, while strengthening Strongheart’s goodness. Strongheart escaped with help from elf fighter-mage Peralay (lawful good wood elf, sword Gnoll-Cleaver) and wizard Ringlerun (lawful good magic-user, staff of power). The Heartstone affected multiple groups similarly (e.g., purifying Ringlerun while corrupting Kelek; enhancing Mercion’s goodness while turning Zargash evil).
- Destrier: His loyal nihrain horse mount, aiding in adventures.
- Purlblade: +2 sword gifted by dwarves for past aid.
The following year, XL1: Quest for the Heartstone (1984), an Expert D&D module by Michael L. Gray, featured Strongheart as one of 20 pre-generated characters (10 lawful, 10 chaotic) inspired by LJN figures, designed for a combined wilderness/dungeon adventure compatible with Advanced D&D. Players could select him as a lawful good 10th-level paladin, allying with figures like Mercion, Elkhorn, Ringlerun, Peralay—and notably Warduke—in a quest predating (or independent of) the rift.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Class/Level | Paladin 10 |
| Alignment | Lawful Good |
| Armor | Plate mail, shield, helmet (AC 2) |
| Weapons | Dagger; intelligent lawful sword +2 (Int 8; detects evil; heals 6 hp/day); mace +1 |
The plot: Queen Leahra of Ghyr hires the party to recover the Heartstone—stolen 50 years prior by thief Dahnakriss—from a frost giant lair in the Mountains of Ice, beyond the Mists of the Northern Marsh. The gem, originally from “He Who Watches” during the Prism Wars, reveals “hearts of men.” The adventure spans perilous wilderness (quicksand, monsters like trolls, griffons), Icewater Falls tunnels, and dungeon levels: Tunnels of Death (hook horrors, hydrae, basilisks); Frost Giants’ Lair; Wizard Tharadodus’s home; and the Heartstone’s chamber. Clues to its fragments appear as glowing lights (yellow: anti-paralysis; blue: healing; green: anti-curse; red: final).
Media Appearances
Strongheart has made notable appearances across various Dungeons & Dragons media beyond his origins in TSR modules and LJN toys, including animated television, video games, and official 5th Edition sourcebooks.
D&D Animated Series (1983)
Strongheart appeared in the Dungeons & Dragons animated television series, produced by Marvel Productions and aired on CBS from 1983 to 1985. His sole episode is “Servant of Evil” (Season 1, Episode 8), which originally aired on November 5, 1983. Written by Jeffrey Scott, the episode features the young adventurers—Hank (Ranger), Sheila (Thief), Presto (Magician), Eric (Knight), Diana (Acrobat), and Bobby (Barbarian)—captured by the villainous Venger and imprisoned in a volcanic realm amid the wails of the damned. Bobby escapes and seeks aid to rescue his friends.
Strongheart, depicted as the noble “Good Paladin,” teams up with Bobby to battle evil forces, wielding a golden magical hammer instead of his canonical sword (Purlblade or Steel). This change is widely attributed to 1980s broadcast censorship concerns over sword violence in children’s programming, amid parental backlash against the D&D cartoon; toy-line guest stars like Strongheart, Warduke, and Kelek each received one cameo episode with similar adaptations (e.g., his hammer later named “Heart of Gold Hammer” in Idle Champions). In the episode, Strongheart aids in combating monsters and Venger’s minions, embodying his lawful good chivalry before departing.
| Episode Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Air Date | November 5, 1983 |
| Season/Episode | S1E08 |
| Writers | Jeffrey Scott |
| Strongheart’s Weapon | Golden magic hammer (censored from sword) |
| Role | Ally to Bobby; fights evil minions and aids rescue |
Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms (2023)
Strongheart was introduced as a playable champion in Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms, a free-to-play idle RPG/video game by Codename Entertainment, on June 28, 2023, during the Founders’ Day event. Obtainable via completing the “Friends of a Feather” adventure, Time Gates, or Champion Packs, he occupies formation slot 11 (swappable with Jamilah) as a lawful good human paladin (support/healing role, overwhelm 5). His in-game biography mirrors his modern D&D lore: “Strongheart is a fearless seeker of justice, risking his life to ensure that good triumphs over evil. He is thoughtful, kind, and seldom rash, yet never hesitant to punish those who spit in the face of law and order.”
| Specialization | Effect |
|---|---|
| Valor’s Call | +100% Justice Needs Champions damage per good champion (multiplicative). |
| A Righteous Event | +20% Justice Needs Champions damage per event buff/boon (multiplicative). |
| Honorary Member | Gains most populous affiliation(s); +100% Justice Needs Champions per champion from them (multiplicative). |
Eligible for patrons Mirt, Vajra, Strahd, Zariel, Elminster; features equipment slots enhancing his kit (e.g., ultimate cooldown reduction up to 70s golden).
Abilities:
- Steel (Base Attack): Attacks the closest enemy with his sword (Steel), dealing 1 melee hit (cooldown: 4s; crit chance: 20%).
- Justice Needs Champions (Level 10): Increases damage of all adjacent champions by 100%.
- Event Token Scavenger (Level 20): Scavenges up to 50,000+ additional event tokens from bosses (33.3% chance for 20 tokens; cap +300/day).
- Courage to Stand (Level 40): Heals champions affected by Justice Needs Champions for 25 health/second.
- Righteous Might (Level 60): On critical hit, buffs affected champions’ damage by 400%, Courage to Stand healing by 100%, and reduces base attack cooldown by 0.5s (lasts 20s).
- Command: Yield (Level 110 Ultimate): Advances to stun the highest-health enemy for 6s; attacks deal +15s BUD (magic damage; cooldown: 150s).
Modern D&D
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight (2021)
In the 5th Edition adventure The Wild Beyond the Witchlight: A Feywild Adventure (Wizards of the Coast, 2021), Strongheart leads Valor’s Call, a noble adventuring party he founded as a resolute human paladin committed to destroying evil. The group tracks the villainous League of Malevolence (including his nemesis Warduke) to the Feywild domain of Prismeer, ruled by the archfey Zybilna. Valor’s Call members include Strongheart, dwarf fighter Elkhorn, wizard Ringlerun, cleric Mercion, and rogue Molliver. His full description (p. 224): “Strongheart is a fearless seeker of justice, risking his life to ensure that good triumphs over evil. He is thoughtful, kind, and seldom rash, yet never hesitant to punish those who spit in the face of law and order. Strongheart doesn’t worship a god but devotes himself to an ideal: that the world can be spared from evil by those with the courage to stand against it.” He prefers fighting with his trusty sword Steel.
| Member | Class/Role |
|---|---|
| Strongheart | Human Paladin (Leader) |
| Elkhorn | Dwarf Fighter |
| Ringlerun | Wizard |
| Mercion | Cleric |
| Molliver | Rogue |
Player’s Handbook (2024)
Strongheart is referenced in the Player’s Handbook (2024 revision), appearing in the cover artwork alongside classic figures like Elkhorn as a homage to iconic D&D heroes from the LJN toy line and early modules. The artwork celebrates 50 years of D&D, featuring Strongheart the Knight prominently among action figure-inspired characters.
Recent Action Figure Review: NECA Ultimate Strongheart (2023)
NECA’s Ultimate Strongheart 7-inch scale action figure, announced on March 30, 2023, and released in September 2023, reinterprets the classic 1983 LJN Advanced Dungeons & Dragons toy for modern collectors using advanced sculpting, paint, and articulation technology. Packaged in a display-friendly window box with an opening front flap, the figure depicts the noble paladin in gleaming silver and blue plate armor, complete with a realistic portrait head sculpt featuring a heroic mustache, dominant eyebrows, and prominent chin beneath a hinged helmet visor.
The sculpt faithfully honors the LJN design—wide gorget with circular points and central shield crest, sculpted ab muscles, winged knee guards (poleyns with fan-plates), blue forearm striping expanded into detailed belted bracers with buckles—while adding chainmail textures on upper arms and legs (every ring individually sculpted), an armored skirt, layered gauntlets, thin molded chains linking gorget to belt, thick blue boots (upgraded from LJN’s black), and a helmet with swept-back wings and cascading white plume. Paint applications emphasize metallic silver armor with blue accents, silver-edged shield reinforcements, and a weathered silver blade on the Purlblade-inspired sword. The premium cloth cape, bright blue and shimmery with light posing wire, anchors to the gorget; the visor hinges down for playability, though its thin plastic raises breakage concerns.
Accessories (packed with variety for display and play):
| Accessory | Details |
|---|---|
| Sword | Purlblade-inspired; broad blade tapering to point, simple crossguard/pommel, black ribbed grip, silver with weathering; removable from scabbard. |
| Dagger | Matches sword design; small scale, stored in integral sheath on scabbard. |
| Scabbard | Dual-holder for sword/dagger; belt loop attachment, functional. |
| Heater Shield | Knightly design; sculpted bolts, silver-painted steel edges; reverse straps for grip/relaxed left hands. |
| Golden Hammer | Nod to D&D cartoon “Servant of Evil”; wrist strap on pommel. |
| Cloth Cape | Wired for posing; shimmery blue fabric. |
| Interchangeable Hands | Four pairs, all open to varying degrees for weapon/shield holding. |
| Articulated Visor | Hinged on helmet. |
Articulation (20+ points standard for NECA Ultimates, highly poseable for armored knight):
| Joints | Details |
|---|---|
| Head | Balljointed |
| Shoulders | Swivel/hinge |
| Biceps | Swivel |
| Elbows | Swivel/hinge |
| Gloves/Hands | Swivel; swivel/hinge wrists |
| Torso | Balljointed waist/chest |
| Hips | Balljointed |
| Thighs | Swivel |
| Knees | Double swivel/hinge |
| Ankles | Swivel/hinge |
Pros:
- Exceptional sculpt and paint detail, especially chainmail and armor texturing.
- Premium wired cloth cape and functional scabbard.
- Versatile interchangeable hands and shield straps.
- Upgraded LJN homage with added realism, shield, and accessories.
Cons:
- Weak factory glue on scabbard/dagger sheath and shield strap (common; superglue fix recommended).
- Heavy cape limits extreme poses despite wire.
- Thin visor plastic susceptible to breakage.
MSRP approximately $30, with strong collector reception (Amazon 4.7/5 from 169 ratings); pairs ideally with NECA’s Warduke and scales compatibly with lines like Mythic Legions
Conclusion
Strongheart endures as one of Dungeons & Dragons‘ most iconic embodiments of lawful good heroism—from his 1983 LJN toy origins and module lore as the paladin who escaped the Heartstone’s corruption while his former friend Warduke fell to evil, to his thoughtful, kind leadership in modern 5E sourcebooks where he devotes himself to the ideal that courage can spare the world from darkness. His journey across cartoons, games, and collector figures reflects the game’s lasting appeal: timeless archetypes of valor that inspire players and collectors alike.
NECA’s Ultimate Strongheart captures this legacy perfectly, upgrading the vintage design with realistic sculpting, premium accessories like the cartoon hammer nod, and poseable articulation that rivals top lines—making it an essential piece for any D&D enthusiast.
Whether you’re revisiting classic modules, running a Feywild campaign, or displaying him alongside Warduke, Strongheart remains a beacon of justice in a world of endless adventures. Highly recommended for fans of D&D history and high-quality collectibles alike.
NECA Ultimates Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Price Guide
View the full [NECA Ultimates Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Price Guide] for every release in this line.
| NAME | DATE | CLASS | ORIG. RETAIL | CURRENT SECONDARY | RARITY | PRO TIPS |
| Grimsword | 2022 | Ultimate | $37.99 | $35–$45 | Common | Muted colors; check for paint slop on the snake mace. |
| Warduke | 2022 | Ultimate | $37.99 | $60–$85 | Rare | The Grail. Demon-winged helmet is fragile; handle with care. |
| Warduke (50th) | 2024 | Retro Card | $31.99 | $50–$70 | Uncommon | Features a brighter “retro” paint deco; keep sealed for value. |
| Strongheart | 2023 | Ultimate | $34.99 | $40–$55 | Uncommon | Cloth cape can fray; ensure the articulated visor moves smoothly. |
| Strongheart (50th) | 2024 | Retro Card | $29.99 | $35–$50 | Common | Best version for LJN purists. Sword fits tight in sheath. |
| Zarak | 2023 | Ultimate | $34.99 | $35–$45 | Common | Grappling hook rope is easy to tangle; store separately. |
| Zarak (50th) | 2024 | Retro Card | $29.99 | $35–$45 | Common | Includes fewer accessories than Ultimate but has better card art. |
| Elkhorn | 2023 | Ultimate | $39.99 | $55–$75 | Rare | Accessory king. The Heartstone is tiny—do not lose it. |
| Elkhorn (50th) | 2024 | Retro Card | $29.99 | $45–$60 | Uncommon | Limited production. The Gutbuster jug is a highlight. |
Price Fluctuation Warning: Secondary market prices can change rapidly due to collector demand, rarity, condition (mint vs. opened), reissues, anniversaries, and overall market trends. New releases often start near retail but may rise with scarcity; older figures can drop if restocked or fall if demand cools.
