Yes, all previously released Skylanders figures are fully compatible with Skylanders Imaginators. This means you can use your entire collection of Skylanders characters from previous games in the latest adventure.
Understanding Skylanders Compatibility
The Skylanders franchise is renowned for its forward and backward compatibility, ensuring that your existing collection remains valuable across new game installments. This design philosophy extends to both the character figures and the Portal of Power.
Forward Compatibility for Figures
Every Skylanders figure released from Spyro's Adventure up to SuperChargers can be placed on the Skylanders Imaginators Portal of Power and will appear in the game. This includes:
- Skylanders Spyro's Adventure figures
- Skylanders Giants figures (including Giants themselves)
- Skylanders SWAP Force figures (including SWAP Force characters)
- Skylanders Trap Team figures (including Trap Masters)
- Skylanders SuperChargers figures (including SuperChargers and vehicles)
While these older figures are fully playable, they will retain their original abilities, levels, and upgrades. They cannot be customized or altered in the way new Imaginator characters can be within the game.
Backward Compatibility for Portals (and the Big Picture)
The commitment to compatibility also applies to the technology driving the game. The Portal of Power that comes with Skylander Imaginators is engineered for broad compatibility. This means that if you own the Imaginators Portal, it will seamlessly work with all earlier Skylanders games released prior to Imaginators. This robust design ensures a unified experience across the entire series, allowing players to leverage their existing hardware and figures with new releases.
What Old Skylanders Do in Imaginators
When you place an older Skylanders figure on the Imaginators Portal, it functions much as it did in its original game.
- They can participate in battles, explore levels, and collect items.
- Their stats, experience points, and equipped upgrades (like hats or magic items) transfer over.
- Older figures do not gain access to the new "Sensei Realm" abilities or the deep customization options available for player-created Imaginators. However, the Sensei figures from Imaginators do provide powerful benefits and unlock new parts for your custom characters.
Types of Skylanders Figures and Their Imaginators Compatibility
To clarify which figures work and how, here's a quick overview:
| Skylanders Game Origin | Figure Type | Compatibility in Imaginators |
|---|---|---|
| Spyro's Adventure | Core Skylanders | Fully playable, retain original abilities. |
| Giants | Core Skylanders, Giants | Fully playable, including larger Giant characters and LightCore versions. |
| SWAP Force | Core Skylanders, SWAP Force | All parts (top and bottom) of SWAP Force characters are playable. |
| Trap Team | Core Skylanders, Trap Masters, Traps | All figures are playable. Traps can be used to capture villains for limited in-game appearances. |
| SuperChargers | Core Skylanders, SuperChargers, Vehicles | All figures and vehicles are playable. Vehicles can be used in racing segments or for traversal. |
| Imaginators (New figures) | Senseis | Fully playable, unlock new abilities for Imaginators, and provide unique weapons/gear for custom characters. |
| Imaginators (New figures) | Creation Crystals | Used to create and store custom Imaginator characters. |
This comprehensive approach allows players to continue enjoying their beloved figures while exploring new gameplay mechanics in Skylanders Imaginators.
