## Balathu the Big Teeth – XesRay’s Sabretooth Brute Goes Full Arena Mode

There’s something deeply satisfying about a **big, ugly, violent brute** done right in 1/12 scale. And Balathu the Big Teeth from **XesRay Studio’s Combatants / Fight for Glory line** is very much that kind of figure: imposing, heavy, overdesigned, and just a little bit unhinged.

Now, funny thing—**this isn’t the first “big” figure I bought from XesRay**, but it *is* the first one I’ve actually cracked open. So yes, I technically started my journey with their giants… halfway through the sentence. Confused yet? LOL. Either way, Balathu is my first *hands-on* experience with their oversized brutes, and hoo boy, he made an impression.

Image: box back-The box features a fierce armored lion-man creature with sharp teeth, skulls, fantasy armor, and descriptive text about Balathu.

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### The Hunt for a Convention Exclusive (That Didn’t Stay Exclusive)

When Balathu was first announced as a **2024 LACC exclusive**, I fully assumed I was going to miss out. No convention, no interest in feeding eBay scalpers, and definitely no desire to pay “rent money” prices for a toy. So imagine my very real joy when **5kToys dropped a preorder** at a *somewhat* sane price.

Was **$70 cheap?** No.

Was it still way better than BBTS’ **$104.99 MSRP**? Absolutely.

Did I smash that preorder button anyway? You already know the answer.

Image: box art displays a dark, stone dungeon scene with arches, pillars, barred windows, chains, barrels, and dramatic shadows.

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### Why I Wanted Him (Besides the Obvious)

Let’s not pretend here.

I wanted Balathu because **he’s a sabretooth**.

And if you’ve followed my collecting habits—or, you know, noticed my name—you know I’ve always had a thing for **big cats**. Lions, tigers, panthers… but **sabre-toothed cats especially**. Not “sabre-tooth tigers” (yes, yes, I know), but the actual extinct murder-muscle nightmares.

Image: The image shows a detailed sculpture of a monstrous humanoid with very muscular, textured skin in a grayish-brown tone. At the center, its large hands are held in front of its face, fingers spread and slightly bent, with realistic knuckle and vein details.

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Why them? Because sabretooths weren’t endurance runners. They were **ambush predators**—huge upper bodies, brutal forelimbs, devastating bites, relatively weaker hind legs. They didn’t chase you. They *ended* you.

If I were a big cat?

Yeah. That’s the one. 😏

Image: Close-up of an action figure that looks like a muscular werewolf.

The figure has a large, detailed, furry wolf head with its mouth open, teeth and tongue showing as if growling or roaring. Its body is very muscular, with exaggerated biceps, shoulders, and forearms, all sculpted with fur-like texture in a brownish-tan color. The hands are big with long clawed fingers, posed as if grabbing or crushing something.

Pressed against its chest and stomach is another small armored figure, mostly hidden. You can see a silver medieval-style helmet and a red and dark gray chest armor piece with some yellow at the waist, as if this smaller warrior is being held or crushed against the werewolf’s body.

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### First Impressions: A 9” Tall Problem

Out of the box, Balathu is **massive**. He stands roughly 9 inches tall, squarely in **Mythic Legions ogre scale**, but he’s noticeably *thicker*. Broader chest, beefier limbs, and if his head could sit more upright instead of jutting forward, he’d actually look even taller.

Image: Two fantasy action figures posed as if about to fight.

On the right side there is a large werewolf-like warrior. It has brown fur, an open snarling mouth, and wears heavy, battle-worn armor in dull gold and dark brown with spikes on the shoulders and chains hanging from the belt. There are skull-like ornaments on its hip and wrist. It holds a big double-headed battle axe with a silver, chipped blade.

Above and to the left, there is a big green-skinned ogre figure. It is very muscular, wearing dark leather and metal armor with studs and circular metal decorations on a chest strap. The orc’s right arm is raised, gripping a large silver weapon that looks like a combination of an axe and hammer. It has black boots and additional armor pieces on its legs and waist.

Behind them is a printed backdrop showing stone walls and a dark fantasy setting.

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Weight-wise?

This dude is a **solid chunkster**. Easily feels like **two Mythic Legions ogres worth of plastic** fused into one angry sabretooth man. You feel it the second you pick him up.

Image: Two fantasy action figures

In the foreground there is a large green-skinned ogre-like warrior action figure standing in profile, facing to the right. It has exaggerated muscles and is covered in detailed armor pieces. On its head is a black spiked helmet with two orange horns. It wears a brown, fur-trimmed shoulder harness and belt with gold studs, and black armored pants with small decorative elements, including orange details that look like shells or symbols. Its feet are bare and green.

Behind it, higher up in the image, there is another muscular warrior action figure, more human-looking with tan skin. This figure is also in profile facing right, wearing a fur-like pelt around the waist, a red and gold detailed belt, straps on the legs, and dark bracers on the arms. A chain with a small skull or bone accessory hangs from its belt.

The background appears to be a printed fantasy scene used as a diorama backdrop: stone walls and a circular stone arch with a glowing green-blue sky and dark, leafless tree branches. Around the edges you can see parts of a white board or surface with red, blue, and yellow plastic borders, suggesting this might be set up on a toy or art board on a tabletop.

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### Sculpt & Texture: A Tactile Feast

This is where XesRay really flexes.

Balathu’s body is covered in **wrinkles, veins, scars, and layered muscle striations**. From a tactile standpoint—especially as a blind collector—this guy is a joy to explore. Nothing feels smooth or lazy. The skin tells a story. The sculpt invites your hands to wander (respectfully).

Image: The image shows a close-up of a brown-skinned, heavily muscled warrior action figure. The figure’s chest and abs dominate the frame, with lots of sculpted skin texture.

Across its chest and upper torso it wears dark brown leather-like armor straps with buckles, and a large, ornate, dark metal plate in the center shaped like a stylized, spiked mask or shield. Around that plate is a colorful trim in red, yellow, and a bit of blue, giving a tribal or ceremonial look.

In each hand the figure is holding a pale skull; both skulls are near the center of the image, one above the armor plate and one below it. The arms are bent, and you can see detailed veins and muscles.

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The **articulated jaw** is a highlight too. Open it up and you get a beautifully painted mouth, gums, and those signature oversized canines. He looks like he *bites* first and asks questions never.

Image: This is a detailed action figure of a muscular werewolf-like creature. It has a wolf head with pointed ears, shaggy fur, glowing yellow eyes, and a wide open snarling mouth showing sharp fangs and tongue. The body is very bulky and humanoid, with textured brown skin and fur over the shoulders and back.

The figure’s arms are raised in front of its chest with clawed hands posed as if grasping or roaring. Around its torso it wears layered brown armor straps with metal buckles and some colored trim, plus chains hanging down. Two small pale skulls hang from the chains at the waist.

In the background is a fantasy stone-wall backdrop.

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### Articulation: Surprisingly Nimble for a Beast

For a figure this big, articulation is honestly impressive:

* Ball-jointed head (though limited—more on that later)

* Articulated jaw

* Butterfly shoulders

* Bicep swivels

* Single-jointed elbows (no doubles here)

* Ab crunch + torso ball joint

* Thigh swivels

* Double-jointed knees

* Solid ankle hinges

Image: This image shows the same muscular werewolf action figure from behind. You can see its broad back and shoulders with sculpted muscles and textured fur over the upper back and neck. The arms are extended outward and slightly downward, hands open with fingers spread.

Around its waist is a wide red-brown belt with decorative patterns and studs. Hanging from the belt is a skirt of tattered, layered brown strips of fabric or leather that fan out over the upper legs. The lower legs and feet are wrapped in bandage-like straps, and the right foot is braced against the side of a black panel with small bright white LED lights shining onto the figure.

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He can bring his arms together, crouch, kneel, and even pull off poses you wouldn’t expect from a figure this bulky. Some reviewers even got him sitting cross-legged, which is… absurd, but impressive.

That said…

Image: The image shows the back of a large, muscular fantasy action figure. Its skin is light brown with lots of sculpted muscle and texture. The head has short, spiky, sculpted hair or fur.

Around the waist is a wide, dark red belt with decorative patterns and metal studs. Hanging from the belt is a skirt of long, narrow, tattered strips of brown material that reach down over the upper legs.

The arms are thick and wrapped with dark bands around the forearms. On the left forearm there is a large yellowish bracer with several long black metal spikes sticking out of it. The lower legs are also wrapped in dark bands, with armor-like pieces attached. In the background you can see a fantasy stone-arch backdrop and the edge of a yellow plastic frame on the right.

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### The Mane Problem (AKA: Look Up, Buddy)

Here’s one of my biggest frustrations: **the mane blocks upward head movement**.

This could’ve been solved *so easily* by cutting a slit in the back of the mane to allow the neck peg to tilt back. Instead, his head is stuck in a perpetual forward hunch unless you start modding.

Yes, I *can* DIY it.

No, I *shouldn’t have to*.

Image: This image shows the werewolf action figure from the side, facing left. It has a snarling wolf head with open mouth, fangs visible, and shaggy brown fur around the neck.

The most striking feature is the heavy yellowish armor on its left arm and shoulder. The armor looks weathered and battle-worn, with multiple layered plates and several long metal spikes sticking upward from the shoulder. Around the forearm, the armor has short spikes, and from the wrist extend three very long, jagged metal blades, like huge claws.

The torso has a wide red belt and hanging brown tattered skirt pieces, with chains draped along the side. Two small pale skulls hang from the chains near the hip and thigh. The lower legs have matching yellow, worn-looking armor plates with spikes. In the background is the fantasy stone-arch backdrop and the edge of the yellow-framed board on the right.

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### Accessories & “Too Much Badass” Syndrome

Balathu comes loaded:

* Massive four-bladed flanged mace

Image: Lying on a light-colored surface is a long, thin fantasy weapon that looks like an axe or polearm for an action figure. One end has a three-bladed, battle-worn metal axe head with a rough, stone-like texture and silver edges. The shaft is dark and slender, with a section wrapped in brownish-red grip near the other end. The far end tapers to a small, curved metal spike or blade with some engraved detail.

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* Shoulder armor with Shredder-style blades

* Wrist wraps

* Bladed gauntlet (Vega / Wolverine-style claws)

Image: Action figure armor parts

Top left: a large yellowish, weathered shoulder armor piece with layered plates and several long black spikes sticking out.

Top right: a matching yellow forearm armor piece with two long metal blades extending forward like claws and a couple of short spikes on the side.

Bottom left: a separate brown fur piece shaped like a neck and shoulder mantle with a hole in the center to fit over a figure.

Bottom right: a brown, ribbed cuff or bracer ring, likely for the wrist or forearm of the figure.

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* Skull trophies

* Belt armor with a fallen enemy’s helmet as a buckle

Image: This is a close-up of the werewolf figure’s chest and waist armor. The center has an ornate dark metal plate shaped like a stylized mask or shield, bordered by red textured armor pieces with tiny rivets. Several brown leather-like straps with buckles run vertically down the torso.

Across the front hangs a dark metal chain that drapes from one side to the other. On the right side of the image a small pale skull is attached to the chain, acting like a decorative trophy. The overall look is very detailed and weathered, with a lot of sculpted texture on the straps and armor.

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Individually? All very cool.

Together? Honestly… **too much**.

This is going to sound weird, but I think **XesRay over-badassed him**.

Image: The creature has a muscular humanoid body with a wolf’s snarling head: open mouth, sharp teeth, and glowing yellow eyes. Its skin is gray-brown and textured like fur and rough hide. The hands and feet end in large black claws.

It is heavily armored and decorated:
The left forearm and shoulder have bulky greenish-gold armor with an aged, cracked, almost mossy look, and several long metal blades spike outward from the forearm.
The chest and waist are covered by layered dark red and brown armor plates and straps with metallic studs and chains hanging down.
Two pale skulls are attached to chains at its waist and right ankle like trophies.
The right wrist and ankles are wrapped in dark bands or bracers.

In its right hand it grips a large weapon resembling a crude axe or cleaver on a long wooden handle wrapped with dark red bands, the metal head looking weathered and jagged.

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We already have a 9-foot-tall, jacked sabretooth gladiator with skulls hanging off his belt. Did we *really* need:

* Wrist-mounted Vega claws

* Shredder shoulder blades

* Extra bladed everything

Especially when—and this drives me nuts—**his actual fingers don’t have claws**. He’s got proper claws on his feet, but his hands are basically thick human fingers.

Image: Two detailed fantasy action figures posed in front of a backdrop.

The figure in front is a muscular werewolf-like creature standing on two legs. It has dark brown fur, a snarling wolf head with an open mouth and visible fangs, and glowing yellow eyes. Its armor is dark metallic with a worn, greenish-gold patina, including large shoulder pieces with spikes, bracers, and shin guards. Around its torso and waist are brown straps and red belts, plus hanging chains and skulls near the hips. Its hands and feet are large, clawed, and posed as if mid-roar or attack.

Behind it stands a taller tiger-themed warrior. Its skin is orange with black tiger stripes and white fur on the chest and head. The head looks like a roaring tiger mask or face, with a white mane and an open mouth. It wears a tattered red skirt over black pants, with a brown belt full of pouches, straps, and small accessories. The arms are muscular, and one hand has long, black claws. The lower legs end in large orange feline paws with white toes and black claws.

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You know what would’ve been better?

Ditch the wrist claws.

Ditch the bladed pauldron.

Give him **proper sabretooth paws with big, nasty claws**.

Not only would it make more sense visually and thematically, but it would also avoid another issue…

Image: Two action figures on a tabletop display.

Closest to you is a large, detailed werewolf figure, standing upright and snarling with its mouth open, showing sharp teeth and a pink tongue. Its fur and skin are dark brown and gray, with glowing yellow eyes. It wears fantasy-style armor: a big circular chest emblem with red and gold details, leather-looking straps and belts, and armored bracers on its forearms and lower legs, including skull and bone decorations. Its claws are extended as if in mid-roar.

Behind it and a bit higher is a muscular humanoid figure with wild yellow hair and a mane-like fur collar and cuffs. Its skin is orange-tan, and it has a black costume section around the torso and waist. The figure is posed with bent knees and outstretched arms, baring sharp teeth in an aggressive expression.

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### Material Choice: Brittle Danger Zone

The bladed accessories feel **hard, sharp, and brittle**. The kind of plastic that makes you nervous every time you reposition him.

If this guy ever takes a shelf dive?

Yeah. Something’s snapping.

Image: Action figure of a monstrous warrior with a wolf head and muscular human body.

The figure is posed standing upright. Its head is a snarling wolf with its mouth wide open, sharp teeth showing, and bright yellow eyes. The body is bare and extremely muscular, with detailed veins and skin texture in a grayish-brown tone.

Across the shoulders and upper arms is chunky, battered-looking gold armor. Around the waist is an ornate armored skirt: a large, dark metal mask or helmet shape at the center with eye slits, decorated with red and gold patterns and rivets. Several leather-like straps hang down from the belt. A metal chain runs across the front, from hip to hip, and each side of the chain has a small skull attached, hanging near the thighs.

The forearms have wrapped bracers, and the lower legs, partly visible, look similarly armored and wrapped. In one hand the figure holds a weapon (the blade is partially out of frame).

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### Greasy Joints (My Hands Didn’t Consent)

I get why manufacturers use joint lubricant. I really do. But man… **some of Balathu’s joints are greasy** right out of the box.

I hate articulating a figure and immediately feeling like I need to wash my hands. It’s functional, but unpleasant.

Image: Back view of two fantasy action figures standing side by side on a display surface.

In the foreground is the same wolf‑headed, muscular warrior from before, seen from behind. You can see the thick, curly fur on the back of its head and neck, broad muscular shoulders and back, and wrapped bracers on its wrists and lower legs. Its waist armor is a red and brown leather-like skirt made of many tattered strips with metal edges, hanging down over the back of the thighs. A red belt with gold details circles the waist. In its right hand it holds a three-bladed claw weapon pointed downward.

In the background, to the left, is another figure turned mostly away. This one has orange, tiger‑striped skin on its upper body, red cloth around the waist, and brown wrappings on the lower legs with tan boots. There are pouches and a round flask or grenade hanging at its hip. Both figures stand in front of a printed backdrop showing dark stone walls and an archway with a greenish-blue, eerie light and tree branches inside.

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### Head-Canon Spiral (You Know It’s Coming)

Here’s where my brain goes off the rails.

This dude has *so much* stuff on him. Armor. Blades. Straps. Skulls. A giant mace custom-made for a sabretooth giant.

So…

Who dressed him?

Does someone strap him in before the arena fight?

Or does Balathu carefully gear up every morning like, “Ah yes, my execution pauldron”?

And who’s forging weapons and armor sized specifically for a nine-foot-tall sabretooth man?

Personally? I’d rather have seen a **mostly naked sabretooth giant**, ripping enemies apart with teeth and claws, maybe wielding crude bone weapons made from past victims. Less gladiator cosplay. More primal horror.

Image: Two fantasy monster action figures posed together on a lit display base.

On the left is a large, muscular werewolf-like creature with dark gray fur and skin. Its mouth is wide open in a roar, showing big white fangs and a pink tongue. It has red, glowing-looking eyes from the flash. The figure is heavily detailed with bulging muscles and veins. Around its waist is an ornate armored belt with a skull emblem and chains hanging down; two small skulls hang at the front of its thighs. It has clawed feet and hands, and black claws on its toes. A black cable runs behind its left leg across the surface.

On the right is a more slender, orange feline warrior creature, mid-stride as if lunging forward. It has a cat-like head with pointed ears, an open snarling mouth, and sharp teeth. The body is orange with darker striping and lighter fur on the chest. It wears a decorative harness and belt with small skulls and armor plates. Its left hand holds a long staff or spear topped with a large curved fang or claw. Its feet and hands have black claws, and one knee has a piece of blue armor.

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### Scale Perspective: We’re Living in the Golden Age

I remember when a **9” figure in 1/12 scale was unheard of**.

Early 2000s?

6 inches was standard.

7 inches was “big.”

8 inches was mind-blowing.

Image: In a narrow, dimly lit corridor, Hercules drives forward in mid-charge, slamming into a towering monster.

Hercules is on the right, planted on the floor, leaning in with both fists raised, his muscular torso twisted as he winds up for a brutal punch. The harsh, cold light glances off his green skirt and gold armor, outlining his shoulders and arms like a classic comic-book power shot. He looks like he’s crashing straight into his opponent, using all his weight and momentum.

On the left, the monster is being forced backward, almost lifted off its feet. Its clawed hands are thrown up defensively as it’s shoved into a metal wall. Heavy chains and bone trophies rattle across its chest, catching the light in sharp flashes. The creature’s dark, textured armor drinks in most of the surrounding shadow, making its glowing highlights and grimacing face stand out even more.

Behind the monster, a vertical strip of bright white LEDs blasts out of the wall, flaring against its armor and giving the whole scene a high-contrast, underground-arena vibe. The lighting makes it feel like a decisive moment: Hercules pushing the beast into the wall for a finishing blow, the monster pinned between raw strength and cold steel with nowhere left to go.

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Then Four Horsemen dropped ogres… and now?

* XesRay: 9” sabretooth, rhino, minotaurs

* Ideas From Mars: 9” dinosaur warriors

* Maestro Union: 9” tiger men & werewolves

* Loose Collector: 9” Great Wolves

* McFarlane: regular Megafigs

* Axy Toys: 9” dinosaur brutes

Image: A large, muscular orange-skinned creature is standing on the left, leaning forward and punching a darker, bulkier armored creature on the right into a wall with bright LED lights. The orange figure wears white padded armor and dark boots, with a snarling, toothy face. The darker figure has a gorilla-like build, lots of straps, armor plates, and a helmet or mask, with its hands splayed against the wall as if it’s being slammed into it. The LEDs on the wall shine toward them, giving the scene a dramatic, high-contrast, action-diorama look.

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We’re spoiled.

So spoiled that **a 9” hulking monster is no longer special by default**.

And honestly? That’s amazing.

### Final Verdict

Balathu the Big Teeth is **imposing, heavy, beautifully sculpted, and full of personality**. He’s flawed—sometimes frustratingly so—but he’s also one of the most tactile, shelf-dominating sabretooth figures we’ve ever gotten in this scale.

I just wish XesRay had trusted the core concept more and dialed back the excess.

Still… he’s staying on my shelf.

And yeah—if you love big cats, ogre-scale brutes, or gladiator monsters that look like they could tear your display apart? You’re probably going to want one too.

Image: Fantasy battle diorama with three action figures.

Centered is a huge werewolf-like warrior standing on two legs, roaring with its mouth open. It has brown fur, bulky muscles, and is covered in dark armor, chains, and skull decorations. It’s holding a large double-bladed axe raised high in its right hand, and some long, jagged blades are mounted on its left forearm.

On the right side, an armored male warrior in red is attacking the beast. He has an orange muscular body, red helmet, red boots and skirt-like armor, and a large red shield with a golden emblem. He’s thrusting a long spear straight into the werewolf’s chest.

At the bottom, a female warrior in silver and blue armor is charging toward the monster. She wears a helmet with a bright blue plume, silver chest armor, bracers, greaves, and sandals, with blue accents on her leg armor. She holds a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, both pointed toward the creature.

Behind them is a printed backdrop showing stone ruins and a dark, eerie forest sky, and the figures stand on a flat surface bordered with a bright red edge.

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For more toy reviews, tactile art, and collector ramblings, visit

👉 **[https://johnnytiger.com](https://johnnytiger.com)**

👉 **[https://tigertactile.com](https://tigertactile.com)**

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