In 1986 figures were released on three different cardbacks: 36-Backs, 36-Backs w/ Sgt. Slaughter Promotion, and 36-Backs w/ Body Transfer Promotion. Both Series Four and Series Five figures were available this year.

One other item of note is the filecard and logo change that occured between 1985 (Series Four) and 1986 (Series Five). The figures that debuted in Series Four had 2-D G.I. Joe logos on the front of the cards as well as peach filecards. In 1986 those figures were still available but now had 3-D G.I. Joe logos and gray filecards. Again, this applies to all Series Four figures and one Series Three figure--Storm Shadow.