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Triple Changer

2010-03-12T23:42:42Z

188.222.50.81: /* Subsequent toys labeled as "Triple Changers" */

:''The Triple Changers are Transformers that are mostly from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:5 blitzwing new world order.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Blitzwing demonstrates his triple-changing abilities, transforming from an ''incredibly'' unconvincing jet into a tank that's only ''slightly'' unconvincing.]]
In their quest for ever-greater machines of war, the [[Decepticon]]s developed warriors with two distinct alternate forms. These '''Triple Changers''' can travel by land and air with equal ease, and in the heat of battle they can rapidly change form to confuse and outflank the enemy. To counter this threat, the [[Autobot]]s also developed their own group of Triple Changers.

The Triple Changers are:

{{collist|2|
* Decepticons:
** [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
** [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]
** [[Octane]]

* Autobots:
** [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
** [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]
** [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]
}}

{{note|In Transformers fiction, the term "Triple Changer" refers almost exclusively to these two subgroups, which are the only such characters ever shown as cohesive teams. However, other official sources such as toy packaging, catalogs, Hasbro spokespersons, and commercials have applied the term "Triple Changer" rather haphazardly to many other characters from various continuities. Further muddying the waters, a few characters with three distinct modes have never been labeled as Triple Changers in toys or fiction, even in cases where it would really make sense to do so.}}

:''Japanese name (Autobots):'' '''Triplebot'''
:''Japanese name (Decepticons):'' '''Tripletron'''
:''Hungarian name'': '''Triplaváltozók'''

==Fiction==
===Generation 1===
====Cartoon continuity====
Triple-changing is an [[ability]] shared by some Transformers.
{{stub}}
====Marvel Comics continuity====
=====Generation 1=====
{{noteukonly}}

[[Image:Ratbatcratercritters.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Didja ever wonder what guys like Astrotrain do if they have an itch in the middle of their back? That's gotta ''suck'' for 'em. There is ''no way'' he can reach back there.]]

''The Decepticon Triple Changers existed for an unknown length of time, and Octane and Blitzwing developed a reputation as two of Cybertron's deadliest killers: key targets in [[Operation: Volcano]]. {{storylink|Target: 2006}} The deadly killer Octane would later oversee a slave camp and run away screaming from Autobots.'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

The Decepticon Triple Changers were called into service by Ratbat when a freighter that he had sent to Earth failed to make contact upon its arrival. The three Triple Changers traveled to Earth via space bridge and located the crashed freighter at the bottom of an impact crater. They quickly discovered that the pilot had become infected with [[scraplet]]s...which immediately infected ''them'' as well. Despite the rapidly spreading disease, they were happy to attack two Autobots who arrived to investigate the crater. One of the Autobots fled, while the other proved to be a fair match for the trio. {{storylink|Crater Critters}}

Eventually, they overpowered and captured [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], taking him prisoner. Astrotrain contacted Ratbat on Cybertron, requesting a cure. Instead, Ratbat dispatched a group of captured Autobots with orders to destroy all the infected Transformers on Earth with canisters of acid...including his own troops! Weakened by the disease, the Triple Changers could do little but sit around in the crater and wait for the end to come, whether by acid melting or scraplet consumption.

Luckily for the Triple Changers, the other Autobot, Goldbug, had managed to find a cure for the disease. Though Blaster demanded that Goldbug kill him along with the Decepticons rather than curing them, Goldbug's hand was forced the other way when the scraplets merged into a titanic combined form. He sprayed [[water|the cure]] on all the crater's occupants, including the Decepticons. Quickly recovering, the Triple Changers rallied to the attack, bringing down the combined scraplet monster with their weapons. Subsequently, they grabbed the cargo of the crashed freighter and made good their escape. {{storylink|The Cure!}}

The Triple Changers subsequently joined the main force of Decepticons on Earth, initially under Shockwave's command, then later Ratbat's. They participated in the great battle against the Autobots on the Moon {{storylink|Totaled!}}, played host to human guests at [[Club Con]] {{storylink|Club Con!}}, and battled Scorponok's forces in the Arctic, a battle in which they fared particularly well. {{storylink|Cold War!}} They didn't fare so well against the Underbase-powered Starscream, however, who slaughtered all three of them in a single blast.

''During the [[Earthforce]] conflict of... er, whenever it was, the Triple Changers would serve under [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. {{storylink|The Bad Guy's Ball!}} Their great highlights were helping beat the snot out of Megatron {{storylink|Secrets}} and joining the massed attack on Autobot Earthbase. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer!}} Their lowlight was Octane getting stuck on a military firing range while full of fuel, and Astrotrain and Blitzwing leaving him behind out of annoyance. {{storylink|Manoeuvres!}}

In a dystopian future, they served under Galvatron and killed [[Crossblades (G1)|Crossblades]]. {{storylink|Rhythms of Darkness!}}

[[Image:Triplechangerstarget2006.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]

''The Autobot Triple Changers first came to prominence in the days leading up to [[Operation: Volcano]]; they were called into service by [[Emirate Xaaron]] to fill in for Ultra Magnus, should the latter not return from Earth in time to participate in the mission. They convinced the Wreckers' leader, [[Impactor]], that they would be up to the challenge by beating the stuffing out of him before rocketing back to the Autobot base, [[Debris]]. When Impactor was killed in the aborted mission, Triple Changer Springer took over as Wrecker leader, with the other two becoming part of the force as well.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

''The Triple Changers participated in several of the Wreckers' missions on Cybertron {{storylink|City of Fear!}} and Earth. {{storylink|Wrecking Havoc}} After the latter mission turned into a near-disaster, Sandstorm and Broadside were sent to Earth along with Inferno as an advance guard.'' {{storylink|Firebug!}} {{storylink|Cold Comfort and Joy!}}

''They were still with the Wreckers during the catastrophic battle against Megatron and Galvatron, which saw Sandstorm destroyed. Broadside and Springer survived {{storylink|Time Wars}}, eventually going on to form the Survivors group {{storylink|Survivors!}} and later hooking up with Grimlock's [[Earthforce]]'' {{storylink|Wolf in the Fold!}}.

''In a possible future, Springer and Sandstorm would be two of the last Autobots when the war ended in 2510. [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] made Springer his successor, only for fighting to break out over it; Sandstorm fired the second shot, killing [[Triton]].'' {{storylink|Peace}}

=====Generation 2=====
Broadside was part of a team of "Firestormers" that raided various Decepticon outposts across the galaxy. {{storylink|War Without End!}} Springer, meanwhile, had apparently joined Optimus Prime's main force of Autobots and participated in a counter-Decepticon raid on [[Ethos]] {{storylink|Escalation!}} as well as the final battle against the Swarm on Earth. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

Octane was also present in the conflict, but [[Death|not for long]]. {{storylink|Total War!}}

====Dreamwave Comics====
[[Image:BlitzwingDissectionDreamwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This detailed, scientific cut-away view reveals that underneath all that armor, Blitzwing is... made of mechanical stuff.]]

Triple Changers Blitzwing, Octane and Astrotrain were involved in Decepticon battle operations around the time that Optimus Prime rose to command the Autobots. They participated in a major attack on Iacon. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3}}

Later, Blitzwing spontaneously began to grow new parts, perhaps heralding his evolution into a Triple Changer. Yes, we know this makes no sense. {{storylink|Recipe for Hate}}

{{note|As a Triple Changer, the subject can change between modes three times as fast as a normal Transformer.}}

====IDW Comics====
Astrotrain and Blitzwing were part of Starscream's [[Infiltration protocol|Infiltration Unit]] on Earth. {{storylink|Infiltration}} They survived attacks by the [[Reaper]]s and Autobots before the Autobots were driven from the planet. {{storylink|Devastation (IDW)}} When the Autobots returned with Omega Supreme, the Decepticons retreated into space, ferried by Astrotrain. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron}}
{{note|Broadside, Sandstorm, [[Octane|Tankor]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] have not been shown to transform into their second alternate mode, if they have one in this continuity. }}

{{-}}

===Live-action film continuity===
====Vector Sigma data tracks====
According to hypothesis, the ability to have two alternate modes may be connected to the Transformer's genetics.<ref>Hasbro's online [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/TRANSFORMERS-Glossary.cfm Transformers glossary].</ref>

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:Blitzwingg1toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|In a line cut from The Transformers: The Movie, Blitzwing says that as a Triple Changer, he's worth any two of his comrades. But it turns out that he retailed for a bit less than the Seekers.]]
* '''Decepticon Triple Changers''' (1985)
**[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
**[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]

* '''Autobot Triple Changers''' (1986)
**[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
**[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]
**[[Springer (G1)|Springer]]

* '''Decepticon Triple Changers''' (1986)
**[[Octane]]

:The original Triple Changers were released in the second year of Generation 1, and were sufficiently popular to inspire 4 more in 1986.

===Classics===
* Astrotrain (2006)

===Universe (2008)===
* [[Octane|Tankor]]
: Octane with a new name.

{{note|This list includes only toys that actually have three modes. Several of the Triple Changer characters have had later releases in other toy molds, most notably Sandstorm and Springer, but these forms lacked the third mode required to qualify as Triple Changers.}}

===Subsequent toys labeled as "Triple Changers"===
;Generation 1
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (called a "Headmaster Triple Changer base" in a commercial and in "[[Doomsday for Nebulos]].")

;Generation 2
* [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] (1994)
: The bomber/tank/robot describes himself as "triple-changing Dreadwing" in a television [[commercial]]. Another commercial has the announcer saying "Dreadwing is a Triple Changer."

;Beast Wars
[[Image:BW-toy Depthcharge.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]: a triple-changing [[Transmetal]] from the ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'']]
* [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] (1998)
* [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (1998)
:Although the packaging says "3 mode conversion", the commercial announcer says that each of these characters "triple changes".

;Armada
[[Image:Armada Laserbeak toy.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The only Triple Changer from [[Armada (franchise)|''Armada'']]: [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]]]]
* [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] (2002)

;Energon
* [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] (2004)
* [[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]] (2004)
* [[Six Shot |SixShot]] (2005)
;Cybertron
* [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (2005)
* [[Anti-Blaze]] (2006)
* [[Checkpoint (Cybertron)|Checkpoint]] (2006)
* [[Scythe]] (2006)
* [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Cryo Scourge]] (2006)
* [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] (2006)

;Animated
* [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (2008)

;Revenge of the Fallen
[[Image:Soundwaverotfpreviewtoy.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Triple-changing [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], superior!]]
* [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]] (2009)
* [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] (2009)
* [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]<ref>Megatron was identified as a Triple Changer in [[Revenge of the Fallen: The Movie Universe]] and was shown with two alternate modes in [[Revenge of the Fallen Movie Adaptation]]. He did not display this ability in [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|the film]] or [[Megatron (Movie)/toys|his toys]].</ref> (2009)
;Unreleased
* ''[[Dropshot (Armada)|Dropshot]]''
* [[Jet-helicopter Decepticon|A helicopter/plane Triple Changer]]
*ATB Megatron (called a Triple Changer by a Hasbro pitch man.)

===Retroactively labeled as Triple Changers===

* Dreamwave's ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' profile book series identifies [[Apeface]] and [[Snapdragon]] as Triple Changers.

* Dreamwave's ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (Armada)|More Than Meets The Eye: Armada]]'' book labels [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] as a Triple Changer, also stating that other Mini-Cons with a third mode are Triple Changers.

* IDW's ''[[Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' labels [[Bigmos]] and [[B'Boom]] as Triple Changers, but not the characters who share their molds.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Cybertron]]
[[Category:Energon]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]
[[Category:Subgroups]]
[[Category:Toys]]
[[Category:Triple Changers| ]]

Triple Changer

2010-03-12T23:42:21Z

188.222.50.81: /* Subsequent toys labeled as "Triple Changers" */

:''The Triple Changers are Transformers that are mostly from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:5 blitzwing new world order.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Blitzwing demonstrates his triple-changing abilities, transforming from an ''incredibly'' unconvincing jet into a tank that's only ''slightly'' unconvincing.]]
In their quest for ever-greater machines of war, the [[Decepticon]]s developed warriors with two distinct alternate forms. These '''Triple Changers''' can travel by land and air with equal ease, and in the heat of battle they can rapidly change form to confuse and outflank the enemy. To counter this threat, the [[Autobot]]s also developed their own group of Triple Changers.

The Triple Changers are:

{{collist|2|
* Decepticons:
** [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
** [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]
** [[Octane]]

* Autobots:
** [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
** [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]
** [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]
}}

{{note|In Transformers fiction, the term "Triple Changer" refers almost exclusively to these two subgroups, which are the only such characters ever shown as cohesive teams. However, other official sources such as toy packaging, catalogs, Hasbro spokespersons, and commercials have applied the term "Triple Changer" rather haphazardly to many other characters from various continuities. Further muddying the waters, a few characters with three distinct modes have never been labeled as Triple Changers in toys or fiction, even in cases where it would really make sense to do so.}}

:''Japanese name (Autobots):'' '''Triplebot'''
:''Japanese name (Decepticons):'' '''Tripletron'''
:''Hungarian name'': '''Triplaváltozók'''

==Fiction==
===Generation 1===
====Cartoon continuity====
Triple-changing is an [[ability]] shared by some Transformers.
{{stub}}
====Marvel Comics continuity====
=====Generation 1=====
{{noteukonly}}

[[Image:Ratbatcratercritters.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Didja ever wonder what guys like Astrotrain do if they have an itch in the middle of their back? That's gotta ''suck'' for 'em. There is ''no way'' he can reach back there.]]

''The Decepticon Triple Changers existed for an unknown length of time, and Octane and Blitzwing developed a reputation as two of Cybertron's deadliest killers: key targets in [[Operation: Volcano]]. {{storylink|Target: 2006}} The deadly killer Octane would later oversee a slave camp and run away screaming from Autobots.'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

The Decepticon Triple Changers were called into service by Ratbat when a freighter that he had sent to Earth failed to make contact upon its arrival. The three Triple Changers traveled to Earth via space bridge and located the crashed freighter at the bottom of an impact crater. They quickly discovered that the pilot had become infected with [[scraplet]]s...which immediately infected ''them'' as well. Despite the rapidly spreading disease, they were happy to attack two Autobots who arrived to investigate the crater. One of the Autobots fled, while the other proved to be a fair match for the trio. {{storylink|Crater Critters}}

Eventually, they overpowered and captured [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], taking him prisoner. Astrotrain contacted Ratbat on Cybertron, requesting a cure. Instead, Ratbat dispatched a group of captured Autobots with orders to destroy all the infected Transformers on Earth with canisters of acid...including his own troops! Weakened by the disease, the Triple Changers could do little but sit around in the crater and wait for the end to come, whether by acid melting or scraplet consumption.

Luckily for the Triple Changers, the other Autobot, Goldbug, had managed to find a cure for the disease. Though Blaster demanded that Goldbug kill him along with the Decepticons rather than curing them, Goldbug's hand was forced the other way when the scraplets merged into a titanic combined form. He sprayed [[water|the cure]] on all the crater's occupants, including the Decepticons. Quickly recovering, the Triple Changers rallied to the attack, bringing down the combined scraplet monster with their weapons. Subsequently, they grabbed the cargo of the crashed freighter and made good their escape. {{storylink|The Cure!}}

The Triple Changers subsequently joined the main force of Decepticons on Earth, initially under Shockwave's command, then later Ratbat's. They participated in the great battle against the Autobots on the Moon {{storylink|Totaled!}}, played host to human guests at [[Club Con]] {{storylink|Club Con!}}, and battled Scorponok's forces in the Arctic, a battle in which they fared particularly well. {{storylink|Cold War!}} They didn't fare so well against the Underbase-powered Starscream, however, who slaughtered all three of them in a single blast.

''During the [[Earthforce]] conflict of... er, whenever it was, the Triple Changers would serve under [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. {{storylink|The Bad Guy's Ball!}} Their great highlights were helping beat the snot out of Megatron {{storylink|Secrets}} and joining the massed attack on Autobot Earthbase. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer!}} Their lowlight was Octane getting stuck on a military firing range while full of fuel, and Astrotrain and Blitzwing leaving him behind out of annoyance. {{storylink|Manoeuvres!}}

In a dystopian future, they served under Galvatron and killed [[Crossblades (G1)|Crossblades]]. {{storylink|Rhythms of Darkness!}}

[[Image:Triplechangerstarget2006.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]

''The Autobot Triple Changers first came to prominence in the days leading up to [[Operation: Volcano]]; they were called into service by [[Emirate Xaaron]] to fill in for Ultra Magnus, should the latter not return from Earth in time to participate in the mission. They convinced the Wreckers' leader, [[Impactor]], that they would be up to the challenge by beating the stuffing out of him before rocketing back to the Autobot base, [[Debris]]. When Impactor was killed in the aborted mission, Triple Changer Springer took over as Wrecker leader, with the other two becoming part of the force as well.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

''The Triple Changers participated in several of the Wreckers' missions on Cybertron {{storylink|City of Fear!}} and Earth. {{storylink|Wrecking Havoc}} After the latter mission turned into a near-disaster, Sandstorm and Broadside were sent to Earth along with Inferno as an advance guard.'' {{storylink|Firebug!}} {{storylink|Cold Comfort and Joy!}}

''They were still with the Wreckers during the catastrophic battle against Megatron and Galvatron, which saw Sandstorm destroyed. Broadside and Springer survived {{storylink|Time Wars}}, eventually going on to form the Survivors group {{storylink|Survivors!}} and later hooking up with Grimlock's [[Earthforce]]'' {{storylink|Wolf in the Fold!}}.

''In a possible future, Springer and Sandstorm would be two of the last Autobots when the war ended in 2510. [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] made Springer his successor, only for fighting to break out over it; Sandstorm fired the second shot, killing [[Triton]].'' {{storylink|Peace}}

=====Generation 2=====
Broadside was part of a team of "Firestormers" that raided various Decepticon outposts across the galaxy. {{storylink|War Without End!}} Springer, meanwhile, had apparently joined Optimus Prime's main force of Autobots and participated in a counter-Decepticon raid on [[Ethos]] {{storylink|Escalation!}} as well as the final battle against the Swarm on Earth. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

Octane was also present in the conflict, but [[Death|not for long]]. {{storylink|Total War!}}

====Dreamwave Comics====
[[Image:BlitzwingDissectionDreamwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This detailed, scientific cut-away view reveals that underneath all that armor, Blitzwing is... made of mechanical stuff.]]

Triple Changers Blitzwing, Octane and Astrotrain were involved in Decepticon battle operations around the time that Optimus Prime rose to command the Autobots. They participated in a major attack on Iacon. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3}}

Later, Blitzwing spontaneously began to grow new parts, perhaps heralding his evolution into a Triple Changer. Yes, we know this makes no sense. {{storylink|Recipe for Hate}}

{{note|As a Triple Changer, the subject can change between modes three times as fast as a normal Transformer.}}

====IDW Comics====
Astrotrain and Blitzwing were part of Starscream's [[Infiltration protocol|Infiltration Unit]] on Earth. {{storylink|Infiltration}} They survived attacks by the [[Reaper]]s and Autobots before the Autobots were driven from the planet. {{storylink|Devastation (IDW)}} When the Autobots returned with Omega Supreme, the Decepticons retreated into space, ferried by Astrotrain. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron}}
{{note|Broadside, Sandstorm, [[Octane|Tankor]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] have not been shown to transform into their second alternate mode, if they have one in this continuity. }}

{{-}}

===Live-action film continuity===
====Vector Sigma data tracks====
According to hypothesis, the ability to have two alternate modes may be connected to the Transformer's genetics.<ref>Hasbro's online [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/TRANSFORMERS-Glossary.cfm Transformers glossary].</ref>

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:Blitzwingg1toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|In a line cut from The Transformers: The Movie, Blitzwing says that as a Triple Changer, he's worth any two of his comrades. But it turns out that he retailed for a bit less than the Seekers.]]
* '''Decepticon Triple Changers''' (1985)
**[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
**[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]

* '''Autobot Triple Changers''' (1986)
**[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
**[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]
**[[Springer (G1)|Springer]]

* '''Decepticon Triple Changers''' (1986)
**[[Octane]]

:The original Triple Changers were released in the second year of Generation 1, and were sufficiently popular to inspire 4 more in 1986.

===Classics===
* Astrotrain (2006)

===Universe (2008)===
* [[Octane|Tankor]]
: Octane with a new name.

{{note|This list includes only toys that actually have three modes. Several of the Triple Changer characters have had later releases in other toy molds, most notably Sandstorm and Springer, but these forms lacked the third mode required to qualify as Triple Changers.}}

===Subsequent toys labeled as "Triple Changers"===
;Generation 1
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (called a "Headmaster Triple Changer base" in a commercial and in "[[Doomsday for Nebulos]].")

;Generation 2
* [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] (1994)
: The bomber/tank/robot describes himself as "triple-changing Dreadwing" in a television [[commercial]]. Another commercial has the announcer saying "Dreadwing is a Triple Changer."

;Beast Wars
[[Image:BW-toy Depthcharge.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]: a triple-changing [[Transmetal]] from the ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'']]
* [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] (1998)
* [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (1998)
:Although the packaging says "3 mode conversion", the commercial announcer says that each of these characters "triple changes".

;Armada
[[Image:Armada Laserbeak toy.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The only Triple Changer from [[Armada (franchise)|''Armada'']]: [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]]]]
* [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] (2002)

;Energon
* [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] (2004)
* [[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]] (2004)
* [[Six Shot (Energon) |Six Shot]] (2005)
;Cybertron
* [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (2005)
* [[Anti-Blaze]] (2006)
* [[Checkpoint (Cybertron)|Checkpoint]] (2006)
* [[Scythe]] (2006)
* [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Cryo Scourge]] (2006)
* [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] (2006)

;Animated
* [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (2008)

;Revenge of the Fallen
[[Image:Soundwaverotfpreviewtoy.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Triple-changing [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], superior!]]
* [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]] (2009)
* [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] (2009)
* [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]<ref>Megatron was identified as a Triple Changer in [[Revenge of the Fallen: The Movie Universe]] and was shown with two alternate modes in [[Revenge of the Fallen Movie Adaptation]]. He did not display this ability in [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|the film]] or [[Megatron (Movie)/toys|his toys]].</ref> (2009)
;Unreleased
* ''[[Dropshot (Armada)|Dropshot]]''
* [[Jet-helicopter Decepticon|A helicopter/plane Triple Changer]]
*ATB Megatron (called a Triple Changer by a Hasbro pitch man.)

===Retroactively labeled as Triple Changers===

* Dreamwave's ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' profile book series identifies [[Apeface]] and [[Snapdragon]] as Triple Changers.

* Dreamwave's ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (Armada)|More Than Meets The Eye: Armada]]'' book labels [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] as a Triple Changer, also stating that other Mini-Cons with a third mode are Triple Changers.

* IDW's ''[[Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' labels [[Bigmos]] and [[B'Boom]] as Triple Changers, but not the characters who share their molds.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Cybertron]]
[[Category:Energon]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]
[[Category:Subgroups]]
[[Category:Toys]]
[[Category:Triple Changers| ]]

Triple Changer

2010-03-12T23:42:06Z

188.222.50.81: /* Subsequent toys labeled as "Triple Changers" */

:''The Triple Changers are Transformers that are mostly from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:5 blitzwing new world order.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Blitzwing demonstrates his triple-changing abilities, transforming from an ''incredibly'' unconvincing jet into a tank that's only ''slightly'' unconvincing.]]
In their quest for ever-greater machines of war, the [[Decepticon]]s developed warriors with two distinct alternate forms. These '''Triple Changers''' can travel by land and air with equal ease, and in the heat of battle they can rapidly change form to confuse and outflank the enemy. To counter this threat, the [[Autobot]]s also developed their own group of Triple Changers.

The Triple Changers are:

{{collist|2|
* Decepticons:
** [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
** [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]
** [[Octane]]

* Autobots:
** [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
** [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]
** [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]
}}

{{note|In Transformers fiction, the term "Triple Changer" refers almost exclusively to these two subgroups, which are the only such characters ever shown as cohesive teams. However, other official sources such as toy packaging, catalogs, Hasbro spokespersons, and commercials have applied the term "Triple Changer" rather haphazardly to many other characters from various continuities. Further muddying the waters, a few characters with three distinct modes have never been labeled as Triple Changers in toys or fiction, even in cases where it would really make sense to do so.}}

:''Japanese name (Autobots):'' '''Triplebot'''
:''Japanese name (Decepticons):'' '''Tripletron'''
:''Hungarian name'': '''Triplaváltozók'''

==Fiction==
===Generation 1===
====Cartoon continuity====
Triple-changing is an [[ability]] shared by some Transformers.
{{stub}}
====Marvel Comics continuity====
=====Generation 1=====
{{noteukonly}}

[[Image:Ratbatcratercritters.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Didja ever wonder what guys like Astrotrain do if they have an itch in the middle of their back? That's gotta ''suck'' for 'em. There is ''no way'' he can reach back there.]]

''The Decepticon Triple Changers existed for an unknown length of time, and Octane and Blitzwing developed a reputation as two of Cybertron's deadliest killers: key targets in [[Operation: Volcano]]. {{storylink|Target: 2006}} The deadly killer Octane would later oversee a slave camp and run away screaming from Autobots.'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

The Decepticon Triple Changers were called into service by Ratbat when a freighter that he had sent to Earth failed to make contact upon its arrival. The three Triple Changers traveled to Earth via space bridge and located the crashed freighter at the bottom of an impact crater. They quickly discovered that the pilot had become infected with [[scraplet]]s...which immediately infected ''them'' as well. Despite the rapidly spreading disease, they were happy to attack two Autobots who arrived to investigate the crater. One of the Autobots fled, while the other proved to be a fair match for the trio. {{storylink|Crater Critters}}

Eventually, they overpowered and captured [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], taking him prisoner. Astrotrain contacted Ratbat on Cybertron, requesting a cure. Instead, Ratbat dispatched a group of captured Autobots with orders to destroy all the infected Transformers on Earth with canisters of acid...including his own troops! Weakened by the disease, the Triple Changers could do little but sit around in the crater and wait for the end to come, whether by acid melting or scraplet consumption.

Luckily for the Triple Changers, the other Autobot, Goldbug, had managed to find a cure for the disease. Though Blaster demanded that Goldbug kill him along with the Decepticons rather than curing them, Goldbug's hand was forced the other way when the scraplets merged into a titanic combined form. He sprayed [[water|the cure]] on all the crater's occupants, including the Decepticons. Quickly recovering, the Triple Changers rallied to the attack, bringing down the combined scraplet monster with their weapons. Subsequently, they grabbed the cargo of the crashed freighter and made good their escape. {{storylink|The Cure!}}

The Triple Changers subsequently joined the main force of Decepticons on Earth, initially under Shockwave's command, then later Ratbat's. They participated in the great battle against the Autobots on the Moon {{storylink|Totaled!}}, played host to human guests at [[Club Con]] {{storylink|Club Con!}}, and battled Scorponok's forces in the Arctic, a battle in which they fared particularly well. {{storylink|Cold War!}} They didn't fare so well against the Underbase-powered Starscream, however, who slaughtered all three of them in a single blast.

''During the [[Earthforce]] conflict of... er, whenever it was, the Triple Changers would serve under [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. {{storylink|The Bad Guy's Ball!}} Their great highlights were helping beat the snot out of Megatron {{storylink|Secrets}} and joining the massed attack on Autobot Earthbase. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer!}} Their lowlight was Octane getting stuck on a military firing range while full of fuel, and Astrotrain and Blitzwing leaving him behind out of annoyance. {{storylink|Manoeuvres!}}

In a dystopian future, they served under Galvatron and killed [[Crossblades (G1)|Crossblades]]. {{storylink|Rhythms of Darkness!}}

[[Image:Triplechangerstarget2006.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]

''The Autobot Triple Changers first came to prominence in the days leading up to [[Operation: Volcano]]; they were called into service by [[Emirate Xaaron]] to fill in for Ultra Magnus, should the latter not return from Earth in time to participate in the mission. They convinced the Wreckers' leader, [[Impactor]], that they would be up to the challenge by beating the stuffing out of him before rocketing back to the Autobot base, [[Debris]]. When Impactor was killed in the aborted mission, Triple Changer Springer took over as Wrecker leader, with the other two becoming part of the force as well.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

''The Triple Changers participated in several of the Wreckers' missions on Cybertron {{storylink|City of Fear!}} and Earth. {{storylink|Wrecking Havoc}} After the latter mission turned into a near-disaster, Sandstorm and Broadside were sent to Earth along with Inferno as an advance guard.'' {{storylink|Firebug!}} {{storylink|Cold Comfort and Joy!}}

''They were still with the Wreckers during the catastrophic battle against Megatron and Galvatron, which saw Sandstorm destroyed. Broadside and Springer survived {{storylink|Time Wars}}, eventually going on to form the Survivors group {{storylink|Survivors!}} and later hooking up with Grimlock's [[Earthforce]]'' {{storylink|Wolf in the Fold!}}.

''In a possible future, Springer and Sandstorm would be two of the last Autobots when the war ended in 2510. [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] made Springer his successor, only for fighting to break out over it; Sandstorm fired the second shot, killing [[Triton]].'' {{storylink|Peace}}

=====Generation 2=====
Broadside was part of a team of "Firestormers" that raided various Decepticon outposts across the galaxy. {{storylink|War Without End!}} Springer, meanwhile, had apparently joined Optimus Prime's main force of Autobots and participated in a counter-Decepticon raid on [[Ethos]] {{storylink|Escalation!}} as well as the final battle against the Swarm on Earth. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

Octane was also present in the conflict, but [[Death|not for long]]. {{storylink|Total War!}}

====Dreamwave Comics====
[[Image:BlitzwingDissectionDreamwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This detailed, scientific cut-away view reveals that underneath all that armor, Blitzwing is... made of mechanical stuff.]]

Triple Changers Blitzwing, Octane and Astrotrain were involved in Decepticon battle operations around the time that Optimus Prime rose to command the Autobots. They participated in a major attack on Iacon. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3}}

Later, Blitzwing spontaneously began to grow new parts, perhaps heralding his evolution into a Triple Changer. Yes, we know this makes no sense. {{storylink|Recipe for Hate}}

{{note|As a Triple Changer, the subject can change between modes three times as fast as a normal Transformer.}}

====IDW Comics====
Astrotrain and Blitzwing were part of Starscream's [[Infiltration protocol|Infiltration Unit]] on Earth. {{storylink|Infiltration}} They survived attacks by the [[Reaper]]s and Autobots before the Autobots were driven from the planet. {{storylink|Devastation (IDW)}} When the Autobots returned with Omega Supreme, the Decepticons retreated into space, ferried by Astrotrain. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron}}
{{note|Broadside, Sandstorm, [[Octane|Tankor]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] have not been shown to transform into their second alternate mode, if they have one in this continuity. }}

{{-}}

===Live-action film continuity===
====Vector Sigma data tracks====
According to hypothesis, the ability to have two alternate modes may be connected to the Transformer's genetics.<ref>Hasbro's online [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/TRANSFORMERS-Glossary.cfm Transformers glossary].</ref>

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:Blitzwingg1toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|In a line cut from The Transformers: The Movie, Blitzwing says that as a Triple Changer, he's worth any two of his comrades. But it turns out that he retailed for a bit less than the Seekers.]]
* '''Decepticon Triple Changers''' (1985)
**[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
**[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]

* '''Autobot Triple Changers''' (1986)
**[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
**[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]
**[[Springer (G1)|Springer]]

* '''Decepticon Triple Changers''' (1986)
**[[Octane]]

:The original Triple Changers were released in the second year of Generation 1, and were sufficiently popular to inspire 4 more in 1986.

===Classics===
* Astrotrain (2006)

===Universe (2008)===
* [[Octane|Tankor]]
: Octane with a new name.

{{note|This list includes only toys that actually have three modes. Several of the Triple Changer characters have had later releases in other toy molds, most notably Sandstorm and Springer, but these forms lacked the third mode required to qualify as Triple Changers.}}

===Subsequent toys labeled as "Triple Changers"===
;Generation 1
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (called a "Headmaster Triple Changer base" in a commercial and in "[[Doomsday for Nebulos]].")

;Generation 2
* [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] (1994)
: The bomber/tank/robot describes himself as "triple-changing Dreadwing" in a television [[commercial]]. Another commercial has the announcer saying "Dreadwing is a Triple Changer."

;Beast Wars
[[Image:BW-toy Depthcharge.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]: a triple-changing [[Transmetal]] from the ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'']]
* [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] (1998)
* [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (1998)
:Although the packaging says "3 mode conversion", the commercial announcer says that each of these characters "triple changes".

;Armada
[[Image:Armada Laserbeak toy.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The only Triple Changer from [[Armada (franchise)|''Armada'']]: [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]]]]
* [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] (2002)

;Energon
* [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] (2004)
* [[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]] (2004)
* [[Six Shot (Energon) |SixShot]] (2005)
;Cybertron
* [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (2005)
* [[Anti-Blaze]] (2006)
* [[Checkpoint (Cybertron)|Checkpoint]] (2006)
* [[Scythe]] (2006)
* [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Cryo Scourge]] (2006)
* [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] (2006)

;Animated
* [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (2008)

;Revenge of the Fallen
[[Image:Soundwaverotfpreviewtoy.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Triple-changing [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], superior!]]
* [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]] (2009)
* [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] (2009)
* [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]<ref>Megatron was identified as a Triple Changer in [[Revenge of the Fallen: The Movie Universe]] and was shown with two alternate modes in [[Revenge of the Fallen Movie Adaptation]]. He did not display this ability in [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|the film]] or [[Megatron (Movie)/toys|his toys]].</ref> (2009)
;Unreleased
* ''[[Dropshot (Armada)|Dropshot]]''
* [[Jet-helicopter Decepticon|A helicopter/plane Triple Changer]]
*ATB Megatron (called a Triple Changer by a Hasbro pitch man.)

===Retroactively labeled as Triple Changers===

* Dreamwave's ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' profile book series identifies [[Apeface]] and [[Snapdragon]] as Triple Changers.

* Dreamwave's ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (Armada)|More Than Meets The Eye: Armada]]'' book labels [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] as a Triple Changer, also stating that other Mini-Cons with a third mode are Triple Changers.

* IDW's ''[[Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' labels [[Bigmos]] and [[B'Boom]] as Triple Changers, but not the characters who share their molds.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Cybertron]]
[[Category:Energon]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]
[[Category:Subgroups]]
[[Category:Toys]]
[[Category:Triple Changers| ]]

Triple Changer

2010-03-12T23:41:31Z

188.222.50.81: /* Subsequent toys labeled as "Triple Changers" */

:''The Triple Changers are Transformers that are mostly from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:5 blitzwing new world order.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Blitzwing demonstrates his triple-changing abilities, transforming from an ''incredibly'' unconvincing jet into a tank that's only ''slightly'' unconvincing.]]
In their quest for ever-greater machines of war, the [[Decepticon]]s developed warriors with two distinct alternate forms. These '''Triple Changers''' can travel by land and air with equal ease, and in the heat of battle they can rapidly change form to confuse and outflank the enemy. To counter this threat, the [[Autobot]]s also developed their own group of Triple Changers.

The Triple Changers are:

{{collist|2|
* Decepticons:
** [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
** [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]
** [[Octane]]

* Autobots:
** [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
** [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]
** [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]
}}

{{note|In Transformers fiction, the term "Triple Changer" refers almost exclusively to these two subgroups, which are the only such characters ever shown as cohesive teams. However, other official sources such as toy packaging, catalogs, Hasbro spokespersons, and commercials have applied the term "Triple Changer" rather haphazardly to many other characters from various continuities. Further muddying the waters, a few characters with three distinct modes have never been labeled as Triple Changers in toys or fiction, even in cases where it would really make sense to do so.}}

:''Japanese name (Autobots):'' '''Triplebot'''
:''Japanese name (Decepticons):'' '''Tripletron'''
:''Hungarian name'': '''Triplaváltozók'''

==Fiction==
===Generation 1===
====Cartoon continuity====
Triple-changing is an [[ability]] shared by some Transformers.
{{stub}}
====Marvel Comics continuity====
=====Generation 1=====
{{noteukonly}}

[[Image:Ratbatcratercritters.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Didja ever wonder what guys like Astrotrain do if they have an itch in the middle of their back? That's gotta ''suck'' for 'em. There is ''no way'' he can reach back there.]]

''The Decepticon Triple Changers existed for an unknown length of time, and Octane and Blitzwing developed a reputation as two of Cybertron's deadliest killers: key targets in [[Operation: Volcano]]. {{storylink|Target: 2006}} The deadly killer Octane would later oversee a slave camp and run away screaming from Autobots.'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

The Decepticon Triple Changers were called into service by Ratbat when a freighter that he had sent to Earth failed to make contact upon its arrival. The three Triple Changers traveled to Earth via space bridge and located the crashed freighter at the bottom of an impact crater. They quickly discovered that the pilot had become infected with [[scraplet]]s...which immediately infected ''them'' as well. Despite the rapidly spreading disease, they were happy to attack two Autobots who arrived to investigate the crater. One of the Autobots fled, while the other proved to be a fair match for the trio. {{storylink|Crater Critters}}

Eventually, they overpowered and captured [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], taking him prisoner. Astrotrain contacted Ratbat on Cybertron, requesting a cure. Instead, Ratbat dispatched a group of captured Autobots with orders to destroy all the infected Transformers on Earth with canisters of acid...including his own troops! Weakened by the disease, the Triple Changers could do little but sit around in the crater and wait for the end to come, whether by acid melting or scraplet consumption.

Luckily for the Triple Changers, the other Autobot, Goldbug, had managed to find a cure for the disease. Though Blaster demanded that Goldbug kill him along with the Decepticons rather than curing them, Goldbug's hand was forced the other way when the scraplets merged into a titanic combined form. He sprayed [[water|the cure]] on all the crater's occupants, including the Decepticons. Quickly recovering, the Triple Changers rallied to the attack, bringing down the combined scraplet monster with their weapons. Subsequently, they grabbed the cargo of the crashed freighter and made good their escape. {{storylink|The Cure!}}

The Triple Changers subsequently joined the main force of Decepticons on Earth, initially under Shockwave's command, then later Ratbat's. They participated in the great battle against the Autobots on the Moon {{storylink|Totaled!}}, played host to human guests at [[Club Con]] {{storylink|Club Con!}}, and battled Scorponok's forces in the Arctic, a battle in which they fared particularly well. {{storylink|Cold War!}} They didn't fare so well against the Underbase-powered Starscream, however, who slaughtered all three of them in a single blast.

''During the [[Earthforce]] conflict of... er, whenever it was, the Triple Changers would serve under [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. {{storylink|The Bad Guy's Ball!}} Their great highlights were helping beat the snot out of Megatron {{storylink|Secrets}} and joining the massed attack on Autobot Earthbase. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer!}} Their lowlight was Octane getting stuck on a military firing range while full of fuel, and Astrotrain and Blitzwing leaving him behind out of annoyance. {{storylink|Manoeuvres!}}

In a dystopian future, they served under Galvatron and killed [[Crossblades (G1)|Crossblades]]. {{storylink|Rhythms of Darkness!}}

[[Image:Triplechangerstarget2006.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]

''The Autobot Triple Changers first came to prominence in the days leading up to [[Operation: Volcano]]; they were called into service by [[Emirate Xaaron]] to fill in for Ultra Magnus, should the latter not return from Earth in time to participate in the mission. They convinced the Wreckers' leader, [[Impactor]], that they would be up to the challenge by beating the stuffing out of him before rocketing back to the Autobot base, [[Debris]]. When Impactor was killed in the aborted mission, Triple Changer Springer took over as Wrecker leader, with the other two becoming part of the force as well.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

''The Triple Changers participated in several of the Wreckers' missions on Cybertron {{storylink|City of Fear!}} and Earth. {{storylink|Wrecking Havoc}} After the latter mission turned into a near-disaster, Sandstorm and Broadside were sent to Earth along with Inferno as an advance guard.'' {{storylink|Firebug!}} {{storylink|Cold Comfort and Joy!}}

''They were still with the Wreckers during the catastrophic battle against Megatron and Galvatron, which saw Sandstorm destroyed. Broadside and Springer survived {{storylink|Time Wars}}, eventually going on to form the Survivors group {{storylink|Survivors!}} and later hooking up with Grimlock's [[Earthforce]]'' {{storylink|Wolf in the Fold!}}.

''In a possible future, Springer and Sandstorm would be two of the last Autobots when the war ended in 2510. [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] made Springer his successor, only for fighting to break out over it; Sandstorm fired the second shot, killing [[Triton]].'' {{storylink|Peace}}

=====Generation 2=====
Broadside was part of a team of "Firestormers" that raided various Decepticon outposts across the galaxy. {{storylink|War Without End!}} Springer, meanwhile, had apparently joined Optimus Prime's main force of Autobots and participated in a counter-Decepticon raid on [[Ethos]] {{storylink|Escalation!}} as well as the final battle against the Swarm on Earth. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

Octane was also present in the conflict, but [[Death|not for long]]. {{storylink|Total War!}}

====Dreamwave Comics====
[[Image:BlitzwingDissectionDreamwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This detailed, scientific cut-away view reveals that underneath all that armor, Blitzwing is... made of mechanical stuff.]]

Triple Changers Blitzwing, Octane and Astrotrain were involved in Decepticon battle operations around the time that Optimus Prime rose to command the Autobots. They participated in a major attack on Iacon. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3}}

Later, Blitzwing spontaneously began to grow new parts, perhaps heralding his evolution into a Triple Changer. Yes, we know this makes no sense. {{storylink|Recipe for Hate}}

{{note|As a Triple Changer, the subject can change between modes three times as fast as a normal Transformer.}}

====IDW Comics====
Astrotrain and Blitzwing were part of Starscream's [[Infiltration protocol|Infiltration Unit]] on Earth. {{storylink|Infiltration}} They survived attacks by the [[Reaper]]s and Autobots before the Autobots were driven from the planet. {{storylink|Devastation (IDW)}} When the Autobots returned with Omega Supreme, the Decepticons retreated into space, ferried by Astrotrain. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron}}
{{note|Broadside, Sandstorm, [[Octane|Tankor]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] have not been shown to transform into their second alternate mode, if they have one in this continuity. }}

{{-}}

===Live-action film continuity===
====Vector Sigma data tracks====
According to hypothesis, the ability to have two alternate modes may be connected to the Transformer's genetics.<ref>Hasbro's online [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/TRANSFORMERS-Glossary.cfm Transformers glossary].</ref>

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:Blitzwingg1toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|In a line cut from The Transformers: The Movie, Blitzwing says that as a Triple Changer, he's worth any two of his comrades. But it turns out that he retailed for a bit less than the Seekers.]]
* '''Decepticon Triple Changers''' (1985)
**[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
**[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]

* '''Autobot Triple Changers''' (1986)
**[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
**[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]
**[[Springer (G1)|Springer]]

* '''Decepticon Triple Changers''' (1986)
**[[Octane]]

:The original Triple Changers were released in the second year of Generation 1, and were sufficiently popular to inspire 4 more in 1986.

===Classics===
* Astrotrain (2006)

===Universe (2008)===
* [[Octane|Tankor]]
: Octane with a new name.

{{note|This list includes only toys that actually have three modes. Several of the Triple Changer characters have had later releases in other toy molds, most notably Sandstorm and Springer, but these forms lacked the third mode required to qualify as Triple Changers.}}

===Subsequent toys labeled as "Triple Changers"===
;Generation 1
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (called a "Headmaster Triple Changer base" in a commercial and in "[[Doomsday for Nebulos]].")

;Generation 2
* [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] (1994)
: The bomber/tank/robot describes himself as "triple-changing Dreadwing" in a television [[commercial]]. Another commercial has the announcer saying "Dreadwing is a Triple Changer."

;Beast Wars
[[Image:BW-toy Depthcharge.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]: a triple-changing [[Transmetal]] from the ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'']]
* [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] (1998)
* [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (1998)
:Although the packaging says "3 mode conversion", the commercial announcer says that each of these characters "triple changes".

;Armada
[[Image:Armada Laserbeak toy.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The only Triple Changer from [[Armada (franchise)|''Armada'']]: [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]]]]
* [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] (2002)

;Energon
* [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] (2004)
* [[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]] (2004)
* [[Sixshot (Energon) |SixShot]] (2005)
;Cybertron
* [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (2005)
* [[Anti-Blaze]] (2006)
* [[Checkpoint (Cybertron)|Checkpoint]] (2006)
* [[Scythe]] (2006)
* [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Cryo Scourge]] (2006)
* [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] (2006)

;Animated
* [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (2008)

;Revenge of the Fallen
[[Image:Soundwaverotfpreviewtoy.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Triple-changing [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], superior!]]
* [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]] (2009)
* [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] (2009)
* [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]<ref>Megatron was identified as a Triple Changer in [[Revenge of the Fallen: The Movie Universe]] and was shown with two alternate modes in [[Revenge of the Fallen Movie Adaptation]]. He did not display this ability in [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|the film]] or [[Megatron (Movie)/toys|his toys]].</ref> (2009)
;Unreleased
* ''[[Dropshot (Armada)|Dropshot]]''
* [[Jet-helicopter Decepticon|A helicopter/plane Triple Changer]]
*ATB Megatron (called a Triple Changer by a Hasbro pitch man.)

===Retroactively labeled as Triple Changers===

* Dreamwave's ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' profile book series identifies [[Apeface]] and [[Snapdragon]] as Triple Changers.

* Dreamwave's ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (Armada)|More Than Meets The Eye: Armada]]'' book labels [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] as a Triple Changer, also stating that other Mini-Cons with a third mode are Triple Changers.

* IDW's ''[[Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' labels [[Bigmos]] and [[B'Boom]] as Triple Changers, but not the characters who share their molds.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Cybertron]]
[[Category:Energon]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]
[[Category:Subgroups]]
[[Category:Toys]]
[[Category:Triple Changers| ]]

Triple Changer

2010-03-12T23:41:05Z

188.222.50.81: /* Subsequent toys labeled as "Triple Changers" */

:''The Triple Changers are Transformers that are mostly from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:5 blitzwing new world order.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Blitzwing demonstrates his triple-changing abilities, transforming from an ''incredibly'' unconvincing jet into a tank that's only ''slightly'' unconvincing.]]
In their quest for ever-greater machines of war, the [[Decepticon]]s developed warriors with two distinct alternate forms. These '''Triple Changers''' can travel by land and air with equal ease, and in the heat of battle they can rapidly change form to confuse and outflank the enemy. To counter this threat, the [[Autobot]]s also developed their own group of Triple Changers.

The Triple Changers are:

{{collist|2|
* Decepticons:
** [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
** [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]
** [[Octane]]

* Autobots:
** [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
** [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]
** [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]
}}

{{note|In Transformers fiction, the term "Triple Changer" refers almost exclusively to these two subgroups, which are the only such characters ever shown as cohesive teams. However, other official sources such as toy packaging, catalogs, Hasbro spokespersons, and commercials have applied the term "Triple Changer" rather haphazardly to many other characters from various continuities. Further muddying the waters, a few characters with three distinct modes have never been labeled as Triple Changers in toys or fiction, even in cases where it would really make sense to do so.}}

:''Japanese name (Autobots):'' '''Triplebot'''
:''Japanese name (Decepticons):'' '''Tripletron'''
:''Hungarian name'': '''Triplaváltozók'''

==Fiction==
===Generation 1===
====Cartoon continuity====
Triple-changing is an [[ability]] shared by some Transformers.
{{stub}}
====Marvel Comics continuity====
=====Generation 1=====
{{noteukonly}}

[[Image:Ratbatcratercritters.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Didja ever wonder what guys like Astrotrain do if they have an itch in the middle of their back? That's gotta ''suck'' for 'em. There is ''no way'' he can reach back there.]]

''The Decepticon Triple Changers existed for an unknown length of time, and Octane and Blitzwing developed a reputation as two of Cybertron's deadliest killers: key targets in [[Operation: Volcano]]. {{storylink|Target: 2006}} The deadly killer Octane would later oversee a slave camp and run away screaming from Autobots.'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

The Decepticon Triple Changers were called into service by Ratbat when a freighter that he had sent to Earth failed to make contact upon its arrival. The three Triple Changers traveled to Earth via space bridge and located the crashed freighter at the bottom of an impact crater. They quickly discovered that the pilot had become infected with [[scraplet]]s...which immediately infected ''them'' as well. Despite the rapidly spreading disease, they were happy to attack two Autobots who arrived to investigate the crater. One of the Autobots fled, while the other proved to be a fair match for the trio. {{storylink|Crater Critters}}

Eventually, they overpowered and captured [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], taking him prisoner. Astrotrain contacted Ratbat on Cybertron, requesting a cure. Instead, Ratbat dispatched a group of captured Autobots with orders to destroy all the infected Transformers on Earth with canisters of acid...including his own troops! Weakened by the disease, the Triple Changers could do little but sit around in the crater and wait for the end to come, whether by acid melting or scraplet consumption.

Luckily for the Triple Changers, the other Autobot, Goldbug, had managed to find a cure for the disease. Though Blaster demanded that Goldbug kill him along with the Decepticons rather than curing them, Goldbug's hand was forced the other way when the scraplets merged into a titanic combined form. He sprayed [[water|the cure]] on all the crater's occupants, including the Decepticons. Quickly recovering, the Triple Changers rallied to the attack, bringing down the combined scraplet monster with their weapons. Subsequently, they grabbed the cargo of the crashed freighter and made good their escape. {{storylink|The Cure!}}

The Triple Changers subsequently joined the main force of Decepticons on Earth, initially under Shockwave's command, then later Ratbat's. They participated in the great battle against the Autobots on the Moon {{storylink|Totaled!}}, played host to human guests at [[Club Con]] {{storylink|Club Con!}}, and battled Scorponok's forces in the Arctic, a battle in which they fared particularly well. {{storylink|Cold War!}} They didn't fare so well against the Underbase-powered Starscream, however, who slaughtered all three of them in a single blast.

''During the [[Earthforce]] conflict of... er, whenever it was, the Triple Changers would serve under [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. {{storylink|The Bad Guy's Ball!}} Their great highlights were helping beat the snot out of Megatron {{storylink|Secrets}} and joining the massed attack on Autobot Earthbase. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer!}} Their lowlight was Octane getting stuck on a military firing range while full of fuel, and Astrotrain and Blitzwing leaving him behind out of annoyance. {{storylink|Manoeuvres!}}

In a dystopian future, they served under Galvatron and killed [[Crossblades (G1)|Crossblades]]. {{storylink|Rhythms of Darkness!}}

[[Image:Triplechangerstarget2006.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]

''The Autobot Triple Changers first came to prominence in the days leading up to [[Operation: Volcano]]; they were called into service by [[Emirate Xaaron]] to fill in for Ultra Magnus, should the latter not return from Earth in time to participate in the mission. They convinced the Wreckers' leader, [[Impactor]], that they would be up to the challenge by beating the stuffing out of him before rocketing back to the Autobot base, [[Debris]]. When Impactor was killed in the aborted mission, Triple Changer Springer took over as Wrecker leader, with the other two becoming part of the force as well.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

''The Triple Changers participated in several of the Wreckers' missions on Cybertron {{storylink|City of Fear!}} and Earth. {{storylink|Wrecking Havoc}} After the latter mission turned into a near-disaster, Sandstorm and Broadside were sent to Earth along with Inferno as an advance guard.'' {{storylink|Firebug!}} {{storylink|Cold Comfort and Joy!}}

''They were still with the Wreckers during the catastrophic battle against Megatron and Galvatron, which saw Sandstorm destroyed. Broadside and Springer survived {{storylink|Time Wars}}, eventually going on to form the Survivors group {{storylink|Survivors!}} and later hooking up with Grimlock's [[Earthforce]]'' {{storylink|Wolf in the Fold!}}.

''In a possible future, Springer and Sandstorm would be two of the last Autobots when the war ended in 2510. [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] made Springer his successor, only for fighting to break out over it; Sandstorm fired the second shot, killing [[Triton]].'' {{storylink|Peace}}

=====Generation 2=====
Broadside was part of a team of "Firestormers" that raided various Decepticon outposts across the galaxy. {{storylink|War Without End!}} Springer, meanwhile, had apparently joined Optimus Prime's main force of Autobots and participated in a counter-Decepticon raid on [[Ethos]] {{storylink|Escalation!}} as well as the final battle against the Swarm on Earth. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

Octane was also present in the conflict, but [[Death|not for long]]. {{storylink|Total War!}}

====Dreamwave Comics====
[[Image:BlitzwingDissectionDreamwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This detailed, scientific cut-away view reveals that underneath all that armor, Blitzwing is... made of mechanical stuff.]]

Triple Changers Blitzwing, Octane and Astrotrain were involved in Decepticon battle operations around the time that Optimus Prime rose to command the Autobots. They participated in a major attack on Iacon. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3}}

Later, Blitzwing spontaneously began to grow new parts, perhaps heralding his evolution into a Triple Changer. Yes, we know this makes no sense. {{storylink|Recipe for Hate}}

{{note|As a Triple Changer, the subject can change between modes three times as fast as a normal Transformer.}}

====IDW Comics====
Astrotrain and Blitzwing were part of Starscream's [[Infiltration protocol|Infiltration Unit]] on Earth. {{storylink|Infiltration}} They survived attacks by the [[Reaper]]s and Autobots before the Autobots were driven from the planet. {{storylink|Devastation (IDW)}} When the Autobots returned with Omega Supreme, the Decepticons retreated into space, ferried by Astrotrain. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron}}
{{note|Broadside, Sandstorm, [[Octane|Tankor]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] have not been shown to transform into their second alternate mode, if they have one in this continuity. }}

{{-}}

===Live-action film continuity===
====Vector Sigma data tracks====
According to hypothesis, the ability to have two alternate modes may be connected to the Transformer's genetics.<ref>Hasbro's online [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/TRANSFORMERS-Glossary.cfm Transformers glossary].</ref>

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:Blitzwingg1toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|In a line cut from The Transformers: The Movie, Blitzwing says that as a Triple Changer, he's worth any two of his comrades. But it turns out that he retailed for a bit less than the Seekers.]]
* '''Decepticon Triple Changers''' (1985)
**[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
**[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]

* '''Autobot Triple Changers''' (1986)
**[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
**[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]
**[[Springer (G1)|Springer]]

* '''Decepticon Triple Changers''' (1986)
**[[Octane]]

:The original Triple Changers were released in the second year of Generation 1, and were sufficiently popular to inspire 4 more in 1986.

===Classics===
* Astrotrain (2006)

===Universe (2008)===
* [[Octane|Tankor]]
: Octane with a new name.

{{note|This list includes only toys that actually have three modes. Several of the Triple Changer characters have had later releases in other toy molds, most notably Sandstorm and Springer, but these forms lacked the third mode required to qualify as Triple Changers.}}

===Subsequent toys labeled as "Triple Changers"===
;Generation 1
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (called a "Headmaster Triple Changer base" in a commercial and in "[[Doomsday for Nebulos]].")

;Generation 2
* [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] (1994)
: The bomber/tank/robot describes himself as "triple-changing Dreadwing" in a television [[commercial]]. Another commercial has the announcer saying "Dreadwing is a Triple Changer."

;Beast Wars
[[Image:BW-toy Depthcharge.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]: a triple-changing [[Transmetal]] from the ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'']]
* [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] (1998)
* [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (1998)
:Although the packaging says "3 mode conversion", the commercial announcer says that each of these characters "triple changes".

;Armada
[[Image:Armada Laserbeak toy.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The only Triple Changer from [[Armada (franchise)|''Armada'']]: [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]]]]
* [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] (2002)

;Energon
* [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] (2004)
* [[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]] (2004)
* [[SixShot (Energon) |Sixshot]] (2005)
;Cybertron
* [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (2005)
* [[Anti-Blaze]] (2006)
* [[Checkpoint (Cybertron)|Checkpoint]] (2006)
* [[Scythe]] (2006)
* [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Cryo Scourge]] (2006)
* [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] (2006)

;Animated
* [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (2008)

;Revenge of the Fallen
[[Image:Soundwaverotfpreviewtoy.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Triple-changing [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], superior!]]
* [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]] (2009)
* [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] (2009)
* [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]<ref>Megatron was identified as a Triple Changer in [[Revenge of the Fallen: The Movie Universe]] and was shown with two alternate modes in [[Revenge of the Fallen Movie Adaptation]]. He did not display this ability in [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|the film]] or [[Megatron (Movie)/toys|his toys]].</ref> (2009)
;Unreleased
* ''[[Dropshot (Armada)|Dropshot]]''
* [[Jet-helicopter Decepticon|A helicopter/plane Triple Changer]]
*ATB Megatron (called a Triple Changer by a Hasbro pitch man.)

===Retroactively labeled as Triple Changers===

* Dreamwave's ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' profile book series identifies [[Apeface]] and [[Snapdragon]] as Triple Changers.

* Dreamwave's ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (Armada)|More Than Meets The Eye: Armada]]'' book labels [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] as a Triple Changer, also stating that other Mini-Cons with a third mode are Triple Changers.

* IDW's ''[[Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' labels [[Bigmos]] and [[B'Boom]] as Triple Changers, but not the characters who share their molds.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Cybertron]]
[[Category:Energon]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]
[[Category:Subgroups]]
[[Category:Toys]]
[[Category:Triple Changers| ]]

The Legend of Rodimus

2010-02-14T21:22:07Z

188.222.50.81: /* Featured characters */

{{picsneeded}}

{{episode|
|series=Energon
|series2=Superlink
|ep=11
|prev=Energon Tower (episode)
|next=Crisis in Jungle City
|title=The Legend of Rodimus
|japanese=ちっぽけな宇宙
|romaji=Chippoke na Uchū
|translation=This Tiny Universe
|image=
|caption=
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Tokyo]], [[Nihon Ad Systems|NAS]]
|writer=[[Akira Okeya]]
|director=[[Masayuki Ōseki]]
|animation studio=[[Actas]], [[Studio A-CAT]] (3D)
|airdate=[[March 19|19 March]] 2004 (Japan) [[April 9]], 2004 (US)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy]]
}}

'''Megatron confronts Starscream, Kicker faces the fears of his past, and a legendary Autobot returns.'''

==Synopsis==
The Decepticons' mobile fortress emerges from a deep space warp gate and crashes violently into... something. Megatron emerges amid the wreckage and questions his troops about what went wrong.

Alpha Q gloats that he will have all the energon before Megatron even notices, and will bring all of Unicron to life.

On Earth, another energon tower emerges from a warp gate above Blizzard City, stabilized by Signal Flares under Hot Shot's supervision. In the mines below, Kicker and Ironhide are looking for energon. Kicker speculates that nobody seems to understand how dangerous the mission is, and flashes back to his father assigning him to lead the search, and to a much earlier time when his father lowered him into a deep, dark mine shaft as a young child.

Taking a break from the search, Ironhide tries to pep talk Kicker into appreciating his father more. Hot Shot arrives and relates the tale of his own hero, the legendary Rodimus, who was last seen traveling into the future.

Within Unicron(?), Megatron proposes stealing more energon from Earth. Scorponok counters that the energon towers make such an attack too dangerous without more energon, and proposes continuing to mine energon from Mars instead. Megatron will only hear of a path of conquest, but gives Scorponok leave to carry out his idea regardless. Scorponok angrily blasts his way out, and departs with a fleet of Terrorcons, musing that Megatron isn't as in control as he'd like to think.

Outside Unicron, Starscream approaches, entering and searching for Megatron.

Ironhide tells Kicker more about Rodimus. Amid the endless civil war on Cybertron, Rodimus emerged "8,000 eons ago" and rallied the Autobots around a message of peace, calling for the Autobots to leave and find a new world to live in peace. Kicker points out that this makes Optimus look bad, but Ironhide says that Optimus stayed and led the Autobots, making the current rebuilding of Cybertron possible, and that Prime is his greatest hero. Rodimus was last seen going from planet to planet, looking for Transformers who were lost in space.

On Mars, Scorponok finds the former base empty and abandoned, and deploys his Terrorcons to claim the energon... in the name of Alpha Q. As they do, a suspiciously well-timed trio appears in the distance.

Starscream approaches the sleep-mode Megatron, and tries to stab him through the chest, but is met with a huge surge of energy. Megatron vanishes; Ironhide engages Starscream; the other Decepticons arrive. Megatron has gained the power of invisibility through his union with Unicron, and easily assaults Starscream with a horde of duplicates and energon shards. Starscream tries to flee, but the [[Grand Mal|big floating head of Megatron]] pursues and captures him, placing him in an empty void.

Megatron lectures Starscream, reminding him that he used to be one of his troops, and threatening to leave him in the darkness forever. Starscream goes mad, opening fire in all directions, then lets slip that he was working for Alpha Q.

Kicker has had it with energon mining, and tells Ironhide about an energon expedition when he was a kid, when he lost control in deep space and drifted aimlessly. Landing on an asteroid, he resumed contact with Dr. Jones, but then got trapped in a cave-in, left alone in the dark. Ironhide isn't very sympathetic, telling Kicker that Rodimus overcame ''his'' fears, and that he isn't a kid anymore. Ironhide gives up lecturing and storms off; Kicker says he'll find his own way out.

Megatron speaks to Starscream: he has no idea who he is, and has forgotten all his ties to the world. Megatron is the only thing he can believe in, and will shape his reality now. He urges Starscream to use his rage, and revel in destruction. He appears and stabs Starscream through the chest with his sword, demanding his allegiance in exchange for allowing him to live.

Kicker forges ahead through the dark, and finds an energon seam. As he does, Ironhide returns with the Omnicons. He apologizes for being harsh, and the Omnicons find a large seam of energon.

On Mars, the Mysterious Figure attacks Scorponok's Terrorcons. Observing from afar, Alpha Q notes that Rodimus has returned.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Signal Flare (Energon)| Signal Flare]] (6)
* [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] (7)
* [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] (9)
* [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] (10)
* [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] (11)

|c2=
* [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (1)
* [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] (2)
* [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] (3)
* [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] (4)
* [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] (13)
* [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] (16)

|c3=
* [[Kicker Jones]] (8)
* [[Dr. Brian Jones]] (12)

|c4=
* [[Alpha Quintesson]] (5)
* [[Battle Ravage|Battle Ravage drones]] (14)
* [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb drones]] (15)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Megatron:''' "What's going on here, huh? Did someone set the wrong coordinates for the warp gate?...Who's responsible for this? I want answers!" 
'''Cyclonus:''' "Gee, I don't know! You got me, boss!" 
'''Megatron:''' "Ah, I see. ''Renovations''. Of course! Is that it? How amusing 
'''Scorponok:''' "It could be that Unicron is deteriorating from the lack of energon, sir. That could be what happened." 
'''Megatron:''' "Scorponok. You know that can't be!" 
'''Scorponok:''' "Hrnnnn."
:—the Decepticons bring you your daily dose of nonsensical dialog.

"Now listen up. We're going to raid, conquer and destroy. I will accept nothing less than that, Scorponok!"
:—'''Megatron''' lays down the law to Scorponok

"All we do is battle, and nothing happens. Fighting all the time has left Cybertron in ruins. If this continues, we'll have no future. Let's leave and create a better world! Join me! Let's find a place that we can call home. Yes! We will never look back."
:—'''Ironhide''' recites Rodimus's "famous speech"

"''You'' have an important decision to make! Say you'll join me or I'll let you slip away into the ''darkness''. I, Megatron, am your only leader now. Say my name and I'll spare you. What is my name, Starscream?" 
"...Megatron..." 
"''Say it again.''" 
"''Meg - a - tron!''"
:—'''Megatron''' establishes the pecking order for '''Starscream'''.

==Notes==
===Lost in translation===
* The opening scene's animation is missing the background image of Unicron that the fortress crashes into. Without it, Megatron's ship just seems to be floating through empty space, only to abruptly crash into something that wasn't there before.
* The opening conversation is likewise a bit more coherent in the ''Super Link'' version, as Megatron claims that various walls and passages he's created have disappeared, and Scorponok states that Unicron is regressing since he's not been given energon lately. The "walls and passages" got mangulated into "renovations" for the US dub.
* Unicron is regressing because Alpha Q stole his energon, as he gloats to himself in ''Super Link''. The dub omits this bit of back story, which was not actually shown on-screen; the plot point is therefore entirely lost for ''Energon'', leaving a typical example of things seeming to happen for no reason at all.
* Ironhide originally told Hot Shot about his own hero-worship of him, with Hot Shot doing a face-palm in response. In the dub, Ironhide just says that he was telling Kicker to respect his father, making Hot Shot's reaction into nonsense.
* The backgrounds of this same scene are incomplete in the dub. The ''Super Link'' version features a mountain-side niche for Ironhide and Kicker, and an interior passage behind Hot Shot, rather than open sky.
* Rodimus originally "journeyed toward the future", in a metaphoric sense. The dub hilariously transliterates this to say that Rodimus was last seen "traveling into the future".
* When Ironhide tells Kicker about Rodimus, the silhouettes of Rodimus, Prowl and Landmine are shown, but it's a recycled shot from their later arrival on Mars. ''Super Link'' features a new matte painting instead (featuring [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] as one of Rodimus's troops.) This painting reappears in several subsequent episodes, and appears in the dub beginning [[Rodimus: Friend or Foe?|4 episodes from this]].
* Rodimus's original speech mentions a call not to fear the vastness of space, giving some context to Ironhide's later claim that Rodimus overcame his fears.
* Ironhide doesn't say he's starting to ''talk'' like Kicker (he isn't), but rather has acquired his "stupid habit" of kicking things.
* The "say my name" bit with Starscream is a dub addition... but for once, it's actually an ''improvement''.

===Pain count===
* "Uh?": 13
* We need/they want energon: 9
* We've gotta: 1
* Come on: 2

...but not a single stock footage sequence!

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
===Continuity errors===
* Why is Alpha Q surprised to find Megatron still alive?
* "I'll find my own way out of here" -- at no point is it implied that Kicker was lost to begin with.

===Miscellaneous notes===
* Megatron's reasoning is rather petulantly circular: they can't attack Earth because they need more energon to do so; therefore, they must attack Earth to get more energon, allowing them to attack Earth.
* So Rodimus just ''happens'' to show up just as Hot Shot and Ironhide just ''happen'' to be spinning yarns about him. ''Riiiiiight''.
* Although a case could be made for the replacement of Starscream's original developed personality in earlier episodes with his amnesiac mind being the viewers introduction to an infamous Energon trait, this is the first concrete instant i.e. the taking of a character, erasing every bit of character development from either this or the preceding series and turning them into a lobotimized characterless zombie. Other notable examples of development being completely dropped for no good reason include Demolishor, Scorponok (twice) and Inferno.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Legend of Rodimus}}
[[Category:Energon episodes]]

The Legend of Rodimus

2010-02-14T21:21:06Z

188.222.50.81: /* Featured characters */

{{picsneeded}}

{{episode|
|series=Energon
|series2=Superlink
|ep=11
|prev=Energon Tower (episode)
|next=Crisis in Jungle City
|title=The Legend of Rodimus
|japanese=ちっぽけな宇宙
|romaji=Chippoke na Uchū
|translation=This Tiny Universe
|image=
|caption=
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Tokyo]], [[Nihon Ad Systems|NAS]]
|writer=[[Akira Okeya]]
|director=[[Masayuki Ōseki]]
|animation studio=[[Actas]], [[Studio A-CAT]] (3D)
|airdate=[[March 19|19 March]] 2004 (Japan) [[April 9]], 2004 (US)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy]]
}}

'''Megatron confronts Starscream, Kicker faces the fears of his past, and a legendary Autobot returns.'''

==Synopsis==
The Decepticons' mobile fortress emerges from a deep space warp gate and crashes violently into... something. Megatron emerges amid the wreckage and questions his troops about what went wrong.

Alpha Q gloats that he will have all the energon before Megatron even notices, and will bring all of Unicron to life.

On Earth, another energon tower emerges from a warp gate above Blizzard City, stabilized by Signal Flares under Hot Shot's supervision. In the mines below, Kicker and Ironhide are looking for energon. Kicker speculates that nobody seems to understand how dangerous the mission is, and flashes back to his father assigning him to lead the search, and to a much earlier time when his father lowered him into a deep, dark mine shaft as a young child.

Taking a break from the search, Ironhide tries to pep talk Kicker into appreciating his father more. Hot Shot arrives and relates the tale of his own hero, the legendary Rodimus, who was last seen traveling into the future.

Within Unicron(?), Megatron proposes stealing more energon from Earth. Scorponok counters that the energon towers make such an attack too dangerous without more energon, and proposes continuing to mine energon from Mars instead. Megatron will only hear of a path of conquest, but gives Scorponok leave to carry out his idea regardless. Scorponok angrily blasts his way out, and departs with a fleet of Terrorcons, musing that Megatron isn't as in control as he'd like to think.

Outside Unicron, Starscream approaches, entering and searching for Megatron.

Ironhide tells Kicker more about Rodimus. Amid the endless civil war on Cybertron, Rodimus emerged "8,000 eons ago" and rallied the Autobots around a message of peace, calling for the Autobots to leave and find a new world to live in peace. Kicker points out that this makes Optimus look bad, but Ironhide says that Optimus stayed and led the Autobots, making the current rebuilding of Cybertron possible, and that Prime is his greatest hero. Rodimus was last seen going from planet to planet, looking for Transformers who were lost in space.

On Mars, Scorponok finds the former base empty and abandoned, and deploys his Terrorcons to claim the energon... in the name of Alpha Q. As they do, a suspiciously well-timed trio appears in the distance.

Starscream approaches the sleep-mode Megatron, and tries to stab him through the chest, but is met with a huge surge of energy. Megatron vanishes; Ironhide engages Starscream; the other Decepticons arrive. Megatron has gained the power of invisibility through his union with Unicron, and easily assaults Starscream with a horde of duplicates and energon shards. Starscream tries to flee, but the [[Grand Mal|big floating head of Megatron]] pursues and captures him, placing him in an empty void.

Megatron lectures Starscream, reminding him that he used to be one of his troops, and threatening to leave him in the darkness forever. Starscream goes mad, opening fire in all directions, then lets slip that he was working for Alpha Q.

Kicker has had it with energon mining, and tells Ironhide about an energon expedition when he was a kid, when he lost control in deep space and drifted aimlessly. Landing on an asteroid, he resumed contact with Dr. Jones, but then got trapped in a cave-in, left alone in the dark. Ironhide isn't very sympathetic, telling Kicker that Rodimus overcame ''his'' fears, and that he isn't a kid anymore. Ironhide gives up lecturing and storms off; Kicker says he'll find his own way out.

Megatron speaks to Starscream: he has no idea who he is, and has forgotten all his ties to the world. Megatron is the only thing he can believe in, and will shape his reality now. He urges Starscream to use his rage, and revel in destruction. He appears and stabs Starscream through the chest with his sword, demanding his allegiance in exchange for allowing him to live.

Kicker forges ahead through the dark, and finds an energon seam. As he does, Ironhide returns with the Omnicons. He apologizes for being harsh, and the Omnicons find a large seam of energon.

On Mars, the Mysterious Figure attacks Scorponok's Terrorcons. Observing from afar, Alpha Q notes that Rodimus has returned.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Signal Flare (Energon)| Signal Flare]] (6)
* [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] (7)
* [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] (9)
* [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] (10)
* [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] (11)

|c2=
* [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (1)
* [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] (2)
* [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] (3)
* [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] (4)
* [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] (13)
* [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] (16)

|c3=
* [[Kicker Jones]] (8)
* [[Dr. Jones]] (12)

|c4=
* [[Alpha Quintesson]] (5)
* [[Battle Ravage|Battle Ravage drones]] (14)
* [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb drones]] (15)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Megatron:''' "What's going on here, huh? Did someone set the wrong coordinates for the warp gate?...Who's responsible for this? I want answers!" 
'''Cyclonus:''' "Gee, I don't know! You got me, boss!" 
'''Megatron:''' "Ah, I see. ''Renovations''. Of course! Is that it? How amusing 
'''Scorponok:''' "It could be that Unicron is deteriorating from the lack of energon, sir. That could be what happened." 
'''Megatron:''' "Scorponok. You know that can't be!" 
'''Scorponok:''' "Hrnnnn."
:—the Decepticons bring you your daily dose of nonsensical dialog.

"Now listen up. We're going to raid, conquer and destroy. I will accept nothing less than that, Scorponok!"
:—'''Megatron''' lays down the law to Scorponok

"All we do is battle, and nothing happens. Fighting all the time has left Cybertron in ruins. If this continues, we'll have no future. Let's leave and create a better world! Join me! Let's find a place that we can call home. Yes! We will never look back."
:—'''Ironhide''' recites Rodimus's "famous speech"

"''You'' have an important decision to make! Say you'll join me or I'll let you slip away into the ''darkness''. I, Megatron, am your only leader now. Say my name and I'll spare you. What is my name, Starscream?" 
"...Megatron..." 
"''Say it again.''" 
"''Meg - a - tron!''"
:—'''Megatron''' establishes the pecking order for '''Starscream'''.

==Notes==
===Lost in translation===
* The opening scene's animation is missing the background image of Unicron that the fortress crashes into. Without it, Megatron's ship just seems to be floating through empty space, only to abruptly crash into something that wasn't there before.
* The opening conversation is likewise a bit more coherent in the ''Super Link'' version, as Megatron claims that various walls and passages he's created have disappeared, and Scorponok states that Unicron is regressing since he's not been given energon lately. The "walls and passages" got mangulated into "renovations" for the US dub.
* Unicron is regressing because Alpha Q stole his energon, as he gloats to himself in ''Super Link''. The dub omits this bit of back story, which was not actually shown on-screen; the plot point is therefore entirely lost for ''Energon'', leaving a typical example of things seeming to happen for no reason at all.
* Ironhide originally told Hot Shot about his own hero-worship of him, with Hot Shot doing a face-palm in response. In the dub, Ironhide just says that he was telling Kicker to respect his father, making Hot Shot's reaction into nonsense.
* The backgrounds of this same scene are incomplete in the dub. The ''Super Link'' version features a mountain-side niche for Ironhide and Kicker, and an interior passage behind Hot Shot, rather than open sky.
* Rodimus originally "journeyed toward the future", in a metaphoric sense. The dub hilariously transliterates this to say that Rodimus was last seen "traveling into the future".
* When Ironhide tells Kicker about Rodimus, the silhouettes of Rodimus, Prowl and Landmine are shown, but it's a recycled shot from their later arrival on Mars. ''Super Link'' features a new matte painting instead (featuring [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] as one of Rodimus's troops.) This painting reappears in several subsequent episodes, and appears in the dub beginning [[Rodimus: Friend or Foe?|4 episodes from this]].
* Rodimus's original speech mentions a call not to fear the vastness of space, giving some context to Ironhide's later claim that Rodimus overcame his fears.
* Ironhide doesn't say he's starting to ''talk'' like Kicker (he isn't), but rather has acquired his "stupid habit" of kicking things.
* The "say my name" bit with Starscream is a dub addition... but for once, it's actually an ''improvement''.

===Pain count===
* "Uh?": 13
* We need/they want energon: 9
* We've gotta: 1
* Come on: 2

...but not a single stock footage sequence!

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
===Continuity errors===
* Why is Alpha Q surprised to find Megatron still alive?
* "I'll find my own way out of here" -- at no point is it implied that Kicker was lost to begin with.

===Miscellaneous notes===
* Megatron's reasoning is rather petulantly circular: they can't attack Earth because they need more energon to do so; therefore, they must attack Earth to get more energon, allowing them to attack Earth.
* So Rodimus just ''happens'' to show up just as Hot Shot and Ironhide just ''happen'' to be spinning yarns about him. ''Riiiiiight''.
* Although a case could be made for the replacement of Starscream's original developed personality in earlier episodes with his amnesiac mind being the viewers introduction to an infamous Energon trait, this is the first concrete instant i.e. the taking of a character, erasing every bit of character development from either this or the preceding series and turning them into a lobotimized characterless zombie. Other notable examples of development being completely dropped for no good reason include Demolishor, Scorponok (twice) and Inferno.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Legend of Rodimus}}
[[Category:Energon episodes]]