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Scavenger (BM)

2011-10-02T16:53:25Z

71.203.235.201:

{{factions|vehicon}}
{{disambig3|Scavenger}}
:''Scavenger is a [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]] from the [[Beast Machines (franchise)|Beast Machines]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Wreckers1-scavengergathers.jpg|right|350px|thumb|My horde of mindless drones is the best horde of mindless drones in the whole universe!]]

'''Scavenger''' loves to smash stuff, and he's quite good at it. Falling under the command of [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], Scavenger and his identical demolition drones exist for a single purpose—destruction. It doesn't matter if it's a building or a [[Maximal]], they'll roll right through it, relying on their heavy armor to protect them. Anything they can't knock over, run over, tear apart with their clawed hands, or crush in their crane-mode jaws, they attack using electric currents produced from the [[galva-conductor]]s on their backs. Or blast with missiles. Or perforate with cannon fire. Or all three. At once. In the FACE.

:''Preliminary name:'' '''Destructicon'''<ref>''ToyFare'' Magazine's ''Beast Machines'' sneak-peek booklet</ref>''

==Fiction==
===Universe: The Wreckers===
[[Image:Wreckers1-scavengerdies.jpg|right|200px|thumb|We let 'em win! We coulda beat 'em if we really wanted to!]]
Megatron sent Scavenger drones and [[Mirage (BM)|Mirage]] drones to fight alongside the generals [[Spy Streak]], [[Blastcharge (BM)|Blastcharge]], and [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] and their respective drones to guard an old [[Autobot]] shuttle from the [[Wrecker]]s, who wished to use it to get offworld. It was quite the welcoming party.

A number of the Scavenger drones were destroyed by the Wreckers in the ensuing close-quarters melee. Those that weren't wrecked by the Wreckers ended up caught in the blast that consumed the facility as the shuttle launched. {{storylink|Departure}}

===The Razor's Edge===
In the days leading up to the [[Pax Cybertronia]], [[Flamewar]] (disguised as the original [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]) manufactured a large number of Scavenger drones on the conquered planet of [[Nibari]]. She attempted to use them against three Maximals and a local insurgents' army. However, the insurgents had rewired the drones to obey their commands, and they quickly overpowered and defeated Flamewar.

After the Maximals' departure, the native Nibarians planned to convert the drones to tools of construction and repair. {{storylink|The Razor's Edge}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Beast Machines===
[[Image:BM-toy Scavenger.jpg|right|300px|thumb|But what I really want to do is travel—[http://builtstlouis.net/tf/general_scavenger/index.html see the world].]]
*'''Scavenger''' (Basic, 2000)

: Part of the first wave of ''[[Beast Machines (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'' Basics, Scavenger transforms into a Cybertronic treaded ''de''struction vehicle. A plunger mechanism on the back of the "shovel" opens and closes the vehicle's crusher jaw. Its [[spark crystal]] is located in the "control tower" behind a flip-down panel.

: This mold was also used to make ''[[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Scavenger (RID)|Scavenger]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/2000/Vehicon/Scavenger/scavenger.htm More information on Scavenger at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
==Notes==
[[Image:ScavengerBMconcept.jpg|right|300px|thumb|At least I don't have [[Cobybot|a bunch of alternate heads]] lying around.]]
* Although the early ''Beast Machines'' concept art for Scavenger is very similar to the final product, his original color layout implies a lot more paint applications in his crane-neck area.
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==References==
<references />

[[Category:Demolitions specialists]]
[[Category:Mass-produced Transformers]]
[[Category:Vehicons]]
[[Category:Universe Transformers]]

5 mm post

2011-08-27T15:47:29Z

71.203.235.201:

[[Image:5mmpostmainpic_001.jpg|right|350px|thumb|Weapons for everybody!]]
One of the simplest innovations in [[toy|Transformers toys]], using universally sized posts for accessories, weapons and figures is something that has characterised several Transformers lines throughout the years. The most common universal post and port size is the '''5-millimetre (5mm) post'''. This size was used throughout [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]], ''[[Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'', and almost universally throughout ''[[Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'', ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' and ''[[Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]''.

Using a single, universal size of weapon post allows Transformers toys to swap weapons between one another. During most Transformers toy lines, this interchangeability was seldom advertised as a feature of the toys, but during ''Armada'', that changed. The introduction of the [[Mini-Con]]s gave 5mm posts an entirely new purpose: A hollow 5mm post could now become a mounting point for a Mini-Con. The interchangeability suddenly became an advertised feature of the toys.

Since the end of the "[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]" toy line, the 5mm post hole has become far less ubiquitous, though it's making a comeback in a big way with some of the later ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' and ''[[Dark of the Moon (toyline)|Dark of the Moon]]'' toys, and [[Power Core Combiners]].

==Functionality==
===Backwards compatibility===
[[Image:Primesharingguns.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"Dude, you're right. Guns with their posts in the right place '''rock!'''"]]
Probably the biggest, most meaningful aspect of using a universal fist size is compatibility between toys. You can share your accessories or Mini-Cons or even some integral parts of toys around to other toys from the same line. Even better for long-term fans of the franchise is that the continuous use of 5mm posts from Generation 1 onwards into modern lines means that toys are actually backwards-compatible with the accessories from older toys. As well as delightful opportunities for mixing and matching, this means that characters who get new toys can use accessories from their old toys. Even if you don't like [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Classics|"Classics" Optimus Prime's]] rifle, you can always just give him [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#PMOP|Powermaster Optimus Prime's]] rifle, or [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Return of Convoy|Star Convoy's]].

This compatibility works both ways, allowing you to use ''Armada'', ''Energon'' and even Power Core Combiners weapons with old [[Micromaster]] Bases or [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s toys.

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===A matter of tolerance===
Despite the fact that 5mm posts are supposed to be universally the same size, this isn't always the case. Sometimes, due to play wear or simply to slight (very slight) differences in tooling, some posts are tighter or looser than others. This can mean that sometimes a toy will hold a gun loosely, or that a weapon will be too tight to fit into another toy's hand.

Generally, this is only a problem on toys or toolings that have seen a lot of use. A Generation 1 toy like [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Soundwave]] that was produced for several years and re-released many times might actually show a difference in tolerance between different samples of the toy. Similarly, toolings which see a lot of use, such as [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Classics|"Classics" Starscream]], can begin to show mould wear. There are many reports of later ''[[Henkei! Henkei! (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' versions of the mould not being able to hold their weapons correctly because tolerances are poor. There are several recommended actions for fixing loose sockets, such as floor polish.

If a toy sees a lot of play, especially if weapons are being removed and replaced repeatedly, a hole (or sometimes a post) can wear down, making the weapons looser. It's possible to increase this problem while swapping weapons between different toys. If a gun post from a [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Pretender|Pretender Bumblebee]] is slightly smaller than the post from [[Grimlock (G1)/toys#Pretender|Pretender Grimlock]], then Grimlock's gun might actually ''stretch'' Bumblebee's fists. This could result in Bumblebee no longer being able to hold his own gun firmly. It's advisable when swapping guns between different toys to be aware of the slight differences in tolerances between toys.

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===Multiple posts and double posting===
[[Image:Swindlerifle_doublepostdemo.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"Pssst—hey, bud!" "WHO, ME?!" "Shhhhhh!" "Who, me?" "Riiiiiiiiight."]]
Some Transformers toys come with multiple figures, such as a [[Pretender]] shell and its inner robot. Other toys are small and merge with bigger toys to become still larger. Other toys come with a trailer or base which has larger weapons than the core robot. Because of the size difference between the two components, two different weapon post sizes are required.

The early Pretenders usually handle this by simply giving the gun two different posts: a larger 5mm post for the outer shell, and a smaller post for the inner robot. The result is that the two figures hold the same gun in different ways. For the purposes of this article, we'll refer to these as "multiple-post weapons".

Another solution, one often used with combiners, is simply to have the two posts one on top of the other—the smaller post on the bottom and the larger post on the top, both forming the same handle of the gun. [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]'s accessories are one of the earliest examples (albeit unintentional), with rings or ridges widening the pegs to 5mm. The problem with this solution is that, when one gives weapons to unrelated toys, Transformers with fist holes that don't go all the way through the hands (such as [[Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#Armada|''Armada'' Hot Shot]]) often can't hold these guns. We'll call that "double-posting" or "double-posted weapons" for the purposes of this article.

===5mm Screw Holes===
Many Transformers over the years have indented holes to allow screws to hold two pieces of the toy together. These screw holes come in all shapes and sizes but often they are also 5mm ports. Sometimes this is intentional, and the screw hole is deliberately moulded to 5mm to give the toy more functionality. Most of the time though, they aren't intentionally 5mm ports and are either very tight or slightly loose.

5mm screw holes can add functionality to many toys which otherwise aren't 5mm compatible, especially if a fan is creative. However, we have only included 5mm screw holes in the compatibility list below if they are particularly notable. So if you suspect a toy's screw holes are 5mm and he's not on the list, at least give it a try.

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===Powerlinx Ports===
[[Image:Armadagalvatron_5mmoverload.jpg|right|250px|thumb|I want it all, and I want it now!]]

During the [[Armada (toyline)|''Armada'' toy line]], a new spin on the 5mm post and port was developed: the [[Mini-Con]] [[Powerlinx]]. Using hollow 5mm posts with a "trigger" contained inside, Mini-Cons could activate the [[gimmick]]s of other toys or simply mount on other toys. Because the Mini-Cons use a special kind of port, they cannot be mounted on 5mm posts that aren't hollow. In theory, this means only toys with specific Powerlinx ports can hold Mini-Cons. In ''practice'', this isn't the case at all.

Throughout the history of the ''Transformers'' franchise, for one reason or another, toys have come with 5mm posts which are hollow, creating a kind of unintentional back-compatibility with many Mini-Cons. We'll list this back-compatibility in individual toy entries further down the page.

The other significant aspect of the Powerlinx ports is that they act like regular 5mm posts too. This means that you can use them to mount any weapons or accessories that are designed to mount on 5mm posts. Does mounting a bunch of miniature cars on [[Starscream (Armada)#toys|''Armada'' Starscream's]] arms seem silly to you? Maybe it's time to use the guns from the [[Micromaster]] [[Anti-Aircraft Base]].
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==Generation 1==
In the first few years of the toy line, partly because of the mix-and-match nature of the line itself, ''Transformers'' didn't have very standardised fist sizes. The ''[[Diaclone]]''-descended toys usually had no single standard, with only the toys with the biggest weapons or fists having 5mm posts. The ''[[Micro Change]]''-descended toys were much more consistent about post size, using 5mm posts on almost all of the toys with weapons or accessories, because of the size being one of the standard connectors for Microman toys.

As Generation 1 evolved 5mm posts and ports became nearly universal. Only the switch to smaller toys with [[Action Master]]s changed this — a new, smaller, universal post size was used for that line. These smaller sized posts carried over into the UK Transformers, while in [[Japan]] the rise of Micromasters led to 5mm staying predominant throughout the line.

===1984===
'''AUTOBOTS'''
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]] — The only Autobot this year to use 5mm posts, Prime's main rifle sadly has a terrible [[design flaw]] (that has '''never''' been corrected, despite all the reissues) which makes it much less interchangeable with other toys. The gun's handle is moulded in the wrong place, and there's a false handle where the real one should be. Prime has actually been retooled to allow him to hold the rifle better — by increasing the size of the rims on his fists. Too bad they didn't just put the rifle's handle post in the right place. In addition to the rifle, [[Roller (G1)|Roller]]'s fuel pump is also a 5mm post. It's possible to use this to either give the pump to other toys or to pump up Roller with some heavy weaponry.

'''DECEPTICONS'''

All the 1984 Decepticons use 5mm posts in some capacity.
*[[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]]
[[Image:Ravage5mmcompatibility.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Shattered Glass Ravage prefers flowers.]]
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]], [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]], [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Ravage (G1)/toys|Ravage]] — Due to the post holes in their bodies, they can be pegged onto Mini-Con ports, or similar 5mm posts.

*[[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]],[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] — Their wings ''and'' their weapons have 5mm posts.

*[[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]] — Most notably his large chrome rifle has a 5mm post on it, allowing it to be given to other toys.

===1985===
'''AUTOBOTS'''
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] — Grimlock's fist holes are smaller than 5mm (being the size of Rhisling's lower hilt), but ridges on the upper sections of his launcher and sword's pegs and a ring on the upper part of the gun's peg make them 5mm.

*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]

*[[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] and [[Twin Twist]] — These toys do NOT have 5mm post holes, but their rifles have a 5mm base to the gun peg, effectively creating a very shallow double-peg that allows their guns limited inter-changeability with toys with 5mm fists.

*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]

'''DECEPTICONS'''
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] — Devastator's is a classic double-posted rifle. Devastator's fists are 5mm holes, but he shares his rifle with [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] and his tiny, tiny fists.

*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]

*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] — The strange construction of Blitzwing's weapons and fists makes interchangability ... awkward, as his fist holes are on the sides instead of the top; the weapons are sculpted to still look like he's holding them normally. Of course, if you're a fan of punch daggers, or Blitzwing holding someone else's guns 'gangsta-style', then more power to you.

===1986===
1986 saw the introduction of the Transformers [[Special Teams]], or [[Scramble City (toyline)|Scramble City]]-style combiners. All of these combiners used 5mm posts as standard to peg in their fists and feet in combined mode, meaning you could swap these parts between any of the combiners. The fists of the combined forms almost universally used 5mm holes (all except [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and [[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]]) and almost all the leaders of the teams (except [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]) used 5mm posts for their fists.

The smaller members of the Special Teams almost all had small pistols or rifles that used variably compatible smaller posts, and larger alt mode weapons that used 5mm posts — often taking advantage of post holes used for the combined form's fists or feet. The earlier toys often used weapons with 5mm ports which would peg onto the robot — allowing those weapons to be pegged onto Mini-Con ports and other similar 5mm posts. The later toys tended to use 5mm posts which peg into ports on the toy.

'''AUTOBOTS'''
[[Image:Outback5mmcompatibility.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Where the bloody hell am I? Right here, mate. Right here!]]
*[[Outback (G1)|Outback]] — The only [[Mini Vehicle]] with a weapon at all, Outback sports a 5mm post that lets him use all kinds of crazy weapons.

*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] and [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] — But '''not''' [[Rewind]] or [[Eject]], strangely. Ramhorn's peg holes are very loose.

*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] — Barely. The [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s are the only Special Team whose leader doesn't use 5mm posts, and who have no members with larger vehicle weapons which use 5mm posts. Superion doesn't have 5mm fists either. Only the posts and ports for the combined form's hands and feet are 5mm posts. Superion even has what looks like a hollow 5mm peg on the underside of his combined form's chest plate — however this peg is just slightly too big to be of use.

*[[Protectobot (G1)|The Protectobots]] — In the standard style of the Scramble City teams, described above.

*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]]

*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]] — Most of Magnus' accessories use 5mm posts. Interestingly enough his rifle has two ways of being held — the large robot uses a larger peg than the small inner robot's 5mm post. So you can only let other toys hold the gun in the same way as Magnus' inner robot.

*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] — Uses 5mm posts for his weapons, and his fists. He can happily wear any Scramble City fists instead of his own. [[Six-Gun]] and [[Scamper]] do not use 5mm pegs for their weapons, however [[Slammer]] does. His turret is on a hollow 5mm post so it can be mounted on (or rather under, most of the time) Mini-Cons!

'''DECEPTICONS'''
*[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]

*[[Stunticon (G1)|The Stunticons]] — In the standard style of the Scramble City teams, described above.

*[[Combaticon (G1)|The Combaticons]] — In the standard style of the Scramble City teams, described above.

*[[Predacon (G1)|The Predacons]] — Unlike the Scramble City toys, all the Predacons use 5mm posts as standard, with no accessories at all with smaller pegs, making all their weapons usable by [[Predaking]].

*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] — Only his head-mounted gun, his rifle uses a smaller peg.

*[[Galvatron (G1)/toys|Galvatron]] — However remember, [[Nightmare_Planet|Galvatron's weapons pegs can be any size he wants!]]

*[[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] — [[Full-Tilt]] does ''not'' use 5mm posts. On the other hand the [[Brunt (G1)|Brunt's]] tank turret ''does'' use them. It's completely possible to mount the turret as an arm cannon for an ''Armada'' toy, or anyone else with 5mm posts.

===1987===
By 1987 5mm posts had become almost universal. Only some smaller toys, and those toys without weapon accessories didn't have them.

'''AUTOBOTS'''
*[[Technobot (G1)|The Technobots]] — In the standard style of the Scramble City teams, described in the 1986 section above.

*[[Fastlane]] & [[Cloudraker (G1)|Cloudraker]]

*[[Punch (G1)|Punch-Counterpunch]]

*The [[Monsterbot]]s

*The [[Targetmaster]]s — [[Kup (G1)#Targetmaster|Kup]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Targetmaster|Hot Rod]] and [[Blurr (G1)#Targetmaster|Blurr]] were [[retool]]ed to be 5mm peg compatible so that they could use [[Targetmaster]]s this year. The other Targetmaster moulds were all made with 5mm pegs in mind.

*The [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] — [[Fortress Maximus (G1)#Toys|Fortress Maximus]] was the only Headmaster not to use 5mm pegs exclusively. Nearly all his accessories and the weapons for his smaller components were 5mm pegs. However his larger rifles were so huge they used much, much larger peg sizes which are not compatible with any other Transformers mould.

'''DECEPTICONS'''
*[[Terrorcon (G1)|The Terrorcons]] — [[Blot (G1)#Toys|Blot]] and [[Cutthroat (G1)#Toys|Cutthroat]] are the only small Special Teams members outside the Aerialbots not to have alt mode weapons with 5mm posts. Blot has a backpack, and Cutthroat has a transforming tail weapon, instead.

*[[Slugfest (G1)|Slugfest]] & [[Overkill (G1)|Overkill]]

*[[Pounce]] & [[Wingspan]]

*[[Sixshot]]

*The [[Targetmaster]]s — [[Cyclonus (G1)#Targetmaster|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)#Targetmaster|Scourge]] were retooled to be able to use the 5mm pegs associated with Targetmasters and released again as part of this range.

*The [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] — Scorponok is the only Decepticon Headmaster not to use 5mm pegs universally. Most of his accessories use them, except for his four large double-barrelled cannons and his shield, which has a slightly wider peg hole. The shield does have a hollow 5mm peg on it, though, allowing you to mount a Mini-Con on the shield. Sweet! Oh yeah, that does mean, by the way, that his tremendously enormous rifle does use both 5mm pegs and 5mm peg holes. Fasttrack doesn't use 5mm pegs for his hands, but his arms are mounted on 5mm pegs, so you can give him all sorts of crazy gun arms.

===1988===
[[Image:Pretender5mmcompatibility.jpg|right|250px|thumb|5mm pegs on Pretenders: A demonstration.]]
1988 introduced a new line dependent on the 5mm peg, the Pretenders. As mentioned above, in the section on multiple posts and double posts, the Pretender shells all had 5mm pegs, while their robots had smaller (less universally sized) pegs. Pretenders usually had at least one weapon (sometimes more) that was meant for both the shell and the inner robot. For the 1988 Pretenders, these weapons had multiple pegs on them, allowing different components to hold them in different ways. These weapons were also usually a part of the Pretender's vehicle mode, and mounted on them in that mode using 5mm pegs.

Later Pretenders used double-posting instead of multiple-posting, so that the inner robots often lacked the 5mm compatibility in their vehicle modes that earlier Pretenders enjoyed. But for 1988 it was 5mm compatible city!

'''AUTOBOTS'''
*[[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]] & [[Raindance]]

*The [[Targetmaster]]s

*The [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] — Unlike in 1987, the 1988 Autobot Headmasters had two sets of weapons with different post sizes. There was a single main rifle for the main robot with a 5mm post, and two smaller pistols that were both vehicle mode weapons and antennae for the robots' head.

*The [[Powermaster]]s. — [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#PMOP|Powermaster Prime]] in particular is notable because his weapons are massive, badass and freakin' awesome. You know they are. Admit it.

*[[Quickswitch]]

*The [[Pretender]]s — Including the regular Pretenders, [[Pretender Beast]]s and [[Gunrunner (G1)|Gunrunner]], the [[Pretender Vehicle]].

'''DECEPTICONS'''
[[Image:Skalor5mmcompatibility.jpg|right|250px|thumb|That gun mode stinks!]]
*[[Seacon (G1)|The Seacons]] — Because of his Targetmaster gimmick, [[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]] is one of only two (the other being Superion, the piker) Generation 1 combiner robot without 5mm post hole fists. Instead he has special ports for the square pegs which are used as part of the Special Teams style combination. Each of the five smaller Seacons also come with a special Targetmaster stand which allows them to use their gun forms independent of Piranacon. The stand is divided into three parts, a connector, a post and a base. The post is moulded to look like a large rifle and has multiple pegs on it (of different sizes) letting it be held as a weapon both by the small Seacons and by anyone with a 5mm fist. The connector is even cooler, since it has a 5mm post hole and can be used to mount the Seacons on Mini-Con ports or other similar gun posts when in gun mode. It can also be used to make any Scramble City style combiner limb 5mm post compatible, so any of them can become a giant Mini-Con. How awesome is that?

*[[Squawktalk]] & [[Beastbox (G1)|Beastbox]]

*The [[Targetmaster]]s

*The [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] — The small Decepticon Headmasters did not have two sets of weapons like their Autobot counterpart and relied entirely on 5mm posts.

*The [[Powermaster]]s — Doubledealer came with a special Powermaster Engine cover with a 5mm post on it. The post is hollow, allowing you to mount a Mini-Con on it.

*The [[Pretender]]s — Including the regular Pretenders, [[Pretender Beast]]s and [[Roadgrabber]], the [[Pretender Vehicle]].

===1989===
This year introduced the [[Micromaster]]s, as well as introducing a truck load more Pretenders. The Micromasters emphasised inter-compatibility in a way Transformers hadn't really done before. All the bases were able to connect through special ramps, and all the weapons for the bases used 5mm posts. The Micromasters themselves all had small post holes in their feet that corresponded to small posts all over the bases — letting you stand them freely. The Micromasters' association with 5mm pegs would continue through into the Japanese toy lines, and would be reflected in the Mini-Cons who would come down the pipeline many years later.

As we mentioned above the Pretenders this year were a little less 5mm compatible. While the first year Pretenders generally had 5mm ports on their vehicle modes as well as their Pretender shells, those 5mm posts disappeared on most of the inner robots for this year. Instead of using multiple posts on the same weapon more toys this year used a double-post.

'''AUTOBOTS'''

Literally all the Autobot Pretenders from this year used 5mm posts. All of the Micromaster bases and transports except for Overload and [[Hot House]] used 5mm posts for their weapon accessories. Hot House and Overload don't really have any accessories, so that's understandable.
*[[Pincher]], [[Doubleheader]] and [[Longtooth]]
*[[Classic Pretender]]s — [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]], [[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]] and [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]]. These toys were re-released without their shells as [[Legends (G1)|Legends]]. They only came with their smaller weapons, which are double-posted. While the inner robots can't hold 5mm weapons their weapons can be used with other toys. Bumblebee and Jazz's guns were switched for the Legends release, so if you're pedantic about continuity feel free to give Jazz's gun to Classics Bumblebee without feeling guilty.
*[[Crossblades (G1)|Crossblades]] and [[Vroom]]
* [[Skyhammer (G1)|Skyhammer]]

*[[Erector (G1)|Erector]] and his [[Crane]] — Erector's weapons are all 5mm posts. While Erector's trailer hitch is not a 5mm post it is hollow and works as a 5mm port, allowing Erector to connect to other TFs and bases like a Mini-Con.
*[[Ironworks]]'s [[Construction station]] — In station mode, Ironworks's base has two hollow 5mm posts on its scaffolding section. These are completely compatible with Mini-Cons. In windmill... errr... radar tower mode these two pegs are used to mount the scaffolding to the tower, so aren't accessible.
* [[Groundshaker]]'s [[ATV]] and [[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]]'s [[Rocket Base|Rocket base]]

'''DECEPTICONS'''

All the Decepticon Micromaster bases and transports were 5mm compatible this year in some capacity. The Pretenders also, except for the Monster Pretenders.
*[[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] — As with nearly all combiners, Monstructor uses 5mm fist holes. However none of the individual Monster Pretenders do. Their shell covers sometimes have relatively inaccessible 5mm posts or ports for Monstructor's accessories, but that is more-or-less the extent of their compatibility.
* [[Octopunch]], [[Stranglehold]] and [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]
*[[Classic Pretender]]s [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]] — Also available as a Legends figure without any of the 5mm compatibility conferred by his shell.
* [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]
* [[Roadblock (G1)|Roadblock]]

* [[Flattop (Decepticon)|Flattop]]'s [[Aircraft carrier]] and [[Roughstuff]] and his [[Military transport]] — Roughstuff's are the only large Micromaster weapons without 5mm posts, making him far less compatible with other toys than he should be. However his trailer hitch is a 5mm post and port. That might be of... some use.
* [[Greasepit (G1)|Greasepit]]'s [[Gas station]] and [[Airwave]]'s [[Airport]] — Greasepit has a host of little 5mm post accessories that aren't weapons like a set of petrol pumps and a street sign. Airwave's compatibility is limited to having several 5mm ports on the top of his base's station mode.
* [[Skyhopper]]'s [[Helicopter]] and [[Skystalker (G1)|Skystalker]]'s [[Interstellar shuttle]]

===1990===
[[Action Master]]s dropped the 5mm posts in favour of a smaller standard-sized peg for hand-held weapons, obviously due to the smaller size of the figures' fists. However, the backpack accessories for the individually carded figures use 5mm pegs to attach to the screw-holes in the figures' backs, making them compatible with weapons for larger toys. Some of the bases use 5mm posts for their weapon systems as well. But for the most part, this was the end of 5mm pegs being universal in Transformers for a very long time; it wouldn't happen again until the [[Unicron Trilogy]], almost a decade later.

'''AUTOBOTS'''
[[Image:Lionizer5mmdemo.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Another example of why beards freakin' rock.]]
* [[Lionizer]]. Because of his beard, he actually has a double-post, so he has a 5mm post, though it's very tight.

* [[Prowl (G1)/toys#Action Master|Prowl]]'s [[Turbo Cycle]]. — His engine intakes have a 5mm port, so they can be mounted on Mini-Con pegs if you'd like, and his wheel section has a 5mm post. The rest of his accessories use the more standard smaller pegs used by Action Masters.
* [[Over-Run (G1)|Over-Run]]. — While both he and his helicopter aren't really 5mm compatible, he ''does'' have hand-held missile launchers with 5mm post ''holes'' on them. They can be mounted on Mini-Con ports, or you can mount 5mm guns on top of them while Over-Run is holding them — but good luck keeping his arms up. There's a couple of posts on the back of his helicopter as well.
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#AM|Optimus Prime's]] [[Armored Convoy]] — Has a bunch of black guns and orange guns with 5mm posts. Yes, you can give all these weapons to Classics Primes. The black guns have hollow posts and so can be mounted on Mini-Cons. The entire Armored Convoy, both cab and trailer, is littered with 5mm ports.

* [[Missile Launcher]] (with [[Retro]] & [[Surge (G1)|Surge]]) and [[Tanker Truck]] (with [[Pipeline]] & [[Gusher]]) — Both bases have a new mould Micromaster ramp with a double-peg on it. Unfortunately it's very hard to access, and not very effective as a shield for other toys The combiner bases also extensively use 5mm ports and pegs for all their weapons, and even their main combining pegs. This means they can be connected to each other, or to any other 5mm pegs or ports.
* [[Battlefield Headquarters]] with [[Full-Barrel]] & [[Overflow]]

'''DECEPTICONS'''
* [[Megatron (G1)/toys#ActionMaster|Megatron's]] [[Neutro-Fusion Tank]]
* [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]]'s [[Stratotronic Jet]] — His missiles have 5mm post holes, rather than 5mm posts. This means you can mount his missiles on mini-con ports or other similar 5mm posts.

[[Image:Anti-aircraftbase_multiconfig.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Blackout and shout!]]
* [[Cannon Transport]] with [[Terror-Tread]] & [[Cement-Head]] — Features the same 5mm compatibility as the Autobot Combiner Transports.
* [[Anti-Aircraft Base]] with [[Blackout (G1)|Blackout]] & [[Spaceshot]] — Is one of the most versatile 5mm-compatible toys of all time. All up the base features eight 5mm ports, seven 5mm posts and a variety of different accessories. The base's main guns are designed to peg onto 5mm posts so can be used with mini-con ports. The base's radar equipment and additional weapons are all designed with 5mm posts. Even the base's ramp features a 5mm port, rather than the limited 5mm post of the Micromaster Combiner Transports. The four 5mm posts on the base proper are hollow, also allowing them to be used as mini-con ports.

==UK Generation 1==
After Generation 1 ended in the US it continued in the UK unabated. Well, a little bit abated. It wasn't as big as it was. The UK line at first consisted of redecos of Japanese toys and Action Masters that hadn't made it to America. After that they continued to produce their own toys. Okay... but what does that have to do with 5mm pegs? Well, sadly, not much. The UK lines did not make extensive use of 5mm pegs, even when they really should have (we're looking at you, Predator jets). The compatibility of these toys is incredibly limited.

===1991===
The Action Masters from this year didn't use 5mm pegs at all, meaning that there were only three toys this year with 5mm pegs.

'''AUTOBOTS'''
[[Image:Flame5mmdemo.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Ready for a Flame war!]]
*[[Flame (Motorvator)|Flame]], [[Gripper (G1)|Gripper]], [[Lightspeed (Motorvator)|Lightspeed]]. — The [[Motorvator]]s, being recycled Japanese toys, used 5mm pegs as standard for their weapons. Their weapons had two sets of pegs letting them be held as swords or guns.

===1992===
This year introduced the Turbomasters and Predators. Even though both sets of toys (who all have massive guns) would have benefitted from 5mm posts, only two toys out of the entire line have them.

'''AUTOBOTS'''
*[[Rotorstorm]]

[[Image:Stalker_variousconfigs.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Stalk 'er? I hardly knew 'er.]]
'''DECEPTICONS'''
*[[Stalker (G1)|Stalker]] — Unlike Rotorstorm his hands are not 5mm pegs. Instead the ports on his shoulders are 5mm pegs — his massive missile and his radar dish are on 5mm posts. His lack of 5mm hands is made up for by two screw holes on his wrists which are 5mm holes, allowing him to hold guns there.

===1993===
'''AUTOBOTS'''
*[[Pyro]]

'''DECEPTICONS'''
*[[Clench (G1)|Clench]]
{{-}}

==Japanese Generation 1==
There's not a lot to say about Japanese Generation 1. The main thing is that there are more Micromasters. More Micromasters means more 5mm pegs.

The first few lines that the Japanese marketed independently were mostly reuses of American moulds, with only a few differences. Basically if the American version can use 5mm pegs, so can the Japanese version. In these cases there's only a handful of toys that need pointing out as independent and unique but the overall line was generally a mess of 5mm pegs everywhere.

===Headmasters===
Most of this line was just American release toys repackaged. Basically all of them were 5mm compatible. Almost all of the moulds unique to the Japanese line were also 5mm compatible.

'''CYBERTRONS'''
*[[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Stepper]] and [[Artfire (Headmasters)|Artfire]]. — Jazz and Inferno, two previously non-compatible toys, were retooled and redecoed in Headmasters and used as Targetmasters. Artfire's fists are expanded to allow him to hold his targetmaster gun [[Nightstick (Artfire)|Nightstick]]. Stepper meanwhile has Jazz's missile launcher replaced by a plug-in port to allow him to use his Targetmaster unit [[Nightstick (Ricochet)|Nebulon]] as a shoulder cannon.
*<strike>Billy</strike> <strike>Blaster</strike> [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]] — Redeco and slight retool of G1 Blaster.

*[[Graphy]], [[Noise]], [[Dial]] and [[Saur]]
*[[Raiden]] — Like Devastator before him (well, sorta), Raiden can use 5mm weapons while his components cannot.

'''DESTRONS'''
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundblaster]] — Redeco and slight retool of G1 Soundwave.

===Masterforce===
Again, Masterforce is almost entirely American moulds, but this time there's more redecos. There's a few retools, and a handful of new moulds too, with 5mm compatibility.

'''CYBERTRONS'''
*[[Metalhawk]] — He's a Pretender. And what have we learned so far? That's right: Pretenders are 5mm compatible.

*[[Ginrai|Super Ginrai]] and [[Godbomber]] — Ginrai is a retool of Powermaster Optimus Prime, with brand new hands. Brand new retractable 5mm hands! (To replace his old unretractable 5mm hands!) Godbomber is designed to be compatible with Ginrai, to use his accessories and to merge with him, so he gets to be 5mm compatible too. Sweet.
*[[Grand Maximus]] — Fortress Maximus with a new deco and some new accessories. He's compatible with 5mm pegs in the same way as Fortress Maximus, and his new parts are mostly a Pretender shell with some extra weapons. Pretender shell? Well, we know what that means!

'''DESTRONS'''
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] — Does not have 5mm pegs for his hands, but has limited compatibility thanks to a handful of 5mm holes and some 5mm pegs on his smaller accessories. This toy was also released in Europe in 1992.
*[[Browning]] — As well as multiple sets of fists, Browning also has 5mm post holes on his shoulders for added shoulder cannon action.

*[[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]] — A retool of G1 Scorponok with a new robot mode head and some new weapons. He's 5mm compatible in the same ways as Scorponok, but with updated [[Gold Plastic Syndrome]] compatibility to boot.

===Victory===
Victory was radically different from the American toy line of the time. Most of the toys were unique to Japan, and most of them had 5mm compatibility to some extent.

'''CYBERTRONS'''
*[[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]], [[Victory Leo]] and their combined form Victory Saber
*[[Blacker]], [[Laster]], [[Braver]] and their combined form [[Road Caesar]]
*[[Landcross (Victory)|Landcross]] — While the individual components are not generally 5mm compatible, Landcross has 5mm fists. Some of his components have 5mm holes on their vehicle modes for storing merge parts.
*[[Galaxy Shuttle]] — Dude's basically a Micromaster toy, of course he's 5mm compatible.

*[[Greatshot]] — A retool and redeco of Sixshot.

'''DESTRONS'''
*[[Liokaiser]] — As with most every merge group, Liokaiser's fists are 5mm pegs. His individual components are mostly not 5mm compatible. [[Leozack]] has 5mm ports, and [[Guyhawk]] and [[Hellbat (Victory)|Hellbat]] have 5mm posts, used in merging. [[Killbison]]'s tank mode guns are on a 5mm plug, which becomes Liokaiser's hand-held weapons. None of these ports and plugs are particularly accessible or useful. Unless you want to give Leozack gun knees, which... who wouldn't want to?

*[[Dinoking]] — A redeco of Monstructor with new Pretender shells, he's 5mm compatible in exactly the same way.
*[[Black Shadow]] and [[Blue Bacchus]] — Retools and redecos of Crossblades and Thunderwing.

===Zone===
Zone is basically the Japanese equivalent of the American Micromasters line. Most of the toys were straight repackagings of the American releases, with basically no changes. The rest were either new Micromaster bases (with 5mm weapons) or redecos of American bases. 5mm compatibility had been more or less the norm for Japanese Generation 1, and Zone would cement their place with only the individual Micromasters not being fully 5mm compatible.

'''CYBERTRONS'''
*[[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]], [[Sonic Bomber]], [[Road Fire]] and their merged form [[Big Powered]]
*[[Landshaker]] and [[Sky Hyper]] — Redecos of Groundshaker and Sky Hopper's bases with new pilots and the same ole weapons.

'''DESTRONS'''
*[[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] — Dude, a crazy Decepticon redeco of Metroplex. Just as compatible with 5mm pegs as Metroplex ever was. But more blue.

===Return of Convoy===
[[Image:Microtrailer_versatility.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Is there nothing they can't do?!]]
Yup, Optimus Prime got a new toy this year. Yawn. What we're really interested in is two brand new concepts. First of all all the Micromaster patrols were re-released this year, and packaged with brand new Micro Trailers. Secondly we were introduced to six-member Micromaster combiner teams which merge more traditionally than the American Micromaster combiners.

The Micro Trailers were simple launchers for the Micromasters, and there were (including the three packaged with the bulks from this year) 14 in all. From a 5mm compatibility point of view these things are incredible. They're designed to combine, pegging into each other. The result is two hollow 5mm posts, and two 5mm ports on each little trailer. You can load them up with weapons, plug Mini-Cons into them or just have larger robots hold them as weapons. Just to add to it they've got ports for American Micromaster Combiners to tow them with, connectors for Micromaster ramps, and a tab to let Sky Garry carry them. Interactivity? You freakin' bet.

The six member combiners are significant because they are the first (and to date '''only''') combiner teams to use 5mm pegs to connect actual robots together. The six Micromasters in each team combine around a frame that makes up the torso, head and thighs of the robot. The shoulders of this frame use hollow 5mm pegs to connect its arms. It's significant because it means that the arm components for all the six member Micromaster combiners have large 5mm ports, allowing them to peg onto 5mm posts — like Mini-Con pegs, for example.

'''CYBERTRONS'''
*[[Grandus (ROC)|Grandus]], [[Sky Garry (ROC)|Sky Garry]], and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Star Convoy]]
*[[Micro Trailer]]s #0 to 12, and Star Convoy's Micro Trailer.
[[Image:Micromerge5mmcompatibility.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]
*[[Sixliner]] — Sixliner was the first of the six member Micromaster combiner teams. He had 5mm compatible fists, a 5mm compatible gun (with two hollow 5mm pegs on the side) and oddly enough 5mm compatible toes. His combiner parts can all become carriages for the train modes of his individual Micromasters. His main torso section has three hollow 5mm posts on it, allowing it to mount Mini-Cons, or to be held by larger robots as a strange gun (which you can then mount Mini-Cons on). Sixliner's arms, [[Leaf]] and [[Alan]] connect to him via 5mm ports that can be used to peg them on any 5mm posts.

===Operation Combination===
The last gasp of Generation 1 in Japan. This line was a mish-mash of new moulds, redecos of old moulds and UK imports.

The most important part of the line from our point of view right now is the new six member Micromaster combiners. There was a retool of Sixliner, and 3 entirely new mould teams. The three new teams use a generic body frame which uses far more 5mm pegs than the Sixliner body. The head and feet, as well as the shoulders, now connect by 5mm posts. This new versatility meant that four members of the team, not just two, could peg onto 5mm posts. The parts of these new combiners could also merge into a jet — but if you merge them into a jet you can't use the parts as weapons for larger robots, and who wants that? No one.

'''CYBERTRONS'''
*[[Sixturbo]] — His arms and legs, [[Circuit (OC)|Circuit]], [[Neo-Wheel]], [[Discharge]] and [[Sireen]] all have 5mm ports.
*[[Sixbuilder]] — His arms and legs, [[Digger]], [[Iron Lift]], [[Mixing]] and [[Treader]] all have 5mm ports.
*[[Sixwing]] — His arms and legs, [[Falcon (OC)|Falcon]], [[Flanker]], [[Raker]] and [[Supersonic]] all have 5mm ports.

*[[Guard City]] — A redeco, barely, of Generation 1 Defensor. Compatible in exactly the same way as the original mould.
*[[Sixtrain]] — A retool of Sixliner. His arms [[Atlan]] and [[Raise]] have 5mm ports.

'''DESTRONS'''
*[[Battle Gaia]] — A redeco of Generation 1 Bruticus. Compatible in exactly the same way as the original mould.
{{-}}

==Generation 2==
Come 1993 and ''Transformers'' was given a rebirth, both in the US (who hadn't had toys on the shelves since 1990) and in the rest of the world, called ''Generation 2''. This toyline was a mixture of vintage Generation 1 ''[[Diaclone]]''-based toys, redecos of toys released in the UK and later on a whole slew of brand new moulds created just for that line.

''Generation 2'' was only moderately 5mm-friendly. The old moulds retained their old compatibilities, and the new moulds tended to be much smaller toys that weren't able to have large fist holes. Still, there are a handful of new and interesting toys with 5mm compatibility, and many of them would go on to be prominent toys in later lines as well.

===1993===

'''AUTOBOTS'''
*[[Optimus_Prime_(G1)/toys#Generation_2|Optimus Prime]] — This toy is a redeco and retool of Generation 1 Optimus Prime. The main difference now is the addition of a voice pack with two 5mm post holes on it and the addition of two brand-new hand-held missile launchers with 5mm posts. This added versatility has basically never been carried forwards to other re-releases of the mould.
*[[Jazz_(G1)/toys#Generation_2|Jazz]] and [[Sideswipe_(G1)#Generation_2_2|Sideswipe]] — These two (redecos of the g1 toys) are NOT 5mm compatible, but their missile launchers have a double-post, making their '''guns''' 5mm compatible.

'''DECEPTICONS'''
*[[Devastator_(G1)#Generation_2|Devastator]] — This toy was released twice in two different new decos, but it's still the same tooling as the Generation 1 toy with the same compatibilities.
*[[Ramjet_%28G1%29#Generation_2_2|Ramjet]] and [[Starscream_(G1)/toys#Generation_2|Starscream]] — Redecos of the Generation 1 toys with the same compatibilities. They also have new missile launchers (that actually launch!) and a new sound box, but neither of these really adds any new compatibility to the toys.
*[[Megatron_(G1)/toys#Generation_2|Megatron]] — This is the first new Gen2 exclusive mould created for the American toy line. It's also the first new mould with 5mm fists.

===1994===

'''AUTOBOTS'''
*[[Superion_(G1)#Generation_2|Superion]] — A redeco of the Generation 1 toy, with the same very very limited compatibility, but with the added bonus of Gold Plastic Syndrome.
*[[Silverbolt_(G1)#Generation_2_2|Silverbolt]] — A redeco of the Generation 1 toy, unlike the original toy this Silverbolt is retooled to have 5mm post holes on his wings, for a pair of new missile launchers. Silverbolt's launchers are the same basic mould as those used by the Skyraiders, but were retooled to have a double-post so that Superion could hold them. Because he doesn't have 5mm fists. Because Superion is a poopy-head.

*[[Optimus_Prime_(G1)/toys#Generation_2|Hero Optimus Prime]]
*[[Electro#Generation_2_2|Electro]] and [[Volt#Generation_2_2|Volt]].

'''DECEPTICONS'''
*[[Bruticus_(G1)#Generation_2|Bruticus]] and the [[Combaticon_(G1)|Combaticons]] — A slightly retooled and extensively redecoed version of the original toy with the same basic compatibilities. [[Onslaught_(G1)#Generation_2_2|Onslaught]] also has a new missile launcher which is 5mm compatible.

*[[Megatron_(G1)/toys#Generation_2|Hero Megatron]]
*[[Sizzle_(G2)#Generation_2_2|Sizzle]] and [[Jolt_(G2)#Generation_2_2|Jolt]]

===1995===
The last year of ''Generation 2'' was getting more and more experimental, with toys with all kinds of different gimmicks, all kinds of brand new features. Unfortunately this year also saw a severe downsizing of the toys — smaller toys became the standard. That left room for only one toy this year with 5mm fists and accessories.

'''AUTOBOTS'''
*[[Optimus_Prime_(G1)/toys#Generation_2|Laser Optimus Prime]] — Probably because of a decided downturn in the ''size'' of individual toys in 1995, Laser Optimus Prime is the '''only''' toy this year with 5mm pegs. His sword, laser cannon, and missile launcher have 5mm handles.

==Beast Wars==
[[Image:Optimusprimal5mmposts.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Share and share alike.]]

After ''Generation 2'', 5mm posts took a pasting. Suddenly they just weren't standard any more. If ''Generation 2'' was experimental in its last days, then ''[[Beast Wars (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' was even more experimental. There were basically no singular standards for this line. Characters were completely self-contained play patterns, based around their animal modes. As the line evolved general gimmicks, again based on the aesthetics of the toy rather than their play pattern, began to dominate. The only place that 5mm post holes were generally universal were the larger scale Ultra toys who mostly featured 5mm hands.

Tolerances are a big issue with ''Beast Wars'' toys with 5mm posts, the following list is as comprehensive as it can be, but you might find you struggle to use the 5mm compatibility on some of your toys. In the testing phase different samples ranged from impossibly tight, to perfect, to really loose.

===1996===
'''MAXIMALS'''
*[[Dinobot_(BW)#Toys|Dinobot]] — Dinobot's weapons and accessories and hands are all 5mm posts. This is great, seeing as this mould was released again, and again, and again. His famous [[Cyber-slash tail weapon|rotating blade]] weapon has a 5mm post hole in it that allows it to mount on a 5mm post on his dinosaur mode back. This is especially useful for mounting the tail weapon on his back in robot mode.
*[[Polar Claw]]
*[[Optimus_Primal/toys#Beast_Wars|Ultra Optimus Primal]]
*[[Wolfang (Maximal)|Wolfang]] Has 5mm screw holes in his robot back, and a non-screw 5mm hole in his head — these are almost useless. However, his waist kibble has [[Mini-Con]]-compatible pegs, as does the front of his shield.

===1997===
'''MAXIMALS'''
*[[Grimlock_(G1)/toys#Beast_Wars|Grimlock]] — A [[redeco]] of the ''Beast Wars'' Dinobot mould with the same compatibility.
*[[Ironhide_(G1)/toys#Beast_Wars|Ironhide]] and [[Magnaboss#Beast_Wars|Magnaboss]] — [[Silverbolt (G1)#Beast Wars|Silverbolt]] and [[Prowl (G1)#Beast Wars|Prowl]] are not 5mm compatible, but Ironhide, Magnaboss' sword, and Magnaboss are. The small hollow pegs on Ironhide's elephant shell halves are ''not'' 5mm, but the size of the inner hole is such that they ''do'' grip Mini-Cons.
*[[B'Boom]]

'''PREDACONS'''
* [[Ram Horn#Toys|Ram Horn]] and [[Tripredacus#Toys|Tripredacus]] — Ramhorn has 5mm hands, giving Tripredacus one 5mm hand too. The other members of the team are not 5mm compatible.
*[[Inferno (BW)#Toys|Inferno]]

===1998===
'''MAXIMALS'''
*[[Cheetor (BW)/toys#Beast_Wars|Transmetal Cheetor]] — His fists are an unconventional shape, but hold 5mm weapons just fine.
*[[Optimus Primal/toys#Beast_Wars|Transmetal Optimus Primal]]
*[[Optimus Primal/toys#Beast_Wars|Optimal Optimus]] — While he doesn't have 5mm peg holes for his fists, he does have 5mm pegs on his wrists, (on angles, so their use is limited) and he ''does'' have hollow 5mm pegs (perfect for Mini-Cons) on his rifle! On his shoulders are a couple of other 5mm pegs too.

*[[Torca]]

'''PREDACONS'''
*[[Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast_Wars|Transmetal Megatron]]
*[[Rampage (BW)#Beast_Wars|Transmetal Rampage]]
*[[Antagony (BW)#Beast_Wars|Botcon Antagony]]

===1999===

'''MAXIMALS'''
*[[Optimus Minor#Toys|Optimus Minor]] — On his own, Optimus Minor is not 5mm compatible. However, his tail weapon uses two different 5mm pegs — one of which is hollow, perfect for Mini-Cons! The allows him to hold a Mini-Con in robot mode.
*[[Tigerhawk#Toys|Tigerhawk]]

'''PREDACONS'''
*[[Megatron_(BW)/toys#Beast_Wars|Transmetal II Megatron]]

===Beast Wars II===
''[[Beast Wars II (toyline)|Beast Wars II]]'' was a Japanese only line capitalizing on the success of ''Beast Wars''. It's mostly a [[redeco]] line, with a handful of brand new toys or moulds. There's a bunch of old toys in this line with 5mm compatibility, and a few retools and redecos. There's only one new mould. Lio Convoy looks like he should have them, but his fists are actually a bit bigger than the 5mm standard.

'''CYBERTRONS'''
Santon and Magnaboss — Redecos of Beast Wars Ironhide and Magnaboss.

'''DESTRONS'''
*Autolauncher
*Megastorm
*Gigastorm
*Thrustor
*God Neptune — A Redeco of the Seacons minus Nautilator, with most of the same 5mm compatibilities as the original group. They were released in a gift set, and also lacked the individual gun stands that the original Seacons had. Man... sucky.
*Galvatron

===Beast Wars Neo===
'''CYBERTRONS'''
*Big Convoy — Includes a 5mm peg-compatible Matrix.
*Longrack

'''DESTRONS'''
*Hardhead
*Elephorca

==Beast Machines==
Beast Machines saw the almost complete abandonment of the 5mm peg for its toys. The introduction of uniquely moulded hands and toys with few if any accessories meant that 5mm peg holes were no longer needed. In fact, in all of Beast Machines, there is only one toy with deliberate 5mm peg holes for hands. There's others with 5mm screw holes or 5mm peg holes that can be used to make them compatible with older weapons, but for the most part, Beast Machines emphasised completely self-contained toys.

On the flip side, Beast Machines was one of the first Transformers lines to introduce vehicles and separately sold weapon-accessories for other toys, in the form of the Beast Riders and Deployer assortments. These toys, while emphasising interactivity with other toys, did so without the use of pegs.

===2000===
'''VEHICONS'''
*[[Megatron_(BW)/toys#Beast_Machines|Megatron]] — The only toy in the entire line that's deliberately 5mm compatible, the Mega-sized Megatron toy has 5mm fists in robot mode. Wow, Beast Machines, way to drop the ball!

==Robots in Disguise==
Unlike the much more focused and consistently designed Beast Machines, Robots in Disguise was an absolute hodge-podge of a line. It used a combination of new moulds, vintage moulds, and contemporary redecos that saw toys from all over the place incorporated into the line. This was both good and bad for 5mm peg enthusiasts—mostly bad, since the majority of the redecos came from G2 Gobots or Beast Wars and Beast Machines toys.

The handful of brand new toys in the line didn't really emphasise interactivity through compatibility of accessories. Instead they emphasised interactivity through figure combination. Still, there's a handful of stuff there worthy of inclusion here.

===2001===
'''AUTOBOTS'''
*[[Wedge]], [[Heavy Load (RID)|Heavy Load]], [[Hightower (RID)|Hightower]], [[Grimlock (RID)|Grimlock]] and Landfill — Grimlock is the only member of the team lacking 5mm fists, but fortunately he makes up for it in combined form where he forms a part with 5mm compatible hands (well, claws) for Landfill. In fact all of Landfill's configurations are 5mm compatible. Woo!

*[[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (RID)|Ultra Magnus]] — Both use 5mm posts extensively. Only the smaller, non-super-mode Prime actually has 5mm FISTS. Prime's super mode lacks 5mm fists, or fists at all. Omega Prime's and Ultra Magnus's hands do have 5mm holes on the palms, and Magnus's thumbs have 5mm posts. Prime is also covered in a bunch of hollow 5mm posts that can be used as mini-con ports, and both have 5mm posts and holes out the wazoo.

'''DECEPTICONS/PREDACONS'''
*[[Ruination (RID)|Ruination]] — Ruination is a redeco and slight retool of the Generation 1 Combaticons. Initially, in Robots in Disguise, all five components were released separately, though later on they were released only as gift sets. The main difference to the moulds is that the Combaticons' weapons were retooled so they could create two super weapons for Ruination. These super weapons are 5mm compatible.
*[[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] and [[Megatron (RID)|Galvatron]]

===2002===
'''DECEPTICONS/PREDACONS'''
*[[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]] — A redeco of Beast Wars Transmetal 2 Megatron, has 5mm fists just the same.
*[[Scourge (RID)|Scourge]] — A redeco of Generation 2 Laser Optimus Prime with all his compatibilities.

===2003===
'''AUTOBOTS'''
*[[Landfill (RID)|Landfill]] — Same compatibilities as ever, but now in yellow! Plus, it's a gift set!

'''DECEPTICONS'''
*[[Scourge (RID)|Destructicon Scourge]] — A redeco of Generation 2 Combat Optimus Prime.
*[[Bludgeon (RID)|Destructicon Bludgeon]] — A redeco of Generation 2 Combat Megatron.
*[[Ruination (RID)|Ruination]] — Same as before, but now more urban! And in a gift set!

==Armada==
For 5mm peg addicts, the Unicron Trilogy was a godsend. It was the first Transformers toyline not only to feature 5mm pegs as standard on nearly every single toy, but also to advertise this interactivity. It's all down to one thing: Mini-Cons. Mini-Cons and their contribution are covered a bit earlier in this article, but it's important here to mention their... well...importance.

Mini-Cons each came with a 5mm peg hole, with a smaller (1mm?) peg imbedded inside it. Mini-Cons could then plug onto hollow (but NOT solid) 5mm pegs, usually referred to as Mini-Con hardpoints. Some of these hardpoints included small triggers which were pushed down by the smaller peg inside the Mini-Con's 5mm post hole. This activated gimmicks on the larger toys, and is why the Mini-Con don't simply have 5mm post holes.

The inclusion of Mini-Cons as a set of figures compatible with all larger Armada figures saw an overnight change. Suddenly 5mm pegs were the standard again and all but the roleplay toys in the Armada line have 5mm pegs. However, carrying on from Beast Machines and Beast Wars, many Armada toys had unique or oddly moulded hands, and 5mm fists would not make their complete comeback until Energon.

===2003===
'''MINI-CONS'''

The Mini-Cons are all 5mm-compatible in the same way: All Mini-Cons can peg onto '''any''' hollow 5mm pegs. Specific toys that can use them which aren't part of the Unicron trilogy are discussed all through this article, including RiD Optimus Prime, the Micromaster Anti-Aircraft Base, and Beast Wars K-9. Listed below are specific Mini-Cons with unique 5mm compatibilities not covered by straightforward Powerlinking.

*[[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] and [[Run-Over]] — Transform into guns with 5mm-compatible handles.
*[[Rollout (Armada)|Rollout]] — He has a 5mm-compatible trailer hitch that can be used as a Mini-Con port, allowing other Mini-Cons to peg onto him!
*[[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]] and [[Clench (Armada)|Clench]] — Both have 5mm-thick arms, allowing them to become 5mm-compatible guns.

*[[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]] and the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]] — The Air Defence Team merges to become the Star Saber sword. The sword can be held by any toys with 5mm fists or pegged onto Mini-Con compatible posts. Of the three members of the team, only Sonar has an extra feature. He has a 5mm post accessible mostly in shuttle mode, allowing him to be held in other figures' hands (as well as allowing him to be the base of the Star Saber sword).
*[[Maverick]] and the [[Vorpal Saber|Dark Saber]]

*[[Prowl (Armada)|Prowl]] — Prowl transforms into a 5mm-compatible gun.

*[[Dirt Boss (Armada)|Dirt Boss]] and the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom Shield]] — The Race Mini-Con Team merge into an enormous shield designed for use with larger toys with 5mm-compatible fists. Dirt Boss has a 5mm-compatible head because of this. Yeah, you heard right, his head is a 5mm post.

*[[Payload (Armada)|Payload]], [[Sky Blast]] and the [[Requiem Blaster]] — The Space Team merge into the Requiem Blaster, a super-gun meant for use by toys with 5mm-compatible fists. Payload has the 5mm peg that becomes the handle for the blaster, so he can be hand-held. Sky Blast also has a 5mm peg, this one hollow so that you can mount other Mini-cons on top of the Requiem Blaster and power it up even MORE. Yeah. Insane, right? It also means Sky Blast can be hand-held or merge with Energon weapons, etc.

* [[Grindor (Armada)|Grindor]] — In skateboard mode, he has a Mini-Con compatible peg on top of him, allowing other Mini-cons to be plugged into him.

'''AUTOBOTS'''
*[[Blurr (Armada)|Blurr]], [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Hoist]] — None of these three moulds sport 5mm hands. Smokescreen has a 5mm screw hole on his arms just below his fists which can be used as a kind of 5mm fist, but neither Blurr nor Hoist have 5mm fists at all.
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Powerlinx Hot Shot]], and [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Side Swipe]] — All feature standard 5mm fists. Side Swipe even has a 5mm-compatible gun. In Japan, Hot Shot was given an LED in one hand to allow him to light up 5mm-compatible translucent weapons.

*[[Airazor (Armada)|Airazor]], [[Cheetor (Armada)|Cheetor]], and [[Rhinox (Armada)|Rhinox]] — Three redecos of Beast Wars toys, they were retooled so they would have Mini-Con hardpoints. They were not retooled to have 5mm compatible fists, however, so neither Rhinox nor Airazor can use 5mm-compatible weapons. Cheetor still can, though.

*[[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Powerlinx Red Alert]] — Red Alert is 5mm compatible out the wazoo. He has Mini-Con pegs all over, plus a 5mm fist, a 5mm port on his shoulder for shoulder cannons, a 5mm compatible rifle... oh yeah, and interchangeable tool hands which plug in using a 5mm peg.
*[[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] — He doesn't have 5mm-compatible hands. But he does have big, stompy feet, so we forgive him.
*[[Overload (Armada)|Overload]], [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Powerlinx Jetfire]] — Both moulds have 5mm fists, though Overload's are very limited due to his enormously high wrists. Overload also has a 5mm-compatible port as his trailer hitch so he can be towed by Optimus Prime or his Mini-Con.

*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys|Supercon Optimus Prime]], [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys|Super Optimus Prime]] and [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys|Powerlinx Optimus Prime]] — Both the large and small Optimus Prime toys have 5mm fists. Even in his Super Mode, Prime has 5mm fists. The hitch used to pull Prime's trailer is a 5mm post, shared by both the large and small versions of the toys. This means that the small Prime can pull the larger toy's trailer, or either of them can pull Armada Overload. You can also use this hitch as a mount for 5mm compatible weapons.

'''DECEPTICONS'''
*[[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Powerlinx Cyclonus]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Powerlinx Demolishor]], [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] and [[Thrust (Armada)|Powerlinx Thrust]] — Do not have 5mm compatible fists. They do have plenty of Mini-Con ports, though.

*[[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]] — The only Supercon Decepticon with 5mm-compatible fists. He also has missiles that he uses as clubs (well, in the fiction he uses them as guns...sorta...), and they're 5mm compatible too.

*[[Nemesis Prime (Armada)|Nemesis Prime]] — A redeco of Supercon Optimus Prime. He has all the same compatibilities, including being able to pull the Super Prime's trailer.

*[[Terrorsaur (Armada)|Terrorsaur]] — A redeco and retool of Beast Wars Transmetal Terrorsaur. The retooling gives him Mini-Con pegs, but not 5mm-compatible fists.
*[[Predacon (Armada)|Predacon]] — A redeco and retool of Beast Wars TM Megatron. Like the original version of the mould, he has 5mm fists and a 5mm tail weapon, but now he also sports four brand new Mini-Con pegs.

*[[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] — All have 5mm hands in addition to their Mini-Con pegs.

*[[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] — Doesn't have 5mm fists, even if he is loaded with an unbelievable number of Mini-Con ports.

*[[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] — They traded useless knees for unreasonable numbers of Mini-Con hardpoints. Their insane number of Mini-Con pegs makes them one of the most 5mm compatible moulds in history. The toy is perfect for overloading with weapons in either robot or tank mode, and in robot mode, he even gets a 5mm-compatible fist (only the one, because the other hand is concealing a knife).

*[[Unicron]] - In total, the planet-eater has 27 Mini-Con-compatible pegs in planet mode and 30 in robot mode — 32 if you count the two conveniently shaped pegs on the back of his right hand. Of those, 24 are situated on his wings/planet ring.

==Energon==
[[Image:Energonweapon_demo_001.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Now his shot's 6 times as hot!]]
With ''Transformers Energon'', the 5mm golden age continued. Mini-Cons were dropped in favour of a return to the basic price point, but Energon figures still retained their 5mm compatibility and their Mini-Con hardpoints. The line introduced new translucent weapons called energon weapons. The energon weapons were versatile, often multi-part weapons which frequently had both traditional 5mm posts and ports and Mini-Con-style 5mm posts and ports. They could be mounted on Mini-Con pegs, used to activate Mini-Con gimmicks on Armada toys, and merged together to create insanely over-the-top super weapons.

There were two distinct types of energon weapons. There were the multi-part accessories packed with the Omnicons, which often had 3 or 4 distinct components. Strictly speaking these (and a few weapons of larger toys) were the weapons advertised officially as [[Energon weapon]]s. There were also the more static and traditional rifles and missile launchers packed with the larger ''Energon'' toys, even these weapons usually still had multiple posts and ports, including Mini-Con posts and ports, allowing them to be merged with other Energon weapons. As the series progressed, a third type of energon weapon was added: the multi-configuration weapons included with the Energon quintro-combiners, which were designed to be feet and hands for the large ''Energon'' combiner robots, as well as weapons for the component robots.

''Energon'' was really the first Transformers toy line to emphasise and advertise swapping and trading weapons as a pattern of play, despite the fact that Transformers toy lines had been capable of this play pattern since nearly the beginning. Over in Japan, this was emphasised even more with energon weapons from Omnibots given away, sold as separate units, or included as bonuses with redecos.

===2004===
'''MINI-CONS'''

Not many Mini-Cons were produced during ''Energon''. There was only one entirely new team and a handful of redecos. They are all 5mm-compatible, as is standard for Mini-Cons. Those Mini-Cons of special interest are listed below.

*[[Skyboom (Energon)|Skyboom]] and the [[Energon Saber]] — Retooled from Armada's Star Saber, they have the same basic compatibilities.
*[[Knock Out (Energon)|Knock Out]] — A redeco of Armada Rollout with all the same compatibilities.
*[[Payload (Armada)|Payload]], [[Sky Blast]] and the [[Requiem Blaster]] — A redeco of the Requiem Blaster from Armada, with the same basic compatibilities.

'''AUTOBOTS'''

The listing below describes, for the most part, the individual robots. Keep in mind that each toy also came with a gun, usually a transluscent energon weapon with multiple ports and pegs, and even Mini-con compatibility. Even toys without Mini-con plugs of their own often had them on their guns.

* The Omnicons, [[Offshoot (Energon)|Offshoot]], [[Signal Flare (Energon)|Signal Flare]], [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]], [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]], and his redeco [[Strongarm (Energon)|Energon Strongarm]] — The Omnicons were Basic-sized toys, the first toys featured at this price point to have 5mm fists. Each came with an energon weapon, as described above, made up of several components, and an energon star meant to fit over spark crystal of ''Energon'' toys.

*[[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]] — Arcee is the only Omnicon without 5mm fists. She has 5mm post holes in her arms meant to stand in for 5mm fists, but her actual hands are eenie-weenie.

*[[Sky Shadow (Energon)|Sky Shadow]], [[Treadshot (Energon)|Treadshot]], [[Terradive (Energon)|Terradive]] and [[Windrazor (Energon)|Windrazor]] — The limb components of Superion Maximus. They had standard 5mm compatibility and unique transformable energon weapons that became "hands" and "feet" for Superion Maximus.

*[[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]] — Downshift features a spoiler that becomes a unique platform for holding both his guns or any other energon weapons.
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Energon Hot Shot]] and [[Prowl (Energon)|Prowl]]
*[[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]], [[Roadblock (Energon)|Roadblock]] and [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] — In addition to standard ''Energon'' compatibility, these toys retain the Mini-Con ports from ''Transformers: Armada''. Rodimus has one, Inferno and Roadblock each have two.
*[[Tow-Line (Energon)|Tow-Line]] — Unlike the other Combat-Class ''Energon'' toys, Tow-Line was actually made up of two components which combine to form his vehicle mode, a robot and a battle platform. The robot is fairly standard for Energon toys, with many post holes for 5mm weapons of all sorts, some of them in rather unusual places. The battle platform in particular, though, is basically designed as a showcase for Energon weapons, making a perfect platform for building insane or over-the-top energon weapon combinations.

*[[Beachcomber (Energon)|Beachcomber]] and [[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]] — This mould has a Mini-con port on its shoulder pad. Unlike most other ''Energon'' Autobots their weapons, while 5mm compatible, are not designed after the ''Energon'' weapon style. They don't have any extra posts or ports, and aren't made of translucent plastics. They're just simple hand-held guns.
*[[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] and [[Ironhide (Energon)|Energon Ironhide]] — One of a handful of ''Energon'' moulds without its own hand-held rifle. Has a Mini-Con port on his right forearm.
*[[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] and [[Overcast (Energon)|Overcast]] — The Mini-Con ports on their shuttle mode become their toes in robot mode so... uhhh... good luck with that. The rifle that comes with this mould, despite being translucent is effective not an Energon weapon. It has two gun posts, but no other compatibility. It may have been intended to, though. On top of the rifle is a piece of moulding that looks exactly like a Mini-Con post, including their unique base... but it's teeny tiny and undersized.

*[[Treadbolt]] — A redeco of ''Armada'' Scavenger with all his compatibilities.
*[[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] — He has no hand-held rifle, but he does have a Mini-Con port on his left forearm.

*[[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]] and [[Quickstrike (Energon)|Quickstrike]], [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] and [[Landquake (Energon)|Landquake]] — Both these moulds are littered with 5mm ports and pegs. The Bulkhead mould also has a Mini-Con peg on his helicopter tail, while the Landmine mould has two Mini-Con ports on his large cannon for his Brute mode.

*[[Ultra Magnus (Energon)|Ultra Magnus]] — A redeco of ''Armada'' Overload.

*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys|Optimus Prime]] — Prime has 4 Mini-Con pegs in vehicle mode: 2 on his trailer, and 2 on his cab. In robot mode his trailer becomes a base and is still Mini-Con compatible, but the Mini-Con ports are hidden in Prime's robot mode, sadly. Prime's gun is just a standard rifle, not an energon weapon.
*[[Omega Sentinel (Energon)|Omega Sentinel]] and [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] — This mould has 4 Mini-Con ports on his shoulders, front and back, and a handful of 5mm posts. Still, considering its size it's not enormously versatile at using 5mm compatible weapons.

'''DECEPTICONS'''
*[[Battle Ravage]], [[Command Ravage]], [[Cruellock]], [[Doom-Lock]] and [[Insecticon (Energon)|Insecticon]] — All the Energon Terrorcons have 5mm fists as standard. In addition to his Energon weapon Ravage also has a tail mace.
*[[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb]] — Divebomb's wing-mounted weapons come in two variants. The first variant has only one 5mm post on the base of the two-part weapon. The second variant was retooled to have two posts, one at either end of his weapon.

*[[Bonecrusher (Energon)|Bonecrusher]], [[Duststorm (Energon)|Duststorm]], [[Sledge (Energon)|Sledge]], and [[Wideload (Energon)|Wideload]] — The limbs of Constructicon Maximus. Each of them has 5mm fists as standard. The Duststorm/Wideload mould also has a Mini-Con peg on its crane arm.
*[[Steamhammer (Energon)|Steamhammer]] — Steamhammer loves Mini-Cons. In both robot and vehicle modes he has 5 Mini-Con posts. That's a lot, even for an Armada toy, allowing him to hold a partner Mini-Con, an entire Mini-Con team and have one left over for an Energon weapon. Too bad he doesn't have a Mini-Con partner. (Oh yeah, he's got a bunch of 5mm post holes too.)
*[[Constructicon Maximus]] — He retains six Mini-Con pegs, four from Steamhammer and two from Dust Storm and Wideload, though Steamhammer's aren't particularly accessible. He doesn't have 5mm peg hole hands.

*[[Blackout (combiner)|Blackout]], [[Stormcloud (Energon)|Stormcloud]] — This mould has two 5mm posts on each arm in robot mode.
*[[Blight (Energon)|Blight]], [[Kickback (Energon)|Kickback]] — The tank mould technically has three Mini-con ports on his weapon, though only one is accessible in vehicle mode, and in robot mode one of them has to form the handle for the gun. In pratical terms you're probably only going to get one Mini-con on there.
*[[Barricade (Energon)|Barricade]] — Barricade likes Mini-cons too, but not as much as Steamhammer. He's got three Mini-con posts in robot mode and two in vehicle mode.
*[[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)|Bruticus Maximus]] — Thanks to Barricade he has two Mini-con ports on his thighs. He doesn't have 5mm post holes for hands, but he does have Mini-con ports on his thumbs when using the tank as an arm, or on his heels if using the tank as a leg.

*[[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] — In addition to his 5mm fists he has four Mini-con posts, though generally speaking only two are accessible in either mode. Because the posts are on a hinged piece it is possible to expose and use all four at once. His missiles can also fit into his hands, but aren't particularly effective because he holds them at about the mid-point on the missile.
*[[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] and [[Starscream (Armada)|Energon Starscream]] — Based conceptually on the G2 Smokescreen mould, unlike that mould Starscream is highly 5mm compatible. He has a crazy Energon weapon, with multiple configurations and mini-con ports, so the gun section of the weapon can be used a Mini-con. He has Mini-con pegs on his wings that are accessible in both modes. Oh yeah, and the heads of his missiles are 5mm, so he can use them as swords if he gets tired of his giant Energon sword.
*[[Rapid Run (Energon)|Rapid Run]] — A redeco of Armada Sideways.
*[[Sharkticon (Energon)|Sharkticon]], [[Slugslinger (Energon)|Slugslinger]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]] — In addition to 5mm fists, they all have Mini-con ports on the kibble on their forearms. Snow Cat only has a port on his left arm.

*[[Dreadwing (Energon)|Dreadwing]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]] — This mould loves 5mm pegs. Including fists each arm has three 5mm peg holes, as well as a Mini-con port. The toy's missiles are also 5mm wide, letting him hold them as swords. Oh yeah, and he has 5mm posts on the insides of his knees.
*[[Shockblast]] and [[Six Shot]] — Doesn't have traditional hands, but has plenty of 5mm post holes.

*[[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] — Doesn't have traditional hands, but has plenty of 5mm post holes. Has some very inaccessible Mini-con pegs on the missile launchers on his claws.
*[[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] — An awesome redeco of Armada Tidal Wave.

*[[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] and [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] — This same basic design was released twice at two different size scales. They're all 5mm compatible. The larger version has 6 Mini-con ports in jet mode, and two in robot mode. His tank accessory also has

*[[Alpha Quintesson]] — While he doesn't transform, Alpha Quintesson is positively brimming with 5mm posts. He has a 5mm post missile launcher too.

==Cybertron==
While ''Transformers Cybertron'' continued the widespread 5mm compatibility seen in ''Armada'' and ''Energon'', it was in a more low-key form, as the central gimmick of [[Cyber Key]]s had nothing to do with 5mm posts whatsoever. Mini-Con ports became rare again, though not unheard of — the focus was now almost entirely on weapons.

===2005===
'''MINI-CONS'''

Mini-Cons were rare at the beginning of Cybertron, consisting of [[Safeguard (Cybertron)|Safeguard]] and the [[Recon Mini-Con Team]]. As time went on, however, the line introduced a few more teams, a series of Mini-Con two-packs redecoed from ''Armada'' and ''Energon'' molds, and an assortment of Mini-Cons both old and new as pack-in bonuses. Naturally, these all retained standard Powerlinking capability; listed below are Mini-Cons with additional abilities beyond that.

* [[Checkpoint (Cybertron)|Checkpoint]], [[Stripmine]], and [[Deepdive]] — Each of these Mini-Cons sports a 5mm post. Stripmine and Deepdive's posts are hollow.
* [[Scrap Iron]], [[Backblast]], and [[Blastcharge (Cybertron)|Blastcharge]] — Another redeco of the Requiem Blaster, with everything that implies.
* [[Downshift (Armada)|Downshift]], [[Dirt Boss (Armada)|Dirt Boss]], and [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]] — Redecoes of the Race Team, with all the same compatibility.

'''AUTOBOTS'''

* [[Vector Prime]] — He is from an earlier, apparently ''Armada''-esque age and his form reflects that. He is here to sport multiple Mini-Con posts, 5mm fistholes, and a 5mm-compatible sword. He is not here to blend.
* [[Longrack (Cybertron)|Longrack]] — A retooled ''Armada'' [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Hoist]], Longrack still sports a 5mm post. ([[Blurr (Cybertron)|Blurr]] does not.)
* [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] — Has one 5mm hand, and one gun-hand which is a 5mm post, with "hammer" and "claw" attachments that fit on the end.
* [[Clocker (Cybertron)|Clocker]], [[Swerve (Cybertron)|Swerve]] — Clocker has a 5mm gun (with two pegs, side by side) and fists to hold it... and also has dual ''exhaust pipe'' accessories that attach (to the undersides of his fists, actually) using hollow 5mm posts.
* [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], [[Excellion (Cybertron)|Excellion]], [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]], [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]], [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]], Override GTS, [[Armorhide (Cybertron)|Armorhide]], [[Brakedown (Cybertron)|Brakedown]], Brakedown GTS, [[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]], [[Smokescreen (Cybertron)|Smokescreen]], [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]] — All feature 5mm weapons, fists, and vehicle mode mounting points.
* [[Hightail]] — His <s>trombone</s> gun has a 5mm post, and he has the fists to hold it.
* [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Overhaul]], [[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]] — Though they lack any handheld weapons of their own, these toys have 5mm fists.
* [[Quickmix (Cybertron)|Quickmix]], [[Cybertron Defense Team|Cybertron Defense]] Hot Shot, Cybertron Defense Red Alert, and Cybertron Defense Scattorshot — Quickmix and all three members of the Cybertron Defense Team have 5mm-compatible fists and accessories, and bear hollow 5mm posts for mounting Mini-Cons.
* [[Metroplex (Cybertron)|Metroplex]] — Metroplex is ''covered'' in hollow 5mm posts, with a total of 14.
* [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] (Deluxe [[Trukk not munky|trukk]]) — A redeco of the ''Armada'' Super-Con Optimus Prime mold with the same functionality. Instead of Over-Run, he includes a special Cyber Key that has the same hole-with-a-post as a Mini-Con, making it capable of attaching to any hollow 5mm post.
* Optimus Prime and [[Ultra Magnus (Cybertron)|Ultra Magnus]] — Redecoes of the ''Robots in Disguise'' versions, with all that that implies.

'''DECEPTICONS'''

* [[Buzzsaw (Cybertron)|Buzzsaw]] and [[Runamuck (Cybertron)|Runamuck]] — Retooled versions of ''Armada'' Cyclonus and Sideswipe. Buzzsaw retains most of Cyclonus's compatibility, but has lost the posts on his missile launchers. Runamuck, meanwhile, has lost Sideswipe's accessories in favor of a new 5mm gun.
* [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], Galvatron, [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]], Ransack GTS, [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], [[Hardtop (Cybertron)|Hardtop]], [[Swindle (Cybertron)|Swindle]], [[Lugnutz]], and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] — All these figures have 5mm hands and weapons.
* [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]], Dark Crumplezone, [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]], [[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]], [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]], [[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]], and [[Brushguard]] — These figures have 5mm hands, though they include no compatible accessories.
* [[Scorponok (Energon)|Dark Scorponok]] — A retooled Scorponok that retains the ''Energon'' toy's features and adds Cyber Key compatibility.
* [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]] — Like Arcee before her, Thunderblast's hands are too small and girly for 5mm holes, so she has them further up on her forearms instead. Her weapon is 5mm-compatible.
* [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]] — Like Metroplex, Menasor likes Mini-Cons.
* [[Cannonball (Cybertron)|Cannonball]] — A redeco of Red Alert with the same compatibility.
* [[Scrapmetal (Cybertron individual)|Scrap]][[Scrapmetal (race)|metal]] — All Scrapmetals have 5mm fists, and in an undocumented feature, their flip-out blades can be hand-held.
* [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] — A redeco of ''Armada'' Demolishor with the same features. Instead of Blackout, he includes a Cyber Key with a Mini-Con-style 5mm hole on the back, similar to the deluxe Optimus Prime's.

'''OTHER'''
* [[Primus]] — Like Unicron before him, Primus sports an assortment of hollow 5mm posts. His total is far lower (nine), but in Primus's defense, most of Unicron's are on his ring.
* [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] and [[Unicron]] — Both feature 5mm fists and accessories.

==Classics==
''Classics'' brought back many old ''Transformers'' characters with new toys, and most of those toys were 5mm compatible. It also introduced yet more Mini-Cons, though hollow 5mm posts are few and far between in ''Classics.''

==''Transformers'' (2007)==
The live-action movie toyline mostly eschewed the use of the 5mm system, in part because the integrated nature of the characters' weapons meant a low number of handheld accessories overall. Nevertheless, the reuse of various molds from the previous few years ensured that 5mm posts continued to appear.

==Animated==
''Transformers Animated'' had few 5mm-compatible toys, but they existed.

===2008===
'''AUTOBOTS'''
* [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Cybertron Mode Optimus Prime]] - His axe and shield have 5mm posts, and therefore his hands are also compatible with them.
* Voyager Class Optimus Prime - Both his axe and his water gun use the standard 5mm posts, and therefore his hands are also compatible.
* The Battle Begins Optimus Prime - His axe uses the 5mm post for its handle, and his hands are compatible with them... as is the hole in his buttocks.
* [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] - His hands are open with a 5mm groove in them to hold such accessories.
* [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] - Both his shield and lance sport 5mm posts, and his hands are compatible. However, the fingers are sculpted with a gap over the 5mm holes, so accessories with smaller posts can only be held from the bottom of his hands.
'''DECEPTICONS'''
* [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] - The inside of his robot mode hands sport 5mm posts, which can also double as a Mini-Con port. His mace also has a 5mm hole in it.
* [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] — Appropriately enough, Swindle is equipped with a large cannon on a 5mm post, and has two 5mm holes with which to use it.
* [[Megatron (Animated)|Leader Class Megatron]] - His swords are mounted on 5mm handles, and his hands therefore sport 5mm holes.
* Shadow Blade Megatron - Being a redeco of Leader Class Megatron, he carries over the same 5mm compatibility.
* [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] - His gun/crane uses a 5mm post, so the holes in his forearms and back are compatible with other weapons.

===2009===
'''AUTOBOTS'''
* Freeway Jazz - Being a redeco of Jazz, he shares the same 5mm-holed hands.
'''DECEPTICONS'''
* Atomic Lugnut - Being a redeco of Lugnut, Atomic Lugnut sports the same posts in his hands, and the same hole on his mace.
* Shockwave Vs. Bumblebee - The Shockwave in this pack, being a redeco of the previous Shockwave, has the same post/ports.

===2010===
'''AUTOBOTS'''
* [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] - Arcee's hands can hold 5mm post weapons. However, her weapons are slightly thicker. This resulted in many a broken thumb.
* [[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus Minor]] - The tabs on his bow are 5mm wide.

===2011===
'''AUTOBOTS'''
* [[Minerva (Animated)|Minerva]] - Being a redeco of Arcee, she shares the same 5mm-holed hands. But continue to be careful with her slaggin' thumbs!
* [[Sideswipe (Animated)|Sideswipe]] - Being a redeco of Breakdown, Sideswipe shares the 5mm bow tabs.
'''DECEPTICONS'''
* [[Dead End (Animated)|Dead End]] - Being a redeco of Jazz, he shares the same 5mm-holed hands.
* [[Drag Strip (Animated)|Drag Strip]] - Being a redeco of Arcee, she shares the same 5mm-holed hands. But continue to be careful with the swords!
* [[Motormaster (Animated)|Motormaster]] - Being a retool of Voyager Class Optimus Prime, his axe and cannon use the same 5mm posts, and the hands use the same 5mm holes.
* [[Toxitron (Animated)|Toxitron]] - Being a redeco of Voyager Class Optimus Prime, his axe and cannon use the same 5mm posts, and the hands use the same 5mm holes.
* [[Breakdown (Animated)|Breakdown]] - Being a retool of Rodimus Minor, Breakdown shares the same 5mm tabs on his bow.

==Universe (2008)==
Following in the footsteps of ''Classics'', ''Universe'' toys nearly always featured 5mm fists and accessories.

==Revenge of the Fallen==
The toys for the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' movie initially returned to the design principles of the previous live-action movie, but in time, 5mm accessories began to creep back in. This line also introduced an alternate system of interchangeable accessories, the [[C joint]].

==Generations==
Once again, ''Generations'' typically followed the example of ''Classics'' and ''Universe,'' featuring widespread 5mm compatibility.

==Power Core Combiners==
Much like ''Armada'' and ''Energon'', ''Power Core Combiners'' heavily emphasized compatibility between different toys. The main focus of the line, the "combination" suggested by the title, was a series of "Commander" figures who could combine with interchangeable drone vehicles in a fashion similar to the [[Special Teams]]. Commanders were sold either with sets of drones or in smaller packs with Mini-Cons. These Mini-Cons were also designed to have weapon modes, using 5mm posts, and as such 5mm fists proliferated. The Commander figures also featured hollow 5mm posts for mounting the Mini-Cons, and the drones all featured hollow 5mm posts as well, leading to [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CombinatorialExplosion insanity].

===2010===
'''MINI-CONS'''

In additional to the usual capabilities of Mini-Cons, every ''PCC'' Mini-Con has at least one 5mm post, usually hollow, which enables it to be handheld. Special cases are listed below.

* [[Chopster]], [[Razorbeam]] — The axe Mini-Cons unfortunately have a narrower segment below the 5mm grip, similar to double-posted weapons, and as such they cannot be held by toys with shallower fist holes (ironically including [[Darkstream]]). The post is also solid, so it can only connect to empty 5mm holes.
* [[Backwind]], [[Beacon]], and [[Pinpoint]] — These three have empty 5mm holes rather than the usual Mini-Con ports. This prevents them from activating Powerlinx gimmicks, but allows them to attach to ordinary 5mm posts, not just hollow ones.

'''AUTOBOTS'''
* [[Skyburst]] — One hollow post on his back, and shallow 5mm fists.
** [[Aerialbot (PCC)|Aerialbots]] — All four drones have hollow 5mm posts on the top, though the Fighter Jet's is not really useful in combined mode. The helicopters' posts are on top of their rotors, and as such any Mini-Cons or weapons attached there will spin freely.
* [[Huffer (PCC)|Huffer]] — For unknown reasons, Huffer has fist holes, but they are far too small to hold 5mm posts. He has a hollow 5mm post on his right forearm to make up for this, and another flip-out post on his chest.
* [[Searchlight (PCC)|Searchlight]] — Searchlight is absurdly 5mm-compatible for a toy of his size. In addition to the usual 5mm fists, he has 5mm holes in the sides of his forearms, meant for attaching his vehicle mode rotors. He also has the flip-out hollow chest post typical of ''PCC'' Commander molds originating in two-packs, and a second hollow post on what becomes the underside of his cockpit in vehicle mode. As implied by the forearm holes, his rotors are separate accessories that can connect to any 5mm peghole (including the one on Backwind's chest).
* [[Double Clutch (PCC)|Double Clutch]] — He has a single hollow post on a hinged panel, which is normally concealed in most modes but can be folded out. For holding weapons he has sideways holes on the inside of his forearms, which are awkward in robot mode but can be used more effectively as shoulder weapon mounts in his torso mode. They're shallow, but with their positioning you probably wouldn't want to give him Chopster anyway.
** [[Rallybot]]s — Each Rallybot has a hollow post that can fold away, located on the rear bumper of the Race Car and on top of the others. Interestingly, the Street Racer reveals a ''second'' post in leg mode, which is necessary since the vehicle-mode post ends up on the bottom of the foot.
* [[Leadfoot (PCC)|Leadfoot]] — Like Double Clutch, Leadfoot has sideways forearm holes instead of fists. Unlike Double Clutch and basically everyone else ever, both of his hollow posts are flip-out posts for chest armor, one (normally concealed under his windshield) for his robot chest and one for his combined chest. Both can be used in vehicle mode as well.
* [[Stakeout (PCC)|Stakeout]] — A redeco of Smolder with the same features.
** [[Protectobot (PCC)|Protectobots]] — Redecos of two Aerialbots (Chopper and Fighter Jet) and two Combaticons (APC and Tank).
* [[Steelshot]] — A redeco of Bombshock with the same features.
* [[Grimstone]] — Grimstone has shallow fists and a single 5mm post on his ''tail'' (in robot mode, his back).
** [[Dinobot (PCC)|Dinobots]] — The ''Parasaurolophus'' drone has two side-mounted Mini-Con posts. The others are more or less standard.
* [[Heavytread (PCC)|Heavytread]] — In addition to the usual flip-out chest post and 5mm hands (irregularly-shaped but usable), Heavytread has a 5mm peghole on top of his vehicle mode near the forward right corner. This hole is usable in all three modes, ending up approximately on his wrist in robot mode.
* [[Salvage (Movie)|Salvage]] — A redeco of Mudslinger with the same compatibility. Since he has 5mm fists, [[Bomb-Burst (PCC)|Bomb-Burst]] gets the official weapon mode that's technically a fanmode on Chainclaw.

'''DECEPTICONS'''
* [[Bombshock (PCC)|Bombshock]] — Bombshock has two hollow posts quite close to each other: one is on top of his turret (ending up on the back of his torso mode head), while the other is between his cannons. Both end up on his back in robot mode, in varying configurations depending on how his kibble is arranged. Like his wavemate Skyburst, he has shallow 5mm fists, so no axes for him.
** [[Combaticon (PCC)|Combaticons]] — All four drones have top-mounted posts which are accessible in both modes, though because of the APC's transformation, Mini-Cons attached to it in combined mode will appear to extend from the robot's knee.
* [[Smolder]] - Smolder has 5mm fists, and a flip-out hollow 5mm post on his chest. He has a second hollow post on the roof of his vehicle mode, which in his other modes ends up in an awkward but usable position on the back (robot mode) or front (torso mode) of his right shoulder.
* [[Mudslinger (PCC)|Mudslinger]] - Mudslinger has a 5mm post near the back of his vehicle mode, accessible in all three modes... which ends up on the front of his left knee in robot mode, and the ''inside'' of his right knee in torso mode. Good luck making use of that. At least he has 5mm fists.
** [[Destructicon (PCC)|Destructicons]] — All four Destructicons have top-mounted posts that remain accessible in limb mode. The Heavy Hauler's post can fold away like those of the Rallybots.
* [[Icepick (PCC)|Icepick]] — Oddly enough for the ''PCC'' line, Icepick has no 5mm pegholes at all, with the effect that [[Chainclaw (PCC)|Chainclaw's]] 5mm weapon mode was omitted from the instructions. His compatibility consists of a hollow 5mm post on his right shoulder and a fold-out one on his chest, both usable in all three modes.
* [[Sledge (PCC)|Sledge]] — Like his wavemates, Sledge is odd: he has shallow wrist holes (this time located ''under'' his forearms) instead of fists, and unlike his fellow two-pack-originated Commanders, he has no flip-out posts at all (maybe Leadfoot stole his?). Instead he has a single hollow post on his chest that serves all three modes, and another on his shovel.
* [[Crankcase (Movie)|Crankcase]] — A redeco of Huffer with the same abilities.
** [[Destron (PCC)|Destrons]] — Redecos of two Aerialbots (Recon Plane and Combat Helicopter) and two Combaticons (Missile Carrier and Armored Car).
* [[Darkstream]] — A redeco of Skyburst, incapable of any interaction with Razorbeam other than wearing him on his back.
* [[Windburn]] — A redeco of Searchlight, retaining his capabilities.
* [[Steamhammer (PCC)|Steamhammer]] — Steamhammer is unusual among five-pack-originated Commanders: his torso mode has a hollow 5mm post on his chest! This post is basically inaccessible in his other modes, so he has a second one on his roof, which in robot mode is on a block hanging awkwardly from his elbow.
** [[Constructicon (PCC)|Constructicons]] — The Constructicons' posts are all well-placed, with no particular unusual qualities.
* [[Skyhammer (PCC)|Skyhammer]] —
* [[Over-Run (PCC)|Over-Run]] — A redeco of Leadfoot with the same abilities.
** [[Stunticon (PCC)|Stunticons]] — Redecos of two Rallybots (Race Car and Tuner) and two Destructicons (Armored Truck and Armored Junker).
* [[Undertow (PCC)|Undertow]] — Similar to Sledge, Undertow has one fixed hollow 5mm post, accessible in all modes.

==Transformers (2010)==
The [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|2010 ''Transformers'' toyline]] continued to make widespread use of 5mm posts and holes (though perhaps not as widespread as some previous lines). C joints proliferated as well, leading to a veritable golden age of interchangeable weapons.

==Dark of the Moon==
All of the [[Dark of the Moon (toyline)|Dark of the Moon]] MechTech toys use 5mm posts on their MechTech weapons.

This line also introduced a minor innovation: self-covering pegholes. Many MechTech toys have 5mm holes that contain circular plugs on springs. Inserting a weapon handle depresses the plug; when the weapon is removed, the spring pushes it back up to sit flush with surrounding panels.

==Notes==
*Due to [[Takara]]'s ''[[Brave (franchise)|Brave]]'' series toys sharing many of the same designers from the latter days of G1, a great many of the figures utilize 5mm weaponry pegs. This, of course, can give even the smallest 5mm compatible Transformer the ability to carry 5" chrome swords and gigantic guns of [[Burning Justice]].
*The 5mm post/hole system is also used extensively by companies such as Bandai and Tomy. The Machine Robo Rescue (not to be confused with the trademark-interfering [[Machine Robot Rescue]]), Mugenbine and Zoid Blox lines all utilize it.
*While [[Wikipedia:Lego|LEGO]] toys do not make use of 5mm posts in of themselves, they frequently use a style of hollow connector pin that coincidentally fits snugly into 5mm holes. [http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/2780 One particularly common part] consists entirely of two such pins back-to-back, making it a workable add-on handle if you want your Mini-Cons to be hand-held.

[[Category:Gimmicks]]
[[Category:Toys]]

Primus

2011-08-26T20:55:49Z

71.203.235.201: Undo revision 628766 by Megatron150 (Talk)

{{factions|autobot}}
[[Image:PrimusG1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''[[Hasbro|They]] call him Gee-Oh-Dee And he the [[Big Daddy (G1)|big daddy]] He look like [[Hot Rod (G1)|me]] But he more [[Facial hair|beardie]]'']]
'''Primus''' is the creator-god of the [[Transformer]]s. An ancient and ethereal being whose origins date back to the beginnings of the universe itself, Primus is a multiversal force for good, his life force existing across multiple realities and infinite alternate universes. In each one, he is the final defense against his fallen sibling, [[Unicron]] the Chaos-Bringer.

Primus eventually transformed himself into the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]; from its surface, his creations have risen to defend and patrol the galaxy. Within the depths of Cybertron, the mega-computer [[Vector Sigma]] serves as his internal mainframe, and a gateway for select Transformers to access his power. A portion of his lifeforce resides within the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], which often determines the [[Prime (rank)|leader]] of the [[Autobot]]s. Prophecies of a war to come were written down in his [[Covenant of Primus|holy covenant]] as well. The [[spark]] of each Transformer is a small piece of Primus's essence, and together they form his lifeforce, the [[Allspark]].

Though wise and powerful beyond measure, Primus is neither infallible nor without weakness. At times he has [[Out of Time!|been deceived by mere mortals]], and has made [[The Sun|miscalculations]] which [[Balancing Act|jeopardized all of existence]], and has been betrayed by one of his [[The Fallen|earliest creations]]. Indeed, even the intended agents of his grand plan, the Transformers, have all too frequently become mired in endless civil war. Still, in [[Withered Hope|most realities]] he has [[Wreckers: Finale Part II|managed to hold the line]] against Unicron and other threats, either directly or through his innumerable children, the Transformers.

{{quote|Until all are one!|Primus to his children|"[[Trap]]"}}

==In the beginning==
[[Image:Primus original.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Hold the sword and say, "I am the Protector of the Universe!"]]
Before the dawn of time, Order and Chaos existed within an extradimensional entity known as [[The One]]. To explore the fledgling universe, he created the astral being known as [[Unicron]], and then subdivided him, creating his twin, Primus. Both brothers were [[Multiversal singularity|multiversal singularities]], unique in all realities, but whereas Unicron could only exist in one dimension at a time, moving between them at will, Primus existed simultaneously in all realities at once. It is suggested, in fact, that the two brothers embody the basic concepts of reality—good and evil, order and chaos—and that their continued existence is necessary for the stability of the multiverse.

[[Image:Primusoriginal.jpg|right|180px|thumb|"No, [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] is [[FIRRIB| ''blue''!"]]]]
As Unicron and Primus went about their appointed task, venturing through the cosmos, it became apparent to Primus that Unicron was a corrupt being, and he took it upon himself to stop the threat posed to all of existence by his sibling. In combat, Primus was no match for Unicron. In cunning, however, he proved himself to his brother's superior when he shifted their battle to the astral plane, and then back to the physical world once more, only to have both their essences manifest within metallic planetoids, leaving them both trapped. It was with this act of sacrifice that Primus hoped to contain Unicron's evil forever. Unfortunately for him, over time, Unicron learned to psionically shape his prison into a giant metallic planet, and Primus followed suit, becoming the mechanical world of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When Unicron then learned to transform his planetary form even further, into a gigantic robot form, Primus adapted the idea to suit his own ends—rather than transforming his own body, he would create small beings that would be able to change their shape, like Unicron. After performing a "test run" on the moon of [[Protos]], where he successfully created [[Covenant|twelve transforming robotic beings]], {{storylink|Herald, Covenant, Schism, Paradox|Covenant}} he birthed from his own body a group of thirteen robots that possessed the ability to change shape, like Unicron. These were the [[thirteen original Transformers]], each one infused with a fragment of Primus's life essence known as a [[spark]].

The Thirteen were Primus's soldiers in his war with Unicron, which came to its seeming end during a climactic battle in which one of the Thirteen, Megatronus Prime, who would forever afterwards be known as the [[The Fallen|Fallen]], betrayed Primus and became an acolyte of Unicron. The battle ended when the Fallen and Unicron were sucked into a black hole and disappeared from reality. With Unicron gone for now, Primus entered an eons-long slumber, his self-imposed sleep preventing Unicron from detecting him through the mental link the brothers shared. The Transformer race grew, and Primus fell into the realm of legend, with a portion of his power, the [[Matrix of Leadership]], handed down through the generations, serving as the Transformers' ever-present link to their creator.

===Evolution of the Primus/Unicron myth===
''The Primus/Unicron backstory has evolved and been rewritten a good number of times since it first originated in the [[Marvel Comics]] series. The version recounted above is the current iteration, which has slowly solidified across a wide swath of media (beginning around the time of [[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]). Before the Primus/Unicron mythos reached its present form it went through several distinct versions in the Marvel G1 comics and elsewhere.''

====Unicron's story====
''The first time we ever heard the Primus/Unicron backstory was in the UK comic continuity, from Unicron himself, in the story "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]", when he recounted it to [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]]. Per Unicron's telling of events, he was a primal force of evil at the dawn of the universe who led an army of [[Dark God]]s against his mortal foe, Primus, Lord of the [[Light God]]s (note the plural). Events proceeded to play out basically as described above, though the role of the Light and Dark Gods would diminish with each subsequent retelling of the story, until the current version, in which Primus and Unicron are alone and have a unique origin. (Only one of the other gods was ever named—the [[Chronarchitect]]. How exactly he factors into the current iteration of the myth is unknown.)''

====The Keeper's story====
''The second time the story was told was in the US book by the [[Keeper (Transformer)|Keeper]], an ancient mechanoid who guarded Primus's head at the center of Cybertron. This telling is effectively the same as the previous UK story, but mentions that their battle was towards the end of the era of gods, that Primus and Unicron were the last of their respective pantheons, and Primus had to defeat Unicron before he could take his place with the other gods in the "[[Omniversal Matrix]]".''

====Primus's story====
''The third time the story was told was also in the US Marvel series, this time by Primus, when he gathered all his children together to prepare for Unicron's coming. It was with this telling that we learned that Unicron predated the [[universe (universe)|current universe]], and had destroyed the [[old realms|previous universe]] which existed before the current one. He had slept peacefully, alone in the [[void]] of uncreation that remained, until fragments of the old universe that he had overlooked reacted, causing the Big Bang and birthing the current universe. The "sentient core" of this new universe recognized the threat that Unicron posed, and so created Primus to counter his evil and be guardian of the new creation.''

====Fleer and DK====
[[Image:WarWithinPrimus.jpg|left|150px|thumb|I feel prickly...]]
''The first modern retelling of the origins of Primus and Unicron did not come from G1-oriented media, but from a set of ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' trading cards released by Fleer. It was the backstory printed on Unicron's card which introduced the concept of the two being brothers created to explore the new universe by an extradimensional entity, here named the "[[Allspark]]."''

''This was subsequently expanded on and combined with aspects of the various Marvel Comics stories in [[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]], published by Dorling Kindersley and written by [[Simon Furman]], who had written all three prior tellings in the first place. Here, the entity Fleer had called the "Allspark" was redubbed "[[The One]]," and the modern iteration of the myth detailed above was firmly established, and went on to form the backbone of subsequent fiction such as ''[[Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]]'' and [[Fun Publications]]' ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' comics.''

''It was also at this point that it was established that Primus could transform from Cybertron into a robot mode like Unicron, but preferred not to, choosing to remain connected to the universe on a planetary level.''
{{-}}

==Generation 1==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
[[Image:Primalscream.jpg|right|250px|thumb|KHHHHHAAAAANNNNN!]]
Eventually, millions of years later, in [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|one universe]] located in the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Primax cluster]], [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] found themselves transported to the center of Cybertron, where they discovered the sleeping form of Primus {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}} and were told the tale of his and the Transformers' origins by the [[Keeper (Transformer)|Keeper]]. Subsequently, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s [[Pretender]]s attacked, and during the battle, a laser blast ricocheted off Grimlock and struck the essence of the sleeping Primus, causing a universe-shaking "Primal Scream" that alerted Unicron (who was located "outside the fringes of known space") to Primus's location. {{storylink|Primal Scream (issue)|Primal Scream}} Primus himself immediately slipped back into his sleep, but it was too late. Unicron was coming. {{storylink|Bird of Prey!}}

{{note|Later, in "[[Vector Prime: In the Beginning]]", this event would be presented in a greater context, with the Primal Scream being heard multiversally, and awakening Unicron from his own slumber as well.}}

[[Image:OutofTime-wakePrimus.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Have you tried crashing cymbals together?]]

After [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] sent teams of Autobots to retrieve the lost [[Creation Matrix]], the container of Primus' essence that could destroy Unicron, he communed with the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s [[:Image:Arkaltar.jpg|Altar to Primus]]. Reaching out his mind to the Creation Matrix, the altar gave him a vision of a Matrix that had been tainted by evil. {{storylink|Kings of the Wild Frontier.}}

Unicron dispatched a group of [[Hook, Line, and Sinker|heralds]] to attack Cybertron and pave the way for his coming, including a [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] plucked from an [[Rhythms of Darkness!|alternate future]]. Galvatron, however, was not content to serve under Unicron, and instead captured Autobot leader [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]], forcing him to fully awaken Primus, who possessed Xaaron's body and summoned Transformers from all across the universe back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Out of Time!}} Here, Primus spoke through Xaaron, telling the Transformers of his history with Unicron. Additionally, Primus chose Optimus Prime to lead both factions, united, against the Chaos Bringer. Primus knew this would draw out the [[Unicron cultist]]s among them, and Autobot and Decepticon were able to put aside their differences to defeat them. When Optimus Prime learned of Primus' ruse, his suspicions regarding his Creator's motives began to grow. Optimus wondered if the Transformers meant anything to Primus beyond being a means to an end. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

[[Image:OntheEdgeofExtinction-Primus.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Now you're like me.]]

Though their battle against the Unicron cultists did temporarily unite both factions, this facade shattered once the Planet-Eater arrived. Sheer terror prevented them from carrying out his desire, and the Transformers fled despite Primus' pleas. Primus instead made a stand himself, attempting to dupe Unicron into believing he still retained his full power, but Unicron saw through the deception, and destroyed Xaaron's body. Optimus Prime came to a realization, following Primus' destruction and his retrieval of the lost and contaminated Creation Matrix, that Primus did not mean only for the Transformers to fight his battles for him, but to carry on after he was gone. Flying into space with the Matrix, Prime unleashed the full measure of Primus's power, destroying Unicron. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}

Though the Transformers were technically victorious, this victory came with a price. With Primus dead, and with the grievous wounds inflicted on Cybertron itself, the planet threatened to come apart. The Transformers made plans to flee it. {{storylink|Exodus!}} Ultimately, this was averted by the [[Last Autobot]], who put into motion the planet's recovery, allowing the Autobots, who had finally won the civil war, to return to their home. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

{{note|As originally written, it is quite clear that the story intends for Primus to have died after his battle with Unicron. As the current retcon makes it clear that this cannot possibly be, one must assume that Prime was wrong in his analysis that Primus had died. Notably, even in the original comics themselves, the Matrix—the life-force of Primus—is shown to still exist and is functioning fine in the G2 Marvel Comics series that follows his supposed death.}}
{{-}}
====''Classics''====
The Last Autobot created a race of tiny beings, [[Mini-Con]]s, to rebuild and restore Cybertron so that it would be ready for the Autobots' return. Part of the Mini-Cons' job was to excise certain evolutionary throwbacks, remnants of Primus' earlier experiments, such as the [[Mutant (G1)|Mutant]]s, and this alarmed one Mini-Con. He suspected that one day that Primus would consider the Mini-Cons surplus to requirements as well, and he instigated an insurgency against their Creator and his followers. {{storylink|The New World}}

===Japanese cartoon continuity===
{{note|Primus did not exist in the American [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] as it was originally written, since it was produced long before the [[retcon]] which established him to be a multiversal singularity. Precisely how Primus should then fit into the framework of the cartoon has not been explicitly established, although the [[Universe (2003 comic)|''Universe'' comic'']]'' offered one attempt for its continuity (see "Beast Era", below). Primus was, however, explicitly and thoroughly retconned into being part of the expanded universe of the ''Japanese'' cartoon continuity by the [[Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]] fiction of 2007, as part of a complicated process that folded various animated concepts—[[Oracle (G1)|Primacron's assistant]], [[Vector Sigma]] and the [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]]—into the Primus myth.}}
[[Image:TGGPrimus.jpg|left|220px|thumb|Now you need to get this toy.]]

Formerly the assistant to the Primacron, the ancient genius who created the giant mechanoid Unicron, the robotic being known as the Oracle was badly damaged when Unicron rebelled against his creator. His essence fled to a dead world at the centre of the galaxy, which he used his powers to transform into a verdant, green planet. However, the Oracle could sense that in the future, Primacron would go on to create another universal danger in the form of Tornedron, and so summoned a group of [[Primitive]] Transformers back through time from the year 2010 to his planet, where he instructed them in how to destroy the threat. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives}}/{{storylink|Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|Kiss Players timeline}}

[[Image:TGGPrimus2.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Primus = Oracle = Vector Sigma = Primacron's Assistant = aaaargh.]]

Later in his life, the Oracle also reached through time when he discovered that the evil [[Sparkbot]]s were attempted to recreate Unicron following the planet-eater's destruction in the year 2005. By this stage calling himself "Primus", the Oracle attempted to stop the villains and their unwitting pawns, the human [[Kiss Players (singing group)|Kiss Players]], appearing as a giant golden hand to snatch away the fragments of Unicron's lifeforce each time the Kiss Players recovered them. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #45-46}} Unfortunately, this merely led the Kiss Players to pursue him through the timestream and resulted in them crashing into the "[[Wall of Time]]" and becoming scattered throughout the multiverse. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #47}} Knowing that the Kiss Players were innocent in this whole affair, having been duped by the Sparkbots, the benevolent Primus rescued them from the different regions of time and space they had wound up in, and properly introduced himself, explaining the Sparkbots' treachery. He then took them back in time to prehistoric Earth, arriving just in time to witness the Sparkbots' successful restoration of Unicron to life. Primus transformed once more and unleashed the power of his mobile cannon platform, destroying Unicron's energy and sealing it and the Sparkbots deep within the planet. To ensure that Unicron would never be freed again, he created a mighty guardian, [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Brave Maximus]], who would watch over it and the Earth. With the battle over, Shaoshao asked about the Kiss Players' future, but Primus did not reply. After sending the Kiss Players back to their home time, Primus transformed into the golden sphere of Vector Sigma and returned to his world to sleep. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #48-51}}

Unfortunately for Primus, as he slumbered, his world was eventually discovered by the alien Quintessons, who shackled his powers and used them to both transform the planet into the metallic Cybertron, and to create the races of robots that would eventually become the Transformers. Additionally, the aliens acquired the shell that had held his essence, which became, through unknown means, the talisman that would be known to the Transformers as the Matrix of Leadership. {{storylink|Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|Kiss Players timeline}}
{{note|For further information, see [[Vector Sigma]] and [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]].}}

===Beast Era===
====''Tales From the Beast Wars''====
[[Image:Terminus-Primus.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Great, now he's going to become the Smoke Monster.]]

Before Primus became Cybertron, he plotted to create robotic life that would ultimately defeat Unicron, but first he needed to do a test run. He created twelve beings, the [[Covenant]], on a small moon named [[Protos]]. These twelve would watch the Transformers from afar and only intervene when necessary.

Their intervention would become necessary when [[Shokaract]] used Unicron's essence, the [[Decepticon Matrix of Conquest]], to conquer the future, threatening the end of all things at an important historical crossroads dubbed Point Omega. Though the Covenant's ranks were halved in the battle against Shokaract on prehistoric Earth during the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]], they were ultimately able to discover a way to defeat Shokaract and his Unicron-fueled power. The remaining Covenant members returned to their original Primus-spawned energy forms and entered Shokaract's Matrix of Conquest. Reconstituting as an astral form of Primus, they severed Unicron's link with Shokaract, leaving him vulnerable to attack. {{storylink|Terminus}}
{{-}}

====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
In addition to its occasional invocation in prayer or in righteous anger by the Beast Warriors {{storylink|Bad Spark}}, Primus's name was also lent to a set of prophetical datatrax, known as the [[Covenant of Primus]]. From this document, the [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] of this era took his name (as did, presumably, the original [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]), and the scriptures foretold the events which completed the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}

====''Universe''====
{{Note|The [[3H Productions]] ''Wreckers'' comic was the first attempt by official fiction to detail how the Quintesson-born origin of the Generation 1 cartoon could be reconciled with the Primus creation myth from the comic books. Set concurrently with the ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoon, it only ''strictly'' applies to the continuity of the Beast Era, which is not explicitly the same universe as the Generation 1 cartoon itself.}}

Dispatched to an ice world in the far reaches of the galaxy by the orders of the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], [[Primal Prime]]'s [[Wrecker]]s encountered the exiled [[Quintesson]] known as [[Al-Badur]], who revealed to them the full extent of his race's connection to Cybertron and Primus. Al-Badur explained that, millions of years ago, the Quintessons sought to exploit the power of Primus for profit, and to that end, invaded Cybertron and set up numerous barriers to separate Primus from the Transformers. Their first attempt, the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]], met with failure; next, the Quintessons targeted Vector Sigma itself, surrounding it with a shell program that acted as a barrier between the Transformers and the power and guidance of Primus. {{storylink|Disclosure}} Realizing that the Oracle itself was the Quintessons' shell program, Primal Prime began to fear that all that had come about as a result of its guidance—including [[Optimus Primal]]'s mission to restore a techno-organic balance to Cybertron—was all part of a Quintesson plot, but [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] assured him that Primus worked in mysterious ways.

The Wreckers soon returned to Cybertron, discovering that in their absence, Optimus Primal had achieved his goal of recreating the planet as a technorganic world. In the wake of this overwhelming transformation, the Quintessons had invaded the planet, but they were not the only threat to Cybertron's safety: The Wreckers were also faced with [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]], who had used the legendary [[Divine Light]] to tap into the power of Primus and transform himself into a living god. During the course of the battle that ensued, Primal Prime and [[Apelinq]] were struck by a blast of Primus's power by Cryotek, which wound up merging them into [[Sentinel Maximus]]. At Al-Badur's direction, Sentinel Maximus steered the battle to an interdimensional portal chamber far below the planet's surface, where [[Matrix Templar]]s [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] began draining Primus's power out of Cryotek. To stop them, Cryotek shattered the Divine Light and absorbed Primus's energies directly into himself, where they could not drain it, but as he grappled with Sentinel Maximus, the fused Autobot forced them both through the portal, into a [[transwarp|shapeless interdimensional void]]. Although unable to drain Primus's power any further, Cryotek was sustained in the void by the power he had absorbed, and he was ready to carry on the battle until Primus himself—now unshackled thanks to the destruction of the Oracle in the final stages of Optimus Primal's quest—took an active hand, spiriting Sentinel Maximus away to partake in [[Balancing Act|another battle]] elsewhere in the multiverse.

While all of this was happening on Cybertron, elsewhere in the universe, on [[New Quintessa]], Primus briefly possessed the body of [[Icebird]] so that he could address the Quintesson leader [[Judge Heirodyus]]. Primus shocked the Quintesson by revealing that he had allowed all that had transpired to occur, and he "thanked" Heirodyus for his race's role in the scheme, promising to call upon them again if he ever needed an "evolutionary crisis" to drive his children forward. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

[[Image:TFUPrimus.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Alpha, Rita's escaped! Recruit a team of teenagers with attitude!]]
In the wake of the repulsion of the Quintesson invasion, [[Unicron]] began gathering Transformers from across the multiverse, forcing them to fight and harvesting the [[spark]]s of the losers to restore his power. With each spark devoured, Primus was weakened, and so, communing with Alpha Trion, he chose to summon Optimus Primal back from the Allspark, restoring the Maximal commander to life. {{storylink|Abduction}} Primal was charged with re-securing the battling captives from the Pit of Unicron and leading a team of multiversal warriors to put a stop to this soul-stealing scheme before it could cause the Allspark to collapse. {{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}}

Primus allowed Optimus Primal to choose any Transformer who ever existed—living or dead—for his army. This required considerable amounts of Primus's power, so Primal was told to choose sparingly. Primal chose his departed former troops [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}} Ultimately, however, Unicron's defeat came not as a result of their efforts, but as a consequence of another battle, happening in another corner of the Transformers multiverse. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}
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===''Universe'' CD-ROM comic===
[[Image:UniverseCDROM-Primus.jpg|left|thumb|200px|In the future, Primals will travel on beams of light!]]

In a strange variant universe where [[Optimus Primal]] leads the [[Autobot]]s and [[Reptilion]] leads the [[Decepticon]]s, a ship arrives once a year, when the Transformers' civil war reaches a fever pitch. The ship abducts every Decepticon it can find and promptly leaves.

These Decepticons are brought to Unicron, who is preparing them for an eventual, ultimate battle for the universe. But unknown to even Unicron, Primus, the sentient core of Cybertron, is amassing an army of Autobots that rivals Unicron's army of Decepticons. Can Primus meet Unicron's challenge, or is the universe doomed? {{storylink|Universe CD-ROM}}
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==Unicron Trilogy==
{{cleanup|April 2009|Needs storylinks and general expansion.}}

===''Armada'' cartoon===
A "unique digital entity" came to exist eons ago. To search for other life in the universe, it sent out the Transformers as explorers. One of the first places the Transformers settled was on a planet that would eventually become known as Cybertron. {{storylink|First Encounter}}

===''Energon'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ron Halder]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese), [[Johan Hedenberg]] (Swedish)

[[Image:Primus eng.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Primus mistakes Kicker for a Japanese schoolgirl.]]
Primus was the living energy core of Cybertron, as well as the originator of the precious and ancient fuel, [[Energon (Energon)|energon]]. Transformers of this universe believed the stories of Unicron, Primus, and [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] to be only myth and legend until the existence of Unicron was revealed in "[[the Unicron Battles]]" of 2010. With Cybertron left in a disastrous state after the chaos-bringer's attack, large amounts of energon were required to repair the planet, and to search for and acquire the mineral, the united Autobot-Decepticon forces entered into an alliance with the [[Earth Federation]] government.

Primus entered into the equation when the project's head scientist, [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Brian Jones]], brought his son, [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]], to Cybertron. Terrified of the giant robots surrounding him, Kicker fled, only to find himself tumbling through tunnels into a hidden chamber deep beneath Cybertron's surface. Primus awoke and saved Kicker from what would have been a fatal fall, and for his own reasons, imbued the child with a special gift—the ability to detect energon throughout the [[universe (universe)|universe]]. [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] subsequently discovered Kicker in Primus's chamber, and the god chose to work with the Transformers quite directly, imbuing them with the [[Spark of Combination]], which would allow the Autobots to [[Powerlinx]] and increase their powers. Primus went on to advise Optimus Prime on his actions in order to prepare for the future, including the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]] invasion, the return of [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], and the next battle with Unicron; although vague at times, he would offer just enough information to allow his children to survive the threats they faced. Primus was often very weak due to the damage done to the planet's surface, and spent most of his time in a mode of stasis to preserve his energy and keep Cybertron's energy grid online.

When Megatron succeeded in reanimating Unicron, most of the Autobot army was critically wounded in the ensuing battle. This prompted the sleeping Primus to awaken and infuse their armor with his power, upgrading them into new forms, and allowing Optimus Prime and Omega Supreme to combine into a gigantic form and defeat Unicron. {{storylink|Unicron Perishes}} Unicron's spark survived, however, and Primus sought to contain it by trapping it at the heart of a new sun that he created from a reservoir of "super energon" hidden within Cybertron. {{storylink|The Sun}}

===''Cybertron'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Michael Donovan]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Cyb ep31 cybertron breakup.jpg|right|thumb|200px|''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], "[[Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron]]." [[wikipedia:Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo|Cybertron Cybertron Cybertron Cybertron Cybertron.]]]]

{{bigquote|He who charted the universe when it was new! He who battled Unicron at the dawn of time! He whose spark formed the basis of all life on Cybertron, and Velocitron, and all the other Transformer colonized homeworlds! It can be no other! This... is... Primus!|[[Vector Prime]], religiously intoning Primus' achievements throughout the Multiverse|[[Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron]]}}

[[Image:Cyb ep32 balance.jpg|left|200px|thumb|This looks [[Emirate Xaaron|familiar]].]]

Primus's plan to contain Unicron's essence in the center of the sun failed when the star collapsed into a massive [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]] which threatened not only Cybertron and the universe, but the entire multiverse itself. His energy drained to the point that he had once again been rendered dormant, Primus could now only be awakened and restored to full power by the four ancient [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, lost to the far reaches of the galaxy in a failed [[space bridge]] experiment eons ago. The magnitude of the threat posed to the multiverse was enough to summon [[Vector Prime]]—one of the original thirteen Transformers, who had been following Unicron through the multiverse and repairing the damage he had done—back to Cybertron to aid the Autobots in the quest for the keys.

After a while, the Autobots were able to find the focusing device, the [[Omega Lock]], and the keys from [[Velocitron]] and [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]]. Bringing all three together caused the group to be drawn into the consciousness of Primus, who spoke through the three Mini-Cons and told his children to "maintain the balance". {{storylink|Trap}}

[[Image:Cyb ep48 starships.jpg|right|thumb|200px|I can see my house from here!]]

Eventually, despite continued attempts by both Megatron and [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] to steal the power of the Cyber Planet Keys, the Autobots were able to gather the keys from [[Velocitron]], the [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]] and [[Earth]], and brought them and their focusing device, the [[Omega Lock]], back to Cybertron. Coupling these three keys with the power of the Matrix, Optimus Prime was able to initiate Primus's transformation from planet mode to robot mode. Communicating with the Autobots through the [[Mini-Con]], [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]], Primus explained that the destruction of Unicron, the embodiment of the force of evil, had unbalanced the universe, and that only he could seal the black hole and restore order—but to do that, the fourth Cyber Planet Key, from [[Gigantion]], the Giant Planet, was required to reconnect Primus's spark with his body and restore his full power. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}}

[[Image:Cybertron Ark Homecoming.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Eat this, in remembrance of Me.]]

Attempting to retrieve the Omega Lock, [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] made a rather pointless attack on Primus, only to be smacked down hard. {{storylink|Balance}} Shortly thereafter, when Primus was in the process of channelling some of his power into holding back the ever-growing black hole, Starscream tried again, plunging into the energy beam and absorbing some of Primus's power into himself. Starscream expanded in size until he was as large as Primus himself, but Primus did not take this slight lightly, as he converted Cybertron's moons into a pair of mace weapons and relentlessly pounded Starscream into submission. {{storylink|Titans}}

[[Image:Cyb ep49 primus smiles.jpg|right|thumb|200px|He's pretty happy so long as you don't wake him up while he's napping.]]

Eventually, the Autobots were able to acquire the final key, as well as to reactivate the four ancient ships which had carried the keys to the respective worlds ages ago—the [[Atlantis]], the [[Lemuria (Cybertron)|Lemuria]], the [[Hyperborea]] and the [[Ogygia]]. Primus fused the four ships together to form the [[Ark (Cybertron)|Ark]], and with his powers subsequently restored by all four keys, he channelled all of his power through the Ark as a beam, straight into the heart of the black hole. With a massive blast, the black hole was finally sealed, and Primus transformed back into Cybertron—not Cybertron as it had been, but a new Cybertron, infused with the differing aspects of Velocitron, Jungle Planet, Earth and Gigantion, a true paradise for Transformers and humans alike. {{storylink|End}}
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===''Cybertron'' comic===
[[Image:Revelations6-Primus.jpg|left|thumb|200px|pudding]]
While the Autobots were occupied with the quest for the Cyber Planet Keys, Unicron's heralds [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] and [[Nemesis Prime (Universe 2003)|Nemesis Prime]] arrived on Cybertron, intent on unleashing the [[Dead Matrix]]—as the Matrix was the antithesis of Unicron, so too would the Dead Matrix ensure the destruction of Primus, thereby totally destabilizing the multiverse and reducing it to a sea of entropic chaos. For the first time, it would be possible for Unicron to strike at Primus in all realities simultaneously, ending their cosmic feud once and for all. Ramjet and Nemesis Prime were ultimately stopped by Vector Prime and allies [[Sentinel Maximus]] and [[Omega Prime]], plucked from the midst of the ''Universe'' conflict by the multiverse-warping energies of the black hole.

The Dead Matrix, however, was cast into the heart of the black hole by Unicron's servant [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]], freeing Unicron's spark and allowing it to adopt a new, diminutive physical form. Unicron participated in the escalating Mini-Con civil war on Cybertron's moons, but when the planet transformed into Primus's robot mode, Unicron fled. His whereabouts are unknown. {{storylink|Balancing Act}}

{{note|The events in the second paragraph happen concurrently with Primus' transformation in the ''Cybertron'' cartoon, detailed in the section prior.}}

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==Shattered Glass==
The idea of Primus, the benevolent Creator, was unknown to the heroic Decepticons until [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], a visitor from the Positive Polarity universes, told them about Him. {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}} Before long, Cliffjumper's "beliefs" were a subject of derision, especially among the evil Autobots. {{storylink|Dungeons & Dinobots}}

Cliffjumper was eventually vindicated, however, when the [[Nexus Prime]] gestalt members attempted to resurrect a recently-assassinated [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]]. As they applied their powers to the body, they were transported to Primus' presence. {{storylink|Reunification: Part 5}} There they chose for Primus to rebirth them as their original self, with Nexus returning to the battlefield and declaring himself to his enemies as being the "mighty fist of the lord of light". {{storylink|Reunification: Part 6}}

Megatron, meanwhile, received a vision from the other side of the Allspark of a healed Cybertron, before being reborn himself as Galvatron, with Nexus investing him with some of Primus's power by proxy. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 30|Galvatron's TFCC bio}}

==Robot Heroes==
[[Image:Robotheroes primus and matrix.jpg|right|thumb|Screw continuity, I don't see YOU with a Matrix!]]

Primus, considered to be the very first Transformer, created the Matrix of Leadership and personally gave it to Optimus! Wait WHAT?{{storylink|I Am Optimus Prime (Robot Heroes)|I Am Optimus Prime}}
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==Live-action film series==
The location on Cybertron that is named after Primus is surrounded by the [[Rad Zone]] and [[Uraya]]. {{storylink|Risk}}

===Titan Magazines ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===

Legend has it that the original seven Transformers are creations of Primus, though they themselves don't think this. It is not said who started the legend. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.3|The Fallen Profile}}

===IDW ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===

The [[Dynasty of Primes|Primes]] ''do'' think they're "children of Primus". {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 4}}

===IDW ''Dark of the Moon'' comics===
According to legend, when the [[AllSpark]] cube crashed into Cybertron, it gave life to Primus and his descendents, the Primes. {{storylink|Foundation issue 2}} Primus was known as the first Cybertronian and, after the [[Dynasty of Primes]] was ended due to [[The Fallen]]'s treachery, left behind his only legacy in [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel]] and, revealed much later, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]]. {{storylink|Foundation issue 1}}
{{-}}

==Animated==

In [[universal stream|some parts of the multiverse]], Primus created organic worlds around himself, with the inhabitants eventually becoming robotic lifeforms: these worlds are [[Gobotron]] and [[Robotix|Skalorr]], with a known [[Vector Sigma]] node in the latter. The inhabitants seem unaware of the existence of Primus.

Unicron created [[Unicron#G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers|a body for himself]] in at least one of the Gobotron timelines. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II}}

==Aligned continuity==
Primus is generally accepted to exist though his 13 children are considered a myth by [[Jazz (Prime)|some]]. Throughout Cybertron devices carry out his will: the [[AllSpark]] creates the [[protoform]]s in the [[Well of All Sparks]]. The [[Sonic Canyons]] are believed to be his ears, feeding him knowledge of the universe via Vector Sigma, though that is actually beneath [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. And the [[Core]] produces his own physical emanation, [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]].

During the civil war, the AllSpark was ejected into space to keep it out of Decepticon hands, eventually floating into the [[Milky Way]], while the Core was corrupted by the [[Dark Energon]]-imbued [[Plasma energy]] Chamber. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] removed the Chamber, but the damage was done, and the Core had to shut down and reboot to survive. But before leaving, Optimus was bestowed Primus' essence in the form of the Matrix. When the Autobots left Cybertron, the last original Prime [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]] remained, stating Vector Sigma would keep him alive. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}

Optimus also thanked Primus when he managed to defeat [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)}}

==Games==
===Transformers Cybertron: Primus Unleashed===

Faced with the growing threat of the black hole, Primus attempted to obliterate the dark matter before it spread further into the universe. {{storylink|Transformers Cybertron: Primus Unleashed}}

== Retconning the retcon? ==

It's no secret that, after the Unicron Trilogy, ''Universe'' and the Unicron-heavy [[Dreamwave Productions]] comic books, the [[fandom]] at large was generally quite sick of stories revolving around Unicron and Primus. It is likely no coincidence, then, that the major new universes created in western media between then and [[2010]]—those of the [[IDW Publishing]] comic books, the [[live-action film series|live-action movie]] and the ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'' cartoon—all eschewed use of the Primus creation myth. But what does this mean for the status of the retcon that states Primus exists in all universes?

The world of the live-action initially presented the Transformers as creations of the enigmatic [[AllSpark]], with no explicit connection drawn between it and Primus. However, connections soon began to emerge. First, Takara's [[World of the Transformers]] website listed the AllSpark as a [[sacred implement]] alongside other Primus-related talismans such as the Matrix and Vector Sigma. Then, the UK's ''[[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Transformers]]'' magazine introduced Unicron in [[Transformers Comic issue 18|its eighteenth issue]], and then in [[Transformers Comic issue 20|#20]], had the Transformers discover huge versions of their own interior workings deep inside Cybertron, in a clear reference to Cybertron being the transforming body of Primus. Primus was first referred to by name in a profile for The Fallen printed by Titan, which noted that legend claimed he was the creator of the first Transformers, and then again in IDW's ''[[Tales of the Fallen]]'' mini-series. At this point, it is clear that Primus does exist in the movie universe, and that the AllSpark is merely the object through which he acts. In 2010, the new ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]'' continuity family lent further credence to this reading of events by incorporating it into its own storyline.

Much like the movieverse, the world of ''Transformers Animated'' also depicts the source of Transformer life as a mysterious talisman known as the [[AllSpark]], for which no origin has been given. As far as [[authorial intent]] goes, series art director [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] stated more than once his opinion that Primus does not exist in the ''Animated'' universe [http://twitter.com/DerrickJWyatt/status/1759990650]. The [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|''AllSpark Almanac II'']] treads lightly on the matter in seeming honor of Wyatt's wishes, never revealing Cybertron's origins. It does, however, mention a "battle between primordial titans" as one possible origin for the planet, in an obvious allusion to the Unicron/Primus creation story, and repeatedly brings up Primus and many of the concepts associated with him by name when discussing ''other'' universes.

The IDW universe is less clear on the matter. Writer [[Simon Furman]] outright said that the IDW universe would have "no Primus. No Unicron". In accordance with this, the Furman-penned ''[[Stormbringer (comics)|Stormbringer]]'', rather than have Transformers swear by Primus, instead had them swear by [[Primacron]], but a monkeywrench was thrown into the works when Primus's name was heard being taken in vain in [[Eric Holmes]]'s [[Megatron Origin issue 4|''Megatron Origin'' #4]]. Furman attempted to justify this on his blog by claiming that this was not ''the'' Primus, but simply "something or someone" called Primus that had existed some point. [http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/all-this-and-devastation-4/] With Furman's removal as the primary architect of the IDW universe, however, it's hard to predict what will happen next.

Ultimately, there is ''very'' little to say that Primus does not exist in the IDW or ''Animated'' universe, besides the fact that creators involved with those universes do not want to include the character in their stories. After all, just because Primus doesn't ''appear'', or characters are unaware of him, it doesn't mean he doesn't ''exist''. It wouldn't be the only time this has happened: the occupants of the parallel ''[[Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]'' universe were largely ignorant of Primus until a [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper from another universe]] mentioned him. It seems quite safe to conclude that, as of this moment, the retcon has not yet itself been retconned... and we kinda hope it isn't, because then some poor sod is going to have rewrite this article from the ground up.

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:GodPrimus2.jpg|250px|thumb|The rod god.]]
*'''God Primus''' (2004)
**''Accessories:'' Photon Eliminator, spoiler, 2 gun shields
[[Image:GodPrimus1.jpg|150px|left|thumb|Popemobile, meet Godebago.]]
:Unbeknownst to many Western fans, the first Primus figure was a "[[Lucky Draw figure]]" in Japan, a [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metallized]] gold chrome recolored [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Rodimus Prime]] that was given away as a contest prize from the collector book, ''[[Transformers Generations|Transformers Generations Deluxe]]''. Supposedly, only 100 pieces of these lucky draw figures were manufactured.

:As a [[redeco]] of a Rodimus (no doubt inspired by the resemblance of his astral form to Rodimus in the UK comics), Primus transforms into a futuristic truck resembling nothing so much as a Winnebago. Following the trend started by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|the original Optimus Prime toy]], his trailer splits down the middle to transform into a battle station with an extending double-barrelled cannon. The figure comes with a large, hand-held blaster, and two blast-shield accessories that plug into the sides of his battle station cannon.

{{-}}{{anchor|CybG1}}
*'''Primus''' (Supreme, 2006)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''00'''
**''Accessories:'' Omega Lock, special silver Cybertron planet-type Cyber Planet Key
[[Image:Cybertron Primus toy.jpg|350px|thumb|Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven imag— You know what, just forget it. It's not like we have rules for a reason.]]
:Primus was developed by Hasbro and Takara as a toy for their joint [[Cybertron (toyline)|''Cybertron/Galaxy Force'' toylines]], but was released in Japan in the ''Generation 1'' line a few months after ''Galaxy Force'' had ended its run. This release can be considered a pre-release of the ''Cybertron'' toy because it features Hasbro's [[Cyber Key Codes]] that the ''Galaxy Force'' line lacked.

:Primus is the first toy representation of the Transformers' creator as their home planet of Cybertron. In planet mode, he is considerably more detailed than [[Unicron]] from the [[Armada (toyline)|''Armada'' line]], with visible cities, including [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], based upon its appearance in the [[DK Publishing]] book, ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'', and [[Kaon]], specifically [[Kolkular]], as seen in ''[[The War Within]]''. On the 'bottom' of the planet mode there are four hard rubber legs, molded to be shaped like towers, allowing Primus to be displayed in planet mode, yet not require a flat base as Unicron did.

:Primus's transformation is unusual, in many ways similar to a [[Powermaster]], in that he requires the owner to insert his accompanying Omega Lock accessory into several special ports around the planet, then manipulate it to unlock his parts and transform him. When the Omega Lock is inserted into his back and pushed, a transforming sound is heard. When it is inserted into his chest and pushed up to reveal his head, his eyes glow red and a laser-type sound effect is heard. The Lock itself lights up red when it is inserted into any of the ports.

:In robot mode, Primus resembles both the ''[[Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' Unicron prototype as well as [[Don Figueroa]]'s Primus concept, created for ''The War Within'' and used in ''The Ultimate Guide''. He is bristling with weaponry, including two shoulder-mounted cannons that can fire missiles, two forearm blasters that raise and extend when a Cyber Power Key is inserted, and several banks of Gatling guns, lasers and missile launchers in his shins and legs revealed by the Omega Lock.

:Primus also has what might charitably be called a third mode—an intergalactic world-ship, which is basically formed by transforming the figure halfway and leaving the head down and the legs backward. It features no dedicated parts or transformation steps, making it very obvious that it was created after the fact. It looks kinda like The Starship Enterprise...backwards.

:Primus comes with two accessories, the aforementioned battery-operated Omega Lock that lights up red when inserted into any of the four Omega Lock ports, and a special silver Cybertron-Planet Cyber Power Key with the key code '''sp8u''' [[tampograph]]ed onto the back. Any four Cyber Planet Keys can be inserted into the four key slots at the base of the Omega Lock, though doing this does not activate any feature. There are also nine inactive Mini-Con [[powerlinx]] ports on the Primus figure, including two on the claws on his legs.
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===Cybertron===
*'''Cybertron Primus''' (Supreme, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Omega Lock, special silver Cybertron planet-type Cyber Planet Key
[[Image:CybertronPrimusPackagingComparison.jpg|right|280px|thumb|This was an expensive time for completists.]]
:Cybertron Primus is the North American version of Primus, released a few months after the Japanese version. The toys are identical.

:In North America, limited early-run versions of Cybertron Primus came packaged with a very creepy "battle damaged" Unicron head based upon his Armada appearance.

:A later version, [[exclusive]] to [[Walmart]] as a [[Black Friday (event)|Black Friday]] 2006 special, included four Mini-Cons; [[Strongarm (Cybertron)|Strongarm]], [[Knockdown (Cybertron)|Knockdown]], [[Nightscream (Cybertron)|Nightscream]], and [[Offshoot (Cybertron)|Offshoot]].
{{-}}

===Transformers 2010===
[[Image:Primus_2010.jpg|250px|thumb|Oh. Your. God.]]
*'''Creator Primus''' (2010)
**''Accessories:''
:To celebrate the year [[Transformers 2010 (franchise)|2010]], Takara [[redeco]]ed the previous Primus toy. It is primarily silver and gold in planet mode, with blue robot parts. A blue [[Omega Lock]] is also included.
:Primus includes the retooled Cybertron style Cyber Key which was originally available with both [[:Image:Cybertron OptimusPrime deluxe toy.jpg|Cybertron Planet Deluxe Class Optimus Prime]] and [[:Image:Cybertron-toy Demolishor.JPG|Cybertron Planet Deluxe Class Demolisher]]. The Cyber Key features a "blank" central area (so any faction symbol could be tampographed on) and a Mini-Con-style Powerlinx socket on the back. The Cyber Key included with this figure is entirely unpainted, aside from the tampographed Autobot symbol.
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==Notes==
* The original form of Primus in Marvel Comic continuity is similar to [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime]]. Rather creepily, this is suggested to be down to deliberate action on Primus' part in [[Salvage!|#160's Grim Grams]].
* The myth of Primus and Unicron is similar to the duality concepts present in numerous real-world religions, such as [[wikipedia:Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrianism]].
*The idea of Primus transforming bears some resemblance to an [[The Secret of Cybertron|early script]] for [[The Transformers: The Movie|the original movie]], in which [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] merges with [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and transforms into a super robot to defeat Unicron.
*The "unique digital entity" mentioned in "[[First Encounter]]" is confirmed to be Primus in an edition of [[Ask Vector Prime]] in ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II]]''.
*According to the same source, [[Gobotron]], home planet of the [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]], is also an aspect of Primus, just from a very distant part of the [[Multiverse]].
*''Energon'' [http://web.archive.org/web/20041207164548/www.tfpulp.com/archive/energonprod/energonprod.html pre-production notes] detail early ideas the cartoon had for Primus's origin. Presumably non-canon, given that they are not particularly in-line with the "multiversal singularity" origin of the character, they present Primus as an entity consisting purely of energon. Energon, the notes state, is the product of the "genetic material" of the sun interacting with planetary bodies—this, then, appears to be a very literal interpretation of Primus's role as "[[Transformers: The Facts|the lord of light]]", presenting him as an actual product of the light of the sun.
*His ''Cybertron'' toy was designed by [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]], which is ironic, considering his dislike for the religious aspects of the ''Transformers'' mythos.
*The word "Primus" is Latin for "First."

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Primus''' (プライマス ''Puraimasu'')

==See also==
*[[Allspark]]
*[[Vector Sigma]]

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/2006/Primus/Primus/primus.htm Primus at TFU.info]

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