Powerlinx

2024-01-19T05:49:06Z

FeRDNYC: /* Armada cartoon continuity */ Correct Wikilink target

[[Image:Cybertron City - Powerlinx.gif|right|320px|thumb]]

'''Powerlinx''' (alternatively spelled '''Powerlink''' or '''Power-link'''<ref>''[[Titans Return (franchise)|Titans Return]]'' marketing material.</ref>) is a group of technologies that allow [[Transformer]]s of the same or different types to combine in order to become more powerful.

==Fiction==
===Unicron Trilogy===
====Cartoon continuity====
=====''Armada'' cartoon continuity=====
[[File:Soldier Hot Shot axelzooka.jpg|left|upright=0.9|thumb]]
[[Mini-Con]]s were small Transformers that Powerlinxed with normal-sized Transformers which they called "[[Bulk]]s". Once Powerlinxed, the Transformer would gain extra powers and [[weapon]]s. This ability was caused by altering the larger bot's structure, literally reconstructing their matter to manifest this new weapon. Because of their utility, the Mini-Cons were highly sought after by both [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s. Whichever side collected the most could potentially win the war.

Unfortunately for the Mini-Cons, bonding with larger Transformers—especially Decepticons—would activate a restraining "[[Servility Program]]" which proved difficult, if not outright impossible to resist. {{storylink|Linkage Part 5}}

[[File:StellaCar.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|You won't believe how many miles it gets to the gallon ''now''.]]
Mini-Cons were capable of using an '''Evolution Protocol''' to scan and reconfigure mundane machines like cars to be Powerlinx-capable, plugging into them and causing them to unleash powerful weapons just as if they were linked with a Bulk. {{storylink|Linkage Part 1}} Some Mini-Con Teams also had the ability to Powerlinx with each other to [[Star Saber (Armada)|form]] [[Skyboom (Armada)|super]] [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|weapons]], [[Perceptor (Armada)|larger robots]] and even sometimes [[Magnawing|vehicles]]—capable of ultimate destruction if wielded by the wrong users.

If misused, Powerlinxing with Mini-Cons could also become highly addictive to [[Ravenus|a Bulk]]; becoming detrimental to their health and could even cause [[Overload (Armada)|their]] [[spark]]s to diminish. {{storylink|Linkage Part 10}} {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/18}}

While mostly associated with the Mini-Cons, normal-sized Transformers also had the ability to Powerlinx with parts of their vehicle forms or with each other to form "[[Super Mode]]s". [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] was the first known member to have the ability to Powerlinx, originally combining with his [[Trailer|container]], while [[Jetfire (Armada)|others]] had to be modified by [[Rhinox (Armada)|Rhinox]] to have this ability. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/18}} [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Some]] [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|also]] had the mysterious ablitiy to Powerlinx through uncertain means. {{storylink|Desperate}}
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=====''Energon'' cartoon=====
[[Image:Optimus Prime combining with Fire-1.jpg|thumb|What happens between a robot and a consenting vehicle is none of our business.]]
Powerlinxing became a widespread ability among Autobots; given to Transformers by [[Primus]] through the gift of [[Spark of Combination|Sparks of Combination]]. This allowed them to combine with each other to become more powerful. Just receiving a Spark of Combination didn't automatically make someone an expert at it, however. It took practice and both partners had to learn to synchronize their breathing. {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}}

There were four common types of Powerlinxing:
#Similarly sized Autobots could Powerlinx together with one forming the top half and one forming the bottom. The combined form would result in the Autobot serving as the top half becoming the dominant consciousness, and would be named as such following the added "Powerlinx" title (e.g. "Powerlinx Ironhide").
#[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] was able to Powerlinx with his [[Prime Force]] [[drone]]s, [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] and [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] to form his Super Modes. While Optimus Prime would become the dominant consciousness in all of his Super Modes, Omega Supreme was the only one who could continue to communicate with him, presumably due to [[Omega Supreme (Energon)#Omega|Omega]]—his head-unit—storing inside his right shoulder.
#[[Landmine (Energon)|Some]] [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Autobots]] could Powerlinx with parts of their [[alternate mode]] to form a "Brute Mode".
#The guardians of the [[Super Energon Temple]] were super robots formed by teams of five Transformers Powerlinxed together. However, the limb Transformers didn't appear to have individual personalities.

=====''Cybertron'' cartoon continuity=====
While most Transformers lost the ability to Powerlinx, Optimus Prime retained this feature; forming a Super Mode whenever he Powerlinxed with the rear-end of his vehicle mode. Other 'bots—such as [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]]—later gained this feature; being able to combine with Optimus Prime's Super Mode for extra power.

Powerlinxing with Mini-Cons hadn't entirely gone out of fashion, as 'bots like [[Vector Prime]], [[Runamuck (Cybertron)|Runamuck]] and [[Buzzsaw (Cybertron)|Buzzsaw]] were known to still use this ability. [[Safeguard (Cybertron)|Safeguard]] would mostly Powerlinx with Vector Prime as a place to rest, while Buzzsaw and Runamuck used [[Heavy Barrel (Cybertron)|Heavy Barrel]] and [[Skidmark (Cybertron)|Skidmark]] as power-ups, respectively. {{storylink|Force of Habit}}

====Dreamwave comic continuity====
Not a natural ability, the [[Decepticon]]s captured and [[mecha-sectioning|experimented]] on the Mini-Cons, rewiring them and allowing them to tap into the immense power held by the smaller machines. Here, Mini-Cons were more forcefully attached to their Bulks, who supercharged their existing weaponry and power. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 1|Armada #1}}

===2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
[[File:RiD 2015 Worthy One-Winged Seeker.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2]]
The [[Weaponizer (RID)|Weaponizer]] Mini-Cons were genetically engineered by the [[Decepticon]]s to be able to Powerlinx with a Cybertronian and augment their power. For reasons unknown, the project was abandoned, being reactivated after the end of the [[Great War (Prime)|Great War]] by [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] who claimed it for himself. Before he could Powerlinx with the seven Mini-Cons, they managed to escape him. {{storylink|Mini-Con Madness (RID)|Mini-Con Madness}}

[[File:CollateralDamageOptimusAndHiTest.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.2|Not a [[Powermaster]], technically.]]
After tracking the seven down to Earth and recapturing them, Starscream Powerlinxed with them, augmenting himself to a level beyond a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]]. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] engaged him long enough for the [[Bee Team (RID)|Bee Team]] to sabotage the Seeker's equipment and reverse the Powerlinx. {{storylink|Worthy}}

A group of Mini-Cons reprogrammed by the [[Autobot High Council]], in reality [[Cyclonus (WFC)|Cyclonus]]' Decepticon cell, were sent to Earth to assist [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] in contacting [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]. One of them, [[Hi-Test (RID)|Hi-Test]], managed to resist his programming and Powerlinxed with Optimus Prime, giving the Autobot leader the firepower he needed to thwart Soundwave's plan. {{storylink|Collateral Damage}}
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==Toys==
===''Armada''===
{{main|Transformers: Armada (toyline)}}
[[File:Armada SS toy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
Mini-Cons had Powerlinx ports—circular 5mm holes with single plastic pins at their centers—that could plug into appropriate Powerlinx hardpoints (hollow [[5 mm post|5mm post]]s) on the larger Transformers figures. All of the ''Armada'' toys, Deluxe class and upwards, had at least one "active" hardpoint that, when a Mini-Con figure was attached, would activate some kind of [[gimmick]]. The majority of other Powerlinx ports on figures were "dead"—sculpted details not linked to any gimmick, simply there for attaching Mini-Cons. Some of the [[Size class|larger toys such as Super Base]] [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], Gigacon [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron/Galvatron]] and [[Unicron]] had several active Powerlinx ports linked to different gimmicks.
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===''Energon''===
{{main|Transformers: Energon (toyline)}}
[[File:Energontoy prime combinations.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
Powerlinx was no longer associated with Mini-Cons and larger robots linking together, but with the Autobots (Combat/Deluxe class and upwards) combining with one another (figures would have Powerlinx ports, essentially a set of interlocking tabs, somewhere on them; they would often be hidden away somehow by panels or the transformation) or with some auxiliary drones that were packaged with them (for these ones, normal tabs and pegs would be the way to combine) to create larger robot toys. Combat/Deluxe and Mega Combat/Voyager class Autobot toys could combine with one another, Commanders/Ultra class Autobots could only combine with whatever auxiliary unit was included in their package while Leader class Optimus Prime could combine with his included [[Prime Force]] drones, the Mega Combat class [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] and the Supreme class [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]].

Toys came with different color Powerlinx symbols to indicate how they combine:
*[[Image:Energon Powerlinx symbol.png|25px]] Used by Optimus Prime and his partners.
*[[Image:Energon Powerlinx Gold symbol.png|25px]] Used by Mega-sized Transformers who can combine with fellow Mega- and Deluxe-sized Transformers.
*[[Image:Energon Powerlinx Silver symbol.png|25px]] Used by Deluxe-sized Transformers who can combine with fellow Deluxe- and Mega-sized Transformers.
*[[Image:Energon Powerlinx Red symbol.png|25px]] Used by Ultra-sized Transformers, who can combine with additional vehicle mode parts to form a [[Super Mode|brute mode]].
*[[Image:Energon Powerlinx Blue symbol.png|25px]] Used by the [[Air Team]], the [[Construction Team]], and the [[Destruction Team]].
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===''Cybertron''===
{{main|Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)}}
[[File:Cyb-toy Demolishor.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
In the ''Cybertron'' toyline, "dead" Powerlinx hardpoints could still be found on most of the figures. Some of the figures in the line also came packaged with Mini-Cons, such as; [[Vector Prime]] and the [[Gigantion|Giant Planet]] natives. While ''Cybertron''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s main focus had shifted to the use of the [[Cyber Key|Cyber Planet Key]] gimmick, which was mostly reliant on inserting a key into a designated port, [[Demolishor (Armada)#Cybertron|two of]] [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#CybDx|the toys]] sold in the ''Cybertron'' toyline had keys that featured Powerlinx ports, due to being [[redeco]]s of ''Armada'' toys that featured gimmicks that couldn't be reworked for the keys to be used in.
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===''Power Core Combiners''===
{{main|Power Core Combiners}}
{{stub}}

===''Prime''===
{{main|Transformers: Prime (toyline)#Super Robot Lifeform Transformers Prime (Arms Micron)}}
{{stub|Arms Micron info.}}
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==Notes==
[[File:Energon-Jetfire-Powerlinx-error.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|'''Left:''' Stock footage sequence kibble configuration.<br>'''Right:''' Final combination kibble configuration.]]
* The ''Energon'' Autobots' Powerlinx feature recycles a gimmick originally used by the [[Multiforce]].
* In Japanese, the effect of Mini-Cons connecting to Bulks is called "Evolution" and the process of Autobots combining is known as "Super Link"; the two are not conceptually related.
* A lot of the combined Powerlinx forms in the ''Energon'' cartoon would often not match up with what was happening during the transformation [[stock footage]] sequence. Several instances of [[kibble]] placement in the combined forms (left over individual robot limbs) would often be different to what the stock footage would show in the final configuration just before and right after both parties have connected. Often times, these transformation configurations can be replicated with the toys, while the final configurations usually end up being a physical impossiblity due to the kibble parts between both figures colliding and some of the hinges or joints not being able to articulate in that way.
** As an example, when [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] forms the lower half of a Powerlinx form, his shoulders are shown being positioned at either side of the cockpit, with the shoulder pads' wings folding down and his arms becoming jetpack thrusters (similar to the configuration used in the toy's instructions), yet the final combined form would show his arms folded up under the shoulder pads, with the wings left folded out and the shoulder assemblies positioned 180° from the position displayed in the transformation sequence, and the shoulder pads themselves rotated back 180° in the other direction, to have them sitting the same way they were in the last configuration. The problem here is that—using the toy as reference—the shoulders are now too high and would interfere with [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]'s kibble, making the combination physically impossible. To counteract this, however, the animators then have the entire shoulder pads angled down, a feature which cannot be replicated with the toy in this configuration, unless forcing the hinges the wrong way, running the risk of breaking it.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Evolution''' (エボリューション ''Eboryūshon''), '''Super Link''' (''Super Link'', スーパーリンク ''Sūpā Rinku'')

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Armada technology]]
[[Category:Energon technology]]
[[Category:Cybertron technology]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) technology]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]

MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Powerlinx