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Headmaster unit

2026-04-16T12:59:16Z

Platypar-1: /* Animated cartoon */

{{disambig3|Headmaster}}
[[Image:Headm anim.JPG|right|300px|thumb|LOLbots.]]
The '''Headmaster unit''' is the [[Headmaster (Animated)|Headmaster's]] ultimate invention. In its robot head mode, it can fly, decapitate a robot with a cutting laser, and replace the robot's head atop its body, allowing its pilot to control the body. It possesses a veritable arsenal of on-board weaponry, with grenades and missiles in addition to the cutting laser. The control unit can also transform from head to bipedal robot.

Perhaps befitting the personality of its inventor, it also features a built-in smirk.

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[Image:Henrymastersonandhead.jpg|left|200px|thumb|All ur face r belong 2 us.]]
The "Headmaster project" was the brainchild of Sumdaac Systems employee Henry Masterson. The initial demonstration for [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]] went awry, however, when the Headmaster unit proved to be too heavy for his robotic test subject, making it collapse and sending its weaponry towards [[Detroit]]. Sumdac, incensed by Masterson's plans to put his invention to military use, fired him in a fit of Donald Trump-esque rage.

Masterson apparently absconded with his Headmaster prototype and went off to sulk and play with his Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots. He decided that having his own company would be "wicked sweet", as would exacting his revenge on Sumdac. Needing a robot sturdy enough to support his control unit, he chanced upon a news report on [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]]. The emo jerk ambushed and decapitated Bulkhead and subsequently went on a rampage in the Autobot's body.

He demolished several Sumdac [[Police drone|police drones]] en route to a solar power plant. Dubbing himself "the Headmaster", he hijacked local television broadcasts to deliver his ultimatum: Unless he was paid $700 billion, personally delivered by Isaac Sumdac, he would set the [[Sidney Biggles-Jones Memorial Solar Fusion Plant|solar fusion reactor]] to overload, which would result in the obliteration of the entire state of [[Michigan]] (including Masterson himself). Sumdac arrived in a [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|tractor trailer]], accompanied by [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|his daughter]], [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]], and a [[Bumblebee (Animated)|small]] [[Prowl (Animated)|convoy]] of [[Ratchet (Animated)|vehicles]]. Sumdac offered Henry the money, but the Headmaster grabbed him and announced his intention to take the ransom money and destroy the city of Detroit anyway, then use the threat of future robot attacks to sell his Headmaster units to the military.

[[Image:TFA Headmaster Bulkhead body rampage.JPG|right|200px|thumb|I d00 it 4 teh lulz!]]
When he checked the trailer for the money, he found only the enraged head of Bulkhead. The convoy of vehicles revealed themselves as the [[Autobot|Autobots]] and engaged the Headmaster in combat. After taking a pounding from them, the Headmaster unleashed the weaponry of his control unit. He managed to corner Optimus Prime and began to slice the Autobot leader's head off. Prevented from doing so thanks to an ambush by Bulkhead's severed head, the Headmaster was soon felled by Prowl. Masterson decided to flee, but his flying Headmaster unit was knocked out of the sky by the still-disembodied Bulkhead. With the Autobots distracted by the overloading reactor, the Headmaster transformed his head unit into robot mode and fled. {{storylink|Headmaster (episode)|Headmaster}}

Once [[Porter C. Powell]] took control of Sumdac Systems, he was quick to rehire Masterson in the interest of reaping that lucrative arms market for which Isaac lacked the taste. Powell gave Masterson Sari's bedroom as his office while in the process of kicking her out of it. Masterson was quick to make himself comfortable and started planning renovations to hook the place up for some major gameage. Powell wasn't about to let his employee just slack around, though, and put him to work on a new Headmaster Unit project, even giving him [[Tutor Bot]] and [[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]] to outfit with smaller Units and laser-shooting upgrades.

[[Image:Returnofheadmaster headmastersvictim.jpg|left|200px|thumb|0v3rc10ck3d.]]
The Headmaster wanted more than just little bots to tinker with, however, and stole [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]]'s body, upgrading it as well. He would have gotten away with it, but Optimus managed to track him down, defeat Sentinel's possessed body, and take the Headmaster to justice. At least, he was ''almost'' brought to justice, until Powell showed up and wriggled his employee out of a legal loophole. {{storylink|The Return of the Headmaster}}

[[Image:TFA ABTC2 Head Starscream.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This ended in EPIC FAIL]]
When the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] completed the [[space bridge]] that would transport them to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Decepticon leader [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] had [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] retrieve a Headmaster unit from Sumdac Tower to coerce Bulkhead into helping them repair the bridge. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}} During a battle between the Decepticons and [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] and his [[Starscream clone (Animated)|clones]], Isaac Sumdac of all people used the Headmaster to body-jack Starscream, only to be decapitated by an unimpressed Megatron. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}}

Furious that his Headmaster unit had been absconded with, Masterson was unintimidated when Sari returned to [[Sumdac Tower]] with Isaac in tow, demanding that the Autobots return his Headmaster unit to him or "heads would roll". At that point, Optimus Prime picked him up from behind and asked for clarification on whose heads would be rolling. Furious at their actions while running the company, Isaac Sumdac immediately fired both Porter C. Powell and Henry Masterson.

[[Image:TFAni TransWarped Headmaster PWN3D.jpg|thumb|left|200px|HAX LOL]]
Enraged that he had been fired again, Masterson tracked his Headmaster unit to the mine, where he discovered [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]'s body, ready to be taken over. After a brief fight with Bulkhead the next day, Masterson returned to Detroit, then listened in on Isaac Sumdac's phone calls. Learning that Sumdac was heading to meet Sari at [[Burger Bot]], Masterson ambushed the "happy family", only to be interrupted by Optimus Prime again. A struggle followed, destroying the Burger Bot in the process. Finally, Prime taunted Masterson into transforming, saying that a "n00b" like him might have trouble with it. Screaming that nobody called him a "n00b", Masterson initiated a transformation, only for his Headmaster unit to be crushed and shot off Starscream's body when it began. As Starscream's body flew into the river, Masterson was captured by Optimus Prime and turned over to the police. Let's see how far his slang gets him in prison. {{storylink|TransWarped}}

Following the battle, Masterson's battered Headmaster unit was brought to Isaac Sumdac's laboratory, where the professor expressed distress over how it seemed to be watching him wherever he stood. When Sumdac and Bulkhead started constructing a space bridge in the room, an accident tore a hole in the floor, sending the Headmaster unit plunging through several floors of Sumdac Tower alongside a forklift and a few [[AllSpark]] fragments. Reacting to these two components, the fragments gave life to [[Dirt Boss (Animated)|Dirt Boss]]; a [[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicon]] with the ability to take control of other Transformers' motor functions. {{storylink|Three's a Crowd (episode)|Three's a Crowd}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Animated''===
[[File:AnimatedBulkheadHeadmasterUnit.jpg|300px|right|thumb|"Yes! I am so 1337!"]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Bulkhead''' (Leader, 2008)}}</ul>
:*''TakaraTomy name'': '''Ironhide'''
:*''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''TA-43'''
:*''TakaraTomy release date'': [[October 2]], 2010

: Released in the first wave of Hasbro's ''[[Transformers Animated (toyline)|Animated]]'' Leader-class toys, a non-transforming Headmaster accessory comes packaged with [[Bulkhead (Animated)#Leader Class|Bulkhead]], able to snap into place over the head of the figure and alter its electronic sound and light gimmicks. Once attached, the Headmaster will scream "Total ownage!" and all of Bulkhead's lights (normally yellow) turn red, for the exception of Bulkhead's eyes.

: The Headmaster can attach to all other ''Animated'' Leader-Class figures, but does not unlock any new sounds or lights when connected to them ([[Megatron (Animated)#Leader Class|Megatron]]'s instructions do not even refer to the figure's ability to wear the Headmaster unit, but it has clearly been made to securely wear the unit over his head). It can also fit in quite nicely on the Deluxe [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)#Toys|Sentinel Prime]] figure and balance sorta-okay on the Voyager [[Starscream (Animated)#Voyager Class|Starscream]] figure (the Sentinel and Starscream figures also have removable heads, unlike the Leader-Class toys.)

: While box photography show the Headmaster accessory with [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] solid pink antennae, the final production version has clear plastic antennae. Although this is presumably intended to utilize a light-piping style technique in order to light up from Bulkhead's flashing lights, it... doesn't work very well.

: The Headmaster unit was also included with Bulkhead in TakaraTomy's release of the toy, in their [[Transformers Animated (toyline)#TakaraTomy Animated toyline|''Animated'' toyline]]. While that release of Bulkhead had some deco differences from the Hasbro release, the Headmaster unit appears to be identical between the two companies.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/LeaderBulkhead/bulkhead.htm More information on Leader Bulkhead at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
* Because the Headmaster unit is not a Transformer, its transformation sound is very different.

* [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] incorporated a number of features common to a number of [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] heads into Masterson's robot, although his pointy bits and coloration are a loose homage to [[Loafer]].

* Wyatt stated that the anime series ''{{w|Gurren Lagann}}'' did not have any influence on the design of Headmaster's head-robot, as Wyatt had not seen the series till most of the first season of ''Animated'' was complete. He expressed regret, as in retrospect, he'd have liked to include some of the ''Gurren Lagann'' design elements.<ref>[http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21975298&postID=8564559979841180115 Comments section of "Back from Botcon" in Derrick Wyatt's blog]</ref> Eventually, [[Dirt Boss (Animated)|he did]].

* For some reason, the Headmaster unit bears a striking resemblance to the [[Marvel Comics]] character Galactus.

===Foreign names===
*''Spanish:'' '''Supercabeza''' (Latin America, "Superhead")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Animated technology]]
[[Category:Brainwashing technology]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Man-made Transformers]]

Flying Mind

2025-09-12T14:56:59Z

Platypar-1: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 37
|prev=Armada (episode)
|next=Tunnel Vision (episode)
|image=FlyingMind-DecepticonsOnDeck.jpg
|caption=Alright, forget the bigger ship! Can we get a smaller ship instead?
|title="Flying Mind"
|season=2
|season ep=11
|airdate=[[April 28]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Bob Skir|Robert N. Skir]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Allspark (company)|Hasbro Studios]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKD9GaH0Pso
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''Megatron's attempt to repair the ''Nemesis'' has an unexpected side effect, forcing Raf, Jack, and Miko to put themselves in harm's way.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Optimus Flying Mind.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Optimus is the ''best'' at freeze tag.]]
With the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' down, [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] discovers that [[Bulkhead (Prime)|an Autobot]] was responsible for the crash. Despite [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]'s protests, Megatron infuses [[Dark Energon]] into the ship's power core, hoping its regenerative effects will cut down on the lengthy time it would take to get the ship airworthy. Meanwhile, the [[Autobot]]s feel this might well be the time to strike. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] reluctantly decides to use the [[spark extractor|Spark Extractor]] to terminate the Decepticons for good.

The Dark Energon infusion of the ''Nemesis'' works perfectly, bringing the ship to full operational status in minutes. The energy is detected by the Autobots, who immediately set out with [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]]. They arrive to find the 'Con warship already airborne, and it begins firing on them. The Autobots attempt to get close enough to use the Spark Extractor, but the ship hits them one by one with a [[Stasis Beam|stasis beam]], surprising Knock Out that the ship possesses such a weapon, sending them into [[stasis lock]].

[[Image:FlyingMindHumanAid.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Everybody clap their hands!]]
Megatron is pleased at being able to get the Spark Extractor back, but when he orders the ship to move closer, it abruptly changes course, and it is quickly discovered that the ''Nemesis'' is ignoring its pilots and flying ''itself''. When Megatron demands the ship's computer be overridden, the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] at the helm is electrocuted. The ship suddenly speaks up with its own voice, announcing it is in charge and on a mission. Knock Out notes it's decoding the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] database. Furious, Megatron demands they retake control, but when [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] attempts to do so, the ship retaliates and he's sent into stasis lock. When Megatron orders the Decepticons to sever all connections to the ship's mainframe, beams of energy sweep through the ship, disabling almost every last one of the 'Cons.

Back at base, Fowler notes that the ''Nemesis'' is heading towards North America, with its cloaking field down, no less, and the decision is made to try and contact Megatron to see what's up. On the warship, Knock Out is put into stasis lock while checking on the Iacon data, and Megatron attempts to disable the ship's power core, only to be put in stasis lock as well. When Ratchet contacts the ''Nemesis'', the ship responds and helpfully lets them know its mission is to find the missing Iacon artifacts of Decepticon origin. [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] and the humans believe it's the opportune moment to download a copy of the Iacon database, so Fowler and the kids [[GroundBridge]] on board the ship, determining that the ship cannot detect humans, as it left Fowler unmolested while leaving the battle earlier. They find the [[Project Iacon]] console, and clambering up Knock Out, plug in the [[transfer drive]] Ratchet gave them. [[Jack Darby|Jack]] notices the ship is heading for [[New York City|Manhattan]], the location of the first artifact, and if they don't stop it somehow, the ''Nemesis'' will destroy whatever part of the city lies atop the long-buried relic. While trying to change the ship's course, Fowler is electrically shocked into unconsciousness, but the ship, still scanning for Cybertronian-based life forms, is unable to detect the kids.

[[Image:FlyingMindSecondOpinion.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Welcome to the [[Knock Out (Prime)#Beast Hunters|food chain!]]]]
Though Ratchet wants to bridge the kids back, Jack realizes they have to do something now, and head to the ship's power core, hoping to de-activate the ''Nemesis's'' intelligence by dumping the dark energon out of the fuel supply. There they find the frozen Megatron, and Jack discovers that the manually-operated fuel injection valve is locked in place by Megatron's frozen hand. While he's still trying, the ship finally detects [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]], assuming them to be vermin that are infesting it. As a manipulator arm starts chasing them, they hide among the [[energon cube]]s, but the arm moves the containers aside, eventually exposing them. Jack manages to attract its attention and trick it into hitting Megatron. The Decepticon leader topples over, dragging the lever down and reversing the [[energon]] flow. [[Image:Lower Manhattan Flying Mind.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Man, why can't the aliens attack Jersey for a change?]] Though the ship tries to use the manipulator arm to move the lever back, it's not fast enough to do so before its intelligence is lost. As the ship "shifts into neutral", the stasis locked Transformers inexplicably begin recovering, and the kids make all haste back through the corridors. While Miko and Raf help a still-loopy Fowler through the Ground Bridge, Jack goes after the transfer drive, but he's still struggling with it as Knock Out comes back online. Jack's saved from an untimely end when Ratchet appears through the GroundBridge and clobbers Knock Out, taking Jack and the transfer drive with him, just in time to miss the arrival of Megatron, who is rather unhappy with Knock Out.

Ratchet gives the now-recovered Optimus the good news about the data they retrieved, but they realize they must act quickly, as Megatron has no more scruples than his ship about harming human life, and the ''Nemesis'' is even now bearing down on Manhattan...

[[Tunnel Vision (episode)|To be continued]]...
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
* [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (11)
* [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (12)
* [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (13)
* [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (14)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (5)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (6)
*[[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] (15)

|c3=
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (7)
* [[Jack Darby]] (8)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (9)
* [[William Fowler]] (10)

|c4=
* "[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]" (15)
|}}

==Quotes==

"And when the Insecticons backed off, I got inspired by my proximity to the power core, and did what I do best." 
"You trashed Megatron's ride like a rock star in a hotel room."
:—'''Bulkhead''' and '''Miko''' discussing Bulkhead's victory.

"If the ship isn't cloaked, maybe the communications relays are open and-" 
"Ehp, eph, are you suggesting that we just ''call'' Megatron and ask him what's happening up there?!
:—'''Jack's''' logic is questioned by '''Ratchet''', while all the other humans shrug, "Why not?"

"Doc Knock is ''knocked out!''"
:—'''Miko''' makes the joke we've all been waiting to hear.

"It can't see us!" 
"Yet. The ship must not be scanning for carbon-based lifeforms. But once it widens its search parameters...." 
"We're toast."
:--'''Miko''', '''Ratchet''', and '''Raf''' discussing the ship's search capabilities

"On your feet, soldier!" 
"...and beavers and ducks and walnuts and Grandma..."
:—'''Miko''' helping a debilitated '''Fowler'''.

"Say ''ahhh!''" 
"I'm here to offer a second opinion!"
:—Seeing '''Knock Out's''' attempt to operate on Jack, '''Ratchet''' gives him the hint that he might want to consider going back to medical school.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The Insecticons joining the Decepticons, Bulkhead's damage to the ''Nemesis'' power core and the ship's crash all took place in the [[Armada (episode)|previous episode]].
* Megatron makes note of Optimus's increasing ruthlessness and how he would no longer waste a chance to strike, likely referring to his near-termination by Optimus in "[[Crossfire (Prime)|Crossfire]]".
* The Decepticons found their Dark Energon supply back in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 1]]", but it hasn't seen much use since the [[Unicron#Prime cartoon|Unicron]] revelation.
* Soundwave has been trying to decrypt the Iacon database since Optimus Prime recovered his memory in "[[Orion Pax, Part 3]]", and has apparently made very little progress.
* Though the ''Nemesis'' is established in ''[[Transformers: Exiles]]'' to be a stasis-locked [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]], its identity is left unstated here, as it does not refer to itself by name. [[Bob Skir]] has stated it was not meant to be Trypticon waking up.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir]</ref> Confusing matters further, the ''[[Transformers: The Art of Prime]]'' book shows that a unique Trypticon wire-frame CGI design was created for this episode, which (barely) appears in the episode itself on the ship's monitors while the children are on-board.
* The Autobots attempt to use the [[spark extractor]], which they acquired in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]".
* This is the first time Knock Out has used his drill weapon since [[Deus ex Machina|his premiere episode]].
* The ''Nemesis'' deploys paralyzing beams that work in a similar way to the [[Immobilizer]]. For Optimus, Bumblebee and Bulkhead, it thus isn't the first time in the series when they encounter this type of weapon.

===Transformers references===
* (tbd)

===Real-world references===
* The ''Nemesis''{{'}}s stasis beam uses the same sound effect of the Zat'ni'katel (or "Zat Gun") from ''Stargate SG-1''.
* Miko's "On your feet, soldier" is a reference to the 1984 film, ''The Terminator''.
* Miko refers to Knock Out as "Doc Knock," most likely in reference to "Doc Ock," a common nickname of ''[[Spider-Man]]'' villain Doctor Octopus.
* The ship gaining sentience, turning on the crew, and its defeat all bear similarities to HAL 9000 from the film, ''2001: A Space Odyssey''.
* The grid design that immobilizes Dreadwing and the Vehicons is similar to the laser hallways from ''Resident Evil''.

===Animation and technical errors===
* When Jack realizes that the ''Nemesis'' will have to tear down Manhattan to get to the first Iacon relic, the camera zooms out to show all four, including Fowler and Rafael on the control panel. However Knock Out, who should be frozen right behind the two on the control panel, is nowhere to be seen.
* In the previous episode, Bulkhead drove from the ''Nemesis'' crash site back to base rather than use the GroundBridge, suggesting the crash occurred not far away, or at the very least, on the same continent. In this episode, Fowler says the ''Nemesis'' is crossing the Atlantic Ocean and heading for North America.
* How does Jack on the ''Nemesis'' talk to Ratchet back at base without a cell phone? He appears to be using an earpiece, but there's no indication that he received one. Agent Fowler appears to do the same, earlier on.
* In the base, Ratchet appears to be monitoring the vitals of the humans. Unless they've suddenly become Cybertrionians, there's no explanation for how he can do this.
* When stasis-locked Megatron gets knocked over, his hand, still clutching the release lever, opens to allow him to fall all the way down. The rest of him stays completely stiff even upon hitting the ground.
* The Dark Energon infusion travels up the pipes to the main column, which is between them and the energon input receptacle, instead of going down their length from the column.

===Trivia===
* The ''Nemesis''{{'}}s voice is listed only as "Warship" in this episode's credits.
* It seems the amount of power required to stasis lock a Transformer isn't enough to kill a human, as the ship was unaware carbon-based life forms were aboard when Fowler was electrocuted, and was presumably trying the same trick it used on Soundwave.
* No clear reason is given for ''why'' the ''Nemesis'' independently considers gathering the Iacon relics to be "Priority One." Other enigmatic plot points, including the ship revealing it possesses weaponry that Knock Out note he was previously unaware of, and the way in which the ship abruptly, cryptically hangs up on Ratchet when he asks "for what purpose" it's gathering the relics, combine to make it feel like this was the beginning of some kind of dropped sub-plot, as it's never brought up again.
* The ''Nemesis'' is also pretty selective in its mission, as the Spark Extractor it ignored was also an Iacon relic ''and'' a Decepticon artifact.
* You'd think Megatron would at least order his troops to capture the frozen Autobots.
* The Prime Production team actually bought the script idea from [[Bob Skir]] because they loved the idea of this episode a lot.
* [[Bob Skir]] isn't a fan of the title of this episode "Flying Mind" but he also acknowledges that he couldn't come up with anything better either.

===Gadgets and powers===
* The ''Nemesis'' is equipped with at least 6 blaster cannons on its underbelly.
* It also has stasis beams there as well as on its interior, at least in the bridge and the engine room, deployable from the walls and launched from satellite-like dishes. The effect is similar to that of the [[Immobilizer]], only with the target being electrocuted on impact.
* It can electrocute Cybertronians operating its computer terminals.
* For disabling larger groups of hostile units, it can launch laser grids with the same paralyzing function which sweep across its corridors.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Perte de contrôle'''" ("Loss of Control")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Das fliegende Gehirn'''" ("The flying Brain")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 8|8 November]] [[2012]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jinrai Henkei! Senkan Nemesis no Hanran'''" (神雷変形!戦艦ネメシスの反乱, "Thunder God Transformation! Rebellion of the Battleship Nemesis")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 15|15 December]] [[2012]]

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mente Voadora'''" ("Flying Mind")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 17|17 June]] [[2013]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mente Volante'''" ("Flying Mind"), "'''Una Mente Volante'''" (2017 airing, "A Flying Mind")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 22|22 October]] [[2012]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2012 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two ([[Shout! Studios|Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2013 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Vol. 19 ([[Avex Trax]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2013 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Folge 9: Angriff auf Megatron ([[EDEL:kids]]) — English and German audio. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2013 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Volume 3: Weapons of Choice ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Saison 2 Vol. 2: Nemesis Prime ([[Primal Screen]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season 2 Vol. 2: Nemesis Prime (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Stagione 2 Vol. 2: Nemesis Prime (Primal Screen) — English, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian audio. 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Intégrale Saison 2 (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — The Complete Season 2 (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — La Seconda Stagione Completa (Primal Screen) — English, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian audio.
;Blu-ray
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2012 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two Collection (Madman Entertainment) 

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Flying Mind

2025-09-12T14:56:03Z

Platypar-1: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 37
|prev=Armada (episode)
|next=Tunnel Vision (episode)
|image=FlyingMind-DecepticonsOnDeck.jpg
|caption=Alright, forget the bigger ship! Can we get a smaller ship instead?
|title="Flying Mind"
|season=2
|season ep=11
|airdate=[[April 28]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Bob Skir|Robert N. Skir]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Allspark (company)|Hasbro Studios]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKD9GaH0Pso
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''Megatron's attempt to repair the ''Nemesis'' has an unexpected side effect, forcing Raf, Jack, and Miko to put themselves in harm's way.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Optimus Flying Mind.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Optimus is the ''best'' at freeze tag.]]
With the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' down, [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] discovers that [[Bulkhead (Prime)|an Autobot]] was responsible for the crash. Despite [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]'s protests, Megatron infuses [[Dark Energon]] into the ship's power core, hoping its regenerative effects will cut down on the lengthy time it would take to get the ship airworthy. Meanwhile, the [[Autobot]]s feel this might well be the time to strike. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] reluctantly decides to use the [[spark extractor|Spark Extractor]] to terminate the Decepticons for good.

The Dark Energon infusion of the ''Nemesis'' works perfectly, bringing the ship to full operational status in minutes. The energy is detected by the Autobots, who immediately set out with [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]]. They arrive to find the 'Con warship already airborne, and it begins firing on them. The Autobots attempt to get close enough to use the Spark Extractor, but the ship hits them one by one with a [[Stasis Beam|stasis beam]], surprising Knock Out that the ship possesses such a weapon, sending them into [[stasis lock]].

[[Image:FlyingMindHumanAid.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Everybody clap their hands!]]
Megatron is pleased at being able to get the Spark Extractor back, but when he orders the ship to move closer, it abruptly changes course, and it is quickly discovered that the ''Nemesis'' is ignoring its pilots and flying ''itself''. When Megatron demands the ship's computer be overridden, the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] at the helm is electrocuted. The ship suddenly speaks up with its own voice, announcing it is in charge and on a mission. Knock Out notes it's decoding the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] database. Furious, Megatron demands they retake control, but when [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] attempts to do so, the ship retaliates and he's sent into stasis lock. When Megatron orders the Decepticons to sever all connections to the ship's mainframe, beams of energy sweep through the ship, disabling almost every last one of the 'Cons.

Back at base, Fowler notes that the ''Nemesis'' is heading towards North America, with its cloaking field down, no less, and the decision is made to try and contact Megatron to see what's up. On the warship, Knock Out is put into stasis lock while checking on the Iacon data, and Megatron attempts to disable the ship's power core, only to be put in stasis lock as well. When Ratchet contacts the ''Nemesis'', the ship responds and helpfully lets them know its mission is to find the missing Iacon artifacts of Decepticon origin. [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] and the humans believe it's the opportune moment to download a copy of the Iacon database, so Fowler and the kids [[GroundBridge]] on board the ship, determining that the ship cannot detect humans, as it left Fowler unmolested while leaving the battle earlier. They find the [[Project Iacon]] console, and clambering up Knock Out, plug in the [[transfer drive]] Ratchet gave them. [[Jack Darby|Jack]] notices the ship is heading for [[New York City|Manhattan]], the location of the first artifact, and if they don't stop it somehow, the ''Nemesis'' will destroy whatever part of the city lies atop the long-buried relic. While trying to change the ship's course, Fowler is electrically shocked into unconsciousness, but the ship, still scanning for Cybertronian-based life forms, is unable to detect the kids.

[[Image:FlyingMindSecondOpinion.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Welcome to the [[Knock Out (Prime)#Beast Hunters|food chain!]]]]
Though Ratchet wants to bridge the kids back, Jack realizes they have to do something now, and head to the ship's power core, hoping to de-activate the ''Nemesis's'' intelligence by dumping the dark energon out of the fuel supply. There they find the frozen Megatron, and Jack discovers that the manually-operated fuel injection valve is locked in place by Megatron's frozen hand. While he's still trying, the ship finally detects [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]], assuming them to be vermin that are infesting it. As a manipulator arm starts chasing them, they hide among the [[energon cube]]s, but the arm moves the containers aside, eventually exposing them. Jack manages to attract its attention and trick it into hitting Megatron. The Decepticon leader topples over, dragging the lever down and reversing the [[energon]] flow. [[Image:Lower Manhattan Flying Mind.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Man, why can't the aliens attack Jersey for a change?]] Though the ship tries to use the manipulator arm to move the lever back, it's not fast enough to do so before its intelligence is lost. As the ship "shifts into neutral", the stasis locked Transformers inexplicably begin recovering, and the kids make all haste back through the corridors. While Miko and Raf help a still-loopy Fowler through the Ground Bridge, Jack goes after the transfer drive, but he's still struggling with it as Knock Out comes back online. Jack's saved from an untimely end when Ratchet appears through the GroundBridge and clobbers Knock Out, taking Jack and the transfer drive with him, just in time to miss the arrival of Megatron, who is rather unhappy with Knock Out.

Ratchet gives the now-recovered Optimus the good news about the data they retrieved, but they realize they must act quickly, as Megatron has no more scruples than his ship about harming human life, and the ''Nemesis'' is even now bearing down on Manhattan...

[[Tunnel Vision (episode)|To be continued]]...
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
* [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (11)
* [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (12)
* [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (13)
* [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (14)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (5)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (6)
*[[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] (15)

|c3=
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (7)
* [[Jack Darby]] (8)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (9)
* [[William Fowler]] (10)

|c4=
* "[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]" (15)
|}}

==Quotes==

"And when the Insecticons backed off, I got inspired by my proximity to the power core, and did what I do best." 
"You trashed Megatron's ride like a rock star in a hotel room."
:—'''Bulkhead''' and '''Miko''' discussing Bulkhead's victory.

"If the ship isn't cloaked, maybe the communications relays are open and-" 
"Ehp, eph, are you suggesting that we just ''call'' Megatron and ask him what's happening up there?!
:—'''Jack's''' logic is questioned by '''Ratchet''', while all the other humans shrug, "Why not?"

"Doc Knock is ''knocked out!''"
:—'''Miko''' makes the joke we've all been waiting to hear.

"It can't see us!"
"Yet. The ship must not be scanning for carbon-based lifeforms. But once it widens its search parameters...."
"We're toast."
:--'''Miko''', '''Ratchet''', and '''Raf''' discussing the ship's search capabilities

"On your feet, soldier!" 
"...and beavers and ducks and walnuts and Grandma..."
:—'''Miko''' helping a debilitated '''Fowler'''.

"Say ''ahhh!''" 
"I'm here to offer a second opinion!"
:—Seeing '''Knock Out's''' attempt to operate on Jack, '''Ratchet''' gives him the hint that he might want to consider going back to medical school.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The Insecticons joining the Decepticons, Bulkhead's damage to the ''Nemesis'' power core and the ship's crash all took place in the [[Armada (episode)|previous episode]].
* Megatron makes note of Optimus's increasing ruthlessness and how he would no longer waste a chance to strike, likely referring to his near-termination by Optimus in "[[Crossfire (Prime)|Crossfire]]".
* The Decepticons found their Dark Energon supply back in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 1]]", but it hasn't seen much use since the [[Unicron#Prime cartoon|Unicron]] revelation.
* Soundwave has been trying to decrypt the Iacon database since Optimus Prime recovered his memory in "[[Orion Pax, Part 3]]", and has apparently made very little progress.
* Though the ''Nemesis'' is established in ''[[Transformers: Exiles]]'' to be a stasis-locked [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]], its identity is left unstated here, as it does not refer to itself by name. [[Bob Skir]] has stated it was not meant to be Trypticon waking up.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir]</ref> Confusing matters further, the ''[[Transformers: The Art of Prime]]'' book shows that a unique Trypticon wire-frame CGI design was created for this episode, which (barely) appears in the episode itself on the ship's monitors while the children are on-board.
* The Autobots attempt to use the [[spark extractor]], which they acquired in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]".
* This is the first time Knock Out has used his drill weapon since [[Deus ex Machina|his premiere episode]].
* The ''Nemesis'' deploys paralyzing beams that work in a similar way to the [[Immobilizer]]. For Optimus, Bumblebee and Bulkhead, it thus isn't the first time in the series when they encounter this type of weapon.

===Transformers references===
* (tbd)

===Real-world references===
* The ''Nemesis''{{'}}s stasis beam uses the same sound effect of the Zat'ni'katel (or "Zat Gun") from ''Stargate SG-1''.
* Miko's "On your feet, soldier" is a reference to the 1984 film, ''The Terminator''.
* Miko refers to Knock Out as "Doc Knock," most likely in reference to "Doc Ock," a common nickname of ''[[Spider-Man]]'' villain Doctor Octopus.
* The ship gaining sentience, turning on the crew, and its defeat all bear similarities to HAL 9000 from the film, ''2001: A Space Odyssey''.
* The grid design that immobilizes Dreadwing and the Vehicons is similar to the laser hallways from ''Resident Evil''.

===Animation and technical errors===
* When Jack realizes that the ''Nemesis'' will have to tear down Manhattan to get to the first Iacon relic, the camera zooms out to show all four, including Fowler and Rafael on the control panel. However Knock Out, who should be frozen right behind the two on the control panel, is nowhere to be seen.
* In the previous episode, Bulkhead drove from the ''Nemesis'' crash site back to base rather than use the GroundBridge, suggesting the crash occurred not far away, or at the very least, on the same continent. In this episode, Fowler says the ''Nemesis'' is crossing the Atlantic Ocean and heading for North America.
* How does Jack on the ''Nemesis'' talk to Ratchet back at base without a cell phone? He appears to be using an earpiece, but there's no indication that he received one. Agent Fowler appears to do the same, earlier on.
* In the base, Ratchet appears to be monitoring the vitals of the humans. Unless they've suddenly become Cybertrionians, there's no explanation for how he can do this.
* When stasis-locked Megatron gets knocked over, his hand, still clutching the release lever, opens to allow him to fall all the way down. The rest of him stays completely stiff even upon hitting the ground.
* The Dark Energon infusion travels up the pipes to the main column, which is between them and the energon input receptacle, instead of going down their length from the column.

===Trivia===
* The ''Nemesis''{{'}}s voice is listed only as "Warship" in this episode's credits.
* It seems the amount of power required to stasis lock a Transformer isn't enough to kill a human, as the ship was unaware carbon-based life forms were aboard when Fowler was electrocuted, and was presumably trying the same trick it used on Soundwave.
* No clear reason is given for ''why'' the ''Nemesis'' independently considers gathering the Iacon relics to be "Priority One." Other enigmatic plot points, including the ship revealing it possesses weaponry that Knock Out note he was previously unaware of, and the way in which the ship abruptly, cryptically hangs up on Ratchet when he asks "for what purpose" it's gathering the relics, combine to make it feel like this was the beginning of some kind of dropped sub-plot, as it's never brought up again.
* The ''Nemesis'' is also pretty selective in its mission, as the Spark Extractor it ignored was also an Iacon relic ''and'' a Decepticon artifact.
* You'd think Megatron would at least order his troops to capture the frozen Autobots.
* The Prime Production team actually bought the script idea from [[Bob Skir]] because they loved the idea of this episode a lot.
* [[Bob Skir]] isn't a fan of the title of this episode "Flying Mind" but he also acknowledges that he couldn't come up with anything better either.

===Gadgets and powers===
* The ''Nemesis'' is equipped with at least 6 blaster cannons on its underbelly.
* It also has stasis beams there as well as on its interior, at least in the bridge and the engine room, deployable from the walls and launched from satellite-like dishes. The effect is similar to that of the [[Immobilizer]], only with the target being electrocuted on impact.
* It can electrocute Cybertronians operating its computer terminals.
* For disabling larger groups of hostile units, it can launch laser grids with the same paralyzing function which sweep across its corridors.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Perte de contrôle'''" ("Loss of Control")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Das fliegende Gehirn'''" ("The flying Brain")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 8|8 November]] [[2012]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jinrai Henkei! Senkan Nemesis no Hanran'''" (神雷変形!戦艦ネメシスの反乱, "Thunder God Transformation! Rebellion of the Battleship Nemesis")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 15|15 December]] [[2012]]

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mente Voadora'''" ("Flying Mind")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 17|17 June]] [[2013]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mente Volante'''" ("Flying Mind"), "'''Una Mente Volante'''" (2017 airing, "A Flying Mind")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 22|22 October]] [[2012]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2012 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two ([[Shout! Studios|Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2013 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Vol. 19 ([[Avex Trax]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2013 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Folge 9: Angriff auf Megatron ([[EDEL:kids]]) — English and German audio. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2013 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Volume 3: Weapons of Choice ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Saison 2 Vol. 2: Nemesis Prime ([[Primal Screen]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season 2 Vol. 2: Nemesis Prime (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Stagione 2 Vol. 2: Nemesis Prime (Primal Screen) — English, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian audio. 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Intégrale Saison 2 (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — The Complete Season 2 (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — La Seconda Stagione Completa (Primal Screen) — English, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian audio.
;Blu-ray
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2012 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two Collection (Madman Entertainment) 

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Flying Mind

2025-09-12T14:55:29Z

Platypar-1: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 37
|prev=Armada (episode)
|next=Tunnel Vision (episode)
|image=FlyingMind-DecepticonsOnDeck.jpg
|caption=Alright, forget the bigger ship! Can we get a smaller ship instead?
|title="Flying Mind"
|season=2
|season ep=11
|airdate=[[April 28]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Bob Skir|Robert N. Skir]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Allspark (company)|Hasbro Studios]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKD9GaH0Pso
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''Megatron's attempt to repair the ''Nemesis'' has an unexpected side effect, forcing Raf, Jack, and Miko to put themselves in harm's way.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Optimus Flying Mind.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Optimus is the ''best'' at freeze tag.]]
With the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' down, [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] discovers that [[Bulkhead (Prime)|an Autobot]] was responsible for the crash. Despite [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]'s protests, Megatron infuses [[Dark Energon]] into the ship's power core, hoping its regenerative effects will cut down on the lengthy time it would take to get the ship airworthy. Meanwhile, the [[Autobot]]s feel this might well be the time to strike. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] reluctantly decides to use the [[spark extractor|Spark Extractor]] to terminate the Decepticons for good.

The Dark Energon infusion of the ''Nemesis'' works perfectly, bringing the ship to full operational status in minutes. The energy is detected by the Autobots, who immediately set out with [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]]. They arrive to find the 'Con warship already airborne, and it begins firing on them. The Autobots attempt to get close enough to use the Spark Extractor, but the ship hits them one by one with a [[Stasis Beam|stasis beam]], surprising Knock Out that the ship possesses such a weapon, sending them into [[stasis lock]].

[[Image:FlyingMindHumanAid.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Everybody clap their hands!]]
Megatron is pleased at being able to get the Spark Extractor back, but when he orders the ship to move closer, it abruptly changes course, and it is quickly discovered that the ''Nemesis'' is ignoring its pilots and flying ''itself''. When Megatron demands the ship's computer be overridden, the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] at the helm is electrocuted. The ship suddenly speaks up with its own voice, announcing it is in charge and on a mission. Knock Out notes it's decoding the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] database. Furious, Megatron demands they retake control, but when [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] attempts to do so, the ship retaliates and he's sent into stasis lock. When Megatron orders the Decepticons to sever all connections to the ship's mainframe, beams of energy sweep through the ship, disabling almost every last one of the 'Cons.

Back at base, Fowler notes that the ''Nemesis'' is heading towards North America, with its cloaking field down, no less, and the decision is made to try and contact Megatron to see what's up. On the warship, Knock Out is put into stasis lock while checking on the Iacon data, and Megatron attempts to disable the ship's power core, only to be put in stasis lock as well. When Ratchet contacts the ''Nemesis'', the ship responds and helpfully lets them know its mission is to find the missing Iacon artifacts of Decepticon origin. [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] and the humans believe it's the opportune moment to download a copy of the Iacon database, so Fowler and the kids [[GroundBridge]] on board the ship, determining that the ship cannot detect humans, as it left Fowler unmolested while leaving the battle earlier. They find the [[Project Iacon]] console, and clambering up Knock Out, plug in the [[transfer drive]] Ratchet gave them. [[Jack Darby|Jack]] notices the ship is heading for [[New York City|Manhattan]], the location of the first artifact, and if they don't stop it somehow, the ''Nemesis'' will destroy whatever part of the city lies atop the long-buried relic. While trying to change the ship's course, Fowler is electrically shocked into unconsciousness, but the ship, still scanning for Cybertronian-based life forms, is unable to detect the kids.

[[Image:FlyingMindSecondOpinion.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Welcome to the [[Knock Out (Prime)#Beast Hunters|food chain!]]]]
Though Ratchet wants to bridge the kids back, Jack realizes they have to do something now, and head to the ship's power core, hoping to de-activate the ''Nemesis's'' intelligence by dumping the dark energon out of the fuel supply. There they find the frozen Megatron, and Jack discovers that the manually-operated fuel injection valve is locked in place by Megatron's frozen hand. While he's still trying, the ship finally detects [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]], assuming them to be vermin that are infesting it. As a manipulator arm starts chasing them, they hide among the [[energon cube]]s, but the arm moves the containers aside, eventually exposing them. Jack manages to attract its attention and trick it into hitting Megatron. The Decepticon leader topples over, dragging the lever down and reversing the [[energon]] flow. [[Image:Lower Manhattan Flying Mind.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Man, why can't the aliens attack Jersey for a change?]] Though the ship tries to use the manipulator arm to move the lever back, it's not fast enough to do so before its intelligence is lost. As the ship "shifts into neutral", the stasis locked Transformers inexplicably begin recovering, and the kids make all haste back through the corridors. While Miko and Raf help a still-loopy Fowler through the Ground Bridge, Jack goes after the transfer drive, but he's still struggling with it as Knock Out comes back online. Jack's saved from an untimely end when Ratchet appears through the GroundBridge and clobbers Knock Out, taking Jack and the transfer drive with him, just in time to miss the arrival of Megatron, who is rather unhappy with Knock Out.

Ratchet gives the now-recovered Optimus the good news about the data they retrieved, but they realize they must act quickly, as Megatron has no more scruples than his ship about harming human life, and the ''Nemesis'' is even now bearing down on Manhattan...

[[Tunnel Vision (episode)|To be continued]]...
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
* [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (11)
* [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (12)
* [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (13)
* [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (14)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (5)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (6)
*[[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] (15)

|c3=
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (7)
* [[Jack Darby]] (8)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (9)
* [[William Fowler]] (10)

|c4=
* "[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]" (15)
|}}

==Quotes==

"And when the Insecticons backed off, I got inspired by my proximity to the power core, and did what I do best." 
"You trashed Megatron's ride like a rock star in a hotel room."
:—'''Bulkhead''' and '''Miko''' discussing Bulkhead's victory.

"If the ship isn't cloaked, maybe the communications relays are open and-" 
"Ehp, eph, are you suggesting that we just ''call'' Megatron and ask him what's happening up there?!
:—'''Jack's''' logic is questioned by '''Ratchet''', while all the other humans shrug, "Why not?"

"Doc Knock is ''knocked out!''"
:—'''Miko''' makes the joke we've all been waiting to hear.

"It can't see us!"
"Yet. The ship must not be scanning for carbon-based lifeforms. But once it widens its search parameters...."
"We're toast."
:-'''Miko''', '''Ratchet''', and '''Raf''' discussing the ship's search capabilities

"On your feet, soldier!" 
"...and beavers and ducks and walnuts and Grandma..."
:—'''Miko''' helping a debilitated '''Fowler'''.

"Say ''ahhh!''" 
"I'm here to offer a second opinion!"
:—Seeing '''Knock Out's''' attempt to operate on Jack, '''Ratchet''' gives him the hint that he might want to consider going back to medical school.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The Insecticons joining the Decepticons, Bulkhead's damage to the ''Nemesis'' power core and the ship's crash all took place in the [[Armada (episode)|previous episode]].
* Megatron makes note of Optimus's increasing ruthlessness and how he would no longer waste a chance to strike, likely referring to his near-termination by Optimus in "[[Crossfire (Prime)|Crossfire]]".
* The Decepticons found their Dark Energon supply back in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 1]]", but it hasn't seen much use since the [[Unicron#Prime cartoon|Unicron]] revelation.
* Soundwave has been trying to decrypt the Iacon database since Optimus Prime recovered his memory in "[[Orion Pax, Part 3]]", and has apparently made very little progress.
* Though the ''Nemesis'' is established in ''[[Transformers: Exiles]]'' to be a stasis-locked [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]], its identity is left unstated here, as it does not refer to itself by name. [[Bob Skir]] has stated it was not meant to be Trypticon waking up.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir]</ref> Confusing matters further, the ''[[Transformers: The Art of Prime]]'' book shows that a unique Trypticon wire-frame CGI design was created for this episode, which (barely) appears in the episode itself on the ship's monitors while the children are on-board.
* The Autobots attempt to use the [[spark extractor]], which they acquired in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]".
* This is the first time Knock Out has used his drill weapon since [[Deus ex Machina|his premiere episode]].
* The ''Nemesis'' deploys paralyzing beams that work in a similar way to the [[Immobilizer]]. For Optimus, Bumblebee and Bulkhead, it thus isn't the first time in the series when they encounter this type of weapon.

===Transformers references===
* (tbd)

===Real-world references===
* The ''Nemesis''{{'}}s stasis beam uses the same sound effect of the Zat'ni'katel (or "Zat Gun") from ''Stargate SG-1''.
* Miko's "On your feet, soldier" is a reference to the 1984 film, ''The Terminator''.
* Miko refers to Knock Out as "Doc Knock," most likely in reference to "Doc Ock," a common nickname of ''[[Spider-Man]]'' villain Doctor Octopus.
* The ship gaining sentience, turning on the crew, and its defeat all bear similarities to HAL 9000 from the film, ''2001: A Space Odyssey''.
* The grid design that immobilizes Dreadwing and the Vehicons is similar to the laser hallways from ''Resident Evil''.

===Animation and technical errors===
* When Jack realizes that the ''Nemesis'' will have to tear down Manhattan to get to the first Iacon relic, the camera zooms out to show all four, including Fowler and Rafael on the control panel. However Knock Out, who should be frozen right behind the two on the control panel, is nowhere to be seen.
* In the previous episode, Bulkhead drove from the ''Nemesis'' crash site back to base rather than use the GroundBridge, suggesting the crash occurred not far away, or at the very least, on the same continent. In this episode, Fowler says the ''Nemesis'' is crossing the Atlantic Ocean and heading for North America.
* How does Jack on the ''Nemesis'' talk to Ratchet back at base without a cell phone? He appears to be using an earpiece, but there's no indication that he received one. Agent Fowler appears to do the same, earlier on.
* In the base, Ratchet appears to be monitoring the vitals of the humans. Unless they've suddenly become Cybertrionians, there's no explanation for how he can do this.
* When stasis-locked Megatron gets knocked over, his hand, still clutching the release lever, opens to allow him to fall all the way down. The rest of him stays completely stiff even upon hitting the ground.
* The Dark Energon infusion travels up the pipes to the main column, which is between them and the energon input receptacle, instead of going down their length from the column.

===Trivia===
* The ''Nemesis''{{'}}s voice is listed only as "Warship" in this episode's credits.
* It seems the amount of power required to stasis lock a Transformer isn't enough to kill a human, as the ship was unaware carbon-based life forms were aboard when Fowler was electrocuted, and was presumably trying the same trick it used on Soundwave.
* No clear reason is given for ''why'' the ''Nemesis'' independently considers gathering the Iacon relics to be "Priority One." Other enigmatic plot points, including the ship revealing it possesses weaponry that Knock Out note he was previously unaware of, and the way in which the ship abruptly, cryptically hangs up on Ratchet when he asks "for what purpose" it's gathering the relics, combine to make it feel like this was the beginning of some kind of dropped sub-plot, as it's never brought up again.
* The ''Nemesis'' is also pretty selective in its mission, as the Spark Extractor it ignored was also an Iacon relic ''and'' a Decepticon artifact.
* You'd think Megatron would at least order his troops to capture the frozen Autobots.
* The Prime Production team actually bought the script idea from [[Bob Skir]] because they loved the idea of this episode a lot.
* [[Bob Skir]] isn't a fan of the title of this episode "Flying Mind" but he also acknowledges that he couldn't come up with anything better either.

===Gadgets and powers===
* The ''Nemesis'' is equipped with at least 6 blaster cannons on its underbelly.
* It also has stasis beams there as well as on its interior, at least in the bridge and the engine room, deployable from the walls and launched from satellite-like dishes. The effect is similar to that of the [[Immobilizer]], only with the target being electrocuted on impact.
* It can electrocute Cybertronians operating its computer terminals.
* For disabling larger groups of hostile units, it can launch laser grids with the same paralyzing function which sweep across its corridors.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Perte de contrôle'''" ("Loss of Control")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Das fliegende Gehirn'''" ("The flying Brain")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 8|8 November]] [[2012]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jinrai Henkei! Senkan Nemesis no Hanran'''" (神雷変形!戦艦ネメシスの反乱, "Thunder God Transformation! Rebellion of the Battleship Nemesis")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 15|15 December]] [[2012]]

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mente Voadora'''" ("Flying Mind")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 17|17 June]] [[2013]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mente Volante'''" ("Flying Mind"), "'''Una Mente Volante'''" (2017 airing, "A Flying Mind")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 22|22 October]] [[2012]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2012 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two ([[Shout! Studios|Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2013 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Vol. 19 ([[Avex Trax]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2013 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Folge 9: Angriff auf Megatron ([[EDEL:kids]]) — English and German audio. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2013 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Volume 3: Weapons of Choice ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Saison 2 Vol. 2: Nemesis Prime ([[Primal Screen]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season 2 Vol. 2: Nemesis Prime (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Stagione 2 Vol. 2: Nemesis Prime (Primal Screen) — English, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian audio. 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Intégrale Saison 2 (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — The Complete Season 2 (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — La Seconda Stagione Completa (Primal Screen) — English, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian audio.
;Blu-ray
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2012 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two Collection (Madman Entertainment) 

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Flying Mind

2025-09-12T14:54:22Z

Platypar-1: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 37
|prev=Armada (episode)
|next=Tunnel Vision (episode)
|image=FlyingMind-DecepticonsOnDeck.jpg
|caption=Alright, forget the bigger ship! Can we get a smaller ship instead?
|title="Flying Mind"
|season=2
|season ep=11
|airdate=[[April 28]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Bob Skir|Robert N. Skir]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Allspark (company)|Hasbro Studios]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKD9GaH0Pso
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''Megatron's attempt to repair the ''Nemesis'' has an unexpected side effect, forcing Raf, Jack, and Miko to put themselves in harm's way.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Optimus Flying Mind.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Optimus is the ''best'' at freeze tag.]]
With the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' down, [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] discovers that [[Bulkhead (Prime)|an Autobot]] was responsible for the crash. Despite [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]'s protests, Megatron infuses [[Dark Energon]] into the ship's power core, hoping its regenerative effects will cut down on the lengthy time it would take to get the ship airworthy. Meanwhile, the [[Autobot]]s feel this might well be the time to strike. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] reluctantly decides to use the [[spark extractor|Spark Extractor]] to terminate the Decepticons for good.

The Dark Energon infusion of the ''Nemesis'' works perfectly, bringing the ship to full operational status in minutes. The energy is detected by the Autobots, who immediately set out with [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]]. They arrive to find the 'Con warship already airborne, and it begins firing on them. The Autobots attempt to get close enough to use the Spark Extractor, but the ship hits them one by one with a [[Stasis Beam|stasis beam]], surprising Knock Out that the ship possesses such a weapon, sending them into [[stasis lock]].

[[Image:FlyingMindHumanAid.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Everybody clap their hands!]]
Megatron is pleased at being able to get the Spark Extractor back, but when he orders the ship to move closer, it abruptly changes course, and it is quickly discovered that the ''Nemesis'' is ignoring its pilots and flying ''itself''. When Megatron demands the ship's computer be overridden, the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] at the helm is electrocuted. The ship suddenly speaks up with its own voice, announcing it is in charge and on a mission. Knock Out notes it's decoding the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] database. Furious, Megatron demands they retake control, but when [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] attempts to do so, the ship retaliates and he's sent into stasis lock. When Megatron orders the Decepticons to sever all connections to the ship's mainframe, beams of energy sweep through the ship, disabling almost every last one of the 'Cons.

Back at base, Fowler notes that the ''Nemesis'' is heading towards North America, with its cloaking field down, no less, and the decision is made to try and contact Megatron to see what's up. On the warship, Knock Out is put into stasis lock while checking on the Iacon data, and Megatron attempts to disable the ship's power core, only to be put in stasis lock as well. When Ratchet contacts the ''Nemesis'', the ship responds and helpfully lets them know its mission is to find the missing Iacon artifacts of Decepticon origin. [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] and the humans believe it's the opportune moment to download a copy of the Iacon database, so Fowler and the kids [[GroundBridge]] on board the ship, determining that the ship cannot detect humans, as it left Fowler unmolested while leaving the battle earlier. They find the [[Project Iacon]] console, and clambering up Knock Out, plug in the [[transfer drive]] Ratchet gave them. [[Jack Darby|Jack]] notices the ship is heading for [[New York City|Manhattan]], the location of the first artifact, and if they don't stop it somehow, the ''Nemesis'' will destroy whatever part of the city lies atop the long-buried relic. While trying to change the ship's course, Fowler is electrically shocked into unconsciousness, but the ship, still scanning for Cybertronian-based life forms, is unable to detect the kids.

[[Image:FlyingMindSecondOpinion.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Welcome to the [[Knock Out (Prime)#Beast Hunters|food chain!]]]]
Though Ratchet wants to bridge the kids back, Jack realizes they have to do something now, and head to the ship's power core, hoping to de-activate the ''Nemesis's'' intelligence by dumping the dark energon out of the fuel supply. There they find the frozen Megatron, and Jack discovers that the manually-operated fuel injection valve is locked in place by Megatron's frozen hand. While he's still trying, the ship finally detects [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]], assuming them to be vermin that are infesting it. As a manipulator arm starts chasing them, they hide among the [[energon cube]]s, but the arm moves the containers aside, eventually exposing them. Jack manages to attract its attention and trick it into hitting Megatron. The Decepticon leader topples over, dragging the lever down and reversing the [[energon]] flow. [[Image:Lower Manhattan Flying Mind.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Man, why can't the aliens attack Jersey for a change?]] Though the ship tries to use the manipulator arm to move the lever back, it's not fast enough to do so before its intelligence is lost. As the ship "shifts into neutral", the stasis locked Transformers inexplicably begin recovering, and the kids make all haste back through the corridors. While Miko and Raf help a still-loopy Fowler through the Ground Bridge, Jack goes after the transfer drive, but he's still struggling with it as Knock Out comes back online. Jack's saved from an untimely end when Ratchet appears through the GroundBridge and clobbers Knock Out, taking Jack and the transfer drive with him, just in time to miss the arrival of Megatron, who is rather unhappy with Knock Out.

Ratchet gives the now-recovered Optimus the good news about the data they retrieved, but they realize they must act quickly, as Megatron has no more scruples than his ship about harming human life, and the ''Nemesis'' is even now bearing down on Manhattan...

[[Tunnel Vision (episode)|To be continued]]...
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
* [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (11)
* [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (12)
* [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (13)
* [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (14)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (5)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (6)
*[[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] (15)

|c3=
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (7)
* [[Jack Darby]] (8)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (9)
* [[William Fowler]] (10)

|c4=
* "[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]" (15)
|}}

==Quotes==

"And when the Insecticons backed off, I got inspired by my proximity to the power core, and did what I do best." 
"You trashed Megatron's ride like a rock star in a hotel room."
:—'''Bulkhead''' and '''Miko''' discussing Bulkhead's victory.

"If the ship isn't cloaked, maybe the communications relays are open and-" 
"Ehp, eph, are you suggesting that we just ''call'' Megatron and ask him what's happening up there?!
:—'''Jack's''' logic is questioned by '''Ratchet''', while all the other humans shrug, "Why not?"

"Doc Knock is ''knocked out!''"
:—'''Miko''' makes the joke we've all been waiting to hear.

"It can't see us!"
"Yet. The ship must not be scanning for carbon-based lifeforms. But once it widens its search parameters...."
"We're toast."
-'''Miko''', '''Ratchet''', and '''Raf''' discussing the ship's search capabilities

"On your feet, soldier!" 
"...and beavers and ducks and walnuts and Grandma..."
:—'''Miko''' helping a debilitated '''Fowler'''.

"Say ''ahhh!''" 
"I'm here to offer a second opinion!"
:—Seeing '''Knock Out's''' attempt to operate on Jack, '''Ratchet''' gives him the hint that he might want to consider going back to medical school.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The Insecticons joining the Decepticons, Bulkhead's damage to the ''Nemesis'' power core and the ship's crash all took place in the [[Armada (episode)|previous episode]].
* Megatron makes note of Optimus's increasing ruthlessness and how he would no longer waste a chance to strike, likely referring to his near-termination by Optimus in "[[Crossfire (Prime)|Crossfire]]".
* The Decepticons found their Dark Energon supply back in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 1]]", but it hasn't seen much use since the [[Unicron#Prime cartoon|Unicron]] revelation.
* Soundwave has been trying to decrypt the Iacon database since Optimus Prime recovered his memory in "[[Orion Pax, Part 3]]", and has apparently made very little progress.
* Though the ''Nemesis'' is established in ''[[Transformers: Exiles]]'' to be a stasis-locked [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]], its identity is left unstated here, as it does not refer to itself by name. [[Bob Skir]] has stated it was not meant to be Trypticon waking up.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir]</ref> Confusing matters further, the ''[[Transformers: The Art of Prime]]'' book shows that a unique Trypticon wire-frame CGI design was created for this episode, which (barely) appears in the episode itself on the ship's monitors while the children are on-board.
* The Autobots attempt to use the [[spark extractor]], which they acquired in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]".
* This is the first time Knock Out has used his drill weapon since [[Deus ex Machina|his premiere episode]].
* The ''Nemesis'' deploys paralyzing beams that work in a similar way to the [[Immobilizer]]. For Optimus, Bumblebee and Bulkhead, it thus isn't the first time in the series when they encounter this type of weapon.

===Transformers references===
* (tbd)

===Real-world references===
* The ''Nemesis''{{'}}s stasis beam uses the same sound effect of the Zat'ni'katel (or "Zat Gun") from ''Stargate SG-1''.
* Miko's "On your feet, soldier" is a reference to the 1984 film, ''The Terminator''.
* Miko refers to Knock Out as "Doc Knock," most likely in reference to "Doc Ock," a common nickname of ''[[Spider-Man]]'' villain Doctor Octopus.
* The ship gaining sentience, turning on the crew, and its defeat all bear similarities to HAL 9000 from the film, ''2001: A Space Odyssey''.
* The grid design that immobilizes Dreadwing and the Vehicons is similar to the laser hallways from ''Resident Evil''.

===Animation and technical errors===
* When Jack realizes that the ''Nemesis'' will have to tear down Manhattan to get to the first Iacon relic, the camera zooms out to show all four, including Fowler and Rafael on the control panel. However Knock Out, who should be frozen right behind the two on the control panel, is nowhere to be seen.
* In the previous episode, Bulkhead drove from the ''Nemesis'' crash site back to base rather than use the GroundBridge, suggesting the crash occurred not far away, or at the very least, on the same continent. In this episode, Fowler says the ''Nemesis'' is crossing the Atlantic Ocean and heading for North America.
* How does Jack on the ''Nemesis'' talk to Ratchet back at base without a cell phone? He appears to be using an earpiece, but there's no indication that he received one. Agent Fowler appears to do the same, earlier on.
* In the base, Ratchet appears to be monitoring the vitals of the humans. Unless they've suddenly become Cybertrionians, there's no explanation for how he can do this.
* When stasis-locked Megatron gets knocked over, his hand, still clutching the release lever, opens to allow him to fall all the way down. The rest of him stays completely stiff even upon hitting the ground.
* The Dark Energon infusion travels up the pipes to the main column, which is between them and the energon input receptacle, instead of going down their length from the column.

===Trivia===
* The ''Nemesis''{{'}}s voice is listed only as "Warship" in this episode's credits.
* It seems the amount of power required to stasis lock a Transformer isn't enough to kill a human, as the ship was unaware carbon-based life forms were aboard when Fowler was electrocuted, and was presumably trying the same trick it used on Soundwave.
* No clear reason is given for ''why'' the ''Nemesis'' independently considers gathering the Iacon relics to be "Priority One." Other enigmatic plot points, including the ship revealing it possesses weaponry that Knock Out note he was previously unaware of, and the way in which the ship abruptly, cryptically hangs up on Ratchet when he asks "for what purpose" it's gathering the relics, combine to make it feel like this was the beginning of some kind of dropped sub-plot, as it's never brought up again.
* The ''Nemesis'' is also pretty selective in its mission, as the Spark Extractor it ignored was also an Iacon relic ''and'' a Decepticon artifact.
* You'd think Megatron would at least order his troops to capture the frozen Autobots.
* The Prime Production team actually bought the script idea from [[Bob Skir]] because they loved the idea of this episode a lot.
* [[Bob Skir]] isn't a fan of the title of this episode "Flying Mind" but he also acknowledges that he couldn't come up with anything better either.

===Gadgets and powers===
* The ''Nemesis'' is equipped with at least 6 blaster cannons on its underbelly.
* It also has stasis beams there as well as on its interior, at least in the bridge and the engine room, deployable from the walls and launched from satellite-like dishes. The effect is similar to that of the [[Immobilizer]], only with the target being electrocuted on impact.
* It can electrocute Cybertronians operating its computer terminals.
* For disabling larger groups of hostile units, it can launch laser grids with the same paralyzing function which sweep across its corridors.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Perte de contrôle'''" ("Loss of Control")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Das fliegende Gehirn'''" ("The flying Brain")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 8|8 November]] [[2012]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jinrai Henkei! Senkan Nemesis no Hanran'''" (神雷変形!戦艦ネメシスの反乱, "Thunder God Transformation! Rebellion of the Battleship Nemesis")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 15|15 December]] [[2012]]

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mente Voadora'''" ("Flying Mind")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 17|17 June]] [[2013]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mente Volante'''" ("Flying Mind"), "'''Una Mente Volante'''" (2017 airing, "A Flying Mind")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 22|22 October]] [[2012]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2012 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two ([[Shout! Studios|Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2013 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Vol. 19 ([[Avex Trax]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2013 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Folge 9: Angriff auf Megatron ([[EDEL:kids]]) — English and German audio. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2013 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Volume 3: Weapons of Choice ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Saison 2 Vol. 2: Nemesis Prime ([[Primal Screen]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season 2 Vol. 2: Nemesis Prime (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Stagione 2 Vol. 2: Nemesis Prime (Primal Screen) — English, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian audio. 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Intégrale Saison 2 (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — The Complete Season 2 (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — La Seconda Stagione Completa (Primal Screen) — English, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian audio.
;Blu-ray
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2012 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two Collection (Madman Entertainment) 

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Breakdown (ES)

2025-03-07T19:37:23Z

Platypar-1: /* EarthSpark cartoon */

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Breakdown}}

:''Breakdown is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Transformers: EarthSpark (franchise)|EarthSpark]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:EarthSparkBreakdown SecurityProtocols.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|He's the fastest 'Con alive!]]]]

'''Breakdown''' lives up to his Stunticon heritage. He may be on the run from [[G.H.O.S.T.]] now that the war is over, but he won't let being a wanted criminal stop him from getting his thrills by joining any race he can. He's fortunate enough, however, to be joined by his old friend [[Bumblebee (ES)|Bumblebee]] in these races; it's the only time the two wanted Cybertronians have a chance to catch up. They may have ended up on opposite sides of the war, but getting the chance to score another win over his old friend makes up for any bad blood they may have.

==Fiction==
===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Roger Craig Smith]] (English), [[Yūichirō Umehara]] (Japanese)|[[Último de Carvalho]] (Brazilian Portuguese), [[Denis Maréchal]] (French), [[Arthur Pestel]] (French, "The Last Hope"), [[Óscar Garibay]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Waldemar Barwiński]] (Polish)}}
{{picsneeded|full body robot mode}}

[[File:Breakdown-ES-alt-mode.jpg|thumb|left|Gotta go fast!]]
Breakdown and Bumblebee were good friends back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] before the war and even when war between [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s broke out, the two remained on amicable terms. Stranded on Earth with the destruction of the [[Space bridge]], Breakdown had to go on the run to evade capture by the forces of [[G.H.O.S.T.]] He often caught up with Bumblebee, also a fugitive, in races across the world which Breakdown usually always won.

At [[Witwicky (town)|Witwicky]], [[Pennsylvania]], things got serious when Bumblebee informed Breakdown that G.H.O.S.T. was hot on his trail and were scanning all vehicles partaking in the race for Cybertronian Energon signatures. Enticed, rather than alarmed, by the presence of G.H.O.S.T. Breakdown made a wager with his friend; if Bee could finally beat him in a race, Breakdown would stop partaking in races and lay low but if Breakdown won than he'd get Bumblebee's Energon suppressors, which made it much easier for his friend to evade detection by G.H.O.S.T. With Breakdown not relenting, Bumblebee agreed.

Things seemed to be going swimmingly when G.H.O.S.T. performed an Energon check on Bumblebee that turned up nothing. However, when [[Karen Croft|Agent Croft]] ordered a more thorough scan of all the vehicles, Breakdown realized the jig was up and began trying to fight his way out. He came to Bumblebee's aide, forced to reveal himself to save some humans, and the two began trying to outrace the G.H.O.S.T. forces in a bid to escape. While making their way towards the closest exit, Breakdown was incapacitated by a shot from Agent Croft. Taking stock of the situation, Breakdown realized there was no getting out of their situation and offered his friend one last race. Bumblebee, still focused on getting the both of them out, was taken aback when his friend sped off straight into the direction of the G.H.O.S.T. forces blocking their exit. Taking as many shots as he could, Breakdown used his momentum to hurl Bumblebee over the racetrack's walls and thus to safety. As Bee tried to reach out to get Breakdown, the Stunticon only chuckled and mocked his friend for still being the slow one as he crashed to the surface. Knocked out, Breakdown was taken into custody by G.H.O.S.T. {{storylink|Security Protocols}}

After their capture, Bumblebee and [[Jon Schloder|Schloder]] were put in the same cell as Breakdown, who watched them play card games. [[Nightshade (ES)|Nightshade]] and [[Twitch]] sprung the captives, and though the pair pleaded for the Decepticons' help in battling [[Mandroid]], Breakdown and the other Decepticons had little interest in defending a planet that had locked them up and left them to it. {{storylink|The Last Hope, Part 1}} Later, hearing of the struggle of the Maltobots and their allies, Breakdown joined other Decepticons in showing up to help. Breakdown lent Bumblebee and Schloder a hand in their battle against Mandroid-controlled Autobots until Mandroid ultimately activated his superweapon, deactivating Autobot and Decepticon alike. A few minutes later, Breakdown and the others came back online thanks to [[Robby Malto|Robby]] and [[Mo Malto|Mo]] reversing the effects of the device. {{storylink|The Last Hope, Part 2}}

Following the shattering of the [[Emberstone]], Breakdown fell in under [[Starscream (ES)|Starscream]]'s leadership as the Decepticons attempted to collect the Embershards. During one such operation, Breakdown was prevented from getting away and threw the shard into a nearby puddle, resulting in the creation of the Chaos Terran [[Aftermath (ES)|Aftermath]]. Breakdown took Aftermath back to the Decepticon base, though the other Cons were not as keen as him on the new blood, leaving him to babysit Aftermath while the main Decepticon force headed to the naval yard. As a result, the pair caught Robby, Twitch and Nightshade attempting to steal their Embershards and during the ensuing fight, Breakdown who was increasingly seeing himself as a father figure to Aftermath, saved the Chaos Terran's life by shielding him from an explosion. {{Storylink|Aftermath (ES episode)|Aftermath}}

Breakdown was back at Decepticon base when the Autobots turned up to demand the Decepticons turn over their Embershards. During the ensuing fight, he again tangled with Bumblebee. Starscream, thanks to some hostage taking, managed to obtain all of the shards, at which point Breakdown rolled out with the other Decepticons. They assembled on a nearby hill to watch as the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[Terratronus]], now under Starscream's control, rose from the ground and sent them flying with a swipe of her hand. Reasoning that Starscream had betrayed them, Breakdown and the other Cons opted to follow [[Shockwave (ES)|Shockwave]] instead, only to be trapped under the [[Chaos Dome]] that Robby and Mo erected to contain Terratronus. {{storylink|Witwicky, Part 2}}

Bumblebee, despite everything, hoped to break Breakdown out of the dome, though their firepower proved ineffective. Bee later found a way in thanks to Mo's cyber-sleeve and when Breakdown and [[Soundwave (ES)|Soundwave]] found the Autobot, Breakdown assumed Bee had been lying about being able to get in. Bumblebee persuaded him otherwise, leading to Breakdown helping take down Soundwave and later [[Skullcruncher (ES)|Skullcruncher]] so Mo could obtain a comic... only to immediately betray Bee's team to Shockwave after all. Bumblebee challenged Breakdown to a race, and though Breakdown pulled out all manner of cheating, Bee used the chaos lightning in the dome to supercharge himself, winning and resulting in Shockwave allowing them to leave. {{storylink|The Need for Read}}

After [[Prowl (ES)|Prowl]]'s ship crashed within the Chaos Dome, Breakdown and the other Cons turned out to claim it, only to be driven off by the ship's defenses. Their second attempt was more successful, and after a protracted battle with Optimus and Prowl, the Decepticons boarded the ship before launching into space. {{storylink|No Soldier Left Behind}} Breakdown featured in snapshots sent back to the Autobots by [[Laserbeak (ES)|Laserbeak]] and [[Frenzy (ES)|Frenzy]]. {{storylink|Fire and Ice}}

==Toys==
===''EarthSpark''===
[[File:TF-Earthspark-1Step-Breakdown.jpg|upright=1.75|thumb|Breakjack.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Breakdown''' (1-Step Flip Changer, 2023)}}</ul>

: Part of the fourth wave of ''[[Transformers: EarthSpark (toyline)|EarthSpark]]'' "1-Step Flip Changers", Breakdown is a redeco of the previously released [[Wheeljack (ES)#Toys|1-Step Flip Changer Wheeljack]], converting from robot to vehicle and vice versa by being folded inside-out/outside-in, much like a switchblade. His vehicle mode can be arrived at much faster by letting him fall face up onto a solid surface. This releases a switch on his leg and lets him spring back into car mode instantly.

:Unlike previous One Step Changers, Breakdown lacks any robot mode articulation beyond waggling his free-moving arms side to side. He is also much smaller than previous equivalent toys.
{{--}}

==Notes==
* Breakdown's robot mode was designed by [[Nick Roche]].<ref name="ES2">{{citesocial|quote=So, as far as I remember... Out of the new ones, I worked on the Bot mode for Breakdown, Bot mode for Grimlock... took passes at Nightshade and Dino Grim, but didn't make it (They're mostly Ciro's?) but Shockwave, Hashtag and Tarantulas started as my 2D designs!|link=https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/1631974068445388803|site=Twitter|name=Nick Roche|year=2023|month=03|day=4}}</ref>
*Breakdown's alternate mode combines design cues of both a {{w|File:1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Polar White Frt Qtr.jpg|1969}} (rear) and {{w|File:1973 pontiac trans am.jpeg|1973}} (front) Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.

===Foreign names===
*''Hungarian:'' '''Membrán''' ("Reed Valve" or "Membrane")<ref>[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]]'s official Hungarian name in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel Comics]] was the rather unfortunate "Vibrátor". The ''Earthspark'' dub mostly uses the comic's terminology, so this name change was probably a deliberate choice to avoid awkward innuendo.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Cartoon-only characters]]
[[Category:EarthSpark Decepticons]]

Ravage (ES)

2024-11-19T23:34:40Z

Platypar-1:

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Ravage}}
:'' Ravage is a [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette]] from the [[Transformers: EarthSpark (franchise)|EarthSpark]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:EarthSpark-Decoy-SoundwaveUnleashesRavage.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.40|Off to find the highest shelf she can knock things off of.]]

'''Ravage''' may be rather small compared to other [[Transformer]]s, but don't underestimate her. This feline foe's speed and agility make her hard to pin down, and her roar emits a sonic wave that becomes even stronger when paired with her fellow [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassette-bot]]s. Even in this supposed era of peacetime, she remains loyal to her master [[Soundwave (ES)|Soundwave]] to a fault, no matter what his sinister intentions may be.

==Fiction==
===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
[[File:EarthSpark-Decoy-SoundwaveAndCassettes.jpg|left|thumb|"Like...Y'know, nyah."]]
Ravage joined her fellow cassette-bots in stealing [[Jon Schloder|Agent Schloder]]'s ID card, leading [[Optimus Prime (ES)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (ES)|Megatron]] on a chase to retrieve it. The three managed to hold their own until [[Bumblebee (ES)|Bumblebee]] arrived with a set of [[restraining bolt]]s, which he used to [[mode lock]] Ravage and the others. As their captors transported them to [[G.H.O.S.T.]] HQ, [[Soundwave (ES)|Soundwave]] ambushed them and used an electromagnetic pulse to disable the bolts and free his former subordinates. Ravage and the others briefly tussled with Megatron before their attention was drawn to the newly arrived [[Terran]]s and their [[human]] siblings. The three attempted to use their Tri-Tone attack, but were caught off-guard by their opponents' catchy singing, giving Bumblebee an opening to take them all down. In the aftermath, Megatron agreed to allow the cassette-bots to leave in peace, but the loyal Ravage couldn't bring herself to abandon Soundwave. Unnoticed, Ravage snuck into Soundwave's chest compartment, and the larger bot later released her into G.H.O.S.T.'s prison facility to do reconnaissance. {{storylink|Decoy (episode)|Decoy}}

A year after Mandroid's defeat, Ravage was still with Soundwave and the Decepticons. At [[Starscream (ES)|Starscream's]] command, Ravage inflitrated the Autobot base. She used her alt-mode to quickly scan several crates of hard drives, spefically looking for Croft's drive. She was discovered by [[Nightshade (ES)|Nightshade]], who sounded the alarm. Ravage deftly evaded all the attempts to capture her and escaped into the woods. Later, she cowered behind [[Shockwave (ES)|Shockwave]] as Starscream berated them for their failure. {{storylink|Control Alt Delete}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Ravage''' (ラヴィッジ ''Ravijji'')

[[Category:Cartoon-only Transformers]]
[[Category:EarthSpark Decepticons]]
[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Mini-Cassettes]]

Titan Master

2024-11-09T18:51:58Z

Platypar-1: /* Titans Return marketing material */

[[File:crashbash_titan_master.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66|[[Squeezeplay (G1)|Crashbash]].]]

'''Titan Masters''' are a diminutive breed of [[Transformer]]. Long ago, this ancient and mysterious group of Transformers worked within the gigantic bodies of the [[Titan (group)|Titans]], maintaining their complicated systems as the Titans journeyed across the [[galaxy]]. The Titan Masters were created as gifts, intended to be shared with other civilizations that the Titans might meet in their journeys. Each Titan Master possesses a unique [[Spark]] that allows them to transfer their innate powers into the bodies of other Cybertronians by forming their head, not unlike the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]].

With the resurgence of the Titans themselves, the Titan Masters, long forgotten by Cybertronian civilization at large, have re-emerged from the realm of myth and legend and joined the modern era of the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s... representing a Pandora's grab-bag of superpowers sure to unleash earth-shaking results.

==Fiction==
===''Titans Return'' marketing material===
When the universe was still forming, before [[Autobot]]s or [[Decepticon]]s existed, the giant spaceship robots known as Titans were created and sent out to discover the powers and mysteries of the universe. Each Titan was crewed by Titan Masters, tiny robot caretakers charged with up-keeping their systems. The Titan Masters also had a greater purpose: Each had a unique superpower they could grant to other Transformers, a gift intended to forge links with other civilizations they might discover. The Titans and their crews were eventually forgotten by all but a few power-hungry and entirely unsuccessful legend hunters. Until the Titans mysteriously returned, and the Titan Masters partnered up with Autobots and Decepticons alike. [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] vowed that the Decepticons would use the Titan Masters to rule the universe!

This new conflict quickly spread across the Transformer's universe. On [[Velocitron]] the Speed Planet's biggest race of the year was interrupted in the final lap. Blurr, a previous champion of all Velocitron's major races, had teamed up with Titan Master [[Haywire|Hyperfire]] at his wheel. They vied with [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] for the lead when the Decepticon tracker Scourge and an allied Titan Master [[Squeezeplay (G1)|Crashbash]] attacked, trying to capture their assigned target: Hyperfire. Luckily Powermaster [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] and [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] were on hand to try and stop them.

Meanwhile, searching for info on the mysterious return of the Titans and their crews, [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] followed a trail of clues to the "Beast Planet" [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Eukaris]]. Amid jungle covered buildings Alpha Trion and the Titan Master [[Grimlock (G1)|Clobber]] located a mysterious ancient artifact that was linked to the Titans and Titan Masters. [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] led [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Wolfwire]], and the Titan Master [[Apeface]] in an ambush to steal the artifact.

On [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]], the Decepticon [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullsmasher]] aided by Titan Masters Grax and Terri-bull infiltrated the planet and stole the codes to the intergalactic [[Space bridge|Space Bridge]] network for the Decepticons. An Autobot spy team lead by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] detected the theft. Blaster, [[Stripes]], [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] and the Titan Master [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] chased down the thieves and battled for the codes in Caminus' streets.

Later, back on Cybertron, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] led an all out assault. [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], Astrotrain, Skullsmasher, [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], among others, pressed the attack while Powermaster Prime, Chromedome, Highbrow, Wheelie, Blaster and Hardhead were among the defenders. The battle was interrupted when what first seemed like an earthquake attack by Rumble was actually the landscape itself transforming into the Legendary Titan: [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], so large he uses two levels of Titan Master. {{storylink|Titans Return: The Power of the Titan Masters}}

Later, back on Velocitron a new race was held. The prize? The power to temporarily control the speed of anything, even time itself. The Autobots sent a team lead by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Laser Prime]]. At his command - [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (a Quantum Engineer to supercharge their engines), [[Fastlane|Fastclash]] (a decoy and escape artist, to confuse pursuit and leave it in a wreck) and [[Quickswitch]] (a mercurial assault warrior). Rodimus Prime finished the race first and claimed the prize for the Autobots, but there was a catch! To gain the power he was transformed into a Titan Master himself, able to grant it to another. The Autobots faced a firefight to evade the Cons and leave the planet. Laser Prime saved the day, using his Laserpoint System to open a portal away from the world of speed.<ref>''Titans Return'' Chaos on Velocitron pack-in poster bios and story blurb</ref>

In the depths of space, the monster Titan [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] and his Titan Master [[Wipe-Out|Necro]] traveled in starship mode between worlds, landing as a dark fortress or a terrible giant beast, bringing doom and ultimate destruction wherever they passed. Trypticon ever hungered for Titan Masters to devour the way another robot would Energon cubes, and the macabre Necro longs to harvest and devour the sparks of all Transformers who cross his dark path.
{{storylink|Trypticon (G1)#Titans Return|''Titans Return'' Trypticon on-package blurb}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:TitansReturn Infinitus Sentinel.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2]]
The Titan Masters were an ancient race, dating back to the time of the [[Thirteen Tribes]]. {{storylink|White Heat}} Their diminutive stature belied their frighteningly alien physiology; not only could they puppeteer the decapitated bodies of any larger Transformer, but they had the ability to consume the [[Spark]]s of their victims as an alternative source of energy. {{storylink|Ten to Midnight}} Their power lay in the ability to summon and control the [[Titan (group)|Titan]]s of ancient Cybertron, who were instinctually drawn to follow their commands. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (IDW)|Ghost in the Machine}} Some possessed the ability to fly under their own power, {{storylink|Enter the Shadow}} and, unlike other Cybertronians, they could selectively shut down parts of their body to cope with discomfort. {{storylink|Power and Glory}}

At least two Titan Masters survived until the present day. [[Infinitus]], who had served his master [[Nexus Prime]] during the [[First Cybertronian Civil War]], took on a new identity after the death of his Prime and became [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], "dying" during his first battle with [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]. {{storylink|White Heat}} Following the creation of [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on [[Earth]], Infinitus was roused from his slumber and vowed to "purify" Cybertron from Decepticons and colonists. {{storylink|The Last Autobot}}

[[Sovereign]], the herald of [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Onyx Prime]], was dispatched to Earth to find the lost [[Enigma of Combination]]. Disguised as a [[human]], he eventually took on the alias [[G.B. Blackrock|Garrison Blackrock]]. {{storylink|White Light}} He remained unaware of his true heritage until Sentinel Prime travelled to Earth and forcibly re-awoke Sovereign from his human disguise. Although Sentinel Prime planned to use an army of undead Titans to cleanse his homeworld, he and Sovereign were defeated by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]], [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]], [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and [[Beak]]. Sovereign was reverted to his Blackrock persona and Sentinel was killed. {{storylink|Ten to Midnight}} "Blackrock" would go on to use his Titan Master powers extensively during the search for the [[Talisman (G1)|Talisman]] and [[Merklynn|Garrison Kreiger]]. {{storylink|Crisis Intervention}} After receiving encouragement from the spectre of [[Atomic Man|Mike Power]], Blackrock used his abilities to summon [[Metrotitan (G1)|Metrotitan]] and transmit a curative pulse, amplified by the Titan's personal Space Bridge, returning the [[Dire Wraith]] mutates to human form. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (IDW)|Ghost in the Machine}}

During the final battle against [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], Blackrock and [[Centurion (IDW)|Centurion]] Titan Mastered [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], respectively, into battle. {{storylink|Ceremony}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
In the ten thousand years following the [[Grand Uprising]], the specialized subclasses of [[Cyberdroid]]s and [[Nebulan|Nebulon]]s ([[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]]s, [[Powermaster]]s) were misremembered as the "Titanmasters". [[Resistance]] Supreme Commander [[Lio Convoy]] was thought to have been Titanmaster partners with the individual called [[Moon (BW)|Moon or Mecha Usagi]], though this was unconfirmed. {{storylink|The Inexorable March}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
The [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] process was sometimes known as the "Titanmaster" process. {{storylink|The Enigma of Combination}}

==Toys==
===''Titans Return''===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Titan Master''' ([[2016]])
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Squeezeplay (G1)#Titans Return|Crashbash]] with dragon/tyrannosaur}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Siren (G1)#Titans Return|Loudmouth]] with hovercar/hovertank}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Nightbeat (G1)#Titans Return|Nightbeat]] with jet/drilltank}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Horri-Bull#Titans Return|Terri-Bull]] with tank/jet}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Apeface#Titans Return|Apeface]] with gorilla/jet}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Brawn (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Brawn]] with hovercraft/treaded jeep}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Grimlock (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Clobber]] with dragon/tyrannosaur}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Flywheels#Titans Return|Skytread]] with tank/jet}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Swoop (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Autobot Ptero]] with pteranodon/jet}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Fangry (G1)#Titans Return|Decepticon Fangry]] with winged wolf/dragon}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Overkill (G1)#Titans Return|Overboard]] with dragon/tyrannosaur}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Lione#Titans Return|Sawback]] with lion/jet}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Shuffler#Titans Return|Autobot Shuffler]] with elephant/tank}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Repugnus (G1)#Titans Return|Repugnus]] with insectoid monster/blade shield}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Ramhorn (G1)#Titans Return|Ramhorn]] with rhinoceros/tank}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:TF-Generations-Titans-Return-Titan-Master-Shuffler.jpg|thumb|250px|Titan Master Shuffler]]
|}

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Deluxe'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Grax#Titans Return|Grax]] & [[Skullcruncher (G1)#Titans Return|Skullsmasher]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Duros#Titans Return|Furos]] & [[Hardhead (G1)#Titans Return|Hardhead]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Fracas#Titans Return|Fracas]] & [[Scourge (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Scourge]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Haywire (Targetmaster)#Titans Return|Hyperfire]] & [[Blurr (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Blurr]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Stylor#Titans Return|Autobot Stylor]] & [[Chromedome (G1)#Titans Return|Chromedome]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Monzo#Titans Return|Monxo]] & [[Weirdwolf (G1)#Titans Return|Wolfwire]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Vorath#Titans Return|Vorath]] & [[Mindwipe (G1)#Titans Return|Mindwipe]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Gort#Titans Return|Xort]] & [[Highbrow (G1)#Titans Return|Highbrow]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Firebolt (G1)#Titans Return|Firedrive]] & [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Autobot Hot Rod]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Daburu (TR)#Titans Return|Daburu]] & [[Doublecross#Titans Return|Autobot Twinferno]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Blowpipe (G1)#Titans Return|Blowpipe]] & [[Triggerhappy (G1)#Titans Return|Triggerhappy]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Rev#Titans Return|Autobot Throttle]] & [[Getaway#Titans Return|Autobot Breakaway]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Convex#Titans Return|Convex]] & [[Perceptor (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Perceptor]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Recoil (G1)#Titans Return|Flintlock]] & [[Kup (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Sergeant Kup]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Freezeout (TR)#Titans Return|Freezeout]] & [[Topspin (G1)#Titans Return|Autobot Topspin]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Gatoraider#Titans Return|Gatorface]] & [[Krok (G1)#Titans Return|Decepticon Krok]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Chasm#Titans Return|Chasm]] & [[Quake (G1)#Titans Return|Decepticon Quake]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Aimless#Titans Return|Aimless]] & [[Misfire (G1)#Titans Return|Misfire]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Scorchfire#Titans Return|Scorchfire]] & [[Windblade (G1)#TRDeluxe|Windblade]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Flameout#Titans Return|Flameout]] & [[Twin Twist#Titans Return|Twin Twist]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Caliburst (G1)#Titans Return|Caliburst]] & [[Slugslinger (G1)#Titans Return|Slugslinger]]}}
</ul>
|[[File:TitansReturntoy-Scorchfire.jpg|thumb|Scorchfire]]
|}

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Voyager'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Infinitus#Titans Return|Autobot Infinitus]] & [[Sentinel Prime (G1)#Titans Return|Sentinel Prime]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Nucleon (TR)#Titans Return|Nucleon]] & [[Galvatron (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Galvatron]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Darkmoon#Titans Return|Darkmoon]] & [[Astrotrain (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Astrotrain]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Sovereign#Titans Return|Autobot Sovereign]] & [[Alpha Trion (G1)#Titans Return|Alpha Trion]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Doomshot#Titans Return|Doomshot]] & [[Megatron (G1)/Generations toys#Titans Return|Megatron]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Diac#Titans Return|Diac]] & [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#TRVoyager|Optimus Prime]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Blunderbuss#Titans Return|Blunderbuss]] & [[Broadside (G1)#Titans Return|Broadside]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Murk#Titans Return|Murk]] & [[Octane#Titans Return|Octone]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Hazard#Titans Return|Decepticon Hazard]] & [[Blitzwing (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Blitzwing]]}}
|[[File:Titans return infinitus.jpg|thumb|Infinitus]]
|}

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Leader'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Twin Cast#Titans Return|Twin Cast]] & [[Blaster (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Autobot Blaster]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Hi-Q#Titans Return|Autobot Apex]] & [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Titans Return|Powermaster Optimus Prime]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Soundblaster (TR)#Titans Return|Soundblaster]] & [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Soundwave]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Revolver#Titans Return|Decepticon Revolver]] & [[Sixshot (G1)#Titans Return|Six Shot]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Ominus#Titans Return|Ominus]] & [[Black Shadow (G1)#Titans Return|Sky Shadow]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Giga#Titans Return|Dreadnaut]] & [[Overlord (G1)#Titans Return|Decepticon Overlord]]}}
</ul>
|[[File:TitansReturntoy-Apex.jpg|thumb|Apex]]
|}

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Titan'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Emissary (TR)#Titans Return|Emissary]] & [[Cerebros (G1)#Titans Return|Cerebros]] & [[Fortress Maximus (G1)#Titans Return|Fortress Maximus]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Wipe-Out#Titans Return|Necro]] & [[Full-Tilt (G1)#Titans Return|Full-Tilt]] & [[Trypticon (G1)#Titans Return|Trypticon]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=3|[[File:TF-Titans-Return-Necro.jpg|thumb|Necro]]
|}

;Exclusives
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Titan Force''' ([[2016]])
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Infinitus#SDCC2016|Autobot Infinitus]] & [[Sentinel Prime (G1)#SDCC2016|Sentinel Prime]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Windblade (G1)#Titans Return|Windblade]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Brainstorm (G1)#Titans Return|Brainstorm]] & [[Arcana#Titans Return|Autobot Teslor]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Fortress Maximus Convention Edition''' (2016)
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Emissary (TR)#SDCC2016|Emissary]] & [[Cerebros (G1)#SDCC2016|Cerebros]] & [[Fortress Maximus (G1)#SDCC2016|Fortress Maximus]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Primitive Skateboarding''' ([[2017]])
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Primitive Skateboarding Promotion|Optimus Prime]] & [[Shreddicus Maximus#Titans Return|Shreddicus Maximus]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:TR-toy ShreddicusMaximus.jpg|thumb|250px|Primitive Skateboarding Shreddicus Maximus]]
|}

{|style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Walgreens]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Arcana#TitansReturnIndividual|Autobot Teslor]] & [[Brainstorm (G1)#TRDeluxe|Brainstorm]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Toys"R"Us]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|"Chaos on Velocitron" (2017):}}
:{{bp-a1|[[Dynamus#Titans Return|Dynamus]] & [[Quickswitch#Titans Return|Quickswitch]]}}
:{{bp-a1|[[Refractor#Titans Return|Refractor]] & [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#ChaosOnVelocitron|Laser Prime]]}}
:{{bp-a1|[[Parsec#Titans Return|Parsec]] & [[Nautica (G1)#Titans Return|Autobot Nautica]]}}
:{{bp-a1|[[Fastlane#Titans Return|Fastclash]]}}
:{{bp-a1|[[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#ChaosOnVelocitron|Rodimus Prime]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[BigBadToyStore]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1d1|"Siege on Cybertron" (2017):}}
:{{bp-a1|[[Ginrai (human)#Titans Return|Ginrai]] & [[Ginrai (robot)#Titans Return|Magnus Prime]]}}
:{{bp-a1|[[Haruma Gō#Titans Return|Professor Go]] & [[Metalhawk (G1)#Titans Return|Metalhawk]]}}
:{{bp-d1|[[Fathom#Titans Return|Fathom]] & [[Tidal Wave (G1)#Titans Return|Tidal Wave]]}}
:{{bp-d1|[[Pounce#Titans Return|Pounce]]}}
:{{bp-d1|[[Thunderwing (G1)#Titans Return|Thunderwing]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Hasbro Toy Shop/Toys"R"Us'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Daniel Witwicky (G1)#Titans Return|Leinad]] & [[Arcee (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Arcee]] with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Ultra Magnus]]}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Fengul#Titans Return|Fengul]] & [[Grotusque#Titans Return|Grotusque]] with [[Scorponok (G1)#Titans Return|Scorponok]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:TitansReturn TitanMaster Thunderwing.jpg|thumb|Siege on Cybertron Thunderwing]]
|}

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Special Edition''' ([[2018]])
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Dastard#Titans Return|Dastard]] & [[Repugnus (G1)#SpecialEdition|Repugnus]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:Titans-Return-Special-Edition-Dastard.jpg|thumb|Special Edition Dastard]]
|}

===''Tribute''===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Evolution 2-Pack''' ([[2017]])
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Tribute2Pack|Optimus Prime & Orion Pax]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:TF-Tribute-2-pack-Orion-Pax.jpg|thumb|250px|Deluxe Class Orion Pax]]
|}

===''The Last Knight''===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Deluxe''' (2017)
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Cogman#Deluxe|Cogman]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:TLK-DeluxeCogman.jpg|thumb|250px|Deluxe Class Cogman]]
|}
{{note|Although [[Nitro Zeus#Toys|Decepticon Nitro]] lacks a Titan Master of his own, the non-transformable head can be removed and replaced with one, which can also ride in his jet mode's cockpit.}}

===''Bumblebee''===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''''Greatest Hits''''' (2018)
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Soundwave (ROTF)/toys#Bumblebee|Soundwave]] & [[Doombox#Bumblebee|Doombox]]}}
|
|[[File:Bumblebee-Greatest-Hits-Doombox.jpg|thumb|250px|''Greatest Hits'' Doombox]]
|}

===''Studio Series''===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Deluxe''' ([[2019]])
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|39 [[Cogman#Studio Series|Cogman]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:Studio-Series-MV5-39-Deluxe-Cogman.jpg|thumb|250px|Deluxe Class Cogman]]
|}
{{note|Although [[Thundercracker (Movie)#Generations|Thundercracker]] and [[KSI Boss#Toys|KSI Boss]] lack Titan Masters of their own, the non-transformable heads can be removed and replaced with one, which can also ride in their jet mode's cockpit.}}

===''War for Cybertron: Siege''===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Voyager''' ([[2019]])
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Apeface#War for Cybertron: Siege|Apeface]] (w/ [[Spasma#War for Cybertron: Siege|Spasma]])}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:WFC-Siege-Spasma.jpg|thumb|100px|Spasma]]
|}

===''War for Cybertron: Earthrise''===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Voyager''' ([[2020]])
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Snapdragon (G1)#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Snapdragon]] (w/ [[Krunk#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Decepticon Krunk]])}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Titan''' (2020)
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Scorponok (G1)#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Scorponok]] (w/ [[Zarak (G1)#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Lord Zarak]])}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:TF-Generations-WFC-E-Voyager-Krunk.jpg|thumb|80px|Decepticon Krunk]]
|}
{{note|While Decepticon Krunk is explicitly stated as a Headmaster instead, it is registered on this page for convenience.}}

===''Retro Headmasters''===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1''' (2020)
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Chromedome (G1)#Retro Headmasters|Chromedome]] (w/ [[Stylor#Retro Headmasters|Stylor]])}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Brainstorm (G1)#Retro Headmasters|Brainstorm]] (w/ [[Arcana#Retro Headmasters|Arcana]])}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Hardhead (G1)#Retro Headmasters|Hardhead]] (w/ [[Duros#Retro Headmasters|Duros]])}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Mindwipe (G1)#Retro Headmasters|Mindwipe]] (w/ [[Vorath#Retro Headmasters|Vorath]])}}
</ul>
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 2''' (2021)
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Highbrow (G1)#Retro Headmasters|Highbrow]] (w/ [[Gort#Retro Headmasters|Gort]])}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Skullcruncher (G1)#Retro Headmasters|Skullcruncher]] (w/ [[Grax#Retro Headmasters|Grax]])}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Weirdwolf (G1)#Retro Headmasters|Weirdwolf]] (w/ [[Monzo#Retro Headmasters|Monzo]])}}
</ul>
|[[File:TF-Generations-Retro-Headmasters-Chromedome.jpg|thumb|250px|Chromedome (w/ Stylor)]]
|}
{{note|While these are explicitly stated as Headmasters instead, it is registered on this page for convenience.}}

===''Buzzworthy Bumblebee''===
{| style="margin-left:1em;"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''''War for Cybertron Trilogy'''''
<ul class="iconlist">
*"Worlds Collide" 4-pack (2021):
:{{Bp-d1|[[Fangry (G1)#Buzzworthy Bumblebee|Fangry]] (w/ [[Brisko#Buzzworthy Bumblebee|Brisko]])}}
</ul>
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:TF-WFC-Trilogy-Buzzworthy-Brisko.jpg|thumb|250px|Brisko]]
|}

===''Generations Selects''===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Titan''' ([[2022]])
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Scorponok (G1)#Generations Selects|Black Zarak]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:Black zarak head.jpg|thumb|250px|Black Zarak's head]]
|}

===''Legacy''===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wreck 'n Rule Collection''' ([[2022]])
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-wr|[[Twin Twist (G1)#Legacy|Diaclone Universe Twin Twist]]}}
</ul>

|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:Legacy-Wreck-N-Rule-Twin-Twist.jpg|thumb|250px|Diaclone Universe Twin Twist]]
|}
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Multi-Pack''' ([[2024]])
<ul class="iconlist">

{{Bp-d1|[[Squeezeplay (G1)#Legacy|G1 Universe Squeezeplay]] (w/ [[Lokos#Legacy|G1 Universe Lokos]])}}

==Notes==
*In a nod to the conceptual origins of the Titan Masters, the blueprint-style design on the inside of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' packaging features an image of [[Nebulos]], with lines branching out to images of Titan Masters.
*While there are standardised elements to ensure line-wide compatibility, the exact design of both Titan Master heads and sockets varies from figure to figure. As a result, some combinations will result in a vice-like grip, and others in a loose, wobbly connection, even when using the Titan Master originally packaged with the figure. Looser connections can often be improved by rotating the Titan Master's head 180 degrees – this causes the tabs inside the socket to press directly onto the sides of the head (rather than sitting into the notches designed for them), creating a tighter grip.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Titan Master''' (タイタンマスター ''Taitan Masutā'')
*''French:'' '''Maître Titan'''
*''Portuguese:'' '''Mestre Titã'''
*''Spanish:'' '''Maestro Titán'''

==See also==
*[[Headmaster (technology)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Bumblebee subgroups]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Titan Masters| ]]
[[Category:Titans Return]]
[[Category:The Last Knight subgroups]]
[[Category:Studio Series]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Siege subgroups]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Earthrise subgroups]]

Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)

2024-10-09T17:11:20Z

Platypar-1: /* Overview */

{{disambig3.5|the real-world franchise|the historical event within the fiction|Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars}}
{{Nav-bw}}

'''''Beast Wars: Transformers''''' is a [[franchises|franchise]] that began in [[1996]], following the end of ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]''. It was a massive reinvention of the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]], featuring robots that changed into realistic, organically styled animals instead of the traditional vehicles and mechanical beasts. The accompanying cartoon was another visual break, being the first fully-[[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] ''Transformers'' series. It also did the seemingly unthinkable and replaced the original factions of [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s with complete new ones called [[Maximal]]s and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]. Though originally [[Ruined FOREVER|decried by fans]], ''Beast Wars'' dramatically reinvigorated the brand after flagging sales in the ''Generation 2'' franchise.

"Beast Wars" is also frequently used as a catchall term for the overall [[Beast Era]] in which [[Beast Wars continuity|''Beast Wars'' and other series]] occur.

The ''Beast Wars'' franchise features the following primary components:
*[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|A toyline]] — ([[1996]]–[[2001]])
*[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|A cartoon series]] — (1996–[[1999]]) called ''Beasties'' in many Canadian markets to appear less violent (''Ha!'').
*[[Beast Wars: Transformers (video game)|A video game]] for PC and [[PlayStation]] based on the first season of the cartoon.
*[[Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)|A video game]] for the [[Nintendo 64]] based on the [[Transmetal]] and [[Fuzor]] versions of the characters from the cartoon's second season (and some from the toyline).
*[[Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (PS)|A video game]] for the PlayStation, with the same name and general concept as the N64 game, but significant differences.
*Several [[List of Beast Wars comics|comic series]] that were produced both during and after the franchise's original run.

==Overview==
[[File:OptimusPrimalVsMegatron BeastWarsWave1DeluxeCommercial.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|''Beast Wars'' marked a revolutionary point in ''Transformers'' history, with all new factions, radical new toy developments, and (at the time) cutting edge computer animation.]]
From [[1992]] to [[1995]], [[Hasbro]]'s attempt to revive the ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' brand with ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' proved to be not as successful as originally hoped. Facing the reality of cancelation, Hasbro was left with the decision of either ending ''Transformers'' for good or trying something ''dramatically'' different to breathe new life into the brand; ultimately, they chose the latter. The major change in direction followed organizational changes within Hasbro. The company had previously acquired rival toy manufacturer [[Kenner]] as part of their [[1991]] [[Tonka]] acquisition.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20081102035722/http://www.hasbro.com/default.cfm?page=ci_history_hasbro The History of Hasbro] (archive copy)</ref> In 1995, they transferred their boys' toy lines from the Hasbro headquarters in [[Rhode Island]] to Kenner's offices in Cincinnati, [[Ohio]]. Kenner was tasked with revitalizing the brand with new ideas and, in [[1996]], ''Beast Wars'' was the result.

Lead designer [[Chris Gross]] inadvertently kicked off the ''Beast Wars'' concept when he proposed a stylistic change from hard-edged, blocky robots to {{w|Bio Booster Armor Guyver|Guyver}}-inspired "organic" machines.<ref name="vinnie">[http://obscuretf.com/hhk/BC04interviews.html BotCon 2004 Interview with Vinnie D'Alleva], p1</ref> The "[[mutant head]]s" on the first few Beast Wars toy designs were conceived of as a way of easing the transition from traditional ''Transformers'' into ''Beast Wars'' by showing that there was a robot within the beast, not just an animal that transforms into some kind of monster.<ref name="vinnie"/> The ''Beast Wars'' line title was inspired by a past toyline of Kenner's, namely the ''Future War'' line of ''{{w|Terminator (franchise)|Terminator}}'' toys, which was chosen based on the idea that it portrayed a "visceral conflict".<ref name="vinnie"/> The show would not have been made unless a drastically new concept from the original ''Transformers'' was created, as Generation 1 was considered a stale property at the time.<ref name="vinnie"/>

To promote the new toyline, an animated TV series was created by [[Canada|Canadian]] production company [[Mainframe Entertainment]], who had pioneered in [[computer-generated imagery]] with the success of their first animated series ''{{w|ReBoot}}''. Television writers [[Bob Forward]] and [[Larry DiTillio]] were brought in to serve as the series' story editors. Having never worked on ''Transformers'' beforehand, the two brought a fresh perspective to the series, and created a whole new world and lore from the ground up. Voice talent for the show was based in Vancouver, [[British Columbia]], with such actors as [[Garry Chalk]], [[David Kaye]], [[Scott McNeil]], [[Richard Newman]], [[Venus Terzo]], and more, first joining the ''Transformers'' voice acting legacy through ''Beast Wars''. Many would even return to ''Transformers'' to lend their voices to the casts of later animated series, such as those belonging to the [[Unicron Trilogy]] of the mid-2000s.

By mid-[[1999]], ''Beast Wars'' had spanned three-and-a-half years of new toys and three seasons of the TV series, with new developments and new innovations constantly brought to the table year after year. While the cartoon ended that year, the toyline crept along past its formal lifespan with a few final releases just making it out to retail stores and fan conventions in both [[2000]] and [[2001]].

==Japanese release==
{{nav-bwj}}
In Japan, the first season of the North American cartoon was aired in [[1997]] with what was basically a gag dub, striking a markedly lighter tone full of adlibs and pop culture references added to the dialogue, meant to up the humor and appeal to a much younger audience than the English version. This dub was accompanied by releases of the concurrent toys, but only about half of the ones released in the West (mostly just those of the in-show characters). Because the second and third seasons of the show were only 13 episodes each (half the length of the show's first 26-episode season), the second season was deemed too short to span a year's worth of Japanese television, and thus its Japanese release was held off until production of the third season was completed.

In the meantime, two Japanese-original cel-animated series were created to fill in the void, with each receiving their own accompanying toys and [[manga]] series. These were [[1998]]'s ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' and 1999's ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]]'', respectively. While both of these series used cel animation, the toys' box art was rendered in a CG style similar to the original Mainframe cartoon (whereas the Western releases of the toys were the opposite, featuring hand drawn box art). Once both of these had finished their original broadcast run, the remaining two CG-animated seasons of the Mainframe series, along with their accompanying toys, were finally released in late 1999 under the name of ''Beast Wars Metals''. Like the first season, the ''Metals'' dub was just as light-hearted and littered with adlibs.

==Reception==
''Beast Wars'' was the first complete reinvention of the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]], discarding the previous setting, characters, and factions to create a brand new story. [[Transformer]]s in the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon were much smaller (often [[human]]-sized) and initially transformed into "fleshy" or "scaly" non-robotic animals, before the second season introduced new concepts like the [[Transmetal]]s. Initially met with [[Trukk not munky|outrage]] by many fans (for a variety of reasons), ''Beast Wars'' would eventually win over most of its detractors and become highly regarded, largely due to the exceptional quality of the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon series]]. It is now not unusual for even longtime fans of the 1980s [[The Transformers (franchise)|''Transformers'']] to consider ''Beast Wars'' to be their favorite of all ''Transformers'' franchises. This is perhaps best shown by the fact that, about fifteen years later, the first two fan-voted characters to enter the [[Transformers Hall of Fame]] were ''Beast Wars'' fan-favorites [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], and again in [[2017]] when [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] [[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Power of the Primes|won]] the ''[[Power of the Primes (franchise)|Power of the Primes]]'' [[Fan polls#Power of the Primes Fan Vote|fan poll]].

==Sequel==
{{main|Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)}}
A direct sequel series followed ''Beast Wars'' in the form of ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machines]]''. In contrast to its predecessor, while it kept the heroic Maximal faction, ''Beast Machines'' brought back vehicular altmodes for the enemy faction, replacing the Predacons with the [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]. It also utilized a more futuristic "alien" aesthetic, with the Maximals turning into "[[technorganic]]" beasts (a molecular fusion of the organic and the technological), while the Vehicons turned into "living" vehicles with robotic heads in place of the driver's seats and cockpits. ''Beast Machines'' also received a [[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon series]] that continued the lives of the ''Beast Wars'' cast on their home planet of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], but took a much more cerebral approach to its story that yielded a far more polarizing reception from the fandom.

==Anniversaries==
===10th Anniversary===
[[2006]] marked the tenth anniversary of ''Beast Wars'' and many parties sought to celebrate the occasion in different ways. From Hasbro came ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]'', a small line consisting primarily of reissues of eight toys from the original 1996 toyline, [[redeco]]ed in more [[show-accuracy|show-accurate]] color schemes. Six of these reissues were Deluxe class toys that included both a [[pack-in material|packed-in]] DVD containing a single episode from the cartoon (each episode being one themed around the character with whose toy they were packaged) and an all-new [[Build a Figure|build-a-figure]] component of [[Transmutate (BW)|Trans-Mutate]], a show-original [[Transmutate (episode)|single-episode]] character who had never received a toy beforehand. Additionally, two brand new Deluxe class molds of [[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Optimus Primal]] and [[Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Megatron]] were released as part of the line, and had built-in compatibility with the [[Cyber Key]] gimmick of the then-contemporary ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' toyline.

For [[BotCon 2006]], [[Fun Publications]] created what was, arguably, their most famous and well-received set of [[BotCon]] [[exclusive]]s: "Dawn of Future's Past", a set of mostly ''Cybertron'' toy molds redecoed/[[retool]]ed into most of the main cast of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon's first season, in forms representing the Cybertronian bodies the characters had before coming to Earth and scanning their [[beast mode]]s. An accompanying [[Dawn of Future's Past|comic story of the same title]] served as an immediate prequel to the cartoon, telling the story of what all happened right before the [[Beast Wars (Part 1)|first episode]]. The following year, an additional prequel to ''that'' prequel was released at [[BotCon 2007]], in the form of an animated short titled "[[Theft of the Golden Disk]]" (which even had [[David Kaye]] reprise his role of [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]]!).

[[TakaraTomy]] also celebrated the anniversary with two new developments of their own. First was ''[[Beast Wars Reborn]]'', a special two-pack release of the original Ultra class [[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Beast Wars Reborn|Optimus Primal]] and [[Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast Wars Reborn|Megatron]] toys in new show-accurate colors and tooling (Hasbro would also release these two as part of their ''Beast Wars 10th Anniversary'' line). A four-part ''Beast Wars Reborn'' prose story written by [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]] (set after the events of the Japanese dub of ''Beast Machines'') was published in issues #97–100 of ''[[Figure Ō]]'' magazine from [[March]] to [[June]] of 2006. In [[2007]]—the tenth anniversary of the [[Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers|Japanese release of ''Beast Wars'']]—TakaraTomy released ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]'', a proper line of ''Beast Wars'' reissues very similar to Hasbro's ''Beast Wars 10th Anniversary'' line, complete with pack-in DVDs and show-accurate redecos (even ''more'' accurate than those of the Hasbro line).

===20th Anniversary===
[[File:BW20.png|190px|right|]]
After the attention ''Beast Wars'' had received from Hasbro for the tenth anniversary in 2006, as well the ''bombastic'' celebration for the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'']] brand's 30th anniversary—the "''[[Thrilling 30]]''"—which Hasbro threw in [[2014]]... The [[fandom]] waited with bated breath to see how Hasbro had in store for the 20th anniversary of ''Beast Wars'' in [[2016]]. Alas, there was very little fanfare from Hasbro proper, who opted to instead focus their attention more on the 30th anniversary of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. The ''sole'' nod to the ''Beast Wars'' anniversary from Hasbro was the ''[[Transformers: Platinum Edition|Platinum Edition]]'' release of the [[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Platinum Edition|Year of the Monkey Optimus Primal]], which did sport a celebratory [[logo]] (pictured right), but said release was more of a Hasbro ''Asia'' initiative than Hasbro proper.

[[File:Beast Wars Chilling 20th Logo.jpg|left|125px|]]
For [[BotCon 2016]], Fun Publications paid more heed. Much like 2006, the convention was themed around another ''Beast Wars'' prequel, with a majority of the exclusive toys representing ''Beast Wars'' characters in pre-beast bodies they had on Cybertron before the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]. The convention comic, "[[Dawn of the Predacus]]", was made by [[IDW Publishing]], with its story tied to both IDW's 2006–2008 ''Beast Wars'' comics and Fun Publications' "Dawn of Future's Past" comic from 2006. Throughout 2016, Fun Publications also produced several prose stories for ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'', a completely different, dystopian-themed ''Beast Wars'' series that was largely unconnected to the TV series. One of these prose stories, "[[Intersectionality]]", even included its own "''Chilling 20''" anniversary logo (pictured left) as a joke.

TakaraTomy also released a bit of ''Beast Wars''-themed product in 2016. Exclusive toys of [[Rattrap (BW)/toys#LGEX|Rattrap]], [[Rhinox (BW)#Legends|Rhinox]], and [[Waspinator (BW)/toys#Legends|Waspinator]] were released at Transformers Fes2016, as part of the ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' toyline; these three were show-accurate redecos of [[Rattrap (BW)/toys#Generations|their]] [[Rhinox (BW)#Generations|''Generations'']] [[Waspinator (BW)/toys#Generations|toys]] originally released during the aforementioned ''Thrilling 30'' range. TakaraTomy also released a ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' version of [[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Masterpiece|Optimus Primal]] for [[October]] 2016, which led to several more ''Beast Wars'' characters receiving ''Masterpiece'' toys in the years to come. [[E-HOBBY]] also released ''Legends'' [[Convobat#Legends|Convobat]] in [[December]] 2016, a redeco of the ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' [[Mindwipe (G1)#Titans Return|Mindwipe]] and [[Titan Master]] [[Infinitus#Titans Return|Infinitus]] toys as a [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]-based update of the original [[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|bat Optimus Primal]] toy from 1996.

===25th Anniversary===
[[File:Beast Wars 25th Anniversary Logo.png|200px|right|]]
The twenty-fifth anniversary in [[2021]] was met with significantly more fanfare from Hasbro with the debut of ''[[War for Cybertron: Kingdom|Kingdom]]'', the ''Beast Wars''-themed third chapter of the ''[[War for Cybertron Trilogy (franchise)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' toyline and [[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|cartoon]]. The success of the ''Kingdom'' toyline led to releases of more ''Beast Wars'' characters continuing into the subsequent ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy]]'' line of [[2022]]. 2021 also saw the release of the ''[[Vintage#Vintage Beast Wars|Vintage Beast Wars]]'' line of reissues (this time ''not'' redecoed show-accurately and even including some non-show characters from the original toyline), and a brand new [[Transformers: Beast Wars|ongoing ''Beast Wars'' comic]] from IDW, which served as a complete reimagining of the 1996 cartoon's premise, setting, and characters. The comic's issues sported a legit 25th anniversary logo (pictured right).

The then-upcoming sixth live-action feature film ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Transformers: Rise of the Beasts]]'' was also announced in 2021, as it featured new live-action interpretations of select characters from ''Beast Wars''. Both the film and its [[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (toyline)|heavily beast-themed toyline]] were originally scheduled for release the following year in 2022, but delays pushed back both to release on [[June 9]] of [[2023]] instead. In anticipation of the film's Japanese release later that year, TakaraTomy also created ''[[Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Again|Beast Wars Again]]'', a small line of ''Kingdom'' and ''Legacy'' molds given new show-accurate decos, which were sold as VS two-packs in the style of those released back in the original [[Transformers: Beast Wars (Japanese toyline)|Takara ''Beast Wars'' toyline]]. This line was even accompanied by a special rebroadcast of select episodes from the cartoon's Japanese dub (albeit, with each episode split in half to air in 15-minute timeslots), rebranded with the new ''Beast Wars Again'' logo. Though, due to the belated release of ''Rise of the Beasts'', both it and ''Beast Wars Again'' coming in 2023 ended up being less of a 25th anniversary celebration and more of a "27th anniversary".

==Notes==
*On April 4, 2019, [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]] listed a live-action adaptation of ''Beast Wars'' as a potential future entry to the [[live-action film series]].<ref>[https://www.slashfilm.com/lorenzo-di-bonaventura-pet-sematary-interview/3/ 'Pet Sematary' Producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura On Making Big Changes To Stephen King's Book And The Current Status Of 'Snake Eyes,' 'McClane,' And 'Transformers' [Interview]]</ref> This would eventually manifest as ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Transformers: Rise of the Beasts]]''.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Beast Era]]
[[Category:Beast Wars| ]]
[[Category:Franchises]]

Witwicky, Part 1

2024-10-02T06:01:59Z

Platypar-1: /* Synopsis */

{{disambig3|Witwicky}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: EarthSpark (cartoon)|Transformers: EarthSpark]]'' ep 35
|image=TerratronusAndHashtag.jpeg
|caption=
|prev=Dude, Where's My Trailer?
|next=Witwicky, Part 2
|title="Witwicky, Part 1"
|season=2
|season ep=9
|airdate=[[June 7]], [[2024]] (Paramount+) TBD [[2024]] (Nickelodeon)
|production company=[[Hasbro Entertainment]] [[Nickelodeon]]
|writer=[[Dale Malinowski]]
|animation studio=[[88 Pictures]]
|director=[[Vinton Heuck|Vinton T. Heuck]]
|video=
|videosite=Paramount+
}}

'''Starscream's masterplan nears completion; meanwhile Hashtag and Mo make a shocking underground discovery. '''

==Synopsis==
The Malto family celebrates collecting another Embershard, but as [[Nightshade (ES)|Nightshade]] reunites it with the other shards, electricity arcs to them from the shard collection. As everyone else takes cover, [[Twitch]] closes the shard containment and once the arcs of energy stop, Nightshade falls to the ground. Fortunately they're relatively unharmed, and reports that all Embershards are now accounted for — those they don't already have are currently in the hands of the [[Decepticon]]s. As they celebrate with an impromptu dance party, [[Alex Malto]] reminds [[Mo Malto|Mo]] that she also has a history report to complete — a photo journal of [[Witwicky (town)|Witwicky]] history, and it's due tomorrow. She admits she's been too busy saving the world to get started on it, however her attempts to explain why she hasn't done any of it do not go down well with her parents. [[Hashtag (ES)|Hashtag]] offers to help, as there's is almost no information online about Witwicky. [[Thrash (ES)|Thrash]] suggests that the creepy ruins will get Mo an easy A, but opts out of actually volunteering to go, so Mo and Hashtag head out.

The pair soon reach the cave where Mo and Thrash found the [[Quintesson Executioner]] and Mo snaps a couple of photos before wanting to head home. Hashtag talks her into staying so they can check out where the Quintesson was found. She's fascinated as Mo tells the story of how the Quintesson ended up there, and jumps to the bottom of the pyramid, only for the ground to cave in beneath her. Mo suits up and dives into the abyss as well. After plummeting for a while, Hashtag manages to grab Mo and hook them both onto a rock bridge using a tow cable. They're just gathering their wits when a [[Dweller (ES)|Dweller]] appears behind Mo. The pair attempt to make their escape, but as they head for a door, a second Dweller appears in front of them, and they're forced to do a U turn to speed back past the first Dweller while the rock bridge collapses. They again head towards the door around the edge of the chasm, but there are more Dwellers, and they have to hide. Mo has a reluctant Hashtag turn her lights off, recalling that the Dwellers are attracted to light, which allows the pair to sneak to the door and head through before the Dwellers can get to them. They find themselves in one of the alien corridors they'd seen previously, and Hashtag has [[V.A.L.]] combine all the maps they have of the alien tunnels into one, but before they can investigate further, they're interrupted by loud noises.

[[Aftermath (ES)|Aftermath]] and [[Spitfire (ES)|Spitfire]] are using the [[Cyber Slayer]] to attempt to break into the alien tunnels. They pause as Spitfire uses her fellow Chaos Terran to recharge the weapon before handing him cave water so he can recharge. Spitfire's blows with the Cyber Slayer activate [[Quintus Prime]]'s message embedded on the wall, and she strikes the center of it, breaching the wall and causing a flood of water that washes Mo and Hashtag down a series of corridors before dumping them in a cavern. Mo decides maybe they should head home, but as V.A.L. reports, they're currently off the map. Looking around, they spy a giant face in the rock. Elsewhere Aftermath and Spitfire intensify their efforts with the Cyber Slayer, and the disruption causes the face to come to life, introducing itself to Hashtag and Mo as the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[Terratronus]]. On being questioned by the two Maltos, the Titan relates the story of how Quintus Prime used the [[Emberstone]] to create life across the galaxy including the [[Quintesson]]s, who began to distrust the Prime. She explains how they went to war against Quintus, who retired to [[Earth]] and hid the Emberstone, using it to create Terratronus to guard it. She was able to trick the Quintessons into thinking Quintus had left Earth, though they left the Dwellers behind. Thus, Terratronus and the Emberstone were hidden for millions of years until [[Robby Malto|Robby]] and Mo were chosen as new custodians of the Emberstone. Terratronus is horrified to learn that the Emberstone has been shattered and tells Hashtag and Mo to protect her spark chamber at all costs — if she was corrupted by the chaos energy of the shattered Emberstone, she would fall under the power of whoever wielded it. The pair realize that this is what [[Starscream (ES)|Starscream]]'s plan has been, however they're too far underground to send a warning to anyone else.

Meanwhile, Aftermath and Spitfire finally manage to breach the wall they've been hammering, revealing a brilliant red light...

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=

|c2=

|c3=
*[[Robby Malto]] (6)
*[[Mo Malto]] (7)
*[[Dot Malto]] (8)
*[[Alex Malto]] (9)

|h4=[[Terran]]s||c4=
*[[Nightshade (ES)|Nightshade]] (1)
*[[Hashtag (ES)|Hashtag]] (2)
*[[Jawbreaker (ES)|Jawbreaker]] (3)
*[[Thrash (ES)|Thrash]] (4)
*[[Twitch]] (5)
*[[Aftermath (ES)|Aftermath]] (11)
*[[Spitfire (ES)|Spitfire]] (12)
*[[Terratronus]] (13)

|h5=Others||c5=
* [[Dweller (ES)|Dweller]] (10)
*''[[Quintus Prime]]'' (14)
*''Quintessons'' (15)

}}

==Quotes==
"How's your other big project going?" 
"I got to grow a few more inches before I go to pro wrestling tryouts."
:—'''Alex''' and '''Mo''' on Mo's aspirations.

"Isn't it super weird that there is almost nothing on the Internet about Witwicky? Tell 'em, VAL!" 
"Witwicky, Pennsylvania, a town that exists in Pennsylvania. The end."
:—'''Hashtag''' consults Wikipedia via '''V.A.L.'''.

"Is homework supposed to be this fun?" 
"Which part of this is fun?!"
:—'''Mo''' and '''Hashtag''' falling to their doom.

"Ha! Some style you've got there Spitfire, or should I call you No-Fire?" 
"Ha ha ha. And I thought you were just funny ''looking''." 
"Aftermath is the complete package. Ta-da!"
:—'''Aftermath''' and '''Spitfire'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Mo notes they've been collecting Embershards for "over a year".
* Hashtag gained her virtual assistant V.A.L. in "[[Control Alt Delete]]".
* Hashtag and Mo revisit the cave seen in "[[In Ruins]]".
* A flashback from "[[What Dwells Within]]" reminds Hashtag of facing her fears from the first time they encountered a Dweller.

===Transformers references===
*TBD

===Real-world references===
*Hashtag suggests starting a podcast titled "My Sister and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Alien", a reference to 1972 children's book ''{{w|Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day}}'' which was loosely adapted into a film in 2014.

===Errors===
*Despite suggestions that there's almost no information about the town out there, in prior episodes we've seen copies of a book titled "A History of Witwicky: Volume 4".

===Trivia===
*The Ancient Autobot writing discovered by Spitfire and Aftermath translates to "IN TIMES OF NEED HELP SHALL RISE TO YOUR CALL"- the same message found in the cave in the episode "[[Friends and Family]]".

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'histoire de Witwicky, 1ère partie'''" ("The History of Witwicky, 1st part")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 3]], 2024

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Witwicky, Parte 1'''" ("Witwicky, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 6]], 2024

[[Category:EarthSpark episodes]]

Witwicky, Part 2

2024-10-02T06:00:23Z

Platypar-1: /* Synopsis */

{{disambig3|Witwicky}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: EarthSpark (cartoon)|Transformers: EarthSpark]]'' ep 36
|image=WitwickyPart2Thumbnail.jpg
|caption=One shall rise...
|prev=Witwicky, Part 1
|next=
|title="Witwicky, Part 2"
|season=2
|season ep=10
|airdate=[[June 7]], [[2024]] (Paramount+) TBD [[2024]] (Nickelodeon)
|production company=[[Hasbro Entertainment]] [[Nickelodeon]]
|writer=[[Dale Malinowski]] [[Amy Wolfram]] [[Matt Wayne]]
|animation studio=[[88 Pictures]]
|director=[[Sheldon Vella]]
|video=
|videosite=Paramount+
}}

'''The remaining Maltos make a last ditch effort to stop Starscream's reign of chaos. '''
==Synopsis==
In the [[Dugout]], the Maltos are relaxing post-party when a video message from [[Hashtag (ES)|Hashtag]] and [[Mo Malto|Mo]] arrives to fill them in about the existance of [[Terratronus]] underneath [[Witwicky (town)|Witwicky]] and [[Starscream (ES)|Starscream]]'s plan to bend the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] to his will. [[Nightshade (ES)|Nightshade]] is confident that they've protected their half of the [[Emberstone]] adequately, but they need to get the Embershards that the [[Decepticon]]s have collected as well. [[Robby Malto|Robby]] takes charge, assigning [[Thrash (ES)|Thrash]] and [[Alex Malto|his dad]] to guard their shards while he and the rest of the Maltos go on a mission to get the Decepticons' stash.
[[File:WitwickyPart2Decepticons.jpg|thumb|250px|left|One shall fall...]]
Meanwhile, Starscream is supremely confident that they'll soon be victorious. [[Shockwave (ES)|Shockwave]] isn't keen on the plan, believing they should be concentrating on returning to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Discussion is cut short by explosions taking out the main gate of the Decepticon base — a combined [[Autobot]]/[[Terran]] force has arrived to stage an assault. As the Decepticons confront them, Starscream contacts [[Spitfire (ES)|Spitfire]] to tell her to employ her "unique skills". The Cons turn down [[Optimus Prime (ES)|Optimus]] and [[Megatron (ES)|Megatron]]'s request they surrender, and battle begins.

Alex is giving Thrash a combat lesson when a grenade drops in, knocking out Thrash when he heroically protects his father. Spitfire swoops in and, using her similarity with [[Twitch]], passes the bio-scan on the vault containing the Embershards. Having claimed the shards, she moves in on Alex.

While the battle rages at the Decepticon base, Robby and Twitch fly into the base proper and retrieve the Decepticons' shard collection. As they leave, the hidden Shockwave takes aim at them, but opts not to fire. They emerge to find that Starscream now has Alex as a hostage and Robby is forced to hand over the hard won shards in return for his father's life. As the Decepticons move out, Starscream gives Spitfire the honor of combining the shards. The shards, combined once more into a stone, unleash red lightning across the Decepticon base that deactivates the Autobot and Terran forces present. A bolt of lightning also seizes Spitfire but dissipates once she grabs the completed stone, and she and Starscream fly off, leaving [[Dot Malto|Dot]] to survey the carnage.

Thrash comes around to find [[Fluffy Ears]] licking him and starts looking for the other Maltos before realizing the Embershards have gone. He gets a call from Robby to come pick him up at the Decepticon base.

Mo and Hashtag enter Terratronus's [[spark]] chamber, and Mo snaps more pictures while worrying about the rest of the family. Hashtag tries to reassure her, but is undercut by the arrival of [[Aftermath (ES)|Aftermath]] and Spitfire, along with Starscream and the corrupted Emberstone. Figuring something bad's happened, an enraged Mo attempts to attack Starscream but Hashtag pulls her back. Meanwhile Thrash and Robby speed through the underground corridors, trailing Starscream. Hashtag's attempts to appeal to Starscream's better nature fail, and Aftermath seals her and Mo out of the chamber just as Robby and Thrash arrive. Robby tries unsuccessfully to bait Aftermath into letting them in, before Starscream takes the [[Cyber Slayer]] back and turns it on Aftermath, reclaiming the Embershard that was animating the Chaos Terran. The Maltos try to get Spitfire to let them in, but too late, as Starscream does the same to her. With the now complete Emberstone, Starscream gives himself a "Chaos Sleeve" and links with Terratronus's spark.

Terratronus bursts from the ground near Witwicky while the onlooking Decepticons cheer. Starscream takes the moment to flush Robby, Mo, Thrash and Hashtag from the Titan's body. Fortunately they reach the ground relatively safely and manage to avoid the giant fist Starscream sends their way. The Decepticons are glad they're on Starscream's side, until a careless swipe of Terratronus's hand sends them and much of the mountainside flying, as Starscream attempts to eliminate the fleeing Maltos. Realizing Starscream's out of control, Shockwave heads off in a new direction and invites the other Decepticons to follow. The Maltos are knocked flat by another swipe from Terratronus, and Robby, spying the terrified townsfolk, realizes they have to stop Starscream now. He and Mo join together to create a huge [[force field]] dome over the Titan, which also has the side effect of sealing the fleeing Decepticons in with her. The Emberstone is teleported to Robby and Mo, breaking Starscream's hold on Terratronus and restoring the deactivated Autobots and Terrans. The two kids attempt to uncorrupt the Emberstone, only for it to instead shatter once again and this time the shards crumble into dust. Robby believes the power is now inside them, as they've accomplished so much without even possessing the Emberstone. Twitch contacts Robby who fills her in on recent events, and resolves to find a way to help Terratronus, still frozen within the huge force field.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (ES)|Bumblebee]]
*[[Optimus Prime (ES)|Optimus Prime]]
*[[Elita-1 (ES)|Elita-1]]
*[[Arcee (ES)|Arcee]]
*[[Grimlock (ES)|Grimlock]]
*[[Wheeljack (ES)|Wheeljack]]

|c2=
*[[Starscream (ES)|Starscream]]
*[[Soundwave (ES)|Soundwave]]
*[[Laserbeak (ES)|Laserbeak]]
*[[Breakdown (ES)|Breakdown]]
*[[Skullcruncher (ES)|Skullcruncher]]
*[[Swindle (ES)|Swindle]]
*[[Hardtop (ES)|Hardtop]]
*[[Bombshell (ES)|Bombshell]]
*[[Shockwave (ES)|Shockwave]]
*[[Megatron (ES)|Megatron]]
*[[Bombshell (ES)|Bombshell]]
*[[Shrapnel (ES)|Shrapnel]]
*[[Skywarp (ES)|Skywarp]]
*[[Nova Storm (ES)|Nova Storm]]

|c3=
*[[Robby Malto]]
*[[Mo Malto]]
*[[Dot Malto]]
*[[Alex Malto]]

|h4=[[Terran]]s||c4=
*[[Nightshade (ES)|Nightshade]]
*[[Twitch]]
*[[Thrash (ES)|Thrash]]
*[[Hashtag (ES)|Hashtag]]
*[[Jawbreaker (ES)|Jawbreaker]]
*[[Terratronus]]

|h5=Others||c5=
*[[Fluffy Ears]]

}}

==Quotes==
"Decepticons, when the sun next rises, it will shine upon New Cybertron. I, her ruler."
:—'''Starscream'''

'''Optimus:''' "Starscream, surrender your collection of Embershards, and we will leave you in peace." 
'''Megatron:''' "Resist, and we will leave you in pieces." 
'''Bumblebee:''' "Please pick option one. Did I mention it comes with a new front door?"

"You are more cruel than Megatron ever was." 
"Such complements in my moment of triumph. And now watch me be more effective than Megatron ever was."
:—'''Hashtag''' and '''Starscream'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Despite Wheeljack being clearly killed off in "[[The Imposters]]", he turns up alive and well as part of the Autobot force assaulting the Decepticon base.

===Transformers references===
*TBD

===Real-world references===
*Shockwave drops the famous "come with me if you want to live" line from the [[Transformers vs. The Terminator|Terminator]] franchise.

===Errors===
* In the Decepticon group shot right before the fight with the Autobots as Starscream lands, Nova Storm is missing her wings.
* The Bumblebee vase Nightshade places over the Emberstone hideout breaks in several pieces when Spitfire kicks it to the side. Later, when Thrash finds the vase, it's lying on the floor in a different position and is completely intact.

===Trivia===
* According to the clock in Witwicky, Terratronus emerges from the ground at 7am.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'histoire de Witwicky, 2ème partie'''" ("The History of Witwicky, 2nd part")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 4]], 2024

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Witwicky, Parte 2'''" ("Witwicky, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 6]], 2024

[[Category:EarthSpark episodes]]

Missed Connection

2024-09-29T02:36:07Z

Platypar-1: /* Synopsis */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: EarthSpark (cartoon)|Transformers: EarthSpark]]'' ep 13
|image=NightshadeAndTarantulasArguing MissedConnections.jpg
|caption="{{w|Otto Octavius (film character)|Hello, Peter.}}"
|prev=Outtakes
|next=Security Protocols
|title="Missed Connection"
|season=1
|season ep=13
|airdate=[[March 3]], [[2023]] (Paramount+) [[June 14]], [[2023]] (Nickelodeon)
|production company=[[Entertainment One]] [[Nickelodeon]]
|writer=[[Mae Catt]]
|director=
|animation studio=[[Icon Creative Studio]]
|director=[[Matthew Humphreys]]
|video=https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/video/ODQxAIME9RIDYV7vDZ9OzHSTNJZOMS_t/
|videosite=Paramount+
}}

'''Nightshade's more isolated nature leads them to make an unexpected new friend.'''

==Synopsis==
On a day of no school with most of the whole Malto family enjoying some time out in the sun, [[Dot Malto|Dot]] wonders where [[Nightshade (ES)|Nightshade]] is. Her question is soon answered with an explosion originating from the [[dugout]] beneath the family barn. All rush inside to see one of Nightshade's inventions, the "[[Smart Trainer|Smart Trainer 5007]]", going haywire and shooting everything in sight. Following [[Bumblebee (ES)|Bumblebee]] taking it out, Nightshade gets to work on a new one and inquires if any of their siblings would like to assist them. With most just going back outside, Dot and [[Alex Malto|Alex]] try to talk to Nightshade, assuring them their siblings do care for them even if they don't share Nightshade's interests. Seeing Nightshade could use some other interests, Alex offers the young Terran a favorite childhood book of his: ''[[Winged Sentinel]]'', by local [[Witwicky (town)|Witwicky]] author [[D.E. O'Neil]]. Enraptured with the fantasy novel about daring heroes, Nightshade sets out to find O'Neil as they feel they have someone they can finally relate to.

Getting O'Neil's last known address thanks to [[Hashtag (ES)|Hashtag]], Nightshade soon finds themself in a desolate graveyard, where it turns out the last known address was O'Neil's burial site. Nightshade's attention is soon taken by an odd lone human in the graveyard telling them to leave. Seeing the human is in fact a hologram, Nightshade follows it into what seems to be a secret laboratory hidden beneath the cemetery filled with Cybertronian and [[G.H.O.S.T.]]. tech. Nightshade is soon attacked by a giant mechanical spider ordering them to stay away from their work. Transforming to his bot mode and revealed to be a Decepticon, they soon realize Nightshade is still in their [[protoform]] body, and thus unaffiliated, and orders the young Terran to leave. Realizing this is rather un-Decepticon-like behavior, Nightshade introduces themself, and the Decepticon returns the favor by introducing himself as [[Tarantulas (ES)|Tarantulas]]. Seeing that Tarantulas is working on some sort of human holographic projector, Nightshade points out that while it was good at projecting an image of a human it lacked the behavioral pattern in order to properly fit in. Nightshade deduces this was because Tarantulas was working from a purely Cybertronian perspective, rather than trying to integrate it with Earth technology. Amazed and pleased with this info, Tarantulas says he'll soon be able to complete his invention and successfully go into hiding to avoid capture by G.H.O.S.T.

Nightshade hurries back to the Malto farm to get the remains of the Smart Trainer and presents it to Tarantulas as something he can use to finish his holographic projector. Wondering what the catch is, Nightshade only asks if they could provide assistance with working on it. Reluctantly agreeing, Nightshade eagerly rushes back into Tarantulas' lab. When asked by Nightshade why he would want to hide as a human, Tarantulas explains he'll be able to use the holographic projector to finally leave the Autobot/Decepticon war behind him. Comparing to it using an [[alternate mode]], Tarantulas also opens up the young Terran's eyes about the concept of alternate modes; saying they're as much about expressing who you are than "completing yourself". Taken in by these words, Nightshade boasts they'll use theirs to be a scientist and protector. Tarantulas can't help but admire Nightshade's strong sense of self at such a young age.

Completing the mobile holographic projector after a day's work, Tarantulas offers Nightshade the chance to come with him, believing the war between the Autobots and Decepticons will soon erupt again. Thanking him, Nightshade declines, saying they still have obligations in Witwicky. Back at the Malto farm, Nightshade asks Dot about how the world came to accept Megatron's change of heart. Dot says everyone deserves a second chance, though when Nightshades inquires about "Decepticons hiding in the shadows", Dot begins to wonder if Nightshade has been secretly meeting other Decepticons. All the while Tarantulas, in the form of his human avatar, observes them from a distance. Later that night, after misinterpreting a conversation between Dot and Alex, Tarantulas abducts the pair and takes them back to his lair. With the other Terrans and Malto children scrambling, Nightshade sneaks off, having correctly realized it was Taranutlas.

[[File:NightshadeOwlMode MissedConnection.jpg|thumb|300px|Nightshade, BEAST MODE!]]
Back at Tarantulas' lair, he prevents an escape attempt by Dot and Alex, threatening them with a modified G.H.O.S.T. device capable of wiping the memories of organics. Nightshade soon arrives on the scene, taking their parents and making a break for it. Tarantulas, doing this because he believes Nightshade is the Malto's prisoner, rushes after Nightshade, imploring them to stay, before webbing up Nightshade and preparing to erase the Malto's memories, Nightshade scans the statue of a Sentinel Owl and upgrades their form with a new owl alt-mode. Engaging in a battle with Tarantulas, their newfound power of flight quickly gives them the advantage over the more experienced Tarantulas. Bumblebee and the other Terrans arrive on the scene. Bumblebee attempts to arrest Tarantulas but Nightshade explains this was all one big misunderstanding and asks everyone to give Tarantulas a second chance. Hashtag alerts everyone that a G.H.O.S.T. unit is being dispatched to the area and they need to make a break for it. Seeing that Nightshade and their siblings are in hiding as much as he is, Tarantulas offers to lure G.H.O.S.T. away so the Maltos can escape undetected, saying he wants to make good on the second chance Nightshade is offering him.

Seeing that Tarantulas left behind the holographic projector, Nightshade departs with Alex as Tarantulas races through the forests trying to outpace G.H.O.S.T.'s helicopters.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (ES)|Bumblebee]] (8)

|c2=
*[[Tarantulas (ES)|Tarantulas]] (11)

|c3=
*[[Robby Malto]] (1)
*[[Mo Malto]] (2)
*[[Alex Malto]] (7)
*[[Dot Malto]] (9)

|h4=[[Terran]]s||c4=
*[[Hashtag (ES)|Hashtag]] (3)
*[[Twitch]] (4)
*[[Thrash (ES)|Thrash]] (5)
*[[Jawbreaker (ES)|Jawbreaker]] (6)
*[[Nightshade (ES)|Nightshade]] (10)

}}

==Quotes==
"Then behold the Smart Trainer 5007!" 
"Why 5007?" 
"The first 5,006 tried to destroy me."
:—'''Nightshade''' does their best [[Wheeljack (ES)|Wheeljack]] impression when answering '''Twitch's''' question.

"You are a Transformer. Another mode is your birthright." 
"I see no need for one. Aren't I sufficient as I am?" 
"Young one, alt-forms aren't meant to complete you as though you have a missing part. They further express who you already are."
:—'''Tarantulas''' teaches '''Nightshade''' there's more to alt-modes than just changing forms.

"You've made an interesting choice for an alt-mode. But you're still just the lost protoform I first met." 
"You've just proven you don't really know me, because I was never lost!"
:—'''Tarantulas''' witnesses '''Nightshade's''' resolve.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Nightshade's alt-mode being an owl was first, obliquely, hinted at in "[[Age of Evolution, Part 2]]" where they excitedly asked if they could be the owl bobblehead when planning "Operation: Terran Horse".

===Transformers references===
*Tarantulas being portrayed as an ultimately sympathetic character was inspired by his depiction in ''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]''.<ref>{{citesocial|link=https://twitter.com/MaeCatt/status/1631772264109838337|quote=More Earthspark episodes have dropped, including some written and story edited by me! As for Ep. 113, I wanted to give a special shout out to @NickRoche, whose impeccable comics featuring the Wreckers inspired me to pitch Tarantulas as that ep's foil to Nightshade.|name=Mae Catt|site=Twitter|year=2023|month=03|day=03}}</ref>

===Real-world references===
* Alex and Bumblebee's note that days off are made for teachers is actually a ''very'' sly reference to an infamous line from the ''{{w|Dexter's Laboratory}}'' episode "A Dad Cartoon", in which Dexter's dad declares "Ah, yes! Saturdays are made for dads! And dad's car!"<ref>{{citesocial|link=https://twitter.com/MaeCatt/status/1631890857812185059|quote=Please know this line, "Days off were made for teachers," is my own cheeky reference to Dexter Lab's "Ah, yea! Saturdays are made for dads. And dad's car."|name=Mae Catt|site=Twitter|year=2023|month=03|day=04}}</ref>
* Nightshade's Smart Trainer 5007 bears a strong resemblance to the lightsaber training drone from ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]''.
* D.E. O'Neil is named in reference to [[Denny O'Neil]].<ref>{{citesocial|link=https://twitter.com/MaeCatt/status/1633001702449381377|quote=That was intentional! I'm a huge fan of Denny O'Neil's work (especially for The Shadow), and given his connection to Transformers, I felt this would be an appropriate way to pay tribute.|name=Mae Catt|site=Twitter|year=2023|month=03|day=07}}</ref> The novel ''Winged Sentinel'', about a hero themed around a nocturnal flying animal, may be a reference to O'Neil's ''[[Batman]]'' work.

===Errors===
* Nightshade is seen holding the ''Winged Sentinel'' book when they follow the mobile holographic projector into Taratulas's secret laboratory, but the book suddenly disappears when they enter.

===Trivia===
*

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Conexão perdida'''" ("Lost connection")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 4]], 2023

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Fehlende Verbindung'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' March 4, 2023

'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Connexion impossible'''" ("Connection failed")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[April 26]], 2023

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Küldetés összefüggés'''" ("Mission Correlation")
:*''Original airdate:'' April 26, 2023

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2024 — ''Transformers: EarthSpark'' - Season 1: Episodes 11-26 ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]]) 

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:EarthSpark episodes]]

Dinobot (FOC)

2024-04-22T00:44:48Z

Platypar-1:

{{factions|autobot|lightningstrike|{{factions/icons|custom=DinobotFactionInsignia.png|cLink=Dinobot (FOC)|cSize=40x40px}}}}
{{disambig3|Dinobot}}
[[File:DinobotFactionInsignia.png|upright=1.67|thumb|Both bark... and bite.]]
:''The Dinobots are an [[Autobot]] subgroup from the [[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].

Belligerent, bullheaded, and rebellious, the '''Dinobots''' (formerly the '''[[Lightning Strike Coalition|Lightning Strike Coalition Force]]''') are a brutal commando unit of Autobots, who handle the jobs that other Autobots don't have the stomach for. Openly critical of [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]'s conservative tactics, the unit instead defers to their leader [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]], who isn't above defying his higher-ups if the need arises. One such rebellion resulted in the team becoming captives of [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]], who subsequently experimented on them by giving them new [[alternate mode]]s based on [[Dinosaur (dinosaur)|dinosaurs]] and other prehistoric creatures, intending to turn them into mindless berserkers. The Dinobots managed to escape Shockwave's lab, and their mutual struggle to adjust to and understand their strange new forms has resulted in the team becoming more tight-knit than ever.

The Dinobots include:
* [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] (leader)
* [[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]] (scout)
* [[Slug (FOC)|Slug]] (tactician)
* [[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]] (analyst, engineer, and medic)
* [[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]] (logistician)

==Fiction==
===IDW Aligned comics===
[[File:GoodIntentions-LightningStrikeCoalition.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Sludge probably should have called in sick that day.]]

In the waning days of the war for Cybertron, the commando unit known as the Lightning Strike Coalition fought under Optimus Prime's command, although they openly criticized his cautious approach to warfare; Grimlock in particular. {{storylink|Good Intentions}} At some point, Grimlock sent Swoop to investigate the Decepticon's seemingly infinite supply of [[Energon]]. Swoop tracked a trail of clues all the way to the [[Rust Sea]], where he discovered a vast pool of untainted Energon... as well as Starscream, Shockwave, and a swarm of [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]]s, all operating out of Shockwave's secret laboratory in the Rust Sea. {{storylink|Secrets (FOC)|Secrets}} While Optimus and his team tried to scavenge materials for the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' and escape from Cybertron, Grimlock and the rest of his team held the line against Decepticon forces, defying Optimus's orders to return to base. When Grimlock received Swoop's distress message, he rallied the rest of the Coalition, and together they set off in search of their missing comrade, with Grimlock arrogantly believing that the fate of Cybertron rested in his hands. {{storylink|Good Intentions}}

Before long, the team arrived at Swoop's last known location just outside of Shockwave's tower. The Coalition clobbered their way through the Insecticon swarm with their trademark brutality and soon discovered Swoop, who had been left alive and strung up to a strange machine. As it turned out, Shockwave had deliberately set up his prisoner as bait so that he could lure Swoop's teammates into his clutches. Believing that the Coalition's strength and durability would make them ideal test subjects, Shockwave and his Insecticon hordes disabled all of them, while the Decepticon scientist carted them off to begin his experiments. {{storylink|Siege Mentality}} Having observed alien lifeforms on a distant planet through his [[space bridge]], Shockwave begun surgically altering the Coalition, physically rebuilding them with new alternate modes while simultaneously splicing dinosaur DNA with their own [[CNA]], giving them the ability to transform into various prehistoric creatures. {{storylink|Fragmentation (FOC)|Fragmentation}}

[[File:Secrets-LSCtanks.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|Everybody walk the... tank?]]

The first member of the team to go under the knife was Sludge, who had been badly wounded in the fight. Using him as a test run for his later experiments, Shockwave successfully rebuilt him so that he could transform into an ''Apatosaurus'', then ordered [[Kickback (FOC)|Kickback]] to dump his stasis-locked body in the tunnels underneath Shockwave's tower. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 2|Beast Hunters #2}} Shockwave then turned his attention to the four remaining members of the unit, enhancing their already formidable strength with numerous saurian attributes. Shockwave was particularly interested in Grimlock, the most physically powerful of the bunch, and intended to turn him into a mindless brute completely loyal to Shockwave's cause. Unfortunately for Shockwave, Grimlock managed to withstand Shockwave's mental conditioning. Grimlock would eventually be visited by Starscream, who offered to spring the Autobot from his shackles if he swore allegiance to Shockwave. Grimlock thought otherwise, and broke free by himself. Grimlock proceeded to trash Shockwave's laboratory and meet up with the similarly altered Slug, Swoop, and Snarl as he learned to transform into and control his brand-new ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' alternate mode. Ultimately, Grimlock's new vendetta against Shockwave would take him to the top of the Decepticon's newest space bridge, where the two faced off. With the aid of his powerful new alternate mode, Grimlock managed to destroy Shockwave's replica Space Bridge {{storylink|Fall}}, but the ensuing explosion sent him tumbling to the ground, temporarily knocking him offline. Snarl, Slug, and Swoop thought that Grimlock had perished in the ensuing explosion. {{Storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 4|Rage of the Dinobots #4}} While Optimus Prime's Autobots departed into deep space aboard the ''Ark'', the trio opted to remain on Cybertron.

Four cycles after the launch of the ''Ark'', an Autobot cleanup crew discovered Sludge's deactivated body and managed to bring him back online. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 2|Beast Hunters #2}} At some point, the rest of the Lightning Strike Coalition also discovered and resuscitated Grimlock. With all five members of his unit back together again, Grimlock re-christened them the "Dinobots" . {{Storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 4|Rage of the Dinobots #4}}

[[File:Transformers Prime Rage of the Dinobots.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|A few thousand years ago, a crack commando unit was captured by Shockwave for his experiments. These Autobots promptly escaped from a maximum security laboratory to the Cybertron underground. Today, still wanted by the Decepticons, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them....maybe you can hire the Dinobots.]]
When [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] called for the final evacuation of Cybertron, the Dinobots were assigned to one of the spacebound convoys fleeing Decepticon forces. While the Dinobots covered the retreat of the other ships in the convoy, Magnus's fighter was shot down. The Dinobots found the wreck of his ship and were disturbed to find it guarded by the [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] [[Backbite (Prime)|Backbite]]. Sensing the handiwork of their nemesis [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]], the Dinobots attacked the beast, however once they defeated it, Grimlock went into a berserker rage and attacked Snarl as a side-effect of the strength he experienced during his time in his [[beast mode]]. In the chaos, Backbite revived and captured Swoop, taking him to the Forged, to be "re-forged" along with Ultra Magnus.{{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 1|Rage of the Dinobots #1}}

When Grimlock and the remaining Dinobots stormed the prison in which Swoop and Ultra Magnus were being held, they freed all the other Autobot captives, but ran into [[Ser-Ket (Prime)|Ser-Ket]], the head of the joint. As Grimlock threatened her, he and his team were horrified to see Swoop in a "re-forged" programming, declaring an oath of loyalty to Shockwave.{{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 2|Rage of the Dinobots #2}}

[[File:RageOfTheDinobots2-UltraMagnus.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"Colonel Von Luger, it is the sworn duty of all officers to try to escape."]]

As the Autobots beheld this latest of atrocities, Ser-Ket revealed that she reinforced her master's original programming of Swoop. Ultra Magnus attempted to convince Grimlock that Swoop was lost, but Grimlock refused and told him to "Switch off!", claiming that this was Dinobot business. He then challenged Ser-Ket to a one-on-one brawl, the stake being that if he won, she would have to fix Swoop and let the Autobots leave. If not, they would all surrender. She in turn asked why she would agree to such a proposal, when the Autobots were so badly outnumbered. Grimlock reasoned that if there were a large battle, more Autobots and Dinobots would die, and would be of no use to her or her master. Ser-Ket agreed, and the other Dinobots formed a ring of fire as an arena. Grimlock fought hard, but was overwhelmed by his opponent's speed, ferocity and strength, the latter all the while taunting and prompting the Dinobot leader to transform into his beast form, referring to it as his 'true' form. Though Grimlock was initially reluctant, knowing that he would all too certainly lose control in that mode, he decided that it was the only way he could fell her. This proves to be a potential trump card for Grimlock, and Ser-Ket remarked that it would be an honour to fall at the hands of Shockwave's 'greatest achievement', but not this time, calling in Swoop to attack his leader. Grimlock yanked Swoop down and attacked him, jolting the brainwashed Dinobot back into reality. The other Dinobots prompt Grimlock to revert to his proto-form, and it worked, but not before he severed and smashed Ser-Ket's head. Seeing their head honcho defeated, the Forged kept their word and released the Autobots. As the valiant captives retreated, Ser-Ket revealed her true identity as a [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]], in a form much too powerful for Grimlock, musing that he had beaten her in his 'true' form, and now it was her turn. As she flew away with him, Swoop caught up with her and ripped out one of the optics in her beast mode, thus settling a personal grudge, and freed Grimlock. As the damaged Ser-Ket cursed the Autobots, Grimlock emphasized their existence as Dinobots and impaled her beast head with his sword, offlining her once and for all. They were interrupted by Shockwave, who remarked that if he felt emotion, he'd say he was proud.{{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 3|Rage of the Dinobots #3}}

As the Autobots attacked Shockwave, the Decepticon scientist deployed an EMP, immobilizing them, before knocking them out. Sometime later, Grimlock came to in a familiar place; an operating table. Shockwave planned to resume his work on Grimlock, with one small change; he would completely erase Grimlock's thoughts, memories and anything that made him what he was. The other Autobots were in prison and came up with a plan to escape, involving a staged 'prison disagreement'. It worked all too well and soon they attacked Shockwave's lab, just before he was able to administer the fateful change to Grimlock. They ripped the scientist apart, and were hardly able to believe they had done so. As they revived Grimlock and bid their retreat, they were faced with a holographic representation of Shockwave, who revealed that the Decepticon they just annihilated was nothing more than one of many avatars Shockwave was employing to carry out his work in around the different prison complexes on Cybertron. Later, as Ultra Magnus and the rescued Autobots prepared to leave Cybertron, Grimlock declared that he would stay on and free the other captive Autobots on the planet, along with his team. Ultra Magnus congratulated and thanked the Dinobots before leaving. {{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 4|Rage of the Dinobots #4}}

With Cybertron now a derelict wasteland, the Dinobots took refuge underground with other surviving Transformers. In between searching for Energon and fighting the surviving Forged and Insecticons, Grimlock, the new "king" of Cybertron, mediated disputes and arguments between individuals. The Dinobots eventually met [[Firestar (Prime)|Firestar]], an inhabitant of [[Last Spark]], who implored them to help fight a mysterious enemy preying on her city's people. Sludge and Snarl set off to investigate, against Grimlock's wishes. After some investigation, the duo encountered Kickback and his followers. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 1|Beast Hunters #1}} In the ensuing fight, Kickback denied that he had anything to do with the murders, and accused the Forged of the crime. Sludge, still furious about how Kickback abandoned him in the tunnel, deliberately snapped the Insecticon's neck. When the pair returned to Last Spark, they continued their investigation and realized that some of the bodies had been drained of Energon after their death. [[Airwave (Prime)|Airwave]], the leader of Last Spark, was the culprit responsible for the murders, and with Firestar's assistance the trio took him down. On returning to base, Grimlock apologized to Sludge for his earlier behavior, and reaffirmed that the two Dinobots had done the right thing in the end. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 2|Beast Hunters #2}}

The Dinobots eventually relocated their base of operations to Last Spark, although the locals took a long time to grow accustomed to their presence. Some time later, Swoop and Grimlock went on patrol together. The duo encountered a group of Forged guarding a fortified complex. After a brief fight, the two Dinobots broke in, and after a bit of exploration learned that the area was yet another one of Shockwave's many secret laboratories. Some more exploration revealed a trio of real dinosaurs and a pterosaur- a ''Tyrannosaurus'', a ''Triceratops'', a ''Stegosaurus'', and a ''Pteranodon''- in stasis. When they awakened, they attacked the two Dinobots. The fight eventually spilled over into Last Spark itself. The Dinobots eventually defeated their doppelgangers after exposure to Cybertron's toxic atmosphere quickly killed the organic creatures. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 4|Beast Hunters #4}}

Snarl temporarily took Grimlock's place on his throne while the Dinobot leader visited [[New Kalis]], although he proved just as ill-tempered as the Dinobot leader in the role of mediator. His negotiations with [[Scrounge (Prime)|Scrounge]] were suddenly cut short by a mysterious earthquake and an unexpected stream of fresh Energon. With only a handful of survivors of the earthquake, Snarl tried to rally them and lead them to safety. Simultaneously, New Kalis slowly began flooding with clean Energon, threatening to drown its inhabitants. While [[Chromia (Prime)|Chromia]] and Swoop unsuccessfully tried to evacuate the populace, Grimlock was forced to transform into his beast mode and frighten them away from the Energon pool, but his dinosaur instincts got the better of him and he reverted to a feral state. Slug and Sludge discovered [[Blackout (WFC)|Blackout]] buried in a landslide; Slug grudgingly pulled him free if only to bring the Decepticon to justice. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 5|Beast Hunters #5}} All of the Dinobots and the survivors under their care headed up to the surface by one way or another {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 6|Beast Hunters #6}}, where they discovered that Optimus Prime and his team had returned to Cybertron and successfully rejuvenated it. Their revelry was cut short by the arrival of the surviving Forged, still intent on destroying the Dinobots. Still underground, Sludge, Firestar, and [[Zoom]] encountered a massive [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]], who dealt a fatal blow to Zoom. Sludge managed to force the Predacon to retreat, although Zoom expired from his injuries. The Predacon eventually burst through the surface and attacked the other Dinobots, but Sludge, who had rendezvoused with the recently arrived [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]], and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], arrived, and together they sent the Predacon fleeing. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 7|Beast Hunters #7}}

After Optimus Prime sacrificed himself to bring the Well of All Sparks online once again, [[Team Prime]] and the Dinobots worked together to get the other Autobot survivors to safety. The team split up to deal with the rogue Predacon; when it chose to attack the group headed by Arcee and Swoop, Grimlock and Bumblebee ambushed the beast and managed to lock it up in a secure underground bunker. Although the Dinobots argued with Bulkhead about their status among "normal" Transformers because of their strange beast modes, Arcee explained that Optimus would have wanted this new world to be a fresh start for all Transformers. While Arcee decided to begin rebuilding Kaon, Grimlock and his team announced their intention to create the city of [[New Spark]], a new city for the displaced refugees of Last Spark. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 8|Beast Hunters #8}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
During a discussion about the existence of the [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]]s and their relationship to Earth's dinosaurs, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] asked Bulkhead about the Dinobots. However, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] assured her that they were entirely different from Predacons. {{storylink|Project Predacon}}

== Games ==
=== ''Transformers: Fall of Cybertron'' ===
{{Note|On [[September 11]], [[2012]], the Dinobots, excluding [[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]], were made available for download in the Dinobot Destructor Pack on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Steam.<ref>http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/9/4/3283751/transformer-fall-of-cybertron-is-bringing-the-dinobots-to-competitive</ref>}}

As Optimus Prime and the other Autobots readied the ''Ark'' to launch, Grimlock and the rest of his squadron abandoned their post for reasons unknown, stealing a dropship and heading to the Rust Sea. Although the team smashed their way through Shockwave's Decepticons, they were eventually overrun by a horde of Insecticons. Sludge's body was abandoned in the tunnel in stasis lock, while the other four were deliberately left alive so that Shockwave could experiment on them. Shockwave re-engineered their bodies so that they could transform into the alien creatures he had discovered while observing a primitive planet. Grimlock was the most drastically altered; the traumatic surgery redirected power away from his mind and left him less coherent and emotionally stable than ever before.

[[File:FOC-Grimlockspacetrex.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66|And so, the four Dinobots set off for the Great Valley.]]

Slug was the first to come round and break free, melting a hole in the floor and escaping into the tunnels beneath Kaon. Grimlock was approached by a disgraced [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]], who had recently been ousted from his throne by a rebuilt [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] and now sought an army of his own. He offered to set Grimlock free if the hulking warrior promised to become his slave.... at which point Grimlock freed himself by throwing the Decepticon against the wall, deactivating his shackles. Still adjusting to his strange new body, Grimlock fought his way through the lab and stumbled across Swoop, who was still locked up. When he eventually freed Swoop, the two of them fought and defeated [[Hardshell]], who was piloting a gigantic suit of armor. The duo eventually discovered what remained of Slug's holding cell, and split up to search for him. While underground, Grimlock finally learned how to transform into his new ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' [[alternate mode]] as he faced off against [[Kickback (FOC)|Kickback]] and an Insecticon [[Bruiser]]. Slug arrived not long afterwards, battering down a door and crushing Kickback beneath its weight.

Now a trio, Grimlock ordered them to search for Snarl, the last known victim of Shockwave's experiments. They eventually found him trapped in his cell, being tortured by [[Sharpshot]]. Grimlock tore through the machinery powering the torture devices and executed Sharpshot, while the other two helped the badly-damaged Snarl to his feet. The quartet took shelter in one of Shockwave's personal observation towers; Grimlock and Slug helped stabilize Snarl while Swoop discovered plans for Sludge's dinosaur form, inspiring Swoop to re-brand the quartet as the "Dinobots". Slug contacted Optimus Prime, who ordered them to fall back to base. Grimlock ignored the order and set off to Shockwave's Space Bridge, intending to confront the scientist once and for all. With the help of Swoop, Grimlock made it up to the top of the tower and destroyed Shockwave's space bridge, destroying the entire complex in the process. {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
Dinobots participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of them! {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:QuarrysQuarry triumphant team.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Sadly, this doesn't count.]]
*In the third season of ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Transformers: Rescue Bots]]'', [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Rescue Bot]]s adopt dinosaur-based modes, in which they are referred to as "Dinobots" at several points during the series. They do so by scanning artificial dinosaurs created by combining robotics with dinosaur DNA. Unfortunately, adopting these beast modes lowers their supply of Energon, and they are left unable to control the animal instincts of their new modes unless they use an Energon patch.
**As an interesting note, [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and the four [[Rescue Bot]]s share their dinosaur modes with the actual Dinobots: [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] have ''Tyrannosaurus'' modes, [[Heatwave (RB)|Heatwave]] and [[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]] each become an ''Apatosaurus'', [[Blades (RB)|Blades]] and [[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]] have ''Pteranodon'' forms, [[Boulder]] and [[Slug (FOC)|Slug]] both possess ''Triceratops'' modes, and [[Chase (RB)|Chase]] and [[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]] are each a ''Stegosaurus''.
**Even before this, the human built dinosaur robot, [[Trex]], was also referred to as a "Dino Bot". Unfortunately, he wasn't a [[Transformer]].
**When guest character [[Sideswipe (RID)|Sideswipe]] shows up at [[The Need for Speed|a later point]], he alludes to [[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Dinobots]] [[Dinobot (RID)|of a different kind]], to which Boulder then compares the Rescue Bots as Dinobots, muddying the waters a bit as to which of these two kinds of Dinobots the Rescue Bot Dinobots are more akin to.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Aligned Dinobots| (FOC)]]
[[Category:Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category:Fall of Cybertron subgroups]]
[[Category:Prime subgroups]]

Dinobot (FOC)

2024-04-22T00:44:03Z

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{{factions|autobot|lightningstrike|{{factions/icons|custom=DinobotFactionInsignia.png|cLink=Dinobot (FOC)|cSize=40x40px}}}}
{{disambig3|Dinobot}}
[[File:DinobotFactionInsignia.png|upright=1.67|thumb|Both bark... and bite.]]
:''The Dinobots are an [[Autobot]] subgroup from the [[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].

Belligerent, bullheaded, and rebellious, the '''Dinobots''' (formerly the '''[[Lightning Strike Coalition|Lightning Strike Coalition Force]]''') are a brutal commando unit of Autobots, who handle the jobs that other Autobots don't have the stomach for. Openly critical of [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]'s conservative tactics, the unit instead defers to their leader [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]], who isn't above defying his higher-ups if the need arises. One such rebellion resulted in the team becoming captives of [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]], who subsequently experimented on them by giving them new [[alternate mode]]s based on [[Dinosaur (dinosaur)|dinosaurs]] and other prehistoric creatures, intending to turn them into mindless berserkers. The Dinobots managed to escape Shockwave's lab, and their mutual struggle to adjust to and understand their strange new forms has resulted in the team becoming more tightknit than ever.

The Dinobots include:
* [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] (leader)
* [[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]] (scout)
* [[Slug (FOC)|Slug]] (tactician)
* [[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]] (analyst, engineer, and medic)
* [[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]] (logistician)

==Fiction==
===IDW Aligned comics===
[[File:GoodIntentions-LightningStrikeCoalition.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Sludge probably should have called in sick that day.]]

In the waning days of the war for Cybertron, the commando unit known as the Lightning Strike Coalition fought under Optimus Prime's command, although they openly criticized his cautious approach to warfare; Grimlock in particular. {{storylink|Good Intentions}} At some point, Grimlock sent Swoop to investigate the Decepticon's seemingly infinite supply of [[Energon]]. Swoop tracked a trail of clues all the way to the [[Rust Sea]], where he discovered a vast pool of untainted Energon... as well as Starscream, Shockwave, and a swarm of [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]]s, all operating out of Shockwave's secret laboratory in the Rust Sea. {{storylink|Secrets (FOC)|Secrets}} While Optimus and his team tried to scavenge materials for the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' and escape from Cybertron, Grimlock and the rest of his team held the line against Decepticon forces, defying Optimus's orders to return to base. When Grimlock received Swoop's distress message, he rallied the rest of the Coalition, and together they set off in search of their missing comrade, with Grimlock arrogantly believing that the fate of Cybertron rested in his hands. {{storylink|Good Intentions}}

Before long, the team arrived at Swoop's last known location just outside of Shockwave's tower. The Coalition clobbered their way through the Insecticon swarm with their trademark brutality and soon discovered Swoop, who had been left alive and strung up to a strange machine. As it turned out, Shockwave had deliberately set up his prisoner as bait so that he could lure Swoop's teammates into his clutches. Believing that the Coalition's strength and durability would make them ideal test subjects, Shockwave and his Insecticon hordes disabled all of them, while the Decepticon scientist carted them off to begin his experiments. {{storylink|Siege Mentality}} Having observed alien lifeforms on a distant planet through his [[space bridge]], Shockwave begun surgically altering the Coalition, physically rebuilding them with new alternate modes while simultaneously splicing dinosaur DNA with their own [[CNA]], giving them the ability to transform into various prehistoric creatures. {{storylink|Fragmentation (FOC)|Fragmentation}}

[[File:Secrets-LSCtanks.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|Everybody walk the... tank?]]

The first member of the team to go under the knife was Sludge, who had been badly wounded in the fight. Using him as a test run for his later experiments, Shockwave successfully rebuilt him so that he could transform into an ''Apatosaurus'', then ordered [[Kickback (FOC)|Kickback]] to dump his stasis-locked body in the tunnels underneath Shockwave's tower. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 2|Beast Hunters #2}} Shockwave then turned his attention to the four remaining members of the unit, enhancing their already formidable strength with numerous saurian attributes. Shockwave was particularly interested in Grimlock, the most physically powerful of the bunch, and intended to turn him into a mindless brute completely loyal to Shockwave's cause. Unfortunately for Shockwave, Grimlock managed to withstand Shockwave's mental conditioning. Grimlock would eventually be visited by Starscream, who offered to spring the Autobot from his shackles if he swore allegiance to Shockwave. Grimlock thought otherwise, and broke free by himself. Grimlock proceeded to trash Shockwave's laboratory and meet up with the similarly altered Slug, Swoop, and Snarl as he learned to transform into and control his brand-new ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' alternate mode. Ultimately, Grimlock's new vendetta against Shockwave would take him to the top of the Decepticon's newest space bridge, where the two faced off. With the aid of his powerful new alternate mode, Grimlock managed to destroy Shockwave's replica Space Bridge {{storylink|Fall}}, but the ensuing explosion sent him tumbling to the ground, temporarily knocking him offline. Snarl, Slug, and Swoop thought that Grimlock had perished in the ensuing explosion. {{Storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 4|Rage of the Dinobots #4}} While Optimus Prime's Autobots departed into deep space aboard the ''Ark'', the trio opted to remain on Cybertron.

Four cycles after the launch of the ''Ark'', an Autobot cleanup crew discovered Sludge's deactivated body and managed to bring him back online. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 2|Beast Hunters #2}} At some point, the rest of the Lightning Strike Coalition also discovered and resuscitated Grimlock. With all five members of his unit back together again, Grimlock re-christened them the "Dinobots" . {{Storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 4|Rage of the Dinobots #4}}

[[File:Transformers Prime Rage of the Dinobots.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|A few thousand years ago, a crack commando unit was captured by Shockwave for his experiments. These Autobots promptly escaped from a maximum security laboratory to the Cybertron underground. Today, still wanted by the Decepticons, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them....maybe you can hire the Dinobots.]]
When [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] called for the final evacuation of Cybertron, the Dinobots were assigned to one of the spacebound convoys fleeing Decepticon forces. While the Dinobots covered the retreat of the other ships in the convoy, Magnus's fighter was shot down. The Dinobots found the wreck of his ship and were disturbed to find it guarded by the [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] [[Backbite (Prime)|Backbite]]. Sensing the handiwork of their nemesis [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]], the Dinobots attacked the beast, however once they defeated it, Grimlock went into a berserker rage and attacked Snarl as a side-effect of the strength he experienced during his time in his [[beast mode]]. In the chaos, Backbite revived and captured Swoop, taking him to the Forged, to be "re-forged" along with Ultra Magnus.{{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 1|Rage of the Dinobots #1}}

When Grimlock and the remaining Dinobots stormed the prison in which Swoop and Ultra Magnus were being held, they freed all the other Autobot captives, but ran into [[Ser-Ket (Prime)|Ser-Ket]], the head of the joint. As Grimlock threatened her, he and his team were horrified to see Swoop in a "re-forged" programming, declaring an oath of loyalty to Shockwave.{{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 2|Rage of the Dinobots #2}}

[[File:RageOfTheDinobots2-UltraMagnus.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"Colonel Von Luger, it is the sworn duty of all officers to try to escape."]]

As the Autobots beheld this latest of atrocities, Ser-Ket revealed that she reinforced her master's original programming of Swoop. Ultra Magnus attempted to convince Grimlock that Swoop was lost, but Grimlock refused and told him to "Switch off!", claiming that this was Dinobot business. He then challenged Ser-Ket to a one-on-one brawl, the stake being that if he won, she would have to fix Swoop and let the Autobots leave. If not, they would all surrender. She in turn asked why she would agree to such a proposal, when the Autobots were so badly outnumbered. Grimlock reasoned that if there were a large battle, more Autobots and Dinobots would die, and would be of no use to her or her master. Ser-Ket agreed, and the other Dinobots formed a ring of fire as an arena. Grimlock fought hard, but was overwhelmed by his opponent's speed, ferocity and strength, the latter all the while taunting and prompting the Dinobot leader to transform into his beast form, referring to it as his 'true' form. Though Grimlock was initially reluctant, knowing that he would all too certainly lose control in that mode, he decided that it was the only way he could fell her. This proves to be a potential trump card for Grimlock, and Ser-Ket remarked that it would be an honour to fall at the hands of Shockwave's 'greatest achievement', but not this time, calling in Swoop to attack his leader. Grimlock yanked Swoop down and attacked him, jolting the brainwashed Dinobot back into reality. The other Dinobots prompt Grimlock to revert to his proto-form, and it worked, but not before he severed and smashed Ser-Ket's head. Seeing their head honcho defeated, the Forged kept their word and released the Autobots. As the valiant captives retreated, Ser-Ket revealed her true identity as a [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]], in a form much too powerful for Grimlock, musing that he had beaten her in his 'true' form, and now it was her turn. As she flew away with him, Swoop caught up with her and ripped out one of the optics in her beast mode, thus settling a personal grudge, and freed Grimlock. As the damaged Ser-Ket cursed the Autobots, Grimlock emphasized their existence as Dinobots and impaled her beast head with his sword, offlining her once and for all. They were interrupted by Shockwave, who remarked that if he felt emotion, he'd say he was proud.{{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 3|Rage of the Dinobots #3}}

As the Autobots attacked Shockwave, the Decepticon scientist deployed an EMP, immobilizing them, before knocking them out. Sometime later, Grimlock came to in a familiar place; an operating table. Shockwave planned to resume his work on Grimlock, with one small change; he would completely erase Grimlock's thoughts, memories and anything that made him what he was. The other Autobots were in prison and came up with a plan to escape, involving a staged 'prison disagreement'. It worked all too well and soon they attacked Shockwave's lab, just before he was able to administer the fateful change to Grimlock. They ripped the scientist apart, and were hardly able to believe they had done so. As they revived Grimlock and bid their retreat, they were faced with a holographic representation of Shockwave, who revealed that the Decepticon they just annihilated was nothing more than one of many avatars Shockwave was employing to carry out his work in around the different prison complexes on Cybertron. Later, as Ultra Magnus and the rescued Autobots prepared to leave Cybertron, Grimlock declared that he would stay on and free the other captive Autobots on the planet, along with his team. Ultra Magnus congratulated and thanked the Dinobots before leaving. {{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 4|Rage of the Dinobots #4}}

With Cybertron now a derelict wasteland, the Dinobots took refuge underground with other surviving Transformers. In between searching for Energon and fighting the surviving Forged and Insecticons, Grimlock, the new "king" of Cybertron, mediated disputes and arguments between individuals. The Dinobots eventually met [[Firestar (Prime)|Firestar]], an inhabitant of [[Last Spark]], who implored them to help fight a mysterious enemy preying on her city's people. Sludge and Snarl set off to investigate, against Grimlock's wishes. After some investigation, the duo encountered Kickback and his followers. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 1|Beast Hunters #1}} In the ensuing fight, Kickback denied that he had anything to do with the murders, and accused the Forged of the crime. Sludge, still furious about how Kickback abandoned him in the tunnel, deliberately snapped the Insecticon's neck. When the pair returned to Last Spark, they continued their investigation and realized that some of the bodies had been drained of Energon after their death. [[Airwave (Prime)|Airwave]], the leader of Last Spark, was the culprit responsible for the murders, and with Firestar's assistance the trio took him down. On returning to base, Grimlock apologized to Sludge for his earlier behavior, and reaffirmed that the two Dinobots had done the right thing in the end. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 2|Beast Hunters #2}}

The Dinobots eventually relocated their base of operations to Last Spark, although the locals took a long time to grow accustomed to their presence. Some time later, Swoop and Grimlock went on patrol together. The duo encountered a group of Forged guarding a fortified complex. After a brief fight, the two Dinobots broke in, and after a bit of exploration learned that the area was yet another one of Shockwave's many secret laboratories. Some more exploration revealed a trio of real dinosaurs and a pterosaur- a ''Tyrannosaurus'', a ''Triceratops'', a ''Stegosaurus'', and a ''Pteranodon''- in stasis. When they awakened, they attacked the two Dinobots. The fight eventually spilled over into Last Spark itself. The Dinobots eventually defeated their doppelgangers after exposure to Cybertron's toxic atmosphere quickly killed the organic creatures. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 4|Beast Hunters #4}}

Snarl temporarily took Grimlock's place on his throne while the Dinobot leader visited [[New Kalis]], although he proved just as ill-tempered as the Dinobot leader in the role of mediator. His negotiations with [[Scrounge (Prime)|Scrounge]] were suddenly cut short by a mysterious earthquake and an unexpected stream of fresh Energon. With only a handful of survivors of the earthquake, Snarl tried to rally them and lead them to safety. Simultaneously, New Kalis slowly began flooding with clean Energon, threatening to drown its inhabitants. While [[Chromia (Prime)|Chromia]] and Swoop unsuccessfully tried to evacuate the populace, Grimlock was forced to transform into his beast mode and frighten them away from the Energon pool, but his dinosaur instincts got the better of him and he reverted to a feral state. Slug and Sludge discovered [[Blackout (WFC)|Blackout]] buried in a landslide; Slug grudgingly pulled him free if only to bring the Decepticon to justice. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 5|Beast Hunters #5}} All of the Dinobots and the survivors under their care headed up to the surface by one way or another {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 6|Beast Hunters #6}}, where they discovered that Optimus Prime and his team had returned to Cybertron and successfully rejuvenated it. Their revelry was cut short by the arrival of the surviving Forged, still intent on destroying the Dinobots. Still underground, Sludge, Firestar, and [[Zoom]] encountered a massive [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]], who dealt a fatal blow to Zoom. Sludge managed to force the Predacon to retreat, although Zoom expired from his injuries. The Predacon eventually burst through the surface and attacked the other Dinobots, but Sludge, who had rendezvoused with the recently arrived [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]], and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], arrived, and together they sent the Predacon fleeing. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 7|Beast Hunters #7}}

After Optimus Prime sacrificed himself to bring the Well of All Sparks online once again, [[Team Prime]] and the Dinobots worked together to get the other Autobot survivors to safety. The team split up to deal with the rogue Predacon; when it chose to attack the group headed by Arcee and Swoop, Grimlock and Bumblebee ambushed the beast and managed to lock it up in a secure underground bunker. Although the Dinobots argued with Bulkhead about their status among "normal" Transformers because of their strange beast modes, Arcee explained that Optimus would have wanted this new world to be a fresh start for all Transformers. While Arcee decided to begin rebuilding Kaon, Grimlock and his team announced their intention to create the city of [[New Spark]], a new city for the displaced refugees of Last Spark. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 8|Beast Hunters #8}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
During a discussion about the existence of the [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]]s and their relationship to Earth's dinosaurs, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] asked Bulkhead about the Dinobots. However, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] assured her that they were entirely different from Predacons. {{storylink|Project Predacon}}

== Games ==
=== ''Transformers: Fall of Cybertron'' ===
{{Note|On [[September 11]], [[2012]], the Dinobots, excluding [[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]], were made available for download in the Dinobot Destructor Pack on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Steam.<ref>http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/9/4/3283751/transformer-fall-of-cybertron-is-bringing-the-dinobots-to-competitive</ref>}}

As Optimus Prime and the other Autobots readied the ''Ark'' to launch, Grimlock and the rest of his squadron abandoned their post for reasons unknown, stealing a dropship and heading to the Rust Sea. Although the team smashed their way through Shockwave's Decepticons, they were eventually overrun by a horde of Insecticons. Sludge's body was abandoned in the tunnel in stasis lock, while the other four were deliberately left alive so that Shockwave could experiment on them. Shockwave re-engineered their bodies so that they could transform into the alien creatures he had discovered while observing a primitive planet. Grimlock was the most drastically altered; the traumatic surgery redirected power away from his mind and left him less coherent and emotionally stable than ever before.

[[File:FOC-Grimlockspacetrex.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66|And so, the four Dinobots set off for the Great Valley.]]

Slug was the first to come round and break free, melting a hole in the floor and escaping into the tunnels beneath Kaon. Grimlock was approached by a disgraced [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]], who had recently been ousted from his throne by a rebuilt [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] and now sought an army of his own. He offered to set Grimlock free if the hulking warrior promised to become his slave.... at which point Grimlock freed himself by throwing the Decepticon against the wall, deactivating his shackles. Still adjusting to his strange new body, Grimlock fought his way through the lab and stumbled across Swoop, who was still locked up. When he eventually freed Swoop, the two of them fought and defeated [[Hardshell]], who was piloting a gigantic suit of armor. The duo eventually discovered what remained of Slug's holding cell, and split up to search for him. While underground, Grimlock finally learned how to transform into his new ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' [[alternate mode]] as he faced off against [[Kickback (FOC)|Kickback]] and an Insecticon [[Bruiser]]. Slug arrived not long afterwards, battering down a door and crushing Kickback beneath its weight.

Now a trio, Grimlock ordered them to search for Snarl, the last known victim of Shockwave's experiments. They eventually found him trapped in his cell, being tortured by [[Sharpshot]]. Grimlock tore through the machinery powering the torture devices and executed Sharpshot, while the other two helped the badly-damaged Snarl to his feet. The quartet took shelter in one of Shockwave's personal observation towers; Grimlock and Slug helped stabilize Snarl while Swoop discovered plans for Sludge's dinosaur form, inspiring Swoop to re-brand the quartet as the "Dinobots". Slug contacted Optimus Prime, who ordered them to fall back to base. Grimlock ignored the order and set off to Shockwave's Space Bridge, intending to confront the scientist once and for all. With the help of Swoop, Grimlock made it up to the top of the tower and destroyed Shockwave's space bridge, destroying the entire complex in the process. {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
Dinobots participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of them! {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:QuarrysQuarry triumphant team.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Sadly, this doesn't count.]]
*In the third season of ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Transformers: Rescue Bots]]'', [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Rescue Bot]]s adopt dinosaur-based modes, in which they are referred to as "Dinobots" at several points during the series. They do so by scanning artificial dinosaurs created by combining robotics with dinosaur DNA. Unfortunately, adopting these beast modes lowers their supply of Energon, and they are left unable to control the animal instincts of their new modes unless they use an Energon patch.
**As an interesting note, [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and the four [[Rescue Bot]]s share their dinosaur modes with the actual Dinobots: [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] have ''Tyrannosaurus'' modes, [[Heatwave (RB)|Heatwave]] and [[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]] each become an ''Apatosaurus'', [[Blades (RB)|Blades]] and [[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]] have ''Pteranodon'' forms, [[Boulder]] and [[Slug (FOC)|Slug]] both possess ''Triceratops'' modes, and [[Chase (RB)|Chase]] and [[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]] are each a ''Stegosaurus''.
**Even before this, the human built dinosaur robot, [[Trex]], was also referred to as a "Dino Bot". Unfortunately, he wasn't a [[Transformer]].
**When guest character [[Sideswipe (RID)|Sideswipe]] shows up at [[The Need for Speed|a later point]], he alludes to [[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Dinobots]] [[Dinobot (RID)|of a different kind]], to which Boulder then compares the Rescue Bots as Dinobots, muddying the waters a bit as to which of these two kinds of Dinobots the Rescue Bot Dinobots are more akin to.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Aligned Dinobots| (FOC)]]
[[Category:Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category:Fall of Cybertron subgroups]]
[[Category:Prime subgroups]]

Duststorm (Prime)

2024-04-12T22:53:12Z

Platypar-1:

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Duststorm}}

:''Duststorm is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Transformers Universe]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

[[File:Jagex Duststorm Full Robot.png|thumb|upright=1.4]]

The two words that stand out in descriptions of '''Duststorm''' are "tainted" and "corrupted" inside and out. She is a mechanoid after [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]'s own spark: ruthless and efficient and geared towards doing maximum combat damage either up close or from a distance. Her weaponry keeps any "predators" at bay, and though her defensive armor and durability are low, she specializes in stunning opponents and making speedy getaways. Many victims never see more than the sickly glint of her distinctive augmented optic prosthesis before she pops their hoods from a distance.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141222055006/https://www.transformersuniverse.com/warriors/duststorm Character bio] at the official ''Transformers Universe'' website.</ref>

{{bigquote|Ruthlessly efficient, Duststorm is a Decepticon warrior close to my dark spark.|[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Universe''===
[[File:TFUniverseJagex-DuststormVehicle.png|thumb|left|]]
Duststorm was part of the crew of the ''[[Leviathan (starship)|Leviathan]]'' when it shot down the Autobot ship ''[[Arclight (ship)|Arclight]]'' over [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]]. She and the other Decepticons on board went on to engage in a number of battles against the surviving Autobots in a number of places around the world. {{storylink|Transformers Universe}}
{{--}}
==Notes==
[[File:Tfuniverse duststorm robot.jpg|thumb|upright=1.95|FOOL! Duststorm's monocle can be over any optic it chooses!]]
*Her in-game Weapons are the [[Droma Blaster Rifle]], [[Praxa Pistol]]s, and a [[Stygian Sniper Rifle]]. Her dune buggy alternate mode uses long-range plasma rockets.
*Her in-game abilities are:
**'''Projectile Accelerator''' — Doubles the damage she deals to enemies within a short range radius.
**'''Ammunition Bridge''' — Decreases the time needed for Duststorm to reload her weapons. (apart from her sniper rifle)
**'''Shockwave Rounds''' — Replaces a standard sniper rifle round into a round capable of knocking down a target for a certain period of time.

*Her active subsystem is "Lifeforce Capture" which repairs her with an opponent's energy when she offlines them.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Transformers Universe game Decepticons]]
[[Category:Video game-only characters]]

Hurt

2023-06-08T06:46:08Z

Platypar-1: /* Synopsis */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 42
|prev=Toxicity
|next=Out of the Past
|image=Hurt-Mikosleeps.jpg
|caption=And you could have it all, my empire of dirt.
|title="Hurt"
|season=2
|season ep=16
|airdate=[[August 24]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Mairghread Scott]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Allspark (company)|Hasbro Studios]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrhW1gMPBKA
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''Miko and Wheeljack embark on a quest for revenge.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:HurtDecepticonsRoundup.jpg|leftt|300px|thumb|This is one of the closest times you'll get to seeing the entire Decepticon cast in one shot. Don't get used to it.]]
[[New York City|Manhattan]]. [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]], [[Jack Darby|Jack]], [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] are on their way back from their successful relic mission. While Miko is feeling victorious and listening to rock music, she announces she's ready to get back to hanging with [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]. As they arrive through the [[GroundBridge]], they almost run into Bulkhead's body, still laying by the entrance as [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] attempts to revive the [[Wreckers|Wrecker]] with defibrillators. [[William Fowler|Fowler]] has to restrain Miko as Ratchet explains what has happened to Bulkhead while the other [[Autobot]]s drag Bulkhead to the medical bay. Miko blames herself for not going with Bulkhead, but Fowler points out there's nothing she could have done against [[Hardshell]].

On the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] rages that only [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] brought back a relic. Hardshell claims that, though he failed to secure the [[Tox-En]], Bulkhead was terminated in the process, which does please Megatron. Hardshell and [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] almost come to blows over the effectiveness of [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]]s.

[[Image:Hurt-KnockOutbuffs.jpg|left|thumb|200px|It's in Knock Out's contract to periodically throw the Tumblr shippers a bone.]]

Fowler is called away to cover up the activities in [[New York City|New York]], but makes [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] promise to keep him updated. Arcee reports that [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] is coming in, which causes Miko to storm off as she believes the others are giving up on Bulkhead. As Ratchet reports that Bulkhead is stable, Wheeljack arrives and promises to go after whoever did this. Optimus, however, refuses to say who's responsible. Wheeljack rushes off anyway, but doesn't get far in the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]'' before Miko reveals herself. Though Wheeljack's immediate instinct is to take her back to the base, Miko makes a deal to tell him who's responsible for Bulkhead's damage, if he takes her with him.

Hardshell boasts to his fellow Insecticons, but they overhear a couple of [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s badmouthing them. Knock Out's buffing session is thus interrupted by an all-out brawl between the two groups, and he ends up being punched by an Insecticon.

Miko and Wheeljack find an [[energon]] mine that Wheeljack intends to attack to draw out Hardshell. Miko goes in first, using [[miko's phone|her phone]] to transmit footage back to Wheeljack. Mid-way through her recon, Wheeljack himself assaults the cave, leaving her to duck for cover while Vehicon parts fly everywhere. He makes swift work of the Decepticon contingent.

Knock Out takes his concerns about the Insecticons to Megatron, insisting they be confined somewhere. Hardshell is defiant, but the discussion is interrupted by a transmission from the mine—Wheeljack informs Megatron that the mine is his and he's going to attack more mines until the Decepticons give him Hardshell. To underscore the threat, he blows up the mine. Megatron is more upset at the news that Bulkhead might not be dead, and announces Hardshell owes him a [[spark]].

[[Image:Hurt-WheeljackHardshell.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Hold still! There's a bug on your... oh wait...]]
As they head to the next mine, Miko and Wheeljack discuss Bulkhead's chances, but Miko's so tired she falls asleep mid-conversation. She wakes up when they arrive, but Wheeljack leaves her in the ship with instructions to use the auto-pilot to return to the Autobot base. She watches from the cockpit as Wheeljack approaches the mine and calls out Hardshell, who promptly appears on the clifftop above. Wheeljack and Hardshell clash, though the latter is wise to the former's grenade trick. The much-larger Insecticon soon gets the better of Wheeljack, tossing him about and landing solid blows, until the Autobot is left lying on the ground. With the fight's outcome clear, Miko goes to press the autopilot, but instead uses the controls to fire off a couple of missiles that strike Hardshell. As Wheeljack stands, more Insecticons appear at the clifftop, and he has to limp back to the ''Jackhammer''. The swarm follows the ship, but Wheeljack throws a box of grenades at them, and the explosions dissipate the swarm. He congratulates Miko by welcoming her to the Wreckers, but she remains despondent over Bulkhead's condition.

Some time later, the pair drag themselves back into the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]]. Ratchet sadly reports that Bulkhead will survive, but may never be fully-functional again. While Miko rushes to her friend's side, Wheeljack opts to leave, not wanting to see Bulkhead that way.

Megatron looks down in fury at the corpse of Hardshell, and is shocked when he's told that the one responsible is a human girl.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (1)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (14)
*[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] (15)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (10)
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (11)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (12)
*[[Hardshell]] (13)
*[[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]]s (16)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (17)
|c3=
*[[Jack Darby]] (2)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (4)
*[[William Fowler]] (7)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (8)

}}

==Quotes==
"Let me guess. You and Raf spend all your drive-time listening to chiptunes." 
"''Wraaaaaaaa''?"
:—'''Miko''' and '''Bumblebee''' on music.

"Pit-bound scavengers." 
"Scrap-eaters."
:—Two '''Vehicons''' and their take on Insecticons.

"Detailing was so much easier when Breakdown was around!"
:—'''Knock Out''' gives fangirls an inch.

"Sorry kid, but Bulkhead's ''gonna'' wake up. And he'll file off my rivets if you're not there when he comes to." 
:—'''Wheeljack''' on Bulkhead's condition.

"Talk during battle is a sign of weakness." 
"Only when you're too primitive to do two things at once."
:—'''Hardshell''' and '''Wheeljack''' exchange smack talk.

"I thought I told you to hit autopilot." 
"Bad things happen to bots when I leave their side."
:—'''Wheeljack''' shows concern for '''Miko''', who is [[Rock Bottom|not entirely]] [[Toxicity|wrong]].

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Miko, Jack, Bumblebee, and Arcee return from their mission, which occurred in "[[Tunnel Vision]]". They are followed shortly by Optimus, whose mission took place in "[[Triangulation]]". Bulkhead is suffering from [[Tox-En]] poisoning from the [[Toxicity|previous episode]]. On the Decepticon side, Hardshell is the last to return from his mission, which is also shown in the previous episode.
*Miko mentioned their success in obtaining the [[phase shifter]] from "Tunnel Vision", which happened to be sitting next to her at the time.
*Knock Out refers to [[Crossfire (Prime)|Breakdown's demise]].
*Wheeljack shows the newfound respect for Ratchet that he gained in "[[Triage (episode)|Triage]]".
*Knock Out comments that it has been a long time since a Decepticon extinguished an Autobot's spark. [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream's]] murder of [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] was the first and last successful termination of an Earth-bound Autobot by a Decepticon, which occurred all the way back in the [[Darkness Rising, Part 1|series premiere]].
*Hardshell easily predicts Wheeljack's "one grenade, one shot" strategy, having watched his men fall victim to Bulkhead's own grenade booby trap in the previous episode.
*Hardshell is still missing the mandible Bulkhead punched off in "Toxicity".

===Transformers references===
*A Vehicon mentions the [[Pit (BW)|Pit]].

===Real-world references===
*Energon mine [[TVC 15]] is named after the {{w|David Bowie}} song {{w|TVC 15|of the same name}}.
*Miko asks Bumblebee if he and Raf listen to chiptunes, electronic music which intentionally sounds like an 8-bit video game console synthesizer.

===Animation and technical errors===
*Fowler comments that Hardshell sucker punched Bulkhead, although he never heard Hardshell's name in the previous episode.
*When Hardshell promises Megatron that Bulkhead was killed by his own hand, in the background, only one of Dreadwing's optics are blinking, making it look as if the Seeker's winking at the camera.
*How could Wheeljack have possibly missed the massive group of Insecticons on his approach to the mine? If they were already there when he arrived, he should have seen them when he landed. If they came in later, the synchronized buzzing of nearly a hundred Insecticons should have been audible to him.
*When Wheeljack retreats into his ship after his fight against Hardshell, he sits down without a grenade at his hip. As he's standing up to open his case of grenades, he suddenly has one in its usual spot, despite not picking up a new one in the interim. His swords, which he also lost in the battle, are back despite him not picking them up.
*As Wheeljack limps towards his ship, he has his mouthplate retracted. However, when he gets on the ship, his mouthplate is back out again. In the next scene, it's retracted again.
*Wheeljack's blades simply disappear once Hardshell knocks them from his hands.
*When Wheeljack kills the last Vehicon at the energon mine, the sound of his blade being extracted from the Vehicon's chest is slightly out of sync with the action itself.
*When Miko fires missiles at Hardshell, they simply appear in midair below the ''Jackhammer'', instead of being disengaged from some point on the ship.
*Wheeljack rather dramatically limps into the base on foot. But after he decides not to see Bulkhead, he just transforms and roars out, showing no ill effects from the fight.
*One of the Insecticons informs Megatron that "a human girl" is responsible for Hardshell's demise, even though it is highly unlikely that they saw Miko piloting the ''Jackhammer''.

===Trivia===
*Wheeljack's "one grenade, one shot" strategy is actually more of a "one grenade at a time, one shot" strategy, as Wheeljack says when Miko sees his case of grenades in the ''Jackhammer''.
*Wheeljack lets us know that [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]]s are bound by a single mind.
*Miko is the second human in the series to have killed an Insecticon, Jack having destroyed the first one on Cybertron in "[[Orion Pax, Part 3]]". So... Raf... no pressure, then?
*Despite Energon being generally volatile when mishandled, the cubes remained stable while being knocked around by Wheeljack inside the mine. Must take some really clumsy handling to make them explode.
*Hardshell claims that talk during battle is a sign of weakness. Interestingly, both of his battles against Bulkhead in [[Toxicity|the previous episode]] had almost no dialogue, and what was spoken was usually done during lulls in the fight.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Vengeance'''" ("Revenge")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Der Rachefeldzug'''" ("The Vendetta")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 26|26 January]] [[2013]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Adauchi Henkei! Yūki aru Tsuiseki'''" (仇討変形!勇気ある追跡, "Revenge Transformation! The Brave Chase")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 19|19 January]] [[2013]]

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ferido'''" ("Hurt")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 24|24 June]] [[2013]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ferito'''" ("Wounded"), "'''La Vendetta'''" (2017 airing, "The Revenge")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 6|6 February]] [[2013]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2012 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2013 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Vol. 21 ([[Avex Trax]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2013 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Folge 10: Bulkheads Mission ([[EDEL:kids]]) — English and German audio. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Volume 4: Unclear Objectives ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season 2 Vol. 3: Toxicity ([[Primal Screen]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Saison 2 Vol. 3: La course aux reliques (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Stagione 2 Vol. 3: Il Tox-En (Primal Screen) — English, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian audio. 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Intégrale Saison 2 (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — The Complete Season 2 (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — La Seconda Stagione Completa (Primal Screen) — English, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian audio.
;Blu-ray
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2012 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two Collection (Madman Entertainment) 

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Combiner

2023-06-08T04:05:46Z

Platypar-1: /* Robot mode combiners */

[[File:studioox combiners whatif.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.]]

Over the course of their endless wars, the Cybertronian race has developed a frightful array of [[:Category:Weapons by franchise|weapons]], but the most powerful and versatile invention of all might be the power to physically merge multiple Cybertronians into a single form—this power might be unlocked through conventional Cybertronian science, or through the energies of a mystical artifact like the [[Enigma of Combination]]. The term '''combiner''' (sometimes capitalized, sometimes not) can be used to refer to both those rare Transformers who possess this ability and the composite machine they create.

Although many different varieties of combiners exist—for instance, two or more Cybertronians might merge to form a vehicle, weapon, or some kind of useful machine, the most famous and immediately recognizable form of combination involves the fusion of five or six individual Cybertronians into a larger robot, sometimes referred to as a '''gestalt'''; more often than not, this combined form possesses its own emergent personality based at least in part on the interaction between the minds of its individual components. Introducing the technology into any of the myriad iterations of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] across the [[multiverse]] inevitably leads to the same result: short of a [[Titan (group)|Titan]], the only thing capable of stopping a combiner rampage is another combiner, and more than one conflict between the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s has spiralled into an endless combiner arms race as both sides scramble to accrue as many of these strategic-grade weapons as possible.

Although the mental merge usually dilutes the strength of a combiner's individual thoughts, to the point where many suffer from limited intellects or outright insanity, a few combiner teams like the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s or [[Breastforce]] have taken steps to mitigate this design flaw. But, as more than one [[Decepticon]] leader has used to his advantage, even the most dysfunctional combiner is exponentially stronger than the mere sum of its parts, and more than a match for a dozen average-sized Cybertronians.

{{bigquote|Superion is five Autobots put together. Think about the last time you and your friends tried to agree on pizza toppings, then make it '''way''' more complicated.|[[Spike (MLP)|Spike]]|"[[The Mightiest Dinobot]]"}}

==Conceptual history==
[[File:Diaclone Constructicons.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Diaclone pre-G2 Constructicons.]]

The concept of combining robots is a [[tvtropes:Main/CombiningMecha|long-standing anime trope]], so it is perhaps appropriate that the story of combiners as we know them today began before the creation of the ''Transformers'' brand. In 1982, the ''[[Diaclone]]'' toyline introduced the "Construction Vehicle Robo" and "Train Robo" figures. Not only did these six-man teams change from robots into realistic construction vehicles and locomotives, they could also combine with their respective teammates to form a larger super robot. In [[1985]], with the ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' franchise now in its second year, [[Hasbro]] imported the construction-themed toys to the [[United States of America|United States]] and characterized them as the evil "[[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s", who could unite to form [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. After Diaclone's 1986 cancellation, the next wave of combining toys saw release as ''Transformers'' characters on both sides of the Pacific. A significant step up from their predecessors, the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s, [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]]s, [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s, and [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]s possessed a standardized combination scheme that allowed kids to mix and match team members as well, leading to [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] marketing them under the "Scramble City" subline on account of their ability to "scramble" limbs at will.

[[File:Raiden boxart.jpg|thumb|right|200px|There's a "derailment" joke waiting to happen.]]

Initially, tie-in fiction treated the ability to combine as a comparatively recent invention created after the Transformers arrived on Earth, but this soon changed: the cartoon episode "[[The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)|The Secret of Omega Supreme]]" revealed that the Constructicons first combined early in the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]; later, to accommodate the presence of the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcon]]s and [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s, Marvel's ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' miniseries showed these combiners existing on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] long before the exodus to [[Earth]]. By the end of the original ''Transformers'' toyline, the line had expanded beyond Scramble City: these included [[Mini-Cassette]] combiners like [[Squawkbox]], vehicle-mode combiners like the [[Micromaster Combiner]]s, and a number of oddballs like [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] and the [[Duocon]]s. Given Japan's aforementioned affection for the concept, basically every Japanese-exclusive franchise would introduce new combiners, even after Hasbro eased off on the concept—perhaps most prominently, the ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|The Headmasters]]'' franchise would resurrect the original Train Robo under the name "[[Raiden]]", and subsequent franchises would introduce a host of new combining characters like the [[Breastforce]], [[Multiforce]], and [[Dinoforce]].

While the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' and ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machines]]'' franchises did not embrace the gimmick to the same degree as the franchises that preceded them (although the toyline-exclusive combiners [[Magnaboss (BW)|Magnaboss]] and [[Tripredacus]] would go on to appear in various tie-in comics), Japanese-original shows from around the same time, most prominently ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)|Car Robots]]'', introduced many new combiner characters like [[Landfill (RID)|Landfill]] and [[Rail Racer (RID)|Rail Racer]]. In [[2004]], riding on the success of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' franchise, its successor ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' spotlighted combination as one of its central gimmicks: in addition to resurrecting the Scramble City gimmick with the "Maximus" combiners (which were basically a last-minute addition to the toyline), the [[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|toyline]]'s central gimmick allowed almost every Autobot to combine with any other Autobot by forming either the upper or lower body of a combiner. Unlike most previous depictions of the process, or even [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s concurrent depiction of the technology as a mentally and physically rigorous mechanical upgrade, this series introduced [[Primus]]'s divine [[Spark of Combination]] as an explicitly supernatural force capable of instantly combining individual Transformers together.

For many years, [[Fandom|fans]] referred to super robot combiners with emergent personalities as '''gestalts''', based on the {{w|Gestalt psychology|real-world term}} meaning, roughly, an object greater than the sum of its parts. The term remained firmly in realm of [[fanon]] for years, but between ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' design sketches, ''[[Titanium Series]]'' [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]'s bio, and a mention in [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]'', the term soon caught on with Hasbro designers. Initially, IDW's [[2005 IDW continuity|first ''Transformers'']] treated gestalt technology as an unpredictable and highly experimental technology—modern-day Autobots like the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s lacked combination powers, and author [[Simon Furman]] characterized [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] as an insane failed experiment from Cybertron's bygone [[Golden Age]]. ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' introduced a new incarnation of Devastator, although [[Shockpoint|later stories]] established that he was the imperfect product of arduous research.

[[File:NexusPrimeflankedbyotherPrimes.jpg|thumb|left|200px|He-who-shall-not-be-named.]]

Around this time, [[Fun Publications]] released a number of [[redeco]]ed ''Energon'' combiner components through the Collector's Club. Tie-in fiction published in the [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|official Collector's Club magazine]] detailed their adventures across the ''Transformers'' [[multiverse]], and eventually culminated with the reveal that all five of these seemingly unrelated 'bots were all fragments of [[Nexus Prime]], one of the [[Thirteen|thirteen original Transformers]] who displayed mastery over [[energon]]. Hasbro would fold Nexus Prime into their definitive version of the Thirteen; when he reappeared in 2013's ''[[Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus]]'', his new profile played up his status as the first combiner instead. Notably, that book established that he controlled a mysterious [[Enigma of Combination]], but what exactly this ''was'' would not be revealed for another few years.

The [[2010]] ''[[Power Core Combiners]]'' toyline featured a mixture of old and new characters, who combined with static [[Autotransformation|auto-transforming]] figures to form larger super robots. The Japanese counterpart of the toyline, ''[[Transformers United EX|United EX]]'', declared the toys (which were redecoed from the Hasbro toys) to be new bodies for various established characters in the sprawling [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]], while others made appearances in [[Live-action film series|movie]]-related media like ''[[Transformers: Cyber Missions|Cyber Missions]]''. [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 32|Issue #32]] of the Collectors' Club magazine expanded on their scant [[bio]] information by explaining that [[Power Core Combination]] was a "lost art"; modern attempts to reinvent the technology only created destructive monsters in what is presumably a reference to [[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]]'s role in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''.

Just five years later, the ''[[Combiner Wars (franchise)|Combiner Wars]]'' multimedia branding again pushed combiners to the fore. To support this marketing push, [[IDW Publishing]] launched a [[Combiner Wars (comic)|tie-in comic series]] set in its [[2005 IDW continuity|primary ongoing universe]]... a universe that had already established combination as a forbidden, dangerous art. To get around all this, IDW revealed that Nexus Prime's "Enigma of Combination" was a supernatural artifact that could instantly merge Cybertronians together into a combiner. This reveal tied the old Spark of Combination to the idea that "true" combination had become a lost art by the modern day; furthering this revelation, ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[The Crucible|#34]] subtly retconned that Monstructor's creator [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] had been trying to recreate the power of the Enigma using mundane technology.

In the years since ''Combiner Wars'', depictions of combination have shifted toward something more supernatural than scientific in nature: many modern works of media tie the process to the Enigma of Combination, arcane super-science, or exposure to exotic radiation. Many contemporary depictions of combiners, including the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon]], IDW's various comic continuities, or ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (cartoon)|Cyberverse]]'', focus just as much on the internal struggles of the team to coordinate their efforts. For more specific descriptions of how individual stories have treated combination in all its forms, read on.

{{--}}

==Types of combiner==
{{bigquote|Decepticons are '''obsessed''' with combining. Put two of 'em in a room and within seconds one will be standing on the other's shoulders. '''Fact.'''|[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]|"[[The Waiting Game]]"}}

Although combiners are a diverse and varied clade, not ''all'' Cybertronians who combine with smaller robots or form a larger machine count as “true” combiners. Although many Transformers, such as [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] or ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'' [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]], can combine with parts of their alternate mode to form a larger, [[Super Mode|powered-up form]], these only involve one character combining with an inanimate piece of machinery. [[Multi-component Transformer]]s like [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] or [[Magmatron]] possess a single consciousness distributed over several bodies; there is only ''one'' Transformer involved, regardless of how many bodies that character may simultaneously operate, although a few “true” combiners like the [[Power Core Combination|Power Core Combiners]] blur this line.

Sometimes a smaller Transformer will attach to and enhance a larger Transformer in some way. [[Binary bonding|binary bonded]] partners like [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s, or [[Mini-Con]]s who [[Powerlinx]] with larger partners, are not considered combiners; although the components involved often a share a deep, almost symbiotic relationship with each other, their "combined" form is almost exactly the same in appearance and functionality as their non-combined form.

Generally, combiners can be divided into three primary categories:

===Robot mode combiners===
[[File:Computron.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
The majority of Transformers who combine do so by merging into a humanoid "super robot" that exponentially magnifies the strength of its components. In many cases, this robot is its own being, with a unique name and a personality formed from the intersection of multiple minds. In other instances, however, a combiner might be governed by just ''one'' member of the team, their personality so strong that the act of combination becomes an extension of their own will supported by the other Cybertronians who comprise the combiner. Sometimes, the individual components involved in a combination might not actually possess humanoid robot modes of their own: for instance, the Autobot [[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]] is the combined form of [[Raindance]] and [[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]], who transform from [[Mini-Cassette|mini-cassette]]s into a jet and tank respectively.

While a combiner can be formed from as few as two robots or hundreds, perhaps the most immediately recognizable combiners of all are the five-man teams who made prominent appearances in the original [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|comic]] and [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]]. While [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] utilized a unique six-bot configuration that relegated nominal team leader [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] to the ignoble role of right leg, the "Scramble City" combiners that followed—[[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]], etc.—were all based on a standardized five-member design featured in the Japanese [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1986 (Scramble City and Transformers 2010)|''Scramble City'' toyline]]: the team leader forms the head and main body of the combiner, while the four other team members form the limbs. These limbs are interchangeable from one Scramble City-style combiner to the next, allowing for a number of improvised combinations. The [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon]]s are notable for incorporating ''six'' members into the team; while any four can combine with their leader [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]] to form [[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]], one member of the team transforms into a blaster for the combiner to wield. A few other modern interpretations of the characters, most notably their ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' incarnations, have also featured a smaller sixth member of the team in a support role—sometimes acting as a weapon, other times serving as a chestplate or shield.

These specific four-limbs-and-one-torso combiners and their components have also been called, varyingly, '''Scramble City combiners''', '''[[Special Teams]]''',<ref>When the ''Scramble City'' toys were marketed in Europe they were referred to as Special Teams, and the term appeared in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|UK comic book]] series and some marketing materials in the US,, but never appeared in US fiction until 2004's [[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide|''Ultimate Guide'']].</ref> '''fusilateral quintrocombiners'''.<ref>Coined by [[Simon Furman]] in [[Swarm (issue)|issue 9]] of the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|''Generation 2'' comic]] to refer to the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]],</ref> or '''amalgam models'''.<ref>"[[Devastation Derby!]]"</ref> Although they comprise a substantial cross-section of combiners, not all combiners adhere to this specific layout: the various [[Micromaster]] combiners, including [[Sixwing]], [[Sixtrain]], or [[Sixbuilder]], feature their own standardized layout, which incorporate up to six members and also feature interchangeable limbs. Other combiners like [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]], [[Generation 1]] [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]], ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Rail Racer (RID)|Rail Racer]], or ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]] all incorporate a different number of components with unique transformation schemes.
{{--}}

===Vehicle mode combiners===
[[File:Fireshot vanquish windblade 4.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

Rather than combining into a larger robot, a number of Transformers can instead transform into a combined vehicle form. Unlike humanoid combiners, who generally merge into a single super robot with its own personality, almost all fiction has treated these kinds of combiners as a purely physical combination, with no kind of mental merge to speak of. This is not to say that Cybertronians who combine in this way are ''completely'' separate from one another: many works of fiction treat this kind of combination as a kind of sibling bond, sometimes shared between a literal set of [[twin]]s, and the Transformers involved might share some kind of deeper link.

While some 'bots—such as [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]], who combine into the larger [[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]]—possess individual vehicle modes that can then merge into a larger form, others, most notably the [[Micromaster Combiner]]s, lack individual alternate forms entirely: they can only transform into the front or back half of a vehicle, and rely on their partner to form a complete alternate mode.

{{--}}

===Others===
[[File:RequiemBlaster.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

A small number of Transformers combine into objects that are neither super robots nor vehicles. This kind of combination is most prevalent among [[Mini-Con]] teams, who possess the power to combine into larger weapons and tools for full-sized Cybertronians to wield, but a small number of other Transformers and near-Cybertronian lifeforms have adopted similar configurations: [[Sonic (IDW)|Sonic]] and [[Boom]] transform into a set of speakers, while the [[Recyclon]]s could unite to form the [[Prime Processing Unit]].

{{--}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====Marvel Comics continuity====
=====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics=====
{{noteukonly}}

[[File:TFUS10 all crumble before devastator.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

Although a number of combiner teams existed on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], including both the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s and [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcon]]s, {{storylink|Ring of Hate!}} the ability was rare enough that [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and his legion of Earth-bound Autobots had never encountered combiners. Thus, when [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] designed and built the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s and imbued them with life using the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] energy stored in Prime's severed head, they were taken by surprise and nearly defeated by the newly formed [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. {{storylink|The Next Best Thing to Being There!}}
''The [[Special Teams]] were first conceived within [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]]'s mind shortly after the human had relinquished control of the Creation Matrix to Optimus Prime. Shockwave was able to view this data remotely and prepare for their development.'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}}

[[File:Menasor superion heavy traffic.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

Once the Autobots rescued and repaired Optimus Prime, the group turned their attention to countering Decepticon combiner technology: although their new warrior [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] could combine his rocket and tank modules into one mighty robot, his creator [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] judged this combination inadequate compared to Devastator's six-way fusion. To get their hands on this advanced technology, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] secretly recorded their transformation pattern, {{storylink|Command Performances!}} and the Autobots successfully reverse-engineered to create the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]. Unfortunately, they were forced to go on their first mission with only [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]'s personality programming completed, leaving the rest of the team and their combined form [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] indifferent towards [[human]] casualties. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}}

After their first mission proved a failure, Optimus Prime had [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] wipe their memory and started reprogramming them with the Creation Matrix. However, [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], who had gotten a lift to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] on Silverbolt's plane mode, had injected Optimus Prime with a [[cerebro-shell]] with which [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] used to steal energy from the Creation Matrix and bring his newly built combiner team, the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], to life. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}} As this combiner arms race heated up, the heroic [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]s and evil [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s became the next combiner teams to join the conflict on Earth. {{storylink|Afterdeath!}}

''Megatron summoned the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s to Earth'', {{storylink|Prey!}} and Shockwave would again call on their services. {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}} ''Shockwave would also bring the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon]]s from Cybertron to Earth'', {{storylink|Enemy Action!}} and subsequent Decepticon leader [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] made use of [[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]] and [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]. {{storylink|Club Con!}} Many combiner teams—the Aerialbots, Technobots, Terrorcons, Seacons, and possibly the Combaticons and Protectobots—fell to an [[Underbase]]-empowered [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] during his infamous rampage. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

[[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] combined to form [[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]]. They appeared to keep their individual personalities in their combined mode instead of merging their minds. {{storylink|People Power!}}

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
The Constructicons lost the ability to combine, but attempted to compensate by constructing a separate Devastator robot on a deserted island in the [[Bahamas]]. {{storylink|Desert Island Risks!}}

=====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic=====
Multiple [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian]]s could combine into larger vehicle modes. {{storylink|Total War!}} The [[Stormtrooper (Cybertronian)|Stormtrooper]]s under [[Mindset (G2)|Mindset]]'s command, for instance, could form a single "thunderjet". {{storylink|Swarm (issue)|Swarm}}

=====''Classics''=====
[[File:ShatteredHope-Magnaboss.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

In the years after [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s defeat, Megatron rebuilt the Constructicons as a five-robot combiner, a new configuration that incorporated [[Hightower (Classics)|Hightower]] in place of [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] and [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]]. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 3}}

After the destruction of [[Primax 207.0 Epsilon|their native universe]], [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]], [[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]], and [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] received [[beast mode]] upgrades to survive on the prehistoric [[Earth]] of [[Primax -408.24 Epsilon|a parallel universe]]. While in their beast forms, they gained the ability to combine into the mighty [[Magnaboss (BW)|Magnaboss]]; this new form came in handy when they went up against Megatron and the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon]]s, who had since adopted [[Scylla]] into their ranks and reforged their combined form into "God Neptune"—thanks to Scylla's influence, this new configuration proved to be more intelligent and tactically minded than the brutish hunter that had preceded him. {{storylink|Shattered Hope}}

{{--}}

=====''Regeneration One''=====
{{NoteRG1}}

[[File:DestinyPt5 MonstructorDeathTouch.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] prepared for the arrival of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s invasion of Cybertron by having [[Wingthing (G1)|Wingthing]] alert the Neo-Decepticon cells to get ready, while he himself prepared to deploy Monstructor. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Three}} When [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] deployed [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] to take out Bludgeon's [[Blitz Engine]]s, Soundwave ordered Monstructor to take out Omega Supreme. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Four}} The two giants clashed and just as the invasion was halted by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]]'s defeat of Bludgeon and the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s annihilation of the ''[[Warworld]]'', Omega Supreme utterly destroyed Monstructor. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}

=====''Timelines''=====
During the campaign against the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]], [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] and [[Fixit (G1)|Fixit]] rebuilt a dying [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] and upgraded him with combiner technology in the hopes that he'd take the ailing First Aid's place as one of [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]'s limbs. Due to Ratchet's [[The Pri¢e of Life!|prior experiences with combination]], he remained wary of the upgrade and did not combine unless absolutely necessary. {{storylink|Ratchet (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Customization class G2 Ratchet bio}}

=====''Transformers '84''=====
Although combiner technology did not see widespread use on Cybertron due to its intense energy-inefficiency, Straxus nevertheless posted [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] to guard [[Project Dreadnought]]'s headquarters in [[Stanix]]. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 4|Secrets & Lies #4}}

====Generation 1 cartoon continuity====
[[File:Heavy Metal War Devastator.JPG|thumb|left|250px]]
The secret of combination hinged on a Cybertronian's [[personality component]]; only a fully-sentient Cybertronian could combine with their teammates into a more powerful form, and if even one ‘bot lacked a personality component then the team could not combine. {{storylink|B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.}} However, combiners could still function, albeit in a severely weakened state, even without a team member forming an arm. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}} Some Cybertronians like [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] could combine into a single alternate mode. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}
On Cybertron, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] were existing Transformers who were brainwashed by [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] to become Decepticons and modified so that they could combine into [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and challenge [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. After the fall of the [[Crystal City]] that they had worked to build together, Omega Supreme pursued the Constructicons for millions of years. {{storylink|The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)|The Secret of Omega Supreme}} In 1984, the Constructicons were [[Constructicon (G1)#Origin inconsistency|(re?)created]] on [[Earth]] with the ability to combine to bolster the Decepticons' strength. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

As the Cybertronian war on Earth heated up, the Autobots and Decepticons wound up constructing the heroic [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s and evil [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]]s to plug specific tactical weaknesses in their ranks—a lack of air power and an inability to outmaneuver the Autobots on the road. Designed to combine, both sides eventually received personalities from [[Vector Sigma]]. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}} [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] installed the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s' [[personality component]]s into junked military vehicles and gave them the ability to combine into [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}} Later, the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]s became part of the Autobot forces on Earth and used their combined form to great effect on multiple occasions. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}} On one notable occasion, a group of Autobots disguised themselves as the Stunticons, and were even able to combine their myriad abilities together to create a crude facsimile of Menasor himself. {{storylink|Masquerade}}

Years later, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s appeared as combiners under the command of the [[Quintesson]]s. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}} The combinable [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcon]]s were part of [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]'s troops. An intellectually enhanced [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] created the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s with the ability to combine. {{storylink|Grimlock's New Brain}}

{{--}}

=====Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity=====
[[File:LegendsOptimusMaximus.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

A number of combiner warriors incorporated the mysterious technique known as "[[Scramble Power]]", which gave them the ability to swap and even interchange their component limbs at will to generate unique configurations for battle. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}} A smaller number of combiners were "[[Free-Combination|Free Combiners]]", who could rearrange their bodies at will. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Operation Combination (story page)|Operation Combination}} A unique form of [[energon]] known as "[[Joint energon]]" could cause Transformers to spontaneously develop combiner joints. {{storylink|Megatronia Chapter}}

[[Precursor World]] hero [[White Gallant Convoy]] could combine with members of the [[White Order]] to form a powerful "Grand Prime" mode, but even this powered-up mode could not withstand the might of a Matrix-empowered [[God Neptune]]. {{storylink|God Neptune comic 2}} During another battle with God Neptune, [[Purple Wicked Convoy]] combined with Megatron Omega to form an "Omega Hand Mode". {{storylink|Generations Selects Special Comic Finale Part 1|Finale 1}}

[[File:AutobotScrumFormation01.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Two dozen androids form into one, and we've only just begun!]]

A mysterious dimensional shockwave turned a number of [[Cyberdroid]]s into combining [[Micromaster]]s. {{storylink|A New Transformer Legend Begins!!}}

In the modern day, inspired by a [[Masquerade|previous incident]] in which several Autobots combined, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Mirage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Mirage]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]], [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]], and [[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] initiated the "Masquerade Project" in the late 1980s, modifying their [[transformation cog]]s to adopt new combiner modes. Though the process was imperfect and unstable, they managed to combine into [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]] and defeat [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] during the battle for the [[Transform Super Cog]]. The combiner was then split apart when hit by an energy shockwave emitted by [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Slugslinger's Ambition}}

The [[Trainbot]]s were a group of Autobot rail vehicles with the power to combine into [[Raiden]]; on multiple occasions, they used their combined form to tussle with other combiners like Bruticus and Predaking. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} {{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}}

On one notable occasion, the combiners [[Guard City]], [[Sixbuilder]], [[Sixwing]], [[Sixturbo]], and [[Sixtrain]] all teamed up to unleash the awesomely powerful "[[Autobot Scrum Combination]]", summoning energy from their twenty-nine components and releasing it in a single devastating blast to save the Earth from [[Battle Gaia]] and the [[Jet Corps]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Operation Combination (story page)|Conclusion}}

With the help of [[Chip Chase|Professor Chase]], [[Power Core Combination]] was developed on [[Earth]] in the 21st century during a time when the Autobot/Decepticon conflict had largely moved away from the planet. Participants in the program—beginning with several Autobot [[Micromaster]]s from planet [[Micro|Zone]]—were upgraded into new forms and fitted with newly developed [[Energon Matrix]] power sources, becoming part of a new "[[Master Class]]" [[subgroup]]. {{storylink|The Mighty Bolt}} Before long, their successful tests of the Power Core Combination drones drew the attention of a team of Decepticons under the command of [[Scrash (G1)|Scrash]], who performed a similar upgrade on themselves (dubbing themselves "[[Master Chaos]]") that would enable them to interface with the Power Core drones and steal them. {{storylink|Prelude to the Siege}}

In the year [[2021]], the Autobots successfully resurrected Optimus Prime as a combiner; although he'd live for only seven days as a result of his many previous deaths, he was able to combine with several of his Autobot friends to form an improved version of Optimus Maximus. Despite this boost in power, however, Optimus Maximus and his components were quickly defeated by [[Megatronia]], a combiner composed of female Decepticons. {{storylink|Megatronia Chapter}} Meanwhile, a time-travelling [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] from another reality invaded this world and possessed [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]]'s body as his new vessel. Though Galvatron planned to usurp Unicron's body in order to implement the "[[Grand Galvatron]]" scheme, the crippled god offered him an alternative; instead he would summon from across the [[multiverse]] others who shared similar thoughts of revenge, and together they would unite to become a new "Grand Galvatron". Galvatron accepted and Cyclonus was joined by [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]], [[Roller (G1)|Roller]], [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], and a partially re-materialized [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] into Galvatron's new body. Though Unicron ordered Galvatron to seize [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] for him, Galvatron planned to betray Unicron once again, and take control of his homeworld for himself. {{storylink|Grand Galvatron Chapter}}

In their new combined form, the team attacked Cybertron until [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] split them apart. Cyclonus and the rest made their way to [[Vector Sigma]]'s chamber before re-combining to do battle with [[Sky Reign]]. {{storylink|Sky Reign Chapter}} With the arrival of [[Megaempress]], the rest of the team fled, leaving Cyclonus and Galvatron at the empress's mercy as she threatened to enthrall them both. They were saved when a revived Optimus Prime took Megaempress and her soldiers on. {{storylink|Megatronia Chapter}} When Unicron himself showed up and tried to take Cybertron as his new body, Galvatron was angered and had Cyclonus attack the dark god, but he ended up blasted out of the sky and knocked unconscious. {{Storylink|Ruination Chapter, Part One}} Galvatron II's spirit then left Cyclonus's body, but he remained able to combine and, after recovering, convinced the rest of the team to form Grand Galvatron once more and help defeat Unicron. After their victory, he went into space, plotting to restore the Decepticon army by becoming the next Galvatron. {{Storylink|Ruination Chapter, Part Two}}

[[File:Roadcaesar robotmode.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

Although early Cybertronian combiners were lumbering brutes who struggled with intellectual or emotional issues, drawbacks that would be exemplified by the oafish [[Dinoking]], the [[Breastforce]] would be the first combiner team to bypass this debilitating weakness: their combined form, [[Liokaiser]], proved an intelligent and cunning warrior. {{storylink|Unite! Liokaiser}} Not to be outdone, the Autobots retaliated with next-generation combiners of their own: the Autobot [[Brainmaster]]s could unite into [[Road Caesar]], a perfect three-way fusion with an unbreakable fighting spirit, {{storylink|Attack! Leozack}} while the modular [[Multiforce]] could assume multiple sub-combinations or perform a six-way combination to form the mighty [[Landcross (SG)|Landcross]]. {{storylink|Unite!! Multiforce}}

[[File:Volcaticon.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

When the [[Quintesson]]s escaped their dimensional prison, they arrived on [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]] in the year [[2050]], where they spotted and hoped to subdue the Dinobots to use as merchandise. Towards this goal, they summoned [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]], who had the Dinobots on the ropes till Grimlock was encouraged by telepathic messages from the [[Primus|Oracle]] of the past universe to use [[Earth]]'s [[Angolmois Energy]] to manifest his heart's strength in reality. With this energy and the lending of an [[Energon Matrix]] from [[Kakuryu (G1)|Grimmaster]], Grimlock and the other four original Dinobots combined into the mighty Volcanicus. Soon after, Volcanicus was contacted by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] about the [[Selector]] revolt at [[Neo Scramble City]], so Volcanicus's components split up to go and assist their human allies against the [[Cybertron Alliance]]. {{storylink|Volcanicus comic 1}}

The Technobots arrived as Grimlock faced down [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], who had already defeated the other [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]; unwilling to hurt the humans, the six combined into [[Volcaticon]]: a new cross-factional combiner that combined Grimlock's strength and take-charge attitude with the intellect of the five Technobots. Although Volcaticon announced his intention to find a solution that would benefit the humans and Selectors alike, the Quintessons attacked and knocked the new combiner back into his components. To resist a barrage of corrosive gas bombs, the two teams reformed into Computron and Volcanicus. {{storylink|Volcanicus comic 2}} With the Cybertron Alliance combiners on the back foot thanks to a deblitating [[Angolmois Energy]] attack and a subsequent [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcon]] assault that took the female combiner [[Orthia]] out of action, a number of Technobots, Aerialbots, and Protectobots joinined up as another ad-hoc combination they dubbed "[[Comperian]]". Quintesson enforcer Abominus thus fought fire with fire by stealing [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]'s limbs to become [[Abomenaticus]]. The two combiners fought till [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron Omega]] threatened to take all of Earth's Angolmois Energy, so Abominus reformed to use the full capability of the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]]' Angolmois-manipulating nature and shifted his focus onto Megatron Omega. {{Storylink|Abominus comic 2}}

Combiner technology would persist and evolve into the distant future; [[Maximal]] combiners like [[Magnaboss (BWII)|Magnaboss]] and [[Tripledacus]] were powerful warriors, but eschewed the direct mind-melding technology of their ancestors in favour of a simpler system where each individual component worked in tandem to coordinate their attacks. {{storylink|The Combined Giant, Tripledacus}} [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] warriors like [[Starscream (BW)|Starscream]] and [[BB (BW)|BB]] could temporarily combine into [[Formation Scream]] while in vehicle mode, and tripartite warriors like [[Magmatron]] possessed a unique [[beast mode]] that could split and recombine at will. {{storylink|Big Convoy, Move Out}} The [[Seacon (BWII)|Seacon]]s used a quintuple combination system when they formed into [[God Neptune]], while the Jointrons incorporated a triple combination system that directly integrated their bodies into a greater whole. {{storylink|Face the Setting Sun}}

{{--}}

=====''TV Magazine'' comic continuity=====
Powerglide rescued a [[Battle Dog|puppy]] that was juiced up on energy thanks to the Decepticons. Before it died, the puppy transferred his power to Powerglide. This temporarily energized Powerglide with Scramble Power, which he used to combine with other Autobot Minibots. The [[Minibot combiner]] was then easily able to defeat [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] using the "Minibot Warrior Spiral Attack". {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8}}

=====''Wings Universe''=====
[[File:TheComingStormPart6-Bruticus.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

{{Wingsnote}}

Combining technology was the brainchild of the Decepticon warlord [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]], who had tinkered with the technology for many years before the [[Stealth Team (G1)|Stealth Team]] discovered his fortress at [[Gygax]]. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 36|Bruticus's ''Wings Universe'' profile}} He perfected the technology about nine million years ago and tested his invention out on his new recruits the Combaticons, which gave them the ability to combine into [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 5}} Later, Megatron defeated Deathsaurus to become sole leader of the Decepticons, and stole Deathsaurus's technology to augment the Constructicons so that they could form Devastator. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 5}}

In the year [[2984]], the combiners [[Big Rescue Force]] and [[Big Motorvator]] could be glimpsed milling about in the [[Galadria Space Bridge Outpost]] in the [[Delta Prysmos Sector]]. {{storylink|Hoist the Flag}}

{{--}}

=====''Deviations''=====
[[File:TF-Deviations-Megascream-Combiner.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]

In a timeline where Megatron died before ever becoming Galvatron, it would be [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] who became [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]'s herald. As the newly christened "Megascream", he bargained with Unicron to enhance his inner circle of warriors so that he could combine with them. As Unicron betrayed his minion and launched a direct attack on Cybertron, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] attempted to use the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to destroy Unicron, but Megascream combined with his troops into a towering new form and easily crushed Optimus under his fist. Ultimately, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] saved the day by first teleporting the wounded Optimus to safety, then opening the Matrix to sacrifice himself but destroy both Unicron and Megascream in the process. {{storylink|Transformers: Deviations|Deviations}}

{{--}}

=====''Timelines''=====
An [[energon]] infusion from the Aerialbots gave the recently arrived Protectobots the power to combine into Defensor. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 21/9/2015}}

Exposure to an [[Enigma of Combination|arcane Autobot artifact]] gave [[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] the power of combination and the unique ability to act as a "universal donor" for any combiner by acting as a replacement limb. While in an arm configuration, he possessed a unique "healing touch" that could re-energize and rejuvenate injured Cybertronians, but overusing this power by trying to heal severe injuries could forcibly disengage the combination. {{storylink|Ratchet (G1)/toys#BotCon2016|Customization class G1 cartoon Ratchet bio}}

====Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity====
[[File:DevastatorDissectionDreamwave.jpg|thumb|right|200px|What, no Terror Claws? No Cranium Regulation Unit? What kind of lame dissection is this?!]]

The combination process has its roots in the "mass intellect" experiments carried out by the Decepticons during the earliest phases of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]; building off the well-established science of mechanically combining bodies, the next step would be to mesh individual electro-neural impulses together into a unified mind. Following the failure of the planetary engine turbines, {{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Guide}} [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] recruited the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s to refine this technology into a viable weapon that would multiply a small group of warriors beyond the sum of their parts, but early experiments into this "cofunctional interlock" technology proved unsuccessful: the mind-merging experiments amplified stronger minds and drowned out weaker ones. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye #8}}

After a period of trial and error, the Constructicons developed a unique "hyper vortex processor" that would preserve the minds of the individual within the combined whole. By testing the technology on themselves, the Constructicons became the prototype for all future combination experiments, but the rudimentary process left their combined form a dimwitted brute who needed all six Constructicons to agree on a single course of action to function. Despite these drawbacks, Devastator's destructive capabilities greatly pleased Megatron, and the Decepticon leader began planning for a full-scale combiner program. {{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Guide}} Combiner technology remained risky and unpredictable; only those rare Cybertronians with the correct predisposition and the ability to work as a team could safely undergo the upgrade, and unfit Decepticons who failed the trial period usually wound up insane or dead. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye #8}}

[[File:Escalation-DevastatorVsDefensor.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]

Eventually, the [[Autobot Science Harmonium]] obtained combiner schematics from the Decepticons, successfully reverse-engineered the mass intellect process, and dramatically overhauled the procedure to create safer and more efficient combiners. [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], the combined forms of the Autobot [[Special Teams]], utilized advanced compartmentalized neural processors that maintained the integrity of individual brainwaves while also drawing on each to create an integrated mind. {{storylink|Confrontation (issue)|Confrontation}} The Decepticons retaliated by turning the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] into combiners; as this arms race escalated, the [[Crisis Intervention Accord]] resulted in all of the Special Teams agreeing to become non-aligned parties. {{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Guide}} After Optimus and Megatron vanished, [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] and his breakaway faction of [[Ultracon]]s flouted the Accords by deliberately recruiting Devastator into their ranks. {{storylink|Escalation}} As a result, the Protectobots intervened, although in the end they took him down by separating and fighting as individual robots. Despite all the advances that'd been made, the second-generation combiners still suffered from limited intellects, and Protectobots were still trying to iron out these drawbacks when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and Megatron went missing. {{storylink|Confrontation (issue)|Confrontation}}

After somehow travelling to Earth in 2002, Devastator spread chaos in [[San Francisco]] and trounced the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s when they formed Superion to take him down. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4|Prime Directive #4}} Although Devastator proved tough enough to withstand a direct nuclear blast, the individual Constructicons suffered massive damage that permanently fused them together. {{storylink|Transformers: Fusion|Fusion}} In 2003, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] had [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] release the Stunticons, who'd been deemed too dangerous to function in society, from [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]'s [[Detention Banks]]. Menasor ran amok for a while, but [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] took down the combiner by insulting his components one by one; as his individual consciousnesses began bickering over whose fault it was that they were losing, Ultra Magnus rammed the paralyzed combiner in the chest and forced him to separate. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}

After locating the rogue Predacons on the planet [[Beest (planet)|Beest]], Megatron bested their leader Razorclaw, brought them back into the Decepticon fold, and rebuilt them with combiner technology. {{storylink|Welcome to the Jungle}} As Predaking, they battled Bruticus, who had recently suffered damage at the hands of [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]], and triumphed. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

Other groups of Cybertronians utilized a less extreme version of combiner technology—robots like the [[Micromaster Combiner]]s, who combined to form a single vehicle mode, or armor-based powerups like [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s [[Powermaster]] trailer, did not rely on mental merging. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye #8}}

{{--}}

====''Transformers/G.I. Joe''====
The Aerialbots formed Superion during a battle against [[Cobra]] and the Decepticons in the [[Fera Islands]]; {{storylink|Wolves}} as he waded toward the [[Terrordrome]], he was forced to hold his fire when Optimus noticed that Cobra was using their slaves as human shields. In response, Cobra opened fire on Superion with [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s massive cannon mode; {{storylink|Trenches}} although Superion shielded his allies for as long as he could, he eventually perished. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

Notably, the [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] of this reality was ''not'' a combiner, nor even a Cybertronian; he was born on Earth in [[1939]] as an unholy, unliving hybrid of Cybertronian and human technology, a walking engine of destruction created to be the ultimate weapon. {{storylink|Wolves}}

{{--}}

====''The Beast Within''====
[[File:THE BEAST.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

When Megatron and the other Decepticons held the upper hand on the battlefield, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and the four Dinobots displayed the ability to combine into a monstrous creature known only as the "[[Beast (G1)|Beast]]", an out-of-control berserker who easily slaughtered his way through the Decepticons and killed every Decepticon combiner Megatron sent to stop him. {{storylink|The Beast Within}} However, the Beast then turned on his nominal allies, and chased the Autobots around for a while before the survivors could bait him into falling off a cliff and killing himself. {{storylink|The Beast Within Part 2, Consequences}}

{{--}}

====''Hearts of Steel''====
After reawakening in the 19th century, the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s displayed the ability to combine into a self-propelled, heavily armed railcar known as the "[[Insectrain]]". {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}}

{{IDW HOS}}

====2005 IDW continuity====
[[File:AllGoodThings-Monstructor.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Wubba wubba wubba is Monstructor's song.]]

The art of combination came easily to other mechanical species like the "omnicombinational" [[Ammonite]]s, where any one member of their species could combine with any other; {{storylink|Little Victories}} although all [[Transformer]]s possessed the ''capacity'' for combination encoded in their [[CNA]], only a handful would consciously manifest this ability in their lifetime as a result of external stimuli. {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt (IDW)|Dinobot Hunt}} The history of Cybertronian combiner technology began with [[Nexus Prime]], a member of the [[Thirteen]] in the years before the [[First Cybertronian Civil War]]. His [[Enigma of Combination]], an extremely powerful artifact created by [[Solus Prime]], {{storylink|Transformers: Historia|Historia}} could instantly reconfigure two or more Cybertronians into a combiner, melding their minds so that they could coordinate their actions on a higher-dimensional plane known as [[antespace]]. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 6: Unforgivable|Unforgivable}} Most combiners utilized [[Size changing|mass displacement]] to some degree—when their components combined, they also grew in size to the point where they towered over their fellow Cybertronians. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 5: As Above...So Below|As Above...So Below}}

When the [[First Cybertronian Civil War]] swept Cybertron, Nexus colluded with his ally [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Onyx Prime]] to create an army of [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s that fused beasts and 'bots together. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 3: The Mind Bomb|The Mind Bomb}} Not all Cybertronians viewed combination as a gift, however: [[Darklands|Darklander]] warrior [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]], already prejudiced against Cybertronians with [[beast mode]]s, viewed combination as a perversion that "rotted away the individual", {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part Three: ONoffON|OnoffON}} his one-man war against Nexus Prime's armies singlehandedly drove the ancient Headmasters extinct. Eventually, Galvatron confronted and murdered Nexus Prime, stole the Enigma, and when he could not destroy it he jettisoned it into space in the hopes that it would burn up in a nearby star. {{storylink|The Crucible}}

[[Nova Prime]] led the planet out of the shadow of war and into a new [[Golden Age]], but his early idealism soon gave way to a twisted, fascistic imperialism: inspired by an ancient legends of the [[Guiding Hand]], and a time when "[['Til all are one|all were one]]", he sought to turn combination into a tool of conquest, and instructed his chief theoretical scientist [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] to create a combiner without the Enigma. {{storylink|The Crucible}} Without the reality-warping power of the Enigma, Jhiaxus's experiments yielded only a crude recreation of what once was; this stunted form of combination forcibly merged the bodies and minds of the [[Pretender Monster|six volunteers]] that Jhiaxus had conscripted to create a violently insane personality, and the newly christened "[[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]" ran amok in [[Crystal City]] until [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] could seal him in a dimensional prison. {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things}}

[[File:Windblade volume2 devisiun.jpg|thumb|right|350px]]

Although true combination on the mental level remained out of reach, some Cybertronians discovered safer but less dramatic forms of combination, including shared "duocombiner" [[alternate mode]]s. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} A "branched [[spark]]" telepathically linked them to a [[twin]] sibling; while incredibly rare on Cybertron, the Transformer colonists on the planet [[Devisiun (planet)|Devisiun]] evolved into an entire civilization of duocombiners, although they did not consider themselves "true" combiners. {{storylink|Windblade vol. 2 issue 6|Windblade vol. 2 #6}} The twelve 'bots who made up the [[Functionist Council]] could all combine into a single alternate mode, a religious ornament known as the [[Key to Vector Sigma]]. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 4: Bad Moon Rising|Bad Moon Rising}}

Serious research into combiner technology stagnated for millennia until the outbreak of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], when [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], seeking to create a Decepticon superweapon, recruited Jhiaxus's former student [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] into the Decepticons, provided him with a laboratory and ample resources, and ordered him to continue where his master had left off. {{storylink|Shockwaves}} An early attempt involved physically rebuilding five Cybertronians so that they transformed into four limbs and a torso; humiliated by the loss of his alternate mode, right leg [[Ambulon]] defected to the Autobots and the "[[Combicon]]" project was abandoned. {{storylink|How Ratchet Got His Hands Back}} {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} When Monstructor escaped from his dimensional prison, the Autobots apprehended him {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}} and took his individual components into custody in the hopes that they could be rehabilitated. [[Jetfire (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jetfire]] and the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s studied them with the goal of rehabilitating them, but the difficulty of the technology meant that they didn't get the chance before the [[Decepticon Secret Service]] captured the "Monstructor Six". {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}} Eventually, however, Shockwave left the Decepticons to pursue his [[Regenesis|pet project]], in his absence, it would be [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] who created the first successful combiner: by using the like-minded [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s as test subjects, [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] avoided Monstructor's debilitating personality flaws but remained sluggish in both mind and body. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} After [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] died, the Constructicons could still use his corpse to form Devastator, but the "dead leg" left Devastator hobbled. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}} In the years following the Surge, other Decepticons subgroups acquired combiner upgrades, but their attempts generally went poorly: the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]]s rebuilt themselves using black market technology from [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] but couldn't properly unify their minds, {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 5: "Earthworks"|Earthworks}} while the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s didn't even get as far as combining due to their inability to agree on ''anything''. {{storylink|The Iron Klaw}}

[[File:IDWRID14 prowlstator.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]

In the final battle of the Great War, the eldritch [[D-Void]] harnessed a mysterious energy emitted from Cybertron's core and used it to suppress the individual wills of Galvatron, his [[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]]s, and every Decepticon on the planet save Megatron, then merged them all into a [[Deceptigod|monstrous avatar]] slaved to the D-Void's will. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}} After the end of the war, Megatron learned to manipulate this same energy as part of a new plan to claim dominance over Iacon; when the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s ventured into the Cybertronian wilderness, this energy caused the group to became increasingly aggressive toward each other until they spontaneously combined into [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], which may have been a CNA-level defense mechanism against the hostile signal. {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt (IDW)|Dinobot Hunt}} {{storylink|Night and the City}} At the same time, Bombshell used his [[cerebro-shell]]s to brainwash [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] and turn his quarters into a secret "black room". In preparation for Megatron's impending return, Bombshell rebuilt the remaining Constructicons so that they could combine with any suitable Cybertronian, upgraded Megatron so that he could combine with the Constructicons, and used Prowl as a guinea pig to form a new Devastator under Bombshell's control. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} Bombshell's death enabled a new, Prowl-centric Devastator personality, who ran amok and grievously injured Superion. {{storylink|Plan for Everything}} Before Megatron could trigger his own Devastator combination, the Autobots stopped him. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head}}

United by their shared hatred of [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Spike Witwicky]], the Constructicons saw Prowl as a kindred spirit and allied themselves with the Autobots to stay with their new leader, {{storylink|Second Exodus}} and formed Devastator once more to defeat Monstructor during the "Dark Cybertron" crisis. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} While on Earth, Prowl came to rely on this new Devastator as his heavy-duty enforcer during the search for [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}} and later the [[Enigma of Combination]]. {{storylink|The Onyx Interface Conclusion: The Obliterati|The Obliterati}} However, as Galvatron foretold, the stress of repeated combination took its toll: even when not combined, the Constructicons began losing their individual quirks and finishing each other's sentences, {{storylink|Earthfall Part 3: The Mind Bomb|The Mind Bomb}} while Prowl suffered energon "nosebleeds" and unconsciously referred to his teammates as "Scrapper". {{storylink|Earthfall Part 5: I Dream of Wires|I Dream of Wires}} Eventually, Prowl admitted that his experiences as Devastator meant that he no longer saw the Decepticons as enemies, but as a part of him. {{storylink|Now and On Earth}}

[[File:AllThatRemains-OptimusMaximus.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

This dramatic upswing of combiner activity sparked an unofficial arms race between the different factions vying for control of the planet. Although Cybertronian ruler [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] and his faction of neutrals did not yet control a combiner, he revived a comatose [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] and convinced him to repair the damaged Superion. {{storylink|The World of Tomorrow}} Using the [[Enigma of Combination]] that Starscream's lackey [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] poached from Earth, Superion soon returned to full functionality with [[Alpha Bravo]] and [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] serving as new components. {{storylink|The Sum and Its Parts}} Superion's return coincided with the restoration of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s [[space bridge]] and a potential alliance with the lost colony of [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]]. In the hopes that he could conquer Caminus and the other [[Cybertronian colonies]] to form a new galactic empire, Starscream orchestrated the "[[Combiner Wars (event)|Combiner Wars]]", which saw the Enigma repeatedly change hands as different factions tried to conquer or save Caminus: combatants included Superion, a rebuilt Menasor, {{storylink|First Contact (IDW)|First Contact}} [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], formed from the loosely affiliated "[[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]s", {{storylink|Mistakes and Mayhem}} and a new version of Devastator that incorporated Starscream's lackey [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] in place of Prowl. Determined to keep Starscream from conquering the galaxy by forcibly cutting Cybertron off from the universe, Prowl pressganged Optimus Prime and several other Autobots into becoming [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]], {{storylink|You, Me, and the Universe}} but when he confronted their personalities in antespace the four members of the combination convinced him to work with them, fight for a united future, and defeat Devastator in a galaxy-spanning brawl. {{storylink|All That Remains}} After the formation of the [[Council of Worlds]], Arcee tried to steal the Enigma of Combination, sparking in motion a chain of events that led to six visiting [[Torchbearer]]s accidentally merging into the powerful [[Victorion]]. {{storylink|An Uneventful Night}} When Cybertron opened diplomatic relations with the citizens of Devisiun, Starscream brought Superion along to impress them and offered them a place on the Council in exchange for combiner technology. {{storylink|Windblade vol. 2 issue 6|Windblade vol. 2 #6}}

Combiners created by the Enigma possessed a high degree of mental stability occasionally manifested unusual powers, including the ability to split their bodies apart or even fire their limbs as rocket-powered projectiles. {{storylink|Mistakes and Mayhem}} Victorion displayed a number of unusual traits: not only did she possess a suite of gravity-related powers, allowing her to fly under her own power or crush objects from afar, {{storylink|Conquerors Part 4: Perihelion|Perihelion}} she proved a sophisticated and erudite thinker capable of verbally sparring with Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange}} However, this kind of combination ''also'' proved addictive: Defensor and Superion displayed an unwillingness to split into their components, and Prowl noted that combiners teams had trouble staying separate. {{storylink|You, Me, and the Universe}} After his arrest, Prowl taunted Optimus that a part of him would always exist in Prime's mind due to their brief mental merge as Optimus Maximus. {{storylink|Now and On Earth}} Aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]'', Defensor was able to substitute Ambulon as a replacement limb after [[Rook (CW)|Rook]]'s death, but was defeated by [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]] shortly afterwards. Under unclear circumstances, the Decepticon combiner [[Liokaiser]] served under Decepticon leader [[Nickel]]. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}}

[[File:AHO-earthannexed.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]

While Optimus Prime was away on Cybertron, the Earthbound Autobots discovered that [[G.B. Blackrock|Garrison Blackrock]] had upgrade some of his mass-produced [[Seeker clone]] troopers into tripartite combiners. Later still, Optimus brought Superion and Victorion back with him when he made the controversial decision to annex Earth. They discovered that, thanks to the machinations of [[G.B. Blackrock|Garrison Blackrock]], who had previously reverse-engineered the Enigma of Combination, its energies had "infected" all of Earth's computerized technology and turned the entire planet into an Enigma—during the final battle against Galvatron and his rogue Decepticon faction, Galvatron betrayed his principles in the name of victory and forcibly amalgamated Cybertronians together to create [[Galvatronus (CW)|Galvatronus]] and [[Sky Reign]]. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 4: It's Beginning To And Back Again|It's Beginning To And Back Again}} To nullify this "Earth-Enigma", Superion incorporated part of the Enigma's code into his own mind, then permanently separated himself into his components, effectively killing himself. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 5: As Above...So Below|As Above...So Below}}
Around this time, the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] sought to access the mind of their former teammate Swindle, who'd supposedly dug up compromising information on Starscream's role in the Combiner Wars. To do this, they stole the Enigma and used it on themselves to create [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], but their inexperience with combination turned their combined form into a rampaging monster. {{storylink|The Line Between Us}} On Earth, [[human]] dictator [[Iron Klaw|Count "Iron Klaw" von Rani]] used a copy of the extraterrestrial [[Talisman (G1)|Talisman]] to suppress the individual minds of the Predacons and turn them into "[[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]". When [[Snake-Eyes]] smashed the console that kept them docile, their argumentative personalities resurfaced and tore the combiner apart. {{storylink|The Iron Klaw}} During "Onyx Prime's" invasion of Cybertron, Victorion wound up clashing with a misguided Devastator, and thanks to an extra surge of power-enhancing [[Ore-8]] she unleashed a devastating gravitational wave that crushed Devastator to atoms. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 6: Unforgivable|Unforgivable}}

During [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]'s invasion of Cybertron, Monstructor returned and fatally wounded Victorion by killing [[Stormclash]] and forcing the other [[Torchbearer]]s to break apart. {{storylink|Road's End}} When the battle moved to Earth, the Aerialbots recombined into Superion, reactivated the latent Earth-Enigma by doing so, and allowed [[Slide]], a Devisen duocombiner who'd lost her ability to transform after the death of [[Oiler|her brother]], to sub in as Victorion's new leg. Together, Victorion and Superion took on Monstructor and finally put an end to their monstrous progenitor. {{storylink|Ceremony}}

{{--}}

====2006 IDW ''Beast Wars'' continuity====
[[File:DawnOfThePredacus-magnabossvsmegatron.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

In the twilight of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] oversaw the creation of [[Predacus]], a combiner formed from the members of the [[Tripredacus Council]]. {{storylink|Dawn of the Predacus}} The Autobots and [[Maximal]]s retaliated by creating [[Magnaboss (BW)|Magnaboss]], a combiner made up some of the most seasoned Autobot veterans. {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook}} Although [[Under-3|an untested Maximal]] would wind up taking Perceptor's intended role in the combination, Magnaboss and Predacus both played vital roles in the final battle of the war before the ratification of the [[Pax Cybertronia]]; while Magnaboss took out the 'bot who would one day call himself "[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]]", Predacus eliminated "Megatron's" trump card, Predaking. {{storylink|Dawn of the Predacus}} By the time of the [[Great Upgrade]], peacetime society dismissed combiners as energy-inefficient and the technology was largely forgotten. Magnaboss disappeared from the public eye, but the Tripredacus Council refined the technology to create [[Tripredacus]]. Other notable combiners included [[Magnaboss (BWII)|Magnaboss II]] and [[Tripledacus]], who participated in later Maximal-Predacon skirmishes over [[Angolmois Energy]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}
{{--}}

====''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''====
[[File:TFJoe12-Defensor.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

To combat a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] invasion, the Constructicons formed Devastator. In spite of being able to deter the initial invasion force, he was rammed by the ''[[Defiant (G.I. Joe)|Defiant]]'', {{storylink|Targetmasters (issue)|Targetmasters}} which killed Long Haul and took Devastator out of commission. {{storylink|Earth: R.I.P.}}

As Cybertron inched ever closer to Earth, the Decepticon/Cobra alliance attacked [[New York City]], the Combaticons combining into Bruticus. {{storylink|Expelled from the Garden}}

During the lead-up to the final battle, the [[Rescuebot]]s—a group of Autobots who'd developed a particularly strong affection for humanity—sealed their holy oath to protect mankind with a unique "Combination Lock". This combination lock allowed them all to spontaneously merge into [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]; in the final battle, the united G.I. Joe-Autobot force fetched up against a number of combiners, including Predaking, Abominus, Menasor, and a rebuilt Devastator. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}} Megatron briefly combined the energies of his black hole with the Matrix of Leadership to absorb all of the Autobots into his being to become the monstrous "Mega-Megatron" until [[Shipwreck]] and [[Polly]] crashed the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' into his new body and freed the captive Autobots. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

{{--}}

====''Beast Wars: Uprising''====
[[File:CulturalAppropriation-MonsterousVsDevastator.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

[[Nucleon (TR)|Nucleon]] considered gestalt technology to be a crude precursor to the [[binary bonding]] process that would come to define the later days of the Great War. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}} A number of combiner teams survived into the era of the [[Builder of Cybertron|Builder]]s, [[Maximal]]s, and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s, including the Protectobots, Aerialbots, and Constructicons, but to survive on a crumbling post-war Cybertron the teams downsized into fuel-efficient [[Micromaster]] bodies. {{storylink|Micro-Aggressions}} The Constructicons retained the ability to form [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], but by the 24th century the team had evolved into a two-thirds Autobot unit led by [[Hightower (RID)|Hightower]]. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}}

Inspired by the legendary titans of old, a number of other parties would go on to acquire combiner technology: [[Magnaboss (BW)|Magnaboss]], the first proto-race combiner, drew upon the strength and wisdom of the Maximals who made up the [[Maximal High Council]]: [[Silverbolt (Magnaboss)|Silver Bolt]], [[Tigatron]], [[Santon]], [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]], and [[Lio Junior|Lio Minor]]. Not to be outdone, the 'bots of the [[Tripredacus Council]] stole combination technology from their rivals and used it on themselves to become [[Tripredacus]]. {{storylink|Derailment}} More ominously, the street gang known as the "Antares Eight"—in reality, a group of dimensionally-displaced [[Monster GoBot]]s—could call upon their own personal gestalt, [[Monsterous]]. When these dimensional invaders attempted to bait the [[Human Confederacy]] into destroying Cybertron, Devastator faced off with the GoBot combiner and ultimately emerged triumphant. {{storylink|Cultural Appropriation}}

During the [[Vehicon Apocalypse]], Devastator and Magnaboss joined the final assault on the [[Grand Mal]].A beam from the ancient battle station hit both combiners, and though Magnaboss survived the battle with only [[Lio Junior|one component]] lost, three of Devastator's components perished. {{storylink|Derailment}} At the same time, the Tripredacus Council used their Tripredacus form to hunt down and slay [[Preditron]] before a vengeful [[Ser-Ket (BWU)|Ser-Ket]] killed two of his three components. {{storylink|Derailment}} With the dawn of the [[Cybertronian Parliament]], the surviving Constructicons recruited [[Wideload (G1)|Wideload]], [[Hauler|Road Hauler]] and [[Steam Hammer]] as replacements. The new, construction-minded Devastator who emerged would be hailed as the champion of the remaining Builders. {{storylink|The Inexorable March}}

====''Timelines''====
As the Autobot war machine came to increasingly rely on Combiners, the Autobots began taking steps to minimize their drawbacks. Most glaringly, the loss of a single member would all but incapacitate the whole; to minimize this tactical weakness, the Protectobots began drafting auxiliary members who could replace any given component when nessecary, including [[Rook (CW)|Rook]], [[Skyfeather]], [[Heatrock]], and [[Medix (G1)|Medix]]. {{storylink|Medix (G1)#Toys|Customization class Medix bio}}

====''Of Masters and Mayhem''====
[[File:OMAMFinale WreckageVThunderMayhem.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

During the Great War, combiners played a significant role, and both sides invested significant time and effort into producing combat-ready combiners. {{storylink|Lively Pursuit}} During one such experiment, [[Loudpedal]] and [[Oil Slick (G1)|Oil Slick]] accidentally created [[Toxitron (G1)|Toxitron]], a malformed mutant who spewed an endless torrent of noxious acid. {{storylink|The Toxic Transformer}} Soon, however, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and his underlings began tampering with forces that the Cybertronian race was not meant to control: seeking to create the "ultimate combiner", he combined [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s [[Point One Percenter]] spark with the artificial [[Matrix of Malice]], which formed the core of the terrifying [[Thunder Mayhem]]. Soon enough, Thunder Mayhem turned on his creators and rampaged across Cybertron: over the course of this one-sided war, it destroyed every other combiner, and the few survivors of this mass extinction assumed that Thunder Mayhem had annihilated Cybertron itself. {{storylink|Life Finds a Way}}

Wrecker leader [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] began travelling the stars to assemble a team capable of taking down Thunder Mayhem and slowly assembled a new crew of Wreckers from the few surviving Cybertronians he found throughout the galaxy. Toxitron, [[Alpha Bravo]], and [[Offroad (CW)|Offroad]] were already combination-compatible,and [[Fractyl]] and [[Punch (G1)|Counterpunch]] received full rebuilds to accommodate combiner technology. Fractyl reverse-engineered the power of Thunder Mayhem's spark using a substance called "[[Greenergon]]" and implanted a supply of it into Toxitron to act as a booster when they combined. However, their combined form went berserk and tried to kill Impactor. Terrified by the prospect of unleashing a second monster on the universe, Alpha Bravo murdered his friend Offroad to stop Thunder Mayhem from ever forming again, and was himself shot by Toxitron seconds later. {{storylink|Foundation and Wreckage Part 1: Deadly Aim|Deadly Aim}} Upon discovering the ruins of Cybertron, the Wreckers recruited [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] into their team; when alien [[Teklaan]]s attacked, Impactor used a design lab to modify Bluestreak for the process, and Wreckage re-emerged: with Impactor now leading the team from within the combiner's psyche, this new iteration proved stronger both mentally and physically... although Bluestreak's penchant for talk left him far chattier than the original Wreckage {{storylink|Lively Pursuit}}

The Wreckers finally located Thunder Mayhem on the planet Earth, and formed Wreckage to stop the monster once and for all. In battle with the destroyer of worlds, Wreckage's power was harnessed by a human with a genetic quirk named [[Lisa|Elizabeth]]. Joined by the other Earth-bound Autobots, the heroes successfully broke the Matrix of Malice and reduced Thunder Mayhem back into his separate components. {{storylink|Finale (OMAM)|Finale}}

{{--}}

====''Prime Wars Trilogy'' cartoons====
[[File:CombinerWarsMachinima-Menasorstill.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

The Enigma of Combination created many combiners during the later years of the Great War, including [[Computron (G1)|Computron]], [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], {{storylink|The Fall}}, [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]], {{storylink|Primal (POTP)|Primal}} and [[Victorion]]. {{storylink|Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars - Victorion}} Whether or not the combiners adhered to the old factions remains debatable: although [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] pointed out that they were still made up of Autobots and Decepticons, {{storylink|The Council}} a number of combiners appear to self-identify as members of an independent faction, separate from either Autobots or Decepticons. {{storylink|The Fall}} After the end of the Great War, Optimus Prime and Megatron willingly went into self-imposed exile, and as a result the leaderless combiners fell into a period of vicious, destructive infighting known as the "[[Combiner Wars (event)|Combiner Wars]]". The [[Council of Worlds]] came into possession of the Enigma and considered using it to stem the conflict—either fighting fire with fire by creating a new combiner army, or by simply destroying ''all'' combiners. {{storylink|The Council}}

As the council debated using the Enigma to control the Combiners, [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] aassisted [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] as they attacked the Council pavilion. All of the extant combiners converged on the building, and although Devastator attempted to claim the Enigma for himself, the Council ordered Starscream to use the Enigma to take control of the combatants. {{storylink|A War of Giants}} Instead, he used it to merge himself with Devastator, Victorion, and the bodies of [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]; his attempted "super-combination" collapsed and turned him into an unstable energy being. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (CW)|Darkest Hour}} Upon Starscream's defeat, the four other combiners were returned to normal; Victorion took ownership of the Enigma by claiming that the artefact rightfully belonged to the combiners. {{storylink|Destruction's Dawn}}

[[File:DesperateActions-UltimateVictorion.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

During [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s rampage across Cybertron, the Mistress of Flame recruited the combiners to find and reactivate [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. {{storylink|Our Heroes Respond}} Computron discovered that the [[Titan (group)|Titan]]'s [[transformation cog]] was damaged but the weapons systems were intact, and so Victorion ordered him to take control of the weapons and fire everything they had at Trypticon. {{storylink|Overlord and Emissary}} When Megatron arrived at Fortress Maximus and revealed the Mistress of Flame had perished, the combiners assumed him responsible and attacked. Once Windblade arrived and the fight stopped long enough for Megatron to explain, Victorion fused with the other combiners to successfully form "Ultimate Victorion", a massive warrior comprised of spectral energy. {{storylink|Desperate Actions}} Although Ultimate Victorion fell in battle against Trypticon and wound up reduced to her components once more, all of the combiners joined in the ensuing battle. {{storylink|Consumed}} {{storylink|All Things Must Pass}}

Victorion joined Megatron and his crew on their subsequent quest to find the [[Requiem Blaster (Megatronus)|Requiem Blaster]] before [[The Fallen|Megatronus]], who had already stolen the Enigma of Combination, could use it to achieve his evil goals. While exploring a marshy wilderness, the team encountered the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s, who displayed the ability to combine into [[Volcanicus (POTP)|Volcanicus]]. {{storylink|The Swamp}} Predaking attacked the group shortly afterwards and demanded that Victorion turn over the Enigma, {{storylink|Volcanicus (episode)|Volcanicus}} but they were able to peacefully talk down the ex-Decepticon combiner. {{storylink|Primal (POTP)|Primal}} Not long afterwards, [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]] and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Cron]] successfully killed almost all of the combiners: first Computron, Menasor, and Devastator, {{storylink|Volcanicus (episode)|Volcanicus}} then Victorion in the [[Athenaeum Sanctorum]]. {{storylink|Athenaeum Sanctorum (episode)|Athenaeum Sanctorum}} In the final battle against Megatronus, Predaking attempted to seize the Enigma and wound up fatally decapitated. {{storylink|Saga's End}}

{{--}}

====''Bumblebee'' graphic novels====
The Constructicons briefly formed Devastator during a battle for a [[cybertonium]] meteorite until the precious mineral exploded, reducing them back to the individual Constructicons. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee - Go For the Gold|Go for the Gold}}

====''Mazinger Z vs. Transformers''====
As combiners, the Constructicons were the only Decepticons capable of taking on [[Kōji Kabuto]]'s [[Mazinger Z]] super robot, but not even Devastator could withstand Mazinger's infamous rocket-propelled punch that instantly collapsed the gestalt back into his components.

====''Transformers/Ghostbusters''====
When [[Gozer]] invaded Cybertron, Megatron set loose every combiner the Decepticons had against the extradimensional monster, to no avail. One by one, Predaking, Devastator, and Bruticus fell. Seeing the defeat of their ultimate weapons convinced the other members of [[Decepticon High Command]] that Cybertron was doomed. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 2}}

====2019 IDW continuity====
[[File:SeaOfRust1-Abominus.jpg|thumb|right|350px|"I'm not afraid of the mutation anymore. Not when I have ''this'' kind of power!"]]

The origins of the Enigma of Combination are unclear, but folk wisdom held that the artifact belonged to [[Nexus Prime]], who had once wielded the artifact at the dawn of Cybertronian civilization. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Enigmatic|Enigmatic}} Although the Enigma could theoretically combine any group of Cybertronians into a combiner, only those who shared a common sense of purpose could successfully master the art of combination. In the years before the [[War of the Threefold Spark]], a group of Cybertronians used the Enigma to try and combine, but without a clear goal their combined form became a mindless "[[Abominus (G1)|abomination]]" that rampaged across the planet in search of fuel; when it became clear that the combiner could not be reasoned with, [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]] and a legion of warriors finally felled the beast at [[Rivets Field]] in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. {{storylink|Constructicons Rising, Part 1}} {{storylink|Escape Part Three}}

[[File:ConstructiconsRisingPart4-Devastator.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]

The Enigma of Combination wound up buried in the strata beneath the region, where it remained for many megacycles until after the end of the [[War of the Threefold Spark]], when the newly christened [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] uncovered the Enigma while on cleanup duty. Their supervisor [[Termagax]] encouraged them to embrace this artifact to push their potential to its fullest; although they successfully united into [[Devastator (G1)|a combiner]], {{storylink|Constructicons Rising, Part 1}} mastering that combined form by learning to successfully merge their minds came less easily. Only by embracing the combiner's emergent personality, and learning to harness its deep reserves of primal anger, could they use their powerful new form to rebuild Iacon. [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], nervous about what would happen if the Constructicons lost control of their combined form, petitioned [[Nominus Prime]] to exile them to [[Mayalx]]. {{storylink|Constructicons Rising, Part 3}} Nominus agreed; to ensure that no more combiners would threaten his [[Nominus Edict|vision]] of Cybertron's future, Nominus entrusted Termagax with the Enigma in the hopes that she could keep the artifact safe until such time as it would be needed. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|Sea of Rust I}}

In the years that followed the ratification of the Nominus Edict, combiner technology fell by the wayside, although individuals like [[Power Punch]] and [[Direct-Hit]] appear to possess a combined vehicle mode, {{storylink|War World: Titans|Titans}} while 'bots like [[Cromar]] could combine with others in their weaponized forms. {{storylink|End of Time}} The only known Cybertronian to successfully crack the secret of true combination would be the mad scientist [[Airachnid (G1)|Airachnid]], who used her knowledge to create a massive [[Combination Core]] aboard the [[Hexagon]] asteroid colony that could forcibly merge any five 'bots together. {{storylink|Light/Star}}

With a second civil war looming on the horizon, [[The Rise|Rise]] leader [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] turned his attention to acquiring a monopoly on combiner technology. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|Sea of Rust I}} To this end, he recruited his former allies the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], to manipulate the Constructicons into embracing their rage; after renaming their combined form "Devastator", the combiner laid waste to the colony that they'd built and fled into deep space. {{storylink|Constructicons Rising, Part 4}} Several cycles later, [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] and his [[Technobot (G1)|Technical Solutions]] team fell into the Combination Core and emerged as [[Computron (G1)|Computron]]. Before their combined form could gather his wits, colony administrator [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] jettisoned the entire floor from the station and launched Computron into space. However, once returned to their regular forms, Scattershot discovered that he'd somehow absorbed the power of the Combination Core. {{storylink|Light/Star}}

When [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] received a distress signal from Cybertron, she made for [[Crystal City]]. Though Lodestar was too weak to fight, her size alone scared off the majority of the Decepticon army and allowed her to release Computron who held off [[Strika's Heavies]] long enough for Optimus Prime to confront the Decepticon general. {{storylink|The Landscape of Fear}} The battle drained the Technical Solutions team of energon, leaving the Autobots unable to turn Computron against the [[rust worm]]s or [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. {{storylink|End of Time}}

Following [[Exarchon]]'s return, Shockwave summoned Devastator back to Cybertron, {{storylink|War's End Part Two}} giving him instructions to meet with [[Soundblaster (G1)|Soundblaster]]. After the combiner's size had scared off the Autobots and Decepticons in the [[Sonic Canyons]], Exarchon sought to usurp Devastator, {{storylink|War's End Part Three}} only for Constructicons to resist him, though the strain forced them to decombine. {{storylink|War's End Part Four}}

By the time Exarchon had been destroyed, Computron had been refuelled, escorting the Autobot convoy to Darkmount. Having been given the Constructicons by Shockwave, Megatron unleashed Devastator on Computron during the siege of Darkmount. Though the Constructicon combiner initially proved stronger, Scattershot used the powers of the Combination Core to add [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]], [[Flareup (G1)|Flareup]], [[Backstreet (G1)|Backstreet]], [[Javelin]], and [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] to the mix. Reborn as a ten-bot combiner, Computron was able to defeat Devastator but was ultimately overwhelmed by the totality of the Decepticon force firing on him, forcing him to decombine back into their components, though the sacrifice had allowed the Autobots to escape Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers: Fate of Cybertron|Fate of Cybertron}}
{{--}}

====''My Little Pony/Transformers''====
[[File:TheMightiestDinobot-Superion.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

While stranded on [[Earth]], [[Spike (MLP)|Spike]] the [[dragon]] helped [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] defend the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' from a Constructicon assault. Devastator easily trounced Grimlock, Spike quickly worked out how to fire the ''Ark''{{'}}s primary thrusters, and the force of the blast reduced Devastator back to his components, who promptly fled. {{storylink|Inspiring}}

During [[King Sombra]]'s magical assault on Cybertron, the evil unicorn brainwashed [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] and the other four Aerialbots with his mind-control [[magic]] and forced them to combine into Superion. Although the brainwashed combiner quickly defeated Grimlock and the other Dinobots, Spike and [[Smolder (MLP)|Smolder]] deduced that forcing Sombra to split his control five ways would weaken his magic, and taunted the individual Aerialbots by playing on their individual hangups and personality traits until Superion could no longer maintain the combination and fell apart, breaking the spell in the process. {{storylink|The Mightiest Dinobot}}
{{--}}

====''Last Bot Standing''====
[[Steel Jaw|Steeljaw]]'s pack possessed the ability to combine into the diminutive [[Unstoppimus]]. When [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] stood in the way of the pack getting [[energon]], the pack combined to hold off the Autobot but fuel-starved as they were, Unstoppimus was more bark than bite, Rodimus quickly disabling their weapons before beheading them, the shock sending their components into stasis lock. {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 4|Last Bot Standing #4}}

===''Robots in Disguise''===
====2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon====
[[File:Landfill RiD Cartoon.JPG|thumb|left|250px]]
Many of the Autobots active on Earth were combiners: most notably, the three Autobots who comprised [[Team Bullet Train]] could merge into [[Rail Racer (RID)|Rail Racer]]. {{storylink|Bullet Train to the Rescue}} The hard-working 'bots who made up the [[Build Team (RID)|Build Team]] could also combine to form [[Landfill (RID)|Landfill]], but they rarely took an active combat role due to their duties maintaining the [[Global Space Bridge]]. {{storylink|Landfill (episode)|Landfill}} Rail Racer proved a powerful trump card for the Autobots during the early phases of the war for Earth; seeking some powerful new warriors to level the playing field, [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] leader [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] created the [[Commando (RID)|Commandos]], a team of crack warriors who could merge into [[Ruination (RID)|Ruination]]. {{storylink|Commandos}}

Many combiners in this reality displayed the ability to rearrange their components at will and gain specific powers in doing so: for instance, Landfill could combine in three possible configurations: one that balanced offense and defense, {{storylink|Landfill (episode)|Landfill}} a "Typhoon Mode" that optimized offensive power, {{storylink|Sky-Byte Saves the Day}}, and a "Cyclone Mode" close-quarters assault form. {{storylink|Galvatron's Revenge}} Ruination possessed two primary configurations— a ground assault "Land Mission" mode, and a "Flight Mission" form that allow him to hover. {{storylink|Commandos}}

Even [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] displayed the power to combine: when his rebellious brother [[Ultra Magnus (RID)|Ultra Magnus]] travelled to Earth, he feigned compassion in an attempt to steal the Matrix, then forced his brother to combine with him. What he didn't expect, though, was that Optimus had as much control over their new "[[Omega Prime]]" form as Magnus did; his plan to steal the power of the Matrix backfired and he had to cooperate with Prime to defeat the Decepticons. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus: Forced Fusion!}}

{{--}}

====Ask Vector Prime====
In [[Viron 704.31 Epsilon|a dystopian alternate timeline]], [[Megazarak (Universe)|Megazarak]] [[Robosmasher|Robo-Smashed]] Rail Racer and Landfill so that they became the evil [[Dominus Trannis]] and [[Devastator (Universe Ultra)|Devastator]] respectively. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/30}} Megazarak slaughtered three out of the four members of the [[Protection Team]] and left their leader Hot Spot unable to combine. When [[Ultra Trion]] passed the Matrix onto him, he received new armor which gave him the abilities of his fallen comrades. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/07}} This new, one-bot iteration of "[[Defensor (OTFCC)|Defensor]]" tried to save Dominus Trannis, but was ultimately forced to put his old comrades out of their misery, {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/28}} while [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] plucked Devastator away from his home timeline to serve in the [[Universe War]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/30}}

[[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] claimed that [[beast mode]] Transformers such as himself were too emotionally delicate to suffer the indignity of combining. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime|Shark Sonnets, 2015/10/21}}

===Unicron Trilogy continuity family===
Across multiple continuities, the power-enhancing [[Mini-Con]]s possessed the ability to power up larger Autobots and Decepticons with extra weapons and abilities while physically attached to their bodies. This special bond is known as a "[[Powerlinx]]", and is not considered a "true" combination, although by the time of ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' this specific term would come to be used interchangeably with more familiar forms of combination.

====Cartoon continuity====
=====''Armada'' cartoon=====
[[File:Ruin-Star Saber Skyboom Shield.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]

In addition to their ability to Powerlinx, a number of Mini-Cons possessed the power to combine with each other: although [[Grindor (Armada)|Grindor]], [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]], and [[Sureshock (Armada)|Sureshock]] combined into a super robot named [[Perceptor (Armada)|Perceptor]], {{storylink|Comrade}} most other Mini-Cons became enhanced weapons or tools: the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Team]] formed the supernatural [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]], the [[Race Mini-Con Team]] became the impenetrable [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom]] shield, {{storylink|Overmatch}} and the [[Space Mini-Con Team]] could unite to form the devastatingly powerul [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]]. {{storylink|Awakening (Armada)|Awakening}}

During a battle with the Decepticons, the Autobots struggled against [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s new tactician [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] and his 'henchman' [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]. Right when it seemed hopeless, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] fell from the sky and combined with Optimus to form Jet Optimus. {{storylink|Awakening (Armada)|Awakening}} Later still, Optimus began combining with the hulking [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]], who formed a large pair of cannons on top of Super Optimus's shoulders. Overload's additional firepower, combined with the already impressive firepower of the Requiem Blaster, enabled Optimus to destroy [[Sideways (Armada)|Sideways]]. {{storylink|Origin}}

The Decepticons were not without their own combiner; [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] was able to combine with Megatron to form additional armour and a back-mounted [[jet pack|rocket pack]]. In this form, Megatron was able to battle Jet Optimus to a standstill. {{storylink|Desperate}}

=====''Linkage'' comic=====
The non-flying members of the evil [[Speed Chaser Team]] could form the [[Magnawing]] aircraft to transport themselves around. {{storylink|Linkage Part 4}}

=====''Energon'' cartoon=====
[[File:TwoHeros optimus supermode.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

Long ago, during a time when the Decepticons and Autobots were at peace, four ancient combiner robots were tasked with guarding the [[Super Energon Temple]] deep beneath Cybertron: [[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)|Bruticus Maximus]], [[Constructicon Maximus]], [[Superion Maximus]], and [[Dauntless Maximus|Superion's brother]]. The Autobots and Decepticons glared at one another in mutual acrimony until they became completely corroded and were unable to move. {{storylink|Ambition}}

Millennia later, following Unicron's defeat, the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]]s arrived on [[Earth]] to acquire energon, and [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] granted [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] the [[Spark of Combination]], a divine power imbued upon the Autobot leader by [[Primus]], so that Hot Shot and [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]] could Powerlinx with one another and fight off the invaders. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}} This new form of powerlinxing became a widespread ability among the Autobots, to the point where almost any Autobot could combine with any other to become more powerful. 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. Several different varieties of combination emerged over the course of this new conflict: similarly sized Autobots could Powerlinx together, with the top half becoming the dominant consciousness with an added "Powerlinx" title (e.g. "Powerlinx [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]".) {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}} A few Autobots and some Decepticons combined with components of their alternate modes to form a larger "brute mode". {{storylink|Bulkhead (episode)|Bulkhead}}

[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] was able to Powerlinx with his [[Prime Force]] [[drone]]s, {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)}} [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] {{storylink|Jungle Planet (episode)}} 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. {{storylink|A Heroic Battle}} After their discovery, the three remaining guardians of the Super Energon Temple joined the battle; in particular, Superion Maximus fought to avenge his deceased brother, and while briefly incapaciated by the loss of his combiner limbs during his final battle against Bruticus, stole Constructicon's limbs and used them to finally kill Bruticus Maximus. {{storylink|Spark (episode)|Spark}}

=====''Cybertron'' cartoon=====
[[File:Cyb ep16 savage claw mode.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

In addition to his preexisting ability to merge with Wing Saber into an airborne "Sonic Wing Mode", {{storylink|United}} Optimus would later display the ability to combine with [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]] to form the "Savage Claw Mode". {{storylink|Savage}} His evil clone [[Nemesis Breaker]] could likewise form a "Dark Claw" mode for Megatron. {{storylink|Darkness (episode)|Darkness}}

====''Cybertron'' comic====
The [[Deep Space Mini-Con Team]] could combine into the [[Umbral Blaster]] {{storylink|Revelations Part 5}} while the [[Sky Terror Mini-Con Team]] could form the [[Chaos Saber]]. {{storylink|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2015/05/19}}

====Ask Vector Prime====
In [[Aurex 1104.30-DB Zeta]], [[Brian Jones|Dr. Jones]] attempted to reverse-engineer the Maximus combination technology and apply it to [[Mini-Con]]s, which resulted in the creation of the [[Micromaster]] combiners [[Superion (Universe)|Superion]], [[Defensor (Universe)|Defensor]], and [[Rail Racer (Universe)|Rail Racer]] . The [[Decepticon]]s, however, stole this technology and used it to create their own Micromaster combiner, [[Devastator (Universe Micromaster)|Devastator]]. During the [[Unicron Singularity]] crisis, these four Autobot and Decepticon combiners clashed in a conflict known as the [[Combiner Wars (event)|Combiner Wars]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/31}}

{{--}}

===''Timelines''===
[[File:Clubcombinercarving.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]

At the dawn of time, Nexus Prime was a member of the [[Thirteen]] and the first combiner. However, when [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] turned on his siblings, [[Vector Prime]], Alpha Trion, and [[Solus Prime]] made the decision to permanently reduce Nexus Prime into five components and conceal the location of Prima's [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] sword. The Star Saber cut Nexus into five other robots: [[Skyfall (Cybertron)|Skyfall]], [[Landquake (Timelines)|Landquake]], [[Breakaway (Classics)|Breakaway]], [[Topspin (Classics)|Topspin]], and [[Heatwave (Timelines)|Heatwave]], who were subsequently scattered across the [[multiverse]] and lost to the ages. {{Storylink|Ask Vector Prime|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/05/18}} In time, however, the [[Caretaker]] supercomputer put the five components on the path to reunification, and upon recruiting the heroic Decepticon Heatwave in a [[Primax -408.24 Epsilon|mirror universe]] Nexus Prime successfully returned and used his powers to transform [[Megatron (SG)|that reality's Megatron]] into Galvatron before departing to recover the Star Saber. {{storylink|Reunification: Part 6}}

The [[GoBot]]s of [[Gobotron]] possessed their own version of combination technology: basing his designs of the transformable "power suits" of the heroic [[Guardian (GoBots)|Guardian]]s, [[Renegade]] leader [[Cy-Kill (GoBots)|Cy-Kill]] commandeered Earth vehicles and modified them into the mighty [[Puzzler]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Renegade Rhetoric (1), 2015/10/16}} While in [[Axiom Nexus]], he stole six [[spark]]s {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Renegade Rhetoric (1), 2015/10/15}} and, after recruiting a group of [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] criminals from the [[Uniend|Uniend Cluster]] upgraded them with the combination technology he'd once used for Puzzler to create [[Monsterous]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric, 2015/10/21}} Upon returning to his home reality, he used the stolen sparks to recreate the Puzzler project with genuine living machines.{{storylink|Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric}}

In a splinter reality created by [[Sideways (disambiguation)|Sideways]] and [[Gong (GoBots)|Gong]], Puzzler and Monsterous would menace the Autobots during a particularly strange version of the [[Unicron War]]. {{storylink|Echoes and Fragments}} Another iteration of Puzzler would join the [[Thirteen Great Demon Generals]] after [[Violengiguar|Bio Ranger Iga]] permanently fused his components together to ensure an unbroken existence. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/15}}

When asked who he'd combine with if he became a combiner, [[Vector Prime]] admitted that while he might merge with other members of the [[Thirteen]], he did not feel comfortable becoming a combiner. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/25}}

{{--}}

===''Animated''===
====''Animated'' cartoon====
[[File:WhereIsThySting-obligatorymisunderstanding.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

{{Idw-tfa}}

''[[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] and his [[twin]] brother [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]] were chosen for an ambitious genetic experiment after an industrial accident nearly killed them. By grafting Decepticon coding acquired from [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] during his time in custody onto their Autobot shells, the Autobots hoped to duplicate the Decepticons' vaunted flight abilities. When a simulated training exercise against a virtual simulation of Starscream went awry, the pair displayed an unconscious "gestalt powerlink" that allowed them to combine into [[Safeguard (Animated)|Safeguard]] and destroy the virtual Decepticon. {{storylink|First (and Second) in Flight}}''

After travelling to Earth, the pair formed Safeguard during the search for [[Wasp]] {{storylink|Where Is Thy Sting?}} and later used a combined jet mode to carry their leader [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] to [[Dinobot Island (Animated)|Dinobot Island]]. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Animated)|Predacons Rising}}

''Later, the ambitious [[Dirt Boss (Animated)|Dirt Boss]] recruited his former lackeys [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]] and [[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]] to work on something he called "[[Devastator (Animated)|Devastator]]." {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

====Sentinel Shouting====
In his younger days, Sentinel Minor appears to have been somewhat prejudiced against combiners. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Sentinel Shouting, 2015/10/07}}

{{--}}

===''Shattered Glass''===
[[File:ReunificationPart4-ComputronVsAbominus.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

As the Great War between the heroic Decepticons and evil Autobots escalated, the introduction of combiner technology afforded [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]] and his warriors a distinct tactical advantage. To fight back, the Decepticons initiated "Operation: Combination", a program designed to refit their own warriors with combination technology. Decepticons who underwent the refit underwent a rigorous battery of psychological tests to ensure their compatibility with one another, as well as an automatic disengagement mechanism designed to protect the individual minds of their components should the combination matrix fail. The erudite [[Abominus (SG)|Abominus]], combined form of the [[Terrorcon (SG)|Terrorcon]]s, eventually emerged as the apex of combination technology, although the care involved in buffering the minds of his components left him with an extremely fragile combination matrix. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 28|Abominus profile}}

Unlike the Decepticons, the Autobots showed no such care for the combination process and freely abused the technology to create unstable monsters. While [[Computron (SG)|Computron]], combined form of the scientifically inclined [[Technobot (SG)|Technobot]]s, was once an evil genius, his components eventually grew addicted to the process to the point where they no longer separated. Cruel and egotistical, Computron suffered severe mental damage during an ill-advised attempt to imbue [[Grimlock (SG)|Grimlock]] with intelligence, which permanently corrupted his parallel processing capabilities and left him a mentally and emotionally stunted brute. Although the Technobots remained addicted to combining, Computron quickly grew to despise his individual components and continually, if ineffectually, plotted to rid himself of the "parasites" who comprised his body. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 27|Computron profile}}

[[Superion (SG)|Superion]], a smaller combiner, displayed the ability to freely split and recombine his body at will, which he used to flummox a [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|parallel-universe Grimlock]] when the two met in battle. {{storylink|Memory's Splinter}}

After downloading his consciousness into a backup body, [[Ratchet (SG)|Ratchet]] upgraded himself with combiner technology. While combined, he could plant viruses into a gestalt mainframe or even seize complete control of a combiner's motor functions, but his new body's tendencies to freeze and reboot could interfere with the combination processes. {{storylink|#Combiner Wars|Customization class SG Ratchet bio}}

===Live-action film series===
====Toy bios====
[[Knock Out (ROTF)|Knock Out]] hoped to undergo the "combination retrofit" process.<ref>Knock Out's toy bio.</ref> The [[Aerialbot (ROTF)|Aerialbots]] and the [[Combaticon (ROTF)|Combaticons]] could combine into [[Superion (ROTF)|Superion]] and [[Bruticus Maximus (ROTF)|Bruticus Maximus]], respectively. Both combined forms had limited intelligence: [[Superion (ROTF)|Superion]] was seemingly incapable of any thoughts beyond "destroy Decepticons" and "protect innocents", while [[Bruticus Maximus (ROTF)|Bruticus Maximus]], despite being both dumb and slow, could overwhelm almost any opponent his strength and nigh-impenetrable armor.<ref>Superion and Bruticus Maximus's toy bios.</ref>

====Movies====
[[File:Devastator-ROTFvsLeoSpitz.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

The [[Guardian Knight]]s could combine into the mighty three-headed dragon known as [[Dragonstorm]], whereas [[Quintessa (TLK)|Quintessa]]'s [[Infernocon]]s could combine into the monstrous [[Infernocus]]. {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}} Cybertronian [[twin]]s, like [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]], could assume separate combined forms or merge into a more durable shared alternate mode. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.1}} Some animalistic Cybertronians, like the insectoid [[Microcon (ROTF)|Microcons]] could combine into a [[Reedman|razor-thin robot form]] designed for infiltration purposes. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen}}

Experimental combiner technology was developed by the Decepticons for combat advantage and then used on the [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]]s who were able to form [[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]]. Comfort was rather decidedly not on the top of the list of priorities and, as a result, the process was brutally painful to the Transformers involved, which also made the combiners fuse in a very aggressive and painful manner. The mental and physical torture involved left Devastator only interested in causing destruction.<ref>Devastator's [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/Battle-Bios.cfm Battle Bio] at Hasbro.com</ref> Combiners were not limited to one combination scheme, and their final forms could vary.<ref>[http://unicron-events-interviews.blogspot.com/2009/10/hasbro-q-10212009.html Hasbro's answer to Unicron.com] as part of the [[Hasbro Q&A/October 2009#Unicron.com|October 2009 Q&A]].</ref>

During the final battle in [[Egypt]], [[Jetfire (Movie)|Jetfire]] sacrificed himself so that the recently revived Optimus Prime could use his parts. The combination gave Optimus a powered up, flight-capable form that he used to battle [[The Fallen]] and triumph. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen}}

====''Unite for the Universe''====
[[File:Project Unite.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

In the wake of the battle in Egypt, [[NEST]] initiated [[Project Unite|Project: Unite]] so that Optimus Prime could maintain this combined state. {{storylink|Unite for the Universe issue 1|The Secret of Project: Unite}} Seeking to copy the project for his own ends, [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] hired [[Skystalker (ROTF)|Skystalker]] and [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] to aid him, and together they stole information on Project: Unite. {{storylink|Unite for the Universe issue 1|Ambition Instigated}} Using the knowledge he'd gleaned, Starscream applied the upgrade to himself and grafted parts of [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] and [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]] onto his body. With his newfound power, he made short work of Bludgeon before declaring his intention to conquer the world and defeat Megatron. {{storylink|Unite for the Universe issue 2|Bludgeon's Revenge}} Unfortunately for him, Starscream had failed to acquire the neural interface protocols required for Project: Unite, causing his mind to deteriorate, and he began to rashly and mindlessly attack things around him. Both the Autobots and Megatron realized they had to stop the crazed Decepticon before he did too much damage. {{storylink|Unite for the Universe issue 2|On the Road to Destruction}}

Megatron attacked the powered-up Starscream himself, intending to take him apart and reverse-engineer the secrets to Project: Unite from his body. Optimus Prime couldn't allow this to happen, and had [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] bring in a new weapon to burn out the Unite technology in Starscream's body, defeating him and destroying his upgrades. Once Megatron had fled, Optimus lamented that the danger of their new weapons research falling into the Decepticons' hands was too great, seemingly signaling the end of Project: Unite. {{storylink|The Strongest Weapon}}

{{--}}

===''Power Core Combiners''===
The art of [[Power Core Combination]] was lost during the early days of the war on Cybertron. The Decepticons made an attempt to resurrect the process, but their crude "Gestalt Process" was a horrific procedure that usually cost the participants their sanity; the [[Autobot]]s made more careful attempts, but even these still inflicted mental damage. As a result, "[[Proto-Combiner]]s" with the potential to become a combiner were doomed to either live with a permanent sense of incompleteness or risk their sanity by submitting to these ill-conceived experiments.

All of this changed, however, when the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]'s database was recovered by the Autobots, and (with some [[human]] assistance) the Power Core process was at last rediscovered. It facilitated perfect symbiosis between a [[Commander (PCC)|Commander]] and their Mini-Con, not only enhancing the attributes of both, but also creating a mysterious bond of shared perception. With training, a Commander might graduate to having a set of drones to control. A single Commander could upload his own personality engrams into the drones and effectively be in multiple places at once. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 32|The Return of Power Core Combination!}} The Decepticons were able to steal the technology for their own warriors,<ref>Toy packaging blurb [https://www.seibertron.com/transformers-toys/view/power-core-combiners/bombshock-with-combaticons/2191/1/16/ (scan at Seibertron.com)]</ref> doling out the upgrades as a reward for displays of ruthlessness<ref>[[Bombshock (PCC)|Bombshock]]'s toy bio [http://tftechspecs.com/pics5/15531.jpg (scan at TFTechSpecs.com)]</ref> or for loyalty.<ref>[[Sledge (PCC)|Sledge]]'s toy bio [http://tftechspecs.com/pics5/15524.jpg (scan at TFTechSpecs.com)]</ref> Because the technology was rediscovered only recently, Gestaltics researchers have yet to reach the limits of their understanding and exploitation of it. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 32|The Return of Power Core Combination!}}

===Aligned continuity family===
====''The Covenant of Primus''====
[[File:TheCovenantOfPrimus-mutacons.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

At the dawn of time, [[Nexus Prime]] was the first combiner, a 'bot capable of splitting and reforming at will. Following the death of [[Solus Prime]] and the disastrous [[War of the Primes]] that drove the original [[Thirteen]] apart, Nexus permanently divided himself into five 'bots and scattered himself across the stars.

Following the [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Rust Plague]] and the collapse of the Cybertronian empire, a fleet of refugees fleeing [[Neutronia]] discovered [[Amalgamous Prime]]'s lost [[transformation cog]]. Its supernatural power mutated them into the [[Mutacon]]s, [[shifter]]s with the power of infinite transformation and combination. Seeking a way to cure their condition before they finally lost their individuality and combined into a single amorphous being, they traversed the galaxy in a fleet of living starships comprised of their own bodies. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

====Aligned novels====
The ancient art of combination was as old as Cybertron itself, although the fiercely independent [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] despised the notion of surrendering his hard-won individuality to some greater whole. During his time at [[Crystal City]] [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] created several prototype combiners, and merged the five [[Combaticon (WFC)|Combaticon]]s into the savage and uncontrollable [[Bruticus (WFC)|Bruticus Maximus]], but their combined form proved so dangerous that all five would be placed in protective [[stasis lock|stasis]] and sealed away. Undeterred, Shockwave continued his experiments; while in the gladiatorial pits of [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] just before the [[Great War (Prime)|Great War]], he experimented on a trio of [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]]s and turned them into combiners who could merge into both robot and vehicle forms.

A number of combiners attended the fateful meeting of the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] that saw Orion Pax promoted to the rank of [[Prime (rank)|Prime]]; when war broke out in earnest, the [[Constructicon (WFC)|Constructicon]]s joined the Decepticons, by which point Shockwave had perfected his combinatorial process and used it to turn at least seven of their number into the ferocious [[Devastator (WFC)|Devastator]], and the Decepticons later reactivated the Combaticons after discovering them beneath the ruins of Crystal City.

To fight back, the Autobots stole and successfully reverse-engineered Shockwave's combination process to create combiners of their own. The first, [[Defensor (WFC)|Defensor]], successfully blunted Devastator's rampage when the two clashed in the [[Tagan Heights]] but wound up destroying the secret lab where Autobot scientists had created him. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

The five [[Aerialbot (WFC)|Aerialbots]] aboard the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' were combiners; their gestalt form of [[Superion (Prime)|Superion]] would prove instrumental in rescuing both Autobots and Decepticons from the Quintesson-controlled [[Aquatron]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}}

====''Timelines''====
[[Fisitron (Timelines)|Fisitron]] was discovered in a routine physical examination to have a rare "combination spark", which theoretically gave him the ability to combine with other machines. {{storylink|Fisitron (Timelines)#Toys|TFSS Fisitron profile card}}

====''Portal''====
{{stub}}

====2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon====
[[File:TRID E 57 Heatmark.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

A number of combiner teams possessed a unique form of combination known as "Crash Combination": by crashing into one another at high speed, two 'bots could temporarily fuse into one. Four out of the five [[Stunticon (Prime)|Stunticon]]s possessed this ability; in addition to combining with [[Motormaster (WFC)|their leader]] to form [[Menasor (RID)|Menasor]], they could unite to form [[Dragbreak]] {{storylink|Bee Cool}} and [[Heatmark]]. {{storylink|The Golden Knight}} None of these combinations utilized a mental merge: while the two smaller combiners simply drew upon the personalities of whoever formed the combiner torso,

The Decepticon criminal [[Chop Shop (RID)|Chop Shop]] was formed from five identical robots, although it's unclear whether "Chop Shop" is an emergent personality made up from the interaction of his five components, or if he is one mind spread across multiple bodies: notably, he could function without all of his components intact, and could appropriate [[Mini-Con]]s like [[Fixit (RID)|Fixit]] as replacements. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye (RID)|More than Meets the Eye}}

[[File:TRID SF Ultra Bee vs Galvatronus.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

While fighting [[Heatseeker]] above a nuclear waste dump, an explosion triggered a barrage of radiation that forcibly merged all six members of the [[Bee Team (RID)|Bee Team]] into [[Ultra Bee]], but none of them realized at the time. {{storylink|King of the Hill (Part 2)}} The team experienced this phenomenon again during their battle with [[Dragstrip (WFC)|Dragstrip]] at a swamp. They didn't understand how to control it, and being combined had the strange effect of splitting [[Sideswipe (RID)|Sideswipe]] into two individuals. {{storylink|The Great Divide}} Eventually, Fixit deduced that this mutation had been triggered by radiation, but attempts to recreate the accident initially proved fruitless: one attempt left [[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Grimlock]] and [[Drift (RID)|Drift]] stuck together, {{storylink|Get a Clue}} while later experiments led to the creation of temporary combined forms like [[Bumblearm]] {{storylink|The Fastest Bot Alive!}} and [[Sidelock]]. {{storylink|Out of the Shadows}} On one occasion, a bungled attempt to force the combination using mechanical assistance left the team with their minds in the wrong bodies. {{storylink|Disordered Personalities}}

Eventually, however, the team mastered their combination and used their new form to take on Menasor and win on two separate occasions. {{storylink|Combine and Conquer}} {{storylink|Moon Breaker}} To combat [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]], the [[Bee Team (RID)|Bee Team]] attempted to form Ultra Bee but found themselves unable to complete the combination without [[Drift (RID)|Drift]]. {{storylink|Collateral Damage}}

[[Cyclonus (WFC)|Cyclonus]] and his troops were able to combine into [[Galvatronus (RID)|Galvatronus]]. They attempted to use their combined form to defeat the Bee Team only to be met with Ultra Bee. Nonetheless, the Decepticon combiner proved stronger than his Autobot counterpart until [[Cyberwarp (RID)|Cyberwarp]]'s hesitation allowed Ultra Bee to triumph. {{storylink|Freedom Fighters}}
{{--}}

===''Cloud''===
[[File:Cloud Bruticus.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]

The combiner [[Bruticus (Cloud)|Bruticus]] was an invention of the mad logician [[Shockwave (Cloud)|Shockwave]], who incorporated the ability to combine into the (perhaps unwilling) [[Combaticon (Cloud)|Combaticons]], a team of renegades in the [[Underground (Cloud)|Underground]]. The giant was utilized as part of Shockwave's many contingencies to bring about the return of [[Megatron (Cloud)|Megatron]] for the ultimate conquest of the [[Multiverse|Spacetime World]]. {{storylink|Eagerness}}

===''TransTech''===
While in [[Axiom Nexus]], offworlder combiners required a license to operate. {{storylink|Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric, 2015/10/21}}

[[Stakeout (PCC)|Stakeout]] and his Protectobot drones took part in ''[[Cybertron's Got Talent]]'' and dazzled audiences with their Power Core Combination. {{storylink|Axiom Nexus News Editor|Axiom Nexus News Editor, 2015/05/14}} After winning the Sub-Metro Amateur League [[Lobbing]] championship, the Mighty Mechanics considered moving up to the Combiner Leagues, although they'd have to be upgraded with combination technology to compete. {{storylink|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2015/05/28}}

===''Cyberverse'' cartoon===
[[File:TheImmobilizers-Volcanicus.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

After liberating the [[Enigma of Combination]] from the tomb of [[Nexus Prime]], [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and the [[Dinobot (Cyberverse)|Dinobot]]s accidentally activated the artifact, which merged them together into [[Volcanicus (Cyberverse)|Volcanicus]]. The newly formed combiner spent a significant amount of time and effort learning to coordinate their actions in both their individual and combined forms, but after a lengthy training period the Dinobots took on [[Trypticon (Cyberverse)|Trypticon]]'s crew of [[Mercenary|Mercenaries]] and emerged triumphant. {{storylink|The Immobilizers}}

{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: Fall of Cybertron''===
Bruticus was formed by the Combaticons when they were making a last ditch effort to salvage a mission to capture a large Autobot energon transport. After the team disabled the anti-air guns, the got their dropship close enough for all five of them to depart onto the ship and combine. Bruticus's raw strength allowed him to easily eliminate the transport's crew, but the damage he did to the ship caused it to crash land. Bruticus later formed during [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]'s mission to recapture [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]], and later joined the fight during the Decepticon attack on the [[Ark (WFC)|Ark]] before [[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]] and [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]] knocked him off. {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

{{-}}

===''Transformers: Devastation''===
[[File:Devastation-OptimusMaximus.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

After the incident with the [[Ferrotaxis]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] mused to [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] about ending the war once and for all. They then both looked at a set of Combiner schematics on a computer screen, depicting Optimus Maximus. {{storylink|Transformers: Devastation}}

{{-}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
A number of combiners participated in battles against both Autobots and Decepticons, but could only be recruited if all of their component members were at max level. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
{{stub}}

==Combiner list==
{{note|Due to the many uses of redecoes as new characters and convenience for reading, each mold is listed on its own line, with all different-character decoes/retools on the same line.}}
{{See also|Super Mode}}
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Combiners with two members'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Mega-Dinobot]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Decibel]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Legout]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Slamdance (G1)]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Squawkbox]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Cog (G1)]] / [[Cog (Masterforce)]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Dreadwing (G1)]] / [[Darkwings]]}}
{{Bp-d2|[[Stormtrooper (Cybertronian)|Stormtrooper]]s {{storylink|Swarm (issue)|Swarm}}}}
*[[Multiforce]] members
{{Bp-a1|[[Wingwaver]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Dashtacker]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Machtackle]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Dreadwing (G2)]] and [[Smokescreen (G2)]]'s combined form / [[Megatron (G1)]] and [[Starscream (G1)]]'s combined form / [[Formation Scream]] / [[Stealth Bomber]] / [[Dreadwing (RID)]] / [[Gigant Sniper]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Sky Powered]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Land Powered]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Attack Powered]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Wing Powered]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Drill Powered]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Powerlinx#Energon|Silver and Gold Powerlinx users]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Safeguard (Animated)]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] (only in ice cream truck mode)}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Primestrong]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Beeside]]}}
{{Bp-a1|"[[Sidelock]]" {{storylink|Out of the Shadows}}}}
{{Bp-a1|"[[Bumblearm]]" {{storylink|The Fastest Bot Alive!}}}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Skyhammer (RID)|Skyhammer]] / [[Shocknado]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Dragbreak]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Heatmark]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Primelock]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Saberclaw]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Dragonstorm#Premier Edition|Dragonstorm]] (only in toy form)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Battletrap (G1)#Generations|Battletrap]] (only in toy form)}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Bumblegrim]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Bumbleswoop]]}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Slugtron]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Wheelgrim]]}}
</ul>
|[[File:G1toy-Slamdance.jpg|thumb|200px|Slamdance]]
|}

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Combiners formed by main bodies with power-up partners'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Godbomber|God]] [[Ginrai (robot)|Ginrai]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Ginrai (robot)|Victory]] [[Star Saber (G1)|Saber]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Omega Prime]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime Super Modes#Unicron Trilogy|Jet Optimus]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Burning]] [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] and [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]'s combined form}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime Super Modes#Unicron Trilogy|Optimus Prime Megaweapon]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime Super Modes#Unicron Trilogy|Optimus Prime Fight Mode or Optimus Prime Flight Mode]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime Super Modes#Unicron Trilogy|Optimus Supreme]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime Super Modes#Unicron Trilogy|Optimus Prime Savage Claw Mode]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime Super Modes#Unicron Trilogy|Optimus Prime Sonic Wing Mode]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] [[Nemesis Breaker|Dark Claw Mode]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime Super Modes#Live-action film series|Power Up Optimus Prime]] (only in toy form)}}
*[[Megatron (RID)#Legends/Unite Warriors|Devil God]] [[Optimus Prime (RID)#Legends/Unite Warriors|Fire Convoy]] {{storylink|Transformers Legends Final Chapter "Epiloge"}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Purple Wicked Convoy]] [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Generations Selects Special Comic (1)|Omega Hand Mode]] {{storylink|Generations Selects Special Comic Finale Part 1}}}}
</ul>
|[[File:Armada JetOptimusMegaweapon toy.jpg|thumb|200px|Jet Optimus/Optimus Prime Megaweapon]]
|}

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Combiners with three or more members (non-Scramble City-type)'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Devastator (G1)]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Devastator (ROTF)]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Raiden]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] / [[Dinoking]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Road Caesar]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Liokaiser]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Big Rescue Force]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Landcross (G1)|Landcross]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Big Powered]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Magnaboss (BW)]] / [[Magnaboss (BWII)]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Dreadwing (RID)|MegaWing]] [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Dark]] [[Dreadwing (RID)|MegaWing]] [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Piranacon (Prime)]]}}
*[[Prime Processing Unit]] {{storylink|Collect and Save}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Tripredacus]] / [[Tripledacus]]}}
*[[Tri-Rex]]
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Rail Racer (RID)]] / [[Dominus Trannis]]}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Landfill (RID)]] / [[Devastator (Universe Ultra)]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Minibot combiner]] {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8}}}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Beast (G1)|Beast]] {{storylink|The Beast Within}}}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Insectrain]] {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2}}}}
*[[Cobratron]]
{{Bp-sa|[[Computron (SG)]]}}
{{Bp-sd|[[Abominus (SG)]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:Raiden toy.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Raiden]][[File:TF-Studio-Series-Devastator.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Devastator]]
|-
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Reedman]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Deceptigod]]}}
{{Bp-d1p2|[[Abominus (Prime)]] / [[Goradora]] / [[Infernocus]] (only in toy form)}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Mighty Robot]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Mighty Vehicle]]}}
*[[Puzzler]]
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-p2|[[Monsterous]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Toxitron (Zone)|Toxitron]]}}
{{bp-d1|[[Overmegasixwave]] {{storylink|The Waiting Game}}}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Grimstone (Kre-O)|Grimstone]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Lazerbolt]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Obsidian (Kre-O)|Obsidian]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Volcanicon]]}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Gaiacross]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Gaia Scramble]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Starscream Combiner#Deviations|Megascream's combined form]] {{storylink|Transformers: Deviations}}}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Galvatronus (CW)]] {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 4: It's Beginning To And Back Again|It's Beginning To And Back Again}}}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Starscream Combiner#Prime Wars Trilogy cartoons|Ultimate Starscream]] {{storylink|A War of Giants}}}}
*The [[Functionist Council]] {{storylink|Dissolution Part 4: Bad Moon Rising|Bad Moon Rising}}
</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Ultra Bee]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Menasor (RID)]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Galvatronus (RID)]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Dragonstorm]] {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}}}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Infernocus]] {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}}}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Victorion|Ultimate Victorion]] {{storylink|Desperate Actions}}}}
{{Bp-m1p1|[[Fossilizer Combiner]]}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Unstoppimus]] {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 4}}}}
</ul>
|}

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Triple Combination combiners'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Gekisoumaru|DaiGekisou]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Kenzan|DaiKenzan]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Gekisoumaru|GoGekisou]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Ganoh|GoGanoh]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Hishoumaru|GoHishou]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Jinbu|GoJinbu]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Kenzan|GoKenzan]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Sensuimaru|GoSensui]]}}
</ul>
|[[File:TFGoSensuimaru.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Sensuimaru]]
|}

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Scramble City-type combiners'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Bruticus (G1)]] / [[Battle Gaia]] / [[Ruination (RID)]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Defensor (G1)]] / [[Guard City]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Menasor (G1)]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Superion (G1)]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Abominus (G1)]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Computron (G1)]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Piranacon (G1)]]<ref name="seacon">With extra "limb" robot used as weapon.</ref> / [[King Poseidon]]<ref name="seacon" /> / [[God Neptune]]}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Bruticus (WFC)]] / [[Ruination (FOC)]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]]}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Victorion]] / [[Megatronia]]}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Sky Reign]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Grand Galvatron]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Thunder Mayhem]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Predacus]]}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Wreckage (G1)|Wreckage]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Volcanicus (POTP)|Volcanicus]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Orthia]]}}
|
[[File:Superion toy.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Superion]]
</ul>
|}

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Official mix-n-match Scramble City-type combiners'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Abomenaticus]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Comperian]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Autobot Super Scramble]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Decepticon Super Scramble]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Scramble 7]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Ultra Prime]]}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Galvatronus (CW)]] (only in toy form)}}
|
|width="60%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Betatron (CW)|Betatron]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Grand Scourge|Scourge Grand Prime]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Modulus]]}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Starscream Combiner]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Elita-Infin1te]]}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Inferno Combiner]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[White Gallant Convoy|White Convoy Grand Prime]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Volcaticon]]}}
|
[[File:Abomenaticus toy.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Abomenaticus]]
</ul>
|}

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Micromaster-type combiners'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Barrage (Micromaster)|Barrage]] and [[Heave]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Blackout (G1)|Blackout]] and [[Spaceshot]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Blast Master]] and [[Phaser (G1)|Phaser]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Direct-Hit]] and [[Power Punch]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Excavator (G1)|Excavator]] and [[Stonecruncher (G1)|Stonecruncher]] / [[Retro]] and [[Surge (G1)|Surge]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Fireshot]] and [[Vanquish]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Full-Barrel]] and [[Overflow]]}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Grit]] and [[Knockout (G1)|Knockout]] / [[Gusher]] and [[Pipeline]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Half-Track (G1)|Half-Track]] and [[Meltdown (G1)|Meltdown]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Hammer (G1)|Hammer]] and [[Sledge (G1)|Sledge]] / [[Cement-Head]] and [[Terror-Tread]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Missile Master]] and [[Moonrock]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Oiler]] and [[Slide]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Power Run]] and [[Strikedown]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Roadburner]] and [[Wheel Blaze]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Sixliner]] / [[Sixtrain]]<ref>Sixtrain was redecoed and retooled from Sixliner.</ref> / [[Rail Racer (Universe)]]<ref>Universe Rail Racer uses the same deco as Takara's 2003 redecoed "reissue" of Sixtrain.</ref>}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Sixbuilder]] / [[Decepticon Sixbuilder]] / [[Devastator (Universe Micromaster)]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Sixturbo]] / [[Defensor (Universe)]]}}
{{Bp-a1d1|[[Sixwing|Sixwing / Berserker Sixwing / Destron Sixwing]] / [[Superion (Universe)]]}}
|
[[File:OC-toy Sixbuilder.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Sixbuilder]]
</ul>
|}

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Mini-Con combiners'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-mc|[[Perceptor (Armada)#Armada 3|Perceptor (Armada)]] / [[Bumble]]}}
{{Bp-mc|[[Perceptor (Armada)#Energon 3|Perceptor (Energon)]] / [[Heavy Metal (Energon)|Heavy Metal]] / [[Windcharger (Energon)|Windcharger]] / [[Perceptor (Armada)#Cybertron|Perceptor (Cybertron)]] / [[Bumble]]}}
{{Bp-mc|[[Mirror]] / [[Nightcreeper]]}}
{{Bp-mc|[[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]] / [[Umbral Blaster]] / [[Astro Blaster (Armada)]] / [[Transwarp Blaster]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-mc|[[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom]] / [[Magnawing]] / [[Cosmotector (Armada)|Cosmotector]]}}
{{Bp-mc|[[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]] / [[Vorpal Saber]] / [[Energon Saber]] / [[Cryo Saber]] / [[Chaos Saber]] / [[Pyro Saber]]}}
{{Bp-mc|[[Centuritron]]}}
{{Bp-mc|[[Chop Shop (RID)|Chop Shop]]}}
</ul>
|[[File:EN-toy MB2 Frenzy.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Heavy Metal]]
|}

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Maximus-type [[Powerlinx]] combiners'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)]] / [[Bruticus (G1)]] (Universe) / [[Bruticus Maximus (ROTF)]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Constructicon Maximus]] / [[Devastator (G1)]] (Classics)}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Superion Maximus]] / [[Dauntless Maximus]] / [[Superion (G1)]] (Universe) / [[Superion (ROTF)]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Nexus Prime]]}}
</ul>
|[[File:TF-Super-Link-EX-01-Buildron.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Constructicon Maximus]]
|}

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''"Omnicombinational" [[Stentarian]] combiners'''
<ul class="iconlist">
*[[16444/9]]
{{Bp-a1|[[Paddox]]}}
{{Bp-mc|[[Centuritron]]}}
</ul>
|[[File:Generationstoy-Centuritron.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Centuritron]]
|}

==Notes==
*'''Gestalt''', a German word which literally means 'form' or 'shape', in this context refers to the psychological concept, namely 'something which is more or greater than the sum of its parts', e.g. a table being more than the timber it's made out of. The origin of "gestalt" as a fan-term is unknown; the earliest documented use is in 1998, when it was already in common parlance.<ref>[https://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/af8234bb79475e5f?dmode=source&output=gplain&noredirect Earliest known alt.toys.transformers post using "gestalt"]</ref> Intriguingly, however, the {{w|Isaac Asimov's Robots in Time|''Robots in Time'' series of novels}} published in 1993-94 prominently feature a "gestalt robot" who could split into six smaller autonomous robots, each with a different personality. If this actually inspired some ''Transformers'' fan searching for a good word to use, there is no evidence of it, but the publishing timeframe is conspicuously close to the opaque early days of the online fandom.
*[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1986 (Scramble City and Transformers 2010)|Scramble City]]-type combiners were initially designed to be a sub-line of ''[[Diaclone]]'' called ''[[Diaclone#Jizai Gattai|Jizai Gattai]]'' (自在合体, "Free Combination"). This goes along with their ability to interact with and attach to [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and [[Metrotitan (G1)|Metrotitan]], the designs of which were also originally intended for the ''Diaclone'' line. Due to the fact any robot can form either an arm or a leg, the franchise as a whole very rarely enforces a "standard" combination setup to a particular Scramble City combiner.
* Fiction has almost uniformly depicted combiners as being much larger than their individual components would suggest; combiners are almost uniformly depicted as, far bigger than the sum of their components would suggest. In perhaps the most egregious example, Dreamwave's comics present combiners as kaiju-sized monsters who loom over skyscrapers; after defeating Superion, Devastator holds one of the former's component members in his hand, the smaller robot proportionally no larger than a doll. A few attempts, such as IDW's later ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' comic, have chalked this discrepancy down to judiciously applied [[Size changing|mass displacement]] technology.

===Unused concepts===
[[File:Generations Street Combiner.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|He transforms into a traffic jam.]]
Combiners were a very popular idea during the "Generation 1" toyline and as such there are loads of scrapped combiner designs that never got past the drawing board. Among them were:
*A Scramble City-style dinosaur combiner. The body is a ''T. rex'', while the limbs are a pterodactyl (right arm), ''Ankylosaurus'' (left leg), ''Dimetrodon'' (left arm), and ''Styracosaurus'' (right leg)<ref>[[Transformers Generations (guidebook)|''Transformers Generations'']], p22</ref>
*A decidedly goofy organic insect combiner composed of a stag beetle (right leg), another beetle (left leg), grasshopper (left arm), fly (right arm), and a cockroach body.<ref name="p99">[[Transformers Generations (guidebook)|''Transformers Generations'']], p99</ref>
*A cybernetic beast combiner that did not form a robot, but rather a large cybernetic monster. It is formed from a cyber bat, mole, stag beetle, and a couple of fish things.<ref name="p99" />
*A fifteen (!) vehicle Micromaster combiner where the only attached parts not contained by the component robots were the large robot fists. This combiner consists of three uniformly colored teams (in a similar fashion to the vehicular Voltron of the same time period):
**Air team (blue) — two jets, two helicopters, a space shuttle.
**Construction team (green) — a hauler, a bulldozer, a steam shovel, a tank (don't ask), a missile carrier (don't ask).
**Street team (red) — two cars, a motorcycle, a formula racer, a jeep.<ref name="p108">[[Transformers Generations (guidebook)|''Transformers Generations'']], p108</ref>
*A simpler dinosaur combiner composed of a pterodactyl, a not-really-a-''Stegosaurus'', and a ''T. rex'' with a very large head. The three combine into a dinosaur thing similar to [[Magmatron]]'s combined dino mode. It shares many visual characteristics with Tomy's relatively simple robot designs.<ref name="p108" />
[[File:ClassicVehicombiner.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Either the smallest steamboat ever, or the largest car in existence.]]
*A five vehicle combiner (evidently not Scramble City-style in nature) composed of a steam engine (right arm), steam boat (torso), car (right leg), truck (left leg), and plane (left arm).
*A base consisting mostly of ramps and a hollow tower in the center that combined with 14 non-transforming cars and vans. Two vehicles make up each limb, with three crammed in the chest, two for feet, and one that slides into the tower's gun platform to form the head. The ramps would then act as an exoskeleton to contain all of the components.<ref name="p79">[[Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 2|''Transformers Generations 2009'' Vol. 2]], p79</ref>
*A robot formed from a truck cab and four cars with no robot modes that each have flip out weapon arrays. This may qualify more as a conventional "super robot" than a standard combiner, but we may never know.<ref name="p80">[[Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 2|''Transformers Generations 2009'' Vol. 2]], p80</ref>
*A "Duocon" (or rather, "Triocon", in this case) style robot formed by three cars. One car splits in half to form the arms, another splits for the legs, and a third folds in half to reveal the robot head and connect it all together.<ref name="p80"/>
*A Concorde jet that split into two robots, where the front portion's robot can pop out three wheels and a spare cockpit to give it a land mode. Presumably the larger rear robot could do the same.<ref name="p81">[[Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 2|''Transformers Generations 2009'' Vol. 2]], p81</ref>
*Two military convoy "trains", one good, one evil, of six vehicles each hooked together that combine along the lines of Devastator but with loads more guns. The robot core is formed by a tractor trailer that leads either convoy, the good one being long nosed, the evil one being flat, each with trailers that open up into small cannon platforms usable by the five smaller robots. Said trailers also become their respective combined form's handgun. The other five members each have a specific large weapon such as a missile rack or chaingun that they can also use in robot mode.<ref name="p83">[[Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 2|''Transformers Generations 2009'' Vol. 2]], p83</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Gattai''' (合体, "Combination"), '''Gattai Senshi''' (合体戦士, "Combined Warrior"), '''Gattai Heishi''' (合体兵士, "Combined Soldier"), '''Combiner''' (コンバイナー ''Konbainā'')
*''French:'' '''Fusionneur''' (Canada, ''Robots in Disguise'' 2001 only)
*''Spanish:'' '''Combina''' (Latin America, ''Robots in Disguise'' 2001 only)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Hétǐjīngāng''' (合體金剛, "Combination Vajra")

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Combiners| ]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]
[[Category:Technology]]

Technorganic

2023-02-10T21:14:28Z

Platypar-1: /* Beast Machines cartoon */

{{disambig2|the part organic, part mechanical Transformers|the part organic, part mechanical creations of the Quintessons|Trans-Organic}}

[[File:Thereformattingmaximalsmaximize.jpg|right|upright=1.95|thumb|They changed bodies...''[[To sell toys|again]]''?]]

Although many view the [[Transformer]]s as a purely-mechanical race, this is not always the case. '''Technorganic''' (also '''techno-organic''', '''technoorganic''', and '''bio-mechanical''') Cybertronians incorporate both organic and technological components into their construction; depending on the universe, these unique upgrades run the gamut of technological sophistication, from basic cybernetic implants all the way up to a true cellular symbiosis that can be classified as an entirely new kind of life-form. Already intrinsically linked to the natural world, it should come as no surprise that almost all Cybertronians who adopt a technorganic form possess some kind of [[beast mode]].

While traditionalists view these upgrades with distrust or even outright disgust, many of the most ambitious intelligences across the ''Transformers'' [[multiverse]] have artificially accelerated the development of the Cybertronian species—and sometimes the entire galaxy—by spearheading a technorganic revolution in an attempt to bring together the best of both worlds.

{{bigquote|So what are we? Robots, or animals?" "Both... and neither.|[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]]|"[[Master of the House]]"}}

==Etymology==
[[File:BeastWarsPart2-InjuredOptimus.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66|In his original beast configuration, organic tissue conceals [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]]'s robot mode circuitry.]]

The concept of hybridizing the purely-mechanical Transformers with organic components dates all the way back to the [[Pretender]]s, and, more debatably, the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]], [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]], and [[Powermaster]] characters from the original ''[[The Transformers (franchise)|The Transformers]]'' franchise, but it would be the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon, and its cast of characters that transformed from mechanical robots into wholly organic creatures, that really brought the concept to the forefront. The specific term "technorganic" debuted in the [[The Reformatting|first episode]] of the ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoon and, initially, described a very specific kind of symbiosis that blended Cybertronian technology with organic matter at the cellular level. However, subsequent media produced under the ''Beast Wars'' banner, most prominently the ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' and ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'', co-opted the term to describe ''Beast Wars''-era [[Maximal]]s and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] physiology, alongside the lesser-used term "'bio-mechanical".

The original ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon never provided an in-fiction explanation behind the Transformers' ability to convincingly mimic real, flesh-and-blood creatures, but comments by story editor [[Larry DiTillio]] suggest that the original Maximals and Predacons were ''{{w|Terminator (franchise)|Terminator}}''-style cyborgs with robotic bodyframes surrounded by a layer of organic tissue that allowed them to eat and breathe while in [[alternate mode]]. <ref>[https://groups.google.com/forum/#!search/authormsg$3Aalt.toys.transformers$2C-GCtfsO_cVoJ$20after$3A1997$2F1$2F1$20before$3A1997$2F2$2F1%7Csort:date%7Cspell:false/alt.toys.transformers/Tbk9A-giwV8/HpG751F9KAwJ "When BW's transform into beast mode, they become FULLY organic. This means they are vulnerable to anything the animal they become is. They get hurt worse when hit in beast mode, they have to breathe and eat, they are for all and intents and purposes animals." <nowiki>[...]</nowiki> "Take any G1 who was a car or truck. They had glove compartments, they had mirrors, they had tires, they had uh, car stuff. BW's have animal stuff... It's their "outer shell" you might say, it is what makes them "robots in disguise". When the shell is pierced (such as when Megatron bites into it), you get to circuitry underneath (yes there is metal beneath the fur and skin and the bones are metallic superstructure)... And no Cheetor doesn't have real blood, just mech fluid."] </ref> Subsequent seasons of the show would introduce [[Transmetal]] characters, which transformed from strange, quasi-organic robots into entirely-mechanical creatures, while Cybertronians exposed to the [[Transmetal driver]] became monstrous "[[Transmetal 2]]"s that haphazardly blended flesh and metal together. Different sources, most notably the ''Ultimate Guide'', have retroactively described all of these states of being as "technorganic".

The ''Beast Machines'' episode "[[Revelations Part III: Apocalypse|Apocalypse]]" would seemingly confirm DiTillio's interpretation, as Optimus explained that the Oracle had used the organic material already present within their beast modes to reformat them into technorganic beings. Thus, while subsequent works of fiction have muddied the term, it can be inferred that a clear divide exists between these two kinds of Transformers.
In the years since, the terms "technorganic" and "biomechanical" have been used interchangeably to describe characters from other, non-[[Beast Era]] ''Transformers'' franchises—often characters based on redecoed [[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|''Beast Wars'' toys]]. Different works of ''Transformers'' media have depicted this kind of intimate, organic-machine interface in a variety of ways: some have depicted these kinds of Transformers as something repulsive, while other works of fiction have hewed closer to ''Beast Machines'' and how it depicted the technology in a more positive light.

{{--}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity====
=====''Beast Machines'' cartoon=====
[[File:TheReformatting-technorganicoptimus.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

Shortly after [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] and his [[Maximal]]s arrived on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]] drones attacked the Maximals and infected them with a [[transformation virus]] that would've proven fatal if not for the intervention of the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]] supercomputer. {{storylink|The Reformatting}} By drawing upon the pre-existing organic matter already integrated into their [[beast mode]]s, {{storylink|Revelations Part III: Apocalypse|Apocalypse}} the Oracle successfully reformatted Optimus, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]], and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] into technorganic forms that melded organic tissue with advanced nanotechnology at the cellular level. {{storylink|Master of the House}}

Maximals who underwent this transformation possessed a suite of extremely advanced abilities that bordered on the supernatural. Conventional [[CR chamber]]s had no effect on them; while in robot mode, they could utilize biologically-enhanced nanosurgical capabilities, allowing them to heal faster, {{storylink|Survivor}} and their quasi-organic nature rendered them impervious to anti-Transformer weapons like [[plasma energy]]. {{storylink|End of the Line}} On different occasions, both Optimus Primal {{storylink|Mercenary Pursuits}} and Blackarachnia manifested telepathic abilities. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent|Descent}} Transforming to beast mode masked their [[energy signature]]s, which allowed them to avoid detection by conventional scanners. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}}

[[File:EndOfTheLine-transformation.gif|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]

While in combat, most technorganic Maximals utilized powerful built-in weapons that included energy-based deflector shields, sonic attacks, and electrical blasters. {{storylink|Master of the House}} The technorganic Maximal [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] possessed other unusual abilities—in addition to the ability to create technorganic plants at will, she developed a connection to Cybertron's [[organic core]]; when cut off from its energy, she grew sick and eventually fell unconscious. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral|The Downward Spiral}}

Technorganic Transformers possessed unique, differently-coloured [[spark]]s with a strong connection to the [[Transformer afterlife|Allspark]]. While they still possessed the ability to shift between robot and beast modes, this new form of [[transformation]] involved a burst of spark energy and fluid shapeshifting. Transformation now involved conscious thought and effort, an ancient practice which had originally fallen out of favor after the introduction of [[onboard computer]]s. Initially, Optimus and his team had to find a mental "still point" that would allow them to transform, and used the mantra "I am transformed" until they'd mastered their new forms. If this balance was lost, a technorganic Transformer would simply revert back to their alternate form. {{storylink|Master of the House}} Conversely, other technorganics—[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]], {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}} [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]], {{storylink|In Darkest Knight}} and Botanica—appeared to instinctually master the process moments after evolving into a technorganic state. {{storylink|Home Soil}}

[[File:Maximals endofBMac.JPG|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

Despite these many advantages, technorganic Transformers were still vulnerable to conventional firepower {{storylink|Mercenary Pursuits}} and the same sort of [[Spark extractor]]s which [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] used on conventional Transformers. On one occasion, ingesting wholly organic fruit caused Primal and his team to lose their higher functions and revert to a primitive, bestial sate. Upon returning to normal, Primal concluded that the fruit's purely-organic nature was devolving their bodies. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}} Exposure to the [[Key to Vector Sigma]]'s ability to convert organic material into [[living metal|technomatter]] metallized their bodies and caused pain and hysteria, eventually resulting in deactivation if its effects were not reversed. {{storylink|The Key}}

As they battled Megatron and his Vehicon armies, Optimus and the Maximals slowly realized that Cybertron had once been an organic world until the arrival of the Cybertronian race. {{storylink|Survivor}} Primal initially believed that the Oracle had chosen him to eliminate all technology from Cybertron and return the planet to its primordial state; {{storylink|End of the Line}} in time, however, the Maximals realized that the Oracle's mission was one of ''balance'', bringing Cybertron's two states of being together into a harmonious technorganic whole. {{storylink|Fallout (episode)|Fallout}}. At the end of the conflict, Optimus Primal plunged himself and Megatron into the planet's [[organic core]] and triggered a [[Great Transformation|planet-wide reformatting]] that transformed Cybertron into a verdant technorganic world filled with plants, animals, and green cities. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future|Seeds of the Future}}

{{--}}

=====3H comics=====
[[File:WreckersFinalePartI-rook.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
The newly-technorganic Cybertron possessed cities of varying construction; some were largely technorganic in nature, while others retained inorganic metal and stonework construction. Not all Cybertronians chose to undergo the technorganic transformation; many Maximals, Predacons, Autobots and Decepticons retained their purely-mechanical frames. {{storylink|Abduction}} The reformatting created new lifeforms, such as trees that bore [[Energon]] fruits, and highly polluted cities like [[Ankmor Park|Ankmor]] became green spaces full of technorganic plants and animals. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

Evidence arose that the [[Quintesson]]s had seemingly orchestrated the entire Great Transformation in the belief that they could invade the planet and gain the upper hand against its weakened, disoriented inhabitants.{{storylink|Disclosure}} When they followed through on their plan, however, they quickly discovered that the technorganic Maximals had developed beyond their specifications—not only could their beast mode bodies, invisible to Quintesson sensors, outmanoeuvre [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] invaders, but their rapid nanotechnological healing abilities allowed them to quickly recover from otherwise-fatal injuries, and these traits allowed the Cybertronians to blunt the Quintesson advance.

Soon afterwards, the Quintessons learned that [[Primus]] had indeed masterminded the entire plan by fooling the duplicitious aliens into guiding his children through their evolutionary crisis, and the Light God thanked the aliens for playing a part in his grand plan. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

{{--}}

====2006 IDW ''Beast Wars'' continuity====
Cybertronians who adopted conventional [[beast mode]]s during the Beast Wars were described as "techno-organic" in nature. {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

=====''Wings Universe''=====
[[File:HtF-RookUnicronandUnicorn.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]

Cybertron's transition to a technorganic state meant that it no longer operated on pure energon. As a result, the [[Star Seeker]]s couldn't use [[Unicron]]'s head to drain all of Cybertron's energon in [[2984]]. {{storylink|Hoist the Flag}}

{{--}}

=====Waspscream continuity=====
In [[Primax 208.06 Zeta]], the Oracle reformatted [[Starscream (G1)|Waspscream]], [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]], [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], and [[Rampage (BW)|Protoform X]] into technorganic forms to fight Megatron’s Vehicon armies. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 16/8/2015}}

====2005 IDW continuity====
[[File:SinsoftheWreckers2-teethtentaclesfurrybutt.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66]]

Over a period of generations, [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] slowly modified the [[Gorlamite]]s of [[Gorlam Prime]] into [[Micromaster|mechanical beings]]. As part of this artificially-induced evolution, they first passed through through a transitional techno-organic state until wholly robotic bodyframes permanently supplanted their cybernetic implants. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

The mad scientist [[Tarantulas (BW)|Mesothulas]] invented mass-shifting "bio-disguises" that integrated organic material atop mechanical frames. While in their beast modes, Cybertronians like [[Mayhem Attack Squad|Mayhem]], who adopted this "[[Chimeracon]]" refit, were invisible to conventional Cybertronian technology. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 3|Sins of the Wreckers #3}} The upgrade was not permanent, however; after [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] took command of the team, they shifted back to conventional vehicle modes to better operate in urban terrain. {{storylink|Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers|Requiem of the Wreckers}}

{{--}}

====''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''====
[[File:FormFollowsFunction-strangefruit.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]

Taking root on Cybertronian soil, the leaves sprouted from the [[G.I.Rocket|green bombs]] were technorganic in nature. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} Eventually, after the end of the conflict, the Autobot [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and the [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] operative [[Cover Girl]] used [[binary bonding|binary-bonding]] and [[technoactive core]] technology to conceive a “cyber-human” child. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

{{--}}

====''Beast Wars: Uprising''====
In the 34th century CE, at least some [[Commandron]]s and [[Maladroid]]s were technoorganic, such as those who crewed the stolen ''[[Terrastar (BWU)|Terrastar]]'' and the pursuing ''[[Hyperborea (BWU)|Hyperborea]]''. Upon arriving over [[Energoa]], the local [[Skriix]] took offense to the Cybertronians "contaminating" the planet with their hybrid forms and tried to kill them. {{storylink|The Inexorable March}}

====''Legends'' comic ====
After Cybertron had existed as a technorganic world for millennia, [[Primus#Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Vector Sigma]] foresaw a renewal of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] and removed the organic, turning Cybertron back into a wholly mechanical planet so it would be strong enough to endure the coming conflict. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Blue Big Convoy)}}

====2021 ''Beast Wars'' comic====
While stranded on a remote planet, the Maximals and Predacons were rebuilt with beast modes, whose techno-organic casing would nullify the effects of ambient [[energon radiation]]. {{storylink|Savage Landing Part 1}}

===Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic===
[[File:MTMTEArmada-Predacon.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|]]

The Decepticon [[Predacon (Armada)|Predacon]] developed an "organic grafting process" that allowed him to directly integrate biological tissue into his Cybertronian body. Although most other Transformers found the concept of fusing flesh with metal repulsive, the charismatic Predacon amassed a cult of like-minded followers to advance his own enigmatic agenda. However, despite their zealotry, not all the Cybertronians who followed, including the [[Mini-Con]] [[Skid-Z (Armada)|Skid-Z]], were eligible for this biomechanical upgrade. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye: Transformers: Armada|''More Than Meets The Eye'' bio}}\

{{--}}

===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[File:TFAni Predacons Rising Blackarachina sans Helmet.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Not a being currently found at your local rave club.]]

When [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1]] was attacked by [[Archa Seven arachnid|alien spiders]] on the planet [[Archa Seven]], she attempted to use her ability to download and replicate the abilities of other mechanoids on the creatures, which wound up mutating her into a technorganic form. {{storylink|Along Came a Spider}} Taking the name "Blackarachnia", she was initially revulsed by her unnatural new form—as were many around her—but she eventually embraced her transformation and sought to replicate it on other Transformers, successfully cross-mutating the fugitive Autobot [[Wasp]] with an ''actual'' wasp and creating "Waspinator". {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Animated)|Predacons Rising}}

Technology and organics were also blended in a different manner when a Cybertronian [[protoform]] materialized in [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]]'s lab and scanned the scientist's DNA, rather than a customary mechanical [[alternate mode]]. The result was [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]], outwardly an ordinary organic human by all appearances whose true nature was unknown even to her, but whose Cybertronian abilities were unlocked when she was upgraded by the [[AllSpark Key]]. {{storylink|TransWarped}} {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

{{--}}

===''Shattered Glass Animated''===
As with the "normal" ''Animated'' universe, [[Isaac Sumdac (SG Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]] discovered a protoform in his lab and touched it, the protoform absorbing his DNA becoming his daughter [[Sari Sumdac (SG Animated)|Sari Sumdac]]. However, this Sari had a violent nature, and Isaac raised her as a slave for scientific experiments. Her true powers were unlocked by forcible implantation of AllSpark fragments, which continue to protrude from her body. {{storylink|BotCon 2011|BotCon 2011 attendee lithograph}}

==Notes==
* Although later ''Beast Machines''-adjacent fiction would tie the concept of Cybertron's technorganic evolution back to Primus, whose body is usually depicted as Cybertron itself, [[Marv Wolfman]], who did the series outline for ''Beast Machines'', did not have this origin in mind when developing the series: "No thoughts were ever made re: the Marvel version while I worked on the concept. Fact is, I never even read that. I did what I thought would make a good series concept."<ref>[http://tfarchive.com/fandom/interviews/marvwolfman/ Interview with Marv Wolfman at TFarchive.com]</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Techno-Organic''' (テクノ・オーガニック ''Tekuno Ōganikku'')

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Armada]]
[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Beast Machines]]
[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Transformer culture]]

Technorganic

2023-02-10T21:11:12Z

Platypar-1: /* Beast Machines cartoon */

{{disambig2|the part organic, part mechanical Transformers|the part organic, part mechanical creations of the Quintessons|Trans-Organic}}

[[File:Thereformattingmaximalsmaximize.jpg|right|upright=1.95|thumb|They changed bodies...''[[To sell toys|again]]''?]]

Although many view the [[Transformer]]s as a purely-mechanical race, this is not always the case. '''Technorganic''' (also '''techno-organic''', '''technoorganic''', and '''bio-mechanical''') Cybertronians incorporate both organic and technological components into their construction; depending on the universe, these unique upgrades run the gamut of technological sophistication, from basic cybernetic implants all the way up to a true cellular symbiosis that can be classified as an entirely new kind of life-form. Already intrinsically linked to the natural world, it should come as no surprise that almost all Cybertronians who adopt a technorganic form possess some kind of [[beast mode]].

While traditionalists view these upgrades with distrust or even outright disgust, many of the most ambitious intelligences across the ''Transformers'' [[multiverse]] have artificially accelerated the development of the Cybertronian species—and sometimes the entire galaxy—by spearheading a technorganic revolution in an attempt to bring together the best of both worlds.

{{bigquote|So what are we? Robots, or animals?" "Both... and neither.|[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]]|"[[Master of the House]]"}}

==Etymology==
[[File:BeastWarsPart2-InjuredOptimus.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66|In his original beast configuration, organic tissue conceals [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]]'s robot mode circuitry.]]

The concept of hybridizing the purely-mechanical Transformers with organic components dates all the way back to the [[Pretender]]s, and, more debatably, the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]], [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]], and [[Powermaster]] characters from the original ''[[The Transformers (franchise)|The Transformers]]'' franchise, but it would be the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon, and its cast of characters that transformed from mechanical robots into wholly organic creatures, that really brought the concept to the forefront. The specific term "technorganic" debuted in the [[The Reformatting|first episode]] of the ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoon and, initially, described a very specific kind of symbiosis that blended Cybertronian technology with organic matter at the cellular level. However, subsequent media produced under the ''Beast Wars'' banner, most prominently the ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' and ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'', co-opted the term to describe ''Beast Wars''-era [[Maximal]]s and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] physiology, alongside the lesser-used term "'bio-mechanical".

The original ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon never provided an in-fiction explanation behind the Transformers' ability to convincingly mimic real, flesh-and-blood creatures, but comments by story editor [[Larry DiTillio]] suggest that the original Maximals and Predacons were ''{{w|Terminator (franchise)|Terminator}}''-style cyborgs with robotic bodyframes surrounded by a layer of organic tissue that allowed them to eat and breathe while in [[alternate mode]]. <ref>[https://groups.google.com/forum/#!search/authormsg$3Aalt.toys.transformers$2C-GCtfsO_cVoJ$20after$3A1997$2F1$2F1$20before$3A1997$2F2$2F1%7Csort:date%7Cspell:false/alt.toys.transformers/Tbk9A-giwV8/HpG751F9KAwJ "When BW's transform into beast mode, they become FULLY organic. This means they are vulnerable to anything the animal they become is. They get hurt worse when hit in beast mode, they have to breathe and eat, they are for all and intents and purposes animals." <nowiki>[...]</nowiki> "Take any G1 who was a car or truck. They had glove compartments, they had mirrors, they had tires, they had uh, car stuff. BW's have animal stuff... It's their "outer shell" you might say, it is what makes them "robots in disguise". When the shell is pierced (such as when Megatron bites into it), you get to circuitry underneath (yes there is metal beneath the fur and skin and the bones are metallic superstructure)... And no Cheetor doesn't have real blood, just mech fluid."] </ref> Subsequent seasons of the show would introduce [[Transmetal]] characters, which transformed from strange, quasi-organic robots into entirely-mechanical creatures, while Cybertronians exposed to the [[Transmetal driver]] became monstrous "[[Transmetal 2]]"s that haphazardly blended flesh and metal together. Different sources, most notably the ''Ultimate Guide'', have retroactively described all of these states of being as "technorganic".

The ''Beast Machines'' episode "[[Revelations Part III: Apocalypse|Apocalypse]]" would seemingly confirm DiTillio's interpretation, as Optimus explained that the Oracle had used the organic material already present within their beast modes to reformat them into technorganic beings. Thus, while subsequent works of fiction have muddied the term, it can be inferred that a clear divide exists between these two kinds of Transformers.
In the years since, the terms "technorganic" and "biomechanical" have been used interchangeably to describe characters from other, non-[[Beast Era]] ''Transformers'' franchises—often characters based on redecoed [[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|''Beast Wars'' toys]]. Different works of ''Transformers'' media have depicted this kind of intimate, organic-machine interface in a variety of ways: some have depicted these kinds of Transformers as something repulsive, while other works of fiction have hewed closer to ''Beast Machines'' and how it depicted the technology in a more positive light.

{{--}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity====
=====''Beast Machines'' cartoon=====
[[File:TheReformatting-technorganicoptimus.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

Shortly after [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] and his [[Maximal]]s arrived on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]] drones attacked the Maximals and infected them with a [[transformation virus]] that would've proven fatal if not for the intervention of the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]] supercomputer. {{storylink|The Reformatting}} By drawing upon the pre-existing organic matter already integrated into their [[beast mode]]s, {{storylink|Revelations Part III: Apocalypse|Apocalypse}} the Oracle successfully reformatted Optimus, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]], and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] into technorganic forms that melded organic tissue with advanced nanotechnology at the cellular level. {{storylink|Master of the House}}

Maximals who underwent this transformation possessed a suite of extremely advanced abilities that bordered on the supernatural. Conventional [[CR chamber]]s had no effect on them; while in robot mode, they could utilize biologically-enhanced nanosurgical capabilities, allowing them to heal faster, {{storylink|Survivor}} and their quasi-organic nature rendered them impervious to anti-Transformer weapons like [[plasma energy]]. {{storylink|End of the Line}} On different occasions, both Optimus Primal {{storylink|Mercenary Pursuits}} and Blackarachnia manifested telepathic abilities. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent|Descent}} Transforming to beast mode masked their [[energy signature]]s, which allowed them to avoid detection by conventional scanners. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}}

[[File:EndOfTheLine-transformation.gif|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]

While in combat, most technorganic Maximals utilized powerful built-in weapons that included energy-based deflector shields, sonic attacks, and electrical blasters. {{storylink|Master of the House}} The technorganic Maximal [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] possessed other unusual abilities—in addition to the ability to create technorganic plants at will, she developed a connection to Cybertron's [[organic core]]; when cut off from its energy, she grew sick and eventually fell unconscious. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral|The Downward Spiral}}

Technorganic Transformers possessed unique, differently-coloured [[spark]]s with a strong connection to the [[Transformer afterlife|Allspark]]. While they still possessed the ability to shift between robot and beast modes, this new form of [[transformation]] involved a burst of spark energy and fluid shapeshifting. Transformation now involved conscious thought and effort, an ancient practice which had originally fallen out of favor after the introduction of [[onboard computer]]s. Initially, Optimus and his team had to find a mental "still point" that would allow them to transform, and used the mantra "I am transformed" until they'd mastered their new forms. If this balance was lost, a technorganic Transformer would simply revert back to their alternate form. {{storylink|Master of the House}} Conversely, other technorganics—[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]], {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}} [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]], {{storylink|In Darkest Knight}} and Botanica—appeared to instinctually master the process moments after evolving into a technorganic state. {{storylink|Home Soil}}

[[File:Maximals endofBMac.JPG|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

Despite these many advantages, technorganic Transformers were sill vulnerable to conventional firepower {{storylink|Mercenary Pursuits}} and the same sort of [[Spark extractor]]s which [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] used on conventional Transformers. On one occasion, ingesting wholly organic fruit caused Primal and his team to lose their higher functions and revert to a primitive, bestial sate. Upon returning to normal, Primal concluded that the fruit's purely-organic nature was devolving their bodies. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}} Exposure to the [[Key to Vector Sigma]]'s ability to convert organic material into [[living metal|technomatter]] metallized their bodies and caused pain and hysteria, eventually resulting in deactivation if its effects were not reversed. {{storylink|The Key}}

As they battled Megatron and his Vehicon armies, Optimus and the Maximals slowly realized that Cybertron had once been an organic world until the arrival of the Cybertronian race. {{storylink|Survivor}} Primal initially believed that the Oracle had chosen him to eliminate all technology from Cybertron and return the planet to its primordial state; {{storylink|End of the Line}} in time, however, the Maximals realized that the Oracle's mission was one of ''balance'', bringing Cybertron's two states of being together into a harmonious technorganic whole. {{storylink|Fallout (episode)|Fallout}}. At the end of the conflict, Optimus Primal plunged himself and Megatron into the planet's [[organic core]] and triggered a [[Great Transformation|planet-wide reformatting]] that transformed Cybertron into a verdant technorganic world filled with plants, animals, and green cities. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future|Seeds of the Future}}

{{--}}

=====3H comics=====
[[File:WreckersFinalePartI-rook.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
The newly-technorganic Cybertron possessed cities of varying construction; some were largely technorganic in nature, while others retained inorganic metal and stonework construction. Not all Cybertronians chose to undergo the technorganic transformation; many Maximals, Predacons, Autobots and Decepticons retained their purely-mechanical frames. {{storylink|Abduction}} The reformatting created new lifeforms, such as trees that bore [[Energon]] fruits, and highly polluted cities like [[Ankmor Park|Ankmor]] became green spaces full of technorganic plants and animals. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

Evidence arose that the [[Quintesson]]s had seemingly orchestrated the entire Great Transformation in the belief that they could invade the planet and gain the upper hand against its weakened, disoriented inhabitants.{{storylink|Disclosure}} When they followed through on their plan, however, they quickly discovered that the technorganic Maximals had developed beyond their specifications—not only could their beast mode bodies, invisible to Quintesson sensors, outmanoeuvre [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] invaders, but their rapid nanotechnological healing abilities allowed them to quickly recover from otherwise-fatal injuries, and these traits allowed the Cybertronians to blunt the Quintesson advance.

Soon afterwards, the Quintessons learned that [[Primus]] had indeed masterminded the entire plan by fooling the duplicitious aliens into guiding his children through their evolutionary crisis, and the Light God thanked the aliens for playing a part in his grand plan. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

{{--}}

====2006 IDW ''Beast Wars'' continuity====
Cybertronians who adopted conventional [[beast mode]]s during the Beast Wars were described as "techno-organic" in nature. {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

=====''Wings Universe''=====
[[File:HtF-RookUnicronandUnicorn.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]

Cybertron's transition to a technorganic state meant that it no longer operated on pure energon. As a result, the [[Star Seeker]]s couldn't use [[Unicron]]'s head to drain all of Cybertron's energon in [[2984]]. {{storylink|Hoist the Flag}}

{{--}}

=====Waspscream continuity=====
In [[Primax 208.06 Zeta]], the Oracle reformatted [[Starscream (G1)|Waspscream]], [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]], [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], and [[Rampage (BW)|Protoform X]] into technorganic forms to fight Megatron’s Vehicon armies. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 16/8/2015}}

====2005 IDW continuity====
[[File:SinsoftheWreckers2-teethtentaclesfurrybutt.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66]]

Over a period of generations, [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] slowly modified the [[Gorlamite]]s of [[Gorlam Prime]] into [[Micromaster|mechanical beings]]. As part of this artificially-induced evolution, they first passed through through a transitional techno-organic state until wholly robotic bodyframes permanently supplanted their cybernetic implants. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

The mad scientist [[Tarantulas (BW)|Mesothulas]] invented mass-shifting "bio-disguises" that integrated organic material atop mechanical frames. While in their beast modes, Cybertronians like [[Mayhem Attack Squad|Mayhem]], who adopted this "[[Chimeracon]]" refit, were invisible to conventional Cybertronian technology. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 3|Sins of the Wreckers #3}} The upgrade was not permanent, however; after [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] took command of the team, they shifted back to conventional vehicle modes to better operate in urban terrain. {{storylink|Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers|Requiem of the Wreckers}}

{{--}}

====''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''====
[[File:FormFollowsFunction-strangefruit.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]

Taking root on Cybertronian soil, the leaves sprouted from the [[G.I.Rocket|green bombs]] were technorganic in nature. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} Eventually, after the end of the conflict, the Autobot [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and the [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] operative [[Cover Girl]] used [[binary bonding|binary-bonding]] and [[technoactive core]] technology to conceive a “cyber-human” child. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

{{--}}

====''Beast Wars: Uprising''====
In the 34th century CE, at least some [[Commandron]]s and [[Maladroid]]s were technoorganic, such as those who crewed the stolen ''[[Terrastar (BWU)|Terrastar]]'' and the pursuing ''[[Hyperborea (BWU)|Hyperborea]]''. Upon arriving over [[Energoa]], the local [[Skriix]] took offense to the Cybertronians "contaminating" the planet with their hybrid forms and tried to kill them. {{storylink|The Inexorable March}}

====''Legends'' comic ====
After Cybertron had existed as a technorganic world for millennia, [[Primus#Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Vector Sigma]] foresaw a renewal of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] and removed the organic, turning Cybertron back into a wholly mechanical planet so it would be strong enough to endure the coming conflict. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Blue Big Convoy)}}

====2021 ''Beast Wars'' comic====
While stranded on a remote planet, the Maximals and Predacons were rebuilt with beast modes, whose techno-organic casing would nullify the effects of ambient [[energon radiation]]. {{storylink|Savage Landing Part 1}}

===Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic===
[[File:MTMTEArmada-Predacon.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|]]

The Decepticon [[Predacon (Armada)|Predacon]] developed an "organic grafting process" that allowed him to directly integrate biological tissue into his Cybertronian body. Although most other Transformers found the concept of fusing flesh with metal repulsive, the charismatic Predacon amassed a cult of like-minded followers to advance his own enigmatic agenda. However, despite their zealotry, not all the Cybertronians who followed, including the [[Mini-Con]] [[Skid-Z (Armada)|Skid-Z]], were eligible for this biomechanical upgrade. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye: Transformers: Armada|''More Than Meets The Eye'' bio}}\

{{--}}

===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[File:TFAni Predacons Rising Blackarachina sans Helmet.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Not a being currently found at your local rave club.]]

When [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1]] was attacked by [[Archa Seven arachnid|alien spiders]] on the planet [[Archa Seven]], she attempted to use her ability to download and replicate the abilities of other mechanoids on the creatures, which wound up mutating her into a technorganic form. {{storylink|Along Came a Spider}} Taking the name "Blackarachnia", she was initially revulsed by her unnatural new form—as were many around her—but she eventually embraced her transformation and sought to replicate it on other Transformers, successfully cross-mutating the fugitive Autobot [[Wasp]] with an ''actual'' wasp and creating "Waspinator". {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Animated)|Predacons Rising}}

Technology and organics were also blended in a different manner when a Cybertronian [[protoform]] materialized in [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]]'s lab and scanned the scientist's DNA, rather than a customary mechanical [[alternate mode]]. The result was [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]], outwardly an ordinary organic human by all appearances whose true nature was unknown even to her, but whose Cybertronian abilities were unlocked when she was upgraded by the [[AllSpark Key]]. {{storylink|TransWarped}} {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

{{--}}

===''Shattered Glass Animated''===
As with the "normal" ''Animated'' universe, [[Isaac Sumdac (SG Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]] discovered a protoform in his lab and touched it, the protoform absorbing his DNA becoming his daughter [[Sari Sumdac (SG Animated)|Sari Sumdac]]. However, this Sari had a violent nature, and Isaac raised her as a slave for scientific experiments. Her true powers were unlocked by forcible implantation of AllSpark fragments, which continue to protrude from her body. {{storylink|BotCon 2011|BotCon 2011 attendee lithograph}}

==Notes==
* Although later ''Beast Machines''-adjacent fiction would tie the concept of Cybertron's technorganic evolution back to Primus, whose body is usually depicted as Cybertron itself, [[Marv Wolfman]], who did the series outline for ''Beast Machines'', did not have this origin in mind when developing the series: "No thoughts were ever made re: the Marvel version while I worked on the concept. Fact is, I never even read that. I did what I thought would make a good series concept."<ref>[http://tfarchive.com/fandom/interviews/marvwolfman/ Interview with Marv Wolfman at TFarchive.com]</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Techno-Organic''' (テクノ・オーガニック ''Tekuno Ōganikku'')

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Armada]]
[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Beast Machines]]
[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Transformer culture]]

Technorganic

2023-02-10T21:10:37Z

Platypar-1: /* Beast Machines cartoon */

{{disambig2|the part organic, part mechanical Transformers|the part organic, part mechanical creations of the Quintessons|Trans-Organic}}

[[File:Thereformattingmaximalsmaximize.jpg|right|upright=1.95|thumb|They changed bodies...''[[To sell toys|again]]''?]]

Although many view the [[Transformer]]s as a purely-mechanical race, this is not always the case. '''Technorganic''' (also '''techno-organic''', '''technoorganic''', and '''bio-mechanical''') Cybertronians incorporate both organic and technological components into their construction; depending on the universe, these unique upgrades run the gamut of technological sophistication, from basic cybernetic implants all the way up to a true cellular symbiosis that can be classified as an entirely new kind of life-form. Already intrinsically linked to the natural world, it should come as no surprise that almost all Cybertronians who adopt a technorganic form possess some kind of [[beast mode]].

While traditionalists view these upgrades with distrust or even outright disgust, many of the most ambitious intelligences across the ''Transformers'' [[multiverse]] have artificially accelerated the development of the Cybertronian species—and sometimes the entire galaxy—by spearheading a technorganic revolution in an attempt to bring together the best of both worlds.

{{bigquote|So what are we? Robots, or animals?" "Both... and neither.|[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]]|"[[Master of the House]]"}}

==Etymology==
[[File:BeastWarsPart2-InjuredOptimus.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66|In his original beast configuration, organic tissue conceals [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]]'s robot mode circuitry.]]

The concept of hybridizing the purely-mechanical Transformers with organic components dates all the way back to the [[Pretender]]s, and, more debatably, the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]], [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]], and [[Powermaster]] characters from the original ''[[The Transformers (franchise)|The Transformers]]'' franchise, but it would be the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon, and its cast of characters that transformed from mechanical robots into wholly organic creatures, that really brought the concept to the forefront. The specific term "technorganic" debuted in the [[The Reformatting|first episode]] of the ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoon and, initially, described a very specific kind of symbiosis that blended Cybertronian technology with organic matter at the cellular level. However, subsequent media produced under the ''Beast Wars'' banner, most prominently the ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' and ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'', co-opted the term to describe ''Beast Wars''-era [[Maximal]]s and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] physiology, alongside the lesser-used term "'bio-mechanical".

The original ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon never provided an in-fiction explanation behind the Transformers' ability to convincingly mimic real, flesh-and-blood creatures, but comments by story editor [[Larry DiTillio]] suggest that the original Maximals and Predacons were ''{{w|Terminator (franchise)|Terminator}}''-style cyborgs with robotic bodyframes surrounded by a layer of organic tissue that allowed them to eat and breathe while in [[alternate mode]]. <ref>[https://groups.google.com/forum/#!search/authormsg$3Aalt.toys.transformers$2C-GCtfsO_cVoJ$20after$3A1997$2F1$2F1$20before$3A1997$2F2$2F1%7Csort:date%7Cspell:false/alt.toys.transformers/Tbk9A-giwV8/HpG751F9KAwJ "When BW's transform into beast mode, they become FULLY organic. This means they are vulnerable to anything the animal they become is. They get hurt worse when hit in beast mode, they have to breathe and eat, they are for all and intents and purposes animals." <nowiki>[...]</nowiki> "Take any G1 who was a car or truck. They had glove compartments, they had mirrors, they had tires, they had uh, car stuff. BW's have animal stuff... It's their "outer shell" you might say, it is what makes them "robots in disguise". When the shell is pierced (such as when Megatron bites into it), you get to circuitry underneath (yes there is metal beneath the fur and skin and the bones are metallic superstructure)... And no Cheetor doesn't have real blood, just mech fluid."] </ref> Subsequent seasons of the show would introduce [[Transmetal]] characters, which transformed from strange, quasi-organic robots into entirely-mechanical creatures, while Cybertronians exposed to the [[Transmetal driver]] became monstrous "[[Transmetal 2]]"s that haphazardly blended flesh and metal together. Different sources, most notably the ''Ultimate Guide'', have retroactively described all of these states of being as "technorganic".

The ''Beast Machines'' episode "[[Revelations Part III: Apocalypse|Apocalypse]]" would seemingly confirm DiTillio's interpretation, as Optimus explained that the Oracle had used the organic material already present within their beast modes to reformat them into technorganic beings. Thus, while subsequent works of fiction have muddied the term, it can be inferred that a clear divide exists between these two kinds of Transformers.
In the years since, the terms "technorganic" and "biomechanical" have been used interchangeably to describe characters from other, non-[[Beast Era]] ''Transformers'' franchises—often characters based on redecoed [[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|''Beast Wars'' toys]]. Different works of ''Transformers'' media have depicted this kind of intimate, organic-machine interface in a variety of ways: some have depicted these kinds of Transformers as something repulsive, while other works of fiction have hewed closer to ''Beast Machines'' and how it depicted the technology in a more positive light.

{{--}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity====
=====''Beast Machines'' cartoon=====
[[File:TheReformatting-technorganicoptimus.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

Shortly after [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] and his [[Maximal]]s arrived on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]] drones attacked the Maximals and infected them with a [[transformation virus]] that would've proven fatal if not for the intervention of the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]] supercomputer. {{storylink|The Reformatting}} By drawing upon the pre-existing organic matter already integrated into their [[beast mode]]s, {{storylink|Revelations Part III: Apocalypse|Apocalypse}} the Oracle successfully reformatted [[Reformatting]] Optimus, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]], and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] into technorganic forms that melded organic tissue with advanced nanotechnology at the cellular level. {{storylink|Master of the House}}

Maximals who underwent this transformation possessed a suite of extremely advanced abilities that bordered on the supernatural. Conventional [[CR chamber]]s had no effect on them; while in robot mode, they could utilize biologically-enhanced nanosurgical capabilities, allowing them to heal faster, {{storylink|Survivor}} and their quasi-organic nature rendered them impervious to anti-Transformer weapons like [[plasma energy]]. {{storylink|End of the Line}} On different occasions, both Optimus Primal {{storylink|Mercenary Pursuits}} and Blackarachnia manifested telepathic abilities. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent|Descent}} Transforming to beast mode masked their [[energy signature]]s, which allowed them to avoid detection by conventional scanners. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}}

[[File:EndOfTheLine-transformation.gif|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]

While in combat, most technorganic Maximals utilized powerful built-in weapons that included energy-based deflector shields, sonic attacks, and electrical blasters. {{storylink|Master of the House}} The technorganic Maximal [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] possessed other unusual abilities—in addition to the ability to create technorganic plants at will, she developed a connection to Cybertron's [[organic core]]; when cut off from its energy, she grew sick and eventually fell unconscious. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral|The Downward Spiral}}

Technorganic Transformers possessed unique, differently-coloured [[spark]]s with a strong connection to the [[Transformer afterlife|Allspark]]. While they still possessed the ability to shift between robot and beast modes, this new form of [[transformation]] involved a burst of spark energy and fluid shapeshifting. Transformation now involved conscious thought and effort, an ancient practice which had originally fallen out of favor after the introduction of [[onboard computer]]s. Initially, Optimus and his team had to find a mental "still point" that would allow them to transform, and used the mantra "I am transformed" until they'd mastered their new forms. If this balance was lost, a technorganic Transformer would simply revert back to their alternate form. {{storylink|Master of the House}} Conversely, other technorganics—[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]], {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}} [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]], {{storylink|In Darkest Knight}} and Botanica—appeared to instinctually master the process moments after evolving into a technorganic state. {{storylink|Home Soil}}

[[File:Maximals endofBMac.JPG|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

Despite these many advantages, technorganic Transformers were sill vulnerable to conventional firepower {{storylink|Mercenary Pursuits}} and the same sort of [[Spark extractor]]s which [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] used on conventional Transformers. On one occasion, ingesting wholly organic fruit caused Primal and his team to lose their higher functions and revert to a primitive, bestial sate. Upon returning to normal, Primal concluded that the fruit's purely-organic nature was devolving their bodies. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}} Exposure to the [[Key to Vector Sigma]]'s ability to convert organic material into [[living metal|technomatter]] metallized their bodies and caused pain and hysteria, eventually resulting in deactivation if its effects were not reversed. {{storylink|The Key}}

As they battled Megatron and his Vehicon armies, Optimus and the Maximals slowly realized that Cybertron had once been an organic world until the arrival of the Cybertronian race. {{storylink|Survivor}} Primal initially believed that the Oracle had chosen him to eliminate all technology from Cybertron and return the planet to its primordial state; {{storylink|End of the Line}} in time, however, the Maximals realized that the Oracle's mission was one of ''balance'', bringing Cybertron's two states of being together into a harmonious technorganic whole. {{storylink|Fallout (episode)|Fallout}}. At the end of the conflict, Optimus Primal plunged himself and Megatron into the planet's [[organic core]] and triggered a [[Great Transformation|planet-wide reformatting]] that transformed Cybertron into a verdant technorganic world filled with plants, animals, and green cities. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future|Seeds of the Future}}

{{--}}

=====3H comics=====
[[File:WreckersFinalePartI-rook.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
The newly-technorganic Cybertron possessed cities of varying construction; some were largely technorganic in nature, while others retained inorganic metal and stonework construction. Not all Cybertronians chose to undergo the technorganic transformation; many Maximals, Predacons, Autobots and Decepticons retained their purely-mechanical frames. {{storylink|Abduction}} The reformatting created new lifeforms, such as trees that bore [[Energon]] fruits, and highly polluted cities like [[Ankmor Park|Ankmor]] became green spaces full of technorganic plants and animals. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

Evidence arose that the [[Quintesson]]s had seemingly orchestrated the entire Great Transformation in the belief that they could invade the planet and gain the upper hand against its weakened, disoriented inhabitants.{{storylink|Disclosure}} When they followed through on their plan, however, they quickly discovered that the technorganic Maximals had developed beyond their specifications—not only could their beast mode bodies, invisible to Quintesson sensors, outmanoeuvre [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] invaders, but their rapid nanotechnological healing abilities allowed them to quickly recover from otherwise-fatal injuries, and these traits allowed the Cybertronians to blunt the Quintesson advance.

Soon afterwards, the Quintessons learned that [[Primus]] had indeed masterminded the entire plan by fooling the duplicitious aliens into guiding his children through their evolutionary crisis, and the Light God thanked the aliens for playing a part in his grand plan. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

{{--}}

====2006 IDW ''Beast Wars'' continuity====
Cybertronians who adopted conventional [[beast mode]]s during the Beast Wars were described as "techno-organic" in nature. {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

=====''Wings Universe''=====
[[File:HtF-RookUnicronandUnicorn.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]

Cybertron's transition to a technorganic state meant that it no longer operated on pure energon. As a result, the [[Star Seeker]]s couldn't use [[Unicron]]'s head to drain all of Cybertron's energon in [[2984]]. {{storylink|Hoist the Flag}}

{{--}}

=====Waspscream continuity=====
In [[Primax 208.06 Zeta]], the Oracle reformatted [[Starscream (G1)|Waspscream]], [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]], [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], and [[Rampage (BW)|Protoform X]] into technorganic forms to fight Megatron’s Vehicon armies. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 16/8/2015}}

====2005 IDW continuity====
[[File:SinsoftheWreckers2-teethtentaclesfurrybutt.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66]]

Over a period of generations, [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] slowly modified the [[Gorlamite]]s of [[Gorlam Prime]] into [[Micromaster|mechanical beings]]. As part of this artificially-induced evolution, they first passed through through a transitional techno-organic state until wholly robotic bodyframes permanently supplanted their cybernetic implants. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

The mad scientist [[Tarantulas (BW)|Mesothulas]] invented mass-shifting "bio-disguises" that integrated organic material atop mechanical frames. While in their beast modes, Cybertronians like [[Mayhem Attack Squad|Mayhem]], who adopted this "[[Chimeracon]]" refit, were invisible to conventional Cybertronian technology. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 3|Sins of the Wreckers #3}} The upgrade was not permanent, however; after [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] took command of the team, they shifted back to conventional vehicle modes to better operate in urban terrain. {{storylink|Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers|Requiem of the Wreckers}}

{{--}}

====''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''====
[[File:FormFollowsFunction-strangefruit.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]

Taking root on Cybertronian soil, the leaves sprouted from the [[G.I.Rocket|green bombs]] were technorganic in nature. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} Eventually, after the end of the conflict, the Autobot [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and the [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] operative [[Cover Girl]] used [[binary bonding|binary-bonding]] and [[technoactive core]] technology to conceive a “cyber-human” child. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

{{--}}

====''Beast Wars: Uprising''====
In the 34th century CE, at least some [[Commandron]]s and [[Maladroid]]s were technoorganic, such as those who crewed the stolen ''[[Terrastar (BWU)|Terrastar]]'' and the pursuing ''[[Hyperborea (BWU)|Hyperborea]]''. Upon arriving over [[Energoa]], the local [[Skriix]] took offense to the Cybertronians "contaminating" the planet with their hybrid forms and tried to kill them. {{storylink|The Inexorable March}}

====''Legends'' comic ====
After Cybertron had existed as a technorganic world for millennia, [[Primus#Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Vector Sigma]] foresaw a renewal of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] and removed the organic, turning Cybertron back into a wholly mechanical planet so it would be strong enough to endure the coming conflict. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Blue Big Convoy)}}

====2021 ''Beast Wars'' comic====
While stranded on a remote planet, the Maximals and Predacons were rebuilt with beast modes, whose techno-organic casing would nullify the effects of ambient [[energon radiation]]. {{storylink|Savage Landing Part 1}}

===Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic===
[[File:MTMTEArmada-Predacon.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|]]

The Decepticon [[Predacon (Armada)|Predacon]] developed an "organic grafting process" that allowed him to directly integrate biological tissue into his Cybertronian body. Although most other Transformers found the concept of fusing flesh with metal repulsive, the charismatic Predacon amassed a cult of like-minded followers to advance his own enigmatic agenda. However, despite their zealotry, not all the Cybertronians who followed, including the [[Mini-Con]] [[Skid-Z (Armada)|Skid-Z]], were eligible for this biomechanical upgrade. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye: Transformers: Armada|''More Than Meets The Eye'' bio}}\

{{--}}

===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[File:TFAni Predacons Rising Blackarachina sans Helmet.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Not a being currently found at your local rave club.]]

When [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1]] was attacked by [[Archa Seven arachnid|alien spiders]] on the planet [[Archa Seven]], she attempted to use her ability to download and replicate the abilities of other mechanoids on the creatures, which wound up mutating her into a technorganic form. {{storylink|Along Came a Spider}} Taking the name "Blackarachnia", she was initially revulsed by her unnatural new form—as were many around her—but she eventually embraced her transformation and sought to replicate it on other Transformers, successfully cross-mutating the fugitive Autobot [[Wasp]] with an ''actual'' wasp and creating "Waspinator". {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Animated)|Predacons Rising}}

Technology and organics were also blended in a different manner when a Cybertronian [[protoform]] materialized in [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]]'s lab and scanned the scientist's DNA, rather than a customary mechanical [[alternate mode]]. The result was [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]], outwardly an ordinary organic human by all appearances whose true nature was unknown even to her, but whose Cybertronian abilities were unlocked when she was upgraded by the [[AllSpark Key]]. {{storylink|TransWarped}} {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

{{--}}

===''Shattered Glass Animated''===
As with the "normal" ''Animated'' universe, [[Isaac Sumdac (SG Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]] discovered a protoform in his lab and touched it, the protoform absorbing his DNA becoming his daughter [[Sari Sumdac (SG Animated)|Sari Sumdac]]. However, this Sari had a violent nature, and Isaac raised her as a slave for scientific experiments. Her true powers were unlocked by forcible implantation of AllSpark fragments, which continue to protrude from her body. {{storylink|BotCon 2011|BotCon 2011 attendee lithograph}}

==Notes==
* Although later ''Beast Machines''-adjacent fiction would tie the concept of Cybertron's technorganic evolution back to Primus, whose body is usually depicted as Cybertron itself, [[Marv Wolfman]], who did the series outline for ''Beast Machines'', did not have this origin in mind when developing the series: "No thoughts were ever made re: the Marvel version while I worked on the concept. Fact is, I never even read that. I did what I thought would make a good series concept."<ref>[http://tfarchive.com/fandom/interviews/marvwolfman/ Interview with Marv Wolfman at TFarchive.com]</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Techno-Organic''' (テクノ・オーガニック ''Tekuno Ōganikku'')

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Armada]]
[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Beast Machines]]
[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Transformer culture]]

Red Spot

2022-10-23T11:58:55Z

Platypar-1:

{{factions|gijoe}}
{{disambig3|Michael}}
:''Red Spot is a member of [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[File:Red spot.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|"And that's what happens if you look directly into a laser!"]]
'''Red Spot''', a.k.a. '''Michael P. Ritchie''', is a huge geek. Inspired by science fiction movies, he built his first [[laser]] device at nine, and he's been cobbling together death rays ever since. But he's an Aikido black belt, a member of G.I. Joe, and goes on dates with girls, making him the envy of his basement-dwelling brethren.

==Fiction==
===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
Red Spot accompanied the [[Laser Squad]] on a G.I. Joe mission to the [[Himalayas]] of [[Tibet]] to stop the forces of [[Cobra-La]] and [[Unicron]]. Saving their teammates from certain doom, Red Spot, [[Flash (G.I. Joe)|Flash]], and [[Sci-Fi]] destroyed [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]'s head, forcing the giant to dis-assemble. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
Red Spot was among the Joes deployed to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], where he was killed when [[Zartan]] mowed down multiple Joes using the rotors of a [[Dragonfly]]. {{storylink|Earth: R.I.P.}}

==External links==
* [http://www.yojoe.com/action/03/redspot.shtml Red Spot on YoJoe.com]

[[Category:Generation 1 humans]]
[[Category:G.I. Joe]]
[[Category:Martial artists]]
[[Category:Scientists]]

Carzap (BT)

2022-10-07T20:54:12Z

Platypar-1:

{{factions|autobotg2|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Carzap}}
:''Carzap is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Block Town]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]]''
[[File:TFSS CarZap art.jpg|thumb|upright=1.34|Carzap forgot to finish [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|spray-painting his hands]].]]

'''Carzap''' (カーザップ ''Kāzappu'') has an unusual outlook on life. Where some people might mourn missed opportunities, he believes that life is cyclical—have patience, and you might just find that another open door presents itself. This philosophy is born of Carzap's circuit racing pastime. Life, like the race track, is a loop.

==Fiction==
===''Wings Universe''===
[[File:Carzappeacesigns-ACommonFoe.jpg|thumb|left|200px|There we go. All done.]]
Carzap was born on [[Earth]] as a "Generation 2" [[Transformer]]. His creation took place in the [[Block Town]] unit of [[Blackrock Enterprises|Blackrock Corporations]]' [[Tsukuba Laboratory]] in [[Japan]], and, as such, Carzap has much affection for his "homeland". It was also in Japan that Carzap became fascinated with car races by watching them at the [[Dia Speedway]]. {{storylink|A Common Foe|Carzap's bio}} During the Machine Wars, Carzap became part of the "Alpha Squad", led by fellow second generation Autobot [[Rapido]]. (Or perhaps the Bravo Squad...there was some debate.) His unit was sent from Earth to Cybertron as reinforcements as part of a plan by [[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] and [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]]. {{storylink|A Common Foe}}

{{--}}

===''Kre-O'' online comic===
[[File:Carzap_Kre-O_Character_Image.jpg|upright=0.6|thumb|Oh the irony...oh the irony...]]
Carzap was relieved that a fire had been put out. {{storylink|Dive Into the Fire! The Rescue Operation of Friendship}}

Earth's Most Wanted criminals and their army of [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbirds]] attempted to steal [[Metroplex (Kre-O)|Metroplex]]'s brain on a floppy disk, but their group was repelled by [[G.B. Blackrock]] and Carzap. {{storylink|The Brick List: Earth's Most Wanted}}
{{--}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
The religious have a saying, "render unto Carzap". {{storylink|Derailment}}

===2019 IDW continuity===

[[File:Titans-Carzap.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]

Carzap was a security guard working for [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] at the [[Forge Pyramid]]. When war came to Cybertron, the Decepticons attacked the Pyramid as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and his Autobots were visiting. Carzap fought to defend the Pyramid, but its regulation systems were already damaged by quakes before being damaged by laser fire. As molten plasma flooded the building and destroyed it, Carzap evacuated with Perceptor and the Autobots. {{storylink|War World: Titans}}

{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Carzap.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2]]
Carzap participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were two of him! He was an Epic character that could be recruited during the September Daily Campaign by collecting 20 alpha cores, 20 beta cores, 20 omega cores, and 10 cores of this character. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Block Town''===
[[File:Windbreaker-bt.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|"Parking Space Set" didn't have the same oomph.]]
*'''Garage Set''' (Block Town, <strike>1996</strike>)
**''ID number'': '''TFBT-5'''
**''Accessories'': Engine block/gun, garage brick set

:The European-original [[Windbreaker#Toys|Windbreaker]] mold was one of several intended to be used in the post-''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)#Japan|G-2]]'' [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''[[Block Town]]'' line. To be [[redeco]]ed in white with red robot parts, Carzap was to come with the Garage Set, a building-block car port that could be rebuilt into a battle station of some form. This set ultimately never came to release. In 2005, a supposed Takara "release" schedule listed the Block Town sets among several other future items coming out. Only the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Galaxy Force]]'' items on that list saw release, however (and some only as store [[exclusive]]s to boot).

:A picture of the Garage Set's box in the ''[[Transformers Generations (guidebook)|Transformers Generations]]'' guidebook gives the Windbreaker redeco the name "Carzap", which was what Windbreaker's Japanese name was revealed to be on a [[BotCon Japan 2000]]-exclusive poster.
{{canceledtoy}}

===''Timelines''===
[[File:TL-toy CarzapTFSS.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Blackrock loved Bumblebee so much, he built a new car in Bee's image.]]
*'''Carzap''' (TFSS 3.0, 2015)
**''TFSS3 number'': '''1'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 blasters, gas pump/laser blaster block set

:A [[retool]] of ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)#T30|Generations: Thrilling 30]]'' Deluxe Class [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#T30Deluxe|Bumblebee]], ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' Carzap sports a new head based on the [[Windbreaker#Toys|Windbreaker mold]], and a deco based on the cancelled ''Block Town'' Carzap toy. He transforms into a muscle car that resembles a fifth generation [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Ford Mustang|Ford Mustang]]. He comes a pair of chromed blasters that can be combined into one, larger weapon, or mounted in halves on each end of his vehicle-mode spoiler via [[5 mm post]].

:In homage to ''Block Town'', Carzap includes a small gas pump ''Kre-O'' building set which can turn into a cannon, and a [[G.B. Blackrock#Toys|G.B. Blackrock]] [[Kreon]].

: He was available only as part of the [[Transformers Figure Subscription Service#Series 3.0 (2015)|Transformers Figure Subscription Service 3.0]].

:This mold was also retooled into ''Generations'' [[Nightbeat (G1)#Generations|Nightbeat]] and [[Goshooter#Generations|Goshooter]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/2015/Autobot/TFSSCarzap/carzap.htm More information on Carzap at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
*''Kre-O'' Carzap in the online manga is made from several existing ''Kre-O'' pieces, in this case he uses the grey or chromed version of the [[Prowl (G1)/toys#Kre-O|Prowl]] helmet (with additional grey details). His appearance in the "Earth's Most Wanted" comic uses a [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Kre-O|Sideswipe]] helmet instead. His color scheme is very different from that of the original Carzap from the [[BotCon Japan 1997|1997 BotCon Japan poster]], though.
*Windbreaker's gang-molded pair [[Skram (G2)#Toys|Skram]] was the only Axelerator not shown as part of the canceled ''[[Block Town]]'' series. Judging from gang-molding, a hypothetical ''Block Town'' "Skram" alongside Carzap would have been a red car with white robot parts.

[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Autobots]]
[[Category:Block Town]]
[[Category:Fan Club exclusives]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Autobots]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Autobots]]

Unspace

2022-01-02T04:12:03Z

Platypar-1:

{{featured}}
{{disambigm|Subspace (AB)|Infraspace|Foldspace}}
[[File:DotDpt1 interdimensional void.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|In Australia, it swirls counter clockwise.]]

'''Unspace''' is the void of nothingness that exists outside of normal space and time, sandwiched between the infinite dimensions of the [[multiverse]], acting as a buffer between universes. Down through ''Transformers'' history, it has been referred to with a great many different names, including '''transwarp space''' (or just '''"transwarp"'''), the '''warp dimension''', '''overspace''', '''underspace''', '''infraspace''', '''subspace''', '''foldspace''', and the '''bleed'''.

Many well-known [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] technologies utilize the properties of unspace to function, even if their creators or users do not always understand the specifics, or even the fact that they are using unspace at all. Most famously, the [[space bridge]], which allows a traveller to traverse vast intergalactic distances almost instantaneously by means of a "short-cut" through unspace, while [[Transwarp Drive]] allows for travel through time as well. In more common, everyday usage, personalized [[subspace storage pocket]]s give [[Transformer]]s the ability to store their weapons, and in some cases [[size changing|shunt their mass]], into unspace.

However, its widespread use does not necessarily mean that unspace has a glowing reputation. The precision and energy needed to access it often makes the technology required very temperamental, and hugely susceptible to disruption if its delicate balance is disturbed. Make one wrong move when voyaging through unspace, and it is very likely that you may not end up in the same time period, or even the same universe, that you started in... if you're fortunate enough to end up in a universe at all, and not cast adrift in its formless emptiness. And even this is not the worst that could befall a hapless castaway, because despite its seeming emptiness, unspace is home to a collection of [[Elder God|enigmatic, malignant, shapeless entities]], and for them to take notice of a stranded traveller is a fate far worse than a mere eternity of solitude. Fortunately, the [[Transcendent Technomorph|inhabitants]] of one of the older, more advanced realities have appointed themselves stewards of the multiverse and taken it upon themselves to trawl unspace, oftentimes rescuing both the on-purpose and the accidental travellers that find themselves lost in its unending expanse.

{{quote|Y’see, there are millions of alternate universes...floatin’ through transwarp space, the nothin’ between ‘em. [...] Space bridges, time travel, starslips, subspace storage pockets, an’ most of your faster-than-light travel uses transwarp, though more often than not the people usin’ it don’t even know it exists.|[[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]|"[[Gone Too Far]]"}}

==Conceptual history==
[[File:RollForIt spacebridge opens.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|The space bridge opens in one of its earliest appearances, from "[[Roll for It]]".]]
The idea of "extra-dimensional space" used for highly accelerated travel is, of course, not unique to Transformers, being a long-standing trope of science fiction. Though not often discussed in detail, this method of transit was in play from virtually the very beginning of Transformers fiction: space bridges explicitly operated on the principle in both the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]] and [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel comic]], with the dangers of the interdimensional void occasionally serving as plot points. Many subsequent Generation 1 stories would feature pieces of technology that operated on this system, with many different names for the interdimensional space involved being used.

Early on, the concept of Transformers making use of extra-dimensional space was much more prolific as one of the earliest bits of widespread [[fanon]] in the burgeoning online [[fandom]]. Dubbed "subspace" by fans—again, a popular science-fiction term for the concept—it essentially arose as an explanation for perhaps the most famous question of all: "Where does [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s [[trailer]] go when he transforms?" When the Autobot leader transformed into [[robot mode]] in the original cartoon, his trailer would almost always slide out of the frame, not to be seen again until he transformed back into truck mode, at which point it would come sliding in to connect back up with him. Fans warmed to the notion that it was being shunted into this subspace, where it remained until Prime summoned it back, a concept that also helped to explain the assorted cases of [[size changing]] evident in Transformers fiction, with the notion that characters who shrank when they transformed did so by shunting their extraneous mass into subspace.

[[File:S3 darkawakening cyclonus subspace.gif|thumb|upright=1.5|[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] summons his weapon from his [[subspace storage pocket]], as seen in "[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]".]]
This "subspace" theory also helped to explain where characters' weaponry disappeared to when they transformed into vehicle mode, and happened to line up well with a sparse few instances in the cartoon that featured the animation "cheat" of having some characters' weapons appear or disappear in a simple flash of light (a similar effect was even used on Optimus Prime's trailer in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]"). Subsequent Japanese-exclusive Generation 1 cartoons ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' and ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]'' would later make prolific use of this effect, even turning it into a plot point in one instance, bringing more concrete validation to the idea.

Eventually, subspace was [[canonizing|canonized]], by name, in [[2004]] by the ''[[Story of Binaltech]]'', which established it as the void between dimensions, and saw characters travel through it to reach separate dimensions.

[[File:Darksyde chase.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|The ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' and the ''[[Darksyde (BW)|Darksyde]]'' emerge from transwarp space in the [[Beast Wars (Part 1)|first episode]] of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''.]]
In [[1996]], the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon introduced the world to transwarp technology. This tech was explained to operate by opening a window into "transwarp space", through which travellers could access entire other times and dimensions, and it was shown to do just that in the [[Beast Wars (Part 1)|very first episode]], before going on to play a recurring key role in numerous stories throughout the rest of the series as beyond. As the most consistent and explicit use of inter-dimensional-transit technology, its name began to be used in other fictions too. The [[Battle Protocol!|first episode]] of the [[2001]] ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' referred to a space bridge using transwarp technology, and ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' would continue to use the terms interchangeably.

Perhaps the most important addition to the ongoing story of interdimensional space was the 2008 prose story "[[Gone Too Far]]", produced for the [[Transformers Collectors' Club]] by longtime fans [[Greg Sepelak]] and [[Trent Troop]]. This story took the huge final step of combining the myriad depictions of interdimensional space together, establishing that they were all the same thing (see the quote up top) and using "transwarp" as its primary name. In the process, they canonized the fanon idea of "subspace storage pockets", in which Transformers could keep their personal paraphernalia. "Transwarp" remained the primary term for the concept (and was used as the title of this wiki article) until the late 2010s/early 2020s, when ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse]]'', ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|War for Cybertron]]'', and IDW's ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars|Beast Wars]]'' comic book all collectively began using "unspace" to refer to the interdimensional void—a term plucked from [[Eye of the Storm|issue #69]] the original Marvel comic book—which is probably for the best, as it enables us to distinguish the location from the technology!

A few other barren extra-dimensional realms have sporadically appeared in Transformers fiction, perhaps most notably the utter [[void]] of complete non-existence left in the wake of [[Unicron]]'s passing. Sepelak and Troop's "[[Withered Hope]]" noted that this is what exists outside of all reality itself, while unspace is what is ''between'' dimensions, a slight but key distinction. Others exist that are so sparsely explained that they are harder to quantify and relate to the unspace concept, such as the UK Generation 1 comics' parasite-infested [[Limbo]], or the fleetingly-referenced, more metaphysical "[[infraspace]]" from IDW's ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]''. For these and other more vague, possibly-related concepts, see [[#See also|the list]] below.
{{--}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:ChildsPlay spacebridge interior.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Energon cube]]s are transported through the "cold dark void" traversed by the space bridge, riding within a beam of light.]]
Stranded on Earth in [[1984]], the [[Decepticon]]s developed space bridge technology in order to facilitate the transport of resources to and from Cybertron. The bridge operated by opening a portal into interdimensional space—described by [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] as a "cold, dark void"—and generating a path across it in the form of a beam of light, which a traveller was required to focus upon, lest they risk becoming lost in nothingness. To become lost was to "cease to exist", according to Megatron, {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion (episode)|Transport to Oblivion}} or in the more dramatic parlance of [[Shockwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Shockwave]], to be "catapulted into oblivion". {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 1}} Although they would occasionally hijack the space bridge for their own purposes, the [[Autobot]]s never developed a system of their own, instead working in concert with [[human]]ity in the early 21st Century to create a network of [[warp gate]]s that operated on a similar principle, with the advantage of fixed entry/exit points, versus the constant relocation the Decepticon space bridge design required. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}}

[[File:Kickback subspace.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|Say hello to my leetle friend!]]
Instances of Transformers visibly displacing their weapons and paraphernalia were rare, but not unheard of; [[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]]'s [[proton bomb]]s disappeared in a flicker of purple light when he transformed to enter [[Teletraan I]] {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}; [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]'s gun manifested in his hands in a purple flash during the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]' first battles with the Autobots {{storylink|A Plague of Insecticons}}; [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] summoned his oxidating laser into his hand while confronting the Autobots in their [[Autobot Mausoleum|mausoleum]] {{storylink|Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening}}; and [[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] once did the same to his electro-laser. {{storylink|Commercial bumper#Generation 1|1986 commercial bumper}} The glow-effect seen to accompany these displacements also appeared in a few other vanishingly rare instances that subspace can probably be attributed to: [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]]'s forearm once glowed orange when he substituted his hand for his grappling hook {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}; [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s trailer sported a pronounced golden glow in one instance when he called it to him; {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 2}} and [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] shimmered with a white halo as he grew back to full size in one unique transformation sequence. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion (episode)|Transport to Oblivion}}

The [[Quintesson]]s had also perfected a means of interdimensional travel, using a [[Planetary Corridor CB-311-B4|secret chamber]] to teleport criminals of their race away to different dimensions. One such realm was described as a "dimension without substance"; [[#Wreckers: Finale|subsequent evidence]] indicates that this realm was actually interdimensional space itself. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}}
{{-}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
[[File:IRiskMyLifeForEarth unstable spacebridge.jpg|thumb|Transit through a destabilized space bridge was punctuated by lightning-like bursts of energy.]]
The Autobot/human alliance that brought about warp gate technology began with the development of the ''[[Trigger]]'' space station, which even the Decepticons recognized as superior to their own space bridge system and attempted to appropriate. Damage done to the ''Trigger''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s systems in the attempt caused it briefly punch a hole through time. {{storylink|Transformers: The Battle of the Star Gate|The Battle of the Star Gate}} By the year [[2011]], however, warp gates had fallen into disuse among the Autobots, who instead finally adopted space bridge technology for themselves, setting up a network between Cybertron, [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on Earth, and their secondary command post on [[Athenia]]. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} The [[Trainbot]]s usually ferried travellers through the inter-dimensional space the bridge traversed, though transit grew dangerous when the gravimetric balance of the bridge was destabilized following the destruction of [[Mars (planet)|Mars]]. The Autobots' access to Earth was subsequently greatly diminished when their space bridge was destroyed by the Decepticons. {{storylink|Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!}}

[[File:Victory21 deathy subspace fail.gif|left|thumb|"Gnngh, blasted lighter..."]]
Weaponry displacement gradually became a much more common sight in the years that followed 2011; [[Godmaster (lifeform)|Godmaster]] warrior [[Ginrai (human)|Ginrai]] was often seen to summon up his cannons into his hands with a flash of light. The great users of this technique, though, were [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]], [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] and their warriors, who would regularly manifest their various weapons during battle. Their frequent use of the technique offered some more insight into its working, suggesting that a Transformer uses some of their personal energy supply in summoning a weapon, and in ''keeping'' it summoned: When Deathsaurus was poised to slay Star Saber with his [[Living-Metal-Destroying Cannon]], the weapon fizzled out and de-materialized because he did not have the energy to spare. Attempting to summon his sword immediately afterward, Deathsaurus could only manifest the blade for a moment before it too faded out. {{storylink|Resurrection!? The Decepticon Fortress}}
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====''Story of Binaltech''====
To increase the Autobots' manpower, [[Chip Chase]] invented the [[Genetronic Translink System]], which allowed a Transformer's [[spark]] to be safely stored in subspace, and from there, control multiple [[Binaltech]] bodies via translink ports installed on them. {{storylink|GT Units Online!}} Later, [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] attempted to use the GT System to transfer [[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]]'s spark into a new body from across the solar system by moving it through subspace. Unfortunately, a Decepticon attack caused the system to malfunction, and Prowl's spark was lost to the void. {{storylink|Prowl & Chase}} A few years later, Prowl's spark found its way through the infinite vastness of subspace and materialized in a parallel timeline where the Binaltech project had died out. Unfortunately, this did not put him beyond the reach of his timeline's Decepticons, who used a neuro-net frame, hooked up to subspace node, to locate his spark across the dimensions and drain energy from it to power a synthetic [[electrum]] monster they had created. An Autobot from the timeline Prowl had travelled to, [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]], voyaged across subspace to team up with the Autobots of Prowl's home time, stop the Decepticons, and restore Prowl to his true body. {{storylink|Unfinished Business, Part 1}} {{storylink|Unfinished Business, Part 2}}
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===Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics===
[[File:Unspace.jpg|thumb|upright=0.66|It's real purple in there.]]
[[File:Marvel18 interdimensional space.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb]]
The Decepticons' space bridge was designed to resemble a suspension bridge, and when activated, the swirling void of interdimensional space became visible through the "cables" that formed its sides. To fall from the bridge into the void was to be immediately and explosively destroyed, a fate met by several Autobots and Decepticons during an attempt by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s rebel cell to destroy the bridge. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}}

To counter the space bridge, the Autobots later bridged the interdimensional gulf with their new [[trans-time dimensional portal]] technology. {{storylink|King Con!}} When [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] attempted to use this technology to escape an impending implosion in his base on Cybertron, he was stopped by [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]], {{storylink|Skin Deep}}, only for the subsequent blast to first hurl the two combatants through the portal, then damage the device enough to cause it to shut down before they could emerge on the other side. Consequently, the pair were left stranded in interdimensional space—called "unspace" by [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], the "nothingness between realities"—before being recovered by an automated probe the Autobot detective sent into the void to find them. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm}}
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===Beast Era===
====''Beast Wars'' & ''Beast Machines'' cartoons====
:''See also: [[Transwarp Drive]], [[transwarp cell]], [[transwarp wavefront]], [[transwarp cruiser]]''
[[File:NemesisPt2 transwarp portal.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|Portals created by transwarp drives resemble rippling holes in the fabric of space.]]
At some point during the three hundred years that followed the end of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], the [[transwarp cell]] was perfected, allowing for the creation of the [[Transwarp Drive]]. The drive allowed starships equipped with it to voyage across time and space by generating their own portals through what Cybertronian culture now termed "transwarp space", without the requirement of the grounded entrance or exit portal that the space bridge before it had required. Having been aware that the technology was in development as far back as the 20th century, Megatron encoded a message on the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]], leaving instructions for any descendants of the Decepticons who found his missive to use transwarp tech to travel back in time and alter history in the Decepticons' favor. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}} The descendant who realized this scheme was the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] also known as [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who stole the transwarp-enabled ship ''[[Darksyde (BW)|Darksyde]]'' and brought his troops back in time to prehistoric Earth, only to be pursued by [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]]'s [[Maximal]] crew. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)}}

[[File:CotFpt2 rhinox core consciousness.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Rhinox projects his consciousness through transwarp space into the Matrix.]]
In order to destroy an [[Planet Buster|alien weapon]] threatening Earth, Megatron triggered the explosion of a set of transwarp cells, obliterating the weapon, but also claiming Optimus Primal's life. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}} By virtue of its very nature, however, the explosion punctured a hole into transwarp space which remained open for some time afterward. This gave Maximal engineer [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] the chance to project his [[core consciousness]] through the window, piggybacking on the trail left by Primal's spark as it joined the [[Transformer afterlife|Allspark]] and actually follow and recover his departed leader's lifeforce from the afterlife itself via transwarp space. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}} Additionally, the transwarp energies that infused the [[transwarp wavefront|shockwave]] of the explosion caused it to move through time as well as space, eventually reaching Cybertron in the Beast Warriors' home time. Alerted to the time-lost Transformers' situation by the wavefront's arrival, the [[Tripredacus Council]] dispatched their covert agent [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] in a [[transwarp cruiser|transwarp-capable ship]] to recover them, but his mission met with failure. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda}}
[[File:Revelationspt2 transwarp.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|A view of tranwarp space from the Maximals' shuttle as they return to Cybertron.]]
After defeating the Predacons and capturing Megatron, the Maximals jury-rigged transwarp technology to an [[Autobot Shuttle Omega Delta|Autobot shuttle]] to effect their return to their home time. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}} Unfortunately, Megatron broke free during transit through transwarp space and escaped into the vortex, emerging on Cybertron some time before the Maximals' intended arrival date. He proceeded to conquer the planet, so that when the Maximals exited transwarp at their intended time in his relative future, his forces were waiting for them. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent}}

====''Beast Wars Neo'' cartoon====
The starships ''[[Gung Ho]]'' and ''[[Dinosaur (ship)|Dinosaur]]'' could achieve faster-than-light travel by travelling through a "warp dimension." {{storylink|Fight! Maximals}}

====3H comics====
[[File:Jnwan.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The unregulated interaction of transwarp space with the material world resulted in the creation of the chaotic landscape of the J'nwan.]]
A constantly-rotating fissure into interdimensional subspace that exists naturally on Cybertron gives rise to the region of the planet known as the [[J'nwan]], where space and time are constantly in flux, and numerous pocket dimensions frequently intersect with the planet itself, producing a maddening landscape among which many Transformers of legend have opted to live out the rest of their days. {{storylink|Paradox}}

When [[Unicron]] was destroyed in the year 2005, his death tore a hole into the "overspace" between dimensions, through which the chaos-bringer's [[Dark Essence]] wound its way to prehistoric Earth. Though initially chosen by [[Shokaract]] to recover the dark god's essence, [[Cataclysm (BW)|Cataclysm]] was too afraid of being lost to the void should he travel via transwarp, so [[Antagony (BW)|Antagony]] went in his stead, though the rigors of unprotected travel through overspace took it out of her, allowing her to be captured by Megatron. {{storylink|Herald}} Cataclysm went after her, and his worst fears were realized when [[Windrazor (BW)|Windrazor]] disrupted his transit through transwarp, causing his component molecules to be scattered among the nothingness. {{storylink|Schism (story)|Schism}} After the failure of his Heralds, [[Shokaract]] personally travelled through overspace to Earth to ensure the Dark Essence continued to exist, {{Storylink|Paradox}} but wound up cancelling out his own existence. {{storylink|Terminus (issue)|Terminus}}

Following the end of the Beast Wars, Tarantulas attempted construction of a transwarp portal to bring the captured [[Matrix of Leadership]] into Unicron's clutches. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn}}

{{note|Had ''Primeval Dawn'' been finished, it would have shown the Maximals left behind on Earth—and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]—using this portal to return to Cybertron at the time of the ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoon.}}

After [[Cryotek (Universe)|Cryotek]] seized control of the power of [[Primus]] via the [[Divine Light]] and began to battle [[Sentinel Maximus]], the Quintesson [[Al-Badur]] opened a portal to dispose of them by sending them into the formless nothing between worlds. Pulled through the portal along with his intended victims, Al-Badur was disintegrated, unable to survive the non-realm, while the power of Primus within Cryotek and Sentinel Maximus sustained them. Maximus, however, was summoned away by Primus, whisked away through the void to emerge in another time and dimension, while Cryotek was left with the sense that he was [[Elder God|not alone]]... {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}
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====2006 IDW ''Beast Wars'' continuity====
[[File:Gathering4 transwarp shunt backfires.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|Magmatron is unhinged from space/time when his transwarp shunt is damaged at the moment of activation.]]
[[Magmatron]] used "[[Transwarp Drive|transwarp shunt]]" technology to send himself back in time without using a spacecraft in order to gather up the [[protoform]]s that became scattered across prehistoric Earth during the Beast Wars. {{storylink|The Gathering issue 1|The Gathering #1}} The small number of these protoforms who awoke as Maximals proved more industrious than their forebears, and their leader [[Razorbeast]] was able to beam a message through transwarp space to summon a rescue team from the future. He also dispatched Magmatron by blowing up his transwarp shunt platform just as he was attempting to return to the future, {{storylink|The Gathering issue 4|The Gathering #4}} which resulted in Magmatron becoming dislodged from space and time. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 1|The Ascending #1}}

====2021 IDW ''Beast Wars'' comic====
Cybertronian ships equipped with a Transwarp Drive could access unspace, propelling themselves through both time and space. Within unspace however, the laws of physics differed from those of normal space. After stealing the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] and [[Darksyde (BW)|a warship]], a group of Predacon separatists used their transwarp drive to travel to another world in another time but were pursued by a the Maximal exploration craft ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''. {{storylink|Savage Landing Part 1}}

Following the two ships crashing, they were visited by a trio of [[Vok]], [[Skold]] discovering this when a scan of hers picked up the unspace signatures that the aliens had left within the ''Darksyde''. {{storylink|Savage Landing Part 2}}
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===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:AgeofWrath3 flash enters infraspace.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Flash passes through "Infraspace".]]
When the original [[thirteen]] Transformers defeated Unicron in battle at the dawn of time, they did so by blasting the chaos-bringer and his servant, their own traitorous brother [[The Fallen]], into a black hole and out of their dimension. While Unicron proceeded to emerge somewhere else in the multiverse, The Fallen was not so lucky, becoming trapped in the interdimensional void, {{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Guide|The Ultimate Guide}} which he called "underspace". {{storylink|Conflagration}} Untold eons later, around seven million years before the present day, the Decepticons developed space bridge technology, which operated by traversing this realm, referred to by the Transformers as both "infraspace" and "foldspace". The initial test of the bridge was disrupted by Optimus Prime, and he and Megatron vanished, cast adrift in interdimensional space, while simultaneously opening the pathway for The Fallen, who was at last able to return to the material world. {{storylink|Fragmentation (G1)|Fragmentation}} Prime and Megatron were later plucked from infraspace by the Quintessons and brought to their world of [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]]. Megatron struck a deal with the aliens and returned to Cybertron with a new [[Air Warrior|army]], while Prime remained captive until [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] was able to probe the mysteries of infraspace and recover him. In the process, [[Flash (G1)|Flash]] made an impromptu trip through the fissure Perceptor had created into the void, experiencing a curious monochromatic "photo negative" vision of the world around him as he traveled through it. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}}
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===2005 IDW continuity===
:''See also: [[orbital jump]], [[Emergency warp-out]], [[quantum generator]]''
[[File:SLTcracker quantum jumping.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|A view of the interdimensional void from a vessel in mid-quantum jump.]]
Interdimensional transit was a famed ability of the legendary [[Titan (group)|Titans]], who served as the fleet for the [[Knights of Cybertron]], carrying them across the galaxy on space bridges that were generated by technology integrated into their bodies. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations}} This technology was lost in the "modern" era of Transformer civilization, and the closest they could come to recreating it was [[Quantum generator|quantum jump]] technology; short-range usage of this tech, known as an "[[orbital jump]]", was rapid, {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}} but to traverse interstellar distances, multiple jumps through transwarp space were required, and far longer amounts of time had to be spent within it, in comparison to the near-instantaneous transport space bridges offered. {{storylink|The Hunting Party (IDW)|The Hunting Party}} [[File:RID19 waspinator metrotitan.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Waspinator gets dragged through interdimensional space.]] Space bridge tech was later employed by [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] as part of the [[Expansion]], and from there, fell into the hands of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Spotlight: Metroplex}}

An unprotected trip through transwarp space was accompanied by a sensory maelstrom in which various points of space and time were experienced simultaneously, as if seeing through four-dimensional compound eyes. {{storylink|Homecoming (IDW)|Homecoming}}

The Autobots also made use of subspace as part of their communications network, beaming transmissions through it; it was through this network that [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]] disseminated his ''[[Wreckers: Declassified]]'' datalogs {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} and how [[Solomus|Tyrest]] transmitted the signal of his [[universal killswitch]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}
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===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
{{See also|M.A.S.S. Device}}
[[File:TFvsJoe4 duke snakeyes transwarp.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67]]
Ruthless terrorist organization [[Cobra]] had interdimensional travel technology in the form of the [[M.A.S.S. Device]], but travel through the void proved fatal to all save for the cybernetically-enhanced [[Destro]]. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend}} [[Snake-Eyes]] performed a meditation ritual that he believed would grant him the mastery of body and mind to survive the journey, but when he was tackled into the M.A.S.S. Device portal by a revenge-seeking [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]], the pair were set adrift in interdimensional space. They both clung to Snake-Eyes's sword, which somehow appeared to protect them from the effects of the void, and were then snatched to safety by Optimus Prime, who had wound up trapped in the space between worlds under unknown circumstances, and had adopted a misshapen [[alternate mode]] to survive its ravages. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}}
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===2019 IDW continuity===
[[File:TestFlightII-unspace.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|]]
Her teleportation ability temporarily enhanced by an experimental rig created by [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], [[Jumpstream]] passed through unspace and wound up in a possible future where Cybertron had been conquered by [[Exarchon]]. While in transit through the in-between dimension, she was noticed by [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], who had been stranded there years before. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight I|Test Flight I}} On Jumpstream's return trip to her proper time, Skywarp followed in her wake, freeing himself from unspace. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight II|Test Flight II}}
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===2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
[[File:Landfill Midnight Express trapped.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]

Transwarp technology was employed by the Autobots in their [[Global Space Bridge]], a network of subterranean tunnels incorporating transwarp portals that allowed the heroes to travel to any location on Earth within minutes. {{storylink|Battle Protocol!}} The interior of the Global Space Bridge appeared in a variety of ways; one rendition in particular evoked the typical "empty void" visual that often accompanies uses of transwarp space. {{storylink|Landfill (episode)|Landfill}}

Additionally, the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] ship the ''[[Megastar]]'' was transwarp-capable. {{storylink|An Explosive Situation}}
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===Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity===
:''See also: [[Warp gate]], [[Dimension gate]]''
[[File:PrehistoryMetamorphosis armada spacebridge.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|The Autobots take a warp gate to Earth.]]
To cross the interstellar distance from Cybertron to Earth in search of the [[Mini-Con]]s in the year 2010, the Autobots and Decepticons used [[warp gate]]s, which did not require a pre-constructed exit portal at the destination point; each traveler would individually materialize out of transwarp space at their intended location. {{storylink|First Encounter}} Like space bridges, though, they could be delicate: when [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] unexpectedly entered the gate moments after [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and his team had departed through it, he materialize on Earth in an entirely different region of their target continent. {{storylink|Prehistory}} While on Earth, both factions used instantaneous short-range warp technology to get from place to place, which could span the distance from Earth to its [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. These devices required a transmat pad to send travelers on their way, but unlike space bridges, they could be recalled to base without the need for one. {{storylink|Metamorphosis (Armada)|Metamorphosis}} The interstellar warp gate apparently lacked this recall feature; when the factions were ready to return to their home planet, they had to construct spacecraft to ferry them there. {{storylink|Threaten}} {{storylink|Depart}}

[[File:CybertronCity energon spacebridge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The 2020-era space bridge has the appearance of a tunnel of light through transwarp space.]]

By the year 2020, during the war for energon, various [[Cybertron City (city)|Cybertron Cities]] had been constructed on Earth, each with their own space bridge, allowing for quick and easy transport from planet to planet. These operated on the more familiar "tunnel" principle, generating a glowing pathway through transwarp that riders would drive along, until they emerged through another portal at the tunnel's end. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}} The bridges used during the [[Cyber Planet Key]] quest of 2030 operated the same way, though they were only used for transit between Earth and Cybertron; to travel to Cybertron's various colony worlds, the Autobots used instantaneous [[dimension gate]]s sliced through reality by [[Vector Prime]], while the Decepticons could short-cut through [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s [[fire dimension]]. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}} At one point, the Autobots travelled through a naturally-occurring subspace fissure in the [[Skeleton Nebula]] to cross over into a different dimension, {{storylink|Warp}} where their attempt to create a space bridge to get them home exposed them to another of the time-transcending dangers of transwarp tech, when they wound up opening a hole into the past. {{storylink|Guardian (episode)|Guardian}}

[[Unicron]]'s [[Herald of Unicron|herald]] [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] was lost to the infinite reaches of transwarp when his master collapsed into a [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]]. Floating helplessly there, he was discovered by the evil entities that inhabit the void, who repeatedly destroyed and recreated him until they grew bored and cast him back into the material universe. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 5|Ramjet profile}}

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===Dreamwave ''Armada'' continuity===
[[File:Armada17 spacebridges to other dimensions.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.5|Overlapping space bridges burrow through transwarp into entirely different dimensions.]]
In order to open an interdimensional rift so that [[Unicron]] could enter this universe, his [[Herald of Unicron|Heralds]] invaded the [[space bridge nexus]], a hub of multiple space bridges at [[Decepticon Command Headquarters]] on Cybertron. They activated all the bridges, causing overlapping portals to open all across local dimensional space, {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4}} which even resulted in the bridges piercing holes through transwarp to entirely different dimensions. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}} The turmoil this caused to the fabric of space/time caused Optimus Prime to vanish into another universe, so the Autobots sent a search probe into subspace through a space bridge. Floating in the gap between realities, the probe began searching through those innumerable other realities, searching for the one into which Prime had disappeared. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4}} A squad led by [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] ended the chaos by destroying the space bridge nexus, but this did not close Unicron's portal {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}} through which he soon emerged. {{storylink|The End}}

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===Live-action film series===
[[File:Defiance4 dynasty dimension jump.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|One of the Dynasty of Primes jumps through interdimensional space using his sarcophagus.]]
:''See also: [[Sarcophagus]], [[Foldspace warhead]]''

The [[Dynasty of Primes]] were the first to possess the power to traverse the interdimensional gulf, which they did using [[sarcophagus|sarcophagi]]. Their servants, the [[Seeker (ROTF)|Seekers]], were also gifted with the power to generate their own personal space bridges so that they could search the universe for stars to feed the [[AllSpark]]. {{storylink|Defiance issue 4|Defiance #4}} With the death of the Primes and the banishment of [[The Fallen]] across the dimensions, the technology was lost to modern Cybertronians until reinvented by [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]]. {{storylink|Foundation issue 4|Foundation #4}} The unexpected activation of the pillars that made up Sentinel's bridge caused his craft, the [[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]], to jink uncontrollably across space and time until it crash-landed on Earth's moon in 1961, {{storylink|Convergence chapter 1}} but one pillar recovered from the wreckage was used by the Fallen to broach transwarp and allow him to escape his exile. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}} Sentinel would later be revived and would use his bridge to transport Cybertron into Earth's [[Star system|solar system]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

A natural subspace fissure known as the [[Alkaris Anomaly]] was responsible for warping the AllSpark into Earth's solar system, but its constantly fluctuating nature meant that when [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] attempted to follow, he was disgorged in some far off corner of the galaxy. To delay the Autobots in following him, he had [[Brawl (Movie)|Devastator]] unleash a [[foldspace warhead]], which explosively warped its firer and several Autobots to randomized spots across the galaxy. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2|Prelude: Megatron}}
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===''Animated'' cartoon===

[[File:BridgeTooClosept1 spacebridge portal.jpg|left|thumb|Spacebridges consist of two pylons, which generate a spherical transwarp portal between them.]]

Space bridge technology is openly known to operate by piercing transwarp space. The key component in a bridge's functioning is the [[plasma dynamic thruster]], which is responsible for opening the fissures into interdimensional space that allow for transport. {{storylink|TransWarped}} In this universe, the term is even used as a verb: one "TransWarps" from place to place.

Transformers also use subspace for means of accelerated long-distance communication, beaming transmissions through it via use of a [[tachyon transmitter]]. Human science has yet to master this technology; all attempts remain in the development stage. {{storylink|Mission Accomplished}}

Two uses of transwarp space collided in amusing fashion when [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] hijacked the Autobot ship ''[[Sigma Supreme|Steelhaven]]''. Using the Autobots' space bridge, [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] was able to hack into the frequency Swindle used to access his subspace storage pocket and TransWarped [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] ''through'' it, so that he emerged on the ''Steelhaven'' through the access drawer in Swindle's chest. {{storylink|Decepticon Air}}
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===''TransTech''===
[[File:Transcendent6 transwarp gate.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|A transwarp portal in one of the TransTech's Bleed Transit Facilities.]]
In one of the oldest realities in the multiverse, Cybertron was never burdened by civil war. Its inhabitants, the [[Transcendent Technomorph]]s, instead dedicated themselves to a study of the infinite mysteries of transwarp space, and the other dimensions that could be reached through it. Appointing themselves stewards of the multiverse, the TransTech constantly monitor transwarp (or "the bleed", as they also call it {{storylink|Transcendent: Part 1}}), chronicling each distinct universe they find and sifting through the interdimensional void for travelers in danger. Those who lose their way in transwarp can be redirected to one of the TransTech's receiving stations, where the travelers are then processed and allowed to live in the city of [[Axiom Nexus]] until such time as it may become possible to return them to their world of origin. When [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] and [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] wound up in Axiom Nexus, [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] gave them the abbreviated version of the TransTech's mission statement, and filled them in on the myriad uses of transwarp, explaining its connection to space bridges, time travel, subspace and more. {{storylink|Gone Too Far}}

From a far-off corner of the multiverse, a team of [[GoBots]] voyaged across transwarp space using [[Zebediah Braxis|Dr. Braxis]]'s [[Dimensional Interfacer]]. Their transit was detected by the TransTech, though the Interfacer's method of piercing transwarp was noted to be unlike any of the technology used by the Transformers to do so. {{storylink|Withered Hope}}

[[Swindle, Swindle and Swindle]] sold Transwarp drives as a way to travel between realities. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime}}
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===Aligned continuity family===

{{See also|GroundBridge}}

[[File:OpBBpt1 inside the groundbridge.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|The interior of the GroundBridge.]]

Interdimensional transport technology was developed by the [[Ancient]]s, but lost to the Transformers of the modern day until it was re-engineered during the three-year period of inactivity that followed the opening salvo of their conflict on [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)|''Prime'' graphic novel}} {{storylink|Out of the Past}} While the Decepticons dedicated their efforts to recreated full-fledged space bridge tech, the most the Autobots could muster, with only human technology to work with, was a scaled-down version known as the "[[GroundBridge]]" that could only transport travelers around the planet and no further. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}}
[[File:PhantomoftheSea interdimensionalvoid.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|The ''S.S. Phantom Voyager'' floats in the void outside of time.]]
Ground and space bridge portals take the appearance of a tunnel of light disappearing into the distance, but after walking partway into this tunnel, travelers will vanish in a flash over an unseen "event horizon", entering a swirling blue-green tunnel that cuts through transwarp itself with no visible beginning or end, before reappearing at their destination in a similar manner. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}}

The island of [[Griffin Rock]] was also home to several independent examples. Human scientists experimented with transwarp travel as part of their [[Sanctuary Plan]], outfitting robotic "[[Tracer (RB)|tracers]]" with crystals that would teleport the island's human population to a subterranean shelter via subspace wormholes. {{storylink|Countdown (RB)|Countdown}} When the ''[[S.S. Phantom Voyager]]'', a ship from 1915, was teleported into the future by a malfunctioning [[Temporal Station|time machine]] on board, it disappeared into the interdimensional void outside of time. The ship rested in the void for a brief period before returning to the timestream, ten years into the future, repeating the process for a hundred years before being returning to its home time. {{storylink|Phantom of the Sea}}
{{-}}
----

===''Cyberverse'' cartoon===
[[File:Cyberverse-TheCrossroads-TwoArks.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|The ''Arks'' of two different dimensions meet in unspace.]]
The space between universes, unspace was a dangerous realm, its properties breaking down matter native to any universe. {{storylink|The Crossroads}} The bizarre, self-proclaimed masters of the multiverse known as the [[Quintesson]]s made free usage of unspace's lethal properties, using large quantities of it to destroy any universe they deemed guilty. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}}

The crew of [[Ark (Cyberverse)|''Ark'']], after making use of an old [[space bridge]], wound up in unspace along with several of their counterparts from other universes, a few Autobot crews meeting grizzly ends in the void. Using nine [[AllSpark]]s, the ''Arks'' managed to escape. {{storylink|The Crossroads}} The experience inspired [[Wheeljack (Cyberverse)|Wheeljack]] to bottle some unspace goo for use as weapon. His goo soon proved its worth by destroying [[Vector Sigma]] so that the [[Decepticon]]s could not pervert it. {{storylink|Battle For Cybertron IV}}

When the Quintessons invaded Cybertron, they incorporated [[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]] into their new [[Judge (Cyberverse)|Judge]]. To stop him, [[Windblade (Cyberverse)|Windblade]] unleashed the mighty [[Iaconus]], prompting the Quintessons to retaliate with [[Croaton (Cyberverse)|Croaton]]. Even with Quintesson technology augmenting his body, Croaton could not defeat Iaconus, forcing Starscream to kill the War Titan by dousing his head with unspace goo. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe III}}

During the invasion, [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]] had stolen the Quintessons' [[multiverse drive]], {{storylink|The Judge (episode)|The Judge}} and travelled to another reality. In this world, Megatron found that [[Megatron X (Cyberverse)|his counterpart]] had won the [[Great War (Cyberverse)|Great War]] after stealing the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. Managing to steal the Matrix, along with [[Astrotrain (Cyberverse)|Astrotrain]] and the [[Insecticon (Cyberverse)|Insecticons]], Megatron fled back to his reality, aware that his counterpart would follow. {{storylink|Silent Strike}} To that end, he had Astrotrain and Dead End fashion a weapon that could banish its targets to unspace. {{storylink|Rack 'n' Ruin 'n' Ratchet}} While the weapon proved readily capable of banishing the [[Decepticon supersoldier]]s to the hellish realm, the alternate Megatron swatted away the weapon before he could be consigned to such a fate. {{storylink|The Other One}}

==Notes==
*Unspace's alternate name "the Bleed", used in "[[Transcendent: Part 1]]", comes from DC Comics / WildStorm Productions stories.

==See also==
*[[Blastizone]]
*[[Infraspace]]
*[[Inner space]]
*[[Limbo]]
*[[Teleportation]]
*[[Void]]

[[Category:Animated technology]]
[[Category:Beast Machines]]
[[Category:Beast Wars technology]]
[[Category:Dimensions]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) technology]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:TransTech technology]]

Unspace

2022-01-02T04:10:10Z

Platypar-1:

{{featured}}
{{disambigm|Subspace (AB)|Infraspace|Foldspace}}
[[File:DotDpt1 interdimensional void.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|In Australia, it swirls counter clockwise.]]

'''Unspace''' is the void of nothingness that exists outside of normal space and time, sandwiched between the infinite dimensions of the [[multiverse]], acting as a buffer between universes. Down through ''Transformers'' history, it has been referred to with a great many different names, including '''transwarp space''' (or just '''"transwarp"'''), the '''warp dimension''', '''overspace''', '''underspace''', '''infraspace''', '''subspace''', '''foldspace''', and the '''bleed'''.

Many well-known [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] technologies utilize the properties of unspace to function, even if their creators or users do not always understand the specifics, or even the fact that they are using unspace at all. Most famously, the [[space bridge]], which allows a traveler to traverse vast intergalactic distances almost instantaneously by means of a "short-cut" through unspace, while [[Transwarp Drive]] allows for travel through time as well. In more common, everyday usage, personalized [[subspace storage pocket]]s give [[Transformer]]s the ability to store their weapons, and in some cases [[size changing|shunt their mass]], into unspace.

However, its widespread use does not necessarily mean that unspace has a glowing reputation. The precision and energy needed to access it often makes the technology required very temperamental, and hugely susceptible to disruption if its delicate balance is disturbed. Make one wrong move when voyaging through unspace, and it is very likely that you may not end up in the same time period, or even the same universe, that you started in... if you're fortunate enough to end up in a universe at all, and not cast adrift in its formless emptiness. And even this is not the worst that could befall a hapless castaway, because despite its seeming emptiness, unspace is home to a collection of [[Elder God|enigmatic, malignant, shapeless entities]], and for them to take notice of a stranded traveller is a fate far worse than a mere eternity of solitude. Fortunately, the [[Transcendent Technomorph|inhabitants]] of one of the older, more advanced realities have appointed themselves stewards of the multiverse and taken it upon themselves to trawl unspace, oftentimes rescuing both the on-purpose and the accidental travellers that find themselves lost in its unending expanse.

{{quote|Y’see, there are millions of alternate universes...floatin’ through transwarp space, the nothin’ between ‘em. [...] Space bridges, time travel, starslips, subspace storage pockets, an’ most of your faster-than-light travel uses transwarp, though more often than not the people usin’ it don’t even know it exists.|[[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]|"[[Gone Too Far]]"}}

==Conceptual history==
[[File:RollForIt spacebridge opens.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|The space bridge opens in one of its earliest appearances, from "[[Roll for It]]".]]
The idea of "extra-dimensional space" used for highly accelerated travel is, of course, not unique to Transformers, being a long-standing trope of science fiction. Though not often discussed in detail, this method of transit was in play from virtually the very beginning of Transformers fiction: space bridges explicitly operated on the principle in both the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]] and [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel comic]], with the dangers of the interdimensional void occasionally serving as plot points. Many subsequent Generation 1 stories would feature pieces of technology that operated on this system, with many different names for the interdimensional space involved being used.

Early on, the concept of Transformers making use of extra-dimensional space was much more prolific as one of the earliest bits of widespread [[fanon]] in the burgeoning online [[fandom]]. Dubbed "subspace" by fans—again, a popular science-fiction term for the concept—it essentially arose as an explanation for perhaps the most famous question of all: "Where does [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s [[trailer]] go when he transforms?" When the Autobot leader transformed into [[robot mode]] in the original cartoon, his trailer would almost always slide out of the frame, not to be seen again until he transformed back into truck mode, at which point it would come sliding in to connect back up with him. Fans warmed to the notion that it was being shunted into this subspace, where it remained until Prime summoned it back, a concept that also helped to explain the assorted cases of [[size changing]] evident in Transformers fiction, with the notion that characters who shrank when they transformed did so by shunting their extraneous mass into subspace.

[[File:S3 darkawakening cyclonus subspace.gif|thumb|upright=1.5|[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] summons his weapon from his [[subspace storage pocket]], as seen in "[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]".]]
This "subspace" theory also helped to explain where characters' weaponry disappeared to when they transformed into vehicle mode, and happened to line up well with a sparse few instances in the cartoon that featured the animation "cheat" of having some characters' weapons appear or disappear in a simple flash of light (a similar effect was even used on Optimus Prime's trailer in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]"). Subsequent Japanese-exclusive Generation 1 cartoons ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' and ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]'' would later make prolific use of this effect, even turning it into a plot point in one instance, bringing more concrete validation to the idea.

Eventually, subspace was [[canonizing|canonized]], by name, in [[2004]] by the ''[[Story of Binaltech]]'', which established it as the void between dimensions, and saw characters travel through it to reach separate dimensions.

[[File:Darksyde chase.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|The ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' and the ''[[Darksyde (BW)|Darksyde]]'' emerge from transwarp space in the [[Beast Wars (Part 1)|first episode]] of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''.]]
In [[1996]], the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon introduced the world to transwarp technology. This tech was explained to operate by opening a window into "transwarp space", through which travellers could access entire other times and dimensions, and it was shown to do just that in the [[Beast Wars (Part 1)|very first episode]], before going on to play a recurring key role in numerous stories throughout the rest of the series as beyond. As the most consistent and explicit use of inter-dimensional-transit technology, its name began to be used in other fictions too. The [[Battle Protocol!|first episode]] of the [[2001]] ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' referred to a space bridge using transwarp technology, and ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' would continue to use the terms interchangeably.

Perhaps the most important addition to the ongoing story of interdimensional space was the 2008 prose story "[[Gone Too Far]]", produced for the [[Transformers Collectors' Club]] by longtime fans [[Greg Sepelak]] and [[Trent Troop]]. This story took the huge final step of combining the myriad depictions of interdimensional space together, establishing that they were all the same thing (see the quote up top) and using "transwarp" as its primary name. In the process, they canonized the fanon idea of "subspace storage pockets", in which Transformers could keep their personal paraphernalia. "Transwarp" remained the primary term for the concept (and was used as the title of this wiki article) until the late 2010s/early 2020s, when ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse]]'', ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|War for Cybertron]]'', and IDW's ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars|Beast Wars]]'' comic book all collectively began using "unspace" to refer to the interdimensional void—a term plucked from [[Eye of the Storm|issue #69]] the original Marvel comic book—which is probably for the best, as it enables us to distinguish the location from the technology!

A few other barren extra-dimensional realms have sporadically appeared in Transformers fiction, perhaps most notably the utter [[void]] of complete non-existence left in the wake of [[Unicron]]'s passing. Sepelak and Troop's "[[Withered Hope]]" noted that this is what exists outside of all reality itself, while unspace is what is ''between'' dimensions, a slight but key distinction. Others exist that are so sparsely explained that they are harder to quantify and relate to the unspace concept, such as the UK Generation 1 comics' parasite-infested [[Limbo]], or the fleetingly-referenced, more metaphysical "[[infraspace]]" from IDW's ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]''. For these and other more vague, possibly-related concepts, see [[#See also|the list]] below.
{{--}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:ChildsPlay spacebridge interior.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Energon cube]]s are transported through the "cold dark void" traversed by the space bridge, riding within a beam of light.]]
Stranded on Earth in [[1984]], the [[Decepticon]]s developed space bridge technology in order to facilitate the transport of resources to and from Cybertron. The bridge operated by opening a portal into interdimensional space—described by [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] as a "cold, dark void"—and generating a path across it in the form of a beam of light, which a traveller was required to focus upon, lest they risk becoming lost in nothingness. To become lost was to "cease to exist", according to Megatron, {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion (episode)|Transport to Oblivion}} or in the more dramatic parlance of [[Shockwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Shockwave]], to be "catapulted into oblivion". {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 1}} Although they would occasionally hijack the space bridge for their own purposes, the [[Autobot]]s never developed a system of their own, instead working in concert with [[human]]ity in the early 21st Century to create a network of [[warp gate]]s that operated on a similar principle, with the advantage of fixed entry/exit points, versus the constant relocation the Decepticon space bridge design required. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}}

[[File:Kickback subspace.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|Say hello to my leetle friend!]]
Instances of Transformers visibly displacing their weapons and paraphernalia were rare, but not unheard of; [[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]]'s [[proton bomb]]s disappeared in a flicker of purple light when he transformed to enter [[Teletraan I]] {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}; [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]'s gun manifested in his hands in a purple flash during the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]' first battles with the Autobots {{storylink|A Plague of Insecticons}}; [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] summoned his oxidating laser into his hand while confronting the Autobots in their [[Autobot Mausoleum|mausoleum]] {{storylink|Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening}}; and [[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] once did the same to his electro-laser. {{storylink|Commercial bumper#Generation 1|1986 commercial bumper}} The glow-effect seen to accompany these displacements also appeared in a few other vanishingly rare instances that subspace can probably be attributed to: [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]]'s forearm once glowed orange when he substituted his hand for his grappling hook {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}; [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s trailer sported a pronounced golden glow in one instance when he called it to him; {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 2}} and [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] shimmered with a white halo as he grew back to full size in one unique transformation sequence. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion (episode)|Transport to Oblivion}}

The [[Quintesson]]s had also perfected a means of interdimensional travel, using a [[Planetary Corridor CB-311-B4|secret chamber]] to teleport criminals of their race away to different dimensions. One such realm was described as a "dimension without substance"; [[#Wreckers: Finale|subsequent evidence]] indicates that this realm was actually interdimensional space itself. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}}
{{-}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
[[File:IRiskMyLifeForEarth unstable spacebridge.jpg|thumb|Transit through a destabilized space bridge was punctuated by lightning-like bursts of energy.]]
The Autobot/human alliance that brought about warp gate technology began with the development of the ''[[Trigger]]'' space station, which even the Decepticons recognized as superior to their own space bridge system and attempted to appropriate. Damage done to the ''Trigger''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s systems in the attempt caused it briefly punch a hole through time. {{storylink|Transformers: The Battle of the Star Gate|The Battle of the Star Gate}} By the year [[2011]], however, warp gates had fallen into disuse among the Autobots, who instead finally adopted space bridge technology for themselves, setting up a network between Cybertron, [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on Earth, and their secondary command post on [[Athenia]]. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} The [[Trainbot]]s usually ferried travellers through the inter-dimensional space the bridge traversed, though transit grew dangerous when the gravimetric balance of the bridge was destabilized following the destruction of [[Mars (planet)|Mars]]. The Autobots' access to Earth was subsequently greatly diminished when their space bridge was destroyed by the Decepticons. {{storylink|Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!}}

[[File:Victory21 deathy subspace fail.gif|left|thumb|"Gnngh, blasted lighter..."]]
Weaponry displacement gradually became a much more common sight in the years that followed 2011; [[Godmaster (lifeform)|Godmaster]] warrior [[Ginrai (human)|Ginrai]] was often seen to summon up his cannons into his hands with a flash of light. The great users of this technique, though, were [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]], [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] and their warriors, who would regularly manifest their various weapons during battle. Their frequent use of the technique offered some more insight into its working, suggesting that a Transformer uses some of their personal energy supply in summoning a weapon, and in ''keeping'' it summoned: When Deathsaurus was poised to slay Star Saber with his [[Living-Metal-Destroying Cannon]], the weapon fizzled out and de-materialized because he did not have the energy to spare. Attempting to summon his sword immediately afterward, Deathsaurus could only manifest the blade for a moment before it too faded out. {{storylink|Resurrection!? The Decepticon Fortress}}
{{-}}

====''Story of Binaltech''====
To increase the Autobots' manpower, [[Chip Chase]] invented the [[Genetronic Translink System]], which allowed a Transformer's [[spark]] to be safely stored in subspace, and from there, control multiple [[Binaltech]] bodies via translink ports installed on them. {{storylink|GT Units Online!}} Later, [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] attempted to use the GT System to transfer [[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]]'s spark into a new body from across the solar system by moving it through subspace. Unfortunately, a Decepticon attack caused the system to malfunction, and Prowl's spark was lost to the void. {{storylink|Prowl & Chase}} A few years later, Prowl's spark found its way through the infinite vastness of subspace and materialized in a parallel timeline where the Binaltech project had died out. Unfortunately, this did not put him beyond the reach of his timeline's Decepticons, who used a neuro-net frame, hooked up to subspace node, to locate his spark across the dimensions and drain energy from it to power a synthetic [[electrum]] monster they had created. An Autobot from the timeline Prowl had travelled to, [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]], voyaged across subspace to team up with the Autobots of Prowl's home time, stop the Decepticons, and restore Prowl to his true body. {{storylink|Unfinished Business, Part 1}} {{storylink|Unfinished Business, Part 2}}
{{-}}

===Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics===
[[File:Unspace.jpg|thumb|upright=0.66|It's real purple in there.]]
[[File:Marvel18 interdimensional space.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb]]
The Decepticons' space bridge was designed to resemble a suspension bridge, and when activated, the swirling void of interdimensional space became visible through the "cables" that formed its sides. To fall from the bridge into the void was to be immediately and explosively destroyed, a fate met by several Autobots and Decepticons during an attempt by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s rebel cell to destroy the bridge. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}}

To counter the space bridge, the Autobots later bridged the interdimensional gulf with their new [[trans-time dimensional portal]] technology. {{storylink|King Con!}} When [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] attempted to use this technology to escape an impending implosion in his base on Cybertron, he was stopped by [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]], {{storylink|Skin Deep}}, only for the subsequent blast to first hurl the two combatants through the portal, then damage the device enough to cause it to shut down before they could emerge on the other side. Consequently, the pair were left stranded in interdimensional space—called "unspace" by [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], the "nothingness between realities"—before being recovered by an automated probe the Autobot detective sent into the void to find them. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm}}
{{-}}

===Beast Era===
====''Beast Wars'' & ''Beast Machines'' cartoons====
:''See also: [[Transwarp Drive]], [[transwarp cell]], [[transwarp wavefront]], [[transwarp cruiser]]''
[[File:NemesisPt2 transwarp portal.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|Portals created by transwarp drives resemble rippling holes in the fabric of space.]]
At some point during the three hundred years that followed the end of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], the [[transwarp cell]] was perfected, allowing for the creation of the [[Transwarp Drive]]. The drive allowed starships equipped with it to voyage across time and space by generating their own portals through what Cybertronian culture now termed "transwarp space", without the requirement of the grounded entrance or exit portal that the space bridge before it had required. Having been aware that the technology was in development as far back as the 20th century, Megatron encoded a message on the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]], leaving instructions for any descendants of the Decepticons who found his missive to use transwarp tech to travel back in time and alter history in the Decepticons' favor. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}} The descendant who realized this scheme was the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] also known as [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who stole the transwarp-enabled ship ''[[Darksyde (BW)|Darksyde]]'' and brought his troops back in time to prehistoric Earth, only to be pursued by [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]]'s [[Maximal]] crew. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)}}

[[File:CotFpt2 rhinox core consciousness.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Rhinox projects his consciousness through transwarp space into the Matrix.]]
In order to destroy an [[Planet Buster|alien weapon]] threatening Earth, Megatron triggered the explosion of a set of transwarp cells, obliterating the weapon, but also claiming Optimus Primal's life. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}} By virtue of its very nature, however, the explosion punctured a hole into transwarp space which remained open for some time afterward. This gave Maximal engineer [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] the chance to project his [[core consciousness]] through the window, piggybacking on the trail left by Primal's spark as it joined the [[Transformer afterlife|Allspark]] and actually follow and recover his departed leader's lifeforce from the afterlife itself via transwarp space. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}} Additionally, the transwarp energies that infused the [[transwarp wavefront|shockwave]] of the explosion caused it to move through time as well as space, eventually reaching Cybertron in the Beast Warriors' home time. Alerted to the time-lost Transformers' situation by the wavefront's arrival, the [[Tripredacus Council]] dispatched their covert agent [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] in a [[transwarp cruiser|transwarp-capable ship]] to recover them, but his mission met with failure. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda}}
[[File:Revelationspt2 transwarp.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|A view of tranwarp space from the Maximals' shuttle as they return to Cybertron.]]
After defeating the Predacons and capturing Megatron, the Maximals jury-rigged transwarp technology to an [[Autobot Shuttle Omega Delta|Autobot shuttle]] to effect their return to their home time. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}} Unfortunately, Megatron broke free during transit through transwarp space and escaped into the vortex, emerging on Cybertron some time before the Maximals' intended arrival date. He proceeded to conquer the planet, so that when the Maximals exited transwarp at their intended time in his relative future, his forces were waiting for them. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent}}

====''Beast Wars Neo'' cartoon====
The starships ''[[Gung Ho]]'' and ''[[Dinosaur (ship)|Dinosaur]]'' could achieve faster-than-light travel by travelling through a "warp dimension." {{storylink|Fight! Maximals}}

====3H comics====
[[File:Jnwan.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The unregulated interaction of transwarp space with the material world resulted in the creation of the chaotic landscape of the J'nwan.]]
A constantly-rotating fissure into interdimensional subspace that exists naturally on Cybertron gives rise to the region of the planet known as the [[J'nwan]], where space and time are constantly in flux, and numerous pocket dimensions frequently intersect with the planet itself, producing a maddening landscape among which many Transformers of legend have opted to live out the rest of their days. {{storylink|Paradox}}

When [[Unicron]] was destroyed in the year 2005, his death tore a hole into the "overspace" between dimensions, through which the chaos-bringer's [[Dark Essence]] wound its way to prehistoric Earth. Though initially chosen by [[Shokaract]] to recover the dark god's essence, [[Cataclysm (BW)|Cataclysm]] was too afraid of being lost to the void should he travel via transwarp, so [[Antagony (BW)|Antagony]] went in his stead, though the rigors of unprotected travel through overspace took it out of her, allowing her to be captured by Megatron. {{storylink|Herald}} Cataclysm went after her, and his worst fears were realized when [[Windrazor (BW)|Windrazor]] disrupted his transit through transwarp, causing his component molecules to be scattered among the nothingness. {{storylink|Schism (story)|Schism}} After the failure of his Heralds, [[Shokaract]] personally travelled through overspace to Earth to ensure the Dark Essence continued to exist, {{Storylink|Paradox}} but wound up cancelling out his own existence. {{storylink|Terminus (issue)|Terminus}}

Following the end of the Beast Wars, Tarantulas attempted construction of a transwarp portal to bring the captured [[Matrix of Leadership]] into Unicron's clutches. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn}}

{{note|Had ''Primeval Dawn'' been finished, it would have shown the Maximals left behind on Earth—and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]—using this portal to return to Cybertron at the time of the ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoon.}}

After [[Cryotek (Universe)|Cryotek]] seized control of the power of [[Primus]] via the [[Divine Light]] and began to battle [[Sentinel Maximus]], the Quintesson [[Al-Badur]] opened a portal to dispose of them by sending them into the formless nothing between worlds. Pulled through the portal along with his intended victims, Al-Badur was disintegrated, unable to survive the non-realm, while the power of Primus within Cryotek and Sentinel Maximus sustained them. Maximus, however, was summoned away by Primus, whisked away through the void to emerge in another time and dimension, while Cryotek was left with the sense that he was [[Elder God|not alone]]... {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}
{{--}}

====2006 IDW ''Beast Wars'' continuity====
[[File:Gathering4 transwarp shunt backfires.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|Magmatron is unhinged from space/time when his transwarp shunt is damaged at the moment of activation.]]
[[Magmatron]] used "[[Transwarp Drive|transwarp shunt]]" technology to send himself back in time without using a spacecraft in order to gather up the [[protoform]]s that became scattered across prehistoric Earth during the Beast Wars. {{storylink|The Gathering issue 1|The Gathering #1}} The small number of these protoforms who awoke as Maximals proved more industrious than their forebears, and their leader [[Razorbeast]] was able to beam a message through transwarp space to summon a rescue team from the future. He also dispatched Magmatron by blowing up his transwarp shunt platform just as he was attempting to return to the future, {{storylink|The Gathering issue 4|The Gathering #4}} which resulted in Magmatron becoming dislodged from space and time. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 1|The Ascending #1}}

====2021 IDW ''Beast Wars'' comic====
Cybertronian ships equipped with a Transwarp Drive could access unspace, propelling themselves through both time and space. Within unspace however, the laws of physics differed from those of normal space. After stealing the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] and [[Darksyde (BW)|a warship]], a group of Predacon separatists used their transwarp drive to travel to another world in another time but were pursued by a the Maximal exploration craft ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''. {{storylink|Savage Landing Part 1}}

Following the two ships crashing, they were visited by a trio of [[Vok]], [[Skold]] discovering this when a scan of hers picked up the unspace signatures that the aliens had left within the ''Darksyde''. {{storylink|Savage Landing Part 2}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:AgeofWrath3 flash enters infraspace.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Flash passes through "Infraspace".]]
When the original [[thirteen]] Transformers defeated Unicron in battle at the dawn of time, they did so by blasting the chaos-bringer and his servant, their own traitorous brother [[The Fallen]], into a black hole and out of their dimension. While Unicron proceeded to emerge somewhere else in the multiverse, The Fallen was not so lucky, becoming trapped in the interdimensional void, {{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Guide|The Ultimate Guide}} which he called "underspace". {{storylink|Conflagration}} Untold eons later, around seven million years before the present day, the Decepticons developed space bridge technology, which operated by traversing this realm, referred to by the Transformers as both "infraspace" and "foldspace". The initial test of the bridge was disrupted by Optimus Prime, and he and Megatron vanished, cast adrift in interdimensional space, while simultaneously opening the pathway for The Fallen, who was at last able to return to the material world. {{storylink|Fragmentation (G1)|Fragmentation}} Prime and Megatron were later plucked from infraspace by the Quintessons and brought to their world of [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]]. Megatron struck a deal with the aliens and returned to Cybertron with a new [[Air Warrior|army]], while Prime remained captive until [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] was able to probe the mysteries of infraspace and recover him. In the process, [[Flash (G1)|Flash]] made an impromptu trip through the fissure Perceptor had created into the void, experiencing a curious monochromatic "photo negative" vision of the world around him as he traveled through it. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
:''See also: [[orbital jump]], [[Emergency warp-out]], [[quantum generator]]''
[[File:SLTcracker quantum jumping.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|A view of the interdimensional void from a vessel in mid-quantum jump.]]
Interdimensional transit was a famed ability of the legendary [[Titan (group)|Titans]], who served as the fleet for the [[Knights of Cybertron]], carrying them across the galaxy on space bridges that were generated by technology integrated into their bodies. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations}} This technology was lost in the "modern" era of Transformer civilization, and the closest they could come to recreating it was [[Quantum generator|quantum jump]] technology; short-range usage of this tech, known as an "[[orbital jump]]", was rapid, {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}} but to traverse interstellar distances, multiple jumps through transwarp space were required, and far longer amounts of time had to be spent within it, in comparison to the near-instantaneous transport space bridges offered. {{storylink|The Hunting Party (IDW)|The Hunting Party}} [[File:RID19 waspinator metrotitan.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Waspinator gets dragged through interdimensional space.]] Space bridge tech was later employed by [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] as part of the [[Expansion]], and from there, fell into the hands of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Spotlight: Metroplex}}

An unprotected trip through transwarp space was accompanied by a sensory maelstrom in which various points of space and time were experienced simultaneously, as if seeing through four-dimensional compound eyes. {{storylink|Homecoming (IDW)|Homecoming}}

The Autobots also made use of subspace as part of their communications network, beaming transmissions through it; it was through this network that [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]] disseminated his ''[[Wreckers: Declassified]]'' datalogs {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} and how [[Solomus|Tyrest]] transmitted the signal of his [[universal killswitch]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
{{See also|M.A.S.S. Device}}
[[File:TFvsJoe4 duke snakeyes transwarp.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67]]
Ruthless terrorist organization [[Cobra]] had interdimensional travel technology in the form of the [[M.A.S.S. Device]], but travel through the void proved fatal to all save for the cybernetically-enhanced [[Destro]]. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend}} [[Snake-Eyes]] performed a meditation ritual that he believed would grant him the mastery of body and mind to survive the journey, but when he was tackled into the M.A.S.S. Device portal by a revenge-seeking [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]], the pair were set adrift in interdimensional space. They both clung to Snake-Eyes's sword, which somehow appeared to protect them from the effects of the void, and were then snatched to safety by Optimus Prime, who had wound up trapped in the space between worlds under unknown circumstances, and had adopted a misshapen [[alternate mode]] to survive its ravages. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}}
{{-}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
[[File:TestFlightII-unspace.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|]]
Her teleportation ability temporarily enhanced by an experimental rig created by [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], [[Jumpstream]] passed through unspace and wound up in a possible future where Cybertron had been conquered by [[Exarchon]]. While in transit through the in-between dimension, she was noticed by [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], who had been stranded there years before. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight I|Test Flight I}} On Jumpstream's return trip to her proper time, Skywarp followed in her wake, freeing himself from unspace. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight II|Test Flight II}}
{{-}}
----
===2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
[[File:Landfill Midnight Express trapped.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]

Transwarp technology was employed by the Autobots in their [[Global Space Bridge]], a network of subterranean tunnels incorporating transwarp portals that allowed the heroes to travel to any location on Earth within minutes. {{storylink|Battle Protocol!}} The interior of the Global Space Bridge appeared in a variety of ways; one rendition in particular evoked the typical "empty void" visual that often accompanies uses of transwarp space. {{storylink|Landfill (episode)|Landfill}}

Additionally, the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] ship the ''[[Megastar]]'' was transwarp-capable. {{storylink|An Explosive Situation}}
{{-}}
----

===Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity===
:''See also: [[Warp gate]], [[Dimension gate]]''
[[File:PrehistoryMetamorphosis armada spacebridge.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|The Autobots take a warp gate to Earth.]]
To cross the interstellar distance from Cybertron to Earth in search of the [[Mini-Con]]s in the year 2010, the Autobots and Decepticons used [[warp gate]]s, which did not require a pre-constructed exit portal at the destination point; each traveler would individually materialize out of transwarp space at their intended location. {{storylink|First Encounter}} Like space bridges, though, they could be delicate: when [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] unexpectedly entered the gate moments after [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and his team had departed through it, he materialize on Earth in an entirely different region of their target continent. {{storylink|Prehistory}} While on Earth, both factions used instantaneous short-range warp technology to get from place to place, which could span the distance from Earth to its [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. These devices required a transmat pad to send travelers on their way, but unlike space bridges, they could be recalled to base without the need for one. {{storylink|Metamorphosis (Armada)|Metamorphosis}} The interstellar warp gate apparently lacked this recall feature; when the factions were ready to return to their home planet, they had to construct spacecraft to ferry them there. {{storylink|Threaten}} {{storylink|Depart}}

[[File:CybertronCity energon spacebridge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The 2020-era space bridge has the appearance of a tunnel of light through transwarp space.]]

By the year 2020, during the war for energon, various [[Cybertron City (city)|Cybertron Cities]] had been constructed on Earth, each with their own space bridge, allowing for quick and easy transport from planet to planet. These operated on the more familiar "tunnel" principle, generating a glowing pathway through transwarp that riders would drive along, until they emerged through another portal at the tunnel's end. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}} The bridges used during the [[Cyber Planet Key]] quest of 2030 operated the same way, though they were only used for transit between Earth and Cybertron; to travel to Cybertron's various colony worlds, the Autobots used instantaneous [[dimension gate]]s sliced through reality by [[Vector Prime]], while the Decepticons could short-cut through [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s [[fire dimension]]. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}} At one point, the Autobots travelled through a naturally-occurring subspace fissure in the [[Skeleton Nebula]] to cross over into a different dimension, {{storylink|Warp}} where their attempt to create a space bridge to get them home exposed them to another of the time-transcending dangers of transwarp tech, when they wound up opening a hole into the past. {{storylink|Guardian (episode)|Guardian}}

[[Unicron]]'s [[Herald of Unicron|herald]] [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] was lost to the infinite reaches of transwarp when his master collapsed into a [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]]. Floating helplessly there, he was discovered by the evil entities that inhabit the void, who repeatedly destroyed and recreated him until they grew bored and cast him back into the material universe. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 5|Ramjet profile}}

{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Armada'' continuity===
[[File:Armada17 spacebridges to other dimensions.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.5|Overlapping space bridges burrow through transwarp into entirely different dimensions.]]
In order to open an interdimensional rift so that [[Unicron]] could enter this universe, his [[Herald of Unicron|Heralds]] invaded the [[space bridge nexus]], a hub of multiple space bridges at [[Decepticon Command Headquarters]] on Cybertron. They activated all the bridges, causing overlapping portals to open all across local dimensional space, {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4}} which even resulted in the bridges piercing holes through transwarp to entirely different dimensions. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}} The turmoil this caused to the fabric of space/time caused Optimus Prime to vanish into another universe, so the Autobots sent a search probe into subspace through a space bridge. Floating in the gap between realities, the probe began searching through those innumerable other realities, searching for the one into which Prime had disappeared. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4}} A squad led by [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] ended the chaos by destroying the space bridge nexus, but this did not close Unicron's portal {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}} through which he soon emerged. {{storylink|The End}}

{{-}}
----

===Live-action film series===
[[File:Defiance4 dynasty dimension jump.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|One of the Dynasty of Primes jumps through interdimensional space using his sarcophagus.]]
:''See also: [[Sarcophagus]], [[Foldspace warhead]]''

The [[Dynasty of Primes]] were the first to possess the power to traverse the interdimensional gulf, which they did using [[sarcophagus|sarcophagi]]. Their servants, the [[Seeker (ROTF)|Seekers]], were also gifted with the power to generate their own personal space bridges so that they could search the universe for stars to feed the [[AllSpark]]. {{storylink|Defiance issue 4|Defiance #4}} With the death of the Primes and the banishment of [[The Fallen]] across the dimensions, the technology was lost to modern Cybertronians until reinvented by [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]]. {{storylink|Foundation issue 4|Foundation #4}} The unexpected activation of the pillars that made up Sentinel's bridge caused his craft, the [[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]], to jink uncontrollably across space and time until it crash-landed on Earth's moon in 1961, {{storylink|Convergence chapter 1}} but one pillar recovered from the wreckage was used by the Fallen to broach transwarp and allow him to escape his exile. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}} Sentinel would later be revived and would use his bridge to transport Cybertron into Earth's [[Star system|solar system]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

A natural subspace fissure known as the [[Alkaris Anomaly]] was responsible for warping the AllSpark into Earth's solar system, but its constantly fluctuating nature meant that when [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] attempted to follow, he was disgorged in some far off corner of the galaxy. To delay the Autobots in following him, he had [[Brawl (Movie)|Devastator]] unleash a [[foldspace warhead]], which explosively warped its firer and several Autobots to randomized spots across the galaxy. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2|Prelude: Megatron}}
{{-}}
----

===''Animated'' cartoon===

[[File:BridgeTooClosept1 spacebridge portal.jpg|left|thumb|Spacebridges consist of two pylons, which generate a spherical transwarp portal between them.]]

Space bridge technology is openly known to operate by piercing transwarp space. The key component in a bridge's functioning is the [[plasma dynamic thruster]], which is responsible for opening the fissures into interdimensional space that allow for transport. {{storylink|TransWarped}} In this universe, the term is even used as a verb: one "TransWarps" from place to place.

Transformers also use subspace for means of accelerated long-distance communication, beaming transmissions through it via use of a [[tachyon transmitter]]. Human science has yet to master this technology; all attempts remain in the development stage. {{storylink|Mission Accomplished}}

Two uses of transwarp space collided in amusing fashion when [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] hijacked the Autobot ship ''[[Sigma Supreme|Steelhaven]]''. Using the Autobots' space bridge, [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] was able to hack into the frequency Swindle used to access his subspace storage pocket and TransWarped [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] ''through'' it, so that he emerged on the ''Steelhaven'' through the access drawer in Swindle's chest. {{storylink|Decepticon Air}}
{{-}}
----

===''TransTech''===
[[File:Transcendent6 transwarp gate.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|A transwarp portal in one of the TransTech's Bleed Transit Facilities.]]
In one of the oldest realities in the multiverse, Cybertron was never burdened by civil war. Its inhabitants, the [[Transcendent Technomorph]]s, instead dedicated themselves to a study of the infinite mysteries of transwarp space, and the other dimensions that could be reached through it. Appointing themselves stewards of the multiverse, the TransTech constantly monitor transwarp (or "the bleed", as they also call it {{storylink|Transcendent: Part 1}}), chronicling each distinct universe they find and sifting through the interdimensional void for travelers in danger. Those who lose their way in transwarp can be redirected to one of the TransTech's receiving stations, where the travelers are then processed and allowed to live in the city of [[Axiom Nexus]] until such time as it may become possible to return them to their world of origin. When [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] and [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] wound up in Axiom Nexus, [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] gave them the abbreviated version of the TransTech's mission statement, and filled them in on the myriad uses of transwarp, explaining its connection to space bridges, time travel, subspace and more. {{storylink|Gone Too Far}}

From a far-off corner of the multiverse, a team of [[GoBots]] voyaged across transwarp space using [[Zebediah Braxis|Dr. Braxis]]'s [[Dimensional Interfacer]]. Their transit was detected by the TransTech, though the Interfacer's method of piercing transwarp was noted to be unlike any of the technology used by the Transformers to do so. {{storylink|Withered Hope}}

[[Swindle, Swindle and Swindle]] sold Transwarp drives as a way to travel between realities. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime}}
{{-}}
----

===Aligned continuity family===

{{See also|GroundBridge}}

[[File:OpBBpt1 inside the groundbridge.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|The interior of the GroundBridge.]]

Interdimensional transport technology was developed by the [[Ancient]]s, but lost to the Transformers of the modern day until it was re-engineered during the three-year period of inactivity that followed the opening salvo of their conflict on [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)|''Prime'' graphic novel}} {{storylink|Out of the Past}} While the Decepticons dedicated their efforts to recreated full-fledged space bridge tech, the most the Autobots could muster, with only human technology to work with, was a scaled-down version known as the "[[GroundBridge]]" that could only transport travelers around the planet and no further. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}}
[[File:PhantomoftheSea interdimensionalvoid.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|The ''S.S. Phantom Voyager'' floats in the void outside of time.]]
Ground and space bridge portals take the appearance of a tunnel of light disappearing into the distance, but after walking partway into this tunnel, travelers will vanish in a flash over an unseen "event horizon", entering a swirling blue-green tunnel that cuts through transwarp itself with no visible beginning or end, before reappearing at their destination in a similar manner. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}}

The island of [[Griffin Rock]] was also home to several independent examples. Human scientists experimented with transwarp travel as part of their [[Sanctuary Plan]], outfitting robotic "[[Tracer (RB)|tracers]]" with crystals that would teleport the island's human population to a subterranean shelter via subspace wormholes. {{storylink|Countdown (RB)|Countdown}} When the ''[[S.S. Phantom Voyager]]'', a ship from 1915, was teleported into the future by a malfunctioning [[Temporal Station|time machine]] on board, it disappeared into the interdimensional void outside of time. The ship rested in the void for a brief period before returning to the timestream, ten years into the future, repeating the process for a hundred years before being returning to its home time. {{storylink|Phantom of the Sea}}
{{-}}
----

===''Cyberverse'' cartoon===
[[File:Cyberverse-TheCrossroads-TwoArks.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|The ''Arks'' of two different dimensions meet in unspace.]]
The space between universes, unspace was a dangerous realm, its properties breaking down matter native to any universe. {{storylink|The Crossroads}} The bizarre, self-proclaimed masters of the multiverse known as the [[Quintesson]]s made free usage of unspace's lethal properties, using large quantities of it to destroy any universe they deemed guilty. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}}

The crew of [[Ark (Cyberverse)|''Ark'']], after making use of an old [[space bridge]], wound up in unspace along with several of their counterparts from other universes, a few Autobot crews meeting grizzly ends in the void. Using nine [[AllSpark]]s, the ''Arks'' managed to escape. {{storylink|The Crossroads}} The experience inspired [[Wheeljack (Cyberverse)|Wheeljack]] to bottle some unspace goo for use as weapon. His goo soon proved its worth by destroying [[Vector Sigma]] so that the [[Decepticon]]s could not pervert it. {{storylink|Battle For Cybertron IV}}

When the Quintessons invaded Cybertron, they incorporated [[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]] into their new [[Judge (Cyberverse)|Judge]]. To stop him, [[Windblade (Cyberverse)|Windblade]] unleashed the mighty [[Iaconus]], prompting the Quintessons to retaliate with [[Croaton (Cyberverse)|Croaton]]. Even with Quintesson technology augmenting his body, Croaton could not defeat Iaconus, forcing Starscream to kill the War Titan by dousing his head with unspace goo. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe III}}

During the invasion, [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]] had stolen the Quintessons' [[multiverse drive]], {{storylink|The Judge (episode)|The Judge}} and travelled to another reality. In this world, Megatron found that [[Megatron X (Cyberverse)|his counterpart]] had won the [[Great War (Cyberverse)|Great War]] after stealing the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. Managing to steal the Matrix, along with [[Astrotrain (Cyberverse)|Astrotrain]] and the [[Insecticon (Cyberverse)|Insecticons]], Megatron fled back to his reality, aware that his counterpart would follow. {{storylink|Silent Strike}} To that end, he had Astrotrain and Dead End fashion a weapon that could banish its targets to unspace. {{storylink|Rack 'n' Ruin 'n' Ratchet}} While the weapon proved readily capable of banishing the [[Decepticon supersoldier]]s to the hellish realm, the alternate Megatron swatted away the weapon before he could be consigned to such a fate. {{storylink|The Other One}}

==Notes==
*Unspace's alternate name "the Bleed", used in "[[Transcendent: Part 1]]", comes from DC Comics / WildStorm Productions stories.

==See also==
*[[Blastizone]]
*[[Infraspace]]
*[[Inner space]]
*[[Limbo]]
*[[Teleportation]]
*[[Void]]

[[Category:Animated technology]]
[[Category:Beast Machines]]
[[Category:Beast Wars technology]]
[[Category:Dimensions]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) technology]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:TransTech technology]]

Unspace

2022-01-02T04:09:02Z

Platypar-1:

Triple-Threat Master

2020-05-09T19:14:59Z

Platypar-1:

:''The Triple-Threat Master is a technology from the [[Beast Wars: Uprising]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

The '''Triple-Threat Master''' is the ultimate combination of [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]], [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]], and [[Powermaster]]. On paper, it sounds like a great deal. Three smaller mechanoids attached to a larger partner granting phenomenal, nay godlike power. Problem is, in practice the process also shaves years off of a subject's life, since a 'bot can't remain linked to three other egos and retain their own spark integrity for long. Of course, if the subject is [[Galvatron (G1)|crazy enough]], this isn't that much of a problem.

==Fiction==
===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
In the early 21st century, the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] spread to the planet [[Nebulos]]. With the [[Autobot]]s allying with the [[World Watcher]]s and the [[Decepticon]]s allying with the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]], cross-pollination of Cybertronian and Nebulon technology occurred, producing the Headmaster and Targetmaster upgrades. While the campaign on Nebulos devastated the planet and its population, only a few years later the war then spread to the Cybertronian colony [[Master (planet)|Rebirth]]. There, Decepticon leader [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] found an ample supply of small-sized beings who could be utilized as a new form of [[binary bond]] partner, the Powermaster. Thus on Rebirth, the Decepticons allied with the [[Malignus (G1)|Malignus]], a local [[Cyberdroid]] faction. Malignus engineer [[Nucleon (Generations)|Nucleon]] perfected the Powermaster process, and Galvatron convinced Malignus leaders [[Doomshot]] and [[Clench (BW)|Clench]] to join with him as a single binary bond unit, the Triple-Threat Master. With almost godlike power in his hands, Galvatron led the Decepticons and Malignus to victory over the ruling [[Optimus (faction)|Optimus]]. However, the Autobots were soon to arrive and created their own generation of binary bonded Cyberdroid partners. A newly-resurrected [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] joined with surviving Optimus members [[Apex (BW)|Apex]] and [[Hi-Q]] as well as [[Overrun|Surge]] to become Triple-Threat Prime. The ensuing clashes between Triple-Threat Prime and Galvatron were epic but were inconclusive. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}} Their age soon came to an end, however, as Optimus sacrificed himself to save [[Earth]] from the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]] {{storylink|Book of Logos}} while Galvatron was apprehended, tried, and executed in the wake of the disastrous [[Great Push]]. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}}

==See also==
*[[Triplemaster]]

[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising]]

Reproduction

2019-08-05T23:52:34Z

Platypar-1: /* Infusion */

[[File:MangaDinoforceBabies.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|HOW IS BABBY FORMED?]]
Various '''reproduction''' methods for the [[Transformer]]s species have been demonstrated across various continuities.

{{quote|This is only one method of creating new Transformers. There are others.|[[Bob Budiansky]] knows not to leave himself tied down, in his pitch for the Matrix concept<ref name="BC10">[http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc10/bc10bb.html griffin's 2010 BotCon report]</ref>}}

==Mechanical construction==
Sometimes, new Transformers are simply built from scratch, and that's all it takes. A suitable Transformer body is constructed, and when finished and turned on, it just springs to life.
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
Three notable examples of this type of reproduction appear in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''Transformers'' cartoon]]: when [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] and company create the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}} {{storylink|War of the Dinobots}} when the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s turn an [[Earth]] city into [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} and when the temporarily super-intelligent [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] creates the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]]. {{storylink|Grimlock's New Brain}}

[[File:SOSDinobots buildingSludge.jpg|left|thumb|"I've been workin' on the Dinobot, all the live long day..."]]
The Dinobots are initially very simple mentally and are ordered to be deactivated because they are too dangerous. Wheeljack then develops a set of crown-like devices to place on the Dinobots which greatly enhances their intellect, although they are still "dumb" and childlike compared to the other Autobots. The Technobots, on the other hand, are immediately fully functional, and some of them are even ''smarter'' than average Transformers. If one were to take these facts as canonically meaningful (rather than simply the whims of the writers of those episodes), it could be guessed that programming a functional Transformer brain from scratch is extremely difficult, such that even Wheeljack is not up to the job. Temporarily super-genius Grimlock may be the only one capable. However, one must also note that the Dinobots were built and programmed to be as similar to dinosaurs as possible, including the limited intelligence; the Technobots, however, were built by Grimlock with intelligence in mind, as it was the only way to counter [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]'s brute power.

At least on the surface, this "built from scratch" approach runs counter to claims in other episodes of the show that [[Vector Sigma]] is needed to create new Transformer life. (See below.) However, since Vector Sigma is presented as being a supercomputer and not a "magical" device like the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|comics']] [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]], it could fall in with the speculative statements above regarding Grimlock and Wheeljack. Perhaps Vector Sigma is simply an advanced enough computer that it is capable of constructing a working mind.
{{-}}

==Infusion==
{{see also|Sacred implement}}
[[File:Creation Matrix 65.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Go on, rub it and make a wish...]]
In other stories, once a new Transformer body has been built, it must still be infused with life (what the fiction from the Beast era and after would gloss as a [[spark]]) from a "god-like" outside source. In the original ''Transformers'' cartoon, this source is Vector Sigma; in the Marvel comics, it is the Creation Matrix, which houses the essence of [[Primus]], the Transformers' creator-god. In the [[Beast Era|Beast era]] cartoons, sparks arrive from the [[Transformer afterlife|Allspark]], perhaps through Vector Sigma. (In many continuities, each Transformer's life force is a fragment of Primus's own.) The [[Movie (franchise)|live-action movie]] continuities function with the [[AllSpark]] being the source of infusion as well, though in that case, "living" and "sentient" are not quite the same thing. (See: [[AllSpark Mutation]].)

[[File:VectorSigmaG1.jpg|left|thumb|Vector Sigma holds "Disco Night" every Friday at 11 pm.]]
In the [[The Transformers Adventure Game Books|''Transformers'' Adventure Game Book]] "[[Desert of Danger]]", Hot Rod refers to his creation after the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] left Cybertron as when he was "matrixed". How exactly this would have happened if Optimus Prime was aboard the Ark with the Matrix at the time is unknown, but one option might be the [[Matrix Flame]].

The Matrix Flame is an artifact which allows Transformers on Cybertron to access the power of the Matrix even when it is no longer on Cybertron. Literally a flame, it is used to breathe life in the super warrior [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] in the UK comics. The flame is somehow linked to the Matrix, and when the Matrix is transported to another dimension during "[[Target: 2006]]", the flame goes out, forcing the Autobots on Cybertron to investigate.

The [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' guide provides yet another method of infusion. According to the guide's entry on [[protoform]]s in issue #8, in the [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity|Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity]], Transformers generally begin life as a skeletal mass of partially formed circuits—a [[Protoform]]. These are kept in stasis pods filled with nurturing nutrient gel. They can be built to certain specifications or be fairly general, allowing the robot to form naturally upon introduction of a spark. Sparks, and hence life, usually come from the Matrix, ''BUT'', if the Matrix is absent, life can be granted by attuning the protoform to an energy wavelength similar to the Matrix and then applying a concentrated burst of energon. This alternative is rarely used, as it is extremely resource-consumptive, requiring restrictively high amounts of energon.

[[File:Allspark movie.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"RESISTANCE IS FERTILE."]]
The Movie continuity's [[AllSpark]] works by infusion as well, just on an even more impressive scale. It is capable of infusing any inanimate machine with life and simultaneously altering its structure so that it is capable of transforming into a Cybertronian-style robot. The AllSpark fragments spread across Detroit in the ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' continuity show the same ability to alter non-living machines into new Transformers (as well as unrelated powers like slowing time and remote controlling other Cybertronians.) Although, outside of the toy biographies for certain characters, the AllSpark in the movie merely creates non-sentient, animalistic life-forms out of ordinary machines, rather than fully developed Cybertronians, suggesting some kind of evolutionary development towards sentience.

====2005 IDW continuity====
[[File:Chromedome and Rodimus with a spark.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left|Baby ''boom''? Baby fuel-air bomb!]]
Cybertronians are normally created through one of two methods: they are either "'''forged'''" or "'''constructed cold'''." Their names include a "of [place]" suffix to describe where they were born, e.g. "Megatron of [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]]".

=====Forging=====
'''Forging''' was the natural way for Cybertronians to be created. An energy pulse from Vector Sigma would flash across the world, igniting a hot spot where new sparks would emerge from the planet. There would be great rejoicing and ceremony, and the sparks and base substance—the "[[Living metal|sentio metallico]]"—would be sought out and harvested from the living metal of Cybertron or its moons. The harvested sparks would then be matured via a process known as "the nurturing". {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} The sentio metallico coalesces around a spark to form a [[protoform]]. Beginning as a simple geometric shape, a protoform develops into a mature Transformer through a process known as "deep-coding:" by following the "genetic instructions" hard-coded within their [[spark]], it develops basic limbs and facial features and eventually manifests components, such as wheels or wings, that will become part of their natural [[alternate mode]]. {{storylink|Silent Light}}

Occasionally, however, the protoform will struggle to read the spark's instructions and fail to assume a shape. A specialized medical professional known as a "[[blacksmith]]"–essentially a Cybertronian midwife–will help the protoform along by sculpting the metal into its most natural shape. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|A World Misplaced}}

As the protoform develops, it "cools" into a solid mechanical form. Now sufficiently humanoid to move under its own power, the young Transformer develops synaptic connections by imprinting on its surroundings, and by doing so it learns how to walk, talk, interact with others, and even [[Transformation|transform]]. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 1: Surfeit of Primes|Surfeit of Primes}} {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 1|Shining Armor #1}} {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 2 (of 2)|The Dead Come Home, Part 2}}

[[File:Overlords spark remembrance day.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|Overlord was killing fools before he was even alive. [http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/92372-more-than-meets-the-eye-14/?p=2262280]]]
Transformers grow extremely fast: from its first "first flash," a Spark takes only two weeks to develop into a full-fledged Transformer, {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}} with the specific protoform-to-Transformer phase taking anywhere from two to five days. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|This Machine Kills Fascists}} {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 1|Shining Armor #1}}

Some naturally-born sparks are "[[Point One Percenter]]s" (about 0.01% of the population), with abilities greater than than the average Transformer. Known "Point One Percenters" include Overlord {{storylink|Remembrance Day}}, Minimus Ambus, and Roller {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}}, while Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Scorponok, and Shockwave are implied to be. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}}

=====Cold construction=====
[[File:YourFirstMistake-ColdConstruction.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|Sex Ed. Volume 1, or: '''PANTS FULL OF SHAME'''."]]
'''Cold Construction''' was a method created later when [[Nova Prime]] learned natural spark creation was slowing. Fearful (correctly, as it would turn out) that the pulsewaves from Vector Sigma would eventually halt entirely, leaving him without enough Transformers to create the grand galactic empire he envisioned, Nova entrusted the Matrix of Leadership to his scientists and charged them with tapping the fabled energy of creation legends claimed it possessed. The scientists, headed by [[Solomus|Tyrest]], succeeded in doing so and were able to generate thousands of sparks a day, which were then housed in pre-constructed bodies as opposed to bodies formed naturally from sentio-metallico. Sparks were produced at such a rapid rate that they had to be stockpiled until new bodies could be constructed; {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} their energies were frozen in [[photonic crystal]]s, which would be placed inside the new bodies in order to thaw out, hence the term "constructed cold". {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}} Recently, it was revealed that photonic crystals were not artificially engineered by Tyrest and his science team, but produced naturally by [[Rung (G1)|Rung of the Pious Pools]] and his alt mode. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|Modes of Production}}

Matrix-derived sparks contained the same genetic instructions as naturally occurring ones, but were unable to reshape their pre-constructed bodies in accordance, leaving cold constructed Transformers with different bodies from what their sparks intended. {{storylink|Your First Mistake}}

Recognizing the potential for outcry against what they were doing, a cover story was put in place to explain the birth of these new Transformers: the public were told that they were created via '''spark-splicing''', using the energy of a Forged spark to ignite a new one. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Eventually, one of the scientists had an attack of conscience and stole the Matrix, replacing it with a forgery; unaware of this, Tyrest and his team believed that they had bled the Matrix dry. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} The public were never told why the "spark-splicing" program was stopped; as such, by the time of Nominus Prime's assassination, Senator Shockwave had made repeated lobbies to resurrect it. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

After the disappearance of Nova Prime, negative feelings about cold construction led to apartheid against "knock offs", with some city-states 'proving' that they were substandard. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Religion was brought into it: the fact that many of the best medics were forged (due to the fluidity and dexterity of their hands) was taken as proof of the god [[Adaptus]]. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} The Decepticon Air Commander Starscream, who had been Constructed Cold, was known to frequently change into new bodies, which Camien [[Cityspeaker]] Windblade theorized was the result of his spark being forced into a pre-constructed body rather than having been allowed to form the body he was meant to exist in, resulting in a form of rejection. {{storylink|Your First Mistake}} Many identified Constructed Cold transformers were also prone to deep-rooted eccentricies and personality quirks, such as [[Impactor (G1)|acute lack]] [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|of empathy]], [[Nightbeat (G1)|deep-rooted]] [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|antisocial tendencies]] and [[Spinister (G1)|savant-ish]] [[Ironfist (G1)|behavior]]. By the time [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] was first arrested, the apartheid was ''officially'' considered a thing of the past, cough cough. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}}

[[File:TheLopsidedTriangle-MTOs.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.5]]

As the war dragged on, the Autobots discovered a long abandoned cache of frozen sparks from the days of Tyrest's experiments. They cold-constructed robots to fill out their ranks: "Made to Order" soldiers ([[M.T.O.]]s), who to some were seen as little more than cannon fodder. Instead of a city-state, MTOs were named after the battles or campaigns they were activated for, e.g. "[[Getaway]] of the [[Corcapsia Incursion]]". A formal education process was established for the MTOs, a Ten Step program they needed to pass before being declared fit for duty that involved lots of data packets, revision, and exams. As the war continued, however, Ten Steps went down to Seven Steps and finally to Three Steps, which were simply uploaded into their minds as their sparks were thawing out, allowing them to deposited directly onto the battle field as soon as they came fully online. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} Presumably, Decepticon M.T.O.s such as [[Ambulon]] were constructed using similar procedures, but the details of their programs are not fully known.

=====Other methods=====
Megatron occupies a unique position as the first (and possibly only) hybrid. Originating as a wholly cold-constructed bot, the body's original spark was destroyed by a time-travelling [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]; a Point One Percenter spark which had been harvested on Luna 1 in the present day was placed in the empty shell by [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], thus creating the Megatron who ultimately led the Decepticons in this timeline. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}} The ramifications of a forged or constructed cold body (with pre-existing brain module) swapping out a spark like this are unknown. In somewhat similar circumstances, Megatron placed the spark of the Quintesson [[Pentius]] in the body of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. The being that emerged seemed to have the memories of both Pentius and the pre-existing Trypticon. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}} Similarly, when [[Slag (G1)|Slug]] was killed, he was brought back to life with a mutated but unused spark. The only apparent difference was Slug's susceptibility to being controlled with a [[Void Scepter]]. {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 1 (of 2)|The Dead Come Home, Part 1}}

[[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] were created by Decepticon scientists after many failed attempts. The failed attempts lived on and were collectively known as [[Insecticon swarm|"the swarm"]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron}}

Early on in the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], the scientist [[Tarantulas (BW)#2005 IDW continuity|Mesothulas]] was working on a ''third'' method of "reproduction": creating artificial [[spark]]s through synthesized Matrix energy, then placing them into robotic bodies, maintained by an identical copy of the Matrix's energy field. The only known being created through this method was [[Springer (G1)|Ostaros]], indistinguishable from any other Cybertronian save for the circumstances of his creation. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 3|Sins of the Wreckers #3}} Ostaros was later integrated into Cybertronian society under the name of Springer. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 5|Sins of the Wreckers #5}} Whether or not Springer counts as a "true" Cybertronian, or merely an advanced <s>replicant</s> <s>synth</s> robot, is presumably up to the reader to decide.

After the war, [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]] figured out a fourth. By mining the [[Epistemus|Magnificence]] for knowledge, he learned how to infuse organic lifeforms with extracted sparks. It's not clear if the consciousness of the original robot survives the transplantation. These organics, reproducing normally, would generate offspring with sparks of their own, and so on and so on until their population reached a desired number, at which point their sparks could be harvested and placed back into cold-constructed mechanical bodies. Using the spark of [[Rat-a-Tat-Tat|one of his associates]], Scorponok was able to create the infant [[Firstborn]] as a proof of concept, but his efforts were ultimately for naught when he lost possession of both the child and the Magnificence. {{storylink|Kill All 'Cons}}

=====Characters by origin=====
{{quote|No one has a right to know how a fellow Cybertronian was created. There's a thin line between categorization and segregation, and I never want to see it crossed again.|[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]|"[[Twenty Plus One]]". No one tell him about the table below.}}
{| cellpadding="5" class="tt1_featuredCharacters"
! style="background:#004000;color:white" colspan="3"|Forged
! style="background:navy;color:white" colspan="3"|Constructed cold
|-
! style="background:#a1f088" align="center"|Pre-war
! style="background:#b7f78d" align="center"|"Warborn"
! style="background:#bcf27c" align="center"|Unknown
! style="background:#9abce2" align="center"|First wave
! style="background:#8ec1f6" align="center"|Second wave/M.T.O.
! style="background:#7dc7f1" align="center"|Unknown
|-
| style="background:#BCF7AA" valign="top"|
{|border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent;"
|-
| valign="top"|
*[[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]]
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]
*[[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]]
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]]
*[[Mortilus|Censere]]
*[[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]]
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]]
*[[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]]
*[[Tarn (DJD)|Damus/Glitch/Tarn]]
*[[Dominus Ambus]]
*[[Eucryphia]]
*[[Functionist Council|The Functionist Council]]
*[[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]]
*[[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]]
*[[Grindcore (G1)|Grindcore]]
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod/Rodimus]]
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
*[[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]]
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]
*[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]
*[[Knights of Cybertron]]
*[[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]]
*[[Maximal#2005 IDW continuity|Maximals]]
*[[Minimus Ambus]]
*[[Myskrion]]
*[[Nova Prime|Nova Major/Nova Prime]]
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax/Optimus Prime]]
| valign="top"|
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]
*[[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]
*[[Quark]]
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]]
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]]
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]]
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]
*[[Septimus Prime]]
*[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]
*[[Sixshot]]
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]]
*[[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]
*[[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]]
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]]
*[[Tailpipe (G1)|Tailpipe]]
*[[Thinkbox]]
*[[Thirteen#IDW|The Thirteen Primes]]
*[[Titan (group)|Titans]]<ref group="idw">At least thirteen of the Titans carried hot spots within their bodies for colonization purposes; by extension all known Transformers native to the colony worlds are Forged.</ref>
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]
*[[Solomus|Tyrest]]
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]
|}
| style="background:#D0FCB3" valign="top"|

*[[Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Fortress Maximus]]
*[[Fulcrum]]
| style="background:#CEF99D" valign="top"|
*[[Animus]]
*[[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]]
*[[Blockus]]
*[[Convoy (G1)|Convoy]]
*[[Datum]]
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]
*[[Heretech]]
*[[Misfire (G1)|Flyhigh/Misfire]]
*[[Ramp]]
*[[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]]
*[[Suture (G1)|Suture]]
*[[Sweep (IDW)|Sweep]]
| style="background:#B8D1ED" valign="top"|
*[[Kaon (DJD)|Amp/Kaon]]
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]]
*[[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]
*[[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]<ref group="idw">Megatron is a hybrid Transformer, consisting of a forged spark in a cold constructed body.</ref>
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]
*[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]]
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]]
*[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]]
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Tumbler/Chromedome]]
| style="background:#b4d8fc" valign="top"|
*[[Ambulon]]
*[[Ammo]]
*[[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]]
*[[Dipstick]]
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Genitus/Brainstorm]]
*[[Getaway]]
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]]
*[[Scattergun]]
| style="background:#9ed7f8" valign="top"|
*[[Agonizer]]
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]]
*[[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]]
*[[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]]
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]]
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]]
|}

<references group="idw"/>

{{-}}

==Resurrection==
[[File:Pmoptimusprimedeath.jpg|left|thumb|Don't worry kids, he gets better. Again.]]
Though not quite the same as reproduction, a copy of the mind or essence of a previously living Transformer may be introduced into a new body and, through some vague process, return that Transformer to life. This occurs when [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] creates the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] in the original ''Transformers'' cartoon, and in the comic when Prime uses copies of the minds of existing Cybertronians to create the second-series Autobot cars on [[Earth]]. Another example from the comic occurs when Optimus Prime himself is returned to life merely by inputting a human's [[floppy disk]] copy of his mind into a new body.

A variation on this theme is [[Unicron]]'s ability to create new robotic life. In the cartoon continuity, Unicron rebuilds [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] into [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]], though it is unclear if these are the same being. Less ambiguous is the creation of [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]], [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]], and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] from the apparently dead remains of [[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]], [[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]], and the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. Some fans have speculated that the creation of the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] by super-genius [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] was aided in some fashion by Unicron's presence.

In [[Marvel Comics continuity]], Unicron exhibits a similar ability, fashioning three servants named [[Hook, Line, and Sinker]] from the remains of non-Cybertronian robots attempting to flee him.

In Beast Wars, if one can locate a deceased's spark within the matrix, with the right equipment they can implant that spark in a blank protoform. Rhinox used such a device to guide his core consciousness through the Matrix, reviving Optimus Primal.

In his ending to the ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)|Beast Wars Transmetals]]'' video game, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] uses "a prototype cloning device, based on transreplication technology" to clone the deactivated Generation 1 Decepticons on the Ark into new protoform bodies, thus reviving them without altering the timeline (and erasing himself) by effectively doubling each robot.

This is included as a means of reproduction because it seems likely from the dialogue that the Autobot cars created via copied minds by Prime on Earth in Marvel Comics continuity still existed on Cybertron when he left, meaning that if they survived the intermediate 4 million years, two of each of these individuals now exist.

In the [[Unicron Trilogy]] comic miniseries "[[Linkage (comic)|Linkage]]", [[Redline]] and [[Falcia]] combine energy from their [[spark frame]]s in order to create a new body for the mind/soul of [[Twirl (MD)|Twirl]] to inhabit after her [[Mini-Con storage panel]] is destroyed in battle. This leads to an interesting relationship between Twirl and Falcia. (See "Familial relationships", below.)

==Budding==
[[File:G2issue5-PowerandtheGlory-BuddingSteps.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Budding doesn't look like much fun at ALL. It looks like ''Aliens versus Predator'' all over again.]]
The [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|''Transformers: Generation 2'' comic]] introduced the concept of asexual "budding". Bubbles and lesions of apparently liquid metal form on a robot's chest, accompanied by energy discharge. The process grows more intense, until a large mass of liquid metal bursts free from the chest and slowly forms into a [[protoform]]-like blank figure, and then solidifies into a full Transformer. Illustrations suggest that this is something of a communal event, with others surrounding the budding robot in a circle.

[[File:TNA.gif|left|upright=0.85|thumb|With the right early screening, even pegwarming might some day be preventable.]]
It was revealed that (in the Marvel continuity at least) early Transformers reproduced this way until they reached the population level Primus desired. At this turning point, the practice stopped and all memory of it was erased. When the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronians]] (possibly under influence of the [[Liege Maximo]]) rediscovered and revived the process sometime during the 4 million years after the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s loss, the successive generations of robots produced were increasingly less sentient and emotional (as Primus's lifeforce was apparently spread thinner and thinner between them), and the lifeform called the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]] was created as a byproduct.

It is established here that Transformers do have genetic material (the Transformer equivalent of DNA) within their cellular structures. (Yes, they also apparently have cellular structures—who knew?) This genetic material is passed down from "parent" to "child" through budding. Its make-up is seen in the picture at left. (Apparently, its design is not taught in the Transformer equivalent of high school biology, as Megatron does not recognize what he's looking at until Perceptor explains.) This genetic material and basic Transformer cellular structure is also passed to the Swarm. Later, in the [[2005 IDW continuity]], Transformer genetic material is given the designation [[CNA]], and it is what is altered by the malevolent Jhiaxus during [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]]'s gender change.

The other notable fact is that Transformers who have undergone the budding process retain some sort of primal link to their offspring, thus even though they are galaxies apart, the Generation 1 Decepticon [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] doubles over in pain when his descendant [[Mindset (G2)|Mindset]] is destroyed, and the Liege Maximo says he would know if his descendant, Megatron, were to die.

{{--}}

==Sexual reproduction==
[[File:Tfreprod marvel28.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|"Film the birth?" "No, got some great footage of the conception, though!"]]
Despite most continuities having male and female genders (gender being a mental and social classification, as opposed to "sexes", a physical distinction) and a definite, strong history of [[transformer romance]] existing between these genders, there is little canonical evidence for Transformers reproducing sexually. (Though admittedly, there isn't a lot of direct evidence for [[human]]s reproducing sexually in most Transformers media, which is, after all, aimed towards kids.)

In the original ''Transformers'' cartoon, the male Transformer - [[female Transformer]] romance could perhaps be explained as an artifact of [[Quintesson]] mental programming very closely echoing the organic life forms the Transformers were built to serve.

On only two occasions in Generation 1 do we get a hint of male and female Transformer romance leading to the formation of family units and the creation of offspring. The first is subtle: [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]'s backstory in some versions mentions his crashing on Quintessa with his parents. The second is more explicit: At the end of the Japanese [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|''Victory'' manga]], we find out that [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] and his forces have been fighting all this time for the sake of their/the families living on top of the [[Planet-Destroying Fortress]], among which are [[Dinoforce]]'s [[Baby Dinoforce|children]]. Awww.

Apart from this, the best case for sexual reproduction in the species could probably be made from ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', where [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] makes numerous off-color remarks throughout the series, especially directed at [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]. These comments strongly hint at something sex-like among Transformers, though it could, of course, be merely recreational rather than reproductive.

It is unknown what effect the ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' [[reformatting]] of Transformers into [[technorganic]] beings, which are equal parts organic life and mechanical structure down to a cellular level, has on their reproductive options. It is conceivable but underexplored whether this new form of Transformer life could reproduce sexually. According to [[Andromeda (TransTech)|Andromeda]]'s interview with [[Kitte Shūshū]], she and [[Z Grill]] made the Maximal [[Stampy (BWN)|Stampy]] with their organic parts. {{storylink|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter}}

During a dream-like vision, Blackarachnia and Silverbolt meet in an ethereal state, and the two appear to "merge" their sparks, which may be as close to sexual intercourse as Transformers get, perhaps a more spiritual act than physical.

[[File:Sariprime.jpg|thumb|upright=0.66|At that moment, Optimus realizes that there are some questions best left unanswered.]]
The [[Live-action film series]] once again brings up questions about the possibility of a less-than-mechanical form of reproduction. The first and most obvious of these implications comes from [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]'s less-than-tactful observation of "the [[Sam Witwicky|boy]] want[ing] to mate with the [[Mikaela Banes|female]]." Although his grasp of the concept could stem merely from a familiarity with organic species in general, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]'s mention of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] killing their father, in some related material, does suggest Transformers have some understanding of family units. In [[Revenge of the Fallen issue 4|the fourth issue of ''Revenge of the Fallen'']], [[Rampage (ROTF)|Rampage]] refers to Sam's parents as his "protoform batch initiators." Make that of what you will. In the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|movie proper]], Jetfire mentions a mother and father, the latter of whom was the first wheel (who didn't transform), while in ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'', [[Hound (Movie)|Hound]] alludes to having a bad relationship with his father. While some of these are self-deprecating jokes, it reinforces that Cybertronians are at least aware of the concept.

In the ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' continuity, it seems clear that Transformers do not reproduce sexually. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] appears stunned when [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari]] tells him where human babies come from, and later brings up the inconsistency when Sari's own origins are revealed.
[[File:OperationBumblebee1 Bumblebee's new ride.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.95|"I swear, this isn't what it looks like!"]]

In the 2005 IDW continuity, female Transformers were first introduced to the series through [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s experiments. By altering fundamental [[CNA]], Jhiaxus gave "male" Cybertronians "female" characteristics. Although earlier issues suggested that he was doing this out of malevolent curiosity, later stories would explain that female Transformers had once existed on Cybertron and that Jhiaxus was attempting to restore this lost element of Cybertronian society. The depth of his changes are unknown; is it limited to appearance and mentality or does it go deeper? If he was truly trying to see how the reintroduction of females would affect the evolution of the species it is possible Arcee was created with the capability for some analog of sexual reproduction in mind, but given his abandonment of the experiment and Arcee's resultant unbalanced mental state it seems unlikely the depth of the change will be explored. Later [[The Transformers: Windblade|comics]] would establish that female Transformers had always existed but went extinct on Cybertron during the [[First Cybertronian Civil War]]. These stories also introduce various Transformer colony worlds, whose inhabitants had retained differentiated genders, as an alternative source of female Transformers. Both male and female Transformers reproduce asexually through the methods detailed above; although [[Conjunx Endura|romantic relationships]] exist in this continuity, they are not limited to male-female pairings and there is no evidence that couples engage in anything related to procreation.<ref>This hasn't stopped fan fiction writers from speculating, though.</ref> Following the end of the Great War, the techo-geneticist [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]] claimed that mechanical lifeforms were incapable of procreation without external sources. To that end, he created the [[spark]] powered organic he called the "[[Firstborn]]" to rebuild the Decepticons via sexual reproduction.

In the [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|''Transformers: Prime'' episode]] "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]", [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] joked with [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]], asking him if he had heard that humans multiplied. Ratchet was expecting her and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] to bring back two humans. When they brought back three, Arcee jokingly implied that the teenagers had reproduced since then.

In ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'', [[Brains]] revealed to Optimus Prime that Megatron had used his "chromosomes" to infect [[Kinetic Solutions Incorporated|KSI]]'s [[Megatron (Movie)|Galvatron]] prototype, granting the mindless robot independent thought and allowing Megatron's mind to take over Galvatron's body. It's debatable whether or not Brains was translating Cybertronian terms for the benefit of the human audience present; if taken literally, it opens up a whole host of weird questions regarding the relationship between Megatron and Galvatron.
{{-}}

==Familial relationships==
[[File:PrimeDirective4 Cover SunstreakerSideswipe.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|The Doublemint Twins they're not.]]
One confusing aspect of this apparent lack of sexual reproduction is the canonical use of genealogical terminology to describe certain relationships. The most common of these is when two Transformers regard each other as siblings: "brothers" (e.g. Generation 1's [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] or ''Robots in Disguise'''s [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (RID)|Ultra Magnus]]) or "sisters" ([[Roulette (Universe)|Roulette]] and [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]]).

Again, the Dreamwave ''More than Meets the Eye'' guide provides a partial possible answer. According to the guide, when a spark naturally splits as it's being introduced to a protoform, it creates two robots who are "brothers", such as Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. When such a spark division is artificially induced, the pair created are referred to as "[[Cloning|clones]]". (This definition of "brother" may or may not apply to RID Prime and Magnus, whose brotherhood was said to result from the special circumstance of having been created simultaneously by Alpha Trion).

However, the "[[Beast Era]]" widened the issue of reproduction with Rattrap referring to his "great-aunt" [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and in general the practice of Maximals and Predacons referring to the Autobots and Decepticons as their respective "ancestors", as well as themselves as being their "descendants", implying a direct genetic (for want of a better term) lineage. Various sources of debatable canonicity suggest that [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] is specifically descended from [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], usually through the phrase "[his] ancestor Optimus Prime".

In the absence of sexual reproduction, the use and meaning of these genealogical references is difficult to explain. One possible explanation might be a situation such as when [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] is brought to life in ''Beast Wars''. Her [[spark]] and [[protoform]] are heavily damaged, and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] allows some of his parts to be used as replacements while [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] guides the procedure. To compare to humans, this is something like assisting with childbirth and donating blood or organs. It is unlikely that this happened enough to cause "descendants" as they are described, however. The term may also be used in an ideological sense or even a technological sense, much as the CD or MP3 player is, in a way, a "descendant" of the gramophone.

[[File:Linkage7 Twirl-Baby.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|So, think Social Services handle cases like these often?]]
Other family designations exist as well. [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] has "parents" that were lost in his crash on [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], according to some background material. The aforementioned Mini-Con Twirl very specifically calls Falcia her "mother" (which Falcia ''hates'') and seems to treat Redline like a father, since the two's spark frame energies went into constructing her physical form. In the ''Armada'' cartoon, [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Side Swipe]] refers to [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] as his brother after Hot Shot saves his life, suggesting at least an understanding of the concept; on the other hand, the ''Armada'' cartoon is originally Japanese, and in Japan, "brother" and "sister" can be used as terms of affection or respect to an unrelated person. The [[Unicron Trilogy]] universe has also used the term "cousin" for certain Transformers on occasion. The Japanese Generation 1 ''Victory'' manga features Decepticon wives and children. Even the live-action movie features an Optimus and Megatron who are brothers, and it is mentioned in the related [[Nintendo DS]] game that Megatron "took the spark" of their father.

'''''See also:''' [[Relatives]]''
{{-}}

==Toys==
[[File:Classics cosmos concept.gif|upright=1.4|thumb|Echography of a sadly aborted Transformer.... Yes, those things happen.]]
In the real-life continuity, when two toy manufacturing companies love each other very much, [[Hasbro|one of them]] may start shooting Transformer design propositions to the [[TakaraTomy|other one]]. There, during several months of gestation, engineers will work on those designs, which will be developed into functional and manufacturable Transformers. Once the Transformer is ready to be produced, its design will be sent to marketing and ultimately to the chain manufacturer for the delivery. Voilà! A new Transformer is born!
{{-}}

==Notes==

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Forged''' (フォージド ''Fōjido''), '''Constructed cold''' (コンストラクテッド・コールド ''Konsutorakuteddo Kōrudo'')<ref>Japanese reprint of ''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers: Chaos Theory]]''.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Transformer culture]]

Reproduction

2019-08-05T23:51:42Z

Platypar-1: /* Infusion */

[[File:MangaDinoforceBabies.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|HOW IS BABBY FORMED?]]
Various '''reproduction''' methods for the [[Transformer]]s species have been demonstrated across various continuities.

{{quote|This is only one method of creating new Transformers. There are others.|[[Bob Budiansky]] knows not to leave himself tied down, in his pitch for the Matrix concept<ref name="BC10">[http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc10/bc10bb.html griffin's 2010 BotCon report]</ref>}}

==Mechanical construction==
Sometimes, new Transformers are simply built from scratch, and that's all it takes. A suitable Transformer body is constructed, and when finished and turned on, it just springs to life.
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
Three notable examples of this type of reproduction appear in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''Transformers'' cartoon]]: when [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] and company create the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}} {{storylink|War of the Dinobots}} when the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s turn an [[Earth]] city into [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} and when the temporarily super-intelligent [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] creates the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]]. {{storylink|Grimlock's New Brain}}

[[File:SOSDinobots buildingSludge.jpg|left|thumb|"I've been workin' on the Dinobot, all the live long day..."]]
The Dinobots are initially very simple mentally and are ordered to be deactivated because they are too dangerous. Wheeljack then develops a set of crown-like devices to place on the Dinobots which greatly enhances their intellect, although they are still "dumb" and childlike compared to the other Autobots. The Technobots, on the other hand, are immediately fully functional, and some of them are even ''smarter'' than average Transformers. If one were to take these facts as canonically meaningful (rather than simply the whims of the writers of those episodes), it could be guessed that programming a functional Transformer brain from scratch is extremely difficult, such that even Wheeljack is not up to the job. Temporarily super-genius Grimlock may be the only one capable. However, one must also note that the Dinobots were built and programmed to be as similar to dinosaurs as possible, including the limited intelligence; the Technobots, however, were built by Grimlock with intelligence in mind, as it was the only way to counter [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]'s brute power.

At least on the surface, this "built from scratch" approach runs counter to claims in other episodes of the show that [[Vector Sigma]] is needed to create new Transformer life. (See below.) However, since Vector Sigma is presented as being a supercomputer and not a "magical" device like the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|comics']] [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]], it could fall in with the speculative statements above regarding Grimlock and Wheeljack. Perhaps Vector Sigma is simply an advanced enough computer that it is capable of constructing a working mind.
{{-}}

==Infusion==
{{see also|Sacred implement}}
[[File:Creation Matrix 65.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Go on, rub it and make a wish...]]
In other stories, once a new Transformer body has been built, it must still be infused with life (what the fiction from the Beast era and after would gloss as a [[spark]]) from a "god-like" outside source. In the original ''Transformers'' cartoon, this source is Vector Sigma; in the Marvel comics, it is the Creation Matrix, which houses the essence of [[Primus]], the Transformers' creator-god. In the [[Beast Era|Beast era]] cartoons, sparks arrive from the [[Transformer afterlife|Allspark]], perhaps through Vector Sigma. (In many continuities, each Transformer's life force is a fragment of Primus's own.) The [[Movie (franchise)|live-action movie]] continuities function with the [[AllSpark]] being the source of infusion as well, though in that case, "living" and "sentient" are not quite the same thing. (See: [[AllSpark Mutation]].)

[[File:VectorSigmaG1.jpg|left|thumb|Vector Sigma holds "Disco Night" every Friday at 11 pm.]]
In the [[The Transformers Adventure Game Books|''Transformers'' Adventure Game Book]] "[[Desert of Danger]]", Hot Rod refers to his creation after the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] left Cybertron as when he was "matrixed". How exactly this would have happened if Optimus Prime was aboard the Ark with the Matrix at the time is unknown, but one option might be the [[Matrix Flame]].

The Matrix Flame is an artifact which allows Transformers on Cybertron to access the power of the Matrix even when it is no longer on Cybertron. Literally a flame, it is used to breathe life in the super warrior [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] in the UK comics. The flame is somehow linked to the Matrix, and when the Matrix is transported to another dimension during "[[Target: 2006]]", the flame goes out, forcing the Autobots on Cybertron to investigate.

The [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' guide provides yet another method of infusion. According to the guide's entry on [[protoform]]s in issue #8, in the [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity|Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity]], Transformers generally begin life as a skeletal mass of partially formed circuits—a [[Protoform]]. These are kept in stasis pods filled with nurturing nutrient gel. They can be built to certain specifications or be fairly general, allowing the robot to form naturally upon introduction of a spark. Sparks, and hence life, usually come from the Matrix, ''BUT'', if the Matrix is absent, life can be granted by attuning the protoform to an energy wavelength similar to the Matrix and then applying a concentrated burst of energon. This alternative is rarely used, as it is extremely resource-consumptive, requiring restrictively high amounts of energon.

[[File:Allspark movie.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"RESISTANCE IS FERTILE."]]
The Movie continuity's [[AllSpark]] works by infusion as well, just on an even more impressive scale. It is capable of infusing any inanimate machine with life and simultaneously altering its structure so that it is capable of transforming into a Cybertronian-style robot. The AllSpark fragments spread across Detroit in the ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' continuity show the same ability to alter non-living machines into new Transformers (as well as unrelated powers like slowing time and remote controlling other Cybertronians.) Although, outside of the toy biographies for certain characters, the AllSpark in the movie merely creates non-sentient, animalistic life-forms out of ordinary machines, rather than fully developed Cybertronians, suggesting some kind of evolutionary development towards sentience.

====2005 IDW continuity====
[[File:Chromedome and Rodimus with a spark.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left|Baby ''boom''? Baby fuel-air bomb!]]
Cybertronians are normally created through one of two methods: they are either "'''forged'''" or "'''constructed cold'''." Their names include a "of [place]" suffix to describe where they were born, e.g. "Megatron of [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]]".

=====Forging=====
'''Forging''' was the natural way for Cybertronians to be created. An energy pulse from Vector Sigma would flash across the world, igniting a hot spot where new sparks would emerge from the planet. There would be great rejoicing and ceremony, and the sparks and base substance—the "[[Living metal|sentio metallico]]"—would be sought out and harvested from the living metal of Cybertron or its moons. The harvested sparks would then be matured via a process known as "the nurturing". {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} The sentio metallico coalesces around a spark to form a [[protoform]]. Beginning as a simple geometric shape, a protoform develops into a mature Transformer through a process known as "deep-coding:" by following the "genetic instructions" hard-coded within their [[spark]], it develops basic limbs and facial features and eventually manifests components, such as wheels or wings, that will become part of their natural [[alternate mode]]. {{storylink|Silent Light}}

Occasionally, however, the protoform will struggle to read the spark's instructions and fail to assume a shape. A specialized medical professional known as a "[[blacksmith]]"–essentially a Cybertronian midwife–will help the protoform along by sculpting the metal into its most natural shape. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|A World Misplaced}}

As the protoform develops, it "cools" into a solid mechanical form. Now sufficiently humanoid to move under its own power, the young Transformer develops synaptic connections by imprinting on its surroundings, and by doing so it learns how to walk, talk, interact with others, and even [[Transformation|transform]]. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 1: Surfeit of Primes|Surfeit of Primes}} {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 1|Shining Armor #1}} {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 2 (of 2)|The Dead Come Home, Part 2}}

[[File:Overlords spark remembrance day.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|Overlord was killing fools before he was even alive. [http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/92372-more-than-meets-the-eye-14/?p=2262280]]]
Transformers grow extremely fast: from its first "first flash," a Spark takes only two weeks to develop into a full-fledged Transformer, {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}} with the specific protoform-to-Transformer phase taking anywhere from two to five days. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|This Machine Kills Fascists}} {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 1|Shining Armor #1}}

Some naturally-born sparks are "[[Point One Percenter]]s" (about 0.01% of the population), with abilities greater than than the average Transformer. Known "Point One Percenters" include Overlord {{storylink|Remembrance Day}}, Minimus Ambus, and Roller {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}}, while Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Scorponok, and Shockwave are implied to be. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}}

=====Cold construction=====
[[File:YourFirstMistake-ColdConstruction.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|Sex Ed. Volume 1, or: '''PANTS FULL OF SHAME'''."]]
'''Cold Construction''' was a method created later when [[Nova Prime]] learned natural spark creation was slowing. Fearful (correctly, as it would turn out) that the pulsewaves from Vector Sigma would eventually halt entirely, leaving him without enough Transformers to create the grand galactic empire he envisioned, Nova entrusted the Matrix of Leadership to his scientists and charged them with tapping the fabled energy of creation legends claimed it possessed. The scientists, headed by [[Solomus|Tyrest]], succeeded in doing so and were able to generate thousands of sparks a day, which were then housed in pre-constructed bodies as opposed to bodies formed naturally from sentio-metallico. Sparks were produced at such a rapid rate that they had to be stockpiled until new bodies could be constructed; {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} their energies were frozen in [[photonic crystal]]s, which would be placed inside the new bodies in order to thaw out, hence the term "constructed cold". {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}} Recently, it was revealed that photonic crystals were not artificially engineered by Tyrest and his science team, but produced naturally by [[Rung (G1)|Rung of the Pious Pools]] and his alt mode. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|Modes of Production}}

Matrix-derived sparks contained the same genetic instructions as naturally occurring ones, but were unable to reshape their pre-constructed bodies in accordance, leaving cold constructed Transformers with different bodies from what their sparks intended. {{storylink|Your First Mistake}}

Recognizing the potential for outcry against what they were doing, a cover story was put in place to explain the birth of these new Transformers: the public were told that they were created via '''spark-splicing''', using the energy of a Forged spark to ignite a new one. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Eventually, one of the scientists had an attack of conscience and stole the Matrix, replacing it with a forgery; unaware of this, Tyrest and his team believed that they had bled the Matrix dry. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} The public were never told why the "spark-splicing" program was stopped; as such, by the time of Nominus Prime's assassination, Senator Shockwave had made repeated lobbies to resurrect it. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

After the disappearance of Nova Prime, negative feelings about cold construction led to apartheid against "knock offs", with some city-states 'proving' that they were substandard. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Religion was brought into it: the fact that many of the best medics were forged (due to the fluidity and dexterity of their hands) was taken as proof of the god [[Adaptus]]. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} The Decepticon Air Commander Starscream, who had been Constructed Cold, was known to frequently change into new bodies, which Camien [[Cityspeaker]] Windblade theorized was the result of his spark being forced into a pre-constructed body rather than having been allowed to form the body he was meant to exist in, resulting in a form of rejection. {{storylink|Your First Mistake}} Many identified Constructed Cold transformers were also prone to deep-rooted eccentricies and personality quirks, such as [[Impactor (G1)|accute lack]] [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|of empathy]], [[Nightbeat (G1)|deep-rooted]] [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|antisocial tendencies]] and [[Spinister (G1)|savant-ish]] [[Ironfist (G1)|behavior]]. By the time [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] was first arrested, the apartheid was ''officially'' considered a thing of the past, cough cough. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}}

[[File:TheLopsidedTriangle-MTOs.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.5]]

As the war dragged on, the Autobots discovered a long abandoned cache of frozen sparks from the days of Tyrest's experiments. They cold-constructed robots to fill out their ranks: "Made to Order" soldiers ([[M.T.O.]]s), who to some were seen as little more than cannon fodder. Instead of a city-state, MTOs were named after the battles or campaigns they were activated for, e.g. "[[Getaway]] of the [[Corcapsia Incursion]]". A formal education process was established for the MTOs, a Ten Step program they needed to pass before being declared fit for duty that involved lots of data packets, revision, and exams. As the war continued, however, Ten Steps went down to Seven Steps and finally to Three Steps, which were simply uploaded into their minds as their sparks were thawing out, allowing them to deposited directly onto the battle field as soon as they came fully online. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} Presumably, Decepticon M.T.O.s such as [[Ambulon]] were constructed using similar procedures, but the details of their programs are not fully known.

=====Other methods=====
Megatron occupies a unique position as the first (and possibly only) hybrid. Originating as a wholly cold-constructed bot, the body's original spark was destroyed by a time-travelling [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]; a Point One Percenter spark which had been harvested on Luna 1 in the present day was placed in the empty shell by [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], thus creating the Megatron who ultimately led the Decepticons in this timeline. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}} The ramifications of a forged or constructed cold body (with pre-existing brain module) swapping out a spark like this are unknown. In somewhat similar circumstances, Megatron placed the spark of the Quintesson [[Pentius]] in the body of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. The being that emerged seemed to have the memories of both Pentius and the pre-existing Trypticon. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}} Similarly, when [[Slag (G1)|Slug]] was killed, he was brought back to life with a mutated but unused spark. The only apparent difference was Slug's susceptibility to being controlled with a [[Void Scepter]]. {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 1 (of 2)|The Dead Come Home, Part 1}}

[[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] were created by Decepticon scientists after many failed attempts. The failed attempts lived on and were collectively known as [[Insecticon swarm|"the swarm"]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron}}

Early on in the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], the scientist [[Tarantulas (BW)#2005 IDW continuity|Mesothulas]] was working on a ''third'' method of "reproduction": creating artificial [[spark]]s through synthesized Matrix energy, then placing them into robotic bodies, maintained by an identical copy of the Matrix's energy field. The only known being created through this method was [[Springer (G1)|Ostaros]], indistinguishable from any other Cybertronian save for the circumstances of his creation. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 3|Sins of the Wreckers #3}} Ostaros was later integrated into Cybertronian society under the name of Springer. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 5|Sins of the Wreckers #5}} Whether or not Springer counts as a "true" Cybertronian, or merely an advanced <s>replicant</s> <s>synth</s> robot, is presumably up to the reader to decide.

After the war, [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]] figured out a fourth. By mining the [[Epistemus|Magnificence]] for knowledge, he learned how to infuse organic lifeforms with extracted sparks. It's not clear if the consciousness of the original robot survives the transplantation. These organics, reproducing normally, would generate offspring with sparks of their own, and so on and so on until their population reached a desired number, at which point their sparks could be harvested and placed back into cold-constructed mechanical bodies. Using the spark of [[Rat-a-Tat-Tat|one of his associates]], Scorponok was able to create the infant [[Firstborn]] as a proof of concept, but his efforts were ultimately for naught when he lost possession of both the child and the Magnificence. {{storylink|Kill All 'Cons}}

=====Characters by origin=====
{{quote|No one has a right to know how a fellow Cybertronian was created. There's a thin line between categorization and segregation, and I never want to see it crossed again.|[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]|"[[Twenty Plus One]]". No one tell him about the table below.}}
{| cellpadding="5" class="tt1_featuredCharacters"
! style="background:#004000;color:white" colspan="3"|Forged
! style="background:navy;color:white" colspan="3"|Constructed cold
|-
! style="background:#a1f088" align="center"|Pre-war
! style="background:#b7f78d" align="center"|"Warborn"
! style="background:#bcf27c" align="center"|Unknown
! style="background:#9abce2" align="center"|First wave
! style="background:#8ec1f6" align="center"|Second wave/M.T.O.
! style="background:#7dc7f1" align="center"|Unknown
|-
| style="background:#BCF7AA" valign="top"|
{|border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent;"
|-
| valign="top"|
*[[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]]
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]
*[[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]]
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]]
*[[Mortilus|Censere]]
*[[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]]
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]]
*[[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]]
*[[Tarn (DJD)|Damus/Glitch/Tarn]]
*[[Dominus Ambus]]
*[[Eucryphia]]
*[[Functionist Council|The Functionist Council]]
*[[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]]
*[[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]]
*[[Grindcore (G1)|Grindcore]]
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod/Rodimus]]
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
*[[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]]
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]
*[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]
*[[Knights of Cybertron]]
*[[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]]
*[[Maximal#2005 IDW continuity|Maximals]]
*[[Minimus Ambus]]
*[[Myskrion]]
*[[Nova Prime|Nova Major/Nova Prime]]
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax/Optimus Prime]]
| valign="top"|
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]
*[[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]
*[[Quark]]
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]]
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]]
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]]
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]
*[[Septimus Prime]]
*[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]
*[[Sixshot]]
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]]
*[[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]
*[[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]]
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]]
*[[Tailpipe (G1)|Tailpipe]]
*[[Thinkbox]]
*[[Thirteen#IDW|The Thirteen Primes]]
*[[Titan (group)|Titans]]<ref group="idw">At least thirteen of the Titans carried hot spots within their bodies for colonization purposes; by extension all known Transformers native to the colony worlds are Forged.</ref>
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]
*[[Solomus|Tyrest]]
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]
|}
| style="background:#D0FCB3" valign="top"|

*[[Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Fortress Maximus]]
*[[Fulcrum]]
| style="background:#CEF99D" valign="top"|
*[[Animus]]
*[[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]]
*[[Blockus]]
*[[Convoy (G1)|Convoy]]
*[[Datum]]
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]
*[[Heretech]]
*[[Misfire (G1)|Flyhigh/Misfire]]
*[[Ramp]]
*[[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]]
*[[Suture (G1)|Suture]]
*[[Sweep (IDW)|Sweep]]
| style="background:#B8D1ED" valign="top"|
*[[Kaon (DJD)|Amp/Kaon]]
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]]
*[[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]
*[[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]<ref group="idw">Megatron is a hybrid Transformer, consisting of a forged spark in a cold constructed body.</ref>
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]
*[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]]
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]]
*[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]]
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Tumbler/Chromedome]]
| style="background:#b4d8fc" valign="top"|
*[[Ambulon]]
*[[Ammo]]
*[[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]]
*[[Dipstick]]
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Genitus/Brainstorm]]
*[[Getaway]]
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]]
*[[Scattergun]]
| style="background:#9ed7f8" valign="top"|
*[[Agonizer]]
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]]
*[[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]]
*[[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]]
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]]
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]]
|}

<references group="idw"/>

{{-}}

==Resurrection==
[[File:Pmoptimusprimedeath.jpg|left|thumb|Don't worry kids, he gets better. Again.]]
Though not quite the same as reproduction, a copy of the mind or essence of a previously living Transformer may be introduced into a new body and, through some vague process, return that Transformer to life. This occurs when [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] creates the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] in the original ''Transformers'' cartoon, and in the comic when Prime uses copies of the minds of existing Cybertronians to create the second-series Autobot cars on [[Earth]]. Another example from the comic occurs when Optimus Prime himself is returned to life merely by inputting a human's [[floppy disk]] copy of his mind into a new body.

A variation on this theme is [[Unicron]]'s ability to create new robotic life. In the cartoon continuity, Unicron rebuilds [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] into [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]], though it is unclear if these are the same being. Less ambiguous is the creation of [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]], [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]], and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] from the apparently dead remains of [[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]], [[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]], and the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. Some fans have speculated that the creation of the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] by super-genius [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] was aided in some fashion by Unicron's presence.

In [[Marvel Comics continuity]], Unicron exhibits a similar ability, fashioning three servants named [[Hook, Line, and Sinker]] from the remains of non-Cybertronian robots attempting to flee him.

In Beast Wars, if one can locate a deceased's spark within the matrix, with the right equipment they can implant that spark in a blank protoform. Rhinox used such a device to guide his core consciousness through the Matrix, reviving Optimus Primal.

In his ending to the ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)|Beast Wars Transmetals]]'' video game, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] uses "a prototype cloning device, based on transreplication technology" to clone the deactivated Generation 1 Decepticons on the Ark into new protoform bodies, thus reviving them without altering the timeline (and erasing himself) by effectively doubling each robot.

This is included as a means of reproduction because it seems likely from the dialogue that the Autobot cars created via copied minds by Prime on Earth in Marvel Comics continuity still existed on Cybertron when he left, meaning that if they survived the intermediate 4 million years, two of each of these individuals now exist.

In the [[Unicron Trilogy]] comic miniseries "[[Linkage (comic)|Linkage]]", [[Redline]] and [[Falcia]] combine energy from their [[spark frame]]s in order to create a new body for the mind/soul of [[Twirl (MD)|Twirl]] to inhabit after her [[Mini-Con storage panel]] is destroyed in battle. This leads to an interesting relationship between Twirl and Falcia. (See "Familial relationships", below.)

==Budding==
[[File:G2issue5-PowerandtheGlory-BuddingSteps.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Budding doesn't look like much fun at ALL. It looks like ''Aliens versus Predator'' all over again.]]
The [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|''Transformers: Generation 2'' comic]] introduced the concept of asexual "budding". Bubbles and lesions of apparently liquid metal form on a robot's chest, accompanied by energy discharge. The process grows more intense, until a large mass of liquid metal bursts free from the chest and slowly forms into a [[protoform]]-like blank figure, and then solidifies into a full Transformer. Illustrations suggest that this is something of a communal event, with others surrounding the budding robot in a circle.

[[File:TNA.gif|left|upright=0.85|thumb|With the right early screening, even pegwarming might some day be preventable.]]
It was revealed that (in the Marvel continuity at least) early Transformers reproduced this way until they reached the population level Primus desired. At this turning point, the practice stopped and all memory of it was erased. When the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronians]] (possibly under influence of the [[Liege Maximo]]) rediscovered and revived the process sometime during the 4 million years after the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s loss, the successive generations of robots produced were increasingly less sentient and emotional (as Primus's lifeforce was apparently spread thinner and thinner between them), and the lifeform called the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]] was created as a byproduct.

It is established here that Transformers do have genetic material (the Transformer equivalent of DNA) within their cellular structures. (Yes, they also apparently have cellular structures—who knew?) This genetic material is passed down from "parent" to "child" through budding. Its make-up is seen in the picture at left. (Apparently, its design is not taught in the Transformer equivalent of high school biology, as Megatron does not recognize what he's looking at until Perceptor explains.) This genetic material and basic Transformer cellular structure is also passed to the Swarm. Later, in the [[2005 IDW continuity]], Transformer genetic material is given the designation [[CNA]], and it is what is altered by the malevolent Jhiaxus during [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]]'s gender change.

The other notable fact is that Transformers who have undergone the budding process retain some sort of primal link to their offspring, thus even though they are galaxies apart, the Generation 1 Decepticon [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] doubles over in pain when his descendant [[Mindset (G2)|Mindset]] is destroyed, and the Liege Maximo says he would know if his descendant, Megatron, were to die.

{{--}}

==Sexual reproduction==
[[File:Tfreprod marvel28.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|"Film the birth?" "No, got some great footage of the conception, though!"]]
Despite most continuities having male and female genders (gender being a mental and social classification, as opposed to "sexes", a physical distinction) and a definite, strong history of [[transformer romance]] existing between these genders, there is little canonical evidence for Transformers reproducing sexually. (Though admittedly, there isn't a lot of direct evidence for [[human]]s reproducing sexually in most Transformers media, which is, after all, aimed towards kids.)

In the original ''Transformers'' cartoon, the male Transformer - [[female Transformer]] romance could perhaps be explained as an artifact of [[Quintesson]] mental programming very closely echoing the organic life forms the Transformers were built to serve.

On only two occasions in Generation 1 do we get a hint of male and female Transformer romance leading to the formation of family units and the creation of offspring. The first is subtle: [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]'s backstory in some versions mentions his crashing on Quintessa with his parents. The second is more explicit: At the end of the Japanese [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|''Victory'' manga]], we find out that [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] and his forces have been fighting all this time for the sake of their/the families living on top of the [[Planet-Destroying Fortress]], among which are [[Dinoforce]]'s [[Baby Dinoforce|children]]. Awww.

Apart from this, the best case for sexual reproduction in the species could probably be made from ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', where [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] makes numerous off-color remarks throughout the series, especially directed at [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]. These comments strongly hint at something sex-like among Transformers, though it could, of course, be merely recreational rather than reproductive.

It is unknown what effect the ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' [[reformatting]] of Transformers into [[technorganic]] beings, which are equal parts organic life and mechanical structure down to a cellular level, has on their reproductive options. It is conceivable but underexplored whether this new form of Transformer life could reproduce sexually. According to [[Andromeda (TransTech)|Andromeda]]'s interview with [[Kitte Shūshū]], she and [[Z Grill]] made the Maximal [[Stampy (BWN)|Stampy]] with their organic parts. {{storylink|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter}}

During a dream-like vision, Blackarachnia and Silverbolt meet in an ethereal state, and the two appear to "merge" their sparks, which may be as close to sexual intercourse as Transformers get, perhaps a more spiritual act than physical.

[[File:Sariprime.jpg|thumb|upright=0.66|At that moment, Optimus realizes that there are some questions best left unanswered.]]
The [[Live-action film series]] once again brings up questions about the possibility of a less-than-mechanical form of reproduction. The first and most obvious of these implications comes from [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]'s less-than-tactful observation of "the [[Sam Witwicky|boy]] want[ing] to mate with the [[Mikaela Banes|female]]." Although his grasp of the concept could stem merely from a familiarity with organic species in general, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]'s mention of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] killing their father, in some related material, does suggest Transformers have some understanding of family units. In [[Revenge of the Fallen issue 4|the fourth issue of ''Revenge of the Fallen'']], [[Rampage (ROTF)|Rampage]] refers to Sam's parents as his "protoform batch initiators." Make that of what you will. In the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|movie proper]], Jetfire mentions a mother and father, the latter of whom was the first wheel (who didn't transform), while in ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'', [[Hound (Movie)|Hound]] alludes to having a bad relationship with his father. While some of these are self-deprecating jokes, it reinforces that Cybertronians are at least aware of the concept.

In the ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' continuity, it seems clear that Transformers do not reproduce sexually. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] appears stunned when [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari]] tells him where human babies come from, and later brings up the inconsistency when Sari's own origins are revealed.
[[File:OperationBumblebee1 Bumblebee's new ride.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.95|"I swear, this isn't what it looks like!"]]

In the 2005 IDW continuity, female Transformers were first introduced to the series through [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s experiments. By altering fundamental [[CNA]], Jhiaxus gave "male" Cybertronians "female" characteristics. Although earlier issues suggested that he was doing this out of malevolent curiosity, later stories would explain that female Transformers had once existed on Cybertron and that Jhiaxus was attempting to restore this lost element of Cybertronian society. The depth of his changes are unknown; is it limited to appearance and mentality or does it go deeper? If he was truly trying to see how the reintroduction of females would affect the evolution of the species it is possible Arcee was created with the capability for some analog of sexual reproduction in mind, but given his abandonment of the experiment and Arcee's resultant unbalanced mental state it seems unlikely the depth of the change will be explored. Later [[The Transformers: Windblade|comics]] would establish that female Transformers had always existed but went extinct on Cybertron during the [[First Cybertronian Civil War]]. These stories also introduce various Transformer colony worlds, whose inhabitants had retained differentiated genders, as an alternative source of female Transformers. Both male and female Transformers reproduce asexually through the methods detailed above; although [[Conjunx Endura|romantic relationships]] exist in this continuity, they are not limited to male-female pairings and there is no evidence that couples engage in anything related to procreation.<ref>This hasn't stopped fan fiction writers from speculating, though.</ref> Following the end of the Great War, the techo-geneticist [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]] claimed that mechanical lifeforms were incapable of procreation without external sources. To that end, he created the [[spark]] powered organic he called the "[[Firstborn]]" to rebuild the Decepticons via sexual reproduction.

In the [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|''Transformers: Prime'' episode]] "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]", [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] joked with [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]], asking him if he had heard that humans multiplied. Ratchet was expecting her and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] to bring back two humans. When they brought back three, Arcee jokingly implied that the teenagers had reproduced since then.

In ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'', [[Brains]] revealed to Optimus Prime that Megatron had used his "chromosomes" to infect [[Kinetic Solutions Incorporated|KSI]]'s [[Megatron (Movie)|Galvatron]] prototype, granting the mindless robot independent thought and allowing Megatron's mind to take over Galvatron's body. It's debatable whether or not Brains was translating Cybertronian terms for the benefit of the human audience present; if taken literally, it opens up a whole host of weird questions regarding the relationship between Megatron and Galvatron.
{{-}}

==Familial relationships==
[[File:PrimeDirective4 Cover SunstreakerSideswipe.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|The Doublemint Twins they're not.]]
One confusing aspect of this apparent lack of sexual reproduction is the canonical use of genealogical terminology to describe certain relationships. The most common of these is when two Transformers regard each other as siblings: "brothers" (e.g. Generation 1's [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] or ''Robots in Disguise'''s [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (RID)|Ultra Magnus]]) or "sisters" ([[Roulette (Universe)|Roulette]] and [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]]).

Again, the Dreamwave ''More than Meets the Eye'' guide provides a partial possible answer. According to the guide, when a spark naturally splits as it's being introduced to a protoform, it creates two robots who are "brothers", such as Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. When such a spark division is artificially induced, the pair created are referred to as "[[Cloning|clones]]". (This definition of "brother" may or may not apply to RID Prime and Magnus, whose brotherhood was said to result from the special circumstance of having been created simultaneously by Alpha Trion).

However, the "[[Beast Era]]" widened the issue of reproduction with Rattrap referring to his "great-aunt" [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and in general the practice of Maximals and Predacons referring to the Autobots and Decepticons as their respective "ancestors", as well as themselves as being their "descendants", implying a direct genetic (for want of a better term) lineage. Various sources of debatable canonicity suggest that [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] is specifically descended from [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], usually through the phrase "[his] ancestor Optimus Prime".

In the absence of sexual reproduction, the use and meaning of these genealogical references is difficult to explain. One possible explanation might be a situation such as when [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] is brought to life in ''Beast Wars''. Her [[spark]] and [[protoform]] are heavily damaged, and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] allows some of his parts to be used as replacements while [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] guides the procedure. To compare to humans, this is something like assisting with childbirth and donating blood or organs. It is unlikely that this happened enough to cause "descendants" as they are described, however. The term may also be used in an ideological sense or even a technological sense, much as the CD or MP3 player is, in a way, a "descendant" of the gramophone.

[[File:Linkage7 Twirl-Baby.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|So, think Social Services handle cases like these often?]]
Other family designations exist as well. [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] has "parents" that were lost in his crash on [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], according to some background material. The aforementioned Mini-Con Twirl very specifically calls Falcia her "mother" (which Falcia ''hates'') and seems to treat Redline like a father, since the two's spark frame energies went into constructing her physical form. In the ''Armada'' cartoon, [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Side Swipe]] refers to [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] as his brother after Hot Shot saves his life, suggesting at least an understanding of the concept; on the other hand, the ''Armada'' cartoon is originally Japanese, and in Japan, "brother" and "sister" can be used as terms of affection or respect to an unrelated person. The [[Unicron Trilogy]] universe has also used the term "cousin" for certain Transformers on occasion. The Japanese Generation 1 ''Victory'' manga features Decepticon wives and children. Even the live-action movie features an Optimus and Megatron who are brothers, and it is mentioned in the related [[Nintendo DS]] game that Megatron "took the spark" of their father.

'''''See also:''' [[Relatives]]''
{{-}}

==Toys==
[[File:Classics cosmos concept.gif|upright=1.4|thumb|Echography of a sadly aborted Transformer.... Yes, those things happen.]]
In the real-life continuity, when two toy manufacturing companies love each other very much, [[Hasbro|one of them]] may start shooting Transformer design propositions to the [[TakaraTomy|other one]]. There, during several months of gestation, engineers will work on those designs, which will be developed into functional and manufacturable Transformers. Once the Transformer is ready to be produced, its design will be sent to marketing and ultimately to the chain manufacturer for the delivery. Voilà! A new Transformer is born!
{{-}}

==Notes==

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Forged''' (フォージド ''Fōjido''), '''Constructed cold''' (コンストラクテッド・コールド ''Konsutorakuteddo Kōrudo'')<ref>Japanese reprint of ''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers: Chaos Theory]]''.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Transformer culture]]

Dark Energon

2018-03-21T15:25:57Z

Platypar-1: /* Prime cartoon */

[[File:DarknessRising2-MegatronDarkEnergon.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|I'm like a chocoholic, but for Dark Energon.]]
'''Dark Energon''' is a powerful, corrupted version of [[energon]] which can be used as a violent weapon and explosive. As energon is the emanation of [[Primus]], from which all Transformer life and power is formed, Dark Energon is similarly the emanation of [[Unicron]], released after his first battle with the [[Thirteen|thirteen original Transformers]]. Even the smallest particle of Dark Energon can corrupt any amount of regular energon. Dark Energon can be used for a number of deadly uses such as increasing one's power, reviving the dead, corrupting Transformers and even weakening some. It appears to be functionally identical to [[Angolmois]] energy.<ref>[[Ask Vector Prime]]: "Thunderwing was the most recent addition [to the Heralds], a version addicted to dark energon. Unicron offered him an endless supply of his own lifeblood to slake his nigh-unquenchable thirst for angolmois energy."</ref>

{{quote|No! No one can control Dark Energon! It dominates and destroys everything it touches!|[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]]|''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]''}}

==Effects==
The violet-glowing Dark Energon supercharges any Transformer who ingests it, making them stronger, faster, more powerful...and more aggressive. It turns pain into pleasure, rendering any blows inflicted on a user futile and heals their wounds as well. However, it also acts as a powerful narcotic, filling the user with thrilling, dark sensations and causing addiction. Dark Energon withdrawal turns the user into a raving brute desperate to do anything for more. If the craving is not satisfied, the user devolves to a beast-like state and eventually dies.

Those who imbibe Dark Energon have been seen to project it from their bodies for various destructive purposes, such as attacking enemies, overloading computers, and bringing machines under their control. When a user is killed, the energy acts like a sentient thing (a worrying aspect for a force originating from Unicron) and flies from their corpse to empower any other user nearby.

Pieces of Cybertron infected by Dark Energon tend to turn purple and explode upward into twisted, sharp spikes and growths of metal. Some Dark Energon wielders have even shown the ability to detonate a cluster of these spikes in order to produce a group of mechanical spider-like creatures, which swarm anything nearby.

A Cybertronian corpse injected with Dark Energon will reanimate itself as a feral [[zombie]], intent on destroying all in its path. They are mostly mindless berserkers, but can be commanded by a living Cybertronian who has also been corrupted by the evil energy. If part of a reanimated Cybertronian corpse is cut off from the main body it loses its ability to move with two exceptions: Cliffjumper's corpse still moving even after being cut in half and Skyquake's arm moving on its own after falling off the body. (It is unknown whether the fact that each were revived by a single shard is a factor to these exceptions.)

In ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron]]'' Megatron was revived through Dark Energon without apparent ill effect but ''Predacons Rising'' would later reveal that his overuse of the stuff prevented him from joining the Allspark after dying, instead being confined to a [[limbo]] existence. [[Unicron]] was then able to use his connection to Dark Energon to easily revive and possess Megatron. Whether the same effects can be expected for all users or just for Megatron, who was kept alive by the substance for a prolonged amount of time, is unknown.

==Fiction==
===Aligned continuity family===
====Aligned novels====
The gathering and storage of Dark Energon aboard the newly constructed [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]] was organized by an early assembly of the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] that included [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Sentinel Prime]]. The station was guarded by [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s who were mostly unaware of the nature of Dark Energon. During the civil war, [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] claimed the station for the [[Decepticon]]s, but of fear he did not let [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] know about Trypticon's significance, and despite his allies' attempts they could not find much of the information about Trypticon on the [[DataNet]] had been censored (by [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]], who knew that knowledge of Dark Energon was dangerous).

During the last days of the war [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] found forgotten corners of the DataNet referring to "Sparks of Unicron". Megatron forgave Starscream, acknowledging his fears about Dark Energon's overly destructive use on the battlefield, and because the Air Commander had not tried to use it against him. [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] forced two of Starscream's scientists to ingest Dark Energon and the explosive result led to the Darkening of all of Megatron's soldiers. Megatron and Starscream both found the substance invigorating, but a deprivation study of the first two subjects showed they had become rabid, and Megatron vowed he would kill all his soldiers before he was deprived. The Darkened Decepticons attacked the remaining Autobot outposts on Cybertron, but to the Autobots' advantage, whenever a battle was prolonged, the Decepticons would have to flee or risk having the Dark Energon run out.

Soundwave learned of the [[Geosynchronous Energon Bridge]], which could transport vast amounts of energon from Cybertron to Trypticon to be corrupted. Starscream activated it, but it proved futile in quenching the Decepticons' thirst. Soundwave recalled the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]] within [[Teletraan-1]] and the [[Code Key]]s required to activate it. The Chamber would enable Megatron to corrupt Cybertron's [[core]] and flood the planet with Dark Energon. During the ensuing battle with [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]] for the Chamber, the more the Autobots killed the Decepticons, the more Dark Energon left their corpses to empower Megatron, who was able to knock Omega down and tear the Chamber from his chest.

After Megatron Darkened the core, [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]], [[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]] and [[Prowl (WFC)|Prowl]] launched a rescue of Sentinel Prime in [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]]. They were met with little resistance, aside from two gibbering guards. Optimus recognized the Dark Energon had taken its toll on Decepticon competence. Afterwards, he, [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] and [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]] ventured to the core to rid it of the poisonous Chamber. The Dark Energon briefly tempted Jetfire to try some, while it distressed Bumblebee to the point he physically tore out the corruption spikes on the core, though it allowed Optimus to remove the Chamber. The core told Optimus the Autobots would have to leave Cybertron while it healed the planet, and gave him the [[Matrix of Leadership]], which would one day act in concert with the core to restore their world. While leaving, Optimus chastised Megatron for turning his soldiers into addicts just to win the war. Starscream also vowed never to use the substance again. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}

====''Prime'' cartoon====
Dark Energon was so rare on Cybertron that it was practically non-existent. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}}

[[File:DarknessRising4-beholddarkenergon!.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Cue Vincent Price voiceover.]]
When Megatron returned from deep space after three years away, he revealed he'd found a new way to win the war: Dark Energon, a substance rumoured to be the blood of [[Unicron]] and possessing the power to raise the dead. A test with the corpse of [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] proved it could indeed do this, turning the dead into berserker [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcons]]; it could also turn machinery into animalistic robots, and merely touching it could render a Transformer ill. Megatron, being Megatron, thought it'd be a jolly good idea to shove some into his own [[spark]]. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}} He survived and began to gibber and rant about the power and how it was like he could hear Unicron's thoughts...

Optimus Prime recognised what Dark Energon was, and [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] was stunned to learn that's what they were facing. They went to the site of an old Transformer battle, knowing Megatron would plan to raise the fallen as an undead army with the Dark Energon... but got there too late to stop the tyrant! {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}} Megatron showed off by sending waves of Terrorcons to exhaust the two, and then revealed that was not his endgame. Discovering the Decepticons had built a [[space bridge]], they realized Megatron intended to reawaken Cybertron's fallen soldiers, and send them to destroy Earth. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 4}} Megatron threw his store of Dark Energon crystals into the space bridge, but before the Terrorcons could cross the space bridge, the Autobots sabotaged it, causing it to collapse on itself, taking Megatron and the Terrorcons with it. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}}

Luckily for Megatron, his Dark Energon infusion kept him alive until Starscream found him floating in space. Discovering the cause of his survival, Starscream ripped the Dark Energon crystal out and prepared to leave Megatron to die, only to have to take Megatron back to the ship when [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]]'s [[Deployer (WFC)|Deployer]] discovered them. {{storylink|Masters & Students}}

Megatron escaped from his own body into [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]]'s, and made him recover the Dark Energon crystal he had used to create the Terrorcon during the battle with Optimus and Ratchet, thereby facilitating his own body's revival. {{storylink|Out of His Head}}

While Megatron had revived himself, he had forgotten that Starscream possessed the original shard of Dark Energon ripped from him. Now back in a subordinate position, Starscream's previous opposition to using Dark Energon to raise an undead army vanished when he tried to raise [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] from the dead. Starscream broke the shard in half, one to raise Skyquake, the other to achieve symbiosis. While it managed to raise Skyquake, the new Terrorcon became trapped in the [[Shadowzone (dimension)|Shadowzone]], depriving Starscream of his new warrior. {{storylink|Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone}}

Following this time, Megatron angrily commented that his vision for Dark Energon was to give him an unstoppable army of the undead to command and conquer the cosmos. However, he was relegated to only holding a small piece that now still animated his spark and thus became determined to locate more. As such, he ordered his Decepticons to gather components for a new Space Bridge so that he could use it to find more Dark Energon. He also attacked Bumblebee and wounded [[Raf Esquivel]] who became infected with Dark Energon which Ratchet was forced to expel by using normal Energon to counteract its effect. Megatron also became plagued by visions of a dark figure and a volcano site.

Traveling alone to the site, he believed that the volcano on Earth was the location where his new Space Bridge would bring him a new source of Dark Energon from space. This led in a confrontation with Optimus Prime where Megatron eventually gained the upper hand. At the climax of the battle, a large deposit of Dark Energon erupted from the volcano to which a delighted Megatron learned that it was not to come from space, but from the planet Earth itself. This left a confused Optimus Prime to wonder about Dark Energon come from beneath the planet with the event coinciding with the tale told by the [[Ancient]]s in the [[Covenant of Primus]]. {{storylink|One Shall Fall}} The Dark Energon eruption was later determined to be pumped from Unicron himself, as he awakened in the [[Earth's core]]. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}}

The ''Nemesis'' still had stocks of Dark Energon on board when it crashed. Megatron used some to reactivate the warship's power core, only to discover that as a side effect, he had awoken an intelligence which controlled the ship. The warship's mind only returned to dormancy when the Dark Energon was extracted from the power core. {{storylink|Flying Mind}}

Megatron used a chunk of Dark Energon to forge the [[Dark Star Saber]], a counterpart to the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]]. The Dark version of the saber proved to be stronger than the original. {{storylink|Alpha/Omega}}

During Knock Out's experiments with [[Synthetic Energon]], Starscream had the bright idea of adding some Dark Energon into the mix, so that Megatron would be able to control the resulting troopers. Unfortunately the mix instead altered those it was infused into, causing them to burn through their energon reserves and turning them into energon-sucking zombies. {{storylink|Thirst}}

A revived Unicron, possessing Megatron's corpse, was able to create numerous weapons out of his own Dark Energon powers such as cannons, hammers, spears and hooks, the cannons of which were capable of forcing even a Predacon into stasis lock with just a few hits. Unicron would later use his own Dark Energon powers to create a Terrorcon legion from Predacon remains and use them to attack the Autobots, Decepticons and Predacons before having them go for Primus himself, only to be destroyed when Unicron was sealed away.{{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}}

It is currently unknown whether or not Megatron could still access the Dark Energon weapons he had during Unicron's possession of his body after he retook control of it.

===Yokohama Decepticon Secret Base===
{{stub|{{storylink|Yokohama Decepticon Secret Base}}}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
In [[Aurex 503.21 Gamma]], [[Alpha Q's universe]] was lit by a [[Super Energon]]/Dark Energon star. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/06/03}}

In [[Primax 509.28 Epsilon]], a hyper-intelligent [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] used the Dark Energon in Unicron's head to grant life to the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s, a feat that should have been thousands of years ahead of its time. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/23}}

One universe's [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] was addicted to dark energon. Thunderwing became a [[Herald of Unicron]] after the Lord of Chaos offered an endless supply of his own lifeblood to quench Thunderwing's thirst. {{storylink|ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/19}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
Disillusioned with [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] under [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s control, the [[Junkion (species)|Junkion]] [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] took a self-destructive path, ingesting substances such as Dark Energon and [[Nucleon Nail]]s, before a resurgent [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] inspired him back into action. {{storylink|Pax Megatronus}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
The [[G-Virus]] utilized Dark Energon to replicate the process which [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] used to remake [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] into [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Micro-Aggressions}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: War for Cybertron''===
[[File:MegatronDarkEnergon-WFC.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Grape; the traditional evil god blood flavor.]]
Dark Energon was discovered over ten thousand years ago. When the [[Transformer]] race learned of its powerful yet volatile nature, it was sealed away in an orbital space station and placed under the watchful eye of the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], including the scientific Jetfire and the former [[Sky Commander]], Starscream. At some point, experimentation on Dark Energon began, and a small quantity of the substance became unstable. The resulting explosion ripped apart an entire section of the space station; a level of destruction beyond any weapon known to the Cybertronians. The horrors of Dark Energon were noted by many, such as Jetfire, and it was deemed that it must remain sealed for the rest of time. This continued to be the case for centuries, causing the existence of Dark Energon to become a myth that few believed.

After learning the existence of this substance, Megatron took a fleet of cruisers to lay siege to the station, crashing his own ship into it to gain entrance. Once inside, he had to battle the forces of Starscream and Jetfire, both of whom attempted to dissuade him, claiming that Dark Energon was impossible to control. As Megatron drew closer to the storage chamber, Starscream attempted to destroy the last remnants of Dark Energon, but Megatron was able to breach the core before the Sky Commander could complete the destruction. When the dark substance was finally revealed, Megatron, believing himself to be worthy of such a weapon, confidently immersed himself in it.

Despite Starscream's insistence that Dark Energon destroyed everything it touched, the Decepticon leader managed to control it, emerging more powerful than ever. His first act was to infuse [[Brawl (WFC)|Brawl]] and [[Barricade (WFC)|Barricade]] with Dark Energon; claiming it was their birthright. His second act was to cut through the final defenses between himself and the Seekers in a matter of seconds, thanks to his new power. Seeing Dark Energon being tamed, Starscream offered his services to Megatron, claiming he knew of an Energon Bridge that could produce more of the substance. Seeing this as an act of betrayal, Jetfire escaped the station in order to inform [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Zeta Prime]] of this treachery.

[[File:DarkEnergonProduction-WFC.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Dark Energon forming via the Energon Bridge.]]
Shortly after this, Starscream, [[Skywarp (WFC)|Skywarp]], and [[Thundercracker (WFC)|Thundercracker]] travelled into the depths of Cybertron in order to reactivate the Energon Bridge. Facing many defenses and enemy [[Autobot]]s, they managed to corrupt the central generator of the Energon Bridge. Fending off the initial infection, the core attempted to defend itself and purge the Seekers, but the evil planes quickly brought it down. This allowed the Energon Bridge to activate and beam its contents to the orbital station, allowing mass production of Dark Energon.

With mass quantities of Dark Energon in his possession, Megatron sought to corrupt the whole of Cybertron by infesting the Core itself. To do so, he needed the [[Omega Key]] in order to get past the [[Omega Gate]] that barred entry to the centre of the Transformer homeworld. Thus, he assaulted [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] in order to claim it from the [[Stellar Galleries]]. However, Zeta Prime learnt of this and spirited the key to his [[Vaults]]. During his journey to claim the Key, Megatron used his personal store of Dark Energon to corrupt doorways that blocked his entry, and his army made use of bombers carrying payloads tainted with the stuff. By this time, the Autobots had developed defenses against the Dark Energon (including auto-purging turrets and doors resistant to the energy), but the Decepticons were able to cut through them in short order.

Megatron eventually claimed the Omega Key, but this simply activated Omega Supreme: the true key to the Core of Cybertron. During the battle with the giant Autobot, Megatron made liberal use of Dark Energon to corrupt the Guardian of Iacon: first by tainting the Energon batteries he used to repair himself, and then by blasting a huge beam of Dark Energon straight into his damaged chest. Using him to open the Omega Gate, the Decepticons placed Corruptors into position and infected the Core itself, spreading Dark Energon all across the planet.

The effects were immediate; Dark Energon crystals began sprouting all around the planet. Megatron made frequent announcements to the remaining Cybertronian population, urging them to accept the "gift" of Dark Energon. Cybertronian repair arrays attempted to contain the damage, but they could not slow down its effects; even the planet's [[Space slug|natural cleansing organisms]] were incapable of stopping it. In fact, Dark Energon even corrupted one such beast, transforming it into a ghastly abomination that spread Dark Energon and fed on the corrupted Core.

Upon his appointment to the position of [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] led the Autobots to free Omega Supreme from the Decepticons, curing him of his Dark Energon infection. Gaining entry past the Omega Gate, they went into the depths of Cybertron in order to reach the Core, where they aided the space slugs in clearing Dark Energon crystals and Decepticons alike. Eventually, they reached the Core and killed the corrupted slug, but the corruption had already taken its toll on the Core. In order to preserve itself, it had to enter into a hibernation mode that would last for millions of years, rendering the planet uninhabitable. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron}}

===''Transformers: Fall of Cybertron''===
The Dark Energon infection on Cybertron caused the planet's production of life-giving Energon to shut down, forcing the Autobots and Decepticons to stock pile every last drop they had. Megatron blamed Optimus Prime's interference for this turn of events. The infection of Cybertron's core also forced the Insecticons who lived near Cybertron's core to rise further to the surface to search for Energon. This allowed Shockwave to recruit them into the Decepticon ranks. A data log report revealed that the site of the first Space Bridge tower was suspected of being powered by Dark Energon, but was proven to be false. When rebuilding Megatron after his defeat at the hands of [[Metroplex (FOC)|Metroplex]], Soundwave used Dark Energon to revive the Decepticon leader. The infusion made him stronger, faster and a much deadlier foe than he was before. {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron}}

===''Transformers Prime: Terrorcon Defense''===
Dark Energon was the main point of struggle in the game as the selected Autobot had to keep away Vehicon forces from retrieving them and returning with Terrorcon reinforcements.

===''Transformers Prime: Battle For Energon''===
Bulkhead infiltrated the Decepticons' Dark Energon mines to snatch away several Dark Energon shards before the Decepticons could use them to raise an army of Terrorcons. {{storylink|Transformers Prime: Battle For Energon}}

===''Transformers: Prime - The Game''===
[[File:Transformers prime the game dark energon meteor.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
The Decepticons discovered a gigantic asteroid composed entirely of [[Dark Energon]] which the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' traveled into Earth's orbit to obtain. Once the Autobots became aware of this development, Ratchet sent [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]], [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]], [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] onto the surface of the ''Nemesis'' via [[GroundBridge]] to stop them. As the other Autobots take care of incoming [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon Jets]], Optimus fights his way along the ''Nemesis'' deck to the machinery tethering the asteroid and destroys the various cables. Just as Optimus gains the upper hand, the asteroid begins to crumble and the Autobots plummet to Earth. Megatron sent Starscream to recover as many of the meteorites as possible.

When Ratchet located Optimus, he found him under the claw of the monstrously huge robot half-buried in the Dark Energon meteorite, which in actuality is the agent of [[Unicron]], [[Thunderwing (Prime)|Thunderwing]]. After forcing Optimus to retreat, an unconscious Thunderwing is brought aboard the ''Nemesis'' and extracted from the meteorite. Knock Out explains that the giant Transformer is still missing parts of his body, perhaps embedded within other chunks of Dark Energon that had fallen to Earth. Megatron has Thunderwing revived, and the giant immediately makes threats. Megatron convinces Thunderwing that he's in no condition to continue his mission, but should he swear his loyalty to Megatron, he can be fully repaired. The Decepticons travel around to world to get the Dark Energon pieces and Thunderwing's body parts. After Thunderwing is restored and Megatron and the other Decepticons are defeated, Thunderwing engaged Optimus Prime, using various attacks and weapons that were made up of Dark Energon.

{{storylink|Transformers: Prime - The Game}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Prime''===
{{anchor|RustInPeace}}
[[File:Primetoy-CliffjumperRIP.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|''I'll close my eyes and make it disappear!'']]
*'''Rust In Peace Terrorcon Cliffjumper''' (Deluxe, [[2012]])
**''Accessories'': Dark Energon shard, "embedded" Dark Energon shard

:A [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2012 [[exclusive]], "Rust In Peace" Terrorcon Cliffjumper is a much more extensively-decoed and premium-packaged version of the "Terrorcon Cliffjumper" retool of the "First Edition" Cliffjumper mold, which was originally canceled worldwide, but was eventually released as an Asian market and [[Toys"R"Us|ToysЯUs]] [[exclusive]]. Whew! His [[paint operation]]s have been expanded from the original retail plans to give him more battle damage deco. He comes with two Dark Energon accessories; a long shard of the stuff, and a shorter, more rubbery one ending in an "energy splash" that can grasp around the edges of his chest to represent, well, him being stabbed with Dark Energon to bring him back to "life."

:He comes in a special case shaped like Cliffjumper's zombified head, which itself comes inside a box with Cliffjumper's chest printed on the front. Gruesome!

==Notes==
*Dark Energon shares several aspects of its nature with [[Angolmois]]; both are powerful, corrupting energies described as the life force of Unicron and buried in Earth. At [[BotCon 2011]], the ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'' staff stated the similarity was a coincidence. [[Ask Vector Prime]] has since equated the two terms.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Dark Energon''' (ダークエネルゴン ''Dāku Enerugon'')
*''Italian:'' '''Energon Oscuro'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Hēi'àn Néngliàng''' (黑暗能量, "Dark Energy")
*''Polish:'' '''Mroczny Energon'''
*''Spanish:'' '''Energon Oscuro'''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising substances]]
[[Category:Crystals]]
[[Category:Energon]]
[[Category:Generation 1 substances]]
[[Category:Intoxicants]]
[[Category:Power sources]]
[[Category:Prime]]
[[Category:Substances]]
[[Category:Unicron]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron]]
[[Category:Wings Universe]]

Starscream (WFC)

2018-02-18T15:39:17Z

Platypar-1: /* Prime cartoon */

{{faction|decepticon|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Starscream}}
:''Starscream is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[File:StarscreamPrime.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|In a cruel twist of fate, perhaps the most legitimately competent Starscream ever, but no one will take him seriously for even a minute.]]
'''Starscream''' was an Air Commander of the [[Energon]] [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s finest air warriors. His dream was to recover the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and become the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] that would return the Transformers to the [[Golden Age]], and he saw opportunity with the rebel upstart [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]. A patient and polite schemer, Starscream used to wish Megatron would drop the heroic anti-[[caste system|caste]] charade and be more honest about his lust for power.

These days, he alternatively wishes Megatron would stop being obsessed with his lust for power and chafes under having to work for such a madman. While he serves as Megatron's right-hand man, he constantly looks for a way to become the commander himself and Megatron knows it: Starscream's extremely volatile personality means he is not adept at hiding his true intent. Fortunately for Megatron, Starscream is prone to panic, cowardice and bombastic gestures, meaning that it'd take exceptional circumstances for Starscream to actually manage to get behind him to shove the knife in.

He may be a scientist, but [[#Notes|we're not quite sure]].

{{quote|That shot was perfect, much like the one who fired it!|Starscream after achieving a headshot|''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]''}}

==Fiction==
===Aligned novels===
Starscream may or may not have had a history as a scientist. Regardless of what he did prior, in the early days before the war began he was one of the leaders of the Cybertronian Air Command. When [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] fell into chaos following bombings by [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]'s [[Decepticon]] followers, Starscream was posted as [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Sentinel Prime]]'s bodyguard. He was with the Prime at [[Altihex]] Casino during a performance by comedian [[Armorhide (WFC)|Armorhide]] when the Decepticons attacked. Sentinel's attempt to flee rather than fight back made Starscream ashamed of his leader, so he had [[Skywarp (WFC)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (WFC)|Thundercracker]] take him to [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] Prison rather than the safety of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. This earned him loyalty with Megatron, but wary of how sour a revolution could quickly turn Starscream opted not to be directly involved in the gladiator's operations, posting his Seekers at [[Moonbase One|Moon Base One]] and [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]] Station. Megatron was intrigued by why Starscream wanted to occupy "that semi-sentient pile of junk" but despite [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]]'s research they found no clues, with information regarding the Station seemingly censored.

Whenever Starscream's Seekers were present, the Decepticons were victorious in battle against the [[Autobot]]s. Starscream however, found Megatron's strategies overly convoluted. As the war devolved into a siege of Iacon, Megatron and [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]], by probing into forgotten areas of the [[DataNet]], discovered Trypticon was a storage of [[Dark Energon]], the life essence of [[Unicron]]. When questioned, Starscream explained since even the Air Command was not sure what Dark Energon was, he had forbidden its use, fearing the damage Megatron's gladiators would unleash. Megatron forgave Starscream, noting how he "was smart enough to be afraid of it", and was granted access.

Starscream sent a message to the Autobots proposing a meeting. Optimus only granted him a communication channel. Starscream stated if the Autobots did not know what Dark Energon was (they did) they would need to find out — and asked what would he could expect from them if something happened to Megatron. Optimus replied that he sought a just peace. Starscream said he understood, broke off the conversation and flew to [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] Prison where Sentinel was held. Starscream offered Sentinel a chance to redeem his cowardly behavior at Altihex. The ultimate aim of this road to becoming Decepticon leader was to become [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] in a peace settlement with Optimus, and lead Cybertron back to its [[Golden Age]]. Starscream then flew to Moon Base One when Megatron ordered him to Trypticon, where he found the Decepticons had invaded the Station and slaughtered and maimed his scientists.

Megatron and [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] forced Starscream to select two survivors to absorb [[Dark Energon]], for what was a successful experiment. Requiring more for the Decepticon war effort, Megatron ordered Starscream to capture the [[Geosynchronous Energon Bridge]], below the ruins of [[Crystal City]]. Empowered by his first taste of Dark Energon, Starscream activated the device that transmitted Energon to the Station for it to be Darkened. But the Bridge still did not produce enough, and Starscream was ordered to find the [[Code Key]] of Power and Key of Justice to the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]] underneath the [[High Council Tower]] in Iacon. Starscream decided it was time to release Sentinel, renouncing Dark Energon after realizing Megatron had turned his soldiers into addicts. Starscream found the Key of Power within the [[High Council Tower|Hall of Justice]] and flew underground to find his plan had failed, as Megatron had mortally wounded Sentinel. He could see within Sentinel's body was the Key of Justice, but was prevented from taking it by [[Blackout (WFC)|Blackout]]. Megatron fought Starscream to a standstill, sparing him because he realized he was a better soldier than a would-be example.

As Megatron entered the Chamber, [[Teletraan-1]] activated the legendary [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]] to fly it away. Aware Starscream had a better chance of escaping Omega's awakening, Megatron ordered Starscream and his Seekers to down Omega, in exchange for more Dark Energon. Giving up on his attempt to give up his addiction, Starscream gleefully accepted and they successfully blew Omega out of the sky, allowing the Decepticons to retrieve the Chamber and corrupt the [[core]]. As Cybertron became uninhabitable, the Autobots left on the largest starship ever built - the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]''. Starscream left the planet with Megatron as they gave pursuit on Trypticon, now a ''Nemesis''-class supercruiser. The two ships entered a [[space bridge]], which separated the two ships to unknown parts of space... {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

{{note|Starscream's involvement in the preceding events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the comic "[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]."}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}} {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}}}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
In [[Uniend 610.23 Zeta]], {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime}} Starscream lead the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s in the Battle at [[Tyger Pax]]. Focused on taking the pressure off the Decepticons' vulnerable rear, Starscream opened fire on [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] to protect [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]], and then forced the Autobot into a retreat, despite [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]]'s attempts to bring Starscream down.

After the [[AllSpark]] was launched into space, Starscream, stunned and damaged, tumbled out of control and crashed on the surface of Tyger Pax, though he recovered in time to retreat with Megatron. {{storylink|Bumblebee at Tyger Pax}}

===IDW Aligned comics===
Visiting [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]]'s citadel to check up on his research, Starscream was annoyed to find that the scientist was prioritizing his experiments on [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] over supplying the Decepticon war effort with more energon. He failed to see how the "bugs" would win them the war but gave up on trying to convince Shockwave otherwise, choosing to let Megatron deal with him instead. {{storylink|Secrets (FOC)|Secrets}} Starscream later participated in Megatron's assault on [[Metroplex (FOC)|Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Last Stand}} {{storylink|Fragmentation (FOC)|Fragmentation}}

While [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]]'s mind was suffering from Shockwave's experiments, he had a vision of himself being approached by Starscream and throwing him into a nearby console. {{storylink|Fall}} This vision eventually came to pass, and Grimlock was able to escape from Shockwave's lab by exploiting Starscream's greed and lust for power. {{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 4|Rage of the Dinobots #4}}

[[File:Primecomic-Starscream.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|I am okay with the events that unfolding currently.]]
Starscream had been on [[Earth]] at some point, but was assigned by Megatron to scour the galaxy for remnants of space bridge technology. Returning to their dead homeworld, Starscream built a weapons lab in Kaon and began building a space bridge. He was informed by his [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s elsewhere they had apprehended the Autobot spy [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]]. Later, after basking in the glory of successfully activating the space bridge that would return them to Earth and its [[Energon]], Starscream realized Cliffjumper was present. The Autobot claimed to be freed by his captors after defecting to the Decepticons, and warned them of [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]]: this ruse successfully distracted Starscream long enough for Arcee to activate and overload the space bridge, but he jumped in after them moments before the lab was blown sky high.

Falling to Earth, a dazed Starscream picked up a [[bunny rabbit]], commenting that [[human]]s were smaller than he remembered. [[Scanning]] a fleet of jets flying overhead, he found Cliffjumper and Arcee driving on a road and launched a missile at them. He picked up Arcee's blown off arm and started battering Cliffjumper with it, but the Autobot blew up the rock formation above them and crushed Starscream with the rubble. Having received Starscream's signal, [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] came to his rescue, and the duo pursued and overwhelmed the Autobots. Just as Starscream was about to send them back to the [[AllSpark]], Optimus jumped and landed on him, while gunning Breakdown away. As Starscream greeted his opponent, [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] tapped him on the shoulder and sent him flying. Optimus opted not to finish the job, allowing Starscream to escape and fight another day as he got Cliffjumper and Arcee to base. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)|Transformers: Prime}}
{{-}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Steve Blum]] (English), [[Satoshi Tsuruoka]] (Japanese)|[[Jiang Ke]] (Chinese), [[Leopoldo Ballesteros]] (Spain-Spanish), [[Jin-uk Hong]] (Korean), [[Gianluca Iacono]] (Italian), [[Gerald Paradies]] (German), [[José Antonio Macías]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Nicolas Dubois]] (French), [[Nestor Chiesse]] (Brazilian Portuguese), [[Tero Koponen]] (Finnish)}}

[[File:DarknessRising1-Starscreamsneer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|One look sells him as Starscream.]]
Before Starscream joined Megatron and the Decepticons, he was commander of a squadron of Energon Seekers on Cybertron. {{Storylink|Partners}} During the War, Starscream was present at [[Tyger Pax]] when [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] interrogated the Autobot [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]]. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}}

Following the [[Great Exodus]], Starscream intercepted a coded Autobot transmission and managed to trap [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] and [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]]. When his interrogation methods failed to extract anything he could use to decode the transmission, he took them to [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]], who used a [[cortical psychic patch]] on Arcee and revealed the transmission to be from Optimus Prime on [[Earth]]. Upon being questioned by Cliffjumper of his lack of bravery, Starscream tried to kill the Autobot only to be captured by Arcee. Upon being threatened by Arcee, he cracked and revealed Shockwave's plan; to build a space bridge under Kaon. Starscream was then knocked out but regained contentiousness and pursued the two Autobots to the space bridge. Unfortunately, the space bridge was destroyed with Shockwave, Cliffjumper, and Arcee still inside, but Starscream was able to escape. Starscream presumably took the Decepticons to Earth via the Nemesis soon after. {{storylink|Out of the Past}}

When the Decepticons arrived on Earth, Starscream scouted an old Decepticon ship called the ''[[Harbinger]]'' that had crashed landed years back. However, he failed to record the coordinates of the crash site or find the [[Immobilizer]]. {{Storylink|Partners}} In time, Megatron departed Earth to gather an army out in space, leaving Starscream in charge. Starscream spent his time sending out [[Vehicon (Prime)|Decepticon grunts]] to search for [[Energon]] deposits{{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}}, and managed to set up a lucrative energon mine in secret. {{storylink|Rock Bottom}}

Three years later, one of Starscream's energon searches was interrupted by Cliffjumper. Once Cliffjumper was defeated by the Vehicons, Starscream personally killed the Autobot. [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] alerted him to Arcee's location, and Starscream decided she would be their next target. Later, when Soundwave received a signal from deep space, Starscream hesitantly opened the space bridge for Megatron's return. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} Megatron revealed to Starscream that he'd brought back [[Dark Energon]], and Starscream provided Cliffjumper's corpse so they could test the substance's reanimation properties. When the undead Cliffjumper's signal led the Autobots to the mine, Starscream blew the facility up on Megatron's orders. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}}

[[File:DarknessRising3-interrogateFowler.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"No, Mister Fowler, I expect you to be saved at the last minute!"]]
Following a test of Dark Energon on himself, Megatron took off for parts unknown, leaving Starscream in charge once more. When Soundwave picked up [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]]'s transmissions, Starscream had the human captured and began trying to extract the location of the Autobot base from him. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}} The interrogation almost succeeded, but for the arrival of Arcee, Bumblebee and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] who, after a standoff, forced Starscream to retreat. Once Megatron returned to the ship, he was outraged at Starscream's actions and proceeded to beat his subordinate for "delaying his plans". Starscream managed to quell his master's anger by announcing he had a way to get their plans back on course. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 4}}

[[File:DarknessRising5-ohgeez.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Oh my God. It's called toothpaste, use it.]]
As it turned out, his plan was to send Soundwave down to use the [[Giant Sized Array]] radio telescope on Earth to set the space bridge's target. Once the bridge was properly targeted, Starscream opened it so that Megatron could throw the chunk of Dark Energon though. Starscream moved the ship back to a safe distance when the fighting on the rim of the space bridge became more intense, while imploring his master to withdraw as well. Alas, the space bridge exploded, apparently taking Megatron with it, and Starscream gave a brief eulogy before declaring himself leader {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}} and danced in celebration while imploring the troops to chant his name. {{storylink|Patch (episode)|Patch}}
[[File:Patch Starscream dances.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|What'cha doin' on your back?! You should be dancing, YEAH!!!!]]

[[File:Masters&Students-SoundwaveStarscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|*ping*"FINE! FINE! I'LL WRITE A THANK-YOU NOTE!"]]
Starscream's speeches were poorly received. Intending to find more potentially-loyal warriors, Starscream took Soundwave to try to revive the long-dormant [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]. To Starscream's disappointment, Skyquake was loyal only to Megatron, and interested only in fighting the Autobots who arrived. A signal detected by Soundwave sent Starscream to the location of the space bridge explosion, where he found Megatron's body and ripped the sliver of Dark Energon from it. He was forced by the observing [[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]] to return the body to the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', where he also learned that Skyquake had been terminated by the Autobots. {{storylink|Masters & Students}}

When [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] arrived on Earth, Starscream had him captured and substituted [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]] with the mission to open the Autobot [[GroundBridge]] to let the Decepticon forces into the Autobot base. Unfortunately Wheeljack broke free before the plan could succeed, and as a result, Makeshift was expelled from the Autobot base onto the ''Nemesis'' hull with an activated grenade. Starscream vacated the hull before Makeshift exploded. {{storylink|Con Job}} After Soundwave picked up on [[Dynamic Nuclear Generation System|another Autobot operation]], Starscream figured it was a good opportunity to get rid of the Autobots while they were distracted, and sent a squadron of Vehicons on a search and destroy mission. {{storylink|Convoy (episode)|Convoy}}

[[File:DeusExMachina-Screamer grins.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"We've had too much Energon shed. I think that a cleansing is in order."]]
To Starscream's discomfort, the crew held a vote and he was obliged to call in [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] and [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] to aid in Megatron's recovery. The discovery that an [[Energon Harvester]] was located in an museum on Earth was all the excuse Starscream needed to put that on hold, and the other Decepticons soon obtained the device for him. While they were testing it in [[Greece]], Bulkhead attacked them and destroyed the Harvester. {{storylink|Deus ex Machina}} Starscream was irritated by Knock Out's participation in street racing, and eventually decided to make an example of him. {{storylink|Speed Metal}}

[[File:OutOfHisHead-grabby.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|That's ''not'' how ATB Megatron and Starscream combine!]]
Some time later, after the ship's electromagnetic shielding failed, Starscream put the Vehicons to work fixing it. Offering Knock Out a post as second-in-command, Starscream persuaded him to help convince Soundwave that Megatron was a lost cause. They were interrupted by Arcee and Bumblebee, who were doing something with Megatron's corpse, and after chasing the two Autobots off, they discovered that Megatron no longer had any brain activity. {{storylink|Sick Mind}} Overjoyed at this, Starscream began a new plan, constructing a heat ray which he attempted to use to melt a glacier to get to a huge [[energon]] deposit. Unfortunately, not only did the Autobots arrive and destroy the heat ray, but Megatron was resurrected and dragged the protesting Starscream away for punishment. {{storylink|Out of His Head}}

[[File:Shadowzone-gah.jpg|thumb|225px|Damn, in another [[Starscream (Movie)|continuity]] the arm comes off and they mock it in this one.]]
Starscream ended up in the infirmary as a result of Megatron's punishment, but continued undaunted in his plans. He took the chunk of Dark Energon he'd been hiding, and went to the site of Skyquake's grave, intending to resurrect the warrior as well as imbuing himself with Dark Energon. Unfortunately the Autobots arrived before Skyquake rose, and Starscream had to retreat through the Decepticon GroundBridge, albeit minus his right arm. After subjecting himself to treatment from Knock Out, Starscream returned to the site to confirm whether Skyquake had risen, only to be attacked by Skyquake's zombified right arm. {{storylink|Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone}}

When Breakdown was captured to [[MECH]], Starscream's suggestion they rescue their comrade was turned down by Megatron. Starscream went anyway, and found Breakdown had already been rescued by Bulkhead, but escorted Breakdown back to the ship. {{storylink|Operation: Breakdown}} At an old energon mine, Megatron confronted Starscream about his many transgressions and prepared to terminate his subordinate. Starscream was only saved by the arrival of the Autobots, but on escaping the collapsed mine, realized that he would have to go back in and attempt to rescue Megatron, or face his master's possible wrath later. Venturing back inside, he ended up tangling with the Autobots, and when Megatron later found him, he had been left supporting a large boulder. {{storylink|Rock Bottom}}

[[File:Partners-ScreamPrisoner.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|Why am I always seen like this? Chest and lower body off to one side, head towards y'all.]]
Starscream was sent with [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] to locate the ''Harbinger'' wreck, only for the spider to leave him webbed up when it turned out the ship was broken in half and the weapon they sought was in the other half. Starscream was found by the Autobots and attempted to convince them he wanted to switch sides, even pointing them to the location of the weapon Airachnid was after. Unfortunately he let slip he'd been the one to kill Cliffjumper, provoking Arcee into attacking him. After fighting her, he was able to limp away, though he decided from then on he would be an independent. {{storylink|Partners}}

Many months later, Starscream snuck on board the ''Nemesis'' to steal [[energon cube]]s and blundered into the workroom that was being used by the recently-amnesiac Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 1}} Starscream soon realized what was going on, but when more Vehicons arrived, he was wounded while fleeing the ship. He contacted the Autobots to exchange information for medical help. When [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] and Bulkhead arrived, it turned out they already knew about Optimus's situation, but were interested in what he knew about the space bridge, so he was able to trade the information for aid. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 2}}

[[File:OperationBumblebee1 Silas meets Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"Wanna know how I got these scars?"]]
Tracking a signal, Starscream stumbled upon a MECH trap already sprung by Bumblebee. He was intrigued and followed the MECH helicopter and watched as they tried to install the [[transformation cog|T-cog]] they'd taken into a robot. When their attempt to make the robot work failed, Starscream revealed himself and managed to strike a partnership with them. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}} With Starscream's help, MECH secured a source of energon and Starscream was there when they used it on their robot. As Bumblebee came looking for his T-cog, Starscream helped defend it, but when it looked like Bumblebee might get it back, Starscream blasted it and left. Unfortunately Silas was less than impressed, and after a short nap thanks to MECH's weapons, Starscream woke up minus his own T-cog. {{Storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 2}}

When [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] arrived on Earth looking for Skyquake, Megatron informed him of Skyquake's passing, noting that Skyquake had perished under Starscream's command. {{storylink|Loose Cannons}}

[[File:Crossfire Starscream injured.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67|Ouch.]]
While scavenging for energon, Starscream found that Airachnid had been cast out from the Decepticons and obtained a pet in the form of an [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]]. She spurned his suggestion that they team up to defeat Megatron, and he barely escaped with his life. Wounded, he employed his previous trick to get medical help from the Autobots in exchange for information about Airachnid's activities, and even later saved Arcee from Airachnid, sparing her life like she spared his much, much earlier. {{storylink|Crossfire}}

Starscream returned to the ''Harbinger'' in search of energon, and instead found a laboratory containing five [[protoform]]s and the equipment necessary for [[cloning]]. He had soon whipped up five [[Starscream clone (Prime)|Starscream clone]]s, which he dispatched to dispatch Megatron. Unfortunately he soon discovered that he could sympathetically feel every injury they suffered, which gave him a good idea how the mission was going. When the last clone returned to report failure, Starscream sensed the clone's treachery and blasted it. Fully aware of the effect on him, he terminated the clone, screaming in their shared pain as he did. {{storylink|Armada (episode)|Armada}}

[[File:Triangulation Starscream Apex armor.jpg|thumb|upright=1.34|Starscream SMASH!]]
He was about to operate on himself to install the clone's T-cog when the ship detected the Decepticons sending teams out to locations around the globe. Intrigued, he used the ship's GroundBridge to reach [[Antarctica]], only to be captured by Dreadwing, whom he at first mistook for Skyquake. Eventually, Optimus arrived, and after Dreadwing was buried in an avalanche and the Vehicons accompanying him were dispatched, Starscream now found himself as Optimus's prisoner. The two followed a trail to a human research station where the relic everyone was after was being held. Dreadwing soon arrived and another battle between him and Optimus took place. As they fought, Starscream freed the relic, the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]], from the ice block containing it and claimed it as his own. Covered in a full body suit and towering over both of them, Starscream used the armor to fight both Optimus and Dreadwing, a fight in which he was the aggressor for once in a long time. Though Starscream had enhanced strength and was rendered invulnerable, he still couldn't fly, and a few of Dreadwing's bombs created a hole in the ice which he fell through. He was subsequently forced to plod along the bottom of the ocean. {{storylink|Triangulation}}

[[File:NewRecruit-Starscreammonkey.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Next on his list of cat-related videos is Nyan Ravage.]]
Back at the ''Harbinger'', Starscream discovered a photo of [[Red Energon]] on the [[Internet]], as well as a dancing monkey which came as much amusement to him. He took the Apex Armor with him, tracking the substance down to a dockyard where he was confronted by Optimus, Arcee and Bumblebee. Donning the armor, he attempted to retrieve the Red Energon first, and managed to rip a chunk off after Optimus knocked him off the crane. While he was trying to tip the crane over, [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] arrived, and using a [[phase shifter]], removed Starscream from the Apex Armor. The Decepticon responded by firing a missile at the three Autobots on the crane and escaping with a chunk of Red Energon. {{storylink|New Recruit}}

Starscream set about refining the Red Energon, though the process was slow and only yielded enough for one or two doses. Alerted to a Decepticon operation by the ''Harbinger'''s computers, he used it on himself and soon found Smokescreen had uncovered a relic. Using his new hyperspeed to blindside him, Starscream was able to obtain one of the [[Omega Key]]s, which he later overheard Bulkhead describing as a way to revitalize Cybertron. {{storylink|Hard Knocks}}

[[File:TFP Inside Job Starscream fistful of keys.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|SQUEE! I've collected all four!]]
Though thinking of restoring Cybertron and ruling it himself, Starscream decided that he didn't have the proper resources to do so. Coming up with a plan, Starscream lured Optimus, Ratchet and Bulkhead to a remote location with the promise of the key he'd found in return for the installation of the T-Cog from his clone. In reality, he used his remaining Red Energon to allow him to infiltrate the Autobot base while leaving the clone behind for the Autobots to find. While stealing the other three keys from, the Autobots figured out his clone was a ruse, and Starscream only just managed to get back through the Ground Bridge. After taking a moment to taunt the Autobots, the Red Energon wore off, and he quickly bridged away to the ''Nemesis'', with the Omega Keys as a peace offering to Megatron. {{storylink|Inside Job}}

[[File:PatchMegatronStarscream.JPG|thumb|left|upright=1.4| This feels familiar...]]
Requesting to rejoin the Decepticons, the unconvinced Megatron subjected Starscream to a cortical psychic patch and began rummaging in his memories to determine his true motives. Despite the incriminating nature of most of the memories, Megatron's analysis of Starscream's strengths and weaknesses (including the loss of his T-cog and the fact that Starscream is not the only untrustworthy Decepticon on the Nemesis), has him decide to allow Starscream to serve by his side, as he is better with him than against him. Starscream was so relieved by the turn of events that he thanked the All Spark, but Dreadwing was not so pleased about this development. {{storylink|Patch (episode)|Patch}}

[[File:RegenerationOmegaKeysHologram.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Knock Out restored Starscream's T-Cog, though immediately afterwards Starscream was attacked by a murderous Dreadwing and had to be saved by Megatron. After Starscream helped Knock Out unlock the secret of the Omega Keys, Megatron left him in charge of the ''Nemesis''. Starscream used information gathered by Soundwave to kidnap the Autobots' three human friends and took them to Cybertron for Megatron to use as hostages. {{storylink|Regeneration (Prime)|Regeneration}}

After handing over [[Jack Darby]] in exchange for two of the keys, Starscream took part in the activation of the [[Omega Lock]]. He survived the explosion caused by the Lock's destruction at Optimus's hand, and when Knock Out attempted a quip, knocked the medic down and demanded he tend to Megatron. Starscream returned to Earth with Megatron to take part in an attack on the Autobot base, during which he shot down Wheeljack's ship, the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]'', with Wheeljack still inside. Following the attack, he and Megatron landed in the remains of the base. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour}}

While the other Decepticons dug around in the ruins, Starscream more productively had Wheeljack pulled from the wreckage of the ''Jackhammer''. When human military forces turned up, Starscream offered to unleash the armada on them, but Megatron dealt with the matter using [[Darkmount (Earth)|Darkmount]]'s fusion cannons. His interrogation of Wheeljack did not go nearly as well. {{storylink|Darkmount, NV}}

With the arrival of Shockwave, Megatron appointed the newcomer second lieutenant in charge of science, usurping Starscream's role slightly. Starscream attempted to get his own back by discovering a photo of Ratchet on the internet, only to be embarrassed when it was switched for a picture of a dancing monkey by Raf. He attempted a new gambit—allowing Wheeljack to escape with a tracking device, believing it would lead them to the other Autobots, however Wheeljack discovered the bug and turned the tables on the pursuing Decepticons. Megatron's anger was only stemmed by Shockwave bringing [[Predaking (Prime)|a Predacon he cloned]] to Earth. {{storylink|Scattered}}

Starscream complained to Knock Out about the pressures of his position. When the Predacon returned from its flight to catch Autobots empty-handed, Starscream noted it was a pity the beast couldn't tell them why it failed. {{storylink|Prey (episode)|Prey}} Starscream was pleased when Decepticon monitoring finally bore fruit and located the Autobots. Unfortunate this turned out to be a series of diversions designed to have the Decepticons spread their forces out, and Megatron was not happy that Starscream fell for it. Darkmount subsequently came under attack and though Starscream did his best to coordinate a defense, the battle ended with him ordering a retreat to the ''Nemesis'' as the base was destroyed. {{storylink|Rebellion (Prime)|Rebellion}} When it looked like the Decepticons were about to embark on another scavenger hunt, Starscream was dismayed, but fortunately it turned out that Shockwave had micro-chipped all his creations, and the fossils they needed would be easy to find. {{storylink|Project Predacon}}

[[File:ChainOfCommandInForItNow.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The hills are alive with the sound of Starscream's butthurt.]]
Following the surprise return of the existing Predacon, Starscream was dismayed to find it put in his charge. He had immense trouble controlling the beast and resorted to using the Apex Armor to protect himself from its attacks. Megatron sent Starscream and the Predacon to [[Scotland]], where they found the Autobots had destroyed a team of Decepticons hunting for bones there. While the Predacon took on the Autobots, Starscream found Miko trying to reach Magnus's ship and accidentally lost the Apex Armor to her. Battle ensued, but when the Predacon left for the ''Nemesis'', Starscream and his two seekers found themselves outnumbered by Autobots and retreated. {{storylink|Chain of Command (Prime)|Chain of Command}} In Megatron's bad books again, Starscream was further inconvenienced when the Predacon damaged the ship's communication dish. Though he tried to have it repaired by the Vehicons, it didn't go so well, and Megatron eventually found out. {{storylink|Plus One (Prime)|Plus One}}

Starscream found Knock Out in the middle of experimenting with [[Synthetic Energon]], and had the medic add Dark Energon to the mix, believing it would allow Megatron to control the results. Instead the new mix transformed Cylas into an energon-sucking zombie and created a plague which resulted in Knock Out and Starscream being chased through the ship. Confronted by Megatron, they were forced to admit what they were done, and were sent to locate and destroy Cylas. They eventually found he had already been dispatched, but to Starscream's dismay, the deed had been done by the recently freed Airachnid. Fortunately he didn't have to deal with her as well, but he later had to face Megatron's wrath over his part in the affair. {{storylink|Thirst}}

When Megatron took him to another abandoned mine, Starscream assumed his demise was near, but they were merely visiting Shockwave's off-site laboratory. The Predacon unexpectedly arrived and Starscream hit it with a metal bar, only for it to transform and speak. The Decepticons quickly realized that despite Predaking's loyalty, it would not take him and his fellow Predacons long to realize their superiority to the Decepticons, so Starscream hatched a plan to kill two birds with one stone, luring the Autobots to the laboratory so its destruction could be blamed on them. The plan succeeded, and in the aftermath, the Decepticons discovered that the synthetic energon stored at the base had created cybermatter. {{storylink|Evolution}} Starscream managed to talk his way out of being disfigured by Shockwave over not warning the latter that the Autobots were attacking the lab. As Shockwave was put in charge of perfecting the Synthetic Energon formula, Megatron assigned Starscream to gather technology to repair the Omega Lock, which they would need for a delivery mechanism. {{storylink|Minus One}}

After establishing the location of the Autobot base when they kidnapped Ratchet, Starscream was sent with his armada to destroy the hanger. He did so with aplomb, unaware that the Autobots had swapped the letters on the hangers and he'd destroyed the wrong one. {{storylink|Persuasion}} The error came back to bite him when the Decepticons detected an [[Chip|Autobot probe]] carrying Laserbeak's transponder. Starscream went out and personally destroyed the probe before fleeing through a GroundBridge to escape Optimus. Back on the ''Nemesis'', when Predaking found out about the Decepticons' earlier treachery and went on a rampage, Starscream aided Megatron by blasting Predaking in the back. Though the Predacon was defeated, the ship next came under attack by Autobots. {{storylink|Synthesis}}

Starscream took his squad of Vehicons and encountered Arcee and Bumblebee. They battled the two Autobots, but were driven back to the Omega Lock room where Starscream tried unsuccessfully to get his hands on the Star Saber which Smokescreen had brought along. Starscream watched in horror as Megatron was killed by Bumblebee, but his desire to avenge his leader was unable to be fulfilled, as Shockwave dragged him away. The pair escaped the ship in a lifepod, somewhere over Cybertron. {{storylink|Deadlock}}

[[File:Predaconsrising-Starscreamupthecreek.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67|No! Bad pets! Bad! Don't you want to know what the fox says?!?]]
As Shockwave continued to try to clone Predacons, Starscream searched for more bones, and was soon assisted by [[Darksteel (Prime)|Darksteel]] and [[Skylynx]]. The two Predacons eventually led him to a whole burial ground of Predacon remains, but as they were gathering their find up, they were witness to the apparent return of Megatron. Unfortunately it instead turned out to be Unicron using Megatron's body, and as the dark god created an army of undead Predacons, Starscream fled.

Finding the warship, he freed Knock Out and some Vehicons and attempted to retake the ship, only for Knock Out to betray him. He was locked in a cell, however when the warship crashed during the battle against Unicron, he was freed. Once Megatron was free of Unicron's will, Starscream approached him, believing he would resume leadership of the Decepticons, but Megatron was no longer interested in the Decepticon cause. Starscream therefore went to [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]] to take his own rightful place as Decepticon ruler, only for Predaking, Darksteel and Skylynx to arrive looking to settle scores with him. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}}

===Toy bios===
Once upon a time, Starscream was an honorable soldier who fought to defend Cybertron. His long isloation aboard an orbital platform changed all that, making him greedy and ambitious, and he jumped at the chance to join Decepticons and get to lead troops again. {{storylink|Starscream (WFC)#Generations|Generations Starscream}} This path would lead to him binging on Dark Energon, revelling in the power it gave him! {{storylink|Starscream (WFC)#Prime|Dark Energon Starscream}}

Starscream, whatever you might think, ''isn't'' running away all the time: he's actually making calculated retreats and when the enemy is going "ha ha Starscream's run away", he comes back without warning and wipes them out. {{storylink|Starscream (WFC)#Prime|Voyager Starscream}}

===Titan ''Prime'' comic===
[[File:Titan4.6 Starscream holding president.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The president's been kidnapped by Decepticons! Are you a bad enough dude to save the president?]]
Starscream accompanied [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] on a trip to [[Antarctica]] to attack the [[Yamal|NS ''Yamal'']]. He carried the [[static lance]] that Megatron intended to use to detonate the ship's nuclear reactors, and when the Autobots arrived to intercede, Starscream used the weapon to knock [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] out. He tried to do the same to [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], but the Autobot dodged the blow and kicked him in the head, taking the lance himself and ruining the Decepticons' plan. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.3|Ice Breaker}}

Tasked by Megatron with trying to draw the Autobots out, Starscream attacked and captured [[Air Force One]], taking it to the [[Grand Canyon]]. He sent a message demanding Optimus Prime's surrender in exchange for the safe return of the [[President of the United States|President]], but the Autobots turned up in force. Starscream's accompaniment of Vehicons was soon quashed, and Optimus rescued the President, whom Starscream was using as a human shield, by chopping the Decepticon's left arm off. Defeated, Starscream fled. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.6|All the President's 'Bots!}}

Starscream was appalled when Megatron revealed the latest plan—pitting the Vehicons against each other in a series of deathmatches to ensure their army contained only the toughest. He was even more shocked when Megatron expected ''him'' to fight against [[Fearstorm]]. Starscream was able to defeat the much-larger Decepticon through application of his wits; he first managed to snap off the pointed end of on the bars enclosing their match, then used it to pin Fearstorm's arms to the ground. Fearstorm was thus incapacitated, leaving Starscream easy access to the key that granted him victory; his opponent's spark. Afterwards, Megatron was content to let Starscream return to the ship. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.7|Megatron's Law}}

On Soundwave's prompting, Starscream set up an ambush for the Autobots in [[The Wave]]. When it predictably went badly for the Decepticons, Starscream demanded his companion take matters into his own hands. Soundwave did, and as a result Starscream had to later help Soundwave look for his missing hand. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.12|The Evil Shred}}
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.17|Collider Scope}} {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.18|Power Outage}} {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.20|Starscream's Beast}}}}

===Eaglemoss ''Prime'' comic===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Horrible TV}}}}

===''Tales of the Beast Hunters''===
When [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] returned from a battle with the news that [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] had apparently perished in a mysterious explosion, everyone on the ''Nemesis'' assumed Starscream was to blame, simply because he had repeatedly expressed an interest in becoming Decepticon leader. He had to go on the run, all the while Megatron would turn up alive so his name would be cleared. {{storylink|Tales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 7}} Dreadwing managed to track him down, but he convinced Dreadwing that he was not the one who eliminated Megatron, on the grounds that he would immediately take [[Decepticon leader]]ship, rather than flee, should Megatron die by his hands. Dreadwing believed him, and ordered his assistance in finding Megatron. {{storylink|Tales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 14}}

===''Regeneration One''===
[[File:Gas skunk blackarachnia jetstorm leobreaker starscream war to end all wars.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67]]
As the [[Dark Matrix (G1)|Dark Matrix creature]] tortured [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Circuit Smasher]] with visions of his [[Sparkplug Witwicky|dead father]] in [[Zero Space]], cracks began to appear in the membrane of infinite worlds. Starscream could be seen through one, alongside [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]], [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]], [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], and [[Gas Skunk]]. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe''===
After the Transformers had made their way to Earth, Starscream encountered Bumblebee. Not fooled by the Autobot's vehicle disguise, Starscream pursued the Autobot scout. {{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe|The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe}}

===''Rescue Bots'' cartoon===
When Heatwave was captured by Chumley, Kade came looking for him. Kade called out asking if Heatwave was there, causing Heatwave to ask sarcastically if he was expecting Starscream. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy (RB)|Enemy of My Enemy}}

===2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Steve Blum]] (English), [[Daisuke Hirakawa]] (Japanese),[[Jiang Ke]] (Chinese), [[Gerardo Alonso]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Axel Lutter]] (German)}}
[[File:MightyBigTrouble Starscream.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hello, I'm SpaceNapoleHitler. Give me the thing!]]
Starscream managed to survive his encounter with the Predacons by <s>strategically luring them</s> sheer dumb luck, stumbling upon a weapons cache with enough power to kill [[Skylynx]] and [[Darksteel (Prime)|Darksteel]]. He then explored the fortress and found the laboratory where the Decepticons had bred the Weaponizer Mini-Cons and sought to use them to take revenge on Megatron for his cruel acts towards him. {{storylink|Mini-Con Madness (RID)|Mini-Con Madness}} Starscream then reformatted himself {{storylink|Mighty Big Trouble}} to his old body type, before he freed the Mini-Cons but they managed to escape him. {{storylink|Mini-Con Madness (RID)|Mini-Con Madness}} The Autobots believed him to be dead following his encounter with the Predacons, but he was remembered as a dangerous Decepticon in the records of the War. {{storylink|Mighty Big Trouble}}

After he had "helped save the universe, from Starscream, Megatron, and Dark Energon", [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] refused to be defeated by [[Bisk (RID)|Bisk]]. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye (RID)|More than Meets the Eye}} When Bumblebee attempted to inspire his team with an [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] impression, [[Sideswipe (WFC)|Sideswipe]] instead believed Bumblebee to be going for a bad Starscream. {{storylink|W.W.O.D.?}}

In his hunt for the Weaponizer Mini-Cons, Starscream hired [[Shadelock]], [[RoughEdge]], and [[Razorhorn]] to procure them. {{storylink|Mighty Big Trouble}} His hunt forced the Mini-Cons off [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and led them to joining a group of [[Scavenger (RID 2015)|scavengers]]. {{storylink|History Lessons}} He tracked them down to the planet Earth, where Shadelock found [[Tricerashot]]. Starscream ordered him to follow the Mini-Con to lead them to the remainder of them. {{storylink|Pretzel Logic}} He tracked the Mini-Cons to a human ship, missing them by seconds. There he found the scavengers and the [[Dark Star Saber]]. He immediately claimed the weapon as his own intending to use it for conquest before he noted that it seemed to be operating at less than full power. Nonetheless he still desired the Mini-Cons and ordered his minions to track them and bring them to him. His minions brought him the wrong Mini-Cons. [[Fixit (RID)|One of them]] accidentally revealed [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] was back on Earth and Starscream was able to take the yellow Autobot prisoner by threatening the Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Mighty Big Trouble}}

[[File:RiD 2015 Worthy One-Winged Seeker.jpg|thumb|left|280px|At least he's not a giant screaming head this time.]]
When Bumblebee was aboard, Starscream gloated about his good fortune before the Autobot escaped only to be quickly recaptured. With his captive now in [[Stasis cuffs|stasis cuffs]], Starscream monologued about his cunning escape from the Predacons and his plan to use the Weaponizer Mini-Cons and the Dark Star Saber to not only kill Megatron but conquer the galaxy. He then resumed scanning for his "little doomsday devices" before Bumblebee began taunting him that no one, not even the Dark Star Saber, took him seriously. Starscream swore that everyone would take him seriously, aiming the cursed blade at Bumblebee's throat. A nearby battle between Autobots and scavengers caught his attention where he used his ship's tractor beam to abduct the Weaponizer Mini-Cons before flying off and gloating to Bumblebee of his imminent victory. {{storylink|Mini-Con Madness (RID)|Mini-Con Madness}} Unfortunately it turned out he only had six of the seven Mini-Cons needed, with an attempt at merging resulting in failure. Luckily the last Mini-Con needed turned up at his ship with the Autobots, and he was able to obtain it by knocking everyone out with the Dark Star Saber. He successfully merged with the Mini-Cons, only to lose [[Aerobolt]] thanks to a signal initiated from the ship by Fixit. Starscream managed to fly clear of the ship and engage Optimus and Aerobolt, now merged, in combat until the Autobots succeeded in dragging him back into range of the signal. Separated from the Mini-Cons, Starscream fell comatose and was loaded onto [[Prime Force One|Optimus's ship]] for transport back to Cybertron and justice. {{storylink|Worthy}}
{{--}}

===IDW ''Robots in Disguise'' comic===
Years ago, Starscream assigned three Vehicons to construct an [[energon]] mine near the [[Sierra Ridge]] mountains, {{storylink|Robots in Disguise issue 5|Robots in Disguise #5}} and left them with a bomb triggered by a dead man's switch as an "explosive insurance policy".

At some point after [[Predacons Rising (Prime)|Cybertron's restoration]], Starscream's severed arm was brought to Earth with [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]]. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Windblade (RID)|Windblade]] fought Predaking for the arm, so they could convince the three Sierra Ridge Vehicons that [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] was not their superior officer. {{storylink|Robots in Disguise issue 6|Robots in Disguise #6}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)===
{{voiceactor|[[Sam Riegel]] (English)|[[Gianluca Iacono]] (Italian), [[Leopoldo Ballesteros]] (Spain-Spanish)}}
[[File:WFC Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Where are your stupid Macross jokes now?!]]

{{quote|Have no fear, Lord Megatron. Under my leadership, Decepticon victory is assured!|Starscream being all modest|''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]''}}

For the last thousand years of the [[Great War (Prime)|Great War]], Starscream was in charge of an orbital facility that had the capability of producing [[Dark Energon]], though they maintained only a small stockpile because of its unpredictable and uncontrollable nature. The station's force of neutral soldiers were no match for Megatron's invading forces, while Starscream and [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]]'s repeated warnings that no one could control Dark Energon had no effect on Megatron's determination. Instead, Megatron tempted Starscream with knowledge of his past, reminding him of his demotion from Sky Commander to a mere guard over an all-but-derelict station, and offered to let him join the Decepticons, something Starscream scoffed at — at least, at first. Starscream attempted to destroy the station's stock of Dark Energon before the Decepticon leader could reach it, but failed, and watched, first with amusement as Megatron entered the storage chamber...and then with shock as Megatron infused himself with the substance and bent it to his will within moments. Starscream quickly volunteered his services for the Decepticon cause, causing Jetfire to label him a traitor and leave to warn [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Zeta Prime]]. Megatron sent him with [[Thundercracker (WFC)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (WFC)|Skywarp]] to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to reactivate the [[Geosynchronous Energon Bridge|Energon Bridge]]. Starscream performed the mission successfully using his trademark style, flair, and modesty, never mind Megatron's taunting and unreasonable impatience, or Thundercracker's warning him of the danger of certain courses of action, or even Skywarp's cluing in to his constant insults.

During the Battle of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon City]], Starscream led the Decepticons aerial squadrons and [[Brawl (WFC)|Brawl]] led the Decepticons' ground assault, while Megatron, [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]], and [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] went behind enemy lines and tried to secure the [[Omega Key]]. When Megatron's group met up with Brawl, Starscream refused to send Dark Energon bombers, saying that he wouldn't let Brawl waste anymore of "his ships". Megatron took issue with Starscream dubbing the bombers his, and overrode Starscream's refusal. Later that evening, while looking for the "real" Omega Key, they ran into it: [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]]. Starscream assumed Megatron was killed when Omega attacked a [[dropship (WFC)|dropship]] Megatron was heading for and declared himself Decepticon commander. Shortly afterward, Megatron managed to communicate with Starscream and ordered him to attack Omega Supreme, getting the massive Autobot off Megatron's back. By the time Megatron's group were heading for the Autobot turrets, Starscream was ready to sound a retreat, which Megatron overrode with the threat of marking any retreating Decepticon as "kill on sight". Fortunately, Megatron arrived moments later and managed to defeat Omega Supreme, making the retreat unnecessary. Later on, he was present at the [[Core]] of Cybertron as Megatron corrupted it with Dark Energon.

As the Battle of Iacon continued, Starscream fought through Jetfire and [[Silverbolt (WFC)|Silverbolt]], and attacked [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]]'s group in the [[Decagon]]. However, the Air Commander was injured by Optimus's [[Energon-axe]] and forced to retreat. The wound was apparently bad enough to cause him to sit out the remainder of the conflict. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (DS)===
:''Voice actor'': Sam Riegel (English), Gianluca Iacono (Italian)
Starscream had been in control of Trypticon Space Station for years, until Megatron and his forces invaded. Megatron wished to revive the Dark Energon project to aid him in his conquest of Cybertron, but Starscream would have none of it. Megatron was able to fight his way to Starscream himself, and after a brief battle, Starscream had lost. He begged for mercy, and Megatrons spared Starscream in exchange for loyalty to the Decepticons. Starscream obliged and Megatron was taken to the core of the station.

After a test run of the Dark Energon's effects on Decepticons in Kaon Prison, Soundwave deduced the element would only destroy the host. A furious Megatron set Starscream to work on fixing the problem, with Starscream continuously bickering with Barricade over his usefulness. The problem was eventually solved in time for an attack on Iacon City. When Megatron felled Zeta Prime and found the Omega Key, the titanic Autobot Omega Supreme was unleashed upon the Decepticons, quickly crushing them with ease.

Megatron was downright furious with Starscream, declaring he had brought Omega Supreme's rampage upon them all. Starscream retorted that if it wasn't for Megatron and his blind troops, none of this would've happened. Starscream invited Megatron to kill him, but warned him it wouldn't do a thing about Omega Supreme out for their blood. Megatron for the moment let it go, and finally felled Omega Supreme, gaining total dominance over Cybertron.

Sometime later, Starscream ambushed an [[Autobot rookie|Autobot recruit-in-training]], and would've killed him if it wasn't for Optimus charging to the rescue. He wasn't seen again after that.
{{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (DS)|War for Cybertron - Autobots/Decepticons}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Cybertron Adventures''===
:''Voice actor'': [[Sam Riegel]] (English), [[Gianluca Iacono]] (Italian)

Being Megatron's "right-hand man," he wonders how the war could have changed if HE were to be the leader, not Megatron. Still he was ordered by Megatron to do his dirty work, and growing jealous, he waits for the right time, to take his place, as leader of the Decepticons.
{{storylink|Transformers: Cybertron Adventures}}

===''Transformers: Fall of Cybertron''===
{{voiceactor|[[Sam Riegel]] (English)}}
Under Megatron's orders, Starscream and the [[Combaticon (WFC)|Combaticons]] ambushed and captured Optimus Prime under the ruins of Iacon during the assault on the Ark. Starscream's gloating on how he defeated Megatron's nemesis would earn him a blast from the Decepticon's leader's fusion cannon. Starscream's luck would take an uphill turn, however, for Megatron was soon crushed by Metroplex, leaving him the new leader of the Decepticons. At the urging of both Prime and Metroplex, Starscream ordered the Decepticons to retreat.

Starscream's reign as a leader was lackluster at best. He used most of the Decepticon energon and supplies to further his own ego and cover the Decepticon bases with portraits and effigies of himself and constantly broadcasting self glorifying speeches to his troops. Anyone who wasn't on board with Starscream's reign was thrown into the prisons of Kaon. Needless to say, the prisons were full to bursting as barely a handful of Decepticons had any faith in their new leader. When the Autobots acquired the entire energon supply the Decepticons kept in the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]]. Starscream sent the Combaticons to stop the transport. When the transport was out in the open, Starscream ordered an assault on it, despite the fact the anti-aircraft guns were still functional. As the Decepticons suffered heavy losses, Starscream aborted the mission and ordered a full retreat. The Combaticons ignored the order and brought the transport down, at the cost of half the energon on board. Despite the fact that the Combaticons had saved the mission he had abandoned, Starscream accused them of failing and had them arrested.

Later, Starscream decided to have a coronation for himself (despite the fact he had been in charge for some time now). Though sadly it was not to be, as [[The Transformers: The Movie|a newly rebuilt Megatron crashed the event]] and took his crown back from the would-be king, much to everyone else's elation. Luckily, the Air Commander escaped Megatron's wrath, swearing revenge.

Seeking the means to get back at Megatron, Starscream made his way to Shockwave's lab. He came across [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] and promised to free him and his team if they would serve him. The Dinobot kindly refused the offer by throwing him into the control panel, freeing himself. This apparently knocked Starscream out as he didn't get back up. What happened to him afterwords is unknown, since most of Decepticons that might have arrested him were cut to pieces by Grimlock. {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

===''Transformers: Prime - The Game''===
[[File:TransformersPrimeTheGame Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
{{voiceactor|[[Steve Blum]] (English)}}
Starscream was present when the Decepticons were hauling in an asteroid rich with Dark Energon heading toward Earth. When the Autobots came to stop them, he witnessed the asteroid explode and the Autobots fall out of orbit. He then mocked their inability to fly, which annoyed Megatron. He commissioned Knock Out and Airachnid to seek and retrieve the Autobots, joining in the hunt himself.

Starscream found Bulkhead and Miko in some sort of tomb, and played on his life by nearly collapsing the whole cave on him. Bulkhead escaped the falling cave, and the big guy unleashed tenfold on him. However, one of the Vehicons managed to swipe Miko and take her captive, and Starscream retreated with them.

Starscream later assisted Megatron in finding a missing component of Thunderwing's, and managed to run into his old pal Bulkhead again. Unfortunately, Bulkhead bested him again, this time taking him captive in his own ship! The treacherous Decepticon tricked Bulkhead, however, into bringing him into a room where he was ambushed by Vehicon troopers. Yet again, Bulkhead came out on top of the pile with Starscream retreating in defeat.

Starscream quickly installed the biggest component in Thunderwing, which resulted in him attacking Megatron... ''Megatron used Starscream as a shield.'' {{storylink|Transformers: Prime - The Game}}
{{-}}
===''Transformers Online''===
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers Online}}}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark''===
====Console====
{{Charstubgames|{{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (console)|Rise of the Dark Spark}}}}

====3DS====
{{Charstubgames|{{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (3DS)|Rise of the Dark Spark}}}}

===''Transformers Prime: Battle For Energon''===
When Bulkhead infiltrate the Nemesis to snatch away the Decepticons' Energon stores, Starscream faced off against the Autobot before he could take his leave. Starscream was defeated, and Bulkhead took off with the Energon in hand. {{storylink|Transformers Prime: Battle For Energon}}

===''Transformers Prime: Terrorcon Defense''===
Starscream led a battalion of Vehicon drones to the town of [[Jasper]] in order to secure Dark Energon from a nearby mine. His efforts were thwarted by Arcee. Starscream then attempted to escape from an abandoned military installation with the Vehicons under his command, only to be stopped by both Arcee and Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Transformers Prime: Terrorcon Defense}}

===''Transformers Prime: Pulsar Defense''===
Starscream and the other Decepticons attempted to prevent the Autobots from constructing a [[Pulsar Dish]], which would destroy the [[Energon Drain]] that the Decepticons had built in an asteroid field. {{storylink|Transformers Prime: Pulsar Defense}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Prime: Decepticon Strike''===
Using his jet mode to fire upon the Autobot leader, and leaving floating "aerial mines" behind him, Starscream fought it out against Optimus Prime in the skies over a lush tropical forest. Optimus managed to drive off Starscream nevertheless, and Starscream howled back that he wouldn't forget his defeat as he sped away. {{storylink|Transformers Prime: Decepticon Strike|Decepticon Strike}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Starscream-(WFC).jpg|thumb|400px|So I'm ''Cybertron'' Starscream as WFC Starscream, introduced in a WFC event with seekers from ''Cybertron''. Confused? ''Good!'' '''*Hotshot 47 BLAM!*''']]
Starscream participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was an Epic character who was available as a reward in the "Cybertron Episode 2 - Seekers" event. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{--}}

===''Robots in Disguise'' mobile game===
{{note|For some reason, the Legion Class version of the character is not included in the character selection.}}
<center>
{|class="wikitable" border="5" style="width:65%"
|-
! scope="col" width="30%" | '''Version'''
! style="background: #00CCFF; color: black" scope="col" width="35%" | '''Unlock Cost (Energon)'''
! style="background: #BF00FF; color: white" scope="col" width="35%" | '''Unlock Cost (Ultra Sparks)'''
|-
| Starter
|4500
|90
|-
|Power Hero
|8000
|140
|-
|}
</center>

==Commercial appearances==
[[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] arrived to a location where [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]], Starscream, and Soundwave were battling Autobots. Megatron left, leaving Shockwave in charge. Shockwave ordered Soundwave to [[Transformation|Transform]] and play "[[The Touch]]." Starscream was displeased with Shockwave's choice of song, but Shockwave told him that once he got a higher hit percentage than his own, then Starscream could choose a soundtrack. {{storylink|Commercial#War for Cybertron|GameSpot's commercial for their Shockwave multiplayer exclusive}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===War for Cybertron===
[[File:WFC Legends Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|So I'm ''Cybertron'' Starscream in Generation 1 Starscream colors as ''Prime'' Starscream. Confused? ''Good!'' '''*BLAM*''']]
*'''Starscream''' (Legends Class, 2010)

:This [[redeco]] of [[Legends Class]] [[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|''Cybertron'']] [[Starscream (Armada)#LOC|Starscream]] appeared pretty much out of the blue one day, when, without fanfare, it was offered as a promotional giveaway in the United Kingdom to those who purchased the ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'' video game from [http://www.shopto.net ShopTo.Net]. He transforms into a Cybertronic jet fighter and features hidden weapons in his wing-sections/biceps: the right arm hides a blade, while the left arm has a non-firing cannon.

:This toy was later offered as a gift to attendees at the Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong fair 2010 if they made a combined purchase of [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|''Transformers'' toys]] amounting to more than HK$400.

:This mold was also used the make ''Cybertron'' [[Ramjet (Universe)#Cybertron|Ramjet]], [[Skywarp (Armada)#Cybertron|Skywarp]], and [[Sunstorm (Universe)#Cybertron|Sunstorm]], ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Ramjet (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Ramjet]] and [[Thrust (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Thrust]], and [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (toyline)|''Dark of the Moon'']] [[Starscream (Movie)/toys#BeeStarscream|Cybertronian Starscream]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/2010/Decepticon/WFCStarscream/starscream.htm More information on ''War for Cybertron'' Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Prime: First Edition===
{{anchor|FirstEdition}}
[[File:Primetoy-StarscreamDeluxe.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|He's got legs, and he knows how to attach them to the underside of his jet mode.]]
*'''Starscream''' (Deluxe Class, 2011)
**''Number:'' '''003'''
**''Japanese release date:'' '''2011-[[December 28|12-28]]'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile pods, stand (Hasbro only)

:Part of the first wave of ''[[transformers: Prime (toyline)#First Edition (2011)|Prime: First Edition]]'' Deluxe Class toys, Starscream transforms from a jet resembling a [[Wikipedia:General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon]] into a skinny robot and back! He comes with two missile pod accessories that can either attach onto tabs on the underside of his wings, or onto the rear wings on his arms in [[robot mode]]. Additionally, he has a [[5mm post|5mm peg]] hole that goes through each arm, both of which become the sides of his jet mode tail. Since the tail stabilizers fold into the sides of the tail to become the arms, the hole isn't very deep in robot mode unless you leave these fins folded out.

:Undocumented in either of his [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy]] [[instructions]], Starscream has a couple of features that help make him slightly more [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]]: he has a deployable winglet on the back of each of his legs, and his large wing kibble can tilt slightly upward.

:Some units have the head aerial deformed in-package due to being made of soft plastic. This is due to friction preventing it from hinging back. The aerial is supposed to fold back along the head for transformation, but can be tough enough to get in place due to simply flexing instead of changing position. His knee spikes also tend to deform.

:As with all Hasbro-release "First Edition" toys, a cardboard stand is included. The Takara release omits the stand in order to fit the toy into the bubble in robot mode.

:This mold was [[retool]]ed/redecoed to make [[TakaraTomy]] ''[[transformers: Prime (toyline)|Prime]]'' [[Skywarp (WFC)#Prime|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (WFC)|Thundercracker]], and was differently retooled to make ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[Slipstream (WFC)|Slipstream]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/2011/Decepticon/PrimeStarscream/starscream.htm More information on First Edition Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Cyberverse===
[[File:Primetoy-Cyberverse-Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
*'''Starscream''' (Cyberverse Commander, 2012)
**''Series / Number'': '''2 / 003'''
**''Japanese number:'' '''EZ-03'''
**''Japanese release date:'' '''2012-[[March 31|03-31]]
**''Accessories'': 2 missile cannons

:Part of the first wave of ''Prime'' [[Cyberverse#Series 2|Series 2 Cyberverse]] Commander Class toys, this smaller-scale Starscream is cast partly in translucent plastic so that the toy can be lit using the electronic lights featured in the larger playsets. He also comes with two translucent "missile cannon" weapons that can peg in various ways onto Starscream and each other via their numerous [[C joint|3mm posts and ports]].

:Starscream's arms can separate from the nosecone fuselage on the elbow joint for greater show-accuracy, if you ignore the giant jet pieces hanging off his arms. He features a small, almost irrelevant partial autotransform gimmick: When his shoulders are swung out into place, his head moves out a little bit, allowing you to swing the head into position easily.

:The Hasbro release comes with a pack-in file card. In addition to the regular version, Starscream was also released in a special "advance release" assortment alongside [[Optimus Prime (WFC)/toys#Cyberverse|Optimus Prime]], [[Bulkhead (Prime)#Cyberverse|Bulkhead]] and [[Megatron (WFC)#Cyberverse|Megatron]], with each figure including a mini-DVD that contains the ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' episode "[[Masters & Students]]". Yes, all four of them come with the same episode.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2012/Decepticon/CommStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Cyberverse Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
{{anchor|EZ6pack}}
[[File:PrimeEZCollectionDecepticonSet.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
*'''Decepticon Set''' (EZ Collection 6-pack, 2012-[[November 24|11-24]])
**''ID number'': '''EZ-SP2'''
**''Accessories'': 2 missile cannons

:This redeco of Starscream is cast in bluish plastics. He was only available in a TakaraTomy six-pack with [[Megatron (WFC)#EZ6pack|Megatron]], the [[Vehicon (Prime)#EZ6pack|Vehicon]], [[Breakdown (WFC)#EZ6pack|Breakdown]], [[Knock Out (Prime)#EZ6pack|Knock Out]], and [[Cliffjumper (WFC)#EZ6pack|Terrorcon Cliffjumper]].

:Oddly, his weapons are cast in a significantly more flexible (and also more creamy and less translucent) plastic than the ones that come with his Hasbro counterpart. In addition, the ridge on the forehead is slightly thicker and thus less pointy. [[For safety reasons|Usually, it's the other way round.]]
{{-}}
{{anchor|BHCyberverse}}
[[File:PrimeBHtoy-Cyberverse-Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
*'''Starscream''' (Cyberverse Commander, 2013)
**''Series / Number'': '''3 / 006'''
**''Accessories'': Launcher & missile (combine to form Thunder Talon)

:Part of the third wave of ''Prime: [[Beast Hunters]]'' [[Cyberverse#Series 3|Series 3 Cyberverse]] Commander Class toys, Starscream is a redeco and extensive [[retool]] of Series 2 Starscream. He features 3mm ports in the same places as before, loses the post on his back, and gains a new port on his chest/jet underside. He now comes with the "[[Thunder Talon]]", a massive claw-like weapon which can mount via 3mm post, and launch its "claw" as a [[missile]] via pressure-launch.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/CybCommStarscream/starscream.htm More information on ''Beast Hunters'' Cyberverse Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Prime===
{{anchor|EntertainmentPack}}
[[File:Primetoy-BumblebeevsStarscreamStarscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|I'd be a poor man's Skywarp if I didn't cost more to import.]]
*'''Bumblebee vs. Starscream: Ultimate Opponents''' (Entertainment Pack, 2012)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile pods

:This Deluxe Class ''[[transformers: Prime (toyline)#Robots in Disguise (2012)|Prime: Robots in Disguise]]'' Starscream is a [[redeco]] of his First Edition release in lighter gray plastic with several purple highlights, possibly intended to represent his powering up with [[Dark Energon]] in the episode [[Shadowzone (episode)|''Shadowzone'']]. Unlike the original release of this mold, this version features [[paint operation]]s on its soft plastic parts, such as his forehead crest and missile-tips.

:Starscream came packed-in with a redeco of First Edition [[Bumblebee (WFC)/toys#EntertainmentPack|Bumblebee]], small unarticulated figurines of [[Silas#Prime|Silas]] and [[MECH Commando|a MECH soldier]], as well as a DVD containing the episodes "[[Convoy (episode)|Convoy]]", "[[Sick Mind]]", and "[[Out of His Head]]". The two-pack was also available in Australian markets virtually unchanged, except the DVD was replaced with a booklet including short (and by that, we mean one sentence) [[bio]]s as well as [[Tech Spec]]s for [[Breakdown (WFC)|most]] [[Airachnid (Prime)|of]] the characters.

:The [[stock photography]] on the packaging depicts Starscream's cockpit and abdomen as translucent, and with the stripes on his wings being on the leading edges instead of their final placement.
{{-}}
{{anchor|Voyager}}
[[File:PrimeRIDtoy-StarscreamVoyager.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Oh, that can't be aerodynamic.]]
[[File:Prime-toy StarscreamVoyagerTakTom.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Much better.]]
*'''Starscream''' (Voyager, 2012)
**''Series / Number'': '''1 / 003'''
**''Japanese release date'': '''2012-[[June 30|06-30]]'''
**''Japanese ID number'': '''AM-07'''
**''Accessories'': Missile pod/light-up [[null-ray]] blaster & two missiles (Hasbro only), "Gul" Arms Micron (TakaraTomy only)

:Part of the second wave of ''Prime: Robots in Disguise'' Voyager Class toys, Starscream now comes with two missiles, as well as a missile pod attached to a half-translucent base of random parts, both of which can be mounted (via 5mm posts) behind his canopy/on his back, or onto his wings, arms, and hands. Additionally, the missile pod itself features a peg-hole on each side, and his wings each feature a [[Mini-Con]]-compatible peg. The missile pod transforms into his "null-ray blaster", all while being illuminated by a red LED as a sort of "Energon glow". As with other Robots in Disguise Voyager Class toys, the deployed weapon cannot lock into place.

:His prototype stock photography depicts additional [[paint operation]]s on the wings and vertical stabilizer that were omitted in the final product. His [[instructions]] and stock photos also incorrectly show his completed robot mode's shoulder-pads as being left flipped-up, despite the instructions telling [[you]] to flip them down ''just a few steps before''.

:The [[TakaraTomy]] release, which was part of the fourth wave of ''Prime'' product in Japan (despite his ID numbering placing him ''before'' toys released in the third wave), loses many of his detail-based [[paint operation]]s, replacing them with customer-applied foil [[sticker]]s. Instead of the light-up cannon-thing, he comes with the Arms Micron [[Gul]], a robotic eagle that transforms into a bladed plasma weapon.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2012/Decepticon/Starscream/starscream.htm More information on Hasbro Voyager Starscream at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://higekumatoytoy.blog60.fc2.com/blog-entry-1592.html Arms Micron Starscream at Alfes's toy blog (part 1)]''
::*''[http://higekumatoytoy.blog60.fc2.com/blog-entry-1593.html Arms Micron Starscream at Alfes's toy blog (part 2)]''
{{-}}
{{anchor|DarkEnergon}}
[[File:Primetoy-StarscreamDarkEnergon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|So, does this mean "[[Synthetic Energon]] Starscream" will be in [[Acid Storm|Acid Storm's]] colors?]]
*'''Starscream''' (Dark Energon Series Deluxe, 2012)
**''Number'': '''003'''
**''Accessories'': 2 missile pods

:''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)#Dark Energon Series|Prime: Dark Energon]]'' Starscream is a [[BigBadToyStore]]-exclusive redeco of "First Edition" Starscream in translucent black, opaque pink, and dark blue, as a possible [[homage]] to Skywarp.

: Though he was packaged on an individual card, he was initially sold as part of a set with the Dark Energon versions of [[Bumblebee (WFC)/toys#DarkEnergon|Bumblebee]], [[Wheeljack (Prime)#DarkEnergon|Wheeljack]], and [[Knock Out (Prime)#DarkEnergon|Knock Out]]. He was eventually made available on his own, and the Dark Energon Series toys were eventually made available in Singapore as mass-retail releases.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2012/Decepticon/DEStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Dark Energon Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Generations===
[[File:Generationstoy-FOCStarscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Oh geeze, it's going to be [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Timelines|Seeker-Gate]] all over again.]]
[[File:Generationstoy-TakaraTomy-Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
*'''Starscream''' (Deluxe, 2012)
**''Series / Number'': '''01 / #010'''
**''Japanese release date:'' '''2013-[[February 23|02-23]]'''
**''Japanese number:'' '''TG09'''
**''Accessories:'' Two assault cannons (combine to form Neutron assault rifle), tail-fin

:Part of the third wave of [[2012]]-onwards ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class toys, ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]]'' Starscream transforms into a Cybertronian jet fighter. He comes with two spinning, triple-barreled "assault cannons" which can combine to form a larger hand-held weapon that is geared to spin its two triple-barrels together, and resembles the [[Neutron assault rifle]] from ''Fall of Cybertron''. Each of the weapon halves features two [[5mm post]]s, as well as a peg-hole on their hollow sides, while the combined form features another peg-hole at the top, but makes the peg-holes on the hollow sides inaccessible. Starscream features numerous 5mm peg-holes, such as his hands, forearms, lower legs, and wing undersides.

:In an undocumented feature, Starscream's tail-fin is attached via a 5mm post on its underside, and can be detached to reveal three additional peg-holes, with two of these peg-holes being just the right distance to accommodate the combined assault cannons/rifle, with the tail-fin pegging on the rifle's top peg-hole. This allows the weapon to mount on top of the [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], and store on his back in robot mode. He was [[repurposing|repurposed]] as [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Generations|Generation 1 Starscream]] in [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' comics.

:The [[TakaraTomy]] version, part of the third wave of Japanese ''Generations'' toys, is noticeably shinier. Among other deco changes, his gray vehicle parts have been coated in silver paint, and most of his red parts in glossy metallic red paint, all while featuring numerous additional [[Paint operation|paint details]]. His gray plastic is slightly warmer in tone, and his gunmetal plastic has been replaced with metallic blue.

:This toy was later redecoed into TakaraTomy [[Skywarp (WFC)#Generations|Skywarp]] and ''Thrilling 30'' [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Thrilling30|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Generations|Skywarp]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/FOCStarscream/starscream.htm More information on ''Generations'' Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

*'''Deception Rebel Infiltrator Starscream''' (Deluxe, 2014)
**''Accessories:'' Two assault cannons (combine to form Neutron assault rifle), [[Path Blaster]], two-piece laser cannon (combines to form [[Photon burst rifle]]), tail-fin
{{charstubtoys}}

===Beast Hunters===
{{anchor|BHDeluxe}}
[[File:PrimeBeastHunterstoy-Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|"Why does everyone keep pointing their remote controllers at me!?"]]
*'''Starscream''' (Deluxe, 2013)
**''Series / Number'': '''2 / 005'''
**''Accessories'': Thunder Talon, two missiles

:Part of the second wave of ''Prime: Beast Hunters'' toys, Starscream is a new mold, and is somewhat shorter at the head than his ''First Edition'' toy. He transforms into a fighter jet resembling a heavily-modified General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. He features 5mm ports for his hands, forearms, and fuselage/robot back. He comes with two missiles which each feature tabs on one side and a slot on the other, allowing them to peg onto his wings, or be pegged onto his forearms/jet underside.

:He also comes with a larger-scale "Thunder Talon" with clenching claws and a small, molded circular saw at the end. It features a 5mm peg on its underside and on the tail-end, allowing the weapon to be held/mounted in different ways, as well as store on his back. The weapon also features places to mount the missiles onto, with a pair of slots on its top and underside, as well as a pair of tabs on top. The slots also allow the weapon to be mounted onto the underside of the jet mode.

:His instructions include the [[Tales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 7|seventh chapter]] of the ''[[Tales of the Beast Hunters]]'' series.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/Starscream/starscream.htm More information on ''Beast Hunters'' Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Construct-Bots===
[[File:ConstructBots_BeastHuntersStarscream.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Instead of being sorry like his other counterpart, He's gonna get his sorry-afterburners kicked instead.]]
*'''Beast Hunters Starscream''' (Scout, 2014)
**''Pieces: '''33'''
: ''Construct-Bots'' Beast Hunters Starscream is a build-able toy that transforms from robot into a jet.

:His torso and feet parts are later reused for [[Predaking_(Prime)#Construct-Bots|Predaking]]. Like most [[Beast Hunters]] Construct-Bots, Starscream never saw release in the United States.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/CBBHStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Beast Hunters Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Go!===
[[File:TF-GO-G17-Starscream.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Hunter Starscream''' (2013-[[April 27|04-27]])
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''G17'''
**''Accessories'': "Hunting Claw", two missiles

:Part of the first wave of TakaraTomy ''[[Triple Combination: Transformers Go! (toyline)|Transformers Go!]]'' toys, Hunter Starscream is a [[redeco]] of ''Beast Hunters'' Deluxe Class Starscream, hewing closer to the character's original ''Prime'' color scheme. His claw weapon is now blue.

{{-}}
===Kre-O===
{{anchor|KreoArmy}}
[[File:KreO-toy StarscreamKW Army.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Snoopy]] better watch his back.]]
*'''Army Starscream''' (Kreon Warrior, 2015)
**''Set number'': '''B0945'''
**''Series'': '''1'''
**''Accessories'': Stand-plate, 2 clip-on rifles

: Part of the first wave of ''[[Kre-O]]'' [[Kreon]] Warriors, Starscream has been re-imagined as if he was part of a World War I era fighting force, with prop-plane vehicle kibble deco and an old-timey leather pilots' helmet and goggles (originally used by ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (franchise)| Age of Extinction]]'' [[Crosshairs (AOE)#Kre-O)|Crosshairs]]). His face deco (like all of the Kreon Warrior Starscreams) is very, very ''Prime'' Starscream, even if his colors owe more to the [[Starscream (G1)|original Starscream]].

: Like all the Kreons released that year (at normal retail at least), he uses the new 2015-tooling Kreon body, which basically involves small construction changes on every part below the head, making them largely incompatible with the prior Kreon parts (heads still work fine), but the new tooling adds some extra functionality and structural support.

: The Kreon Warriors were only released in Canada, Australia, and various Asian markets. The individual bags had also abandoned any kind of coding that identified the contents. This means getting the one you want from an unopened bag involves either trying to feel out the unique parts, or just buying the whole dang case.

{{-}}{{anchor|KreOPirate}}
[[File:KreO-toy StarscreamKW Pirate.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Captain Jackass Sparrow.]]
*'''Pirate Starscream''' (Kreon Warrior, 2015)
**''Set number'': '''B0945'''
**''Series'': '''1'''
**''Accessories'': Stand-plate, clip-on cannon

: Also part of the first wave of Kreon Warriors, Pirate Starscream is a fancy-dancy buccaneer, with a frilly neck-ruffle and a plume in his hat. What a toff! The plume can also be plugged into the back of his old-timey cannon to simulate a hissing fuse (which other Pirate-themed Kreons in the series actually do).

: All the aggravation of the blind-bagged, non-US distribution above applies to this one as well.

{{-}}{{anchor|KreONinja}}
[[File:KreO-toy StarscreamKW Ninja.jpg|right|thumb|200px|]]
*'''Ninja Starscream''' (Kreon Warrior, 2015)
**''Set number'': '''B0955'''
**''Series'': '''2'''
**''Accessories'': Stand-plate, 2 sais, 2 pegged shuriken

: Back for more in the second assortment of Kreon Warriors, the backstabber is now ''literally'' a backstabber, having been re-envisioned as a ninja! His sais are clipped to his arms by a pair of small double-clips, evoking his arm-cannons, while his bladed straw hat (originally from the [[Hard Master]] Kreon in the ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]] Kre-O'' series) can be held by its edge as a massive weapon.

: Still fully blind-bagged, still not sold at US retail.

{{-}}{{anchor|KreOWiseguy}}
[[File:KreO-toy StarscreamKW Wiseguy.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Pull a comb through your coal black hair, for crying out loud, it's a mess.]]
*'''Wiseguy Starscream''' (Kreon Warrior, 2015)
**''Set number'': '''B0955'''
**''Series'': '''2'''
**''Accessories'': Stand-plate, 2 clip-on gatling guns

: Who's that whisperin' in the trees? It's Starscream in full-on gangster mode, with an old-fashioned car-parts deco and a pair of gatling guns. His helmet replacement is oddly a black "wild-hair" piece originally from the ''CityVille Invasion'' sets, possibly because [[Bumblebee (WFC)/toys#Wiseguy|Wiseguy Bumblebee]] already used the only fedora-like hat mold back in Series 1.

:Ibid on the distribution et al.
{{-}}

===Robots in Disguise (2015)===
{{note|Virtually every toy in this list has a scannable [[insignia]] sticker on it. For [[Hasbro]] releases, it temporarily unlocks that toy as a playable character in the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (mobile game)|''Robots in Disguise'' mobile game]], and can only be scanned once per day. [[TakaraTomy]] releases simply check that off on their mobile app's collection list. It's honestly quicker and less redundant to say which toys '''don't''' have this feature. Meanwhile, scanning the ''Combiner Force'' toys' ('''including''' re-releases of several toys) insignia stickers gives the player Tickets, which can be spent by giving them to [[Cryostase]] via the main map menu. }}
{{anchor|Warrior}}
[[File:RID2015WarriorStarscream.JPG|upright=1.66|thumb|And this is my fourth and final form.''(Hasbro version/ToysЯUs Japan exclusive pictured)'']]
[[File:TF-Adventure-TAV62-Starscream.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''(TakaraTomy version pictured)'']]
*'''Starscream''' (Warrior Class, 2016)
**''Japanese ID Number'': '''TAV62'''
**''Japanese Release Date'': 2016-[[November 26|11-26]]
**''Accessories'': 2 Rifles
:Initially released as part of the [[Toys"R"Us]] exclusive ''Clash of the Transformers'' subline imprint, Warrior Class Starscream is a new mold which transforms from robot to fighter jet. He comes with 2 rifles with 5mm posts which can be hand-held or mounted on his forearms (as small null-rays) or his wings. The small tabs on top of the guns also allow them to fit into the slots on his shoulders, which can each hold both guns at once. The fandom knew ''nothing'' about the existence of this toy before it suddenly appeared at retail—something that basically never happens in the modern era.

:His scannable Decepticon insignia is on his left shoulder. scanning the badge temporarily unlocks that toy as a playable character in the ''Robots in Disguise'' mobile game, and can only be scanned once per day. While accessible in Robot Mode, the badge is impossible to be scanned in vehicle mode.

:The ''Adventure'' series release of the toy features some paint applications to closely match his appearances in the cartoon.

:The first stock photos of the figure seems to be missing his insignia sticker. This was later revised.

: Later that year, Starscream was re-released as part of the general retail ''Combiner Force'' subline imprint with no known changes other than the packaging. His sticker badge is also altered: scanning it unlocks 8 Ultra Sparks and two tickets for [[Cryostase]] to unlock a random character. In Japan, this version of the toy was released as a Toys"R"Us exclusive, ''also'' with almost no changes aside from a different sticker badge.

: This mold was also used to make [[Skywarp (WFC)#Robots in Disguise (2015)|Skywarp]].

::*[http://www.tfu.info/2016/Decepticon/Starscream/starscream.htm More information on Warrior Class Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|PowerHeroes}}
[[File:TF-RID2015-Power-Surge-Starscream.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''(Hasbro version/ToysЯUs Japan exclusive pictured)'']]
[[File:TF-Adventure-TAV-57-Hyper-Surge-Starscream.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''(TakaraTomy Version Pictured)'']]
*'''Power Surge Starscream''' (Power Hero, 2016)
**''Japanese ID Number'': '''TAV57'''
**''Japanese Release Date'': 2016-[[October 29|10-29]]
**''Accessories'': Lancelon Mini-Con

:Released as a ToysЯUs exclusive under the ''Clash of the Transformers'' subline, Power Surge Starscream is a Voyager-sized figure that transforms into a robot to fighter plane and back in just a few steps. He also comes with [[Lancelon]], a Mini-Con that transforms into a sword and also be worn as chest armor for Starscream. Power Surge Starscream also features a voice gimmick, activated by pressing down his head:

:*"No one can stop me now!"
:*"Decepticons Unite!"
:*"Mini-Con Power Up!"
:*A flying sound effect.

:When you leave the toy idled for several seconds, he will play a transforming sound accompanied with a flying sound effect.

:As with the Warrior Class figure, his scannable Decepticon insignia is on his left shoulder, accessible when in-package.

:The ''Adventure'' release of the toy, released under the name '''Hyper Surge Starscream''', features some show-accurate paint details, and a different insignia sticker which is compatible to TakaraTomy's ''Transformers Chronicle'' app. The Hasbro version of the toy was ''also'' released as a ToysЯUs Japan exclusive, with no changes on the original deco with an exception of the badge.

{{-}}{{anchor|Legion}}
[[File:TF-RID2015-Starscream.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Starscream''' (Legion Class, 2016)

:Part of the first wave of Combiner Force legion class figures, Starscream changes from fighter jet to robot in a few steps. While otherwise a completely new figure, his arms are borrowed from Legion Class [[Windblade (RID)#Legion|Windblade]]. For some reason, his nose cone has been completely covered in the same light blue as his shoulders and feet, presumably to better match the small hinge that connects it to his body. He is decently articulated for a Legion class figure, but lacks forward movement at the shoulder. He features a scannable badge on his left wing, impossible to access in-package. Instead of unlocking the character, his badge only gives a few Ultra Sparks and two tickets.

:Along with his wave-mate [[Springload (RID)#Legion|Springload]], Starscream was released at retail in Australia without any prior announcement by Hasbro whatsoever.
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===McDonald's===
*'''Starscream''' (Happy Meal, 2012)
:*''McNumber:'' '''4'''
: Part of McDonald's ''Transformers: Prime'' promotion, Starscream is depicted as a non-transformable, simplified version of his jet mode, cast in light and dark gray plastic with some blue, black, and purple paint applications. Pressing the raised Decepticon symbol on the fuselage causes the cockpit to pop up on a hinge, revealing two non-firing missiles.
{{-}}
*'''Starscream''' (Happy Meal, 2013)
:*''McNumber:'' '''?'''
{{-}}

===Kinder Surprise===
*'''Transformers: Prime''' (2014)
:Only available inside a blindpacked chocolate egg as part of Kinder's ''Transformers: Prime'' series, this buildable Starscream mini-figure consists of a generic "cog" onto which his limbs and armor can be clipped to construct him. He has articulation on his shoulders and upper legs.
{{-}}

===Eaglemoss cards===
{{charstubtoys}}

==Notes==
[[File:Tfprimestarscreamjet.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|''ooooo-ooooo/We fade to grey!'']]
[[File:VectorSigmaBotBuilderStarscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Fabulouscream.]]
*Starscream's model is usable in ''War for Cybertron'' multiplayer as the Energon Seeker-type chassis for [[Scientist (WFC)|Scientist]]-class characters. His parts are also available to Scientists in ''Fall of Cybertron'', now classified as Arclight-type components.
*Starscream's backstory in ''Exodus'' is self-contradictory:
:''"Not even Starscream, who had spent much of his scientific career in the labs contained within these refracting walls..."'' (p. 78).
:''"See what?" Starscream asked. Neither Starscream nor Megatron were scientists."'' (p. 158).
:*When asked via Twitter, Exodus's writer [[Alex Irvine]] stated "Let's say he's always been scientifically curious."<ref>[http://twitter.com/alexirvine/status/36051088754868224 Twitter post]</ref>
:*In ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (console)|Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark]]'', when Starscream sarcastically remarks how Shockwave is "ever the scientist", Shockwave replies with "as you once were". This implies that Starscream had been a scientist at some point in time, but has since left that field.
*Despite being a [[Neutral]] before joining Megatron's cause in War for Cybertron, Starscream begins the game with his glowing details already in Decepticon purple as opposed to Neutral yellow. The Decepticon symbols do not appear on his wings until AFTER he has been recruited by Megatron however.
*Starscream's thin body and narrow, upward-swept wings in [[robot mode]] recalls [[Starscream (Animated)|''Animated'' Starscream]], but his voice, colour scheme, Igor-like posture and subservience to Megatron recalls the [[Starscream (Movie)|live-action incarnation]]. The game design has the movie bulk but with a [[Starscream (G1)|Generation 1]] head and colours.
*Starscream's chest design is basically his live-action incarnation's head design. Now that's a visual homage.
**And an unintentional one at that, according to the [[New York Comic Con]] Transformers: Prime panel.
*''Prime'''s Starscream has [[Starscream (SG)|a red Decepticon insignia]].
*Starscream's feet have pointed toes and elevated heels that make them resemble a pair of women's pumps. They are quite daring.
*[[Steve Blum]] said he was a fan of [[Charlie Adler]] and [[Tom Kenny]]'s portrayals of Starscream, and had Adler give him his blessing after he got the part.<ref>[http://sknr.net/2011/04/20/steve-blum-talks-transformers-prime-guild-wars-2-bulletstorm-more/ Skewed magazine Steve Blum interview.]</ref> Coincidentally, Blum, Adler, and Kenny are all in ''The Super Hero Squad Show''. Blum would later take over the role of Adler's [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] for the ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Xbox 360/PS3)|Dark of the Moon]]'' game.
*Screamer appears to have [[Decepticon]] logos on his legs. They disappeared after "[[Masters & Students]]".
*For the rest of the series after "[[Partners]]", Starscream has a scar on his right cheek from his battle with Arcee. However, after [[Regeneration (Prime)|Regeneration]] it is gone. It is possible that in addition to restoring his T-cog, Knock Out also got rid of the scar.
*Up until "Partners", his eyes were empty (like Arcee's eyes) with a solid red iris and lighter red pupils, but following said episode, his eyes change color from episode to episode. On some occasions, they are solid red with lighter red dots for his pupils.
*Sometimes during the series, depending on Starscream's mood (usually when scared), the wings on his back in robot mode tend to droop down like an animal's ears when scared or saddened. It's quite adorable, really.
*Starscream's body parts are available to use in the Hub website's [[Vector Sigma Bot Builder]] online game. Normally, you cannot configure a generic 'bot using all Starscream parts, but you can see what one would look like at right through the magic of Photoshop.
*In Starscream's dedicated level in ''Fall Of Cybertron'', a secret room on the exterior of Shockwave's tower complex contains a very G1-esque gold crown that can be picked up by the player and worn for the remainder of the level. Words cannot describe how awesome this is..
*Starscream seems to be entertained by dancing monkeys.
*His arm blasters appear to have the ability to disrupt a Transformer's systems. In "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]", one shot from them briefly disables Bumblebee. Maybe he picked the [[null-ray]] upgrade after all.
*Starscream's Hasbro bio takes Fowler's comment "Starscream is his own worst enemy", a little too literally as it lists his arch-enemy as himself. And his ally is Optimus, for some reason...
*In one of the rare noticeable instances of physical change within the "Aligned" continuity family, Starscream's appearance in ''Robots in Disguise'' is inspired by both his [[Starscream (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]] and his [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|G1 cartoon counterpart]]'s look during the coronation scene in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.

===Arms Up Modes===
In the Japanese ''Prime'' toyline, Starscream has named powered-up modes when given various [[Arms Micron]]s in certain configurations:

*'''Full Weapon Mode''' (フルウェポンモード ''Furu Wepon Mōdo'')
**''Arms Microns'': Balo, Gora, Gul, Jida, Zori
:Starscream's box-back Arms Up mode has him using the [[Laser Gunblade]] on his right arm, the [[High-Defense Shield]] on the left, and [[Zori]] in "Flexible Rod Mode" (yyyyeah) on his back.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Starscream''' (スタースクリーム ''Sutāsukurīmu'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Tīen-wáng-hsīng''' (Taiwan, 天王星, "Uranus"), '''Hóng Zhīzhū''' (China, 红蜘蛛, "Red Spider")
*''Russian:'' '''Skandalist''' (''Fall of Cybertron'', Скандалист, "Troublemaker"), '''Starscream''' (''Prime'')

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Construct-Bots Decepticons]]
[[Category:Cyberverse]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Exclusives]]
[[Category:Fall of Cybertron Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Go! Decepticons]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]
[[Category:Prime Decepticons]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Decepticons]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Seekers]]
[[Category:Toys "R" Us exclusives]]
[[Category:Transformers Online Decepticons]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron Decepticons]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) Decepticons]]

Spider's Game

2018-02-07T14:25:27Z

Platypar-1: /* Trivia */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=18
|series2=BWJtoon
|ep2=18
|prev2=Double Dinobot
|image=Spider's Game Tarantulas Blackarachnia.jpg
|title="Spider's Game"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[January 6]], 1997
|packaged with=[[Tarantulas (BW)#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Predacon Tarantulus]]
|written by=[[Larry DiTillio]]
|directed by=[[James Boshier]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''Tarantulas detects a new stasis pod and attempts to turn the protoform into a new Predacon. '''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Spider's Game Tarantulas console.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|It was only after Tarantulas had finished hooking up his TVs that he remembered cable wouldn't be invented for a few epochs.]]
As another [[stasis pod]] leaves orbit and completes planetfall, [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] sends out a magnetic pulse that disrupts the sensors at both the [[Darksyde (BW)|Predacon]] and [[Axalon (BW)|Maximal bases]]. The pulse ensures that Tarantulas will be the first to arrive at the pod's landing site, within [[Grid Halex]], and that he will be able to manipulate the [[protoform]] inside. [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] discovers what Tarantulas is up to and insists on accompanying him to the pod's landing site.

[[Tigatron]] also sees the pod arriving, but is unable to contact the [[Maximal]] base so he sets out to intercept the pod on his own. He is intercepted by Waspinator, who delays Tigatron until Airazor arrives and saves him. Tigatron tells [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] to go to the pod and that he will join her there.

[[File:Spider's Game Inferno pod.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|But the box said there were supposed to be ten live ants.]]
Arriving at the pod, Tarantulas and Blackarachnia are too late to hand pick an arachnid form for the protoform; however, Tarantulas is able to do some reprogramming and turn the protoform into a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]. The new Predacon, [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]], emerges from the pod only to attack the other two Predacons, then begins marching about the stasis pod. Tarantulas deduces that Inferno's [[beast mode]] is dominating his logic circuits and that he thinks he really is a fire ant protecting his colony, which his mind concludes is the stasis pod. Blackarachnia tries to fire on Inferno, but Tarantulas stops her, saying he wants no damage to the pod.

Airazor arrives on the scene only to be attacked and disabled by Inferno and Blackarachnia. While Blackarachnia uses this opportunity to make nice with Inferno and start to win him over, Tarantulas uses it to accomplish his real goal—stealing the stasis pod. This act enrages Inferno who sets out in pursuit of Tarantulas, with Blackarachnia not far behind. Tigatron arrives and tells Airazor to find Optimus while he pursues the Predacons.

[[File:Spider's Game Inferno Tigatron.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Whoops, sorry, I didn't see you there.]]
Nearing his [[Tarantulas's lair|lab]], Tarantulas is caught by Inferno who demands the return of the "colony". Tarantulas ensnares Inferno in a web and is preparing to finish him off when Scorponok arrives and informs Tarantulas that [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] wants the pod. Before that can happen however, Tigatron arrives and destroys the pod. His victory quickly turns sour as he is attacked by both Tarantulas and Blackarachnia, who inflict heavy damage on him. [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] arrives on the scene shortly, and even though both of the spiders flee, Tigatron is still in trouble. Inferno breaks free of Tarantulas's web, enraged at the destruction of the colony. Impressed with new guy's violent attitude, Megatron directs Inferno's fury on Tigatron. The ant is prepares to destroy the tiger, but [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] and Airazor arrive and blow Inferno into scrap.

[[File:Spider's Game Scorponok Inferno.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Who buried the loyalists?]]
Megatron gathers up the parts of Inferno and has him restored, while Optimus and Airazor take Tigatron back to the Maximal base for repairs. Back at his lab, however, Tarantulas is lamenting the loss of the pod, revealing to Blackarachnia his beliefs that [[Earth|the planet]] they're on [[Planet Buster|is doomed]]. From this, the black widow correctly surmises that Tarantulas was going to convert the pod into an escape shuttle, but is unable to wrench any more information about his motives for doing so out of him.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
* [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (4)
* [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] (5)
* [[Tigatron]] (7)
* [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (9)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
* [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (1)
* [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (2)
* [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (3)
* [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (6)
* [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (8)
* [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (10)
}}

==Quotes==
"Besides, you're so ''cute.''"
:—'''Blackarachnia''' to Tarantulas. Erugh.

"Ew, another ''insect''. How depressing."
:—'''Blackarachnia''' on Inferno's alt mode.

"Spiders! Dare invade the colony? Inferno, terrorize!"
:—'''Inferno'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s first words.

"As Cheetor would say, that flight mode is ultra-gear!"
:—'''Airazor''' should find better people to quote.

"You won't be getting any of our secrets from that pod, Predacons!" 
"And you won't be getting any older, Stripes."
:—'''Tigatron''' and '''Blackarachnia'''.

"At least consider it; we could be a great team. ...Lunatic." 
"Witch."
:—'''Blackarachnia''' and '''Tarantulas''' contemplate working together again.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*As Blackarachnia talks while Tarantulas works away at the protoform, her claws at one point clip through her hip, and then through Tarantulas' arm [[kibble]].
*When Waspinator flies after Tigatron, he clips through the screen.
*After smashing into the boulder, Tigatron's head briefly clips into it.
*Inferno's beast form seems to be way too large for the stasis pod he crawls out of...
*Inferno's legs are also colored quite randomly. This means that when he first transforms to [[robot mode]], his right leg suddenly goes from being dark red to a bright hue.
*Just before Inferno transforms for the first time, one of his ant legs in the pod jerks back and forth.
*When Inferno salutes after firing at the spiders, his hand clips into his head and his "horns".
*When Blackarachnia hides behind a tree, her spider legs clip into its trunk.
*Then, as she transforms, Tarantulas' forearms are on backwards. And when ''he'' transforms, his robot mode legs miraculously disappear, only to flip down from his body and retract into it again.
*Right after this, as Inferno's walking up and down to guard his pod, his back kibble are doing their own independent movements.
*As Blackarachnia throws Tarantulas off herself, he briefly passes into her back.
*When Tarantulas snickers to himself after Blackarachnia goes to talk to Inferno, his spider "hands" clip into the ground.
*When Inferno introduces himself to Airazor, his hand passes into his chest.
*As Airazor struggles to get up, the fingers on her right hand twist outwards two times.
*As Airazor caresses her right arm when talking to Tigatron, her left hand keeps popping on and off its joint. Then, as Tigatron leaves, her right arm clips into her thigh.
*When Tarantulas transforms after Inferno finds him, the markings on his spider abdomen change as it becomes his back.
*When Inferno breaks out of the web Tarantulas traps him in and fires his jets, his spinning abdomen is seen slashing through the back of his legs. (for a brief second anyway)
*While he flies higher up, Inferno tilts his head back so much that the back of it clips completely into his torso.

===Continuity errors===
*While other stasis pods are shown with hatch windows in outer space, Inferno's stasis pod does not have a window when viewed from the inside.
*Despite what the stasis pod says during Tarantulas's reprogramming of it, it had already started and finished scanning for DNA before the spiders even arrived.
*While Airazor is standing up from her injury, the stasis pod can be seen in the background, even though Tarantulas has already taken it away.
*When Tigatron is injured near the end of the episode, his beast mode's face (which serves as his robot mode's chestplate) appears to be bleeding (and has a black eye). Unless mech fluid happens to be red, this either contradicts what Cheetor said to Tarantulas in an [[The Web|earlier episode]] when he said "I don't ''have'' real blood... only [[mech fluid]].", or this lends credence to the theory that beast modes are wholly organic.
*It's snowing rather heavily near the end of the episode. Considering that the series most likely takes place in prehistoric Africa, this is... odd, to say the least. Perhaps it has something to do with the energon deposits?

===Continuity notes===
*Following on from the events of the [[The Trigger, Part 2|previous episode]], Tarantulas has correctly realized that the planet's strange geography is the result of alien manipulation, and is planning to flee the planet before they show up.
*Tarantulas hopes to make another of "our kind", referring to the role he played in Blackarachnia's own creation back in "[[Double Jeopardy]]".
*Prior to this point, Predacons had been known to exclaim "By the Inferno". With the introduction of a character using that name, the phrase is quietly dropped to avoid confusion and will be replaced in a couple of episodes with "By the [[Pit]]".
*Gadgets and powers:
** Airazor can perform a "sonar scan" while in beast mode to detect faraway targets.
** We get to see the installation of a Predacon [[shell program]] onto a Maximal protoform, which involves physically replacing a chip within the pod's machinery.
** We also get to see Tarantulus pooping out some webbing, which he uses to pull the Stasis Pod along. It... doesn't sound pleasant.

===Trivia===
*Remarkably, this is the first episode where Tarantulas and Blackarachnia interact since her debut.
*While Megatron is complaining that repairing the computer is Tarantulas's job, you can see the words "eat me" on the screen in the Predacon variant of [[Cybertronix]].
*This is the only episode of the series in which [[Scott McNeil]] voices just one character (specifically, Waspinator). The other fifty-one episodes saw him voicing two to four characters.
*Inferno's stasis pod is the only pod in the entire series to make a controlled descent and scan a [[beast mode]] without incident. Of course, it doesn't stop him from being bonkers, but hey.
*It can be speculated that Inferno's faulty programming can be attributed to his pod already selecting his beast mode before Tarantulas began the reprogramming sequence. It is possible that without the Maximal or Predacon programming chips in place, the pod began to program him with the basic instincts of an ant.
*This is the first episode of the series to not feature [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]], [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], or [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]].
*After Tigatron hits his head, there's a cartoony, tweeting-bird sound.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Inferno'''"

:*''Title:'' "'''Inferno'''" (Canada)

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Intrighi'''" ("Intrigue")

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jigoku no Ari Senshi Inferno'''" (地獄のアリ戦士インフェルノ, "The Ant Warrior from Hell, Inferno")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 28|28 January]] [[1998]]
::* Inferno is dubbed fairly faithfully to his English language version, with the addition of incessantly repeating words and phrases to express his mania. Like all other characters, Inferno was given a unique verbal tic. In his case, he ends sentences with the phrase ''de arimasu'', an outdated predecessor to the more modern ''desu'' used only in highly formal situations (for Inferno, it illustrates his reverence for "the colony"). "Ari" also happens to be Japanese for "ant", making it a pun. Like all characters, he shouts a phrase whenever he fires his weapon. In his case, it's ''shageki'' (射撃, "Fire!").

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Jogo das Aranhas'''" ("The Game of Spiders")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Juego de Arácnidos'''" ("Spiders' Game")

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Zhīzhū de Yóuxì '''" (蜘蛛的游戏, "Spiders' Game")

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' — Warning from Space ([[Alliance Atlantis|Alliance Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Robots-Bêtes'' — Alert Dans L'Espace (Alliance Video) — French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — There are 2 Dinobots? ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (Alliance Video) — Available in English or French audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 3 ([[Universal]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Predacon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 3 — The Battle Rages On! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[Category:Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]

Gorilla Warfare

2018-02-07T12:59:25Z

Platypar-1: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|series=BWtoon
|ep=10
|series2=BWJtoon
|ep2=10
|prev2=The Probe
|next2=A Better Mousetrap
|image=Gorilla Warfare Berzerker Optimus.jpg|
|caption=He will kill the first person who makes a [[dull surprise]] joke.
|title="Gorilla Warfare"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[October 14]], [[1996]]
|written by=[[Greg Johnson]]
|directed by=[[James Boshier]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity= [[Beast Wars continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Blackarachnia (BW)#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Blackwidow]]
}}
'''A virus, courtesy of Scorponok, turns Optimus into an overly aggressive fighting machine.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Cyberbee&primal.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|RRRAAAIIIDDD?!]]
While out on a specimen-gathering mission, [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] and [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] argue over the importance of studying the local flora. Primal finds it valuable, while Dinobot thinks the whole mission is pointless and dangerous. As he turns to leave, the plant Primal is studying shoots a seed pod at Dinobot that lands right at the top of his neck, right where he can't reach. As Dinobot struggles, Primal helps remove the pod and notes that they've learned something.

Just then, the pair are ambushed by [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]], who manages to implant a [[Cyberbee]] onto Optimus Primal's chest before being driven away. Back at the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'', Primal recuperates in a [[CR chamber]] while Dinobot explains that the bee is a viral mine designed by Scorponok to infect Optimus's core systems and humble his personality, making him too cowardly to lead adequately. [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] deduces that because the mine has infected all of Primal's core systems, removing the bee is impossible without killing the [[Maximal]] commander, and doing so would trigger a self-destruct that would destroy everything within sprinting distance.

[[File:Cheetor&badoptimus.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Why does your shoulderpad have to be so big?]]
As they wonder what to do next, the CR chamber shakes and is blasted apart. Out stomps Optimus Primal, ready for battle. The cyberbee has had the opposite effect on Primal, turning him into a crazed berserker. Obviously, Scorponok's "notorious incompetence" has caused the Predacon's plan to backfire. Still, in his current state, Primal is now a danger to himself and his teammates, and is still at risk of perishing under the system drain of the mine. Primal orders his troops to lock him up.

[[File:Megatronsbigfoot.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|I said, ''"No pictures!"'']]
The Maximals debate over what to do next, knowing that Scorponok would have the anti-virus for the mine but unsure of how to acquire it. With what little bit of clarity he has left, Optimus Primal convinces [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] that they could use the mine against the Predacons, and Cheetor releases him. Primal wants to take advantage of their enemy's lack of knowledge of the mine's malfunction to launch a surprise assault. When brought to the rest of the crew, his plan is shot down as being far too risky and dangerous to attempt. Optimus accidentally shoots and activates an alarm, which then sets him into a tantrum. The Maximals try to stop him, but Primal shoves them all away and takes off for the Pred base on his own.

With their options running short, Dinobot ironically suggests they "think like the old Optimus" and proposes negotiating with the Predacons for the cure, but their attempt only serves to give the Predacons advance warning of Optimus Primal's new state and his oncoming assault... but not before Megatron kicks Scorponok for being an "incompetent bug." Now with the Preds on full alert and with no other course of action to take, the Maximals begrudgingly follow Optimus to the [[Darksyde (BW)|Predacon base]] to give him covering fire in his one-ape assault.

[[File:Pileonoptimus.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Oh, exploitable!]]
After blasting his way in, Optimus Primal takes on [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] and pins him to the wall with his own weapon. Primal then breaks through another wall to grab [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and blow him away. Outside, the Maximals take on [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]], giving Cheetor a chance to run inside the base.

After tearing through the Predacon crew, Optimus Primal ends up confronting [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who teasingly dangles the cure in front of his nose while giving an ultimatum: Submit to him and live, or stay defiant and die from the mine.

[[File:Primalsaysnono.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|When he says, "Pull my finger"... don't, okay?]]
Inspired by the plant specimen from his mission with Dinobot, Optimus chooses a third option and rips the bee from his chest, activating its self-destruct. He tosses it at Megatron and it attaches to the Predacon leader's back where he can't reach. Megatron drops the anti-virus and flees to Scorponok for help. Fortunately for Primal, Cheetor manages to arrive just in time to grab the cure and administer it to the Maximal leader before his [[spark]] gives out. Megatron reaches Scorponok, but not in time, and the Cyberbee blows just after the Maximals rush outside the base.

Optimus Primal recuperates in his quarters and finds Dinobot watching over him. Dinobot shares an uncharacteristic sentiment that he's glad Optimus is back and wanders out. Primal sees that the former Predacon has brought him a sample of the flower they were studying earlier. Awwww.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] (1)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (2)
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (4)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (5)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (6)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (3)
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (7)
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (8)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (9)
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (10)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==
"Just because we bumped into Predacons is no reason to stop learning new things." 
"Well, if we encounter any of Megatron's forces, you may learn that it is unwise to dally with plants."
:—'''Optimus''' and '''Dinobot'''

"Yeeesss, from now on, I shoot my dinner salad before I eat it."
:–'''Dinobot''' encounters hostile plant life for the first time.

"As much as I'd ''love'' to see the both of you scrap yourselves, save it for my birthday."
:—'''Rattrap''' wants strange birthday presents.

'''Rhinox:''' "Optimus would get blown to scrap. Big problem." 
'''Dinobot:''' "Well, that depends on your viewpoint." 
'''Rattrap:''' "Hey, hey, hey, shut up!" 
:—The Maximals debate what to do with Optimus.

"We've got to stop him before he hurts himself!" 
"Him? Try ''us!''"
:—'''Rhinox''' and '''Rattrap''' during Optimus' freakout.

"We must try to think what Optimus—the ''old'' Optimus—would do."
:—... Is '''Dinobot''' feeling all right?

==Notes==
===Animation and technical glitches===
*After the Maximals transform to engage Scorponok during his ambush, Scorponok is seen firing missiles at them. The animation pace for this particular sequence seems a lot faster than the pace for the rest of the episode.
*In the overhead shot of the opening battle, Scorponok seems to be standing on the surface of the water, instead of the rocks right in front of him.
*May not be much of an error, but once again, Scorponok's visor optics are red momentarily when he is first blasted by Optimus Primal and finds himself on a loose log near the waterfall.
* When Cheetor injects the anti-virus into Optimus, his fist painfully twists to the side, clipping through his wrist armor. Then, the virus container floats in the air for a second, before it drops to the ground. Cheetor never opens his fist during the process, and continues to grip air.
*At the end of the episode, as Optimus lies in his bed, the plate behind his head clips into his mattress.

===Continuity errors===
*Belying Rhinox's claims that removing the bee would activate a self-destruct and destroy everyone in sprinting distance, Megatron and Scorponok manage to survive being at ground zero, despite the blast blowing a slag-off big hole in the ''Darksyde''.

===Continuity notes===
* Aaaw, character development. How sweet. (And not just Dinobot. Rattrap also stops Cheetor and Dinobot arguing in order to get everyone to focus on Primal's condition. He's definitely a much changed 'bot from the jerk we met back in the first episode.)

===Transformers references===
*This episode has the first reference to a [[spark]] in any ''Transformers'' animated continuity, when Primal mutters "Spark... fading" after the Cyberbee is removed.
*If nothing else, this episode firmly cements "slag" as the Transformer swear-word of choice. (Or at least until Hasbro's UK branch coughed in the direction of the US branch). We also get Primal threatening to "smelt you all", which didn't catch on.

===Real-world references===
*We're still using "minutes" as a unit of time in this episode.
*In the scene where Primal bursts into the Pred base, he swiftly punches through the wall with Waspinator on the other side and drags him back through the hole. This could be a reference to a similar sequence in [[wikipedia:RoboCop|RoboCop]], especially with Optimus' stompy footsteps beforehand.
*The episode title is a pun on the concept of [[wikipedia:Guerrilla Warfare|Guerrilla Warfare]]. And though Megatron's comment that it suits Optimus makes for a nice joke and play on the title, it doesn't say much for the Predacon leader's knowledge of the tactics. True guerrilla warfare is built on surprise attacks, sabotage, ambushes, and deception. What it certainly isn't built on is insane and suicidal frontal assaults against superior numbers.
*Just before the cyberbee explodes, Megatron and Scorponok break the forth wall and stare directly at us in horror and fear.

===Trivia===
* The [[Cybertronix]] on the screen in Scorponok's lab reads "you've got problems", though the text and message is upside down.
* Megatron spends the entire episode in [[beast mode]] (which, conveniently, makes it possible for Optimus to stick the Cyberbee on his back where his stubby arms can't reach it).
* Scorponok can apparently design viruses, which seems slightly at odds with his personality so far. (It really seams like it would be more Tarantulus's thing). That said, the virus does do the exact opposite of what it's supposed to, and that level of competency does seem more in-line with what we know about Scorponok.)
*At no point during Beast Wars does Megatron ever call Cheetor by name. In this episode, he calls him "Pussycat" when Cheetor tries to negotiate with him.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Un Singe en Colère'''" ("An Angry Monkey")

:*''Title:'' "'''Méchant Optimus'''" (Canada, "Mean Optimus")

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Gorilla dalla furia cieca'''" ("Running Amok Gorilla")

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Satsujin Virus'''" (殺人ウィルス, "The Assassin Virus")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 3|3 December]] [[1997]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Guerra do Gorila'''" ("Gorilla Warfare")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Guerra Gorila'''" (America, "Gorilla War")

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Xīngxīng Chūzhàn '''" (猩猩出战, "Gorilla Battle")

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' — Beasties Escape ([[Alliance Atlantis|Alliance Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Robots-Bêtes'' — L'Évasion (Alliance Video) — French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — New Weapon of Terror ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (Alliance Video) — Available in English or French audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 2 ([[Universal]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 4 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 2 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (Rhinomation) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 2 — The Saga Continues! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[Category:MSTF]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]

Gorilla Warfare

2018-02-07T12:58:08Z

Platypar-1: /* Transformers references */

{{episode|
|series=BWtoon
|ep=10
|series2=BWJtoon
|ep2=10
|prev2=The Probe
|next2=A Better Mousetrap
|image=Gorilla Warfare Berzerker Optimus.jpg|
|caption=He will kill the first person who makes a [[dull surprise]] joke.
|title="Gorilla Warfare"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[October 14]], [[1996]]
|written by=[[Greg Johnson]]
|directed by=[[James Boshier]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity= [[Beast Wars continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Blackarachnia (BW)#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Blackwidow]]
}}
'''A virus, courtesy of Scorponok, turns Optimus into an overly aggressive fighting machine.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Cyberbee&primal.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|RRRAAAIIIDDD?!]]
While out on a specimen-gathering mission, [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] and [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] argue over the importance of studying the local flora. Primal finds it valuable, while Dinobot thinks the whole mission is pointless and dangerous. As he turns to leave, the plant Primal is studying shoots a seed pod at Dinobot that lands right at the top of his neck, right where he can't reach. As Dinobot struggles, Primal helps remove the pod and notes that they've learned something.

Just then, the pair are ambushed by [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]], who manages to implant a [[Cyberbee]] onto Optimus Primal's chest before being driven away. Back at the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'', Primal recuperates in a [[CR chamber]] while Dinobot explains that the bee is a viral mine designed by Scorponok to infect Optimus's core systems and humble his personality, making him too cowardly to lead adequately. [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] deduces that because the mine has infected all of Primal's core systems, removing the bee is impossible without killing the [[Maximal]] commander, and doing so would trigger a self-destruct that would destroy everything within sprinting distance.

[[File:Cheetor&badoptimus.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Why does your shoulderpad have to be so big?]]
As they wonder what to do next, the CR chamber shakes and is blasted apart. Out stomps Optimus Primal, ready for battle. The cyberbee has had the opposite effect on Primal, turning him into a crazed berserker. Obviously, Scorponok's "notorious incompetence" has caused the Predacon's plan to backfire. Still, in his current state, Primal is now a danger to himself and his teammates, and is still at risk of perishing under the system drain of the mine. Primal orders his troops to lock him up.

[[File:Megatronsbigfoot.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|I said, ''"No pictures!"'']]
The Maximals debate over what to do next, knowing that Scorponok would have the anti-virus for the mine but unsure of how to acquire it. With what little bit of clarity he has left, Optimus Primal convinces [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] that they could use the mine against the Predacons, and Cheetor releases him. Primal wants to take advantage of their enemy's lack of knowledge of the mine's malfunction to launch a surprise assault. When brought to the rest of the crew, his plan is shot down as being far too risky and dangerous to attempt. Optimus accidentally shoots and activates an alarm, which then sets him into a tantrum. The Maximals try to stop him, but Primal shoves them all away and takes off for the Pred base on his own.

With their options running short, Dinobot ironically suggests they "think like the old Optimus" and proposes negotiating with the Predacons for the cure, but their attempt only serves to give the Predacons advance warning of Optimus Primal's new state and his oncoming assault... but not before Megatron kicks Scorponok for being an "incompetent bug." Now with the Preds on full alert and with no other course of action to take, the Maximals begrudgingly follow Optimus to the [[Darksyde (BW)|Predacon base]] to give him covering fire in his one-ape assault.

[[File:Pileonoptimus.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Oh, exploitable!]]
After blasting his way in, Optimus Primal takes on [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] and pins him to the wall with his own weapon. Primal then breaks through another wall to grab [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and blow him away. Outside, the Maximals take on [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]], giving Cheetor a chance to run inside the base.

After tearing through the Predacon crew, Optimus Primal ends up confronting [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who teasingly dangles the cure in front of his nose while giving an ultimatum: Submit to him and live, or stay defiant and die from the mine.

[[File:Primalsaysnono.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|When he says, "Pull my finger"... don't, okay?]]
Inspired by the plant specimen from his mission with Dinobot, Optimus chooses a third option and rips the bee from his chest, activating its self-destruct. He tosses it at Megatron and it attaches to the Predacon leader's back where he can't reach. Megatron drops the anti-virus and flees to Scorponok for help. Fortunately for Primal, Cheetor manages to arrive just in time to grab the cure and administer it to the Maximal leader before his [[spark]] gives out. Megatron reaches Scorponok, but not in time, and the Cyberbee blows just after the Maximals rush outside the base.

Optimus Primal recuperates in his quarters and finds Dinobot watching over him. Dinobot shares an uncharacteristic sentiment that he's glad Optimus is back and wanders out. Primal sees that the former Predacon has brought him a sample of the flower they were studying earlier. Awwww.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] (1)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (2)
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (4)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (5)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (6)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (3)
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (7)
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (8)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (9)
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (10)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==
"Just because we bumped into Predacons is no reason to stop learning new things." 
"Well, if we encounter any of Megatron's forces, you may learn that it is unwise to dally with plants."
:—'''Optimus''' and '''Dinobot'''

"Yeeesss, from now on, I shoot my dinner salad before I eat it."
:–'''Dinobot''' encounters hostile plant life for the first time.

"As much as I'd ''love'' to see the both of you scrap yourselves, save it for my birthday."
:—'''Rattrap''' wants strange birthday presents.

'''Rhinox:''' "Optimus would get blown to scrap. Big problem." 
'''Dinobot:''' "Well, that depends on your viewpoint." 
'''Rattrap:''' "Hey, hey, hey, shut up!" 
:—The Maximals debate what to do with Optimus.

"We've got to stop him before he hurts himself!" 
"Him? Try ''us!''"
:—'''Rhinox''' and '''Rattrap''' during Optimus' freakout.

"We must try to think what Optimus—the ''old'' Optimus—would do."
:—... Is '''Dinobot''' feeling all right?

==Notes==
===Animation and technical glitches===
*After the Maximals transform to engage Scorponok during his ambush, Scorponok is seen firing missiles at them. The animation pace for this particular sequence seems a lot faster than the pace for the rest of the episode.
*In the overhead shot of the opening battle, Scorponok seems to be standing on the surface of the water, instead of the rocks right in front of him.
*May not be much of an error, but once again, Scorponok's visor optics are red momentarily when he is first blasted by Optimus Primal and finds himself on a loose log near the waterfall.
* When Cheetor injects the anti-virus into Optimus, his fist painfully twists to the side, clipping through his wrist armor. Then, the virus container floats in the air for a second, before it drops to the ground. Cheetor never opens his fist during the process, and continues to grip air.
*At the end of the episode, as Optimus lies in his bed, the plate behind his head clips into his mattress.

===Continuity errors===
*Belying Rhinox's claims that removing the bee would activate a self-destruct and destroy everyone in sprinting distance, Megatron and Scorponok manage to survive being at ground zero, despite the blast blowing a slag-off big hole in the ''Darksyde''.

===Continuity notes===
* Aaaw, character development. How sweet. (And not just Dinobot. Rattrap also stops Cheetor and Dinobot arguing in order to get everyone to focus on Primal's condition. He's definitely a much changed 'bot from the jerk we met back in the first episode.)

===Transformers references===
*This episode has the first reference to a [[spark]] in any ''Transformers'' animated continuity, when Primal mutters "Spark... fading" after the Cyberbee is removed.
*If nothing else, this episode firmly cements "slag" as the Transformer swear-word of choice. (Or at least until Hasbro's UK branch coughed in the direction of the US branch). We also get Primal threatening to "smelt you all", which didn't catch on.

===Real-world references===
*We're still using "minutes" as a unit of time in this episode.
*In the scene where Primal bursts into the Pred base, he swiftly punches through the wall with Waspinator on the other side and drags him back through the hole. This could be a reference to a similar sequence in [[wikipedia:RoboCop|RoboCop]], especially with Optimus' stompy footsteps beforehand.
*The episode title is a pun on the concept of [[wikipedia:Guerrilla Warfare|Guerrilla Warfare]]. And though Megatron's comment that it suits Optimus makes for a nice joke and play on the title, it doesn't say much for the Predacon leader's knowledge of the tactics. True guerrilla warfare is built on surprise attacks, sabotage, ambushes, and deception. What it certainly isn't built on is insane and suicidal frontal assaults against superior numbers.
*Just before the cyberbee explodes, Megatron and Scorponok break the forth wall and stare directly at us in horror and fear.

===Trivia===
* The [[Cybertronix]] on the screen in Scorponok's lab reads "youve got problems", though the text and message is upside down.
* Megatron spends the entire episode in [[beast mode]] (which, conveniently, makes it possible for Optimus to stick the Cyberbee on his back where his stubby arms can't reach it).
* Scorponok can apparently design viruses, which seems slightly at odds with his personality so far. (It really seams like it would be more Tarantulus's thing). That said, the virus does do the exact opposite of what it's supposed to, and that level of competency does seem more in-line with what we know about Scorponok.)
*At no point during Beast Wars does Megatron ever call Cheetor by name. In this episode, he calls him "Pussycat" when Cheetor tries to negotiate with him.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Un Singe en Colère'''" ("An Angry Monkey")

:*''Title:'' "'''Méchant Optimus'''" (Canada, "Mean Optimus")

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Gorilla dalla furia cieca'''" ("Running Amok Gorilla")

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Satsujin Virus'''" (殺人ウィルス, "The Assassin Virus")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 3|3 December]] [[1997]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Guerra do Gorila'''" ("Gorilla Warfare")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Guerra Gorila'''" (America, "Gorilla War")

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Xīngxīng Chūzhàn '''" (猩猩出战, "Gorilla Battle")

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' — Beasties Escape ([[Alliance Atlantis|Alliance Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Robots-Bêtes'' — L'Évasion (Alliance Video) — French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — New Weapon of Terror ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (Alliance Video) — Available in English or French audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 2 ([[Universal]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 4 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 2 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (Rhinomation) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 2 — The Saga Continues! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[Category:MSTF]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]

Optimus Primal (BW)

2018-01-28T11:49:43Z

Platypar-1: /* Toy bios */

{{factions|maximal|maximalbm|autobot|protector|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Optimus Primal}}
{{suite}}
:''Optimus Primal is a [[Maximal]] from the [[Beast Era]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:Optimusprimalbw.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Next one of you says "[[trukk not munky]]" gets it in the [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|FACE]].]]
Young and untested, '''Optimus Primal''' was a mere captain of an exploration ship when he and his crew were diverted off-course to pursue a stolen Predacon ship under the leadership of some crook named [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]. The rest, they say, is (literally) history.

Though he does have a penchant for stuffy speeches, Optimus Primal is much more down-to-Cybertron than his legendary [[Optimus Prime (G1)|namesake]]. He is committed to the Maximal codes of honor and moral judgment, but he does view them with some irreverence, and is not above finding loopholes or administering unorthodox solutions if necessary. ("Sometimes, crazy works", he says.) He is eternally loyal to his friends and respectful to his enemies. He is brave and selfless in battle. However, he is so committed to helping others that he can withdraw into a deep depression when he feels he has let them down. This is the only time he is self-absorbed.

Optimus Primal is extraordinary for not only being able to distinguish himself, despite living in the shadow of Optimus Prime, but he may even have surpassed the greatest of the Autobots, seeing as he [[Optimal Situation|saved the life of his namesake]] and ushered in a new [[technorganic]] [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. It is possible Optimus Primal is the greatest Cybertronian hero who has ever lived.

{{quote|Come on, let's hear it, the usual destiny and honor speech.|Megatron|"[[Nemesis Part 2]]"}}
{{quote|Speech this!|Optimus as he punches Megatron in the face|"[[Nemesis Part 2]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Toy bios===
[[File:BatPrimal-2packcomic.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|Function: Megatron's lunch]]
Under the eerie shadows of a full moon Optimus Primal, a gigantic bat, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], a swift-stalking cheetah, and [[Razorbeast]], a fearsome wild boar, hunted purposely through the depths of a jungle. Soon, Optimus detected the thermal emissions and fusion activity from a building, which meant they'd found their target. His motion sensors registered what appeared to be a harmless [[Earth]] creature below.

Before Optimus realized his mistake, the alligator lashed out with as smashing swipe of its tail, knocking Optimus into the swampy waters. The beast transformed and [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] towered above him. The building ahead was the Predacons' genetics lab and he'd never let Optimus reach the secrets inside. He ordered his troops to attack and everyone transformed to robot mode. The gigantic arthropods Tarantulas and Waspinator engaged Razorbeast and Cheetor respectively while Optimus and Megatron faced off.

Optimus bragged that the Maximal "[[bio-genetic morphing process]] has allowed us to create the perfect fusion of organic musculature and Transformers technology!" Megatron responded that his side did all that too, so nan-neh, but used the DNA of Earth's most vicious predators. When Optimus noted that the Maximals seemed to be getting the upper hand, Megatron immediately detonated the lab and escaped, vowing to return with new forms and new plans when the Maximals least expected it. The [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] had just begun! {{storylink|Optimus Primal vs Megatron!}}

Optimus believed, as his namesake did, that freedom was the right of all sentient beings... when it didn't clash with the greater good. His goal was to vanquish the Predacons from the planet Earth, a task he recognized would not be done easily. {{storylink|Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|Optimus Primal bio (Basic class)}}

Optimus eventually re-engineered his body, from a fruit bat to a gigantic gorilla, alluded to be comparable in size to [[King Kong]]. His strength had been most notably increased by this process, and he possessed "mega blast missiles", produced from his shoulder mounted cannons. {{storylink|Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|Optimus Primal bio (Ultra class)}}

{{note|This comic, along with the on-package [[Bio]]s of the first wave of Beast Wars toys, predate the development of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon and its backstory. Instead, they seem to present the characters as a direct continuation of the previous Autobot/Decepticon conflict, with Optimus Primal actually being a new form of Optimus Prime and Megatron being his Generation 1 counterpart, and their battles taking place on present day, [[human]]-inhabited Earth, rather than in the distant past. Once the cartoon launched, the toyline adjusted itself to match that continuity instead, relegating this one to an aborted [[micro-continuity]].}}

His transformation into Optimal Optimus was due to exposure to a "nebulous entity". {{storylink|Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|Optimal Optimus toy bio}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity===
{{main|Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity}}
[[File:Call of the Wild Optimus Megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|''King Kong'' took a weird turn.]]
Optimus Primal was a minor [[Maximal]] officer of little note who commanded the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''. When he received an alert about a fugitive [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] ship, the ''[[Darksyde (BW)|Darksyde]]'', he had the ''Axalon'' pursue it through a [[transwarp]] portal, eventually ending up on a primitive planet. There, he and his Maximal crew scanned [[beast mode]]s and battled [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s criminal band of Predacons in what the Maximal dubbed the "[[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]". The two forces soon became embroiled in an "experiment" by the mysterious [[Vok]], and Primal gave his life to stop the destruction of the Maximals by the aliens' [[Planet Buster]]. The planet was revealed to be [[Earth]] in the past, putting the conflict in a vital context. Optimus Primal was soon reborn in a [[Transmetal]] body and was later granted a more powerful body after taking [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s [[spark]] into his body to foil Megatron's plans to change history. Despite his nemesis's numerous machinations, the Predacons were defeated and Megatron brought back to Cybertron.

However, Megatron prematurely freed himself, and he arrived at Cybertron before the Maximals. When they arrived, they found the planet to be desolate and conquered by Megatron. They soon met the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], who [[reformatting|reformatted]] the Maximals into [[technorganic]] forms and entrusted Optimus Primal with the task of defeating Megatron and bringing about an evolution of the planet and the species into the technorganic. Despite some missteps, Optimus Primal was able to free Cybertron from Megatron's reign and bring about a new age for Cybertron, albeit with the cost of his life.

When [[Unicron]] instigated the [[Universe War]] with his abductions of Transformers from across the [[multiverse]], [[Primus]] resurrected Optimus Primal to act as the leader of the [[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]]. Well into the war efforts, Unicron disappeared and Optimus Primal's fate was left unknown.

A different quantum branch of this Optimus Primal became one of the [[Alternity]]'s dimension-hopping [[Protector|agents]] and met with the [[Thirteen|ancient Transformer]] [[Vector Prime]].

In a divergent timeline, Optimus Primal, a possessor of an [[Energon Matrix]], joined forces with various [[Autobot]] and Maximal [[Supreme Commander|leaders]], such as the legendary Optimus Prime himself, the [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] of a different [[Universal stream|universal cluster]], [[Lio Convoy]], and [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]].

===''Beast Wars II'' toy catalog===
[[File:PrimalLioConvoyCatalog01.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|"And what's that, Lio Convoy? Your toy is now out in '''all major retailers''' and buying it will make children be '''seen as cool''' by their peers? Boy, who ''wouldn't'' want to '''buy your toy'''?"]]

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Optimus Primal observed a warrior named [[Lio Convoy]] advance through the ranks of the Maximal Space Patrol. Respecting him for his strength and courage (though feeling he was a bit too straightforward), Primal dynamically named him as his successor. Shaking hands, Lio Convoy swore not to let Primal down. {{storylink|Catalog#Beast Wars II|The next stage of battle advances to the Second War... Beast Wars, Transform!}}
{{-}}

===''Bom Bom'' manga continuity===
====''Beast Wars II'' manga====
Many years ago, before [[Lio Convoy]] became "Lio Convoy", Optimus Primal was a sitting member of the [[Convoy Council]] and personally awarded him his [[Energon Matrix]] and [[Convoy (rank)|Convoy]] rank.

Years following that, during a battle with [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] on planet [[Gaia]], Lio Convoy's Energon Matrix was damaged by his foe and corrupted with [[Angolmois]] energy. The chaotic energy caused Lio Convoy to grow to enormous size and go berserk. To stop him from destroying everyone and everything, [[Apache]] and [[Scuba]] used an ancient Gaian computer to summon Optimus Primal across time and space.

Primal observed the danger and immediately recognized the problem. Stretching out his glowing hand, Primal pressed his palm against Lio Convoy's Energon Matrix, repairing it. This act disspelled the Angolomois corruption, returning Lio Convoy to normal size and sanity. The deed done, Primal faded away, returning to wherever he had come from. {{storylink|Free the Captured Matrix!}}

Before Lio Convoy and his team set out to the artificial planet [[Nemesis (BWII)|Nemesis]], Optimus Primal showed up in the Maximals' base on Gaia via holographic communication. He warned Lio Convoy would die due to overexposure to the [[Angolmois]] energy if he went to the planet. {{storylink|All Hands, Make a Special Attack on the Evil Planet!}}

====''Beast Wars Metals'' manga====
[[File:DevilGorilla-sk.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|It's on like a reanimated cyborg Donkey Kong!]]
Following the [[Quantum surge]], Primal was left dead. Within [[Transwarp]] space, he found himself being dragged into the afterlife by a horde of monsters. Suddenly, [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] arrived and attempted to return him to life. Primal at first refused, saying he wished to move on. Rhinox then smacked some sense into him, reminding him of his duty to his Maximals. Brought back to his senses, Primal left Transwarp space, his spark being blasted from a laser cannon of Rhinox's design.

Over at the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] base, [[Hindenburg]], [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] had recovered Primal's sparkless, rampaging body and imprisoned it in shackles. Using a voodoo ceremony of [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]]'s design, Megatron intended to turn Primal's body into a Predacon slave. Before he could apply his mutant blood and finish the ceremony, Primal's spark reunited with his body and upgraded into a [[Transmetal]].

None too pleased, Primal proceeded to make short work of Tarantulas, [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] and Megatron's army of drones. He then defeated Megatron and escaped Hindenburg, rescuing an injured [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] in the process. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 1|Beast Wars Metals #1}}

Later, while investigating the remains of the ''Axalon'', Primal was attacked by Rampage. Primal had his robot head bitten off in the attack and lost both his arms (it was brutal). Ultimately, using undersea volcanos and his own hoverboard, Primal launched Rampage into space, trapping him in orbit. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 2|Beast Wars Metals #2}}

When [[Jaguar]] attacked a [[protohuman]] village and killed Dinobot, Primal journeyed there to avenge his friend. Their battle raged into a cave, where Jaguar blew a hole through Primal's torso. Primal managed to tear Jaguar's arms off and then shoot him before letting the villain stumble into a pit. Dinobot was avenged. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 3|Beast Wars Metals #3}}

Optimus Primal once again arrived too late to save a friend, as Tigatron, mind-controlled by Tarantulas, killed Airazor. Primal proceeded to stomp the spider to death and tear his body into a thousand pieces. He was much more courteous to Blackarachnia, however, having seen her attempt to help Airazo, and let her leave in peace.{{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 4|Beast Wars Metals #4}}

When Optimus learned that Megatron had discovered the ''Ark'', he raced to get there in time, only to be besieged by zombie Predacons. With Tigatron's help, he made it through them, but ONCE AGAIN arrived too late, as Megatron (now merged with the spark of [[Megatron (G1)|his namesake]]) blasted [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] to bits. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 5|Beast Wars Metals #5}}

To save Prime's spark, Optimus Primal ate it and became Optimal Optimus. In their final confrontation, Optimus ripped Megatron's spark out of his body and crushed it, killing his foe. After all was said and done, Primal lamented that repairing Optimus Prime and restoring the time stream would be a tall order. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 6|Beast Wars Metals #6}}

{{--}}

===''Universe'' CD-ROM===
[[File:UnivCDROM Autobots.jpg|left|thumb|"Pardon me, just passing through."]]
On some alternate Cybertron, that universe's Optimus Primal was leading the Autobots [[Snarl (BM)|Snarl]], [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]], and [[Striker]] against [[Reptilion|Reptillion]], [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]], [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]], and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] in the most intense day of fighting that year. Just as the combatants were really starting to beat the slag out of each other, they were interrupted by [[Acheron|a mysterious spaceship]] that swooped down, sucked the [[Decepticon]]s up on beams of light, and flew away. Primal and his troops were left dumbfounded, unaware that the ship had been a tool of [[Unicron]] in his quest to build [[Minion of Unicron|an army]] for a [[Universe War|grand war]]. {{storylink|Universe CD-ROM}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
When [[human]] archaeologists uncovered a cave filled with primitive language, [[Mini-Con]] [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] translated it for them. The markings told of a time when the Maximals and Predacons crash-landed on prehistoric Earth, though the stranded Transformers were seen by the protohumans as gods. One of the pictographs depicted one of these "gods" in the form of a gorilla. {{storylink|Fire in the Dark}}

====Ask Vector Prime====
In [[Aurex 1104.30-JH Zeta]], Megatron's Predacons fought Optimus Primal's Maximals in the war for the [[Mini-Con]]s, which the Maximals emerged victorious . {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/13}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:Historyofcybertron.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|He's looking into your other browser tabs RIGHT NOW.]]
When [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] plugged himself into [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s deactivated head to download information on the history of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], he skimmed past some facts on Optimus Primal. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}}
{{-}}

===''Q-Robo Transformer''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Q-Robo Transformer}}}}

===''Mini Mayhem!''===
In a celebration of the Transformers brand, Optimus Primal showed up as a representative for the "Beast Wars" era of the franchise. {{storylink|Mini Mayhem!}}

===''United''===
During the United battle, Optimus Primal entered into battle against the new threat of [[Unicron/Generation 1#United|Ark Unicron]]. During the fight, Primal's ship, the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'', mysteriously gained a [[spark]] and became a Transformer. The ''Axalon'' was then the Autobot's greatest hope of defeating Unicron. {{storylink|Axalon (BW)#United 2|''United'' Axalon bio}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
On a [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] where the Autobots and Decepticons had grown too decrepit to carry on the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], they constructed proxy armies in the form of the [[Maximal]]s and Predacons. Increasingly questioning the orders of her Autobot masters, the breaking point with [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] came with the death of her colleagues Silverbolt and Rhinox. She conspired with [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] and together they killed their commander, Optimus Primal, who refused to turn against the Autobots. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 25|"TransTech" Blackarachnia's profile in Club magazine #25}}

===''Transformers Legends'' comic===
Optimus Primal was the president of [[Axalon Trading Company]], and took new employee Rattrap drinking after his first workday. As Rattrap was explaining ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' to him, Primal assumed by his mention of CGI-animated transforming robots that he meant the [[live-action film series|recent Transformers movies]]. {{storylink|The Generation Gap}} Primal believed that your robot mode was your "serious adult" mode and that you should use it while working, and was annoyed that Rattrap remained in beast mode throughout the day and transformed to have fun afterwards. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 4#The Transformation Gap|The Transformation Gap}} During a meeting with [[Lio Convoy]] from another company, Primal had Airazor serve their guest tea. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 5#The Gender Gap Part 2|The Gender Gap Part 2}} He later found Rattrap, Rhinox and Silverbolt with their stomachs growling, and wondered what they'd been up to. {{storylink|TF4 Toy Party}}

While visiting [[Tokyo Toy Show 2014]] with his son, [[Optimus Minor]], Primal was shocked to run into some of his own employees and reprimanded them for caring about toys at their age. During the event, he talked to Minor about ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' characters and helped him transform an [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] toy he'd won. {{storylink|Tokyo Toy Show 2014 Report}} Later at work, he was exasperated by Cheetor enthusiastically refusing to work overtime. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 9#The Bathroom Gap|The Bathroom Gap}} While heading out one day, he told his employees not to touch his [[banana]]s, but turned back when he realized he'd forgotten to bring some with him. He returned to find that the others had immediately started eating all his bananas in a great big banana-themed party, and was ''not pleased''. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 10#Even Though I Told You Not To...|Even Though I Told You Not To...}} He also had his hands full with Cheetor, who at different points was so tired at work he forgot how to transform, {{storylink|Legends Vol. 10#Head of Partying, Cheetor|Head of Partying, Cheetor}} asked Primal to cover his travel expenses after he'd fallen asleep on the train, {{storylink|Legends Vol. 10#Cheetor at Night|Cheetor at Night}} and claimed to have overslept even when he arrived late fully energetic and refreshed. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 10#Cheetor in the Morning|Cheetor in the Morning}}

As punishment for the banana incident, Primal assigned Dinobot to be Rattrap's trainer, ignoring the rat's protests that his new trainer clearly wanted to eat him. When Rattrap managed to work even while stuck in Dinobot's mouth, Primal commented that the two worked well together after all. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 11#The Two's Recent Encounter|The Two's Recent Encounter}} Rattrap later arrived at worked in the body of a real Transformer, to which Primal responded by having him go see Doctor [[Bump]], who explained that the cause was Rattrap's obsession with Transformers. Primal ordered his employee to get rid of his toy collection, but was ignored. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 1|Bonus Edition Vol. 1}} Not long afterwards, the same thing happened to Optimus Primal himself! His initial worries about what his son would think proved unfounded when Minor was overjoyed to have a cool Transformer as a dad, but things still ended badly when his suspicious appearance caught the interest of the police. His accidentally deployed a bunch of hidden weapons while trying to explain himself, worsening the situation until Rattrap showed up and transformed him back into gorilla mode. Seeing Bump again, Primal was told that the transformation had been caused by his overeating of bananas, but like Rattrap, he refused to change his lifestyle. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 2|Bonus Edition Vol. 2}}

Optimus Primal's body was later transformed ''again'', this time becoming [[Fallout (episode)|flat as a pancake]]. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 15#LG03 Tankor Prologue|LG03 Tankor Prologue}} His boss's cool new robot mode was a source of jealousy for Rhinox until he too was transformed, becoming [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]. Primal watched an ensuing battle between Rattrap and Tankor with confusion. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 3|Bonus Edition Vol. 3}} He'd reverted to his old form again in time for [[Christmas]], during which he went for a walk with Minor. {{storylink|Merry X'mas!!}} He later bore witness to Tankor's final defeat at the hands of [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], after which he too reverted into Rhinox. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 7|Bonus Edition Vol. 7}} The large statures of Primal and the others at Axalon Co. bothered Rattrap, who regretted his small size. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 8|Bonus Edition Vol. 8}} Primal was a bit bothered when [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] showed up at Axalon to cook lunch for the employees on company time, {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 10|Bonus Edition Vol. 10}} and later watched in bewilderment when [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] attempted to destroy [[Legends Universe|their universe]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 12|Bonus Edition Vol. 12}}

During a partnership between Axalon Trading Company and the rivaling [[Tera-Kura Co.]], President Primal and Rattrap were invited by [[Megatron (BW)|President Megatron]] to a ''[[Q-Transformers]]'' event. He enjoyed himself trying out food and drinks, but didn't really understand why Rattrap wanted ''Beast Wars Q-Transformers'' so badly. {{storylink|Deckss × Q-Transformers Collaboration Event Report|Deckss × Q-Transformers}} Primal was visiting Tokyo Toy Show 2015 with Minor when [[Scourge (RID)|Black Convoy]] showed up and kidnapped his son! Fortunately [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Gelshark]] was around to get him back. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Black Convoy)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}} As the battle with Windblade had led to the destruction of Axalon's offices under [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s girth, Primal declared Metroplex's city mode to be their new office building. {{storylink|LG14 Ultra Magnus Prologue#The Mysterious Knowledgeable Grandpa Chapter|The Mysterious Knowledgeable Grandpa Chapter}} At one point, Rattrap and Tigatron arrived late for work and tried to explain to an angry Primal that they'd been trapped in a dream, but of course he didn't believe it. {{storylink|Go! Adventure}}

When all the heroic warriors of the Legends Universe got together to protect their world from [[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]], Optimus Primal joined in by turning into his Transformer form again. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 16|Bonus Edition Vol. 16}} He and Rattrap were later approached by the Autobot [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]], who asked for their help in using the Legends Universe's energies to build [[transtector]]s for him and his troops. Primal responded that business is business and they needed compensation, so Fortress offered his company access to Autobot technology, which led to a full-blown Autobot Axalon Trading Company partnership. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 21|Bonus Edition Vol. 21}} He later wondered what was up when Fortress was being chewed out by his brother [[Grand Maximus|Grand]]. {{storylink|LG24 Shockwave & Cancer Prologue}} Annoyed by the volume of one of his new employees, [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]], Primal kicked him out of the room and told him to get back to work. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 27|Bonus Edition Vol. 27}} He and Rhinox were later given [[Master-Brace]] blueprints by [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]], allowing their company to produce some. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 28|Bonus Edition Vol. 28}} After selling Metroplex to Tera-Kura in order to fund their new HQ, Maximus, Primal lamented the sacrifice they'd been forced to make. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 31|Bonus Edition Vol. 31}}

Optimus Primal yelled at [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] for flying around the office on [[Moguru]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 32|Bonus Edition Vol. 32}} Then his Transformers sickness kicked in again and he was turned into an orange robotic ape. His new appearance caught the attention of [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]], who hired him to play [[Ape X Arms]] in his new film, ''[[Transformers: Convobat Amazon Showdown]]''. He ended up having to combine with Megatron twice, first as part of a scene and again to subdue the rampaging transtector meant to represent [[Convobat]]'s. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Convobat)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}} Primal was later among the passengers on [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]'s commuter train, {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 40|Bonus Edition Vol. 40}} was around when [[Dark Ai]] came to Axalon looking for help, {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Black Convoy 2)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}} and got eaten whole by [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 43|Bonus Edition Vol. 43}} He then watched his house be destroyed during [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]]'s [[plasma energy]] rampage. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 49|Bonus Edition Vol. 49}} Primal was given [[Beastformer]] armor by [[White Leo]] when he tried to recruit the Legends natives into his army, {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 51|Bonus Edition Vol. 51}} and was present at Axalon when [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Goldbug]] came knocking. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 54|Bonus Edition Vol. 54}}

===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' cartoons===
{{voiceactor|[[Ron Perlman]] (English)}}
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers: Power of the Primes (cartoon)|Power of the Primes}}}}
{{-}}

==Commercial appearances==
Optimus Primal fluttered about in his bat mode, descending over a river swarming with alligators. After one of the beasts nearly snapped him out of the air, Optimus transformed to robot mode to scare it off. But the alligator transformed as well, revealing itself to be Megatron! Though Optimus took a blast to the side, he was able to relieve Megatron of his gun before the two adversaries continued exchanging blows. {{storylink|Commercial/Beast Wars#Wave 1 Deluxe|Beast Wars Wave 1 Deluxe toys commercial}}

==Games==
===''Beast Wars: Transformers'' video game continuity===
====''Beast Wars: Transformers'' video game advertising comic====
Upon arriving on "[[Earth|Planet Energon]]", the dangers of Energon radiation forced the six surviving Maximals and their Predacon adversaries to take on beast alternate forms. {{storylink|Beast Wars: Transformers video game advertising comic}}

====''Beast Wars: Transformers'' video game====
{{voiceactor|??? (English), ??? (Japanese)}}
Many of the Beast Wars combatants had managed to built personal bases, customized to their personal tastes, due to the extended duration of the war. Optimus Primal himself remained stationed at the ''Axalon''. Optimus Primal joined his fellow Maximals in battling not only an entrenched Predacon threat, but the interdimensional monsters known as the [[Skriix]].

=====Maximal campaign=====
{{Note|Optimus Primal is a playable character for both rescue missions and normal gameplay.}}
Optimus and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] had the task to rescue any of their comrades that were captured whenever a mission against the Predacons failed.

Upon having eliminated the Predacon threat, Optimus Primal declared the galaxy to be at peace thanks to the Maximals.

=====Predacon campaign=====
Retaliating after [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] had been assassinated by the Predacons, Optimus launched an offensive directly against the Predacon's ship. His drone troops were unsuccessful in destroying the Predacons, who launched a counter-offensive while Optimus troops were still in disarray after the failed attack. The Maximal leader was ultimately assassinated, securing the Predacons their victory in the Beast Wars. {{storylink|Beast Wars: Transformers (video game)|Beast Wars: Transformers}}

{{Note|Due to the nature of this game, a player may select various individual characters to perform the feats required in every level, and complete the game's narrative. Thus, any playable Maximal can fill the role of protagonist in Maximal Mode, and any playable Predacon can fill the role of protagonist in Predacon Mode. To view the various feats Optimus Primal can accomplish throughout gameplay in Maximal Mode, it is told on the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (video game)|''Beast Wars'' video game]] page, wherein Optimus Primal fills the role of the nameless Maximal.}}

===''Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals'' (N64)===
[[File:N64 Optimus Primal.jpg|frame|Back in 1999, you thought these graphics were awesome! ADMIT IT!]]
{{voiceactor|[[Garry Chalk]] (English), ??? (Japanese)}}

The Beast Wars seemed over, but the captured Megatron had prepared for such a situation and was able to send a message to his past self via transwarp, causing history to be altered! These rewritten Beast Wars came to an end when Optimus lead a final strike against the Predacon forces. The battle was hard-fought, resulting in tragic casualties on both sides, but ended with Megatron’s capture.

After Megatron was secured to the outside of an Autobot escape shuttle, the remaining Maximals were on their way to return to Cybertron. Unfortunately, the captured Megatron had prepared for such a situation and was able to send a message to his past self via transwarp, causing history to be altered! These rewritten Beast Wars came to an end when Optimus... {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)}}

{{note|Each character possessed an alternate ending, displayed if the game was beaten with said character. Each character has only their own ending listed on their pages; see the other characters' pages for Optimus's fate in those outcomes.}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals'' (PS)===
{{voiceactor|[[Garry Chalk]] (English), ??? (Japanese)}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (PS)}}
{{charstubgame}}

===''Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars''===
Optimus Primal became involved in a series of disputes when a super-powerful [[energon crystal]] was discovered on [[Earth]]. He partook in a series of one-on-one battles, his goal to become the last warrior standing, allowing him to take possession of the crystal.

Optimus could also partake in various other tasks, such as a mission to break a boulder to reveal an energon crystal hidden within before sundown, using a block in a mission to defend himself against various incoming projectiles, and missions to run across a pit-riddled field, sometimes involving hideously large bacteria he had to fend off.

His old nemesis, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], was the final bot opposing him at the end of his quest. Overcoming his Predacon foe, he used the power of the crystal to finally defeat the Predacons, saving the universe! {{storylink|Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Warriors' Strongest Decisive Battle|Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars}}

{{note|Each character possessed an alternate ending, displayed if the game was beaten with said character. Each character has only their own ending listed on their pages, see the other characters' pages for Optimus Primal's fate in those outcomes.}}

===''Transformers Battle Universe''===
At the edge of time, when the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] needed a new host, Optimus Primal was among several warriors (and [[Optimus Prime (disambiguation)|Optimuses]]) summoned from the multiverse to battle for control of the prize. {{storylink|Transformers Battle Universe}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
During a tectonic upshift, a huge amount of [[Energon]] was exposed. Optimus Primal and the other Maximals found themselves the victims of a Predacon ambush as they tried to secure the Energon themselves, and the cache ultimately fell into Predacon hands. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Legends)|Beast Wars}} On their return to Cybertron, the Maximals discovered that Megatron had conquered the planet, and they were forced to face his Vehicon generals. {{storylink|Beast Machines (Legends)|Beast Machines}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Optimus-Primal.jpg|thumb|400px|SUPER RARE MUNKY]]
Optimus Primal participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He appeared in multiple different bodies:
*''Optimus Primal'' — This Super Rare character was available as a reward in the "Beast Wars: Episode 1" event.
*''Optimus Primal Bat'' — This Epic character was available as a reward in the "Beast Wars: Episode 3" event.
*''Optimus Primal Transmetal'' — This Epic character first appeared in the "Transmetals: Beast Wars: Episode 1" event, and could be recruited by collecting 500 units of Transmetal, 250 units of Cybermetal, 100 event cores, and 50 cores of this character.
{{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Optimus-Primal-Bat.jpg|thumb|400px|Because I'm Batman!]]
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Optimus-Primal-Transmetal.jpg|thumb|423px|EPIC MUNKY]]
{{!}}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:Optimus-Primal-Earth-Wars.jpg|thumb|400px|Battle Munky!]]
In an unknown time and place, the Beast Wars came to an end. Optimus Primal planned on going home to a new command, while [[Megatron (BW)#Transformers: Earth Wars|Megatron]] went into incarceration. {{storylink| Transformers: Earth Wars/Events|Primal Instinct}} As the [[Autobot Shuttle Omega Delta|shuttle]] was traveling through chronospace, Optimus and Megatron found that they both reverted from their Transmetal forms to their original beast modes. {{storylink| Transformers: Earth Wars/Events|A Stitch in Time}} They were soon ripped from his place in space-time; Primal tried telling [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] to disengage their transwarp engines and abort their travel, to no avail. {{storylink| Transformers: Earth Wars/Events|Mixed Signals}}

They ended up at 21st century Earth, just as the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] and [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] were closing in to secure their new recruits. Optimus Primal decided to ally himself with the Autobots and figure out who brought him here and why. He was shoved aside by [[Grimlock (G1)|Megatron]], assumed Megatron was the future version of himself. After that mistake, Grimlock ordered the Dinobots to secure the... monkey. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars/Events|Blast from the Past}} {{storylink|Quantum Beast Leap}}

Optimus Primal soon figured out he was back on Earth and in the [[Earth Wars]], to his disappointment. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] came and questioned [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] on the ongoing battle between the Dinobots and the Predacons, and the new primate. Perceptor explained that the primate was a Prime and the idea was Grimlock's. Optimus Prime replied, "Well, that's just prime", and the annoyed Primal told him to get his own catchphrase.

*'''Class''': Special
*'''Lowest star rating''': 2 stars
*'''Weapons''': Primal in his beast mode first uses his shoulder cannons on a target far away. (15 second cooldown) He thens leaps into the air and lands on a target dealing Area of Effect damage. (10 second cooldown) He then proceeds to pound the target.
*'''Ability: Battle Orders''' - Target their defenses! Friendly bots are given a health shield and prioritize all defenses for a time.
**'''Cost''': 6 ability points +2 for reuses.
{{note|This ability was fan-voted as a community favorite on the Transformers: Earth Wars BAND page. It has been redesigned from restoring health to bonus health.}}

[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:optimus-primal| Optimus Primal at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
[[File:ForgedToFight-OptimusPrimal.jpg|right|thumb|300px|#GORILLACHANNEL #DEEPSTATE]]

*Faction: Maximal
*Class: Brawler
*The Maximal starship Axalon, commanded by Optimus Primal was pulled into a Transwarp Portal while in pursuit of a Predacon warship. Stranded on ancient Earth, Primal and his crew of Maximals fought the Beast Wars to preserve the timeline and protect all life in the galaxy.

Stats and Abilities:
*BasIc Abilities: Crit Armor, Melee Bonus, Bleed
*Passive:
**Armor Buffs provide 100% Critical Resistance.
Every 6 seconds if Optimus Primal has no Armor Buffs he will generate an Armor Buff, reducing damage from attacks by 2~4%. This ability stops if Optimus Primal is Armor Broken.
**When Attacked:
**20% chance to gain an Armor Buff, reducing damage from attacks by 2~4% with a maximum of 10 stacks of Armor. This ability requires at least one active Armor Buff and stops if Optimus Primal is Armor Broken.
**Blocked Melee Attacks:
Blocked Melee Hits have a 30% chance to grant a Melee Buff, increasing Melee Damage by 10~18% for 6 seconds.
*Heavy Attacks:
Converts all Armor Buffs to Melee Buffs, increasing Melee Damage by 10~18% for 6 seconds.
*Signature Ability - Isn’t that just prime.
**Optimus Primal hopes for the best, but always prepares for the worst. Damaging Debuffs have shorter durations and recover health when they expire. Damaging Debuffs expire 8% faster for each Armor Buff on Optimus Primal. Optimus Primal gains 1~5% of his max Health each time a Bleed on him expires.

*Speical Attacks:
**Special 1 – Law of the Jungle
Optimus Primal launches into the air to bring justice to his foes.
If Optimus Primal has received any Bleeds this fight he will inflict Bleed on the opponent that deals 30~38% of Attack over 4 seconds. The strength of the Bleed increases by 20% for each Bleed inflicted on Optimus Primal this fight.
**Special 2 – Beast Warrior
The quickest way to peace, is to end the battle quickly.
50% chance for each sword hit to inflict Bleed, Dealing 40~60% of Attack as damage over 5 seconds.
**Special 3 – Gorilla Warfare
When it comes to dealing with Predacons, sometimes brutal is best.
Optimus Primal’s rage grants him the maximum amount of Armor Buffs.
100% chance to inflict Attack Down, reducing the opponent’s Attack Rating by -20% for 32 seconds.

*Synefgy Bonuses:
**Allies – Mutual – Dinobot, Rhinox
+2~8% Armor Rating
**Enemies – Mutual – Waspinator
+2~8% Attack
**Beast Purification – Mutual – All Beast Wars Characters
**Heavy Attacks of Beast Wars characters grant 4~20% Attack Rating for 5 seconds and Purify Damaging Debuffs as long as there are 2 or more Beast Wars bots on Primal’s team.
*Strong Match-ups:
**Bonecrusher – Bonecrusher will lose the ability to land Critical Hits and the Bleeds he inflicts will soon become an advantage for Optimus Primal’s first Special Attack.
**Ironhide – Ironhide’s greatest strength is his ability to deal out incredible Critical Hits. Optimus Primal will render the Demolition king unable to tear anything apart.
*Weak Match-ups:
**Starscream - Starscream will tear through Optimus Primal’s Armor and inflict Critical Hits while the Ape’s Armor is Broken.
**Megatron (GS) - Megatron’s Fused Armor Break will block Optimus Primal’s Crit Armor from activating.
*Recommended Modules for Optimus Primal:
Security Module – Increasing Optimus Primal’s Armor will make him more survivable and give him more opportunity to use his high attack rating against the opponent.
**E.M.I. Module – Optimus Primal’s biggest disadvantage is his reliance on Melee Attacks. This module will help ensure he can thwart ranged opponents like that pesky Starscream.
{{charstubgame}}

==Toys==
[[File:Optimus Primal toys.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|There's a lot more where these came from!]]
{{main|Optimus Primal (BW)/toys}}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Merchandise}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
*The design of Optimus Primal's bat form is an [[homage]] to [[Batman]], an action figure license also held at the time by [[Kenner]].<ref>Page 78, Toy database section in ''[[Beast Wars Universe]]''</ref>

*Optimus was given the rank of "Maximal General" on his punch-out card for Mcdonald's original Beast Wars promotion.

*Primal's gorilla mode, paired against [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s ''T. rex'' mode, was inspired by the showdown in ''[[King Kong]]''.<ref>[http://obscuretf.com/hhk/BC04interviews.html Botcon 2004 Interview with Vinnie D'Alleva], p2</ref>

*Indeed, gorilla Primal's original tech specs (which belong to the [[micro-continuity]] that takes place on modern-day Earth) seems to strongly imply that Primal is a building-scaling ape of Kong-like stature. As speculated in the ''Beast Wars'' volume of the ''[[Unofficial guidebooks#Cybertronian: The Unofficial Transformers Recognition Guide|Cybertronian]]'' action figure guide, this may have been intended to explain why he is [[Scale|in the same scale]] as Megatron, a ''Tyrannosaurus rex''. This would also make somewhat greater sense in the context of the toyline itself, wherein the leader characters were of a much larger "Ultra" size-class than their minions, unlike their eventually much smaller depictions in [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|the CG cartoon]].

*In the ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (manga)|Beast Wars II]]'' issue "[[All Hands, Make a Special Attack on the Evil Planet!]]", [[Tasmania Kid]] calls Optimus Primal "'''Mr. Gorilla'''" (ゴリさん ''Gori-san''). Optimus likes the nickname.

[[File:OptimusPrimalBMconcept.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]

*Early concept artwork for the ''Beast Machines'' toyline depict Optimus's new body as having a white/silver, black, and red color scheme.

*According to his [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' toyline]] [[bio]], Optimus Primal is from "the future", suggesting the events of ''Robots in Disguise'' are somehow part of the [[Beast Era]]'s past. Though this could have been an element of ''Car Robots'' , RID's original counterpart being part of the Generation One continuity family in Japan and as shown in a [[Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|2007 timeline]] the ''same'' continuity as their version of [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)#Japan|Beast Wars]] in 2015 the Facebook version of [[Ask Vector Prime]] fleshed out a form of this, portraying a dimensionally-displaced Optimus Primal fighting a similarly displaced Megatron in the future of a ''Robots in Disguise'' universe before traveling to that universe's past to aid ''Robots in Disguise'' Optimus Prime.

*"Powered Convoy", Optimal Optimus's Japanese name, is Ultra Magnus's [[pre-Transformer]] name in the [[Diaclone]] toyline.

*According to the control art of Optimus Primal's toy, his chest originally seemed to be a kind of launcher instead of being an homage to the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]].<ref>Page 50, Toy database section in ''[[Beast Wars Universe]]''</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Convoy''' (コンボイ ''Konboi''), '''Convobat''' (bat, コンボバット ''Konbobatto''), '''Metals Convoy''' (Transmetal, メタルスコンボイ ''Metaruzu Konboi''), '''Powered Convoy''' (Optimal Optimus, パワードコンボイ ''Pawādo Konboi''), '''Burning Convoy''' (''Beast Wars II'', バーニングコンボイ ''Bāningu Konboi''), '''Beast Convoy''' (''Robotmasters'', ビーストコンボイ ''Bīsuto Konboi''), '''Yvonco''' (イボンコ, ''Ibonko''),<ref>This joke name is first seen in the intro part from Japanese dub version of the episode "[[Fallout (episode)|Fallout]]". "Yvonco" (イボンコ) is the reverse of "Convoy" (コンボイ).</ref> '''Optimus Primal''' (オプティマスプライマル ''Oputimasu Puraimaru'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Odim''' (Hong Kong, 奧狄武 ''Oudikmou'')
*''Italian:'' '''Black Jack''' (Basic and Ultra toys), '''Metal Gorilla''' (''Transmetal'' toy), '''Optimus Primal''' (Optimal Optimus toy)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Jīngāng Wáng''' (Taiwan, 金剛王, "King Kong King"), '''Hēixīngxīng Duìzhǎng'''（China ''Beast Wars'', 黑猩猩队长, "Captain Chimpanzee"）, '''Xīngxīng Jiāngjūn''' (China ''Beast Machines'', 猩猩将军, "General Gorilla"), '''Qíng Tiān Shèng''' (comics, 擎天圣, "Sage that Supports the Sky")
*''Polish:'' '''Optimus Naczelny''' ("Optimus Primal"）
*''Russian:'' '''King Kong''' (first ''Beast Wars'' dub), '''Optimus Commandeer''' (second ''Beast Wars'' dub, "Optimus the Commander"), '''Optimus Perviy''' (''Beast Machines'' only, "Optimus First")
*''Spanish:'' '''Optimus Primal''' (Spain), '''Optimus Primitivo''' (America, "Optimus Primal")

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Alternators characters]]
[[Category:Alternity characters]]
[[Category:Armada characters]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Beast Machines Maximals]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Maximals]]
[[Category:Beast Wars II Maximals]]
[[Category:Children of Primus]]
[[Category:Council members]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Transformers]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]
[[Category:Legends Maximals]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Maximal leaders]]
[[Category:Multi-family characters]]
[[Category:Robotmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Transformers with multiple modes]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]
[[Category:Zombies]]

Ultra Bee

2017-06-22T01:33:34Z

Platypar-1: /* 2015 Robots in Disguise cartoon */

{{faction|autobot}}
:''Ultra Bee is an [[Autobot]] [[combiner]] from the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|Robots in Disguise]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].
[[File:UltraBee.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Move over, [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]]...]]

The mighty '''Ultra Bee''' is the combined form of [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], [[Sideswipe (RID)|Sideswipe]], [[Strongarm (RID)|Strongarm]], and [[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Grimlock]]. [[Drift (RID)|Drift]] is the sword.

==Fiction==
===2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
When the [[Bee Team (RID)|Bee Team]] dogpiled [[Heatseeker]] to keep the [[Stunticon (Prime)|Stunticon]] from firing missiles at a nuclear waste disposal site, he fired anyway. The combination of the explosion, ambient radiation, and the Crash Combiner Stunticon at the bottom of the bot-pile resulted in the Autobots being fused briefly into a combined, unconscious form, which quickly wore off. {{storylink|King of the Hill (Part 2)}}

During the pursuit of [[Dragstrip (WFC)|Drag Strip]], a methane explosion triggered a second merging. The confused Autobots were eventually able to stand up, but decoupled once again when they fell over. Bumblebee later asked [[Fixit (RID)|Fixit]] to come up with theories on why they might have combined, and he suggested it was a result of the radiation they absorbed from the nuclear waste site. {{storylink|The Great Divide}} Fixit later ran tests on Sideswipe and Grimlock to try and determine the nature of Ultra Bee's combination, but only succeeded in getting the two Autobots stuck together, much to their annoyance. {{storylink|Get a Clue}}

==Toys==
===Robots in Disguise (2015)===
[[File:RID2015toy Ultra Bee.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''By your side I'll always stay, 
never have to be alone.'']]
* '''Ultra Bee''' (2017)
**''Accessories'': Drift Sword

:Released as part of the Team Combiners subline, Ultra Bee is a 4-pack consists of the Deluxe-sized [[Bumblebee (WFC)/toys#Team Combiners|Bumblebee]], [[Grimlock (RID 2015)#Team Combiners|Grimlock]], the Scout-sized [[Strongarm (RID)#Team Combiners|Strongarm]], and [[Sideswipe (RID)#Team Combiners|Sideswipe]]. While the 2 bots had simple robot-to-vehicle transformations, Bumblebee & Grimlock has several. However, unlike several [[Menasor (RID)#Robots in Disguise (2015)|Team]] [[Galvatronus (RID)#Robots in Disguise (2015)|Combiners]], Ultra Bee is a 4-piece Combiner, with Bumblebee & Grimlock forming the main body, and Strongarm & Sideswipe forming the arms. The set also comes with a ''non-transforming'' sword that is actually Drift's weapon form for the Combiner.

{{-}}

[[Category:Combined forms]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) Autobots]]

Flying Mind

2016-06-12T06:09:17Z

Platypar-1: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 37
|prev=Armada (episode)
|next=Tunnel Vision
|image=FlyingMind-DecepticonsOnDeck.jpg
|caption=Alright, forget the bigger ship! Can we get a smaller ship instead?
|title="Flying Mind"
|airdate=[[April 28]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Bob Skir|Robert N. Skir]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Megatron's attempt to repair the ''Nemesis'' has an unexpected side effect, forcing Raf, Jack, and Miko to put themselves in harm's way.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Optimus Flying Mind.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Optimus is the ''best'' at freeze tag.]]
With the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' down, [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] discovers that [[Bulkhead (Prime)|an Autobot]] was responsible for the crash. Despite [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]'s protests, Megatron infuses [[Dark Energon]] into the ship's power core, hoping its regenerative effects will cut down on the lengthy time it would take to get the ship airworthy. Meanwhile, the [[Autobot]]s feel this might well be the time to strike. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] reluctantly decides to use the [[spark extractor|Spark Extractor]] to terminate the Decepticons for good.

The Dark Energon infusion of the ''Nemesis'' works perfectly, bringing the ship to full operational status in minutes. The energy is detected by the Autobots, who immediately set out with [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]]. They arrive to find the 'Con warship already airborne, and it begins firing on them. The Autobots attempt to get close enough to use the Spark Extractor, but the ship hits them one by one with a [[Stasis Beam|stasis beam]], which a surprised Knock Out notes the ship was not previously equipped with, sending them into [[stasis lock]].

[[Image:FlyingMindHumanAid.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Everybody clap their hands!]]
Megatron is pleased at being able to get the Spark Extractor back, but when he orders the ship to move closer, it abruptly changes course, and it is quickly discovered that the ''Nemesis'' is ignoring its pilots and flying ''itself''. When Megatron demands the ship's computer be overridden, the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] at the helm is electrocuted. The ship suddenly speaks up with its own voice, announcing it is in charge and on a mission. Knock Out notes its decoding the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] database. Furious, Megatron demands they retake control, but when [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] attempts to do so, the ship retaliates and he's sent into stasis lock. When Megatron orders the Decepticons to sever all connections to the ship's mainframe, beams of energy sweep through the ship, disabling almost every last one of the 'Cons.

Back at base, Fowler notes that the ''Nemesis'' is heading towards North America, with its cloaking field down, no less, and the decision is made to try and contact Megatron to see what's up. On the warship, Knock Out is put into stasis lock while checking on the Iacon data, and Megatron attempts to disable the ship's power core, only to be put in stasis lock as well. When Ratchet contacts the ''Nemesis'', the ship responds and helpfully lets them know its mission is to find the missing Iacon artifacts of Decepticon origin. [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] and the humans believe it's the opportune moment to download a copy of the Iacon database, so Fowler and the kids [[GroundBridge]] on board the ship, determining that the ship cannot detect humans, as it left Fowler unmolested while leaving the battle earlier. They find the [[Project Iacon]] console, and clambering up Knock Out, plug in the [[transfer drive]] Ratchet gave them. [[Jack Darby|Jack]] notices the ship is heading for [[New York City|Manhattan]], the location of the first artifact, and if they don't stop it somehow, the ''Nemesis'' will destroy whatever part of the city lies atop the long-buried relic. While trying to change the ship's course, Fowler is electrically shocked into unconsciousness, but the ship, still scanning for Cybertronian-based life forms, is unable to detect the kids.

[[Image:FlyingMindSecondOpinion.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Welcome to the [[Knock Out (Prime)#Beast Hunters|food chain!]]]]
Though Ratchet wants to bridge the kids back, Jack realizes they have to do something now, and head to the ship's power core, hoping to de-activate the ''Nemesis''' intelligence by dumping the dark energon out of the fuel supply. There they find the frozen Megatron, and Jack discovers that the manually-operated fuel injection valve is locked in place by Megatron's frozen hand. While he's still trying, the ship finally detects [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]], assuming them to be vermin that are infesting it. As a manipulator arm starts chasing them, they hide among the [[energon cube]]s, but the arm moves the containers aside, eventually exposing them. Jack manages to attract its attention and trick it into hitting Megatron. The Decepticon leader topples over, dragging the lever down and reversing the [[energon]] flow. [[Image:Lower Manhattan Flying Mind.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Man, why can't the aliens attack Jersey for a change?]] Though the ship tries to use the manipulator arm to move the lever back, it's not fast enough to do so before its intelligence is lost. As the ship "shifts into neutral", the stasis locked Transformers inexplicably begin recovering, and the kids make all haste back through the corridors. While Miko and Raf help a still-loopy Fowler through the Ground Bridge, Jack goes after the transfer drive, but he's still struggling with it as Knock Out comes back online. Jack's saved from an untimely end when Ratchet appears through the GroundBridge and clobbers Knock Out, taking Jack and the transfer drive with him, just in time to miss the arrival of Megatron, who is rather unhappy with Knock Out.

Ratchet gives the now-recovered Optimus the good news about the data they retrieved, but they realize they must act quickly, as Megatron has no more scruples than his ship about harming human life, and the ''Nemesis'' is even now bearing down on Manhattan...

[[Tunnel Vision|To be continued]]...
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
* [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (11)
* [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (12)
* [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (13)
* [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (14)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (5)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (6)
*[[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] (15)

|c3=
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (7)
* [[Jack Darby]] (8)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (9)
* [[William Fowler]] (10)

|c4=
* "[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]"
|}}

==Quotes==

"Doc Knock is ''knocked out!''"
:—'''Miko''' makes the joke we've all been waiting to hear.

"On your feet, soldier!" 
"...and beavers and ducks and walnuts and Grandma..."
:—'''Miko''' helping a debilitated '''Fowler'''.

"Say ''ahhh!''"
:—'''Knock Out's''' dentistry leaves something to be desired.

"I'm here to offer a second opinion!"
:—'''Ratchet''' gives Knock Out the hint that he might want to consider going back to medical school.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*When Jack realizes that the ''Nemesis'' will have to tear down Manhattan to get to the first Iacon relic, the camera zooms out to show all four, including Fowler and Rafael on the control panel. However Knock Out, who should be frozen right behind the two on the control panel, is nowhere to be seen.

===Continuity errors===
* In the previous episode, Bulkhead drove from the ''Nemesis'' crash site back to base rather than use the GroundBridge, suggesting the crash occurred not far away, or at the very least, on the same continent. In this episode, Fowler says the ''Nemesis'' is crossing the Atlantic Ocean and heading for North America. Perhaps Bulkhead gets really good mileage for an SUV.
* How does Jack on the ''Nemesis'' talk to Ratchet back at base without a cell phone? He appears to be using an earpiece, but there's no indication that he received one. Agent Fowler appears to do the same, earlier on.
* In the base, Ratchet appears to be monitoring the vitals of the humans. Unless they've suddenly become Cybertrionians, there's no explanation for how he can do this.
* When stasis-locked Megatron gets knocked over, his hand, still clutching the release lever, opens to allow him to fall all the way down. The rest of him stays completely stiff even upon hitting the ground.

===Continuity notes===
* The Insecticons joining the Decepticons, Bulkhead's damage to the ''Nemesis'' power core and the ship's crash all took place in the [[Armada (episode)|previous episode]].
* Megatron makes note of Optimus's increasing ruthlessness and how he would no longer waste a chance to strike, likely referring to his near-termination by Optimus in "[[Crossfire]]".
* The Decepticons found their Dark Energon supply back in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 1]]", but it hasn't seen much use since the [[Unicron#Prime cartoon|Unicron]] revelation.
* Soundwave has been trying to decrypt the Iacon database since Optimus Prime recovered his memory in "[[Orion Pax, Part 3]]", and has apparently made very little progress.
* Though the ''Nemesis'' is established in ''[[Transformers: Exiles]]'' to be a stasis-locked [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]], its identity is left unstated here, as it does not refer to itself by name. [[Bob Skir]] has stated it was not meant to be Trypticon waking up.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir]</ref>
* The Autobots attempt to use the [[spark extractor]], which they acquired in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]".
* This is the first time Knock Out has used his drill weapon since [[Deus ex Machina|his premiere episode]].

===Transformers references===

===Real-world references===
* The Nemesis's stasis beam uses the same sound effect of the Zat'ni'katel or Zat Gun from ''Stargate SG-1''.
* Miko's "On your feet, soldier" is a reference to the 1984 film, ''The Terminator''.
* Miko refers to Knock Out as "Doc Knock," most likely in reference to "Doc Ock," a common nickname of [[Spider-Man]] villain Doctor Octopus.
* The ship gaining sentience, turning on the crew, and its defeat all bear similarities to HAL 9000 from the film, ''2001: A Space Odyssey''.
* The grid design that immobilises Dreadwing and the Vehicons is similar to the laser hallways from ''Resident Evil''.

===Trivia===
* The ''Nemesis''' voice is listed only as "Warship" in this episode's credits.
* It seems the amount of power required to stasis lock a Transformer isn't enough to kill a human, as the ship was unaware carbon-based life forms were aboard when Fowler was electrocuted, and was presumably trying the same trick it used on Soundwave.
* The ''Nemesis'' cryptically hangs up when Ratchet asks why it's gathering the relics, though this was never brought up again.
* Bulkhead is absolutely silent this episode, yet [[Kevin Michael Richardson]] is still credited for his speaking role.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Das fliegende Gehirn'''" ("The flying Brain")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 8|8 November]] [[2012]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jinrai Henkei! Senkan Nemesis no Hanran'''" (神雷変形!戦艦ネメシスの反乱, "Thunder God Transformation! Rebellion of the Battleship Nemesis")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 15|15 December]] [[2012]]

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mente Voadora'''" ("Flying Mind")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 17|17 June]] [[2013]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Flying Mind

2016-06-12T05:58:08Z

Platypar-1: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 37
|prev=Armada (episode)
|next=Tunnel Vision
|image=FlyingMind-DecepticonsOnDeck.jpg
|caption=Alright, forget the bigger ship! Can we get a smaller ship instead?
|title="Flying Mind"
|airdate=[[April 28]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Bob Skir|Robert N. Skir]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Megatron's attempt to repair the ''Nemesis'' has an unexpected side effect, forcing Raf, Jack, and Miko to put themselves in harm's way.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Optimus Flying Mind.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Optimus is the ''best'' at freeze tag.]]
With the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' down, [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] discovers that [[Bulkhead (Prime)|an Autobot]] was responsible for the crash. Despite [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]'s protests, Megatron infuses [[Dark Energon]] into the ship's power core, hoping its regenerative effects will cut down on the lengthy time it would take to get the ship airworthy. Meanwhile, the [[Autobot]]s feel this might well be the time to strike. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] reluctantly decides to use the [[spark extractor|Spark Extractor]] to terminate the Decepticons for good.

The Dark Energon infusion of the ''Nemesis'' works perfectly, bringing the ship to full operational status in minutes. The energy is detected by the Autobots, who immediately set out with [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]]. They arrive to find the 'Con warship already airborne, and it begins firing on them. The Autobots attempt to get close enough to use the Spark Extractor, but the ship hits them one by one with a [[Stasis Beam|stasis beam]], which a surprised Knock Out notes the ship was not previously equipped with, sending them into [[stasis lock]].

[[Image:FlyingMindHumanAid.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Everybody clap their hands!]]
Megatron is pleased at being able to get the Spark Extractor back, but when he orders the ship to move closer, it abruptly changes course, and it is quickly discovered that the ''Nemesis'' is ignoring its pilots and flying ''itself''. When Megatron demands the ship's computer be overridden, the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] at the helm is electrocuted. The ship suddenly speaks up with its own voice, announcing it is in charge and on a mission. Knock Out notes its decoding the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] database. Furious, Megatron demands they retake control, but when [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] attempts to do so, the ship retaliates and he's sent into stasis lock. When Megatron orders the Decepticons to sever all connections to the ship's mainframe, beams of energy sweep through the ship, disabling almost every last one of the 'Cons.

Back at base, Fowler notes that the ''Nemesis'' is heading towards North America, with its cloaking field down, no less, and the decision is made to try and contact Megatron to see what's up. On the warship, Knock Out is put into stasis lock while checking on the Iacon data, and Megatron attempts to disable the ship's power core, only to be put in stasis lock as well. When Ratchet contacts the ''Nemesis'', the ship responds and helpfully lets them know its mission is to find the missing Iacon artifacts of Decepticon origin. [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] and the humans believe it's the opportune moment to download a copy of the Iacon database, so Fowler and the kids [[GroundBridge]] on board the ship, determining that the ship cannot detect humans, as it left Fowler unmolested while leaving the battle earlier. They find the [[Project Iacon]] console, and clambering up Knock Out, plug in the [[transfer drive]] Ratchet gave them. [[Jack Darby|Jack]] notices the ship is heading for [[New York City|Manhattan]], the location of the first artifact, and if they don't stop it somehow, the ''Nemesis'' will destroy whatever part of the city lies atop the long-buried relic. While trying to change the ship's course, Fowler is electrically shocked into unconsciousness, but the ship, still scanning for Cybertronian-based life forms, is unable to detect the kids.

[[Image:FlyingMindSecondOpinion.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Welcome to the [[Knock Out (Prime)#Beast Hunters|food chain!]]]]
Though Ratchet wants to bridge the kids back, Jack realizes they have to do something now, and head to the ship's power core, hoping to de-activate the ''Nemesis''' intelligence by dumping the dark energon out of the fuel supply. There they find the frozen Megatron, and Jack discovers that the manually-operated fuel injection valve is locked in place by Megatron's frozen hand. While he's still trying, the ship finally detects [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]], assuming them to be vermin that are infesting it. As a manipulator arm starts chasing them, they hide among the [[energon cube]]s, but the arm moves the containers aside, eventually exposing them. Jack manages to attract its attention and trick it into hitting Megatron. The Decepticon leader topples over, dragging the lever down and reversing the [[energon]] flow. [[Image:Lower Manhattan Flying Mind.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Man, why can't the aliens attack Jersey for a change?]] Though the ship tries to use the manipulator arm to move the lever back, it's not fast enough to do so before its intelligence is lost. As the ship "shifts into neutral", the stasis locked Transformers inexplicably begin recovering, and the kids make all haste back through the corridors. While Miko and Raf help a still-loopy Fowler through the Ground Bridge, Jack goes after the transfer drive, but he's still struggling with it as Knock Out comes back online. Jack's saved from an untimely end when Ratchet appears through the GroundBridge and clobbers Knock Out, taking Jack and the transfer drive with him, just in time to miss the arrival of Megatron, who is rather unhappy with Knock Out.

Ratchet gives the now-recovered Optimus the good news about the data they retrieved, but they realize they must act quickly, as Megatron has no more scruples than his ship about harming human life, and the ''Nemesis'' is even now bearing down on Manhattan...

[[Tunnel Vision|To be continued]]...
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
* [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (11)
* [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (12)
* [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (13)
* [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (14)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (5)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (6)
*[[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] (15)

|c3=
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (7)
* [[Jack Darby]] (8)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (9)
* [[William Fowler]] (10)

|c4=
* "[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]"
|}}

==Quotes==

"Doc Knock is ''knocked out!''"
:—'''Miko''' makes the joke we've all been waiting to hear.

"On your feet, soldier!" 
"...and beavers and ducks and walnuts and Grandma..."
:—'''Miko''' helping a debilitated '''Fowler'''.

"Say ''ahhh!''"
:—'''Knock Out's''' dentistry leaves something to be desired.

"I'm here to offer a second opinion!"
:—'''Ratchet''' gives Knock Out the hint that he might want to consider going back to medical school.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*When Jack realizes that the ''Nemesis'' will have to tear down Manhattan to get to the first Iacon relic, the camera zooms out to show all four, including Fowler and Rafael on the control panel. However Knock Out, who should be frozen right behind the two on the control panel, is nowhere to be seen.

===Continuity errors===
* In the previous episode, Bulkhead drove from the ''Nemesis'' crash site back to base rather than use the GroundBridge, suggesting the crash occurred not far away, or at the very least, on the same continent. In this episode, Fowler says the ''Nemesis'' is crossing the Atlantic Ocean and heading for North America. Perhaps Bulkhead waited until he reached a safe distance before calling for a GroundBridge.
* How does Jack on the ''Nemesis'' talk to Ratchet back at base without a cell phone? He appears to be using an earpiece, but there's no indication that he received one. Agent Fowler appears to do the same, earlier on.
* In the base, Ratchet appears to be monitoring the vitals of the humans. Unless they've suddenly become Cybertrionians, there's no explanation for how he can do this.
* When stasis-locked Megatron gets knocked over, his hand, still clutching the release lever, opens to allow him to fall all the way down. The rest of him stays completely stiff even upon hitting the ground.

===Continuity notes===
* The Insecticons joining the Decepticons, Bulkhead's damage to the ''Nemesis'' power core and the ship's crash all took place in the [[Armada (episode)|previous episode]].
* Megatron makes note of Optimus's increasing ruthlessness and how he would no longer waste a chance to strike, likely referring to his near-termination by Optimus in "[[Crossfire]]".
* The Decepticons found their Dark Energon supply back in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 1]]", but it hasn't seen much use since the [[Unicron#Prime cartoon|Unicron]] revelation.
* Soundwave has been trying to decrypt the Iacon database since Optimus Prime recovered his memory in "[[Orion Pax, Part 3]]", and has apparently made very little progress.
* Though the ''Nemesis'' is established in ''[[Transformers: Exiles]]'' to be a stasis-locked [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]], its identity is left unstated here, as it does not refer to itself by name. [[Bob Skir]] has stated it was not meant to be Trypticon waking up.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir]</ref>
* The Autobots attempt to use the [[spark extractor]], which they acquired in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]".
* This is the first time Knock Out has used his drill weapon since [[Deus ex Machina|his premiere episode]].

===Transformers references===

===Real-world references===
* The Nemesis's stasis beam uses the same sound effect of the Zat'ni'katel or Zat Gun from ''Stargate SG-1''.
* Miko's "On your feet, soldier" is a reference to the 1984 film, ''The Terminator''.
* Miko refers to Knock Out as "Doc Knock," most likely in reference to "Doc Ock," a common nickname of [[Spider-Man]] villain Doctor Octopus.
* The ship gaining sentience, turning on the crew, and its defeat all bear similarities to HAL 9000 from the film, ''2001: A Space Odyssey''.
* The grid design that immobilises Dreadwing and the Vehicons is similar to the laser hallways from ''Resident Evil''.

===Trivia===
* The ''Nemesis''' voice is listed only as "Warship" in this episode's credits.
* It seems the amount of power required to stasis lock a Transformer isn't enough to kill a human, as the ship was unaware carbon-based life forms were aboard when Fowler was electrocuted, and was presumably trying the same trick it used on Soundwave.
* The ''Nemesis'' cryptically hangs up when Ratchet asks why it's gathering the relics, though this was never brought up again.
* Bulkhead is absolutely silent this episode, yet [[Kevin Michael Richardson]] is still credited for his speaking role.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Das fliegende Gehirn'''" ("The flying Brain")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 8|8 November]] [[2012]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jinrai Henkei! Senkan Nemesis no Hanran'''" (神雷変形!戦艦ネメシスの反乱, "Thunder God Transformation! Rebellion of the Battleship Nemesis")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 15|15 December]] [[2012]]

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mente Voadora'''" ("Flying Mind")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 17|17 June]] [[2013]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

G-Virus

2016-06-06T20:14:06Z

Platypar-1: /* Notes */

:''The G-Virus is a very bad thing from the [[Beast Wars: Uprising]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

A toxic combination of [[Dark Energon]] and the vivisected remnants of the original [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], the terrifying '''G-Virus''' is an artificially engineered plague like no other. Any Cybertronian infected by the disease slowly transforms into a copy of Galvatron, with all the myriad mental problems that this brings.

==Fiction==
===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
Following the destruction of Galvatron's forces at the hands of the [[Confederation of Terran Worlds|Human Confederacy]], Galvatron was vivisected by Cybertron's best scientists. His remains were used to create the G-Virus, which was in turn locked away in Cybertron's [[Forever Vaults]]. There it remained for several centuries, until a mercenary team of [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s led by [[Bladez]] stole the virus.

[[Resistance]] member [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] had masterminded the heist, and planned to detonate a canister of the virus in [[Tesarus (polity)|Tesarus Arena]]. The transformation would cripple thousands of [[Builder of Cybertron|Builder]]s, leaving them immobile and insane. However, several hundred [[Micromaster]]s as well as Resistance POWs being forced to fight in the [[Games|Game]] would become mobile Galvatrons. While attempting to execute his plot, Grimlock was confronted by [[Hot Rod]]. The two fought; [[Snapper]], the only other survivor of Grimlock's squad, planned to go through with Grimlock's plan until Hot Rod informed him what the virus ''was'', and the disastrous effects it would have. Snapper chose to destroy the virus, earning him Grimlock's enmity.

Meanwhile, [[Cop-Tur (G1)|Cop-Tur]], sole survivor of the massacre of the Forever Vaults, succumbed to his brief exposure to the virus, mutating into [[Galvatron (BWII)|a Galvatron]] and escaping [[Micropolis]]'s infirmary.

Uh-oh... {{storylink|Micro-Aggressions}}

==Notes==
*The G-Virus's name is coincidentally similar to that of the [http://residentevil.wikia.com/wiki/T-Virus T-Virus] from the video game series ''{{w|Resident Evil}}'' and identical to that of the G-Virus from Resident Evil 2. What did you expect? [[Jim Sorenson (Animated)|The author]] is from [[Quadwal -3760.925 Theta|an evil universe]], after all.

[[Category:Beast Wars technology]]
[[Category:Diseases]]

G-Virus

2016-06-06T20:08:30Z

Platypar-1: /* Notes */

:''The G-Virus is a very bad thing from the [[Beast Wars: Uprising]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

A toxic combination of [[Dark Energon]] and the vivisected remnants of the original [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], the terrifying '''G-Virus''' is an artificially engineered plague like no other. Any Cybertronian infected by the disease slowly transforms into a copy of Galvatron, with all the myriad mental problems that this brings.

==Fiction==
===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
Following the destruction of Galvatron's forces at the hands of the [[Confederation of Terran Worlds|Human Confederacy]], Galvatron was vivisected by Cybertron's best scientists. His remains were used to create the G-Virus, which was in turn locked away in Cybertron's [[Forever Vaults]]. There it remained for several centuries, until a mercenary team of [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s led by [[Bladez]] stole the virus.

[[Resistance]] member [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] had masterminded the heist, and planned to detonate a canister of the virus in [[Tesarus (polity)|Tesarus Arena]]. The transformation would cripple thousands of [[Builder of Cybertron|Builder]]s, leaving them immobile and insane. However, several hundred [[Micromaster]]s as well as Resistance POWs being forced to fight in the [[Games|Game]] would become mobile Galvatrons. While attempting to execute his plot, Grimlock was confronted by [[Hot Rod]]. The two fought; [[Snapper]], the only other survivor of Grimlock's squad, planned to go through with Grimlock's plan until Hot Rod informed him what the virus ''was'', and the disastrous effects it would have. Snapper chose to destroy the virus, earning him Grimlock's enmity.

Meanwhile, [[Cop-Tur (G1)|Cop-Tur]], sole survivor of the massacre of the Forever Vaults, succumbed to his brief exposure to the virus, mutating into [[Galvatron (BWII)|a Galvatron]] and escaping [[Micropolis]]'s infirmary.

Uh-oh... {{storylink|Micro-Aggressions}}

==Notes==
*The G-Virus's name is coincidentally similar to that of the [http://residentevil.wikia.com/wiki/T-Virus T-Virus] from the video game series ''{{w|Resident Evil}}'' and identical to the G-Virus from Resident Evil 2. What did you expect? [[Jim Sorenson (Animated)|The author]] is from [[Quadwal -3760.925 Theta|an evil universe]], after all.

[[Category:Beast Wars technology]]
[[Category:Diseases]]

Prima

2016-01-05T03:02:45Z

Platypar-1: /* The Covenant of Primus */

{{factions|quintesson|{{factions/icons|custom=Cyberglyphics Prime Symbol.png|cLink=Dynasty of Primes|cPretty=Prime}}}}
{{featured}}

[[File:Prima.jpg|400px|thumb|Prima? What? It's a manly name.]]
'''Prima''' is the first [[Transformer]]. Created by [[Primus]], he was appointed the Warrior of Light and given the legendary [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] sword with the [[Matrix of Leadership]] in its hilt.<ref>According to the [[Keeper (Transformer)|Keeper]] in "[[The Primal Scream|Primal Scream]]", Marvel US #61</ref><ref>[[Nexus Prime (Classics)|Nexus Prime]]'s bio in [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 30]]</ref> Chosen to lead the [[Thirteen]] against their eternal enemy [[Unicron]], he and the rest of the Thirteen were made stewards of Primus' planetary form, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. He was once a [[multiversal singularity]] who existed as one being throughout all of time and space, but that is no longer the case.

It is uncertain what relationship Prima has, if any, to [[Primon]], another early Matrix bearer.

{{quote|We are '''Primus'''. We are '''Prima'''. We are '''Prime Nova'''. We are '''Sentinel Prime'''. We are '''Optimus Prime'''.|The essence of the Primes|"[[Dark Creation]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:Powerfulrobot ffod.jpg|right|thumb|I am Sparktacus!]]

{{voiceactor|[[Neil Ross]] (English)}}

{{note|The Generation 1 cartoon incarnation of Prima was never named on-screen, and was identified only with the descriptor of "'''Powerful Robot'''" in the dialogue script for "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4". An edition of [[Ask Vector Prime]] in ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II]]'' retroactively dubbed this character Prima.}}

Prima was created from the corpse of another robot which the [[Quintesson]]s deactivated for its underperformance in its tasks. The robot was instantly smelted down and reformed into Prima, who, through unknown circumstances, became the second documented bearer of the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. Prima was unusual amongst his consumer goods brethren in that he was equipped for combat, and was made to battle in the Quintessons' gladiatorial pits. He found the endless fighting repellent, and, after a battle with [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Major]], decided to strike back at his masters, leaping at the group of Quintessons that had been watching the match. He was blasted out of the air, and fell to the ground in a smoking wreck, apparently deceased. He was succeeded as Matrix-bearer by [[Prime Nova]].

When [[Hot Rod/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] journeyed inside the Matrix, Prima was the second guide he encountered, and told him the story of the Quintessons' gladiatorial matches. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}
{{-}}

====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
[[File:Primag2.jpg|upright=1|left|thumb|Prima. For reals.<ref>''The Ultimate Guide'' identified the robot in this series of panels as Prima.</ref>]]
After [[Primus]] had imprisoned his and [[Unicron]]'s astral forms in asteroids, he reshaped his new body into the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. From the material of this world was born the first Transformer, Prima. Prima and his fellow Transformers were given the gift of transformation, an ability that mirrored Unicron's own powers, so that one day they would be able unite against him and defeat him. Prima was given the [[Matrix of Leadership|Genetic Matrix]], a powerful artifact endowed with Primus's own life essence, which would allow Prima to create further generations of Transformers. {{storylink|The Primal Scream}} {{storylink|The Power and the Glory}}

It is not known what Prima's fate was, but [[Prime Nova]] is recorded as the next Matrix bearer. {{storylink|Dark Creation}}

====3H comics====
The Matrix was passed from Primon unto Prima, who subsequently bequeathed it to Prime Nova. {{storylink|Herald, Covenant, Schism, Paradox|Covenant}}

====IDW Generation 1 continuity====
[[File:GrandImperiumChaosTheory.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.85|''[[Transformers Vault]]'' is popular reading in the Grand Imperium.]]
Prima was one of the Thirteen Primes who led the [[Thirteen Tribes]] that arose on Cybertron following the departure of the [[Knights of Cybertron]] from the planet. He wielded the Star Saber, forged by his sister [[Solus Prime]], and he and his tribe lived in the [[Citadel of Light]].

Ten million years ago, Prima and his fellow Primes were betrayed by [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] and [[Liege Maximo]], resulting in the [[First Cybertronian Civil War]] among the Thirteen and their tribes. Near the end of the war, Prima and the rest of the Primes left Cybertron after [[Nexus Prime]]'s death at the hands of [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] revealed that the belief that only a Prime could kill another Prime was false. After the war ended, with [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]'s blessing, Prima's former subordinate [[Nova Prime|Nova Major]] took the title "Prime" and became leader of Cybertron. {{storylink|The Crucible}}

Before the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], statues of Prima wielding his sword oversaw the Senate chamber within the [[Grand Imperium]] {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}} and the [[Primal Basilica]]. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}
{{-}}

===Live-action film series continuity===
====IDW movie comics====
[[File:TalesoftheFallen4-notlikethis.jpg|thumb|upright=1.75|Optimus got his father's everything.]]
Prima proposed to the [[Dynasty of Primes]] that they should make it a rule to not destroy the stars from systems with life. He also renamed [[the Fallen]] after the latter intentionally destroyed such a system. When the Fallen attempted this again on [[Earth]], the original seven Primes battled him and fell one by one, until only Prima was left. Prima let the Fallen chase him around the planet until he was weakened by overusing [[space bridge]]s, allowing Prima to gather his brothers' bodies and use their remaining power to banish the Fallen to his [[sarcophagus]]. {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 4|Tales of the Fallen #4}}

Prima presumably created a [[Tomb of the Primes|tomb]] from his and his brothers' bodies to hide the [[Matrix of Leadership]], giving his own spark to seal it from within. Though the Fallen's evil would return to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to kill the rest of the Dynasty, it would be his [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|orphaned descendant]] who would be hidden away. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen issue 3|Revenge of the Fallen #3}}

====''Revenge of the Fallen'' film====
After the Fallen was caught trying to harvest a [[Sun|star]] from a system with life, he turned on the other Primes and made war on them. In order to prevent the Fallen from harvesting the star, the remaining Primes (including Prima) hid the [[Matrix of Leadership|key to the harvester]] inside a tomb made of their own bodies and sealed it with their own life essence. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

{{note|Prima's involvement in the preceding events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the novel ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (novel)|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]''. Where the comics had used the "Protoform Optimus Prime" toy to represent Prima, this design is not used in the film, so identifying which one is Prima is not possible.}}
{{-}}

===Aligned continuity family===
====''The Covenant of Primus''====
[[File:TransformersVault-Prima.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.25|Whoever lives by the sword shall die by the sword.]]
As the first of the Thirteen created, Prima was cast in the mold of Primus himself, a warrior of great virtue and nobility who placed the greater good above all else. Though self-aware enough to not be a pompous leader to his siblings, he tended to take too much weight upon his shoulders, and his persistent conviction that he was always right made him difficult to deal with. He tended to clash with [[The Fallen|Megatronus]], who served as his opposite among the Thirteen, a warrior of darkness who represented a natural counterbalance to Prima's role as the warrior of light. Such arguments characterized their interactions while the Thirteen trained and prepared to take on the menace of Unicron.

In the course of the battle with Unicron, Prima lost his grip upon his Star Saber when the chaos-bringer assaulted the group with torturous visions. Although the Thirteen were able to shut Unicron down soon thereafter, they did not manage to do so before he had seized the convulsing Prima, put him in his mouth, bitten down, and spat his crushed body out.

Prima survived the experience, and the Thirteen turned to the business of building the beginnings of a civilization and society on Cybertron. Prima worked primarily with Vector Prime and [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]], but their clique was treated with some degree of resentment by some of their siblings, as it was thought they were trying to control the actions of the others. Prima continued to grow even more detached as they continued their work, spending his time theorizing about the nature of the Thirteen, and categorizing them; he considered himself and other early members of the group to be forces of lawful good, but looked upon the last that had been created—chiefly, Megatronus and [[Liege Maximo]]—as chaotic and potentially evil. When Maximo discovered the writings Prima had made about this and then told Megatronus, a physical altercation between Prima and his dark opposite resulted, a permanent wedge driven between brothers.

[[File:CoP war of the primes.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.25]]

Some time later, when Prima discovered that Megatronus and Liege Maximo were working on a secret project of their own, creating a race of robotic creatures, he demanded it be shut down, suspecting them of having a sinister ulterior motive even if he could not see it. He forced the rest of the Thirteen into a vote on the matter and emerged victorious. This was to be the catalyst for the final falling out between the Primes: furious that she had voted against him, Megatronus subsequently argued with and inadvertently killed Solus. He retreated to the wilderness of Cybertron, but Prima and the others tracked him down and brought him back to face justice, only for it to become apparent that Maximo had set Megatronus up. Things quickly devolved into a chaotic free-for-all fight between the siblings, which ended with Maximo dead by uncertain hands. Megatronus was exiled for his crimes, but despite their differences, Prima provided him a ship and bade him farewell. Prima took custody of the Requiem Blaster and cast it into the depths of space.

As the rest of the Thirteen spread out into the universe, Prima was among those who decided to remain on Cybertron to guide the new race of beings that emerged from the [[Well of All Sparks]] after they interred the deceased Solus within it. Prima dubbed the more primitive and bestial of the creatures that emerged "[[Predacon (Prime)|Predacons]]" and defended the more advanced robots that came from the Well against them, including the powerful [[Predaking (COP)|Predaking]]. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

====Aligned novels====
After Solus Prime created the Requiem Blaster for Megatronus, debate erupted among the Thirteen over whether so powerful a weapon should be allowed to exist. When the argument threatened to turn violent, Prima called for a vote on the matter; Megatronus won by one vote. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

When Optimus Prime received the Matrix from the [[Core]] of Cybertron, he recognized it as the jewel from the hilt of Prima's Star Saber. Upon accepting the talisman into himself, Optimus had a vision of all its previous holders, all the way back to Prima himself. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

====''Prime'' cartoon====
[[File:OneShallRise1-Prima.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|He's the leader of the bunch. You know him well.]]

According to legend, at the beginning of time, [[Unicron]] and [[Primus]] battled each other for eons, with neither side remaining victorious for long. Till, that is, Primus created the [[Thirteen]]. These Thirteen defeated Unicron and cast him into space. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}}

At some point statues of Prima and his brothers were made. They were placed in the chamber of the High Council. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}}
{{-}}

===Fun Publications===
[[File:Prima's Holomatter Avatar Zeus.jpg|upright=.5|thumb|right]]
[[Vector Prime]] described Prima as distant from his siblings in the Thirteen, weighed down by the responsibilities of the multiverse. Vector wished he had known his brother better. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime|Ask Vector Prime, 14/6/15}} When the Thirteen visited ancient [[Greece]], the [[holomatter]] avatar Prima used to interact with the natives inspired the myth of [[w:Zeus|Zeus]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime|Ask Vector Prime, 20/7/15}} During this time, he observed the animosity brewing between [[Liege Maximo]] and [[Solus Prime]] (who had manifested as Aphrodite and Hephaestus, respectively) and "bonded" them together in hopes they could work out their differences. His plan didn't succeed. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime|Ask Vector Prime, 8/8/15}}

Prima wielded the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] in the Thirteen's clashes with [[Unicron]]. When [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] began acting for evil causes, his siblings resolved to keep Prima's Star Saber out of Megatronus's hands, so Solus shattered it with her [[Forge of Solus Prime|Forge]]. [[Nexus Prime]] volunteered to hide fragments throughout the multiverse. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 30|Nexus Prime's profile}} {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime|Ask Vector Prime, 18/5/15}}

When Nexus Prime united the [[Terminus Blade]] and the Star Saber, Prima and the other members of the Thirteen were drawn to witness the event. Time and space were rewritten that day, as the walls between the multiverse grew stronger and less permeable. A consequence of strengthening the multiverse was that Prima and the original Thirteen could no longer continue to exist as multiversal singularities, and so they were splintered and scattered throughout the multiverse. And so the one became many, sentient reoccurring themes each appearing in their own way, if at all, in all the worlds of the multiverse. {{storylink|Out of the One, Many}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Transformers (2007)===
[[File:Movie ProtoformOptimusPrime toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Guess who ya gotta buy now to finish your [[Thirteen]] collection?]]
*'''Protoform Optimus Prime''' (Deluxe Class, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MA-05'''
**''Accessories:'' Gun with flame attachment
{{note|Prima was [[Repurposing|repurposed]] from [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys|Protoform Optimus Prime]] in [[Tales of the Fallen issue 4|''Tales of the Fallen'' #4]].}}

:Based upon the "[[Protoform]]" (Cybertronian) appearances of the Transformers in the Movie, Protoform [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] transforms into his "entry" mode. This mode somewhat resembles a cybertronic truck, with false wheels sculpted onto the sides and Optimus Prime's trademark windows in front. A flame decoration piece fits to the back of the "vehicle", creating the illusion of a flaming comet's tail. The bottom of the vehicle has small wheels to roll the toy across smooth surfaces. Oddly, it has NO [[Automorph Technology]] gimmick at all, a feature most main-line figures have.

:In robot mode, he resembles previous Optimus characters: His angular chest windows are reminiscent of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], while his near-animalistic limbs and color scheme are evocative of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Optimus Primal]]. He has excellent articulation due to his many ball joints, and is armed with a rifle. The flame attachment can fit onto the end of the (non-firing) gun barrel.

:Some packaging variants of this figure (perhaps a Wal-Mart exclusive) included a free movie poster depicting a Cybertronian eye overlooking Earth. While an added sticker to the outer plastic bubble says "Exclusive movie poster!", it is more of a preview of upcoming figures.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Autobot/ProtoformOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Protoform Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
* Prima's Generation 1 cartoon [[character model]] appears to use [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] as a base, with heavily-re-worked details.
* In a 1989 Marvel UK issue, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] told a reader "I don't think anyone knows who was actually the first ever Transformer. Correct me if I'm wrong though."<ref>[http://transfans.co.uk/media/2KX/media/comics/the_transformers_uk/dreadtidings/Issue240.jpg #240's letters page]</ref> It took many years but [[Hasbro|someone]] finally did!
* According to [[ABN]], Vector Prime "always lies about Five Faces of Darkness". {{storylink|Recordicons#Recordicons #9|Recordicons #9}} If true, this would mean that the guy from Five Faces; we're keeping this page as-is because there's no objective evidence either way, and Prima is more convenient as a page title than "Powerful Robot".
*An idea from the [[Binder of Revelation]]—which has not made it into any fiction, and has been evinced only in the binder's profile page for [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] published in ''[[Transformers Vault]]''—posits that individual Transformers possess a "polarity" that indicates which of the Thirteen they can trace their lineage to. Based on Optimus's profile, Transformers descended from Prima possess a "Primian" polarity—but then, Optimus would later be revealed to actually ''be'' one of the Thirteen in Aligned continuity, so good luck figuring that one out.

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

{{Thirteen}}
{{spiritguides nav}}

[[Category:Generation 1 Transformers]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Repurposed toys]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Transformers]]
[[Category:Thirteen]]

The Spark

2015-12-07T10:25:20Z

Platypar-1: /* Synopsis */

{{disambig3|Spark}}
{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=15
|series2=BWJtoon
|ep2=12
|prev2=A Better Mousetrap
|next2=The Trigger, Part 1
|image=The Spark Rhinox spark.jpg
|caption="I got your soul!"
|title="The Spark"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[November 11]], 1996
|packaged with=[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]
|written by=[[Larry DiTillio]]
|directed by=[[Colin Davies]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Rhinox (BW)##Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Rhinox]], [[Gimlet#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Gimlet]]
}}
'''Rhinox and Cheetor assist a downed stasis pod and the damaged protoform within.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:The Spark Falcon.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Oh, hey, more foreshadowing.]]
In orbit around [[Earth|the planet]], a [[stasis pod]] is clipped by a piece of space debris, causing the pod to descend to the surface. [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] and [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] detect this, and dispatch [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] to capture it.

Meanwhile, [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] happens to be scouting the landing area in his [[beast mode]], observing that the local raw [[energon]] deters the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] from properly fortifying the terrain. He witnesses the pod descending and, unable to radio for support, goes to recover the pod by himself. In another area, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] sees the pod and, after radioing the news to [[Tigatron]], heads to where he anticipates the pod will land.

[[File:The Spark Rhinox pod.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Rhinox struggles to work this really old video game console.]]
Rhinox is first to reach the pod, but finds that because of the local energon, his [[robot mode]] is in risk of damage from prolonged exposure to the energon radiation. Worse, the [[protoform]] within the pod could expire if the pod itself isn't repaired soon.

Tigatron freezes Scorponok's journey to the stasis pod, but Blackarachnia paralyzes Tigatron with a dose of her [[cyber venom]].

Cheetor arrives at the landing crater, and Rhinox tells him that his body contains [[Locking chip|a component]] the pod needs to save the protoform. Cheetor voluntarily deactivates to allow Rhinox to harvest the hardware that will protect the new [[Maximal]] from energon damage. While in deep sleep, Cheetor envisions himself learning about the concept of a Transformer [[spark]] from Rhinox. After Cheetor reactivates, a tense Rhinox installs the chip and gives the dormant Transformer a second chance.

[[File:The Spark Cheetor Waspinator.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"Waspinator only want one kiss!"]]
Blackarachnia arrives and exchanges trash talk as she battles Cheetor, who uses his robot mode conservatively. Cheetor manages to shove her own venom dart into her forehead, knocking her out. Next, Cheetor faces [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]]. With his robot mode pushed to the max, Cheetor uses his beast mode to draw the two fliers away.

Rhinox tries to interface his own systems with the stasis pod to assist the protoform, but is disconnected by feedback and left trapped in his own beast mode.

[[File:The Spark Airazor.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Don't mess with this lady.]]
Cheetor fries Waspinator with some maneuvering around one of the local natural energon geysers. However, Terrorsaur is able to score a direct hit on Cheetor, and proceeds to the now-unprotected pod. At the last possible moment, the pod scans a bird circling overhead, providing the biological information needed to complete the new Maximal.

The fresh-from-case avian Transformer drags Terrorsaur away from the crash site. His attempts to fry the bird with gunfire are dodged. Announcing her name to be [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]], the new Maximal transforms and blasts the Predacon to pieces.

Back at the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'', Rhinox and Cheetor introduce the rest of the Maximals to their new friend.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
* [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (3)
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (4)
* [[Tigatron]] (5)
* [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (10)
* [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] (11)
* [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (12)
|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
* [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (1)
* [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (2)
* [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (6)
* [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (7)
* [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (8)
* [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==
"Just as Megatron said! Just as Megatron said! Don't you ever get tired of grovelling to that Saurian?"
:—'''Blackarachnia''' mocks Scorponok

"Bah, I'll tell you nothing, Maximal! Scorponok, terrori—" ''[is zapped and frozen]'' 
"Sorry, I don't have time to play."
:—'''Scorponok''' and '''Tigatron'''.

"When a Spark goes online, there is great joy. When one is extinguished, the universe weeps."
:—'''Rhinox'''

"Whoa, that was ultra gear!"
:—'''Cheetor''', coming out of his tripped-out dream.

"By the way, how do you dance with all those skinny legs?" 
"Ugh, this must be my day for cats!"
:—'''Cheetor''' to '''Blackarachnia'''

"You don't know what fast is, furball." 
"I know what ''ugly'' is, and you're it!"
:—'''Blackarachnia''' feels '''Cheetor''''s burn.

"Who dares attack Waspinator?!"
:—A better question would perhaps be who ''wouldn't'' dare attack '''Waspinator'''.

==Notes==
* This episode introduced and defined the concept of Sparks to the Transformer mythos.
* Tarantulas snickers to himself after detecting the pod. It's possible that had Megatron not taken notice, Tarantulas would have secured the pod for his own purposes, as he tried to do when [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]]'s pod landed. Way to go giggles.
* When Cheetor arrives at the pod, why does Rhinox ask him why he's there? Surely it's obvious!
* Interestingly, when Scorponok is frozen mid-command code activation, he's still in [[beast mode]]. Contrast with Tarantulas in "Double Jeopardy", who was similarly interrupted, but managed to transform to [[robot mode]] before getting shot.
* Rhinox refers to the Transformer race as "Cybertrons", the Japanese name for Autobots.
* Whereas in "[[Double Jeopardy]]" the protoform had Blackarachnia's head prior to formatting, Airazor's protoform state has a blank head.
* Cheetor's youth really shows when he calls Blackarachnia "ugly". He doesn't seem to think so when he grows up a little, but right now she clearly has cooties.
* Cheetor's dream correctly predicts the last line in the episode from Rhinox: "When a spark comes online, there is great joy." Cheetor makes a face indicating he recognizes it, and smiles to himself. This is the second of Cheetor's precognitive dreams in the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]].

===Animation and technical errors===
* When Cheetor reports the falling stasis pod to Tigatron, the white on his underbelly disappears in a few shots.
* As he experiences an energon surge whilst hiding behind a rock column, Cheetor's left arm loses its shine.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'Étincelle'''" ("The Spark")

:*''Title:'' "'''L'Étincelle'''" ("The Spark")

'''Italian'''
*''Title:'' "'''La scintilla'''" ("The Spark")

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Hayabusa Senshi Airrazor'''" (ハヤブサ戦士エアラザー, "The Falcon Warrior Airrazor")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 17|17 December]] [[1997]]
::*During the scene where Waspinator chases Cheetor through the rocks, Waspinator spends the entire scene making mocking comments toward Cheetor (mainly questioning his speed and skill). When hit by the energon geyser, Waspinator shouts "bikkuri!" ("what a surprise!").
::*As is rather well known, Airazor was made ''male'' for the Japanese dub of the series. A fairly ''effeminate'' male, but a male never-the-less.

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' '''A Centelha''' ("The Spark")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La Chispa'''" (America, "The Spark")

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' — Warning from Space ([[Alliance Atlantis|Alliance Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Robots-Bêtes'' — Alert Dans L'Espace (Alliance Video) — French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Goodbye Rattle!? ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (Alliance Video) — Available in English or French audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 3 ([[Universal]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Predacon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 3 — The Battle Rages On! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spark}}
[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[Category:Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]

Thirst

2013-06-08T15:20:42Z

Platypar-1: /* Real-world references */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 60
|prev=Plus One
|next=Evolution
|image=ThristEpisodeConZombie.jpg
|caption=ZOMBIES?!
|title="Thirst"
|airdate=[[June 7]], [[2013]]
|written by=[[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Knock Out and Starscream's experiment with synthetic energon threatens to take over the Decepticon ship and unleash an old enemy.'''

==Synopsis==

[[File:Thirst1.jpg|left|thumb|300px|There were demons in the base. He didn’t see them, but had expected them now for years. His warnings to Cernel Joson were not listenend to and now it was too late.]]

In [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]'s lab, [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] bemoans his current situation, having to compete with [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] for [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]'s favor. His whining is interrupted by moans from [[Silas|Cylas]], who is strapped to a table and begging to be freed. Knock Out injects him with a derivative of the [[Synthetic Energon|synthetic energon]] he recovered from the [[Autobot]]s. The compound drives Cylas into a rage, which Knock Out notes is one of its erratic side effects. Starscream sees in Cylas' fury the makings of a super-soldier for Megatron.

Starscream attempts to inform Megatron of this discovery, but the [[Decepticon]] leader is only interested in discussing the status of the [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] [[protoform]]s with Shockwave, who is reporting in from his off-site lab.

Cylas becomes more enraged with each new injection of Synth En. Knock Out discovers that the more the compound is administered, the faster Cylas burns through his own natural [[energon]] reserves. Starscream cannot see the use of having [[Predaking (Prime)|another]] unruly beast that can't be controlled, but then has an idea: [[Dark Energon]]. Knock Out objects, noting that the Dark Matter once turned their own ship against them. Starscream assures the doctor that controlled exposure will merely place Cylas under Megatron's command, via their leader's symbiotic link with the substance.

Under orders, Knock Out injects Cylas with Dark Energon. Cylas temporarily powers down before rebooting in a rage and breaking free from his bonds. But after only a few steps, he crumbles to his knees, desperately low on energon. Then with a fierce roar, his lower jaw splits into monstrous mandibles and a long, bladed tongue emerges. He attacks, sending Starscream and Knock Out fleeing down the halls of the ship.

Once a safe distance away, Knock Out suggests sounding the alarm. Starscream disagrees, not wanting Megatron to learn of their actions. He claims that once Cylas attempts to feed upon the ship's highly-trained [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] troopers, they will take care of the threat.

Elsewhere, one of the Vehicons stumbles upon Cylas, who grabs the highly-trained trooper and begins draining his energon.

Starscream and Knock Out plan the disposal of Cylas' corpse when they find the Vehicon's corpse instead. While the two argue about who's to blame for their predicament, the dead Vehicon rises as a reanimated [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcon]] and reveals the same segmented jaw and bladed tongue that Cylas had. Starscream's blaster fire has no effect, nor does destroying the Terrorcon's head, as the tongue continues to protrude from inside its chest. A final volley of blasts destroys the monster's revitalized spark, severing its link to the Dark Energon.

Knock Out posits that Cylas could infect the entire crew in the same manner, a theory that's borne out when they find themselves surrounded on all sides by energy-draining Terrorcons. Starscream and Knock Out lock themselves in a room to get a breather and assess the situation. Accepting that this may be the end, the two Decepticons exchange final pleasantries and step back into the hall…

…right into Megatron, who demands to know why the Dark Energon in his spark has been acting funny. Starscream provides a slanted explanation, but Megatron doesn't believe it until he's forced to destroy an attacking Terrorcon.

After a more extensive debrief of the situation, Megatron puts the ship on high alert and orders Starscream and Knock Out to destroy Cylas. Around the ship, Vehicons and [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] battle the infected Terrorcons.

Cylas wanders into the ship's vault. Sensing energon within a [[stasis pod]], he breaks it open, freeing and reviving [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]]. Cylas attempts to drain her energon, but Airachnid is able to immobilize him with webbing long enough to deliver a killing blow. She immediately re-establishes her telepathic control over the Insecticons and commands them to return to her. Their sudden departure is noticed by [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]].

Starscream and Knock Out discover Cylas' corpse. Starscream is elated until Knock Out points out Airachnid's destroyed prison, followed by Megatron demanding a status update.

[[File:Thirst-Airachnidzombie.jpg|thumb|right|300px|And then John was a zombie.]]

Airachnid leads the Insecticons through the halls of the ship, ordering them to wipe out every Decepticon aboard. At the end of the hall, Soundwave calmly steps forward to face them. The bug-bots attack, and Soundwave opens a [[space bridge]] directly in front of him at the last second. Before they can react, Airachnid and the Insecticons are teleported to another location. As the bridge closes behind her, Airachnid realizes that they have been sent to a moon orbiting [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and screams in rage.

Aboard the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', Megatron contacts Shockwave again to inform him they're implementing his containment protocol to prevent further outbreak. He also tells Shockwave to speed up the Predacon cloning project, as they have now lost more than half their military forces.

Back on the moon, an infected Airachnid drains the energon from one of her minions as the rest of the Insecticons line up obediently to await their turn.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
|c2=
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (2)
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (5)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (6)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (7)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (8)
|c3=
|c4=
*[[Silas|Cylas]] (3)
}}

==Quotes==

'''Megatron''': ''[Talking to Shockwave over comm]'' Tell me of the Predacon protoforms. What is the status of their incubation? Mm-hm. Uh-huh. 
'''Starscream''': Master, if I do say so myself, I have made the most intriguing discovery. It appears that-- 
'''Megatron''': Not now! ''[Back to Shockwave]'' Please continue, Shockwave. No, no one important.
:—'''Megatron''' doesn't like to be interrupted when he's on the phone.

'''Starscream''': Megatron will undoubtedly hold us responsible. 
'''Knock Out''': But...WE ARE! 
'''Starscream''': Well, you are, mostly.
:—'''Starscream''' blames someone else, news at 11.

"Aim for the head!" 
"What? How do you know?" 
"I've seen human horror films." ''[Starscream looks at him curiously]'' "At drive-in theaters!"
:—'''Knock Out''' schools '''Starscream''' on how to survive a zombie apocalypse.

"I find it rather ironic that after battling Autobots all these years, smacked down, shot at, blown up, this is how our lights go out?" 
"Drained of hard-precious fluid. If this is indeed the end, if we are to become Terrorcon-chow, it has been an honor serving Lord Megatron with you." 
"You're no Breakdown. Though I must confess, I have always admired your lustrous finish." 
''[Awkward pause]'' 
"Well, then." 
"Should be going."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Knock Out''' begin a beautiful friendship… and remind us of [[Arcee_(Prime)|some]][[Optimus_Prime_(WFC)|one's]] words on [[Scrapheap_(episode)|old day]].

"Silas? Whatever have they done to you? But more importantly, thank you for freeing me." 
"No. Thank…you… ''[Dies]'' 
"Whatever."
:—'''Airachnid''' is unmoved by '''Cylas'''' final words.

"Soundwave! I vow that on this day, the world will hear the sound of your screams."
:—'''Airachnid's''' mouth writes a check that her abdomen can't cash.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* Airachnid lost one of her spider legs to the closing pod door when she was put in stasis, but all six are intact in this episode.
* Starscream's missile cleanly beheads a Vehicon, leaving no burn marks or exposed circuitry of any kind. For that matter, the headless Vehicon reveals that there is no "joint" on the model for the head to attach to, just a completely flat surface with a hole for the tongue. You normally don't see it because the neck just goes straight into the base of the collar, as if the collar form-fits around the neck.

===Continuity notes===
* Yowza, this would be a tough episode to start watching the series.
* Airachnid was frozen in stasis in "[[Armada (episode)|Armada]]" and was retrieved from the Autobot base by the Decepticons in "[[Darkmount, NV]]".
* The [[polarity gauntlet]] can be seen in the vault, in the first of the five containment fields. It was left on Cybertron by [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] in "[[Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour]]", and can be assumed to have been recovered by Knock Out's salvage team offscreen in "Darkmount, NV". This leaves only the [[Immobilizer]] unaccounted for.
* [[Silas]], the formerly 100% human commander of [[MECH]], was surgically combined with Breakdown's corpse in "[[The Human Factor]]". He changed his name to Cylas (Cybernetic Life Augmented by Symbiosis) and became a reluctant guest of the Decepticons in the same episode.
* Cylas (then Silas) entered into a partnership of convenience with Starscream in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]" and conveniently stole his [[transformation cog|T-cog]] in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]".
* Cylas (then Silas) once had Breakdown pinned to his operating table in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
* Knock Out recovered some of [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]'s synthetic energon in "[[Stronger, Faster]]".
* Shockwave has been working from an off-site laboratory since "[[Chain of Command (Prime)|Chain of Command]]".
* Megatron previously used Dark Energon to reanimate and control the dead in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
* Dark Energon awakened a dangerous, self-serving intelligence within the Decepticon warship in "[[Flying Mind]]".
* Airachnid killed Breakdown and discovered her telepathic control of the Insecticons in "[[Crossfire]]".
* Airachnid knows Cylas (then Silas) from their brief partnership in "[[Crisscross]]".
* Airachnid's desire to have Soundwave scream likely stems from the very one-sided beatdown she received from him in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]".
* Starscream refers to the Decepticon soldiers as "Vehicons" confirming it as their real designation. [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] previously used that term in to describe them in "[[Plus One]]"
* Megatron alludes to the beatings he bestowed on Starscream in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4]]" and in-between the episodes "[[Out of His Head]]" and "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]" when he prepares to punish Starscream "the only way he understands".

===Transformers references===
* Protoforms are the first stage of Transformer life in many continuities.
* Megatron again refers to his upcoming Predacon army as [[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machine]] super-soldiers.
* The noise played when the Warcry ability in ''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' is activated seems to be a part of the sound effect used when the "tentacles" come out of the infected Transformers.
* Cybertron appears to have two moons orbiting it, as it did in the original cartoon series and [[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]].

===Real-world references===
* Knock Out's proclamation of "It's alive" echoes the famous words spoken in ''[[Frankenstein]]''.
* In addition to the segmented jaw and barbed tongue, the Terrorcons' [[teeth]] also transform into vampiric fangs. This gives them an appearance similar to that of the Reapers in [[Blade II]].
* As Knock Out indicated, destroying the head is the traditional way to kill zombies in many horror movies. But only human ones.
* This episode heavily pays homage to the 1985 zombie film ''The Return of the Living Dead'' where two humans (Frank and Freddie) cause a gas to spread across a cemetery that revives dead corpses into zombies and then plays comedy with the two trying to control the situation while blaming each other for the zombie apocalypse, much like Starscream and Knock Out in this episode.

===Trivia===
* This is the first episode which doesn't feature the [[Autobot]]s in any capacity. Previously, "[[Patch (episode)|Patch]]", the last Decepticon-centric episode, had flashbacks which contained Autobots even though none appeared in person. [[Peter Cullen]], however, gets to voice the zombified Vehicon trooper Megatron puts down.
* Starscream says that the ship is crawling with "highly-trained Vehicon troopers". Kinda makes you wonder what a poorly-trained one is like, huh?
* On-the-move teleportation seems as if it's becoming Soundwave's signature move, having used it to dispatch [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] in "[[Orion Pax, Part 1]]" and to claim the Predacon fossil in "[[Project Predacon]]".
* [[Steve Blum]] is credited as "Insecticon #1" instead of [[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]] this time.
* The last thing Silas/Cylas did to Starscream was steal his T-Cog and painfully electrocute him unconscious, so it's no surprise Starscream has no desire to help him at the beginning of the episode.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Thirst

2013-06-08T15:16:15Z

Platypar-1: /* Real-world references */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 60
|prev=Plus One
|next=Evolution
|image=ThristEpisodeConZombie.jpg
|caption=ZOMBIES?!
|title="Thirst"
|airdate=[[June 7]], [[2013]]
|written by=[[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Knock Out and Starscream's experiment with synthetic energon threatens to take over the Decepticon ship and unleash an old enemy.'''

==Synopsis==

[[File:Thirst1.jpg|left|thumb|300px|There were demons in the base. He didn’t see them, but had expected them now for years. His warnings to Cernel Joson were not listenend to and now it was too late.]]

In [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]'s lab, [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] bemoans his current situation, having to compete with [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] for [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]'s favor. His whining is interrupted by moans from [[Silas|Cylas]], who is strapped to a table and begging to be freed. Knock Out injects him with a derivative of the [[Synthetic Energon|synthetic energon]] he recovered from the [[Autobot]]s. The compound drives Cylas into a rage, which Knock Out notes is one of its erratic side effects. Starscream sees in Cylas' fury the makings of a super-soldier for Megatron.

Starscream attempts to inform Megatron of this discovery, but the [[Decepticon]] leader is only interested in discussing the status of the [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] [[protoform]]s with Shockwave, who is reporting in from his off-site lab.

Cylas becomes more enraged with each new injection of Synth En. Knock Out discovers that the more the compound is administered, the faster Cylas burns through his own natural [[energon]] reserves. Starscream cannot see the use of having [[Predaking (Prime)|another]] unruly beast that can't be controlled, but then has an idea: [[Dark Energon]]. Knock Out objects, noting that the Dark Matter once turned their own ship against them. Starscream assures the doctor that controlled exposure will merely place Cylas under Megatron's command, via their leader's symbiotic link with the substance.

Under orders, Knock Out injects Cylas with Dark Energon. Cylas temporarily powers down before rebooting in a rage and breaking free from his bonds. But after only a few steps, he crumbles to his knees, desperately low on energon. Then with a fierce roar, his lower jaw splits into monstrous mandibles and a long, bladed tongue emerges. He attacks, sending Starscream and Knock Out fleeing down the halls of the ship.

Once a safe distance away, Knock Out suggests sounding the alarm. Starscream disagrees, not wanting Megatron to learn of their actions. He claims that once Cylas attempts to feed upon the ship's highly-trained [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] troopers, they will take care of the threat.

Elsewhere, one of the Vehicons stumbles upon Cylas, who grabs the highly-trained trooper and begins draining his energon.

Starscream and Knock Out plan the disposal of Cylas' corpse when they find the Vehicon's corpse instead. While the two argue about who's to blame for their predicament, the dead Vehicon rises as a reanimated [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcon]] and reveals the same segmented jaw and bladed tongue that Cylas had. Starscream's blaster fire has no effect, nor does destroying the Terrorcon's head, as the tongue continues to protrude from inside its chest. A final volley of blasts destroys the monster's revitalized spark, severing its link to the Dark Energon.

Knock Out posits that Cylas could infect the entire crew in the same manner, a theory that's borne out when they find themselves surrounded on all sides by energy-draining Terrorcons. Starscream and Knock Out lock themselves in a room to get a breather and assess the situation. Accepting that this may be the end, the two Decepticons exchange final pleasantries and step back into the hall…

…right into Megatron, who demands to know why the Dark Energon in his spark has been acting funny. Starscream provides a slanted explanation, but Megatron doesn't believe it until he's forced to destroy an attacking Terrorcon.

After a more extensive debrief of the situation, Megatron puts the ship on high alert and orders Starscream and Knock Out to destroy Cylas. Around the ship, Vehicons and [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] battle the infected Terrorcons.

Cylas wanders into the ship's vault. Sensing energon within a [[stasis pod]], he breaks it open, freeing and reviving [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]]. Cylas attempts to drain her energon, but Airachnid is able to immobilize him with webbing long enough to deliver a killing blow. She immediately re-establishes her telepathic control over the Insecticons and commands them to return to her. Their sudden departure is noticed by [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]].

Starscream and Knock Out discover Cylas' corpse. Starscream is elated until Knock Out points out Airachnid's destroyed prison, followed by Megatron demanding a status update.

[[File:Thirst-Airachnidzombie.jpg|thumb|right|300px|And then John was a zombie.]]

Airachnid leads the Insecticons through the halls of the ship, ordering them to wipe out every Decepticon aboard. At the end of the hall, Soundwave calmly steps forward to face them. The bug-bots attack, and Soundwave opens a [[space bridge]] directly in front of him at the last second. Before they can react, Airachnid and the Insecticons are teleported to another location. As the bridge closes behind her, Airachnid realizes that they have been sent to a moon orbiting [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and screams in rage.

Aboard the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', Megatron contacts Shockwave again to inform him they're implementing his containment protocol to prevent further outbreak. He also tells Shockwave to speed up the Predacon cloning project, as they have now lost more than half their military forces.

Back on the moon, an infected Airachnid drains the energon from one of her minions as the rest of the Insecticons line up obediently to await their turn.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
|c2=
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (2)
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (5)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (6)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (7)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (8)
|c3=
|c4=
*[[Silas|Cylas]] (3)
}}

==Quotes==

'''Megatron''': ''[Talking to Shockwave over comm]'' Tell me of the Predacon protoforms. What is the status of their incubation? Mm-hm. Uh-huh. 
'''Starscream''': Master, if I do say so myself, I have made the most intriguing discovery. It appears that-- 
'''Megatron''': Not now! ''[Back to Shockwave]'' Please continue, Shockwave. No, no one important.
:—'''Megatron''' doesn't like to be interrupted when he's on the phone.

'''Starscream''': Megatron will undoubtedly hold us responsible. 
'''Knock Out''': But...WE ARE! 
'''Starscream''': Well, you are, mostly.
:—'''Starscream''' blames someone else, news at 11.

"Aim for the head!" 
"What? How do you know?" 
"I've seen human horror films." ''[Starscream looks at him curiously]'' "At drive-in theaters!"
:—'''Knock Out''' schools '''Starscream''' on how to survive a zombie apocalypse.

"I find it rather ironic that after battling Autobots all these years, smacked down, shot at, blown up, this is how our lights go out?" 
"Drained of hard-precious fluid. If this is indeed the end, if we are to become Terrorcon-chow, it has been an honor serving Lord Megatron with you." 
"You're no Breakdown. Though I must confess, I have always admired your lustrous finish." 
''[Awkward pause]'' 
"Well, then." 
"Should be going."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Knock Out''' begin a beautiful friendship… and remind us of [[Arcee_(Prime)|some]][[Optimus_Prime_(WFC)|one's]] words on [[Scrapheap_(episode)|old day]].

"Silas? Whatever have they done to you? But more importantly, thank you for freeing me." 
"No. Thank…you… ''[Dies]'' 
"Whatever."
:—'''Airachnid''' is unmoved by '''Cylas'''' final words.

"Soundwave! I vow that on this day, the world will hear the sound of your screams."
:—'''Airachnid's''' mouth writes a check that her abdomen can't cash.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* Airachnid lost one of her spider legs to the closing pod door when she was put in stasis, but all six are intact in this episode.
* Starscream's missile cleanly beheads a Vehicon, leaving no burn marks or exposed circuitry of any kind. For that matter, the headless Vehicon reveals that there is no "joint" on the model for the head to attach to, just a completely flat surface with a hole for the tongue. You normally don't see it because the neck just goes straight into the base of the collar, as if the collar form-fits around the neck.

===Continuity notes===
* Yowza, this would be a tough episode to start watching the series.
* Airachnid was frozen in stasis in "[[Armada (episode)|Armada]]" and was retrieved from the Autobot base by the Decepticons in "[[Darkmount, NV]]".
* The [[polarity gauntlet]] can be seen in the vault, in the first of the five containment fields. It was left on Cybertron by [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] in "[[Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour]]", and can be assumed to have been recovered by Knock Out's salvage team offscreen in "Darkmount, NV". This leaves only the [[Immobilizer]] unaccounted for.
* [[Silas]], the formerly 100% human commander of [[MECH]], was surgically combined with Breakdown's corpse in "[[The Human Factor]]". He changed his name to Cylas (Cybernetic Life Augmented by Symbiosis) and became a reluctant guest of the Decepticons in the same episode.
* Cylas (then Silas) entered into a partnership of convenience with Starscream in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]" and conveniently stole his [[transformation cog|T-cog]] in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]".
* Cylas (then Silas) once had Breakdown pinned to his operating table in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
* Knock Out recovered some of [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]'s synthetic energon in "[[Stronger, Faster]]".
* Shockwave has been working from an off-site laboratory since "[[Chain of Command (Prime)|Chain of Command]]".
* Megatron previously used Dark Energon to reanimate and control the dead in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
* Dark Energon awakened a dangerous, self-serving intelligence within the Decepticon warship in "[[Flying Mind]]".
* Airachnid killed Breakdown and discovered her telepathic control of the Insecticons in "[[Crossfire]]".
* Airachnid knows Cylas (then Silas) from their brief partnership in "[[Crisscross]]".
* Airachnid's desire to have Soundwave scream likely stems from the very one-sided beatdown she received from him in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]".
* Starscream refers to the Decepticon soldiers as "Vehicons" confirming it as their real designation. [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] previously used that term in to describe them in "[[Plus One]]"
* Megatron alludes to the beatings he bestowed on Starscream in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4]]" and in-between the episodes "[[Out of His Head]]" and "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]" when he prepares to punish Starscream "the only way he understands".

===Transformers references===
* Protoforms are the first stage of Transformer life in many continuities.
* Megatron again refers to his upcoming Predacon army as [[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machine]] super-soldiers.
* The noise played when the Warcry ability in ''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' is activated seems to be a part of the sound effect used when the "tentacles" come out of the infected Transformers.
* Cybertron appears to have two moons orbiting it, as it did in the original cartoon series and [[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]].

===Real-world references===
* Knock Out's proclamation of "It's alive" echoes the famous words spoken in ''[[Frankenstein]]''.
* In addition to the segmented jaw and barbed tongue, the Terrorcons' [[teeth]] also transform into vampiric fangs. This gives them an appearance similar to that of the Reapers in Blade II.
* As Knock Out indicated, destroying the head is the traditional way to kill zombies in many horror movies. But only human ones.
* This episode heavily pays homage to the 1985 zombie film ''The Return of the Living Dead'' where two humans (Frank and Freddie) cause a gas to spread across a cemetery that revives dead corpses into zombies and then plays comedy with the two trying to control the situation while blaming each other for the zombie apocalypse, much like Starscream and Knock Out in this episode.

===Trivia===
* This is the first episode which doesn't feature the [[Autobot]]s in any capacity. Previously, "[[Patch (episode)|Patch]]", the last Decepticon-centric episode, had flashbacks which contained Autobots even though none appeared in person. [[Peter Cullen]], however, gets to voice the zombified Vehicon trooper Megatron puts down.
* Starscream says that the ship is crawling with "highly-trained Vehicon troopers". Kinda makes you wonder what a poorly-trained one is like, huh?
* On-the-move teleportation seems as if it's becoming Soundwave's signature move, having used it to dispatch [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] in "[[Orion Pax, Part 1]]" and to claim the Predacon fossil in "[[Project Predacon]]".
* [[Steve Blum]] is credited as "Insecticon #1" instead of [[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]] this time.
* The last thing Silas/Cylas did to Starscream was steal his T-Cog and painfully electrocute him unconscious, so it's no surprise Starscream has no desire to help him at the beginning of the episode.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Thirst

2013-06-08T15:13:46Z

Platypar-1: /* Real-world references */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 60
|prev=Plus One
|next=Evolution
|image=ThristEpisodeConZombie.jpg
|caption=ZOMBIES?!
|title="Thirst"
|airdate=[[June 7]], [[2013]]
|written by=[[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Knock Out and Starscream's experiment with synthetic energon threatens to take over the Decepticon ship and unleash an old enemy.'''

==Synopsis==

[[File:Thirst1.jpg|left|thumb|300px|There were demons in the base. He didn’t see them, but had expected them now for years. His warnings to Cernel Joson were not listenend to and now it was too late.]]

In [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]'s lab, [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] bemoans his current situation, having to compete with [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] for [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]'s favor. His whining is interrupted by moans from [[Silas|Cylas]], who is strapped to a table and begging to be freed. Knock Out injects him with a derivative of the [[Synthetic Energon|synthetic energon]] he recovered from the [[Autobot]]s. The compound drives Cylas into a rage, which Knock Out notes is one of its erratic side effects. Starscream sees in Cylas' fury the makings of a super-soldier for Megatron.

Starscream attempts to inform Megatron of this discovery, but the [[Decepticon]] leader is only interested in discussing the status of the [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] [[protoform]]s with Shockwave, who is reporting in from his off-site lab.

Cylas becomes more enraged with each new injection of Synth En. Knock Out discovers that the more the compound is administered, the faster Cylas burns through his own natural [[energon]] reserves. Starscream cannot see the use of having [[Predaking (Prime)|another]] unruly beast that can't be controlled, but then has an idea: [[Dark Energon]]. Knock Out objects, noting that the Dark Matter once turned their own ship against them. Starscream assures the doctor that controlled exposure will merely place Cylas under Megatron's command, via their leader's symbiotic link with the substance.

Under orders, Knock Out injects Cylas with Dark Energon. Cylas temporarily powers down before rebooting in a rage and breaking free from his bonds. But after only a few steps, he crumbles to his knees, desperately low on energon. Then with a fierce roar, his lower jaw splits into monstrous mandibles and a long, bladed tongue emerges. He attacks, sending Starscream and Knock Out fleeing down the halls of the ship.

Once a safe distance away, Knock Out suggests sounding the alarm. Starscream disagrees, not wanting Megatron to learn of their actions. He claims that once Cylas attempts to feed upon the ship's highly-trained [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] troopers, they will take care of the threat.

Elsewhere, one of the Vehicons stumbles upon Cylas, who grabs the highly-trained trooper and begins draining his energon.

Starscream and Knock Out plan the disposal of Cylas' corpse when they find the Vehicon's corpse instead. While the two argue about who's to blame for their predicament, the dead Vehicon rises as a reanimated [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcon]] and reveals the same segmented jaw and bladed tongue that Cylas had. Starscream's blaster fire has no effect, nor does destroying the Terrorcon's head, as the tongue continues to protrude from inside its chest. A final volley of blasts destroys the monster's revitalized spark, severing its link to the Dark Energon.

Knock Out posits that Cylas could infect the entire crew in the same manner, a theory that's borne out when they find themselves surrounded on all sides by energy-draining Terrorcons. Starscream and Knock Out lock themselves in a room to get a breather and assess the situation. Accepting that this may be the end, the two Decepticons exchange final pleasantries and step back into the hall…

…right into Megatron, who demands to know why the Dark Energon in his spark has been acting funny. Starscream provides a slanted explanation, but Megatron doesn't believe it until he's forced to destroy an attacking Terrorcon.

After a more extensive debrief of the situation, Megatron puts the ship on high alert and orders Starscream and Knock Out to destroy Cylas. Around the ship, Vehicons and [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] battle the infected Terrorcons.

Cylas wanders into the ship's vault. Sensing energon within a [[stasis pod]], he breaks it open, freeing and reviving [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]]. Cylas attempts to drain her energon, but Airachnid is able to immobilize him with webbing long enough to deliver a killing blow. She immediately re-establishes her telepathic control over the Insecticons and commands them to return to her. Their sudden departure is noticed by [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]].

Starscream and Knock Out discover Cylas' corpse. Starscream is elated until Knock Out points out Airachnid's destroyed prison, followed by Megatron demanding a status update.

[[File:Thirst-Airachnidzombie.jpg|thumb|right|300px|And then John was a zombie.]]

Airachnid leads the Insecticons through the halls of the ship, ordering them to wipe out every Decepticon aboard. At the end of the hall, Soundwave calmly steps forward to face them. The bug-bots attack, and Soundwave opens a [[space bridge]] directly in front of him at the last second. Before they can react, Airachnid and the Insecticons are teleported to another location. As the bridge closes behind her, Airachnid realizes that they have been sent to a moon orbiting [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and screams in rage.

Aboard the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', Megatron contacts Shockwave again to inform him they're implementing his containment protocol to prevent further outbreak. He also tells Shockwave to speed up the Predacon cloning project, as they have now lost more than half their military forces.

Back on the moon, an infected Airachnid drains the energon from one of her minions as the rest of the Insecticons line up obediently to await their turn.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
|c2=
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (2)
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (5)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (6)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (7)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (8)
|c3=
|c4=
*[[Silas|Cylas]] (3)
}}

==Quotes==

'''Megatron''': ''[Talking to Shockwave over comm]'' Tell me of the Predacon protoforms. What is the status of their incubation? Mm-hm. Uh-huh. 
'''Starscream''': Master, if I do say so myself, I have made the most intriguing discovery. It appears that-- 
'''Megatron''': Not now! ''[Back to Shockwave]'' Please continue, Shockwave. No, no one important.
:—'''Megatron''' doesn't like to be interrupted when he's on the phone.

'''Starscream''': Megatron will undoubtedly hold us responsible. 
'''Knock Out''': But...WE ARE! 
'''Starscream''': Well, you are, mostly.
:—'''Starscream''' blames someone else, news at 11.

"Aim for the head!" 
"What? How do you know?" 
"I've seen human horror films." ''[Starscream looks at him curiously]'' "At drive-in theaters!"
:—'''Knock Out''' schools '''Starscream''' on how to survive a zombie apocalypse.

"I find it rather ironic that after battling Autobots all these years, smacked down, shot at, blown up, this is how our lights go out?" 
"Drained of hard-precious fluid. If this is indeed the end, if we are to become Terrorcon-chow, it has been an honor serving Lord Megatron with you." 
"You're no Breakdown. Though I must confess, I have always admired your lustrous finish." 
''[Awkward pause]'' 
"Well, then." 
"Should be going."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Knock Out''' begin a beautiful friendship… and remind us of [[Arcee_(Prime)|some]][[Optimus_Prime_(WFC)|one's]] words on [[Scrapheap_(episode)|old day]].

"Silas? Whatever have they done to you? But more importantly, thank you for freeing me." 
"No. Thank…you… ''[Dies]'' 
"Whatever."
:—'''Airachnid''' is unmoved by '''Cylas'''' final words.

"Soundwave! I vow that on this day, the world will hear the sound of your screams."
:—'''Airachnid's''' mouth writes a check that her abdomen can't cash.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* Airachnid lost one of her spider legs to the closing pod door when she was put in stasis, but all six are intact in this episode.
* Starscream's missile cleanly beheads a Vehicon, leaving no burn marks or exposed circuitry of any kind. For that matter, the headless Vehicon reveals that there is no "joint" on the model for the head to attach to, just a completely flat surface with a hole for the tongue. You normally don't see it because the neck just goes straight into the base of the collar, as if the collar form-fits around the neck.

===Continuity notes===
* Yowza, this would be a tough episode to start watching the series.
* Airachnid was frozen in stasis in "[[Armada (episode)|Armada]]" and was retrieved from the Autobot base by the Decepticons in "[[Darkmount, NV]]".
* The [[polarity gauntlet]] can be seen in the vault, in the first of the five containment fields. It was left on Cybertron by [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] in "[[Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour]]", and can be assumed to have been recovered by Knock Out's salvage team offscreen in "Darkmount, NV". This leaves only the [[Immobilizer]] unaccounted for.
* [[Silas]], the formerly 100% human commander of [[MECH]], was surgically combined with Breakdown's corpse in "[[The Human Factor]]". He changed his name to Cylas (Cybernetic Life Augmented by Symbiosis) and became a reluctant guest of the Decepticons in the same episode.
* Cylas (then Silas) entered into a partnership of convenience with Starscream in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]" and conveniently stole his [[transformation cog|T-cog]] in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]".
* Cylas (then Silas) once had Breakdown pinned to his operating table in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
* Knock Out recovered some of [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]'s synthetic energon in "[[Stronger, Faster]]".
* Shockwave has been working from an off-site laboratory since "[[Chain of Command (Prime)|Chain of Command]]".
* Megatron previously used Dark Energon to reanimate and control the dead in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
* Dark Energon awakened a dangerous, self-serving intelligence within the Decepticon warship in "[[Flying Mind]]".
* Airachnid killed Breakdown and discovered her telepathic control of the Insecticons in "[[Crossfire]]".
* Airachnid knows Cylas (then Silas) from their brief partnership in "[[Crisscross]]".
* Airachnid's desire to have Soundwave scream likely stems from the very one-sided beatdown she received from him in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]".
* Starscream refers to the Decepticon soldiers as "Vehicons" confirming it as their real designation. [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] previously used that term in to describe them in "[[Plus One]]"
* Megatron alludes to the beatings he bestowed on Starscream in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4]]" and in-between the episodes "[[Out of His Head]]" and "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]" when he prepares to punish Starscream "the only way he understands".

===Transformers references===
* Protoforms are the first stage of Transformer life in many continuities.
* Megatron again refers to his upcoming Predacon army as [[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machine]] super-soldiers.
* The noise played when the Warcry ability in ''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' is activated seems to be a part of the sound effect used when the "tentacles" come out of the infected Transformers.
* Cybertron appears to have two moons orbiting it, as it did in the original cartoon series and [[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]].

===Real-world references===
* Knock Out's proclamation of "It's alive" echoes the famous words spoken in ''[[Frankenstein]]''.
* In addition to the segmented jaw and barbed tongue, the Terrorcons' [[teeth]] also transform into vampiric fangs. This gives them an appearance similar to the Reapers in Blade II.
* As Knock Out indicated, destroying the head is the traditional way to kill zombies in many horror movies. But only human ones.
* This episode heavily pays homage to the 1985 zombie film ''The Return of the Living Dead'' where two humans (Frank and Freddie) cause a gas to spread across a cemetery that revives dead corpses into zombies and then plays comedy with the two trying to control the situation while blaming each other for the zombie apocalypse, much like Starscream and Knock Out in this episode.

===Trivia===
* This is the first episode which doesn't feature the [[Autobot]]s in any capacity. Previously, "[[Patch (episode)|Patch]]", the last Decepticon-centric episode, had flashbacks which contained Autobots even though none appeared in person. [[Peter Cullen]], however, gets to voice the zombified Vehicon trooper Megatron puts down.
* Starscream says that the ship is crawling with "highly-trained Vehicon troopers". Kinda makes you wonder what a poorly-trained one is like, huh?
* On-the-move teleportation seems as if it's becoming Soundwave's signature move, having used it to dispatch [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] in "[[Orion Pax, Part 1]]" and to claim the Predacon fossil in "[[Project Predacon]]".
* [[Steve Blum]] is credited as "Insecticon #1" instead of [[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]] this time.
* The last thing Silas/Cylas did to Starscream was steal his T-Cog and painfully electrocute him unconscious, so it's no surprise Starscream has no desire to help him at the beginning of the episode.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Thirst

2013-06-08T15:12:36Z

Platypar-1: /* Real-world references */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 60
|prev=Plus One
|next=Evolution
|image=ThristEpisodeConZombie.jpg
|caption=ZOMBIES?!
|title="Thirst"
|airdate=[[June 7]], [[2013]]
|written by=[[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Knock Out and Starscream's experiment with synthetic energon threatens to take over the Decepticon ship and unleash an old enemy.'''

==Synopsis==

[[File:Thirst1.jpg|left|thumb|300px|There were demons in the base. He didn’t see them, but had expected them now for years. His warnings to Cernel Joson were not listenend to and now it was too late.]]

In [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]'s lab, [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] bemoans his current situation, having to compete with [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] for [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]'s favor. His whining is interrupted by moans from [[Silas|Cylas]], who is strapped to a table and begging to be freed. Knock Out injects him with a derivative of the [[Synthetic Energon|synthetic energon]] he recovered from the [[Autobot]]s. The compound drives Cylas into a rage, which Knock Out notes is one of its erratic side effects. Starscream sees in Cylas' fury the makings of a super-soldier for Megatron.

Starscream attempts to inform Megatron of this discovery, but the [[Decepticon]] leader is only interested in discussing the status of the [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] [[protoform]]s with Shockwave, who is reporting in from his off-site lab.

Cylas becomes more enraged with each new injection of Synth En. Knock Out discovers that the more the compound is administered, the faster Cylas burns through his own natural [[energon]] reserves. Starscream cannot see the use of having [[Predaking (Prime)|another]] unruly beast that can't be controlled, but then has an idea: [[Dark Energon]]. Knock Out objects, noting that the Dark Matter once turned their own ship against them. Starscream assures the doctor that controlled exposure will merely place Cylas under Megatron's command, via their leader's symbiotic link with the substance.

Under orders, Knock Out injects Cylas with Dark Energon. Cylas temporarily powers down before rebooting in a rage and breaking free from his bonds. But after only a few steps, he crumbles to his knees, desperately low on energon. Then with a fierce roar, his lower jaw splits into monstrous mandibles and a long, bladed tongue emerges. He attacks, sending Starscream and Knock Out fleeing down the halls of the ship.

Once a safe distance away, Knock Out suggests sounding the alarm. Starscream disagrees, not wanting Megatron to learn of their actions. He claims that once Cylas attempts to feed upon the ship's highly-trained [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] troopers, they will take care of the threat.

Elsewhere, one of the Vehicons stumbles upon Cylas, who grabs the highly-trained trooper and begins draining his energon.

Starscream and Knock Out plan the disposal of Cylas' corpse when they find the Vehicon's corpse instead. While the two argue about who's to blame for their predicament, the dead Vehicon rises as a reanimated [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcon]] and reveals the same segmented jaw and bladed tongue that Cylas had. Starscream's blaster fire has no effect, nor does destroying the Terrorcon's head, as the tongue continues to protrude from inside its chest. A final volley of blasts destroys the monster's revitalized spark, severing its link to the Dark Energon.

Knock Out posits that Cylas could infect the entire crew in the same manner, a theory that's borne out when they find themselves surrounded on all sides by energy-draining Terrorcons. Starscream and Knock Out lock themselves in a room to get a breather and assess the situation. Accepting that this may be the end, the two Decepticons exchange final pleasantries and step back into the hall…

…right into Megatron, who demands to know why the Dark Energon in his spark has been acting funny. Starscream provides a slanted explanation, but Megatron doesn't believe it until he's forced to destroy an attacking Terrorcon.

After a more extensive debrief of the situation, Megatron puts the ship on high alert and orders Starscream and Knock Out to destroy Cylas. Around the ship, Vehicons and [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] battle the infected Terrorcons.

Cylas wanders into the ship's vault. Sensing energon within a [[stasis pod]], he breaks it open, freeing and reviving [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]]. Cylas attempts to drain her energon, but Airachnid is able to immobilize him with webbing long enough to deliver a killing blow. She immediately re-establishes her telepathic control over the Insecticons and commands them to return to her. Their sudden departure is noticed by [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]].

Starscream and Knock Out discover Cylas' corpse. Starscream is elated until Knock Out points out Airachnid's destroyed prison, followed by Megatron demanding a status update.

[[File:Thirst-Airachnidzombie.jpg|thumb|right|300px|And then John was a zombie.]]

Airachnid leads the Insecticons through the halls of the ship, ordering them to wipe out every Decepticon aboard. At the end of the hall, Soundwave calmly steps forward to face them. The bug-bots attack, and Soundwave opens a [[space bridge]] directly in front of him at the last second. Before they can react, Airachnid and the Insecticons are teleported to another location. As the bridge closes behind her, Airachnid realizes that they have been sent to a moon orbiting [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and screams in rage.

Aboard the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', Megatron contacts Shockwave again to inform him they're implementing his containment protocol to prevent further outbreak. He also tells Shockwave to speed up the Predacon cloning project, as they have now lost more than half their military forces.

Back on the moon, an infected Airachnid drains the energon from one of her minions as the rest of the Insecticons line up obediently to await their turn.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
|c2=
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (2)
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (5)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (6)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (7)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (8)
|c3=
|c4=
*[[Silas|Cylas]] (3)
}}

==Quotes==

'''Megatron''': ''[Talking to Shockwave over comm]'' Tell me of the Predacon protoforms. What is the status of their incubation? Mm-hm. Uh-huh. 
'''Starscream''': Master, if I do say so myself, I have made the most intriguing discovery. It appears that-- 
'''Megatron''': Not now! ''[Back to Shockwave]'' Please continue, Shockwave. No, no one important.
:—'''Megatron''' doesn't like to be interrupted when he's on the phone.

'''Starscream''': Megatron will undoubtedly hold us responsible. 
'''Knock Out''': But...WE ARE! 
'''Starscream''': Well, you are, mostly.
:—'''Starscream''' blames someone else, news at 11.

"Aim for the head!" 
"What? How do you know?" 
"I've seen human horror films." ''[Starscream looks at him curiously]'' "At drive-in theaters!"
:—'''Knock Out''' schools '''Starscream''' on how to survive a zombie apocalypse.

"I find it rather ironic that after battling Autobots all these years, smacked down, shot at, blown up, this is how our lights go out?" 
"Drained of hard-precious fluid. If this is indeed the end, if we are to become Terrorcon-chow, it has been an honor serving Lord Megatron with you." 
"You're no Breakdown. Though I must confess, I have always admired your lustrous finish." 
''[Awkward pause]'' 
"Well, then." 
"Should be going."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Knock Out''' begin a beautiful friendship… and remind us of [[Arcee_(Prime)|some]][[Optimus_Prime_(WFC)|one's]] words on [[Scrapheap_(episode)|old day]].

"Silas? Whatever have they done to you? But more importantly, thank you for freeing me." 
"No. Thank…you… ''[Dies]'' 
"Whatever."
:—'''Airachnid''' is unmoved by '''Cylas'''' final words.

"Soundwave! I vow that on this day, the world will hear the sound of your screams."
:—'''Airachnid's''' mouth writes a check that her abdomen can't cash.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* Airachnid lost one of her spider legs to the closing pod door when she was put in stasis, but all six are intact in this episode.
* Starscream's missile cleanly beheads a Vehicon, leaving no burn marks or exposed circuitry of any kind. For that matter, the headless Vehicon reveals that there is no "joint" on the model for the head to attach to, just a completely flat surface with a hole for the tongue. You normally don't see it because the neck just goes straight into the base of the collar, as if the collar form-fits around the neck.

===Continuity notes===
* Yowza, this would be a tough episode to start watching the series.
* Airachnid was frozen in stasis in "[[Armada (episode)|Armada]]" and was retrieved from the Autobot base by the Decepticons in "[[Darkmount, NV]]".
* The [[polarity gauntlet]] can be seen in the vault, in the first of the five containment fields. It was left on Cybertron by [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] in "[[Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour]]", and can be assumed to have been recovered by Knock Out's salvage team offscreen in "Darkmount, NV". This leaves only the [[Immobilizer]] unaccounted for.
* [[Silas]], the formerly 100% human commander of [[MECH]], was surgically combined with Breakdown's corpse in "[[The Human Factor]]". He changed his name to Cylas (Cybernetic Life Augmented by Symbiosis) and became a reluctant guest of the Decepticons in the same episode.
* Cylas (then Silas) entered into a partnership of convenience with Starscream in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]" and conveniently stole his [[transformation cog|T-cog]] in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]".
* Cylas (then Silas) once had Breakdown pinned to his operating table in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
* Knock Out recovered some of [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]'s synthetic energon in "[[Stronger, Faster]]".
* Shockwave has been working from an off-site laboratory since "[[Chain of Command (Prime)|Chain of Command]]".
* Megatron previously used Dark Energon to reanimate and control the dead in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
* Dark Energon awakened a dangerous, self-serving intelligence within the Decepticon warship in "[[Flying Mind]]".
* Airachnid killed Breakdown and discovered her telepathic control of the Insecticons in "[[Crossfire]]".
* Airachnid knows Cylas (then Silas) from their brief partnership in "[[Crisscross]]".
* Airachnid's desire to have Soundwave scream likely stems from the very one-sided beatdown she received from him in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]".
* Starscream refers to the Decepticon soldiers as "Vehicons" confirming it as their real designation. [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] previously used that term in to describe them in "[[Plus One]]"
* Megatron alludes to the beatings he bestowed on Starscream in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4]]" and in-between the episodes "[[Out of His Head]]" and "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]" when he prepares to punish Starscream "the only way he understands".

===Transformers references===
* Protoforms are the first stage of Transformer life in many continuities.
* Megatron again refers to his upcoming Predacon army as [[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machine]] super-soldiers.
* The noise played when the Warcry ability in ''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' is activated seems to be a part of the sound effect used when the "tentacles" come out of the infected Transformers.
* Cybertron appears to have two moons orbiting it, as it did in the original cartoon series and [[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]].

===Real-world references===
* Knock Out's proclamation of "It's alive" echoes the famous words spoken in ''[[Frankenstein]]''.
* In addition to the segmented jaw and barbed tongue, the Terrorcons' [[teeth]] also transform into vampiric fangs. This gives them an appearance similar to the Reapers in Blade 2.
* As Knock Out indicated, destroying the head is the traditional way to kill zombies in many horror movies. But only human ones.
* This episode heavily pays homage to the 1985 zombie film ''The Return of the Living Dead'' where two humans (Frank and Freddie) cause a gas to spread across a cemetery that revives dead corpses into zombies and then plays comedy with the two trying to control the situation while blaming each other for the zombie apocalypse, much like Starscream and Knock Out in this episode.

===Trivia===
* This is the first episode which doesn't feature the [[Autobot]]s in any capacity. Previously, "[[Patch (episode)|Patch]]", the last Decepticon-centric episode, had flashbacks which contained Autobots even though none appeared in person. [[Peter Cullen]], however, gets to voice the zombified Vehicon trooper Megatron puts down.
* Starscream says that the ship is crawling with "highly-trained Vehicon troopers". Kinda makes you wonder what a poorly-trained one is like, huh?
* On-the-move teleportation seems as if it's becoming Soundwave's signature move, having used it to dispatch [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] in "[[Orion Pax, Part 1]]" and to claim the Predacon fossil in "[[Project Predacon]]".
* [[Steve Blum]] is credited as "Insecticon #1" instead of [[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]] this time.
* The last thing Silas/Cylas did to Starscream was steal his T-Cog and painfully electrocute him unconscious, so it's no surprise Starscream has no desire to help him at the beginning of the episode.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]