[[File:Transformation cog.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Hut hut hike!]]

A '''transformation cog''', also referred to as a '''transforming cog''', '''transition cog''', '''conversion cog''', '''T-cog''', or '''morphcore''', is a component important to a [[Transformer]]'s [[transformation]] and sometimes [[scanning]].

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
Metroplex's cog was damaged in 2005 during the [[Decepticon]] [[Battle of Autobot City|siege]] of [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], which explains why he did not transform to robot mode during the battle. [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] built a replacement cog and entrusted its delivery from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to Autobot City on [[Earth]] to [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}}

After numerous setbacks, the cog was delivered just in time. As the city was under siege once again, [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] quickly installed it, allowing Metroplex to fight off Trypticon. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

[[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] required Trypticon's cog as part of his scheme to use [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as his new body. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (G1)|Ghost in the Machine}}

[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] stole Metroplex's cog, causing the Autobots to retaliate by stealing Trypticon's. Both factions hit upon the idea of using the captured cogs on their respective city warriors, an idea that was only partially successful. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}}

====2006 IDW ''Beast Wars'' continuity====
While speeding to defend the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] from [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] thieves, [[Nitrostreak]] was shot in the hood by [[Dinobot (BW)|one of the criminals]], damaging his transformation cog. As he was also flipped on his roof by the blast, he was well and truly incapacitated for the moment. {{storylink|Dawn of Future's Past}}

====2005 IDW continuity====
Together with the [[spark]] and the [[brain module]], the transformation cog (also known as the "morphcore") was part of the "[[Rossum's Trinity]]" principle of Cybertronian biology. Enough damage to one of the three would cause the other two to shut down, killing the Transformer in question. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} By spinning the transformation cog just right and shutting down all safety valves, a Cybertronian could achieve instantaneous transformation, but doing this repeatedly would result in the cog breaking beyond repair. {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}}

A sudden impact to the [[neural cluster]] could trigger the transformation cog in what was known as an involuntary mode spasm. {{storylink|Little Victories}} {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} {{storylink|Crucible (Part 6): A Spark Among Embers|A Spark Among Embers}}

Cybertronian mythology held the belief that, after the [[God War]], [[Mortilus]] had reduced [[Adaptus]] to the first transformation cog, with the deity allowing future generations of Cybertronians to use him as a template for the organ. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War|The God War}}

[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] broke his legs, internal clock and transformation cog from falling through the [[Mitteous Plateau]]. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}}

To "reject" Adaptus, the [[Militant Monoform Movement]] surgically removed their transformation cogs. {{Storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} When [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] found his colleague [[Springarm]] dead, his transformation cog was "still warm", allowing Orion to transform the dead body into its alternate mode. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}

[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s transformation cog was shattered during the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], leaving him stuck in gun mode for a whole two years. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}}

[[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] was forced to make a deal with the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] to harvest [[Delphi]]'s patients of their transformation cogs in return for the facility's safety. {{storylink|How Ratchet Got His Hands Back}}

The [[Aequitas]] trials included morphcore harvests by renegade [[Autobot]]s. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}} [[Stalker (G1)|Stalker]] and [[Snare]] took part in torturing prisoners via morphcore stimulation, which caused spasms of form-shifting against the victim's will. {{storylink|The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Snare's personnel evaluation}} As the [[Wreckers]] got more and more brutal, they sometimes applied [[inhibitor claw]]s to prisoners with such force that they punctured their morphcores. {{storylink|Zero Point}}

When his unit was ambushed by Decepticons, [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] was injured and couldn't transform due to a damaged transition cog. {{storylink|Spotlight: Jazz}}

[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] created an experimental weapon to override a Transformer's primary transformation cog and lock them in their alternate mode. [[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]] used it on [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] during a battle, [[transformation paralysis|forcing him to remain]] in his cassette deck mode for 25 years. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}

In protest of the Autobot "occupation" of a peaceful Cybertron, a [[NAIL]] transformed repeatedly for weeks until his transformation cog wore out and he died. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}}

Upon his integration of [[Nemesis (BW)|Nemesis]]'s corpse into its body, [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] was able to access the [[Titan (group)|Titan]]'s transformation cog and gain a robot mode. {{storylink|Stranger Eons}} {{storylink|Road's End}}

;The Functionist Universe
In protest of the [[Functionist Council]]'s tyrannical rule of Cybertron, a [[female protester]] removed her t-cog, set it on fire, and threw it at a [[Functionary]]. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}}

====''Of Masters and Mayhem''====
[[Punch (G1)|Punch]] possessed a one-in-a-trillion t-cog, one that allowed him to assume a second robot mode. {{storylink|The Truth We Make}}

====2019 IDW continuity====
The original Transformation Cog was one of the fourteen [[Artifacts of the Primes]]. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|Sea of Rust I}}

In the era prior to the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]]'s slice thieves harvested transformation cogs to sell on the galactic black market. {{storylink|Storm Horizon Part 1}}

====''Last Bot Standing''====
When [[Riotgear (G1)|Riotgear]] was low on [[biofuel]], he required [[Override (BWU)|Override]] to give him a good kick in the cog to get him into robot mode. Though she felt that they weren't close enough for her to keep doing it. {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 2|Last Bot Standing #2}}

====''Transformers Roleplaying Game''====
Transformation cogs can be modified from a basic "N-state" configuration into a "C-state", which allows a Cybertronian to shift between robot, alternate mode, and [[combiner]] component. Thus, while all Transformers possess the ''potential'' for combination, few will ever actually go on to become a combiner component. This universal potentiality dates back to the very earliest Cybertronians; indeed, Cybertronian historical records document a number of early precursors to the modern [[binary bonding]] process, which date back to at least the [[Battle of Aegiax]]. {{storylink|The Enigma of Combination}}

===Aligned continuity family===
====''The Covenant of Primus''====
The very first Transformation Cog belonged to [[Amalgamous Prime]]. The artifact allowed its holder to take any shape or form its wielder desired. It would eventually become the template for the simplified T-cogs incorporated into the physiologies of all Cybertronians. When the first Cybertronians emerged from the [[Well of All Sparks]], [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] decided not to inform the Cybertronian race about their ability to transform.

When the first [[Quintesson]]s arrived on Cybertron, they brought with them the "gift" of transformation; they secretly reactivated the dormant organ inside Cybertronians but claimed that Quintesson technology was responsible for this ability. Toward the end of the Quintesson reign of Cybertron, [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]] and his friend [[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]] kidnapped the newly born [[Silverbolt (WFC)|Silverbolt]] from the Well; with the help of [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] and [[Cogwheel]] they learned that T-cogs didn't require Quintesson interference to function properly. This revelation led to the beginnings of the rebellion that brought the [[Age of Wrath]] to an end.

After Cybertron's [[Golden Age]], [[Mercury (COP)|Mercury]] and her displaced fleet of [[Neutronia]]n refugees discovered Amalgamous's original Transformation Cog orbiting a black hole. The refugees brought the artifact aboard the ship, but the mysterious energies the Transformation Cog emitted had the unexpected side effect of altering the crew, granting them advanced shapeshifting abilities and the power to combine with one another into an infinite amount of forms. Even so, Mercury and her new [[Mutacon]]s set out to find Amalgamous Prime, hoping that he could undo the change before the Mutacons permanently merged into a single being. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

====''Transformers: War for Cybertron''====
In order to prevent Iacon's destruction at the hands of [[Trypticon (WFC)|the battle station Trypticon]], [[Air Raid (WFC)|Air Raid]] proposed that his team blast Trypticon's conversion cog, forcing him back into robot mode and hopefully ending the chaos. The cog was blasted to bits and Trypticon was unable to maintain his station mode. Unfortunately, this had the slightly troublesome effect of dumping a heavily armed, very angry giant Decepticon onto Cybertron instead. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}

{{Note|In addition, when a player's health is completely depleted in a co-operative or online mode of gameplay, the Transformer being controlled will fall to the ground and begin a countdown to going offline. While the countdown is in process, it can be seen that a notice on the side of the screen reads "TRANS-COG: OFFLINE" and the game does not allow the player to transform during the countdown. This implies that heavy damage to a Transformer can disable their conversion cog.}}

====''Prime'' cartoon====
[[File:OperationBumblebee2 Starscream threatens T-cog.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Look at your T-cog, now back to me...]]
T-cogs are bio-mechanisms that enable Transformers to scan [[alternate mode]]s, transform, and operate integrated weapon systems. Transformer organs such as these are beyond [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]'s ability to construct.

Requiring a part for the robot they were building, [[MECH]] ambushed [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] and stole his T-cog. Unfortunately when they attempted to install it into their robot, it failed to work, as it required [[energon]] to function properly. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}}

It worked better once they got some energon, but it was badly damaged when Bumblebee attempted to take it back. Despite the damage, Ratchet was able to repair it enough that Bumblebee regained the ability to transform. To make up for their loss, MECH stole [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]]'s T-cog instead. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 2}}

Now armed with greater knowledge about Cybertronian biology and Starscream's T-cog, MECH was able to create [[Nemesis Prime (Prime)|Nemesis Prime]] before Optimus defeated it {{storylink|Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime}} and the US military confiscated it. {{storylink|Grill (episode)|Grill}}

Starscream later tried to install a T-cog he took from his [[Starscream clone (Prime)|clone]] aboard the ''[[Harbinger]]'' but was interrupted. {{storylink|Triangulation}} [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] later performed the operation to restore his T-cog to him. {{storylink|Regeneration (Prime)|Regeneration}}

===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
When [[Elita-1 (ES)|Elita-1]] was explaining [[alternate mode]]s to [[Jawbreaker (ES)|Jawbreaker]], she explained the transformation cog to him. Though she warned him not to mention the cog to [[G.H.O.S.T.]] {{storylink|Outtakes}}
{{-}}

===One movie===
After betraying the Thirteen and taking control of Iacon, Sentinel Prime began removing the transformation cogs from newborn Cybertronians, robbing them of their ability to transform and relegating them to worthless positions mining Energon in order to pay off his debts to the Quintessons. After rediscovering Alpha Trion on Cybertron’s surface, Orion Pax, Elita One, D-16, and B-127 had t cogs implanted by the ancient warrior, restoring to them their their innate transformation abilities. After confronting Sentinel on his betrayal, D-16 learned that Sentinel had taken Megatronus Prime’s cog for himself. Upon the tyrant’s defeat, D-16 took Megatronus’s cog for himself, further enhancing his power, transforming him into Megatron.

==Toys==
===''One''===
[[File:TF-One-Cog-Changers-Wheeljack.jpg|thumb|200px]]
*'''Airachnid''' (1-Step Cog Changer, [[2024]])
*'''Bumblebee/B-127''' (1-Step Cog Changer, 2024)
*'''Wheeljack''' (1-Step Cog Changer, 2024)
*'''Optimus Prime/Orion Pax''' (1-Step Cog Changer, 2024)
*'''Megatron/D-16''' (1-Step Cog Changer, 2024)
*'''Sentinel Prime''' (1-Step Cog Changer, 2024)
:All ''[[Transformers One (toyline)|One]]'' 1-Step Cog Changers feature a slider in their torsos that reveals the namesake cog in their chest. After the cog panel clicks into place, it cannot be slid back down. Pushing the cog activates the spring-loaded transformation into the toy's alternate mode and hides the cog.
{{-}}

*'''Bumblebee/B-127''' (Prime Changer, 2024)
:''One'' Prime Changer B-127 features a painted cog on his chest underneath a removable panel. The cog is a separate part that was glued on.
{{-}}

*'''Power Flip Optimus Prime''' (2024)
:Upon transforming ''One'' Power Flip Optimus Prime from his Orion Pax mode into his Optimus Prime mode, the cog (called the "cog of conversion" by the toy's [[soundbox]]) flips onto his chest, over a blue [[Light-emitting diode|LED]]. Ironically, in fiction, it is the [[Matrix of Leadership]] that turns Orion in Optimus, not the cog.
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Yolopark===
*'''B-127 Cog-less Mode''' (AMK Series, 2024)
*'''D-16 Cog-less Mode''' (AMK Series, 2024)
*'''Elita-1 Cog-less Mode''' (AMK Series, 2024)
*'''Orion Pax Cog-less Mode''' (AMK Series, 2024)
:Each [[Yolopark]] ''One'' Cog-less Mode model kit comes with an unpainted cog accessory.
{{comingsoontoy}}

==Notes==
*In Generation 1-related fiction, damage to a transformation cog traps the Transformer in whatever mode they happen to be in (most often this is their alternate mode). In the [[Aligned continuity family]]'s ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|War For Cybertron]]'', the destruction of his conversion cog instead forces Trypticon into robot mode.
* "Morphcore" was the term used in [[James Roberts]]' fan-novel ''Eugenesis'' for the piece of anatomy that controlled transformation; unlike a transformation cog, it was depicted as a cluster of nerves connected to the Cybertronian's brain. Between ''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' and ''More than Meets the Eye'', Roberts was asked to stop using the word in favour of "transformation cog",<ref>{{citesocial|quote=They’re the same. Between LSOTW and MTMTE, I was asked to stop using the former term.|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1028725238111129600|name=jroberts332|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=8|day=12|(defunct=)}}</ref> presumably for brand synergy reasons.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Transform cog''' (トランスフォーム・コグ ''toransufōmu kogu''), '''henkei cog''' (変形コグ)
*''French:'' '''Noyau de transformation''' (Europe, "Transformation core", Generation 1 cartoon), '''Rouage de transformation''' (Canada, "Transformation cog", Generation 1 cartoon)
*''Hungarian:'' '''T-mag''' ("T-core", ''Prime'' cartoon)
*''Italian:'' '''Ruota trasformatrice''' ("Transforming wheel", Generation 1)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
*[[Transformation paralysis]]
*[[Mode lock]]
*[[Suppressor (device)]]
*[[Transfixatron]]
*[[Transformation Lock Lens]]
*[[Transformation virus]]

[[Category:Beast Wars Transformer anatomy]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon Transformer anatomy]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Transformer anatomy]]
[[Category:Prime]]
[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron]]

Transformation cog (biology)

2024-09-21T14:44:17Z

Rigatonimus Prime: /* One film */

[[File:Transformation cog.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Hut hut hike!]]

A '''transformation cog''', also referred to as a '''transforming cog''', '''transition cog''', '''conversion cog''', '''T-cog''', or '''morphcore''', is a component important to a [[Transformer]]'s [[transformation]] and sometimes [[scanning]].

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
Metroplex's cog was damaged in 2005 during the [[Decepticon]] [[Battle of Autobot City|siege]] of [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], which explains why he did not transform to robot mode during the battle. [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] built a replacement cog and entrusted its delivery from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to Autobot City on [[Earth]] to [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}}

After numerous setbacks, the cog was delivered just in time. As the city was under siege once again, [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] quickly installed it, allowing Metroplex to fight off Trypticon. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

[[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] required Trypticon's cog as part of his scheme to use [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as his new body. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (G1)|Ghost in the Machine}}

[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] stole Metroplex's cog, causing the Autobots to retaliate by stealing Trypticon's. Both factions hit upon the idea of using the captured cogs on their respective city warriors, an idea that was only partially successful. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}}

====2006 IDW ''Beast Wars'' continuity====
While speeding to defend the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] from [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] thieves, [[Nitrostreak]] was shot in the hood by [[Dinobot (BW)|one of the criminals]], damaging his transformation cog. As he was also flipped on his roof by the blast, he was well and truly incapacitated for the moment. {{storylink|Dawn of Future's Past}}

====2005 IDW continuity====
Together with the [[spark]] and the [[brain module]], the transformation cog (also known as the "morphcore") was part of the "[[Rossum's Trinity]]" principle of Cybertronian biology. Enough damage to one of the three would cause the other two to shut down, killing the Transformer in question. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} By spinning the transformation cog just right and shutting down all safety valves, a Cybertronian could achieve instantaneous transformation, but doing this repeatedly would result in the cog breaking beyond repair. {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}}

A sudden impact to the [[neural cluster]] could trigger the transformation cog in what was known as an involuntary mode spasm. {{storylink|Little Victories}} {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} {{storylink|Crucible (Part 6): A Spark Among Embers|A Spark Among Embers}}

Cybertronian mythology held the belief that, after the [[God War]], [[Mortilus]] had reduced [[Adaptus]] to the first transformation cog, with the deity allowing future generations of Cybertronians to use him as a template for the organ. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War|The God War}}

[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] broke his legs, internal clock and transformation cog from falling through the [[Mitteous Plateau]]. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}}

To "reject" Adaptus, the [[Militant Monoform Movement]] surgically removed their transformation cogs. {{Storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} When [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] found his colleague [[Springarm]] dead, his transformation cog was "still warm", allowing Orion to transform the dead body into its alternate mode. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}

[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s transformation cog was shattered during the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], leaving him stuck in gun mode for a whole two years. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}}

[[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] was forced to make a deal with the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] to harvest [[Delphi]]'s patients of their transformation cogs in return for the facility's safety. {{storylink|How Ratchet Got His Hands Back}}

The [[Aequitas]] trials included morphcore harvests by renegade [[Autobot]]s. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}} [[Stalker (G1)|Stalker]] and [[Snare]] took part in torturing prisoners via morphcore stimulation, which caused spasms of form-shifting against the victim's will. {{storylink|The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Snare's personnel evaluation}} As the [[Wreckers]] got more and more brutal, they sometimes applied [[inhibitor claw]]s to prisoners with such force that they punctured their morphcores. {{storylink|Zero Point}}

When his unit was ambushed by Decepticons, [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] was injured and couldn't transform due to a damaged transition cog. {{storylink|Spotlight: Jazz}}

[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] created an experimental weapon to override a Transformer's primary transformation cog and lock them in their alternate mode. [[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]] used it on [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] during a battle, [[transformation paralysis|forcing him to remain]] in his cassette deck mode for 25 years. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}

In protest of the Autobot "occupation" of a peaceful Cybertron, a [[NAIL]] transformed repeatedly for weeks until his transformation cog wore out and he died. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}}

Upon his integration of [[Nemesis (BW)|Nemesis]]'s corpse into its body, [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] was able to access the [[Titan (group)|Titan]]'s transformation cog and gain a robot mode. {{storylink|Stranger Eons}} {{storylink|Road's End}}

;The Functionist Universe
In protest of the [[Functionist Council]]'s tyrannical rule of Cybertron, a [[female protester]] removed her t-cog, set it on fire, and threw it at a [[Functionary]]. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}}

====''Of Masters and Mayhem''====
[[Punch (G1)|Punch]] possessed a one-in-a-trillion t-cog, one that allowed him to assume a second robot mode. {{storylink|The Truth We Make}}

====2019 IDW continuity====
The original Transformation Cog was one of the fourteen [[Artifacts of the Primes]]. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|Sea of Rust I}}

In the era prior to the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]]'s slice thieves harvested transformation cogs to sell on the galactic black market. {{storylink|Storm Horizon Part 1}}

====''Last Bot Standing''====
When [[Riotgear (G1)|Riotgear]] was low on [[biofuel]], he required [[Override (BWU)|Override]] to give him a good kick in the cog to get him into robot mode. Though she felt that they weren't close enough for her to keep doing it. {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 2|Last Bot Standing #2}}

====''Transformers Roleplaying Game''====
Transformation cogs can be modified from a basic "N-state" configuration into a "C-state", which allows a Cybertronian to shift between robot, alternate mode, and [[combiner]] component. Thus, while all Transformers possess the ''potential'' for combination, few will ever actually go on to become a combiner component. This universal potentiality dates back to the very earliest Cybertronians; indeed, Cybertronian historical records document a number of early precursors to the modern [[binary bonding]] process, which date back to at least the [[Battle of Aegiax]]. {{storylink|The Enigma of Combination}}

===Aligned continuity family===
====''The Covenant of Primus''====
The very first Transformation Cog belonged to [[Amalgamous Prime]]. The artifact allowed its holder to take any shape or form its wielder desired. It would eventually become the template for the simplified T-cogs incorporated into the physiologies of all Cybertronians. When the first Cybertronians emerged from the [[Well of All Sparks]], [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] decided not to inform the Cybertronian race about their ability to transform.

When the first [[Quintesson]]s arrived on Cybertron, they brought with them the "gift" of transformation; they secretly reactivated the dormant organ inside Cybertronians but claimed that Quintesson technology was responsible for this ability. Toward the end of the Quintesson reign of Cybertron, [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]] and his friend [[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]] kidnapped the newly born [[Silverbolt (WFC)|Silverbolt]] from the Well; with the help of [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] and [[Cogwheel]] they learned that T-cogs didn't require Quintesson interference to function properly. This revelation led to the beginnings of the rebellion that brought the [[Age of Wrath]] to an end.

After Cybertron's [[Golden Age]], [[Mercury (COP)|Mercury]] and her displaced fleet of [[Neutronia]]n refugees discovered Amalgamous's original Transformation Cog orbiting a black hole. The refugees brought the artifact aboard the ship, but the mysterious energies the Transformation Cog emitted had the unexpected side effect of altering the crew, granting them advanced shapeshifting abilities and the power to combine with one another into an infinite amount of forms. Even so, Mercury and her new [[Mutacon]]s set out to find Amalgamous Prime, hoping that he could undo the change before the Mutacons permanently merged into a single being. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

====''Transformers: War for Cybertron''====
In order to prevent Iacon's destruction at the hands of [[Trypticon (WFC)|the battle station Trypticon]], [[Air Raid (WFC)|Air Raid]] proposed that his team blast Trypticon's conversion cog, forcing him back into robot mode and hopefully ending the chaos. The cog was blasted to bits and Trypticon was unable to maintain his station mode. Unfortunately, this had the slightly troublesome effect of dumping a heavily armed, very angry giant Decepticon onto Cybertron instead. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}

{{Note|In addition, when a player's health is completely depleted in a co-operative or online mode of gameplay, the Transformer being controlled will fall to the ground and begin a countdown to going offline. While the countdown is in process, it can be seen that a notice on the side of the screen reads "TRANS-COG: OFFLINE" and the game does not allow the player to transform during the countdown. This implies that heavy damage to a Transformer can disable their conversion cog.}}

====''Prime'' cartoon====
[[File:OperationBumblebee2 Starscream threatens T-cog.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Look at your T-cog, now back to me...]]
T-cogs are bio-mechanisms that enable Transformers to scan [[alternate mode]]s, transform, and operate integrated weapon systems. Transformer organs such as these are beyond [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]'s ability to construct.

Requiring a part for the robot they were building, [[MECH]] ambushed [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] and stole his T-cog. Unfortunately when they attempted to install it into their robot, it failed to work, as it required [[energon]] to function properly. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}}

It worked better once they got some energon, but it was badly damaged when Bumblebee attempted to take it back. Despite the damage, Ratchet was able to repair it enough that Bumblebee regained the ability to transform. To make up for their loss, MECH stole [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]]'s T-cog instead. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 2}}

Now armed with greater knowledge about Cybertronian biology and Starscream's T-cog, MECH was able to create [[Nemesis Prime (Prime)|Nemesis Prime]] before Optimus defeated it {{storylink|Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime}} and the US military confiscated it. {{storylink|Grill (episode)|Grill}}

Starscream later tried to install a T-cog he took from his [[Starscream clone (Prime)|clone]] aboard the ''[[Harbinger]]'' but was interrupted. {{storylink|Triangulation}} [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] later performed the operation to restore his T-cog to him. {{storylink|Regeneration (Prime)|Regeneration}}

===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
When [[Elita-1 (ES)|Elita-1]] was explaining [[alternate mode]]s to [[Jawbreaker (ES)|Jawbreaker]], she explained the transformation cog to him. Though she warned him not to mention the cog to [[G.H.O.S.T.]] {{storylink|Outtakes}}
{{-}}

After betraying the Thirteen and taking control of Iacon, Sentinel Prime began removing the transformation cogs from newborn Cybertronians, robbing them of their ability to transform and relegating them to worthless positions mining Energon in order to pay off his debts to the Quintessons. After rediscovering Alpha Trion on Cybertron’s surface, Orion Pax, Elita One, D-16, and B-127 had t cogs implanted by the ancient warrior, restoring to them their their innate transformation abilities. After confronting Sentinel on his betrayal, D-16 learned that Sentinel had taken Megatronus Prime’s cog for himself. Upon the tyrant’s defeat, D-16 took Megatronus’s cog for himself, further enhancing his power, transforming him into Megatron.

==Toys==
===''One''===
[[File:TF-One-Cog-Changers-Wheeljack.jpg|thumb|200px]]
*'''Airachnid''' (1-Step Cog Changer, [[2024]])
*'''Bumblebee/B-127''' (1-Step Cog Changer, 2024)
*'''Wheeljack''' (1-Step Cog Changer, 2024)
*'''Optimus Prime/Orion Pax''' (1-Step Cog Changer, 2024)
*'''Megatron/D-16''' (1-Step Cog Changer, 2024)
*'''Sentinel Prime''' (1-Step Cog Changer, 2024)
:All ''[[Transformers One (toyline)|One]]'' 1-Step Cog Changers feature a slider in their torsos that reveals the namesake cog in their chest. After the cog panel clicks into place, it cannot be slid back down. Pushing the cog activates the spring-loaded transformation into the toy's alternate mode and hides the cog.
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*'''Bumblebee/B-127''' (Prime Changer, 2024)
:''One'' Prime Changer B-127 features a painted cog on his chest underneath a removable panel. The cog is a separate part that was glued on.
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*'''Power Flip Optimus Prime''' (2024)
:Upon transforming ''One'' Power Flip Optimus Prime from his Orion Pax mode into his Optimus Prime mode, the cog (called the "cog of conversion" by the toy's [[soundbox]]) flips onto his chest, over a blue [[Light-emitting diode|LED]]. Ironically, in fiction, it is the [[Matrix of Leadership]] that turns Orion in Optimus, not the cog.
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==Merchandise==
===Yolopark===
*'''B-127 Cog-less Mode''' (AMK Series, 2024)
*'''D-16 Cog-less Mode''' (AMK Series, 2024)
*'''Elita-1 Cog-less Mode''' (AMK Series, 2024)
*'''Orion Pax Cog-less Mode''' (AMK Series, 2024)
:Each [[Yolopark]] ''One'' Cog-less Mode model kit comes with an unpainted cog accessory.
{{comingsoontoy}}

==Notes==
*In Generation 1-related fiction, damage to a transformation cog traps the Transformer in whatever mode they happen to be in (most often this is their alternate mode). In the [[Aligned continuity family]]'s ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|War For Cybertron]]'', the destruction of his conversion cog instead forces Trypticon into robot mode.
* "Morphcore" was the term used in [[James Roberts]]' fan-novel ''Eugenesis'' for the piece of anatomy that controlled transformation; unlike a transformation cog, it was depicted as a cluster of nerves connected to the Cybertronian's brain. Between ''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' and ''More than Meets the Eye'', Roberts was asked to stop using the word in favour of "transformation cog",<ref>{{citesocial|quote=They’re the same. Between LSOTW and MTMTE, I was asked to stop using the former term.|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1028725238111129600|name=jroberts332|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=8|day=12|(defunct=)}}</ref> presumably for brand synergy reasons.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Transform cog''' (トランスフォーム・コグ ''toransufōmu kogu''), '''henkei cog''' (変形コグ)
*''French:'' '''Noyau de transformation''' (Europe, "Transformation core", Generation 1 cartoon), '''Rouage de transformation''' (Canada, "Transformation cog", Generation 1 cartoon)
*''Hungarian:'' '''T-mag''' ("T-core", ''Prime'' cartoon)
*''Italian:'' '''Ruota trasformatrice''' ("Transforming wheel", Generation 1)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
*[[Transformation paralysis]]
*[[Mode lock]]
*[[Suppressor (device)]]
*[[Transfixatron]]
*[[Transformation Lock Lens]]
*[[Transformation virus]]

[[Category:Beast Wars Transformer anatomy]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon Transformer anatomy]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Transformer anatomy]]
[[Category:Prime]]
[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron]]