Null-ray

2015-04-06T12:01:49Z

Ssskoopa:

[[File:Nullray-normal.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Pew pew pew.]]

One of the signature weapons of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], the '''null-ray''' is capable of stopping any electrical device with one shot, be it human or [[Transformer]].

Except [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. All a blast from the null-ray does is make him angry. It doesn't work on the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] either, but they were already pissed at Starscream and the jets.

==Fiction==
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
Shortly after arriving at the [[oil rig|oil platform]] with his fellow Decepticons, [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] was ordered to fire his null-ray at some equipment, causing the machinery to freeze and cease working. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}} After causing a tidal wave at [[Sherman Dam]], [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] ordered Starscream to shoot three of the generators with blasts from the null-ray as part of their efforts to make [[Energon cube]]s. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

After being discovered by [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]], Starscream shot him with the null-ray, allowing the [[Decepticon]]s to modify his [[Circuits|memory circuits]] to lead the [[Autobot]]s into a trap. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion}}

Later, when Megatron had the [[power chip rectifier]]s of the Decepticons installed in him before his battle with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], Starscream lamented that he could no longer use the null-ray or his [[cluster bomb]]s. A threat of termination from Megatron shut him up. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

Starscream zapped [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] with the null ray so Megatron could extract the Autobot's special circuit. {{storylink|Changing Gears}}

[[File:Nullray-jet.jpg|left|thumb|Starscream suffering from a runny nose.]]
Determined not to be replaced by the human-built [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]], Starscream used his null-ray to fritz her circuits. Naturally, Megatron wasn't too happy about the loss of his new female "companion" and immediately labeled Starscream a traitor. Again. {{storylink|Enter the Nightbird}}

When Starscream partnered up with the (more than usually) paranoid [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], Starscream fired his null-ray at Red Alert, causing his unstable [[Circuits|logic circuits]] to stabilize. {{storylink|Auto Berserk}}

[[File:Nullray-finger.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"I am GOD!"]]
Later, Starscream was shown firing the null-ray from his nose while in [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]]. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1}}. Later still, he was shown firing it through his finger. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}}

Starscream last used his null-ray at his own coronation as leader of the Decepticons. During the coronation, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] played trumpets, but Starscream, eager to get on with the ceremony, used the null-ray to slice the instruments in half. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

In 2005, [[Marissa Faireborn]] had a hand-held blaster which fired null-rays. Whether this was reverse engineered from a captured Seeker, developed with the help of the Autobots, or was acquired by some sort of convoluted plan of Starscream's to replace Megatron, is unknown. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

===Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity===
====''Armada'' cartoon====
When [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|''Armada'' Starscream]] finally got his [[Mini-Con]] partner, [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], he gained a new attack called the "Null Laser Cannon". It didn't disable electrical stuff, but created a big explosion instead.{{storylink|Jungle}}

====''Energon''====
Starscream had two lasers on his wings (the wings swiveled to position the laser cannons). He called these Null Beam Cannons. Again, they acted like very powerful blasters.

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
Starscream had two swiveling, very powerful laser cannons at his waist. He had two more stationary cannons, one on each of his forward wingtips. He called these Null Cannons. Once more, they acted like very powerful blasters. When he supersized, he replaced his broken [[Cyber Key]]-activated sword with a massive wide-bore null cannon. {{Storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}}

===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] packed null-rays as his main weapon, but these also just worked like a very powerful blaster. Their destructive effect on Earth-made buildings was impressive, if not as intense as ''Armada'' Starscream's, and a sustained blast of around 12 seconds was enough to render all five Earth-bound Autobots unconscious—for a few seconds. Hmm. Then later a direct blast fully disabled ''[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]]'' for several minutes (well, to be fair, Magnus took a point-blank shot right in the kisser). {{storylink|Mission Accomplished}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen''===
[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] designed his null-ray himself. It was a weapon feared for its ability to deactivate electrical systems.<ref>Starscream's [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/Battle-Bios.cfm Battle Bio at Hasbro.com]</ref>

===''Dark of the Moon''===
Starscream possessed two Mechtech Null-ray cannons which could combine to create a large double-bladed weapon. Either cannon could also be used as a hand-held blade. {{storylink|Starscream (Movie)/toys#Deluxe_Class_toys_2|Mechtech Deluxe Starscream}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
[[File:Shadowzone-nullray.jpg|thumb|Now [[Airachnid (Prime)|she]]'s [[Airachnid (Prime)#Notes|stealing]] things he doesn't even have!]]
After losing his arm in a ground-bridge accident, [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] waited on an operating table as [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] began suggesting upgrades to replace the lost limb. His highest recommendation for a new armament was the null ray. {{Storylink|Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===''Transformers'' (PS2)===
Starscream's null-ray sliced mountains in half. It most likely did the same to Autobots, but Starscream was bashed offline by [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] before he could test that hypothesis.

===''Transformers: War for Cybertron''===
[[File:WFC null-ray.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
During the [[Great War (Prime)|Great War]], Null Rays were a common weapon used by [[Scout (WFC)|Scout]] and [[Sniper (WFC)|Sniper]] class Transformers, and were [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]]'s preferred weapon. They were sniper rifles fitted with 10x zoom scopes, and the cloaked Scout's best friend. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron}}

{{note|In the game, this weapon has the following attributes:
*Damage: 10
*Range: 9
*Accuracy: 10
*Rate of Fire: 1}}

==Notes==
*At least [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|once]] Starscream's null-ray appeared to cause freezing. This could be a mere error. {{fact}}
*Clearly, Starscream never bothered to patent the null-ray. Bad enough a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|agent's]] daughter used them, but so did [[Whirl (G1)|Generation 1 Whirl]].
*Due to the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon's frequent translation and dubbing errors, [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]]'s "Null Laser Cannon" was randomly referred to as the "''Narrow'' Laser Cannon" (despite the visually obvious fact that the laser blast was anything ''but'' narrow).

===Foreign names===
*''Chinese:'' '''氖射线''' (''The Transformers'', "Neon ray")
*''Italian:'' '''Raggio Zero''' (''The Transformers'' second dub, "Zero Beam"); '''Raggio Nullo''' (''Prime'', "Null-ray")
*''Polish:'' '''Miotacz promieni Zero''' (''War for Cybertron'', "Zero ray rifle")

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Animated weapons]]
[[Category:Armada weapons]]
[[Category:Cybertron weapons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 weapons]]
[[Category:Prime weapons]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen weapons]]
[[Category:Dark of the Moon weapons]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron weapons]]

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Null-ray