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Seeker (body-type)

2020-08-23T14:18:36Z

Sunstorm9000: /* War for Cybertron: Siege */

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{featured}}
{{disambig3|Seeker}}
[[File:Generic Seekers and Conehead.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Well, they keep the toy-repainting fans off the streets, at least. (Generic Seekers from, clockwise: (1) MtMtE Part 3, (2) sticker sheet, (3,5,6 and 7) Five Faces of Darkness, (4 and 8) MtMtE Part 1.]]
The term '''Seeker''' refers to [[Decepticon]] jet troopers who share [[Starscream (disambiguation)|Starscream]]'s [[body-type]] but with different colors or minor variations in wing and head shapes. This is most clearly and commonly known from ''[[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]]'', but any franchise with a Starscream is almost [[To sell toys|inevitably]] going to feature a similar "family" of [[redeco]]ed jet-formers.

The word "Seeker" hovered a long time in a strange gray area between official and fan-coined terms. It seems to have originated in ''extremely'' obscure official or semi-official writing, but somehow became widely used among fans. ''(See [[#Origin of the term|below]].)'' In 2002, the term appeared in dialog from the first issue of ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' from [[Dreamwave Productions]], [[Canonizing|making it truly official]] after years of controversy. It has subsequently appeared in many other places such as on toy packaging, books, and in other stories.

==Generation 1 Seekers==
===List of named Seekers===
{{collist|5|
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (leader)
*[[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]]
*[[Bitstream (G1)|Bitstream]]
*[[Blackout (G2)|Blackout]]
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]
*[[Hotlink (G1)|Hotlink]]
*[[Ion Storm]]
*[[Nacelle (G1)|Nacelle]]
*[[Nova Storm (G1)|Nova Storm]]
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
*[[Red Wing]]
*[[Sandstorm (G2)|Sandstorm]]
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]
*[[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]]
*[[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
*[[Wheezing Arrow]]
}}

[[Itami Prime]] uses the generic Seeker design, but his unique characterization as an [[Autobot]] [[Town Commander]] prevents his membership from being definitive.

===Originals===
[[File:MainSeekers.gif|upright=1.66|thumb|The original Seekers]]
In Generation 1, there were six Seekers originally given names and characterization: [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]. The first three, the season one Seekers, had animation designs done primarily by [[Shōhei Kohara]].
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===Coneheads===
[[File:ConeheadsGenerations1.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"We must consume mass quantities... of energon."]]
The last three Generation 1 Seekers are usually designated as "[[Conehead]]" Seekers by fans for their distinctive transformation that leaves the jet nosecone pointing up. Unlike their progenitors, the Coneheads typically feature more individual parts between the three, helping to better differentiate them from each other. The animation models for the Conehead Seekers were designed by [[Floro Dery]].
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===And the rest...===
[[File:MTMTEGenerics-OilField.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Aw, not "[[When Continents Collide]]" again...]]
In the Generation 1 cartoon there were large numbers of [[generic]], unnamed Seekers in addition to the named characters. They came in a wide variety of colors, from extra duplicates of Starscream or one of the other named guys, to original and distinct looks all their own. They seem to have formed the bulk of the Decepticon forces on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], as well as among [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s initial troops on [[Earth]]. They gradually became less common, perhaps as a result of casualties... or the cartoon's production team becoming more careful, or more-likely having more "actual" Decepticons to work with as the toy line expanded. (Extra [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] units and alternate color cassettes were also used along with these Seekers, early on, to fill out the comparatively thin Decepticon ranks.)

These unsung Seekers would be recognized years later in ''[[Heroes of Cybertron]]'' toy form as the [[Air Warrior]]s (all using the common lavender/white color scheme). Soon afterward, the [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity|Dreamwave ''Generation One'' comic series]] introduced an army of similarly-colored Seeker drones.

[[File:AirWarriors MTMtE.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|You talking to me? Or him? Or the other one?]]
Around the same time, another background Seeker was also given a new life through toys and Dreamwave's [[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)|''Generation One'' ongoing series]]: [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]. This yellow-orange Seeker was a nameless background character in the first episode of the ''Transformers'' cartoon, until [[e-HOBBY]] turned him into an [[exclusive]] toy (available with an [[Autobot]] also based on a [[Hauler|first-episode cameo]]). Now [[Hasbro]] [[Sunstorm (disambiguation)|can't get enough of him]]. Another generic Seeker was given attention: [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]]. Like Sunstorm before him, he was based on one of the background Seekers from the original cartoon, in this case the episode "Divide and Conquer" (see below). And in 2013 [[Fun Publications]] got in on the act by dubbing Sunstorm's partners [[Bitstream (G1)|Bitstream]] and [[Hotlink (G1)|Hotlink]] after two Seekers from Aligned continuity. Additionally in 2015, FunPub dubbed Acid Storm's partners [[Nova Storm (G1)|Nova Storm]] and [[Ion Storm]].
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Unnamed Seekers with their own distinct color schemes appear in the following episodes as noted below:

[[File:More than meets the eye seeker.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|More Than Meets The Eye Part 1 Seekers:
Sunstorm, Nacelle, Hotlink and Bitstream.]]
*"[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]"
:In the "return to [[Great Dome|Iacon]]" scene on Cybertron, five to seven Seekers appear (wide shots depict a group of five, but the close-ups give us seven distinct color schemes.) The first three are (as far as colors are concerned) Skywarp, Starscream (with a deeper voice provided by [[Frank Welker]]), and Thundercracker. In a following shot, we see a lavender Seeker with a flamethrower pack who would years later be named Hotlink; a medium-blue Seeker with white trim, holding his arm gun like a rifle, who would eventually be named Bitstream; a yellow/orange Seeker, who would become Sunstorm... and lurking in the back, a very dark-blue Seeker with white trim barely visible, but there if you look, who is apparently [[Nacelle (G1)|Nacelle]].

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[[File:MmteSeekers2.gif|upright=1.1|thumb|Lots of generic Seekers from this one.]]
*"[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]" and "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3|Part 3]]"
:The mother lode of unnamed Seekers. Especially if you like variations of blue and lavender. Crowds of them appear at the start of the final battle. At least six different Seekers of various shades and decos of blue and at least four of various shades and decos of lavender (two with black tail fins in jet mode, two with white). Also, a blue variant (seen in the picture above) missing his wings and shoulder vents appears in "Part 3".
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[[File:DivideandCon.gif|upright=1.1|thumb|Divide and Conquer Seekers: Ion Storm, Acid Storm, and Nova Storm]]
*"[[Divide and Conquer]]"
:Avert your eyes! One deep blue, one eye-burning bright green, and one garishly bright yellow. This trio is often referred to by fans as "the [[Rainmaker]]s" because they started an [[acid rain]] shower to irritate a group of [[Autobot]]s. The green jet in this grouping was made into the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]] character, whose name was initially supposed to be "Rainmaker", then "Acid Rain". A few years later, the other two received the names [[Nova Storm (G1)|Nova Storm]] and [[Ion Storm]].
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[[File:UltimateDoom.gif|upright=1.1|thumb|Ultimate Doom Seekers]]
*"[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]"
:Two blue variants and one really nice looking pine-green Seeker appear as part of Shockwave's forces trying to prevent the rescue of [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].
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*"[[Five Faces of Darkness]]"
:One all-gray Seeker, one with [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]'s coloration, and one with [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]'s. There's also an interesting Conehead variant. (All of which appear in the main image above.)
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[[File:NotDirge.gif|upright=1.1|thumb|Dark Awakening Seeker]]
*"[[The Transformers: The Movie]]" & "[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]"
:One season 1-style [[:File:DirgeseekerTFMovie.jpg|Seeker]] with Dirge's colors appears in jet mode in the attack on Autobot City in the movie, and next to the actual Dirge in the episode.
{{-}}

*"[[Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee]]"
:During the flashback of the "Fourth Great War", an all-black Autobot jet similar to Ramjet's alt mode is briefly seen before exploding. Seconds later, an all-black Decepticon jet similar to Thrust's alt mode is seen. As it flies upwards, the wings appear to be white, though this seems to be an animation error.
{{-}}

*Puffy stickers
:A sheet of Transformer puffy stickers featured a rare generic with a Starscream-based color scheme. He is pictured above as well.
{{-}}

*''[[Transformers: Punch-Out Book]]''
:In addition to Starscream, Skywarp, and numerous identical copies of both of them, this construct-it-yourself battle scene features two distinct color schemes. Each features a solid grey body with solid color wings and tail wings: one red, one yellow.
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*''[[Project Brain Drain]]''
:While Ramjet, Thrust, and Dirge are named and Skywarp is identifiable, there are numerous unnamed Seekers including a second individual with Thrust-style wings.
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[[File:Returntocybertron-seeker.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|Return to Cybertron Seeker.]]
*"[[Return to Cybertron]]"
:This relatively obscure [[Sticker Adventures]] tale gives us a brief glimpse of a Seeker with a Thundercracker/Skywarp mix; blue body, purple tailfins and wing stripes. You can't tell much more about him, given that he is A: partially obscured and B: exploding.
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[[File:PretenderClassicsBoxArt.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|"Classic Pretender" Seekers.]]
*[[Classic Pretender]] [[Package art|box art]]
:The box art (also used for adverts in the Marvel UK comic) for this line of toys shows Starscream attacking his Autobot counterparts alongside three others sharing his [[body-type]]. All have a silver front half in jet mode, while one has green rear fins, one has red and one is in shadow.
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[[File:TFcommagdivebombvsjhi.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb]]
*''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin]]'' [[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 18|#18]]
:The German comic, well known for its often wacky coloring, contained a Seeker with a [[Jhiaxus (G2)|suspiciously familiar]] color scheme.
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[[File:G2UKWarWithoutEndJetGuy.jpg|upright=1.0|thumb]]
*[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Fleetway)|''Transformers: Generation 2'' (Fleetway)]] [[War Without End (issue)|#1]]
:An unnamed Seeker with a light blue body with white face, light red helmet and thighs, and yellow cockpit cover was hanging around when Megatron boarded the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''.
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[[File:The Ultimate Guide Maccadam's Old Oil House scene.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb]]
*[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]
:Acid Storm can be seen to the left of frame, behind the [[Maccadam's bartenders|bartender]], in the image of [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]].
{{-}}

===''Wings Universe''===
{{Wingsnote}}
[[File:WingsofHonor-Skyraiders.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|New guys, same ol' body-type.]]
The term "Skyraiders" (see [[#Alternate terms|alternate terms]]) was assigned to the prototype Starscream-like air warriors that [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]] developed at the very beginning of the war. The ranks of the Skyraiders did not seem to include any of the usual Seekers, but instead comprised other flying Decepticon characters. In addition to Skyquake himself, the Skyraiders were [[Leozack]], [[Hellbat (Victory)|Hellbat]], [[Hooligan (G2)|Hooligan]], and [[Guyhawk]]. {{storylink|Wings of Honor}} Starscream himself was captain of [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]]'s Skyraider-Seeker Brigade until he was promoted following [[Falcon (G1)|Falcon]]'s death. {{storylink|A Team Effort}}
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[[File:ComingStorm3 shadowcaster.jpg|thumb]]
*"[[The Coming Storm: Part 3]]"

The Decepticon [[Shadowcaster]] appeared to use the Skyraider body-type. One of his soldiers also looked very much like [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]].
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[[File:TheComingStorm4-LordDeathsaurus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|So useful a body type that even the waiters have it.]]
*"[[The Coming Storm: Part 4]]"

''Wings'' [[Lyzack (Victory)|Lyzack]] was never referred to as a Skyraider, but she had a chassis nearly identical to that of her brother Leozack.
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[[File:BattleLines5-Megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|On the lower side of the picture to the left of Megatron.]]
*"[[Battle Lines, Part 5]]"

A generic mostly red-colored Skyraider was among the audience of Megatron's victory over Deathsaurus. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 5}}
{{-}}

*[[Red Wing]]

:Red Wing was part of a joint [[Autobot]]/[[Decepticon]] assault on the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian]] clone army. In the ensuing battle, Red Wing was shot in the back by [[Skywarp (MW)|Skywarp]]. {{storylink|Termination}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:Seekers-Trial by Fire.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]
The Seekers were awakened on the [[Fera Islands]] in [[1939]] and were reformatted as [[World War II]]-era fighter planes. Alongside such familiar faces as [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] were also several unidentified Seekers. {{storylink|The Line}} {{storylink|Trial by Fire}} They joined up with [[Cobra]] with the rest of the Decepticons, while the Autobots allied themselves with [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]. {{storylink|Transformed}} {{storylink|Trial by Fire}} They held a strong animosity towards the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] in particular, and fought against the combining Autobots. {{storylink|Wolves}} All of the Seekers that awoke on Earth were defeated by the Autobots, though the Decepticons managed to score a few fatalities of their own, including [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]. {{storylink|Trenches}} {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:Your First Mistake - Army Building Seekers.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Army-building]]. Army-building never changes.]]
Seekers are elite officers in the Decepticon army, and are expected to fulfill a leadership role on the battlefield in commanding other Decepticon troops. Seekers are expected to show absolute loyalty to the Decepticon cause. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|Seasons in Flight}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

Though the "Seeker" body-type was a [[Reproduction#2005 IDW continuity|mass-produced]] form used by many jet-form Cybertronians, {{storylink|Your First Mistake}} the Seekers would later take on the body type to homage their commander, Starscream, at his own suggestion; {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} a suggestion which, Skywarp later believed, was intended to cause confusion over Starscream's own identity so he could hide from defrauded taxpayers. {{storylink|Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie}}

{{note|The human organization [[Skywatch]] referred to [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] as "Seekers" in [[Devastation issue 4|''Devastation'' #4]] while [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] also referred to
[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] with the term in "[[All Hail Megatron issue 14#.22Rebirth.22|Rebirth]]" and [[Heart of Darkness issue 2|''Heart of Darkness'' #2]]. Neither use has any connection to Starscream's corps.}}

===''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' cartoon===
[[File:SiegeEpisode6-Rainmakers.jpg|thumb|300px]]
{{groupstub}}
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==Unicron Trilogy Seekers==
[[File:Puppet i look like thundercracker.jpg|thumb|250px]]
According to one minor source in ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'', when any Transformer converts to a jet, he is called a "seeker".<ref>''[[Transformers Armada: The Awakening]]'' DK Readers book.</ref> But the closest specific characters to the Generation 1 Seekers are this universe's own [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]/[[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]]/[[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]] trio. All three even used the same toy mold in their first release, although Skywarp was heavily [[retool]]ed from the others (including getting an entirely new-mold [[Mini-Con]] partner). While new Decepticon-allied jet characters named [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] and [[Ramjet (Armada)|Ramjet]] were released in ''Armada'', they each had their own unique molds. However, whereas Ramjet was simply the Mini-Con partner of [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], Thrust was a [[bulk]] who even had a VTOL engine in jet mode, a conehead and vertically-oriented wings in robot mode. Although Thrust's original toy was green, one of his redecos looked much more like his G1 incarnation while the other redeco looked like an inverted version of G1 [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]. It was also redecoed into ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Sunstorm (Universe)|Sunstorm]].

Though only Starscream appeared in the follow-up franchise, ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'', several Seekers appeared in the final portion of the Unicron Trilogy, ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]''. Starscream was back in a form heavily inspired by ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' Starscream design (itself based on the "tetrajet" (see below)), while Thundercracker received a completely different body. A Skywarp was also released as a redeco of Thundercracker.

Further, the ''[[Legends Class (2005)|Legends of Cybertron]]'' Starscream toy, a tiny, simplified version of his main toy, was redecoed three more times: [[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]] as a giveaway at [[San Diego Comic-Con#2005|Comic Con 2005]], [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] as a giveaway at [[BotCon 2005]], and [[Sunstorm (Universe)|Sunstorm]] as part of the last wave of the LOC line at retail.

[[Ask Vector Prime]] would refer to [[Aurex]] Seekers, and [[Armada Volume 5|''Armada'' Volume 5]] labeled Starscream, Thundercracker, and Skywarp as "the Seeker family".

==Live-action film series Seekers==
{{Main|Seeker (Movie)}}
[[File:The Reign Of Starscream Seekers..jpg|thumb|250px|left]]
In the letters page for [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's tie-in comic]], the movie versions of [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]], and [[Ramjet (Movie)|Ramjet]] were first referred to as Seekers—by Starscream himself, no less. [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] was noticeably absent from Starscream's list, despite also being a jet and Thundercracker also being the name/body for a line of drones. This left it unclear what a Seeker ''is''. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 9|#9's Star Screams}}

Later, the term was clarified to mean a particular unit led by Starscream. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 2|The Reign of Starscream #2}}

{{note|Similarly to the IDW cases above, the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|second movie]] would use the term "[[Seeker (ROTF)|Seeker]]" to refer to an entirely unrelated group of Transformers!}}
{{--}}

==Animated continuity==
{{Main|Starscream clone (Animated)}}
{{Groupstub}}

==Aligned continuity family Seekers==
[[File:Armada-clonessurroundMegatron.jpg|250px|thumb]]
The Seekers were a pre-existing group long before the formation of the Decepticons. There is some indication that the Seekers are an elite group of the best of the best fliers, although what (if anything) distinguishes a Seeker from any other flying Transformer is open to question. They tend to mostly, though not always, share a common design.

In an effort to placate the eternally feuding cities of [[Vos (polity)|Vos]] and [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]] each was given something of value. Vos thus became the home of the [[Air Commander|Cybertronian Air Command]] home base of the Seekers. [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] was one of their leaders before the war, and [[Autobot High Council|High Councilor]] [[Contrail (WFC)|Contrail]] seems to have been another. The Seekers were employed in ancient times to guard the secret of [[Dark Energon]] hidden aboard [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon Station]]. They kept this charge even when Starscream allied with the Decepticons, though for the most part they remained largely independent in the civil war.

[[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]], apparently upset at being pulled away from the [[Crystal City]], maneuvered Vos and Tarn into destroying each other, wiping out most of the Air Commanders that formed the basis of Starscream's power and bolstering his own position as Second-in-command.

In the aftermath of this betrayal, many of the surviving Seekers from Vos joined the Autobots, becoming the [[Aerialbot (WFC)|Aerialbot]]s. [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]] was one notable Seeker who defected from the Decepticons to the Autobots, helping them exploit their own flight skills further.

As part of his power play with Starscream, Megatron sent gladiators to kill many of the Air Command's scientists to finally take control of Trypticon away from the Seekers. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

The jet-based [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (specifically the silver "Ace" types) used by the Decepticons in the present day have been recognized as Seekers by Starscream. {{storylink|Scattered}}

'''Known Seekers:'''
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Ace Vehicons]]
*[[Bitstream (WFC)|Bitstream]]
*Contrail
*[[Dirge (WFC)|Dirge]]
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]
*[[Hotlink (WFC)|Hotlink]]
*Jetfire
*[[Nacelle (WFC)|Nacelle]]
*[[Ramjet (WFC)|Ramjet]]
*[[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] (maybe?)
*[[Skywarp (WFC)|Skywarp]]
*[[Slipstream (WFC)|Slipstream]]
*Starscream
*[[Thrust (Prime)|Thrust]]
*[[Thundercracker (WFC)|Thundercracker]]

==Cyberverse continuity==
{{Main|Seeker (Cyberverse)}}
{{Groupstub}}

==The term "Seeker"==
===Origin of the term===
The truly mysterious thing about the term "Seeker" is the fact that, despite it being widely used by fans as early as the 1990s, nobody knew where it actually ''came from'', as evidenced by confused conversations from that time on [[alt.toys.transformers]].<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/e885ffdf4355e933/13eeeeae7e2483b7?tvc=17 alt.toys.transformers thread from 1996 about the origin of "Seeker"]</ref> There were plenty of ''wrong'' answers; the strongest suggestion seemed to be that it came from the "[[Ferak|hunter-seeker skyship]]" used in [[The Smelting Pool!|issue #17]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel US comic]]—though the Decepticons it is applied to in that story are shown only in their flight modes, which look nothing like the jets in question, and are completely different from the Cybertronian forms of the Coneheads, who also appear in the issue. The only real connection between the hunter-seekers we were shown and the "Seekers" is that there's more than one of them and they fly.

During this time when the term was believed non-canon, fans flirted with other terms such as "Skyraider" ''(see [[#Alternate terms|below]])'', but in 2002 [[Simon Furman]] used "Seeker" in [[The War Within issue 1|a Dreamwave ''War Within'' script]], which sealed the deal of officiality and set the tone not just for the fandom, but for the ''Transformers'' fiction that came afterwards as well.

[[File:Seekers ad text.jpg|left|197px|thumb|No, you fool, we're following orders: We were told to scour the countryside, so we're scouring it.]]
Years later, the mystery was finally solved with the discovery of multiple department-store advertisements from the [[1984]] holiday season in which the word "Seeker" appeared. The J.C. Penney catalog (sometimes called a "wishbook") featured a page dedicated to ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' that included this statement in its description of Starscream: "Airplane with sensational F-15 styling scours the countryside searching for Autobots. When they're found, the Seekers set out to destroy them." It also said [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] "sends out messages to the Seekers and other Decepticons".<ref>J.C. Penney 1984 wishbook [[:File:Seekers ad.jpg|(full-page scan)]]</ref> J.C. Penney and (now-defunct) chains Zayre and Dahlkemper's put out ads in November 1984 listing Starscream and either Thundercracker or Skywarp as "Decepticon Seeker". In addition, one of the earliest known ads for Transformers toys '''period''' is a Zayre circular from April 1984 that uses the term.<ref name="savead">1984 "Seeker" ads [http://pleasesavemerobots.com/vstp/vstptf84.html#depl84 (scan at The Vintage Space Toaster Palace)]</ref> The term even appears as late as 1985, in a toy-ordering catalog for (now-defunct) Western Auto, a specialty retail chain for automobile parts and accessories, which lists all the standard Transformers releases from the 1984 line-up, among them the "Decepticon (Seekers) Plane assortment", with Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp depicted.<ref name="westernauto">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-general-discussion/1061758-seekers-term.html] Western Auto toy ordering guide] at TFW2005.</ref>

Presumably, then, the term "Seeker" was likely handed down by [[Hasbro]] in promotional materials, and those retailers happened to run with it. It's impossible to know with absolute certainty, but the most curious aspect of the whole story is that members of the online ''Transformers'' fan community were widely and independently using the term largely without question since the early 1990s, when the [[fandom]] was just getting on its feet, not dissimilar to the way the term "Generation 1" was coined. Were those obscure toy ads truly widely seen enough, and a strong enough part of the fandom's collective memory, to determine common parlance almost ten years after the fact? Or were there more official usages that have since disappeared? ''That'' is a mystery we may never solve!

===Alternate terms===
[[File:G1catalog86-DecepticonPlanes.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|I don't know what to call you, [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], but I know "plane" isn't it.]]
The most obvious alternate name for these Transformers—and the one generally used by toy [[Pack-in material|pack-in]] [[catalog]]s—is '''[[Decepticon Planes]]'''. While usually clear enough from context, this term has the weakness that there are many Decepticon planes who do not share this body-type. Also, the term is rarely, if ever, used outside of toy-specific contexts. The first [[United Kingdom|UK]] toy pack-in catalog referred to the group as '''strike planes'''.<ref name="ukcat">First UK toy catalog [http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/img/toysheets/g1/uksheet01/1.jpg (scan at Transformers @ The Moon)]</ref> The 1985 European [[Milton Bradley]] catalog calls them "'''Decepticon Aeroplanes'''".<ref name="mb">[http://www.tf-1.com/articles/eurous_frame.php?art=mb "Milton Bradley Transformers"] at TF-1.com.</ref> In Japan, they were called '''Jetrons'''. The ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' versions were called "'''Decepticon Jets'''".

Within the fiction, the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]] episode "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]" features [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] calling Thundercracker a '''Deceptijet'''. And the 1985 Listen 'n Fun audio book "[[Sun Raid (Listen 'n Fun)|Sun Raid]]" has Megatron ordering the '''Deceptiplanes''' (Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker) to break off an attack. The audio book "[[Jaws of Terror]]" referred to them as '''Decepticon superjets'''. The multipath adventure book "[[Dinobots Strike Back]]" has Megatron order his '''warrior jets''' to attack the Autobots, just before a "good" ending which they fail to prevent.

[[File:Tetrajet seekers.jpg|thumb|Did you ever wonder why we had to run for shelter...]]
For a long time, it has been common among fans to refer to the Seekers' cartoon Cybertronian forms (from the episode "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" among others) as '''tetrajets''' because their shape resembles a {{w|tetrahedron}}, a pyramid with a triangular base.

If there was ever an official term that could've given "Seeker" a run for its money, it was the one used on the [[Europe]]an ''Generation 2'' packaging of Starscream and Ramjet: '''Skyraiders'''.<ref>Starscream and Ramjet's European ''Generation 2'' packaging [http://www.cobraislandtoys.com/tf/1992/starscreamg2boxfront.jpg (photo at Cobra Island Toys)]</ref> That term also appeared in those characters' profiles in the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Fleetway)|UK ''Generation 2'' comic]]. When the modern fandom dug this information up, "Seeker" was still considered a fan-generated term, so there was a push to supplant it with "Skyraider". But Furman's use of "Seeker" in ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'', coupled with the rediscovery of the department store advertisements, put a damper on that movement. Some years later, the term "Skyraider" was officially resurrected to describe the jet warriors in the [[BotCon 2009]] set "[[Wings of Honor]]" (based on the [[Starscream (Armada)#Energon|''Energon'' Starscream mold]]). [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]] was indicated as the body-type's developer in-universe.

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==Games==
===''Transformers: Mystery of Convoy''===
[[File:Jetron MoCsprites.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*''Stages'': 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9
*''Point value'': 100 (jet mode) / 300 (robot mode, red jet mode) / 5000 (red robot mode)

Making up the overwhelming bulk of the Decepticon forces, "Jetron" soldiers appear in vast numbers, swooping in from high altitude in jet mode to try and crash into the Autobots. If shot, they pause in midair to transform to robot mode, dropping to the ground and continuing their assault on foot. In robot mode, they are ''just'' a bit too short to be shot with robot-mode weaponry when on the same level as robot-mode Autobots, so hitting them in midair as they fall is the best bet to destroy them... or just use the momentary pause while they transform to slip by them, which is usually safer.

Jetrons flying in a straight line are destroyed with just one hit; rather than converting to robot mode, they leave behind an upgrade the Autobots can use to temporarily augment their abilities.

Special red Jetrons occasionally appear, flying in a straight line: when shot, they transform to robot mode but then try to fly away in the opposite direction at top speed. Destroying them releases [[Bumblebee (G1)#Transformers: Mystery of Convoy|Bumblebee]], who escorts Autobots ahead a few zones, bypassing many hazards. These Jetrons only appear in the [[Temple Ruins]] and [[Glacier Zone]], though they won't appear in the latter if they are destroyed in the former. {{storylink|Transformers: Mystery of Convoy}}

{{note|Non-red Jetrons use the same robot-mode sprite as the [[Blitzwing (G1)#Transformers: Mystery of Convoy|Blitzwing clones]]. The [[Transformers: Mystery of Convoy (promo video)|''Mystery of Convoy'' promo video]] claims that named individual Seekers show up in the various levels, but... yyyyyyeah, it's all a buncha identical jets in vaguely-Starscreamy colors.}}

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===''The Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth''===
In this iteration of the Autobot/Decepticon conflict, it seems all the Decepticon possess the Seeker body-type. There are also innumerable amounts of them. {{storylink|The Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth}}

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===''Transformers: Cybertron Adventures''===
{{charstubgame}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Cybertron Adventures}}

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===''Transformers: Devastation''===
[[File:ConeheadSeekerConcept.jpg|thumb]]Besides Starscream, Thundercracker, and Skywarp, generic [[Conehead|conehead-style]] Seekers were encountered by the Autobots during Megatron's plan to cyberform the Earth. There were three types encountered: Warriors (standard), Heavy Weapons (use missiles), and Elites (use swords).
{{storylink|Transformers: Devastation}}
{{charstubgame}}

==Toys==
{{note|Because of the bodytype-sharing nature of the Seekers, this section includes only molds that have been decorated as two or more Seeker characters, omitting a large number of molds unique to a single character.}}
===Generation 1===
[[File:G1catalog84-DecepticonPlanes-Redeco.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|The original Seekers.]]
*'''[[Decepticon Planes]]''' ([[1984]])
{{collist|3|
:*[[Skywarp (G1)/toys|Skywarp]]
:*[[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]]
:*[[Thundercracker (G1)/toys|Thundercracker]]
}}

*'''Decepticon Planes''' ([[1985]])
{{collist|3|
:*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]
:*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
:*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
}}

:The original Seeker mold was the [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#F-15 Eagle|F-15]] ''[[Diaclone]]'' design, noted for its detailed jet mode, extremely limited robot-mode articulation, and the need to remove/add many parts during transformation.

:The mold was initially decorated as Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker. In 1985, Ramjet, Dirge, and Thrust were created out of this mold, each with unique new wing toolings and color schemes. Redecorated [[retool]]s of the mold also appeared in ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' as Starscream and Ramjet, featuring new accessory [[soundbox]]es.

:This mold subsequently has been extensively reissued and redecorated; see [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream (G1) toys]] for a ridiculously long list of examples. The reissues have included the original six characters as well as the retro-Generation-1 character [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]].

*'''[[Action Master]]s''' ([[1990]])
[[File:G1toy-ActionMaster-Thundercracker.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Action Master Thundercracker]]
:This non-transforming action figure mold was sold as Starscream, and later redecorated as Thundercracker for the European market.
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===''Machine Wars''===
[[File:MWSkywarp.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|''Machine Wars'' Skywarp]]
*'''Basic''' ([[1997]])
:A small [[flipchanger]] mold, originally intended for ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'', was issued as Thundercracker and Skywarp.
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===''Armada''===
[[File:Armada SS toy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|''Armada'' Starscream]]
*'''Max-Con''' ([[2002]])

:An all-new mold sold at the $20 price point was originally issued as ''Armada'' [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], redecorated as ''Armada'' [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]], and retooled as ''Armada'' [[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]]. The retooled version was later issued as the new character [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] in the 2003 ''Universe'' toyline.

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[[File:PL_Brown_Thrust.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb| ''Armada'' Powerlinx Thrust...who is also Dirge]]
*'''Super-Con'''/'''Deluxe''' (2003)

:This mold was released as three different decoes of [[Thrust (Armada)|''Armada'' Thrust]] and as [[Sunstorm (Universe)|''Universe'' Sunstorm]]. One deco of Thrust was repurposed as [[Dirge (Armada)|Dirge]]. This mold is also the basis of the non-toy ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' characters [[Lidar]] and [[Sitrep]].
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===''Smallest Transforming Transformers''===
[[File:STFThrust toy.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|''Smallest Transforming Transformers'' Thrust]]
:The ''Smallest'' line, issued in Japan in [[2003]], featured a reduced-scale version of the original Generation 1 Seeker mold.

:It was issued as Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker, and retooled as Thrust.
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===''Robotmasters''===
[[File:Robot Masters black starscream.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''Robot Masters'' Starscream Limited Black Version]]
:A new Seeker mold was created for Japan's ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]'' subline. It is based on the original toy, but redesigned at a smaller size and with enhanced articulation.

:It was issued as Starscream (regular and black versions), Skywarp, and Thundercracker.
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===''Energon''===
[[File:Timelinestoy-LeozackWoH.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|''Timelines'' Leozack]]
*(Deluxe, [[2004]])
:An all new mold transforming into jet loosely based on an F22 raptor, this figure was initially released and then redecoed as [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], and was later redecoed into ''[[Transformers Timelines (franchise)|Timelines]]'' [[Leozack]] and [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]] for their [[BotCon 2009]] "[[Wings of Honor]]" "Skyraider" bodies.
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===''Titanium''===
[[File:Titanium-toy Thrust.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|''Titanium'' Thrust]]
:A new Seeker mold created for the ''[[Titanium Series]]'' subline features a Cybertronian-based alternate mode, derived from the characters' appearance in ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' (itself loosely based on the original pyramid jets seen in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".) This mold has been issued as Thundercracker, Starscream, Skywarp (a convention exclusive), Sunstorm, and Thrust (a Target Exclusive).
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===''Cybertron''===
[[File:Cybertron-toy_LegendsSunstorm.JPG|thumb|upright=1.67|''Legends of Cybertron'' Sunstorm]]
*'''Legends of Cybertron''' ([[2006]])
:A tiny version of the Voyager mold, issued as ''Armada'' Starscream, and redecorated as ''Universe'' [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]], ''Armada'' [[Skywarp (Armada)#LOC|Skywarp]], and [[Sunstorm (Universe)|Sunstorm]], and Generation 1 [[Ramjet (G1)#Universe (2008)|Ramjet]] and [[Thrust (G1)#Universe (2008)|Thrust]].
:A small version of the Deluxe mold was available as [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] and was redecoed as [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Starscream]] for the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' toyline.
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*'''Deluxe''' (2006)
[[File:CybertronSkywarp toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|''Cybertron'' Skywarp]]
:Though Thundercracker wasn't the same mold as Starscream in this series, his deluxe toy was redecoed as Skywarp. It was later redecoed into the non-Seeker character [[Divebomb (Movie)|Divebomb]].
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*'''Voyager''' (2006)
[[File:Universe 2008 Dirge toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''Universe'' Dirge]]
:This mold, based on G1 Starscream's ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' appearance, was issued as ''Armada'' Starscream, and later redecorated as Generation 1 Dirge.
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===''Classics''===
[[File:Timelinestoy-Nacelle.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|''Timelines'' Nacelle]]
*'''Deluxe''' (2006)
:An all-new mold at the $10 price point, the ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Seeker design retains the F-15 alternate mode, but with a new [[Transformation|transformation scheme]] and modern articulation.

:Like the original, this mold has been redecorated and retooled numerous times. In addition to the original six Seekers, it has also been issued as [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]], [[Bitstream (G1)|Bitstream]], [[Hotlink (G1)|Hotlink]], [[Nacelle (G1)|Nacelle]], and [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]. In addition to its original release in ''Classics'', the various uses of this mold have occurred in the ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei!]]'', ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'', ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'', ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'', ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (toyline)|Shattered Glass]]'', and ''[[Transformers United|United]]'' toylines. Versions of this mold have been mass retail releases, store exclusives, specialty exclusives, convention exclusives, and fan club exclusives.

{{ClassicsSeekerMold}}

===''Masterpiece''===
[[File:TRU Masterpiece Acid Storm.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|''Masterpiece'' Acid Storm]]
:A larger-scaled, highly complex mold. Issued as Starscream in 2005, with later retools as Skywarp, Thundercracker, and most recently Ghost Starscream, with transparent parts. The mold was heavily retooled in 2012 for another release as Starscream along with redecoes as Sunstorm, Acid Storm, Thundercracker, and Skywarp. It was even more extensively retooled and redecoed in 2016 as Ramjet, Thrust, and Dirge

{{MPSeekerMold}}
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===''Transformers'' (2007)===
[[File:Movie Legends Starscream.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|''Transformers'' (2007) Legends-class Starscream]]
*'''Legends'''
:This Legends-class mold is a highly simplified, low-cost version of Starscream in his F-22 Raptor body. As such, he has a greatly compromised transformation sequence due to the smaller parts count, with limited articulation and detailing. In addition to numerous redecoes sold as Starscream, it was also used to make ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]].
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[[File:Skywarp ROTF Voyager toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|''Revenge of the Fallen'' Skywarp]]
*'''Voyager'''
:The mold used for the [[Size class|Voyager]] class [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] figure was retooled and redecoed into [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]] (as well as a G1 recolor of Starscream.) For the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' line of toys, the original mold and the retool were recolored again as [[Ramjet (Movie)|Ramjet]] and [[Skywarp (Movie)|Skywarp]] respectively.
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[[File:Movie FAB Ramjet.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|''Transformers'' (2007) Fast Action Battler Ramjet]]
*'''Fast Action Battler'''
:The [[Fast Action Battlers]] version of Starscream was recolored into Ramjet in 2007.
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===''Animated''===
[[File:Ani-toy Starscream CloneBlack.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|''Animated'' Legends-class Starscream Clone Black Version]]
*'''Legends'''
:The tiny [[Legends Class (2005)|Legends Class]] [[Starscream (Animated)#Legends Class|Starscream]] mold was recolored into clear versions of his (male) clones:
:* [[Ramjet (Animated)#Toys|Ramjet Clear White Version]]
:* [[Skywarp (Animated)#ClearEZCollection|Skywarp Clear Purple Version]]
:* [[Sunstorm (Animated)#ClearEZCollection|Sunstorm Clear Orange Version]]
:* [[Thundercracker (Animated)#ClearEZCollection|Thundercracker Clear Blue Version]]
:* [[Starscream Clone Black Version]]
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[[File:Ani-toy Sunstorm VoyH.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|''Animated'' Sunstorm]]
*'''Voyager'''
:The Voyager class [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] from [[Transformers Animated (toyline)|Animated]] was recolored into a few of his [[Starscream clone (Animated)|clones]]:
:*[[Skywarp (Animated)#Toys|Skywarp]]
:*[[Sunstorm (Animated)#Fantastic toys|Sunstorm]]
:*[[Thundercracker (Animated)#Voyager|Thundercracker]] (unreleased)
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[[File:Ani-toy Dirge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|''Animated'' Activators Dirge]]
*'''Activators'''
:Starscream's [[Activators]] mold, a smaller, auto-transforming design based on the larger toy, was (eventually) redecoed into ''most'' of his clones:
:* [[Dirge (Animated)#Toys|Dirge]]
:* [[Ramjet (Animated)#Activator|Ramjet]]
:* [[Skywarp (Animated)#Activator|Skywarp]]
:* [[Thundercracker (Animated)#Toys|Thundercracker]]
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===''Transformers'' (2010)===
[[File:Chronicletoy ez thundercracker.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|''Chronicle'' Thundercracker]]
*'''Legends'''
:[[Legends Class (2005)|Legends Class]] Starscream is a new sculpt based on his Generation 1 jet appearance with many fuselage details borrowed from the [[#Masterpiece|Masterpiece version]]. This sculpt was also used to make ''[[Transformers Chronicle|Chronicle]]'' [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Chronicle|Thundercracker]], Starscream, and [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Chronicle|Skywarp]].
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===''Alternity''===
[[File:Alternity starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|''Alternity'' Starscream]]
:Rather than a jet, this mold transforms into a licensed 1:32 scale {{w|Mitsuoka Orochi}} and features [[die-cast]] metal parts and rubber tires, as well as an opening hood, trunk and doors. It was used to make [[Starscream (G1)/toys|the]] [[Skywarp (G1)|usual]] [[Thundercracker (G1)|three]] (as well as non-Seeker [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzai-Tron]]). In the ''Alternity'' storyline, these three are known as [[Questor]]s. Y'know, ''quest'' like ''seek''.
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===''Dark of the Moon''===
[[File:DOTM MechTech Deluxe Skywarp.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|''Dark of the Moon'' Skywarp]]
*'''Deluxe''' ([[2011]])
:This all-new sculpt transforms into a surprisingly accurate F-22 Raptor while hiding the robot mode parts much better than previous molds. It was first released as Starscream and later redecoed into [[Thundercracker (Movie)#Dark of the Moon|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (Movie)#Dark of the Moon|Skywarp]].
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===''Generations''===
[[File:Generationstoy-Thrilling30Thundercracker.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|''Generations Thrilling 30'' Thundercracker]]
*'''Deluxe''' ([[2012]])
:This mold is based on the Seekers' appearance in [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|''War For Cybertron'']] and [[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|''Fall of Cybertron'']]. Transforming into a jet loosely resembling previous "Tetrajets," it was issued as [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (WFC)|Thundercracker]], and [[Skywarp (WFC)|Skywarp]]. The molds simultaneously represent both [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned]] incarnations of the characters as well as their IDW counterparts' appearances in the [[2005 IDW continuity]].
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[[File:TFGenerations Legends Acid Storm.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''Generations'' Acid Storm]]
*'''Legends''' ([[2013]])
:This mold is based on based on Guido Guidi's Seeker design from IDW's [[The Transformers (IDW)|original ongoing series]] and transforms into a hybrid F15/F22. The mold was originally released as Starscream, and was redecoed into Acid Storm, Thundercracker, and Skywarp.
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[[File:Generationstoy-TakaraTomy-ArmadaStarscream.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''Generations'' Starscream (Japanese-version)]]
*'''Deluxe''' ([[2014]])
:Armada Starscream, as the name of the figure implies, is an updated representation of [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] in [[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]] body. Like the ''Fall of Cybertron'' Starscream figure, it also represents Starscream in the 2005 IDW continuity, even including a comic book in which he takes this form. It has been retooled into [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]], who resembled the Seekers throughout his appearances in the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2 comics]]. The mold was also retooled into [[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]] and [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]]. It was also redecoed in colors representing Starscream's powerlinx form in the cartoon and Takara toyline; this deco was later [[repurposing|repurposed]] as [[Thundercracker (Armada)|''Armada'' Thundercracker]].
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[[File:Generations Leader TC.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|''Generations'' Leader-class Thundercracker]]
*'''Leader''' ([[2015]])
:A heavy retool of ''Generations'' [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], this figure is sculpted to resemble the same design by Guido Guidi as the ''Generations'' Legends-class Seeker mold. Unusually, the retooled version of the mold was initially released as Thundercracker before being later redecoed as Starscream and Skywarp.
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===''Prime: First Edition''===
[[File:Timelinestoy-SlipstreamPrime.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|''Timelines'' Slipstream]]
*'''Deluxe''' (2011)
:The first toy to represent [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] as he appears in [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|''Transformers: Prime'']], this mold would later be redecoed and retooled into [[Skywarp (WFC)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (WFC)|Thundercracker]] in TakaraTomy's ''Prime'' line, as well as ''Timelines'' [[Slipstream (WFC)|Slipstream]].
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===''Robots in Disguise''===
[[File:RID2015_Warrior_Skywarp.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|''Robots in Disguise'' Warrior-class Skywarp]]
*'''Warrior'''
:This new sculpt incorporates influences from both [[Starscream (Animated)|''Animated'' Starscream]] and [[Starscream (G1)|''Generation 1'' Starscream]], specifically the latter's appearance during the coronation scene in [[The Transformers: The Movie|the G1 movie]]. Aside from differing Hasbro and Takara decos, it was also redecoed as [[Skywarp (WFC)|Skywarp]].
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===''War for Cybertron: Siege''===
[[File:TF-Generations-WFC-S-Rainmaker-3-pack.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|''Siege'' [[Rainmaker]] three pack]]
*'''Voyager'''
:''[[War for Cybertron: Siege (toyline)|Siege]]'' [[Starscream (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|Starscream]] transforms from a heavily G1-inspired robot to a Cybertronian 'tetrajet' based on the Seekers' appearance in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" and back; although the jet mode has the robot legs sticking out from the undercarriage. Naturally, he hes been redecoed multiple times, not only as [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|Thundercracker]], [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|Skywarp]], [[Acid Storm (G1)#War for Cybertron: Siege|Acid Storm]], and [[Hotlink (G1)|Hotlink]], but also as the previously unreleased characters [[Red Wing#Generations|Red Wing]], [[Ion Storm#Toys|Ion Storm]], and [[Nova Storm (G1)#Toys|Nova Storm]].

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{{Groupstub|Cyberverse (2018), Kreons, Construct-Bots, Bot Shots, Earthrise, etc. All the side-line toys/merchandise stuff}}

==Merchandise==
[[File:HOC AirWarrior.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]

===''Super Collection Figure''===
:A small, PVC plastic figure based on the Seekers' animation model design. It was imported from Takara in the 2002 ''Heroes of Cybertron'' line.

:It was issued as Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Sunstorm, and as a six-pack of the three original seekers and three generic light purple [[Air Warrior]]s. It was retooled and redecorated as Ramjet, Thrust, and Dirge.
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===''Titanium Series''===
[[File:Titanium-toy RMThundercracker.JPG|upright=0.85|thumb|''Titanium'' Thundercracker]]
:A small, non-transforming die-cast metal figurine, based upon the Generation 1 cartoon appearance of the Seekers was available decoed as either Starscream or Thundercracker.
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===''MyClone''===
[[File:MyCloneRamjet.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|''Myclone'' Ramjet]]
:A super-adorable figurine mold of Starscream was issued for this line, and redecorated as the [[chase figure]] Thundercracker. A Coneheads mold was also available, issued as Ramjet and chase figure Dirge, and retooled as Thrust.
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===Palisades===
[[File:PalisadesGhostStarscream.jpg|thumb|Ghost of Starscream statue]]
:Issued in 2005, this six-inch-tall polystone statue with articulated head and arms was sculpted by [[3L Creation Group]] from a design by [[George Tremarco]]. It was later redecoed as Skywarp, Sunstorm, Thundercracker, and the Ghost of Starscream.
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===''Robot Heroes''===
[[File:Robot Hero Skywarp.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|''Robot Heroes'' Skywarp]]
:Another super-adorable figurine of Starscream, this time launching himself into the air. Redecorated as Skywarp and Thundercracker. A Thrust mold from the same line has yet to be redecorated.
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===''3D Battle-Card Game''===
[[File:3DBattleCard Ramjet.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|''3D Battle-Card Game'' Ramjet]]
:This release is a 38-point "Uncommon" piece from the [[3D Battle-Card Game]] composed of punch-out parts from two different cards that can be reconfigured to make a robot or a fighter jet. The parts layout was used to produce Movie versions of [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]] (as well as non-Seeker characters [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] and [[Jetfire (Movie)|Jetfire]]) in the initial release and Generation 1 [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] in the "Energon Wars" expansion set.
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:BC05InfiltrationCoverSeekette.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|VOGUE!]]
*In the 1990s, Hasbro had more character plans for the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Generation 2|Starscream]] and [[Ramjet (G1)/toys#Generation 2|Ramjet]] molds that fell through:
**A labeled piece of unused ''Generation 2'' packaging art published in [[2011]]'s ''[[Transformers Vault]]'' gave the name [[Sandstorm (G2)|Sandstorm]] to an unreleased desert camo variant on the Ramjet toy (previously seen in toy mock-up form on eBay).
**A mostly black and grey mock-up of ''Generation 2'' Starscream was also seen from the same source as the Sandstorm mock-up. In [[2020]], it became known that this mock-up was intended to be named [[Blackout (G2)|Blackout]].
**Another mock-up deco variant of the Starscream toy in [[:File:G2SSJungleprotojet.jpg|jungle colors]] is also known to exist. As with Blackout and Sandstorm, this may have been intended to be a new character.
**Lastly, ''another'' mock-up deco variant of the Ramjet toy in [[:File:WhizBangNavyRamjetRedeco.jpg|cloud camo]] is also known to exist. As with all the above mock-up decoes, this may have been intended to be a new character.
*The ''Transformers'' [[fandom]] has long mused upon the possibility of female Seekers (and produced countless {{w|Mary Sue|self-insertion characters}} that are variants on the theme). A piece of [[Hasbro]] concept art of what appeared to be a female Seeker design appeared on the [[BotCon 2005]]-exclusive cover of [[Infiltration issue 0|''Infiltration'' #0]], but the idea didn't fully see fruition until [[2008]]'s ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' [[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]], the first '''[[canon]]ical''' female character to share a body template with a Starscream.
*The ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Seeker sculpt has been reused and retooled more times than any other [[mold]].

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Jetron''' (ジェットロン ''Jettoron'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Sōusuǒ Chě''' (Taiwan, 搜索者, "Seeker"), '''Yóují''' (China, 游击, "Guerilla")
*''Polish'' '''Szperacz''' ("Seeker"/"Scout")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Fan terminology]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Seekers| Seeker (body-type)]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Siege subgroups]]

Sandstorm (G2)

2020-08-22T13:20:52Z

Sunstorm9000: /* Generations Selects */

{{factions|decepticong2}}
{{disambig3|Sandstorm}}
:''Sandstorm is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:G2SandstormVaultArt.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|deeeeep huuuuurtiiing... *shakeshakeshake* deeeeep huuuuurtiiing....]]
'''Sandstorm''' is a [[Seeker (body-type)|Decepticon jet]] who (presumably) specializes in desert warfare. He battles the Autobots over energon and that's... that's sort of it.

==Fiction==
===Ask Vector Prime===
In the Battle of [[Sherman Dam]] in [[Primax 096.0 Beta]], the Seeker Sandstorm tried to run off with energon cubes. [[Mirage (G1)#Ask Vector Prime|Mirage]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)#Ask Vector Prime|Sideswipe]] tried to stop him. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/06}}

==Toys==
===''Generation 2''===
[[File:G2SandstormMockup.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Function: Decepticon {{w|Pig-Pen}}.]]

*'''Sandstorm'''
:Sandstorm was to have been a desert camo-themed [[redeco]] of the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' version of [[Ramjet (G1)/toys#Generation 2|Ramjet]]. As such, he presumably would have had firing missile launchers, and perhaps a sound effects box that would have been mountable above his engines.

:Given that ''Generation 2'' [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Generation 2|Starscream]] and Ramjet were released in tandem, it is possible that Hasbro planned to follow the same pattern for [[Blackout (G2)#Toys|Blackout]] and Sandstorm.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{--}}

===''Generations Selects''===
[[File:TF-Generations-Selects-Voyager-G2-Sandstorm.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6120QOlsfU "Anyone who uses Darude's song as a celebration theme gets a free null-ray shot on the face."]]]
*'''Decepticon Sandstorm''' (Voyager Class, [[2021]])
**''ID number:'' '''WFC-GS21'''
**''Accessories'': 2 "Null-Ray blasters"

: A redeco of ''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise (toyline)|Earthrise]]'' [[Ramjet_(G1)/toys#War_for_Cybertron:_Earthrise|Ramjet]], Sandstorm transforms into a modified F-15 fighter jet with cranked-arrow delta wings based on the F-16XL prototype. He is now cast in a desert camo deco, and has a shark face marking on his nosecone. As one of the Coneheads, Sandstorm features a new headsculpt based on the original conehead design, though it is a faux piece not formed from the actual nosecone.

:The figure's design and transformation scheme are heavily based on the 2006 Classics Starscream mold (and it's subsequent retool of Ramjet), while adding points of articulation the earlier figure did not have such as pivoting ankles, a more expressive ball-jointed head, and hinges that allow the wings to fold backwards on his legs in robot mode. However, due to this, his torso is very hollow at the sides and his intended waist articulation was dropped due to the physical space required for transformation.

:Care must be taken when transforming Sandstorm, as the paint on the tip of the head can rub against the inside of the jet's nosecone. Oddly enough he features the G1 Decepticon emblem instead of the G2 Decepticon emblem
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:G2SandstormProductionColors.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|You skipped G2? G2 Sandstorm also skipped G2.]]
* Sandstorm's artwork, under the ad hoc name "Desert Ramjet", has been floating around the internet for some years, having originally surfaced from the same collection of ex-Hasbro employee memorabilia that yielded [[:File:G2GrimlockArtwork.jpg|"tiger" Grimlock]] and [[Blackout (G2)|Blackout]].
*In [[2007]], a physical mock-up matching the "desert Ramjet" art came to the fandom's attention via a pictorial review done by ''Transformers'' fan and rarities-hunter Maziar "Maz" Shahsafdari for his website TF-1.com. However, the existence of Sandstorm as a named [[character]] separate from Ramjet was not revealed until a labeled copy of the artwork was printed in the 2011 ''[[Transformers Vault]]'' collector's book.
*In [[2012]], it was revealed that Sandstorm was ''much'' further along in production than the fandom had previously suspected when a deco-less test shot was discovered on the Chinese auction site TaoBao (from a seller also possessing loose ''Generation 2'' [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]], and a [[:File:G2BlackoutProductionColor.jpg|production colors Blackout]]).<ref>[http://www.collecticon.org/2012/01/g2-sandstorm-and-g2-night-attack-starscream-prototypes-discovered-amidst-ancient-relics-in-china-now-on-taobao-for-a-shitload-of-money/ Blog post by Collecticon, 25 January 2012]</ref> The test shot differs from the package art and mock-up by possessing two shades of tan, black missiles, and a tan head, though the color layouts between the three line up otherwise.
* A thematically similar hand-painted redeco of the [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Generation 2|Starscream]] mold (in [[:File:G2SSJungleprotojet.jpg|jungle colors]]) is also known to exist, having been found in an auction on [[eBay]] in 2007. Whether it was meant to be Starscream or a new character like Sandstorm is unknown.
* In addition to that, there's [[:File:WhizBangNavyRamjetRedeco.jpg|another Ramjet redeco]] in sky blue colors. Same knowledge on character goes.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tf-1.com/articles/other/g2ramjet_template.html "G2 Desert-Camouflage Ramjet Mock-Up" at TF-1.com]

[[Category:Generation 1 Seekers]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generations Selects]]