R.A.

R.A. is an Autobot Mini-Con from the Prime portion of the Aligned continuity family.
He'll totally bust you for drinking in the dorm.

R.A. (アルエ Arue) is Ratchet's Arms Micron partner. Something of a cynical sort, he is the youngest of a whole team of similarly shaped "brothers".

Fiction

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Prime cartoon

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R.A. only appears as an actual character in the Arms Micron Theater segments of the Japanese broadcast of Prime. Technically, he appears in the main cartoon any time Ratchet uses his blade(s), but we're not going to bother with that and just focus on his individual exploits.
Voice actor: Nobuo Tobita (Japanese){{#if: |, {{{2}}}}}

R.A., O.P., and B.B. tried to transform. Perfect Transformation! Enter the Transformers B.B. and R.A. succeeded at transforming into robot mode, but O.P. still struggled. Dark Transformation! Dark Energon Once O.P. managed to make it to robot mode, he, R.A., and B.B. transformed together to form the Star Saber. Rescue Transformation! Fowler in Crisis

At some point, R.A. and B.B. got infected with Dark Energon and turned black, which they thought made them cool and fashionable. Arc joked about how the color didn't really suit them, which annoyed them both. Infiltration Transformation! Battleship Nemesis After a long day of being used as weapons, they then had some fun watching TV and playing around, with R.A. running around like a crazy person. Explosive Transformation! Spacebridge Battle

R.A. co-hosted a radio show with O.P. and B.B.. He didn't have a lot to do there. Aerial Transformation! Skyquake He donned a party hat as part of the tenth-episode celebrations! Woo! All-Out Assault Transformation! The Pair of Assassins He, Arc, and B.B. prepared for an announcement, when the studio walls fell away, and the colossal and huge-mawed Gari Robo-kun loomed over them from behind. Like all reasonable people, R.A. and the others were horrified. Mystery Insect Transformation! Forest of the Spider Woman!

During an attack from the Decepticon Arms Microns, he and the other Autobot Arms Microns (including two O.P.s) weapon-linked with Arc to form what she called "Fire Galaxy Super God Star Arc", who chased away the pesky attackers. Phantom Transformation! Skyquake Returns R.A., O.P., and B.B. formed the Star Saber again to stop the Dark Matter Calibur Microns from wreaking havoc in the studio, but were easily swatted away by the Decepticon sword. Adhesive Transformation!? Magnetic Tag Match The three tried to come up with a new strategy while the Dark Matter Calibur trio was asleep, but only ended up listing off their standard Arms Micron abilities. Exploration Transformation! Escape from the Underground

R.A. attended the twentieth-episode celebration party as well, which for all intents and purposes was the same as the last one except he got to wear a panda hat this time. Duel Transformation! Quell Cliffjumper's Regrets After that, he, O.P., and B.B. finally bested the Dark Matter Calibur... by getting Pral, Jaze, and Sise to do it for them. Friendship Transformation! My Bulkhead They went on to make mapo energon on their very own cooking show, Cooking Arms, where R.A. was responsible for cutting up the tofu and spring onions. It all ended in disaster when they tried to use the Star Saber to cut open an energon cube and destroyed the entire set. Forbidden Transformation!? Ratchet's Strongest Legend? R.A. and O.P. greeted B.B., Arc, and B.H. when they came back from playing with their partners' human friends, and were shocked to hear that Arc had chosen Fowler over Jack. One-Shot Transformation! Optimus Prime VS Megatron

Just one shy of a sentai team!

When the Matrix of Leadership ended up in the Arms Microns' possession, R.A. suddenly developed a connection to the relic and began channeling its power, turning bright blue and combining with it to form the Matrix Saber. The whole thing also gave him quite an ego, causing him to praise his own appearance and assume his friends wanted his autograph. Rivals Transformation! Birth of the Strongest Combination After his personality returned to normal, R.A. ran into four differently-colored versions of himself calling themselves the "Shining R.A. Corps". Introducing themselves as the hot-blooded red commander "R.A. R", the cool green strategist "R.A. GR", the strong yellow combatant "R.A. Y" and the purple elite scout "R.A. P", the Corps all combined into the Rainbow Shield and invited the plain ol' R.A. to fight alongside them. He refused because they were kind of annoying. Sealed Transformation! The Mystery of Orion Pax

When O.P. lost his memory alongside Optimus Prime, R.A. suggested that he and B.B. jolt him back to normal using the power of friendship and the Matrix, then combined with their amnesiac friend into the Super Star Saber. Unfortunately it had no effect on O.P., who instead of remembering R.A. started calling him "Tobita". Forgotten Transformation! Optimus Has Become a Decepticon After recovering, O.P. used a wind-up copy of himself to try to trick his friends into thinking his memory was still missing, but R.A. and the others figured it out and played a reverse prank on him by acting like they didn't care. Activated Transformation! The Key to Vector Sigma When B.B. was trapped in Bumblebee's arm due to his missing transformation cog, he called up R.A. and O.P. and asked them to combine into a sword and cut him out. They naturally refused. Unable to Transform!? SOS Bumblebee Once he got back out, the Micron celebrated with a fun weapon-linking event where everyone got to combine with B.B.... except O.P., as B.B. wandered off in the middle of it. R.A. was nice enough to offer his dejected friend a pity-combination. Brave Transformation! The Surgeon's Decision

R.A. was among the Microns gathered in a classroom when Zamu revealed he had to leave them. Turbulent Transformation! Insect Battle During a game of rock paper scissors, he combined with B.B. to form scissors, but lost when Arc and B.H. cheated and waited a moment before playing rock against them. Mission Transformation! Fowler's Investigation Files While in Shining mode again, R.A. was asked by O.P. and B.B. how to grow strong. He told them to purify their thoughts to get a pure heart like him, causing them to turn into similar Pure forms and combine with him and the Matrix into the Pure Energon Super Star Saber. To R.A.'s exasperation, B.B. then admitted he didn't actually know what "pure" meant. Thunder God Transformation! Rebellion of the Battleship Nemesis

Shining R.A. came with O.P. and five others to the Arms Micron-style Weapon Link Dojo to ask its master for the secret behind weapon-linking. On learning that there was no deeper meaning to it than just combining with each other, they combined into the Samurai Sword Mode. Recovery Transformation! Battle in the Metropolis Underground R.A. appeared on the blueprints for Optimus Maximus as one of the Microns stationed on its base mode. Freezing Transformation! Obtain the Invincible Body! He formed part of the Advanced Star Saber during O.P's fight with Gora II's Gravity Planet Bowgun, commenting that despite their disagreements, the two were surprisingly similar. Sonic Transformation! Ratchet's Recipe He was also part of the Matrix Double Saber when O.P. made it up on the spot. Toxic Flame Transformation! Hardshell, King of the Insects On a snowy day, R.A. was happy to see snow for the first time and had a snowball fight with his friends. Revenge Transformation! The Brave Chase

Shining R.A.'s bragging got even more obnoxious after the power of the Matrix Saber had been properly shown off, and the other Microns were forced to admit it was pretty impressive and asked him to transform into it again. Flash Transformation! Unleashed! The Legendary Sword His attitude caught the attention of Shadow Gabu, who challenged the Matrix Saber to a duel with the Dark Star Saber, which to R.A.'s surprise was just as strong. Prophetic Transformation! A Message from Beyond Time He then attended the award ceremony of an Arms Micron popularity poll, in which he came in 8th place in his normal form and a shared 10th place with Arc as Shining R.A. Sky Dance Transformation! The Suicidal Skydive In the form of the Matrix Saber, R.A. fought the Dark Star Saber for 998 rounds with no winner in sight, summoning his multi-colored brethren for a Rainbow Shield Attack before clashing with his opponent in a Legendary Weapon Attack that caused the Matrix Saber to glow in the form of an orange axe. Before they could reach a conclusion, R.A. called for a quick break and offered Shadow Gabu a cup of tea. Resurrection Transformation! The Reviving of Planet Cybertron

For the finale, all the Arms Microns gathered together to say goodbye to their viewers. R.A. tried to cheer up a saddened B.B. by saying they'd be back someday, in the form of "II" or "Neo" or something. Shining R.A. was also there alongside him, somehow. Ultimate Transformation! Fight! Transformers

Legends World

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A Shining R.A. Y toy was stolen and briefly wielded by Armada Megatron. LG-EX Armada Megatron

Toys

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Prime

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Mack the Me.
  • Ratchet (Deluxe, 2012)
  • Set ID number: AM-04
  • Micron ID number: M-04
  • Release date: March 3, 2012
  • Energon Crystal: HP Pure
Part of the first wave of TakaraTomy Prime toys, R.A. transforms into a blade-weapon modeled after Ratchet's scalpel-swords. As part of the Arms Micron gimmick, he has multiple 5mm posts and holes, allowing him to be used to form larger and more ludicrous combined weapons with other Microns.
As one of the "Pure" Crystal Arms Microns, he combines with O.P. and B.B. to form the Star Saber Super Combo Weapon.
He was only available packed in with the Deluxe Ratchet toy, coming out of the package as a bunch of unpainted parts on runners, like a model kit. His extra deco is provided by customer-applied foil stickers on a sheet he shares with Ratchet.


At this point, it should be noted that every release of R.A. that follows also came as an unassembled kit on a sprue.


Hmm. Does he belong to Shadow Man or Morrigan?
  • Shadow R.A. (Arms Micron, 2012)
  • Release date: April 28, 2012
  • Energon Crystal: HP Fake Dark
A transparent-black version of R.A. with a red Energon Crystal was made available on April 28 at participating AEON stores with the purchase of AM-01 Optimus Prime. Rather than being handed out separately, Shadow R.A. was packaged inside the AM-01 Optimus box, which had a gold sticker on it indicating the special bonus Arms Micron. Just like the regular version, Shadow R.A. comes as an unassembled kit. Unlike the regular version, he has only a single sticker, the Autobot insignia that goes under his Energon Crystal.


This guy was awesome for the Mets in 2012.
  • Arms Master Optimus (Weaponizer, 2012)
  • ID number: AM-21
  • Micron ID number: M-28
  • Release date: September 29
  • Energon Crystal: HP Pure
Part of the seventh wave of Japanese Prime toys, Shining R.A. was available only with Arms Master Optimus. R.A. is cast in clear-blue plastics, features different sticker details for his blades, and is specifically intended to combine with the included Matrix to form the tip of the Matrix Saber.


A lot of effort was made to get this to show up as anything more than an eye-searing green blob. You're welcome.
  • Shining R.A. GR (Arms Micron, 2012)
  • Release date: September 29, 2012
  • Energon Crystal: HP Pure
A clear-green version of R.A. was given away with the purchase of Arms Master Optimus Prime at AEON stores on September 29. This version lacks any stickers other than the single faction symbol sticker under his Energon Crystal.
He combines with three other versions of himself given away on that day to form the Rainbow Shield.


It's a... grape jelly... knife... oh hell.
  • Shining R.A. P (Arms Micron, 2012)
  • Release date: September 29, 2012
  • Energon Crystal: HP Pure
A clear-purple version of R.A. was given away with the purchase of 3000 yen's worth of Prime product at Joshin Kids Land and Bic Camera stores on September 29. This version lacks any stickers other than the single faction symbol sticker under his Energon Crystal.
He combines with three other versions of himself given away on that day to form the Rainbow Shield.


Okay, seriously, this is a lot of pieces and the joke well is running dry.
  • Shining R.A. R (Arms Micron, 2012)
  • Release date: September 29, 2012
  • Energon Crystal: HP Pure
A clear-red version of R.A. was given away with the purchase of 3000 yen's worth of Prime product at Toys"R"Us stores on September 29. This version lacks any stickers other than the single faction symbol sticker under his Energon Crystal.
He combines with three other versions of himself given away on that day to form the Rainbow Shield.


What can you say about most of these anyway. Oy.
  • Shining R.A. Y (Arms Micron, 2012)
  • Release date: September 29, 2012
  • Energon Crystal: HP Pure
A clear-yellow version of R.A. was given away with the purchase of 3000 yen's worth of Prime product at Edion, Yamada Denki and Yodobashi Camera stores on September 29. This version lacks any stickers other than the single faction symbol sticker under his Energon Crystal.
He combines with three other versions of himself given away on that day to form the Rainbow Shield.


Well, this one needed careful handling to prevent fingerprints, so there's that.
  • Orion Pax (Deluxe, 2012)
  • Release date: October 20, 2012
  • Energon Crystal: HP Pure
Available only with Orion Pax, Gold Metal R.A. is a golden vac-metal version of the knife-bot, because there's already a gold vac-metal version of O.P., Prime's normal partner. Since the entire sprue is entirely covered in vac-metal, including the joints, clipping his parts together can be insanely stressful both on yourself and the toy. Consider scraping some chrome off at least one of the parts that will rub together at any joint before assembly.
Weirdly, his instructions call him "Silver Metal R.A.", indicating a deco change at some point in development.
Orion was available only at Joshin Kids Land and Bic Camera stores.


...so how have you been? Employed? In good health?
  • Arms Micron Ultimate 5 Piece Set A - Advanced Star Saber (Multi-pack, 2012)
  • Set ID number: AMW-13
  • Release date: December 28, 2012
  • Energon Crystal: HP Pure
An orange version of R.A., dubbed R.A. O, was part of a five-piece gift set of Autobot-allied Arms Microns, which also included B.B. R, O.P. R, Iro R, and Wuji G. All five can combine to form the Advanced Star Saber.
Oddly, the box-back photos show him with a pink Energon Crystal, similar to Iro and Wuji's.


Notes

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  • TakaraTomy's stock photos of the original R.A. toy show him mistransformed, with his, well, groin remaining in weapon mode orientation.
  • R.A. has the distinction of not only being the Arms Micron mold with the most color schemes (9 in total), but also the one used for the most promotional giveaway redecos (5).

R.A. Combinations

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Named combination weapons including R.A.

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Arms Up Modes featuring R.A.

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