Editing Caliburst (G1)

{{factions|decepticon|autobot|minicon}}
{{disambig3|Caliburst}}
:''Caliburst is a [[Decepticon]] [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:CaliburstRebirth.jpg|upright=1.5|thumb|"Hi, I'm Caliburst. You may remember me from such films as ''Hive Propaganda'' and ''The Creature from Planet Earth''."]]

Like his [[Binary bonding|binary bonded]] partner [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]], '''Caliburst''' is merely putting on an act and playing the role of the cold and fearless Decepticon warrior he outwardly projects; it's just that he's generally more adept at keeping the mask up because of his former life as an actor. While not a good actor, more the kind to be found in the freezer section next to the [[Jake Colton (G1)|other]] pork products, Caliburst does know the importance of staying in character. Given that he joined the Transformer conflict for the money because there was no one left on Nebulos that could <s>stomach</s> appreciate his "talent", he has an incentive to not screw up.

Slugslinger treats his partner fairly well, mostly due to the direct link between the condition of the Decepticon's [[backbone infrastructure]] in combat and the condition of his weaponry.

==Fiction==
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Johnny Haymer]] (English), [[Ken Narita]] (Japanese)|[[Thomas Rau]] (German), [[Serge Bourrier]] (European French)}}

Caliburst was a member of the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]], the secret ruling body of [[Nebulos]] who could control machines with their very thoughts, and used that power to dominate the peasants. Their sole regret was that the development of their mental powers had left the Hive's physical bodies all but useless. When the Decepticons arrived on Nebulos, the Hive's leader [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]] saw an opportunity for rebirth, and the Hive joined forces with the Decepticons in order to undergo the bio-mechanical engineering necessary for them to move once more. While some of the Hive physically linked with the Decepticons as [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] (as the Autobots had recently done with Nebulan rebels), Caliburst was one of the newly conceived [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]]s who binary bonded with Decepticon blasters instead. When paired up with Slugslinger, Caliburst suggested that name for himself because he'd never missed a shot in his life. Slugslinger retorted that was because Caliburst had never ''fired'' a shot in his life. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}}

Caliburst and the Decepticon Targetmasters returned to Cybertron with the key to the Plasma Energy Chamber and Zarak's powerful new city-bot, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. Once the plasma energy was released, however, Scorponok was struck by the power and launched into deep space with Caliburst and the other Decepticons still on board. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}

===Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics===
Caliburst would have been a really bad Shakespearean actor, had he been born on Earth. Once appreciated by the acting world, he eventually became known more for overplaying his parts than playing them. Looking for a venue where his craft would be appreciated, Caliburst joined the Decepticons when Lord Zarak offered to pay for his services, and underwent the Targetmaster process to [[Binary bonding|binary bond]] him to the equally outspoken Slugslinger. Shortly after the Decepticon Targetmasters had their trial run against [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and his Autobots, the Decepticons of Nebulos left the planet and made their way towards Earth. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}

===Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
[[Image:HM 31 Caliburst.jpg|thumb|left]]

Caliburst and his five friends were refugees, having fled their home planet of [[Master (planet)|Master]] when [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] and the Decepticons began an all-out siege on the world. They were being chased through space in their starship by the Decepticons when they came across the Battleship Maximus. [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] gave them safe haven aboard his starship, and the Master citizens attempted to show their gratitude by removing the deadly plasma energy bombs Fortress was trying to dispose of. Their efforts came too late, however, as the plasma energy bombs exploded aboard their ship in space, bathing everyone nearby with energy. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}}

Although they survived the explosion, for Caliburst and two of his fellow refugees, the ending was not a happy one. The plasma energy somehow fused each of them to a different one of the Decepticon trio who had been attacking them, creating Targetmasters. Caliburst was now the eternal partner of Slugslinger and became a member of the Decepticon army at his side. As a Decepticon, Caliburst was forced to join in the invasion of his own planet. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)}}

[[Image:HM 29 Caliburst bonded with Slugslinger.jpg|thumb|]]

In a battle for the data of the [[Master Sword]], Caliburst bonded with Slugslinger to fight the Autobots. {{Storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}} Caliburst again joined his partner when the Autobot Targetmasters landed on Master to investigate the possible presence of the Decepticons. The two forces battled each other, and the Decepticons were able to wash the Autobots away in a surge of water from an elevated lake. The Decepticon Targetmasters returned to the other Decepticons to report of their triumph over the Autobot Targetmasters. When the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] sneaked into the Decepticon's hidden cavern base, the Targetmasters were there to greet them. A battle ensued that the Autobot Targetmasters joined, but the Decepticons eventually retreated. {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}}

[[Image:HM 31 Targetmasters stand watch.jpg|thumb|left]]

Caliburst, [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]], and [[Aimless]] were later assigned to watch out for any intruders, and they spotted the Autobot Targetmasters. They went off to report their presence to the other Decepticons and joined their larger partners in attacking the Autobots. During battle, the Decepticons were distracted by an aircraft sent by the natives of Master, allowing the Autobots to escape. Nevertheless, the Decepticons were soon sicced on a Master city, killing the natives. The natives fought back with aircraft, and their combined efforts with the Autobots forced the lesser Decepticons to flee into Scorponok's [[transtector]]. After a showdown between the Zarak Shield and the Master Sword, the Decepticons left Master for [[Earth]]. {{Storylink|Operation: Destroy the Decepticons}}

Caliburst played part in the decisive battle with the Autobots at the [[Arctic|North Pole]]. When the [[Final Formation]] put an end to Scorponok's machinations on Earth, the Decepticons retreated into space. {{Storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
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====''Legends'' comic====
[[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] retold the story about how he and his people, including Caliburst, fled [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] under the leadership of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] and settled on [[Master (planet)|Master]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 31|Bonus Edition Vol. 31}} Years prior to becoming a Targetmaster, Caliburst was one of six Master warriors who were kidnapped by Scorponok and exposed to plasma energy, removing their ability to speak. When Scorponok returned to Master in 2011 and tried to recapture them and continue his experiments, the six of them fled from the planet. {{storylink|Mutant Targetmaster Birth Chapter}}

In [[2021]], Caliburst and the Decepticon Targetmasters were battling their Autobot counterparts in space when Scorponok detonated a [[black hole]], creating a plasma energy shockwave that caused the smaller Targetmasters to vanish. {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Prologue}} When they were located in the void of space, the six had been supercharged with plasma energy and gathered together into a clump of guns. The Decepticon Targetmasters attempted to transport them into the [[Legends World]] using [[Alpha Trion]], but the plasma energy was too dangerous and Trion instead scattered them across the dimension. {{storylink|Mutant Targetmaster Birth Chapter}} Furthermore, the combination of plasma energy with the Legends World's unique energies mutated the Targetmasters, granting them new powers. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 45|Bonus Edition Vol. 45}}

Slugslinger eventually rediscovered Caliburst and found his power was to fire [[anti-electron]]s, a substance that would incapacitate any Transformer. He used this ability to take out all opposition and capture Blowpipe and Aimless, who he combined with Caliburst into the [[Plasma Energy Chamber (Legends)|Plasma Energy Chamber]] gun, but he was ultimately defeated and accidentally exposed to the anti-electrons himself. Caliburst was then captured by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] and [[Shaoshao Li]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 55|Bonus Edition Vol. 55}}

===''The Headmasters'' comic===
[[Image:HM issue 7 Decepticon Targetmasters.jpg|thumb|200px]]

Caliburst and the Decepticon Targetmasters attempted to disrupt the Autobots' efforts to put out a blazing fire on Earth. The Autobots' split focus left them vulnerable, until the Battleship Maximus extinguished the entire fire in one sweep. [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]] and [[Artfire]] then turned their full attention on Caliburst and his allies, driving them from the scene. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 7|The Headmasters #7}}

===''Titans Return'' marketing material===
The ancient [[Titan Master]] Caliburst was partnered with the Decepticon [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]], granting his host the ability to fire at ultra-high-speeds.<ref>''Titans Return'' Caliburst/Slugslinger packaging bio</ref>

===''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' marketing material===
During the war for Cybertron, Caliburst was an [[Cybertronian military insignia|Air Force Weapons Raider]]. {{storylink|#War for Cybertron: Siege|''Earthrise'' toy packaging}}

===''My Little Pony/Transformers''===
{{charstubfiction}}

==Commercial appearances==
When the Transformers' war resumed its course on [[Nebulos|Nebulon]], Caliburst accompanied [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] into battle alongside his fellow Decepticon [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]]. As they fought against their Autobot counterparts, [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] grappled in the distance. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Headmaster comic book|Headmaster comic book commercial}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
{{chargamestub|{{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars}}}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
{{anchor|Generation 1}}
[[File:G1-toy Caliburst.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Slugslinger''' (Targetmaster, 1987)}}</ul>
:*''Takara ID number'': '''D-90'''
{{toydesigner|[[Richard Marcej]] (packaging)}}

: Released in the fourth year of Hasbro's US ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|The Transformers]]'' toyline (third year in Europe and in Takara's ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'' line), Targetmaster Caliburst transforms into an "[[Machine gun|automatic machine gun]]". Caliburst's transformation, like [[Blowpipe (G1)#Toys|Blowpipe]]'s, is slightly more involved than many Targetmaster weapons; his gun barrel is a separate piece that plugs into his back. Once his legs are folded up, the barrel has to be snapped into place where the legs were, the resulting weapon longer than many of the other first-year Targetmasters. This backpack uses the same-sized peg as Caliburst's normal handle, the good old [[5 mm post]], thus it can also be used as a hand-held blaster on its own.

: Caliburst was only available packed in with his larger partner [[Slugslinger (G1)#Toys|Slugslinger]]. 

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Decepticon/Caliburst/caliburst.htm More information on Caliburst at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''United''===
[[File:United-toy Caliburst.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-multi|'''Caliburst''' (Promotional Micron, 2011)}}</ul>
:*''Release date'': [[March 5]], 2011

: ''[[Transformers United|United]]'' Caliburst is a [[redeco]] of ''[[Power Core Combiners]]'' [[Backwind]], transforming from a robot to a hand-held gatling gun.

: Though his instructions only show the hand-held gun mold (held by [[Scourge (G1)/toys#United|''United'' Scourge]] since there was no modern Slugslinger for him to partner with at the time), as a ''Power Core Combiners'' [[Mini-Con]], he also has a hook/gun armature configuration meant for use on a larger robot's vehicle mode, plus a chest-armor mode.

: He was only available as a [[Toys"R"Us]] [[exclusive]] [[campaign item]] in Japan, given away with the purchase of over 3000 yen worth of ''Transformers'' product as part of a ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'' "Movie Preview Campaign", beginning on [[March 5]].

: This mold was also used to make [[Beacon (PCC)|Beacon]] and ''United EX'' [[Firebug (United)#Toys|Firebug]].
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===''Titans Return''===
{{anchor|Generations}}
[[File:TR-toy Caliburst.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Caliburst & Slugslinger''' (Deluxe Class, [[2017]])}}</ul>
{{toydesigner|[[John Warden]] (Hasbro)}}

: Part of the sixth and final wave of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' Deluxes, Caliburst is now a [[Titan Master]], a [[redeco]] and [[retool]] of [[Blowpipe (G1)#Titans Return|Blowpipe]], transforming into the head of his pack-in partner [[Slugslinger (G1)#Titans Return|Slugslinger]]. The head sculpt is based on Slugslinger's Marvel-created [[Character model|animation model]] rather than the original toy's head.

: As a Titan Master, he is also compatible with basically any other toy in the series: he can combine with any Titan Master vehicle/beast, "pilot" any Legends-class toy, and form the head of any Deluxe-and-up humanoid robot.
{{TRBlowpipeMold}}
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===''Legends''===
[[File:LG55-Caliburst.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Targetmaster Slugslinger''' (Deluxe, [[2017]])}}</ul>
:*''Release date'': [[December 30]], 2017
:*''ID number'': '''LG55'''

: Released in the twenty-fourth wave of TakaraTomy's ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' toyline, Caliburst transforms into a gun based on his original gun mold, but considerably stumpier; the gunbarrel backpack is also permanently affixed. However, his robot mode has better articulation, which is to say it has ''any'' articulation.

: He was only available packed in with his larger partner "[[Slugslinger (G1)#Legends|Targetmaster Slugslinger]]", replacing the twin guns that came with the ''Titans Return'' version of the toy. Because of this, Slugslinger was lightly [[retool]]ed to have a centered [[5 mm post]]-hole on his jet mode top to accommodate the single gun, plus his now-"Headmaster" head-robot is now just Slugslinger's "core" piloting a [[Transtector]].
{{-}}

===''War for Cybertron: Siege''===
[[File:WFC-Siege-WFC-S30-Battle-Master-Caliburst.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|[[Slugslinger (G1)#Age of the Primes|Wish you got me now, don't you?]]]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Caliburst''' (Battle Master, [[2019]])}}</ul>
:*''Hasbro ID number'': '''WFC-S30'''
:*''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''SG-27'''
:*''TakaraTomy release date'': [[August 24]], 2019
:*''Accessories'': Cannon, "[[Fire Blast effect]]"

: Part of the third wave of ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'' [[Battle Master]]s, Caliburst is a [[redeco]] of [[Blowpipe (G1)#War for Cybertron: Siege|Blowpipe]], in new colors that are [[show-accuracy|exactly how he looked in G1]] we promise no please don't scroll up and check. He transforms into an "Oxidation Cannon". The actual gun barrel piece can detach from the back just as before, but this time revealing a 3 mm peg, allowing it to connect to Caliburst's arms as his own personal artillery piece. However, thanks to its size, it makes him easy to tip over.

: As a part of the [[C.O.M.B.A.T. System]], he includes a new "Fire Blast" effect piece that can be used to simulate his blaster mode firing, and can slot onto the various hardpoints found on other figures and weaponry from the same subline to simulate blaster fire or explosions. The outer peg of the effect part can also attach to [[5 mm post|5 mm ports]].

{{WFCSiegeBlowpipeMold}}
{{WFCSiegeTrenchfootFireBlastMold}}
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===''War for Cybertron Trilogy''===
[[File:WFCT-toy CaliburstSparkless.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Wow, I'm actually closer to my original deco than when I was alive!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Sparkless Seeker''' (Battle 3-pack, 2021)}}</ul>
:*''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''WFC-20'''
:*''TakaraTomy release date'': [[January 29]], [[2022]]

: Part of the third assortment of ''[[War for Cybertron Trilogy (toyline)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' toys, ostensibly tied in with ''[[War for Cybertron: Kingdom| Kingdom]]'' (even though the "[[sparkless]]" were a ''Siege'' plot point), "Sparkless Caliburst" is a redeco of his ''Siege'' figure in a "dead" color scheme. Sparkless Caliburst comes with the same "Fire Blast" effect piece as before, but in a much darker shade of purple.

: Sparkless Caliburst was only available packaged with the Voyager-sized [[Sparkless#SparklessSeeker|Sparkless Seeker]] and fellow Battle Master [[Singe#War for Cybertron Trilogy|Sparkless Singe]]. This set, like most of the Netflix ''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' toys, was a [[Walmart]] exclusive in the U.S. and Canada.
{{WFCSiegeBlowpipeMold}}
{{WFCSiegeTrenchfootFireBlastMold}}
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===''Age of the Primes''===
[[File:AOTP-Deluxe-Slugslinger.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|You'll need Slugslinger, Caliburst (2019), and Calibust (Titan Master) for a complete set.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-wrmas|'''Sandstorm vs. Slugslinger''' (Multi-pack, [[2025]])}}</ul>
{{toydesigner|[[Mark Maher]] (Hasbro)|[[Amy Bence]] (packaging)}}<ref>[[June 10]], [[2025]]'s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEAkXHAU034  Transformers Fanstream | June 2025 | Hasbro Pulse] on YouTube, with [[Nate Purswell]] and [[Mark Maher]].</ref>

:Only available in an Amazon exclusive 2-pack with his larger partner [[Slugslinger (G1)#Age of the Primes|Slugslinger]] and their opponent [[Sandstorm (G1)#Age of the Primes|Sandstorm]], ''[[Transformers: Age of  the Primes|Age of the Primes]]'' Caliburst is another redeco of the ''Titans Return'' toy, the new paint job being a rough approximation to the color scheme Slugslinger had in ''The Rebirth''.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===''Transformers Trading Card Game''===
[[File:W4RaiderCaliburst.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Raider Caliburst, Air Force-Weapons/Oxidation Cannon''' (2019)
**'''Wave 4: War for Cybertron: Siege II''' 
**''Rarity: '''''UT'''
**''Card Number: '''''T30/T52'''
**''Stars: ''6

:Raider Caliburst, Air Force-Weapons is one of forty-eight double-sided character cards available in Wave 4 of the [[Transformers Trading Card Game]], War for Cybertron: Siege II. As a [[Battle Master]], Raider Caliburst, Air Force-Weapons begins the game in Bot Mode. Instead of being sent to the KO Area once his Health drops to zero, the card is flipped to the Upgrade side, becoming the Oxidation Cannon, and equipped in the Weapons slot of another character on the player's side of the battlefield . In order to represent Caliburst's size as a Battle Master, the card is the size of a battle card, about half the size of a normal character card.

:The artwork for Bot Mode is reused from the ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'' Caliburst toy's packaging art. The Oxidation Cannon received original artwork, with line-art by [[Andrew Griffith]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
* Caliburst's English voice seems to be patterned after Rodney Dangerfield...which is rather appropriate for an acting ham.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Caliburst''' (キャリバースト ''Kyaribāsuto'', カリバースト ''Karibāsuto'')
*''French:'' '''La Terreur de l'Ouest''' (European dub, "The Terror of the West")
*''Russian:'' '''Calibros''' (Калиброс)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Age of the Primes Decepticons]]
[[Category:Battle Masters]]
[[Category:C.O.M.B.A.T. Bots]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Entertainers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 toy Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Mini-Cons]]
[[Category:Hive]]
[[Category:Legends Decepticons]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Nebulans]]
[[Category:Targetmasters]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Decepticons]]
[[Category:Titan Masters]]
[[Category:Titans Return Decepticons]]
[[Category:Toys"R"Us Japan exclusives]]
[[Category:United Decepticons]]
[[Category:Variable species characters]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Kingdom Decepticons]]<!--Netflix toy-->
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Siege Decepticons]]