Transformers: Energon (toyline)

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Tri-lingual packaging, kids! Remember, it's how everything will be by 2005!

Transformers: Energon followed up on the highly-successful Armada toyline, continuing its universe and carrying over a number of its popular characters in new forms. Set roughly ten years after the previous series, Energon brought in new sub-factions, new faces and new modes of play.

The line also fell on the 20th anniversary of the Transformers brand, which led to many toys and characters being more overt homages to major characters from Generation 1 than past series produced. These homages did have a tendency to get garbled, though, due to different names or significantly altered characterization.

Unfortunately, the line, while moderately successful, didn't exactly light a fire under the brand the way Armada or Robots in Disguise had prior. A glut of early product, availability issues with later product, a less-than-cohesive play theme, and a poorly-received advertising cartoon proved to be stumbling blocks, and Hasbro began to re-think how to take the line forward from there.

Overview

Energon Class Strongarm

While Energon does have an overarching theme of "combination" ("energon" is oddly more of a minor feature in the line), it's not anywhere as clean-cut and uniform in actual execution as Armada's Mini-Con theme (or the Cyber Keys of the follow-up series Cybertron). There are multiple types of combination going on, split up between the price points and factions, which can be a bit confusing at first. Though virtually every new-mold toy featured Mini-Con Powerlinx-compatible points for that form of combination (but did not activate any gimmicks), Mini-Cons were significantly scaled back in Energon.

Superion Maximus, the combined form of the Air Team.

At the smallest price-point, the Omnicons and Terrorcons augment the larger toys with reconfigurable weapons, while the Mini-Cons sold at the same price are both combiner teams (one forming a weapon for larger toys). The "Combat Class" (aka Deluxe) and Mega Class Autobots can combine with each other to form two-bot gestalts, each bot having both an "upper body" and "lower body" configuration (also referred to as "shirt" and "pants" by parts of the fandom) that could be combined with any other. The larger Autobot toys, however, mostly combine with their own accessories (dubbed "Brute Modes") in ways that do not allow for cross-compatibility outside of same-mold redecos. Leader-Class Optimus Prime could also combine with two other larger Autobot toys, but again these combinations are quite specific and do not allow for real mix-and-match play.

Aside from the Mini-Con compatibility, the Decepticons were left out of the combination game (until the very tail-end of the line, at least), instead having "Hyper Modes" with built-in weapons that could be swung into attack position.

At the very back end of the series, five-robot "Scramble City"-like combiners were released, three teams of four "Energon" (Basic) Class figures with a Combat-Class torso. Unfortunately, in order to make up for the mold-reuse that allowed for three teams to exist (each limb-mold was used twice per team), the teams were split up across waves, and the tail-ender phenomenon left many fans wondering if they would actually be able to complete these long-awaited sets.

As the line premiered riding the popularity boom from Armada and retailers were eager for more product, stores ended up massively over-ordering early Energon product, leading to extreme shelfwarming for the first two waves. The situation was so severe, Hasbro removed much of the older product from stores' inventory to get "The Powerlinx Battles" subline to shelves in time for the 2004 holiday season. Much of this early stock would reappear on store shelves in "buy one get one" bonus buys in very large numbers.

Hasbro Energon toyline

As Transformers was still riding high on demand from Armada, the early Hasbro line was filled out with several redecoed and retooled Armada toys. This series also had a lot of ".5" revision waves, where new toys were added to the cases in mid-run, sometimes resulting in short-run figures if the new toy or the replaced one didn't carry over into future waves.

Multiple figures in the Energon toyline were sold in both the standard and The Powerlinx Battles packaging. All of the cases where a figure was released in both packaging variants are marked with an asterisk below. Full waves under the banner are marked with TPB.

General retail

Energon Class

The Basic-sized Omnicons and Terrorcons came with clear Energon weapons and "Energon Chips" that can be attached over the spark crystals of the new-mold Energon toys. Chips and weapons were red-tinted for Omnicons, and green/yellow for Terrorcons. The final three waves consisted of the limb figures for the Air Team, Construction Team and Destruction Team Powerlinx Combiners (the torsos were sold as part of the Combat Class). The limb figures all came with add-on weapons and Energon Chips, cast in blue clear plastic, and these weapons formed the hands or feet of the combined robot.

Wave 1 (December 2003) Battle Ravage Energon Saber (Scattor, Skyboom, Wreckage) Skyblast Strongarm		Wave 2 (January 2004) Cruellock Divebomb* Perceptor (Grindor, High Wire, Sureshock)* Signal Flare		Wave 3 (March 2004) Arcee* Insecticon*		Wave 4 (June 2004) Offshoot* Energon Strongarm*		Cruellock Windrazor
Wave 5 (TPB, August 2004) Command Ravage Doom-Lock		Wave 6 (TPB, October 2004) A1 Treadshot A2 Sky Shadow C1 Sledge C2 Duststorm		Wave 7 (TPB, January 2005) A3 Terradive A4 Windrazor D1 Stormcloud D4 Kickback		Wave 8 (TPB, February 2005) C3 Wideload C4 Bonecrusher D2 Blight D3 Blackout

Combat Class

Combat Class (and Mega Class, see below) Autobots, besides transforming from vehicle to robot, could also become the top or bottom half of a "Powerlinx" combination robot. While it was not widely advertised, the two size classes could freely inter-combine, with occasionally ludicrous results. This assortment also featured the torso figures for the combiners Superion Maximus, Constructicon Maximus and Bruticus Maximus.

Wave 1 (December 2003) Hot Shot Inferno Rapid Run (w/ Nightcruz & Nightscream)		Wave 1.5 Starscream		Wave 2 (February 2004) Prowl Rodimus* Snow Cat*		Wave 3 (April 2004) Demolishor*		Combat Class Hot Shot Combat Class Sharkticon
Wave 4 (July 2004) Downshift* Tow-Line*		Wave 5 Energon Hot Shot* Sharkticon*		Wave 5.5 (August 2004) Slugslinger*		Wave 6 (TPB, October 2004) A5 Storm Jet C5 Steamhammer
Wave 7 (TPB, December 2004) Energon Kicker & High Wire		Wave 7.5 (TPB) D5 Barricade		Wave 8 (TPB, February 2005) Roadblock Energon Starscream

Mega Class

Wave 1 (November 2003) Ironhide Treadbolt (w/ Rollbar)		Wave 1.5 (December 2003) Jetfire		Wave 2 (April 2004) Mirage		Wave 3 (June 2004) Cliffjumper* Shockblast*		Mega Class Beachcomber
Wave 3.5 (TPB, September 2004) Dreadwing Energon Ironhide		Wave 4 (TPB, October 2004) Beachcomber Grimlock & Swoop (Combine into Mega-Dinobot) Wing Saber		Wave 5 (TPB, February 2005) Alpha Quintesson Six Shot		Wave 5.5 (TPB, March 2005) Overcast

Command Class

Command Class Autobots (the new molds, at least) each include transforming accessories that form part of their vehicle modes. In robot mode they could combine with these pieces to be in "Brute Mode". Decepticons are just big.

Wave 1 (December 2003) Tidal Wave (w/ Ramjet) Ultra Magnus (w/ Knock Out, Astroscope, Payload, Sky Blast)		Wave 1.5 Scorponok*		Wave 2 (February 2004) Landmine		Wave 3 (June 2004) Bulkhead*		Command Class Scorponok
Wave 4 (TPB, September 2004) Landquake		Wave 5 (TPB, February 2005) Quickstrike

Leader Class

Wave 1 (December 2003) Optimus Prime

Wave 2 (February 2004) Megatron*

Wave 3 (TPB, November 2004) Galvatron

Leader Class Optimus Prime

Supreme Class

Wave 1 (January 2004) Unicron (w/ Dead End)

Wave 2 (June 2004) Omega Supreme*

Wave 3 (TPB, November 2004) Omega Sentinel

Role Play

Megatron Energon Sword*

Optimus Prime Energon Blaster
(The Powerlinx Battles)

Exclusives

Costco (November 2004) Overload with Rollout & Optimus Prime with Corona Sparkplug		KB Toys (September 2004) Cyclonus with Crumplezone Demolishor with Blackout		Kmart (November 2004) Autobots S.W.A.T. Team (The Powerlinx Battles) (Checkpoint & Prowl)		Sam's Club (August 2004) Prowl Vs Starscream (w/ Longarm & Zapmaster)		Combat Class Demolishor with Blackout
Toys"R"Us Powerlinx Optimus Prime Vs Megatron (The Powerlinx Battles) Adventure Team & Sea Team (Dune Runner, Iceberg, Ransack, Oceanglide, Stormcloud, Waterlog)		Toys"R"Us & Walmart (February 2004) Road Wrecker Team & Night Attack Team (Buzzsaw, Drill Bit, Dualor, Broadside, Fetch, Scattor) Race Team & Space Team (Dirt Boss, Downshift, Mirage, Astroscope, Payload, Sky Blast)		Walmart (canceled/used later) Piranhaking ("Archerbot", Nautilator, Overbite, Seawing, Snaptrap, Tentakil)

Hasbro Energon European market releases

For the most part, the European line was just the US line outlined above. However, two sets of KB Toys-exclusive toys from the 2003 Universe toyline got released under the Energon banner, because the Universe branding was not used in Europe at all.

Micromasters Series I First Aid Autobot Groove Hot Spot Prowl Red Alert Streetwise

Micromasters Series II Bonecrusher Buckethead Hightower Long Haul Quickmix Scavenger

The Constructicons

Takara Super Link toyline

Premiering about the same time as the Hasbro line, but during a time of great financial difficulty for Takara preceding the merger with Tomy, Super Link (a much more thematically-appropriate name) is a strange duck compared to Takara's handling of Legend of the Microns and Galaxy Force. In comparison with Energon overall, the line largely stuck with color tweaks, but ones that generally made the figures less accurate to the animation models, which were based on Hasbro's own early deco sheets. The expensive electronics of the Hasbro releases were stripped out, or greatly simplified in Grand Convoy's and Galvatron's cases, and Galvatron's entire mold was downsized to almost half its Hasbro Megatron size. Takara eventually filled out the line with a few more redecoes of the Terrorcon drones in limited numbers. Speaking of redecoes, many of the new-character redecoes in the back end of the Hasbro line were put into the cartoon as powered-up forms of the original characters... but then were never released in Japan, not even as store-exclusive "USA Editions". Even major-ish cartoon character Six Shot was absent from the Super Link toyline, presumably a further consequence of Takara's financial woes.

The energon weapons were something of a bigger draw in the line, as the "powered up" redeco toys (the "Energon _____" toys in the Hasbro line) were given new-color Omnicon/Terrorcon energon weapons as a bonus, plus numerous stores had exclusive-color energon weapons as free giveaways.

Super Link also coincided with the 30th anniversary of Microman, the toyline that would eventually branch off as Micro Change and Diaclone, the lines that would eventually give birth to Transformers. Takara celebrated this joint anniversary by releasing toys of human ally Kicker Jones in the Microman format.

General retail

Wave 1 (12-25-2003) SC-01 Grand Convoy Super Mode SC-02 Hot Shot SC-03 Inferno SC-04 Roadbuster SC-05 Skyfire SC-06 Blastarm SC-07 Airglide SC-08 Energon Saber		SD-01 Nightscream SD-02 Ironhide SD-03 Sandstorm SD-04 Shockwave SD-05 MegaZarak SD-06 Command Jaguar SS-01 Hot Shot & Inferno SS-02 Roadbuster & Skyfire		Wave 2 (2-26-2004) SC-09 Cliffjumper SD-07 Galvatron SD-08 Shadowhawk		Wave 3 (3-18-2004) SC-10 Rodimus Convoy SC-11 Red Alert SD-09 Command Jaguar Limited Desert Type		Shadowhawk Limited Cosmo Type SL Grand Convoy & Kicker Galvatron General
Wave 4 (3-25-2004) SC-12 Signal Flare SC-13 SL Grand Convoy SC-14 Kicker SL Grand Convoy & Kicker		Wave 5 (4-22-2004) SC-15 Landmine SD-10 Snowstorm		Wave 6 (4-28-2004) SD-11 Irontread		Wave 7 (5-13-2004) SD-12 Dinobot SD-13 Shadowhawk Limited Cosmo Type
Wave 8 (5-27-2004) SD-14 Laserwave		Wave 9 (6-10-2004) SC-16 Ariel SD-15 Shockfleet SD-16 Chromhorn		Wave 10 (6-24-2004) SC-17 Wing Saber		Wave 11 (7-15-2004) SC-18 Overdrive SC-19 Wheeljack
Wave 12 (7-29-2004) SC-20 Sprung SD-17 Dinobot Limited Magma Type		Wave 13 (8-5-2004) SD-18 Chromhorn Limited Forest Type		Wave 14 (8-26-2004) SC-21 Inferno Volt		Wave 15 (9-16-2004) SC-22 Omega Supreme
Wave 16 (9-30-2004) SC-23 Hot Shot Fire SC-24 Roadbuster Wild SC-25 Skyfire Sonic		SC-26 Superion SD-19 Nightscream Reverse SD-20 Galvatron General		Wave 17 (10-14-2004) SD-21 Bruticus

Exclusives

Store exclusives

Convenience stores (misc) Micron Booster Ver.1 (Beacon, Chrome, Crunch, Hover, Lens, Mile, Quantum, Solar, Spoil, Synapse, Thyristor, Torque)		Gamers Energy Raiden Overdrive Edition		Hello Mac Energy Axe Natural Green Edition		Ito Yokaido Energy Axe Black Hole Edition Energy Spear Rodeo Magenta Edition		Windcharger, the combined form of Toys"R"Us exclusives Accel, Screw and Throttle
JUSCO Energy Axe Violet Cluster Edition Energy Spear Corona Flame Edition		Lawson Micron Booster Vol.2 (Blitz, Brake, Cluster, Damper, Effect, Filter, Processor, Groove, Rotor, Saber, Seeker, Triac)		Posful Energy Spear Royal Clear Edition		Toys"R"Us EX-01 Buildron Accel Energy Axe Aqua Marine Edition Energy Spear Lightning Yellow Edition Screw Throttle
"Toy's Dream Project EX-02 Ariel Limited Paradron Type Sharkticon (USA Edition) Ultra Magnus (USA Edtion)		"TF Station" affiliates Energon Strongarm		Multiple outlets Energy Blade Phantom Night Edition / Energy Cutter Daylight Attack Edition

Media exclusives

Black Rodimus Convoy

TV Magazine

Energy Axe Clear Green Edition / Energy Spear Clear Deep Blue Edition

Fire Grand Convoy

Black Rodimus Convoy

Unknown exclusives

MX-00 Unicron Black Version

Post-Energon releases

There's really not a lot to speak of, at least as far as "new" product goes. A great many Energon items were re-branded under the original Transformers: Universe banner and sold at various "discount" chains, but those toys were all identical to the original releases outside of the packaging.

So we're only listing new stuff... and it's a small, small list.

Hasbro

Universe (2003) Downshift Snow Cat

Kre-O Energon Kicker

Legacy: United Energon Universe Megatron Energon Universe Galvatron

Legacy: United Core Class Megatron

Takara

Unite Warriors Grand Scourge

Cloud Roadbuster

New Legends Shockwave

Unite Warriors Grand Scourge