Micromaster

The name or term "Micromaster" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Micromaster (disambiguation).

Micromasters (or MicroMasters) are Transformers with small and extremely fuel-efficient bodies. Some were created that way, others were created as ordinary Transformers (or guzzlers, as Micromasters sometimes call normal-sized Transformers) and rebuilt into Micromasters. Transforming into (usually) tiny cars, planes, and other vehicles, they are depicted as roughly human-sized in robot mode in most continuities.

Some Micromasters are also Combiners. One kind are the Micromaster Combiners, who can each form either the front or back half of a combined vehicle. They are not constrained to joining only with their Combiner partner; they can join with any other as well as to the back of any Micro Trailer. In addition, there are the Combi-Micromasters, who combine into another humanoid robot. No character has ever been specifically designated as one, but the description at least fits the members of the Multiforce.

The Multiforce have another name all their own, namely DX Micromasters. What exactly a DX Micromaster is has never been explained. Perhaps it's a Micromaster who is no longer small and extremely fuel efficient?

Fiction

Marvel The Transformers comics

Events from the UK-only comic stories are in italics.

Makin' Micromasters!

The Micromasters were created by the Autobots as a downsizing means to increase fuel efficiency. Though at first the technology was created by the Autobots, the Decepticons were able to capture and study the Battle Patrol to learn the secrets themselves, and the first Decepticon Micromasters were born. A Small War!

The Micromasters served under Emirate Xaaron, with Fixit acting as one of the base's medics. Demons! Dawn of Darkness

Two of the Micromaster squads were deployed to Earth to assist Optimus Prime's forces, but they quickly went their own way. King Con! Soon they had all but integrated into New York City society, their small size allowing them to interact easily with humans. Only the arrival on Earth of the Decepticon Air Strike Patrol shook them loose from this position. The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!

The Air Strike Patrol soon proved to have ulterior motives for coming to Earth, as they, along with the Sports Car Patrol, were working for Megatron. Back from the Dead While the Air Strike Patrol manipulated Scorponok and Optimus Prime into a battle, the Sports Car Patrol kidnapped Ratchet and laid explosives aboard the Ark. The Resurrection Gambit! Blackjack wasn't able to maintain control of the Ark, however, and the rest of the patrol were defeated by Grimlock's Pretender team. All the Familiar Faces! Skin Deep

The Micromaster Autobots continued to play roles in the Autobot insurgency on Cybertron, though the Rescue Patrol prepared to leave for Earth. A teleportation accident transported them to the center of Cybertron, Yesterday's Heroes! where they nearly but not quite managed to defeat the Mayhem Attack Squad with help from their larger brethren. Primal Scream

Having arrived on Earth, the Rescue Patrol tangled with the Air Strike Patrol before Optimus Prime called them off upon realising how much damage their battle was causing to the planet's environment. The Greatest Gift of All!

The Air Strike Patrol would eventually meet their fate in Louisiana at the hands of a pissed-off mutant oil rig worker. The Human Factor!

In the absence of Ratchet, Fixit served as the chief medic aboard the Ark. Eye of the Storm The Pri¢e of Life!

A few of the Micromasters were still active many years later, when the Autobots followed the Dinobots to Hydrus Four to rescue them and prevent the resurrection of Megatron. Another Time & Place

Earthforce

These stories do not fit into the normal Marvel continuity. See Earthforce for details.

Grumpy old fogeys Prowl and Wheeljack moaned about all the confusing new types of Transformers in the war, Micromasters among them. Starting Over! One such Micromaster, Stakeout, was part of the "new age" who attended Optimus Prime's meeting with Grimlock about his old-school violent methods. Poor Stakeout was stuck under the table, unseen until Grimlock chucked it at the wall. Break-Away!

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Liner Team make themselves at home on Earth.

"Micro" Cybertronians fall into three separate classifications: Micromasters (マイクロトランスフォーマー Micro Transformer), small but otherwise normal Transformers; Micromaster Sixteams (マイクロマスター Micromaster), who can combine in groups of six into larger robots; and Mini-Cons (マイクロン Micron), who convert into weapons and equipment for larger Transformers to wield.

The story of these tiny Transformers began during the four-million-year period that followed Optimus Prime and Megatron's departure from Cybertron. A large number of the planet's non-transforming Autobot "Cyberdroid" population, unable to contribute to the war effort in any meaningful way due to their diminutive height and lack of conversion capabilities, decided instead to leave their homeworld and search for Optimus and the lost Matrix of Leadership. Most of their number were placed in hibernation capsules for the long space voyage, but this did not protect them from what was to come: partway into their journey, the Cyberdroids' ship was stuck by a dimensional shockwave, which catapulted them across the galaxy to the planet Earth in the early 1980s. The shockwave mutated and evolved their tiny bodies, granting them the ability to transform, but it also corrupted the minds of several of the crew, turning them into Decepticons. Adopting Earthly vehicular forms to hide on the strange new planet they now found themselves on, the Autobot Micromaster Liner Team and Turbo Team searched Earth for any sign of Optimus Prime, while simultaneously working to awaken the still-hibernating forms of their brethren before the Decepticon Micromaster Wing Team could seize the capsules and convert the tiny 'bots within to the side of evil. The Transformers: Micromaster Precisely how the Micromasters' conflict on Earth played out is unknown; Optimus and Megatron's forces awoke a few years after they arrived, and no information has been divulged about what happened to the Micromasters during this time. In the year 2035, however, the teams seen active during the early 80s conflict were once again operative on Earth, defending it against the forces of Decepticon High Regent Scrash. Operation Combination

In the intervening years, former Autobot commander Hot Rod took the other Micromasters under his command, becoming a Micromaster himself. Together, they decamped to another planet and built their own civilization, naming it after themselves: Planet Micro. Some elected to remain with the Autobots to help them continue the war, adopting weapon and equipment alternate modes and partnering up with larger 'bots: known examples of these "Mini-Cons" include Phaser and Groundshaker, partnered with Swerve and Tailgate, respectively. Tailgate/G1 Mini-Con Chapter

By the year 2025, Micro had become a thriving, technologically advanced world overseen by Branch Chief Raikuru, and even had representatives Holi, Pīpō, Fire and Boater serving in the Autobot army under Star Saber. Transformers: Victory

The development of Energon Z on Micro led to a military reinforcement program that saw the planet overhauled, refitted with a variety of new defense systems, and renamed "Zone". With the planet's new strategic importance in the renewed war against supernatural enemies like Violengiguar and Dark Nova, many high-ranking Autobots adopted alternate forms that could be used by Micromasters, like the Powered Masters and the Battlestars, who each also took on a personal Micromaster partner. Transformers: Zone Return of Convoy The Micromasters' primary role was to make contact with other planets and races for the betterment of all; presumably their small, non-threatening forms were important in this task. Zone story page #5

Following Dark Nova's defeat, the Autobot Sky Patrol Team were chosen for the Autobots' Power Core Combination process. Three of their number were upgraded into full-size "Master Class" Transformer bodies able to combine with drone units to form even larger, more powerful robots. Unfortunately, while he did not undergo the process, team leader Eagle Eye defected to the Decepticons and took knowledge of the new technology with him, enabling the villains to create their own "Master Chaos" warriors, who were then used by Scrash in his 2035 campaign. Transformers United EX

Having begun life as Autobots, this is the allegiance most "Micro" 'bots retain. Aside from those turned into Decepticons by the dimensional shockwave, and the teams that those converts then themselves converted (who would all apparently regain their original Autobot allegiance by 2035 anyway), and the defector Eagle Eye, there is only one known Decepticon Micromaster team: the Race Track Patrol Team, who were known to have willingly betrayed their Autobot comrades and joined Violengiguar's forces. Zone story page #9

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Micromaster technology was developed over 3.5 million years ago in response to the dwindling energy resources on Cybertron. With Autobot and Decepticon soldiers shutting down across the planet, both sides got to work developing smaller, energy-efficient bodies for the sake of continuing the war. More than Meets the Eye #8 At the earliest stages, this involved downsizing troops. However, the process was unrefined, posing a danger to applicants, and worse than that, inefficient.

Cover art is better. Trust us.

It was Shockwave who suggested the idea of both sides pooling resources to try and create new soldiers, before letting them choose which side they wanted to take. Somehow not suspecting the leader of the Decepticons of any ulterior motive, the Autobots agreed. Using whatever energy they could scrounge together, and with Shockwave secretly using Vector Sigma itself, a great many Micromasters were created, before being sequestered in a city named "Little Iacon" to acclimate to life on Cybertron. Destined for Nothing As part of the cross-factional experiment, both sides put the new 'bots through a joint training program during which they learned about both factions, allowing them to choose which one to join. Victims of the Revolution

Data on a Golden Disk discovered on Paradron had predicted this development, causing Countdown to wonder if becoming Micromasters to better interact with the universe's smaller beings was the Transformers' destiny. Recipe for Hate

Of course, the program soon fell apart, and Little Iacon fell into rioting, later labeled the "Meltdown Riots" by the Micromasters, Victims of the Revolution with both sides swooping in to grab whoever they could. This resulted in a generation of new Autobots and Decepticons hesitant to fight against those they'd been friends with, for a cause that only saw them as another step in the war. Little Iacon soon degenerated into a ghetto for the Micromasters to hang out and ignore the war entirely.

Over time, friction began to grow between some of the Micromasters and the "Guzzlers". The Decepticons, to no-one's surprise, frequently bullied or belittled their smaller comrades, often finding ways to deprive them of Energon. Destined for Nothing Or in some cases, just killed them for the small amount of Energon they carried. The Gray Race

By the time Countdown and Groundshaker returned from Operation: Containment, most of the "first-gen" Micromasters were dead. The Gray Race

On his return to Cybertron, the ambitious Skystalker tried to engineer the deaths of the larger mechanoids, only for his nemesis Countdown to talk them into presenting a unified front against the Decepticons. Once that was over, Countdown feared the brief alliance would disintegrate. His attempts at talking Big Daddy into helping maintain it went nowhere, though. Victims of the Revolution

2005 IDW continuity

Let's pretend this didn't happen...

The Micromasters were the results of Jhiaxus modifying the organic inhabitants of Gorlam Prime to be able to exist in both the universe and Dead Universe in anticipation of the Expansion. Spotlight: Hardhead The Sports Car Patrol confronted Nightbeat beneath Gorlam Prime. Spotlight: Nightbeat Nightbeat and Hardhead returned to find the population frozen in a transitional, technorganic state. They were pursued by many Micromasters. Spotlight: Hardhead Jhiaxus's Micromaster lackeys were last seen being dismembered by Arcee. The inhabitants of Gorlam Prime eventually emerged from their chrysalis state in new, apparently wholly mechanical, bodies. They renamed their planet Cybertron. Spotlight: Sideswipe

Then a few years later, the entire population of "Cybertron" was lured into the Dead Universe and eaten by D-Void. Oh well. Heart of Darkness #2

Meanwhile, the inhabitants of Devisiun evolved into a civilization of small combining twins. While linked to Metroplex's mind, Windblade caught a glimpse of Fireshot and Vanquish separating from each other on their homeworld. Windblade vol. 1 #4 Along with several other Cybertronian colonies, they were instrumental in the formation of the Council of Worlds. Windblade vol. 2 #6

Fun Publications Shattered Glass continuity

Razorclaw, a Decepticon Micromaster, and Ricochet with his Targetmaster partner Nightstick

Micromasters were an innovation of the Decepticons during the war, refitting bots with more efficient bodies using new engineering techniques that used less materials and smaller parts. Whisper and his brothers were among the first generation of Micromasters. These Decepticon Micromasters were nicknamed "Mini-Cons", as in "mini-Decepticon". Whisper's profile in Club magazine #25 A number of Micromasters were paired up with larger Decepticons, like Whisper with Sideswipe and Astrotrain's team. The Autobots would later develop their own Micromasters, and Ricochet would innovate the process by creating Targetmasters, Micromasters who possessed a third weapon mode that allowed them to be wielded (or control) larger bots. Do Over Both this universe's incarnations of the Predacons and the components of Superion were Micromasters. Memory's Splinter

Wings Universe

With Cybertron's energies dwindling, the Micromaster Initiative arose as a solution to the planet's energy woes. The Micromaster Cop-Tur teamed up with Countdown to spread the word of this initiative and convinced Flak into joining them. Battle Lines, Part 6

Beast Wars: Uprising

Thunderwing developed Micromaster technology during the war, shortly before seizing leadership of the Decepticons from Overlord. Cultural Appropriation As fuel supplies ran low, both sides began substituting Micromasters in favor of full-sized units. Identity Politics

Face it, you always wanted to see this.

Eventually, however, the war was called to a close. With the full-sized Autobots and Decepticons too exhausted and fuel-inefficient to fight, the Micromasters were some of the only Builders still capable of independent movement. The Builders looked down on the Micromasters as a new manual and military class, and though they were still considered Builders, Micromasters were not initially allowed to serve on the Builder Assembly. Identity Politics As energy rations ran low, the Micromasters founded "Micropolis", a permanent cross-factional conglomeration of Micromaster bases which eventually grew into a full-fledged, Micromaster-scaled city. Hot Rod was one of the very few Builders to undergo the downsizing process. Inspired by his example, members of the Aerialbots, Constructicons, and Protectobots would do the same over the next seventy years. As a consequence of the low energy supplies, all Micromasters were kept at a quarter of full energon rations. Micro-Aggressions

When the Maximals and Predacons appeared on the scene, the Micromasters were made superior to their more energy-efficient successors. In instances where both sides went off-world, Micromasters served as political officers, making sure both toed the line while making sure neither worked together. Intersectionality Additionally Micromasters served as guards on important facilities such as Fortress Maximus or the Forever Vaults, rather than Maximals or Predacons. Broken Windshields Head Games Micro-Aggressions When the Grand Uprising began, all Micromasters got bumped up to half-rations to better combat the growing Resistance. Micro-Aggressions The various Micromaster armies were pushed back all across Cybertron by Megatron's Beast Upgrade. Safe Spaces The war between Resistance and Builder took an unexpected turn when Vehicons were introduced to the mix. Under Hot Rod's command, the surviving Micromasters allied themselves with the Army of the Resistance to fend off the attack. After the conclusion of the first Vehicon Apocalypse, full-sized Builders were almost extinct, but Micromasters remained to carry on their legacy alongside the Maximals and Predacons. Derailment

2001 Robots in Disguise cartoon

Shell Game continuity

Micromasters such as Beta Maxx were constructed millions of years ago, during the planet's Golden Age. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/30

Unicron Trilogy

Ask Vector Prime

In Aurex 1104.30-DB Zeta, Dr. Jones reverse-engineered combiner technology and applied it to a number of Mini-Cons. The upgrade changed them into Micromasters, an entirely new breed of Cybertronian life. However, the Decepticons stole this upgrade and used it to create their own team of Micromasters, who combined to form Devastator. Ask Vector Prime, 31/7/2015

Ask Vector Prime

Vector Prime observed the many similarities between Mini-Cons, Micromasters, and Cyberdroids, and noted that, due to trans-dimensional harmonic resonance, a Mini-Con might have identical counterparts who belonged to one of these other groups in other universal clusters, while small Autobots like Minimus Ambus had Mini-Con, Micromaster, and Cyberdroid counterparts elsewhere in the multiverse. More than once, Vector opined that the distinction between the three subgroups boiled down to linguistics—in his opinion, different realities used different names to describe the same core concept. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/05/20 Ask Vector Prime, 2015/06/07

TransTech

The first Mini-Cons who arrived in Axiom Nexus were misidentified as Micromasters. Rook - Axiom Nexus News, 2015/05/09

Full-sized Micromasters

For various reasons, Micromaster characters have occasionally shown up in Transformers fiction as full-sized robots in scale with regular Cybertronians.

• Flak and Sunrunner in Marvel Comics' UK story, Aspects of Evil
• Countdown, Groundshaker, and Skyhopper in Dreamwave's Generation 1 comics
• Flak, Countdown, Vanquish, Terror-Tread, Cement-Head, and Tread Bolt in the Wingsverse
• Countdown, Fixit, Tailwind, Barricade, Grit, Knockout, Vanquish, Stakeout, Blackjack, Oiler, and Slide in IDW's 2005-2018 comics
• Big Daddy in Shattered Glass
• The Battle Squad in Regeneration One
• Tread Bolt, Sky High, and Blaze Master as Master Class in United EX
• Visper, Storm Cloud, Flak, Stakeout, Fixit, Hyperdrive, Blackjack, Tracer, Skystalker, and Groundbuster in IDW's 2019 comics

Games

Transformers: Earth Wars

Hound said he trusted Megatron about as far as a Micromaster could throw him. Networking

Transformers Roleplaying Game

Micromaster technology helped play a part in the development of Maximals and Predacons. Technorganic Secrets

Toys

The Transformers

It sucked to be American.

The Micromasters were first released in the US and European markets in the two final years of the Generation 1 toyline, 1989 and 1990, as a market response to the growing popularity of Micro Machines. The Generation 1 Micromasters were packaged as Patrols, Squads, Transports, Stations, or Bases.

Each Micromaster stands about two inches (5 cm) high in robot mode, making them the smallest Transformers released to that point (since surpassed by a few members of the Smallest Transforming Transformers line). Many share a standardized transformation scheme of "flip out rear of vehicle to form legs; swing up arms from side." Articulation is generally limited to swiveling shoulders and knee joints (the latter limited by conjoined uni-feet).

Micromaster Patrols (1989) Off Road Patrol (Highjump, Mudslinger, Powertrain, and Tote) Race Car Patrol (Tailspin, Free Wheeler, Roadhandler, and Swindler) Rescue Patrol (Seawatch, Stakeout, Fixit, and Red Hot)

Battle Patrol (Big Shot, Sidetrack, Sunrunner, and Flak) Air Strike Patrol (Nightflight, Storm Cloud, Whisper, and Tailwind) Sports Car Patrol (Detour, Blackjack, Hyperdrive, and Road Hugger)

The Rescue Patrol

Micromaster Patrols (1990) Construction Patrol (Neutro, Groundpounder, Crumble, and Takedown) Air Patrol (Sky High, Eagle Eye, Blaze Master, and Tread Bolt) Monster Trucks Patrol (Hydraulic, Slow Poke, Big Hauler, and Heavy Tread)		Hot Rod Patrol (Big Daddy, Trip-Up, Greaser, and Hubs) Race Track Patrol (Roller Force, Barricade, Ground Hog, and Motorhead) Military Patrol (Bombshock, Tracer, Dropshot, and Growl)		The Sports Car Patrol
The Patrols came carded in four-packs beginning in 1989, with a couple following in 1990. All were sold at the $5 price point. Each patrol's alternate modes generally have a recurring common theme—for example, military vehicles in the case of the Military Patrol, or planes and helicopters in the case of the Air Patrol.

Micromaster Combiner Squads Metro Squad (Wheel Blaze, Roadburner, Oiler, Slide, Power Run, and Strikedown) Astro Squad (Phaser, Blast Master, Moonrock, Missile Master, Barrage, and Heave)		Battle Squad (Meltdown, Half-Track, Direct-Hit, Power Punch, Fireshot, and Vanquish) Constructor Squad (Stonecruncher, Excavator, Sledge, Hammer, Grit, and Knockout)		The First Combinental Congress
The Combiner Squads were sold in carded six-packs in 1990. Each Squad consist of six Micromaster Combiners, thus making three vehicles in their alt mode. Micromaster Combiners transform into half of a vehicle form, which can use standardized connection plugs to combine with any other Micromaster Combiner to form a complete vehicle. Not all combinations make a lot of sense—the rear half of a dump truck connected to the front half of a space shuttle isn't anything you can win a war with, eh?

Micromaster Transports (1989) Erector Overload		Flattop Roughstuff		Erector? I hardly knew 'er!
The Micromaster Transports are single Micromasters that come with a transforming vehicle with which they can interact in some way. Flattop transforms into a jet and comes with an aircraft carrier, whereas the other three transform into trucks and pull transforming trailers. Except for Erector's trailer, all the additional vehicles transform into jets. They were released in 1989.

Micromaster Combiner Transports (1990) Missile Launcher with Retro and Surge Tanker Truck with Pipeline and Gusher Cannon Transport with Terror-Tread and Cement-Head		The Tanker Truck. THE Tanker Truck. Apparently it's the only tanker truck in the whole Transformers universe.
The Combiner Transports consist of a pair of Micromaster Combiners and a big transforming trailer. Each trailer can optionally transform into a big battle station or into two separate fighting vehicles, each manned by one of the Combiners.

Micromaster Stations (1989) Hot House with fire station Ironworks with construction station		Greasepit with gas station Airwave with airport		The Airport, featuring the largest plane length to runway length ratio of any airport in the universe.
The stations are big bases commanded by a single Transformer and disguised as human buildings. Hot House's station stands out a bit, as it is mobile in its alternate mode instead of being a stationary base.

Micromaster Bases (1989) Groundshaker with ATV Countdown with Rocket Base		Skyhopper with Helicopter Skystalker with Interstellar shuttle		The Rocket Base is one hundred and forty kilometers due west of the Autobot camp.
The Micromaster Bases are huge fighting vehicles that transform into even bigger battle stations. They are commanded by a single Micromaster. Countdown's and Skystalker's vehicles are a big chunk taller than those of Groundshaker and Skyhopper, indicating that these two should be seen as the respective leaders of their Micromaster factions.

Micromaster Combiner Bases (1990) Battlefield Headquarters with Full-Barrel and Overflow Anti-Aircraft Base with Blackout and Spaceshot		The Anti-Aircraft Base, operated by two guys who become an aircraft. Self-loathing, much?
The Combiner bases are large vehicles commanded by a combiner duo. While the Decepticon Anti-Aircraft Base is pretty similar in concept to the previous year's Bases (transforming from a tank into a battle station), the Battlefield Headquarters lacks a base mode, instead transforming from an earthbound vehicle (a truck) into two airborne ones (a space shuttle and an attack jet).

• Micromaster Bases (Unreleased)

• A Micromaster carrier-base

A resin prototype for a base akin to the Rocket Base was produced at some point, but the toy was never taken into production.

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers

Japan as well released lots of Micromasters during their Zone, Return of Convoy, and Operation Combination toylines (and later rereleases during Micromaster). Most of them were identical to their western releases, but some were recolored or renamed and most Decepticons were depicted as Autobots. Next to this, the characterization they received in fiction differed heavily from their Western appearances, depicting them as childish, young and inexperienced compared to the bigger Transformers.

Micro Trailer

Return of Convoy Big Truck Team (Big Hauler, Heavy Tread, Hydraulic, Slow Poke) Hot Rod Team (Grease, Legs, Lucas, Vanishing) Military Team (Bombshock, Dropshot, Growl, Tracer) Shuttle Rocket W Team (Blast Master, Missile Master, Moonrock, Phaser)

Fire Tanker W Team (Oiler, Roadburner, Slide, Wheel Blaze) Radar Hover W Team (Barrage, Heave, Power Run, Strikedown) Dump Shovel W Team (Grit, Hammer, Knockout, Sledge) Crane Cannon W Team (Direct-Hit, Excavator, Power Punch, Stonecruncher)

Jet Tank W Team (Fireshot, Half-Track, Meltdown, Vanquish) Rescue Patrol Team (Boater, Fire, Holi, Pīpō) Battle Patrol Team (Gunlift, Powerbomb, Sidetrack, Sunrunner) Super Car Patrol Team (Black Heat, Deadhour, Gingham, Road Hugger)

Hot Rodimus (only available with Star Convoy) Shotbomber (only available with Sky Garry)

Micro Trailer #11, which came with the Battle Patrol Team

Micromaster Six-Teams

Apart from releasing US-made Micromasters, Takara also developed the Micromaster concept further on their own, resulting in the Micromaster Six-Teams, Micromasters that combined to form a bigger robot similar to the full-size Transformer combiners.

Return of Convoy Sixliner (Alan, D-Go, Joe, Leaf, Night, Spark

Operation Combination Sixbuilder (Crush-Bull, Digger, Gran Arm, Iron Lift, Mixing, Treader Sixtrain (Atlan, Converter, Desire, Raise, San D-Go, Windy) Sixturbo (Circuit, Discharge, Glide, Neo-Wheel, Road Police, Sireen Sixwing (Chain Gun, Falcon, Flanker, Missile Run, Raker, Supersonic

Sixturbo

Powered Master partners

Zone Drillbuster (only available with Roadfire, who could be purchased with or without Sonic Bomber and Dai Atlas) Sonic (only available with Sonic Bomber, who could be purchased with or without Roadfire and Dai Atlas) Speeder (only available with Dai Atlas, who could be purchased with or without Sonic Bomber and Roadfire)

Return of Convoy Spinner (only available with Grandus)

Micro Transformers: American Rescue Team

An obscure toyline released only in Japan, the one-shot Micro Transformers: American Rescue Team line saw yet another re-release of the Zone-era Japanese Generation 1 Rescue Patrol Team (now dubbed the "American Rescue Team") in 1996, after the canceled Block Town line (which was also going feature the team—among other figures). The line itself features no branding to place it within any established continuity or timeline, the figures don't have any names beyond what they turn into, and the line lacks all forms of faction insignia, making it hard to determine what the intent is for this line and who these 4 are even supposed to be.

The American Rescue Team members were each sold separately in boxes which were marked on the front as to which figure was included. Each figure came with a puzzle piece that made up a city-schemed playmat, and a sweet. All of the figures are essentially identical to both the Hasbro Rescue Patrol and all three Takara Rescue Patrol Team releases. The only noticeable differences for this release is a "CHINA" stamp tampographed onto the leg of each member.

Patrol Car

Ambulance

Fire Engine

High Speed Boat

Armada

Not originally sold as a "Micromaster" in the Armada toyline, an entry of Ask Vector Prime retroactively referred to the combined form of Mini-Cons Rook and Crosswise as a "Micromaster".

Mirror (Rook and Crosswise, only available with Sideways)

Micromaster

Released in six separate waves, each of the first five waves of the Micromaster toyline comprised a reissue of a combining Sixteam from the Return of Convoy and Operation Combination toylines, while the final wave was a reissue of Victory's Multiforce, now rebranded "DX Micromasters." Each team was redeco'd from the original figures to different extents (some received entirely new color schemes, while others remained the same), but all of them featured new tampographs and paint applications instead of stickers. From the second wave onward, in every case of 12 figures, two figures were available in a rare "chase" coloration, usually representing the team's transformed or powered-up state, as featured in the storyline.

Sixliner (Alan, D-Go, Joe, Leaf, Night, Spark Sixtrain (Atlan, Converter, Desire, Raise, San D-Go, Windy) Sixturbo (Circuit, Discharge, Glide, Neo-Wheel, Road Police, Sireen

Sixwing (Chain Gun, Falcon, Flanker, Missile Run, Raker, Supersonic Sixbuilder (Crush-Bull, Digger, Gran Arm, Iron Lift, Mixing, Treader Decepticon Sixbuilder (Bonecrusher, Scavenger, Scrapper, Gren, Mixmaster, Long Haul)

Sixtrain "Red Mode"

Universe (2003)

The "MicroMasters" returned to North American markets in 2004 under the Universe label as KB Toys exclusives. Inspired by Takara's slightly-redecoed Sixteam reissues, Hasbro decided to sell them as well. Sixturbo, Sixwing, and Sixbuilder were further redecoed and renamed to evoke the Generation 1 Protectobots, Aerialbots, and Constructicons, respectively. Sixtrain was not redecoed, but he was renamed according to the 2001 Robots in Disguise franchise Team Bullet Train (with a few additions).

In Europe, the Micromasters were available as mass retail releases, but in Energon (Protectobots, Constructicons) and Cybertron (Railbots, Aerialbots) instead of Universe packaging.

Defensor (slightly redecoed Sixturbo): First Aid, Groove, Hot Spot, Prowl, Red Alert, Streetwise Rail Racer (Sixtrain): Midnight Express, Overload, Railspike, Rapid Run, Swindle, Tankor

Superion (redecoed Sixwing): Air Raid, Fireflight, Ro-Tor, Silverbolt, Skydive, Storm Jet Constructicon Devastator (redecoed Sixbuilder): Bonecrusher, Buckethead, Hightower, Long Haul, Quickmix, Scavenger

Timelines

Partner Micromasters Cop-Tur Krunix
These Micromasters were redecos of Mini-Cons in the Universe toyline.

War for Cybertron: Siege

The War for Cybertron: Siege Micromasters come in 2-packs of each member, transforming into their respective vehicle modes before combining into a 5 mm weapon for larger figures to wield. A Battle Master's effect parts can be placed in the barrels of those with gun modes, and unlike the originals, the new Micromasters feature extensive articulation with ball-jointed shoulders, knees and hips, with the rare occasion of hinged elbows. Soundwave's deployers are now integrated into this, and their cassette modes were reinvented with flip-out 5 mm posts to acts as shields. The returning Micromasters replaced the Legends Class figures of the last decade, and were replaced in turn by Core Class.

Wave 1 WFC-S4 Roadhandler & Swindler (Race Car Patrol) WFC-S5 Storm Cloud & Visper (Air Strike Patrol) WFC-S6 Autobot Topshot & Flak (Battle Patrol)	Wave 2 WFC-S18 Laserbeak & Ravage (Soundwave Spy Patrol) WFC-S19 Red Heat & Stakeout (Rescue Patrol)	Wave 3 WFC-S32 Decepticon Blackjack & Hyperdrive (Sports Car Patrol)	Wave 4 WFC-S33 Highjump & Powertrain (Off Road Patrol)		Micromasters Roadhandler and Swindler
Wave 5 WFC-S46 Rumble & Ratbat (Soundwave Spy Patrol) WFC-S47 Direct-Hit & Power Punch (Battle Squad)	Target WFC-S58 Road-Police & Wheel Blaze WFC-S59 Ground Shaker & Overair WFC-S60 Ricon & Irontread WFC-S61 Nightflight & Slyhopper WFC-S62 Cratermaker & Fireline	Partner Micromasters WFC-S29 Autobot Countdown (w/ Omega Supreme)

War for Cybertron: Earthrise

Wave 1 WFC-E3 Trip-Up & Autobot Daddy-O (Hot Rod Patrol) WFC-E4 Bombshock & Decepticon Growl (Military Patrol)

Wave 2 WFC-E15 Roller Force & Decepticon Ground Hog (Race Track Patrol) WFC-E16 Fuzer & Autobot Blast Master (Astro Squad)

Amazon Fireguard & Roadburner Decepticon Runner & Motorhead Stingracer & Windstorm Fuzer & Autobot Blast Master Missile Master & Moonrock

Micromaster Roller Force

War for Cybertron Trilogy

Battle 3-Pack Ravage and Laserbeak (w/ Decepticon Soundwave)

Generations Selects WFC-GS10 Soundwave Spy Patrol 3rd Unit (Decepticon Wingthing, Decepticon Frenzy, Decepticon Skar & Autobot/Decepticon Knok)

"Micromaster" Ravage

Legacy: Evolution

Generations Selects Lunar-Tread (w/ Guardian Robot)

Micromaster Lunar-Tread

Notes

Absolutely, positively not inspired by Micro Machines. No sir. Not at all.

• The original Micromaster play pattern was Hasbro's attempt to compete with Galoob's popular Micro Machines line that had been launched in 1987, with Hasbro borrowing the multipack concept and base interconnectivity directly from the Galoob's original assortments. An early name, "Micro Transformers", was featured on the packaging of the first Micromaster Patrol assortment released in late 1988 (Air Strike Patrol, Off Road Patrol and Race Car Patrol). The name "Micromaster" only appears in plain neutral text on that early packaging, in conjunction with the name of the respective patrol. For the 1989 releases, Hasbro completely redesigned the packaging, introduced an all-new "Transformers" logo, dropped the name "Micro Transformers" and made "Micromasters" the main name of the entire line-up, very likely to avoid any marketplace confusion or legal conflicts with Micro Machines. In the United States, those three aforementioned patrols (Air Strike Patrol, Off Road Patrol and Race Car Patrol) were only available in that late 1988-style packaging; however, in the United Kingdom, they were released in standard (English-only) silver packaging, complete with the new 1989-style Transformers logo. In the Netherlands, they were available in both packaging versions (with texts in French and Dutch).
• All four Micromaster Station molds were reused sans Micromasters in Takara's Brave Police series a few years later, under the subline name "Distortion Machines".
• While the first Universe franchise redecoed a number of Micromaster molds as non-Micromaster characters, the newer Universe toyline used several Micromaster characters as the basis of redecoes of non-Micromaster toys.
• Within the Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity—and only taking the production material for the cartoons themselves into account—the Micromasters aren't actually "micro" at all! In fact, they are just ever-so-slightly shorter than the "standard-sized" Autobot Cars from the original cartoon, which stand at four meters high—so they're basically the same height as, say, Huffer. The only thing that really makes them seem as small as they are in the Victory and Zone cartoons, is the fact that the characters around them are huge. In the original cartoon, Optimus Prime stood at six meters tall. Star Saber is twenty-two meters tall, which puts Optimus roughly below his kneecap. Don't believe us? Look over the cartoon scale charts we have compiled together, and the respective heights listed, and have a good laugh at the insane size differences between the characters of the original cartoon and the characters of its Japanese sequels!
  • That being said, scale was never something that remained consistent from episode to episode within the cartoons themselves, despite there being references for the animators to go off of. Even the characters from the original series that appear in Victory (Perceptor and Wheeljack), don't follow these scale parameters, and most tie-in fiction depicts all of these characters as being whatever size the artist thinks is best. It's just a funny thing to point out, when taking it at face-value.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Micro Transformer (マイクロトランスフォーマー Maikuro Toransufōmā), Micromaster (マイクロマスター Maikuromasutā)
• Italian: Microtransformers