Triple Changer

The Triple Changers are Transformers that are mostly from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Blitzwing demonstrates his triple-changing abilities, transforming from an incredibly unconvincing jet into a tank that's only slightly unconvincing.

In their quest for ever-greater machines of war, the Decepticons developed warriors with two distinct alternate forms. These Triple Changers can travel by land and air with equal ease, and in the heat of battle they can rapidly change form to confuse and outflank the enemy. To counter this threat, the Autobots also developed their own group of Triple Changers.

The Triple Changers are:

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• Decepticons:
  • Astrotrain
  • Blitzwing
  • Octane

• Autobots:
  • Broadside
  • Sandstorm
  • Springer

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In Transformers fiction, the term "Triple Changer" refers almost exclusively to these two subgroups, which are the only such characters ever shown as cohesive teams. However, other official sources such as toy packaging, catalogs, Hasbro spokespersons, and commercials have applied the term "Triple Changer" rather haphazardly to many other characters from various continuities. Further muddying the waters, a few characters with three distinct modes have never been labeled as Triple Changers in toys or fiction, even in cases where it would really make sense to do so.

Japanese name (Autobots): Triplebot

Japanese name (Decepticons): Tripletron

Hungarian name: Triplaváltozók

Fiction

Marvel Comics continuity

Generation 1

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

Didja ever wonder what guys like Astrotrain do if they have an itch in the middle of their back? That's gotta suck for 'em. There is no way he can reach back there.

The Decepticon Triple Changers existed for an unknown length of time, and Octane and Blitzwing developed a reputation as two of Cybertron's deadliest killers: key targets in Operation: Volcano. Target: 2006 The deadly killer Octane would later oversee a slave camp and run away screaming from Autobots. Resurrection!

The Decepticon Triple Changers were called into service by Ratbat when a freighter that he had sent to Earth failed to make contact upon its arrival. The three Triple Changers traveled to Earth via space bridge and located the crashed freighter at the bottom of an impact crater. They quickly discovered that the pilot had become infected with scraplets...which immediately infected them as well. Despite the rapidly spreading disease, they were happy to attack two Autobots who arrived to investigate the crater. One of the Autobots fled, while the other proved to be a fair match for the trio. Crater Critters

Eventually, they overpowered and captured Blaster, taking him prisoner. Astrotrain contacted Ratbat on Cybertron, requesting a cure. Instead, Ratbat dispatched a group of captured Autobots with orders to destroy all the infected Transformers on Earth with canisters of acid...including his own troops! Weakened by the disease, the Triple Changers could do little but sit around in the crater and wait for the end to come, whether by acid melting or scraplet consumption.

Luckily for the Triple Changers, the other Autobot, Goldbug, had managed to find a cure for the disease. Though Blaster demanded that Goldbug kill him along with the Decepticons rather than curing them, Goldbug's hand was forced the other way when the scraplets merged into a titanic combined form. He sprayed the cure on all the crater's occupants, including the Decepticons. Quickly recovering, the Triple Changers rallied to the attack, bringing down the combined scraplet monster with their weapons. Subsequently, they grabbed the cargo of the crashed freighter and made good their escape. The Cure!

The Triple Changers subsequently joined the main force of Decepticons on Earth, initially under Shockwave's command, then later Ratbat's. They participated in the great battle against the Autobots on the Moon Totaled!, played host to human guests at Club Con Club Con!, and battled Scorponok's forces in the Arctic, a battle in which they fared particularly well. Cold War! They didn't fare so well against the Underbase-powered Starscream, however, who slaughtered all three of them in a single blast.

During the Earthforce conflict of... er, whenever it was, the Triple Changers would serve under Shockwave. The Bad Guy's Ball! Their great highlights were helping beat the snot out of Megatron Secrets and joining the massed attack on Autobot Earthbase. Divide and Conquer! Their lowlight was Octane getting stuck on a military firing range while full of fuel, and Astrotrain and Blitzwing leaving him behind out of annoyance. Manoeuvres!

In a dystopian future, they served under Galvatron and killed Crossblades. Rhythms of Darkness!

The Autobot Triple Changers first came to prominence in the days leading up to Operation: Volcano; they were called into service by Emirate Xaaron to fill in for Ultra Magnus, should the latter not return from Earth in time to participate in the mission. They convinced the Wreckers' leader, Impactor, that they would be up to the challenge by beating the stuffing out of him before rocketing back to the Autobot base, Debris. When Impactor was killed in the aborted mission, Triple Changer Springer took over as Wrecker leader, with the other two becoming part of the force as well. Target: 2006

The Triple Changers participated in several of the Wreckers' missions on Cybertron City of Fear! and Earth. Wrecking Havoc After the latter mission turned into a near-disaster, Sandstorm and Broadside were sent to Earth along with Inferno as an advance guard. Firebug! Cold Comfort and Joy!

They were still with the Wreckers during the catastrophic battle against Megatron and Galvatron, which saw Sandstorm destroyed. Broadside and Springer survived Time Wars, eventually going on to form the Survivors group Survivors! and later hooking up with Grimlock's Earthforce Wolf in the Fold!.

In a possible future, Springer and Sandstorm would be two of the last Autobots when the war ended in 2510. Rodimus Prime made Springer his successor, only for fighting to break out over it; Sandstorm fired the second shot, killing Triton. Peace

Generation 2

Broadside was part of a team of "Firestormers" that raided various Decepticon outposts across the galaxy. War Without End! Springer, meanwhile, had apparently joined Optimus Prime's main force of Autobots and participated in a counter-Decepticon raid on Ethos Escalation! as well as the final battle against the Swarm on Earth. A Rage in Heaven!

Octane was also present in the conflict, but not for long. Total War!

Dreamwave Comics

This detailed, scientific cut-away view reveals that underneath all that armor, Blitzwing is... made of mechanical stuff.

Triple Changers Blitzwing, Octane and Astrotrain were involved in Decepticon battle operations around the time that Optimus Prime rose to command the Autobots. They participated in a major attack on Iacon. The War Within issue 3

Later, Blitzwing spontaneously began to grow new parts, perhaps heralding his evolution into a Triple Changer. Yes, we know this makes no sense. Recipe for Hate

As a Triple Changer, the subject can change between modes three times as fast as a normal Transformer.

IDW Comics

Astrotrain and Blitzwing were part of Starscream's Infiltration Unit on Earth. Infiltration They survived attacks by the Reapers and Autobots before the Autobots were driven from the planet. Devastation (IDW) When the Autobots returned with Omega Supreme, the Decepticons retreated into space, ferried by Astrotrain. All Hail Megatron

Broadside, Tankor and Springer are in this continuity but it's unknown if they are Triple-Changers.

Toys

Generation 1

In a line cut from The Transformers: The Movie, Blitzwing says that as a Triple Changer, he's worth any two of his comrades. But it turns out that he retailed for a bit less than the Seekers.

• Decepticon Triple Changers (1985)
  • Astrotrain
  • Blitzwing

• Autobot Triple Changers (1986)
  • Broadside
  • Sandstorm
  • Springer

• Decepticon Triple Changers (1986)
  • Octane

The original Triple Changers were released in the second year of Generation 1, and were sufficiently popular to inspire 4 more in 1986.

Classics

• Astrotrain (2006)

Universe (2008)

• Tankor

Octane with a new name.

This list includes only toys that actually have three modes. Several of the Triple Changer characters have had later releases in other toy molds, most notably Sandstorm and Springer, but these forms lacked the third mode required to qualify as Triple Changers.

Subsequent toys labeled as "Triple Changers"

Generation 1

• Scorponok (called a "Headmaster Triple Changer base" in a commercial and in "Doomsday for Nebulos.")

Generation 2

• Dreadwing (1994)

The bomber/tank/robot describes himself as "triple-changing Dreadwing" in a television commercial. Another commercial has the announcer saying "Dreadwing is a Triple Changer."

Beast Wars

Depth Charge: a triple-changing Transmetal from the Beast Wars

• Depth Charge (1998)
• Rampage (1998)

Although the packaging says "3 mode conversion", the commercial announcer says that each of these characters "triple changes".

Armada

File:Armada Laserbeak toy.jpg

The only Triple Changer from Armada: Laserbeak

• Laserbeak (2002)

Energon

• Scorponok (2004)
• Shockblast (2004)

Cybertron

• Megatron (2005)
• Anti-Blaze (2006)
• Checkpoint (2006)
• Scythe (2006)
• Cryo Scourge (2006)
• Galvatron (2006)

Animated

• Blitzwing (2008)

Revenge of the Fallen

Triple-changing Soundwave, superior!

• Mixmaster (2009)
• Soundwave (2009)
• Megatron<ref>Megatron was identified as a Triple Changer in Revenge of the Fallen: The Movie Universe and was shown with two alternate modes in Revenge of the Fallen Movie Adaptation. He did not display this ability in the film or his toys.</ref> (2009)

Unreleased

• Dropshot
• A helicopter/plane Triple Changer
• ATB Megatron (called a Triple Changer by a Hasbro pitch man.)

Retroactively labeled as Triple Changers

• Dreamwave's More Than Meets The Eye profile book series identifies Apeface and Snapdragon as Triple Changers.

• Dreamwave's More Than Meets The Eye: Armada book labels Over-Run as a Triple Changer, also stating that other Mini-Cons with a third mode are Triple Changers.

• IDW's Beast Wars Sourcebook labels Bigmos and B'Boom as Triple Changers, but not the characters who share their molds.

References

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