Legends Class (2005)

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

The Legends Class (originally known as Legends of Cybertron; see Trivia below), known as EZ Collection in Japan, is a sub-line of Transformers toys that are about 3 inches in height. All the original molds are based on toys/characters that are also available in other sizes, with less sculpted detail and often with different, simplified transformations. Unlike other size classes, which are viewed as part of the respective toyline they've been released under and nothing else, the Legends toys have been continuously numbered as "series" across three subsequent toylines.

The Legends size class originally started out as a sub-set during the Cybertron toyline's run, featuring small, simple, easily affordable versions of some of the show's core cast. Released in waves of four, the toys were originally available in smaller "market six" chain stores like Meijers for around $3.99, although later waves were later also available at Toys "R" Us and Kmart. The molds were later redecoed as Generation 1 characters for the Classics line.

The 2007 live-action movie toyline introduced a batch of entirely new molds, later expanded by various redecos of those molds, most of which were available as part of the Allspark Battles two-packs (which also introduced more new molds).

The 2008 Universe line featured more redecos of the old Cybertron-derived molds as Generation 1 characters, coupled with new molds, which are thus far alternatively "Classic" toys based on Generation 1 and Generation 2 characters and Legends-sized versions of Animated characters, which are released as part of the Universe rather than the Animated toyline (although minor redecos were also released as part of store exclusive multi-packs in Animated packaging).

The Revenge of the Fallen line basically followed up from the 2007 Movie line with new molds for Revenge of the Fallen characters and some returning Movie characters, plus redecos of various 2007 Movie Legends Class toys. Some store exclusive multi-packs also contain redecos of Universe Legends Class molds.

Cybertron

Series 1 (Wave 1)

• Hot Shot
• Optimus Prime
• Megatron
• Starscream

Series 2 (Wave 2)

• Evac
• Jetfire
• Leobreaker
• Scourge

Waves 1 and 2 were only available at smaller retailers and specialty stores. Waves 3 (including carry-overs from wave 2) and 4 were also available at Toys"R"Us and Kmart.

Series 3 (Wave 3)

• Galvatron
• Red Alert (Cybertron Defense Red Alert body)
• Soundwave
• Vector Prime

Series 4 (Wave 4)

• Hot Shot (Excellion deco)
• Optimus Prime (Galaxy Force Optimus Prime deco)
• Sunstorm
• Thundercracker

US multi-packs

• Legends 4-Pack (Target exclusive), contains:
  • Megatron
  • Soundwave
  • Jetfire
  • Optimus Prime

None of these toys was changed from its original single release.

US convention exclusives

• Skywarp (San Diego Comic-Con 2005, free giveaway for attending Hasbro's showroom)
• Ramjet (Universe deco; BotCon 2005, free giveaway for attending Hasbro's showroom)

Japanese single pack releases (EZ Collection)

• Galaxy Convoy (Optimus Prime)
• Master Megatron (Megatron)
• Starscream

These three toys sported more (and more show-accurate) paint details than the Hasbro versions (Galaxy Convoy was missing most of the Hasbro version's yellow paint). In a somewhat unique marketing move, they were packed in blister bubbles on cardbacks taken from the Hasbro versions (with the obligatory sticker sporting Japanese legal information on the back), but with new, Japanese-language name inserts for the blister bubble. They were not officially recognized as USA Editions by Takara.

Japanese multi-packs and exclusives

• GC-23 Megalo Convoy (Metroplex) with Micron (Mini-Con) partner Horri-Bull (Drill Bit), came with:
  • EZ Collection Galaxy Convoy (Optimus Prime; metallic version)
• Gold Megalo Convoy (Metroplex) with gold Micron (Mini-Con) partner Horri-Bull (Drill Bit), came with:
  • EZ Collection Galaxy Convoy (Optimus Prime; gold version)

{{Note|This entirely gold chromed set was offered as a prize in a Lucky Draw contest held by TV Magazine.

• Galaxy Convoy, Master Megatron & Starscream three-pack (clear versions, exclusively available via mail order for buyers of TV Magazine)
• Master Galvatron (Galvatron; free pack-in figure available with September 2005 edition of Dengeki Hobby Magazine)

This toy once again sported more (and more show-accurate) paint details than the Hasbro version. It was available in a unique box that was essentially a modified, downsized version of the packaging for the larger GD-01 Master Megatron (Takara's version of Cybertron Leader Class Megatron) toy.

Classics

Series 5 (Wave 1)

• Fireflight (originally intended to be Powerglide)
• Leo Prime
• Perceptor
• Trypticon

Series 6 (Wave 2)

This wave had even worse distribution than the early Cybertron waves and was only available at specialty stores and online retailers. They showed up in huge numbers at the Australian retail store Big W, for some reason.

• Bumblebee
• Jetfire
• Menasor (originally intended to be Motormaster)
• Autobot Whirl

Cybertron Collection

These toys were re-releases of past Legends figures in unchanged decos and Classics-style packaging; they were found at KB Toys, Kmart, Big Lots and Meijer stores in 2008, although it's possible they were already available in 2007 — nobody really seemed to care.

• Hot Shot (Legends of Cybertron)
• Leo Prime (Classics Legends)
• Optimus Prime (Legends of Cybertron)
• Soundwave (Legends of Cybertron)

Movie (2007)

Series 7 (Wave 1)

• Bumblebee
• Barricade
• Autobot Jazz
• Autobot Ratchet

Initial shipments of this wave included a slightly off-color version of Autobot Ratchet. Later shipments included a more widespread "fixed" color version. Both color variants were available in the United States as well as on other markets, including Europe.

Series 8 (Wave 2)

• Megatron
• Optimus Prime

Series 9 (Wave 3)

This wave once again saw limited distibution on the United States market (possible because retailers were discontinuing the Movie Legends Class single pack assortment). The two toys saw a more widespread release on other markets, including Europe.

• Blackout
• Starscream

Series 9 (Wave 4)

These toys were only released as single packs in Europe and Australasia; elsewhere, they were only released as part of Allspark Battles two-packs. Oddly, they were still labeled as "Series 9", the same number previously used for the Starscream/Blackout wave (also on the "international"/European packaging).

• Battle Jazz
• Cliffjumper
• Bonecrusher
• Recon Barricade

Allspark Battles

Wave 1

• Autobot Jazz vs. Bonecrusher
• Rescue Ratchet vs. Decepticon Brawl
• Cliffjumper vs. Recon Barricade

Wave 2

• Ironhide vs. Desert Blackout
• Nightwatch Optimus Prime vs. Stealth Starscream

Wave 3

• Bumblebee vs. Scorponok
• Battle Jazz vs. Ice Megatron

US exclusive multi-packs

• Generations Legends (exclusively available at Target stores) - Optimus Prime (Movie), Optimus Prime (Cybertron), Megatron (Movie), Megatron (Cybertron)
• Battle for the Allspark (exclusively available at Toys "R" Us stores) - Optimus Prime, Autobot Jazz, Bumblebee, Megatron, Starscream and Barricade
• Leader Class Optimus Prime with Legends Class Bumblebee & Autobot Jazz bonus figures (exclusively available at Costco stores)

None of the toys from these packs were changed as compared to their single releases.

Regular Japanese releases (EZ Collection)

• Optimus Prime
• Bumblebee
• Jazz
• Ratchet
• Megatron
• Barricade

These toys were distributed via TakaraTomy's subsidiary Subarudo. They were blind-packed (but didn't include shortpacked or chase figures), and unlike the Cybertron EZ Collection figures, they were identical to their Hasbro counterparts (Ratchet was only available as the less movie-accurate "off-color" variant). Ratchet and Jazz are also notable for not sporting the "Autobot" prefixes the Hasbro versions (and the TakaraTomy versions of the larger Movie toys) sported in front of their names.

Japanese exclusives

• Bumblebee (clear yellow "Scanning" version; free pack-in figure available with August 2007 edition of Hyper Hobby magazine)
• Bumblebee (metallic version; free pack-in figure available with the movie DVD, exclusive to Tsutaya Records stores)

Animated

Hasbro Toy Shop had previously listed a category for an Animated Legends series, but no figures were announced, and it has since been removed from the site. Instead, Legends-sized toys based on Animated characters were released as part of the Universe line.

File:AnimatedLegends.jpg

However, there were two Target exclusive three-packs released as part of the Animated line, each containing a redeco of a mass retail Animated Deluxe Class toy and two Legends Class figures, which were also released as single packs in the Universe line (see below). There is one slight difference in the Animated Prowl and Bumblebee in the packs than the Universe single releases. The Target Packs have silver Autobot symbols, while their Universe releases have the standard red with white backgrounds. Bumblebee, Optimus, and Starscream also have slightly darker paint jobs, with Bumblebee having a darker yellow and windows, and Starscream resembling Thundercracker. Optimus's blue is lighter than the Universe release.

Target exclusive Deluxe bonus packs

• Stealth Lockdown with Bumblebee and Optimus Prime
• Rescue Ratchet with Prowl and Starscream

Universe

Wave 1

• Classic Onslaught
• Classic Red Alert
• Classic Starscream

Wave 2

• Classic Autobot Jazz
• Classic Autobot Hound
• Classic/Generation 2 Megatron

Wave 3

• Animated Optimus Prime
• Animated Prowl
• Animated Bumblebee

Wave 4

• Animated Starscream
• G1 Brawn
• G1 Beachcomber
• G1 Bumblebee

Wave 5

• G1 Autobot Cosmos
• G1 Warpath
• G1 Rodimus
• G1 Autobot Wheelie

Target exclusive 5-packs

• Aerial Rivals (Classic Series):

• Air Raid
• Blades
• Ramjet
• Skydive
• Thrust

• Special Team Leaders (Classic Series):

• Autobot Hot Zone
• Hun-Gurrr
• Razorclaw
• Scattorshot
• Silverbolt

Henkei! Henkei!

• C-18 Attack Team Minibots, contains:

• Beachcomber
• Gong
• Cliffjumper

• C-19 Spy Team Minibots, contains:

• Wheelie
• Warpath
• Adams

These feature more show-accurate paints jobs than their Hasbro counterparts. Cliffjumper is a redeco of G1 Bumblebee.

Revenge of the Fallen

Wave 1

• Bumblebee
• Jetfire
• Optimus Prime
• Autobot Springer

Wave 2

• Starscream
• Sideswipe
• Megatron
• Autobot Ratchet

Wave 3

• Enforcer Ironhide
• Mudflap
• Grindor
• The Fallen

Wave 4

• Sideways
• Tankor
• Autobot Skids
• Recon Bumblebee

Wave 5

• Autobot Wheelie
• Bluesteel Sideswipe
• Power Up Optimus Prime
• Soundwave

Wave 6

• Arcee
• Jolt
• Stealth Bumblebee

US multi-packs

• "The Fury of Fearswoop" (Walmart exclusive), a redeco of Deluxe Class Dreadwing available with:
  • Mudflap ("battle damaged" redeco)
  • Sideswipe ("battle damaged" redeco)

• "Straightway Shootout" (Target exclusive), contains:
  • Ironhide (more movie-accurate colors than Enforcer Ironhide)
  • Swerve (redeco of Sideswipe)
  • Mudflap (new deco)
  • Runamuck (redeco of Movie Autobot Jazz
  • Sparkcrusher (redeco of Universe Warpath

• "War For the Skies" (Kmart exclusive), contains:
  • Autobot Blades (redeco of Springer)
  • Jetfire (in G1 colors)
  • Thundercracker (redeco of Starscream)
  • Splinster (redeco of Blackout/Grindor)

Regular Japanese releases (EZ Collection)

• EZ-01 Optimus Prime
• EZ-02 Megatron
• EZ-03 Bumblebee
• EZ-04 Starscream
• EZ-05 Starscream
• EZ-06 Sideswipe
• EZ-07 Desert Tracker Ratchet
• EZ-08 Springer
• Optimus Prime (Battle Damage)
• Megatron (Battle Damage)
• Ironhide
• Grindor
• Skids
• Soundwave
• Wheelie

These toys are going to be blind-packed and will presumably be identical to their Hasbro counterparts. Unlike his Hasbro counterpart, Springer doesn't sport an "Autobot" prefix in front of his name. The battle damage versions of Optimus Prime and Megatron are only available in Japan.

Regular Japanese releases (EZ Collection DX)

• D1 Decepticon Overload
• D2 Decepticon Mixmaster
• D3 Decepticon Rampage
• D4 Scavenger
• D5 Scrapper
• D6 Long Haul
• D7 Hightower

The Hasbro versions of these toys have been announced to be released as store exclusives. The Takara versions are going to be blind-packed and will presumably be identical to their Hasbro counterparts. Rampage sports a "Decepticon" prefix in front of his name the Hasbro version presumably won't have.

Japanese Exclusive

• Deluxe Soundwave with EZ Collection The Fallen
• Deluxe Bumblebee with EZ Collection Mudflap

Both are Lawsons excluives. The Deluxe are the same as their American release, but the Legends sport new paint details.

• Clear version of Bumblebee that comes with the purchase of the Revenge of the Fallen DVD at Tatsuya. Those who pre order will also get a "Stealth" version of Bumblebee.

Trivia

• During the Cybertron toyline's run, there was some confusion as to the actual name of the price-point: It was variously solicited to online retailers as Cybertron All-Stars and Legends of Cybertron. Online retailers even confirmed having received initial shipments alternatively sporting either name on the shipping cases, although later shipments exclusively sported the "Legends" name. The toys themselves, however, didn't sport any size-class-specific name on the packaging. Meanwhile, Hasbro originally listed the toys under the name Cybertron Micro Series on their official Transformers website, but later changed those listings to "Legends" as well. Later toylines that included toys of the same size class (including redecos of the Cybertron-derived molds) specifically used names such as Legends Class on the packaging, so that title seems to have won out. However, the "Cybertron" part of the name has never been used in an official capacity anywhere outside the Cybertron toyline.