Stasis lock

Stasis lock is a critical state of being for Transformers. Stasis lock is a sort of coma that allows a Transformer to stay alive, running at the lowest level of power, despite massive energy loss or traumatic damage. It is comparable to the sleep mode of the computer on which you are currently reading this. Stasis lock can come about in a few different ways.

The first way is from a shock of massive damage. When the Ark crashed on Earth all of the occupants on board were retconned into emergency stasis lock. At various times during the Beast Wars combatants had to be returned to their respective bases due to going into stasis lock after being badly damaged.

The second way seems to be a more gradual process and can come about from damage and energy depletion over a longer period of time. Dinobot was told by his internal computer to go into stasis lock or risk losing his spark. This method is a conscious decision, and the Transformer can choose to override stasis lock, unlike the first way which seems to be an unconscious action by the Transformer's on-board computer.

The concept of stasis lock was first introduced in the Beast Wars television series. Stasis lock was retconned into being a Generation 1 term and has since been applied to nearly all subsequent versions of the Transformers story.

IDW Generation One comic continuity

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Grimlock was held into stasis-lock in a pod. Rules of Disengagement

Live-action film continuity

Vector Sigma data tracks

Megatron went into stasis lock while frozen in the Arctic.

In the novelization of Revenge of the Fallen, instead of being outright killed by Megatron's attack, Optimus Prime was put into a state of deep stasis lock, though his body was so damaged it could take thousands of years for it to repair itself, so he may as well be dead.

Sentinel Prime was discovered on Earth's moon in a similar state, but was revived through the Matrix. Dark of the Moon

Animated continuity

In Transformers Animated, "stasis lock" is used in a different sense—through the use of stasis cuffs, a Transformer can be prevented from moving or using any special powers they possess without being rendered unconscious or incapable of speech. Sentinel Prime, when placed in this condition by Optimus Prime, was the first character to refer to this as "stasis lock". Mission Accomplished

Aligned continuity

After being attacked by a swarm of Insecticons, Sludge was badly damaged and was forced to enter stasis lock. His body was later discovered by Jazz and Cliffjumper. Fall of Cybertron

In Transformers Prime, Megatron is heavily injured after a space bridge explosion Darkness Rising, Part 5, and is put in stasis aboard the Nemesis after Starscream and Soundwave locate him. Masters & Students

In certain situations, Operation Bumblebee, Part 2, stasis is used as a form of anesthesia, complete with slurred speech going under and coming out of it.