Ion blaster

I'm a pacifist, but only to a point.

The ion blaster is a kind of laser rifle and the primary weapon of several Optimus Primes. Only used by the leader of the Autobots when all attempts at peace have failed, the ion blaster ensures that freedom is the right of all sentient beings, and strikes fear in the sparks of the Decepticons who are foolish enough to challenge him.

Except Megatron. Only Primus knows how many times Optimus has shot Megatron and failed to kill him. Starscream knows that frustration all too well.

Fiction

The Transformers cartoon

Prime doesn't limit himself to just the one weapon, of course.

Grimlock used the ion blaster against Starscream after Optimus Prime was defeated and brought before Megatron by the Dinobots. War of the Dinobots

Optimus Prime's ion blaster was stolen from him a few times. The first was when the Decepticons tried to take over New York City, when he was disassembled by Hook. The Constructicons then placed the arm and ion blaster atop the command post of the newly dubbed New Cybertron. As part of the building's weapons systems, Megatron used the blaster to begin firing on the Autobots. However, when Megatron and Soundwave were removed from the command post, Optimus Prime was able to regain control of the weapon and hit Devastator with it, sending him to the hard pavement below. City of Steel

Later, the human-built ninjabot Nightbird stole the ion blaster when she tried to steal the World Energy Chip, but Optimus Prime recovered it rather quickly. Enter the Nightbird

Dreamwave Generation 1 comics

File:PrimeDirective4-ionblaster.jpg

Because the middle of your back is the easiest place to reach.

During a fight with Devastator, Optimus Prime drove up on the massive robot while removing his ion blaster from a compartment on his back. Then he shot Devastator's face off. Prime Directive issue 5

IDW Generation 1 continuity

Replacement ion rifle hinges: hard to find.

Ironfist fashioned Optimus Prime's ion blaster during his first campaign in the Manganese Mountains, though unfortunately Prime mistook Ironfist for his chief rival, Skyfall. Last Stand of the Wreckers #4

While in vehicle mode, Optimus Prime keeps his (folded up) ion blaster in his cab. When he transforms, the Ion blaster is ejected, allowing him to grab it in midair. So that's where it goes. Now if we could only figure out where the trailer goes... During the course of the battle, a shot from Prime's ion blaster managed to blow up Megatron's much-more powerful fusion cannon by entering through the cannon's barrel. Escalation #5

Live-action film series

"Any last words?"
"The Fallen shall rise again!"
"That sounds like an oxymoron."
"Your mother is an oxymor-" *Bang*

Optimus Prime's primary range weapon is an ion blaster, though he prefers to use his Dual Energon Swords in combat, leaving the blaster stored in his back in the form of fuel tanks. Once fired, it releases a wave of radiation condensed into an energy ball that will destroy anything in its path.<ref>Battle Bios at Hasbro.com</ref> During the battle of Mission City, Optimus managed to get off a single shot of his ion blaster at Megatron before he was sent flying by the latter's fusion cannon. Transformers

Two years later, Optimus was fighting Demolishor in Shanghai and critically injured the Decepticon by putting several point blank shots into his head. He later executed the dying Constructicon by a shot through the optic. Several days later, Optimus shot up Megatron and Starscream with his ion blaster and barrage cannon while rescuing Sam Witwicky. Revenge of the Fallen

Three years later, during his battle against Sentinel Prime in Chicago, Optimus Prime tried to defend himself from the Decepticons ships using his ion blaster, but was unsuccessful and apparently lost his cannon between the explosions. Dark of the Moon

Games

Transformers: War for Cybertron

Optimus Prime's signature weapon is a little more powerful than the Neutron assault rifle, but with twice the rate of fire, it makes a suitable weapon for the Leader class.

Carried by: Leaders, Optimus

• The blaster has the following in-game stats:
  • Damage: 4
  • Range: 5
  • Accuracy: 4
  • Rate of Fire: 10

• Max Load: 300
• Per Mag: 50

Transformers: Prime

Optimus Prime has two Ion blasters retracted in his each arm which shoots powerful energy blasts.After being upgraded to a stronger body by Forge of Solus Prime,Optimus prime gets a new powerful Ion blaster which resembles as a handheld machine gun.

Toys

Generation 1 Optimus Prime

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20th Anniversary/Masterpiece

File:20thAnniversary OptimusPrimesm.jpg

• Optimus Prime (2003/2004)
• Convoy (Lucky Draw figure, 2004)
• Convoy Perfect Edition (2006, 2009)
• Convoy Sleep Mode (2010)

20th Anniversary/Masterpiece Optimus Prime was one of the first Optimus Prime toys to refer to his iconic laser rifle as an "ion blaster". The TakaraTomy Japanese releases of this figure have consistently coloured the rifle dark grey, and while early releases of Hasbro's followed suit, they were very quickly changed to black as a running change.

• Convoy (2011)

MP-10 Convoy is an entirely new tooling of Generation 1 Optimus Prime. Convoy is now smaller, making him more in-scale with other recent Masterpiece toys, such as Rodimus, and comes with a trailer and various accessories, including a smaller, new-mold ion blaster. It can be hand-held or mount onto Roller, or store in blaster mode inside the trailer, regardless of which configuration the trailer is in. Just like its appearance in the IDW comics, it can fold up and store in its owner's back, automatically transforming back into a blaster when pressing on the latch at the back that's holding the spring-loaded mechanisms in place.

Titanium Series

• Optimus Prime (6" Cybertron Heroes, 2006)
• War Within Optimus Prime vs. War Within Megatron Battlepack (Multipack, 2007)

The silver ion blaster that comes with Titanium Series The War Within Optimus Prime featured the first name of its designer, Don Figueroa, sculpted into its sides.

Classics (2006)

Discounted at a Walmart near you.

• Optimus Prime (20th Anniversary DVD Edition, 2006)

When 20th Anniversary/Masterpiece Optimus Prime was released in the Classics toyline to commemorate the 20th Anniversary DVD release of The Transformers: The Movie, his ion blaster was coloured blue for some reason.

• Pepsi Optimus Prime (Autobot, 2007)

A retool of the original Generation 1 Optimus Prime toy, his laser rifle was redubbed the ion blaster to fit in line with Hasbro's modern naming scheme.

Transformers (2010)

• Masterpiece Optimus Prime (2012)

The Toys"R"Us-exclusive Transformers Masterpiece Optimus Prime toy is Hasbro's release of the MP-10 Convoy mold, featuring various plastic color and paint detail changes. His Ion blaster was re-dubbed into an "Ion Cannon," but is otherwise unchanged.

Movie Optimus Prime

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Transformers (2007)

Leader Class toys

File:MovieLeader OptimusPrime toy.jpg

"Watch out! He's got an ion blaster!" *little plastic balls shoot out*

• Optimus Prime (Leader Class, 2007)
• Nightwatch Optimus Prime (Leader Class, UK 2007)
• Nightwatch Optimus Prime (Leader Class, USA 2008)

The initial mold for the Transformers (2007) Leader Class Optimus Prime featured a spring-loaded ion blaster mounted on the side of his arm. It was deployed via Automorphing by sliding a lever, which caused the gun to flip over and cover his hand. This gun was replaced by an energon sword on the "Premium" retool/redeco of this toy in 2008.

Robot Replicas

• Optimus Prime (Robot Replica, 2007)
• Megatron vs. Optimus Prime (Multi-pack, 2007)

Robot Replicas Optimus Prime featured an ion blaster that could replace his right forearm.

Revenge of the Fallen

• Buster Optimus Prime (Leader, 2009)
• Jetpower Optimus Prime (Leader 2-pack, 2009)

The TakaraTomy Japanese/Asia-exclusive Revenge of the Fallen Buster Optimus Prime (itself a retool of the regular Leader Class Revenge Optimus Prime) featured an ion blaster that was assembled from his vehicle mode's fuel tanks and smokestacks. The transforming blaster was designed by Hironori Kobayashi, the TakaraTomy designer best known for his work on the Binaltech/Alternators and Masterpiece toylines.

Dark of the Moon

Deluxe Class toys

• Lunarfire Optimus Prime (MechTech Deluxe, 2011)

This redeco of Deluxe-Class Optimus Prime has a redecoed version of Dark of the Moon MechTech Voyager Class Optimus Prime's Ion Blaster/Battle Cannon.

Voyager Class toys

• Optimus Prime (MechTech Voyager, 2011)

This new mold Dark of the Moon MechTech Voyager-Class Optimus Prime has a MechTech Ion Blaster that converts into a Battle Cannon.

File:DOTM Voyager OptimusPrime trailer.jpg

• Optimus Prime / MechTech Trailer (MechTech Voyager, 2011)
• Tritanium Optimus Prime (MechTech Voyager, 2011)

This Japanese exclusive retool of MechTech Voyager-Class Optimus Prime, aside from coming with a MechTech trailer, has a new mold of the Ion Blaster that converts into an Energon Sword.

Supreme Class toys

• Jetwing Optimus Prime (MechTech Supreme, 2011)
• Jetwing Optimus Prime Black Version (MechTech Supreme, cancelled)
• JETWING OPTIMUS PRIME Black Ver. (MechTech Supreme, 2011)
• Jetwing Optimus Prime (Amazon.com-exclusive MechTech Supreme, 2012)

A retooled version of Revenge of the Fallen Leader Class Buster Optimus Prime with a humongous jet-pack and massive dual Gatling cannons. The transforming fuel tanks/ion blaster parts are retained.

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Notes

• In the original toy and the original cartoon, Prime's weapon was referred to as a laser rifle, but many newer toys have called it an ion blaster.
• One notable aspect of Optimus Prime's Generation 1 and Generation 2 toys is that the figure can only hold it by the ammo casing, as the weapon handle is unable to fit in Prime's hand,. Also, the gun's rifle butt is too large for Prime to hold it straight, so the gun must be turned at a slight angle. Strangely, this has never been altered in reissues.
• The Japanese-exclusive Robot Masters toy packaging calls this weapon the Convoy Gun. Wow, really original.
• In the 2007 movie, the Ion Blaster is seen only once being used against Megatron. ONCE.
• In Dark of the Moon, the Ion Blaster has been redesigned to appear as if it was no longer formed out of Prime's fuel tanks since it's stored in Prime's trailer, rather than as fuel tanks in his truck form.

References

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