Micro-Changer

This article is about the Kreons with alternate modes. For the pre-Transformers toyline, see Micro Change.

Micro-Changers are a subgroup from the brick-based world of Kre-O.

It was only a matter of time before Kreons became so advanced that they were able to transform like their larger counterparts. Transforming Kreons are known as Micro-Changers. Some of them have even gained the ability to join together into Combiners.

Fiction

Kre-O cartoon

A story in the Autobot City News reported that scientists were baffled by the appearance of Micro-Changers. A number of them assisted Megatron in stealing energon Quest for Energon, Part 1 so he could make a grilled cheese sandwich. Quest for Energon, Part 2

Toys

Blind-bagged figures

This portion of the line features individual blind-packaged Kreons. Thankfully however, code numbers printed on each bag allow you to know which figure is inside... or at least avoid buying two of the same by accident.

Usually.

Preview Series

• Release date: August 2012

This series differs a little from the later waves, and not just because of the smaller (all-badguy) cast. In an unusual backwards move, the tampographs on these figures' chests use only a single color, typically black. Also, five of the figures had clear-purple weapons; later waves would move (mostly) to opaque pistols.

• Crankstart (214510)
• Galvatron (214518)
• Scorponok (214511)
• Spinister (214517)
• Sunstorm (214519)
• Waspinator (214512)

Series 1

• Release date: November 2012

For the first full series, the multi-colored tampographs made a glorious comeback. Also, a new display-stand brick was added to every figure, a black 2x4 piece with the "Kre-O" logo in white on one edge.

• Airachnid (***** 50)
• Blast Off (***** 47)
• Decepticon Bludgeon (***** 51)
• Dirge (***** 49)
• Decepticon Hook (***** 48)
• Inferno (***** 41)
• Insecticon (***** 46)
• Quickslinger (***** 44)
• Decepticon Rampage (***** 45)
• Singe (***** 40)
• Autobot Springer (***** 42)
• Warpath (***** 43)

Series 2

• Release date: May 2013

This series replaced the flak jackets used to attach stuff to prior Micro Changers' torsos in prior waves (which most fans hated since it obscured the chest tampographs) with a new simple one-peg "backpack" piece. And there was much rejoicing.

This series was re-released in 2016 through budget chains like Dollar General and Family Dollar, but the bags no longer have the content-identifying numbers.

• Acid Wing (***** 70)
• Arcee (***** 69)
• Blight (***** 68)
• Bulkhead (***** 66)
• Autobot Groove (***** 77)
• Hardshell (***** 67)
• Hoist (***** 76)
• Lugnut (***** 75)
• Perceptor (***** 74)
• Powerglide (***** 73)
• Scourge (***** 72)
• Vehicon (***** 71)

Series 3

File:KreO-Toy MicroChangersS3bag.jpg

• Release date: August 2013

This series had...more fanwank, we guess?

This series was re-released in 2016 through budget chains like Dollar General and Family Dollar, but the bags no longer have the content-identifying numbers.

• Beachcomber (***** 60)
• Cheetor (***** 59)
• Guzzle (***** 57)
• Huffer (***** 54)
• Kickback (***** 55)
• Long Haul (***** 56)
• Nemesis Prime (***** 52)
• Nosecone (***** 50)
• Ramjet (***** 53)
• Seawing (***** 61)
• Sharkticon (***** 58)
• Thrust (***** 51)

Series 4

• Release date: March 2014

Sooo much fanwank. The last wave of Micro-Changers available at "normal" retail, though largely being distributed via the Walgreens drug store chain in the US. This is the only batch (so far) to have a significant variant, as Cyclonus can come in either bag-back lavender or a much darker purple, depending on the batch. This is also the first wave to use "harness" pieces in colors other than the standard light gray.

Unlike prior waves in which every figure came with individual instructions, these all come with the same large fold-out instruction for all of the models in the series, making the "feel parts through the bags" method very difficult (but you have the code numbers here, so why are you even doing that, huh?). Unfortunately, later re-releases of this wave have no individual codes, so if anyone is looking to find a particular Kreon from this wave, be prepared to get plenty of doubles.

• Alpha Trion (***** 33)
• Barrage (***** 34)
• Brawn (***** 35)
• Brake-Neck (***** 44)
• Cyclonus (***** 36)
• Demolishor (***** 37)
• Iceberg (***** 38)
• Autobot Kup (***** 39)
• Rhinox (***** 40)
• Rodimus (***** 41)
• Sandstorm (***** 42)
• Slipstrike (***** 43)

Age of Extinction Collection 1

• Release date: ??? 2014

In-tune with the ToysЯUs-exclusive Age of Extinction Kre-O products, this wave features a number of classic characters plus two movie-inspired Dinobot original characters.

• Skrapnel (***** 45)
• Fangwolf (***** 46)
• Misfire (***** 47)
• Trypticon (***** 48)
• Mindswipe (***** 49)
• Nightbeat (***** 50)
• Highbrow (***** 51)
• Jarugar (***** 52)
• Jetwash (***** 53)
• Wingspan Hawk (***** 54)
• Torosaur (***** 55)
• Silversnout (***** 56)

Age of Extinction Collection 2

• Release date: August 2014

The second wave of the Age of Extinction-tied Micro-Changers, with a couple of unconventional builds, and two more new Dinobot characters. Unlike the preceding waves, this round of Micro-Changers sadly don't have any codes on their bags.

• Decepticon Blackarachnia
• Frostbite
• Fuselage
• Autobot Gears
• Decepticon Runamuck
• Scattershot
• Autobot Seaspray
• Decepticon Skalor
• Skimmer
• Sunstreaker
• Trailbreaker
• Autobot Wheelie

Combiners

Four Kreons per pack combine into one larger robot. Extra detailing is provided by customer-applied stickers. Each set also comes with a single red stand-block. Just in case. As most of the original teams yhese sets are based on have five to six members, the "lost" members are (usually) put into the blind-bagged series.

Wave 1

Unfortunately, all of these sets except Superion make use of the flak jacket for attaching backpacks. Boo.

• Decepticon Bruticus (Onslaught, Brawl, Vortex, and Swindle)

• Set number: A2225

• Constructicon Devastator (Scrapper, Bonecrusher, Mixmaster, and Scavenger)

• Set number: A2224

• Predaking (Razorclaw, Torox, Headlock, and Divebomb)

• Set number: A2227

• Superion (Silverbolt, Air Raid, Skydive, and Firestrike)

• Set number: A2226

Wave 2

Thankfully, this wave was developed with the new tiny "backpack" piece, so chest tampos are readily visible!

• Abominus (Windrazor, Hun-Gurrr, Rippersnapper, and Sinnertwin)

• Set number: A4473

• Defensor (Blades, First Aid, Hot Spot, and Streetsmart)

• Set number: A4474

• Decepticon Piranacon (Nautilator, Overbite, Snaptrap, and Tentakil)

• Set number: A4475

Wave 3

• Computron (Afterburst, Lightstorm, Scattershot, and Strafe)

• Set number: A7307

• Menasor (Decepticon Breakdown, Dead End, Decepticon Drag Strip, and Motorbreath)

• Set number: A7308

Wave 4

This wave consists entirely of new-character beast-bots, rather than re-creating classic combiner teams.

• Grimstone (Crackback, Iquanox, Ironeye, and Mollox)
• Lazerbolt (Bullhorn, Floodgate, Freezeout, and Roadhound)
• Obsidian (Bullwark, Freefall, Hemocron, and Stronghorn)
• Volcanicon (Farside, Liftoff, Lugmutt, and Power Surge)

Combiner Robot Mega Pack

• Set number: B6425

Released in 2016(!), this three-pack was sold in budget chains in the US like Dollar General and Family Dollar, at $12. Considering the individual kits originally cost $10 USD, that's a steal. The Kreons inside are mostly the same, a handful of the Kreons have minor differences (indicated by an * in the listing below), and a few different names due to changing Trademark situations.

• Bruticus (Brawl, Onslaught*, Swindle, and Decepticon Vortex)
• Menasor (Breakdown, Dead End, Decepticon Dragstrip*, and Motormaster*)
• Superion (Air Raid, Firefly, Silverbolt, and Skydive)

Beast Force Figure packs

These small boxed sets include a buildable non-transforming Predacon beast and an Autobot Micro-Changer figure.

• Dragon Assault w/ Trailcutter & Grimwing
• Mech Venom Strike w/ Windcharger & Corhada

External links

• Hasbro's Micro-Changers site