Powerlinx

Powerlinx is a kind of technology originating from the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

Powerlinx (alternatively spelled Powerlink) is a group of technologies that allow Transformers of the same or different types to combine in order to become more powerful.

Fiction

Armada

Mini-Cons are small Transformers that Powerlinx with normal-sized Transformers which they call "Bulks". Once Powerlinxed, the Transformer gains extra powers and weapons. Because of their utility, the Mini-Cons are highly sought after by both Autobots and Decepticons. Whichever side collects the most could potentially win the war.

Unfortunately for the Mini-Cons, bonding with larger Transformers—especially Decepticons—activated a restraining "servility program" which proved difficult, if not outright impossible to resist.

Energon

Cartoon continuity

What happens between a robot and a consenting vehicle is none of our business.

Powerlinking is an ability given to some Transformers by Primus through the gift of Sparks of Combination. This allows Autobots to combine with each other to become more powerful. Just receiving a Spark of Combination doesn't automatically make someone an expert at it, however. It takes practice and the partners have to learn to synchronize their breathing. Megatron's Sword

There are four types of Powerlinxing:

1. Similarly-sized Autobots can Powerlinx together with one forming the top half and one forming the bottom. The combined form is called by the name of the Autobot serving as the top half. By all appearances, the personality of the bottom-half Autobot is completely absent.
2. Optimus Prime is able to Powerlinx with his Prime Force drones, Wing Saber and Omega Supreme to form a super mode. Optimus remains himself and is still called "Optimus Prime", but Omega Supreme can continue to communicate with him. This may be because his head Omega is stored in his shoulder.
3. Some Autobots can Powerlink with parts of their alternate mode to form a brute mode.
4. The guardians of the Super Energon Temple are super robots formed by teams of five Transformers Powerlinxed together. However, the limb Transformers don't appear to have individual personalities.

Toys

Armada

Mini-Cons had Powerlinx ports—circular 5mm holes with single plastic pins at their centers—that could plug into appropriate Powerlinx hardpoints (hollow 5mm posts) on the larger Transformers figures. All of the Armada toys, Deluxe class and upwards, had at least one "active" hardpoint that, when a Mini-Con figure was attached, would activate some kind of gimmick. The majority of other Powerlinx ports on figures were "dead"—sculpted details not linked to any gimmick, simply there for attaching Mini-Cons. Some of the larger toys such as Super Base Optimus Prime, Gigacon Megatron/Galvatron and Unicron had several active Powerlinx ports linked to different gimmicks.

Energon

Powerlinx was no longer associated with Mini-Cons and larger robots linking together, but with the Autobots (Combat/Deluxe class and upwards) combining with one another (figures would have Powerlinx ports, essentially a set of interlocking tabs, somewhere on them; they would often be hidden away somehow by panels or the transformation) or with some auxiliary drones that were packaged with them (for these ones, normal tabs and pegs would be the way to combine) to create larger robot toys. Combat/Deluxe and Mega Combat/Voyager class Autobot toys could combine with one another, Commanders/Ultra class Autobots could only combine with whatever auxiliary unit was included in their package while Leader class Optimus Prime could combine with his included Prime Force drones, the Mega Combat class Wing Saber and the Supreme class Omega Supreme.

Toys came with different color Powerlinx symbols to indicate how they combine:

• Used by Optimus Prime and his partners.

• Used by Mega-sized Transformers who can combine with fellow Mega- and Deluxe-sized Transformers.

• Used by Deluxe-sized Transformers who can combine with fellow Deluxe- and Mega-sized Transformers.

• Used by Ultra-sized Transformers, who can combine with additional vehicle mode parts to form a brute mode.

• Used by the Air Team, the Construction Team, and the Destruction Team.

Notes

• Cyber Planet Keys do not Powerlinx. Well, except Demolishor's. And deluxe Optimus Prime's.
• The Energon Autobots' Powerlinx feature recycles a gimmick originally used by the Multiforce.
• In Japanese the effect of Mini-Cons connecting to bulks was called "Evolution" and the process of Autobots combining was known as "Super Link", with no implication they are related.