Transformers: Armada (toyline): Difference between revisions

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Process of removing that "Unicron Battles" page we 100% don't need.
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''Armada'' saw a bit of a price jump (production costs again), as the $20 "Max-Con" size replaced the $15 Mega class of past lines, while the $25 "Giga-Cons" replaced the $20 Ultras. This was offset by the fact that ''Armada'' toys overall tended to be somewhat more bulky and massive than their predecessors.
''Armada'' saw a bit of a price jump (production costs again), as the $20 "Max-Con" size replaced the $15 Mega class of past lines, while the $25 "Giga-Cons" replaced the $20 Ultras. This was offset by the fact that ''Armada'' toys overall tended to be somewhat more bulky and massive than their predecessors.
The last few waves of the line were branded with "'''The Unicron Battles'''", to promote the upcoming new toy of [[Unicron/toys#Armada|Unicron]], the first official toy of the character to ever be released, and easily the largest figure released in ''Armada'' (or in the preceding ten or more years). The initial wave of this [[subline imprint]] used the original red and blue ''Armada'' packaging with an added "The Unicron Battles" logo sticker, whereas the second version sported a new color scheme in black, orange and blue that had the "Unicron Battles" logo as an integral part of its packaging design for the larger toys. Some toys ended up being available in all three packaging variants.
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{{note|Despite the various toys in this set being labeled "Powerlinx", they're not actually the Powerlinx versions. Just so you're not shocked when you click the links.}}
{{note|Despite the various toys in this set being labeled "Powerlinx", they're not actually the Powerlinx versions. Just so you're not shocked when you click the links.}}
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===Sub-lines===
====The Unicron Battles====
{{main|The Unicron Battles#Toyline}}
==Takara ''Legends of the Microns'' toyline==
==Takara ''Legends of the Microns'' toyline==
[[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s take on ''Armada'', hitting stores a bit later than the Hasbro version, has some small but significant differences, largely in the decos. With a closer tie to the [[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|animation]], the toys had their colors tweaked to make them closer to their animation counterparts. This ranges from the small and subtle to completely different color schemes.
[[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s take on ''Armada'', hitting stores a bit later than the Hasbro version, has some small but significant differences, largely in the decos. With a closer tie to the [[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|animation]], the toys had their colors tweaked to make them closer to their animation counterparts. This ranges from the small and subtle to completely different color schemes.

Revision as of 03:49, 20 February 2021

Fuuuuuu-sion HA!
Fuuuuuu-sion HA!
It's time to double up!

It has been suggested this article should be merged with The Unicron Battles.
If you disagree, please discuss why on its talk page.

Same reason Transformers 2010 is merged with Reveal the Shield


Unicron Trilogy continuity family
Armada »
File:Hotshotarmadatoy.jpg
Hot Shot with Jolt

Transformers: Armada marked a fresh start for the Transformers brand, a reinvention that introduced a whole new universe and backstory for the robots in disguise. The franchise also introduced a new faction, the Mini-Cons, the line's most distinctive element, as every larger toy included one or more Mini-Con partners.

The line was a hit with kids; the simpler, cleaner transformations made the toys more accessible than prior lines, plus the wealth of action gimmicks gave every toy more to do. The numerous Mini-Cons in particular proved popular with fans and children alike, and have continued on into many subsequent toylines. It did so well out of the gate that the line had to be expanded beyond its initial offerings pretty quickly, and began the next four-ish years of direct sequels, an era that would come to be known as the "Unicron Trilogy".

Overview

The toyline marked a sharp change of design direction from the intricate, sometimes frustrating complexity found in the prior Beast Wars, Beast Machines, and Robots in Disguise lines (that last one being a particular point of contention with parents). The early offerings in particular were blocky, easy to transform, sturdy and colorful. Articulation tended to be reduced, sacrificed to keep price down in light of the need to add a Mini-Con partner and multiple intricate gimmicks to every mold. Ball joints largely disappeared from the non-Mini-Con toys in favor of permanently-joined swivels. The aesthetics of larger robots hearkened back more to the blocky concepts of Generation 1, while the Mini-Cons tended to be more experimental, with odd facial designs and non-standard limbs.

Each larger toy featured a "central" gimmick which could only be activated by attaching —called "Powerlinxing"— a Mini-Con to the appropriate hard point. Though most transformation schemes were simple, many of the Mini-Con activated gimmicks were quite complex and innovative, such as Hot Shot's "axelzooka", Scavenger's stompy-stompy action, and Megatron's turret-mounted twin-missile launcher. Electronic lights and sounds also became standard on nearly all toys larger than Deluxe/Super-Con.

Unicron, the line's largest toy.

As with Robots in Disguise, the back end of the series featured same-character redecoes of toys in "powered up" modes, and this practice of heavy mold-re-use would continue on into the future to combat the ever-rising costs of production. The line was further bulked up by redecoes/retools of several Beast Wars Transmetal toys, reworked to be Mini-Con compatible (despite a lack of any kind of action gimmicks), as early sales and subsequent retailer demand exceeded expectations, and they had to get something out relatively quick.

Toward the end, the line veered in an unexpected direction, with the introduction of the massive Unicron, a huge toy based on the character from The Transformers: The Movie, and arguably the greatest wish-fulfillment yet offered to fans from Hasbro. To promote this massive toy, the ongoing storylines of both cartoon and comic changed direction to feature the character as their central plot element, and the toyline itself gained a subline imprint promoting him in "The Unicron Battles".

Armada saw a bit of a price jump (production costs again), as the $20 "Max-Con" size replaced the $15 Mega class of past lines, while the $25 "Giga-Cons" replaced the $20 Ultras. This was offset by the fact that Armada toys overall tended to be somewhat more bulky and massive than their predecessors.

The last few waves of the line were branded with "The Unicron Battles", to promote the upcoming new toy of Unicron, the first official toy of the character to ever be released, and easily the largest figure released in Armada (or in the preceding ten or more years). The initial wave of this subline imprint used the original red and blue Armada packaging with an added "The Unicron Battles" logo sticker, whereas the second version sported a new color scheme in black, orange and blue that had the "Unicron Battles" logo as an integral part of its packaging design for the larger toys. Some toys ended up being available in all three packaging variants.


Hasbro Armada toyline

Mini-Con 3-packs

Mini-Cons were sold in carded three-packs at the Basic/Scout price point, each team defined by a particular gimmick or theme. Though only slightly larger than their closest precedent, the Micromasters, they generally featured greatly improved articulation, complexity, and originality of design.

Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3 Wave 4
The Destruction Mini-Con Team
Wave 5 (The Unicron Battles) Wave 6 (The Unicron Battles) Wave 7 (The Unicron Battles)


Super-Con Class

Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3 Wave 4
  • Side Swipe with Nightbeat
  • Thrust with Inferno
    		•
    Super-Con Smokescreen with Liftor
    Wave 5 Wave 6 (The Unicron Battles) Wave 7 (The Unicron Battles) Wave 8 (The Unicron Battles)

    Max-Con Class

    Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3 Wave 4 (The Unicron Battles)
    Max-Con Scavenger
    Wave 5 (The Unicron Battles)

    Giga-Con Class

    Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3 Wave 4 (The Unicron Battles)
    Giga-Con Tidal Wave
    Wave 5 (The Unicron Battles)

    Super Base

    Wave 1 Wave 2 (The Unicron Battles)
    Super Base Optimus Prime


    Supreme

    Wave 1 (The Unicron Battles)

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