[[File:Sparks.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|[[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] is a Bellarian.]]
[[File:TFA Lugnut scanning.JPG|upright=1.95|thumb|Sure, the new packaging looks great, but the number of twisty-ties they use to hold it in that position is insane.]]
A '''spark''' is the lifeforce or soul of a [[Transformer]]. Each spark is part of the essence of [[Primus]] himself.
'''Scanning''' is a method for [[Transformer]]s to change their [[alternate mode]]s into things native to other planets such as vehicles or animals on [[Earth]].
The spark is a physical entity which is safeguarded inside [[Structure|a Transformer's body]]. If something harms the spark beyond repair [[Death|it is "extinguished"]] returning to the [[Transformer afterlife]] and the Transformer is considered dead. A Transformer is able to survive an enormous amount of physical damage. As long as the spark is somehow intact it is possible to repair or rebuild the body and restore the spark to it.
Although the "original" or "Cybertronian" altmodes of the characters prior to scanning and reformatting are not always shown, they generally tend to be something roughly similar in size, form and function to their new mode (i.e. flyers tend to become planes, Cybertronian tanks become Earth tanks and small fast-moving land vehicles become sports cars or [[Cheetor (BW)|cheetahs]]), etc. This suggests that in most continuities the scanning process involves attempting to find the most similar compatible altmode available. Whether this makes the following reconstruction process easier or is merely a concession to the individual Cybertronian's personal preference is unknown.
{{quote|When a spark goes online, there is great joy. When [[Death|one is extinguished]], the universe weeps.|[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] being all mystical|"[[The Spark]]"}}
They also have a funny tendency to be the same colors each time...<ref>''Animated'' is one of the first continuities to show multiple cases of characters scanning Earth altmodes with explicitly different (i.e. more "realistic") coloration or paintwork and yet having their reformatted bodies stick with their original deco schemes instead of conforming to the scanned example. Lugnut, Blitzwing, Starscream and Bulkhead all do this which is particularly odd in the last case since the [[Mudflap (slang)|mudflap]] rather seems to be using [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s deco which is based on a vintage U.S. Army Jeep. Mind you, the idea goes all the way back to "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" in which an orange tractor trailer was scanned for [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and yet he retained his red and blue coloration.</ref>
==Fiction==
==Fiction==
===''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity===
===''Generation One''===
Composed of [[positron]]s, {{storylink|Spark of Darkness}} sparks were the core of the Cybertronians, giving them their animating force. {{storylink|The Spark}} They came from the Allspark and returned to it when they passed. {{storylink|The Reformatting}}
''None of the various 1980s versions of the ''Generation One'' continuity show the original G1-era Cybertronians as capable of either scanning for new altmodes or reformatting themselves without the use of external technology and a drawn-out nuts n' bolts process of physical reconstruction. This technology appears to be standard-issue in ships and various facilities.''
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
The Decepticon Air Commander [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] possessed a mutant spark, one that could not be extinguished, persisting after he'd been destroyed by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink| Possession}} Maximal High Command sought to recreate such a power, resulting in the creation of [[Rampage (BW)|Protoform X]]. {{storylink|Bad Spark}}
When struck by [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]]'s [[Cyberbee]], the increased adrenaline threatened to drain [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]]'s spark. When the projectile was removed, Primal's spark began to fade before [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] administered the anti-virus. {{storylink|Gorilla Warfare}}
When Starscream found his way to the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]], he possessed [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]'s body. The errant spark was later exorcised when [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] detonated an [[energon]] cache beneath Waspinator, banishing Starscream. {{storylink|Possession}}
After Optimus Primal's, unwillingly, sacrificial destruction of the [[Planet Buster]], {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}} it tore open a hole to the Allspark. After finding a blank protoform, [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] remotely beamed his [[core consciousness]] to the realm {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)}} and guided Primal's spark back to the blank protoform, reviving his friend. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}}
When Protoform X, his [[stasis pod]] having been aboard the ''Axalon'', awoke during the Beast Wars, [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] used an energon knife to carve out a piece of the experiment's spark. Placing the fragment in a cage of energon crystals, Megatron used it to force Protoform X, renamed "Rampage", to serve him. {{storylink|Bad Spark}} Rampage made attempts to retrieve his missing spark fragment to little success. {{storylink|Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate}}
When Megatron was forced into a corner, he enacted the instructions left to him by [[Megatron (G1)|the original Megatron]] and broke into the ''Ark'', opening fire on [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}} Though the blast failed to kill Prime outright, his spark began to fade. With the spark unable to survive the necessary repairs, Optimus Primal removed it and placed it within his own body. Holding two sparks within his body caused Primal to mutate into a larger body. When Prime's body was healed, Primal returned the borrowed spark. The reintroduction of the spark briefly roused Prime from stasis lock but he soon fell asleep again. {{storylink|Optimal Situation}}
On a dark and stormy night, Megatron found a use for Rampage's spark fragment when he used it to animate [[Dinobot II|a clone]] of [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]. When Rampage furiously protested this, he found the clone could use the fragment to torture him. When Cheetor interacted with the [[transmetal driver]] used to create the clone, {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 1}} it mutated his spark, turning the cat into a [[Transmetal 2]]. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 2}} When the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] attacked the [[Maximal]]s during their attempt to remove Blackarachnia's [[shell program]], the vibrational trauma killed her. The nearby transmetal driver interacted with her body and reignited her spark. {{storylink|Crossing the Rubicon}}
Inspired by the "Optimal Optimus" upgrade, Megatron constructed a device that hijacked Primal's spark which allowed the Predacon leader to open the ''Ark''. Once inside, he claimed the spark of the original Megatron and merged it with his own, upgrading his body. Bolstered by the second spark, Megatron managed to overpower Optimus Primal in battle but was nonetheless forced to retreat, taking the original Megatron's spark with him. {{storylink|Shell program}}
When the [[Vok]] sought to put an end to Megatron's disruption of the space-time continuum, two of them removed the sparks from their Cybertronian abductees, [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]], and fused their bodies into [[Tigerhawk]] which they inhabited. Still active, Tigatron and Airazor's sparks followed their fused body. When Tigerhawk arrived on Earth and defeated Megatron, Optimus Primal attempted to warn the Vok emissary about his foe carrying the original Megatron's spark but he would not be heard. Shortly afterwards, [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] attempted to reprogram Tigerhawk but only succeeded in exorcising the Vok which resulted in his and their destruction. Tigatron and Airazor took the chance to merge into one spark and inhabit Tigerhawk. {{storylink|Other Victories}}
When the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' risked being raised, [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] managed to finally extinguish Rampage's spark by jabbing a shard of raw energon into it. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}} Upon raising the ''Nemesis'', Megatron later offhandedly remarked that this had resulted in Dinobot II's spark feeling "complete". This caused the original Dinobot's personality to reemerge, bringing about Megatron's defeat. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}} As the Maximals prepared to return to Cybertron, Optimus forced Megatron to return the Decepticon's spark to its source. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#July 23, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 23/07/2015}}
====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
At the end of the Beast Wars, Megatron had been strapped to the outside of [[Autobot Shuttle Omega Delta]]. Breaking free from his constraints on the Autobot shuttle while it traveled through transwarp space, Megatron arrived back home on Cybertron well before the Maximals did. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent|Descent}} Managing to develop a [[transformation virus]], Megatron incapacitated Cybertron's population, {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}} extracting their sparks and storing them in the [[Council Citadel]], planning to one day absorb them into his own spark. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege|The Siege}} When Megatron's former follower [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] somehow managed to make it back to Cybertron, Megatron extracted his spark and added it to his collection. {{storylink|The Catalyst}}
Having developed a profound hatred of organic life, Megatron laboured to purge himself of his [[beast mode]] but refused the simple option of simply transferring his spark to a purely mechanical frame, noting that doing so would leave his spark vulnerable. {{storylink|Survivor}}
When Primal's Maximals finally returned to Cybertron, they were attacked by Megatron's [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]] army who infected them with a gaseous form of the virus. While those who had been Transmetalized were stripped of their upgrades, they managed to remain mobile. [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]] by contrast, having received no upgrades while on Earth, were instead paralyzed and quickly overtaken. Their sparks soon joined Megatron's collection. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent|Descent}} Fleeing deep underground, Primal and his team found [[Oracle (BM)|the Oracle]] who recognized Primal's "receptive spark" and reformatted the four into [[technorganic]] bodies. {{storylink|The Reformatting}} Whenever Primal used his powers to reformat another Cybertronian into a technorganic form, his spark would shine out his body. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}} {{storylink|End of the Line}}
To match the Maximals, Megatron placed three of his captured sparks into Vehicon bodies creating the [[Vehicon general]]s. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}} After Primal had felt something familiar about the general [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]'s spark, {{storylink|Mercenary Pursuits}} the Maximals eventually discovered the truth about the generals as well as the [[spark extractor]] technology that had allowed Megatron to so effectively conquer Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery|Discovery}}
At Cheetor's orders, [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] tried to reawaken Tankor's spark, discovering that he was their old friend Rhinox. Conucrrently, Blackarachnia confronted [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]], thinking him to be her old lover Silverbolt, only for the two to be found by [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] who extracted Blackarachnia's spark. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent|Descent}} While [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] was able to return Blackarachnia's spark to her body, the Maximals discovered that Rhinox's spark had been corrupted by the shell program. Though they intended to reprogram him back to his normal self, Optimus prevented them from doing so, noting that they had to respect Rhinox's choice. {{storylink|Revelations Part III: Apocalypse|Apocalypse}}
When a clash between the Maximals and Megatron resulted in the anti-organic energies of the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] meeting the anti-technological energies of the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]], {{storylink|End of the Line}} Optimus sacrificed himself to ensure the powers did not destroy Cybertron. His spark went on a vision quest in the afterlife for a time before he returned to his body. {{storylink|Fallout (episode)|Fallout}} Megatron meanwhile had taken the chance to try and purge the organic elements of his body only for his spark to follow. Posing as [[Noble (BM)|Noble]], Megatron managed to gain access to the Council Citadel and extract his spark, uploading to his [[Grand Mal]] spaceship. {{storylink|Prometheus Unbound}}
As the ''status quo'' returned to Cybertron, Megatron placed the sparks of the legendary generals [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] and [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] in Vehicon bodies to act as his new enforcers. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike|The Strike}} When Megatron later moved the sparks, Optimus Primal baited him with access to the Oracle so that the Maximal leader could learn where Cybertron's sparks now resided, in the Grand Mal itself. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search|The Search}} Opening the [[spark containment unit]], Megatron began absorbing the sparks of his fellows into his own before Nightscream deplorized the Predacon's own spark. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege|The Siege}}
Depolarized, Megatron's spark possessed a collection of bodies across Cybertron before Rattrap returned it to normal and uploaded it to a [[Diagnostic Drone]]. {{storylink|Spark of Darkness}} With the Grand Mal still in their possession, the Maximals made defending Cybertron's sparks their priority as Megatron ordered his generals to recapture them. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral|The Downward Spiral}} Communing with the sparks, the Maximals tapped into their own sparks for a power boost when the battle turned against them. Though the Maximals managed to defeat the Vehicon generals, Megatron had managed to transfer his spark into a new combat-ready body, Optimus Primal's "Optimal Optimus" form, and extracted the sparks of every Maximal save Primal himself. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall|When Legends Fall}}
In the following battle, Megatron emerged victorious and proceeded to absorb every spark into himself. At the cusp of his ascension however, Primal managed to manipulate the technorganic matter to shove Megatron and himself into Cybertron's [[organic core]]. As Primal reformatted the core itself, Megatron's stolen sparks were all released, now inhabiting technorganic bodies. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future|Seeds of the Future}}
===Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity===
The [[Cyber Planet Key]]s each contained a tiny fragment of [[Primus]]'s spark. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}}
After being shot by the [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]], {{storylink|Sacrifice}} ninety percent of [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]]'s body was damaged beyond repair but his spark was intact allowing [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] to extract it and build Smokescreen a new body. {{storylink|Regeneration (Armada)|Regeneration}} After his death, the [[Mini-Con]]s were able to summon [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s spark back to the physical plane via the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. {{storylink|Miracle}}
After seizing the [[Omega Lock]] and three of the Cyber Planet Keys, {{storylink|Retreat}} [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]] began absorbing the spark of Primus into himself which eventually caused him to grow to titanic proportions and enhanced his physical abilities. {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}}
Once all four Cyber Planet Keys were placed in the Omega Lock, Primus's spark was fully restored. {{storylink|End}}
In their final battle, [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] stabbed [[Rhisling]] directly into [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]'s spark, finally ending the Decepticon's threat. {{storylink|Unfinished}}
===Movie continuity===
====Movies====
[[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] devoured the sparks of fallen foes. {{storylink|Optimus Prime Versus Megatron}} {{storylink|Transformers (novel)}}
[[Sam Witwicky]] destroyed both the [[AllSpark]] and Megatron himself when he inserted the AllSpark into Megatron's exposed spark chamber. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}}
[[File:TheFallen-ROTFfacegotten.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I didn't need it anyway!]]
Megatron was revived when [[Scalpel (ROTF)|the Doctor]] pierced a shard of the AllSpark into the hole where his spark had been. [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] was stabbed and then shot through the spark chamber by Megatron using his [[fusion cannon]] and [[death-lock pincer]] but was later revived by Sam, who pierced the [[Matrix of Leadership]] into the empty chamber. Jetfire ripped out his spark to give Optimus his parts. Moments later, Optimus tore through [[The Fallen]]'s chest and crushed his spark. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
When cornered and brought down by [[Cemetery Wind]], [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] was offered his life in exchange for Optimus' location by [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]]. Ratchet spat in the bounty hunter's face and braced himself for the end. In response, Lockdown tore his spark out leaving the deceased Ratchet a mangled smoldering wreck. Optimus narrowly escaped a similar ambush in New [[Mexico]] and was later offered repairs by [[Cade Yeager]]. When Cade noticed a wound perilously close to his spark, Optimus explained that sparks contained a Transformer's memories and feelings prompting Cade to compare it to a human soul.
[[Kinetic Solutions Incorporated|KSI]] produced their own Transformers albeit without sparks. Megatron's [[Core consciousness|consciousness]] manipulated KSI into producing a new body for him and its lack of a spark proved an invaluable asset when he later fought Optimus as "Galvatron", suffering no ill effects when impaled through his chest by Optimus; this was also due to [[Vortex Grinder|some ''improvements'' Megatron made to KSI's designs]].
When the day was won, Optimus decided to depart Earth to confront the Transformers' [[Creator (AOE)|Creators]]. Though he could not say if they'd ever meet again, Optimus asked his family on Earth to think of a star in the night sky as his soul. {{storylink|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction}}
====IDW movie comics====
After the failed [[Ejoornian]] invasion of Cybertron, [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]'s post-mortem on one of them led to him discovering that they possessed internals eerily similar to the Cybertronians, including what may have been a spark core. {{storylink|Defiance issue 2|Defiance #2}}
Following the destruction of the AllSpark in [[Mission City]], [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] conspired to use [[Sector Seven]]'s data on the artifact to create it. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 2|The Reign of Starscream #2}} After using slave labor to construct the [[Replica AllSpark]], Starscream sacrificed five Autobot sparks to ignite it but the device remained inert. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 5|The Reign of Starscream #5}}
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====Marvel Comics continuity====
====Marvel Comics continuity====
=====''Regeneration One''=====
[[File:Toaster ark.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Built to Rule!]]
Following the second crash of the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', a damaged [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] willingly wired himself into the craft's systems to preserve his spark. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Two}}
Four million years ago shortly after the crash of the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', the Ark's computer detected [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] landing on the planet in [[Savage Land|the Antarctic land-out-of-time]]. The Ark used the last of its capabilities to revive [[Dinobot (G1)|five warriors]] and rebuild them to transform into the Savage Land's dominant lifeforms: [[Dinosaur (dinosaur)|dinosaurs]]. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}
When the [[Wrecker]]s crashed on [[Earth]], [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] ordered his horde of [[zombie]] Decepticons to bring them to him in a state where he could see dread in their optics before he snuffed out their sparks. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 2}} When [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] later engaged Megatron in battle the [[Decepticon leader]] swore to open Prime's spark chamber with his teeth. His own spark was ripped out of his chest and crushed seconds later by an apologetic Prime. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 5}}
Subsequently, in 1984 the eruption of the volcano reboots the Ark which sends a [[drone]] to scan the area for local life forms which it takes to be terrestrial vehicles. Damaged, the Ark does not distinguish between factions and repairs and rebuilds both [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s alike with new altmodes. The 'Cons leave soon after. {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers}}
After the Cybertronians had been separated from [[Primus]] and the larger [[multiverse]], they lost their biological immortality. Millenia in the future, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] had become the last Cybertronian and when he finally died, the vestiges of his spark energy served to ignite the birth of [[Botanica (BM)|a new generation]]. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}
Later stories would refer to new arrivals to Earth having to take on new "Terran" altmodes, but the process was generally glossed over.
=====''Transformers '84''=====
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
Following the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]] had been grievously wounded by Shockwave, {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 1|Secrets & Lies #1}} their sparks were extracted from their ruined shells and held in a magnetic containment field aboard the ''Ark'' until their bodies could be mended. When the ship later crashed on Earth [[Aunty|AUNTIE]] rebuilt the warriors with alien alternate modes, returning their sparks to them. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 2|Secrets & Lies #2}}
[[File:MTMtE Part1 Prime repair.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Wake up, Prime! Don't make me use this to wake you up."]]
The Transformers aboard the ''Ark'' were damaged and went into [[stasis lock]] after the Ark crashed into [[Mount St. Hilary]]. Four million years passed, and then in 1984, volcanic activity stirred the half-buried Ark, awakening [[Teletraan I]], the computer system aboard. Teletraan I sent out a [[Sky Spy]] satellite to reconnoiter the new world and scanned terrestrial machinery in order to repair the Transformers and reformat them into new altmodes. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}
====Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity====
====Dreamwave G1 continuity====
The most fundamental component to a Cybertronian, yet also the most mysterious, sparks were what gave Cybertronians life and individuality. Sparks were drawn from the Matrix of Leadership and placed into mature protoforms to mould a new Cybertronian. Sparks were not static, their energy coursing throughout a Cybertronian's body. Upon a Cybertron's demise, their corpse released a measurable energy burst, which was speculated to be the spark leaving the body. Though ancient legends held that sparks came from [[Primus]], scientists of the modern era gave this tale little credence and continued to try and determine the spark's origin.
Being set quite some time after the initial awakening of the Transformers on modern-day Earth, the scanning and rebuilding process was never really detailed in this continuity, but can be assumed to have been along the lines of the fairly similar classic cartoon and Marvel comic scenarios.
Certain sparks were known to have aberrant properties that counted [[Ability|special powers]] among them. A spark was known to sometimes split, resulting in the creation of siblings. The Decepticon [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] managed to artificially replicate this to create clones, but this process was noted to be overall inferior to natural spark separation. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye}}
Subsequent arrivals under [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s banner of a unified [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] have been reformatted into Earth modes prior to their arrival to the planet. Again, the process is not shown. {{storylink|War and Peace}}
====2005 IDW continuity====
====2005 IDW continuity====
[[File:KupsSpark.jpg|upright=1.15|thumb|Save the Spark. Save the World.]]
Much like the Dreamwave counterpart, the IDWverse shows the Autobots and Decepticons already on Earth albeit with higher emphases on disguise. The process of reformatting is not shown. {{storylink|The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration}}
The spark is part of [[Rossum's Trinity]] with the [[brain module]] and [[transformation cog]]. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} The light from a spark illuminates a Transformer's [[Sensor#Optical sensors|optics]]. {{storylink|Zero Point}} There appears to be at least eight known spark types in Cybertronians {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} some more common than others, and a healthy Cybertronian can 'jumpstart' the faltering spark of another with the same type in a similar manner to blood transfusion. {{storylink|Before & After}} Some proposed spark types like estriol-positive have since been discredited and abandoned. {{storylink|After Megatron (A Dissolution Epilogue)|After Megatron}}
[[File:Overlords spark remembrance day.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Starting as you mean to go on.]]
Again, subsequent arrivals to Earth such as Optimus Prime, Megatron and Hot Rod make mention of having been modified to have new Earth-based altmodes but the process is similarly not depicted directly.
A very small number of naturally-occurring sparks are [[Point One Percenter]]s glowing green instead of the normal blue. Those who possess these sparks are usually a tier above regular Cybertronians, and include such prominent figures as Optimus Prime and Shockwave. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} Sparks run on different frequencies; the frequency of a spark affects the color of the [[energon]] within a Transformer's body. While most Cybertronians bleed purple energon, Transformers from the colony world of [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]] evolved low-frequency Sparks to save energy and consequently bleed blue energon. {{storylink|The Last Autobot}}
Sparks once [[Reproduction|arose naturally]] from [[hot spot (phenomenon)|hot spot]]s dotting Cybertron and its moons ignited by energy pulses from [[Vector Sigma]]. Once bright enough, these sparks would be harvested, nurtured and matured before being placed into a body. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}} The sparks would also have to be harvested quickly otherwise they would evaporate. {{storylink|The Sound of Breaking Glass}} Rarely, sparks could also be discovered buried deep underground. The only known case of this happening was a Point One Percenter that would become [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}}
The first on-panel scanning was for the Dynobots and required the use of a CR chamber. {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}} When [[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] first arrived on Earth however, he scanned a nearby Porsche by projecting a beam from his optics. {{storylink|Time Will Rust}}
Though most sparks emerge alone, occasionally two sparks emerge together. The resulting Transformers are considered [[twin]]s and share a [[branched spark]] that allows them to feel each other's pain. On Cybertron, this was a very rare event that affected roughly one in every million sparks. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 3|Last Stand of the Wreckers #3}} On the colony world of [[Devisiun (planet)|Devisiun]] however, unusual gravitational conditions (or [[Ore-5|other factors]]) affected the development of [[Devisiun (Titan)|its]] [[Titan (group)|Titan]]'s hot spot and every newborn Devisien emerged with [[Micromaster Combiner|a twin sibling]]. {{storylink|Windblade vol. 2 issue 6|Windblade vol. 2 #6}}
In the jump-forward storyline ''All Hail Megatron'', many of the Autobots and Decepticons have inexplicably been reformatted again, but merely into similar-but-different Earth altmodes. It is no surprise that in all cases these resemble their most recent real-world toy releases, particularly under the [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|''Universe'' line]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron}} Following the rebirth of Cybertron and the end of the war, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] worked to reformat their respective comrades into new Cybertronian vehicle modes. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}}
====''Hearts of Steel''====
It's not fully clear how exactly Cybertronians scan their alternate modes. Bumblebee can, for instance, instantly reformat from his prehistoric [[beast mode]] into a nonexistent steamhammer locomotive. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} On the other hand, Starscream and the other Decepticons need plans drawn up by [[Tobias Muldoon]] to reformat into flying alternate modes. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}}
Vector Sigma's pulses had grown increasingly less frequent by [[Nova Prime]]'s era, so to bolster the Cybertronian population he instituted a process called "'''spark-splicing'''" which used the energy of existing sparks to ignite new ones. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} That, however was a cover story for what Nova was ''really'' doing: harvesting the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to create thousands of new sparks daily. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}}
Whether or not [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] is a living Transformer raises even more questions; he's one of several Decepticons to be made or refitted to function as a train. Some Decepticons are also manually refitted to make rail cars for Astrotrain. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 3|Hearts of Steel #3}}
[[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]]'s sparkhousing was unstable due to age and radiation poisoning. He finally experienced sparkcore stabilizer failure which threatened to blow him up. [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] saved him by extending a [[force field]] around the crashing spark. Later, Kup recovered in a [[CR chamber]] fitted with a placeholder powercore to maintain his spark. {{storylink|Spotlight: Kup}}
====''Universe'' (2008) promotional video====
Optimus Prime emits the scanning beam from his [[Sensor#Optical sensors|optic]] sensor to scan a truck. {{storylink|Action Blast 1|Action Blast 1 Part 1}}
While attempting to convince [[Stardrive]] to join the [[Decepticon]]s, [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] briefly explained sparks to the orphaned Camien. {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 4|Shining Armor #4}} After being possessed by [[Vekktral]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] managed to resist enough to open his spark chamber so [[Rom]] could kill them both. {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 5|Shining Armor #5}}
====''Transformers vs. The Terminator''====
When the ''Ark'' rebooted, a [[Sky Spy]] probe scanned a commandeered truck that happened to be nearby before the [[T-800]] shot it down, {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part One}} later justifying this act to [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] as the probe having also scanned him. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Three}}
[[File:SpotlightArcee Garrus-9 inmates.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|Reminds me of the reptile cages at the zoo...except less stinky.]]
====''Transformers/Back to the Future''====
The Autobots kept some prisoners at [[Garrus-9]] in spark stasis which entailed actually removing the sparks from their casings separating the spark from the body.
After finding himself unable to tolerate Megatron's brutality any longer, Gigawatt trans-scanned the impounded [[DeLorean time machine]], hoping to use its replicated power to alter history and undo his master's reign of terror. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 2|Transformers/Back to the Future #2}}
This process was not possible for [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] since the Autobots couldn't break through the destructive programming far enough to rehabilitate/reform the sparks as per [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s orders and as such hadn't pulled the sparks from their frames.
===Beast Era===
[[Protoform]] Transformers are able to get new alternate modes by using the [[DNA]] scanned from the lifeforms of the nearby environments.
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
When in operation, the "scan beam" emitted from the [[DNA scanner]]s built into Cybertronian ships can analyze DNA data scanned from lifeforms immediately. If the device scans a corpse or fossil, it is able to reconstruct the lifeform's appearance during its lifetime. Examples of this include the alternate modes of [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]], and [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]].
[[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] found this limbo peaceful but was later reunited with her body. To control her behavior a "g-force crush" device was installed on or in her spark casing and could be operated via remote control. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}}
Once the scanned DNA data is retrieved, it is sent to [[CR chamber]]s or CR tanks. The Transformers have to enter the CR chambers or tanks to get their new altmode.
After the war ended [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]] utilized the [[Epistemus|Magnificence]] to create the [[Firstborn]], a spark-powered organic capable of sexual reproduction that would reproduce with others of its kind and create new generations of Decepticon sparks. {{storylink|Kill All 'Cons}}
There is also a DNA scanner mounted on each [[stasis pod]] in order to get the DNA data from the lifeforms of the planet on which the stasis pod lands. The stasis pod itself then reformats the occupant—or perhaps just "formats", since protoforms are generally considered to be newborns.
After [[Team Rodimus (G1)|Team Rodimus]] had opened twelve Matrices of Leadership at the [[hot spot (phenomenon)|hot spot]]s of Functionist Cybertron, [[Vector Sigma]] shunted the excess energy to the orbiting Luna 1, reigniting the hot spot. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 6): A Spark Among Embers|A Spark Among Embers}} Over the following years, the billion new sparks, the [[Lunarian]]s as they were called, were steadily brought online, with their generation noted for having an unusually high number of Point One Percenters, a term that would likely have to be changed in the future. {{storylink|How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2}}
====''Beast Wars II'' cartoon====
''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' featured the first instance of built-in DNA scanners and self-reformatting technology allowing the Transformers to adopt alternate modes on the spot without the need for external machinery. Only [[Tasmania Kid]] is seen using it, {{storylink|The New Forces Arrive!}} while the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] obtained vehicle modes by accessing an ancient computer and scanning the recorded data within it. {{storylink|White Lion, Run!}}
Sparks were not unique to Cybertronians with other mechanical species deriving their animating force from them. Upon meeting a group of [[Ammonite]]s, Ultra Magnus asked if they were "'''warm-wired'''" or spark-based. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}}
====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
After falling into a hole, Nightscream became unconscious. During that time, a DNA scanner inside his body was activated and scanned the fossils of a big bat once native to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], giving him a bat alternate mode. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}} He explains to [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] that all Cybertronians now have built-in scanners by this slightly later point in history, having been equipped with them in the planet-wide [[Quantum Cycle Upgrade]] that evidently occurred after the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' and ''[[Darksyde (BW)|Darksyde]]'' crews departed Cybertron for the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}}
The [[Quintesson]]s had green sparks with [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] managing to use [[Pentius]]'s as fuel {{storylink|Prey (issue)|Prey}} and to revive [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Belly of the Beast (issue)|Belly of the Beast}} Through this, Trypticon inherited some of the Quintesson's memories {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}} before it was revealed that Pentius had become the dominant consciousness within the [[Titan (group)|Titan]]'s body. {{storylink|Primacy issue 3|Primacy #3}} Though Megatron attempted to manually remove the spark, the remnants of Pentius were burned away by the fires of the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}}
The [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] also possessed sparks but were capable of surviving for prolonged periods of time without them as demonstrated by the ever chipper and chatty [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] being reduced to just a head for days on end. {{storylink|The Next Day, and the Next}}
=====Characters by spark type=====
{{quote|Rewind's '''''vitreous positive'''''. It's a relatively rare spark type. One in 150, one in 200.}}
{{quote|I'm V-positive.}}
{{quote|I know.|[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] and [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]|[[Before & After]]}}
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*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] <ref group="idw">In "Elegant Chaos", Brainstorm's time-machine is coded for two spark-types: ferrum-negative and vitreous-positive, since Tailgate and Rewind can both use it. By extrapolation, Rodimus, Brainstorm, Megatron and Rung are either of those two.</ref>
Once upon a time, a [[Titan (group)|Metrotitan]] engaged in a [[scanning]] duel with a [[Malignus (G1)|Malignus]]. When the Metrotitan thought he'd won by scanning the [[Rainbow City]], the prideful Malignus tried to scan entropy itself, scattering his spark. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Faceboook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/17}}
According to [[Vector Prime]], a spark was capable of being ignited by any part of the Source. As an example, he pointed to the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] of [[Primax 509.28 Epsilon]] having sparks ignited by [[Dark Energon]] but reassured a concerned human that a spark's origin did not dictate whether it was a good or evil. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Faceboook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/23}}
[[Cy-Kill (GoBots)|Cy-Kill]] was fascinated by the concept of sparks, noting that the Transformers were hybrids of machinery and energy in the same way that [[GoBot]]s were hybrids of machinery and organic tissue. {{storylink|Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric (1), 2015/10/15}}
====''Beast Wars: Uprising''====
Before the Great War, new Cybertronian sparks were generated by Vector Sigma. During the conflict however, the supercomputer would be counted among its casualties, threatening the Cybertronian race with extinction. {{storylink|Broken Windshields}}
At some point during or after the 21st century, Optimus Prime sacrificed his life and the Matrix of Leadership to defeat the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]], {{storylink|Book of Logos}} [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] was instead defeated by the [[Point One Percenter]]s when he attacked Cybertron. Believing a threat would inevitably rise that would require such exceptional talent once again, [[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]] began studying sparks, dedicated himself to creating new generations of Point One Percenters. {{storylink|The Inexorable March}}
After the [[Decepticon leader]] Thunderwing had claimed the [[Underbase]], he fused his spark with those of the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]], enhancing his power. {{storylink|Not All Megatrons}}
When the Autobot scientist [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] heard about the [[Human Confederacy]]'s [[Eutychus Project]], an initiative to resurrect the majority of deceased humans, he gleamed enough knowledge about it to create a new source of sparks, the [[Energon Matrix]] to ensure a future for his race. {{storylink|Head Games}} Rather than create a new generation free of conflict, as Cerebros intended, his fellow [[Builder of Cybertron|Builders]] used it to perpetuate the Great War via the proxy armies of the Maximals and Predacons. After returning to Cybertron, [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] revealed the Energon Matrix, held within [[Lio Convoy]] to her people, starting the [[Grand Uprising]]. {{storylink|Broken Windshields}}
To save face after his ward had gone rogue, [[Eject (G1)|Eject]] created a clone with his own Matrix. The clone, [[Galva Convoy]] was influenced by a [[Lord Imperious Delirious|dark source]] and eventually utilized the [[G-Virus]] to corrupt the Matrix within him and birthed the [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]] who had "anti-sparks". {{storylink|Micro-Aggressions}} {{storylink|Not All Megatrons}}
[[Second-born intellect]]s were mechanical entities created by organic beings and not animated by sparks. One of these intellects, [[Lord Imperious Delirious]] travelled the galaxy meeting more of his ilk and liberating them from their organic creators. When he first learned of the Cybertronian race, Delirious was eager to meet what he thought was a whole race of second-born intellects before he learned of sparks. Considering the Cybertronians to be energy beings that animated mechanical sock puppets, Delirious set upon a genocidal campgain against the Cybertronian race, motivated by his disgust at sparks. {{storylink|Derailment}}
After the Grand Uprising, [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] tracked down Deluge who explained his motivations for his spark experiments before he was killed by his creation. {{storylink|The Inexorable March}}
====''Of Masters and Mayhem''====
[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] performed several arcane experiments on his spark, enhancing its power and tinting it green. Learning of this, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] had the spark extracted and placed it into what would become the [[Matrix of Malice]]. When the [[combiner]] [[Thunder Mayhem]] incorporated this Matrix into itself, [[Fractyl]] suspected that the additional spark was what gave the combiner such power and stability. In the process of making [[Wreckage (G1)|Wreckage]] to defeat Thunder Mayhem, Fractyl hoped that the interaction of [[greenergon]], which radiated the same signature as Thunderwing's spark, would react with [[Toxitron (G1)|Toxitron]]'s spark and produce a similar power boost. {{storylink|Foundation and Wreckage Part 1: Deadly Aim|Deadly Aim}}
When the [[Teklaan]]s began rebuilding Cybertron's ruined biosphere, [[Cergo]] remarked that understanding the Wreckers' sparks was necessary to resurrect the Cybertronian race. When [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] was convinced to turn against the aliens and joined Wreckage, the combiner highlighted his spark as proof that he was not a thing, but a true being, unlike the static Teklaans. {{storylink|Lively Pursuit}}
====''Prime Wars Trilogy'' cartoons====
In a bid to resurrect [[Solus Prime]], [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] began draining the sparks of every Cybertronian to reconstitute her. {{storylink|Collision Course}} When his scheme was halted, thanks in part to Solus herself, the majority of the drained sparks were returned to the living universe, among them, Optimus Prime's. {{storylink|Saga's End}}
====''Power of the Primes'' marketing material====
The [[Prime Master]]s were diminutive Cybertronians who each held the sparks of the original [[Thirteen]] Primes. {{storylink|Power of the Primes (franchise)|Power of the Primes}}
====''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' cartoon====
According to [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]], she and her crew scanned the DNA from the plant on the planet on which she landed. {{storylink|Home Soil}}
The sparkless sought to reanimate themselves by feeding on the sparks of the living. {{storylink|Siege episode 5}}
====2019 IDW continuity====
===2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
New sparks were extracted from the Well of All Sparks and brought to the [[Pyramid (Cybertron)|Pyramid]] where they would form their new bodies. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Three}}
[[Skid-Z (RID)|Skid-Z]] was able to scan [[Auggie Cahnay (RID)|Auggie Cahnay]]'s racing car and reformat after arriving on Earth using a built-in scanner. The scan also seemed to pick up parts of Auggie Cahnay's personality causing him to experience the urge to enter races. {{storylink|Skid Z's Choice}} Stasis pods with in-built scanners also appeared in the series enabling the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] to select alternate modes which the contained protoforms would take. In the case of [[Scourge (RID)|Scourge]] the scan beam took in a fuel tanker, [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Kelly (RID)|Kelly]] causing Scourge's [[robot mode]] to bear a resemblance to Optimus and adding a human tinge to his bio-signature. {{storylink|The Decepticons}}
===Unicron Trilogy===
Upon arriving on Earth, both Autobots and Decepticons display the ability to scan and [[Reformatting|reformat]] for new alt modes without requiring the aid of any external reconfiguration technology. {{storylink|Metamorphosis (Armada)|Metamorphosis}} When the [[Unicron Singularity]] was threatening the universe, Transformers even displayed the ability to scan multiple alternate modes in addition to the one they chose for themselves, storing the data on other vehicles and passing it on to other Transformers to scan. Scanning didn't even require the presence of the actual vehicle—a mere photograph or illustration of the vehicle would do. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}}
===Live-action film series===
====2007 ''Transformers'' film====
Autobots and Decepticons from the live-action films have the most fluid abilities to date regarding scanning and reformatting their bodies at will without any apparent need for external assistance whatsoever. Although there is some ambiguity, it even appears that the transformational abilities of Movie Cybertronians are so fluid that they can re-scan and reformat as often as they wish and not even use the same "[[Transformation|transformation scheme]]" twice, possibly suggesting that they can generate new parts such as additional weapons at will independent of a full reformatting cycle.
[[Soundblaster (G1)|Soundblaster]] linked his spark signature to his ship's energon batteries, warning [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] that they would detonate if his spark was extinguished. {{storylink|Storm Horizon Part 3}}
Movieverse scanning can even replicate the appearance of rust and scratched and faded custom paintwork when imitating [[Bumblebee (Movie)|an]] [[Megatron (Movie)|old]] [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|beater]], apparently.
After Megatron had taken over the [[Senate]], Starscream tried to barter information to the [[Decepticon leader]] on Titan sparks. {{storylink|War World: Awakenings|Awakenings}} He later had his agents try and pass this same information onto the Autobots. {{storylink|War World: Hunt|Hunt}}
====''Bumblebee'' film====
Upon arriving on Earth, Autobot scout B-127 scanned an army jeep to escape the United States Armed Forces before a battle with [[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]] left him damaged and he scanned a Volkswagen Beetle as he fell into [[stasis lock]]. After defeating [[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]], he scanned a Camaro. {{storylink|Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee}}
====2021 IDW ''Beast Wars'' comic====
''See also:'' '''[[Trans-scan]]'''
After the ''[[Darksyde (BW)|Darksyde]]'' had crashed, its AI reconstructed the crews with fabricated techno-organic material that matched the native organics on a molecular level to protect the Cybertronians from harmful levels of [[energon radiation]] that would otherwise damage their sparks. {{storylink|Savage Landing Part 1}}
===''Animated''===
In the ''Animated'' universe, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] and his crew use a Sky Spy-type probe from their ship to scan new alt modes for them. They are then very quickly reformatted into their new forms by taking turns stepping inside a device similar to a [[CR chamber]].
===''Animated'' cartoon ===
However, upon arriving on Earth, the Decepticons [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]], [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]], and, memorably, [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]], are capable of scanning new altmodes directly from their own bodies and immediately reformatting themselves without any such chamber, although the actual reformatting is not shown onscreen. This may suggest that while ''Animated'' Decepticons appear to have the ability to scan and reformat themselves unaided, ''Animated'' Autobots apparently do not. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}
The [[AllSpark]] was the wellspring of sparks, its power granting them to [[protoform]]s. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}
When [[Yoketron (Animated)|Yoketron]] was attacked by [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] and his spark began to fade, [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] attempted to save him by transferring his spark to a blank [[protoform]]. Though successful in his gambit, Yoketron admonished his student for this and allowed his spark to fade. {{storylink|Five Servos of Doom}} Lockdown delivered Yoketron's stolen protoforms to the Decepticons but they found no method of igniting a spark in them without the AllSpark. {{storylink|Endgame, Part I}}
When [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] rebuilds himself with the assistance of [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]]'s [[AllSpark]]-[[AllSpark Key|powered key]], he is reconstituted with a newly reformatted helicopter-altmode body straight away rather than in his original body which had a Cybertronian jet-altmode. He had presumably scanned the design while his disembodied head still had access to [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Issac Sumdac]]'s computers.
In the [[Battle for Iacon]], [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] had been critically damaged, able to feel his spark fading. After examining the spark, [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] placed Omega in [[stasis lock]], preserving his friend's life force. {{storylink|TransWarped}} [[Perceptor (Animated)|Perceptor]] did the same for the other surviving [[Omega Sentinel (Animated)|Omega Sentinel]], [[Sigma Supreme]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}
In a similar vein, mere moments after upgrading himself, [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]] was capable of transforming into a brand-new vehicle mode without any scanning whatsoever. [[Wreck-Gar (Animated)|Wreck-Gar]] could also transform into a vehicle mode without having done a single scan beforehand.
With the AllSpark having been deliberately lost in space during the course of the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}} the victorious Autobots turned to Vector Sigma as a means of generating new sparks. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}
===''Shattered Glass''===
[[File:Desert Heat Scanning.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Hey, this isn't a light cycle!]]
After falling a great height, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]'s spark expired before [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] used the [[AllSpark Key]] in concert with the AllSpark itself to revive him. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}
After arriving Earth and finding [[Soundwave (SG)|Soundwave]] in [[stasis lock]], [[Heatwave (Timelines)|Heatwave]] reactivated the systems and the on-board scanner of Soundwave's stasis pod. It scanned a [[:File:Universe 2008 Ironhide Toy.jpg|familiar vehicle]] nearby for Soundwave and reactivated him. {{storylink|The Desert Heat!}}
When the AllSpark Key was used to enhance [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]'s [[Stinger (weapon)|stingers]] when used against the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]], [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] and Prowl suspected that the AllSpark energy coursing through the blast had given the former animatronics sparks. {{storylink|Blast from the Past}}
Upon his reconstruction via the AllSpark Key, Megatron used it to drain [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]'s spark as punishment for his earlier betrayal. When Megatron later claimed the AllSpark, he inserted it into his spark chamber before his equilibrium sensors were short-circuited by [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]]. Though impressed by the human's ingenuity, Megatron quickly recovered, proclaiming that the spark was the core of all Cybertronians and that compared to it, such things as [[armor-plating]] and servo mechanics were superficial. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 2}}
[[Starscream clone (Animated)|Starscream's clones]] did not have sparks, forcing their progenitor to bring them online with slivers of his AllSpark fragment, which also substituted for his drained spark. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}} In the battle for Megatron's [[space bridge]], Ratchet used a handful of AllSpark fragments and the AllSpark Key to jump start Omega Supreme's spark. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}}
Made from the same technology as Starscream's clones, the [[Lugnut Supreme]]s lacked sparks, Megatron bringing them online with the same AllSpark fragments that had revived Omega Supreme. {{storylink|Endgame, Part I}}
When Prowl and [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] used [[processor-over-matter]] to summon together all the AllSpark fragments, [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] recognized that they could not summon the totality of the pieces in time to save [[Detroit]] forcing him to surrender his spark back to the AllSpark, granting it the power it needed to protect the city. {{storylink|Endgame, Part II}}
===Aligned continuity family===
===Aligned continuity family===
As part of the [[Thirteen]]'s plan to defeat [[Unicron/Aligned|Unicron]], [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] exposed his spark, its frequency almost identical to [[Primus]]'s own, to Unicron's Anti-Spark, the resulting interaction between the two knocking both beings into [[stasis lock]]. After being poisoned by [[Dark Energon]], Primus inserted an untainted portion of his spark into the [[Matrix of Leadership]] which he bestowed upon Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}
====Aligned novels====
Scanning new vehicle modes based on the current locale is not something that every Cybertronian enjoys; some pride themselves on retaining the same vehicle form that they have had since learning to assume it. During his stay on [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] [[Prowl (WFC)|Prowl]] briefly contemplated scanning a new vehicle mode to better suit the treacherous terrain of the junk planet but ultimately decided against it. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}
Over the protests of [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]], [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] inserted a shard of Dark Energon directly into his spark. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}} The shard managed to keep him alive after being at ground zero of a Space Bridge explosion, {{storylink|Masters & Students}} before another shard, plunged directly into his spark, restored his body to full functionality. {{storylink|Out of His Head}}
===''Prime'' cartoon===
[[File:ProjectPredacon Optimus Prime scans truck.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67|Perfect! No one will ever suspect such a big spiky truck of actually being an alien robot in disguise!]]
[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] and [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] shared a split spark. This allowed the former to feel the latter's emerging from stasis and subsequent death. {{storylink|Loose Cannons}}
For some reason that has yet to be explained, many Cybertronians seem to lose the ability to assume a vehicle form after arriving on Earth. While they are perfectly functional in robot mode their inability to transform into an alternate mode puts them at a disadvantage regarding mobility, [[Megatron (WFC)|though there]] [[Airachnid (Prime)|are some]] [[Shockwave (WFC)|exceptions]]. However, Cybertronians are readily capable of scanning local vehicles for alternate modes. This appears as the Cybertronian in question shooting what appears to be green [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|or blue]] beams from their eyes. The beams scan the vehicle which even appears to cause some electrical interference as well providing the Cybertronian with a complete schematic of their chosen vehicle after which they can immediately transform into said vehicle.
A variant of [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcon]]s, born from a mixture of Dark and [[Synthetic Energon]], could only be destroyed if their spark was extinguished. {{storylink|Thirst}}
After Megatron perished, {{storylink|Deadlock}} the lasting consequence of his abuse of Dark Energon was revealed with Megatron's polluted spark now severed from the [[Transformer afterlife|AllSpark]] and bound to Unicron's Anti-Spark, allowing the Dark God to possess Megatron's corpse.
Curiously, Cybertronians here seem to display kibble that hints to an Earth-based vehicle mode before they actually scan one.
In order to prevent Unicron from devouring the physical [[AllSpark]], Optimus Prime merged the AllSpark with the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and thus his own spark. Unable to separate the three, Optimus willingly surrendered his life to allow new generations to exist on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The AllSpark rejoining the [[Core]] caused it to ignite and birth a multitude of new sparks. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}}
[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] has inadvertently provided [[Skyquake (Prime)|some]] [[Airachnid (Prime)|Decepticons]] [[Dreadwing (Prime)|their]] new vehicle modes with the vehicle he's currently riding in much to his irritation. {{storylink|Masters & Students}} {{storylink|Crisscross (episode)|Crisscross}} {{storylink|Loose Cannons}}
Before Optimus could pass into the afterlife, the Thirteen intercepted his spark and brought it to their realm. {{storylink|Decepticon Island (Part 1)}} To provide Optimus with the power needed to defeat [[The Fallen|Megatronus]], the Primes bestowed upon him a portion of their power, directly from their sparks. {{storylink|Battlegrounds, Part 1}} They later took it back but doing so left Optimus substantially weakened. {{storylink|Overloaded, Part 1}}
A Transformer's scanning ability is enabled by their [[transformation cog]] component. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}}
===''Cyberverse'' cartoon===
[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] scanned a new alternate mode that would better integrate his new [[Jet pack|jetpack]]. The vehicle chosen by [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] was an experimental [[M.A.S.K.]]-division vehicle. {{storylink|Project Predacon}}
By [[Cheetor (Cyberverse)|Cheetor]]'s account, his spark had been brought out of the [[AllSpark]] to serve as its guardian. {{storylink|Dark Birth}}
Upon arriving on Earth, [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] provided the members of [[Rescue Force Sigma-17]] with a choice of vehicle modes based on the native machinery. After choosing their new alternate modes, the members of the force immediately assumed alternate form and began to integrate into human society. {{storylink|Family of Heroes}} After some time on Earth, Optimus Prime instructed [[Heatwave (RB)|Heatwave]] on how to gain [[Triple Changer|a third form]] which involved intense concentration and focusing a lot of energy, a process Optimus described as “an ordeal” in which few succeeded on their first try. It involved a form of prone meditation so deep that Heatwave was apparently unable to hear [[Kade Burns|an embarrassing conversation]] going on right next to him. When his energy focusing was complete his Rescue Bot insignia glowed blue similar to when using energize tools and he himself glowed briefly. It glowed blue again when he scanned a fireboat and he told [[Blades (RB)|Blades]] that he was still exhausted later that day or a day or two later. He also told him that Blades would not be allowed to attempt to scan a third form, since Heatwave did it only with Optimus' permission and help. {{storylink|Changes}} In accordance with [[tvtropes:Main/UniquenessDecay|uniqueness decay]] however, Optimus later scanned [[Trex]] to gain a Dinobot form without the same fanfare being given to the difficulty of scanning a third form, {{storylink|Land Before Prime (episode)|Land Before Prime}} and in order to test a cure for Optimus' rampaging dino mode on himself [[Boulder]] scanned a third form with only a few moments of focusing and no apparent fatigue. {{storylink|Big Game}} When [[Quint Quarry]] demanded more dinobots in addition to Boulder and Optimus, Heatwave gained a ''fourth'' form and [[Chase (RB)|Chase]] and Blades scanned third modes all with no apparent preparation or fatigue. The process did strain Blades' [[Transformation cog|T-cog]] to the point that it was several hours before he could use it again, though this strain was attributed partially to the bio-organic nature of the new forms they'd scanned. {{storylink|Quarry's Quarry}}
====2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon====
After arriving on Earth, [[Strongarm (RID)|Strongarm]] and [[Sideswipe (RID)|Sideswipe]] scanned new vehicle modes at [[Denny Clay]]'s [[Vintage Salvage Depot for the Discriminating Nostalgist|scrapyard]]. Noticeably, [[Fixit (RID)|Fixit]] and [[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Grimlock]] did not adopt compatible Earth forms possibly due to personal preferences or physical limitations. {{storylink|Pilot (Part 2)}}
When [[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]] had acquired the AllSpark and used it to birth a race of [[scraplet]]s, {{storylink|Trials}} he believed that they held the sparks of the [[Ancient]]s, {{storylink|Dark Birth}} though Cheetor would later denounce his creations as sparkless abominations. {{storylink|Starscream's Children}}
Most, [[Underbite|but not all of]] the Decepticon fugitives aboard the ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]'' also chose to scan new alternate modes while hiding out on Earth.
After witnessing Cheetor's affinity for the AllSpark, Starscream attempted to extract the guardian's spark and merge it with his own. When he tested the procedure on [[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]] however, Cheetor managed to stop the transfer and escape with his friend. {{storylink|Spotted}}
[[File:OverloadedPart2-optimusscanning.jpg|thumb|right|350px|The Decepticons really knew that they were in trouble after Optimus learned how to Warp Digivolve.]]
While training in the [[Realm of the Primes]] Optimus Prime learned how to control and fine-tune the scanning process so that he could merely adopt one characteristic of an appropriate vehicle. While searching for [[Polarclaw|a Decepticon]] in the [[Arctic]] members of the [[Bee Team (RID)|Bee Team]] scanned suitable camouflage from a nearby truck {{storylink|Overloaded, Part 2}} and during the trip south they adopted desert camouflage by scanning an offroad jeep. {{storylink|Cover Me}}
Upon gaining full control of the AllSpark, Starscream merged it with his spark. His first act was to extract the sparks of his [[Seeker (Cyberverse)|Seekers]], merging them with his own. He would have done the same to the other Autobots and Decepticons before [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus Prime]] managed to use the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to punch the AllSpark out of Starscream, saving everyone. {{storylink|I Am The Allspark}}
The Bee Team repeated this when visiting the ruins of [[Autobot Outpost Omega One]], {{storylink|History Lessons}} while [[Steeljaw's Pack]] used the trick to pass off as hazardous waste disposal vehicles. {{storylink|Prisoner Principles}}
After Bumblebee and Cheetor had returned the AllSpark to Cybertron's core, [[Shockwave (Cyberverse)|Shockwave]] willingly extracted his own spark and used it to corrupt the AllSpark. Without hesitation, Cheetor did the same, his spark purifying Shockwave's malignant energies from the AllSpark. {{storylink|Battle For Cybertron IV}}
When the [[Quintesson]]s invaded Cybertron, they trapped the populace in a virtual reality while their sparks were drained to fuel Starscream's metamorphosis into a Quintesson [[Judge (Cyberverse)|Judge]]. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}} Before [[Hot Rod (Cyberverse)|Hot Rod]]'s resistance managed to free the Cybertronians, some of their sparks had been completely drained. {{storylink|The Scientist}}
==Notes==
[[File:Cheetor-beastmodescan.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The {{w|People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals|PETA}} gonna SUE!!]]
*In an advertisement of PSX version of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (video game)|Beast Wars: Transformers]]'' in the [[United Kingdom]], [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] grabs and scans a cheetah by the scan beam emitted from his optics.
Revision as of 21:54, 19 August 2021
Sure, the new packaging looks great, but the number of twisty-ties they use to hold it in that position is insane.
Scanning is a method for Transformers to change their alternate modes into things native to other planets such as vehicles or animals on Earth.
Although the "original" or "Cybertronian" altmodes of the characters prior to scanning and reformatting are not always shown, they generally tend to be something roughly similar in size, form and function to their new mode (i.e. flyers tend to become planes, Cybertronian tanks become Earth tanks and small fast-moving land vehicles become sports cars or cheetahs), etc. This suggests that in most continuities the scanning process involves attempting to find the most similar compatible altmode available. Whether this makes the following reconstruction process easier or is merely a concession to the individual Cybertronian's personal preference is unknown.
They also have a funny tendency to be the same colors each time...[1]
None of the various 1980s versions of the Generation One continuity show the original G1-era Cybertronians as capable of either scanning for new altmodes or reformatting themselves without the use of external technology and a drawn-out nuts n' bolts process of physical reconstruction. This technology appears to be standard-issue in ships and various facilities.
Marvel Comics continuity
Built to Rule!
Four million years ago shortly after the crash of the Ark, the Ark's computer detected Shockwave landing on the planet in the Antarctic land-out-of-time. The Ark used the last of its capabilities to revive five warriors and rebuild them to transform into the Savage Land's dominant lifeforms: dinosaurs. The Last Stand
Subsequently, in 1984 the eruption of the volcano reboots the Ark which sends a drone to scan the area for local life forms which it takes to be terrestrial vehicles. Damaged, the Ark does not distinguish between factions and repairs and rebuilds both Autobots and Decepticons alike with new altmodes. The 'Cons leave soon after. The Transformers
Later stories would refer to new arrivals to Earth having to take on new "Terran" altmodes, but the process was generally glossed over.
The Transformers cartoon
"Wake up, Prime! Don't make me use this to wake you up."
The Transformers aboard the Ark were damaged and went into stasis lock after the Ark crashed into Mount St. Hilary. Four million years passed, and then in 1984, volcanic activity stirred the half-buried Ark, awakening Teletraan I, the computer system aboard. Teletraan I sent out a Sky Spy satellite to reconnoiter the new world and scanned terrestrial machinery in order to repair the Transformers and reformat them into new altmodes. More than Meets the Eye, Part 1
Dreamwave G1 continuity
Being set quite some time after the initial awakening of the Transformers on modern-day Earth, the scanning and rebuilding process was never really detailed in this continuity, but can be assumed to have been along the lines of the fairly similar classic cartoon and Marvel comic scenarios.
Subsequent arrivals under Shockwave's banner of a unified Cybertron have been reformatted into Earth modes prior to their arrival to the planet. Again, the process is not shown. War and Peace
2005 IDW continuity
Much like the Dreamwave counterpart, the IDWverse shows the Autobots and Decepticons already on Earth albeit with higher emphases on disguise. The process of reformatting is not shown. Infiltration
Again, subsequent arrivals to Earth such as Optimus Prime, Megatron and Hot Rod make mention of having been modified to have new Earth-based altmodes but the process is similarly not depicted directly.
The first on-panel scanning was for the Dynobots and required the use of a CR chamber. Spotlight: Shockwave When Jazz first arrived on Earth however, he scanned a nearby Porsche by projecting a beam from his optics. Time Will Rust
In the jump-forward storyline All Hail Megatron, many of the Autobots and Decepticons have inexplicably been reformatted again, but merely into similar-but-different Earth altmodes. It is no surprise that in all cases these resemble their most recent real-world toy releases, particularly under the Universe line. All Hail Megatron Following the rebirth of Cybertron and the end of the war, Wheeljack and Shockwave worked to reformat their respective comrades into new Cybertronian vehicle modes. The Autonomy Lesson
Hearts of Steel
It's not fully clear how exactly Cybertronians scan their alternate modes. Bumblebee can, for instance, instantly reformat from his prehistoric beast mode into a nonexistent steamhammer locomotive. Hearts of Steel #1 On the other hand, Starscream and the other Decepticons need plans drawn up by Tobias Muldoon to reformat into flying alternate modes. Hearts of Steel #2
Whether or not Astrotrain is a living Transformer raises even more questions; he's one of several Decepticons to be made or refitted to function as a train. Some Decepticons are also manually refitted to make rail cars for Astrotrain. Hearts of Steel #3
After finding himself unable to tolerate Megatron's brutality any longer, Gigawatt trans-scanned the impounded DeLorean time machine, hoping to use its replicated power to alter history and undo his master's reign of terror. Transformers/Back to the Future #2
Beast Era
Protoform Transformers are able to get new alternate modes by using the DNA scanned from the lifeforms of the nearby environments.
Beast Wars cartoon
When in operation, the "scan beam" emitted from the DNA scanners built into Cybertronian ships can analyze DNA data scanned from lifeforms immediately. If the device scans a corpse or fossil, it is able to reconstruct the lifeform's appearance during its lifetime. Examples of this include the alternate modes of Megatron, Dinobot, Terrorsaur, and Nightscream.
Once the scanned DNA data is retrieved, it is sent to CR chambers or CR tanks. The Transformers have to enter the CR chambers or tanks to get their new altmode.
There is also a DNA scanner mounted on each stasis pod in order to get the DNA data from the lifeforms of the planet on which the stasis pod lands. The stasis pod itself then reformats the occupant—or perhaps just "formats", since protoforms are generally considered to be newborns.
Beast Wars II cartoon
Beast Wars II featured the first instance of built-in DNA scanners and self-reformatting technology allowing the Transformers to adopt alternate modes on the spot without the need for external machinery. Only Tasmania Kid is seen using it, The New Forces Arrive! while the Predacons obtained vehicle modes by accessing an ancient computer and scanning the recorded data within it. White Lion, Run!
Beast Machines cartoon
After falling into a hole, Nightscream became unconscious. During that time, a DNA scanner inside his body was activated and scanned the fossils of a big bat once native to Cybertron, giving him a bat alternate mode. Forbidden Fruit He explains to Rattrap that all Cybertronians now have built-in scanners by this slightly later point in history, having been equipped with them in the planet-wide Quantum Cycle Upgrade that evidently occurred after the Axalon and Darksyde crews departed Cybertron for the Beast Wars. Forbidden Fruit
According to Botanica, she and her crew scanned the DNA from the plant on the planet on which she landed. Home Soil
2001 Robots in Disguise cartoon
Skid-Z was able to scan Auggie Cahnay's racing car and reformat after arriving on Earth using a built-in scanner. The scan also seemed to pick up parts of Auggie Cahnay's personality causing him to experience the urge to enter races. Skid Z's Choice Stasis pods with in-built scanners also appeared in the series enabling the Predacons to select alternate modes which the contained protoforms would take. In the case of Scourge the scan beam took in a fuel tanker, Optimus Prime and Kelly causing Scourge's robot mode to bear a resemblance to Optimus and adding a human tinge to his bio-signature. The Decepticons
Unicron Trilogy
Upon arriving on Earth, both Autobots and Decepticons display the ability to scan and reformat for new alt modes without requiring the aid of any external reconfiguration technology. Metamorphosis When the Unicron Singularity was threatening the universe, Transformers even displayed the ability to scan multiple alternate modes in addition to the one they chose for themselves, storing the data on other vehicles and passing it on to other Transformers to scan. Scanning didn't even require the presence of the actual vehicle—a mere photograph or illustration of the vehicle would do. Fallen
Live-action film series
2007 Transformers film
Autobots and Decepticons from the live-action films have the most fluid abilities to date regarding scanning and reformatting their bodies at will without any apparent need for external assistance whatsoever. Although there is some ambiguity, it even appears that the transformational abilities of Movie Cybertronians are so fluid that they can re-scan and reformat as often as they wish and not even use the same "transformation scheme" twice, possibly suggesting that they can generate new parts such as additional weapons at will independent of a full reformatting cycle.
Movieverse scanning can even replicate the appearance of rust and scratched and faded custom paintwork when imitating anoldbeater, apparently.
Bumblebee film
Upon arriving on Earth, Autobot scout B-127 scanned an army jeep to escape the United States Armed Forces before a battle with Blitzwing left him damaged and he scanned a Volkswagen Beetle as he fell into stasis lock. After defeating Shatter and Dropkick, he scanned a Camaro. Bumblebee
In the Animated universe, Optimus Prime and his crew use a Sky Spy-type probe from their ship to scan new alt modes for them. They are then very quickly reformatted into their new forms by taking turns stepping inside a device similar to a CR chamber.
However, upon arriving on Earth, the Decepticons Starscream, Lugnut, and, memorably, Blitzwing, are capable of scanning new altmodes directly from their own bodies and immediately reformatting themselves without any such chamber, although the actual reformatting is not shown onscreen. This may suggest that while Animated Decepticons appear to have the ability to scan and reformat themselves unaided, Animated Autobots apparently do not. Transform and Roll Out
When Megatron rebuilds himself with the assistance of Sari Sumdac's AllSpark-powered key, he is reconstituted with a newly reformatted helicopter-altmode body straight away rather than in his original body which had a Cybertronian jet-altmode. He had presumably scanned the design while his disembodied head still had access to Issac Sumdac's computers.
In a similar vein, mere moments after upgrading himself, Soundwave was capable of transforming into a brand-new vehicle mode without any scanning whatsoever. Wreck-Gar could also transform into a vehicle mode without having done a single scan beforehand.
Scanning new vehicle modes based on the current locale is not something that every Cybertronian enjoys; some pride themselves on retaining the same vehicle form that they have had since learning to assume it. During his stay on JunkionProwl briefly contemplated scanning a new vehicle mode to better suit the treacherous terrain of the junk planet but ultimately decided against it. Exiles
Prime cartoon
Perfect! No one will ever suspect such a big spiky truck of actually being an alien robot in disguise!
For some reason that has yet to be explained, many Cybertronians seem to lose the ability to assume a vehicle form after arriving on Earth. While they are perfectly functional in robot mode their inability to transform into an alternate mode puts them at a disadvantage regarding mobility, though thereare someexceptions. However, Cybertronians are readily capable of scanning local vehicles for alternate modes. This appears as the Cybertronian in question shooting what appears to be green or blue beams from their eyes. The beams scan the vehicle which even appears to cause some electrical interference as well providing the Cybertronian with a complete schematic of their chosen vehicle after which they can immediately transform into said vehicle.
Curiously, Cybertronians here seem to display kibble that hints to an Earth-based vehicle mode before they actually scan one.
Upon arriving on Earth, Optimus Prime provided the members of Rescue Force Sigma-17 with a choice of vehicle modes based on the native machinery. After choosing their new alternate modes, the members of the force immediately assumed alternate form and began to integrate into human society. Family of Heroes After some time on Earth, Optimus Prime instructed Heatwave on how to gain a third form which involved intense concentration and focusing a lot of energy, a process Optimus described as “an ordeal” in which few succeeded on their first try. It involved a form of prone meditation so deep that Heatwave was apparently unable to hear an embarrassing conversation going on right next to him. When his energy focusing was complete his Rescue Bot insignia glowed blue similar to when using energize tools and he himself glowed briefly. It glowed blue again when he scanned a fireboat and he told Blades that he was still exhausted later that day or a day or two later. He also told him that Blades would not be allowed to attempt to scan a third form, since Heatwave did it only with Optimus' permission and help. Changes In accordance with uniqueness decay however, Optimus later scanned Trex to gain a Dinobot form without the same fanfare being given to the difficulty of scanning a third form, Land Before Prime and in order to test a cure for Optimus' rampaging dino mode on himself Boulder scanned a third form with only a few moments of focusing and no apparent fatigue. Big Game When Quint Quarry demanded more dinobots in addition to Boulder and Optimus, Heatwave gained a fourth form and Chase and Blades scanned third modes all with no apparent preparation or fatigue. The process did strain Blades' T-cog to the point that it was several hours before he could use it again, though this strain was attributed partially to the bio-organic nature of the new forms they'd scanned. Quarry's Quarry
Most, but not all of the Decepticon fugitives aboard the Alchemor also chose to scan new alternate modes while hiding out on Earth.
The Decepticons really knew that they were in trouble after Optimus learned how to Warp Digivolve.
While training in the Realm of the Primes Optimus Prime learned how to control and fine-tune the scanning process so that he could merely adopt one characteristic of an appropriate vehicle. While searching for a Decepticon in the Arctic members of the Bee Team scanned suitable camouflage from a nearby truck Overloaded, Part 2 and during the trip south they adopted desert camouflage by scanning an offroad jeep. Cover Me
↑Animated is one of the first continuities to show multiple cases of characters scanning Earth altmodes with explicitly different (i.e. more "realistic") coloration or paintwork and yet having their reformatted bodies stick with their original deco schemes instead of conforming to the scanned example. Lugnut, Blitzwing, Starscream and Bulkhead all do this which is particularly odd in the last case since the mudflap rather seems to be using Hound's deco which is based on a vintage U.S. Army Jeep. Mind you, the idea goes all the way back to "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1" in which an orange tractor trailer was scanned for Optimus Prime and yet he retained his red and blue coloration.
