Scorponok (ROTB)

The name or term "Scorponok" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Scorponok (disambiguation).

Scorponok is a Terrorcon-allied Predacon from the Rise of the Beasts portion of the Movie continuity family.

"These armor-plated, techno-advanced scorpion creatures are huge and pissed."

The Scorponoks are monstrous and malicious Predacon scorpion drones, being as either brute reinforcements for Unicron's endless numbers of Sweeps or ferocious pursuers that seek out and destroy targets for his Terrorcon servants.

They also have a Decepticon counterpart out and about with the same name, although their connection to him is relatively unknown. Hell, who knows where these things came from, either!

Fiction

Rise of the Beasts film

In search of the Transwarp Key, Unicron deployed his forces to besiege the Maximal homeworld, including three Scorponok drones ahead of senior acolyte Scourge. Two of them attacked Apelinq, the Maximal leader who carried the Transwarp Key, but one Scorponok was quickly decapitated by Optimus Primal and the other was engulfed in flames by Airazor.

When the Transwarp Key was activated on Earth in 1994, Unicron sent an army of Scorponoks through the transwarp portal as reinforcements for the Terrorcons and their hordes of Sweeps. The Autobots, Maximals, and Noah Díaz fought the Predacon and Terrorcon army, with a Scorponok once again decapitated by Optimus Primal. In the ensuing battle, the Transwarp Key was destroyed by Optimus Prime, sending the enemy forces up into the portal and back to Unicron's galaxy. Rise of the Beasts

Toys

Rise of the Beasts

Scourgeponok.

• Scourge & Predacon Scorponok (Beast Combiners, 2023)

• TakaraTomy name: Kakusei Change Armor Set Scourge & Scorponok
• TakaraTomy ID number: BCAS-04
• TakaraTomy release date: July 15, 2023
• Accessories: Tail section
• Known designers: Koki Yamada (TakaraTomy)

Included with Scourge, Beast Combiners Scorponok converts into a set of armor for compatible figures via partial autotransformation. His claws form a secondary set of arms while his tail section detaches to form a handheld weapon. Unlike other combiner armors, Scorponok attaches facing forward rather than sideways.

This might be the wrong profession for "Take Your Kid to Work Day"

• Predacon Scorponok & Sandspear (Beast Weaponizers, 2023)

• TakaraTomy name: Kakusei Change Set Scorponok & Sandspear
• TakaraTomy ID number: BCS-EX
• TakaraTomy release date: April 15, 2023
• Accessories: Tail weapon
• Known designers: Koki Yamada (TakaraTomy)

Released as part of a Target-exclusive Buzzworthy Bumblebee line, Rise of the Beasts Scorponok transforms from robot to monstrous robotic scorpion. Unlike other Beast Weaponizers, Scorponok comes with his own weapon, that being his detachable tail. Scorponok's fellow scorpion-bot and pack-in partner Sandspear also converts into a blade that he can wield.

He features 5mm ports on his forearms, sides of his legs, and four on his tail weapon for additional playability. The circular holes on his knees are unfortunately not 5mm compatible.

Interestingly, the robot mode head of this toy is based on that of Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe Class Dead End, or more specifically, based on a fan-made custom using that head, which happens to be one of the top results on Google Images when you type in stuff like "movie scorponok".

The TakaraTomy release is a Toys"R"Us exclusive, and uses Rise of the Beasts style packaging.

Notes

• It is unclear if the Scorponoks' status as Predacons is applicable to the film's setting, wherein the Scorponoks' sole purpose is to serve Unicron. The term "Predacon" is never used in the film, and the group's existence can only be inferred from the Beast Era insignia being barely visible on the Scorponoks' backs as well as Scourge having nine as trophies. Given that Scourge's schtick is harvesting insignias from defeated enemies of Unicron, it is questionable that the Scorponoks would be classified as sentient members of a different faction, but the film does not go into any detail on where the Scorponoks came from.
• Previs models from concept artist Fred Pashe identify alternate colour schemes for Scorponok as "Sandstorm" (red) and "DoublePunch" (blue), drawing from redecoes of the original Beast Wars Scorponok toy. While green is the designated color for "Scorponok" in the art and toys, most of the Scorponoks seen in the film itself use a red deco.
• During production, the Scorponok drones initially had a troll-like robot mode, and dozens of them would have merged into a massive Scorponok combiner that towered over the Autobots and Maximals in the final battle. Although their 3D animation models were made, this function was ultimately cut out.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Scorponok (スコルポノック Sukoruponokku)