Multi-component Transformer

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Three components, one Transformer.

Multi-component Transformers are able to have one or more of their components separate and act independently of one another. All of the components together make up the Transformer. They should not be confused with combiners, which form from individual characters.

Transformers with equal components

When these Transformers split, none of the components are more important than the others. Sometimes these Transformers are depicted in fiction more like Triple Changers, where the components are never shown active at the same time.

Generation 1

• Reflector (Spectro, Spyglass, Viewfinder)
• Omega Supreme (rocket, tank, and base)
• Sky Lynx (lynx, bird-thing)
• Duocons
  • Battletrap (truck, helicopter)
  • Flywheels (howitzer, fighter jet)
• Cog (Gasket, Grommet)

Masterforce

• Cog (Onomus, Koka)

Beast Wars Neo/Beast Machines

• Magmatron (Landsaur, Seasaur, Skysaur)

Animated

• Reflector, (Spectro, Spyglass, and Viewfinder)

Mitotic sparks

Magmatron is stated to have this ability because he has a mitotic spark. It has not been established whether any of the other examples could have mitotic sparks.

Transformers with a minor component

Some Transformers clearly have a dominant component, but also possess parts that are required for their Transformation in one mode but can act independently in another mode. Sometimes the component is semi-autonomous and sometimes it is merely a remote-controlled drone. The distinction is not always clear and varies by fiction.

Generation 1

• Optimus Prime (Brain Center, Combat Deck, Roller)
• Ironhide / Ratchet (sled)
• Laserbeak (laser cannons)
• Motormaster (roller car)
• Metroplex (Six-Gun, Slammer, Scamper)
• Trypticon (Full-Tilt, Brunt, Wipe-Out)
• Rodimus Prime (combat deck)
• Fortress Maximus (Cog)
• Scorponok (Fasttrack)
• Crosscut (Clutch)

Masterforce

• Grand Maximus (Cog)

Zone

• Metrotitan (Metrosquad)

Generation 2

• Dreadwing (Smokescreen)

Beast Wars

• Scorponok (Cyberbee)

Energon

• Tow-Line (sled)

Pretenders

Pretender shells can be controlled independently by the inner robot.

Fiction

Reflector was the first multi-component Transformer to be depicted in fiction. His entry in the G1 cartoon series production bible states that "in his robot mode, Reflector is 3 robots that speak together." He was usually depicted this way, but this was inconsistent. Reflector components existed that spoke on their own and seemed to have their own personality. It was left uncertain if these components were extra generic look-alikes. Reflector made one brief cameo in the Marvel comic without addressing the multi-component issue. The Last Stand Dreamwave treated the trio as three individuals that simply had a combiner-type altmode. The IDW comics portrayed Reflector both similarly to the cartoon All Hail Megatron #3 and as individuals Spotlight: Wheelie

In the cartoon, Omega Supreme showed the ability to have his rocket component take off (leaving the base and tank behind), travel to another planet then transform back into robot mode. Sometimes his base mode was there on the planet waiting for the rocket to land. Fictional portrayals of Omega Supreme tend to address the oddness of his multi-component altmode by simply not having him transform very often unless he needs to give the Autobots a ride somewhere.

Fictional depictions of Sky Lynx and the Duocons tend to treat them as triple-changers of sorts. Their components are not often seen operating at the same time. The exception is from the Dreamwave comics, where they made it a point to show them operating independently.

See also

• Binary bonding