Combiner

The most devastating case of tea-bagging ever.

A combiner is a group of Transformers that assemble and combine their bodies into a single machine, or that composite machine itself. Most combiners form a larger Super Robot with its own unique personality (a character in its own right), but other varieties of combiner exist, forming vehicles, weapons, or other items. Combiners tend to be considerably larger and more powerful than the average Transformer, equivalent to strategic-grade weapons.

There are a number of combiner-related terms that can be easy to mix up, partially because some of them are used interchangeably. Additionally, most of them have no formal definition and thus may be used differently by different fans. Consequently, most of the discussion which follows should not be taken as the word of Primus, but as a rough description of common usage.

Terms for combiners

Worst...logo...ever.

Combiner: As above, a member of a group of Transformers who assemble into a composite form. Also refers to that composite form itself. This is the most general term for all combining Transformers. "Combiner" is the most common term for combining Transformers that has been used by Hasbro in an official capacity, starting with the Micromaster Combiners from 1990 (with the exception of the more limited "special teams" and a recent official use of the term "gestalt"), having even appeared with its own logo on Robots in Disguise toy packaging.

What, no Terror Claws? No Cranium Regulation Unit? What kind of lame dissection is this?!

Gestalt: Fan-terminology for a certain class of combiners—generally used only for "big robot" combiners with emergent personalities. The term is nebulously defined, such that some fans would consider a two-member combiner such as Squawkbox a gestalt, but other fans would not. This is probably the fandom's second most frequently-used term for combining Transformers. Its use in Transfandom is derived from the principle of gestalt psychology, which is sometimes simplified to mean "greater/different than the sum of its parts," though a few fans consider this term pretentious and obtuse. The term remained firmly in realm of fanon for years, although it did appear in some Energon design sketches implying that Hasbro designers used the term occasionally, until in 2007 "gestalt" made its first official appearance, in the bio of the Titanium Series Menasor toy, once more in 2007's "Spotlight: Optimus Prime" referring to Monstructor, and again in 2009 in the "First (and Second) in Flight" comic where Perceptor describes Jetfire's & Jetstorm's combination into Safeguard as a sort of "gestalt powerlink".

Scramble City combiner: A specific type of Generation 1 giant gestalt that follows the five-member design featured in the Japanese "Scramble City" OVA. The team leader is larger than the other members and forms the main body of the combiner, while the others are smaller and form the limbs. The limbs are interchangeable, although there is always a generally-accepted “normal” formation. Further, the limbs are interchangeable from one Scramble City combiner to another, making for a large number of bizarre combinations. (See Abomenaticus, Autobot Super Scramble, Comperian, Decepticon Super Scramble, and Scramble 7.) Limbs are also able to attach to and augment Metroplex & Metrotitan (see “Trivia” below). Note that this term is purely descriptive rather than being a proper name.

Special Team: A synonym for Scramble City combiner. When the Scramble City toys were marketed in Europe they were referred to as Special Teams, and the term even appeared in the UK comic book series. The term was used in some marketing materials in the US, such as packing lists for the toy case assortments, but never appeared in US fiction until the Ultimate Guide was published in 2004.

Super Robot: A robot which is formed through the combination of two or more Transformers. Powered-up robot modes composed of only one Transformer who combines with some of their own accessories are often also referred to as Super Robots, such as Powermaster Optimus Prime or the incarnations of Prime from Robots in Disguise and all three Unicron Trilogy series. It is probably safe to informally refer to any such mode as a Super Robot (thus including, say, G1 Ultra Magnus and Energon Landmine). Note that this means Super Robots are not always combiners and do not have to have their own personality. Rather, Super Robot and combiner are two different categories of Transformer which sometimes overlap. A one-robot Super Robot may also be referred to as that robot's Super Mode.

Fusilateral quintrocombiner: Coined by Simon Furman in issue 9 of the Generation 2 comic to refer to the Combaticons. It presumably is meant to refer to all the Scramble City teams except possibly the Seacons, as their combined forms consist of six robots (not five, so they could possibly be fusilateral hexocombiners I guess...). It may also apply to the Predacons, but it doesn't matter because nobody uses this term anyway.

Amalgam model: Yet another obscure term for combiners first used by Simon Furman via Wheeljack in the "Devastation Derby!" story in the UK comic books.

Types of combiner

As mentioned above, most combiners form a super robot. However, there are many other types of combining in the Transformers multiverse.

In the Energon franchise, most of the Autobot characters were able to combine with each other in pairs much like Victory's Multiforce. These combined forms can probably be considered Super Robots. The combined form was simply controlled by whichever Autobot was "on top". Make whatever jokes you will.

Generation 1 contains many examples of combined alternate modes, including Reflector, Dreadwing, Big Powered, the Battlestar, and the Double Targetmasters.

The Micromaster Combiners are made up of Transformers whose altmodes combine into vehicles, with one partner being the front and another the rear. The combined forms do not have specific names. Thanks to the generic peg-and-socket connection method used, any two Micromaster combiners can be linked (though some such as the dump truck/space shuttle combo may attract comment). These altmode combiners should not be confused with the Micromaster "Sixcombiners", six-robot teams who combine to form a Super Robot.

The Unicron Trilogy's Mini-Cons brought to the fiction combined weapon modes, like the Star Saber & Dark Saber swords, Requiem Blaster cannon, and Skyboom Shield.

Not combiners

Not all cases of multiple things attaching to each other are combiners. As mentioned above, many Super Robots—which are formed through a conglomeration of parts—are not combiners. Energon Landmine, for example.

A similar case can be found in Transformers who have two or more "components" which combine into a single entity. G1 Sky Lynx has lynx and dino-bird components, G1 Omega Supreme has tank, base, and rocket components, and Magmatron has three dinosaur components. However, all of these components are considered to be "part of" the overall Transformer, even through they can act independently. The Duocons are another case of this sort. All of these examples are not combiners because there is only one Transformer involved in each of them, regardless of how many bodies that Transformer may simultaneously operate. Such robots are occasionally referred to as "Reverse Combiners" within the fandom.

(Confusing things further are the comics which treated Sky Lynx and the Duocons as triple changers, able to transform between the combined mode and the ones for individual components without any parts separating off.)

Sometimes a smaller Transformer will attach to and enhance a larger Transformer in some way. This is the case when Mini-Cons powerlink with bulks, as well as with binary-bonded partners like Headmasters, Powermasters/Godmasters, Kiss Players and Breastforce members. Although these examples do include more than one Transformer (or a Transformer and a fleshling), they are not considered "combiners". The simplest justification for this is that, in these cases, the "combined" form is almost exactly the same in appearance as the non-combined form.

And sometimes things just combine for no real reason at all. Just deal with it. We hate it, oh God yes, but there it is. We're sorry.

Fiction

Generation 1

Marvel comics continuity

The Constructicons were designed and built by Shockwave as the first combiner team. They were given life through Creation Matrix energy stored in Optimus Prime's head. The Constructicons had considerable difficulty coordinating together as Devastator in their first mission. The Next Best Thing to Being There!

Seeing the potential in combiner technology, the Autobots decided to learn how to utilize it themselves. They staged an attack on a Decepticon coal mining base which drew out the Constructions. When they combined, Bumblebee was there recording their transformation pattern. Command Performances! They used this information to construct the Aerialbots. Unfortunately, they were forced to go on their first mission with only Silverbolt's personality programming completed, leaving the rest of the team, and Superion, rather indifferent towards human casualties. Aerialbots over America! After their first mission proved a failure, Optimus Prime had Wheeljack wipe their memory, and started reprogramming them with the Creation Matrix. However, Bombshell, who had gotten a lift to the Ark on Silverbolt's plane mode, had injected Optimus Prime with a cerebro-shell with which Megatron was able to steal energy from the Creation Matrix and bring his newly-built combiner team, the Stunticons to life. Heavy Traffic! There was soon a bit of a combiner arms race as each side made new teams to press the advantage.

IDW comics continuity

Monstructor was the first combiner and was designed through experimentation by Jhiaxus. Unfortunately, in this first prototype, the merging process led to insanity. The team was captured by the Autobots Spotlight: Optimus Prime and placed into the custody of Fortress Maximus while Jetfire and the Technobot studied them with the goal of rehabilitating them. The technology stymied Jetfire, who estimated it would take a lot more study before progress could be made. He didn't get the chance, however, since the Monstructor Six were soon captured by the Decepticon Secret Service. Spotlight: Arcee Monstructor was then captured by unidentified minions of Nemesis Prime Spotlight: Hardhead and used to guard the Nega-Core on Rotan. He was engaged in combat by the Decepticon Secret Service and Arcee while the Autobots sneaked around him. Spotlight: Sideswipe

One year later, the Decepticons have the combiner Devastator as part of their army. All Hail Megatron issue 2

Energon

For further information, see: Spark of Combination

Live-action film series

Experimental combiner technology was developed by the Decepticons for combat advantage and then used on the Constructicons who are able to form Devastator. Comfort was not on the top of the list of priorities and, as a result, the process is brutally painful to the Transformers involved. The mental and physical torture involved leaves Devastator only interested in causing destruction.

Knock Out hopes to undergo the "combination retrofit" process.

No details are given regarding this "combination retrofit" technology, but it is a possible factor in Skids and Mudflap's ice cream truck mode and the combined mode of [toy continuity] Arcee, Chromia, and Elita-1.

Combiner list

Due to the many uses of redecoes as new characters and convenience for reading, each mold is listed on its own line, with all different-character decoes/retools on the same line.

Combiners with two members

• Jet Optimus
• Mega-Dinobot
• Decibel
• Legout
• Slamdance
• Squawkbox
• Dreadwing (G1) / Darkwings
• Wingwaver
• Dashtacker
• Machtackle
• Dreadwing (G2) / Formation Scream / Dreadwing (RID) / Gigant Sniper
• Powered Masters
• Sky Powered
• Land Powered
• Big Powered (actually consists of 3 members)
• Safeguard (Animated)
• Skids (ROTF) and Mudflap (ROTF) in ice cream truck mode

Combiners formed by main bodies with power-up partners

• God Ginrai
• Victory Saber
• Omega Prime
• The combined form of Optimus Prime and Wing Saber
• Optimus Supreme (Energon)
• Optimus Prime (Movie) and Jetfire (ROTF)

Optimus Prime and Jetfire are not combiner in the fiction — Optimus simply uses Jetfire's corpse as parts to enhance his strength and firepower.

Combiners with three or more members (non-Scramble City type)

• Devastator (G1)
• Devastator (ROTF)
• Predaking
• Raiden
• Monstructor / Dinoking
• Road Caesar
• Liokaiser
• Landcross
• Magnaboss / Magnaboss II
• MegaWing Galvatron
• Dark MegaWing Galvatron
• Prime Processing Unit Collect and Save
• Tripredacus / Tripledacus
• Rail Racer (RID)
• Landfill (RID) / Constructicon Devastator (Ultra)
• Unnamed Minibot combiner Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8
• Beast The Beast Within
• Insectrain Hearts of Steel issue 2
• Reedman
• The combined form of Arcee (Movie), Chromia (ROTF), and Elita-1 (ROTF) (toy-only)

Scramble City-type combiners

• Bruticus (G1) / Battle Gaia / Ruination
• Defensor (G1) / Guard City
• Menasor (G1)
• Superion (G1)
• Abominus
• Computron
• Piranacon / King Poseidon / God Neptune

Official mix-n-match Scramble City combiners

• Abomenaticus
• Autobot Super Scramble
• Comperian
• Decepticon Super Scramble
• Scramble 7

Micromaster-type combiners

• Micromaster Combiner Squads
  • Barrage and Heave
  • Blackout and Spaceshot
  • Blast Master and Phaser
  • Direct-Hit and Power Punch
  • Excavator and Stonecruncher / Retro and Surge
  • Fireshot and Vanquish
  • Full-Barrel and Overflow
  • Grit and Knockout
  • Half-Track and Meltdown
  • Hammer and Sledge / Cement-Head and Terror-Tread
  • Missile Master and Moonrock
  • Oiler and Slide
  • Power Run and Strikedown
  • Roadburner and Wheel Blaze
• Sixliner / Sixtrain / Rail Racer (Universe)
• Sixbuilder / Decepticon Sixbuilder / Constructicon Devastator (Micromaster)
• Sixturbo / Defensor (Universe)
• Sixwing / Berserker Sixwing / Destron Sixwing / Superion (Universe)

Mini-Con combiners

• Perceptor (Armada) / Perceptor (Universe)
• Perceptor (Energon) / Heavy Metal / Windcharger (Energon) / Perceptor (Cybertron)
• Mirror / Nightcreeper
• Requiem Blaster
• Skyboom (Armada)
• Star Saber (Armada) / Vorpal Saber / Energon Saber / Blizzard Saber

Maximus-type combiners

• Bruticus Maximus / Bruticus Maximus (G1) (Universe) / Bruticus Maximus (ROTF)
• Constructicon Maximus / Constructicon Devastator (Classics)
• Superion Maximus / Superion (G1) (Universe) / Superion (ROTF)
• Nexus Maximus

Unused concepts

Combiners were a very popular idea during the Generation 1 toyline and as such there are loads of scrapped combiner designs that never got past the drawing board. Among them were:

• A Scramble City style dinosaur combiner. The body is a T-Rex, while the limbs are a Pteradactyl (right arm), Ankylosaurus (left leg), Dimetrodon (left arm), and Styracosaurus (right leg)

• A decidedly goofy organic insect combiner composed of a stag beetle (right leg), another beetle (left leg), grasshopper (left arm), fly (right arm), and a cockroach body.

• A cybernetic beast combiner that did not form a robot, but rather a large cybernetic monster. It is formed from a cyber bat, mole, stag beetle, and a couple of fish things.

• A fifteen (!) vehicle Micromaster combiner where the only attached parts not contained by the component robots were the large robot fists. This combiner consists of three uniformly colored teams (in a similar fashion to the vehicular Voltron of the same time period):
  • Air team (blue)- two jets, two helicopters, a space shuttle.
  • Construction team (green)- a hauler, a bulldozer, a steam shovel, a tank (don't ask), a missile carrier (don't ask).
  • Street team (red)- two cars, a motorcycle, a formula racer, a jeep.

Either the smallest steamboat ever, or the largest car in existence.

• Another, simpler dinosaur combiner composed of a Pteradactyl, a not-really-a-Stegosaurus, and a T-Rex with a very large head. The three combine into a dinosaur thing similar to Magmatron's combined dino mode. It shares many visual characteristics with Tomy's relatively simple robot designs.
• A five vehicle combiner (evidently not Scramble City in nature) composed of a steam engine (right arm), steam boat (torso), car (right leg), truck (left leg), and plane (left arm).

Trivia

• G1 Devastator and Raiden are the only combiners from Diaclone toylines.
• Scramble City-type combiners were initially designed to be a sub-line of Diaclone called... what else... Scramble City. This goes along with their ability to interact with and attach to Metroplex & Metrotitan, the designs of which were also originally intended for the Diaclone line.
• Six of the seven released G1 Scramble City-type combiners were apparently released in themed pairs, themes usually further reinforced by their team members' tech spec bios to some extent.
  • Aerialbots (air vehicles) and Stunticons (ground vehicles)
  • Protectobots (rescue vehicles) and Combaticons (offensive vehicles... and a space shuttle)
  • Technobots (futuristic vehicles) and Terrorcons (fantastical beasts)
  • The Seacons are the odd men out, but the above mentioned unreleased dinosaur Scramble City combiner may have been an intended adversary.
• In IDW comic continuity Squawkbox exists before Combiner technology has become available to either faction. This means that either Squawkbox is the core being and he's later split into Squawktalk and Beastbox or um... someone at IDW screwed up.