Attack mode

File:BW BBoom toy.jpg

Attack mode (sometimes called Battle mode) is an extra mode added to a Transformer toy to give its robot mode and/or alternate mode a more combat-orientated configuration. It primarily consists of a figure arranging or adding its weapons in a way so that it becomes more focused on combat then the standard robot or alternate mode. Sometimes it's uncovering weapons not seen on either mode. A good example of this is B'Boom's third mode. Another example is Ultra Magnus; by deploying his cannons on his back and flipping out his guns, he goes from imposing to "beating you to hell and back".

However, attack mode may also involve only a slight shift from the basic robot/alt mode, such as folding wings onto the shoulders, like Ransack, or just pointing the beast mode head up on the chest, as with Snarl. It is most likely that these modes are thought up by Hasbro to give the toy an extra bonus without actually investing in extra parts.

Toys

Generation 1

Tracks possessed a "flight mode". Similarly, the Omnibots possessed vehicular "assault modes" with weapons systems deployed from their alt modes.

Beast Wars

The term "attack mode" was used rather loosely throughout the Beast Wars. Several characters were advertised as having an attack mode in their instruction booklets, but oftentimes, this mode was merely the character's beast mode with their robot-mode weapons deployed. Nonetheless, the following characters where referred as having an attack mode:

• Bantor
• Cheetor (while in his transmetal 2 body)
• Noctorro
• Jawbreaker
• Prowl 2
• Ramulus
• Torca
• Buzzclaw (BW)
• Dinobot II
• Iguanus (while in his transmetal 2 body)
• B'Boom
• Injector
• Scourge (TM2)
• Terragator
• Ravage (while in his transmetal 2 body)
• Transquito

Additionally, the following characters were said to possess an "animal attack mode:"

• Silverbolt
• Ironhide
• Prowl
• Silverbolt
• Windrazor
• B'Boom
• Transquito
• Cicadacon
• Ram Horn
• Sea Clamp

What draws the line between an animal attack mode and a regular attack mode in these cases is unknown. B'Boom and Transquito were the only transformers to each possess two separate "attack modes." Oddly enough, nearly all toys from this era were shown as possessing similar offensive abilities in their beast modes that would suggest they too would possess either an "attack mode" or an "animal attack mode," but in these cases, said ability was not shown to be a distinct mode and was alternatively referred to with the somewhat redundant term, "attack weapons." Finally, Optimal Optimus possessed two vehicle modes which names evoked an "attack mode;" his "Hypersonic Attack Mode" and his "Ground Assault Mode."

Energon

Aside from the smaller Terrorcons and the Decepticon combiners, every Decepticon has a Hyper Mode. Sometimes it is just a minor repositioning of parts, as with Slugslinger, but in many cases, it reveals a hidden weapon or accessories, like Sharkticon's side cannons or Snow Cat's skis. In the case of Scorponok, Shockblast, and Six Shot, their third mode (scorpion or satellite) acts as the vehicle mode's hyper mode, the vehicle mode being a plane or a laser tank.

Notes

• A Transformers with an attack mode as the third mode isn't usually a Triple Changer. Some of them weren't labeled or identified as Triple Changers until several years after the release of the toys.

See also

• Retroactively labeled Triple Changers
• Transportation mode
• Transformers with three modes