Ion blaster

I'm a pacifist, but only to a point.

The ion blaster is a kind of laser rifle and the primary weapon of several Optimus Primes. Only used by the leader of the Autobots when all attempts at peace have failed, the ion blaster ensures that freedom is the right of all sentient beings, and strikes fear in the sparks of the Decepticons who are foolish enough to challenge him.

Except Megatron. Only Primus knows how many times Optimus has shot Megatron and failed to kill him. Starscream knows that frustration all too well.

Fiction

The Transformers cartoon

Optimus Prime's ion blaster was stolen from him a few times. The first was when the Decepticons tried to take over New York City, when he was disassembled by Hook. The Constructicons then placed the arm and ion blaster atop the command post of the newly dubbed New Cybertron. As part of the building's weapons systems, Megatron used the blaster to begin firing on the Autobots. However, when Megatron and Soundwave were removed from the command post, Optimus Prime was able to regain control of the weapon and hit Devastator with it, sending him to the hard pavement below. City of Steel

Later, the human-built ninjabot Nightbird stole the ion blaster when she tried to steal the World Energy Chip, but Optimus Prime recovered it rather quickly. Enter the Nightbird

IDW comics continuity

Replacement ion rifle hinges: hard to find.

Ironfist's fashioned Optimus Prime's ion blaster during his first campaign in the Manganese Mountains, though unfortunately Prime mistook Ironfist for his chief rival, Skyfall. Last Stand of the Wreckers #4

While in vehicle mode, Optimus Prime will keep his ion blaster in his cab. When he transforms, the Ion blaster is then ejected, which he then grabs. So that's where it goes. Now if we could only figure out where the trailer goes... During the course of the battle, a shot from Prime's ion blaster managed to blow up Megatron's much-more powerful fusion cannon by entering through the cannon's barrel. Escalation #5

Live action continuity

"Any last words?"
"The Fallen shall rise again!"
"That sounds like an oxymoron."
"Your mother is an oxymor-" *Bang*

Optimus Prime's primary range weapon is an ion blaster, though he prefers to use his Dual Energon Swords in combat, leaving the blaster stored in his back in the form of fuel tanks. Once fired, it releases a wave of radiation condensed into an energy ball that will destroy anything in its path.<ref>Battle Bios at Hasbro.com</ref> During the battle of Mission City, Optimus managed to get off a single shot of his ion blaster at Megatron before he was sent flying by the latter's fusion cannon. Transformers

Two years later, Optimus was fighting Demolishor in Shanghai and critically injured the Decepticon by putting several point blank shots into his head. He later executed the dying Constructicon by a shot through the optic. Several days later, Optimus shot up Megatron and Starscream with his ion blaster and barrage cannon while rescuing Sam Witwicky. Revenge of the Fallen

War for Cybertron

Optimus Prime's signature weapon is a little less powerful than the Neutron Assault Rifle, but with twice the rate of fire, it makes a suitable weapon for the Leader class. Also, for truly epic lulz, you can equip one on Megatron.
Carried by: Leaders, Optimus

• Damage: 4
• Range: 5
• Accuracy: 4
• Rate of Fire: 10

Toys

Generation 1 Optimus Prime

 |{{#if:|, | and }}[[{{{2}}}|{{{2}}}]]}}{{#if:
 |{{#if:|, |, and }}[[{{{3}}}|{{{3}}}]]}}{{#if:
 |{{#if:|, |, and }}[[{{{4}}}|{{{4}}}]]}}{{#if:
 |{{#if:|, |, and }}[[{{{5}}}|{{{5}}}]]}}{{#if:
 |{{#if:|, |, and }}[[{{{6}}}|{{{6}}}]]}}{{#if:
 |{{#if:|, |, and }}[[{{{7}}}|{{{7}}}]]}}{{#if:
 |{{#if:|, |, and }}[[{{{8}}}|{{{8}}}]]}}{{#if:
 |{{#if:|, |, and }}[[{{{9}}}|{{{9}}}]]}}{{#if:

|, and [[{{{10}}}|{{{10}}}]]}}{{#if: | (too many parameters in {{main}})}}

20th Anniversary/Masterpiece

File:20thAnniversary OptimusPrimesm.jpg

• Optimus Prime (2003/2004)
• Convoy (Lucky Draw figure, 2004)
• Convoy Perfect Edition (2006, 2009)
• Convoy Sleep Mode (2010)

20th Anniversary/Masterpiece Optimus Prime was one of the first Optimus Prime toys to refer to his iconic laser rifle as an "ion blaster". The Takara Japanese releases of this figure have consistently coloured the rifle dark grey, and while early releases of Hasbro's followed suit, they were very quickly changed to black as a running change.

Titanium Series

• Optimus Prime (6" Cybertron Heroes, 2006)
• War Within Optimus Prime vs. War Within Megatron Battlepack (Multipack, 2007)

The silver ion blaster that comes with Titanium Series The War Within Optimus Prime featured the first name of its designer, Don Figueroa, sculpted into its sides.

Classics (2006)

Discounted at a Walmart near you.

• Optimus Prime (20th Anniversary DVD Edition, 2006)

When 20th Anniversary/Masterpiece Optimus Prime was released in the Classics toyline to commemorate the 20th Anniversary DVD release of The Transformers: The Movie, for some reason his ion blaster was coloured blue.

• Pepsi Optimus Prime (Autobot, 2007)

A retool of the original Generation 1 Optimus Prime toy, his laser rifle was redubbed the ion blaster to fit in line with Hasbro's modern naming scheme.

Movie Optimus Prime

 |{{#if:|, | and }}[[{{{2}}}|{{{2}}}]]}}{{#if:
 |{{#if:|, |, and }}[[{{{3}}}|{{{3}}}]]}}{{#if:
 |{{#if:|, |, and }}[[{{{4}}}|{{{4}}}]]}}{{#if:
 |{{#if:|, |, and }}[[{{{5}}}|{{{5}}}]]}}{{#if:
 |{{#if:|, |, and }}[[{{{6}}}|{{{6}}}]]}}{{#if:
 |{{#if:|, |, and }}[[{{{7}}}|{{{7}}}]]}}{{#if:
 |{{#if:|, |, and }}[[{{{8}}}|{{{8}}}]]}}{{#if:
 |{{#if:|, |, and }}[[{{{9}}}|{{{9}}}]]}}{{#if:

|, and [[{{{10}}}|{{{10}}}]]}}{{#if: | (too many parameters in {{main}})}}

Transformers (2007)

Leader class toys

File:MovieLeader OptimusPrime toy.jpg

• Optimus Prime (Leader Class, 2007)
• Nightwatch Optimus Prime (Leader Class, UK 2007)
• Nightwatch Optimus Prime (Leader Class, USA 2008)

The initial mold for the Transformers (2007) Leader class Optimus Prime featured a spring-loaded ion blaster mounted on the side of his arm. It was deployed via Automorphing by sliding a lever, which caused the gun to flip over and cover his hand. This gun was replaced by a energon sword on the "Premium" retool/redeco of this toy in 2008.

Robot Replicas

• Optimus Prime (Robot Replica, 2007)
• Megatron vs. Optimus Prime (Multi-pack, 2007)

Robot Replicas Optimus Prime featured an ion blaster that could replace his right forearm.

Revenge of the Fallen

• Jetfire / Buster Optimus Prime (Leader 2-pack, 2009)

The TakaraTomy Japanese/Asia-exclusive Revenge of the Fallen Buster Optimus Prime (itself a retool of the regular Leader class Revenge Optimus Prime) featured an ion blaster that was assembled from his vehicle mode's fuel tanks and smokestacks. The transforming blaster was designed by Hironori Kobayashi, the TakaraTomy designer best known for his work on the Binaltech/Alternators and Masterpiece toylines.

Notes

• In the original toy and the original cartoon, Prime's weapon was referred to as a laser rifle, but many newer toys have called it an ion blaster.

• One notable aspect of Optimus Prime's Generation 1 and Generation 2 toys is that the figure can only hold it by the ammo casing, as the weapon handle is unable to fit in Prime's hand,. Also, the gun's rifle butt is too large for Prime to hold it straight, so the gun must be turned at a slight angle. Strangely, this has never been altered in reissuings.

• The Japanese-exclusive Robot Masters toy packaging calls this weapon the Convoy Gun. Wow, really original.

• In the 2007 movie, the Ion Blaster is seen only once being used against Megatron. ONCE.

• It's used more often in the film Revenge of the Fallen, on one occasion by Prime SHOOTING A HELPLESS ENEMY IN THE HEAD.

References

<references />