Striker

Striker is a Dinobot from the Beast Machines portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

Striking a pose.

Striker is extremely dedicated to the Maximal cause. Methodical and deliberate in combat, Striker doesn't need T-Wrecks and his Dinobot allies to send scores of Vehicons to the scrapyard. Rumor has it that he's actually one of the first generation of Dinobots.

Striker's Oracle-given technorganic body is able to gather and store electric energy with his spinal plates and release it in powerful long- or short-range attacks. His tail can also create ground tremors that send land-bound Vehicons tumbling. In robot mode, his tail becomes a powerful grappling rocket that draws hapless Vehicons into its crushing jaws!

Fiction

Universe comics

Voice actor: ?

The Oracle called out to the Dinobots and two other counter-Vehicon groups who remained on Cybertron: the Wreckers and the Mutants. As the three groups stood before the Oracle, the Dinobots were given an errand. Striker and the others were to travel to an unnamed planet in order to awaken the "sleeping giant" for a mysterious purpose. Departure

However, the mission was a fool's errand, arranged by the Quintessons and designed to destroy the Dinobots. At first, the planet appeared desolate and in ruins. Striker grew impatient and belligerent, as he was expecting a fight. But he quickly got one when its former inhabitants suddenly burst out of the grounds of its cities, intent on feeding on the Dinobots. The "sleeping giant" was actually Trans-Organic creature known as the Dweller, one of the Quintessons' most dangerous creations! Betrayal In the midst of the battle, Striker mysteriously disappeared into thin air, pulled across time and space by Unicron. The Wreckers: Finale Part 1

These are my evil colors!

Striker, the colors of his form presumably corrupted by the Pit, became one of several brainwashed minions of Unicron in charge of other abducted Transformers like himself in the Cauldron, an extradimensional arena within Unicron. When these abductees proved unruly, he and Unicron's four generals would overcome them. He also would hand weapons to the combatants inside, such as before a battle between Smokescreen and Smokescreen. Striker would put his skills to use when a group of seven Autobots and Maximals were herded into the Cauldron by the Cauldron drones. Using his tail, he was able to silence the Maximal Silverbolt. Abduction

However, when he and Reptilion attempted to take on gate-crashers Optimus Primal, Grimlock and Megatron, OTFCC Live-Action Drama he was subdued. Primal used his Oracle-enhanced (but now Unicron-limited) spark telepathy to reach Striker's inner being, freeing him from Unicron's control. He and many others escaped from the Cauldron and returned to their proper dimensions—in Striker's case, the technorganic Cybertron Primal called home. Escape

Once on Cybertron, Striker assisted Ratchet in trying to remove the Unicron virus from Sideswipe. Homecoming

Universe CD-ROM

Striker followed Optimus Primal in battle against Reptillion and his Decepticons. He was ganged up on by Blackarachnia and Razorclaw. Following the Decepticons' abduction, Striker looked on in confusion. Universe CD-ROM

Toys

Beast Machines

Solar Beam takes one turn to charge.

• Striker (Deluxe, 2000)
  • Accessories: Tail-weapon

Striker is a redeco of the Beast Wars Neo Destron Saberback. He transforms into a stegosaur and has a third mode that's supposed to look like a dead stegosaur with a giant carnivorous flower growing out of it. No, really. The three "petals" of the flower are spring-loaded and open by pulling on the spinal plate at the tail's base. This gimmick also becomes his hand-held weapon for robot mode. His helmet is evocative of a Native American feather headdress.

This mold was redecoed to make Dinobots Snarl.

• More information on Striker at TFU.info

Universe

Ironically, his Universe deco is more understated than his original.

• Dinobot Striker (Deluxe, 2003)
  • Accessories: Tail-weapon

Part of the second wave of Deluxe toys, Striker was redecoed as an Autobot for the original Universe line, given the modified name Dinobot Striker for stronger Trademark protection.

• More information on Dinobot Striker at TFU.info

Notes

• If the rumors of Striker being one of the original Generation 1 Dinobots are true, his stegosaur mode and energy absorbing spinal plates strongly point towards his being Snarl.