Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)
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The Transformers: Cybertron toyline continued many of the design trends of Energon. The line's toys are thematically built around six planets, but feature one unifying feature: the Cyber Key. These clear-plastic disks with key-like projections now activate special weapons and hidden features, much like the Mini-Cons of Armada, even on most figures remolded from previous lines. Redecos, like the Cybertron release of Armada's Super-Con Optimus Prime, come with remolded keys that have a Mini-Con connector to unlock gimmicks. The gimmicks are less intrusive than Armada; articulation suffers far less for their inclusion, though some lower-priced figures do lack a little when compared to Energon. Combination has largely disappeared — but not completely.
Each toy is assigned a planet. This determines which Cyber Key is included, but also seems to correlate with some design choices, as will be seen below. Each Cyber Key comes with a code printed on the back. For a list of codes, go to Cyber Key Codes.
Planet theme overviews
- Earth Planet toy
These generally convert into fairly normal Earth vehicles. Robot modes are angular and normally proportioned for humanoid transformers. Faces are traditionally styled.
- Speed Planet
Alternate modes are fantasy racing vehicles, with transparent plastic tires. Vehicle modes are futuristic and occasionally resemble Vehicons or the futuristic vehicle modes of some late Generation 1 Transformers. The Speed Planet robots have their own unique body proportions, generally featuring large upper bodies, long thighs, and thin waists. Many of them use twin-barreled blasters or dual cannons in vehicle and robot modes (Brakedown is a notable exception).
- Jungle Planet
Jungle Planet alternate modes are robotic beasts. Their styling is sometimes very organic in shape and even in texture, but not really to the point of techno-organism. Robot modes and faces are widely varied (although most have two fangs protruding from their lower lip), and hark back to the Beast Era in creative differences from the "standard" humanoid model. Jungle Planet designs are similar to those of the Beast Wars Transmetals or Beast Machines Maximals (sharing something of the "liquid metal animal" aesthetic), per the above analogy. They usually wield melee weapons of varying description.
- Giant Planet
Giant Planet robots transform into a variety of construction vehicles. They are gargantuan in appearance, relying on detail and proportion to create an impression of massive size. The Giant Planet toys are roughly in scale with the Legends of Cybertron figures. Of the Giant Planet toys released, two (Metroplex and Menasor) are almost completely alien in appearance, while Quickmix and the Giant Planet Mini-Con Team are fairly "normal", like everyday (albeit oversized) Earth vehicles.
- Planet X
Alternate modes are usually futuristic jets, with the exception being Unicron (who is a futuristic tank). It's somewhat difficult to draw conclusions when only three toys from this planet were released. In general, these are alien in appearance, even more so than the Speed or Giant Planet toys.
- Cybertron Planet toy overview
Cybertron Planet toys are the "everything else" category. There are two distinct Planet Keys for Cybertron: one with an Autobot symbol and the other with a Decepticon insignia. Toys with Cybertron Planet Keys range from normal to futuristic. This category usually represents characters who are either part of the "original" Autobot and Decepticon teams searching for the Planet Keys, or those who never left or have an affinity for Cybertron (such as Buzzsaw or Longrack). The unique keys carried by Optimus and Megatron arguably belong in this category, despite being labeled as Earth Planet in their original releases (or Giant and Universal with their respective redecos).
Toy list
General retail
Mini-Con Class
| Wave 1 (Sky Attack Team vs. Air Defense Team)
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Wave 2 (Lunar Assault Team vs. Exploration Team) |
Wave 3 (Sky Terror Team vs. Council of Sages)
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Wave 4 (Deep Space Team vs. Street Action Team)
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Legends of Cybertron
| Wave 1 | Wave 2 | Wave 3 | Wave 4
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Scout Class
| Wave 1 | Wave 2 | Wave 3 | Wave 4 |  | ||||
| Wave 5 | Wave 6
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Wave 7 | Wave 8 | |||||
Wave 9
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Wave 10 |
Deluxe Class
| Wave 1 | Wave 2 | Wave 3 | Wave 3.5 | |||||
| Wave 4 | Wave 5 | Wave 6 | Wave 7 | |||||
| Wave 8 | Wave 9 |
Voyager Class
| Wave 1 | Wave 2 | Wave 3 | Wave 4 |  | ||||
| Wave 5 | Wave 6 | Wave 7 | Wave 8 |
Ultra Class
| Wave 1 | Wave 2 | Wave 3 | Wave 4 | |||||
| Wave 5 | Wave 6 |
Leader Class
| Wave 1 | Wave 2 | Wave 3 | Wave 4 |
Supreme Class
| Wave 1 | Wave 2
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Wave 3 |
Exclusives
| BotCon 2005 | Costco | San Diego Comic-Con 2005 | ToysЯUs | |||||
Target
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Walmart |
European market-only releases
Micromasters Series III (Railbots)
Micromasters Series IV (Aerialbots)
Galaxy Force (Japan)
Regular retail
| Wave 1 (12-28-2004) | Wave 2 (1-20-2005) | Wave 3 (2-10-2005) |  |
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| Wave 4 (2-24-2005) | Wave 5 (3-17-2005) | Wave 6 (3-31-2005) | Wave 7 (4-14-2005) | |||||||
| Wave 8 (4-28-2005) | Wave 9 (6-9-2005) | Wave 10 (6-23-2005) | Wave 11 (7-14-2005) | |||||||
Wave 12 (7-28-2005)
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EZ Collection (8-25-2005) | Wave 13 (8-22-2005) |
Wave 14 (8-29-2005) |
Exclusives
| Dengeki Hobby magazine | Galaxy Force DVDs | Toy's Dream Project | ToysЯUs
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TV Magazine
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Galaxy Force (Korea)
TakaraTomy/Hasbro licensee Mocom Toy released a selection of Cybertron/Galaxy Force toys in Korea, under the name Transformers: Galaxy Force (트랜스포머 갤럭시포스).
Cybertron
Destron
Other
Multipack
Innovations and lasting effects
- Cybertron introduced the Legends Class, which, in many cases, contains smaller toys of some of the series' "main" characters which are also available as larger toys.
Notes
- The 2008 Universe toyline includes toys marked as "Cybertron series".
