Giftset

Gift, set, match.

A giftset or gift set is a package in which multiple Transformers toys are sold together. Not every multi-pack that contains more than one figure is automatically considered to be a giftset: Based on Hasbro's official use of the term, a multi-pack must contain at least four individual toys in order to qualify as a giftset. This also doesn't include things like the Power Core Combiners 5-packs, which contain a "Commander" figure and four "drones", because the drones are fairly useless by themselves. The toys included in a giftset must be able to function independently so they could, at least in theory, also be sold by themselves. (This does not exclude the possibility of interactivity or Combiner sets; it just means each toy needs to have an independent robot and alternate mode for it to qualify as a toy on its own.)

In the true sense of the term, giftsets represent distinct purchase options: that is, the term "giftset" would not be used to describe toys that could only ever be purchased together in the first place, such as Soundwave with Buzzsaw, the various -Masters with their Nebulan partners, Unicron Trilogy "bulks" with their dedicated Mini-Cons, etc. Instead, the term is meaningfully used when toys that are available for individual purchase also have a separate release in larger "grouped" packaging — such as many combiner teams, "power armor" upgrade packs for various incarnations of Optimus Prime and other Autobot leaders, and team-ups meant to depict specific rivalries or storyline events.

Giftsets by country

Japan was the only country where the G1 Predacons were sold as a giftset, while the Combaticon and Terrorcon giftsets were only available in Japan and Italy. Additionally, Italy was the only place where Nautilator was included in the Seacon giftset.

In Greece, El Greco's locally manufactured versions of the Constructicons and Protectobots were sold exclusively in giftsets.

In Japan, Sunstreaker, Skids and Buzzsaw were only available in the VSZ giftset.

Ultimate Gift Set

Let's admit, everyone is just buying this for the green Powerglide.

In 2011, Hasbro started releasing exclusive giftsets officially named "Ultimate Gift Set" for its Star Wars, Marvel Universe, Beyblade and Transformers lines, similar to a multi-property brand. The 2011 ones were all Walmart exclusives, while the 2012 ones (which replaced Marvel Universe with The Amazing Spider-Man) were "online exclusives" as far as the US market was concerned (which included the online storefronts of major retailers such as Walmart and Toys"R"Us). All of them were also available at general retail in Hasbro's Asian markets. These giftsets usually consisted of redecos of existing toys (like most exclusives do), sometimes following a uniform theme for the whole set, while others were basically just a collection of random redecos that rendered the term "ultimate" entirely meaningless.

2011

• Dark of the Moon Cyberverse Ultimate Gift Set 5-pack, contains:
  • Optimus Prime (Cyberverse Commander redeco)
  • Powerglide (Cyberverse Commander redeco)
  • Bumblebee (Cyberverse Legion redeco)
  • Sideswipe (Cyberverse Legion redeco)
  • Crowbar (Cyberverse Legion redeco)

2012

Two Transformers "Ultimate Gift Sets", and the Decepticons have a major disadvantage in both!

• Generations Ultimate Gift Set 4-pack, contains:
  • Combat Hero Optimus Prime (redeco of 2010 Transformers Reveal the Shield Deluxe Class Optimus Prime)
  • Autobot Jazz (redeco of 2010 Transformers Reveal the Shield Deluxe Class Special Ops Jazz)
  • Thundercracker (Legends Class)
  • Motorbreath (Legends Class)