Treadshot (Energon)

The name or term "Treadshot" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Treadshot (disambiguation).

Treadshot is an Autobot from the Energon portion of the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

Framed for a crime he didn't commit, Air Rider created a new identity and hid in plain sight... for the real killer, he's deduced, is another limb!

Treadshot is one of the five Air Team robots who make up the legendary super robot Superion Maximus. He might have been a fey flibbertigibbet, prone to prancing through the petunias. He might have been an ambitious adventurer, or a silent stewpot, simmering with heinous hatreds. Alas, his lot was that of a mere unspeaking body part, and then of a loose collection of dissociated particles. So it goes.

Fiction

Energon cartoon

When the current Decepticon leader Megatron discovered a hidden chamber and four ancient, towering guardians, he destroyed one of the Autobot guardians, reactivating the ones that remained and revealing the Super Energon pool they had been guarding for countless years. Ambition Superion Maximus awoke to find his brother dead, with the Decepticon leader claiming the Super Energon for himself, absorbing its power to become Galvatron. Superion tried to stop him to no avail, so he split up into the Air Team and escaped, with Bruticus Maximus and Constructicon Maximus in hot pursuit. Wishes

During a virtual training match between the Autobots and Decepticons, Treadshot was part of Storm Jet's Air Team, fighting the Destruction Team and the Construction Team. They combined into Superion Maximus to take one both Bruticus Maximus and Constructicon Maximus, but were eventually defeated. Distribution

Superion Maximus flew in his component vehicle modes as the Autobots made their way through the maze-like routes beneath Cybertron's surface. The Omega Train

Treadshot and the Air Team had their revenge against the Destruction and Construction teams during a final showdown with the treacherous Decepticon combiners. Bruticus Maximus and Constructicon Maximus double teamed Superion Maximus, who held his own, managing to briefly fend off Bruticus before crushing Constructicon's spark. However, Bruticus Maximus recovered and destroyed Treadshot and the other three Superion limbs, leaving Storm Jet alone. Spark

Treadshot was never referred to by name, nor was he ever presented as a sentient, individual being. Most of his appearances were as the right arm of Superion Maximus.

Games

Transformers: Battle Tactics

Treadshot participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was an Epic character who could be recruited by collecting 650 units of Cybermetal, 350 units of Transmetal, 150 exclusive cores, and 50 cores of this character. Transformers: Battle Tactics

Toys

Energon

Excuse me while I do a merry jig.

• Treadshot (Basic, 2004)
  • Team ID number: A1
  • Accessories: 2 dual-barrel cannons, connector piece, Autobot-type energon star

Treadshot shares a mold with his teammate Windrazor, transforming into a black and light blue fighter jet based upon an F-22 Raptor. He can also form a leg or arm to any Energon-series "Powerlinx Combiner" super robot, though his nominal placement is as the right arm to Superion Maximus. He comes with two double-barreled guns and a connector piece, which can form hand-held weapons as well as become a footplate or "hand" for his combined mode, plus a blue "super energon" Autobot-style energon chip.

This mold was later used to make Classics Breakaway, Universe (2008) Superion components Airazor and Air Raid, as well as the identical Target-exclusive Revenge of the Fallen Superion components Airazor and Air Raid.

• More information on Treadshot at TFU.info

• Superion (Multi-pack, 2004)
  • Japanese ID number: SC-26
  • Accessories: 2 dual-barrel cannons, connector piece, Autobot-type energon star

In Japan, "Air Rider" was only made available as part of a complete Superion gift set. The two versions are largely identical, the main differences being that the Takara release uses a darker clear blue plastic than the Hasbro version and a very slightly darker shade for the baby blue plastic parts.

• Comparison between Treadshot and Air Rider at Autobase Aichi

Universe (2003)

• Treadshot (Basic, 2005)
  • Accessories: 2 dual-barrel cannons, connector piece, Autobot-type energon star

A rebranded version of Treadshot was sold on a Universe-themed card through discount chains in the US like Dollar General. There are no noticeable differences between this and his original Energon release. No mention of his combining ability is made on the cardback or in his instructions, likely because only some of Superion Maximus's components (namely, all except for Sky Shadow) were made available in this style.

Notes

• It has been suggested by fans that his teammate's name "Sky Shadow" would suit him better, given his coloration. Switching names would also give the nonsensical "Treadshot" meaning, as it would then be applied to an A-10, known colloquially as a "Tankbuster".
• Treadshot's coloration is a clear homage to the Generation 2 Cyberjet version of Air Raid. Both share the Japanese name; Air Rider

Foreign names

• Japanese: Air Rider (エアライダー Ea Raidā)