Overcharge (G1)

This article is about the Quintesson drones from Generation 1. For the Autobot Mini-Con from Universe, see Overcharge (Universe).

Overcharges are Quintesson creations from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Second-most unfortunately-named exclusive ever... and there's a chance it was intentional.

The Overcharges (オーバーチャージ Ōbāchāji) are the latest model of Quintesson mass-produced warrior-drone (aka "Terrorbots"), using technologies gleaned from the Decepticons. Produced in countless numbers and sold to whatever buyers can cough up the credits, Overcharges are strong, fast, powerful, and in the wrong hands, can overrun worlds.

They're expensive to purchase and suck up a lot of energy to function. People mutter darkly that they're called "Overcharges" because of what you had to pay for them or because you have to actually overcharge the bloody things to make them move.

Fiction

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

Legends comic

Overcharges made up an army that invaded the Legends World under the supervision of a Quintesson Judge. The Quintesson's personal Overcharge attendant met his future self, who convinced him to make his own destiny and gave him his name: "Blitzwing". Thanks to the efforts of the future Blitzwing, Big Fight, and Astrotrain, the Quintesson forces were sent retreating to their home universe. Bonus Edition Vol. 59 To Fight with...

Generations Selects Special Comic

When a Quintesson Judge spoke of the Terrorcons as their ultimate Terrorbot models, Overcharges were presented as another example of Terrorbot. Abominus comic 1

2005 IDW continuity

Before the war began, Overcharge (or an Overcharge) was a member of the Triorian Guard, a detachment of multi-terrain Triple Changers charged with guarding the body of Nominus Prime as it lay in state in the Primal Basilica. An Intimate Beheading

Beast Wars: Uprising

Their beast modes are white elephants.

The Overcharges were ancient Quintesson Terrorbot surplus that may have predated the last Great War. The Builders bought some a while ago and were totally ripped off: they cost a lot and were inefficient clunkers.

Overshoot spent forty stellar cycles keeping watch over the Overcharge's warehouse near the Melpomene Bridge, watching the acid rain get in. After the Grand Uprising kicked off, Stiletto joined him and both were ordered to use the drones to defend the bridge if need be. Stilleto expressed distaste at the idea Cybertron would require "mindless drones" to defend it instead of proper Transformers. During their time, Overcharge Unit 381-PCE drove into a crater and couldn't get out.

When the Resistance came, three half-fuelled Overcharges were on patrol and were all they could use. Two of them accidentally shelled Stiletto, too crap to cease fire when ordered, and in the actual fight they missed most of their shots. Overshoot managed to weaponise their crapness though, having all three drones overload their engines and blow up the bridge so the Resistance couldn't take it. Burning Bridges

Toys

Collector's Edition

• Overcharge (Triple Changer Terrorbot, 2005)

• ID number: 72
• Accessories: "Heat rifle", "null gladius" sword, 3 missiles

Collector's Edition Overcharge is an e-HOBBY exclusive redeco of the original Blitzwing toy, using the coloration of the pre-Transformers "Triple Changer Jet Machine Type" Diaclone toy. It transforms from robot mode to a Mitsubishi Type 74 tank or a MiG-25 fighter jet. In jet mode, it features two spring-loaded missile launchers, one within each wing assembly. And because Japan has different safety standards for projectile launchers, these are fully functional and launch them tiny things a pretty good distance.

Overcharge came with an extra decal sheet with multiple faction logos (including several totally new ones) so it could be assigned to different armies: Autobot, Decepticon, Quintesson/Terrorbot, "Ancient", EDC, and "Unicron's Herald" (using the Blentron sigil in yellow).

• More information on Overcharge at TFU.info

Notes

Recreate this at your wallet's peril.

• While the toy's color scheme is based on the mold's original pre-Transformers Diaclone colors, the "character" appears to be based on the mass of off-color Blitzwing-model tanks seen in the title sequence to the third season of the Generation 1 cartoon.
• Overcharges, it is noted, are based on technology from the Decepticons, since the Quintessons' original robots did not transform, only developing the skill after freeing themselves from slavery. The use of the Blitzwing mold for this Quintesson creation seems to harken back to The Transformers cartoon series Season 3 episode "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3", in which Blitzwing is the only Transformer to recognize the Quintessons, albeit in a vague, uncertain way. This seems to suggest a connection between Blitzwing and the Overcharges, but what that connection was was pure speculation until Hayato Sakamoto gave a backstory in the Legends manga in 2018.
• Considering that the toy is an e-HOBBY exclusive, "Overcharge" is considered in the fandom to be a very apt name.