User:McBaggins/Legacy
Transformers: Legacy (aka Transformers Generations: Legacy)[1] is a subline imprint of the Generations toyline, and the successor to the War for Cybertron Trilogy.
First revealed in late 2021 at Hasbro Pulse Con 2021, Legacy commemorates the approaching 40th anniversary of the Transformers brand by featuring new toys of characters from across the Transformers multiverse. The toys are largely in the scale and style of those from the War for Cybertron Trilogy, including numerous 3 mm posts and 5 mm ports from the C.O.M.B.A.T. System. Characters from franchises known for more unique aesthetics, such as Prime and Animated, are updated with the modern Generations aesthetic to fit with the rest of the toyline, which can range from a significant redesign to the same basic model just rendered more like a modern "Generation 1" toy. The toyline also sees the return of combiners from Hasbro for the first time since Power of the Primes, starting with the Stunticons in 2022.
The storytelling of Legacy follows characters brought together from across the multiverse as their universes collide.[2] As such, non-"Generation 1" characters are (usually) given prefixes associated with their series of origin, such as "Cybertron Universe". Replacing the package bios of old is a QR code on the back of each box, or for Core Class figures, on the instructions, which leads to the character's bio on the Transformers website. Certain characters have also been given these prefixes to denote specific iterations, such as "Comic Universe" Impactor.
Unlike its predecessors, Legacy was not replaced by a new line with its own distinct title for its second and third years. Instead, it was given a refresh in the form of subline imprints titled Legacy: Evolution and Legacy: United, with the existing assortments continued in terms of distribution. Similar to its predecessors, the Legacy toyline features package refreshes of several figures from previous lines, even all the way back to Siege, though Legacy elects to remove the battle damage paint applications from these toys where applicable.
Toys
General retail
The first year of Legacy (theoretically) focuses on characters that can "harness the power of Energon", with as many toys including an often-translucent accessory that the figure can wield in multiple ways and combine with others branded an "Energon-infused weapon"[2], not too dissimilar to the 2003 Energon series. In keeping with this theme, the first wave of Core Class includes weapons specifically designed to combine into a large sword, but the gimmick was quietly dropped immediately after. Moreover, toys that do not utilize clear plastic in any part of their construction do not have these "energon infused" weapons, but some product descriptions do claim that the weapons are such.[3] Their random nature can be chalked up to them having been designed before the character roster was finalized.
Legacy
Core Class
| Wave 1 | Wave 2
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Wave 3
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Deluxe Class
| Wave 1 | Wave 2 | Wave 3 |
Voyager Class
Wave 1
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Wave 2
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Wave 3 |
Leader Class
Wave 1
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Wave 2 | Wave 3 |
Commander/Titan Class
| Commander | Titan |
Evolution
![thumb] Legacy: Evolution, the second year of Legacy product, was announced in fall 2022 at that year's Pulse Con. This subline imprint not only broadened the range of past Transformers franchises characters could be pulled from, it retired the Energon-infused weapons in favor of a series of integrated weapons referred to collectively as "Evo-Fusion." Admittedly, many of these are just the same "combine and mount weapons somewhere on the figure" play gimmick that has been part of the Generations line for years, but hey. Supporting this is a continuation of the "Weaponizer" concept with a new tribe of modular Junkions that can mix and match body parts and accessories to create your own robot and vehicle modes, or armor and weaponry for other bots. Following Menasor, this subline's combiner is Volcanicus, made up of six Dinobots in the smaller Core Class. Evolution also puts some more focus on Armada characters to commemorate the series' 20th anniversary, although these new releases do not include any of the series' original Mini-Cons. The line also notably features the first mainline Animated toys since the show's cancellation in 2009; 2023 also marks the 15th anniversary of the Animated cartoon, but we doubt this was intentional. Core Class Wave 1 Dinobot Sludge Dinobot Slug Soundblaster Wave 2 Bomb-Burst (package refresh from Legacy) Grimlock Nemesis Prime Thundercracker Wave 3 Dinobot Scarr Starscream (package refresh from Kingdom) Dinobot Swoop Wave 4 Optimus Prime (Evolution package refresh) Dinobot Snarl[4] Deluxe Class Wave 1 Breakdown Armada Universe Hot Shot Needlenose (w/ Decepticon Sunbeam & Decepticon Zigzag) Scraphook Wave 2 Crashbar Crosscut Animated Universe Prowl Shrapnel Wave 3 Axlegrease Beachcomber & Paradise Parakeet Autobot Devcon Predacon Tarantulas (package refresh from Legacy) Wave 4 Insecticon Bombshell Detritus Cyberverse Universe Shadow Striker Robots In Disguise 2015 Universe Strongarm Wave 1's Breakdown was, despite being Evolution product, released in standard year one Legacy packaging to match the rest of the Stunticons.[5] His instructions initially featured the "Evolution" branding and green color scheme, but a running change variant replaced those with the vanilla "Legacy" branding and purple color scheme. Voyager Class Wave 1 Maximal Leo Prime Comic Universe Tarn Wave 2 Metalhawk Twincast & Autobot Rewind Wave 3 Dirge (package refresh from Earthrise) Nemesis Leo Prime Wave 4 Comic Universe Bludgeon Trashmaster Leader Class Wave 1 Prime Universe Skyquake Transmetal II Megatron (package refresh from Legacy) Wave 2 Armada Universe Megatron Blitzwing (package refresh from Legacy) Wave 3 Prime Universe Dreadwing Commander/Titan Class Commander Armada Universe Optimus Prime Titan Decepticon Nemesis Legacy United Core Class Deluxe Class Wave 1 Animated Universe Bumblebee Or you could pick... WHAT'S IN THE BOX. This item is currently scheduled for release, but is not yet available at mass retail. Wave 1 Voyager Class Wave 1 Animated Universe Optimus Prime Or you could pick... WHAT'S IN THE BOX. This item is currently scheduled for release, but is not yet available at mass retail. Wave 1 Leader Class Commander/Titan Class Exclusives Please note that the exclusivity listed for toys below applies to the United States. Also, most of Legacy's exclusives were available through Hasbro Pulse as well, but in much smaller numbers than their "main" outlets. Legacy Walmart Walmart had a large number of exclusives; first came a trio of normal Legacy-packaged Deluxe beast-bots (which were sold as Farmers exclusives in New Zealand). This was soon followed by two different "capsules", each with its own name, theme and unique packaging across multiple size classes. The Velocitron Speedia 500 Collection focuses on characters on the namesake planet participating in the namesake race. The first assortment was revealed on the June 23 2022 Fanstream, and the toys were exclusive to Walmart in the US and the Kmart department store in New Zealand. A second assortment of Deluxe Class toys was revealed in early October, without prior announcement.[6] Distribution of this second wave of product has been... let's politely call it varied. Deluxe Beast Assortment Buzzsaw Autobot Nightprowler Predacon Sandstorm Velocitron Deluxes Blurr Diaclone Universe Burn Out Diaclone Universe Clampdown Autobot Cosmos G2 Universe Road Rocket Decepticon Crasher (wave 2) G2 Universe Shadowstrip (wave 2) Velocitron Voyagers Cybertron Universe Override Road Hauler Autobot Hot Rod (wave 2, cancelled) Velocitron Leaders Robots in Disguise 2000 Universe Scourge Victory Universe Galaxy Shuttle (wave 2) Target Legacy Red Cog Buzzworthy Bumblebee Heroic Maximal Dinobot Autobot Silverstreak Evil Predacon Terrorsaur Creatures Collide Autobot Goldbug, Ransack, Skywasp, Predacon Scorponok (boxset Amazon Amazon Wreck N' Rule Collection Prime Universe Bulkhead Comic Universe Impactor / Spindle G2 Universe Leadfoot / Masterdominus Autobot Springer Diaclone Universe Twin Twist Walgreens Legacy Autobot Minerva Hasbro Pulse/Haslab Hasbro Pulse A Hero Is Born (Orion Pax and Alpha Trion w/ Vector Sigma) Haslab Victory Saber (Autobot Star Saber and Victory Leo with Holi and Fire) Evolution Walmart The Toxitron Collection followed for Legacy: Evolution, featuring gloriously garishly-decoed toys based on unreleased concept redecos from Generation 2 (and one from 2003's Universe). The series was revealed on March 13 in 2023 as part of Walmart's "Collector Con", showing off the first three toys as well as putting them up for preorder. The toys eventually started shipping in mid-July, with the remaining toys being officially revealed at San Diego Comic-Con (though naturally they had both leaked and been found at Walmarts before the show). Toxitron Deluxes G2 Universe Dead End G2 Universe Autobot Jazz G2 Universe Laser Cycle G2 Universe Autobot Mirage G2 Universe Sideswipe Toxitron Voyagers G2 Universe Cloudcover Toxitron Leaders G2 Universe Grimlock G2 Universe Toxitron Target Buzzworthy Bumblebee Origin Autobot Jazz Robots in Disguise 2000 Universe Tow-Line Troop Builder Multipack Decepticon Seeker, Quintesson Trooper, G2 Universe Cybertronian Trooper, Animated Universe Autotrooper](/index.php/File:Legacy_Evolution_Logo.png){kind=logo}
(boxset
Amazon
Amazon (Pre-Cybertronian War)
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Walgreens
| Evolution |
Hasbro Pulse/Haslab
| Hasbro Pulse | Haslab
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Generations Selects
Continuing on from the War for Cybertron Trilogy, the special edition Generations Selects line offers redecoes catering to fans, sold through Hasbro Pulse and numerous other online retailers in the US and Canada. This assortment is considerably smaller than for previous lines, mainly due to a larger output of concurrent retailer-specific exclusives.
Funnily enough, Black Zarak and Lift-Ticket were shipped before the general retail Legacy lineup arrived on store shelves, as was Magnificus for Legacy: Evolution.
| Legacy | Legacy: Evolution |
Legacy (TakaraTomy)
TakaraTomy's normal-retail Transformers Legacy (トランスフォーマーレガシー Toransufōmā Regashī) toyline is largely the same as Hasbro's, with no notable changes to the toys proper; the one "big" change is that the packaging adds ID numbers for each item (sadly, Hasbro's Legacy toyline ditches the number system seen in the previous War for Cybertron Trilogy toyline). But the TakaraTomy line is markedly smaller than Hasbro's, having omitted all of the package-refresh figures and the first-year Core Class figures (the Cores were eventually picked up again with the Evolution Dinobots, et al.). On top of that, the list of exclusives for the line released by TakaraTomy is much, much, much smaller, currently limited to only the first assortment of the Velocitron Speedia 500 Collection.
Beginning with Wave 9 (corresponding to Hasbro's Evolution imprint), TakaraTomy's bios began making reference to the characters' arrival in "Legacy World," presumably the same enigmatic location featured extensively throughout Hasbro promotional images and stock photography.
Comic
TakaraTomy's iteration of the Legacy franchise is accompanied by a series of (very) short comics on their website by brand veteran Hayato Sakamoto, thus far uncharacteristically continuity-light for a TakaraTomy outing as befitting Legacy's grab-bag approach:
| Transformers Legacy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
General retail
Exclusives
TakaraTomy Mall
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- ↑ The official in-house title of the toyline is "Transformers Generations: Legacy", which is often used in online product descriptions given to retailers. The name used for the line's logo, however; is just "Transformers: Legacy".
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pre-reveal of Legacy on the Transformers Facebook: "Celebrating an almost 40-year legacy of Transformers, universes collide as fan-favorite characters are brought together from across the multiverse, updated with Generations styling. You can harness the power of Energon, with all-new Energon-infused weapon accessories that come with figures across the line."
- ↑ Tarantula's product description says that he comes with a crossbow and an sic accessory, but Armada Starscream's product description claims that he comes with an energon sword despite both swords being casted in solid plastic.
- ↑ Design notes on Legacy Scarr and Swoop from Hasbro designer Evan Brooks on Instagram
- ↑ "You will see a regular Legacy box sitting on the shelf with all of our new Legacy: Evolution stuff for Wave 1 so that if you are a MIB collector you can actually collect these all in the right same packaging." -Ben MacCrae on the Legacy: Evolution panel at Pulse Con 2022
- ↑ Transformers Velocitron Speedia 500 Deluxe G2 Shadowstrip & Crasher Out In New Zealand – First In-Hand Images at TFW2005
