Null-ray
- The null-ray is a weapon from the multiple continuity families
One of the signature weapons of Starscream and the Seekers, the null-ray is capable of stopping any electrical device with one shot, be it human or Transformer.
Except Megatron. All a blast from the null-ray does is make him angry. It doesn't work on the Dinobots either, but they were already pissed at Screamer and the jets.
Fiction
Generation 1 cartoon
Shortly after arriving at the oil platform with his fellow Decepticons, Starscream is ordered to fire his null-ray at some equipment, causing the machinery to freeze and cease from working. More than Meets the Eye, Part 1 After causing a tidal wave at Sherman Dam, Megatron ordered Starscream to shoot three of the generators with blasts from the null-ray as part of their efforts to make Energon cubes. Why they would need the generators to stop working is beyond our understanding, but Megatron's schemes always have layers within them, and are far too complex for simple flesh creatures to understand. More than Meets the Eye, Part 2
After being discovered by Bumblebee, Starscream shot him with the null-ray, allowing the Decepticons to modify his memory circuits to lead the Autobots into a trap. Transport to Oblivion
Later, when Megatron had the power chip rectifiers of the Decepticons installed in him before his battle with Optimus Prime, Starscream lamented that he could no longer use the null-ray or his cluster bombs. A threat of termination from Megatron shut him up. Heavy Metal War
Determined not to be replaced by the human-built Nightbird, Starscream used his null-ray to fritz her circuits. Naturally, Megatron wasn't too happy about the loss of his new female "companion" and immediately labeled Starscream a traitor. Again. Enter the Nightbird
When Starscream partnered up with the (more than usually) paranoid Red Alert, Starscream fired his null-ray at Red Alert, causing his unstable logic circuits to stabilize. Auto Berserk
Later, Starscream was shown firing the null-ray from his nose while in vehicle mode. Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1. Later still, he was shown firing it through his finger. Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2
Starscream last used his null-ray at his own coronation as leader of the Decepticons. During the coronation, the Constructicons played trumpets, but Starscream, eager to get on with the ceremony, used the null-ray to slice the instruments in half. The Transformers: The Movie
In 2005, Marissa Faireborn had a hand-held blaster which fired null-rays. Whether this was reverse engineered from a captured Seeker, developed with the help of the Autobots, or was acquired by some sort of convoluted plan of Starscream's to replace Megatron, is unknown. FFOD4
Transformers Armada
When Armada Starscream finally got his Mini-Con partner, Swindle, he gained a new attack called the "Null Laser Cannon". It didn't disable electrical stuff, but created a big explosion instead.Jungle
Transformers Armada PS2 game
In this incarnation it slices mountains in half instead of its usual effect. It most likely does the same to Autobots, but Starscream was bashed offline by Optimus Prime before he could test that theory.
Transformers Cybertron
Starscream has two swiveling, very powerful laser cannons at his waist. He has two more that are stationary, one on each of his forward wingtips. He calls these Null Cannons. Again, they act like very powerful blasters. When he supersized, he replaced his broken Cyber Key-activated sword with a massive wide-bore null cannon. Fallen
Transformers Animated
This Starscream also packs null-rays as his main weapon, but these also just work like a very powerful blaster. Their destructive effect on Earth-made buildings is impressive, if not as intense as Armada Starscream's, and a sustained blast of around 12 seconds was enough to render all five Earth-bound Autobots unconscious—for a few seconds. Hmm. Then later a direct blast fully disabled Ultra Magnus for several minutes (well, to be fair, Magnus took a point-blank shot right in the kisser). Mission Accomplished
Revenge of the Fallen
Starscream designed his null-ray himself. It is a weapon feared for its ability to deactivate electrical systems.<ref>Starscream's Battle Bio at Hasbro.com</ref>
War for Cybertron
The Null Ray is a sniper rifle. It zooms 10x and is the cloaked Scout's best friend. But don't bring a Null Ray to a firefight; it won't help against a charging Soldier with a Scrapmaker.
Carried by: Scouts, Snipers, Starscream
- Damage: 10
- Range: 9
- Accuracy: 10
- Rate of Fire: 1
Trivia
- At least once Starscream's null-ray appeared to cause freezing. This could be a mere error. [citation needed]{{#ifeq: ||}}
- Clearly, Starscream never bothered to patent the null-ray. Bad enough a G.I. Joe agent's daughter used them, but so did Generation 1 Whirl.
- Due to the Armada cartoon's frequent translation and dubbing errors, Starscream's "Null Laser Cannon" was randomly referred to as the "Narrow Laser Cannon" (despite the visually obvious fact that the laser blast was anything but narrow).
References
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