Size class
Size class is how Hasbro determines the size and price of a toy. It also determines the amount of budget spent on the production of a toy, such as paint or electronics.
Size class has not been consistent from line to line, with names often changed to affect marketability.
Beast Wars
Beast Wars had five size classes. The cheapest, with the price around $5, was Basic. Deluxe was the next cheapest, being around $10 in price. The two smallest classes are sold on cards to this day. The next step is Mega, with a price of $15. Toys of this size were often shelfwarmers. Only six toys were sold as the next largest size, Ultra, with a price of $20. The largest size, Supreme, was only attained by one toy, Optimal Optimus, which was sold for $35. All of the classes larger than Deluxe were, and are, sold in boxes.
Beast Machines
Beast Machines continued Beast Wars' size classes, but increased the price of Basic to $7 and the price of Supreme (Cheetor was the only Supreme in this line; a Supreme Optimus Primal toy was planned to be in this line, but was moved to Robots in Disguise) to $40. Two other size classes were added, Deployers and Beast Riders. The size of Ultra toys were increased while maintaining the price.
Robots in Disguise
Armada
Armada discontinued the Mega size class and gave new names to some size classes. Deluxe was renamed Supercon and Ultra to Maxcon. The $25 size class was introduced as Gigacon. Basics were replaced with packs of three Mini-Cons.
Universe
Universe used the Beast Wars size classes, but only had Deluxe and Ultra. Some exclusive toys, such as Sunstorm with Perceptor, and Ruination were sold in their own size class.
Energon
Energon returned to the Beast Wars naming, and brought Basics back. However, Ultra was used for the $25 size class, and Mega was used for the $20 size class. Energon also maintained the two new size classes introduced in Armada.
Cybertron
Cybertron changed the naming of some size classes, but retained Deluxe, Ultra, and Supreme. Basic was changed to Scout, Mega to Voyager, and Super to Leader.
Classics
Classics is said to only have the Deluxe and Voyager size classes.
