Transformers: Energon (toyline)

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Unicron Trilogy continuity family
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Following up on the highly successful Armada, the Transformers: Energon toyline carried over a number of characters in new forms, and added many newcomers as well.

The Energon line is dominated by the concept of combination, which pops up in numerous forms. Virtually every smaller toy came with an "Energon weapon", a clear-colored assortment of accessories, which could peg into one another to form larger weapons. The Combat and Mega Autobots can combine with one another in pairs (top and bottom, a source of endless jokes in the fandom), while the Command class combines with a vehicular accessory to form a larger "brute" mode. The line's first Mini-Cons were two teams that could combine. And three combiner teams in the spirit of the Scramble City-type gestalts dominated the line's later waves.

Tri-lingual packaging, kids! Remember, it's how everything will be by 2005!

The Energon weapons formed another of the line's main concepts, as the battle for control of Energon dominated the cartoon storyline. The clear Energon weapons feature standardized 5mm pegs that all but a few figures can hold, and the weapons could be pegged together in almost infinite combinations.

A third concept was the Hyper-mode of the Decepticons, basically a series of flip- or fold-out weapons that could be deployed without the addition of Mini-Cons.

The line introduced two new ostensible factions, the Omnicons and Terrorcons, though in practice these were mere subgroups of the Autobots and Decepticons, respectively. They filled the smallest price point left vacant by the Mini-Con 3-packs of Armada.

File:Energon Cruellock toy.jpg
Cruellock, a Terrorcon.

Nearly all alternate modes are futuristic vehicles or robotic animals. Robot modes are angular and mechanical-looking, continuing the G1-esque look started by Armada but refining it. Articulation rose almost to pre-Armada levels, and the complexity required by some of the combining gimmicks brought forth ingenious and complex designs, though sometimes at the expense of the overall appearance of the toy.

Initial waves of Energon included three redecos of Armada toys as new characters: Sideways as Rapid Run, Scavenger as Treadbolt, and Overload as Ultra Magnus. These toys were meant to "bulk up" the early line and did not ship long, making them—particularly Ultra Magnus—difficult to find at US retail.

As in the later Beast era, all new-mold figures have spark crystals to display their allegiance. As in Armada, most have at least a few Mini-Con hardpoints. Two Mini-Con teams were part of the line, with Hasbro stating that the runaway success of the Mini-Cons in Armada caught them by surprise, and that more would be forthcoming in future lines.

The line was notable for the fact that stores MASSIVELY overordered initial waves of the line, leading to extreme shelfwarming for the first two waves. The situation was so severe, Hasbro removed much of the older product from stores' inventory to get the Powerlinx Battles subline to shelves in time for the 2004 holiday season. Much of this early stock would reappear on store shelves in "buy one get one" bonus buys in VERY large numbers.

General retail

Energon Class

The Basic-sized Omnicons and Terrorcons came with clear Energon weapons and 'Energon Chips' or 'Energon Stars' that could be attached over their spark crystals. Chips and weapons were red and pink for Omnicons and green and yellow for Terrorcons. The final four waves consisted of the limb figures for the Air Team, Construction Team and Destruction Team Combiners (the torsos were sold as part of the Combat Class). The limb figures all came with add-on weapons and Energon Chips, cast in blue clear plastic, and these weapons formed the hands or feet of the combined robot.

Wave 1

Wave 2

Wave 3

Wave 4

Wave 5

Wave 6

Wave 7

Wave 8

Combat Class

Energon Hot Shot, a Combat Class Autobot.
Combat and Mega Class Autobots, besides transforming from vehicle to robot, could also become the top or bottom half of a 'Powerlinx' combination robot. While it was not widely advertised, the two size classes could freely inter-combine, with occasionally ludicrous results. The need to combine did compromise the articulation, stability, and appearance of many Autobot figures. This assortment also featured the torso figures for the combiners Superion Maximus, Constructicon Maximus and Bruticus Maximus.

Wave 1

Wave 1.5

Wave 2

Wave 3

Wave 4

Wave 5

Wave 5.5

Wave 6

Wave 7

Wave 7.5

Wave 8

Mega Class

Wave 1

Wave 1.5

Wave 2

Wave 3

Wave 3.5

Wave 4

Wave 5

Wave 5.5

Command Class

Command Autobots each included transforming accessories that formed part of their vehicle modes; they could combine with these to form a 'Brute Mode'.

Wave 1

Wave 1.5

  • Scorponok (scorpion based construction vehicle/jet)

Wave 2

  • Landmine (halftrack construction vehicle)

Wave 3

Wave 4

Wave 5

Leaders Class

Wave 1

Wave 2

Wave 3

Supreme Class

Wave 1

Wave 2

Wave 3

Role Play

Store exclusives

Costco

KB Toys

Kmart

  • Autobots S.W.A.T. Team two-pack, contains:

Sam's Club

Toys 'R' Us

Toys 'R' Us & Walmart (shared exclusives)

Though called the "Race Mini-Con Team", the figures sport the redeco color schemes from the Armada Road Assault Mini-Con Team release.
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