Energon (toyline)

Overview
Returning to their cartoon roots, the Autobots and Decepticons wage war over Energon, a powerful energy resource, while the specter of Unicron looms in the background.

The Autobots, gifted with the Spark of Combination, can fuse into Powerlinx combinations of two mighty warriors. The Decepticons, upgraded into new bodies by the power of Unicron, can convert to stronger, deadlier hyper-modes.

The Mini-Cons of the previous Armada line still exist, but have lost their prominence. Taking their place as allies of the two major factions are the energon-mining Omnicons, able to shape raw energon into tools and weapons for the Autobots, and the swarms of drone Terrorcons who fight alongside the Decepticons.

Toyline Overview


There are Mini-Cons, and Basics, combination, articulation, and clear Energon weapons with 5mm pegs that all but a few figures can hold. Nearly all alternate modes are futuristic vehicles or robotic animals. Robot modes are angular and mechanical-looking.

Energon was also a line of throwbacks. As in the Beast era, all new-mold figures have Spark Crystals to display their allegiance. Like Armada, most have at least a few Mini-Con hardpoints. Finally, homages to G1 are frequent and obvious in the Energon toy designs.

Optimus Prime and Megatron once again lead the factions, and continue their respective sides' emphases on combination and hyper-mode augmentation. Just how they do this, of course, is better reserved for their specific articles.

The Basic-sized Omnicons and Terrorcons come with clear Energon weapons and 'Energon stars' or 'Energon cells' that can be attached over their Spark Crystals. Stars and weapons are red and pink for Omnicons and green and yellow for Terrorcons. Transformations are quite innovative and robot modes are well-articulated.

Deluxe and Mega Autobots, besides transforming from vehicle to robot, can also become the top or bottom half of a 'Powerlinx' combination robot. While it was not widely advertised, the two size classes can freely inter-combine, with occasionally ludicrous results. The need to combine did compromise the articulation, stability, and appearance of many Autobot figures.

Ultra Autobots each include transforming bases and can combine with these for 'Brute Mode', as can Deluxe Tow-Line.

Deluxe, Mega, and Ultra Decepticons are fitted with 'hyper modes'. These usually involve hidden weapons which pop out when properly triggered, like the Armada gimmicks, but unlike Armada in that Mini-Cons are not needed. Some of these modes are elaborate enough to become genuine 'third modes', as in Shockblast and Scorponok.

This line also saw the release of updated Scramble City-style combiners, in which four Basic-sized limbs join a Deluxe core. The Autobots had one such combiner; the decepticons two. Each had a unique core design and two unique limbs. Each limb was recolored once to make the necessary four. The limb figures all came with add-on weapons and Energon Stars, cast in blue clear plastic, and these weapons formed the hands or feet of the combined robot.

In general, this line's Decepticons maintained most of the play value of Armada's hidden weapons. While the Autobots lost much of this, they gained the ability to combine. Both sides' articulation in robot mode improved over Armada. Finally, the standardized Energon weapons formed a sort of construction set for creative play. Energon was certainly an extensive and varied line.

Autobots
Omnicons
 * Arcee (motorcycle)
 * Offshoot (communications truck)
 * Energon Strongarm (jeep)
 * Signal Flare (communications truck)
 * Skyblast (space fighter)
 * Strongarm (jeep)

Air Team
 * Sky Shadow (attack jet)
 * Storm Jet (bomber jet)
 * Terradive (attack jet)
 * Treadshot (fighter jet)
 * Windrazor (fighter jet)


 * Superion Maximus

Deluxes
 * Downshift (rally car)
 * Energon Hot Shot (sportscar)
 * Energon Kicker (armored human) w/ High Wire (motorbike)
 * Hot Shot (sportscar)
 * Inferno (fire engine)
 * Prowl (police racer)
 * Roadblock (utility vehicle)
 * Rodimus (racing highway tractor)
 * Tow-Line (TV van)

SWAT Team 2-Pack - K-Mart exclusive
 * Checkpoint (racing highway tractor)
 * Prowl (police racer)

Megas
 * Beachcomber (dune buggy)
 * Cliffjumper (dune buggy)
 * Energon Ironhide (SUV)
 * Ironhide (SUV)
 * Jetfire (space shuttle)
 * Overcast (space shuttle)
 * Treadbolt (bulldozer) w/ Minicon Rollbar (buggy)
 * Wing Saber (stealth bomber)
 * Grimlock (Tyrannosaurus rex)/Swoop (Pteranodon)

Ultras
 * Bulkhead (helicopter)
 * Landmine (halftrack construction vehicle)
 * Landquake (halftrack construction vehicle)
 * Quickstrike (helicopter)
 * Ultra Magnus (shuttle carrier) w/ Minicons Knock Out (tractor cab), Astroscope (space station), Payload (rocket transporter) and Sky Blast (rocket)

Supers
 * Optimus Prime (tractor trailer)

Supremes
 * Omega Sentinel (battleship/crane truck)
 * Omega Supreme (battleship/crane truck)

Roleplay
 * Energon Blaster

Decepticons
Terrorcons
 * Battle Ravage (jaguar)
 * Command Ravage (jaguar)
 * Cruellock (dinosaur)
 * Divebomb (hawk)
 * Doom-Lock (dinosaur)
 * Insecticon (Hercules beetle)

Construction Team
 * Bonecrusher (front-end loader)
 * Duststorm (mobile crane)
 * Sledge (front-end loader)
 * Steamhammer (hydraulic power shovel)
 * Wideload (mobile crane)


 * Constructicon Maximus

Destruction Team
 * Barricade (missile truck)
 * Blackout (helicopter)
 * Blight (anti-aircraft tank)
 * Kickback (anti-aircraft tank)
 * Stormcloud (helicopter)


 * Bruticus Maximus

Deluxes
 * Cyclonus (helicopter) w/ Minicon Crumplezone (tank) - Kay Bee Toys exclusive
 * Demolishor (dump truck)
 * Demolishor (tank) w/ Minicon Blackout (combat car) - Kay Bee toys exclusive
 * Energon Starscream (fighter jet)
 * Rapid Run (motorcycle) w/ Minicons Nightcrus and Nightscream
 * Sharkticon (submarine)
 * Slugslinger (dual-cockpit fighter jet)
 * Snow Cat (snowcat)
 * Starscream (fighter jet)

Megas
 * Alpha Quintesson (armored Quintesson alien)
 * Dreadwing (battle speedboat)
 * Mirage (battle speedboat)
 * Shockblast (tank/satellite)
 * Six Shot (tank/satellite)

Ultras
 * Scorponok (construction vehicle/jet)
 * Tidal Wave (Dark Fleet) w/ Minicon Ramjet (fighter jet)

Leaders
 * Galvatron (space jet)
 * Megatron (space jet)

Role Play
 * Megatron's Energon Sword

Mini-Cons
Energon Saber
 * Scattor (Concorde)
 * Skyboom (space shuttle)
 * Wreckage (supersonic bomber)


 * Energon Saber

Perceptor
 * Grindor (hoverboard)
 * High Wire (motorbike)
 * Sureshock (four-wheeler)


 * Perceptor

Miscellaneous
Leader 2-Pack - Toys 'R' Us exclusive
 * Supercon Optimus Prime (semi cab)
 * Maxcon Megatron (space jet)

Unicron
 * Unicron (planet) w/ Mini-Con Dead End (moon)