A "generic" is the fan-coined, unofficial term for any unnamed background Transformer that is clearly not intended to represent any previously existing and named toy/character. Generics are frequently used to fill out crowd scenes and battles, and often employ repeated standardized designs.
It is rare that a generic gets a speaking part, but it has happened from time to time. However, if the character is given a name they cease to be a generic and becomes a regular old character. Over time, thanks to fans-turned-pro and conventions looking for con-exclusive toys, quite a few generics have made this leap!
Known Generics
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Transformers: Prime
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- The Decepticons employ generics in the form of Vehicons which come in two flavors—jet and car.
- In season 2 and 3, white versions of the Jet type appeared as Seekers, though they were just as generic as their purple brothers.
- The Decepticon Miners all use the same model, which is very similar to that of a car Vehicon. This model is later altered for the bounty hunter Shadelock.
- The Vehicons featured in season 2 of Robots in Disguise reprise their Prime models. This time, their color schemes vary amongst themselves.
- The Insecticons also shared a character model, with Hardshell only being distinguished by his facial scars.
- The good guys in Prime also have generics, as virtually all of the human soldiers seen use the same model.
Transformers: Robots in Disguise
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- The Caretaker Mini-Cons featured in Robots in Disguise, including Toolbox and Cinch, all share the exact same model as Fixit.
- The Skunkticons all share the same model as their leader Malodor.
Decepticon Island inhabitants
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Besides Vehicons, Glowstrike and Scorponok's crew of Alchemor escapees includes a host of generics recolored from existing models, including several originally from Prime:
- A black, bright-green and teal Insecticon. The colors match Bombshock's Cyberverse toy, but are laid out entirely differently.
- Two Cyclones, one purple, one black-and-green. They both share the same body-type as Backtrack, Ransack, and Bounce.
- An orange and blue look-alike of Airachnid (sans spider legs).
- Two Chompazoid guards, one burgundy, one light brown. They have different jaws than Underbite, lacking, well, underbites. Many Chompazoids were present during the Bee Team's raid on Decepticon Island.
- There are also Sharkticons identical in design to Hammerstrike and Ragebyte, including one sporting a color scheme (and eyes) more in line with the species' G1 counterparts.
Trivia
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With help from Robots in Disguise showrunner Adam Beechen, the following minor Transformers have had their names revealed on his website:
- Scratch as the proper identity of the cat-like Decepticon Windblade defeats in "The Buzz on Windblade".
- Razorhorn as the identity of the Insecticon bounty hunter featured in the latter half of the post-Season 2 mini-series.
- Goldgear as the identity of the Activator Mini-Con who successfully steals Strongarm's Decepticon Hunter after Hi-Test failed to do so.