The Energon Pub

I'll be honest: I'm completely lost with all the different Arms Microns being released in various forms. I'm not necessarily looking for a complete list of all the variations and exclusives available, but could someone who follows these things please give me a quick synopsis of how many different molds are out there right now?

Andrius wrote:What's the deal with the Arms Microns?

Seriously though, go here for the list.

Been there, done that. But there are forty different links on that page. I'm just trying to get a sense of how many different molds are currently in circulation.

Andrius wrote:I'll be honest: I'm completely lost with all the different Arms Microns being released in various forms. I'm not necessarily looking for a complete list of all the variations and exclusives available, but could someone who follows these things please give me a quick synopsis of how many different molds are out there right now?

The Arms Microns can be divided into several groups, mold-wise:

Promotional PCC repaints
The first ones were actually repaints of Power Core Combiners Mini-Cons. Being repaints, they lack their characteristic Energon Crystals.

Pack-In Arms Microns
Every Arms Micron figure has at least one, Megatron Darkness has two. These are the standard ones, and they can be combined into crazy-looking weapons. The "real" Super Combo Weapons are formed out of Microns with the same Energon Crystal color, but still look a bit wacky. Right now, we have 16 to 17 molds in that category:

1. O.P (Optimus Prime)
2. B.2 (Bumblebee)
3. C.L. (Cliffjumper)
4. R.A (Ratchet)
5. Gora (Megatron)
6. Balo (Skywarp)
7. Gul (Starscream)
8. Jida (Terrorcon Cliffjumper)
9. Zori (Soundwave)
10. B.H. (Bulkhead)
11. Arc (Arcee
12. Zamu (Breakdown)
13. Gra (Knock Out)
14. Noji (Vehicon) and Igu (Jet Vehicon)
15. Gora II (Megatron Darkness)
16. Hades (Megatron Darkness)

AMW Series
Those are similar to the Micron Boosters of old. Those can be put in groups of three, by the weapon the three form. Those weapons actually look like weapons, by far

1. Gabu
2. Baru
3. Dai
4. Pral (Prowl homage)
5. Sais (Seaspray homage)
6. Jayz (Jazz homage)

Gacha Series
These are the odd men out, as they don't need to be put together. They come out of toy dispenser machines

1. Optimus Prime Blaster
2. Bumblebee Sword
3. Arcee Blade
4. Bulkhead Knuckle
5. Megatron Cannon
6. Gob
7. Zad
8. "Wanigame" (placeholder name)

JelZe GoldRabbit to the rescue, as always! Thanks for the great breakdown. I really had no idea that there were that many molds. Seeing a few of the repaints and exclusives mentioned here and there, I assumed there were 8-12 different types; clearly I was off the mark, by a good margin...

I do not mean to offend anyone who likes these Microns, but I am really sick of these things.
I know its some kind of fad in Japan, but please don't start that crap here in the U.S.
I like my transformers big enough to not get lost in my sofa.

Again this is just my opinion. If you happen to like them that is perfectly fine.

Andrius wrote:Been there, done that. But there are forty different links on that page. I'm just trying to get a sense of how many different molds are currently in circulation.

Fair enough.

1: Optimus Prime's Minicon = O.P. (blaster)

2: Optimus Prime Blaster (blaster/Minicon version of Optimus Prime)

3: Bumblebee's Minicon = B.2 (double barreled blaster; Also available as a translucent Tokyo Toy Show exclusive)

4: Bumblebee Sword (sword/Minicon version of Bumblebee)

5: Ratchet's Minicon = R.A. (sword, redecoed as one of the 4 smoke-colored Toys "Я" Us exclusives)

6: Cliffjumper's Minicon = C.L. (triple barreled blaster, redecoed olive green for the AMW line and smoke-colored as a Toys "Я" Us exclusive)

7: Megatron's Minicon = Gora (ape/fusion cannon, comes with both the deluxe and voyager Megatrons, but the voyager version lacks the blade attachments; also one of the 4 smoke-colored Toys "Я" Us exclusives)

8: Megatron Cannon = (cannon/Minicon version of Megatron)

9: Skywarp's Minicon = Balo (bull/shuriken, redecoed as one of the 4 smoke-colored Toys "Я" Us exclusives)

10: Terrorcon Cliffjumper's Minicon = Jida (cheeta/chainsaw/shield, redecoed red in the AMW series)

11: Soundwave's Minicon = Zori (Scorpion/data-link claw)

12: Bulkhead's Minicon = B.H. (wrecking ball)

13: Bulkhead Knuckle (fist/Minicon version of Bulkhead)

14: Arcee's Minicon = Arc (sword)

15: Arcee Blade (sword/Minicon version of Arcee)

16: Starscream's Minicon = Gul (bird/bladed plasma cannon)

17: Breakdown's Minicon = Zamu (hammer)

18: Knockout's Minicon = Gra (crab/energon prod)

19: Vehicon's Minicon = Noji (boar/beam cannon)

20: Gob (snake/chain axe)

21: Zad (geko/double-spinning blade)

22: "Wanigame" (turtle/shield)

23, 24, 25: Pral, Sais, & Jayz (forms the Cosmotector shield)

26, 27, 28: Baru, Gabu, & Dai (forms the Dark Matter Calibur)

29: Megatron's second Minicon = Hades (bat/Megatron wings/scythe; comes with Voyager Megatron)

30: Jet Vehicon's Minicon = Igu (iguana/beam cannon)

...so 30 molds that we know of.

I should add these notes:

1) Gora and Gora II are separate molds, Gora II is slightly bigger and lacks the blades, even the ports for them.
2) I put Noji and Igu together because I suspect they're retools. You can actually see part of a lizard's back on Noji.

Cyberseven wrote:I do not mean to offend anyone who likes these Microns, but I am really sick of these things.
I know its some kind of fad in Japan, but please don't start that crap here in the U.S.
I like my transformers big enough to not get lost in my sofa.

Again this is just my opinion. If you happen to like them that is perfectly fine.

While I'm no fan of headmasters, I really like targetmasters. As long as they don't make us re-buy the figures, I'd love to see Arms Microns in the US. The only AM I will be obtaining is Breakdown, for I fear his Japanese Exclusiveness confirmation dawning

I really like them. The majority of the AM Prime line itself is too expensive for me to buy each of the figures, considering that in many cases I like the cheaper Hasbro versions more, but the individual releases are nearly all pre-ordered, and I have a selection of the capsule versions here already. They're not that great when compared to the ones that come with the larger figures, but worth a punt if you're interested.

I was just wondering how Minicon collectors were handling these. I know Counterpunch used to be an completest/authority on them but I don't know how US collectors can cope.