The Energon Pub

The Classics are the toyline responsible for getting me into serious Transformer collecting. They combine the feel of the original toys with the look of the cartoon. After what, in my opinion only, was the gobbledegook of Energon and Universe and whatever else, the Classics had everything I wanted (sans diecast) in new Transformers.

Now, you may notice the "whatever" in the last sentence, because as someone who wasn't into the toys during the period prior to the Classics, I have a hard time keeping them straight. It doesn't help matters that the Classics included Minicons and Legends. I thought I had it figured out: I'll just buy the Voyagers and Deluxe classes, since those are the figures unique to the toyline.

Well, with Universe/Classics 2.0 (and Henkei), I've gotten a bit confused. There are now original Legends class figures, which I've been continuing to ignore, and the Voyagers are all redecos. There's also the Ultra class figures which I've added to my collection, but now with Inferno and Tread Bolt coming out, I'll have to get at least a couple Voyagers. And call me stupid, but I really like the Cosmos figure, since the original minibot was one of the first Transformers I ever had (and still retain).

So what I need help with is distinguishing figures that were made for the Classics toyline versus redecos (not counting Classics redecos, like Sunstreaker into Sideswipe). Below I have a list of what I know to be Classics/Universe-exclusive figures. If I am missing anyone, I would greatly appreciate anyone pointing them out.

Ultra:
-Powerglide
-Onslaught
-Silverbolt
-Storm Cloud (fixed)

Voyager:
-Optimus Prime
-Megatron
-Jetfire
-Ultra Magnus
-Dreadwind
-Nemesis Prime
-Shattered Glass Optimus Prime
-Inferno

Deluxe:
-Optimus Prime (ick)
-Megatron
-Bumblebee
-Starscream
-Astrotrain
-Rodimus
-Grimlock
-Mirage
-Ramjet
-Cliffjumper
-Skywarp
-Thundercracker
-Thrust
-Dirge
-Bug Byte
-Shattered Glass Rodimus
-Tankor
-Prowl
-Sunstreaker
-Acid Storm
-Galvatron
-Sideswipe
-Ironhide
-Silverstreak
-Ratchet (Henkei only?)
-Overkill
-Dragstrip (added)
-Starscream 2?
-Cyclonus
-Cheetor
-Hound
-Hotshot

Legends:
-Hound
-Jazz
-Megatron
-Cosmos
-Rodimus
-Wheelie
-Warpath
-uh... been ignoring Legends so I really can't complete this list.

i notice you are including exclusives(botcon) and repaints from classics molds. You may consider including the deluxes dragstrip/overkill/prime/megatron special ed.(HTS exclusive) and stunticon wildrider(Japanese exclusive). I think the translucent voyager prime is also worth mentioning.

EDIT: you also left off Botcon Mirage.

I think you've pretty much gotten all of them.
1 correction though: Its Storm Cloud not Surge.

Stomr Surge is a Movie Target Exclusive, and a repaint of Cybertron Shortround and is a Hovercraft.

Storm Cloud is the Repaint of Powerglide.

Other than that, I think you've gotten all molds that have been made for the Classics 1.0 Line and Universe/Classics 2.0.

There some some additional Minicon sets made specifically for the Classics 1.0 line. Which would be a separate group to the new legends class.

Ah, I didn't think of the translucent figures. And I do plan on getting Dragstrip (I did list Overkill), but I'm still iffy on those Prime and Megatron repaints.

Wildrider could be a problem, because due to financial reasons I've had to put my Henkei collection on hiatus.

There's going to be a Legends version of Bumblebee next year (besides the Animated one) in the same waves as the other Minibot homages. Not sure how essential you'd consider him given the deluxe version from the first batch of Classics. I think that's all of the known new mould Legends under the Universe banner excluding the Animated ones. The first wave in Universe packaging, all the ones in Classics packaging and both the forthcoming 5 packs are redecos of toys that were first released under the Cybertron line.

On the subject of Minicons, while it's true that they were introduced under the Armada/Energon/Cybertron 'trilogy' all of the teams that were released under the Classics banner were new moulds in that line and are canon in the Club fiction (excluding that weird Universe vid that showed up this week the only Classics fiction to date). I'm not 100% but I have heard it said that they were unreleased Cybertron moulds that found a home in the Classics line. The Universe 12 pack uses the same moulds, and being latter day Minicons there are some pretty good ones among them for what they are.

For the Legends I think you are missing Brawn and Beachcomber... which are new molds and look like great updates to the G1 minibots.

I haven't been collecting Legends either, but that is going to change for Brawn, Beachcomber, Warpath, Cosmos and, yes, even Wheelie.

Not sure if you want to include TRU Soundwave and Walmart Devastator. Lots of stuff in universe shouldn't be classic. Universe 2.0 hasn't been as fun for me as the original classics. For me to consider a mold 1.0, it has to be fun for kids to play with. Here's my list:

1.0______________________________
Voyager
. . Optimus Prime
. . . . Ultra Magnus
. . . . Nemesis Prime (SDCC)
. . . . Crystal Convoy (Henkei)
. . . . Shattered Prime (Botcon, Motormaster)
. . Megatron
. . . . Megatron (Henkei, silver)
. . Jetfire
. . . . Treadbolt
. . . . Dreadwind (Botcon)
. . Inferno (G2)

Deluxe
. . Bumblebee
. . . . Cliffjumper
. . . . Bumblebee (Walmart, Black)
. . . . Bugbite (Botcon)
. . Starscream
. . . . Starscream 2.0
. . . . Skywarp
. . . . Thundercracker (Botcon)
. . . . Acid Storm
. . . . Skywarp (Henkei)
. . . . Thundercracker (Henkei)
. . Ramjet
. . . . Ramjet (Henkei)
. . . . Thrust (Botcon)
. . . . Thrust (Henkei)
. . . . Dirge (Botcon)
. . . . Dirge (Henkei)
. . Mirage
. . . . Fracture
. . . . Dragstrip (SE)
. . . . Mirage (Botcon, clear)
. . Astrotrain
. . . . Astrotrain (Henkei)
. . Tankor(Octane)
. . Rodimus
. . . . Shattered Rodimus (Botcon)
. . . . Wildrider (Henkei)
. . Cyclonus
. . Hound

Legend
. . Cosmos
. . Wheelie
. . Beachcomber
. . Bumblebee
. . Brawn

1.5______________________________
Ultra
. . Soundwave (TRU)
Deluxe
. . Sunstreaker
. . . . Sideswipe
. . . . Red Alert (announced)
. . Grimlock
. . . . Grimlock (Botcon, Trypticon)
. . . . Overkill (SE)
. . Prowl
. . . . Silverstreak
. . . . Smokescreen (announced)

Legend
. . Warpath
. . Rodimus
. . Jazz
. . Hound
. . Megatron (G2)

2.0______________________________
Ultra
. . Devastator (Walmart, Energon)
. . Powerglide
. . . . Storm Cloud
. . . . Powerglide (Henkei, Red)
. . Onslaught
. . Silverbolt

Deluxe
. . Galvatron
. . Ironhide
. . . . Ratchet
. . Optimus Prime
. . . . Optimus Prime (SE)
. . Megatron
. . . . Megatron (SE)