The Energon Pub

As the title implies, what are the hardest transformers to well...transform?

I personally like to attempt transformations without use of the instructions. I will cheat and look at the gallery at times to make sure I didn't have anything undone but for the most part, I've been able to transform just about everything without issues. Until recently. I have some older G1 stuff but I like some of the newer movie related toys from the first few movies so I did purchase a few loose ones and man, Skids and Wheelie are kicking my butt! I guess it's got more to do with too much kibble(hoping that's used correctly) and the fact that even after transforming them back, they just never seem to fit just right in alternate mode.

But I seriously doubt that these two buggers are the hardest to transform. So, wanting to broaden my horizons with greater challenges, what is everyone's consensus for some of the hardest transformations to complete(instructions or not)? Or what did you personally have problems with?

Jetfire's the most nightmarish transformation I had to deal with. Must've taken a solid hour the first time -- I had to resort to chopping off tabs because parts just would NOT stay together otherwise. You slide one panel in and another would pop right out. UGH. The actual result isn't even worth it; most other hard TFs are at least too ambitious, Jetfire is 50% kibble junk in either mode. (can't say what combined mode is like, but I seriously doubt it helps anything)


This combo set. Both molds have an insane number of parts with weird ass joints all over, and their robot modes are so vague you never can tell if you're even done with them (the copter randomly has thumbs within his arms; no hands, just random thumbs that can't clear the panels on the arms, lord knows why). They're also rather shoddily built, because of course.


Slog is pretty wonky. Not amazingly bad, but the rubber parts, the bizarre way the dino belly is attached to the hind legs, the unstable midsection, and the tricky chest/shoulders area makes it not particularly fun. Voyager Sauropod IS pretty cool, though.


Nitro Zeus and the RotF Constructicons were also pretty challenging (and not in a good way). Thankfully, they're all solid toys and after a few transformations it becomes more natural. Still not fun, but not making you rethink your buying habits....
I know some people will swear up and down Mixmaster is as bad (or worse!) as Jetfire. I'm a big fan of the Constructicons, so it's entirely likely I stuck it out far longer than normal, hehe.

I'd say MP-36 Megatron is one of the hardest I ever had.
I needed to watch a videoreview to know how to transform him, since the instructions weren't much clear in a couple of passages.
None of the transformers in my collection gave me, so far, such an hard time transforming him.
That said, once learned isn't so hard as it may be the first times.

There's been a top 5 about this : https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... oys/36811/

I absolutely agree on ROTF optimus and Alternators Grimlock from this list.
Optimus is not complicated on paper, but it requires 5 hands to hold everything in place. And Grimlock, I think there's none correctly transformed in our collections.

ExciKaiser wrote:There's been a top 5 about this : https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... oys/36811/

I absolutely agree on ROTF optimus and Alternators Grimlock from this list.
Optimus is not complicated on paper, but it requires 5 hands to hold everything in place. And Grimlock, I think there's none correctly transformed in our collections.

Sorry! Didn't know about the write up. I do remember Grimlock being a pain in the butt. I sold mine a decade ago but I did repurchase one sealed and never have opened it up. I want to say there was an actual QC issue with it if I remember right but I can't currently find any info on it.

I'd have to disagree on ROTF Prime, and Sideburn.

While they have their challenge, once you get the hang of it, they aren't really all that difficult.

Grimlock is quite frustrating just to get the arms in position.

I'd probably add near the top of the list, War for Cybertron Optimus Prime. He's quite a challenge to get all the steps in the right order, in either direction. It's not a pleasant transformation.

There's also WFC Bumblebee.

ROTF Jetfire also falls into "overly ambitious", because of that combined mode. And the stupid electronics.

ROTF Optimus is easier with practice, but the blades can be annoyingly in the way and having to forcibly rip the red panels out of his chest is counterintuitive.

ROTF Jetife is a piece of cake compared to ROTF Mudflap.My god...

TulioDude wrote:ROTF Jetife is a piece of cake compared to ROTF Mudflap.My god...

They both have the same problem with their panels, but Mudflap's just go in all directions including through other pieces. Strangely, he's one of my more liked toys for the sheer ambition (or maybe I'm just a masochist): the biggest problem I have is the clearance of the arms. RotF Skids follows the same tune for the most part, but a bit better in the kibble management department.

Noideaforaname wrote:
Slog is pretty wonky. Not amazingly bad, but the rubber parts, the bizarre way the dino belly is attached to the hind legs, the unstable midsection, and the tricky chest/shoulders area makes it not particularly fun. Voyager Sauropod IS pretty cool, though.

Yes, Slog was a little tricky but I beat him! I remember in the Energon series there was an autobot that was impossible to transform, but i got him second hand with no instructions. Might still have it but im not certain.

Triggerdick Megatron wrote:Yes, Slog was a little tricky but I beat him! I remember in the Energon series there was an autobot that was impossible to transform, but i got him second hand with no instructions. Might still have it but im not certain.

In energon ? no way.

Maybe a decepticon with Slugslinger or Mirage which were a bit tricky, but if you had issue transforming an Energon autobot, you have a big problem.

You guys think those are hard? I've been trying to get this guy into beastmode for 30 years!

I wrote two lists on the subject, if anyone is interested:

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... oys/36711/

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... oys/36811/

ExciKaiser wrote:

Triggerdick Megatron wrote:Yes, Slog was a little tricky but I beat him! I remember in the Energon series there was an autobot that was impossible to transform, but i got him second hand with no instructions. Might still have it but im not certain.

In energon ? no way.

Maybe a decepticon with Slugslinger or Mirage which were a bit tricky, but if you had issue transforming an Energon autobot, you have a big problem.

I'm not proud of it lol. It MAY have had something to do with the legs? If it came with instructions it would have been easy for me. It may have been a freak occurrence (obscure Optimus Prime quote if you are paying attention). But anywho, all my other Transformers are workable.

Anyone else noticed how the TFs with action figure-like articulation are slightly harder to transform than the ones from the 80's and 90's? Im ok with it as the TFs since then are much better looking and more posable.

Triggerdick Megatron wrote:

ExciKaiser wrote:

Triggerdick Megatron wrote:Yes, Slog was a little tricky but I beat him! I remember in the Energon series there was an autobot that was impossible to transform, but i got him second hand with no instructions. Might still have it but im not certain.

In energon ? no way.

Maybe a decepticon with Slugslinger or Mirage which were a bit tricky, but if you had issue transforming an Energon autobot, you have a big problem.

I'm not proud of it lol. It MAY have had something to do with the legs? If it came with instructions it would have been easy for me. It may have been a freak occurrence (obscure Optimus Prime quote if you are paying attention). But anywho, all my other Transformers are workable.

Not all Energon toys were simple, really. In fact there was one that's infamous for being fiddly and hard, Slugslinger:


Transformers Energon Slugslinger (Stormjet) Gallery

Yes, I mention it in my post, as well as mirage.

But on autobot side, there's no complicated ones.

Animated Ratchet. Not because he's complex but because the way the back of the ambulance pegs together combined with the shoddy tolerances makes his vehicle mode's rear end pop apart at the SLIGHTEST provocation.