The Energon Pub

Hi to everyone at Sibertron!

I'm here to solicit your help in my search for the 'best' versions of the Masterpiece Transformers.
Specifically, I need help choosing between all the variants and updates/remakes.
If I could buy them all, I totally would, but since I can't I'm aiming for the best examples yet made.
You can disregard unusual colors/materials, I'm just looking for the highest quality versions that have a strong resemblance to the G1 cartoon character designs.

Here are the characters I'm most interested in - I think a few of these may only have one Masterpiece version, but not knowing how many versions exist is half my problem, so I figured it couldn't hurt to everyone I really wanted.

Optimus
Megatron
Soundwave
Skyfire
Starscream
Bumblebee
Ironhide
Grimlock
Shockwave
Wheeljack
Prowl
Hot Rod/Rodimus
BW Megatron
BE Optimus

Your insights are greatly appreciated!

About me:
I'm new to the site and haven't been a collector in a long time but I have loved Transformers since I was about 4 years old and have had a strong interest in the Masterpiece collection ever since it was introduced.

Unfortunately, I've been pretty consistently broke my entire adult life, so I haven't kept up much with the toy industry. A few months ago I got attacked in a home invasion, so I moved..and the day after I got into my new apartment, I broke my leg. Then a few nights later there was a mass shooting a couple blocks away from me and everything all around me started burning...literally, I'm in the middle of a wildfire right now. A couple days ago I lost my balance on my crutches and broke a finger...and somewhere in there I decided I was going to buy myself a for Christmas, because screw all this, I need an awesome toy.

MP-10 Convoy/Optimus Prime is my best recommendation.

Thank you for your input - Would you mind elaborating a little on why this version is better than the others? In particular, what makes it better than the 2012 version? On paper, that version looks better because it has more accessories...but I've been told the 2015 Starscream is better than the original even though it lacks the coronation regalia, so I'm willing to hear you out if you think the MP 10 has a better design - I've never even held one in my hands so I'm replying exclusively on 2nd hand information.

If you're looking for cartoon accuracy then...

Optimus Prime - Hold out for the upcoming third version. Hasbro will release this.
Megatron - MP-36, Takara Tomy only.
Soundwave - Hasbro's MP-02 unless you can get Takara Tomy's MP-13 for less and don't care about the two tape sets, MP-15 and MP-16
Skyfire - Doesn't exist (officially) yet.
Starscream - Takara Tomy MP-11 or Hasbro's MP-07, though I suspect they'll be remaking this mold soon.
Bumblebee - Either Takara Tomy's MP-21 or Hasbro's MP-08, whichever is cheaper, they're basically the same.
Ironhide - Takara Tomy MP-27
Grimlock - If you don't mind scale then Takara's MP-8 or either Hasbro's original or MP-03.
Shockwave - Takara Tomy Mall exclusive MP-29+ coming this month, unless you're fine with the much lighter (and cheaper) standard MP-29
Wheeljack - MP-20+, Hasbro and Takara Tomy will be releasing the same figure next year.
Prowl - MP-17+, Hasbro or Takara Tomy, whichever is cheaper.
Hot Rod/Rodimus - Probably best to skip the original and hope we get a proper Rodimus Prime later and jump directly to MP-28.
BW Megatron - Upcoming MP-43, it's expensive (especially the Hasbro version, try to get a Takara Tomy release at a lower price) and massive!
BE Optimus - Is that supposed to be BW? Takara Tomy MP-32.

Emerje

Why wait on another Dery overdose?

Rubicon Prime wrote:Thank you for your input - Would you mind elaborating a little on why this version is better than the others? In particular, what makes it better than the 2012 version? On paper, that version looks better because it has more accessories...but I've been told the 2015 Starscream is better than the original even though it lacks the coronation regalia, so I'm willing to hear you out if you think the MP 10 has a better design - I've never even held one in my hands so I'm replying exclusively on 2nd hand information.

Uh... You're obviously getting a tad confused and didn't pay full attention to Zero's post... MP10 is the 2011 do-over of Optimus Prime (Convoy to Japanese fans) and not a version of Starscream at all. Zero even outright said Optimus, not just the number. And Hasbro's 2nd US release from 2017 was also numbered MP10.

The 2012 Starscream you say seems better on paper is MP-11 (by the baseline Takara numbering). The 2015 Starscream you've heard of is Hasbro's import of that (and MP07 by the Hasbro numbering). It omits the regalia but does include the gun clip. I don't know myself if it reportedly has better plastic.

MP10 was recommended as far as Optimus goes because it scales better than MP01/MP04 (which as far as the Masterpiece line goes, only scaled with the ripoff that is MP05 Megatron), has better proportions and articulation, wasn't initially sold without a real trailer, and actually includes Roller (unlike MP04). And is fairly durable