The Energon Pub

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

We have 2026 Studio Series leader class listings!

TRA GEN STUDIO SERIES LDR TF5 NEM PRIME
EAN:5010996348692

TRA GEN STUDIO SERIES LDR 86 ASTROTRAIN
EAN:5010996348708

TRA GEN STUDIO SERIES LDR 86 SNARL (PR)
EAN:5010996348715

TRA GEN STUDIO SERIES LDR 86 SOUNDWAVE
EAN: 5010996349880

These were found by user nune over on TFW.

Based on past comments from the Hasbro team, Soundwave is most likely a new mold while Astrotrain is a repaint of the one that's been released a few times now. Nemesis Prime is pretty clearly a retool of this year's AOE Optimus Prime, sporting the knight forearms he gets at the end of AOE, and probably (this part is speculation) a tweaked head sculpt and the arm blade he uses to try and stab Bumblebee in TLK.

After the last 2 years have had no Bayverse leaders at all, it's kinda cool we'll have one for two years in a row! Would definitely like to see a new TLK Bumblebee to go against Nemesis!

[Till-all-R1]

Snarl is a definite buy as I missed the first release somehow. Astrotrain is a total pass just like the last time, and as long as they continue using that horrible looking sculpt. Soundwave I don't really get since we just got one as a Voyager pushed to Leader due to two extra cassette inclusions. I fail to see what they can do at the $55 price point to make it worth getting even if it is an all new sculpt. They've already ran out of my goodwill for repurchasing in order to get a needed Cassette.
It's time they bring back the Cassette multipacks for this!

[william-james88]

Thanks for the great article, Evasionmodebumblebee

[-Kanrabat-]

I'm not confident that SS86 Soundwave will be a new mold. There's high chances that it will be just a repaint of the Legacy Leader. Same thing for Astrotrain. In both cases, they will be a hard pass for me.

[cloudballoon]

I look forward to all the Leaders. I'm skipping the revealed LDR TLK OP, as I like to original Voyager just fine, and I have Yolopark AMK Pro on PO. But if the Nemesis Prime deco and the mold's reviews are mostly positive, I can be presuaded to get the Nemesis version to experience the mold.

Soundwave. I'll be happy and willing to replace my Siege Soundwave if the SS86 versions are brand new figures. Hope this leaked Soundwave does the walkman mode justice, sports a clean bot mode and keep the ability to press his own eject button. REALLY shouldn't be that hard.

Astrotrain... similar deal. I'm fine with Siege's for what it is. I like the bot mode and the transformation, but the alt modes are too severely compromised. We now have 3P LEGENDS scale figures that do better jobs than Hasbro's "Leader" class' attempt. Hasbro really need to get us a better Astrotain. AND while they'reat it, re-do Octane.

[Sabrblade]

In a past Hasbro video, Evan said that a SS86 Astrotrain would, more likely than not, just be a redeco of the Siege mold.

Of course, that mold was also recently given a show accurate redeco by TakaraTomy in the Dramatic Capture Series, so we'll have to see what kind of deco differences there are between that one and this one, as they could very well end up being quite similar to each other.

[-Kanrabat-]

In a past Hasbro video, Evan said that a SS86 Astrotrain would, more likely than not, just be a redeco of the Siege mold.

Of course, that mold was also recently given a show accurate redeco by TakaraTomy in the Dramatic Capture Series, so we'll have to see what kind of deco differences there are between that one and this one, as they could very well end up being quite similar to each other.

It's lazy and expected.

[Sabrblade]

In a past Hasbro video, Evan said that a SS86 Astrotrain would, more likely than not, just be a redeco of the Siege mold.

Of course, that mold was also recently given a show accurate redeco by TakaraTomy in the Dramatic Capture Series, so we'll have to see what kind of deco differences there are between that one and this one, as they could very well end up being quite similar to each other.

It's lazy and expected.

Astrotrain simply isn't an important enough character to warrant another mold so soon. He's C-tier, at best, and that's me being generous.

[cloudballoon]

Astrotrain, or any multi-changers for that matter, might C-tier characters, but as toys/collectables, they're always A-listers for me. I came back to the franchise as an adult because of the engineering.

If Soundwave & Astrotrain can't get brand new molds, can we at least get the Springer treatment of extensive retools?

A change of limbs for Soundwave. Rework the abs & lower legs for Astrotrain.

[Sabrblade]

For comparison, here is Dramatic Capture Series Astrotrain:



His deco is based more specifically on Astrotrain's pre-final color scheme from "Triple Takeover":



Well here is his final color model, which we can hopefully expect the SS86 toy to be more correctly based on:

[Rodimus Prime]

I don't dislike the robot mode. The truck mode is a fail, but I would be displaying him in robot mode anyway. But is it worth $25 plus tax? Not a chance. 15 at most. Maybe Walmart will have him on clearance by the end of summer.

[Rtron]

Soundwave could be a new mold, since they've said in the past that they want to do a new one. There's no guarantee, but with the other three Leaders on the list being repacks or probable slight remolds. IF he is a new mold, while I hope he comes with Laserbeak and Ravage, I think there's a possibility he'll only come with one of them. The fact that both Laserbeak and Ravage's main plastic color can be black and Laserbeak's simple transformation makes me somewhat hopeful he might come with both, though. But I'm skeptic, we'll see.

I also think that it's not out of the realm of possibility that Astrotrain might be not just a redeco, but a slight retool of the Siege one like Springer.

Nemesis Prime is a cool excuse for a retool. We'll see if he's the first Studio Series movie Optimus to come without a faceplate.

[Emerje]

Of course, that mold was also recently given a show accurate redeco by TakaraTomy in the Dramatic Capture Series, so we'll have to see what kind of deco differences there are between that one and this one, as they could very well end up being quite similar to each other.

I wonder if Hasbro even cares about this sort of thing. Just look at Jazz. Granted, Jazz is a far more popular character, but he just got the Selects box set release and his own Dramatic Capture release only months ago, now he's getting another SS86 refresh. I feel like he didn't sell all that great during his previous refresh so I'm curious how he does this time.

Soundwave could be a new mold, since they've said in the past that they want to do a new one. There's no guarantee, but with the other three Leaders on the list being repacks or probable slight remolds. IF he is a new mold, while I hope he comes with Laserbeak and Ravage, I think there's a possibility he'll only come with one of them. The fact that both Laserbeak and Ravage's main plastic color can be black and Laserbeak's simple transformation makes me somewhat hopeful he might come with both, though. But I'm skeptic, we'll see.

I also think that it's not out of the realm of possibility that Astrotrain might be not just a redeco, but a slight retool of the Siege one like Springer.

Nemesis Prime is a cool excuse for a retool. We'll see if he's the first Studio Series movie Optimus to come without a faceplate.

Evan said towards the beginning of Legacy that if they do a SS86 Soundwave he'd be anew mold to match Kingdom Blaster's height. And if they do a SS86 Astrotrain it would be a repaint of Siege Astrotrain. Personally I'm OK with Astrotrain being a repaint, but it would be nice if they gave him a new accessory that cleaned up the back end of the shuttle.

Emerje

[Till-all-R1]

IF he is a new mold, while I hope he comes with Laserbeak and Ravage, I think there's a possibility he'll only come with one of them. The fact that both Laserbeak and Ravage's main plastic color can be black and Laserbeak's simple transformation makes me somewhat hopeful he might come with both, though. But I'm skeptic, we'll see.

Since ravage came with the recent release I'd really rather he not be in this release, for several reasons. One being it's a horrible looking sculpt, IMO, but I don't expect to see a newly tooled version any time soon. My choice would be Laserbeak and something new even if it's obscure choice. Or even Ratbat if it weren't oddly already coming with Perceptor. Though frankly if it only includes one cassette then it really should be in the Voyager price point.

I might be open to it if both Soundwave and Ravage are all new thus utilizing the available resources from Leader class budget to sculpt a new mold in versus what Voyager class would allow. And TBH, I also think it's time for the Laserbeak mold to get an update for the simple fact that the section on top feels too small plus doesn't include the "lasers cannons". Some improvements definitely could be made now that the Rumble/Frenzy mold has been updated.

[Rtron]

IF he is a new mold, while I hope he comes with Laserbeak and Ravage, I think there's a possibility he'll only come with one of them. The fact that both Laserbeak and Ravage's main plastic color can be black and Laserbeak's simple transformation makes me somewhat hopeful he might come with both, though. But I'm skeptic, we'll see.

Since ravage came with the recent release I'd really rather he not be in this release, for several reasons. One being it's a horrible looking sculpt, IMO, but I don't expect to see a newly tooled version any time soon. My choice would be Laserbeak and something new even if it's obscure choice. Or even Ratbat if it weren't oddly already coming with Perceptor. Though frankly if it only includes one cassette then it really should be in the Voyager price point.

I might be open to it if both Soundwave and Ravage are all new thus utilizing the available resources from Leader class budget to sculpt a new mold in versus what Voyager class would allow. And TBH, I also think it's time for the Laserbeak mold to get an update for the simple fact that the section on top feels too small plus doesn't include the "lasers cannons". Some improvements definitely could be made now that the Rumble/Frenzy mold has been updated.

Oh, I was not talking about them repackaging the old Ravage and Laserbeak molds at all, I meant new molds! I was just pondering if it will come with one of them or both of them, and thinking that Laserbeak and Ravage sharing a main color means they can be gang molded and thus, are not as expensive to produce as a duo as it would be to do any other combination of cassettes.

[Rodimus Prime]

If that's the best we'll get of Astrotrain, I might break and buy it, even if the mold is totally subpar. Hopefully they'll do away with the pointless tender and use the extra budget to give us a piece to cover up the atrocious back of the shuttle.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Excited at the prospect of Nemesis prime. Just give me all of the knight prime molds!

[-Kanrabat-]

Excited at the prospect of Nemesis prime. Just give me all of the knight prime molds!

Although I don't like the AoE leader Optimus so far, the TLK Nemesis repaint/remold could change my mind.

[TF-fan kev777]

If that's the best we'll get of Astrotrain, I might break and buy it, even if the mold is totally subpar. Hopefully they'll do away with the pointless tender and use the extra budget to give us a piece to cover up the atrocious back of the shuttle.

On this, they should see if they can make a transformable cover piece that can somehow be a cover for the back of the shuttle and a full size front of the locomotive.

[william-james88]

The days of waiting to find toys at retail are behind us. When it came to Studio Series Ultra Magnus and Legacy Beachcomber, for the most part you either preordered them or never got them, which frustrated many fans. Hasbro has heard many fans asking for a rerelease and are answering the call. You can now preorder Studio Series Commander Ultra Magnus and Legacy Beachcomber at a variety of online retailers, we have links to BBTS and Ages 3 and Up below. These will be released in September.

Ultra Magnus

BBTS https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/ ... 250930?o=1

Ages 3 and up https://www.agesthreeandup.ca/collectio ... us-reissue

Beachcomber

BBTS https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/ ... 236879?o=1

Ages 3 and up https://www.agesthreeandup.ca/collectio ... er-reissue

[Roadbuster]

Thanks for the heads up. Just pre-ordered Magnus. Already have Beachcomber.

[DeathReviews]

Beachcomber was sold out in the bare SECONDS it took my minions to put it on Pulse pre order, then navigate to the “payment” page. Thanks a lot, Hasbro..

[-Kanrabat-]

Beachcomber was sold out in the bare SECONDS it took my minions to put it on Pulse pre order, then navigate to the “payment” page. Thanks a lot, Hasbro..

At the time for the initial release, or right now for the reissue?

[Crosscheck]

Ordered Magnus in a heartbeat. He will be replacing Earthrise Magnus in my Movie display. I initially didn't want Beachcomber since I don't think I have all the mini-bots anyway, but then I remembered how good Ruckus is, so I figured I would get him from BBTS.

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

Thanks for the great article, Evasionmodebumblebee

You’re welcome, happy to help! I’ve actually got another one for you coming up in a second.