The Energon Pub

We got a teaser for this not long ago, now the orders have opened for Rathalos Prime representing a crossover between Transformers and the Monster Hunter franchise. The figure itself is a heavy retool of Kingdom Airazor, perhaps the most frequently retooled figure in modern history. Alt mode is a pretty good representation of the Rathalos, probably the most iconic monster in the game. The bot mode, on the other hand, well, that's really going to depend on you. It's based on the Rathalos armor from the game with with some blue to let you know it's Optimus Prime, but the proportions are a little off thanks to Airazor's thinner frame.

Pre-orders launch today in Japan, it's unknown if it'll see release from Hasbro. The price is considerably more than most Deluxe figures at 7,150 JPY (about $50 USD) other retailers will be cheaper (under $40 before shipping). Release is expected to be in July 2025.

Am I the only one that thinks this looks sort of like a female dragon Optimus Prime? I'm really digging the retool. If Hasbro does offer it, I think I will headcanon her as a female successor in the Prime line. I'll wait to see if Hasbro even offers before attempting those mental headcanon gymnastics.

The beast is great looking but that bot is horrendous. Maybe forcing Optimus in that skinsuit was not the best idea.

CORSETMASTER Optimus Prime!

I don't know jack about Monster Hunter, but this toy makes a more distinct impression than most TF crossovers we've gotten over the last decade.

I want this strictly for the amount of love that went into it. He will either joint Lio Convoy as a member of the Council or become a member of the 13, I don’t know but it looks fierce and I want it

Classic example of compromising one mode to serve the other.

I'm sure it's some corporate brand management BS, but why not use another bot? Any seeker? Jetfire? Maybe throw it to Beast Wars?

meanguns wrote:I'm sure it's some corporate brand management BS, but why not use another bot? Any seeker? Jetfire? Maybe throw it to Beast Wars?

At this point, it's cannon that Optimus Prime is a hardcore COSPLAYER.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

meanguns wrote:I'm sure it's some corporate brand management BS, but why not use another bot? Any seeker? Jetfire? Maybe throw it to Beast Wars?

At this point, it's cannon that Optimus Prime is a hardcore COSPLAYER.

Optimus Pretty Much Anyone

I'm down to get him. The name is enough for me to consider him a wholly new character. Although, yeah. Yeah, I do wish TT would take a page from Hasbro's book and make wholly new characters. They don't ALL need to be Optimus Prime or Megatron, do they?

Do they???

I wonder how he'll look next to TM3 Megatron and Crimsonflame (both of which I have). The bot mode does have some weird proportions, but overall I do like the look.

I feel the head isnt matching the proportions of the rest of the body.

Day 1732 of waiting for Transformers Armada Masterpiece news.

I wonder how much the finished product will differ from this render.

There is a lot a lazy paintjob can ruin with this figure.

Definitely a female Prime.

Headcannon incoming.....

Dragon Convoy.

Sent to a parallel earth's past were dragons roam freely, Oria Pax recovers the lost Matrix of Draconius, reveals its fabulous secret powers and becomes Dragon Convoy!.

Fighting for truth and justice in a land of uncompromising beasts and magic, and always looking for a way home.

"cue intro theme"

Overcracker wrote:Definitely a female Prime.

Headcannon incoming.....

Dragon Convoy.

Sent to a parallel earth's past were dragons roam freely, Oria Pax recovers the lost Matrix of Draconius, reveals its fabulous secret powers and becomes Dragon Convoy!.

Fighting for truth and justice in a land of uncompromising beasts and magic, and always looking for a way home.

"cue intro theme"

well done, I like it

TulioDude wrote:I feel the head isnt matching the proportions of the rest of the body.

Yeah, it looks like when a cartoon character puts on a girdle that compresses their midriff so tight it causes their head to balloon out.

The irony of using a female template here for the bot mode... Rathalos is the name for the male of the species. The female version (Rathian) is a little different, but maybe should have been the way to go.

Buuuuuuuuut... like Optimus, Rathalos has brand recognition for Monster Hunter fans (having been the feature monster along with Rathian in the first game). So, the logic tracks.

EDIT: I get that the Sword and Shield is the game's default weapon (at least it was for Rise, I assume it's the case for the other games), but I feel a Great Sword would have been the better choice. Not only cooler in style, but I've seen more MH marketing with the Great Sword than Sword and Shield.

Because of taxes and shipping, that thing would cost over 100$ for me.

That's a hard pass.