While this is a redeco of Robots in Disguise Scorponok, with a new Beast Wars themed head, this one is released first so it's a good way to experience this new Robots in Disguise mold.
Firstly, this mold is making me realize that the real innovation in Transformer design is happening in this line. This toy is unlike any other toy that has come before and has the perfect transformation trifecta: Sleek robot mode with a bunch of new robot specific detail, a sleek altmode with no bot kibble showing and an intuitive and fun transformation. This is surprisingly rare in toys and requires some intense engineering. For a bot to not have too much kibble, it usually reuses a lot of the alt mode. Especially with animals where the limbs are often reused. Every crustacean so far uses the pincers as the robot hands and those that don't, end up with an insane amount of alt mode kibble in robot mode, like Beast Wars Rampage. But here, you get a bot who has forearms, legs, head, and chest that are totally new and different from the beast mode parts. And yet, he is super sleek. Let's start with the beast mode which has minimal to no bot kibble.
His nice painted Scorpion head has an articulated jaw.
While all promotional images have his tail holding the scabbard, I preffer it without, it is more scorpion like. Plus, you can make further use of the three points of articulation found in the tail to pose it to your liking.
The big claws lock the robot elbows and that limits the articulation of the claw arms in beast mode. You can still rotate the shoulders to get some different poses.
Transforming to robot mode is fun and pleasant. There is an odd point though where the pincers end up being loose around the arm. There is nthing wrong with that since you just bring them to the shoulders where they tab in securely but it's just something I am not used to in Transformers. The last time I saw something of this sort was with Ultimate Movie Bumblebee where parts end up loose and flaoting around until you tab them from one mode to the other. This should not be confused with partsforming, which doesnt apply to this toy.
The only back kibble, if you eve call it that, is his tail and you can pose it as you like.
You can even use it for some extra offense.
Speaking of offense, it turns out his stylyzed hands are as functional as any other robot hand out there. Its just an aesthetic but it doesnt hinder any fuctionality or poseability.
Now onto the deco, I have no complaints. There is a nice mix of three different plastic colours and there are quite a few places where dark purple is painted onto a lighter purple plastic which gives the figure a nice blend of two tones with some grey to break it up. This shot below shows the majority of his paint apps which highlight molded detail.
What surprises me most are his robot legs. Those stilt like thin legs have 0 problem holding the figure up. They designed this figure to be perfectly balanced. Those legs can be aranged as you wish to change his height.
Here are some comparisons with other RID Decepticons and deluxes.
What I am realizing with this Robots in Disguise line is that this is where the evolution of the brand is happening. Here is where we can see new designs and new ways to achieve an alt mode. While I can see how the Generations line may be more interesting to some, the real innovation in Transformers designs is happening here and this Scorponok mold is a perfect example of that.
. Because later figures give you more or give you something you preffer but didnt know existed. And Takara doesnt help. Hasbro releases a warrior optimus and grimlock saying there wont be a bigger one. So you get those. And then Takara shows their voyager grimlock and leader optimus out of the blue and you get those. And then Takara has an improved leader Optimus with minicon interaction and a biger sword and a look he uses more on the show and your like "Aaargh just tell me what my options are from the get go dammit!". Its no ones fault but ideally I would like to know whats in the making when it comes to the reuse of molds. That example with Warrior Power Surge Optimus is egregious. That toy gives you soooo much compared to the initial release which really makes me feel like they've been skimping on us this whole time. Its like we get the CW legends figures one year and then the next we get the generations releases with targetmasters.