Best Alt Mode and Best Robot Mode in Your Collection

[TaZZerath]

So what's the best alt mode in your collection? What robot mode really tickles your fancy? Multiple answers are allowed because some people would have such massive collections just choosing one would be tricky!

For me, my fave alt modes are a VERY close tie between TR Topspin and TR Triggerhappy followed by TR Skullsmasher. Triggerhappy I only just acquired, but my GOD what a sexy spaceship he is. I couldn't stop staring at it for ages. I think the distinctive blue with the white highlights just makes it visually pop. Topspin was always a fave too. Skully's just really FUN, I love posing his crocodile form and with his opening mouth have him chew on a hapless smaller Autobot :)

Robot modes has to be God Ginrai. Despite the backpack heaviness he just LOOKS solid and badass. T30 Springer and CW Magnus are close seconds. Springer due to my IDW Wreckers love, and Magnus again due to his closeness in his IDW design.

[SharkyMcShark]

Best Robot Mode

TLK Voyager Megatron - Looks like some kind of hellish cross between an Uruk-hai and a Transformer. Decently poseable, sturdy, and with a characterful headsculplt.

HFTD Leader Starscream - My favourite figure ever. The only representation of this figure that has fully nailed articulation, integrated weapons, and abundant paint.

ROTF Nest Alliance Deluxe Brawn - It looks like a dangerous alien killer robot. Armour plated, shouder cannon, dual pistols and a vicious headsculpt. An underrated figure.

ROTF Nest Alliance Voyager Bludgeon - The CHUG Bludgeon that you never knew you wanted.

Generations Thrilling 30 Voyager Springer - One of the nicest bot modes, ever. I've seen a lot of comments about how this figure is too lanky, but I think it absolutely nails the lean athletic look. The poseability in the arms makes interacting with the weapons a joy.



Best Alt Mode

Studio Series Leader Blackout - Some combination between sheer size and the decade + wait for a leader class Blackout makes this all the sweeter.

Titans Return Deluxe Triggerhappy - I'm so taken with the idea of a headmaster starfighter. It looks like something from Star Wars in all the best ways, and the fact that it has a fully functional cockpit for Blowpipe to sit in caps it off.

ROTF Deluxe Dead End - Yes, an otherwise uninteresting repaint, but the super glossy black and red faux Audi alt mode is certainly eyecatching.

Titans Return Wolfwire - As a casual fan of Zoids, I enjoy the alt mode on this figure quite a lot. It's a shame about the canopy cracking defect, because for the era it was released in this is an otherwise excellent figure.

Miscellanous love for Bayverse figures based on fighter aircraft that don't have massive underbellies of kibble and don't just amount to a jet backpack with a folded robot underneath - ROTF Deluxe Dirge, HFTD Deluxe Terradive, ROTF Voyager Mindwipe. All from a time where the line had more refined engineering.


NB - I'm not a big Masterpiece guy, so you I've not really got a lot of stuff to put in from that line.

[TaZZerath]

I concur with Bludgeon actually but his head always bugged me as did his floppy plastic sword. But after Headrobots Blood was released the figure is DEFINITELY 100% complete now.

[Paulbot]

This is a harder question than I thought it would be! Thinking of my most recent additions to my collection:

Best Robot Mode: Takara Legends Blurr
Best Alt Mode: Studio Series Blackout

[Lint]

Excluding Masterpieces

Best Robot Mode: Universe Wreck Gar, LG Kup, POTP Battletrap, Prime Starscream
Best Alt Mode: Universe Wreck Gar, Universe Lugnut, Cybertron Jetfire, Classics Megatron (Nerf)

[FatalityPitt]

That's a good question. My favourites change all the time. As at right now, my favourites are:

Favourite 'bot modes:

PotP Optimus Prime - It looks like MP Optimus Prime without the $200+ price tag, and being able to look like a well-proportioned and heroic-looking OP while accommodating the Evolution gimmick is quite amazing.

Generations Thundercracker/Dirge/Thrust - The best G1 Seeker mould ever! Robot modes are well-proportioned and accurate to the animation models. Best part, there's no cheating in the transformation and the cockpit kibble on the chest really turns into the jet cockpit.

Favourite Alt-modes:

TR Skullsmasher/Krok - I'm a big fan of beast modes, especially those released in the Prime Wars Trilogy. The neck and jaw articulation are simple features, but they add so much character to the figure. You can do some really dramatic poses and expressions that you can't do with a vehicle mode. With Skullsmasher/Krok; you can have a relaxed looking-crocodile when you close the mouth, you can have an angry/growling crocodile when you open the mouth wide and tilt the head looking up, or you could have a confused crocodile by rotating the head sideways and leaving the mouth slightly ajar. Some of these expressions can be quite funny.

PotP Sinnertwin - Similar reasons as Skullsmasher/Krok above, but I also like alt-modes that are interesting and unusual. There's nothing quite as unique and weird as a Transformer that turns into a two-headed dog.

Generations/TR Cosmos - It's a very simple-looking alt-mode, but I find it amazing that a well-proportioned robot mode could transform (and almost shrink) into a small, flat, predominantly disk-shaped object. There's almost no kibble in either mode (unless you count the thrusters on the robot's back). I guess I'm really more gushing over the transformation than the actual alt-mode.

Those are my favourites, I'm sure it'll change tomorrow :)

[SharkyMcShark]

Excluding Masterpieces

Best Robot Mode: Universe Wreck Gar, LG Kup, POTP Battletrap, Prime Starscream
Best Alt Mode: Universe Wreck Gar, Universe Lugnut, Cybertron Jetfire, Classics Megatron (Nerf)

How could I forget TFPrime First Edition Screamer! Absolute classic.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

These are really tough questions...

Yeah, I've gotta give it to Bludgeon-with-upgrade-kit for best 'bot mode too. MP Soundwave would be a really close second.
I'm also really find of Animated Jazz for some reason. It's just a classic hood-as-chest Autobot car, but it just works somehow. Same thing for RotF Recon Ironhide.
Totally agree with NEST Deluxe Brawn being really underrated btw. Voyager Mindwipe deserves an honorable mention too.

Best alt-mode? That's tough too...I'm not sure about 'best' exactly, but BW Transmetal 2 Megatron is definitely my favourite.
Unless we're counting 3rd Party, and then it's MMC Anarchus all the way, because an electric chair Transformer with empty, dead eyes is freaking cool...

[Deonasis]

Despite the robot underneath i cannot look past rotf Jetfire for alt-mode. Its huge size is so fitting for that beautiful SR-71. One of the few robots i display in alt mode, even over his deadbody superarmour optimus mode.

So many robot shapes i enjoy.. chug Cyclonus has a great lean aesthetic they could have built a series around. Magmatron screams 1980s villian. More to come.

[GoktimusPrime]

Best Robot Mode: MP10 Convoy; looks good, loads of features and heaps of fun to play with

Best Alt Mode: Alternity Bumblebee
As I said in my Cybertron Collectors video, one thing that I find endearing about G1 Bumblebee is the unassuming alt mode that epitomises being a robot in disguise. Flashy sports cars and race cars are more eye-catching and less useful as disguise modes since they're more likely to draw attention.
https://image.ibb.co/kjtsB9/meme_batman_alfred.jpg
A little yellow Suzuki Swift works really well, as these are cars that I commonly see on streets. And yeah, it's not a unique thing - there are plenty of other Transformers out there with unassuming alt modes that work well as disguises too (including most BTs and Alternities). Even in early G1 we had toys like Trailbreaker, Hoist, Ironhide, Bluestreak, Hound etc.; all vehicles that wouldn't look out of place parked on a residential street or in a car park. I really like Bumblejumper too - the good ol' Mazda 323! :D Heck, this morning I saw a Ford Mustang GT drive past me and I immediately thought of BT Grimlock/Wheeljack.

As far as beast modes are concerned, my favourite would be K-9. A German shepherd dog would easily blend in with human society (and pre-cartoon BW canon was meant to be set in the modern day!). Insect and arachnid modes are also pretty cool if they can mass-shrink down to the size of actual bugs, as the G1 Insecticons did in the Marvel comics (and same with ROTF Insecticon). This allows them to infiltrate practically anywhere. And the Autobot Pretenders in Japanese G1 also worked well as they could mass shrink down to human size and walk around wearing human clothes. Seriously, being able to disguise yourself as a human is pretty damn handy on Earth. Although technically these are shells, not alt modes -- but ROTF's Pretender Alice had a human alt mode (although her transformation and robot mode were bollocks). It's weird how Anglophone G1 continuity never tried mass-shrinking the Pretenders and so their disguises only worked once against some very naive/stupid Decepticons, and after that only on off-world locations inhabited by giant human-like aliens (e.g. Femax, Pz'Zazz, VsQs etc.).
https://image.ibb.co/frbhuU/meme_snoosnoo.jpg (https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Recipe_for_Disaster!)

[CHILENO20]

My fav alt mode is definitely Generations Jetfire. I love how it homages the original Jetfire and I'm unashamedly a Macross/Robotech fan. I've always been partial to jets anyway.

[GoktimusPrime]

My fav alt mode is definitely Generations Jetfire. I love how it homages the original Jetfire and I'm unashamedly a Macross/Robotech fan. I've always been partial to jets anyway.
I really love how the toy is basically flipping the bird at Harmony Gold after HG's failed lawsuit against Hasbro (https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-10-17/harmony-gold-usa-v-hasbro-case-dismissed?ann-edition=au). :D

https://image.ibb.co/nGfE8p/shortpacked_harmonygold.jpg

[UltraMarginal]

This is a really hard question.
I love the Alt modes that really look like they could be rea. as such, a whole lot of the movie toys hit that target. The Twins Icecream truck is a standout.

ROTF Mindwipe is outstanding, having no real robot kibble at all in vehicle mode.

I bought MP G2 Sideswipe entirely on the strength of him being a black Lamborghini.

The generations Junkion mould is the best looking motorbike that has ever been produced by the brand in my mind.

The first MP Starscream looked like a model plane it has that good an alt mode.

favourite bot mode:
ROTF Demolisher has a really unique interesting bot mode, on top of having a very realistic looking alt mode.

The teen Masterpieces, have a great visual aesthetic, what the cartoon characters would look like if they actually transformed from 'real' looking alt modes, the lambos, datsuns, Wheeljack and Tracks all look outstanding in bot mode (and alt mode)

MP soundwave, is pretty much a perfect soundwave.

[GoktimusPrime]

Okay, I'm gonna go through my collection and pick a stand out alt mode from each year. Again, I'm particularly drawn to modes that look or work well as robots in disguise.

1984: Soundwave. Realistically scaled radio microcassette player where the AA batteries even become the weapons! Also, 5mm posts FTW. :)
1985: Downshift. What a silly-car is the Celica.
1986: Ultra Magnus. Okay, the trailer is unrealistic, but the interplayability with other Autobot Cars is just too much fun. It was always so cool making him haul other Autobots to battle. It's a shame that the scene of Ultra Magnus doing this in the Battle of Autobot City was deleted from Transformers The Movie.
1987: Goldbug. Finally, a realistically proportioned Volkswagen Beetle.
1988: Nightbeat. Okay, the chopper flames on the side of a blue Porsche 959 aren't standard, but also not as conspicuous as the racing decoes on Jazz!
1989: Swindler. Great Scott, he's a DeLorean! :D Honourable mention to Greasepit for his service station base!
1990: Big Daddy. A 1957 Chevy, and that name!
1991: Joe, the Super Hitachi Express train. I've been on this train a few times in Japan. :)
1992: Discharge, the cute little fire engine with the funny name. ;)
1993: Optimus Prime. Yeah, I don't own too many toys from the G2 era (my collecting slowed down during this time), but hey, it's a Freightliner FL86, it works. Ignore the huge stickers on the sides of the trailer. :p
1994: Skram; Chevrolet Corvette Stingray with exposed engine.
1995: Frenzy. Another Porsche 959 only without attention-drawing chopper flames. And yay, another Decepticon on this list! :p
1996: Insecticon. Yeah, a lot of the early BW toys had realistic looking beast modes, but a beetle would be able to sneak about human society without being noticed (assuming that he can mass-shift down to the size of an actual insect). And remember that pre-cartoon BW continuity was set on modern day Earth, so my BW picks are based on this assumption.
1997: K-9. As mentioned before, a German shepherd dog. A popular pet and wouldn't look out of place.
1998: Big Mos. Don't forget the Aeroguard.
1999: Mach Kick. No horsing around. :p
2000: Super Fire Convoy; Hino Branbilar fire engine.
2001: X-Brawn; Mercedes Benz ML320
2002: Crosscut; Honda City R hatchback. Yeah, I know I'm picking a Diaclone mould that was basically reissued as a Transformer character, but 2002 was a crap year for TF collecting with bugger all new toys released. :(
2003: Binaltech Lambor; Dodge Viper SRT-10
2004: BT Jazz; Mazda RX-8. Zoom-zoom. Special mention to Hound/Swindle, Jeep Wranglers.
2005: BT Overdrive; Honda S2000.
2006: Alternator Mirage; Ford GT. And one of the few Alternators that I consider superior to its BT counterpart.
2007: Speed Dial 800; mobile phone. We all have one. Special mention to Frenzy.
2008: Stockade; modified Cadillac Escalade SUV.
2009: Alternity Bumblebee; Suzuki Swift. Honourable mention to Ejector the toaster.
2010: Reveal the Shield Megatron; Walther P38 - not every day that Hasbro makes a gunformer that they can legally sell. Plus it's compatible with MP Jets!
2011: Wheelack; Mercedes Benz E550. Honourable mention to Soundwave, but the E550 is less attention-drawing than the SLS AMG.
2012: MP Lambor; Lamborghini Countach - yay, HasTak got the Lamborghini licence back!
2013: MP Streak; Datsun Fairlady 280Z
2014: MP Bumble; Volkswagen Beetle Type 1 - yay, HasTak got the VW licence back!
2015: Offroad; utility truck
2016: MP Ironhide; Nissan Cherry van
2017: Sqweeks; beat up Vespa motor-scooter
2018: Cogman; Aston Martin DB11 and the only Headmaster car with both a driver and passenger seat

[TaZZerath]

That’s a very impressive and comprehensive list! Are you going to do the same for the robot modes?

Oh Mach kick. My partner is very into horses and also very supportive of my transformer love (though my figures are primarily at work) and oh how I’ve longed to get her the one and only transforming horse!

[GoktimusPrime]

That’s a very impressive and comprehensive list! Are you going to do the same for the robot modes?
Hhnnn... robot mode's harder to choose and this is going to be super subjective. At least with alt modes I had a clear criterion of "robot in disguise," but robot? I guess whatever's the most aesthetically pleasing for me at the time... <shrugs> I won't bother explaining reasons for these, cos yeah... it's just whatever tickles my fancy.


1984: Optimus Prime
1985: Shrapnel
1986: Ultra Magnus
1987: Triggerhappy
1988: Getaway
1989: Wildfly
1990: Gingam
1991: Sideswipe
1992: Talon
1993: Colossus/Clench
1994: Megatron
1995: Laser Optimus Prime
1996: Terrorsaur
1997: Cicadacon
1998: Megatron
1999: Heinlad (honourable mention to X9 Ravage)
2000: Super Mach Alert
2001: High Tower
2002: Super Side Burn
2003: Binaltech Smokescreen
2004: MP1 Convoy
2005: BT Overdrive
2006: Classics Mirage
2007: Leader Class Optimus Prime
2008: Henkei Sunstreaker
2009: Leader Class Optimus Prime
2010: Sea Spray
2011: Jetwing Optimus Prime (hon. mention to TFPFE Arcee)
2012: TFPRID Deluxe Vehicon
2013: Metroplex
2014: Rhinox (hon. mention to Swerve)
2015: Ultra Magnus
2016: MP33 Inferno
2017: LG God Ginrai
2018: MB Nemesis Prime (hon. mention to MP Sunstreaker)

[BigTransformerTrev]

I found this question too hard as there are too many toys I really love in either robot or alt-mode. Maybe if I broke it down by year like Gok has I might have better success :o

So since I can't decide I'll just give a few honorable mentions:

Alt-Modes:
Cybertron Lugnutz - I thought he was a fantastic looking motorcycle, especially for a scout-sized figure. And the missle rack that would pop up from his bike mode when you used the Cyber Planet Key actually looked pretty good on him, like it was meant to be there.
MP10 Optimus - just the best rendition of Optimus with his trailer ever!


Robot Modes:
MP36 Megatron - sometimes I find the bot modes a tad bland on the MP's but I think Megatron looks fantastic!
Thrilling 30 Skids - Loved the amount of weapons and missile racks on this guy! Plus he was very well proportioned with a great colour scheme


I'm sure I could think of many more, it's just so hard to narrow them down. For instance yesterday my son and I were playing with UW Long Haul and I was thinking what a great bulky vehicle mode he had. But then today someone else might be my fav :p

[TaZZerath]

I had a feeling for those who have absolutely massive collections this would be tough, but its great to see you guys made an effort!

[GoktimusPrime]

Just a quick shout out to my Car Robot/RiD Autobots. Here's a graphic that I made comparing the toys with their real life counterparts. :) Far more deserving of the name, "Robots in Disguise" than the recent series which featured 0 actual real-life/licensed alt modes.
https://image.ibb.co/h1AjDA/carrobot-RID.jpg

[TaZZerath]

That's pretty damn cool for accuracy.

Now I want an updated CHUG version of rail racer :(