Top 30 Transformers Toys from 30 Years (2014)

As some of you may have noticed the Transformers brand is 30 years old this year. For 30 years we have seen the transforming robots from space on the toy shelves, the TV screen, the movie theaters, and the comic pages. And seeing how we have a truly epic amount of Transformers toys by now (at least 5,000 plus according to the TFU database, still growing), it is a good time to figure out which are the most popular toys of the last 30 years.

The Rules:

• Every participant may send in a list of his or her 30 favorite Transformers toys, numbered 1 (best) through 30. If you don´t want to fill up all 30 positions, no problem. Every sheet containing at least 1 figure will be counted.
• Please vote only for toys that have actually been released under the "Transformers" brand by Hasbro, Kenner, or Takara(-Tomy). Votes for third party figures will not be counted.
• You can (if you want) add a comment to every figure in your list, explaining why this particular figure has your favor. Please keep it relatively short, though. No novels.
• We are talking about the toys. Of course it will be impossible in certain cases to cleanly separate the fascination of the character from the play value of the toy, but please try and focus mainly on the toy and not how much you like (or dislike) the character it portrays.
• Please be specific which toy you are talking about. Revenge of the Fallen Optimus Prime, for example, isn´t enough. ROTF Leader-class Optimus Prime (2009), on the other hand, is.
• ReIssues do not count as separate figures. G1 Optimus Prime (1984) equals Encore Convoy (2007), for example. Repaints on the other hand, count separately.
• Deadline for sending in votes is April 30, 2014, 11:59 pm (Middle European Time). We will count the votes and publish the results in the first two weeks of May.
• Please keep it to one list of 30 votes per participant. Obviously we will not be able to verify whether different emails might be from the same person in all cases, so we are counting on you to keep it honest.

The results will be tallied and weighted, meaning the final placement will depend on number of votes received (regardless of where you ranked them) and the average rank.

If you have any questions or anything needs clarification, please post in the comments below.

UPDATE 2014-04-14:
Come May we will publish the results of the vote as follows:
May 3: places 30 to 26
May 4: places 25 to 21
May 5: places 20 to 16
May 6: places 15 to 11

May 9 to May 18: places 10 to 1, one per day

UPDATE 2014-05-01:
Voting is now closed!

#30

G1 Shockwave (1985) – The Logical Choice!
Voting Percentage: 14%
Average Ranking: 10.29

The big purple cyclops snuck into the Top 30 by a very narrow margin, only just inching past Masterpiece MP-12 Lambor / Sideswipe by a slightly better average ranking. But it’s only logical, is it not? Shockwave is one of the most enduring characters in the entire franchise and his original toy incarnation from 1985 has never really been improved upon. Shockwave was originally released by ToyCo under the name “Astro Magnum” in grey colors, later to be reused by the retail chain Radioshaq, where he was sold as “Galactic Man”. He was also one of the – if not the – first Transformer released in 1985 as part of the second wave.

Shockwave contains electronics for light-up and sound action and transforms into a futuristic laser gun in 1:1 size, meaning he was perfect for kids of the 80s to hold in hand and run through the house shooting imaginary enemies. So bottom line: Shockwave belongs in the Top 30. It’s only logical.

Comments from our voters:

• Hands down, my favorite Decepticon toy of all-time! Large, imposing robot mode, light-up features and a very fun raygun mode. - Sciflyer
• Classic, monstrous form. Alien and threatening. Never quite beaten. - Terome

#29

Masterpiece MP-17 Prowl (2013) – The other Logical Choice!
Voting Percentage: 18%
Average Ranking: 14.67

And we have our first figure from the Masterpiece line in our top 30 (I don’t think I’m spoiling things for anybody by mentioning that it won’t be the last). Now I don’t personally own Masterpiece Prowl, so I can’t really say much about the toy as such. I do know that he looks fabulous on the many pics I’ve seen and many have described him as a great update of the G1 toy and the definite car-former.

Much like in G1 days this Masterpiece mold has also been used to create (Blue)Streak and Smokescreen. In fact, those two versions of the mold have also received quite a few votes, coming in at rank 39 and 174 respectively. If everyone who had voted for Streak and Smokescreen had given their votes to Prowl, he’d have come in as number 8 instead of 29. Still, a place in the top 30 for this excellent Masterpiece figure.

Comments from our voters:

• My all-time favorite G1 toy gets a fantastic update! Prowl, the one that started it all for me, has a great head sculpt, plenty of articulation, and looks exactly like I wanted him to look! -Sciflyer
• Definitive car-former! - Anguirus
• I love G1! - Black Zarak
• What goes around comes around... one of the most iconic of the original Transformers, with a stylish vehicle mode… and now with a matching robot mode! - Hotmissile

#28

ROTF RA-24 Buster Optimus Prime (2009) – Give me your, eh, vote!
Voting Percentage: 12%
Average Rank: 6.33

Buster Optimus Prime, who started out as the ROTF Leader-class Optimus Prime before he was pimped up by Takara with an extra gun and lots of chrome, is our first statistical anomaly. He received fewer votes than either G1 Shockwave or MP Prowl. In fact, if we were going by vote alone he wouldn’t have made it into the top 30 at all, lounging around at number 44. But everyone who did vote for him placed him at a pretty high rank, which allowed him to rise past quite a few others who had more votes and into the top 30 as our first representative of the Movie toylines, as well as our first Optimus Prime toy (and again, I don’t think I’m spoiling this for anybody by mentioning he is not the last Optimus, either).

Buster Optimus Prime is another toy I don’t personally have and sadly none of the people who voted for him gave me any memorable quotes for him, either. So... yeah! Buster Optimus Prime. With face-cutting blades, shiny chrome, a mouth, and a big gas-tank-blaster for killing’em all! Your number 28.

#27

G2 Laser Optimus Prime (1995) – Best Prime of the 90s!
Voting Percentage: 18%
Average Rank: 14.33

Only one toy from Generation 2 has made it into our top 30 countdown and, unsurprisingly, it’s an Optimus Prime toy. And what a toy it is. When I first got and reviewed this toy I called it the greatest Optimus Prime of the 20th century and I still stand behind that statement. In a time when Transformers were only just beginning to become articulated in any meaningful way, G2 Laser Prime was a contortionist, who still managed to look cool and incorporates so many play features, it boggles the mind. Electronics that light up his gun and big sword (he was an Optimus who carried a sword before it was cool), a fully convertible trailer battle station with lots of missile and disk launchers, and a transformation that was as easy as it was fun.

Need more proof that this was a great figure? Five years after G2 was over Car Robots brought it back in black as Black Convoy, later called Scourge in the RID series (he only made it to rank 71, sorry), basically paving the way for every Nemesis Prime / Black Convoy to come. So while the G2 toyline as a whole might not exactly have been Transformers’ greatest moment, this toy fully deserves a spot among the top.

Comments from our voters:

• A toy so mindblowing it has trascended its era in many redecoes - Rafael
• The coolest looking Optimus toy of the 90s! Very nice robot mode, awesome truck/tanker mode, and the playability of his base mode was so fun! - Sciflyer
• Still one of the most fun Optims Primes. - Exatron
• Like G1... but better! An impressive, articulated Optimus, with beefed up robot *and* vehicle modes, battle station to interact with your Go-Bots and launching missiles! - Hotmissile

#26

Prime First Edition Optimus Prime (Voyager, 2011) – Greatest Prime-Prime!
Voting Percentage: 18%
Average Rank: 14.11

Man, we’re only at number 26 and this is already our third Optimus Prime toy. Edging past G2 Laser Prime by a very, very slightly better average ranking, Transformers Prime First Edition Voyager Optimus Prime (try saying this one three times fast) is the best Prime of Prime, or Prime-Prime. The Optimal Prime-Prime, so to speak. Or maybe the... nah, enough on that. Anyway, the First Edition toys were very hard to find (at first), the Voyager-class figures even more so, causing quite a few people to import them at high prices.

But we did get quite a bit for our money. A big, beefy Optimus Prime with a swimmer’s figure, a huge blaster, a cool sword, and a very streamlined version of that classic Optimus look we all love and adore (I got the numbers to prove it). The Prime toyline saw quite a few Optimus Prime toys later on (Beast Hunters Voyager Optimus came in at 154 and the Prime RID Voyager at 322), but this one here is – to me – the best of them all. The Primary Prime-Prime. The… okay, I’m done.

Honorable Mention: Prime First Edition Dark Guard Optimus Prime, the black repaint of this figure (strangely: not a Decepticon), who came in at number 242.

#25

Reveal the Shield Special Ops Jazz (2010) – Winning with Style!
Voting Percentage: 20%
Average Ranking: 15.4

Despite being pretty much the epitome of cool among Transformers, Jazz didn’t have it easy after G2 bombed. He was part of G2's initial line-up in 1993, but apart from the occasional reissue of the G1 toy we didn’t see a new, dedicated Jazz figure until the Movie came around. And we had to wait another three years until we finally got an updated version of G1 Jazz in the form of Reveal the Shield Special Ops Jazz.

While a lot of people complained about his relatively plain look (easily fixed via Reprolabels), he was still a great update for the classic character and even included a gimmick that Jazz had used, I believe, all of 1 time in the G1 cartoon, his loudspeakers. The figure proved so popular that it ended up being used for repaints numerous times, including Wheelie, Treadshot, and Stepper. So bottom line: Jazz is one cool cat that fully deserves a place in the Top 30.

Honorable Mention: The United version of Jazz is basically the same figure, but with quite a few differences in terms of painted details. United Jazz got some votes of his own and came in at number 61. Pooling the votes for the two versions would have put him at number 15 instead. Oh, and the mold was also used for the Million Publishing exclusive Stepper, who managed to reach number 221.

Comments from our voters:

• With Reprolabels only! - Fredi
• The fans had been waiting for a Classics-type Jazz for ages, and this guy didn't disappoint. I love how the design integrates elements of the Pretender and Movie Jazzes - Warcry
• Great update of Jazz, especially the in-built extra to homage a certain G1 episode. - HunterPS
• Very good G1 adaption - Black Zarak

#24

Generations Wheeljack (2010) – Mad Science!
Voting Percentage: 16%
Average Ranking: 11.38

In recent years it has become almost the norm for the designers of Hasbro and Takara-Tomy to develop figures that are meant to be used at least twice for different characters, thanks to different head sculpts and minor changes to the figure itself. The best example of how to do this the right way is Generations Wheeljack, whose mold started out as Reveal the Shield Turbo Tracks (who came in at number 119). The two figures are basically the same, but look so different that you don’t really notice unless you inspect them real close.

Even leaving that ingenious double use of the mold aside, Wheeljack is a great update for one of G1’s most beloved characters. The Autobots’ mad scientist comes with his customary shoulder missile / gun and two wrenches. Yep, wrenches. He can use them to build Dinobots or beat annoying Decepticons to scrap, take your pick. I’ve always had a soft spot for Wheeljack and this Deluxe-class toy really does him justice.

Comments from our voters:

• I’m a huge CHUG fan and this figure is top of the line in my book. - Tim Werner
• Another great update, dazzling colors, wtf wrenches - Anguirus
• Pretools are the greatest thing that's happened to Transformers in the last few years. Redesign a G1 hot shot like Tracks for the 21st century as a complex action figure. Then rerelease him as another Autobot who had a very different look... but he's still a perfect update! Now that's genius. - Hotmissile

#23

Generations Unicron Amazon Exclusive (2011) – Eat this, Primus!
Voting Percentage: 18%
Average Rank: 13.11

In 1986 we were introduced to the ultimate Transformers bad guy, the planet-sized transforming devourer of worlds Unicron. It took 17 years until we got a toy version of him in the Armada line-up, and another 8 years until we got this version of him here whom all of you voted into the top 30. There have been quite a few versions of Unicron by now, most of them using this mold here, and it split the vote but good for this god robot. But at least he can chuckle evilly and look down upon his counterpart Primus, whose Cybertron toy only managed to come in at number 89.

Unicron is a toddler-sized robot with multiple gimmicks, such as a big cannon underneath his chest plate, missile launchers in his shins, and a light-up hand as well. He comes with a Minicon that transforms into a weaponized moon. This particular version of Unicron was available exclusively at Amazon.com and Toys R’Us and sports a paint job very reminiscent of Unicron’s original appearance in the 1986 movie. Whichever version of him you prefer, though, Unicron was clearly a toy created not (or at least not exclusively) for the fans of the then-current Armada toyline, but also to please the older fans. Thanks for that.

Honorable Mention: Armada Unicron and Energon Unicron, who took spots number 35 and 196 respectively. If you lot could have made up your mind and all voted for one version of the big guy, he’d have ended up at number 7.

Comments from our voters:

• Big, imposing and every bit as threatening as Unicron should be. - Warcry
• That’s how Unicron ought to look. A great repaint. - Black Zarak
• He deserves a spot on this list just for existing. - Exatron (on Energon Unicron)

#22

Beast Wars Optimus Primal (Ultra, 1996) – Now that's just Prime!
Voting Percentage: 22%
Average Rank: 16.09

1996 was a hard year for Transformers. G2 had pretty much failed and Hasbro had basically washed their hands of the whole thing, giving the Transformers name to newly acquired subsidy Kenner to do something with it. And do something they did, completely reinventing the line for the Jurassic Park generation and calling it Beast Wars. It could have been a tremendous failure. Instead it was a massive success that probably saved the whole franchise from extinction. Only one Beast Wars figure made it into our Top 30 (the second-best rated, Transmetal Megatron, only came in at 54), but it’s the one that really epitomizes what Beast Wars was all about.

Ultra-Class Optimus Primal IS Optimus Primal as we saw him on TV. The likeness is near-perfect, the figure’s articulation is excellent, and the sheer amount of included gimmicks and weapons is just staggering. Primal has two swords, two shoulder-mounted missile launchers, another missile launcher in one arm and a morning star weapon in the other. Plus a chest-pounding / sword-twirling gimmick and an interchangeable “mutant head”. And it’s all fully contained in this one figure here with no left-over parts in beast mode. Even by today’s standard that is a whole lot of stuff for a single figure. Back in 1996 it was sheer awesomeness, making this one of the single most fun figures ever, whose inclusion in the top 30 is fully deserved.

Honorable Mention: Some people would rather have the Beast Wars Reborn Convoy, the 10th anniversary version of this figure. He came in at number 212.

Comments from our voters:

• A big, massive, articulate, accurate, and heavily armed figure. What can you possibly want more?- Tim Werner
• One of the most playable toys they ever made - Anguirus
• This is the figure that sold me on Beast Wars. - Black Zarak
• He can fire missiles out of his butt, has a skull on string and still has both his hands. What more do you want? Oh, and he also completely reinvented Transformers, and saved it along the way. - Hotmissile

#21

Cybertron Optimus Prime (Leader, 2005) – Cyberkey Power!
Voting Percentage: 16%
Average Rank: 10.13

Another figure that didn’t get as many votes as others, but was consistently high-ranked, including no less than 3 number 1 rankings, so he manages to get into the top 30 as our first representative of the Unicron trilogy toylines. Cybertron was the third and final line of the Unicron trilogy. In a series of toy lines that heavily featured gimmicks, combinations, and electronics, Cybertron Leader-class Optimus Prime contains all three in a very fun package. A good figure on its own, he can combine with his own trailer for maximum firepower, can link up with Leo Breaker to gain a truly humongous right (or left) arm with claws, and he can also combine with Wing Saber for a winged and sword-wielding variant.

Even without the combination fun, though, Prime has still more to offer. A Cyberkey activates his big guns with lights and sounds, he has a transforming head with removable mouth plate, and his chest opens up to show a Matrix of Leadership inside him. Also, he becomes a flying fire truck. In short: lots and lots of play value.

Comments from our voters:

• Combiner fun and play value without limit. - Fredi
• This toy is so epic looking and his gimmicks are so good it deserves at least a mention here - Rafael
• My personal favorite non-G1 Optimus Prime. Accurate, articulate, big, and gimmicks up to his ears. - Tim Werner
• Prime has a ton of fun play options and looks pretty damn cool. - Daith
• Simple transformation, lots of love for detail (i.e. the Matrix), a Super Mode that still looks like Optimus. - HunterPS

#20

Hunt for the Decepticons Jazz (Human Alliance, 2010) – Dead, but still stylish!
Voting Percentage: 20%
Average Ranking: 13.9

I was a little bit surprised that only one figure from the Human Alliance class made it into this top 30 list. I was not surprised that the best-rated Human Alliance figure is Jazz. Yeah, he died at the end of the first movie. He still got a kick-ass figure in the Hunt for the Decepticons series that easily puts that poser Sideswipe to shame. He’s big, he’s cool, and he comes with Pretty Boy from the Las Vegas TV series. Anyone remember that series?

Human Alliance Jazz comes at Alternators scale and transforms into a very realistic looking car with an interior fit for a little human driver figure. In robot mode he has quite the number of weapons to choose from - one of them even becomes a friggin’ bike for Pretty Boy - and can even flip up his customary visor. Okay, like far, far too many Movie-style figures he comes in grey. But really, that is pretty much the only bad thing one can say about him. Bumblebee might have been the first Human Alliance figure, but Jazz here is the best.

Comments from our voters:

• My first figure from the HA series – and it was perfect. - Black Zarak

#19

Generations Metroplex (2013) – Size does matter!
Voting Percentage: 24%
Average Ranking: 16.42

For 26 years the biggest Transformer of them all was Fortress Maximus and it looked like he would hold that record for all eternity. Then, though, Hasbro gave us an update of G1 Metroplex and he is... well, taller. Not bigger, mass-wise, but taller. Far more articulated, though, and with lots of gimmicks and two alternate modes that might not be all that spectacular, but make for great playsets for Cyberverse or even Deluxe-class figures. And he comes with a little Scout-sized figure to man his many weapons and for some that seems to be the main attraction (eh, Andrusi?).

Metroplex made his way into the Top 30 mostly by number of votes. He’s actually got the worst average ranking of all 30 contenders here (to be honest he’s got the worst average ranking in the top 45), but nearly a quarter of you had him on your voting sheets, meaning if we were going by number of votes alone, he’d actually be at number 8 (sharing with three others). So Metroplex proves once and for all: size does matter!

Honorable Mention: G1 Metroplex, whom this figure is based on, came in at number 58.

Comments from our voters:

• Scamper is just an incredibly nifty little carformer. I guess his big base accessory is okay too. - Andrusi
• This figure has much to offer. Its alternate mode is basically the equivalent of other playsets like Castle Grayskull. - Tim Werner
• Biggest Transformer ever! And play value beyond other toys of his scale from other franchises. - Daith
• Because he’s the tallest… and you can tell he was made for us fans. And without costing a fortune, too. - Erstchef

#18

Armada Tidal Wave (2003) – Tidal Wave! TIDAL WAVE!
Voting Percentage: 18%
Average Rank: 11.22

This guy’s presence in the top 30 really took me by surprise, to be honest. The Armada toyline was the next big thing after Beast Wars and most of its figures were geared toward a younger audience, more with gimmicks and electronics than articulation and complexity. It was a very, very big hit in 2002, but from today’s point of view most of the figures are quite limited. Still, one of them made it into our top 30 and it’s also its biggest figure apart from Unicron himself (who only managed to sneak a repaint in). Tidal Wave, the big brute of the Decepticon army.

Why do people like Tidal Wave? Is it because he’s big? Can become a single big or three smaller ships? Can combine with Megatron / Galvatron? Can attach more Minicons than anyone this side of Unicron? Was the most impressive boss in the PS2 Armada game? Or maybe because his TV counterpart used to say his own name a lot? I don’t really know, but I, too, own an Armada Tidal Wave and I really like the big guy, too. And obviously enough people like him to vote him into the top 30. TIDAL WAVE!

Comments from our voters:

• Big and combinable. I’m happy. - MK
• The best figure ever made to lack knees. The most playability in a compact package perhaps ever - Master Fwiffo
• Can we get an update at the scale from the PS2 game? - Exatron

#17

G1 Grimlock (1985) – Me Grimlock no Bozo!
Voting Percentage: 16%
Average Rank: 7.13

Do I really need to write all that much to justify this figure’s presence in the top 30? The Dinobots were probably the most popular subgroup in all of G1 and Grimlock is the leader of the pack. Originally hailing from Takara’s Diaclone Dinosaur Robo series before it was licensed for the Transformers toyline and the rest is history. Grimlock (and his Dinobots) are as popular today as they were back in the 80s, you need not look any further than the newest Transformers movie coming out this year, which will heavily feature the Dinobots and Grimlock.

As for this toy, it does have its weaknesses, but overall it’s still Grimlock. Biggest and baddest of the Dinobots. And if you watched Transformers back in the 80s, you either had this toy, or you wanted this toy. Making it no surprise that Grimlock is included in the Top 30.

Comments from our voters:

• Because Dinobots, that’s why! - Gaja

#16

Classics Optimus Prime (Voyager, 2006) – Truly a classic!
Voting Percentage: 16%
Average Rank: 6.75

When the Transformers live-action movie was delayed until 2007, Hasbro needed something to close the gap between the end of the Cybertron series and the beginning of the Movie line. The filler turned out to be the beginning of C.H.U.G. (Classics, Henkei!, Universe 2.0, Generations), reinterpretations of classic toys. And the initial Classics line-up is represented here by none other than Classics Optimus Prime, a Voyager-class figure that many consider to the best update of G1 Optimus Prime ever.

Not only does he have the classic Optimus Prime look, he’s also fully articulated, has two weapons, and you could probably fill a top 30 list just with repaints and third party add-ons and upgrades for this figure alone. Classics Optimus Prime is probably the single best G1-based figure Hasbro has ever produced in this size class and he’s the natural leader for all your C.H.U.G. Autobots.

Honorable Mention: Two other variants of this mold received votes. Classics Ultra Magnus (ranked 415) and Shattered Glass Optimus Prime (ranked 227).

Comments from our voters:

• He was exactly what I wanted an updated G1 Prime to be! He remains a favorite of mine to this day, and one of the most Transformed toys in my collection. - Sciflyer
• One of my all-time favorite molds. I have this figure in numerous colors and variants. - Tim Werner
• Excellent new interpretation of an icon. Favorite mold for various upgrades (DIA Commander, Powermaster, etc.) - HunterPS

#15

G1 Jetfire (1985) – Robotech can kiss my a**!
Voting Percentage: 18%
Average Ranking: 8.89

The history of this particular toy is a long and complicated. It began life as the Macross VF-1S Super Valkyrie from Takatoku Toys. When Hasbro was licensing Japanese toy robots left and right to get their initial Transformers toyline together, the Valkyrie was one of the relatively few non-Takara toys they selected. Given its size, they naturally wanted to include it in the cartoon for advertisement purposes, but given Takara’s collaboration in the production, they didn’t want to offend their partner, either, by including products of Takara’s competition. Thus cartoon Jetfire was called Skyfire and looked somewhat different. The situation got even murkier and more complicated once Harmony Gold licensed the Macross series for Western audiences and called it Robotech, thus starting a long, long history of marketing squabbles, licensing fights, and court dates. It was only last year that Harmony Gold threatened to sue Hasbro for their Jetfire-like Skystriker exclusive toy from the San Diego Comic Con.

Anyway, the actual toy is one of the all-time classics of transforming robots and apart from the Transformers variant here, there are probably dozens of other versions of it out there to represent the various Valkyrie models from Macross / Robotech, plus countless knock-off versions. Hardly surprising, as this is one beautiful toy. Able to transform from robot to jet and stop halfway for a so-called Gerwalk Mode, Jetfire comes with a host of additional armor, including a booster rucksack. He towered over most other Transformers from that time, standing eye to eye with Decepticon Shockwave. The figure was also released as Autobot leader in Europe during the toyline’s original Milton Bradley run, as Optimus Prime was notably absent in that first year due to Joustra releasing the Diaclone toys (including Battle Convoy / Optimus Prime) during that time.

So bottom line: G1 Jetfire is a classic for a reason. Good luck finding a fully intact one for a reasonable price, though. And we’ll probably never see an Encore release of him unless Harmony Gold finally closes down.

Comments from our voters:

• Because he was the first Transformer I ever had. - Marco
• He was one of the coolest looking robots in the Transformers toyline. I loved his weapons and armor, and I clocked many hours playing with him in his awesome, futuristic jet mode. - Sciflyer
• Because I always wanted him as a child, but never got him. - Erstchef

#14

G1 Devastator (1985) – Nothing stops the Devastator!
Voting Percentage: 18%
Average Ranking: 8.67

Like many of the initial Transformers toys the Constructicons started out as part of Takara’s Diaclone toyline. Now one gets the feeling that combining robots have been part of Japan’s culture as long as anyone can remember (there are probably cave paintings of combining Zords somewhere), but for the Transformers the Constructions and their ability to combine into Devastator were a first. The first combining robot (or Gestalt, as the fans termed it later on) and probably the most bootlegged toy of all time. The Constructicons were available in numerous ways (single or gift set) on numerous continents in different colors, sometimes with and sometimes without the combiner kibble.

The six individual figures are pretty typical for their time, limited articulation and emphasis on realistic vehicle modes. Said vehicle modes could be enhanced with the various combiner kibble parts for attack modes, which looked good in some cases, not so in others. But the kicker for all fans was, of course, their ability to combine into Devastator. Now scale-wise the Devastator toy wasn’t exactly a towering giant, standing less tall than figures like Jetfire or Shockwave, but scale was never really an issue with Transformers anyway, right? The fun was having a robot that was really six robots, period. Sure, the later Scramble City style combiners like the Aerialbots or the Combaticons made for sturdier robots and offered interchangeability, but Devastator was still the first and is usually the first name mentioned when it comes to combiners. While not getting any number 1s from any of his voters, Devastator got enough votes and a consistently high rank to easily climb to number 14.

Honorable Mention: the Decepticon combiners clearly rule! G1 Bruticus comes in at 57 and G1 Predaking at 62. The highest-ranked Autobot combiner is G1 Defensor at 159, followed by G1 Computron at 176.

Comments from our voters:

• The definitive Combiner. - Gaja
• Every child and collector’s favorites - Neil Toledo
• Combiners were always great fun, and Devastator started it all - Exatron
• Aha, this is how I get six votes for the price of one! The original and most famous combiner, adding a whole new level of play (and collecting). Perhaps he doesn't quite have the mix & match of Scramble City, but he makes up for it with varied individual Constructicons and a coordinated robot mode. - Hotmissile

#13

ROTF Optimus Prime (Leader, 2009) – I rise, because you love me!
Voting Percentage: 22%
Average Rank: 12.55

I know, we already had Buster Optimus Prime at number 28. What can I say? As many votes as Buster got, the original Hasbro version of this toy got even more (nearly twice as many, in fact). And while he has a far lower average ranking than his Buster brother, the sheer number of votes propels him onto this spot. And it also makes him the only mold that has managed to get two versions of itself into the top 30 (Unicron is the only other mold who got close with Armada Unicron at 35.)

Honorable Mention: ROTF Prime could link up with ROTF Jetfire, who made it onto number 60. The two of them were reissued in a two-pack for the DOTM line and that particular combo was voted onto number 202. No votes for the HFTD Battle Hooks Prime, though.

Comments from our voters:

• A technical masterpiece of a robot mass murdered. - MK
• It's not for nothing that this figure gets praised over and over again. Hasbro knew why they didn't release a DOTM Leader-class Optimus. - Tim Werner
• A very impressive representation of the character. - Exatron.

#12

Prime RID Vehicon (Deluxe, 2012) – Doomed, but cool!
Voting Percentage: 24%
Average Rank: 11.58

The highest-rated Deluxe-class figure in our Top 30 countdown and rightfully so, I might add. This is one toy that definitely didn’t get this high into our top 30 because of the character it portrays, because the Prime Vehicons were pretty much just disposable red shirts. But the toy… oh my, what wonderful piece of engineering. If it wasn’t for the fact that he has wheels on his shoulders, there would actually be no telling what he transforms into. Almost the entire vehicle shell folds together into his lower legs and vanishes from sight. We have plenty of Transformers where the vehicle shows no trace of the robot. But this is one of the few instances where the robot shows (almost) no trace of the vehicle. It also made this toy easy to remold, giving it a new vehicle shell for use as the (Japan-exclusive) Jet Vehicon.

For all that they were pretty much the definite army builder toy, the Prime RID Vehicons were pretty hard to get at first, making said army building a rather pricey proposition. They did see a wider distribution later on, so I’m sure quite a few of these utterly disposable bad guys made it into a wide array of collections. Judging by the number of votes and consistently high ranking, many of you really love them. And rightfully so.

Comments from our voters:

• Whoever designed him should design all Transformers. Nearly the entire car stored in his calves… - MK
• Innovative transformation scheme leads to an elegant, show-accurate robot mode with very little kibble. - Scott Jennings
• Hides his kibble in his shins...wow - Anguirus
• Wow! - Exatron

#11

G1 Optimus Prime (1984) – I am the Right of all sentient Fans!
Voting Percentage: 24%
Average Rank: 10.83

Pretty much the toy that started it all and the only surprising thing here is that he missed the top 10 by a very, very narrow margin. Optimus Prime, the original G1 toy from 1984, began life as the Diaclone Battle Convoy, released in 1982. And 32 years later it’s still one of the most fun toys to ever grace a kid’s room. Even apart from the incredibly cool and iconic looking robot itself, the trailer / battle station offered endless hours of playing fun with its launching roller, its missile-shooting repair module, and the capability of taking smaller Autobots for a ride in car form. And even in terms of articulation Optimus Prime was pretty much the prime of the crop back in the day, featuring fully articulated arms and legs with knee joints. His only limitation was the inability to bend his legs forward at the hip.

There have been so many different versions and variants of this mold that it blows the mind. From minor production differences (from a time when Hasbro had manufacturing plants in different parts of the world instead of having everything done in China) to numerous reuses of the original Battle Convoy figure to reissues in various anniversary lines, G1 Optimus Prime has never ceased being present across the Transformers franchise. Easily the most recognizable toy of the entire line and an icon to a generation of children.

Comments from our voters:

• Iconic characterization aside, he was a very fun toy to play with. I loved how the Autobot cars could interact with the trailer and I loved launching Roller down the ramp. A great toy! - Sciflyer
• Deservedly one of the most iconic figures of the entire frachise. - Tim Werner
• A legend for a reason, utterly captured the character - Anguirus
• Because he was THE hero of my childhood. Even though my father always had to translate for me into German. - Erstchef
• A great and fun toy for the greatest of all TF characters. - Exatron

#10

Prime Bulkhead (First Edition Voyager, 2012) – Bulk Smash!
Voting Percentage: 26%
Average Ranking: 11.85

Transformers Prime was the second series after Transformers Animated where the toys came out quite a bit after the series had already started. In fact, there was a rumor for a time that there would not be any toys for Prime at all, though that turned out to be a fake, unsurprisingly. Still, we had to wait quite a bit before finally the so-called First Edition wave came out, a sort of prequel series to the actual toyline that would come out still later. It contained only a small number of characters from the core cast (Ratchet and Soundwave were the only ones missing from the initial line-up) and initially the toys were pretty hard to find. In fact the Voyager class toys never made it to the toy shelves at all apart from Japan, Canada and some parts of Asia. It was only later that Toys R’Us brought them out in bigger numbers, by which time many had already dished out the money for the more expensive import.

Much like with the Prime RID Vehicon, though, the money was well spent. First Edition Bulkhead is another fine example of excellent engineering. Given the animated character in the series, many figured it would be very, very hard to accurately portray him in toy form. But while TV Bulkhead naturally looks a bit more wholesome than the toy, the designers still did themselves proud here. The chest assembly of Bulkhead alone is a thing of beauty and the entire figure very faithfully brings the TV character to life. He also avoids the fate of his Animated Voyager-class predecessor, who had to invest so much of his mass into width, he ended up standing less tall than most Deluxe-class figures. Not First Edition Bulkhead. He’s tall, he’s broad, he’s everything the TV character is and a very nicely articulated toy to boot.

First Edition Bulkhead makes it into the Top 10 by a hair, edging out G1 Optimus Prime and his better average ranking by a slight lead in votes. But despite my childhood love for G1 Prime, I must say I’m glad this guy has made it into the Top 10. I may not be a big fan of the Prime TV series, but the First Edition toys – and especially this one right here – really deserve to be ranked among the top.

Honorable Mention: Almost every single one of the First Edition toys (except the Deluxe Optimus Prime and the NYCC exclusives) managed to snag some votes in this contest. Apart from Voyager Prime at 26, the others were ranked as follows:
- Cliffjumper (66)
- Starscream (85)
- Arcee (219)
- Terrorcon Clifjumper (392)
- Megatron (459)
- Bumblebee (494)
- Vehicon (495)

Voter Comments:

• Another engineering marvel and portraying a sympathetic character to boot. - MK
• Remember when the show came on and we all laughed about how impossible a toy would be? And then they go and make him perfect. - Warcry
• A very satisfying transformation and appropriately weighty build. - Anguirus

#9

Masterpiece MP-01 Convoy / Optimus Prime (2004) – Masterpiece Number One!
Voting Percentage: 22%
Average Ranking: 7.18

The Transformers turned 20 in 2004 and Takara and Hasbro wanted to celebrate the occasion with a very special figure of the most famous Transformers character of them all: Optimus Prime, called Convoy in Japan. And thus was born the first Masterpiece figure, MP-01, which has since been released in countless versions (black, dead, shiny, etc.), multiple packagings, with and without trailer, and with both the Hasbro and Takara company logo. It has been copied by Third Party companies at various scales and for almost a decade many people considered it THE definite G1 Optimus Prime toy.

Until very recently MP-01 Convoy was the most accurate toy incarnation of the original G1 Autobot leader ever, strongly resembling the animated character in both modes and including many of his on-screen gimmicks such as his Energon axe, the flip-up communicators in his forearms, and the Matrix of Leadership inside his chest. He was also one of the biggest Transformers figures ever, definitely the biggest (non-combined) Optimus Prime, and simply an all-around great collector’s figure. Not so much a kid’s toy, naturally, given his rather complicated transformation, price tag, and size, but something made for the now-adult fans of the original series.

Masterpiece Convoy didn’t get as many votes as others in the Top 10, but only one other toy in these lofty regions here has a better average ranking. Pretty much everyone who voted for him placed him pretty close to the top, including multiple number one rankings. He is and remains the very first Masterpiece figure ever, thus deserving a place in these top 30.

Honorable Mention: MP-04 Convoy Perfect Edition, same Optimus figure, but including the trailer. Also honorably mentioned: the Hasbro 20th Anniversary Edition Optimus Prime, which is also the same Optimus figure, just with castrated shoulder stacks. Not that anyone actually explicitly voted for that one, mind you, but it’s the one I have and the one pictured above.

Voter Comments:

• Still think he’s better than the MP-10 - Fredi
• I tried to leave the character appeal aside as best I could, but even apart from being my favorite character, I can honestly call this figure my number 1 guy. - Tim Werner
• My first Masterpiece figure. - Black Zarak

#8

Hunt for the Decepticons Starscream (Leader, 2010) – That’s LORD Starscream!
Voting Percentage: 30%
Average Ranking: 13.2

Many people were disappointed that Movie Starscream looked nothing like G1 Starscream. Many people were disappointed that the first toy of Movie Starscream (not counting his Protoform Deluxe version) didn’t have hands. Many people found his toy for the second movie, though an improvement upon the firsts, still quite disappointing. But then… oh yes, then… the Hunt for the Decepticons line came along and we got this bad boy here. Movie Starscream as he should have been from the very start. Big, bad, and looking ready to take on the Autobot army all by himself. Of course then came the third movie where he was killed by Sam Witwicky’s Tarzan impression, but let’s best not talk about that ever again.

This Starscream has hands, he has a gatling gun, he has missiles, and Third Party companies have given him saws and and a jetpack. Okay, like most Movieverse figures he’d really benefit from a bit more color. Apart from that, though, this is pretty much the perfect toy of the only Decepticon in the movies to actually seem competent (at least in the first one, let’s not talk about DOTM). Okay, he's got the worst average rank in the entire top 10, but the number of votes has allowed him to rise to this lofty place. And from here he can cackle evilly, both at Megatron and Optimus Prime, for he is LORD Starscream, the highest-ranked toy from all of the Transformers movie toylines.

Honorable Mention: Revenge of the Fallen Voyager-Class Starscream, who came in at number 388. Yeah, not that impressive, either, but better than the first Movie Voyager version, who didn’t get any votes at all.

Voter Comments:

• A nearly seamless giant Raptor jet becomes a chicken thing! Wooow! I’m serious! - MK
• Nicely articulated, details en masse, only the underbelly and the missiles in jet mode spoil it a little. - Schorsch
• Best version of the flying pizza - Fredi
• A truly great jet-former, very imposing - Anguirus
• I was especially impressed how well his vehicle mode turned out. I'd love a version without the tattoos. - Exatron

#7

Generation 1 Fortress Maximus (1987) – To the Maximus!
Voting Percentage: 22%
Average Ranking: 6.09

Is anybody really surprised that the big guy made it into the top 10 of our countdown? He is Fortress Maximus, people, and he’s the biggest (and until very recently the tallest) Transformer of all time. In robot mode he carries a virtual arsenal of guns that can blow away entire regiments of Decepticons. He’s got the best city mode of any Transformer ever, which includes numerous gimmicks such as an elevator, a prison cell, moving ramps, and whatnot. Even his third mode isn’t that bad. Plus, he’s a double Headmaster, as his head detaches and transforms into the robot Cerebros, whose head can also detach to transform into Spike.

Fortress Maximus holds a special place in my heart. As a young boy I was in Vienna visiting my grandparents and in a little side street there was a small toy shop and all the way in the back on top of a shelf he stood, covered in dust: Fortress Maximus. I don’t think I ever begged that hard before or after to convince my grandma to buy him for me and getting him back to Germany was a chore, too (he used up most of my luggage for the plane). But it was well worth it and Max has remained with me ever since, even during that darkest of ages called puberty where I ditched 95 percent of my Transformers in order to grow up and stuff. He survived and will remain the centerpiece of my collection, even though he has yellowed quite a bit with age. And thanks to the Encore line, a new generation of fans now gets to know him, plus older fans can finally afford him.

Fortress Maximus scoots into the top 10 due to the highest average ranking in the entire Top 30 Countdown. Pretty much everyone who voted for him had him at or near the top of their list. And rightfully so. Generations Metroplex may have taken his spot as tallest TF of all time, but Fortress Maximus was, is, and always will be the Big Guy of Transformers.

Voter Comments:

• The definite giant! - Marco
• Because he is Fortress Maximus! - Black Zarak
• How could you not be impressed by this guy as a kid? - Exatron

#6

Generation 1 Powermaster Optimus Prime (1988) – More Power!
Voting Percentage: 24%
Average Ranking: 8.0

I was a little bit surprised to see this guy up here, especially so high above the original 1984 Optimus Prime toy. But thinking about it, it really shouldn’t have been. Sure, the 1984 Optimus Prime is an icon and all, but by the time the toyline had been around a few years he had vanished from the shelves. Enter Powermaster Optimus Prime, the very first time an existing character had gotten a completely new toy (not counting Hot Rod / Rodimus Prime, who came out simultaneously). And speaking from a German perspective, in 1989 – which was also the year we first got to see the G1 cartoon in German language – this guy was EVERYWHERE. In every store, in every comic, just everywhere. And he still is, as odds are that browsing any given country’s ebay listings for Transformers will produce at least one of this guy (most of the auctions calling him the original Optimus at that).

For many people Powermaster Optimus Prime was THE Optimus Prime of their childhood. Myself included. Not only was he an extremely fun toy, given his ability to link up with his trailer to form a huge super robot (okay, said super robot was basically a brick, but then again, most G1 Transformers were), but this super mode finally gave us kids an Autobot leader big enough to go one on one with the likes of Galvatron, Shockwave, Sixshot, and (later on) Overlord and G2 Megatron. The concept of Optimus Prime linking up with his trailer for a larger super mode has also endured throughout the franchise, as RID Prime, Armada Prime, Cybertron Prime, and even some versions of Movie Prime have taken up that gimmick.

Powermaster Optimus Prime has sailed into the top 10 (and past the 1984 original) on a wave of nostalgia, quite the number of votes and a pretty high average ranking as well. Meaning he fully deserves to be here.

Honorable Mention: The Japanese version of Powermaster Optimus Prime was Super Ginrai, who could combine with his add-on robot God Bomber (called Apex Bomber in the US reissue) into the even larger God Ginrai (aka Optimus Prime with Apex Armor). God Ginrai came in at number 74. The combined vote for Ginrai and PM Prime would have placed him at number 4.

Voter Comments:

• You had two Primes in one! - Marco
• My absolute favorite toy as a kid.- Gaja
• The one I had as a kid, so to me this will always be G1 Prime. - Warcry
• My first Prime and a cool bot to this day. - Leowulone
• My first Optimus and endless fun. Loved having Hi-Q for scale and his enormous guns are wonderful. - Terome
• My first Optimus Prime, thus number one (a definite sentimental vote) - Black Zarak
• Was always a lot of fun. - Exatron
• Everything I miss about today’s figures in one awesome toy. - MK (on God Ginrai)

#5

Generation 1 Soundwave (1984) – Tape Guy, yeah!
Voting Percentage: 26%
Average Ranking: 8.85

Are you surprised that Soundwave is here? Really? The guy with the cool voice who shoots other guys out of his chest? The guy whose friggin’ face was the blueprint for the Decepticon symbol? The guy without whose cassettes the bad guys would have been outnumbered 4 to 1 instead of just 2 to 1? Well, I’m not surprised. I fully expected the original G1 Soundwave toy to be somewhere up here. Sure, the original 1984 Optimus Prime toy may be the most recognizable of the early TF figures, but Soundwave is a close second, I believe, and (as we can see here) the more popular one to boot.

Like most of the early Transformers toys Soundwave originally hailed from a previous Takara toyline, in his case the Micro Change line from 1983, where he was sold under the highly original name “Cassette Man” (I guess “Tape Guy” wasn’t available). Like most toys originally hailing from that line Soundwave transforms into a 1:1 scaled household item, in his case a Micro Cassette Recorder. The big kicker of this figure is, of course, his ability to interact with his cassette minions. Buzzsaw, a cassette that turns into a bird (Eagle? Buzzard? Falcon? Take your pick!), was the one who came with Soundwave, but quite a few more were sold separately, both in the toyline’s original year and in the years to follow. Add to that an iconic look, above-average articulation for a 1984 toy, and the fact that you could clip him to your belt to take along wherever you wanted to go, made him an instant fan favorite. And his fame hasn’t lessened since.

Much like Powermaster Optimus Prime Soundwave scoots into these lofty regions of our Top 30 Countdown by a good mixture of votes and ranking, showing that his appeal hasn’t lessened much these past 30 years. So, yeah. Soundwave: Superior!

Honorable Mention: Soundwave was later retooled into Soundblaster, who was black and could hold two cassettes in his tape deck instead of just one. Soundblaster... okay, didn’t get so much as a single vote. Still wanted to mention him here, mostly because quite a few of the many, many reissues of Soundwave tend to use the Soundblaster retool instead of the original mold.

Voter Comments:

• I loved the overall look and relative poseability of his robot mode, and the play pattern of his cassettes was icing on the cake! - Sciflyer
• Still great to play with today, looming stature, really weird. - Terome
• Perhaps the most fun G1 toy of them all. - Exatron

#4

Masterpiece MP-10 Convoy / Optimus Prime (2012) – Number One Prime!
Voting Percentage: 30%
Average Ranking: 9.13

Well, look here! It’s Optimus Prime. Again. Another one. But you know what? It’s the last one. Yep, that’s right. Masterpiece MP-10 Convoy / Optimus Prime is the final Prime in these Top 30, meaning that he is the number one Optimus Prime toy from 30 years by popular vote. He’s the big cheese of Optimi, the numero uno Prime, the Primary Optimus, the optimal Prime toy. It also means he’s managed to beat out that other Masterpiece Optimus Prime, MP-01, despite being shorter. Well, MP-01 Prime got a better average ranking, but MP-10 Prime handily beats him at number of votes.

Now I don’t own MP-10 Prime (yet), so I can’t personally say much about this toy, but from all I’ve heard, the comments here, and the fact that he’s managed to score 4th place in the Top 30 toys from 30 years of Transformers, he seems to be quite alright. He also comes with trailer already included and a little Spike Witwicky figure as a driver for his truck mode or Roller. Big black rifle and Energon Axe included, naturally. So... yeah, what can I say? I figure this guy here was a strong candidate for the number one spot in this countdown, but he didn’t quite make it. Still, he’s the best Optimus Prime toy and that’s saying something, seeing as that guy fields a full third of this list.

Honorable Mention: There have been multiple releases of this figure already, but most people just wrote MP-10 Optimus Prime or something like that, so I guess that means no votes for the Platinum Year of the Horse Edition. The inevitable Black Convoy repaint MP-10B got a couple of votes, though, and came in at 143. Pooling all votes for the mold would have lifted it up to number 2.

Voter Comments:

• Only THIS figure is THE Optimus. - MK
• A beautiful sculpt with great articulation. This figure really calls out to my inner eight-year-old in a way that no other Transformer has. - Sciflyer
• Classic! - Neil Toledo
• Very good G1 adaption of Optimus Prime. - Black Zarak
• A fantastic update. - Exatron

#3

Masterpiece MP-08 Grimlock (2010) – Me, Grimlock, King!
Voting Percentage: 30%
Average Ranking: 8.27

We have now entered the top 3 and stomping all over the competition to walk away with the Bronze medal is none other than everyone’s favorite Dinobot Grimlock in his Masterpiece incarnation. The G1 Grimlock toy is already one of the most popular toys in the Transformers franchise (it came in at #17, after all), but the Masterpiece edition takes that toy, makes it bigger, improves articulation, adds details, as well as a few subtle yet effective gimmicks such as a light-up sword and color-changing eyes to bring us the perfect version of one of the most popular Transformers characters ever.

You know how people usually have this idealized image of the toys they loved as kids in their heads and are then somewhat disappointed when they have them back in hand decades later because they really aren’t as brilliant as they remember them? Well, Masterpiece Grimlock is basically the G1 toy we all had (or wanted to have) in this idealized memory of our childhood, fully embracing that classic G1 charm but vastly improving upon all the drawbacks. MP Grimlock is big, he’s posable, he transforms into a somewhat unrealistically proportioned T-Rex and there really isn’t anything about this guy that’s not to love. MP Grimlock gets the same number of votes as Masterpiece MP-10 Optimus Prime, but beats him for third place thanks to a higher average ranking. Take that, puny Prime!

Honorable Mention: There have been a few different versions of MP Grimlock so far, the main difference being the number of accessories included. One voter voted explicitly for MP-08X King Grimlock, but even if we were pooling votes per mold I couldn’t have counted it, seeing as he voted for the “normal” MP-08 Grimlock as well. Anyway, the mold seems to be well-liked.

Voter Comments:

• Because he’s Grimlock! - Fredi
• Looks like he jumped out of the screen, but still so playable - Anguirus
• My personal favourite. Big, chunky, full of personality and the ultimate form of the character, in my opinion. - Terome

#2

Masterpiece MP-13 Soundwave (2012) – Superior!
Voting Percentage: 32%
Average Ranking: 9.06

Yup, Soundwave manages to get not one but two figures into the Top 5 of our Top 30 Countdown. The G1 original made it onto number 5 and the Masterpiece update of said G1 original actually makes it into the number 2 spot. Isn’t that something? Now I don’t personally own MP Soundwave (another thing I plan to remedy sooner or later), but given everything I’ve heard I could probably copy & paste almost everything I wrote about Masterpiece Grimlock at number 3. One of the most popular G1 toys (actually, THE most popular G1 toy according to this voting), updated to conform to the idealized memory of us 80’s kids.

MP Soundwave occupies the number 2 spot by number of votes alone, though his average ranking is also nothing to sneeze at. All things considered the numbers 2 through 4 were a very close race, which is kind of fitting seeing as Masterpiece figures occupy all three of these places and they’re all updates of G1 toys who have also managed to sneak into the top 30 (though not in the same order, mind you). Bottom line, though: the Masterpiece line manages to sneak five figures into these top 30 (and MP Lambor / Sideswipe only just missed by ending up on number 31), which speaks volumes as to the popularity of the line. And Masterpiece Soundwave is the top of the Masterpieces and second-most popular Transformers toy of them all. Now we have just one more figure to go.

Honorable Mention: of course this figure gets a black repaint as well. MP-13B Soundblaster came in at number 504 thanks to a single vote.

Voter Comments:

• Duh! - Anonymus
• Easily the most balanced, FUN collector-aimed toy ever. Especially with the tapes. - Warcry
• A perfect tribute to '80s G1, with amazing value and engineering. - Anguirus
• A fantastic update. - Exatron

#1

Generations Springer (2013) – Wreck’n Rule!
Voting Percentage: 44%
Average Ranking: 12.86

And we have a winner, ladies and gentlemen! And it’s not a Masterpiece figure, it’s not a high-end collectors figure, it’s not a rare store exclusive, nor a nostalgia-powered brick-bot from the 80s. No, it’s Generations Springer, a figure from last year, available at retail. And you know what? I’m glad about that. Because it reminds me of a time when the Transformers were not all about super-costly exclusives, chromed variants, and third party collectors specials.

Springer drew ahead pretty early in the voting and him being the winner was pretty much set in stone over a week before the voting ended. He beats out the number 2 figure, MP Soundwave, by 12 percent of the vote. It’s not quite as clear-cut a victory as that number suggests, mind you, seeing as his average ranking isn’t that hot. In fact you have to go down all the way to number 8 to find a figure with a worse average ranking and not a single one of you actually had him listed at the number 1 spot. That said, nearly half of you had him on your voting sheets somewhere, and that was more than enough to pull off the win here. And Springer wins in another category, too: most comments, which is just another sign how relatable and fun a toy he is.

Springer’s original toy appeared in the 1986 movie line-up, but since then he’s only ever gotten repaints of whatever helicopter bot was available at the time (and one where he wasn’t even a helicopter, too). It took 27 years, but it was well worth the wait, for Generations Springer is a fabulous toy. Nicely patterned after Nick Roche’s design for the IDW Last Stand of the Wreckers series, Springer not only looks completely bad-ass in robot mode, he also manages a feat few triple-changers have ever achieved: two nice alternate modes that manage to look different from each other. Plus, he’s big, he’s nicely articulated, he has a sword and a big gun, and he’s just so incredibly Springer. Our winner, boys and girls, the number 1 of the Top 30 Transformers toys from 30 years.

Honorable Mention: Instead of merely repainting this figure orange, the designers went the extra mile for Generations Sandstorm and nicely retooled him into an almost completely different-looking bot. Sandstorm got quite a few votes himself, coming in at number 65.

Voter Comments:

• Excellent engineering; toy is convincing-looking and fun to play with in all three modes. - Scott Jennings
• A masterpiece without the branding - Master Fwiffo
• The best Triple Changer that ever existed and, possibly, ever will - Andrusi
• He is everything I wanted an updated Springer to be. I refrained from buying the various half-assed versions before this one was released. An absolutely flawless looking toy in all three modes - Sciflyer
• Yes, Sandstorm's better. Springer's still one of the best. - Warcry
• The best triple changer. - Neil Toledo
• Triumphant, a joy to behold and transform. Very elegant use of parts to achieve different looks. - Anguirus
• A mind-boggling sweet spot between complexity, character, fun and colour. - Terome
• A great update for G1 Springer. - Black Zarak

Statistical anomalies, interesting facts, and assorted details regarding our Top 30 vote.

Top 30 by Mold

1.   Generations Springer / Sandstorm (Thrilling 30)
2.   Masterpiece MP-10 Convoy / Optimus Prime /MP-10B Black Convoy
3.   ROTF Optimus Prime (Leader) / Buster Prime
4.   Masterpiece MP-13 Soundwave / MP-13B Soundblaster
5.   G1 Optimus Prime Powermaster / God Ginrai
6.   Masterpiece MP-08 Grimlock
7.   Generations / Armada / Energon Unicron
8.   Masterpiece Prowl / Streak / Smokescreen
9.   G1 Soundwave (1984)
10.   G1 Fortress Maximus (1987)
11.   HFTD Starscream (Leader)
12.   Reveal the Shield Jazz / United Jazz / United Stepper
13.   Masterpiece MP-01/04 Convoy / Optimus Prime
14.   Prime Bulkhead (First Edition Voyager)
15.   Prime Vehicon (RID Deluxe) / AM Vehicon
16.   G1 Optimus Prime (1984)
17.   Classics Optimus Prime (Voyager) / Classics Ultra Magnus / Shattered Glass Optimus Prime
18.   G2 Laser Optimus Prime / RID Scourge / CR Black Convoy
19.   Reveal the Shield / Universe / Henkei! Cyclonus
20.   Generations Wheeljack (Deluxe) / Turbo Tracks
21.   G1 Devastator (1985)
22.   G1 Jetfire (1985)
23.   Generations Metroplex
24.   BW Optimus Primal (Ultra) / Reborn Convoy
25.   G1 Grimlock (1985)
26.   Cybertron Optimus Prime (Leader) / Galaxy Convoy
27.   Armada Tidal Wave
28.   Generations Drift / Blurr (Deluxe)
29.   HFTD Jazz (Human Alliance)
30.   G1 Shockwave (1985)

Top 30 by Vote only

1.   Generations Springer (Thrilling 30)
2.   Masterpiece MP-13 Soundwave
3.   Masterpiece MP-08 Grimlock
      Masterpiece MP-10 Convoy / Optimus Prime
      HFTD Starscream (Leader)
6.   G1 Soundwave (1984)
      Prime Bulkhead (First Edition Voyager)
8.   G1 Optimus Prime Powermaster (1988)
      G1 Optimus Prime (1984)
      Prime Vehicon (RID Deluxe)
      Generations Metroplex
12.  G1 Fortress Maximus (1987)
       Masterpiece MP-01/04 Convoy / Optimus Prime
       ROTF Optimus Prime (Leader)
       BW Optimus Primal (Ultra)
16.  HFTD Jazz (Human Alliance)
       Reveal the Shield Jazz
       Generations Warpath (Deluxe)
       Generations Rhinox
20.  G1 Devastator (1985)
       G1 Jetfire (1985)
       Armada Tidal Wave
       Generations Unicron (Supreme Store Excl.)
       Prime Optimus Prime (First Edition Voyager)
       G2 Laser Optimus Prime
       Masterpiece MP-17 Prowl
       Reveal the Shield Lugnut
28.  Classics Optimus Prime (Voyager)
       G1 Grimlock (1985)
       Cybertron Optimus Prime (Leader)

Best of the rest
Best-rated figures from toylines that didn’t make it into the Top 30.

Animated: Leader-Class Megatron, #32
Alternators / Binaltech: BT Meister / Jazz, #123
Beast Machines: Motorcycle Drone, #200
Dark of the Moon: Striker Optimus Prime, #44
Energon: Divebomb, #103
KRE-O: Kreon Bludgeon, #437
Machine Wars: Mirage, #218
Movie (2007): Leader-Class Brawl, #38
Power Core Combiners: Grimstone & Dinobots, #168
RID / Car Robots: Super-Class Optimus Prime, #46
Universe (Original series): Ultra-Class Nemesis Prime, #104
Universe 2.0: Deluxe-Class Hound, #43

Don't you love me?
Popular characters who didn’t get a single toy into the Top 30

Bumblebees:
69) Hunt for the Decepticons Battle Blade Bumblebee (Deluxe, 2010)
72) G1 Bumblebee (1984)
110) Generations Bumblebee (War for Cybertron Deluxe, 2010)

Megatrons:
32) Animated Megatron (Leader, 2008)
54) Beast Wars Megatron (Mega Transmetal, 1998)
63) DOTM Megatron (Voyager, 2011)

Hot Rod / Rodimus:
79) Masterpiece Rodimus Prime (2010)
116) Animated Rodimus Minor (2008)
129) G1 Hot Rod (1986)

They split my vote!
Figures who suffered from the votes getting split between various versions of them.

Reveal the Shield / Universe 2.0 / Henkei! Cyclonus => #19
Masterpiece Prowl / Streak / Smokescreen => #8
Reveal the Shield Jazz / United Jazz / United Stepper => #12
Armada / Energon / Generations Unicron => # 7
ROTF Optimus Prime / Buster Optimus Prime => #3
C.H.U.G. Seeker (Starscream, Thundercracker, etc) => #35
G1 Seeker (Starscream, Thundercracker, etc) => #51
Masterpiece Seeker (MP-03 Mold) => #53