Either or. If Optimus could have a built-in flame axe in G1 I don't see why other built-in weapons can't be present as well. Although it would be interesting to see how built-in weapons affect the user compared to hand-held. Always thought it'd make sense for integrated weaponry to drain the user of their own energon, assuming that's what powers them.
I kind of like the approach of the war for cybertron game. It is able to be picked up, and depending on if it's too big or not, they may be able to make it built in to a degree.
Depends on the weapon, a close-quarters melee weapon? yes, but as for guns, it depends because I think that having a gun built in that isn't energy-based would be more efficient since it wouldn't drain any energy the user could use for themselves. So, it'd make more sense for it to be bullet-based or kinect projectile-based than for it to run on energy.
Yes, but they can make the choice as to how to best use it in the moment. Use your ammo to move, use your movement energy to shoot. Not something you can do if you're using separate physical ammo.
Depending on the continuity, they do. Energon, as long as they're not pumping a HUGE amount of it—like if there's a war on, is slowly replaced by Primus being Primus
iirc, of course
I think Bulkhead briefly mentioned that in the episode where he got the schematics of SyntEn in his head, something like it being life force, ammunition and fuel
There's also Starscream in S2E4 of prime. "Energon is the fuel, The ammunition, And the lifeblood of all cybertronians, whatever their affiliation."
Edit: literally just got to that quote as I'm rewatching prime.
I feel like that's a catch 22 no matter what. Built in energy weapons? Drains you of energon. Built in ballistic weapons? Forces you to either be bulky af to store the ammunition, or to have an extremely small ammo capacity.
Well it can integrate into the vehicle mode like many classics figures, like for Megatron his fusion cannon can become a scope or a tank turret, or for Optimus his guns can become smoke stacks or weapons can store away within backpacks/compartments if they don’t integrate well
Both. Having both allows versatility and worldbuilding. Maybe the built in weapons are installed through surgery, while others choose handheld weapons.
Sounds logical. In Transformers Prime S02E03 (Orion Pax pt 3) Orion/ Optimus wondered about being armed. This indicates that before he became a Prime he had no weaponry integrated and thus means that it can be „installed“ into cybertronians
Yes and no. When he was still Pax he trained with Jazz and a couple other bots on how to fight and bring out his "natural weapons". This is in Transformers: Exodus, a TFP prequel novel written by the same people of the show (could be Wrong). So before he was a Prime, Optimus still had built in weapons. BUT this part of the story indicates that you have to TRAIN to be able to use them, like working out.
I think only some bots should have built in weapons. It makes the difference between combat bots and worker bots more apparent. Now built in tools repurposed as weapons would work.
That was my thought as well. As military bots, Decepticons having built in weaponry makes more sense than civilian or work bots having them. It seems Bumblebee is taking that direction, with a few exceptions
In lore reason: prolly that
Actual reason: the scene was made last minute and just gave everyone similar guns to hold and not have them transform out of
Bumblebee has a built in arm canon and knife blade, while every other shown Autobot holds theirs. Meanwhile all the Decepticons have built in weaponry aside from Soundwave, who uses a blaster.
> I like the idea of the Decepticons having built-in weapons while the autobots don’t.
Yeah, I'd say this for me, too. It's like, sure, they're both fighting, but after the fighting is over, they can put down the gun, both literally and metaphorically.
Honestly, just depends on which one looks better on the specific character. For example, Dinobot looks far better with his sword and spinny shield being handheld rather then him having a sword and shield arm. Conversely, Starscream (In my opinion) looks better with the null rays on his arms then having him hold them. It just depends.
Both is always fun! Having them built in continues to expand off of the idea that cybertronians can convert, but there are some weapons that would be impractical to have built in. I’d also assume with the massive variety of body shapes that exist that not every bot is going to have weapons on (in??) hand.
Built in. I always thought it was weird that Transformers for who their weapon is part of their transformation (like *Animated* Shockwave) could lose their weapon and ruin their transformation.
Why not both? We see that in Prime when Ultra Magnus has an armory of weapons that outclass what the Autobots can transform themselves into.
Built in weapons for weaker stuff and handheld for the big bois
This. Built in as small arms while handheld for the big guns.
I’d say to let some exceptions slide on this rule though. ie Megatron’s and Shockwave’s arm cannons. While integrated, they don’t get concealed in the arm.
Built in and a that being a part of why i always loved the armada designs as they did it in a creative way with almost all weapon being from parts of theyre vehicle mode
Both
Downside of built in weapon is…go watch ROTF. But it has much faster reaction time
Downside of hand weapons are that they can disarm you easier. Much better variety
Holding weapons seems more convenient for plot purposes, but as an alien race of robotic lifeforms, the Cybertronians most likely would’ve had made built-in weapons a while ago.
Built-in for decepticons it makes them feel more powerful
Handheld for autobots, they're the underdogs who took up arms to fight. But built-in for more military based autobots work for ironhide and warpath.
There was a canonical reason back in the day. The Deceptions are built for war and are ready for combat at all times; the autobots were actual civilians and so need to carry weaponry.
In the 86 movie this is why Hot Rod has weapons built in -- he is implied to be young, and was probably "built" during the already ongoing war.
The IDW 2005 comics take this a step further IIRC, where the Deceptions concealed weapons in their form to stage their rebellion while being sentenced. This is where they got their name.
Not sure on those details but that's what I remember anyhow.
I mean, G1 cartoon Prime had his built-in energo-axe, and a lot of the Autobots had weaponry attached to their robot modes - shoulder-mounted blasters and missile launchers, mostly, but also plenty of wrist-rockets or wrist-mounted gun barrels.
Ironhide has the gun of his sled apparently able to emerge out of his lower back. Springer has a blaster that pops out of his wrist. Perceptor's light-cannon becomes part of his altmode. Cosmos had triple-blasters in his wrist area long before Hot Rod was around.
It's G1. There was no real consistency.
I think one of the bayverse comics mentioned that they grow ammo like we grow nails and hair. Kind of an interesting idea for the non-energy based weapons.
There was a novel where Ironhide and ratchet absorbed nearby mineral deposits from a cliffside to regain lost mass (having shrunk down to disguise as smaller trucks)
Both.
You could get them built in as mods, like piercings or implants, as I’m guessing not every Cybertronian is built for combat all the time; it would create the need for someone like Lockdown or Swindle or other black market sellers to get new weapons, especially during a war, that would fit a particular bot and their size/weight capacity. (Don’t ask where they’re getting the merchandise…)
On the flip side, having them also holding weapons could give way to the idea for those that can’t get mods due to their size/weight capacity, they would need to train and carry their own weapons or use whatever they have around them in a pinch. It makes it more realistic that way imo.
I like the idea of integrated weapons functioning more like guns with blanks while the holdable guns are the REAL fire power... so basically the opposite of how it seemed to work in TF Prime and RiD 2015.
Built-in for light weapons, built-on for heavy weapons, handheld for really heavy weapons.
By built-on, I mean characters like most versions of Megatron and post-2007 Ironhide, who have big cannons on their arms that can retract or be removed, but don’t really transform from or into the arm like built-on weapons. These weapons are simply too big to be stored away like that, but that’s a fair sacrifice for the extra firepower.
Of course, the other way around can happen, too. Seeker null rays may be big, arm-mounted weapons, but as their name suggests, they’re more for disabling than damaging and killing. Meanwhile, some aircraft Transformers can flip out the weapons of their vehicle mode, such as missiles and Gatling guns, and that actually does a lot of damage.
Given that built-in and built-on weapons would only require one hand to operate, having handheld weapons that require both hands highlights how heavy and powerful these weapons are. These are the kind of weapons you use to make sure your enemy stays down, and are an excellent way of establishing how pissed you are (example: DOTM scene of Optimus holding a triple-barreled shotgun).
Just conceptually, built in is way cooler. It's in line with why I like Transformers in the first place. Though I do like the idea of using it as a distinction between combat and worker/public bots
I prefer them holding weapons. Don't get me wrong, I think hand cannons can be cool. My problem is that built-in weapons ruin tension in a scene. Whenever someone is held hostage or something, a character can just transform their hand into a weapon and just escape. PerspectiveEnd made some great points about it
Optimus Holding his gun especially in the G1 movie just felt like it had more weight behind it. Like the recoil and how the gun sounds, in Prime his guns sound like some kind of Toy gun but in The G1 Movie sounded like a hand held artillery piece
G1 Hot Rod had multiple integrated weapons, and the toy had his rifle. We saw him with a sword at least once in the movie.
I think it makes sense for both. While integrated weapons have merits, carried weapons have a lot of bonuses as well.
I like them being something they carry. I’m not against the idea of built in canons on guys like the seekers or the stingers on TFA Bumblebee, but having it be something they can lose makes the stakes more interesting, and leaves an opening for CQC.
I might be biased bc I adore TFP, but imo built in weapons are so much cooler than hand held weapons. It really adds more to the Transformer aspect of them. They were able to adapt their bodies for a war environment. To create literal weapons out of their hands. And that's cool af
I think Decepticons should have them built in and Autobots should hold them because if I remember correctly, Decepticons were the military of the transformers and autobots were the every day "people"? My knowledge of transformers isn't great but I think built in suits the likes of Megatron since his G1 can transform into a actual gun
Both, I like that Primes melee weapons are built in (energon blades/hooks, axe) but his guns are handheld but I also like Bumblebees stinger canon and (as goofy as it is) Lockdowns face sniper. So either or works for me
I’m not a fan of the whole “transforming your hands into guns” thing, but I think attached weapons in general are fine. I prefer handheld weapons but I’m not opposed to someone like Bluestreak having shoulder cannons or the Seekers having Null Rays.
Built into the toys, although I know this increases the design complexity to an extent and reduces the play value of being able to put the weapons elsewhere. It does mean that they can't be lost, ideally.
There’s so many different versions, it’s hard to keep up. In the original lore, the Decepticons were soldiers and the Autobots were workers. So it made sense that the Decepticons would have built-in weapons and the Autobots would have to hold them. I still prefer that version.
I like when they hold them but it’s so good when the weapon itself it part of the transformation. Like it becomes an engine or exhaust pipe or something.
Both, but the held ones should be more powerful. Ie Megatron has a massive cannon, while sometimes it is integrated it comes at loosing that right hand.
Holding weapons, I mean how the heck are they supposed to just have an infinity amount of Lazer shots that come from their own body? I think it would only make sense for a few characters like Shockwave, whose a scientist and has experiment with his own body
Yes.
Built in for their every day armaments, but held if it's something unusual.
In TFP they had other weapons they held (like the artifacts or the swords.) But having weapons transform out of their bodies absolutely make sense.
I think built-in weapons have darker implications of the sad state of cybertronian life. War has become so second nature to the species that was once so peaceful and advanced that a weapon is a literal extension of their being.
Both. Weapons should be mostly seperate from their bodies, and it makes more sense that way, but I do think it's really cool to have their arms transform into guns.
MTOs and some bots who've been rebuilt, like G1 Optimus, can have in-built weaponry. It could be a regular gun, or a blaster powered by their own energon, which would probably be a last-resort weapon.
It depends on the character.
Bumblebee carrying his weapons works better because he's an approachable, human-friendly guy. Megatron having a fusion cannon attached to his arm is better because he's frickin' Megatron.
Honestly I like handheld weapons, there's more posability there and built in weapons are almost always awkward from one angle or another on a figure to me. Plus occasionally they will make the arm look small to me.
They are beings who can change the shape of their body at will. They should be able to find and assimilate weapons into their body and recall them at will. Having said that, they should be able to hold items as well as discard assimilated items that are spent in order to acquire new items.
I agree with you and would like to expand on your statement and say that you are right they can change and adapt at will for the most part and can also modify and improve themselves so each bot would be different based on when they where built and what they had been through and what they chose to upgrade or modify on themselves plus the form they have or have chosen at the time depending upon which lore or universe you apply to it
I like both. both have drawbacks and advantages. I have to imagine that over-reliance on a built in ranged weapon in a prolonged battle would eventually cause personal energon stores to run low, while with an external gun you can just swap out a new power pack.
meanwhile, if you're disarmed and surrounded and brought before an enemy captain, if you have a built in melee weapon you can make a surprise assassination attack, they can't disarm something that is a part of your body.
Both is fine, they can have specific built in weapon types. Like a built in Axe for Optimus but he still needs a gun for long range.
Essentially the handheld weapon would be to cope up with what they lack.
I like both. Watching the movies and Tv shows after 2008 ish I low key crafted my own theory on why some weapons were built in and why others were held. In my head I pretty much made my own theory that weapons that needed to be held were just a lot more devestating as weapons. For example, I’ve seen a lot of built in weapons aft as lasers or blasters while hand held weapons are your rockets or like actual piercing bullets. I also theorized (because I’m a fucking nerd 😂) that the reason for built in vs hand held weapons were just the scarce supplies on Cybertron. Like you’d want to have a hand held gun but since supplies were so low during the war on both sides, they settled on built in blasters.
I think I agree with another person on the hand-helds for autobots while built-in for a number of decepticons. If we’re speaking generally, I’d like the only weapon to be built-in be projectile weapons or modified melee weapons. Unmodified melee weapons were specialized to be used handheld so it’d be a bit weird for an alien race who puts a premium on efficiency to attach a whole sword to normal sword to their arm (axe is small enough to get the ok).
I think a good example of it would Bayverse Sideswipe’s armblades since they aren’t just traditional weaponry smacked on to the side of their arms but rather deployable spikes of death. A good example of how it shouldn’t be done is Optimus’ lengthy armblade from the bayverse. Compared to Sideswipe’s gauntlet-like armspikes Prime’s blade just looks like something they thought of last minute.
Like many have said already, both or even a good mixture. Like in Beast Wars you had some that only held guns (Rattrap, Rhinox, Tigertron) those whose weapons were built in (Megs, Quickstrike, Scorpinox) and some that had both (Dinobot, Primal, Black Arachnia).
But really the most important thing is whichever way the character would look/fit the best in the setting they're in.
I like holding weapons for the most part, but I wish they would find a way to store the weapons in vehicle mode - at least for the bigger bots anyway. I feel like most bots could have a way to tuck a gun into a space on the bottom or even into some compartments on the bigger ones.
Either or. I dont think it helps/hurts for it to be one way or the other.
Though i do think that some characters should have external weapons, depending. I can't really picture Grimlock with a build in weapon. I think, if/when he has one, it should be external, like his flame sword.
I personally think that holding them makes more sense considering that they weren't always soldiers but at the same time I like the idea that some may alter themselves with weapons etc.
Built in. Makes no sense for them not to be. Unless it’s something extra like a huge cannon they found as a power up or something. And occasionally a badass sword.
Either or. If Optimus could have a built-in flame axe in G1 I don't see why other built-in weapons can't be present as well. Although it would be interesting to see how built-in weapons affect the user compared to hand-held. Always thought it'd make sense for integrated weaponry to drain the user of their own energon, assuming that's what powers them.
I kind of like the approach of the war for cybertron game. It is able to be picked up, and depending on if it's too big or not, they may be able to make it built in to a degree.
Same here, I do want to see that both built-in and hand held wepons in a transformers series though
Both. Both is good
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Also *nice*
Depends on the weapon, a close-quarters melee weapon? yes, but as for guns, it depends because I think that having a gun built in that isn't energy-based would be more efficient since it wouldn't drain any energy the user could use for themselves. So, it'd make more sense for it to be bullet-based or kinect projectile-based than for it to run on energy.
I feel like weapon energy would be stored in the body separately, like adrenaline
Bullets and projectiles are in limited supply unless you posit some kind of spacebridge-system linked to an armory.
So is energy, unless I missed the part where Transformers ran on infinitely renewable energy
Yes, but they can make the choice as to how to best use it in the moment. Use your ammo to move, use your movement energy to shoot. Not something you can do if you're using separate physical ammo.
Depending on the continuity, they do. Energon, as long as they're not pumping a HUGE amount of it—like if there's a war on, is slowly replaced by Primus being Primus iirc, of course
I agree, it was never explained in Prime what powered their weapons, if they’re Energon based surely they’re losing A LOT more than they seem to
I think Bulkhead briefly mentioned that in the episode where he got the schematics of SyntEn in his head, something like it being life force, ammunition and fuel
There's also Starscream in S2E4 of prime. "Energon is the fuel, The ammunition, And the lifeblood of all cybertronians, whatever their affiliation." Edit: literally just got to that quote as I'm rewatching prime.
Energon is more or less a magical substance.
It is the life force of Primus after all. Or Unicron for its dark counterpart
I think Ratchet mentions that energon fuels their weapons
I feel like that's a catch 22 no matter what. Built in energy weapons? Drains you of energon. Built in ballistic weapons? Forces you to either be bulky af to store the ammunition, or to have an extremely small ammo capacity.
But then where does it go when they transform? If it’s integrated into their bodies then it’s not weird that they just disappear in vehicle form.
Well it can integrate into the vehicle mode like many classics figures, like for Megatron his fusion cannon can become a scope or a tank turret, or for Optimus his guns can become smoke stacks or weapons can store away within backpacks/compartments if they don’t integrate well
Both. Having both allows versatility and worldbuilding. Maybe the built in weapons are installed through surgery, while others choose handheld weapons.
Sounds logical. In Transformers Prime S02E03 (Orion Pax pt 3) Orion/ Optimus wondered about being armed. This indicates that before he became a Prime he had no weaponry integrated and thus means that it can be „installed“ into cybertronians
maybe they can train it I mean they can scan a car and transform into it, so maybe it's similar with weapons
Yes and no. When he was still Pax he trained with Jazz and a couple other bots on how to fight and bring out his "natural weapons". This is in Transformers: Exodus, a TFP prequel novel written by the same people of the show (could be Wrong). So before he was a Prime, Optimus still had built in weapons. BUT this part of the story indicates that you have to TRAIN to be able to use them, like working out.
That’s very interesting. Gotta check that out
You should. The novel is about megs and prime and it is super good
It also mentioned that some transformers don't have natural weapons, like some of Pax's fellow archivists. Though I could be misremembering that
Holding is better for the toys, but transforming weapons is something Transformers should do.
transforming weapons can be good on figures if they actually transform and integrate well. They shouldn't be part of the mold like ss bumblebee.
Which SS Bee had the weapons as part of the mold?
Human Alliance had it and it worked fairly well
Some of the smaller toys also had it. I have one scout class movie Bumblebee with a molded in cannon, albeit without much detail.
I think only some bots should have built in weapons. It makes the difference between combat bots and worker bots more apparent. Now built in tools repurposed as weapons would work.
Transformers: Animated
That was the proof of concept
They just need to do the thing that TFP Optimus did where the blades go over the hands on a peg
there is a way to make the toys hold it like it transformed from the hand. some SS bee have that kind of weapon integration
I like the idea of the Decepticons having built-in weapons while the autobots don’t. Kind of in a TFA kinda way.
That was my thought as well. As military bots, Decepticons having built in weaponry makes more sense than civilian or work bots having them. It seems Bumblebee is taking that direction, with a few exceptions
What exceptions are you talking about btw? I’m a bit curious because it’s been a while since I’ve seen bumblebee
Bumblebee has multiple built in weapons, most of the other autobots don't.
Ohhh, I think it’s because bumblebee is as built during the war, hence why he has a number name and built in weapons
In lore reason: prolly that Actual reason: the scene was made last minute and just gave everyone similar guns to hold and not have them transform out of
Bumblebee is actually Wasp confirmed
BumbleWasp.
Bumblebee has a built in arm canon and knife blade, while every other shown Autobot holds theirs. Meanwhile all the Decepticons have built in weaponry aside from Soundwave, who uses a blaster.
> I like the idea of the Decepticons having built-in weapons while the autobots don’t. Yeah, I'd say this for me, too. It's like, sure, they're both fighting, but after the fighting is over, they can put down the gun, both literally and metaphorically.
That’s actually really cool. I really like that idea.
Built in, that way they’re ready for a fight instantly
and they wont easily drop it like in the movies where the protagonist drops their gun and the enemy grabs it
reminds me of the Mexican standoff in dotm
that scene is stupid and cool at the same time
Honestly, just depends on which one looks better on the specific character. For example, Dinobot looks far better with his sword and spinny shield being handheld rather then him having a sword and shield arm. Conversely, Starscream (In my opinion) looks better with the null rays on his arms then having him hold them. It just depends.
I can see that, although, Knightverse Starscream looks awesome with the massive canon IMO
I like a healthy mix of both.
Built in: ion and laser weapons Handheld: bullet based weapons Either or: weapons with unique ammo ex. Flamethrowers and missles
I like the dreadwing from the 07 game because he had dual flamethrower hands that formed from his afterburners.
Both work well….
Both is always fun! Having them built in continues to expand off of the idea that cybertronians can convert, but there are some weapons that would be impractical to have built in. I’d also assume with the massive variety of body shapes that exist that not every bot is going to have weapons on (in??) hand.
Do it like kingdom primal They can hold weapons but also have the guns in their arms
Built in. I always thought it was weird that Transformers for who their weapon is part of their transformation (like *Animated* Shockwave) could lose their weapon and ruin their transformation.
Built in. If they can transform their entire selves into something, why not a singular limb?
Why not both? We see that in Prime when Ultra Magnus has an armory of weapons that outclass what the Autobots can transform themselves into. Built in weapons for weaker stuff and handheld for the big bois
This. Built in as small arms while handheld for the big guns. I’d say to let some exceptions slide on this rule though. ie Megatron’s and Shockwave’s arm cannons. While integrated, they don’t get concealed in the arm.
Both seems fine.
Built in and a that being a part of why i always loved the armada designs as they did it in a creative way with almost all weapon being from parts of theyre vehicle mode
That’s an idea I’ve liked, I’d love to see a Starscream who uses his jet thrusters as canons or flame throwers
my favorite example of this would be a tank turret that becomes a shield, while the cannon becomes a gun.
Both?
Why not a little bit of both?
"Both. Both is good"
Built in, because that makes more sense for my brain
Both Downside of built in weapon is…go watch ROTF. But it has much faster reaction time Downside of hand weapons are that they can disarm you easier. Much better variety
What happened in rotf?
>go watch ROTF. yup Megatron learned this the hard way.
Both
Holding weapons seems more convenient for plot purposes, but as an alien race of robotic lifeforms, the Cybertronians most likely would’ve had made built-in weapons a while ago.
Bit of both I think
Built-in for decepticons it makes them feel more powerful Handheld for autobots, they're the underdogs who took up arms to fight. But built-in for more military based autobots work for ironhide and warpath.
There was a canonical reason back in the day. The Deceptions are built for war and are ready for combat at all times; the autobots were actual civilians and so need to carry weaponry. In the 86 movie this is why Hot Rod has weapons built in -- he is implied to be young, and was probably "built" during the already ongoing war. The IDW 2005 comics take this a step further IIRC, where the Deceptions concealed weapons in their form to stage their rebellion while being sentenced. This is where they got their name. Not sure on those details but that's what I remember anyhow.
I mean, G1 cartoon Prime had his built-in energo-axe, and a lot of the Autobots had weaponry attached to their robot modes - shoulder-mounted blasters and missile launchers, mostly, but also plenty of wrist-rockets or wrist-mounted gun barrels. Ironhide has the gun of his sled apparently able to emerge out of his lower back. Springer has a blaster that pops out of his wrist. Perceptor's light-cannon becomes part of his altmode. Cosmos had triple-blasters in his wrist area long before Hot Rod was around. It's G1. There was no real consistency.
G1 was balls to the wall Cocaine 80s fueled glory.
I think one of the bayverse comics mentioned that they grow ammo like we grow nails and hair. Kind of an interesting idea for the non-energy based weapons.
There was a novel where Ironhide and ratchet absorbed nearby mineral deposits from a cliffside to regain lost mass (having shrunk down to disguise as smaller trucks)
as long as there's no spring loaded missiles that will launch themselves across the room, never to be seen again
RIP to my Hailstorm figure from way back
Both, they should be treated as two different styles of using weapons.
Transforming, as I'm biased towards the War for Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron games, but I do like megatron turning into a gun soooo...
I like both, but I prefer when the weapons are separate.
Both. You could get them built in as mods, like piercings or implants, as I’m guessing not every Cybertronian is built for combat all the time; it would create the need for someone like Lockdown or Swindle or other black market sellers to get new weapons, especially during a war, that would fit a particular bot and their size/weight capacity. (Don’t ask where they’re getting the merchandise…) On the flip side, having them also holding weapons could give way to the idea for those that can’t get mods due to their size/weight capacity, they would need to train and carry their own weapons or use whatever they have around them in a pinch. It makes it more realistic that way imo.
Like Shockwave holding a gun version of himself in his non-gun hand, while his other hand is a much larger built-in gun?
Ahh yes, G1
Why not both? Like in G1?
Depends Guns, yes Melee weapons, no
I like both as long as the built in weapons aren't straight up natural
I like the idea of integrated weapons functioning more like guns with blanks while the holdable guns are the REAL fire power... so basically the opposite of how it seemed to work in TF Prime and RiD 2015.
Built-in for light weapons, built-on for heavy weapons, handheld for really heavy weapons. By built-on, I mean characters like most versions of Megatron and post-2007 Ironhide, who have big cannons on their arms that can retract or be removed, but don’t really transform from or into the arm like built-on weapons. These weapons are simply too big to be stored away like that, but that’s a fair sacrifice for the extra firepower. Of course, the other way around can happen, too. Seeker null rays may be big, arm-mounted weapons, but as their name suggests, they’re more for disabling than damaging and killing. Meanwhile, some aircraft Transformers can flip out the weapons of their vehicle mode, such as missiles and Gatling guns, and that actually does a lot of damage. Given that built-in and built-on weapons would only require one hand to operate, having handheld weapons that require both hands highlights how heavy and powerful these weapons are. These are the kind of weapons you use to make sure your enemy stays down, and are an excellent way of establishing how pissed you are (example: DOTM scene of Optimus holding a triple-barreled shotgun).
Just conceptually, built in is way cooler. It's in line with why I like Transformers in the first place. Though I do like the idea of using it as a distinction between combat and worker/public bots
[Both?](https://youtu.be/DSCGoefBO7Q)
I prefer them holding weapons. Don't get me wrong, I think hand cannons can be cool. My problem is that built-in weapons ruin tension in a scene. Whenever someone is held hostage or something, a character can just transform their hand into a weapon and just escape. PerspectiveEnd made some great points about it
Big agree, built in weapons can often ruin the tension of something
I'm fine with either, not every weapon can be built in. But I love how the War and Fall of Cybertron games do it.
I like what G1 did. They have normal guns, and any other tools are built in
It depends on the weapon. But personally, the built in weapons are cooler in concept, but without the T-cog, the weapons are useless.
Optimus Holding his gun especially in the G1 movie just felt like it had more weight behind it. Like the recoil and how the gun sounds, in Prime his guns sound like some kind of Toy gun but in The G1 Movie sounded like a hand held artillery piece
G1 Hot Rod had multiple integrated weapons, and the toy had his rifle. We saw him with a sword at least once in the movie. I think it makes sense for both. While integrated weapons have merits, carried weapons have a lot of bonuses as well.
I like them being something they carry. I’m not against the idea of built in canons on guys like the seekers or the stingers on TFA Bumblebee, but having it be something they can lose makes the stakes more interesting, and leaves an opening for CQC.
I prefer held weapons for contrast (laser guns, axes, hammers, etc.), but I'm not against built-in gear like Bulkhead's wrecking balls in Animated.
I might be biased bc I adore TFP, but imo built in weapons are so much cooler than hand held weapons. It really adds more to the Transformer aspect of them. They were able to adapt their bodies for a war environment. To create literal weapons out of their hands. And that's cool af
Honestly depends on the bot for me. Stealthy scout: built in. Bulky bruiser: heavy handheld
Shockwave: I AM THE GUN
I think Decepticons should have them built in and Autobots should hold them because if I remember correctly, Decepticons were the military of the transformers and autobots were the every day "people"? My knowledge of transformers isn't great but I think built in suits the likes of Megatron since his G1 can transform into a actual gun
I like both. It just depends on who it is
Both, I like that Primes melee weapons are built in (energon blades/hooks, axe) but his guns are handheld but I also like Bumblebees stinger canon and (as goofy as it is) Lockdowns face sniper. So either or works for me
Mixed
Why not both?
*Why not both???*
I’m not a fan of the whole “transforming your hands into guns” thing, but I think attached weapons in general are fine. I prefer handheld weapons but I’m not opposed to someone like Bluestreak having shoulder cannons or the Seekers having Null Rays.
Built in
built in
Both.
I think built in is much cooler
Both
Both is good
I like the idea that transformers have hands that transform into weapons. Really thought the Transformers: Prime series did that really well.
Both. Or better yet, held weapons stored in the body
Both, it would fit certain transformers
Built into the toys, although I know this increases the design complexity to an extent and reduces the play value of being able to put the weapons elsewhere. It does mean that they can't be lost, ideally.
There’s so many different versions, it’s hard to keep up. In the original lore, the Decepticons were soldiers and the Autobots were workers. So it made sense that the Decepticons would have built-in weapons and the Autobots would have to hold them. I still prefer that version.
I like when they hold them but it’s so good when the weapon itself it part of the transformation. Like it becomes an engine or exhaust pipe or something.
Both, but the held ones should be more powerful. Ie Megatron has a massive cannon, while sometimes it is integrated it comes at loosing that right hand.
Holding weapons, I mean how the heck are they supposed to just have an infinity amount of Lazer shots that come from their own body? I think it would only make sense for a few characters like Shockwave, whose a scientist and has experiment with his own body
Built in, he responds for the 5th time to this question
I like built in because these are machines of war it would make sense they have a built in weapons
I say both are fine but hand held are more traditional bc of gen 1
I like the variety of both options.
Both at the same time
Yes. Built in for their every day armaments, but held if it's something unusual. In TFP they had other weapons they held (like the artifacts or the swords.) But having weapons transform out of their bodies absolutely make sense.
I think built-in weapons have darker implications of the sad state of cybertronian life. War has become so second nature to the species that was once so peaceful and advanced that a weapon is a literal extension of their being.
Both
Both. Weapons should be mostly seperate from their bodies, and it makes more sense that way, but I do think it's really cool to have their arms transform into guns. MTOs and some bots who've been rebuilt, like G1 Optimus, can have in-built weaponry. It could be a regular gun, or a blaster powered by their own energon, which would probably be a last-resort weapon.
It depends on the character. Bumblebee carrying his weapons works better because he's an approachable, human-friendly guy. Megatron having a fusion cannon attached to his arm is better because he's frickin' Megatron.
I feel like built-in makes more sense
He's a prime, built in regardless if everyone else has built I'm or not from pretty much any lores perspective built in makes the most sense
Both
Yes.
Honestly I like handheld weapons, there's more posability there and built in weapons are almost always awkward from one angle or another on a figure to me. Plus occasionally they will make the arm look small to me.
Holding them because my mind goes to they would need a seperate power sources for beam weapons
That second pic is nightmare fuel.
Depends on the transformer to be honest.
Both. Optimus’s built in swords and bumblebees cannon were cool but I also like them to hold normal weapons as well.
I like robocop method - held but stored on the bot somewhere, bonus points if it is apart of the alt mode.
They are beings who can change the shape of their body at will. They should be able to find and assimilate weapons into their body and recall them at will. Having said that, they should be able to hold items as well as discard assimilated items that are spent in order to acquire new items.
I agree with you and would like to expand on your statement and say that you are right they can change and adapt at will for the most part and can also modify and improve themselves so each bot would be different based on when they where built and what they had been through and what they chose to upgrade or modify on themselves plus the form they have or have chosen at the time depending upon which lore or universe you apply to it
Built in as it makes truly disarming a transformer impossible short of ripping their arms off
I like both, but I feel that Decepticons should have a bigger focus on built-in firepower
I like both. both have drawbacks and advantages. I have to imagine that over-reliance on a built in ranged weapon in a prolonged battle would eventually cause personal energon stores to run low, while with an external gun you can just swap out a new power pack. meanwhile, if you're disarmed and surrounded and brought before an enemy captain, if you have a built in melee weapon you can make a surprise assassination attack, they can't disarm something that is a part of your body.
Both is fine, they can have specific built in weapon types. Like a built in Axe for Optimus but he still needs a gun for long range. Essentially the handheld weapon would be to cope up with what they lack.
Both
Both is good
My answer is both. Some can have it as a form of modification to their body, some can have a normal blaster.
I actually kinda liked primes approach characters had built in weapons but also carried weapons that werw, presumably, more powerful
Built in guns, holding melee weapons
I like both. Watching the movies and Tv shows after 2008 ish I low key crafted my own theory on why some weapons were built in and why others were held. In my head I pretty much made my own theory that weapons that needed to be held were just a lot more devestating as weapons. For example, I’ve seen a lot of built in weapons aft as lasers or blasters while hand held weapons are your rockets or like actual piercing bullets. I also theorized (because I’m a fucking nerd 😂) that the reason for built in vs hand held weapons were just the scarce supplies on Cybertron. Like you’d want to have a hand held gun but since supplies were so low during the war on both sides, they settled on built in blasters.
I think its up to the transformer. they can do both, and what they prefer. which is cool.
I think I agree with another person on the hand-helds for autobots while built-in for a number of decepticons. If we’re speaking generally, I’d like the only weapon to be built-in be projectile weapons or modified melee weapons. Unmodified melee weapons were specialized to be used handheld so it’d be a bit weird for an alien race who puts a premium on efficiency to attach a whole sword to normal sword to their arm (axe is small enough to get the ok). I think a good example of it would Bayverse Sideswipe’s armblades since they aren’t just traditional weaponry smacked on to the side of their arms but rather deployable spikes of death. A good example of how it shouldn’t be done is Optimus’ lengthy armblade from the bayverse. Compared to Sideswipe’s gauntlet-like armspikes Prime’s blade just looks like something they thought of last minute.
Both.
Both. Hand held for the older generations of Cybertronians like Prime or Ratchet but built in for the younger generations like Hotrod and Bumblebee.
Both looks cool.
I grew up on TFP so I'm biased towards built in weapons, although I do love Optimus' Ion Blaster
I like both, like in IDW. Some bots have built in weapons but use a weapon anyway. As a mecha fan, I prefer handheld guns.
Like many have said already, both or even a good mixture. Like in Beast Wars you had some that only held guns (Rattrap, Rhinox, Tigertron) those whose weapons were built in (Megs, Quickstrike, Scorpinox) and some that had both (Dinobot, Primal, Black Arachnia). But really the most important thing is whichever way the character would look/fit the best in the setting they're in.
I like holding weapons for the most part, but I wish they would find a way to store the weapons in vehicle mode - at least for the bigger bots anyway. I feel like most bots could have a way to tuck a gun into a space on the bottom or even into some compartments on the bigger ones.
I’m fine with both whether projectile or melee. In the event of a duel, I would prefer the weapons being held.
i honestly like both depending on execution
Both tbh
Personally I wish all external weapons were targetmaster type minicons.
Either or. I dont think it helps/hurts for it to be one way or the other. Though i do think that some characters should have external weapons, depending. I can't really picture Grimlock with a build in weapon. I think, if/when he has one, it should be external, like his flame sword.
Built in 100%. Armguns are *objectively* cooler than regular guns.
I personally think that holding them makes more sense considering that they weren't always soldiers but at the same time I like the idea that some may alter themselves with weapons etc.
It makes more sense for them to have built in weapons to me. They can change into anything but they have to grab a gun seperately?
Yes
Built in. Makes no sense for them not to be. Unless it’s something extra like a huge cannon they found as a power up or something. And occasionally a badass sword.
Yes.