Triple Changer - Transformers: Generation 1

Transformers: Generation 1

Triple Changers were introduced into the Transformers toy line in 1985. They were named among the top selling toys in 1985 by Playthings magazine.

No particular origin was given to the Triple Changers in most storylines. According to the Dreamwave Productions comic, The Triple Changers were the result of experiments by Shockwave to produce a robot with more than one alternate mode. Failed attempts resulted in the Duocons. The first successful Triple Changer was Springer, followed by Blitzwing. Later, they were joined by Astrotrain, Broadside, Sandstorm and Octane. Triple Changers can change between their multiple alternate modes twice as fast as most Transformers.

The original commercial for Scorponok described him as a Triple Changer, despite it not being mentioned on the box. Dreamwave's More Than Meets The Eye series additionally described the Headmaster Horrorcons Apeface and Snapdragon as Triple Changers. In 2005, an E-hobby repaint of Blitzwing named Overcharge was released, making him another Triple Changer by default.

The Generation 1 Triple Changers' alternate modes consist of the following:

• Apeface
  Cybertronian jet / transmetal gorilla
• Astrotrain
  D-62 (Japanese) 2-8-4 steam locomotive / space shuttle
• Blitzwing
  Mitsubishi Type 74 main battle tank / (Soviet) MiG-25 "Foxbat" jet fighter
• Broadside
  F/A-18 Hornet / aircraft carrier
• Octane
  Tanker truck / Boeing KC-767 jumbo jet
• Overcharge
  See Blitzwing.
• Sandstorm
  Dune buggy / transport helicopter
• Scorponok
  City / robot scorpion
• Snapdragon
  Cybertronian jet / transmetal dinosaur
• Springer
  Cybertronian car / helicopter

Although there are many examples of other Transformers with 2 alternate modes, the group mentioned above are the only ones that possess the official designation. Some other G1 Transformers with three modes include:

• Doubledealer
  Missile Truck / Decepticon falcon
• Galvatron
  Cannon / laser pistol
• Metroplex
  City / battle station
• Trypticon
  Battle station / city / robot dinosaur
• Scattershot
  Cybertronian plane / cannon
• Punch-Counterpunch
  Autobot robot / Decepticon robot / Pontiac Fiero car
• Fortress Maximus
  City / battle station
• Seacons
  With the exception of Snaptrap (tortoise), the other 5 Seacons - Nautilator, Overbite, Seawing, Skalor and Tentakill - could transform into both their sea creature modes (lobster, shark, manta ray, coelacanth and octopus, respectively) and a weapon mode for use by their combined form, Piranacon (Piranaking or King Poseidon in some fiction).
• Cerebros
  Human base, Fortress Maximus head.
• Tracks
  Car / flying car.

Technically, all Transformers that are parts of a gestalt could also be called triple changers, as they have a robot mode, a vehicle mode and a body part mode, however, most fans only consider forms that a robot can form all by itself for being a Triple Changer.

The Decepticon Sixshot and the Autobot Quickswitch have a robot mode and 5 alternate modes. So technically, they are not Triple Changers because they have more than 3 modes.