Arms Micron

The Arms Microns (アームズマイクロン Āmuzu Maikuron) were once ordinary weapons. However, a bizarre interaction with Earth's energon mutated them, giving the weapons the spark of life and the ability to transform!^[1]

This new breed of Mini-Con assists the larger Transformers in the battlefield, combining their powers to form amazing new weapons.

Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Prime cartoon

Arms Micron Theater

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Toys

The Arms Microns were, with rare exception, only released in predominantly-TakaraTomy markets (Japan, parts of "mainland" Asia). Due to the... interesting variety of Arms Microns, they will be tackled here as groups.

Transformers

Vector Oracle

The first Arms Microns made available were released under a non-descript Transformers label in 2011–2012 as giveaway exclusives, usually with the purchase of larger toys. All of these Microns are redecos of Mini-Con molds from the Power Core Combiners toyline, with one exception being a redeco of the Universe Targetmaster Nightstick mold. Some of these were part of multiple promotions over time. See individual pages for more details on each one.

Joshin Kids' Land/Bic Camera Aimless

Toys"R"Us Peaceman Pinpointer Vector Oracle

Multiple outlets Blowpipe Autobot Firebolt

Conventions Autobot Firebolt Clear Yellow Ver.

Prime

Pack-in Arms Microns

The Arms Microns are the primary gimmick of the Japanese Prime toyline; snap-together model kits that require stickers for detailing. When properly assembled, each kit becomes a little Targetmaster-styled robot. Each Micron transforms into a weapon, typically modeled after the character's in-show weapon (with exceptions for non-show and repeat characters), and feature numerous 5 mm posts and holes, allowing you to combine them together to create larger and more ridiculous weapons. (See "Arms Up" below for more information on combined Arms Micron weapons.)

All Deluxe-and-up releases come with their own Arms Micron, which replaces the accessories from the Hasbro versions (when applicable). Most of the toys have been retooled to add more 5 mm post-holes for the Microns to attach to. The Autobot Microns all transform from weapons to humanoid robots. Their names are one-or-two-syllable contractions of their larger partner's names. The Decepticon Microns, meanwhile, all transform from weapons to one-eyed animalistic robots, with names based on their animal-form, again crunched to two(ish) syllables, with some slight changes to consonants.

Gacha Arms Microns

A completely new set of molds were created for a set of Arms Microns distributed mainly through Gacha-branded "capsule toy" machines. Oddly, they contain a mix of Micron versions of larger show characters (for lack of information or a better explanation, this wiki is treating them as new characters) and entirely-new bestial Decepticon Microns. "Vol.1" was later made available in individual boxes through the Arms Micron Gum series (released on August 20 of 2012), though at a slight markup.

In November of 2012, Esdevium Games imported the entire first wave to UK toy stores as a blindbagged line in English packaging, produced by Tomy (the packaging sports Tomy and Gacha logos) and licensed by Hasbro UK. The packaging does not give any names to the Microns inside, and merely refers to the toys as a "Transforming Figure Collection". In 2013, they were also found at Kaufland supermarkets in Germany. "Vol.2" was also imported into the UK this way, but in much lower numbers and not as widely distributed.

Vol.1 (June 2012) Bumblebee Sword Gobu (2 versions) Optimus Prime Blaster Zado (2 versions)

Vol.2 (August 2012) Arcee Blade Bulkhead Knuckle Dado (2 versions) Megatron Cannon

Vol.3 (December 2012) Dobo (2 versions) Ratchet Spanner Starscream Boomerang Wheeljack Kunai

Special Edition (March 2013) Arcee Blade MX Bulkhead Knuckle MX Bumblebee Sword MX Dado TC Dobo TC Gobu TC Megatron Cannon TC Optimus Prime Blaster MX Ratchet Spanner MX Starscream Boomerang TC Wheeljack Kunai MX Zado TC

Arms Micron Weapon series

The Arms Micron Weapon series is a secondary line of individually-packaged Arms Microns sold without any larger companion figure. These vary between entirely new molds and redecoes of partner Microns. They come in identical clear-plastic bags with adhesive flaps, with the assembly instructions printed on the cardboard backer inside. Initial installments had weapon combinations formed by trios of Microns, with later installments featuring five-Micron weapon combinations.

Released toys

Promotional campaign Arms Microns

In addition to the Transformers Arms Microns listed above, Prime also received its own promotional campaign Arms Microns, available with the purchase of larger toys. Some of these were likewise part of multiple promotions, with more release details on each's individual page.

AEON Shining Gura B Hellflame Guru Shadow R.A. Shining R.A. GR		Joshin Kids' Land Hellflame Jida Shining R.A. P		Bic Camera Shadow Gora Hellflame Jida Shining R.A. P		Toys"R"Us Pure Energon B.B. Shadow C.L. Pure Energon O.P. Shining R.A. R Hellflame Zamu
Multiple outlets Shadow Baro Hellflame Noji Shining R.A. Y		Conventions Shining B.B. Shining O.P.		Misc. Golden Hades Golden O.P. Optimus Prime Blaster (red version)

Go!

Though the main Go! toyline—the Japanese counterpart of Beast Hunters—did not feature any Arms Microns, they did have a limited presence in the form of "promotional" gifts. Each one is a redeco of a Prime Arms Micron.

• Gan (6-22-2013, free w/ Ganoh at numerous stores)
• Jin (6-22-2013, free w/ Jinbu at numerous stores)
• Zan (6-22-2013, free w/ Kenzan at numerous stores)
• Shining Optimus Prime Blaster (June, via redeemed coupon)
• Sen (11-09-2013, w/ 3000 yen of Go! toys at AEON)
• Ex (11-16-2013, w/ 3000 yen of Go! toys at Toys"R"Us)
• Geki (11-16-2013, w/ 3000 yen of Go! toys at Joshin Kid's Land & Bic Camera)
• Go (11-??-2013, w/ 3000 yen of Go! toys at many many many stores)
• Shou (11-16-2013, w/ 3000 yen of Go! toys at Edion group stores, Yamada, and Yodobashi Camera)

"Arms Up"

The main gimmick of the Arms Microns is their combination ability, both with larger toys and each other.

Simply attaching an Arms Micron to a larger toy produces an Arms Up Mode. Every AM-series larger robot has at least one specifically-named Arms Up Mode, depicted on their packaging back, utilizing multiple Arms Microns.

Energon Crystals

Every Arms Micron (well, every one that was specifically designed for the Prime toyline, at least) has a socket made for a clear-plastic "Energon Crystal", laid over a small foil sticker showing the Micron's allegiance. They come in a broad variety of colors, and in three different shapes:

Combinations

Combining multiple Arms Microns together to produce bigger weapons is heavily encouraged in the line. Once three Microns are joined, one with each different Crystal shape, the combination is dubbed a Combo Weapon. By combining three Microns with the same color of Crystal, one of each shape, the combined form is dubbed a Super Combo Weapon, and is deemed to be much more powerful than a normal Combo Weapon.

There are also some named weapons formed by combinations of two to five Microns (or Micron substitutions), without regard to Crystal shape.

The Energon Sniper.

Combo Weapons

The Dark Matter Calibur.

Super Combo Weapons

The Rainbow Shield.

Other named Micron combinations

Arms Up Mission Game

The above combinations play into the online "Arms Up Mission" online game on TakaraTomy's website.

Aside from the usual eight Tech Spec stats, every large AM-series robot has an additional three stats, the same as the three shapes of Energon Crystals on the Arms Microns: HP (Hit Points), SP (Speed Points), and AP (Attack Points), though these are rated using thousands rather than ones. By equipping Arms Micron weapons, the Microns' point values are added to their larger partner's; 500 points for the stat related to their Energon Crystal shape, and 100 for each of the other two.

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Notes

• In an interview in Dengeki Hobby magazine, TakaraTomy designers Takashi Nakase and Hironori Kobayashi explained the reasons Microns played so heavily into the Japanese Prime line when it wasn't designed that way from the start:

Takashi Nakase: The biggest reason is that we wanted to raise the target age group. In past series, the target ages were small children and their fathers, but the age group which is actually able to enjoy transforming toys is 7 ~ 9 years old. We went back to the beginning and considered appropriate products for that age group, and came up with the concept of "customising". That is why Arms Microns need to be assembled from parts, and stickers are included to be put on the main figure - to give the feeling of "completing" the toy as one's own.

Hironori Kobayashi: We conducted a play session with children where they played freely with Movie series Transformers, mixed with various items such as Minicons, and found that they mostly enjoyed combining Minicons to make larger weapons or to customise the Transformers. We thought it might have some potential.

• Model-making is huge in Japan for the 7-and-up crowd. Mega-huge.

• While the "weapons turned into living robots" backstory was given in specific reference to the pack-in toys, it's pretty safe to assume that it holds true for all characters labeled "Arms Micron".

References

External links

• Takara promotional galleries for pack-in Arms Microns
• Arms Up Missions game at TakaraTomy's Transformers website