Transformers Armada toy line was introduced in-conjunction of the animated series launched between 2002-2003. It was actually scheduled as early as 2001. It was known as Micron Densetsu on the Japanese side.
Just like other Transformers franchise, this franchise involves a close joint-venture between Takara and Hasbro. Armada is the first of the series in the Unicron Trilogy that introduced Mini-Con as a new faction. The Mini-Cons was a concept absent from Transformers for more than ten years with it’s predecessors emulate traits of Targetmasters, Headmasters and Breastmasters.
The Mini-Cons made very distinctive as each primary toy will include one or more Mini-Con partners and once plugged in (powered up), will activate a gimmick.
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The concept of Armada had severely limit articulation that was sacrificed to keep price down as it needs to accommodate a Mini-Con partner to every mold. Articulation points such as ball joints is almost non-existent. The larger robots had traits of Generation One which was blocky but sturdy.
As for size class, Armada has disposed of the Basic, Deluxe, Mega and Ultra size classes, in favor of a somewhat less intuitive Mini-Con, Supercon, Maxcon, Gigacon, Super Base and Supreme system. This was presumably done to integrate the Mini-Con name into the system.
Towards the end of the franchise, some Transmetal Beast Wars characters have been re-introduced with new paintjobs and of course coupled with some Mini-Con partners. Unfortunately, only certain figures contain Mini-Con ports and they did not perform any gimmicks.
IMAGE
NAME
FACTION
CLASS
WAVE
YEAR
Cyclonus w/ Crumplezone
Decepticon
Supercon
1
2002
Demolishor w/ Blackout
Decepticon
Supercon
1
2002
Hot Shot w/ Jolt
Autobot
Supercon
1
2002
Sideways w/ Crosswise & Rook
Decepticon
Supercon
2
2002
Smokescreen w/ Liftor
Autobot
Supercon
2
2002
Blurr w/ Incinerator
Autobot
Supercon
3
2002
Optimus Prime w/ Over-Run
Autobot
Supercon
3
2002
Rhinox w/ Armorhide
Autobot
Supercon
4.5
2003
Side Swipe w/ Nightbeat
Autobot
Supercon
4.5
2003
Terrorsaur w/ Ironhide
Decepticon
Supercon
4.5
2003
Thrust w/ Inferno
Decepticon
Supercon
4.5
2003
Airazor w/ Nightscream
Autobot
Supercon
5
2003
Hoist w/ Refute
Autobot
Supercon
5
2003
Wheeljack w/ Wind Sheer
Decepticon
Supercon
5
2003
Cheetor w/ Cliffjumper
Autobot
Supercon
6
2003
Cyclonus (Powerlinx) w/ Crumplezone
Decepticon
Supercon
6
2003
Hot Shot (Powerlinx) w/ Jolt
Autobot
Supercon
6
2003
Thrust (Powerlinx) w/ Inferno
Decepticon
Supercon
6
2003
Demolishor (Powerlinx) w/ Blackout
Decepticon
Supercon
6
2003
Nemesis Prime w/ Run-Over
Decepticon
Supercon
7
2003
Thrust – Red (Powerlinx) w/ Inferno
Decepticon
Supercon
7
2003
Red Alert w/ Longarm
Autobot
Maxcon
1
2002
Starscream w/ Swindle
Decepticon
Maxcon
1
2002
Scavenger w/ Rollbar
Autobot
Maxcon
2
2002
Thundercracker w/ Zapmaster
Decepticon
Maxcon
2
200
Overload w/ Rollout
Autobot
Maxcon
3
2003
Skywarp w/ Thunderclash
Decepticon
Maxcon
3
2003
Predacon w/ Skid-Z & Side Burn
Decepticon
Maxcon
4
2003
Red Alert (Powerlinx) w/ Longarm
Autobot
Maxcon
4
2003
Megatron w/ Leader-1
Decepticon
Gigacon
1
2002
Jetfire w/ Comettor
Autobot
Gigacon
2
2002
Galvatron w/ Clench
Decepticon
Gigacon
3
2003
Tidalwave w/ Ramjet
Decepticon
Gigacon
4
2003
Jetfire (Powerlinx) w/ Comettor
Autobot
Gigacon
5
2003
Optimus Prime w/ Sparkplug
Autobot
Super Base
1
2002
Optimus Prime (Powerlinx) w/ Corona Sparkplug
Autobot
Super Base
1
2003
Unicron
Decepticon
Supreme
1
2002
Laserbeak
Autobot
Roleplay
1
2002
Slapper
Autobot
Basic
Walmart Exclusive
2003
Sludge
Autobot
Basic
Walmart Exclusive
2003
Swoop
Autobot
Basic
Walmart Exclusive
2003
Grimlock
Autobot
Supercon
Walmart Exclusive
2003
Snarl
Autobot
Supercon
Walmart Exclusive
2003
Triceradon
Autobot
Supercon
Walmart Exclusive
2003
Adventure Team (Dune Runner, Iceberg, Ransack)
Mini-Con
Mini-Con
3.5
2002
Air Assault Team (Jetstorm, Runway, Sonar)
Mini-Con
Mini-Con
4
2003
Air Defense Team (Jetstorm, Runway, Sonar)
Mini-Con
Mini-Con
1
2002
Air Military Team (Gunbarrel, Terradive, Thunderwing)
Mini-Con
Mini-Con
5
2003
Destruction Team (Buzzsaw, Drill Bit, Dualor)
Mini-Con
Mini-Con
2
2002
Emergency Team (Firebot, Makeshift, Prowl)
Mini-Con
Mini-Con
5
2003
Land Military Team (Bonecrusher, Knockout, Wreckage)
Mini-Con
Mini-Con
1
2002
Night Attack Team (Broadside, Fetch, Scattor)
Mini-Con
4
2003
Race Team (Dirt Boss, Downshift, Mirage)
Mini-Con
Mini-Con
2
2002
Road Assault Team (Dirt Boss, Downshift, Mirage)
Mini-Con
Mini-Con
6
2003
Road Wrecker Team (Buzz Saw, Drill Bit, Dualor)
Mini-Con
Mini-Con
6
2003
Sea Team (Oceanglide, Stormcloud, Waterlog)
Mini-Con
Mini-Con
4
2003
Space Team (Astroscope, Payload, Sky Blast)
Mini-Con
Mini-Con
3
2002
Street Action Team (Grindor, High Wire, Sureshock)