Electromagnetic pulse
From Transformers Wiki
An electromagnetic pulse (or EMP) is a powerful wave of electromagnetic radiation which disables or destroys some electronic/robotic devices, but leaves others conveniently operational.
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Fiction
Full Throttle Scramble Power!
Megatron created an EMP cannon called the Omega Wave Cannon which he planned to use to hold the Earth hostage. The Autobots intervened and managed to destroy the Omega Wave Cannon. Full Throttle Scramble Power!
G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers
General Hawk used an EMP to disable Wheeljack and Bumblebee, intending to transport the two incapacitated Transformers to Area 51. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4
Live-action film series
IDW movie comics
Human soldiers from a U.S. Army base in Afghanistan used a localized EMP weapon to disable Wreckage, allowing them to take him captive. Planetfall
Sector Seven ARG
The AllSpark Mutation referred to as AX9-8946-09SU-1 proved to be resistant to an electromagnetic pulse in Sector Seven experiments.
Capture the Cube
Dewbot is not resistant to an electromagnetic pulse, but the guards are.
The Veiled Threat
Kaminari Ishihara's weapon of choice is a directionally focused EMP weapon of her own design. It is able to impair a Transformer's motor functions from short-range, hopefully allowing teammates with bigger guns to finish the job. The Veiled Threat
Revenge of the Fallen film
Starscream released an EMP burst to disable the radios of Major William Lennox and his team after finding them in the Egypt-Israel-Jordan area. Revenge of the Fallen
Revenge of the Fallen toy bios
When Lockdown was paid to hunt down Ratchet, Ratchet defended himself with an "EMP blast" missile-launcher. Deluxe Ratchet toy bio
Cyber Missions
Lockdown stole Ratchet's EMP blaster after a fight in Mission City. Cyber Missions 3 Ratchet got it back after Lockdown broke into NEST headquarters and fought with Sideswipe. Cyber Missions 7 He later used it to disable Chopster, though its lengthy recharge cycle meant that Chopster's partner Smolder had free rein to attack Bumblebee. Ratchet had to use his own spark energy to power the weapon so the two Autobots could prevail. Cyber Missions 9 When the Decepticons tried to hijack an Energon shipment, Ratchet used his EMP blaster to detonate the substance. Cyber Missions 10 It proved equally capable of bringing down Starscream. Cyber Missions 12
Animated cartoon
During his days in the Great Wars, Ratchet carried a small EMP generator on his arm. He used this device on low power settings to place patients under general anesthetic, allowing him to perform painful or complex operations without causing the patient discomfort. He described its operation to Arcee, telling her it would "temporarily overload your consciousness center". At higher settings, the device is capable of immediately rendering a Transformer unconscious, even at range, and can also erase memory cores. Unfortunately, the generator was stolen by Lockdown, who used it as a weapon for many years before Ratchet was able to recover it. When Lockdown tried using it on Ratchet, Ratchet revealed that he was immune to it. The Thrill of the Hunt
In the present, on Earth, Ratchet and Bumblebee can create a directed EMP by "crossing the streams", so to speak, of their respective magnetic and electric weapons. Some combination of this EMP and the AllSpark Key was seemingly responsible for granting sparks to the lifeless Dinobots. Blast from the Past
The two later used the same kind of electromagnetic pulse to successfully blast Blitzwing out of the air. Megatron Rising - Part 2 The attack proved less efficient against the immortal Starscream, who didn't even flinch. Mission Accomplished
Aligned continuity family
War for Cybertron video game
In the Great War on Cybertron, both Autobots and Decepticons used EMP weaponry. Scout-class warriors of either faction were known to utilize EMP Grenades that disabled an enemy's sensors, and Soldier-class warriors utilized EMP Shotguns, a highly damaging form of firearm. Ultra Magnus's hammer also sends out electromagnetic pulses, an ability shared by Brutes and Destroyers.
Rescue Bots cartoon
In the 1960s, Griffin Rock scientists set up an EMP generator at Griffin Crest so there would be a safe area if island technology could not be controlled. It rendered Transformers immobile, but otherwise conscious. Rules and Regulations
Dr. Szeto and Dr. Greene provided the Rescue Bots with EMP power-ups so they could stop three out-of-control Scrubbers. The devices required so much power that they needed three minutes to recharge between firings. Transformations
Rage of the Dinobots comic
Shockwave used an EMP bomb to disable the Dinobots and Ultra Magnus, though he himself (or at least his duplicate) was shielded from it. Rage of the Dinobots #4
EarthSpark cartoon
Wheeljack equipped each of his drones with an EMP generator, something which Twitch inherited when she scanned one as her alternate mode. Traditions
Toys
Animated
- Lockdown (Deluxe, 2008)
- Blazing Lockdown (Deluxe, 2008)
- Stealth Lockdown (Multi-pack, 2008)
- Transformers Animated Deluxe Class Lockdown comes with an engine block accessory that converts into a blaster weapon by pressing down on the top of the accessory springs two flip-out barrels. Though designed after the Animated cartoon's EMP generator, Lockdown's packaging—as well as that of the later redecoes/retools "Blazing Lockdown" and "Stealth Lockdown"—consistently refers to the accessory simply as a blaster. The accessory remains present with other uses of the mold–namely Lockdown's TakaraTomy variants, Animated Wildrider, and Adventure Lockdown–though the in-fiction descriptor of the weapon it represents varies.
- The EMP generator accessory makes use of a bespoke connection designed to also peg into the left arm "war wound" of the Deluxe Class Autobot Ratchet mold (and its redecoes), allowing buyers to simulate Ratchet's recovery of the weapon. The later Cybertron Mode Ratchet toy featured a port of the same design, meaning one can equip toys such as Cybertron Mode Ironhide, Fisitron, and the Autotroopers with the accessory as well.
Live-action film series toylines
- Transformers Rescue Ratchet (Deluxe Class, 2010)
- Dark of the Moon Autobot Ratchet (Deluxe Class, 2011)
- Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe Class Autobot Ratchet includes an accessory proudly called out on the packaging as "launching [an] EMP blast missile!", though designed to look like the arm-mounted machine gun that Ratchet uses in the films. A special post midway down the launcher allows it to mount on Ratchet's vehicle mode roof, in addition to the post used to mount it on Ratchet's wrist. Naturally, the accessory was also included when Ratchet was redecoed into the 2010 Transformers "Rescue Ratchet" and Dark of the Moon Mission Earth: The Scan Series Autobot Ratchet, both of which retained the same packaging call-outs.
- Mirroring their Animated releases, the contemporary Revenge of the Fallen Lockdown toy features ports of the same design compatible with Ratchet's EMP blaster. The design of the weapon's midway post allows it to mount on Lockdown's right forearm, as seen in the toyetic animation of Cyber Missions. Conversely, one can mount Lockdown's hot rod engine on Ratchet's roof, if one really wanted to. The same functionality carries over to Lockdown's retools, Transformers Axor and Timelines Circuit. Despite a similarity in the connections' designs, the movie toys' accessories aren't compatible with the Animated toys above.
War for Cybertron Trilogy toylines
- War for Cybertron: Siege Chromia (Deluxe Class, 2019)
- War for Cybertron Trilogy Chromia (Deluxe Class, 2020)
- War for Cybertron: Siege Chromia includes two identical "EMP-Grenades" as part of her complement of weapons. These accessories were compatible with various 3 mm and 5 mm connections as part of the modular C.O.M.B.A.T. System, with the instructions showing them extending the barrel of her "RT-5 Anti-thermo Blaster" to create a larger weapon. Chromia was redecoed into War for Cybertron Trilogy Chromia, with the EMP-Grenades carried over.
- When Chromia was retooled into Generations Selects Nightbird, the EMP-Grenades were redecoed into "Flash Grenades", retaining all the same functionality. A further retool into Legacy Ascenticon Kaskade saw the unnamed grenade accessories retooled to have shallower 5 mm pegs.
