Top 10 Transformers (Licensed/3P) of 2019
Top 10 Transformers of 2019!
Here’s my top 10 Transformers (Licensed and Third Party) for 2019! There are a ton of amazing releases that came out this year that I would have loved to check out. This list is based on my own personal items that I have purchased this year, as such some of your favorite releases may not be in the list. Let me know what you liked in the comment section at the bottom of the page! Additionally I tried to keep the list to releases from 2019, but there are a few older pieces that I acquired this year that I felt deserved recognition.
This list is entirely based on my own tastes and opinions. Hopefully you enjoy my thoughts on these awesome bots!
Runners-Up
Iron Factory - IF EX-29 Rush Beats
A late 2018 release, that I didn’t pick up until Spring 2019. Super articulated and a ton of fun to transform, pose, and play with. Honestly he could have been in the main list, I just didn’t want it to be so saturated with Iron Factory releases. His lack of accessories and extended play pattern kept him in the runner up spot in favor of some more robust releases.
Transformers Beast Wars - Encore Big Convoy (Anime Ver.)
Aesthetics are a big deal for me. My collection is a visual treat for me every day when I look at my shelves, and my enjoyment of toy photography comes from showcasing really cool looking figures. Big Convoy is a 20 year old toy at this point, but the anime inspired repaint showcased in the encore version coupled with surprisingly sturdy construction and great QC make him worthy of a mention. Just his head sculpt alone with the brilliant blue helmet and white face-plate looks absolutely incredible! Scaled properly or not, He’s going to look awesome next to MP Lio Convoy next year!
Top 10
#10 - Transformers WFC: Siege - Refraktor Reconnaissance Team
I genuinely believed a 3 piece Reflector wouldn’t happen in a mainline Transformers series. A single bot who turned into a camera, or maybe some modernized version of the concept might appear but not something to this level. While the individual Siege Refraktor in the animation colors is particularly nice, I was drawn to the additional bonus parts included in this gift set. Refraktor is fun to pose, and simple to transform without any frustration. The differing colors of the solo bots in this set help offset the feeling of buying 3 identical toys just to make a giant camera out of them. My Decepticon ranks are growing!
#09 - Transformers WFC: Siege - Spinister
You could probably slot Spinister into this list almost anywhere. As far as mainline Transformers go, this guy is absolute top notch. Solid and expressive articulation, great balance, and absolutely killer colors. The dual weapons included are a nice homage to Spinister’s original twin Targetmaster partners and pairing him up with a couple of Siege Battlemasters makes the package all the more impressive! I was particularly shocked when I noticed how his helicopter blades lock into place in robot mode! While I do think this design could have been a Voyager instead of a deluxe, Spinister is still a piece of brilliant engineering from Hasbro/Takara.
#08 - Transformers WFC: Siege - Impactor (Decepticon Ver.)
If you’ve been following any of my past reviews, you’ll know I have a debilitating Wrecker addiction. The main release of Impactor with his Marvel UK head sculpt seemed nice enough but when I saw the exclusive three pack version sporting the IDW spartan helmet and danger tape tampos I was done for. Like a rat to the trap I was caught with a mouth full of delicious Nick Roche flavored cheese. (Uhh that’s a gross analogy I regret writing that…) Impactor’s got a ton of articulation and expression, including an ab crunch as a side effect of his transformation! Either hand can flip in to reveal a 5mm peg hole to mount weaponry such as his iconic harpoon, or even Siege battle effects! His shoulder cannon is a bit of a lame duck but gets the job done, and the head sculpt on this guy is phenomenal. Similarly to Spinister, I think a Voyager size would have worked in his benefit, but even as a Deluxe he’s pretty spectacular. It would stand to reason that the main release of this figure would also live up to these same standards, with the exception of the head sculpt.
#07 - Transformers WFC: Siege - Ultra Magnus
He may be just a soldier, but he’s a damn fine toy. Siege Ultra Magnus is an awesome multi-generational homage to one of my favorite characters. His vehicle mode is a clear and commanding reference to the 2001 animated “Robots in Disguise” Ultra Magnus, one half of the ridiculously powerful Omega Prime. His core bot is a nice homage to the Dreamwave comics Ultra Magnus as well as the G1 toy, and then the final combined mode sharing design elements of G1 and IDW sprinkled with some Siege seasoning to taste. Satisfyingly posable considering his size and stature, and a load of fun to transform and armor up.
#06 - Transformers Masterpiece - MP-46 Blackwidow (Blackarachnia)
Two Masterpiece Beast Wars releases in one year, Lucky me! Blackarachnia is a stunning re-creation of her in show model. Her dead black eyes, lithe, curvy proportions, and brilliant paint job make her a beautiful show piece. The spider mode requires some forgiveness, similar to most of the Beast Wars MPs. It’s got some bits and pieces that make it clear that there’s a robot curled up in there somewhere. In my case it’s for the best as I’m not sure I could handle any more realistic of a spider this big in my house! Blackarachnia scores a bit lower on the list mainly due to price. While I am satisfied (I purchased her from Amazon Japan, so I got the best deal I could) She’s not particularly substantial in hand. When you stop to think that the Masterpiece Optimus Primal was cheaper than she is, even with LED optics, and far more accessories, it’s a bit of a head scratcher. Regardless, very happy with this one. Highly recommend!
#05- Perfect Effect - PE-DX06 Beast Gorira
This figure has been a saga for me. I have been after this figure for years and many of my close friends have heard my rants and sadness in regards to my attempts to acquire one. A couple E-Bay scams, and a Transformers vendor going out of business after taking my money for one… all basically left me with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth and kind of giving up on picking up this most Optimal of Optimi. This year, thanks to the incredible generosity of a dear friend, I was finally able to add one of my most wanted figures to my collection. Beast Gorira delivers in all categories; he’s got the looks, He’s got the engineering, he’s got twin shoulder cannons and articulated fingers. What more do you need? Top that off by being incredibly well balanced with tight ratchet joints (some of which were improved in this re-issue) and there’s almost nothing you can’t do with this guy! Is there any more perfect version of one of the craziest designs from Beast Wars? I think not. Chrome Blue and Orange monkey forever!!!
#04 - Iron Factory - IF EX-31 Dubhe
I toyed with giving this spot to the entire “Spirits of the D.E.C.” but I haven’t been able to pick up the final member (IF-EX35 Merak) and it felt a bit insincere to grant a spot to a figure I haven’t even had hands on time with. That’s how good this whole set is though. Even if the last bot was an F (and I know he isn’t) it would still be a solid B+ team. Of the four I have, I have enjoyed Dubhe; Iron Factory’s version of Tarn, the most. This little bot even got some of the little details of Tarn correct in ways the larger MMC version didn’t. In particular his clawed hands, and asymmetrical twin fusion cannon. Every bit of articulation you could imagine is available on this guy making him an absolute dream to pose. I am aware that there was a fairly wide-spread issue of breakage with his shoulders. Luckily mine did not seem to be affected, however Iron Factory does include replacements with their 2 pack of IF EX-32 Phecda and IF EX-33 Mizar (Vos and Kaon) in case you were unlucky.
#03- Iron Factory - IF EX-36 Tyrant
It’s a double whammy of Iron Factory in the top 5. Tyrant is a mind boggling package. Look at all those accessories! He comes with the various bits and bobs to make almost any flavor of Megatron you like. You want some 80’s flavor G1 toon vibes? You got it! IDW Stormbringer Megatron? Boom baby! How bout a little bit of miner Megs, or Gladiator Megatron? Even MTMTE Autobot Megatron can be cobbled out of this delicious toy box of tyranny! He’s got weapons and armor and even swappable hands coming out the wazoo! Add to that some stellar paint work and above average articulation and you’ve got a legitimate mini Masterpiece on your hands.
#02 - Fans Hobby - MB-08 Double Evil
Fans Hobby came for the crown this year. Double Evil is quite possibly one of the most impressive third party offerings I’ve ever had the pleasure of dealing with. Somehow oozing G1 retro nostalgia, while also modernizing the design and aesthetics of the classic Overlord character design. Both vehicle modes are huge and chunky with tons of awesome play features and the combined bot mode is an absolute giant, towering over every other both I own. The only thing that might give this a run for it’s money size-wise would be Toy World Constructor. Joints are solid, the transformation was incredibly intuitive and fun, tons of accessories and just a good damn time playing and posing this guy. I wish he came with a stand for the jet mode, but otherwise there’s not much more to want. Double Evil is proof that two wrongs make on hell of a right! Double Evil would have handily taken the #1 spot… but believe it or not there was a villain with an even bigger ego, grander ambitions, and just plain more nostalgia for me…
#01 - Transformers Masterpiece - MP-43 Megatron (Beast Wars)
For the last 4 years Takara Tomy has had my heart, and my wallet, with the Masterpiece Beast Wars line. From the minute Optimus Primal was announced we all wondered how long it would be before the mighty Megatron got the same high-end treatment. Would we have to wait half a decade like we did between MP-10 Optimus Prime and MP-36 Megatron? I certainly hoped not! Shortly after Dinobot rocked my world, I was pining over prototype shots of MP-43 Megatron. The sculpting and paint job of the Tyrannosaurus mode is awe inspiring and his bot mode is spot on to the T.V. show. LED eyes and Japanese audio effects are the icing on the cake, though for the price I would have loved if they had included some audio clips from David Kaye, seeing as how the show originated in North America this time. They even included a little tooth brush so that Megatron can keep his pearly whites sparkling in between mauling helpless Maximals. Megatron was a very expensive investment, and thankfully my copy of Megatron seems to have avoided a few of the QC issues that seemed common place on forums and threads about the toy. If I had encountered any of these issues, he may have scored lower, but for my personal experience MP-43 Beast Wars Megatron was absolutely my #1 Transformers experience of 2019.
Thanks for joining me on this ride through 2019! Here’s hoping 2020 is just as amazing! Let me know what you think of these figures, and if you would have picked different figures for your top of 2019 let me know what they are!
Until next time!
-Josh
