Transmetal 2

Transmetal 2 (plural Transmetals 2), also known as Transmetal II, are a subgroup of the Beast Wars and Beast Machines characters in the fictional Transformers universe. They differ from standard Transmetal Transformers in that instead of having a mechanical beast mode and a techno-organic robot mode, they have an asymmetrical blending of mechanical and techno-organic parts in both modes. This has resulted in them looking monstrous in appearance.
Beast Wars
According to the Transmetal 2 toy fiction, they were the result of cloning experiments carried out by Megatron. These experiments resulted in a breed of warriors that had enhanced strength and speed, however were hyper-aggressive and had increased savage impulses.
In the Beast Wars cartoon, a (an alien-based alien creature) device known as the "Transmetal driver", somehow ended up in Megatron's possession. It was this device that was used to upgrade the Transmetal characters, Cheetor, Dinobot II and Blackarachnia into Transmetal 2. All three gained a degree of "supernatural" powers, for example Cheetor gained vague visionary tendencies, Dinobot II showed enhanced healing abilities, and Blackarachnia demonstrated telekinesis.
Beast Machines
In the Beast Machines storyline, the Maximals had returned to their home planet of Cybertron where they encountered Megatron's virus. Whereas the virus instantly paralyzed the majority of Cybertronians who became exposed to it, the Transmetals and Transmetals 2 amongst the returning Maximals instead lost their "Transmetallized" modes and abilities however still suffered some glitching and amnesia. Those amongst them who were neither Transmetal or Transmetal 2 such as Rhinox and Silverbolt immediately succumbed to the paralysis.
Megatron when the surviving Maximals found him was a still a Transmetal 2, however he fervently sought ways to rid his body of his organic elements and become completely mechanical.
Comparison with normal Transmetals
Like ordinary Transmetals, Transmetals 2 have a temporary resistance to Megatron's virus, and likewise lose their Transmetallization once they come into contact with the virus. Unlike normal Transmetals however, most of the Transmetals 2 did not gain a third mode.
The only two characters that did gain a third mode where those that would have the two largest toys in the sub-line; Megatron and Tigerhawk. However Megatron's third mode was not used in the cartoon, whilst Tigerhawk's third-mode was dropped altogether including from toy itself.
Transmetals 2 in later fiction
In Transformers: Universe featuring the Wreckers, the character Ravage was reborn into a Transmetal 2 body. Along with this the characters Iguanus, Spittor, and Sonar were also Transmetals 2. Tarantulas had obtained all three from their stasis pods which has been left behind. This same comic line also introduced the Predacon criminal Cryotek, whose body became a replica of Megatron's Transmetal 2 form from the Beast Wars.
In the IDW Beast Wars comic storyline, a number of Transmetal 2 characters were featured despite not having been exposed to the Transmetal Driver.
Toys
The Transmetal 2 sub-line of Beast Wars toys was released in 1999.
Basic
* Night Glider
* Optimus Minor
* Scarem
* Sonar
* Spittor
* Stinkbomb
Deluxe
* Cheetor
* Dinobot
* Iguanus
* Jawbreaker
* Prowl
* Ramulus
* Tripredacus Agent (Walmart Exclusive, 2001)
* Scourge
Mega
* Blackarachnia
* Cybershark
Ultra
* Megatron
* Tigerhawk
* Cryotek (released as a Target exclusive in the Robots in Disguise toyline)
 
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