It’s been a week since we had any Transformers TCG news for you, but I’m here to break the fast with a new character (with a cool backstory), a new Super Rare character, some fresh battle cards, and, yes, the latest combiner reveal.

Let’s get to it.

Ask Not For Who the Grapple Grapples…

It grapples for thee. (Image: Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro)

First up is Grapple, Autobot Architect. For just being an Uncommon card, he’s got some pretty unique abilities. In bot mode, he can gain an additional four damage (for a whopping total of eight) and four defense if you flip over exactly four different color battle icons. When changing to alt-mode, if you’ve saved four different color battle icon cards in your hand, you can discard them to automatically do four damage. That’s why he’s a whopping 12 stars.

So why all the saving? Transformers TCG Brand Manager, Drew Nolosco, shared on the official Transformers TCG Facebook page that Grapple was the first “big” Transformer that he ever purchased after realizing he could save his money to get bigger bots. All hail the savers!

Who Dares Interrupt My Coronation?

“I still function?” I don’t recall anyone saying anything of the sort! What was your name again? (Image: Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro)

The latest version of Starscream is not only a Super Rare character, he’s king (well, for a second or two at least). This Starscream, Decepticon King has an impressive 15 health, which should help him stay on the board longer than he lasted in Transformers: The Movie. What’s interesting is mention of the Decepticon Crown battle card. We haven’t seen that yet, but it will pump King Screamer to a 9 damage and 18 health when attacking in bot mode.

Always the schemer, Starscream’s alt mode will let you pull Plan cards from your scrap pile so that you can position yourself perfectly for the next round.

Superion Superior!

I’ll admit I was wrong. I was so sure that Victorion would be the final Autobot combiner revealed, I had all but dismissed the Aerialbots. But I’m glad the Transformers TCG team didn’t! The individual bots are a fun mix with just about every keyword represented in their ranks.

Victory through superior firepower (Image: Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro)

Fireflight has low health, but also gets a major damage boost when he’s at less than half health. Skydive can help repair your Aerialbots and mitigate damage. Air Raid scraps enemy upgrades. Alpha Bravo gets to take pot shots at attacking enemy jets.

Better than an eagle/wolf hybrid! (Image: Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro)

Their leader, Silverbolt, helps move things along by being able to auto-transform when an orange, blue, and white battle icon are flipped while attacking (which also lets you do an additional point of damage).

Though I will say having one of their members be a helicopter still irks me. (Image: Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro)

Superion is the Aerialbots’ combined form and he’s just as impressive as other combiners in Wave 2. With Skydive’s repair ability, you should be able to keep a fair amount of his deep 39-point health pool. While his base damage output is only six, with Tough 1, Bold 2, and Pierce 3, you should be able to do a very respectable amount of unblockable damage per round, quickly mopping up whatever defenders are left.

(Image: Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro)

The Aerialbots also get an impressive battle card upgrade. With Aerialbot Formation, you add damage for each tapped Aerialbot. Considering each component character is a five-star common, this would be a great upgrade to have just before you combine.

Autobot and Decepticon Battle Cards

When we first learned of Wave 2, “Rise of the Combiners,” Wizards of the Coast intimated that we’d be getting battle cards that did more than just imply faction compatibility, but reward it.

Yeah, pretty much exactly what meets the eye (Image: Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro)

Underhanded Tactics and Field Repair fit the bill, giving you extra options if you use them on Decepticon or Autobot characters. The new Mining Pick takes advantage of the Plan keyword and Power Punch is a fun one-time boost to your attack.

Hasbro Earnings

With Hasbro’s just-released Full-Year 2018 and Q4 revenue earnings, it becomes apparent how much they need the Transformers TCG to not just meet, but exceed expectations.

Revenue for the gaming division was down by 12% last year, with most of the money being made in Magic: The Gathering and Monopoly (just in case you were wondering why we get a dozen rebrands and versions of the game every year). A third “tentpole”-type game would not only give the division a boost, it could help lift Hasbro as a whole back up as it recovers from its Toys-‘R’-Us retail losses from last year.

Luckily for Hasbro, “Rise of the Combiners” gets better with every reveal. I can’t wait to see who the final Decepticon combiner is and for the release on March 1!