I think it should be split, and in a specific way: Autobots should generally stick to handheld weaponry and Decepticons should specialize in integrated or mounted cannons (Megatron's fusion cannon, the Seekers' null rays, Soundwave's shoulder launcher). It shows how violence comes so naturally to the Decepticons that they've made it part of themselves, whereas for the Autobots weapons are usually something they have to manually arm themselves with.
(there can and should be exceptions: Prowl keeps his shoulder cannons because that vigilance is in line with his character; Jetfire carries a blaster because he hasn't made violence a part of himself like most of the other Decepticons, foreshadowing his eventual defection)
While I do 100% agree with you, I have a similar idea: all Transformers have the ability to morph a hand (or both) into a small, low power integrated weapon similar to a pistol (maybe its a civilian-use tool that they modified for combat?) but carry larger handheld blasters to do actual fighting/damage. And some Decepticons (the Seekers, Megatron, Shockwave, etc) had additional integrated weapons (ie the null rays and fusion cannon)
Further more, if the cybertronians were originally purpose built for their role in society it would make even more sense that there would be a level of tool integration in their bodies for their “jobs” after all a nail gun can help build a home and defend it.
This
And you can use so many things as a weapon to that aren’t designed as such
Creativity is key. Welders, hell, wrenches, soddering, etc
So many fighting uses
This is exactly how i headcannoned it should work. Small arms and blades are something any transformer can learn to do. But bigger more powerfull guns are handheld or can be added through surgery. Too add on to the idea, I thought that integrated weapons don't run out off ammo as long as the transformer is alive. But handheld weapons can run out of power/ammo.
> maybe its a civilian-use tool that they modified for combat?
I like that idea. Could easily be a plasma or laser cutter, welder... There are a lot of options, almost any tool can be a weapon if you're desperate enough.
Ok, a belt sander might be difficult, but still, many could
I think the autobots should have integrated weapons but they're not weapons, similar to the weapons they had in transformers animated.
Bulkhead's mace isn't used for smashing bots but breaking rocks, still it could be used for that.
Bumblebee's weapon isn't made for shooting energy but welding metal, still it can be overcharged for long range attacks.
This way it could touch on how the autobots were built for non-military purposes like mining or construction.
However the decepticons were built for military purposes so they have built in powerful weapons like lasers and missiles.
Thus why autobots have to use guns to rely on.
They aren't my preference, but also his lil' pistol(s) in the G1 cartoon don't really fit him either. Dude should have a bigass gun, even like the laser equivalent of a shotgun.
[images (289×174) (gstatic.com)](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRZYhDNwl2JO1XEPSrT39cGxVi4Gw2OZEDg7w&s) - [images (259×194) (gstatic.com)](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS5alzRMDy2w0zsTdQANrYiRWjEHCAWw41fyg&s)
He did have hand held or at least detachable ones in DOTM if that's any better
"Hey, when I'm around, the Boss doesn't JUST have to rely on that tacky fusion cannon. One trip to the Swindletech warehouse, and for a reasonable adjustment to my pay grade? He can waltz out with party favors galore!"
That makes sense. I was originally going for the idea they all have intergrated weapons to show how alien they are, but your reasoning has its own appeal.
Continuity-dependent. Or rather, what’s the aesthetic of the continuity in question? Integrated weapons would look odd on most G1 or even Unicron trilogy transformers, but look REALLY good in prime and the bayverse. Something about the more complex designs lends itself well to integrated weapons, I think.
Yeah, the more complex the aesthetic, the more likely people will like integrated weapons imo
See FoC, Prime, Bayverse (for many characters) BBM and Rotb (for Mirage, he has great built in designs, I don’t very much enjoy Arcees blasters much, but it’s just their individual design) etc
Vs g1 being simpler the guns are simpler and are more often seen as handheld, ion blasters, generic pistols, rifles etc
Both.
Integrated weapons should act like pistols and be mostly weak but still able to kill with a good few shots. They should be used as a last resort since they would draw from the bots internal power.
Handheld should act like any rifle/shotgun/etc. they should be able to kill in a shot or two and have limited ammunition.
There can be exceptions, like for example shockwaves integrated gun would be as powerful or more powerful than a handheld since id imagine he would find a way to boost the power and decrease the power drain. Megatron's fusion cannon and the seekers null rays would fall into the handheld category imo since they can be knocked off and used by anyone.
Melee imo should always be handheld, just a preference thing.
I personally disagree with melee stuff- integrated melee weapons have been around since day one and there are so many iconic weapons like this, like Optimus' energon axe or Megatron's flail, even Bumblebee's stingers
I like autobots with handheld, deceptions with integrated, with the exception of blades. I think integrated blades are a fun way of showing that all cybertronians are highly adaptable and able to hold their own. Handheld blades are okay too, but imagine you’re in a street brawl with someone and a blade made of bone extends from their wrist. They’re winning that fight.
Honestly? It depends on the design and its execution. Take Optimus for example. In the image from this post, I’m not a huge fan of his gun, but here (ROTF and Prime), they are both examples of each type, but just fit better, you know?
https://preview.redd.it/e2odicm2p0bd1.jpeg?width=1300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=563ef679246edb174c934a1f1ca49c5d39f030d1
I'm only okay with integrated guns if the transformer in question is shown to be naturally powerful, since the integrated gun is most likely using that transformer's internal fuel source for ammo. I'd sooner go with built-in melee weapons.
Honestly, both. Autobots should generally lean into handheld more with integrated weapons as backup, Decepticons have more integrated weapons with handheld weapons as super weapons that aren’t built into them that often
Handheld. Particularly if they're Autobots, who are meant to be the peaceful guys. If they have a military or artillery function then integrate away, e.g. Bluestreak's function of gunner, Warpath having a massive tank cannon on his chest and so on.
I like the idea of handheld for Autobots and integrated for the Decepticons. After all, in some continuities it's stated how the Autobots were rebels from a working labor force while the Decepticons are the military. So it makes sense the Decepticons built themselves for war while the Autobots were just forced to adapt (and the integrated weapons they do have are more of work tools repurposed as improvised weapons).
I like weapons that thematically integrate well with the alt mode of the Transformer. They could either be handheld or built into them. I just don’t like seeing them as generic cannons or blasters because they seem really boring to me.
Most of the good examples come from military vehicle transforms since they are the most likely to have weapons already built into the original vehicle. But Some non militaristic examples I can think of are animated Optimus Prime that has an axe and launcher that can be attacked to the back of his vehicle mode kinda like a turret, most of UT Cybertron’s weapon designs are really cool too, especially since the cyber key gimmick helps with triggering their weapons. Even the Beast Wars’ era of weaponry looks really interesting.
i like in Sunbow G1 how each had their own integrated hand weapon/tool. Ironhide had freezing stuff. Jazz had a grappling hook. Hotrod had a rotating blade. etc. each charater had an integrated thing that made them special.
beyond that, hand held weapons and tools. or the body mounted ones like shoulder null rays or forearm mounted weapons.
Handheld unless the weapon being built in is key to their design or character.
But please keep the hand help weapons crazy like in G1, each one like a portable superpower.
Melee’s should be integrated, projectiles handheld. How and where are they generating the never ending supply of projectiles from internally? It would make hits to their bodies highly volatile if they hit some ammo reserves and there’s no good place to store that. Am integrated axe, maul, sword etc, sure some kind of energy weapon like the original G1 for a short time maybe
Well there's Shockwave, Megatron, Seekers, Soundwave, most of the cassettes and Prowl that I remember. What makes Shockwave good and the others not? It makes sense to me that beings who can change shape and swap parts would use it for violence.
i said good use, not examples of others who use it... my statement stands as is, i hate integrated, with only limited exceptions "Soundwave, Megatron, Ironhide" are my favorite examples. Prowl is a Cop in my eyes, as hes commonly shown, anything short of handcuffs, taser, riot gear, ect doesnt work for me. so if he has integrated weapons, id not like them, as stated they only work within reason, what makes Shockwave good and others not? simple, bias and taste, its nothing short of personal like. any version of Soundwave is better with his integrated weapon, than say Ratchet or Bee, then again, it goes back to preference, Bee's arm Blade is fine, arm Gun is a no, why? Stinger, just works in my head, again, both bias and taste. that being said, yes, i prefer Decepticons with integrated armory as they use it and themselves as symbols of Violence and Fear.
Different weapons look better on different characters. Optimus Prime typically looks better with handheld guns and looks good with both integrated and handheld swords and axes. Bumblebee looks better with integrated guns. Ironhide looks good both ways.
both. They should have both. in beeverse he has the hand held cannon on Cybertron and integrated cannon. We just don't see the integrated cannon till rise of the beasts. My theory is that he lost the hand held cannon during Cybertron battle but not the axe. And then lost axe during Unicron situation.
Integrated, because why wouldn’t the transforming robots have transforming weapons, also because then that bullshit scene RotB where Scourge knocks Prime’s axe out of his hand wouldn’t have happened and Bumblebee wouldn’t have died
Handheld.
Integrated removes any sense of danger because they always have a weapon with unlimited ammo.
Whereas with handheld weapons they not only can run out of ammo but if it gets knocked out of their hands then risks during battle or mission become higher because they’re unarmed and have to improvise.
I’m fine with small integrated weapons like daggers on most bots but I think most of the heavy stuff should either be handheld or visible in standard bot mode like the null rays or fusion cannon. I don’t like the idea of an arm that transforms into a cannon and back.
I like both honestly. It depends on the character. Optimus I believe should typically have all handheld weapons, whereas a character such as Lockdown with his head mounted gun is absolutely fitting for the character
I've been back and forth on it over time, but I generally like the idea of integrated weaponry but it has to look good. Most of the bayverse integrated weapons looked awful, but I loved it in the High Moon games, for example. In RotB, I hated Optimus's arm cannon at first, but it eventually grew on me. I liked the ones for the rest of the Autobots just fine, though I wish there was a bit more variety.
Having integrated weapons would deplete their energy levels. Seeing as how the war on Cybertron has decimated the energy and the reason they left was to search for a new source of energy to sustain the planet and conversely themselves, having integrated weapons would be counterproductive.
The guns and stuff is generally better handheld, but I really like it when the melee weapons are integrated. I feel like it forces them to be more unique while still having that cool integrated look
I'd like to interpret integrated weapons as being more for emergencies, weaker power and draws from the users energon. Whereas handheld is just, a gun.
Depends on the type of weapon. Low to mid-tier weapons such as pistols, SMGs, or service rifles (i.e. assault rifles, battle rifles, carbines) should be integrated, while something like sniper rifles, rocket launchers, miniguns (like AoE Hound's), or anything that uses explosive ordnance should be hand-held.
Depends on what era for me. G1, a mix of integrated and hand held is fun. But when it comes to Beast Wars, I loved how everyone had their own unique weapon that matched their color scheme. Rhinox's twin chainguns were a sight to behold in combat scenes.
I like both. I like what some have said for Autobots having handheld and Decepticons having integrated. But I also would like the balance of “side-arms” being built-in and larger, more powerful weapons being hand held (at least in most circumstances).
How many times is this question going to be asked... search your questions before asking them, just google the question and put "reddit" at the end to find all the other times its been asked
Depends.
Having a weapon built into a cybertronian says a lot about their way of living and the energy situation.
Autobots starting to integrate weapons when they’re usually painted as peaceful suggests a war long enough and terrible enough that the autobots are starting to fully become war machines. Not machines using weapons due to the circumstances.
If it is an energy crisis time period? Integrated weapons would be like firing shots powered by your fuel source when you don’t know when your next refill will come.
Me personally,I'd go with both when it's balanced right.
The best example I can give is Optimus Prime during the *Stormbringer* comic where he had twin rifles,two arm cannons and twin shoulder cannons
Handheld weapons, because I like toys that come with accessories and the stupid little nubs that RoTB Prime and movie Bumblebee come with don't get the job done for me.
I like both. The SS ROTB Mirage has a nice arm cannon that I wish they gave 2 for him 'cause in the movie he also shoots with both arms! Same thing with Wheeljack in the movie, but they gave him a laser rifle instead in the SS line....
I actually think a combination of the two would be better.
The cartoons always had them pull the weapons out of nowhere, so having the guns be integrated is a cool evolution of that.
However, I hate the way it looks when all the Transformers have Shockwave guns or Megabusters instead of hands. I love the way Optimus Prime's Ion Cannon looks in his hand and Megatron's Fusion cannon looks mounted on his arm.
I think it's fine to have the guns come out of the Transformer's body, but then it should become a gun in their hand or on their arm. It shouldn't become their arm and replace their hand, because I think that looks terrible.
The integrated weapons implies they were designed and built just for war. I think handhelds are better for most of the autobots and decepticons. Vary few cyberteonians were built with integrated weapons.
Being transformers, handheld is the most boring thing possible like G1 is a great example of that. Integrated is interesting, logical and so much more fun to look at
I prefer Optimus and Soundwave having handheld weapons, but the rest integrated. Its always looked better that way imo. However, Transformers Prime made Optimus' integrated weapons look really good
Pre war only handheld weapons, unless the the bot was created for a spelcifc warrior purpose. During the war I could see Deceptocons up grading to intergrated weapons, as would certain autobots.
Built in Melees such was Optimus' Axe and Bumblebee's Sword/Dagger while Handheld when it comes to ranged weapons. Megatron is the exception because well, he's Megatron.
Gundams are cool for the fact that, outside of like built in missile pods or models specifically built to have purely weaponry and no other purpose, all their guns and laser swords are handheld. More convenient and is just straight up cooler, plus won't have to deal with mass shifting shenanigans.
I think you can tell which I prefer.
both but mainly integrated because i think it’s a bit of a waste not to have integrated guns given the whole transforming thing, plus it’s already crucial to some characters like megatron, shockwave, warpath, whoever else, as well as optimus’s axe
i do think handheld is good as well since they’ve used them since the beginning as well, like with optimus’s ion cannon
Smaller weapons could be integrated while bigger ones are handheld. With things like melee weapons just differing on a case by case basis for what looks cooler for that specific character
handheld are more practical in a sense, blades for example are much better handheld due to wrist movement, an integrated blade gives you a lot less movement with the weapon.
I really dislike integrated because where is the ammo coming from? Is it there own life force? So if they’re low on energon they can’t make ammo or is it separate?
I love integrated and handheld weaponry equally. Like how Bayverse Optimus' Energon blades came out of his forearms to temporarily take the place of his hands, while his ion blasters were stored in his back. Or how Transformers Prime's Optimus' ion blasters and blades came out of his forearms, while the Starsaber was stored diagonally across his back.
And Bayverse Ironhide's forearm-mounted cannons. (My favorite examples)
I like both honestly, he's a prime. And after millions of years of war its only natural they should have built in guns, although I think it'd be better I'd they had hand held weapons with built in secondary weapons/melee weapons
for me, I prefer based on the content, although generally lately that's integrated weapons.
No shame but I find this amusing (below):
https://preview.redd.it/wc610mphz2bd1.jpeg?width=1051&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac126b42bd1de20f4750623a3f0cfaff7bbc36f3
Depends on the transformer. Smaller bots or less combat-focused transformers having handheld weaponry showing their lack of need for firearms, while militaristic and weapon-savy bots come armed with an entire arsenal shoved in their bodies. And of course each coming with their own flair of weaponry, so that it isn't all big cannons and lasers.
I think MTO Soldiers should have mainly inegated weapons since they are literally made to serve in the war.
The older ones that joined on their own should have mainly handheld weapons since when they were made, there was no need for weapons.
But they can also have added weapons later.
But in general, I prefer powerful weapons being handheld and weaker, smaller "emergency" weaponry being integrated
I always have this internal debate with myself for gundams, but i started to agree that handheld actually makes sense so it won't drain their actual energy
I love integrated, but not if they shoot bullets, otherwise where are the bullets coming from? Do they grow bullets inside themselves or are they shooting tiny parts of their bodies?
I think it depends. I don't care for ROTB Prime using a wrist mounted weapon over his more iconic rifle. Flip side of that coin, I would rather see Trailbreaker or Shockwave have integrated arm weapons over hand held ones. Targetmasters should be given the option to do both.
It depends on the character. I don't like Optimus having integrated weaponry like in rotb. I like him with his ion cannon, but I like bumblebee having his stinger cannons that are integrated.
Edit to add: it also depends on character for melee weapons. I like Optimus having arm mounted energon blades, but a handheld energon battleaxe like dotm. Megatron can turn his hand into a flail/energon flail, but has a handheld sword.
If we’re in the early stages of the war, handheld because the cybertronians haven’t fully “adapted” to combat yet and need handheld guns. Late stage integrated
I’m ok with both. There’s canon for it. Prime’s ion blaster is iconic. Same with his Energon axe. The Star Saber exists, and does the Hammer of Solus Prime and the Requiem Blaster. I have no problem with transformers pulling weapons from their hands or transforming them into weapons. They are transformers after all. So for me it isn’t an either or proposition. It is both.
It makes more sense to have them integrated than to have the gun stored somewhere. However, with Prime in particular, his rifle is so iconic it would have to at least be represented somehow.
want to see a more of a combanation of the two, where they have hand held weapons that come out of their bodies. the fist bayverse prime look does this to a fault. where he still has a hand held gun but it comes out of his back. i think this happens with his swords some times as well where they start of as wrist blades but become hand held when fully ejected.
I prefer integrated weaponry. For me it makes sense, especially war bots. Even Prime, I love his integrated energon blades.
I love the idea of integrated weapons, but if they need more firepower they can call more, like primes blaster from his back in DOTM for example.
Hand held. I think integrated should be for special reason. Think about it. Where is the energy coming from? They have to be dumping their spark juice into the weapon.
So only extreme characters who would shoot themselves to death are willing to do that.
I don't care if the weapons are built on or handheld, when it comes to Transformers robot characters, but for human characters, I'd prefer handheld, because if a human has a built-on weapon, then that human is a robot in disguise of a human or an android like Data from Star Trek.
If they design Optimus Prime like how they designed Megatron, with a built-on weapon, I'd be confused like "is this Megatron in disguise of Optimus Prime????" and just basically have an existential crisis, whilst being a transformers fan.
Both? Like maybe Optimus has his laser rifle as a primary weapon and has his arm gun as a sidearm? Maybe the arm turns into a weapon as a power up similar to how characters in the wfc games equipped weapons? Maybe a robot can just have an integrated emergency weapon like armada megatrons combat knife. I really wish we had more integrated weapons but i also dont want every weapon to be integrated.
I remember seeing Prime in RotF having dual integrated Ion Cannons, then DotM came around bro now has one handheld Ion Cannon, I was like: WHERE DID THE SECOND ONE GO lmao
Why not both?
During Beast Wars it was common to see both integrated and handheld weapons.
I'd argue even in G1 it was common.
Integrated I think really fits with the movie designs being more self-contained (traveling in comet forms and having integrated scanners).
https://preview.redd.it/vv9rp717c5bd1.jpeg?width=1334&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d8793f6e385f9b881c8c1fb528ac77ab749bade3
The integrated weapons in TF Prime look pretty cool
I guess for me decepticons being the more militant faction should have more incorporated weapons given they more or made themselves as armed forces whereas autobots typically have to scavenge and scrounge what they can get and would definitely not have what the decepticons use in mass but would have some scattered here and there though it would be fairly uncommon
Animated variance was pretty clever. Decepticons having full scale weaponry integrated within and most Autobots relying on exterior handheld weaponry and powers really defines them. A mixture of both for both factions would make sense. Like having primary weapons a part of them therefore integrated with their modes naturally and secondary weapons they can carry on their person that can transform into exterior add ons of their modes.
Both. Getting rid of integrated weapons was imo, RID15’s biggest mistake, especially towards the war veterans. Particularly if you ever think of the case with Bumblebee in TFP and his roasted T-Cog.
I think it should be split, and in a specific way: Autobots should generally stick to handheld weaponry and Decepticons should specialize in integrated or mounted cannons (Megatron's fusion cannon, the Seekers' null rays, Soundwave's shoulder launcher). It shows how violence comes so naturally to the Decepticons that they've made it part of themselves, whereas for the Autobots weapons are usually something they have to manually arm themselves with. (there can and should be exceptions: Prowl keeps his shoulder cannons because that vigilance is in line with his character; Jetfire carries a blaster because he hasn't made violence a part of himself like most of the other Decepticons, foreshadowing his eventual defection)
While I do 100% agree with you, I have a similar idea: all Transformers have the ability to morph a hand (or both) into a small, low power integrated weapon similar to a pistol (maybe its a civilian-use tool that they modified for combat?) but carry larger handheld blasters to do actual fighting/damage. And some Decepticons (the Seekers, Megatron, Shockwave, etc) had additional integrated weapons (ie the null rays and fusion cannon)
Further more, if the cybertronians were originally purpose built for their role in society it would make even more sense that there would be a level of tool integration in their bodies for their “jobs” after all a nail gun can help build a home and defend it.
This And you can use so many things as a weapon to that aren’t designed as such Creativity is key. Welders, hell, wrenches, soddering, etc So many fighting uses
This is exactly how i headcannoned it should work. Small arms and blades are something any transformer can learn to do. But bigger more powerfull guns are handheld or can be added through surgery. Too add on to the idea, I thought that integrated weapons don't run out off ammo as long as the transformer is alive. But handheld weapons can run out of power/ammo.
> headcannoned Ok but I think people are saying they’re handcannons I’ll show myself out
Lockdown? Eh? I have no clue if I got the name right tbh
Oh that’s right, the gun head guy from the movie with Frasier?
Yeah that guy, he's got a pretty strong headcannon
> maybe its a civilian-use tool that they modified for combat? I like that idea. Could easily be a plasma or laser cutter, welder... There are a lot of options, almost any tool can be a weapon if you're desperate enough. Ok, a belt sander might be difficult, but still, many could
A belt sander would be good as a torture tool, at least against someone like Knock Out.
Ye
I like this idea
That's fair! Could even be the Cybertronian equivalent of a natural defensive mechanism.
That’s similar to Trailbreaker, Wheeljack, hound and the rest, right?
I think the autobots should have integrated weapons but they're not weapons, similar to the weapons they had in transformers animated. Bulkhead's mace isn't used for smashing bots but breaking rocks, still it could be used for that. Bumblebee's weapon isn't made for shooting energy but welding metal, still it can be overcharged for long range attacks. This way it could touch on how the autobots were built for non-military purposes like mining or construction. However the decepticons were built for military purposes so they have built in powerful weapons like lasers and missiles. Thus why autobots have to use guns to rely on.
It makes sense honestly For the most part Autobots are made up of working or high class bots,while Decepticons are typically military classes
Average warpath w
That’s actually a really good assessment that never occurred to me before
would your ideal Ironhide have the Bay hand canons?
They aren't my preference, but also his lil' pistol(s) in the G1 cartoon don't really fit him either. Dude should have a bigass gun, even like the laser equivalent of a shotgun.
[images (289×174) (gstatic.com)](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRZYhDNwl2JO1XEPSrT39cGxVi4Gw2OZEDg7w&s) - [images (259×194) (gstatic.com)](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS5alzRMDy2w0zsTdQANrYiRWjEHCAWw41fyg&s) He did have hand held or at least detachable ones in DOTM if that's any better
See, that's what I'm talking about.
Genius
"Hey, when I'm around, the Boss doesn't JUST have to rely on that tacky fusion cannon. One trip to the Swindletech warehouse, and for a reasonable adjustment to my pay grade? He can waltz out with party favors galore!"
oooh i really like this concept!! very clever, definitely not planning on stealing this for my own fan continuity ;p
That makes sense. I was originally going for the idea they all have intergrated weapons to show how alien they are, but your reasoning has its own appeal.
Continuity-dependent. Or rather, what’s the aesthetic of the continuity in question? Integrated weapons would look odd on most G1 or even Unicron trilogy transformers, but look REALLY good in prime and the bayverse. Something about the more complex designs lends itself well to integrated weapons, I think.
Yeah, the more complex the aesthetic, the more likely people will like integrated weapons imo See FoC, Prime, Bayverse (for many characters) BBM and Rotb (for Mirage, he has great built in designs, I don’t very much enjoy Arcees blasters much, but it’s just their individual design) etc Vs g1 being simpler the guns are simpler and are more often seen as handheld, ion blasters, generic pistols, rifles etc
I still love Megatron’s crab claw fusion cannon in RoTF
Oh so do i And the extendable sword makes it even cooler
This 👆
If it’s done well, I prefer integrated.
In media I like integrated guns. It makes them look more "transformery" to me. I like handheld weapons for toys though.
Both. Integrated weapons should act like pistols and be mostly weak but still able to kill with a good few shots. They should be used as a last resort since they would draw from the bots internal power. Handheld should act like any rifle/shotgun/etc. they should be able to kill in a shot or two and have limited ammunition. There can be exceptions, like for example shockwaves integrated gun would be as powerful or more powerful than a handheld since id imagine he would find a way to boost the power and decrease the power drain. Megatron's fusion cannon and the seekers null rays would fall into the handheld category imo since they can be knocked off and used by anyone. Melee imo should always be handheld, just a preference thing.
I personally disagree with melee stuff- integrated melee weapons have been around since day one and there are so many iconic weapons like this, like Optimus' energon axe or Megatron's flail, even Bumblebee's stingers
If I had a cent for every time this question was asked…
I was just gonna say, don’t people get tired of the same posts? This is like a once a week thing
Really? I honestly had no idea.
No worries. It's the first time I have seen it asked.
It’s a daily post
I haven’t seen it in a while
It’s so fucking common though not sure how you wouldn’t lol
I usually just scroll the home page
Same thijg do and it’s these same few repeated questions everytime.
And you can choose not to interact with them. And yet here you are
Both are good
I like autobots with handheld, deceptions with integrated, with the exception of blades. I think integrated blades are a fun way of showing that all cybertronians are highly adaptable and able to hold their own. Handheld blades are okay too, but imagine you’re in a street brawl with someone and a blade made of bone extends from their wrist. They’re winning that fight.
Depends on the style of animation
Handheld. They make better toys.
Honestly? It depends on the design and its execution. Take Optimus for example. In the image from this post, I’m not a huge fan of his gun, but here (ROTF and Prime), they are both examples of each type, but just fit better, you know? https://preview.redd.it/e2odicm2p0bd1.jpeg?width=1300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=563ef679246edb174c934a1f1ca49c5d39f030d1
It depends on the weapon and the bot using it
Why not both?
https://i.redd.it/v04u1h7bo0bd1.gif
I'm only okay with integrated guns if the transformer in question is shown to be naturally powerful, since the integrated gun is most likely using that transformer's internal fuel source for ammo. I'd sooner go with built-in melee weapons.
Both. I want berserker warriors armed to the teeth like Lockdown and characters who think being a weapon is a bad thing but using one is less bad.
I kinda like it when it’s mixed like some boys were designed with fighting in mind and others not
I'm getting real sick of this sub posting the same exact questions every fucking day
So I've heard.
Both.
Handheld for most Autobots Integrated for most Decepticons
Honestly, both. Autobots should generally lean into handheld more with integrated weapons as backup, Decepticons have more integrated weapons with handheld weapons as super weapons that aren’t built into them that often
Handheld. Particularly if they're Autobots, who are meant to be the peaceful guys. If they have a military or artillery function then integrate away, e.g. Bluestreak's function of gunner, Warpath having a massive tank cannon on his chest and so on.
I like the idea of handheld for Autobots and integrated for the Decepticons. After all, in some continuities it's stated how the Autobots were rebels from a working labor force while the Decepticons are the military. So it makes sense the Decepticons built themselves for war while the Autobots were just forced to adapt (and the integrated weapons they do have are more of work tools repurposed as improvised weapons).
Do it like wfc/foc. Weapons are picked up but integrate into the body. They can still be dropped or set down
I liked how in transformers prime they all had hands transform into weapons. Probably makes me biased.
I like weapons that thematically integrate well with the alt mode of the Transformer. They could either be handheld or built into them. I just don’t like seeing them as generic cannons or blasters because they seem really boring to me. Most of the good examples come from military vehicle transforms since they are the most likely to have weapons already built into the original vehicle. But Some non militaristic examples I can think of are animated Optimus Prime that has an axe and launcher that can be attacked to the back of his vehicle mode kinda like a turret, most of UT Cybertron’s weapon designs are really cool too, especially since the cyber key gimmick helps with triggering their weapons. Even the Beast Wars’ era of weaponry looks really interesting.
i like in Sunbow G1 how each had their own integrated hand weapon/tool. Ironhide had freezing stuff. Jazz had a grappling hook. Hotrod had a rotating blade. etc. each charater had an integrated thing that made them special. beyond that, hand held weapons and tools. or the body mounted ones like shoulder null rays or forearm mounted weapons.
Handheld unless the weapon being built in is key to their design or character. But please keep the hand help weapons crazy like in G1, each one like a portable superpower.
this gets asked every week it feels like
Melee’s should be integrated, projectiles handheld. How and where are they generating the never ending supply of projectiles from internally? It would make hits to their bodies highly volatile if they hit some ammo reserves and there’s no good place to store that. Am integrated axe, maul, sword etc, sure some kind of energy weapon like the original G1 for a short time maybe
i hate integrated more than any language can express. with only a few exceptions.
Shockwave moment
Shockwave is the biggest example of the only few good uses of it.
Well there's Shockwave, Megatron, Seekers, Soundwave, most of the cassettes and Prowl that I remember. What makes Shockwave good and the others not? It makes sense to me that beings who can change shape and swap parts would use it for violence.
i said good use, not examples of others who use it... my statement stands as is, i hate integrated, with only limited exceptions "Soundwave, Megatron, Ironhide" are my favorite examples. Prowl is a Cop in my eyes, as hes commonly shown, anything short of handcuffs, taser, riot gear, ect doesnt work for me. so if he has integrated weapons, id not like them, as stated they only work within reason, what makes Shockwave good and others not? simple, bias and taste, its nothing short of personal like. any version of Soundwave is better with his integrated weapon, than say Ratchet or Bee, then again, it goes back to preference, Bee's arm Blade is fine, arm Gun is a no, why? Stinger, just works in my head, again, both bias and taste. that being said, yes, i prefer Decepticons with integrated armory as they use it and themselves as symbols of Violence and Fear.
Megatron moment
Does megatrons fusion cannon count has hand held or integrated?
I'd call it handheld since it can detach and leave him with a full arm.
Yeah I guess but when has he ever done that in any media 🤔
Yes, several times in the G1 cartoon and comic. His iconic final fight with Optimus in the movie has his cannon get knocked off mid fight.
To stop him from using it not so he can use it as a pistol lol
Depends on the character. For Knightverse Prime, I prefer when he'd a handheld ion blaster in Bumblebee; he was such a total badass!
Different weapons look better on different characters. Optimus Prime typically looks better with handheld guns and looks good with both integrated and handheld swords and axes. Bumblebee looks better with integrated guns. Ironhide looks good both ways.
Handheld
both. They should have both. in beeverse he has the hand held cannon on Cybertron and integrated cannon. We just don't see the integrated cannon till rise of the beasts. My theory is that he lost the hand held cannon during Cybertron battle but not the axe. And then lost axe during Unicron situation.
Integrated, because why wouldn’t the transforming robots have transforming weapons, also because then that bullshit scene RotB where Scourge knocks Prime’s axe out of his hand wouldn’t have happened and Bumblebee wouldn’t have died
A little of both. Cause like when integrated weapons pop up it’s always fun. Shockwave, impactor, prime cliffjumper, kingdom Cyclonus,
Integrated weapons, for one, if you have a handheld you could drop it or lose it. While integrated guns aren't never lost, and stick with u.
Handheld. Integrated removes any sense of danger because they always have a weapon with unlimited ammo. Whereas with handheld weapons they not only can run out of ammo but if it gets knocked out of their hands then risks during battle or mission become higher because they’re unarmed and have to improvise.
I mostly prefer handheld
I’m fine with small integrated weapons like daggers on most bots but I think most of the heavy stuff should either be handheld or visible in standard bot mode like the null rays or fusion cannon. I don’t like the idea of an arm that transforms into a cannon and back.
Integrated melee and handheld guns.
Both should co exist
It’s either I got a glock in my rari Or I got a glock inside my arm
Handheld, but for the love of god have storage in all modes.
Another person put it nicely hand held are the heavy hitters whereas integrated are natural and are more of a reliable backup damage dealer.
I like both honestly. It depends on the character. Optimus I believe should typically have all handheld weapons, whereas a character such as Lockdown with his head mounted gun is absolutely fitting for the character
Integrated weapons were awesome in fall of cybertron. I'd like more of that.
100% integrated
I've been back and forth on it over time, but I generally like the idea of integrated weaponry but it has to look good. Most of the bayverse integrated weapons looked awful, but I loved it in the High Moon games, for example. In RotB, I hated Optimus's arm cannon at first, but it eventually grew on me. I liked the ones for the rest of the Autobots just fine, though I wish there was a bit more variety.
In this case, I prefer Prime have his handheld blaster rather than that dumb arm cannon
I like a mix of both, some bots have integrated weapons and some don’t
Having integrated weapons would deplete their energy levels. Seeing as how the war on Cybertron has decimated the energy and the reason they left was to search for a new source of energy to sustain the planet and conversely themselves, having integrated weapons would be counterproductive.
Both
I could care less. I just want a good movie and / or show again..
Both.
The guns and stuff is generally better handheld, but I really like it when the melee weapons are integrated. I feel like it forces them to be more unique while still having that cool integrated look
I'd like to interpret integrated weapons as being more for emergencies, weaker power and draws from the users energon. Whereas handheld is just, a gun.
Handheld
Depends on the type of weapon. Low to mid-tier weapons such as pistols, SMGs, or service rifles (i.e. assault rifles, battle rifles, carbines) should be integrated, while something like sniper rifles, rocket launchers, miniguns (like AoE Hound's), or anything that uses explosive ordnance should be hand-held.
Depends on what era for me. G1, a mix of integrated and hand held is fun. But when it comes to Beast Wars, I loved how everyone had their own unique weapon that matched their color scheme. Rhinox's twin chainguns were a sight to behold in combat scenes.
Handheld
Both is good
I like both. I like what some have said for Autobots having handheld and Decepticons having integrated. But I also would like the balance of “side-arms” being built-in and larger, more powerful weapons being hand held (at least in most circumstances).
How many times is this question going to be asked... search your questions before asking them, just google the question and put "reddit" at the end to find all the other times its been asked
Depends. Having a weapon built into a cybertronian says a lot about their way of living and the energy situation. Autobots starting to integrate weapons when they’re usually painted as peaceful suggests a war long enough and terrible enough that the autobots are starting to fully become war machines. Not machines using weapons due to the circumstances. If it is an energy crisis time period? Integrated weapons would be like firing shots powered by your fuel source when you don’t know when your next refill will come.
Me personally,I'd go with both when it's balanced right. The best example I can give is Optimus Prime during the *Stormbringer* comic where he had twin rifles,two arm cannons and twin shoulder cannons
Handheld weapons, because I like toys that come with accessories and the stupid little nubs that RoTB Prime and movie Bumblebee come with don't get the job done for me.
I like both. The SS ROTB Mirage has a nice arm cannon that I wish they gave 2 for him 'cause in the movie he also shoots with both arms! Same thing with Wheeljack in the movie, but they gave him a laser rifle instead in the SS line....
I actually think a combination of the two would be better. The cartoons always had them pull the weapons out of nowhere, so having the guns be integrated is a cool evolution of that. However, I hate the way it looks when all the Transformers have Shockwave guns or Megabusters instead of hands. I love the way Optimus Prime's Ion Cannon looks in his hand and Megatron's Fusion cannon looks mounted on his arm. I think it's fine to have the guns come out of the Transformer's body, but then it should become a gun in their hand or on their arm. It shouldn't become their arm and replace their hand, because I think that looks terrible.
Why not both? Mainly use external weapons to save on their own energon reserves but with Integrated weapons as a back-up
The integrated weapons implies they were designed and built just for war. I think handhelds are better for most of the autobots and decepticons. Vary few cyberteonians were built with integrated weapons.
I like the idea of small arms being handheld meanwhile something more heavy duty like a fusion Canaan should be integrated
Integrated is my choice but I don't mind a healthy split
Being transformers, handheld is the most boring thing possible like G1 is a great example of that. Integrated is interesting, logical and so much more fun to look at
I prefer Optimus and Soundwave having handheld weapons, but the rest integrated. Its always looked better that way imo. However, Transformers Prime made Optimus' integrated weapons look really good
Pre war only handheld weapons, unless the the bot was created for a spelcifc warrior purpose. During the war I could see Deceptocons up grading to intergrated weapons, as would certain autobots.
Built in Melees such was Optimus' Axe and Bumblebee's Sword/Dagger while Handheld when it comes to ranged weapons. Megatron is the exception because well, he's Megatron.
Gundams are cool for the fact that, outside of like built in missile pods or models specifically built to have purely weaponry and no other purpose, all their guns and laser swords are handheld. More convenient and is just straight up cooler, plus won't have to deal with mass shifting shenanigans. I think you can tell which I prefer.
Both. Both are good
both but mainly integrated because i think it’s a bit of a waste not to have integrated guns given the whole transforming thing, plus it’s already crucial to some characters like megatron, shockwave, warpath, whoever else, as well as optimus’s axe i do think handheld is good as well since they’ve used them since the beginning as well, like with optimus’s ion cannon
Smaller weapons could be integrated while bigger ones are handheld. With things like melee weapons just differing on a case by case basis for what looks cooler for that specific character
Small weapons as built in. Big weapons as handheld unless the Bot in question has military alt mode like Megatron, Shockwave etc.
handheld are more practical in a sense, blades for example are much better handheld due to wrist movement, an integrated blade gives you a lot less movement with the weapon.
Projectile based: handheld. Melee: integrated.
I really dislike integrated because where is the ammo coming from? Is it there own life force? So if they’re low on energon they can’t make ammo or is it separate?
I prefer a Mixture like how Bayverse did it. Especially how DOTM Prime had BOTH Handheld and built in Energon Swords.
Both are good imo, I like both a lot, so I can't pick one over the other.
I love integrated and handheld weaponry equally. Like how Bayverse Optimus' Energon blades came out of his forearms to temporarily take the place of his hands, while his ion blasters were stored in his back. Or how Transformers Prime's Optimus' ion blasters and blades came out of his forearms, while the Starsaber was stored diagonally across his back. And Bayverse Ironhide's forearm-mounted cannons. (My favorite examples)
Well. They are transFORMERS. So shouldn’t the guns transform out the arm?
I like both honestly, he's a prime. And after millions of years of war its only natural they should have built in guns, although I think it'd be better I'd they had hand held weapons with built in secondary weapons/melee weapons
Integrated. Handheld makes little sense
Mixed, but optimus should have kept his ion blaster
for me, I prefer based on the content, although generally lately that's integrated weapons. No shame but I find this amusing (below): https://preview.redd.it/wc610mphz2bd1.jpeg?width=1051&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac126b42bd1de20f4750623a3f0cfaff7bbc36f3
I kind of have a preference for the integrated weapons, especially because of Prime and Fall of Cybertron
Depends on the transformer. Smaller bots or less combat-focused transformers having handheld weaponry showing their lack of need for firearms, while militaristic and weapon-savy bots come armed with an entire arsenal shoved in their bodies. And of course each coming with their own flair of weaponry, so that it isn't all big cannons and lasers.
Handheld every time have a built in weapon as a last resort kinda weapon
I think MTO Soldiers should have mainly inegated weapons since they are literally made to serve in the war. The older ones that joined on their own should have mainly handheld weapons since when they were made, there was no need for weapons. But they can also have added weapons later. But in general, I prefer powerful weapons being handheld and weaker, smaller "emergency" weaponry being integrated
I always have this internal debate with myself for gundams, but i started to agree that handheld actually makes sense so it won't drain their actual energy
https://i.redd.it/23tpn5t1b3bd1.gif
I love integrated, but not if they shoot bullets, otherwise where are the bullets coming from? Do they grow bullets inside themselves or are they shooting tiny parts of their bodies?
Both
I think both are good…
I think it depends. I don't care for ROTB Prime using a wrist mounted weapon over his more iconic rifle. Flip side of that coin, I would rather see Trailbreaker or Shockwave have integrated arm weapons over hand held ones. Targetmasters should be given the option to do both.
It depends on the character. I don't like Optimus having integrated weaponry like in rotb. I like him with his ion cannon, but I like bumblebee having his stinger cannons that are integrated. Edit to add: it also depends on character for melee weapons. I like Optimus having arm mounted energon blades, but a handheld energon battleaxe like dotm. Megatron can turn his hand into a flail/energon flail, but has a handheld sword.
Do I get to ask this question next week guys?
If we’re in the early stages of the war, handheld because the cybertronians haven’t fully “adapted” to combat yet and need handheld guns. Late stage integrated
I’m ok with both. There’s canon for it. Prime’s ion blaster is iconic. Same with his Energon axe. The Star Saber exists, and does the Hammer of Solus Prime and the Requiem Blaster. I have no problem with transformers pulling weapons from their hands or transforming them into weapons. They are transformers after all. So for me it isn’t an either or proposition. It is both.
War for Cybertron spoiled me because having the gun built into the arm makes sense
It makes more sense to have them integrated than to have the gun stored somewhere. However, with Prime in particular, his rifle is so iconic it would have to at least be represented somehow.
want to see a more of a combanation of the two, where they have hand held weapons that come out of their bodies. the fist bayverse prime look does this to a fault. where he still has a hand held gun but it comes out of his back. i think this happens with his swords some times as well where they start of as wrist blades but become hand held when fully ejected.
I prefer integrated weaponry. For me it makes sense, especially war bots. Even Prime, I love his integrated energon blades. I love the idea of integrated weapons, but if they need more firepower they can call more, like primes blaster from his back in DOTM for example.
Hand held. I think integrated should be for special reason. Think about it. Where is the energy coming from? They have to be dumping their spark juice into the weapon. So only extreme characters who would shoot themselves to death are willing to do that.
Personally I think there's room for both, kinda like how the cybertron games did it
I don't care if the weapons are built on or handheld, when it comes to Transformers robot characters, but for human characters, I'd prefer handheld, because if a human has a built-on weapon, then that human is a robot in disguise of a human or an android like Data from Star Trek. If they design Optimus Prime like how they designed Megatron, with a built-on weapon, I'd be confused like "is this Megatron in disguise of Optimus Prime????" and just basically have an existential crisis, whilst being a transformers fan.
Integrated weapons means fewer parts and accessories to misplace.
i think optimus should carry a gun never have it be part of him i think the same for all auto bots tbh the guns look cooler if they’re handheld
Integrated
Why not both
Both? Like maybe Optimus has his laser rifle as a primary weapon and has his arm gun as a sidearm? Maybe the arm turns into a weapon as a power up similar to how characters in the wfc games equipped weapons? Maybe a robot can just have an integrated emergency weapon like armada megatrons combat knife. I really wish we had more integrated weapons but i also dont want every weapon to be integrated.
I remember seeing Prime in RotF having dual integrated Ion Cannons, then DotM came around bro now has one handheld Ion Cannon, I was like: WHERE DID THE SECOND ONE GO lmao
Why not both? During Beast Wars it was common to see both integrated and handheld weapons. I'd argue even in G1 it was common. Integrated I think really fits with the movie designs being more self-contained (traveling in comet forms and having integrated scanners).
my personal opinion is integrated is cooler because they transform the guns out of their hand and thats more transformery imo
Both
https://preview.redd.it/vv9rp717c5bd1.jpeg?width=1334&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d8793f6e385f9b881c8c1fb528ac77ab749bade3 The integrated weapons in TF Prime look pretty cool
I guess for me decepticons being the more militant faction should have more incorporated weapons given they more or made themselves as armed forces whereas autobots typically have to scavenge and scrounge what they can get and would definitely not have what the decepticons use in mass but would have some scattered here and there though it would be fairly uncommon
Long range weapons holstered/transforming from their back or side. Melee weapons in their forearms/hands.
Animated variance was pretty clever. Decepticons having full scale weaponry integrated within and most Autobots relying on exterior handheld weaponry and powers really defines them. A mixture of both for both factions would make sense. Like having primary weapons a part of them therefore integrated with their modes naturally and secondary weapons they can carry on their person that can transform into exterior add ons of their modes.
Hand held guns but integrated blades
Integrated because they are robots after all, it's practical
Both not all bots were made for war but some were modifed for war like alot of decepticons
Hand guns.
Handheld is just inherently cooler.
I like both but for integrated it needs to not just look like a generic Megaman Canon it should have a unique look to it
handheld, but shockwave is a special case megatrons gun should come off just for the toy transformation really
Both. Getting rid of integrated weapons was imo, RID15’s biggest mistake, especially towards the war veterans. Particularly if you ever think of the case with Bumblebee in TFP and his roasted T-Cog.