Formerly theMicro Change MC-20 Micro Scope,The Transformers Perceptor transforms into a functional microscope, thought his magnification is limited to 14X[1] due to the relatively crude nature of his lens. Inrobot mode, Perceptor is armed with a red "Concussion Rifle" and a rocket launcher that holds one of three red missile-shaped projectiles. On the originalMicro Change toy, the launcher fired via a spring-loaded mechanism, which was disabled for the Hasbro release of Perceptor, but re-enabled for Takara's version of the figure.
Perceptor can also be configured into a third "vehicular" mode. In theMicro Change line, this form was a mobile artillery emplacement that repurposed his scope into a cannon barrel. It had two configurations; it could be angled forward to serve as a tank, or upward to serve as amortar cannon, and could be manned in both by aMicroman action figure, who sat in the "seat" formed by his chest tray. TheTransformers release of the toy chose to reinterpret the mode as a "mobile laboratory" in its instructions, which depicted it in its angled-upwards "mortar cannon" configuration, but Perceptor'sUniverse profile didn't go along with this, and referred to it as an artillery emplacement like it was inMicro Change.
The Japanese version doesnot launch missiles from the scope, despite what some sources say.
There is an odd variant of this toy: some have a more golden-hued chrome than the normal silver. This is not a very common variant.
The mold was laterredecoed to makeMagnificus. It also served as the model for the non-toy character, theChairman.
Perceptor wasreissued in Japan as part ofTakara'sTransformers Collection line. Near as can be told, there are no notable differences between the reissue and the original Japanese release.
Available as part of the first assortment ofClassicsLegends of Cybertron, Perceptor is aredeco of theLegends of CybertronRed Alert. He transforms into a BTR-90 armored personnel carrier with a large missile/laser cannon/microscope/telescope.
Hasbro did their own reissue of Perceptor as part of theUniverse line. TheToys"R"Usexclusive was issued in a box with an opening front cover and advertised as a "Commemorative Edition", much like the earlierSoundwave and theInsecticons (which were released at the same time as Perceptor).
There are several differences between the original 1985 toy and this one. The stickers are shiny reflective, not matte. On his shoulder stickers, the magnification is shown as x15, not x14 as on the original figure. The stickers on the sides of the lower legs retained the original Microman number "MC 20", which is filled out blank on the original. Lastly, while the 1985 figure has 1974-1984 Takara stamped on his lower back, the reissue has Takara 1984 and Hasbro 1984 stamped vertically on his shoulder blades.
Strangely, the spring of the missile launcher was not weakened like most Generation 1 toys, but were straight-out omitted from the gun. This makes the missiles totally useless, because they don't even clip into the gun. Additionally, the box labels his mobile-laboratory mode as a tank mode while not including his actual tank mode.
Part of the sixth wave of the2010Transformers toyline, Perceptor amalgamates elements from his original Generation 1 design andGuido Guidi's design from IDW'sAll Hail Megatron series (in particular, the foreshortened chest seen inthis panel, the arrows on his forearms and abdomen, and even his sniper rifle barrel in lieu of his traditional scope). His updatedvehicle mode is reminiscent of that ofhisAnimated counterpart, being a generic "scientific expedition" vehicle. Its front half resembles a modern off-road vehicle similar to aLand Rover Defender or aJeep Commander, while the rear section features treads instead of wheels, making it a half-track vehicle (which aren't actually produced anymore). His license plate reads "MR 51409", the exact significance of which is not yet known (though it might have something to do with the possible birth date ofBill Rawley's daughter).
Lack of chrome was deemed "not nerdy enough".
Unusually for a mainline Hasbro toy, Perceptor has somevacuum-metalized parts. The chromed dials on his forearms feature bars compatible withC joint accessories. Like allReveal the Shieldsubline imprint figures, Perceptor has arubsign, which is located behind a translucent door on his chest that can be opened. His hands are compatible with5mm posts, such as the ones on the guns of his original toy.
Theinstructions incorrectly tell you to position the feet horizontally in vehicle mode, which causes them to press against his knees and prevent the vehicle mode from tabbing correctly in numerous places, when they are meant to be positioned vertically and rest against the trunk. Strangely, the correct position can be seen in the numerous steps depicting the underside of the vehicle, but it immediately switches to the incorrect position on the steps concerning the feet. Additionally,packagingstock photography depicts a considerably different Perceptor than the final product. The photos show him having silverpaint operations on his upper legs and inner forearms, but said parts appear to be made ofunpaintable plastic, rather understandably causing the paint operations to be dropped. Additionally, the shoulder laser, chest, and arm knobs sport silver paint rather than chrome.
As first acknowledged by Hasbro atBotCon 2010, the toy was planned to eventually be retooled intoReflector, using a new head based on Perceptor's original toy head.[2] At one point, Reflector was intended to be released as part of aToys"R"UsexclusiveGenerations 2-pack together withSideswipe (inGeneration 2 colors), but that set was ultimately never released. The alternate head sculpt was eventually used by TakaraTomy for thee-HOBBY exclusiveGenerationsMagnificus figure.
Released in the third wave of Takara'sUnited toyline, "Autobot Perceptor" features several differences from his HasbroReveal the Shield counterpart, covering his red vehicle panels with metallic red paint, replacing the clear yellow with colorless clear plastic, and adding some additional detailing to his vehicle mode and robot mode. Other notable details are blue translucent paint on the eyes, as well as silver detailing on his chest.
As with allUnited versions of the 2010Transformers toys, Perceptor lacks a heat-sensitiverubsign, replacing it with atampographed Autobot sigil. Surprisingly, he lacks any of the chrome from the Hasbro release, leaving those corresponding parts either painted silver or unpainted light gray plastic.
Kre-O
Robot mode and "looking for where I put my head" mode.
As part of the second wave ofKre-OblindpackedMicro-Changers, Perceptor is aKreon mini-figure patterned after Generation 1 Perceptor. He can be rebuilt into a microscope.
This Collection was still in circulation at "dollar" stores and drug stores up through 2015. They eventually lost the individual-identifying bag codes, but other changes were hidden inside the bag. The 2015 releases replaced the 2x4 logo stand-brick with a new 3x4 logo plate. The Kreon was also given the slightretooling to the arm seen in the 2014 Kreons, making the "cuff" parts more sharp-cornered and better adapted to being used as studs. Some of the add-on pieces may also be slightly off-color, possibly due to a change in factories in mid-production.
Yeah yeah, blinded with science, '80s reference, we get it.
Kreon Class of 1984 (Kreon figure set, 2014)
Set number:B0090
Voted: Class Brain
Accessories: Large rifle, microscope slide (?)
This version of Perceptor, part of theKreon Class of 1984 (despite the fact that Perceptor did not appear inTransformers in any capacity until 1985), has much more detailed toy-basedtampographs than his prior version, including a masked face. He comes with a clear blue 2x2 tile that one can only assume is supposed to be some kind of microscope slide.
He was only available in aSan Diego Comic-Con 2014exclusive pack of 30 Kreons dubbed the "Kreon Class of 1984". Remaining stock was to be sold atHasbro Toy Shop online, only therewas no remaining stock after the show.
In 2016, Collection 2 was re-released in a whole new production run for Dollar General stores in the US as part of a large collection of re-releasedKre-O sets. But where most of these releases are nigh-identical to the originals, the re-released Micro-Changer blind-bags use the almost-entirely-retooled 2015 Kreon, with slightly-differently-hued plastics than the originals. (It is possible for some of the add-on pieces to be in the older hues.) Perceptor'stampographs got some color changes, replacing the light gray with shiny silver, and changing his light blue toe paint to black.
Sadly, this release has no individual-identification code on the bag, requiring you to use the feel-through-the-bag method or just buy blind and hope.
Generations
Autobot Warriors (Multi-pack, 2014)
Reveal the Shield Perceptor was re-released in a three-pack withUniverseRatchet andGenerationsSergeant Kup, available from Hasbro Asia andTakaraTomy Mall. All three Autobots feature new metallic paint decoes, which in Perceptor's case also includes a rear license plate reading "N1j1K4."
Platinum Edition
Now we can simulate that15 Go! Go! scene with evergreater efficiency!
Hasbro again re-released G1 Perceptor in 2015 as part of thePlatinum Edition toyline. He was co-packed withBlaster,Eject,Ramhorn, andSteeljaw in a box with an opening front cover.
A new feature included in this set specifically for Perceptor are six 'microscope slides' featuring different pictures, and a slide holder / cage which can hold all six slides. The slides fit snugly onto the mirror of Perceptor's mounting platform, although looking at them through the scope is an underwhelming experience, to say the least.
Although Perceptor's missile launcher is included, once again the firing mechanism is completely gutted, with the trigger glued into the launcher. However, the missiles are still able to plug into the launcher and are held firmly in place by friction.
In the United States, this set was officially aTarget exclusive, though it was initially only ever found at a single Target store, otherwise only available via the company's website. It was later revealed that multiple Target stores had kept it in their stockroom and eventually put it out on instant clearance many months later. However, it was also stocked by US-based online retailersBigBadToyStore and TFSource, who supposedly obtained it as an import from Asia. It was available in several of Hasbro's Asian markets (namely Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore; it's currently unknown whether it was exclusive to any particular stores there or not). In Australia, it was sold atToys"R"Us stores.
In the United Kingdom, it was both sold atToys"R"Us stores and officially available via the UK division ofAmazon, making this the first official UK release of all the toys contained within! In Spain, it was officially available via the Spanish division of Amazon. In Germany, it was originally available via Bankroft, an online retailer that otherwise specializes inNerf blasters and accessories, as part of a special "Fan Edition" arrangement through Hasbro Germany, with the help of several Germanfan sites. Due to low sales, the unsold stock was later sold to Actionfiguren24, a German online retailer that specializes in imported toys, who was able to lower its price for its existing stock of imported Autobot Intel Ops sets as a result.
Part of the fourth wave ofTitans Return Deluxe Class toys, Perceptor is based onGuido Guidi's design for the character first seen inAll Hail Megatron (complete with sniper rifle), and transforms into a microscope. Perceptor's microscope lens works, and a dial on the scope can be turned to refocus it slightly. Titan Masters can be laid across the tray in robot mode, or pegged into the tray in head mode.
Perceptor comes with his Titan Master partnerConvex, who transforms into his robot mode head.
Perceptor is designed to transform into a new interpretation of the third mode of his original toy, with dedicated parts and clips to hold his body in place in the specific angled-upward position of the "mortar cannon" configuration, but with his scope pointed forward like the "tank" configuration. However, it was omitted from his instructions for unknown reasons.
Perceptor's transformation involves very little to lock anything in place in robot mode, relying on either friction or gravity to hold him together. This leaves him somewhat unstable, and his parts prone to shifting out of place when attempting to move his limbs. The large size of his scope also greatly restricts his head articulation.
As with otherTitans Return toys, Perceptor can accommodate any Titan Master figure in both robot and vehicle mode, thoughunlike most other figures in the line, Perceptor has no dedicated cockpit to hold them in. This means Titan Masters can really only lay in his tray in microscope mode, or attach to him via the small pegs sculpted onto the sides of his altmodes. There does appear to be a section sculpted specifically to hold a Titan Master's feet under the small flip-up silver panel on his chest that would allow them to "man" his third mode... except rather than sitting in it, they have tokneel with their knees locking into the groove.
Released in the twenty-fourth wave of TakaraTomy'sLegends toyline, Perceptor is a redeco of hisTitans Return Deluxe Class toy with some minor differences, such as red shoulders and elbows and an Autobot insignia on his chest instead of stomach, and also lacking the toy-styletampographs on his legs. His Headmaster, redecoed from Convex, features detailed paint operations to resemble Perceptor himself and has blue instead of yellow eyes in head mode.
Perceptor also comes withAmhorn, who transforms into a weapon he can wield.
Golden Lagoon
Beachcomber / Perceptor / Seaspray (Three-pack, November 2018)
Packaged with similar redecoes ofTitans ReturnSeaspray andPower of the PrimesBeachcomber, this set was released exclusively byTakaraTomy Mall as part of TakaraTomy's celebration of the franchise's 35th anniversary. The set was later rereleased byHasbro Pulse in the USA in January 2021.
Released in the fifteenth wave ofStudio Series Deluxes, commemorating the 35th anniversary ofThe Transformers: The Movie, Perceptor faithfully recreates his character model from the Generation 1 cartoon, but with the addition of the tank tread legs from his original toy. Perceptor transforms into both a microscope and a goofy mortar cannon mode. While both ends of his scopeare fitted with translucent plastic "lenses", it does not have any actual functionality as a microscope unlike theoriginal andTitans Return figures. He comes with a modestly-sized blaster which can be pegged into the side of his scope/cannon in either alternate mode.
Like the otherStudio Series toys, the interior of the package forms a display backdrop, depicting the Battle of Autobot City in Perceptor's case. His surface greebling is directly based onbox art from theThe Transformers Collectionreissue of his original toy, as seen in designerEvan Brooks' behind the scenes Instagram post.
The pearl-white paint on Perceptor's translucent-plastic chest window is prone to scuffing and scratching even before the packaging is opened.
Released as part of a 3-pack withRatbat andRamhorn, this version of Perceptor is a redeco and retool of the above figure, which was done to make him more animation-accurate.[7] All of his colors have been slightly tweaked, with lighter "black" parts, less-orangey red, darker aqua, brighter off-white and a flat light-gray face.
The red portion of the robot torso is entirely new (and appears to be a painted piece sharing a mold with Ramhorn's parts), now with a panel covering the gap behind the head, plus new longer biceps. An unfortunate side effect of the new chest is that the tank mode of the previous release can no longer properly tab together, resulting in its exclusion from this release's instructions.[8] Interestingly, the new instructions show a different way of orientating the legs and upper thighs, causing him to lean slightly forward in his alt mode, as opposed to the previous mold.
In what is likely an oversight, the small rectangular details on Perceptor's inner shoulder pylons are a different size on his chest compared to those on his back.
Perceptor was revealed atNew York Toy Fair 2025 and released in aTarget-exclusive three-pack as part of the “MTMTE Collection” with the aforementioned Ratbat and Ramhorn figures, homaging the scene inThe Transformers: The Movie when they fought.
Generations Selects
You almost need a microscope to actuallysee this one.
The original Perceptor toy was reissued once again in 2023, this time under the branding of theWalmartexclusiveTransformers Retro line. However, this release, which was given specificThe Transformers: The Movie branding, gives the mold a redeco with colors based on his original cartoon character model. Although every previous incarnation of this mold has featured a working microscope, with the Retro version Hasbro decided to give the microscope a semi-opaque grey lens, rendering it useless. However, the instructionsdo show directions for using the microscope, making this change even odder. On a similar note, the instructions don't include Perceptor's third "mobile laboratory"/"artillery emplacement" mode, possibly due to it not being present in the cartoon and movie. As the mold itself remains unchanged, though, he can still transform into it.
The package art for Perceptor's robot mode and background is reused from the aboveStudio Series toy, with the upper half of the new microscope art being based on the original toy.
Perceptor was among the many characters rendered byTakara as part of their series of 1.5" soft rubberkeshigomu figurines. Like all the figures in the series, Perceptor featured a number sculpted into his back that was the sum total of hisTech Specs, for use in the various games that could be played with the figurines. He was available in red as part of a 22-piece box set of Autobot figures, in peach as part of various other randomly-packed box sets released by Takara subsidiarySeven, and in a wide variety of different colors in "gachapon" capsule machines.
Perceptor (Decoy, 1987)
Decoy number: 30
The Perceptor figurine was later brought over toHasbro markets as part of theDecoy promotion, largely identical to the Japanese release except for the fact that the number on his back was replaced with a simple "checklist" number. Like all Autobot Decoys, he was a randomly-chosen pack-in available with the cardedThrottlebots,Aerialbots,Protectobots, andTechnobots.
Super Collection Figure Perceptor is a non-transforming three-inch tall figure, releasedblindpacked in theVictory-themed "Act 7" of the line (which, given Perceptor had anextended cameo in theVictory cartoon, makes sense). He came in both full color and painted-pewter versions, each packed one per case of twelve. Bizarrely, the color version has a red left hand, which is even reflected in the packaging photography.
The pewter version of the figure has a potential problem with connector peg breakage, due to said pegs often getting a layer of pewter paint before being forced into a socket, leading to sticking and tearing. Care should be used when moving or removing the arms; shaving down the socket interior with a thin hobby knife is usually sufficient to fix the issue. On top of that, the short peg for his shoulder-mounted microscope assembly needs to be shaved down slightly to fit into the extremely shallow hole on his shoulder.
The pewter version of Perceptor was packed with theVictory Saber rifle. This part could also be in either full color or pewter, packed at a ratio of eight color parts to two pewters.
Perceptor was released in the fourth wave of theHeroes of Cybertron, casting theSuper Collection Figure mold in clear blue plastic painted over, leaving the eyes and back of the head unpainted to attempt alight-piping gimmick. This release also correctly colors his left hand dark gray. There is still a slight issue with the incredibly shallow peg/hole combo that holds his shoulder-scope on, so some slight paint-shaving might be needed to keep it in place.
He was released on a separate card instead of a blindpacked box, and came with the head and sword of theFortress Maximus build-a-figurine.
Part of the fifth assortment ofTiny Titansblindpacks, this version of Perceptor is a very small, soft-plastic figure of him in robot mode, kneeling with a sniper rifle, recalling hisIDW incarnation.
He includes a collectible card that renders him in the2015Robots in Disguise styling. The card includes a scan-badge for theRobots in Disguise mobile game, which unlocks a random amount of Energon "currency" and a randomized bonus power-up item.
Transformers Figure Collection
Perceptor (01–2016)
Standing 42 mm tall,Transformers Figure Collection Perceptor is a non-poseable soft-rubber figure based on hisDecoy figure.
Transformers Trading Card Game
Perceptor, Precise Sniper (2020)
Wave 5P: Titan Masters Attack
Rarity:RT
Card Number:P06/2020
Stars:8
This card's set was originally scheduled for an April 2020 release, however due to the global COVID-19 pandemic the release was pushed back to May 29, 2020.
ReAction
Perceptor (2020)
Accessories: Concussion rifle
Released in the third wave ofSuper7's line of multi-property 3.75-inch "retro" action figures,ReAction Perceptor is a non-converting 3 3/4-inch action figure based on his appearance in the original cartoon, with 5 points of articulation (swivel neck, shoulders, hips) and holes in his feet for use with some variety of stand.
As with all releases in theReAction toyline, Perceptor comes packaged on a small cardback that emulates the nostalgic packaging style ofKenner'sStar Wars action figures from the late 1970s to early '80s.
MC-20 Microscope (2020)
Accessories: Concussion rifle
As a special "Black Friday" exclusive,ReAction Perceptor got ablack repaint based on the originalMicro Change "MC-20 Micro Scope" toy that pre-dated theTransformers "Perceptor" release. AKA "Magnificus" colors. Why he didn't get the name (and a Decepticon logo to go with it) is anyone's guess.
This figure was only available through Super7's website.
Auldey
In hindsight, it's highly surprising that it has taken until now for a Perceptor to be retooled from a Soundwave
Alpha Action Elite (Wave 2, 2025)
Series:Attack on Earth
ID Number:AAE-015
Accessories: 4 pairs of hands, blaster, trading card
Sold as part ofAuldey's "Alpha Action Elite (AAE)" series of blindboxes, this Perceptor is a 5-inch non-transforming but highly articulated action figure, retooled fromSoundwave from the previous line. Removing his chest piece reveals hidden greebling.
Perceptor also comes with his trading card. As advertised in the box, the lineup had an 12/72 probability of getting him. This mold is also used to makeMagnificus for the "Micro Spy Set" multipack.
Notes
AtToy Fair 2013,Kre-O Perceptor was shown having more or lessHardshell's alt-mode. Why? Lord knows.