(The Core) In a strangely Decepticon-like scheme, the Autobots decide to try and take over the Constructicons, making them their slaves. They place on each Constructicon tiny disks, called 'dominator disks' which will activate when the Constructicons merge, making Devastator an Autobot slave.

At first the plan worked, until Megatron revealed that he had his own controller, which could override the Autobots' version. The two conflicting signals sent Devastator insane, until the Autobots and Decepticons combined their controllers and brought him back under their join command. Then he disassembled and returned to the Decepticons at last. Yay!

Heart of Cybertron (Microbots) A powerful 'Energy Maximiser' (crystalline in form) which Megatron had installed in his body to increase his power a thousand fold, as well as giving him enormous new powers. The Heart of Cybertron was used to power the Decepticons' original Space Cruiser on its flight from Cybertron to Earth. The tiny energy maximiser was discovered by a couple of archaeologists when they accidentally stumbled on the Star Drive of the Decepticons' Space Cruiser during a dig.

(The Immobiliser) The immobiliser was an invention of Wheeljack's. Basically it was  a strange kind of free-standing ray-blaster which froze anything it hit. This worked on water, Transformers, dirt, anything. However the effect was sadly temporary. (Beeker: "Sadly Temporary.")

Obviously, the Decepticons stole this super weapon and used it against the Autobots who created it. Fortunately Carly reversed the ray and the Autobots were able to destroy it. This begs the question... why build it in the first damn place?

(Attack of the Autobots) A simple spray which more-or-less renders a being invisible (if you count a transparent line drawing as invisible, that is... oh no, I can't see them! They're transparent! Boy they'd have trouble seeing all the translucent plastic Beast Wars toys...). Megatron used the spray to help him infiltrate the Autobot base and infect their energy supply with his Personality Destabiliser.

The strange thing about this invisibility is, as I've said, it's depicted as reducing Starscream and Megatron to line work. Now this isn't that unusual for cartoons or comics, where invisibility is typically depicted by transparent line work (as it was here) or by dotted lines. What's unusual is that this is NOT consistent with the way invisibility was depicted everywhere else in the Transformers cartoon. Mirage (who can turn invisible in the cartoon) is depicted as completely disappearing, leaving no visual trace. In other words, he becomes INVISIBLE. I wonder why they didn't do it for the invisibility spray.

(The Key to Vector Sigma, pts 1 + 2) The Key to Vector Sigma was a strange little key used to activate the super computer known as Vector Sigma. This key was once looked after by that crazy old beardo, Alpha Trion. Sadly, he proved to be a pretty pathetic keeper. (IE: the moment someone kicked the crap out of him, he gave the key up. Hmmm, then again, I think I would have done the same...) 

When the Decepticons took the key from Alpha Trion (after imbedding his sorry carcass into a wall), it served them three times. First of all it acted as a token to allow the Decepticons to get past the guardians of Vector Sigma (Centurion Droids). Secondly it activated Vector Sigma, allowing the Decepticons to give live to five new warriors: The Stunticons. Finally, when they got back to Earth, it turned out that the key could turn anything into metal, just by pressing the button on the key and pointing. Useful.

The key was finally destroyed by Silverbolt, who blasted the silly little thing.

Kremzeek (Kremzeek!) A little creature made of pure electricity. He was created by Megatron to keep the Autobots busy, and distract them from his Energy Magnet plot. When fed by Blaster's own energy supply the creature split into hundreds of separate Kremzeek (of all different colours). Later, when the many Kremzeek were re-combined it became a single giant unit, hundreds of times the size of the individuals. Ouch.

Lightning Bug (Cosmic Rust) A large heat-ray shaped like a lightning bug. Megatron discovered this weapon on the planet of Atilla, an Autobot colony. The heat ray produced enormous energy. That energy fed the Transformer disease "cosmic rust", helping it to spread much faster. When the Decepticons were cured, Megatron attempted to use the lightning bug to help accelerate the infection of the Autobots by the cosmic rust. The bug was finally destroyed by Superion when the Decepticons tried to use it to destroy the Statue of Liberty.

Matter Duplicator (Cosmic Rust) A malfunctioning invention of Wheeljack which was, in theory, meant to duplicate matter. It didn't work until Perceptor gave it a sharp kick.

Medicroids (Countdown to Extinction) Medical droids on Cybertron. The droids were used by Starscream to 'repair' Dr. Arkeville. Unfortunately, Arkeville is a human and not a robot, so they did a bad job: he ended up a mechanical parody of himself, not even able to walk.

(S.O.S. Dinobots) Electronic memory/intellect enhancers. Wheeljack used them to enhance the original three Dinobots' intellects, because they were just too stupid to function as Transformers. The enhanced Dinobots were still woefully inadequate in the brains department, but at least could tell friend from foe. The later Dinobots were obviously built with a more realistic level of intelligence, and didn't need these Memory Components to enhance their brainpower.

Molecular Cannon (Fight or Flee) A massive weapon used by the Decepticons on the planet Paradron. The Predacon Headstrong used the weapon to destroy a decoy Autobot ship. It seemed like a VERY powerful gun. I want one!

(Auto Berserk) The Negavator was a large tank-like weapon developed by the Autobots. It was capable of disintegrating ANYTHING in a single blast. A VERY dangerous little weapon. When the Decepticons tried to steal it, Red Alert was injured in the process and went insane. He joined forces with Starscream to try and steal the Negavator. Though they succeeded, the Decepticons arrived and tried to steal it off them. Red Alert, cured by a blast from Starscream's Null ray, set the Negavator to self-destruct, destroying it forever. Bummer! I wanted one of those, too!

(City of Steel) When Megatron rebuilt New York into a replica of a Cybertronian city he named it "New Cybertron". As you do.

Pearl of Bahoudin (Trans-Europe Express) The Pearl of Bahoudin was the core of a powerful weather-controlling device. The device was accidentally lost and crash-landed on earth. The bulk of the device was burnt up in orbit and left only the pearl itself. The pearl was dug up in the 14th Century in Persia. It went crazy when exposed to the atmosphere, causing massive storms and uncontrolled weather. A Persian seer managed to bring the device under control by surrounding it in a solid gold protective shell, then burying it. In the 80s the Decepticons dug up the Pearl, intending to use it for their own gain. However, the Autobots took the Pearl, and accidentally let it get out of control. Finally Bumblebee had to go up into the funnel of a tornado and blast the Pearl, destroying it.

(Starscream's Brigade) When a Decepticon renegade is taken prisoner by his fellow Decepticons his personality components (obviously, his brain, or mind) are removed, and his body destroyed. These are then stored in the Decepticon detention centre. Obviously, this saves on guards, storage space, and parole sentencing. Starscream stole 5 of these components (and destroyed the rest) to build into the Combaticons and make an army for himself.

The components look pretty much exactly like mini energon cubes. When placed in the husks of five earth vehicles, the components reshaped the vehicles, giving the Combaticons new bodies. This was obviously done to save on animation, and was rather disappointing. It would have been much more interesting (and realistic) to see Starscream rebuild the vehicles by hand to make new bodies for the Constructicons. After all, Megatron had to rebuild the cars he captured to make the Stunticons. Ah well.

There is an interesting correlation here, though, between the nano-tech technology used in Beast Wars on protoforms, and the way these guys sorta 'squeltched' into their new bodies.

(Attack of the Autobots) A device placed in the Autobots' Recharging Chambers by Megatron to contaminate their energy. It turned the good Autobots into evil monsters. How terrible of them! The Destabiliser also reprogrammed the Autobots, making them obey the Decepticons and instilling in them a basic mission programming. That IS evil energy.

Starscream had the personality destabiliser inside himself. That might explain a lot.

Power Chip Rectifier (Heavy Metal War) The Power Chip Rectifier is the controlling chip which provides a Transformer with his special powers. Megatron used the Decepticons' power chip rectifiers to take all their powers and use them in battle against Optimus Prime. The Power Chip seems to only control the unique powers of each Transformer, and not intrinsic powers such as flying, walking and Transforming. Special, external, weapons also seem to be governed by the chip; Megatron could use Starscream's Null Ray and Cluster Bombs, even though he was clearly wearing his Null Ray's on his arms at the time.

(Attack of the Autobots) These chambers, which look a lot like Stasis Pods (from Beast Wars) or those Cryogenics chambers from the Alien movies, are where the Autobots are recharged and re-powered. That's right, Autobots get re-energised in beds. So doting Autobot grannies can say, "You look a bit tired, dear, why don't you have a little lie down?" Just like human ones!

They're obviously a more efficient way of transferring energy, possibly with less waste, than the standard energon cubes (otherwise, why would they even have them?). They also seem to do minor repairs on Autobots, or have some access to their neural circuitry (otherwise how could Megatron's Personality Destabiliser affect the Autobots?). They could be seen as a kind of precursor to the Beast Wars' R-chambers.

Sentry Monitor (Countdown to Extinction) The Sentry Monitor, when activated, electrocutes anyone trying to use Decepticon computers who doesn't happen to be a Decepticon. It almost killed Dr. Arkeville. In other words, the Sentry monitor is a security device for Decepticon computers.

(Heavy Metal War) When Megatron came unarmed to challenge Optimus Prime to single combat the Autobots reacted as any peace-loving pacifist race would. They attacked. Ironhide attacked by shooting out of his hands, Gobot style. But it was Wheeljack whose attack was the most interesting. He broke out a massive cannon he called the 'Shock Black Cannon'. Then he proceeded to shoot at Megatron. Unfortunately, the cannon simply exploded, knocking Wheeljack down onto his aft. Poor Wheeljack.

(Various Episodes) Teletraan 1's spy satellite. Sky Spy was used countless times to monitor Decepticon activity or to collect information. Its capabilities were mostly visual, though it seemed to be able to pick up audio or other sensor information when needed.

The Sky Spy was sent out by Teletraan 1 for the first time in the cartoons to collect information on Alt Modes for the Transformers when the Ark first reactivated in 1984.

Sky Spy was disabled or damaged many times and had to be rebuilt or repaired. While it seems there was only ever one Sky Spy used at a time, many were destroyed completely (such as in 'Fire on the Mountain' when Megatron blasted Sky Spy to pieces with his new cannon toy) so there can't have been just one for the whole series.

(Various Episodes) The Autobots' computer. Not really obscure, as EVERYONE knows what Teletraan 1 is. The computer was incredibly powerful, and capable of analysing almost anything. Interestingly enough it was user-friendly enough that Chip Chase, a human quickly became an expert at the operation of Teletraan 1.

It also sometimes displayed signs of sentience, or semi-sentience; for example when it defies Megatron in Attack of the Autobots, insisting that Megatron can't win because the Autobots are good, not evil. 

Teletraan 1 was destroyed and rebuilt countless times. The funny thing is, though, that most of the time Teletraan is destroyed by the good guys. In Attack of the Autobots it's an evil Optimus Prime who destroys Teletraan. In SOS Dinobots it's the Dinobots who destroy Teletraan. In Megatron's Master Plan it's Chip Chase who destroys the computer!

Teletraan was finally destroyed for good when Trypticon decimated the Ark in Five Faces of Darkness.

(The Autobot Run) The Transfixatron was one of Megatron's silliest 'evil scheme weapons'. Basically, the Transfixatron stopped you from being able to Transform. This was a really bad thing for the Autobots, who all Transformed into pathetic cars. Of course it would have been pretty useless against the Dinobots, who were pretty indestructible in both modes. Fortunately, the Dinobots were conveniently forgotten for this episode. (As was Jetfire, who'd still be dangerous stuck in jet mode.)

While the Autobots (except for a select group of engineers, scientists and medics... and Brawn of course) were hanging out at a racing event, Skywarp used the Transfixatron on them, trapping them in vehicle mode. The Decepticons were then going to kill the Autobots, but the select group of engineers, scientists and medics managed to create a device to counter the Transfixation. Who woulda thunk it?

The Transfixatron was used by the Autobots to disassemble Devastator (funny that it disassembled him, rather than leaving him stuck as Devvy, like it should have), before destroying it.

A similar device to the Transfixatron was used by the Predacons in the episode 'The Probe'. However they used it in an intelligent way; they trapped ALL the Maximals in Beast Mode, and didn't leave all the scientists off alone to create a cure.

Transforming Cog (Various Episodes) A large cog, or crystalline device (depending on the animator, it seems) which controls the Transforming sequence of the massive Transformers Metroplex and Trypticon. The Transforming Cogs were only semi-interchangeable between the two. When they were swapped around, neither Transformer could control their Transformations correctly. It seems to be an entirely silly piece of techno-jargoned junk. But that's Season Three for you.

Transmat Reduction Beam (Microbots) A shrinking/enlarging ray used by Perceptor to enlarge Microchips so he could work on them more accurately. He also used the ray to shrink himself, Brawn and Bumblebee so they could get inside Megatron and remove the Heart of Cybertron from him. The ray seemed to last only about two hours before the objects returned to their original size.

Trilithium (The Insecticon Syndrome) The substance the Insecticons' stomachs were made of.

(Auto Berserk) The tunnel drone was a killer droid guarding the back passage to the the bunker where the Autobots were holding their super weapon, the Negavator. Red Alert was actually more afraid of it than he was of the Negavator's power.

One wonders why the Autobots didn't just build a bunch of Tunnel Drones if they were so darn powerful.

(Various Episodes) Vector Sigma was a big, orange-like ball of a super-computer which gave life to all Transformers. Sure, it looked like a large piece of fruit, or perhaps even a yellow disco ball, but it also had a deep voice and weird, psuedo-mystical powers.

Vector Sigma was found at the centre of Cybertron (along with about half the other big-plot-devices in the second and third seasons of Transformers). Sigma (we'll call him 'Sigma' for short) had, according to several people, been responsible for giving the Transformers life. How this relates to the Quintesson origin, Primus only knows. (Or rather he doesn't, seeing as how he's not part of the cartoon origins... whee).

In 'Key to Vector Sigma', the Decepticons used said key to waken Vector Sigma (guess we won't be shortening his name after all) and get the super computer to give life to five new  Decepticons: the Stunticons. The Autobots then went to Vector Sigma and Alpha Trion bonded with the computer (dying in the process) to wake it up again. Vector Sigma then gave life to five new Autobots, the Aerialbots, so that they could fight the Stunticons.

Later on, Optimus Prime used the empty Matrix-husk to bond with Vector Sigma, and have a chat with Alpha Trion. Basically, Optimus realised that, without the power of the Matrix, he was a little bit dopey.

Vector Sigma also appeared in the Japanese series Headmasters, where he was blown up, along with the planet Cybertron. He appeared again in Beast Wars Neo, pulling strings behind the scenes. His latest appearance was in Beast Machines, where he was hiding behind an Oracle, as well as several appearances in the retro stuff put out by Dreamwave comics.