Electrostatic discharger rifle

"See you in hell, cruel world!"

The Aerialbot leader Silverbolt can fly at nearly two times the speed of sound. As he flies, he builds up an immense static charge on his body - a charge that he unleashes on his enemies with his electrostatic discharger rifle. It is especially effective during thunderstorms, during which it can blast Decepticons with 150,000 volts of electricity in a single bolt.

Silverbolt also has an internal electrostatic battery, which has the same capabilities as his rifle, discharging electricity from his nosecone in jet mode.

Fiction

Marvel The Transformers comics

In jet mode, Silverbolt had an electrostatic battery mounted on his underside that stripped electrons from air molecules and stored them so he could direct the stored charge through his nose cone as a powerful bolt of electricity. In robot mode he carried an electrostatic discharger rifle with the same capability. Silverbolt's Universe profile

Desert of Danger

Hot Rod introduced you to his Nebulan Targetmaster partner Professor Sparks, describing him as the niftiest electrostatic discharger rifle this side of Andromeda. Desert of Danger

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Silverbolt's jet mode had an electrostatic battery that could store up to 150,000 volts and release it as a giant silver bolt of electricity, as could his electrostatic discharger rifle. Silverbolt's More than Meets the Eye profile Superion used the same weapon. Superion's More than Meets the Eye profile Firebolt could transform into an electrostatic discharger rifle that Hot Rod could use in both modes. Targetmaster Hot Rod's More than Meets the Eye profile

Toys

The Transformers

• Silverbolt (Aerialbot, 1986, 1991)
  • Accessories: electrostatic discharger rifle, blast shield chest plate, Superion's head, left & right fists, left & right foot stands, ramp, blast deflector waist plate

The Transformers Silverbolt came with a black electrostatic discharger rifle, which had a 4 mm post to fit Silverbolt's hands, unlike the more standard 3 mm or 5 mm posts of the time. It could also be wielded by the Aerialbots' combined form Superion, and was correspondingly available in a Superion giftset. It was also reissued as part of the European/Australian Classics line in 1990 and available as a mail-away offer in Japan in 1991.

• Hot Rod (Targetmaster, 1987)
  • Accessories: Firebolt partner

Available only with Targetmaster Hot Rod, Firebolt transformed into an electrostatic discharger rifle. This toy was not originally available in Japan, but was reissued by Takara as part of their The Transformers Collection series in 2004.

Generation 2

• Silverbolt (1994)
  • Accessories: 2 missile launchers, 2 missiles, weapon, blast shield chest plate, Superion's head, left & right fists, left & right foot stands, ramp, blast deflector waist plate

In Generation 2, Silverbolt's weapon was generically labelled in his instructions, but confirmed to still be an electrostatic discharger rifle in his packaging bio. As before, it could also be wielded by Superion.

Masterpiece

• Targetmaster Hot Rodimus (February 24, 2018)
  • Accessories: Firebolt, gun

Available with Masterpiece Targetmaster Hot Rodimus, Firebolt is a redeco of the Transformers Masterpiece Offshoot toy, marking the mold's first release in Japan. According to the bio on Hot Rodimus's trading card, he transforms into an electrostatic discharge rifle.

Notes

• Somehow, when Superion wields Silverbolt's electrostatic discharger rifle in the Marvel comics, it becomes a stress fracture cannon. Neat trick.
• Zigzag transforms into an electrostatic overloader rifle, which isn't quite the same thing.