Skullcruncher (ROTB)

Skullcruncher is a Decepticon from the Rise of the Beasts portion of the movie continuity family.

"I'll find you, rip your flesh like paper!"

Skullcruncher is a crocodilian Decepticon. Though, maybe, he's also a Maximal (see notes).

Really, the sole lore we have for this character is the fact that no one knows for sure what his faction is.

Toys

Rise of the Beasts

pocket crocodile, hold him in your hand

• Skullcruncher (Beast Battle Masters, 2023)
  • TakaraTomy name: Kakusei Weapon Skullcruncher
  • TakaraTomy ID number: BW-03
  • TakaraTomy release date: April 15, 2023

• Known designers: Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy)

Part of the first wave of Rise of the Beasts Beast Battle Masters, Skullcruncher is a 4-inch figure that transforms from robotic crocodile into a gun and back. In weapon form, he can be wielded by any other figure with 5 mm ports. He features an opening jaw and has ball jointed limbs, giving him a fairly impressive range of motion.

In the realm of undocumented features, his gun barrel ends in a 5 mm hole, making him compatible with certain Fire Blast effects, while his handle is compatible with Mini-Con Powerlinx sockets.

According to his designer Shogo Hasui, Skullcruncher was selected for the Battle Master class in homage to Generation 1 gun gator Gatoraider.^[1]

"You know, you SAY 'Beast Alliance' but I feel like this is more 'Beast You-Wear-Me-As-A-Suit'."

• Optimus Primal & Skullcruncher (Beast Combiners, 2023)
  • TakaraTomy name: Kakusei Change Armor Set Optimus Primal & Skullcruncher
  • TakaraTomy ID number: BCAS-03
  • TakaraTomy release date: June 24, 2023
  • Accessories: Tail/blade-weapon, crocodile head/shield

• Known designers: Koki Yamada (TakaraTomy)

Part of the first wave of "Beast Combiners" two-packs, this version of Skullcruncher transforms from robotic crocodile to a set of armor for compatible figures via partial autotransformation. His tail detaches to become a hand-held weapon and his upper skull detaches to become a shield. His lower jaw houses a cannon, which can be rotated forward in combined robot mode.

He was only available packed in with Optimus Primal, and his armor mode features a new robot-mode head designed as a merger between Primal's head and Skullcruncher's beast styling. However, he is compatible with any other "main" figure in the Beast Combiner assortment, not just Primal.

Notes

"It's all a machine, partner. Live free, don't join."

• Skullcruncher is labelled as a Decepticon on the packaging of both his toys, but the instructions for the Beast Battle Masters release designates him as a Maximal instead.
  • Naturally, it is also rather odd that he is packed and meant to combine with Optimus Primal, who is, obviously a Maximal himself.
  • Adding to the confusion, his Beast Battle Masters packaging shows him being brandished by Optimus Prime, an ally of the Maximals rather than the Decepticons. This could have been done to skip on rendering a separate character since his other wave-mates also feature Optimus as the weapon mode holder on the packaging - however, this does make sense for the other characters since they're all Maximals, whereas Skullcruncher isn't.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Skullcruncher (スカルクランチャー Sukarukuranchā)

References