Slag (G1)/toys

Slag does not like that he is the quintessential Autobot Triceratops.

Toys

The Transformers

This... good enough for... Slag!

• Slag (Dinobot, 1985/1986/1992)

• Takara ID number: 28
• Accessories: "Energo sword", "electron blaster", "rocket pod launcher", 3 rockets
• Known designers: Kōjin Ōno (TakaraTomy)

Released in the second year of the US Transformers toyline (first year in non-US markets), Slag is a redeco of the Takara Diaclone "Dinosaur Robo Triceratops" toy, transforming into a robotic Triceratops (obviously). His "rocket pod launcher" sockets into the large circular holes in his shoulders in both robot and dino mode. The Hasbro release of this toy severely weakened the launcher's springs for safety reasons, while the Takara version kept them at full strength.

Slag is mistransformed in the photo at right: His robot mode legs can be separated further at the hip joints. Speaking of his legs, it seems that he was designed to have fully moving legs (not just at the knee) but this was squared off at the hips. Extremely careful filing can restore this functionality, but well, be careful.

The Canadian variant of Slag that was released in 1985 features a red helmet, silver face, red fists, red tail support, and white thighs. The red painted torso also appears to be a brighter shade of red than the regular release.^[1] The Canadian version (as well as the animation model) appears to be based on an early prototype of the Transformers version, which was used for the stock photos on Slag's packaging, though the prototype differs from the Canadian version by also having a red face and chromed horns, which had to be changed to soft red plastic for safety reasons for the final toy (this applies to both the US and Canadian versions).^[2] Please be aware that there is a more recent knockoff of Slag that appears to be largely based on the prototype, featuring a red helmet, a red face, and chromed horns.^[3]

In Japan, he and the other four Dinobots were offered as mail-away items during Operation Combination in 1990(!); Slag cost 2300 yen (his original retail price) and two Robot Points.

Slag underwent quite a few changes from Diaclone to Transformers. The Diaclone version had a blue robot torso, head and rocket launcher, white robot upper legs, and silver-chromed sword, missiles and dino-horns. The sword and horns were de-chromed, made from softer material, and blunted for the Transforers release to comply with US safety standards.

• Patent info, price guide, and further reading on Slag at Transformerland.com
• More information on Slag at TFU.info

Generation 2

Me, Slag, no like... green!

• Slag (Dinobot, 1992)

• Accessories: "Kinetic sword", "blaster gun"

Part of the very first assortment of Generation 2 product released just in time for the 1992 holiday season, Slag's original toy was re-released with minimal changes; an "AUTOBOT" tampograph was added to the back of his left robot-mode thigh, and this release lacks the original toy's missile launcher and missile.

The following year, Slag underwent a running change, with his silver plastic now cast in either dark green or dark red (Slag's fellow Dinobots Grimlock and Snarl underwent a similar set of color changes). As the green version is far, far more common on the secondary market, plus was the version pictured in Hasbro's 1993 Toy Fair catalog, it's a safe bet that the green one came first, and the red version was a late-run refresher that saw little distribution.

• More information on Generation 2 Slag at TFU.info

Age of Extinction

Ewww...

• Dinobot Slug (Evolution 2-Pack, 2014)
  • 25 OF 30

Available only at Toys"R"Us stores in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia, this Age of Extinction two-pack features the Generations Deluxe Dinobot Slug toy, with no known differences from the normal retail release, packed with a seemingly unchanged Dark of the Moon Mini-Con Triceradon, described as 'Classic' Slug.

Unlike the Strafe Evolution two-pack, which incorrectly depicted the original Generation 1 package art of the Technobot Strafe rather than Slag's fellow Dinobot Swoop on the card bubble, the Slug two-pack's packaging correctly depicts G1 Slag.

Transformers (2014)

• Dinobots Generation One 4-pack (Deluxe, 2014)
  • Accessories: 2 swords

Available only as part of the Hasbro Toy Shop exclusive "Dinobots Generation One 4-pack" that was first made available at San Diego Comic-Con 2014, Slug is a G1-inspired redeco of Age of Extinction Deluxe Class Slug. He comes packaged with Grimlock, Strafe, and Snarl, and their box unfolds into a diorama of the crashed Ark in Mount St. Hilary. A similarly-themed toy of Sludge was released via Amazon in Age of Extinction packaging.

• More information on 2014 Slug at TFU.info

Kre-O

• Kreon Class of '85 (Kreon figure set, 2015)
  • Set number: B5152
  • Voted: The Criminal
  • Accessories: Small pistol, sword

Kre-O "Slug" (thank you, non-US slang) is a small brick-built Kreon figure, using the 2015-style construction with raised hands and the sturdier "peg-in-peg" torso/waist connection. His body tampographs are heavily toy-based, but he has a red helmet to match the toy as shown in the original catalog, not the final version released in the US.

He was only available as part of the San Diego Comic-Con-exclusive "Kreon Class of '85" 30-Kreon set. This set was also sold online through Hasbro Toy Shop after the show.

• More information on Class of 1985 Slug at TFU.info

Platinum Edition

• Dinobots (Platinum Edition 5-pack, 2015)
  • Accessories: 2 swords

Part of the Platinum Edition Dinobots 5-pack, "Dinobot Slug" is another redeco of Age of Extinction Slug, this time retooled to have a more G1-inspired head.

Slug was bundled with Grimlock, Slog, Snarl, and Strafe.

This set was initially released as a Toys"R"Us exclusive in Canada in October 2015, followed by Singapore a month later (although it's currently unknown whether it was exclusive to any particular store there or not). Much later, it became available via the Australian Toys"R"Us website (but never found in stores). In the United States, it was initally only available online via Amazon and BigBadToyStore before being found at discount chain Ross a year after its intial release in Canada.

Power of the Primes

I'm going to Sla-i mean Slug you!

• Dinobot Slug (Deluxe Class, 2017)
  • TakaraTomy ID number: PP-11
  • TakaraTomy release date: June 30, 2018
  • Accessories: Blaster, Prime Armor/combiner hand, Prime Master gap filler/gun

• Known designers: John Warden (Hasbro), Robby Musso (concept artist), Marcelo Matere (packaging artist)

Power of the Primes Slug is visually simplified from his original G1 design, and can transform into a robotic Triceratops, as well as form a limb for Volcanicus or any other Combiner Wars-style combiner (or into one of Legends Godbomber's legs). Like the other Dinobots in this subline, Slug is partially composed of translucent plastic with gold paint on the inside to give him a 'layered' look reminiscent of his original toy. Like all other Power of the Primes Deluxe Class figures, he comes with Prime Armor with a place for a Prime Master, Enigma, or Matrix core) that can transform into a hand for a combiner. It can be plugged into his back in Triceratops mode, or worn on either his chest or back in robot mode. He also comes with a piece that can fill the gap in the chest armor or be held as a gun.

Despite his colossal footprint in robot mode, Slug has an annoying tendency to be back-heavy, even with his dedicated heel pieces. The peghole on Slug's leg used to attach the combiner feet is also very thinly molded and easily broken. Extreme caution should be taken when plugging anything into it or manipulating what may have already been inserted. Should the plastic snap, its tension will be severely reduced and may lead to the combiner hands or feet falling out. In some cases, it may simply not be possible to avoid breaking the peghole aside from not using it. The peghole on the bottom of his foot used for combiner hands is considerably thicker and less prone to breakage however.

Stock photography shows him with a mistransformed beast mode: the Triceratops head/neck is adjustable to have the frill around the head stand up closer to the G1 dinosaur model. This does however mean the Triceratops head does not lock in place in dino mode, it simply rests atop the tabs which would otherwise secure it in place.

While his instructions show his arms pointing toward the combiner torso in arm mode, the slots on the outside of his arms and pegs on his sides suggest they should be pointed backwards and pegged in place.

In China, he was also released along with the other 4 Dinobots as a gift-set, exclusive to Hasbro China's TianMao site.^[4]

This mold was heavily retooled into fellow Dinobot Sludge.

Generations Selects

• Volcanicus (Gift set, February 27, 2021)
  • Hasbro ID number: TT-GS11
  • Accessories: 2 guns, 2 swords, 2 Magma Swords, 2 arm-mounted cannons, twin 'stunner' laser rifle, 2 foot-plates, left & right fists

Generations Selects Slag is a redeco of his Power of the Primes figure, but now with a G1 cartoon-inspired deco. TakaraTomy Mall gives this figure the title "Dinobot Flame Warrior Slug".^[5]

Studio Series

Slag say person who took 36 years to give me red face full of beryllium baloney!

• Dinobot Slug & Daniel Witwicky (Leader Class, 2021/2023)

• Movie: The Transformers: The Movie
• Hasbro ID number: 86-07
• TakaraTomy ID number: SS-71
• TakaraTomy release date: November 27, 2021
• Accessories: Daniel Witwicky, pistol, "Mockery of Justice" backdrop
• Known designers: Evan Brooks (Hasbro), Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy)^[6], Mario Carreiro, Christina Murphy and Amy Bence (packaging),^[7] Marcelo Matere (packaging artist)

Released to commemorate the 35th anniversary of The Transformers: The Movie, Studio Series "Dinobot Slug" is a Leader Class-sized mold accurate to his appearance in the Generation 1 cartoon, though his beast mode features elements of his original toy. He comes with a non-transforming Daniel Witwicky figurine, which can mount his dino mode's back or sit on his robot mode's shoulder, and a cartoon-accurate pistol.

Slug is the second G1-styled Dinobot to receive the Leader Class treatment in the Studio Series line after Grimlock. Slug towers over most figures in the War for Cybertron Trilogy toylines, while being a similar height to his teammate Grimlock.

Like the other Studio Series toys, the interior of the package forms a diorama display for the figure. In this case, it is the Dinobots' famous (ahem) self-invited entrance at Hot Rod and Kup's execution. The back of Slug's packaging gleefully references the shot in which he squishes the Quintesson Prosecutor beneath a door.

Slug and Daniel were later re-released in 2023.

Although Slug does not include a sword, the 2024 Comic Edition redeco of Grimlock would include three swords, one of which was styled after Generation 1 Slag's sword, and is intended to be given to the Studio Series figure.

War for Cybertron Trilogy

Slug slug.

• Behold, Galvatron! Unicron Companion Pack (Leader Class, 2022)

War for Cybertron Trilogy "Dinobot Slug" is a non-transforming and immobile minifigure, barely 10mm tall, scaled to interact with the immense War for Cybertron Trilogy Unicron figure and its clear display base. This was one of a set of 14 minifigures in the "Unicron Companion Pack" that was included with the "reformatting" version of Galvatron. The set was exclusive to Hasbro Pulse.

Legacy

For when you want your violent rude Triceratops pal to be bite-sized.

• Dinobot Slug (Core Class, 2023)

• 2 of 6: Volcanicus
• TakaraTomy ID number: TL-27
• TakaraTomy release date: May 27, 2023
• Accessories: Tail, blaster end/Volcanicus head
• Known designers: Evan Brooks (Hasbro), Shuhei Umezu and Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy)^[8]

Part of the first wave of Legacy: Evolution Core Class toys, "Dinobot Slug" is a small version of the Triceratops Dinobot, though he is one of the largest core class figures to date. Slug's dinosaur mode tail detaches to become a weapon in robot mode. Slug is also notable in being part of the first Core Class combiner: forming the upper half of the torso for Volcanicus, identical to fellow Triceratops Kakuryu's placement for Dinoking. Slug's weapon splits apart to form Volcanicus' head and part of his torso.

Due to how he's designed, Slug is very top heavy, though this can be somewhat mitigated by using the dino legs as heel spurs. Though neither the stock photography nor the instructions direct you to fan out his backpack for his robot mode, it seems that's the intended transformation, as it emulates the "wings" that are traditionally party of Slug's silhouette, and lets you utilize the figure's waist swivel.

Slug features a misassembly: both of his thighs are swapped. The side with the slight slope and accurate knee details should be facing forward. As the parts are on ball joints, it is fairly easy to fix.

His instructions also feature an error: The steps for transforming him into Volcanicus's upper torso fail to show his arms being rotated so they can peg into the torso. Hence, the final step still shows the rectangular pegs sticking out rather than the 5 mm posts.

This mold was also used to make Legacy Kakuryu.

Merchandise

Decoy

• Cybertron Hero Collection 9 (multi-pack, 1986)

• Slag (1987)
  • Decoy number: 5

The figurine was later brought over to Hasbro markets as part of the Decoy 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 carded Throttlebots, Aerialbots, Protectobots, and Technobots.

• More information on Decoy Slag at TFU.info

Robot Heroes

• Snarl & Sharkticon (Two-pack, 2008)

• Known designers: Bill Rawley (Hasbro), Marcelo Matere (concept artist)

A tiny, adorably homicidal Slag that came packaged with a Sharkticon as part of the "Generation 1 Series" of Universe-branded Robot Heroes. Like Animated Snarl, who was also designed with G1 Slag in mind, the Robot Heroes figure was released using the name of Slag's fellow Dinobot Snarl, so Hasbro could release the toy in the United Kingdom ("Slag" is considered an insult there).

• More information on Robot Heroes "Snarl" at TFU.info

The Loyal Subjects

• Slag (2014)

Collect them all! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their toys & merchandise. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it.

• Slag (Gamestop exclusive, 2014)

Collect them all! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their toys & merchandise. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it.

Transformers Trading Card Game

• Dinobot Slug, Hot-Headed Warrior (2018)
  • Wave 1
  • Rarity: CT
  • Card Number: T17/T40
  • Stars: 9

Dinobot Slug, Hot-Headed Warrior is one of forty double-sided character cards available in Wave 1 of the Transformers Trading Card Game.

The artwork for the card is reused from the Transformers Legends mobile game, with Alt-mode line-art by Dan Khanna.

• Dinobot Slug, Battering Ram (2019)
  • Wave 2: Rise of the Combiners
  • Rarity: RT
  • Card Number: T19/T46
  • Stars: 8

Dinobot Slug, Battering Ram was released as part of the Transformers Trading Card Game Wave 2: Rise of the Combiners. Like all other members of combiner teams released in the set, this version of Slug is a folding card, with the Bot and Alt modes being depicted when the card is folded in half, and a holofoil portion of the the combined mode depicted when unfolded. The reverse of Dinobot Slug, Battering Ram depicts Volcanicus's left arm, which is formed by Slug in the artwork.

The artwork for Bot and Alt Mode is reused from the Transformers Legends mobile game.

Dinobot Slug, Battering Ram can be used to form Volcanicus, Fiery Champion with the use of the Action card Dinobot Enigma while he and the other Wave 2 Dinobots are in Bot mode on the battlefield or KO area.

Blokees

• Slug (Dino Mode) (2024)

• Series: Galaxy Version 03 - The Autobot Run

If you build it, they will play. This toys & merchandise-related article is a stub. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it.

• Slug (Robot Mode) (2024)

• Series: Galaxy Version 03 - The Autobot Run

If you build it, they will play. This toys & merchandise-related article is a stub. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it.

Notes

Hey Weevil. Check it out. My dinosaur is horny.

• Slag's original toy was originally a Diaclone Dinosaur Robo Triceratops. In the Diaclone lore, this dinomech was a pilotable vehicle that could travel at speeds up of to 250 kilometers per hour and was designed for grasslands operation and melee combat. It also had a slightly different color scheme for its robot mode bits.
• A Slag toy can be seen in the recreation of the Scottish artist Sir Eduardo Paolozzi's studio at the Scottish Dean Gallery. This makes him the second Dinobot to have a toy in a museum.

References