HasLab 2025: Liokaiser

[Exatron]

4 of 5 here. I passed on Omega. Way too big for the character. I'm definitely interested to see what the next one will be. Ideally, I'd love to see a Primus to match Unicron and cap off AotP. My second pick would be a full-sized Monstructor, but I don't see that happening so soon after the upcoming AotP version.

There really aren't all that many releases I can think of at this point that wouldn't be completely viable, or even preferable, as a regular retail release. Aside from Primus, I guess I'd enjoy seeing a Victory Saber-level PMOP/God Ginrai. A full Big Powered set could be good. Or a Grandus & Sky Garry pack. Aside from Monstructor/Dinoking, Predaking, Piranacon, and Rail Racer are combiners that could benefit from the HasLab treatment.

Aside from those, I guess various Commander-or-larger bots could be candidates just for the sake of not using up one of a very limited number of retail slots. It just feels like a bit of a waste to use a HasLab for something like Overlord or Gigatron who could work really well as a retail Commander.

 

[The Mighty Mollusk]

Only one I've bought so far is Omega Prime. Unicron was just way too big and way too expensive for me, and I don't have enough attachment to any of the JG1 cast to justify any of the others. Honestly can't think of anything else that could get me to go in again.

 

[Donocropolis]

I still stand by the idea that Haslab would be the perfect place for a Mt. St. Hilary / Crashed Arc / Autobot Base. I know playsets don't sell at retail anymore according to the powers-that-be, but with Haslav, they could skip the retailer.

 

[PrimalxConvoy]

I still stand by the idea that Haslab would be the perfect place for a Mt. St. Hilary / Crashed Arc / Autobot Base. I know playsets don't sell at retail anymore according to the powers-that-be, but with Haslav, they could skip the retailer.

I was thinking that too. It would have to be pretty darn good though.

 

[Rhinox]

. . . being very irresponsible, I have all of the Transformers Haslabs. And unless they completely screw the pooch, I'll pledge for the next.

Yay for having the plastic crack monkey on my back.

 

[Sabrblade]

I too have gone all in on all five HasLabs so far, but my pipe dream desire for a HasLab release would be the Big Bad of the second theatrically-released animated Transformers movie: Majin Zarak.

 

[Superomegaprime]

The only Haslab I not gotten of TF is Unicron, he was to big and to expensive for my tastes plus I had nowhere to display him untlike the others, though I need to deal with Omega's problem still, my copy of Victory Saber got given some upgrades, I wasn't a fan of Victory Leo's cannons being so full of holes, nor was I a fan of how small his sword blade was, it just didn't seem to fit any of his forms, his arch enemy, he was PREFECT, as a figure, the throne leaves a bit to be desired and I'm looking at him aura farming by simply sitting on his throne with Dinoking and Car Robots Black Convoy, AKA RID2001 Scourge next to him, thou I'll grant that there's a bit of Green Hill zone in front of him along wiht Amy Rose, as a lego figure

 

[Haywire]

I still stand by the idea that Haslab would be the perfect place for a Mt. St. Hilary / Crashed Arc / Autobot Base. I know playsets don't sell at retail anymore according to the powers-that-be, but with Haslav, they could skip the retailer.

This would be the kind of thing I would really consider supporting, depending on the price ($200ish is doable if I really want something, $500 would be an automatic "Cool, but Nope")

I know I am a vocal(-ish?) minority, but I would also (very probably) be compelled to back any Gobots-based Haslab, such as the unreleased Gobotron Fortress, or a set of Generations Wendy's Gobots, or a Generations take on the Power Suit Combiners. (C'mon, Hasbro, you know you want to, the frame system is practically there!)

 

[LordGigaIce]

Honestly? My top three wants for something like HasLab would be Victory Sabre, Deathsaurus, and Liokaiser. They've done all three

I guess in terms of what else they could do to get me to pledge again... Road Caesar? Dai Atlas? Give me the JG1 guys Hasbro would never be able to justify at mass retail.
A pipe-dream would be Hyperdrive. Like... use the premium HasLab budget to just deck this guy out. And in theory, a made to order crowd funded campaign would be the perfect venue for a niche never produced character that only nerds would care about. He just might be TOO niche though, even for this.

Something like Powermaster Optimus Prime/God Ginrai would peeve me though. There's no reason they can't make Optimus Prime with power armour work at retail. That and a HasLab version would never get repainted, but a retail version might mean Fire Guts would be possible down the line

I've seen people float RiD Megatron as a potential HasLab, but that would be a pass for me. I passed on the Omega Prime he'd pair with, so I'll be sticking with my original RiD releases there.

Primus is also a pass. I passed on Unicron so I'd have no need (or space) for Primus.

 

[Sabrblade]

Primus is also a pass. I passed on Unicron so I'd have no need (or space)

(or outer space)

 

[LordGigaIce]

Part of me really wanted Unicron but the only place we have that I could put him in would be the kitchen table and that sooooo wouldn't fly

But I've backed 3/5 HasLabs so far, and they've only gotten more expensive. I'm psyched for Liokaiser, but I wouldn't mind it if the next TF HasLab or two ends up being something I can pass on.

 

[Sabrblade]

But I've backed 3/5 HasLabs so far, and they've only gotten more expensive.

They really have become the equivalent replacements for the BotCon boxed sets in terms pricy exclusivity, haven't they

 

[Princess Viola]

i only backed omega prime cuz RID01 was my first transformers series and i never got the original toys so it was my 'okay so i have to get this one to have a modern update of the toys i never got as a kid'

unicron was lmao you're joking right? and as much as i love victory, i don't love it enough to buy crowdfunded figures of characters from it.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

I don't want any more of my JG1 grails in HasLab. Star Convoy is perfect and I was actually able to get one.

 

[Platypus Prime]

Strangely, if you compare Liokaiser to the TFSS 4.0 or 5.0 (the only ones I ever got) it's MORE cost effective, especially when you consider that the TFSS was about $330 and was entirely repaints and head-remolds. Liokaiser has plenty of reused parts between its members but they're all newly molded for this team, and it has a ton more accessories, too. I thought it was an improvement on the old Convention box Set/Subscription Service model when it first went up, thinking it was a similar idea to Thunder Mayhem or Wreakage. This is partially why having to cancel those plans bugged me. I thought it was a step in the right direction.

 

[LordGigaIce]

Strangely, if you compare Liokaiser to the TFSS 4.0 or 5.0 (the only ones I ever got) it's MORE cost effective, especially when you consider that the TFSS was about $330 and was entirely repaints and head-remolds. Liokaiser has plenty of reused parts between its members but they're all newly molded for this team, and it has a ton more accessories, too. I thought it was an improvement on the old Convention box Set/Subscription Service model when it first went up, thinking it was a similar idea to Thunder Mayhem or Wreakage. This is partially why having to cancel those plans bugged me. I thought it was a step in the right direction.

Oh absolutely. It's one reason I actually decided to get the set even though it was more then I originally said I was willing to spend on a HasLab. If you factor seven roughly Voyager sized figures, at Voyager prices and then account for a premium that comes with a limited production run (the more you make of a thing the less you can sell individual units for) the price is pretty fair.

Still though, $300+ is a lot for a thing you're not going to see for at least a year. I don't mind HasLabs costing that much if the end result has that much value in the box, but I'd also like the next one to not be something I'm really into so my wallet can get a break

 

[Sciflyer]

Well, since we're wishing (and since the team seems to be on a JG1 kick), my next HasLab dream would be Overlord. Make him properly large with a base mode and all the fixin's. Okay, some of the fixin's will probably be behind unlockable tiers, but still.

 

[The Mighty Mollusk]

Maybe I'm just hungry, but I read "all the fixin's " and my mind jumped to an Overlord With Cheese.

 

[lastmaximal]

I'm glad they've been fairly selective so far with what to do in a HasLab. Especially with so much space in the main lines now for Commander class figures. I hope the likes of PMOP and Overlord and Thunderclash find spots in the main line, not behind this typically tougher paywall.

That comparison to the Botcon exclusives of old feels apt, although these are still way more accessible. I hope that's as close as they get.

 

[Platypus Prime]

The big question with the Overlord with Cheese is the argument that breaks out online between Unicron and Trypticon over how big a bite they could take out of him.

But for HasLab, the fact that you can't easily see any REVIEWS of the thing before it's in-hand is actually a big issue, and while that wasn't a problem for Deathsaurus, it was definitely one for Omega Prime, and Liokaiser has a LOT more parts than the past ones all of which have to work together perfectly to be a combiner team. You won't be able to grab a spare limb very easily if one of them has issues. While Customer Service exists for a reason, it is something that gives me pause, and why I am largely ok with my 'substitute/backup' Heavy Weapons Mode Bruticus I'm working on that'll take its place in my shelf arrangements despite it being nearly the same cost for, in my opinion, less to the package unless you're willing to argue about all bots being entirely unique vs. shared parts (and the frame system undercuts that as every limb is the same under the attached bots).