History Main / CombiningMecha

* ''franchise/{{Transformers}}'' has had combination in just about every permutation imaginable over the years; see examples in the individual folders below.

*** The ''VideoGame/TransformersFallOfCybertron'' would later actually give the Wreckers a CombiningMecha form called Ruination, who was a remold of Bruticus from the same line.

"[[LeaderFormsTheHead ...and I'll form ... the head!]]"]]

* Rush and Treble to Classic ''VideoGame/MegaMan'' and Bass, respectively.

** To confuse the matter, several Mini-con teams could combine into something larger - Perceptor was the mean three Minicons combined into a robot, but other teams could combine into Transformer-sized weapons; the [[CoolSword Star Saber]], [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe Skyboom Shield]] and [[WaveMotionGun Requiem Blaster]].

*** Aside from Tidal Wave, mentioned above, the truest example of this form in Transformers would be the Duocons: two vehicles (one land and one air in both cases) combining into a single robot, with no robot modes for the individual vehicles. The Autobot cassettes Raindance (cassette/jet-fighter) and Grand Slam (cassette/tank), who combine into the robot Slamdance, also count.

* In the fight on ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'' between n* Sync and The Backstreet Boys, each boy band had a combiner form they used in the ring.

*** n*Sync did form some spinning rotor-like object that had their toenails as blades

** The combinations of mecha reach MIND-BOGGLING EXTREMES as Gurren Lagann finds new ways to transform. [[spoiler: First, the regular Gurren Lagann, combines with Arc Gurren to form the metropolis-sized Arc Gurren Lagann. Then, both machines are hooked up to a drill-powered energy plant inside the Super Galaxy Gurren Lagann to transform it into the lunar-sized mecha of the same name. And then... it goes UpToEleven times [[ReadingsAreOffTheScale Over 9000 with Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann- and that behemoth '''dwarfs''' '''''GALAXIES.''''' But even ''that'' isn't the biggest mech! In the second movie adaption, the combination of the former mech and the equally-sized Space Gunmen creates the Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, a GOD-SIZED [[EnergyBeing CELESTIAL ENERGY]] MECHA NO SMALLER THAN '''''1.8% of the ENTIRE UNIVERSE.''''' With that, it is the undisputed king of this Trope! You may pick up your jaw now... Try not to have an aneurysm on the way out.]]

* The ''{{Thunderbirds}}'' in the anime remake (''2086'') which actually made some sort of sense. It's quicker to move the smaller vehicles by strapping them to the sides of the heavy lifter than to send them all independently.

* ''SuperRobotMonkeyTeamHyperforceGo!'': The Super Robot can split into six combat vehicles and reform whenever the Hyperforce wants it to.

* The [[RealRobot Valhawk]] ([[TransformingMecha a plane by default]]) and [[TheBattlestar Valstork]] into the Valguard in ''SuperRobotWars W''. Then, both of those plus a Valhawk-sized mecha named [[SuperRobot Arm Arcus]] and ''another'' battleship, the Arm Stora, into the [[GameBreaker ludicrously powerful]] Valzacard.
** The Elebus and Simurgh combine into the Simurgh Splendid and Earthgain and Vyrose combine into Super Earthgain in ''SuperRobotWars64''.

* The SRX ('''S'''uper '''R'''obot Type '''X''') in ''VideoGame/ShinSuperRobotWars'', SuperRobotWarsAlpha series, and SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration series.

* The Choukijin in ''SuperRobotWars'', based on TheFourGods.

* The Huckebein MK III in ''SuperRobotWars'' could combine with the R-Sword into the Huckebein Boxer, or ''be'' combined with the AM Gunner ship to form the Huckebein Gunner.

When two or more independent {{mecha}} can combine to make another, larger mecha. It can be a decent way to hide a [[HumongousMecha really big robot]] in plain sight, by breaking it up into pieces.

** Group of humanoid robots to giant robot? This is perhaps the least-seen scheme, but it happens. The Shogun Zords/Ginat Beast Generals were all humanoid and formed the Shogun Megazord/Muteki Daishogun, and the Turbo Rescuezords/Victory Rescue Vehicles were like Franchise/{{Transformers}} (vehicle-to-humanoid transformation) as well as being able to make Rescue Megazord/VRV Robo. [[Series/PowerRangersZeo Super Zeo Megazord]]/[[ChourikiSentaiOhranger OhBlocker]] and [[Series/PowerRangersMysticForce Titan Megazord]]/[[MahouSentaiMagiranger MagiKing]] even managed to have completely symmetrical formations rather than the Voltron-style one-on-each-side. You may choose to count the times Megazords combine into bigger Megazords, but it's rare for it to ''truly'' work that way (instead, the two Megazords' component Zords can recombine and make a larger formation.)

* {{Toku}} hero ''DenkouChoujinGridman'' would had this as a gimmick, being able to wear one of two combining mecha as armor. (That's ''Series/SuperhumanSamuraiSyberSquad'' in the West.)

** This was also parodied/[[{{Homage}} homaged]] in WesternAnimation/RobotChicken with "Enter the Fat One" (along with Film/EnterTheDragon and Film/TheKarateKid--including Pat Morita); Music/BritneySpears [[BodyHorror "combines"]] with fellow artists Music/ChristinaAguilera, Music/AvrilLagivne, Music/JessicaSimpson, [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and]] [[Music/AshleeSimpson Jessica Simpson's sister]] as the FinalBoss. Joey in turn gains the [[ThePowerOfFriendship power of his bandmates' souls]] and grows to an equal size to defeat the girl-monster.

** This was also parodied/[[{{Homage}} homaged]] in WesternAnimation/RobotChicken with "Enter the Fat One" (along with Film/EnterTheDragon and Film/TheKarateKid--including Pat Morita); Music/BritneySpears [[BodyHorror "combines"]] with fellow artists Music/ChristinaAguilera, Music/JessicaSimpson, Music/AshleeSimpson and Music/AvrilLavigne as the FinalBoss. Joey in turn gains the power of his bandmates' souls and grows to an equal size to defeat the girl-monster.

** In the Japanese post-G1 sequels, Headmasters were smaller Cybertronians from the planet Master linking up with giant non-sentient robot suits called Transtectors (basically, think of the cartoon version of Scorponok and Fortress Maximus. The larger robots that Zarak and Spike[=/=]Cerebros combine with would be called Transtectors in Japan.) Powermasters were called Godmasters and were humans in mobile suits[[hottip:*:They're donned ''PowerRangers'' style by the use of [[TransformationTrinket Master Brace wrist devices]] and a [[ByThePowerOfGreyskull transformation call]] linking with Transtectors.]] Headmaster Juniors were also suited human sidekicks linked with Transtectors. Targetmasters were Master robots partnered with real, living Transformers.

** While not ''robots'' per se, the Advance Hybrids and Ancient Digimon for Takuya, Kouji and Kouichi in ''Anime/DigimonFrontier'' were also clearly designed in this fashion, as amalgamations of the Human and Beast Spirits they were composed of. Susanoomon (an Omegamon expy) was similarly an obvious amalgamation of Kaiser Greymon and Magna Garurumon.

** They were preceded by Predaking and Piranhacon. Abominus may count, but the Terrorcons are more monster than animal.

** There were some animal combiners in [[Franchise/TransformersGeneration1 G1]], too, with Predaking being the best known.

* {{Toku}} hero ''DenkouChoujinGridman'' would had this as a gimmick, being able to wear one of two combining mecha as armor. (That's ''{{Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad}}'' in the West.)

** Group of humanoid robots to giant robot? This is perhaps the least-seen scheme, but it happens. The Shogun Zords were all humanoid and formed the Shogun Megazord, and the Turbo Rescuezords were like Franchise/{{Transformers}} (vehicle-to-humanoid transformation) as well as being able to make a Rescue Megazord. [[Series/PowerRangersZeo Super Zeo Megazord]] and [[Series/PowerRangersMysticForce Titan Megazord]] even managed to have completely symmetrical formations rather than the Voltron-style one-on-each-side. You may choose to count the times Megazords combine into bigger Megazords, but it's rare for it to ''truly'' work that way (instead, the two Megazords' component Zords can recombine and make a larger formation.)

* * Magmatron, of the Japanese-only ''{{Transformers}}'' series ''Anime/BeastWarsNeo''. Unlike most of the examples from ''Transformers'', Magmatron was actually one individual that could separate his body into three smaller dinosaurs. The dinosaurs could also combine to form a [[MixAndMatchCritters bigger dinosaur with three heads]].

** In the Japanese post-G1 sequels, Headmasters were smaller Cybertronians from the planet Master linking up with giant non-sentient robot suits called Transtectors (basically, think of the cartoon version of Scorponok and Fortress Maximus. The larger robots that Zarak and Spike[=/=]Cerebros combine with would be called Transtectors in Japan.) Powermasters were called Godmasters and were humans in mobile suits[[hottip:*:They're donned ''PowerRangers'' style by the use of [[TransformationTrinket Master Brace wrist devices]] and a [[ByThePowerOfGreyskull transformation call]].]] linking with Transtectors. Headmaster Juniors were also suited human sidekicks linked with Transtectors. Targetmasters were Master robots partnered with real, living Transformers.

In cases where the mecha are sapient beings with no outside pilot (such as ''{{Transformers}}''), the resulting personality of their combined form is frequently some manner of collective consciousness formed by the component members -- this merged mind is often the result of whatever its component members can actually agree on, usually resulting in little more than a mechanized DumbMuscle whose vocabulary [[HulkSpeak consists primarily of one-syllable words]] and who can only focus on one task at a time: For the good guys, this creates a GentleGiant; For the bad guys, this simply results in breaking and smashing stuff. Lots of stuff. And killing people, don't forget the killing.

* Tidal Wave in ''TransformersArmada'', who is composed of three ships called the Dark Fleet, that can also form a larger ship, and become a Mecha Expansion Pack Augment for Megatron.

* Again, the ''{{Transformers}}'' combiner teams, as listed above. Depending on the series and combination, though, the process isn't perfect, as it turns out creating a single composite mind from five or more very different robots isn't exactly easy.

* * Magmatron, of the Japanese-only ''{{Transformers}}'' series "Beast Wars Neo". Unlike most of the examples from ''Transformers'', Magmatron was actually one individual that could separate his body into three smaller dinosaurs. The dinosaurs could also combine to form a [[MixAndMatchCritters bigger dinosaur with three heads]].

** There were some animal combiners in [[TransformersGeneration1 G1]], too, with Predaking being the best known.

* A small handful of ''{{Transformers}}'' combine into larger alt modes instead of larger robot modes. Dreadwing is probably the best example. Of course, they all had their own robot modes anyhow... save for Tidal Wave, who was a big robot, a big ship, or three small ships.

* The Seacons, Generation 1 ''{{Transformers}}'' latecomers, used the usual "four limbs plus the commander as torso" combination, but actually had six members; whichever subordinate was left out could transform into a gun for the combined form.

*** And in ''TransformersEnergon'', there were three combiners that worked like this, named in homage to G1 combiners: Superion Maximus, Bruticus Maximus, and Constructicon Maximus. They couldn't interact with the G1 toys but they could interact with each other in the same ways that the G1 Scramble City combiners could. In a similar vein, almost every Autobot in ''Energon'' had the [[FusionDance Spark of Combination]]; any two Autobots of similar size with this ability could combine into a (slightly) larger robot.

** ''{{Transformers}}'' likes this. A sub-line called the [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Micromaster_Combiner Micromaster Combiners]] consists of pairs of robots who combine to form single vehicles. Though each had a specific partner, one of the selling points was that any two Micromaster Combiners could combine, even if the resulting vehicle was... [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Image:Micromastercombiners-mixandmatch.jpg unconventional]]. Or, for that matter, ''[[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Image:Micromastercombiners-fronttofront.jpg outright insane]]''.

* ''Film/{{Transformers}}: Dark of the Moon'' had Optimus Prime with a trailer. Said trailer could either become a mobile armory or a flight pack. [[MoreDakka Both were overflowing with dakka.]]

* The Mini-Cons from ''TransformersArmada'' were mostly this.

-->* ''[[TransformersArmada Armada]]'' - Optimus + Jetfire (aka "Jet Convoy" and "Jet Optimus" at different times; see InconsistentDub.)

-->* ''[[TransformersEnergon Energon]]'' - Optimus + Wing Saber (in a "Flight" configuration and a "Lots of Guns" configuration)

-->* ''[[TransformersCybertron Cybertron]]'' - Optimus + Leobreaker (aka "Savage Claw Mode")

-->* And in the second movie, ''Film/{{Transformers}}: Revenge of the Fallen'' - Optimus + Jetfire (again)

* In TransformersGeneration1, Megatron turned into a gun which was wielded by other Decepticons, usually ''Starscream,'' [[TheStarscream of all 'cons]] in what could be most bland combination ever ([[MundaneMadeAwesome Gun Combined with person to become person with a gun!!!]])

--> Duncan: [[ShoutOut Well that's]] [[{{Transformers}} more than meets the eye]]...

** To expand, the first Sentai, ''HimitsuSentaiGoranger'', and its successor, ''JAKQDengekitai'', never had mechas. It was on the third Sentai, ''BattleFeverJ'', that the series had a mecha (an idea taken from the Japanese tokusatsu SpiderMan), and even that mecha wasn't a combining mecha. It was only until ''[[TaiyouSentaiSunVulcan Sun Vulcan]]'' did they introduced the combining mecha idea. And even then, it was usually two or three machines combining - the ''eleventh'' series, ''HikariSentaiMaskman,'' was the first to give each member a personal robot that shared his or her theme. "Great Five" was so named because it was the first robot to actually be made from five components.

** A rarer variant of this occurs when the Red Ranger's Zord can change into a humanoid robot, which then forms the Megazord by "wearing" the rest of the team's Zords as armor. So far there are only two examples: ''GoseiSentaiDairanger''[='s=] Dairenoh (AKA the [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Thunder Megazord]]) and ''Series/TokumeiSentaiGoBusters''[='s=] Go-Buster[=Oh=].

* ''Blocker Gundan IV Machine Blaster'' combined the concept of ''MazingerZ'' with SuperSentai - instead of one robot with a piloted aircraft that would attach to it, there was a team of four, each robot with its own piloted aircraft that formed the robot's head.