Alternate mode

File:SeaOfRustPartII-Altmodes.jpg
An **alternate mode** (commonly shortened to "**altmode**", "**alt mode**", or "**alt-mode**", also known as a "**trans-form**", "**transform**", "**changeform**", or "**alt-form**" is a term used to describe a Transformer's non-robot form, whether it be vehicle, animal, or otherwise. Various more specific terms are also sometimes used—vehicle mode ("**v. mode**"), gun mode, tank mode, etc.

Some Transformers don't have a humanoid form, so in those special cases, the altmode is perceived to be the mode which is more geared towards utility or disguise while their robot mode is the one geared more towards interaction with other Transformers. For example, for the G1 characters Laserbeak and Ravage, their animal forms are their primary mode, and the cassettes their alternate modes. Even Grand Slam and Raindance, who transform from cassettes to vehicles, would be thought of as having a cassette alternate mode, as their vehicle forms—while not humanoid or animalistic—are at least self-mobile.

Transformers with more than two modes are usually considered to have multiple altmodes. (Punch/Counterpunch, on the other hand, has one altmode and two robot modes.)

## Beast mode

Main article: Beast mode

Cybertronians are not born with alternate modes, having to scan them during their rearing.

Some Cybertronians developed an irrational attachment to their current alternate mode, a condition known as mode attachment, and resisted upgrades to or changing their alternate modes even if circumstances merited it.

Alternate modes have long been highly significant in Cybertronian society and politics. In the days of the Thirteen, the various tribes were often (but not exclusively) defined by their alt-mode such as Onyx Prime's bestial tribe of Maximals.

Following the departure of the surviving Primes and the rise of Functionism, alternate modes determined one's position in society with common forms lowering your social class and rare ones elevating it. The Functionist Council painted themselves as interpreters of Primus' will, decreeing that everyone's alternate form was chosen by Primus to meet specific needs. They cultivated a stigma against certain alternate modes being employed in certain fields such as tanks being medics or microscopes being miners.

Bestial Cybertronians were considered among the lowest-ranked individuals and suffered extreme limitations. Relinquishment Clinics sprung up, allowing the rich to 'borrow' another body so they could enjoy another alt mode, with flying forms being among the most popular. A brave few like Whirl were able to convince the Functionists to let them do a job that had nothing to do with what they transformed into, although this frequently led to underhanded retribution. Another group of Cybertronians, known as the Militant Monoform Movement rejected their alternate modes via the surgical removal of their transformation cogs. This condition resulted in them being victims of shapism.

The iron grip of Functionism waned during Zeta Prime's reign but the prejudice against certain alt-modes was still strong enough to blacklist some people for jobs such as Jetfire being banned from the sciences due to his aerial alternate mode.

## Notes

### Foreign names

* *Japanese:* **Altmode** (オルトモード *Orutomōdo*)

## See also

* Licensed vehicle alternate modes
* Non-vehicle non-beast alternate modes
* Popular beast alternate modes
* Popular Cybertronian vehicle alternate modes
* Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes