Grimlock is an Autobot Dinobot from the Aligned continuity family.

Dreamwave poses haunt my nightmares

Grimlock views Optimus Prime as a weak leader, too afraid to make the tough calls and act on instinct. As such Grimlock is more than ready to disobey orders if he thinks the ends will justify the means. His one obvious redeeming feature is his attachment to his team. As leader of the Lightning Strike Coalition Force, he has gathered together a group of similar-minded individuals he would do anything for. Together they handle the jobs the Autobots don't have the stomach for.

Shockwave's experiments not only granted Grimlock a new alternate form, but increased his power tenfold. Unfortunately this was at the cost of his intelligence. While he is far from stupid, Shockwave's experiments have made it more difficult for the former field commander to think rationally and made his already prominent rage issues all the more severe. Fortunately his team, reborn as the Dinobots, have become more tight-knit than ever. Together they are helping overcome his disgust at what Shockwave has done to him and see the advantages of his new power.

Fiction

Hall of Fame bios

Grimlock was a gladiator from Kaon, but chose to join the Autobots early on in the war. His dislike of Optimus Prime and shock and awe approach to combat meant he was not regarded as a great leader, but he has survived long enough to earn a high rank and command of the Lightning Strike Coalition. Captured by Shockwave, they were reformatted into the Dinobots. During a battle with Scorponok, Grimlock's vocal processors were damaged, causing his awkward manner of speaking. Transformers Hall of Fame

IDW Aligned comics

Don't mind these tires. I'm actually a treaded vehicle.

Shortly before the Great Exodus, the Lightning Strike Coalition were a brutal subgroup of Autobots under the leadership of Grimlock who reluctantly followed Optimus Prime's more cautious brand of warfare... when ordered. Optimus preferred playing the long game, but Grimlock felt that caution would hinder their attempts at quick victory. Good Intentions During one of the Lightning Strike Coalition's missions, they captured an enemy soldier and questioned him about the Decepticons' seemingly endless supply of energon. The Decepticon soldier caved in to Grimlock's interrogation, and revealed that a wellspring of Energon had been discovered by the Decepticons near the Sea of Rust. The Decepticon's tale seemed too fantastic to believe, and Grimlock had the prisoner executed. Nonetheless, his curiosity was piqued, and Grimlock sent out Swoop to investigate. Secrets Some time later, during another mission, Optimus Prime ordered the Lightning Strike Coalition to return to base and abandon a battle, lest they waste precious energon. Grimlock reluctantly obeyed. However, when it was discovered that Swoop was in Decepticon custody, Grimlock ignored Optimus Prime's orders, broke ranks, and the Lightning Strike Coalition went after their captured teammate on their own. Good Intentions Grimlock, secure in his arrogance, was glad that the fate of Cybertron rested in his hands. Secrets

Grimlock and the others traveled to Swoop's last known location in the Rust Sea, fought through wave after wave of weird multilegged creatures, and finally reached the mastermind behind Swoop's disappearance, Shockwave, who had deliberately lured them there alone in order to take them as prisoners and avail himself of their infamous hardiness by using them as victims in his experiments. As the others were overwhelmed by Shockwave's Insecticons, Siege Mentality Grimlock struggled free of the creatures to engage Shockwave himself, and managed to land a single blow on the Decepticon scientist, only for Shockwave to reveal he had knowledge of Grimlock's frame that allowed him to exploit its many weaknesses... weaknesses that Grimlock wasn't even aware he had. Grimlock was swiftly felled by the surgery-like precision of the Decepticon's attack. As Shockwave explained that Grimlock had been tricked to leave the front lines so that the Decepticons could overwhelm the remaining Autobot forces, Grimlock tried to retaliate, only to be distracted by his teammates being tortured at Shockwave's command. Assuring him he would be broken, Shockwave then strung up Grimlock as he slipped into unconsciousness. Last Stand

Awakening in Shockwave's laboratory, Grimlock soon found his entire body painfully disassembled by the scientist's machines, in the service of a twisted experiment to create the perfect soldier with incredible physical power and limited intellect. To this end, Grimlock and his teammates were reconstructed into new, more powerful forms based on ancient reptilian creatures from another world that Shockwave had glimpsed through a space bridge he had discovered in the Rust Sea. Fragmentation His mind fragmenting, Grimlock struggled against Shockwave's mental conditioning, refusing to succumb to his control. Left strung up in the lab, in time, Grimlock was approached by Starscream, who offered to free him if he would destroy Megatron for him. Grimlock exploited the Seeker's hubris to effect an escape under his own power, and quickly located and freed his comrades, before pressing on to confront Shockwave at the base of his space bridge tower. Grimlock's new alternate mode gave him the power to triumph in the battle that followed, but also resulted in the destruction of the bridge control console. Fall Grimlock was thought lost in the subsequent explosion, but in time, his team-mates—whom he christened the Dinobots—found his deactivated form and revived him. Rage of the Dinobots #4

Me Grimlock Dino-Might!

Following the departure of the Ark and Nemesis from Cybertron, Grimlock and his Dinobots, in concert with Ultra Magnus, tried to keep the Decepticons away from other Autobot ships who were departing their world. After Ultra Magnus was shot down in his vessel, Grimlock and the Dinobots ventured into the wastelands to recover him, only to discover upon reaching his ship that he had been already been captured by Shockwave's bestial Predacons. Grimlock battled one of their number, Backbite, in dinosaur mode, but was overtaken by primordial rage and lost control of himself, turning on his fellow Dinobots. As they calmed him down, Backbite fled with a captive Swoop. Rage of the Dinobots #1

Pursuing the Predacon to Shockwave's prison fortress in the Rust Sea, the Dinobots staged a raid and liberated the prisoners—Ultra Magnus among them. The group then fought their way through the prison's guards, making their way to the roof. But as they attempted to escape, they found themselves confronted by Shockwave's lieutenant Ser-Ket and her new prize: a brainwashed Swoop who swore fealty to Shockwave. Rage of the Dinobots #2 Grimlock proposed a one-on-one battle with Ser-Ket: if Grimlock won, Ser-Ket would restore Swoop, but if he lost, he would surrender himself willingly. Ser-Ket agreed, and the battle was well-matched until Grimlock transformed into dinosaur mode. Losing control, he easily bested his foe, but again turned on his comrades, only being roused from his blinding fury by begging from Swoop, who had returned to himself after a knock to the head. The day was not yet won, however—Ser-Ket survived, and threatened the Dinobots once again in her mightier dragon mode. Only when her head was run through with Grimlock's sword was she finally defeated. Rage of the Dinobots #3

Immediately following this victory, however, the Dinobots and Magnus were attacked by Shockwave himself, who disabled them with an electromagnetic pulse and took them back to one of his laboratories. He placed Grimlock on his operating table, intending to have a remote-controlled avatar in his image carry out an operation that would remove all remaining traces of sentience from Grimlock, but fortunately, Magnus and the others were able to escape the cell they had been placed in and burst into the lab before the process could begin. The Dinobots tore Shockwave's avatar apart, and Grimlock announced that they would be staying on Cybertron to protect it and root out Shockwave and any other lingering Decepticon threats. Rage of the Dinobots #4

Admit it, you're just staring in awe, aren't you?

Grimlock eventually became a leader of one of Cybertron's surviving underground cities, who gravely heard appeals and delivered judgements from his throne, although he could only take so many complaints at once. After a long day of petitions, Sludge brought Firestar before Grimlock. She requested his help in tracking down a murderer, but when Grimlock learned she ha come from Last Spark, a settlement which previously had a falling out with the Dinobots, he refused to help, going as far to transform into his dino-form just to state how serious he was. Beast Hunters #1 When Sludge and Snarl disobeyed Grimlock and hunted down Airwave, Grimlock apologized for his behavior when the duo returned. Beast Hunters #2 The team eventually moved to the city of Last Spark. On a later patrol, Grimlock and Swoop encountered more Forged, who were guarding one of Shockwave's many laboratories. Swoop accidentally released one of Shockwave's experiments- a cloned, organic Tyrannosaurus, which proceeded to battle Grimlock. The T. rex and several other reptiles battled against the Dinobots. Beast Hunters #3 The battle spilled over into Last Spark, but the Dinobots triumphed after overheating the dinosaur's energon-based physiologies, causing them to dissolve. Beast Hunters #4

During Grimlock's visit to New Kalis, the city was hit with a massive tremor. A short time later, the cavern housing the city began to fill with energon, and Grimlock ended up transforming to dino mode to get the population evacuating. Beast Hunters #5 He encouraged them by using his fire breath, inadvertently helping in the destruction of the city. As the group neared their destination, they encountered a huge razor snake, which Grimlock managed to kill, despite it almost eating him. Beast Hunters #6 They reached the surface to find Cybertron had been restored and an Autobot signal was coming from Kaon. They were subsequently attacked by a squad of Forged and then a Predacon joined the party. The Dinobots battled it, until Sludge turned up with Arcee, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee and the beast was forced into retreat. Beast Hunters #7 Though Grimlock was hesitant about cooperating with the other Autobots again, they headed for Kaon, battling their way through the Forged army. When the Predacon turned up again, Swoop led it into a trap so that Grimlock and Bumblebee could blast it before trapping it underground. They eventually reached Kaon, where Grimlock announced he planned to build an all new city named New Spark. Beast Hunters #8

Platinum Edition toy bio

Though his comrades fled in terror from the approaching Bruticus, Grimlock himself was happy that he finally found an opponent worthy of his strength. Grimlock vs Decepticon Bruticus

Transformers: The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe

Grimlock was the leader of the Dinobots. He had yet to understand the strength of his human allies. The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe

Games

Transformers: War for Cybertron (DS)

Voice actor: Crispin Freeman (English), Thierry Mercier (French)

Me Grimlock too big to fit on screen.

Grimlock and Swoop were two powerful best friends who'd apparently taken no side in the war for the planet. Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, came to them to recruit them to the cause. Grimlock dismissed the Decepticon threat, claiming they were "too stupid" to mess with him and Swoop. The Autobots tried to explain that the Dark Energon could ravage Cybertron permanently, but Grimlock and Ironhide almost came to blows. Optimus began playing to Grimlock's self-centered ego, saying no one was stronger than Grimlock and Swoop, to the former's pleasure. Ironhide and Bumblebee joined in, but adding that with Dark Energon, Megatron and his forces could be stronger than Grimlock and Swoop.

Grimlock decided that he and Swoop would consider joining the Autobots, but just as negotiations were to begin, Grimlock noticed Swoop had been missing since the Autobots arrived. Grimlock said they would speak once Swoop was rescued from the Decepticons. Once Swoop was safe, he immediately joined the Autobots in gratitude. Grimlock declared he wouldn't join the Autobots yet, but tag along to protect his best friend.

Me Grimlock transform into blackboard eraser!

Grimlock subsequently actively participated in the campaigns to save the Core of Cybertron. Grimlock said that even though the Decepticon army was waiting for them at the Core, all they'd wait for from him was a butt-kicking. Ironhide pondered aloud if it was a good idea to bring Grimlock along, but as Optimus put it, "Do you want to be the one to argue with them?"

Grimlock also participated in the battle against the massive Decepticon Trypticon, and presumably stayed behind with Optimus on Cybertron while the Autobot population evacuated the planet.

Grimlock was apparently wandering around an Energon purification station the Autobots had been using, and picked a fight with the Autobots. To his utter surprise, the Autobots beat Grimlock, and he finally joined them. War for Cybertron - Autobots/Decepticons

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron

Voice actor: Gregg Berger (English)

"Here I am, there you are - Why does it seem so far?"

Before the Great Exodus, Grimlock and his Lightning Strike Coalition were ordered to help guard the Ark prior to its launch. However, they picked up unusual energy emissions from the Sea of Rust and Grimlock had them steal a dropship to go investigate. It turned out Shockwave and his Insecticons had discovered an ancient Cybertronian Space Bridge. They battled the Insecticons but four of the team were captured. Shockwave decided to use them as guinea pigs in an experiment, using the DNA of creatures discovered on an energy-rich planet to reformat the LSC into massively powerful dinosaur forms. While all members of the team were experimented on, Grimlock's change was the most extreme. Shockwave rerouted a large amount of the energy for his cerebral circuitry in order to boost his already impressive physical strength. Once the change was complete, Grimlock was more powerful and durable than almost any other Cybertronian, but the changes left him mentally impaired, limiting his ability to think. In order to control him, Shockwave placed an inhibitor in Grimlock which prevented him from transforming.

"Zeus! Your son has returned. I bring the destruction of Olympus!"

Following a pain-based test, the restrained Grimlock was approached by a recently ousted Starscream, who offered to free Grimlock in exchange for his help battling Megatron. Grimlock proposed a counter-offer: grabbing the less than cautious Starscream and using him as a projectile to smash the control console. Now free, Grimlock made his way through the duplicate space-bridge tower Shockwave and his Insecticons had constructed, leaving a path of destruction and dead bodies in his wake. He eventually managed to track down and free Swoop. Grimlock was perturbed to see Swoop's personality remained the same, as did his ability to transform. It didn't help that Swoop greatly enjoyed his new form and that unlike Grimlock, Swoop couldn't remember the torture they had endured. The pair attempted to track down Slug but, just before reaching his containment lab, was intercepted by Hardshell who tried to slow them down using a mounted turret. Working together, Swoop and Grimlock defeated the Insecticon and used his face to open a door.

Don't worry, Snarl. I'm sure the Wizard can fix you. To Oz?

Arriving at Slug's lab, they found a massive tunnel leading to the depths of the tower, where the Insecticons were feeding on unlucky Decepticons. Separated from Swoop, Grimlock was taunted by Shockwave and Kickback for his inability to transform. Enraged, he chased Kickback down before being attacked by a giant Insecticon. Grimlock defeated it, but Kickback's taunts about his defeat in the Sea of Rust angered him to such a degree, he over-rode Shockwave's block and transformed to his T. rex form. Making short work of Kickback's forces, he drove the Insecticon to retreat...straight into a collapsing door, brought down by Slug. Reunited, Grimlock and Slug made their way to the exterior base of the tower where they met with Swoop. The trio then travelled through the Insecticon infested area, eventually stumbling upon Snarl, trapped in a forcefield and being tortured by Sharpshot. While Slug and Swoop tried to free Snarl, Grimlock battled the Insecticons and brought down the forcefield generator. He then slaughtered a terrified Sharpshot. At Slug's suggestion, they made their way to a place where Snarl could be repaired.

Mmm... arm tasty, but alarm clock tastes funny.

The LSC made their way to an observation deck which not only oversaw Shockwave's space bridge, but contained files on the forms Shockwave had forced upon them, including the one he had planned for the missing Sludge. It was then the team threw aside their previous name and took the title Sharpshot and Kickback and given them, the Dinobots. In the lab, Slug revealed the tower's purpose in transporting the Decepticons to an energy-rich planet and, against Grimlock's wishes, contacted Prime. Grimlock updated Optimus but refused to rally together, deciding that the Dinobots would handle things their way. Unfortunately, Shockwave activated the space bridge and Grimlock was thrown into the air. Saved by Swoop, he was transported close to the control center of the tower before the winds became too much, separating them. Crashing into the tower, Grimlock tried to sneak up on Shockwave, but found himself once more restrained. As Shockwave finalised procedures with Megatron, a furious Grimlock transformed himself free, tore off and ate Shockwave's arm, and smashed the control console. Unfortunately, this massively destabilised the tower and it collapsed before he could escape. However, as the Dinobots watched the tower collapse, something was transported from the space bridge to the now unstable wormhole formed above Cybertron... Fall of Cybertron

Transformers On Your Street

Grimlock arrived on your street to defend against Shockwave, who arrived from space in jet mode. Although the Decepticon's initial blow sent the Dinobot flying, watched by you through your blinds, Grimlock stared down his opponent and transformed into dinosaur mode. The sight of this was enough to send Shockwave flying away, presumably to your relief. Transformers On Your Street

Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (console)

The Game Full of Death and Suffering...! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their video game appearances. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it. Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark

Transformers: Battle Tactics

"Me Grimlock has extra gun!"

Grimlock (FOC) participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was an Epic character who could be acquired as a reward in the "Grimlock's Escape" event. Transformers: Battle Tactics

Commercial appearances

• On a battlefield, right as Megatron ordered the Decepticons to attack Optimus and Co, Grimlock came out of the smoke, nodded to Optimus and subsequently transformed into his dinosaur mode. Fall of Cybertron VGA Cinematic Trailer
• Jazz and the Dinobots, Swoop and Slug came to Grimlock's aid while he was fighting Bruticus in his dinosaur mode. As they ganged up on the combiner, Grimlock used his firebreath on him. Fall of Cybertron E3 Trailer

Toys

Generations

It was either a swollen tail or very skinny legs.

• Grimlock (Voyager Class, 2012)
  • Series / number: 1 / #003
  • Accessories: Sword, shield

• Known designers: Aaron Archer and Lenny Panzica (Hasbro), Takashi Kunihiro (TakaraTomy)

Part of the second wave of Generations Voyager Class toys, Fall of Cybertron Grimlock transforms into a robotic Tyrannosaurus rex. He comes with a sword with a 5 mm handle and a peg on either side of the hilt, as well as a shield which can mount via its single peg. Grimlock features 5 mm ports for his hands, as well as on his forearms/lower dino legs and shoulders/dino hips. Interestingly, the hollow sides of his dinosaur arms feature Cyberverse-compatible 3mm ports.

His main gimmicks, however, are that he has a light in his dinosaur mouth, and a chomping dinosaur jaw. When a lever behind his dino head is pulled, his mouth opens, and the light turns on, strongly illuminating his head. This gimmick can also be used in robot mode, as his dino head ends up inside his hollow chest, although it's not as effective. The insignia on his chest is the Lightning Strike Coalition variant of the Autobrand.

This toy was redecoed into Age of Extinction Grimlock for some reason and heavily retooled into Adventure Series Battle Grimlock/Platinum Edition Grimlock.

• More information on Generations Grimlock at TFU.info

Generations (Japan)

• Grimlock (June 29, 2013)
  • ID number: TG19
  • Accessories: Sword, shield

The TakaraTomy version of Fall of Cybertron Grimlock, part of the seventh wave of Japanese Generations toys, replaces his gray plastics with darker shades, coats much of his gold plastic in shiny metallic gold paint, paints his tail tip silver and his abdomen red, and features more paint details, among other deco changes.

Me Grimlock feel...outstanding.

• Fireblast Grimlock (March 29, 2014)
  • Accessories: Sword, shield

A redeco of the Fall of Cybertron Voyager Class Grimlock toy, Fireblast Grimlock features a new metallic red paint scheme as an homage to Super Link Dinobot Magma Type, with both a name and volcanic rock patterns taken from Animated Fireblast Grimlock. He transforms into a robotic Tyrannosaurus rex, and comes with the same accessories and gimmicks as the original Grimlock version of this mold.

This release was exclusive to certain BicCamera and Kojima stores in Japan.

Platinum Edition

• Grimlock vs Decepticon Bruticus (Multi-pack, 2013)
  • Accessories: Sword, shield

Platinum Edition Grimlock is a redeco of his Fall of Cybertron toy, featuring a more thoroughly-painted sword, as well as a gold vacuum-metallized torso and dino neck. He comes with a game-accurate redeco of Fall of Cybertron Decepticon Bruticus.

• More information on Platinum Edition Grimlock at TFU.info

Notes

In the end, it was not guns or bombs that defeated the aliens, but that humblest of all God's creatures, the Tyrannosaurus rex.

• The gladiator aspect of Grimlock's Hall of Fame nomination bio is based on his Dreamwave and IDW incarnations, while his enmity with Scorponok has shades of the latter and Bumblebee's story.
• Grimlock's War for Cybertron DS form was designed by illustrator David White.
• As reproduced in Transformers Vault, according to the map of Cybertron in Hasbro's "Binder of Revelation" (the production bible for the Aligned continuity family), Grimlock comes from Simfur (from where he was presumably transferred to Kaon). This is a reference to prolific Transformers scribe Simon Furman, whose signature character is Grimlock.
• High Moon Studios' Matt Tieger has claimed in various interviews and features for Fall of Cybertron that Grimlock was not originally in the "Binder of Revelation", and that he convinced them that a backstory for Grimlock and the Dinobots had to be incorporated.
• Tieger also likened Grimlock to the Hulk, for the fact he can only transform in Fall of Cybertron by gaining a number of kills in battle and filling up a "rage meter".^[2]
• Grimlock was used on the promotional image on the Valentine's Day of 2012 on Activision's Transformers Game Facebook.^[3]
• Grimlock has a Titan body type.
• Grimlock's Dino Mode head is available Fall of Cybertron Multiplayer as a Beast-type component for Titan-class characters, with the rest of his parts being released as part of the "Dinobots Unleashed" DLC pack.
• Grimlock is by far the largest and strongest individual playable character in Fall of Cybertron, and second overall only to the combiner Bruticus.
• In Rise of the Dark Spark's Escalation mode, when equipping the Flak Shield as an ability Grimlock uses his unique shield from Fall of Cybertron's campaign, rather than the standardized shield used by other characters.

Two Grimlocks?

For years, the "Aligned" continuity was meant to be one big ongoing timeline with a bit of squinting: the War for Cybertron Soundwave was the Prime Soundwave etc. Grimlock's debut in Robots in Disguise was initially the focal point of discussion amongst fans, with a great deal of debate about whether or not this jovial take on the character was intended to be the same guy who appeared in the Fall of Cybertron video game and tie-in comics. Some of the discrepancy in Grimlock's characterization and origin story in Robots in Disguise can be attributed to the fact that Grimlock was not originally slated to be a member of the cast, with his role originally filled by a new Transformer who would have become a red Stegosaurus. This character was scrapped in favour of Grimlock at Hasbro's request, intended to capitalize on the debut of his live-action counterpart in Age of Extinction.

Series writer Mairghread Scott clarified that the producers had subsequently discussed attempting to work Fall of Cybertron Grimlock's origin story into Robots in Disguise, but abandoned the idea after the writers decided that the "other" Grimlock's origin story would be at odds with the largely upbeat tone of the show. The writers ultimately decided to focus on staying in canon with the Prime television show, while ignoring other works of Aligned fiction such as the video games, in regards to Grimlock. Scott declined to discuss if this meant that there were two Grimlocks in the continuity.^[4] Series producer Adam Beechen later weighed in with the answer that “Grimlock might be a common name among dinos”, and stated that the writers consider Grimlock a separate character to the individual who appeared in Fall of Cybertron.^[5] Barring a dramatic reorganization of continuity, we now consider these two Grimlocks as separate entities.

When the Grimlock of Robots in Disguise later appeared in Rescue Bots Academy, his backstory was fleshed out further, revealing that he previously went by the name "Steelwall" before he went by Grimlock, distinguishing him from this Grimlock of Fall of Cybertron even more.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Grimlock (グリムロック Gurimurokku)
• Mandarin: Gāng Sǔo (钢锁, "Steel Lock")
• Russian: Smel'chak (Смельчак, "Daredevil")

References