Well, Hasbro has concluded their online PulseCon 2020! Although the streams were removed shortly after they concluded, recaps will be coming soon. For those who couldn't be online to see it, it was mostly an official announcement of things we already knew about from leaks, now available as formal announcements. The series has been rebranded as Zoids Mega Battlers, with the slogan "Build Them To Battle!" There were a couple minor details also included in the stream, though, which we'll cover below!

 The panel opened with a CGI Liger Zero standing in front of the new Zoids logo. Our hosts discussed what the franchise had been prior to the Zoids Wild revival, with this Liger serving as an introduction to spark the memories of older fans. They then went on to discuss how the Wild kits will be handled: As 3 different classes, Beta, Mega, and Giga Class.

 These classes are based on a combination of size and part count, which reimagines the size classes set by Tomy. For example, Liger is a higher class than Gilraptor because of its part count (45 vs. 67), and Tryke is in the same class as Liger for the same reason (63 vs. 67). These classes are reflected by new price points, and will help buyers tell at a glance how complicated a kit may be. The kits will also have additional markings on the legs to help keep track of which legs go where. For most Zoids this doesn't matter, but it'll help on ones like Needle.

 As announced on CrunchyRoll earlier, the kits hit pre-orders on various websites earlier today. Several kits are available on Amazon, Entertainment Earth has all of them, and Hasbro Pulse has all of the kits available for pre-order at their intended retail price. All kit pre-orders are scheduled to release on February 9th, but fans have observed that other Hasbro Pulse products often show up in physical stores up to a month earlier than that.

- Prices

 Beta Class: $9.99
 - Pincers (Kuwaga)
 - Needle (Scorpear)
 - Rapterrix (Raptor)
 - Phobia (Spideath)

 Mega Class: $19.99
 - Ruin (Gilraptor)
 - Tanks (Gannontoise)

 Giga Class: $29.99
 - Liger (Wild Liger)
 - Alpha Shadow (Hunter Wolf)
 - Tryke (Triceradogos)

- Discussion

 First off, there's been a lot of discussion about what this means for Extra Large (XL) Zoids. Kits like Death Rex and Genospino. It's too early to say that these kits won't appear as a new class later, and it wouldn't make much sense to announce a class during the stream when it has no products publicly revealed yet. It's also possible they'll end up in the Giga Class, at a higher price point. Death Rex has almost the exact same number of parts as Wild Liger.

 There's also been some discussion regarding the changes to the molds. New product photos revealed quite a few with the Tryke. We discussed these changes with other Zoids in an earlier post, complete with comparison photos. While some have observed that Needle looks like all of its points have been rounded down, this is actualy an issue with the TakaraTomy product photos being sharpened for Cool Factor. The Tomy Scorpear has the same blunted points.

 All figures will have the following changes: Eyes pre-assembled and attached to the head, two-tone body colors, and additional pilot figures based on the anime pilots. The official product still shows stats for the Beta Class Zoids, and even includes a Rider Role. Boxes have been reimagined, and each kit will come with a playmat for the Battler aspect.

 Triceradogos Changes:
 Our newest updated Zoid Design! The Tryke reimagines how Triceradogos works. Instead of the huge spike coming out of its forehead, the entire frill shield moves forward, with the two horns attached to the top. There's been mixed reception about this change, but personally, I find it more fitting of the Triceratops stereotypes. I'll categorize the changes below.

 Blue: The horns are now attached to the frill itself.

 Purple: The entire frill comes forward, instead of the spike jutting out.

 Green: To accommodate this change, the spike has been redesigned from the ground up to look like a mechanicam rail.

 Red: Additional mechanical parts have been aded behind the head to flesh out that space, now that the rail sits higher than the spike. A result of its smaller size.

- Official Information

 In the Zoids Wild animated series, Zoids beasts are massive mechanical creatures that resemble animals we know today. While many roam free, others have been captured by the evil Dark Metal Empire who hack their systems and force them to be their weapons. The heroic Team Freedom have banded together with Zoids partners to fight the Dark Metal threat.

 ⚫In the Zoids Wild animated series and video game, Zoids beasts are massive mechanical creatures that resemble animals we know today. Their giant animatronic bodies are heavily armorized and house technologically advanced weaponry based on their unique forms.

 ⚫Includes a battle mat where 2 Mega Battlers figures can face-off in epic battles! (Each sold separately. Subject to availability.)

 ⚫Each Zoids toy comes with an attachable mini figure of their human partner.

Pincers:

 Zoids figures are building toys that battle. This Mega Battlers pack comes with 29 pieces to build the beetle-type Pincers figure. Once built, wind it up to activate its animatronic motion. As the figure moves, reposition it into a dynamic battle move called a Dark Blast and unleash the Pincer Jab move!

 Includes a battle mat where Mega Battlers figures can face-off in epic battles! (Each sold separately. Subject to availability.)

 Type: Beetle-type
 Dark Bast: Pincer Jab
 Team: Dark Metal
 Skill: Ambush
 Rider: Router
 Rider Role: Messenger
 Characteristics: Predatory winged hexapod beetle Zoid. Wing speed is higher than can be observed by the naked eye. Known for antler-like pincers used to jab at opponents.

 Battle Stats:
 Speed = 7
 Attack = 5
 Stamina = 6
 Defense = 5
 Dark Blast = 5
 IQ = 3

Needle:

 Zoids figures are building toys that battle. This Mega Battlers pack comes with 33 pieces to build the scorpion-type Needle figure. Once built, wind it up to activate its animatronic motion. As the figure moves, reposition it into a dynamic battle move called a Wild Blast and unleash its Sting Spear move!

 Includes a detailed battle mat where Mega Battlers figures can face-off in epic battles! Each Zoids figure comes with an attachable human partner figure. This Needle figure comes with a detailed Battalia figure that can ride on its back!

 Zoid Type: Scorpion-type
 Wild Blast: Sting Spear
 TEAM: Freedom
 Skill: Surprise Attacks
 Rider: Battalia
 Rider Role: Mechanic
 Characteristics: Predatory octopod arachnid Zoid. Small, hides easily for surprise attacks. Can see in the dark. Known for grasping pedipalps and venomous stinger. Poison from stinger can melt other Zoids.

 BATTLE STATS:
 Speed = 5
 Attack = 5
 Stamina = 6
 Defense = 4
 Wild Blast = 6
 IQ = 6

Rapterrix:

 Zoids figures are building toys that battle. This Mega Battlers pack comes with 27 pieces to build the Velociraptor-type Rapterrix figure. Once built, wind it up to activate its animatronic motion. As the figure moves, reposition it into a dynamic battle move called a Dark Blast and unleash its Velocistrike move!

 Includes a battle mat where Mega Battlers figures can face-off in epic battles! (Each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Each figure comes with an attachable human partner figure. This Rapterrix toy comes with a detailed Deleters figure that can ride on its back!

 Type: V-Raptor-type
 Dark Blast: Velocistrike
 Team: Dark Metal
 Skill: Group Combat
 Rider: Deleters
 Rider Role: Grunt
 Characteristics: Predatory bipedal dinosaur Zoids. Smaller than their D-Raptor cousins, but bear similar sickle-shaped talons used for slashing. Low intelligence. Most effective in groups.

 Battle Stats:
 Speed = 4
 Attack = 4
 Stamina = 7
 Defense = 2
 Dark Blast = 6
 IQ = 4

Phobia:

 Zoids figures are building toys that battle. This Mega Battlers pack comes with 35 pieces to build the spider-type Phobia figure. Once built, wind it up to activate its animatronic motion. As the figure moves, reposition it into a dynamic battle move called a Wild Blast and unleash its Capture Claw move!

 Includes a battle mat where Mega Battlers figures can face-off in epic battles! (Each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Each figure comes with an attachable human partner figure. This Phobia toy comes with a detailed Snare figure that can ride on its back!

 Type: Spider-type
 Wild Blast: Capture Claw
 Team: Freedom
 Skill: Capture
 Rider: Snare
 Rider Role: Infiltration
 Characteristics: Predatory octopod arachnid Zoid. Stealthy. Quick reflexes. Known to track and trap \ prey within the grip of eight cage-like legs or tangle them within silk.

 Battle Stats:
 Speed = 5
 Attack = 4
 Stamina = 7
 Defense = 5
 Wild Blast = 5
 IQ = 7

Ruin:

 Zoids figures are building toys that battle. This pack comes with 45 pieces to build the Deinonychus raptor-type Ruin figure. Once built, switch on to activate motion. The figure's motion automatically unleashes a motorized battle move called a Dark Blast! As the Ruin figure moves, his Dark Claw Dark Blast move will activate!

 Includes a battle mat where Mega Battlers figures can face-off in epic battles! (Each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Each figure comes with an attachable human partner figure. This Ruin toy comes with a detailed Drake figure that can ride on his back!

 Type: D-Raptor-type
 Dark Blast: Dark Claw
 Team: Dark Metal
 Skill: Blitz Attacks
 Rider: Drake
 Rider Role: Striker (Dark Warrior)
 Characteristics: Predatory bipedal dinosaur Zoid. Fast-moving. Bears large, sickle-shaped talons including two on back used for striking at prey.

 (The Mega+ Zoids do not have stats listed on the website)

Tanks:

 Zoids figures are building toys that battle! This pack comes with 53 pieces to build the turtle-type Tanks figure. Once built, switch on to activate motion. The toy's motion automatically unleashes a motorized battle move called a Wild Blast! As the Tanks figure moves, his Laser Canon Wild Blast move will activate!

 Includes a battle mat where Mega Battlers figures can face-off in epic battles! (Each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Each Zoids toy comes with an attachable human partner figure. This Tanks figure comes with a detailed Analog figure that can ride on his back!

 Type: Turtle-type
 Wild Blast: Laser Cannon
 Team: Team Freedom
 Skill: Long-range Attacks
 Rider: Analog
 Rider Role: Intel
 Characteristics: Defensive quadrupedal amphibious Zoid. Can withstand powerful attacks due to tough outer armor. Slow. Bears a large hidden cannon used at long range to keep back attackers.

Tryke:

 Zoids figures are building toys that battle! This pack comes with 63 pieces to build the triceratops-type Tryke figure. Once built, switch on to activate motion. The toy's motion automatically unleashes a motorized battle move called a Wild Blast! As the Tryke figure moves, his Wrecking Ram Wild Blast move will activate!

 Includes a battle mat where Giga Battlers figures can face-off in epic battles! (Each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Each Zoids figure comes with an attachable human partner figure. This Tryke toy comes with a detailed Bastion figure that can ride on his back!

 Type: Triceratops-type
 Wild Blast: Wrecking Ram
 Team: Team Freedom
 Skill: Close-range Combat
 Rider: Bastion
 Rider Role: Defense
 Characteristics: Defensive quadrupedal dinosaur Zoid. Slow. Known for large cranial horns and shields used for powerful ramming attacks and fending off attacks at close range.

Alpha Shadow:

 Zoids figures are building toys that battle! This pack comes with 58 pieces to build the wolf-type Alpha Shadow toy. Once built, switch on to activate motion. The toy's motion automatically unleashes a motorized battle move called a Wild Blast! As Alpha Shadow figure moves, his Sonic Howl Wild Blast move will activate!

 Includes a battle mat where Giga Battlers figures can face-off in epic battles! (Each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Each Zoids toy comes with an attachable human partner figure. This Alpha Shadow toy comes with a detailed Apex figure that can ride on his back!

 Type: Wolf-type
 Wild Blast: Sonic Howl
 Team: Team Freedom
 Skill: Tracking
 Rider: Apex
 Rider Role: Warrior
 Characteristics: Predatory quadrupedal canine Zoid. Slender and powerfully built, this type is known for its speed, agility, and tracking senses.

Liger:

 Zoids figures are building toys that battle! This pack comes with 67 pieces to build the lion-type Liger figure. Once built, switch on to activate motion. The toy's motion automatically unleashes a motorized battle move called a Wild Blast! As the Liger figure moves, his King Claw Wild Blast move will activate!

 Includes a battle mat where Mega Battlers figures can face-off in epic battles! (Each sold separately. Subject to availability.) Each figure comes with an attachable human partner figure. This Liger toy comes with a detailed Arashi figure that can ride on his back.

 Type: Lion-type
 Wild Blast: King Claw
 Team: Team Freedom
 Skill: Forward Attacks
 Rider: Arashi
 Rider Role: Leader
 Characteristics: Predatory quadrupedal lion-tiger hybrid Zoid. Legendary. Very rare. Proud. Known for massive claws and teeth. Often distrustful and not easily bonded.

- Final Word

 It's only fitting that Hasbro PulseCon is The Iron Bible's 777th documented News Post. May it be symbol of good luck, and I look forward to seeing more news from Hasbro!