Built to Rule

Built to Rule was a building blocks toyline from Hasbro that is compatible with such leading brands as Lego. These sets were released from 2003 to 2005. Sets are usually based upon existing toys and characters from the Hasbro brand, such as Tonka, G.I. Joe and Transformers: Armada.

G.I. Joe[]

Built To Rule was marketed as "Action Building Sets". All sets came with one set of building blocks you could build into a full sized vehicle, and one specially designed 3 3/4 G.I. Joe figure. The forearms and the calves of the figures sport places where blocks could be attached.

2003[]

The 2003 Built To Rule followed the G.I. Joe: Spy Troops story line.

• Armadillo Assault with Duke^[1]
• Depth Ray with Wet Suit^[2]
• Forest Fox with Frostbite^[3]
• Locust with Hollow Point^[4]
• Raging Typhoon with Blowtorch^[5]
• Rock Crusher with Gung-Ho^[6]
• Cobra Moccasin with Cobra Moray
• Cobra Raven with Wild Weasel^[7]

2004[]

Some of the figures in 2004 featured additional articulation with a mid-thigh cut joint.

• Ground Striker with Flint^[8]
• Patriot Grizzly with Hi-Tech^[9]
• Rapid Runner with Chief Torpedo^[10]
• Rising Tide with Barrel Roll^[11]
• Sledgehammer with Heavy Duty^[12]
• Headquarters Attack with Snake Eyes - Includes Cobra Firebat with A.V.A.C.^[13]
• Cobra H.I.S.S. with Cobra Commander^[14]
• Cobra Night Prowler with Shadow Viper
• Cobra Sand Snake with Firefly^[15]
• Cobra Venom Striker with Firefly ^[16]

2005[]

• Freedom Defense Outpost with Duke ^[17]

Transformers[]

Transformers Built to Rule toys were predicted by some groups to be big sellers in 2003.^[18] A small number of Transformers: Energon Built to Rule sets had a limited, test market release, but the entire line performed poorly, so it was dropped in its entirety in 2004.^{[citation needed]}

There are some significant differences between the Armada and Energon sets, though both are based on the same basic premise. Each Transformers kit is centered on a "Trans-Skeleton", a very simple humanoid body that folds up for vehicle mode without dis-assembly. From there, extra parts are added to the Trans-Skeleton for either mode. For Armada, the Trans-Skeleton was a very broad, flat solid plate with thin, stick-like limbs attached to it, which led to very awkward-looking robot modes. The structure of the Trans-Skeleton was changed for the Energon characters, to a much more solid skeleton with larger, blockier limbs. This led to much more solid, stable and sturdy-looking robot modes.

Transformers: Armada sets[]

• Demolishor & Blackout
• Demolishor & Blackout (Night Attack)
• Hot Shot & Jolt
• Jetfire & Comettor
• Megatron & Leader-1 (with Cyclonus & Crumplezone)
• Optimus Prime & Sparkplug
• Red Alert & Longarm
• Smokescreen & Liftor
• Starscream & Swindle
• Thundercracker & Zapmaster

Transformers: Energon sets[]

• Ironhide
• Optimus Prime
• Skyblast
• Inferno
• Starscream
• Scorponok

See also[]

• Kre-O
• Lego clone

References[]