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ZordIn the Power Rangers universe, Zords are colossal mechanical or bio-mechanical robots. When monsters grow to incredible sizes, the only way the Power Rangers can fight them is by summoning and piloting these robots. Usually this will happen towards the end of every episode. The Zords are often in the shape of animals - sometimes living creatures, sometimes dinosaurs and sometimes mythical beings. When the individual Zords are inadequate for the task, they can join together into a more powerful, humanoid robot called a Megazord. Every season of Power Rangers from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers onwards saw a new set of Zords being deployed by the current Power Rangers. Each set is based on the Mecha from the connected Super Sentai series. This change of Zords occurred even before the yearly costume change to match the equivalent Super Sentai series. Although it is never stated in the series, it is assumed that the Zords are named after Zordon, the first mentor of the Power Rangers.
The DinozordsThe first set of Zords used by any team of Power Rangers were used in the very first series, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Each of the five original Rangers (Red, Black, Yellow, Blue, Pink) possessed their own Zord, which appeared in the form of a dinosaur.
Note that although the term Dinozord is used to refer to these Zords, they were the only Zords known at the time and were just called 'Zords'. The Megazord (Dinozords)The five individual Dinozords could combine into a larger machine called the Megazord. First, they joined together into a Battle Tank Mode, which itself transformed into a humanoid. All five Rangers piloted the Megazord from within its head. The Megazord weilded a large Power Sword, which it frequently used to deliver finishing blows to the monsters it fought. The DragonzordWhen a sixth Ranger, Tommy the Green Ranger, was added to the lineup, he had his own Zord, the Dragonzord. Not technically a Dinozord (because it is not based on a dinosaur), it resembled Godzilla and even rose out of water in a similar way. Tommy did not pilot this Zord, per se. Rather, the Dragonzord seemed semi-autonomous, and Tommy merely guided its actions through use of the Dragon Dagger, by using it as a flute. When Tommy lost his powers, Jason was still able to control the Dragonzord by using this Dagger. The Dragonzord could join together with four of the five Dinozords (not including the Tyrannosaurus) to form the Mega-Dragonzord. It did this only a few times. The Ultrazord (Dinozords)In times of dire peril, all six Zords, along with Titanus, the Carrier Zord, could combine into the most powerful form: the Ultrazord. They did this, for example, when battling the 'Zord' Cyclopsis.
The Thunderzords
When Lord Zedd came to the Moon, to try to destroy the Power Rangers and take over Earth himself, he sent down Pirantishead. Pirantishead who succeeded in freezing four Dinozords and taking control of the other two. A refractoring of morph waves by Alpha 5 transformed the Dinozords into Thunderzords, much more powerful than their predecessors. The Thunderzord squadron battled the forces of Lord Zedd with their massive power throughout the second season until they were destroyed by Rito Revolto. The Thunderzords were as follows:
Thunder MegazordThe Thunderzords combined to form the Thunderzord Assault Team, with the Red Dragon riding the other four combined as an airborne chariot. They could also join into the Thunder Megazord. Unlike the Dinozords, the Thunderzords could no easily switch between these two formations. TigerzordWhen Tommy's Green Ranger powers finally failed, Zordon and Alpha 5 were able to create new White Ranger powers for him, making him the leader of the team. His zord, the Tigerzord, was controlled by his talking sword, Saba, although unlike the Dragonzord he was able to pilot it from within (like the other zords). The Tigerzord could change from its Tiger form to a humanoid form, in which it wielded a curved sabre. Thunder UltrazordThe six Thunderzords (including the Tigerzord) could combine together, along with the turtle-shaped Tor the Shuttlezord to form the powerful Thunder Ultrazord. The Tigerzord was encased within Tor's shell, and the Thunderzord Assault Team was affixed to the top. The NinjazordsWhen the Thunder Zords were destroyed by Rito Revolto in the third season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the Power Rangers were given new Ninjazords by the sage, Ninjor. They were all based on living animals.
The ShogunzordsPart way through the third season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Lord Zedd kidnapped Ninjor and used him as a hostage, demanding that the Power Rangers pilot his new Shogunzords to destroy the Earth. Ninjor was eventually freed, and the Rangers were able to use the Shogunzords for their own purposes (i.e. goodness). In the original Super Sentai series, there were only five Mecha - no Pink Ranger existed to pilot a sixth. The arc in which the Shogunzords featured prominently was therefore the same arc in which Kimberly Hart was written out of the series, and set during the transition period before Katherine Hillard came to replace her. After this, when the Shogunzords were used, both Katherine and Tommy piloted the white Zord together. Shogun-MegazordWhile ostensibly a Ninjazord (see above), Tommy's Falconzord could combine with the five Shogunzords to make a powerful Megazord.
The TurbozordsThe Power Rangers were given the Turbozords by Zordon during Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, along with their new Turbo Ranger powers, in order to combat the new evil threat of Divatox and her demonic fiancee, Maligore. They were used in battle with Divatox throughout the television series Power Rangers: Turbo, until they were destroyed by the Goldgoyle monster in the finale.
Turbo MegazordThe five Turbozords combined to form the Turbo Megazord. The Turbo Megazord Saber was its primary weapon and was utilized in the Turbo Megazord Spinout, where the Megazord would "spin-out" while running toward its opponent, slashing it repeatedly and destroying it. Rescue Turbo MegazordThe Red Lightning and Mountain Blaster Turbo Zords can also combine with the Thunder Loader, Star Racer, and Wind Rescue Rescue Zords to form the Rescue Turbo Megazord.
The Rescue ZordsIn Power Rangers: Turbo, the Rescue Zords were given to the Power Rangers by the Phantom Ranger when the Turbozords were stolen by Divatox and her brother General Havoc . They were brought into battle by Artillatron, the Turbo Transport, which also provided the primary weapons for the Rescue Megazord, twin cannons which were simply known as Artillery Power. They were destroyed along with the Turbozords by Divatox's Goldgoyle monster at the end of Power Rangers: Turbo. The five zords joined together to form the Rescue Megazord.
Rescue Turbo MegazordThe Thunder Loader, Star Racer, and Wind Rescue Rescue Zords could also combine with the Red Lightning and Mountain Blaster Turbozords to form the Rescue Turbo Megazord. The Astro MegashipIn Power Rangers: In Space, there are no individual zords (at least to begin with). Instead, the Astro Megaship, which the Rangers use to travel through space, transforms into their primary Megazord. It could only do this with the addition of a NASADA space shuttle that the Power Rangers Turbo brought with them from Earth. The ship had an onboard computer named D.E.C.A. that communicated with the Rangers about functionality. It spoke with a woman's voice. Some time before the events of Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy, the Astro Megaship was retrofitted into a museum before it was hijacked by the Lost Galaxy Rangers. It was used as the Rangers' transport throughout the season, but not used as a Zord again.
Time Force ZordsIn Power Rangers: Time Force, each Rangers has an individual Time Flier. However, these Time Fliers cannot engage in battle on their own and must immediately join together to form a Megazord. Presumably they are kept separate for the sole reason that it is easier to travel through time as smaller vehicles. Time Force MegazordsThe five Time Fliers can join together in two different ways to form a Megazord. One of these forms possesses more speed and the other possesses more power. It is the latter that is often used to deliver finishing moves to enemies. Time Shadow MegazordThe Time Shadow Megazord was a new creation sent to the past by Alex Collins to help the Power Rangers. Quantasaurus RexA prototype zord that was one of the first objects to be sent back in time by Time Force. It was unfortunately lost until it was recovered by Eric Myers and Wesley Collins. It was powered by Trizerium Crystals. Unusually for a sixth character's zord, the Q-Rex could not combine with the other zords to form a new, more powerful one. However, on a number of occasions other Megazords did ride on the back of the Q-Rex as it charged the enemy, delivering spectacular finishing blows in that way. Transwarp MegazordThe Transwarp Megazord is a large robot operated by Time Force in the future that is responsible for sending other Zords and the Time Ship through the Time Gate. Its fighting capability is unknown, as it is only shown fighting in one instance, but this is an illusion. Wild Force ZordsKongazordThe Kongazord is a powerful Megazord, made with the Gorilla, Polar Bear, Black Bear, Eagle, and Bison Wild Zords. Some of these zords are interchangeable in case any animal has lost power. The two bears make the arms, the Gorilla is the chest and head, and the bison is the torso and legs. The Kongazord's finishers depend on what's connected in the arms. With the two bears, it's Bear Blasters, with the Giraffe, it's the spear, or if it's the elephant, it's the Pachyderm Crusher. If the Rhino is attached as the legs, it can do the soccer kick with the Armadillo. The Kongazord also has an anchor, which it can use the Kongazord Swinging Anchor Attack, where a chain is attached to a huge anchor, and it is thrown at its target, which can knock its target out. The Kongazord can also be used with the Soul Bird, for added power. Super Zeo MegazordThe Super Zeo Magazord was an upgrade of the Zeo Megazord using a medallion given to the rangers by Trey after he was fatally wounded. Zords used by enemiesSeveral times during the Power Rangers series, certain villains have piloted Zords of their own. In truth, there is little to differentiate these machines from any other giant robot, however the word 'Zord' summons a feeling that the Rangers are now facing beings in some way like themselves. This motif has been used in many mediums to introduce increased tension and drama. The first instance of this occurring was at the 'culmination' of the first season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, in which Goldar piloted the Zord Cyclopsis against the Rangers. The idea was reused several times in later seasons, for example Power Rangers: Zeo.
See AlsoThe contents of this article are licensed from Wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License.
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