Battlizer
In the Power Rangers series of television shows, the Battlizer is a special armored enhancement given to some of the Power Rangers. According to Katherine Manx in Power Rangers: S.P.D., Battlizers are made exclusively for the Red Rangers of the series, although within the Power Rangers continuity Battlizers have been made for other Rangers have been made before and since. These Battlizers, however, are known as Mega Battles, to further reinforce the notion that Battlizers are meant for Red Rangers. Battlizers are not the only enhancements to Power Rangers given through the course of each Power Rangers series, and are not the only equipment that are given to specific Rangers.
The introduction of the Battlizer is an annual tradition in Power Rangers, having started in Power Rangers: In Space, as a device that allowed the Rangers to control the Delta Megazord. They are typically obtained in episodes specifically dedicated to its introduction, and are often used to defeat the episode's villain. However, Battlizers are typically shown sparodically in later episodes, as many of the Battlizers used in Power Rangers were specifically introduced for the adaptation and are not holdovers from Super Sentai. This has caused some to criticize Battlizers as unnecessary and spurious, created only to boost merchandising sales -- in one case a Battlizer was quickly made obsolete by the introduction of a Ranger enhancement that gave similar powers to all of the Rangers. The concept of the Battlizer, however, remains based on Super Sentai -- The Battle Tector Armor from Dynaman, the Five Tector Armor from Fiveman, the Megatector in Megaranger vs Carranger, and this year's current Acceltector,, were used far before Power Rangers. These, however, served as simple enhancement modes that could be used by all Rangers.
Battlizer armor has, however, been most notably used in teamup episodes, where two teams of Power Rangers join forces to defeat a common enemy -- this is largely due to the fact that these episodes use little footage from Super Sentai (where the corresponding teamup is instead longer and involves Sentai mecha from the two sides combining with each other).
Despite the Battlizer's typical introduction as a Power Rangers original, a Power Rangers Battlizer was "re-adapted" into Super Sentai, when Jack Landors' Battlizer was used by Banban "Ban" Akaza, Landors' equivalent in Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger, from which Power Rangers: S.P.D. was based off. Although Landors' and Akaza's Battlizers were identical in appearance, however, the two greatly differed in their functionality.
Although Battlizers are technically tools that allow the access of the armor enhancements, in recent years the term "Battlizer" has been used to solely refer to the armor themselves, as the tools in question could be used for other purposes. Battlizers typically allow the user to have extra armor and weaponry, including a new single-Ranger finishing move.
General Info
Battlizers are depicted as having extra armor, weaponry and devices for Power Rangers, and is usually obtained during an episode specifically dedicated to that very power up. Andros (Red Space Ranger) was the first to gain the battlizer powers, and started a tradition from that season on, where every Red Ranger were to gain one.
Battlizer in Super Sentai
Battlizer armor was not featured in Super Sentai until 2006, when Jack Landors' Battlizer was used by Banban "Ban" Akaza, also known as DekaRed, in the team-up special "Magiranger vs. Dekaranger." This was the second time Super Sentai adapted something from Power Rangers (the first time was when Mirai Sentai Timeranger used the word "Zord" for one of their enemies mecha). In the team-up special it was called "DekaRed Battlizer Mode" (and Ban confirms it to be Fire Squad armor, confirming that the S.P.D. Battlizer is the rumored DekaFire to much of the tokusatsu fandom's dismay). The transformation itself is quite different from the S.P.D. version. Ban summons K-9 Murphy, then uses the SP License and says "Battlizer On" into it. Murphy separates and attaches to Ban. The finisher itself is different from the attack Jack used in Power Rangers: S.P.D.. It is called "Fire Drive" and the weapon is used more like a rifle than a sword similar to ShadowBeta's "Pressure Gun" in Mirai Sentai Timeranger.
Criticism
Certain Power Rangers fans detest Battlizers, claiming they are unnecessary and are added to a Ranger's personal arsenal based solely for advertising the toy. Others say they are unnecessary due to the lack of times they are used in each season, but the reason for that could be due to the difficulty of fitting Battlizer scenes in with sentai footage. Other criticisms include, the size of the Battlizer (such as Leo's Red Armor) and "unnecessary" or "ridiculous" design features (like the roller blades on Eric's Time Force Mega Battle, Stretch Limbs on Conner's Triassic Battlizer, and Jack's loin armor which many fans dubbed the "Battle Thong" or "Cyber Diaper"). Conner McKnight had taken the heaviest criticism due to the many power-ups the character has. He had Super Dino Mode, Triassic Ranger power, and a Battlizer; for this, he has sometimes been referred to as a "power-up addict". Also, mismanagement of the storylines in S.P.D. resulted in the Battlizer being depreciated as it was shown to be ineffective against the aliens in "S.W.A.T." and succeeded by the S.W.A.T. armor only 2 episodes after its own debut. After that and overall, the S.P.D. Battlizer was rarely used (a fact the fans also criticized).
List of Red Battlizer Armors
Red Battlized Armor
The Red Battlized Armor is used by Andros (Red Space Ranger) as Red Battlized Ranger.
- Stats:
- Muscular-featured torso armor
- Winged backpack
- Ability of flight
- Missile launch attack.
- Activation:
- Button 03 on the wrist-worn Battlizer device. "Red Battlized Ranger!"
- Was obtained in the episode "Mission to the Secret City", when Andros was held hostage with others, and experimented with the Battlizer's true potential to rescue everyone.
Red Armored Ranger
The Red Armor is used by Leo Corbett (Red Galaxy Ranger) as Red Armored Power Ranger.
- Stats:
- Gray armored torso w/Lights of Orion armor underneath
- Target sensors
- Blasters
- Grabbing claws
- Activation:
- Two halves of a galactic key. "Red...Armored...Power...Ranger!"
- Was obtained in the episode "Facing the Past", when Leo and Karone travel to a planet to free a person incased in stone who holds the galactic key to restore Leo's powers. The restoration resulted in also gaining the Battlizer.
Trans-Armor Cycle
The Trans-Armor Cycle is used by Carter Grayson, the Red Lightspeed Ranger, which serves both as a supplement to the Red Lightspeed Cycle as well as personal armor. Interestingly, the Trans-Armor Cycle was introduced after the Lightspeed Mega Battlers, used by fellow team members Chad Lee and Joel Rawlings. The armor is activated through the bike itself, from which the seats and tires become shoulder-mounted tire launchers and the rest of the bike becoming gauntlet blasters and the body armor.
The armor was introduced in the episode Web War, after a series of unsuccessful experiments with the Mobile Armored Vehicle, and was used as a field test against the monster Arachnor, who had managed to abduct most of the Lightspeed personnel. In the Power Rangers: Time Force episode Time for Lightspeed, the Yellow and Pink Lightspeed Rangers used the gauntlet blasters as their finishing weapons in lieu of Mega Battles of their own.
Red Battle Warrior Armor
The Battle Warrior Armor is used by Wesley Collins (Red Time Force Ranger) as the Red Battle Warrior.
- Stats:
- Medieval golden torso armor, greaves, gauntlets, and helmet
- Fire-designed wings
- Battle Fire Saber (golden sword, a flaming circle finishing move)
- Activation:
- A ball of flame. "Red Battle Warrior!"
- Was obtained in the episode "Beware the Knight", when the Time Force Rangers come face to face with a black knight who wanted to open a sealed box that held the Battlizer's power. Wes got a hold of the box, since only one pure of heart could open it.
Animarium Armor
The Animarium Armor is used by Cole Evans, the Red Lion Ranger. When armored, Cole is known as the Red Savage Warrior. Compared to other Battlizers, the Animarium Armor gives little enhancement to the Red Ranger's weapon capabilities, instead allowing Cole the power of flight. The wings on the armor that allow flight can also be used as a protective shield. It is summoned through Cole's belt buckle. The Armor has a similar design motif to the Red Falconzord, which was also concurrently introduced.
The Animarium Armor was obtained in the episode The Wings of Animaria, during which Cole defended Turtle Cove against the Orgs themselves while the other four Rangers were trapped in another dimension, only able to free themselves if the four could sove a puzzle. When the puzzle was solved, Cole obtained the Animarium Armor and the Falcon Summoner, which was used to summon the Red Falconzord and the Isis Megazord.
Tri-Battlized Armor
The Tri-Battlized Armor is used by Shane Clarke (Red Wind Ranger).
- Stats:
- (Ground Mode): Torso armor w/Hawk symbol, complete arm and leg armor, increased power and speed
- (Flight Mode): Ability of Super Flying Speed, Sword and Bracer, Finishing Move is called "Ultra Laser" (an energy blast that is shot from an energy-formed hawk)
- Activation:
- Upgraded version of Wind Morpher, called the Lightning Morpher. "Battlizer Mode! Battlizer Flight Mode!"
- Was obtained in the two-parter "Shane's Karma", where Shane encountered an alien being named Skyla, who he supposedly saved when he was younger. Skyla insists she gives Shane a Battlizer power up in return for his deed, resulting in the defeat of Vexacus.
Triassic Battlizer
The Triassic Battlizer is used by Conner McKnight (Red Tyranno/Triassic Ranger).
- Stats:
- Torso Armor w/Mezodon bracers and shin armor
- Super-stretch arms and legs
- Increased speed
- Dragon Yo-Yo Attack
- Battlizer Cannon on the back of armor (used for finishing attack called "Battle Blast").
- Activation:
- Styraco plate on the golden-colored Thundersaurus Morpher granted to Conner in Triassic form. "Battlizer!"
- Was obtained in the episode "Passion of the Connor". At first, he was doubting his abilities as a Ranger until his mentor, Tommy Oliver, encouraged him to break free from such negative thoughts. His newly gained confidence resulted in getting a power up from an ancient tree that Zeltrax supposedly struggled for. This power up being the Battlizer.
S.P.D. Battlizer
The S.P.D. Battlizer is used by Jack Landors (S.P.D. Red Ranger), and once by Sky Tate when he was given Jack's morpher in the episode "Reflections".
- Stats:
- (Cyber Mode): Energy sword, increased power and agility, shoulder armor, loin armor, metallic gauntlets and metallic greaves. This mode was given the derogatory nickname "Battle Thong" and "Cyber Diaper" by fans.
- (Sonic Mode): R.I.C. used as armor for the torso and shins, jet pack, ability of flight, siren blasters, Battlizer flaming sword now with finishing move (four streaks of fire, with the last one defeating the enemy).
- Activation:
- S.P.D. Battlizer button pushed; Red Ranger calls for Sonic mode. "Battlizer Mode 1 Complete! Battlizer Mode 2 Complete!"
- Was obtained in the two-parter "Reflections", when Kat Manx completes battlizer technology in RIC's systems. Jack originally tests it out in part one and succeeds. But Sky truly saves the day when he uses it to defeat Mirloc.
Fire Heart, Red Dragon Fire Ranger
The Fire Heart, Red Dragon Fire Ranger has the following traits:
- Knight-like body armor.
- Wings
- Two handheld rod weapons: one in Red with a Dragon's head and one in Blue.
- Activation:
- Fierce Dragon Morpher, device similar to the Solar Cell Morpher.
- He combines with the Fire Heart to use the Battlizer/armor.
List of Megabattle Armors
Megabattles are typically reserved for Battlizer-like powerups that are not given to the Red Ranger of each series, although the term can be misleading: the Quantum Mega Battle is used by Eric Myers, who is considered a Red Ranger in the overall Power Rangers continuity (but a sixth Ranger from within Power Rangers: Time Force, while Hunter Bradley's Glider Bike, which can be used as armor, is neither considered a Megabattle nor a Battlizer, despite Hunter being generally considered a Red Ranger.
Lightspeed Megabattle Armors
Lightspeed Megabattles (sometimes called the simply The ("Mighty") Megabattles) were created by Angela and Clark Fairweather; they were activated by dialing 8-6-1 on the Battle Booster. "Megabattle Mode!"
- The Blue Lightspeed Megabattle was featured in Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue, used by Chad Lee (Blue Lightspeed Ranger). "Megabattle Blue!"
- Stats:
- Water/Ice Cannon, which can either spray away or freeze adversaries.
- The Green Lightspeed Megabattle was featured in Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue, used by Joel Rawlings (Green Lightspeed Ranger). "Megabattle Green!"
- Stats:
- Power Cutter Dual Saws, which can cut through thick metallic objects, can open up to create a wind blast.
Quantum Megabattle Armor
Quantum Megabattle Armor (sometimes referred as the Time Force Mega Battle) was featured in Power Rangers: Time Force, used by Eric Myers (The Quantum Ranger). Alex secretly informed Eric of the Megabattle's existence. The power is teleported from the Q-Rex and relayed to the Quantum Ranger when summoned through the Quantum Morpher. It is believed that the Megabattle Armor was always part of the Quantum Ranger's arsenal. "Megabattle, Activate!"
- Stats:
- Torso armor, helmet visor, oversized rollerblades, wings (capable of flight, as well as detachment and use as blasters or blades)
- Energy sword finishing attack that can defeat giant mutants.
Notes
- Carter Grayson (Red Lightspeed Ranger) had the only Battlizer that transformed from a motorcycle vehicle (not counting R.I.C. because it was mainly in dog form and not moto form) , although it was based on an idea originally created for Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy's.
- Even though Battlizer technology is strictly for Red Rangers (as Kat Manx stated in Power Rangers: S.P.D.), Chad (Blue Lightspeed Ranger) and Joel (Green Lightspeed Ranger) were noted for having Battlizer-like equipment (Mega Battles) in their arsenal during Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue, starting with the episode "The Mighty Mega Battles."
- Eric Myers (the Quantum Ranger) was the first Sixth Ranger to receive a Battlizer-like power-up (most likely due to him being similar to a Red Ranger as well). Interestingly, Eric was not technically given a Battlizer, but instead a variant dubbed "Mega Battle Armor".
- Even though the Battlizers (armors and wrist-worn devices) were a completely American-made concept, the name was based off Denji Sentai Megaranger's counterpart to very first wrist-worn activater, the "Battle Raizer."
- Shane Clarke (Red Wind Ranger) and Jack Landors (S.P.D. Red Ranger) are the only two Rangers to have Battlizers with two modes: one basic mode for ground-based fighting, and a mode upgraded with extra armor & weapons for aerial-based fighting. The upgraded mode also has the Battlizer's finishing attack, a burststream of powerful red energy which has been shown to easily destroy a small space craft.
- Ever since the season Power Rangers: Time Force, whenever there was a team-up episode, any Ranger that had access to a Battlizer was activated by default in the main battle (not counting forever red), preferably at the last scene of a fight, defeating all the enemies by using each of the Battlizer's finishing moves simutaneously.
- Jason Lee Scott's use of the Dragon Shield and Dragon Dagger after Tommy's departure is often (jokingly) referred to by fans as the inspiration for the Battlizer.
- Though Hunter Bradley is considered a Red Ranger amongst the fandom, he was not given any Battlizer power up. Very seldom is his Glider Bike power up mistaken as a Battlizer, but is indeed just a personal vehicle.