Rock Lords was a spin-off toyline to the GoBots

Challenge of the GoBots

Challenge of the GoBots is an American animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera, based on the Gobots toy-line released from Tonka. Most of the toys were imported from the Japanese Machine Robo toy line. The show originally debuted in animated form as a five-part miniseries, which aired in...

 from Tonka

Tonka

Tonka is an American toy company most known for its signature toy trucks and construction equipment.-History:On September 18, 1946 Mound Metalcraft was created in Mound, Minnesota with three men as partners, Lynn Everett Baker , Avery F. Crounse, and Alvin F. Tesch. The first products produced by...

 in 1986 after the movie GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords

GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords

GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords is an animated movie based on the Gobots toy and TV franchise. This movie was produced by Hanna-Barbera and released to theaters in 1986 by Clubhouse Pictures...

. They were transforming rocks that came with weapons such as axes, guns and swords. There were vehicles for the Rock Lords to drive in battle. The Rock Lords were imported from Bandai

Bandai

is a Japanese toy making and video game company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits. It is the world's third-largest producer of toys . Some ex-Bandai group companies produce anime and tokusatsu programs...

's Machine Robo

Machine Robo

is a Japanese transforming robot toyline first released in 1982 by Popy, a division of Bandai, then later by Bandai proper. The franchise was marketed as Robo Machine in Europe, and Machine Men in Australia...

 "Ganseki Chōjin" sub-line. Like other transforming toys, there were "good guys" (led by Boulder) and "bad guys" (led by Magmar). The tagline

Tagline

A tagline is a variant of a branding slogan typically used in marketing materials and advertising. The idea behind the concept is to create a memorable phrase that will sum up the tone and premise of a brand or product , or to reinforce the audience's memory of a product...

 associated with these toys was "Powerful living rocks!".

Rock Lords was not a successful toy line. Transformers was getting the better sales, but Rock Lords was able to last for three seasons. There were unreleased Rock Lords toys such as the Stone Head playset and Crackpot in meteorite colors.

Good Rock Lords

Boulder (Japan: Battle Rock)

Rock Type: Tungsten

Tungsten

Tungsten , also known as wolfram , is a chemical element with the chemical symbol W and atomic number 74.A hard, rare metal under standard conditions when uncombined, tungsten is found naturally on Earth only in chemical compounds. It was identified as a new element in 1781, and first isolated as...

Bio: "Brave and wise with an awesome physique, Boulder leads the defense of Quartex against Magmar's villainous plots. Boulder has rallied the remaining free kingdoms of the planet under his leadership. His fiery temper strikes fear into friend and foe alike. In the heart of the battle, he scatters enemies with stungun blasts and zaps them with his Power Sword."

Nuggit (Japan: Mecha Rock)

Rock Type: Gold

Gold

Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...

Bio: "Though he's a robot, Nuggit is worth his weight in gold! He's smaller than the other rock warriors but brave and bold beyond his size. Nuggit is very proud of his shiny finish. Nuggit's Tri-Gun does triple duty: the top barrel hypnotizes; the second barrel paralyzes; the third barrel revives the unlucky victim for questioning."

Granite (Japan: Guts Rock)

Rock Type: Granite

Granite

Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...

Bio: "A happy-go-lucky rock with a ready laugh, Granite is truly a "gentle giant". But put him in the thick of the fight and he's one of the most fearsome combatants on the battlefield. Despite its ordinary appearance, the T-Gun's shiny bullets will pierce anything and that's enough to send any evil rock running for cover!"

Marbles (Japan: Mask Rock)

Rock Type: Cristobalite

Cristobalite

The mineral cristobalite is a high-temperature polymorph of silica, meaning that it has the same chemical formula, SiO2, but a distinct crystal structure. Both quartz and cristobalite are polymorphs with all the members of the quartz group which also include coesite, tridymite and stishovite...

In the movie he has psychic powers.

Crackpot (Japan: Cross Rock)

Rock Type: Azurite

Azurite

Azurite is a soft, deep blue copper mineral produced by weathering of copper ore deposits. It is also known as Chessylite after the type locality at Chessy-les-Mines near Lyon, France...

Bio: "Crackpot's name describes his personality-slightly goofy. The other warriors give him a hard time about his crazy notions but Crackpot can think of good ideas that save them from a jam. His magnetic pulse ray "attracts" bad rocks and turns them into magnetic heaps!"

Pulver Eyes (Japan: Sand Rock)

Rock Type: Dolomite

Dolomite

Dolomite is a carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate CaMg2. The term is also used to describe the sedimentary carbonate rock dolostone....

 (Mimetite

Mimetite

Mimetite, whose name derives from the Greek Μιμητής mimethes, meaning "imitator", is an arsenate mineral which forms as a secondary mineral in lead deposits, usually by the oxidation of galena and arsenopyrite. The name is a reference to mimetite's resemblance to the mineral pyromorphite...

 in Japan)

Bio: "Pulver-Eyes is a resourceful and strong with a reputation for snacking on rocks of all shapes and sizes. When it comes to a fight, his temper is fierce but he's quick to forgive and forget. Pulver-Eyes uses The Arrestor to latch on to enemies and reel them in."

Jewel Lords

• Rock Type: Diamond
  Diamond
  In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
  
  
• Weapon: Hard Blade
• Bio: A sparkling warrior who crushes evil. Possesses a healing power.

• Rock Type: Ruby
  Ruby
  A ruby is a pink to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum . The red color is caused mainly by the presence of the element chromium. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires...
  
  
• Weapon: Hard Spear
• Bio: Hot-blooded crimson fighter.

• Rock Type: Amber
  Amber
  Amber is fossilized tree resin , which has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Amber is used as an ingredient in perfumes, as a healing agent in folk medicine, and as jewelry. There are five classes of amber, defined on the basis of their chemical constituents...
  
  
• Weapon: Crystal Scissors
• Bio: Wild loner who loves nature. The Rockasaurs will do his bidding.

Fossil Lords

• Jaw Bone (Japan: Header)
• Rib Cage (Japan: Abarar)
• Hip Bone (Japan: Leggar)
• Tail Bone (Japan: Taildar)
• All four combine to form the Fossilsaurus (Japan: Gattai Saurer).

Action Shock Rocks

• Rock Roller: Revved up and ready to roll
• Stun Stone: Bowls 'em over
• Blast Rock: Blasts his way through the baddies

Evil Rock Lords

Magmar (Japan: Devil Rock)

Rock Type: Igneous

Igneous rock

Igneous rock is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava...

Bio: "Magmar is the most cunning and evil-minded of the Rock Lords. His domineering personality and physical strength make him a fearful presence to all but the most brave. Magmar lives to conquer the rock planet Quartex. His favorite activity is combat. Wielding his Ax-Rifle with deadly accuracy, he assaults foes scattering rocks and pebbles as he goes."

Tombstone (Japan: Geiger Rock)

Rock Type: Quartz

Quartz

Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...

Bio: "Tombstone lives to fight. This evil warrior cares about only one thing: destroying good rocks! The last thing Tombstone wants to hear about this peace. A good battle will make his day as he rushes heedlessly at the enemy swinging The Reaper wildly and laughing at his foes as they retreat from the twirling scythe."

Sticks 'N Stones (Japan: Double Rock)

Rock Type: Anthracite (i.e., coal

Coal

Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...

) and Magnetite

Magnetite

Magnetite is a ferrimagnetic mineral with chemical formula Fe3O4, one of several iron oxides and a member of the spinel group. The chemical IUPAC name is iron oxide and the common chemical name is ferrous-ferric oxide. The formula for magnetite may also be written as FeO·Fe2O3, which is one part...

Bio: "Sticks 'n Stones are living proof that two heads are worse than one. They're constantly at odds with each other. But give them a single purpose-destroying good rocks-and they become an awesome fighting force. The very sight of them charging into battle with their Cactus Club and Double Duty mace is enough to send enemies flying home!"

Stoneheart (Japan: Amazon Rock)

Rock Type: Slate

Slate

Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...

Bio: "Stoneheart is the largest and cruelest of the evil rock warriors. He takes special delight in teasing his enemies before defeating them. Extremely unpredictable, Stoneheart's first loyalty is to himself and even Magmar thinks twice about crossing him. Stoneheart fights like a raging beast, his Slam Ray hammering foes into rubble."

Brimstone (Japan: Bloody Rock)

Rock Type: Brimstone

Brimstone

Brimstone is an alternative name for sulfur. It may also refer to:* Fire and brimstone, an idiomatic expression of signs of God's wrath in the Bible* Brimstone , a DC Comics character...

Bio: "Brimstone's scheming intellect makes him a deadly foe. Brimstone is always ready to step in for Magmar and take command. Brandishing the Torcher, his flame throwing weapon, he laughs wickedly as he charges fearlessly into battle."

Slimestone (Japan: Magna Rock)

Rock Type: Silver

Silver

Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...

Bio: "Slimestone is a rock warrior with a different personality. Short, squat, and disgustingly sinister, Slimestone enjoys wallowing in pools of boiling oil. Slimestone delights in using his slimegun to smear enemies with evil-smelling sticky stuff that's impossible to get off!"

Saber Stone

Spear Head

Action Shock Rocks

• Rock Shot: Thrower-arm knocks 'em cold
• Stone Hook: Powered hook reels in victims
• Dragonstone: Makes things hot for his foes

Rockasaurs

Like the Rock Lords, dinosaurs also appear in the movie. However, the dinosaurs in the movie were never made into toys. Only two were released.

Terra-Roc (Japan: Rockgilan): A pterodactyl type dinosaur

"Among the hazards of the planet Quratex are Rockasaurs. Both good and evil Rock Lords must be on their guard when traveling in the wilderness. The large rock they stumble over might change into Terra-Roc! This winged menace soars through the air spreading fear and terror with his piercing cries warning everyone to "Look out below!"."

Spike Stone (Japan: Rockdon): A triceratops type dinosaur

"Spike Stone and other Rockasaurs roam the land showing no favor to either good or evil rock warriors. Rockasaurs guard their territory jealously attacking all who are foolish enough to challenge their might! When Spike Stone changes from rock to beast, he becomes a menacing monster!"

The Narlies

The furry animals companions to the Rock Lords. They are depicted in the movie as both good and evil. There were eight released altogether, along with the Snarlie. The toys would move their mouths opened and closed as they were pushed forward. The eight regular Narlies can also be attached to the Rock Pot vehicle, which activates the Narlie's action features when the vehicle is rolled forward.

• Narliphant (good)
• Narlihog (good)
• Narlizard (evil)
• Narligator (evil)
• Narlibaboon (evil)
• Narlirhino (evil)
• Narlilion (evil)
• Narlibat (evil)
• Snarlie Narlie (Narlibull): Evil King of the Narlies.

Vehicles

• Stone Wing (Japan: Rock Commander) :Changes from jet fighter to land vehicle.
• Rock Pot :Three-wheeler vehicle

Popular culture

The Rock Lords have had some effect on popular culture since their creation. For instance a the biography for the 2009 Transformers character Landshark mentions how he once fought a Narliphant.

Chunk from Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3 is a 2010 American 3D computer-animated comedy-adventure film, and the third installment in the Toy Story series. It was produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It was directed by Lee Unkrich. The film was released worldwide from June through October in Disney Digital...

is based on the Rock Lords toyline.

External links

• www.rocklords.de.vu, THE ROCK LORDS COLLECTOR ARCHIVE
• TransFormerLand.com, Rock Lords and Go-Bots toy identification archive.
• TFU.INFO, Go-Bots toy archive.
• Toyarchive RockLords info, Rock Lords from Toyarchive.
• the rock lords section at thetoykivez.com
• Rock Lords Action Figure Checklist