Zord
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In 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.
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Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Dinozords
The 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.
- Jason, the Red Ranger, piloted the Tyrannosaurus Dinozord
- Zack, the Black Ranger, piloted the Mastodon Dinozord
- Trini, the Yellow Ranger, piloted the Saber-Toothed Tiger Dinozord
- Billy, the Blue Ranger, piloted the Triceratops Dinozord
- Kimberly, the Pink Ranger, piloted the Pterodactyl Dinozord
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'.
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 wielded a large Power Sword, which it frequently used to deliver finishing blows to the monsters it fought. It also used the Mastodon Dinozord's head as a shield. It could also summon a beam of energy from the tip of its forehead to destroy enemies. The Megazord also had wrist lasers however they were used only once. The Megazord was later upgraded into the Thunder Megazord.
Dragonzord
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When 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 three of the five Dinozords (the Tyrannosaurus and Pteradactyl being excluded) to form the Dragonzord Fighting Mode, as well as the Megazord proper to form the Mega-Dragonzord.
Titanus
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When Tommy and Jason went to search for special weapons to destroy Ritas' new Putties they encounterd Titanus. Titanus was guarding the special weapons but after Tommy and Jason worked together to get past him and retrive the weapons Zordon told the Rangers he was on there side. From then on the Rangers called forth Titanus when they got in big trouble, and with the Megazord and Dragonzord they could form the Ultrazord.
When the Rangers got their Thunderzords they stopped useing Titanus and instead used Tor as their carrior Zord. But when the Thunder Megazord and White Tigerzord were destroyed, the Power Rangers called on Titanus again to assist their new Ninjazords. Zordon and Alpha 5 configured Titanus to link up with the Ninja Megafalconzord or the Shogun Megafalconzord to form the Ninja Ultrazord or the Shogun Ultrazord. Titanus has not been seen since the Rangers' Power Coins were destroyed and is probably in a dormant state.
Ultrazord
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.
Thunderzords
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The Thunder Zords were used during the second series of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The choice to replace the original zords with the Mecha from Gosei Sentai Dairanger (on which the Thunderzords were based) was an important decision, partly because it paved the way for similar occurrences throughout Power Rangers continuity, and also because the producers had already requested special footage featuring the original Dinozords, which became obsolete. See the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers main page for more details.
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:
- Red Dragon, piloted by the Red Ranger (intially Jason Lee Scott and later Rocky DeSantos). The Red Dragon could transform into a humanoid form that wielded a staff as a weapon
- Lion, piloted by the Black Ranger (Zack Taylor then Adam Park)
- Griffin, piloted by the Yellow Ranger (Trini Kwan then Aisha Campbell)
- Unicorn, piloted by the Blue Ranger, Billy Cranston
- Firebird, piloted by the Pink Ranger, Kimberly Hart
Thunder Megazord
The 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.
Tigerzord
When 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. The Tigerzord could also combine with the Lion, Firebird, Unicorn, and Griffin Thunderzords to form the Megatigerzord.
Megatigerzord
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The White Ranger's Tigerzord could combine with the Firebird, Griffin, Lion and Unicorn to form the Mega Tigerzord, which would fight alongside the Red Dragon in Warrior mode. The Mega Tigerzord had a claw on its right wrist, which was formed by the Firebird. It could shoot out, energized by a fireball from the Tigerzord, to finish off monsters. The Lion formed the Mega Tigerzord's shoulder pads and back, the Firebird its claw, the Tigerzord its head, arms, and torso, and the Unicorn and Griffin each one of its legs.
Tor the Shuttlezord
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Zordon presented the Rangers with the turtle-shaped Tor the Shuttlezord to help them on their journey to get the Sword of Light. Tor can withstand big blasts, and even Serpentera couldn't destroy it. The Red Dragon Thunderzord can ride inside Tor's central cavity while Tor is in Warrior Mode in order to use the powerful leg cannons. Also, Tor can combine with both the Thunder Megazord and White Tigerzord to form the Thunder Ultrazord.
Thunder Ultrazord
The six Thunderzords (including the Tigerzord) could combine together, along with 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 Ninjazords
When 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.
- Tommy, the White Ranger, piloted the Falconzord (see Falcon)
- Rocky, the Red Ranger, piloted the Ape Ninjazord
- Adam, the Black Ranger, piloted the Frog Ninjazord
- Aisha, the Yellow Ranger, piloted the Bear Ninjazord
- Billy, the Blue Ranger, piloted the Wolf Ninjazord
- Kimberly (and later Katherine), the Pink Ranger, piloted the Crane Ninjazord
Shogunzords
Part 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).
The Shogunzords were humanoid robots of different colours and with different armour around the head.
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 Megazord
The combination of the five Shogunzords. Its main weapon was its Power Sword, which could be set on fire as it attacked the monster.
Shogun Megafalconzord
While ostensibly a Ninjazord (see above), Tommy's Falconzord could combine with the five Shogunzords to make a powerful Megazord.
Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers
Battle Borgs
In the miniseries Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers at the end of the third season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the Alien Rangers of Aquitar brought their own "zords" to help them battle evil. These Battle Borgs very much resembled the Shogunzords (and may have helped inspire the Shogunzords construction, or vice versa), however rather than being piloted they were controlled by telepathy. The Battle Borgs, when activated, would copy any movement performed by the Aquitian Rangers.
Power Rangers: Zeo
Zeo Zords
In Power Rangers: Zeo, with the Ninjazords and Shogunzords disabled, new Zords had to be built. Billy Cranston and Alpha 5 worked on these new Zords, three of which were based on creatures from mythology, but the remaining two were powerful cannons.
- Zeo Ranger 5 piloted the Phoenix
- Zeo Ranger 4 piloted Taurus the Bull
- Zeo Ranger 3 piloted the Sphinx
- Zeo Ranger 2 piloted one of the cannons
- Zeo Ranger 1 piloted the second cannon.
In battle, Taurus the Bull towed Zeo Zord 2, and Rocky's Sphinx towed Zeo Zord 1. Tommy, as leader of the team, flew over the other Zords to oversee the battle.
Zeo Megazord
The five Zeo Zords could combine into the Zeo Megazord, however unlike previous Megazords it could access different powers depending on which Zord Battle Helmet formed the head. The most common formation had the phoenix at the head, but five arrangements were possible, depending on which Ranger the story revolved around that episode.
- Zeo Battle Helmet Red (from the Phoenix) accessed Zeo Megazord mode.
- Zeo Battle Helmet Green (from Taurus) accessed Zeo Gravity Power.
- Zeo Battle Helmet Blue (from the Sphinx) access Zeo Pyramid Power.
- Zeo Battle Helmet Yellow accessed Zeo Jet Mode.
- Zeo Battle Helmet Pink accessed Zeo Cannon Mode.
Red Battlezord
The Red Battlezord was created by Billy Cranston using Battle Borg technology he aquired from the Aquitian Rangers. As a result, the Zord had to be piloted by Tommy Oliver, the Red Ranger, using telepathy. Tommy, going through emotional termoil at the time, found this hard at first yet succeeded when he learned to see the Battlezord as an extension of himself.
The Battlezord could combine with the Zeo Megazord to form the Zeo Megabattlezord. The combination sequence depended on the Red Battlezord and thus Tommy's clear thinking. Billy attempted to devise a bypass to this system when Tommy found it difficult to combine the Zords due to personal reasons, but eventually Tommy succeeded.
Pyramidas
Pyramidas was the enormous pyramid-shaped spaceship piloted by Trey of Triforia. It could change into a humanoid shape, and was also integral to forming the Zeo Ultrazord. Pyramidas could also house the Super Zeo Megazord inside its massive structure, and with the Red Battlezord form the Super Zeo Ultrazord (although not named as such on screen).
Zeo Ultrazord
Could be formed in two ways, either Warrior Mode or Carrier Mode. In Warrior Mode, Pyramidas stood up on it's side, and the Zeo Zords moved inside. The Red Battlezord stood on Pyramidas' back, its cannon arms overhanging Pyramidas. In Carrier Mode, all six Zords stood on top of the elongated structure of Pyramidas. In either case, the Zeo Ultrazord utilised the combined power of all seven Zords.
Super Zeo Zords
Before Trey of Triforia left Earth, he gave the Rangers a gift which he had protected for a millenia - the Super Zeo Gems. These gems allowed access to the Super Zeo Zord fleet, with each Zord eesembling humanoid robots. Each torso in the shape of the Zeo crystal emblem of the Ranger that piloted it. Each Zord had access to a giant version of the weapon their respective Ranger used.
Super Zeo Megazord
The Super Zeo Magazord was the combination of the Super Zeo Zords given by Trey of Triforia. Before it could work at its peak efficency, it required a reconfigured Power Booster from one of the old Zords. In the Super Zeo Megazord's first battle, the Rangers used it to defeat King Mondo of the Machine Empire.
Power Rangers: Turbo
Turbozords
The 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.
- Red Lightning - racecar piloted by Red Ranger - forms the head.
- Mountain Blaster - 4x4 pickup piloted by Blue Ranger - forms the torso and thighs.
- Desert Thunder - minivan piloted by Green Ranger - forms the right leg.
- Dune Star - SUV piloted by Yellow Ranger - forms the left leg.
- Wind Chaser - compact piloted by Pink Ranger - forms the arms.
Turbo Megazord
The 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 Megazord
The 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.
Rescue Zords
In 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.
- Lightning Fire Tamer - firetruck piloted by Red Ranger - forms the head and upper torso.
- Siren Blaster - police cruiser piloted by Blue Ranger - forms the lower torso and thighs.
- Thunder Loader - dump truck piloted by Green Ranger - forms the right leg.
- Star Racer - racecar / tractor piloted by Yellow Ranger - forms the left leg.
- Wind Rescue - ambulance piloted by Pink Ranger - forms the arms.
Rescue Turbo Megazord
The 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.
Power Rangers in Space
Astro Megaship
In 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 and a black box of Zordon's that Alpha 6 decoded.
The ship had an onboard computer named D.E.C.A. that communicated with the Rangers about the ship's 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 Kai Chen, the future Blue Lost Galaxy Ranger, to chase after Kendrix Morgan and Mike and Leo Corbett. It was used as the Rangers' transport throughout the season, and seen in battle once more when the Space Rangers teamed up with the Lost Galaxy Rangers to fight the restored Psycho Pink.
When Terra Venture came under attack by Trakeena's forces and crash landed on a nearby moon, the Rangers used the Astro Megaship in an attempt to distract Trakeena's ship, the Scorpion Stinger, from interfering with the evacuation of Terra Venture. The Rangers, having no other choice, self-destructed the Astro Megaship when it was caught in a pincer by the Scorpion Stinger.
Sometime later, during the episode Forever Red, Andros revealed to a group of Red Rangers trying to stop the remnants of the Machine Empire, that a newer Astro Megaship had been built on the shipyards of KO-35, and that it would be their transport to the moon for their mission. The Astro Megaship Mark II, as it was called, looked and functioned exactly as the original had, but could travel faster. It was even staffed by a robot Alpha 7, who looked like Alpha 6.
Delta Megazord
In the ongoing quest to find Zordon, the Phantom Ranger gives the Space Rangers a hand when he is incapacitated after almost saving Zordon. The Delta Megaship, like the Astro Megaship, is a ship capable of faster than light travel. It could combine into a Megazord with machine-gun turrets for fingers, or combine with the Astro Megazord to form the more powerful Astro Delta Megazord.
Mega Voyager
After Andros wins Zordon's Key Cards in a card game with Darkonda and others on Onyx, the Space Rangers locate the Mega Voyager hidden on Ganymede. Made up of a combination of five vehicles, the Mega Voyager had the V3 missile tip as its the main weapon. The Mega Voyager is thus far the only Zord combination without the term 'Zord' in its name.
Mega Winger
Personal Zord of the Silver Ranger, Zhane, and a gift from the rebels on KO-35, the Winger could change from spaceship to warrior mode in phenomenal speed. It could donate its wing to the Mega Voyager, transforming it into the Winged Mega Voyager.
Power Rangers Lost Galaxy
Galactabeasts
The "zords" used during Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy were in fact sentient creatures called Galactabeasts. The "sentient creature" idea had been used frequently in Super Sentai, but this was its first proper use in a Power Rangers series.
Power Rangers Lightspeed Resuce
Lightspeed Zords
The first fleet of Zords used in Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue were emergency vehicles sent in to help the citizens of Mariner Bay as well as fighting evil.
- Pyro Rescue One, controlled by Carter Grayson.
- Aqua Rescue Two, controlled by Chad Lee.
- Aero Rescue Three, controlled by Joel Rawlings.
- Haz Rescue Four, controlled by Kelsey Winslow.
- Med Rescue Five, controlled by Dana Mitchell.
The Zords are carried from the Lightspeed Aquabase to the city via the Rail Rescues, a huge train using the Mariner Bay rail network to deliver the Zords to the scene of the battle.
Aqua Rescue Two, Haz Rescue Four and Med Rescue Five could combine to form the Hydro Mode, which could walk (Aqua Rescue being the hips and the other two Zords as legs) and put out fires, or distract the attacking monster while the other Zords carried out a rescue mission. These Zords were sometimes erroneously referred to as the Rescue Zords, not to be confused with the Zords from Power Rangers: Turbo.
Lightspeed Megazord
A combination of the Lightspeed Zords, this Megazord used it's extendible arms to punch and grab a monster at distance. Like most Megazords, it uses a powerful sabre slash to defeat monsters.
Rail Rescues
It was soon revealed by Angela Fairweather that the Rail Rescues were in fact Zords themselves. Although incapable of fighting in their own right, they could combine to form a powerful Megazord.
Supertrain Megazord
By running off a raised rail section and becoming airborne, the Rail Rescues could combine to form the Supertrain Megazord. As the Rail Rescues were large enough to house the Lightspeed Zords, the Supertrain Megazord was substantially larger than the Lightspeed Megazord. It had missiles and a ion turbine weapon at its disposal. At first larger than its opponents, some later monsters were grown even larger to combat the Supertrain Megazord.
Max Solarzord
A shuttle-type Zord pilotted by Ryan Mitchell, the Titanium Ranger. The Max Solarzord could become a warrior to fight with, or combine with the Lightspeed Megazord to become the Lightspeed Solarzord. It could also launch the Rail Rescues into space (see below).
Omega Zords
Powerful Zords launched from the Rail Rescues, these Zords are deployed in space, and can combine to form the Omega Megazord.
Lifeforce Megazord
A Megazord which unusually could not separate into individual Zords, it resembled a black repaint of the Lightspeed Solarzord. It fed off the Rangers' lifeforces when in battle. As such, it fought only once.
The Lifeforce Megazord was created hastily to finish a story towards the end of a series, and its appearance reflects this.
Power Rangers Time Force
Time Force Zords
In 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 Megazord
The 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 Megazord
The Time Shadow Megazord was a new creation sent to the past by Alex Collins to help the Power Rangers.
Quantasaurus Rex
A 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 Megazord
The 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.
Power Rangers Wild Force
- Information about the zords of Power Rangers: Wild Force can be found in the seperate article Wild zord.
Zords used by enemies
Several times during the Power Rangers series, certain villains have piloted Zords of their own or overidingly taken control of the Zords belonging to the Power Rangers themselves. 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. Lord Zedd also piloted a zord called Serpentera, which was hugely powerful but never able to defeat the Rangers due to the fact that it was continually running out of fuel. Serpentera reappeared in the Red Ranger team-up episode, Forever Red.
The idea of "evil zords" was reused several times in later seasons, for example Power Rangers: Turbo, in which Divatox and her minions pilot several machines called Zords, and Power Rangers: In Space, in which Psycho Yellow takes control of the Mega Voyager while the Rangers are in it.
In Power Rangers: Time Force there are several giant robots that are used by Frax and are not addressed as Zords, although in Mirai Sentai Time Ranger (the Sentai Show that Power Rangers: Time Force came from) one of the giant robots was named the G-Zord. This was the first and only time that the Zord term was ever used on a Sentai Program. The G-Zord was adapted into the Dragontron robot when the footage was used on Power Rangers: Time Force.