Synthetic Energon

Now, Zydrate comes in a little glass vial
A little glass vial?
A little glass vial!

Synthetic Energon, also known as Synth En, is a manufactured version of energon which tends to resemble a greenish liquid form of that fuel. Unrefined samples can provide greater energy efficiency, but it can also be addictive and corrupt the user's personality. So remember, kids, don't do drugs!

Effects

Synthetic Energon supercharges any Cybertronian who uses it, making them stronger, faster, more powerful... but improperly refined versions add the side-effect of hyper-aggressiveness. Also, some versions have the ill-effect of causing those who use it to burn through their natural Energon reserves too quickly.

The normal effects of a properly refined Synthetic Energon formula have not yet been seen, though they are presumably the same, minus the added aggression.

Fiction

Prime cartoon

And the little glass vial goes into the gun like a battery
And the Zydrate gun goes somewhere against your anatomy

Knowledge on Synthetic Energon was one of many subjects recorded on Cybertronian data cylinders which were launched from Cybertron at the onset of the Great War to prevent the Decepticons getting hold of them. The cylinder containing the recorded data on making Synthetic Energon crashed on Earth, where its contents were beamed directly into the brain of Bulkhead. This information began to overwhelm his neural net, and he began painting the symbols of the Synthetic Energon chemical equation, which Ratchet recognised. Bulkhead managed to inscribe much of the knowledge before the contents were ejected from his brain and sent into space. T.M.I.

Ratchet subsequently studied the equations so he could attempt to complete and refine the formula to create Synthetic Energon, as the Autobots' stockpiles of natural energon were running low. Initially, he tested the substance on machines, but when initial tests proved positive he leapt to injecting himself with it out of a desire to help the other Autobots in their battles. The Synthetic Energon supercharged his physical attributes, and he easily defeated the Decepticon Vehicons that had nearly overwhelmed Arcee. Afterwards, he revealed his boosted strength and reflexes were due to the Synthetic Energon, but Optimus Prime disapproved of its use without further testing on unliving machines. However, the Synth En began to affect Ratchet's mental stability, and he became increasingly aggressive, arrogant and ruthless.

In his rage, he eventually went rogue and attacked a Decepticon mine in order to assault Megatron directly. He infiltrated the base and easily managed to best Breakdown before confronting Megatron himself. Despite managing to knock the Decepticon leader back, Ratchet was easily beaten by Megatron, who became curious about how the Autobot medic demonstrated improved physical strength. Knock Out suggested a chemical enhancement, and Megatron ripped open a portion of Ratchet, who began to leak Synthetic Energon. Ordering Knock Out to collect a sample, Megatron intended to replicate the substance in order to administer it to his troops. Whilst Knock Out managed to get a sample, an attack by Team Prime led him to be distracted, allowing Ratchet to overcome him. Ratchet then shattered the container containing the Synthetic Energon sample. This, combined with the arrival of the Autobots, forced Knock Out to retreat.

And when the gun goes off, it sparks, and you're ready for surgery!

At Autobot Outpost Omega One, Ratchet recovered from his energon loss and confessed that the formula needed refinement, though he excused his behavior as he wanted to be useful in battle. Though Prime felt that the formula was lost to the Decepticons, Knock Out discovered a small drop of the stuff at the battle site. Stronger, Faster

After the destruction of their base, the Autobot's Energon reserves were heavily depleted, so Ratchet decided to revisit experimenting with the formula in the hopes that it would help avert major crisis in the future. Optimus thought this a wise decision, but Ratchet asked that he not get his hopes up yet. Project Predacon

Knock Out eventually reproduced enough of the Synthetic Energon to realize what it was, and tested further refined versions of it on Cylas, noting that it had the side-effect of burning through the subject's own natural energon at an accelerated rate. Starscream then got the idea to mix it with Dark Energon, hoping to make enraged super-soldiers that Megatron could control through his symbiosis. Instead, it created Terrorcons whose only desire was to drain energon from others, and in the process turned their victims into the same. Once the situation was dealt with, Megatron ordered that Knock Out's work on the synthetic energon be turned over to Shockwave. Thirst

Graverobber, Graverobber.
Sometimes, I wonder why even bother!
Graverobber, Graverobber!
Sometimes I wonder why I need you at all!

Knock Out was able to produce a large batch of synthetic energon for Shockwave's Predacon army. Before it could be put to the test, however, Predaking revealed his intelligence and Megatron decided he was better off terminating the others before Predaking could potentially turn on him. The Autobots were lured to the site, where they detonated the synthetic energon to take out the Predacons. Though successful, this had an unintended side effect; when mixed with the remains of the clones and Shockwave's reactor, it formed pure cyber matter, the same which once animated Cybertron and was used to create Darkmount. Evolution

And Amber Sweet is addicted to the knife!
Addicted to the knife?
Addicted to the knife!

With this new knowledge, Megatron decided to recreate the Omega Lock. Analyzing the synthetic energon, Shockwave discovered that the formula was incomplete. When completing it proving more time consuming than he had anticipated, the Decepticons decided to kidnap Ratchet so he could help them complete it. Minus One After a cortical psychic patch confirmed that Ratchet had not yet completed the formula, Megatron persuaded the Autobot medic that aiding the Decepticons in rebuilding the Omega Lock was in the best interest of Cybertron. Persuasion

Using Cybertronian technology, Ratchet quickly managed to complete the synthetic energon formula only to delete his work and attempt to abscond before they could make use of it. He was quickly captured by Megatron with Shockwave undoing the delete to restore the formula. With the stable synthetic energon ready for use, Shockwave began using it to produce large quantities of cyber matter for the cyberforming of Earth. Synthesis

Arms Micron Theater

When O.P. announced that it was time to cook mapo energon, R.A. worried that he was going to use Synthetic Energon or Dark Energon for ingredients. Forbidden Transformation!? Ratchet's Strongest Legend? Later, when R.A. developed a sudden case of vanity after being exposed to the power of the Matrix, B.B. wondered if the Matrix was Synthetic Energon. Rivals Transformation! Birth of the Strongest Combination

Games

Transformers Roleplaying Game

Synth-En was created by Autobot engineers during the Great War to aid with reconstruction efforts. The substance is highly unstable unless it has been stabilized by a base chemical bonder. Ultimately, Optimus Prime viewed it as too dangerous to use; at some point, the Decepticons obtained the recipe and began experimenting with how to maximize its utility. Decepticon Directive

Notes

• Ratchet's nickname for the chemical, "Synth En", is similar to the name of another glowing green Energon variant with negative effects on Transformers.
• Its negative effects are implied to be a result of Ratchet working from an incomplete formula.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Gōsei Energon (合成エネルゴン, "Synthetic Energon")
• Indonesian: Energon Buatan ("Synthetic Energon")
• Korean: Hapseong Eneojon (합성 에너존, "Synthetic Energon")