History Main / MechaExpansionPack

* This is the defining characteristic of Liger Zero in ''Anime/ZoidsNewCentury'': it has three different such expansion packs, in addition to its base state. In model line, it also has Zero X armor. As well as the Fire Phoenix and Jet Falcon, separate Zoids that combined with the Zero from ''Anime/ZoidsFuzor''.

* The F-Type Equipment from the ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' ExpandedUniverse and ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha 3'' is a set of armor and weapons for the EVA-01(!) that also [[spoiler: actually prevents it from going berserk no matter what]]. The weapons also include a new rifle with a huge bayonet, N2 rocket launcher AND an AT field lightning weapon called the "Impact Bolt" mounted in the unit's shoulders, the strongest weapon in the entire franchise. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TEpuD6g3Qo To say those last two create very large explosions when used is a complete understatement]]

* ''Anime/FutureCardBuddyfight'' has [[http://buddyfight.wikia.com/wiki/Ultimate_Card_Burn Ultimate Card Burn]], a CombiningMecha Made of [[http://buddyfight.wikia.com/wiki/Card_Burn Card Burn]] and [[http://buddyfight.wikia.com/wiki/Card_Serpent two]] [[http://buddyfight.wikia.com/wiki/Card_Rhino other]] monsters. A few sets later, [[http://buddyfight.wikia.com/wiki/Card_Wyvern another card]] was released which combines with Ultimate Card Burn to give him [[http://buddyfight.wikia.com/wiki/Ultimate_Card_Burn,_%22D-Wing%22 a flight pack.]]

** Play straight with Freedom and Justice in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'', Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny'' with their METEOR weapon systems. It's pretty much the same in both series, but their destruction in the finale of Seed lets them bring them out again for the finale of Destiny.

** On a more realistic note is the G-Defensor in ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'', which combined with the Gundam Mk. II. The [[ExpandedUniverse sidestory]] ''Advance of Zeta: Traitors to Destiny'', a RedShirt mech Nemo can use it by equipping with Gundam Mk. II's backpack[[note]]This should work for the GM III as well, since it's equipped as standard with a copy of the Gundam Mk. II backpack, but it's yet to happen in canon.[[/note]], while ''VideoGame/SDGundamGGeneration'' gives the Rick Dias its own D-Defensor.

* Shoutmon from ''Anime/DigimonXrosWars'', being a CombiningMecha themed Digimon, has this. Generally the base form is [=Shoutmon X3=], he gains a sword in [=Shoutmon X4=] by combining with Starmon + Pickmons, adds speed due to centaur feet plus cannons in [=Shoutmon X4B=] by combining with Belzeebumon, adds a shield with a huge cape for [=Shoutmon X4K=] by combining with Knightmon and [=PawnChessmons=], adds a spear for [=Shoutmon X4S=] by combining with Spadamon, and finally gains jet packs, a blaster, a shield, and a power increase for [=Shoutmon X5=] by combining with Sparrowmon. Let's not even go to the combination beyond X5...

Adding a flight mode to a previously land-bound machine is a favorite. Sometimes this add-on will be a separate vehicle that is piloted by another character, combining (pun originally accidental but we're keeping it) this with CombiningMecha. Since most [[RealRobotGenre real robots]] are modular and reconfigurable to begin with (just like the expensive model kits they're hawking,) this is pretty much standard operating procedure for them.

** In the first season of ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', the Dragonzord (Dragon Caesar in source material Zyuranger) could either be combined with the Mastodon, Saber-Toothed Tiger, and Triceratops Dinozords to make a new humanoid machine (Dragonzord Battle Mode/Goryujin), or truer to the trope, combine with the completed Megazord as an extra weapons pack (this wasn't often used because the Zyutei Daizyujin/Mega-Dragonzord costume was extremely cumbersome). The Falconzord from the third season could also combine with the Ninja Megazord as a jetpack, or the Shogun Megazord as a set of chest-mounted guns.

*** The [[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam V2 Gundam]] received the Assault and Buster variants, a melee to mid-range and long-range power-up respectively, and could even equip both outfits at once (giving it the cumbersome name of V2 Assault Buster Gundam). However, the energy requirements and additional weight of the packs lowered the V2's max specs at the same time...

** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn'' has the Stark Jegan, which is a slightly tweaked Jegan with fitted new armor and armaments. The added equipment [[ShedArmorGainSpeed can be jettisoned if needed for a boost in speed]].
*** Unicorn itself receives an upgrade to "Full-Armor Unicorn", which is Unicorn with about [[MoreDakka fifty-bazillion guns]] on its back.
*** The Banshee also gets an upgrade into the Banshee Norn: it ditches the scattershot beam rifle and claw hand in favor of a multi-purpose rifle/grenade launcher and a booster on its back (which has a built-in beam gun, and can also serve as a large and effective shield), as well as a greatly improved Psycoframe interface.
*** A non-canon short introduced a second variation of the Full Armor Unicorn Gundam, the Full Armor Unicorn Gundam Perfectability. This one, instead of outfitting it with all those guns instead gives it the entire Armed Armor series (a beam javelin that the Kshatriya Repaired is given, the aforementioned scattershot beam rifle, claw hand and boosters as well as two special shields that are also boosters and mega beam cannons that belong to the Phenex). As all of them are outfitted with Psychoframe technology, they all resonate together and end up causing it to glow blue. Then it gets taken UpToEleven when this form adds in the gear from the original FA Unicorn, becoming the Full Armor Unicorn Gundam Perfectability Divine.

** The grand-champion mecha for expansion packs in the Seed-verse is the Astray Out Frame, equipped with a "Multi-Striker System" that allows it to load ''any'' of the expansion packs in the series: Striker packs, Impulse Silhouettes, Tactical Arms, and ZAKU Wizards, as well as a couple of packs custom-built for it.

** And the Arc-Gurren Lagann, which is like a space gunmen for Gurren Lagann itself, except its slightly bigger and looks different. And the there's the Chou Ginga Gurren Lagann... [[MetaMecha which is piloted by the Arc Gurren Lagann, which is piloted by Gurren Lagann. Many, many expansion packs.]] It goes all the way up to "SUPER TENGEN TOPPA GURREN LAGANN" that's pretty much, made of win and running on awesome.[[labelnote:*]]For elaboration, the Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is a hundred times the size of the regular Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, which is ''as big as a galaxy'', is made out of blue fire, and looks like [[MemeticBadass Kamina]]. [[CrazyAwesome Yes.]][[/labelnote]]

** In the first season of ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', the Dragonzord could either be combined with the Mammoth, Saber-Toothed Tiger, and Triceratops Zords to make a new humanoid machine (Dragonzord Battle Mode/Goryujin), or truer to the trope, combine with the completed Megazord as an extra weapons pack (this wasn't often used because the Zyutei Daizyujin (MegaDragonzord) costume was extremely cumbersome). The Falconzord from the third season could also combine with the Ninja Megazord as a jetpack, or the Shogun Megazord as a set of chest-mounted guns.

** In the first season of ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', the Dragonzord could either be combined with the Mammoth, Saber-Toothed Tiger, and Triceratops Zords to make a new humanoid machine, or truer to the trope, combine with the completed Megazord as an extra weapons pack (this wasn't often used because the Zyutei Daizyujin (Mega Dragonzord) costume was extremely cumbersome). The Falconzord from the third season could also combine with the Ninja Megazord as a jetpack, or the Shogun Megazord as a set of chest-mounted guns. '''Ultimate''' Daizyujin (Ultrazord) was used once in ''Zyuranger'' to eliminate Great Satan, but used repeatedly in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers through the remainder of season 1 (the majority of the "[=Zyu2=]" footage).

** In the first season of ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', the Dragonzord could either be combined with the Mammoth, Saber-Toothed Tiger, and Triceratops Zords to make a new humanoid machine, or truer to the trope, combine with the completed Megazord as an extra weapons pack (this wasn't often used because the Zyutei Daizyujin (Mega Dragonzord) costume was extremely cumbersome). The Falconzord from the third season could also combine with the Ninja Megazord as a jetpack, or the Shogun Megazord as a set of chest-mounted guns. '''Ultimate''' Daizyujin (Ultrazord) was used once in ''Zyuranger'' to eliminate Great Satan, but used repeatedly in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers through the remainder of season 1 (the majority of the "Zyu2" footage).

** ''Series/ResshaSentaiTokkyuger'' seems to be headed this way. The Rangers' base is a CoolTrain with five cars, each in one of their colors, which turns into the expected mecha. However, from the earliest episodes, they keep finding new ones that add a new power to the main formation, and it's episode ''nine'' when they can form a second robot of their own, and [[spoiler: in episode 11, both robots combine]]. Last time it happened this early, it was, well, Go-Onger. Then episode 23 comes along and the main robot, the auxiliary robot, and the SixthRanger's robot all combine...

*** The Banshee also gets an upgrade into the Banshee Norn: it ditches the scattershot beam rifle and claw hand in favor of a multi-purpose rifle/grenade launcher and a booster on its back, as well as a greatly improved Psycoframe interface.

** Beginning with Powermaster Optimus Prime, many versions of the Autobot leader have been depicted as combining with his trailer to create a larger robot and/or give him additional firepower. Powermaster Prime only appeared animated in commercials, though, and as a live-action mock-up in the host segments for the repackaged episodes of the original cartoon in the short-lived "season 5". His ''Anime/TransformersMasterforce'' counterpart, God Ginrai, included a second trailer which, when not combined with Super Ginrai, could function as a semi-autonomous drone named Godbomber.

*** In ''Anime/GundamBuildDiversReRise'', Hiroto's Core Gundam and Core Gundam II have the PLANETS System, which is a set of armor which allows him to take up brand new forms and purposes. Currently, there is the Mercone (aquatic combat), Veetwo (long-range combat), Earthree (general purpose), Marsfour (close-range combat), Jupitive (space combat), Saturnix (designed specifically for ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'' units), Uraven (long-range sniping) and Nepteight (galaxy travelling).

*** In ''Anime/GundamBuildDiversReRise'', Hiroto's Core Gundam and Core Gundam II have the PLANETS System, which is a set of armor which allows him to take up brand new forms and purposes. Currently, there is the Mercone (aquatic combat), Veetwo (long-range combat), Earthree (general purpose), Marsfour (close-range combat), Jupitive (space combat), and Uraven (long-range sniping).

*** A non-canon short introduced a second variation of the Full Armor Unicorn Gundam. This one, instead of outfitting it with all those guns instead gives it the entire Armed Armor series (a beam javelin that the Kshatriya Repaired is given, the aforementioned scattershot beam rifle, claw hand and boosters as well as two special shields that are also boosters and mega beam cannons that belong to the Phenex). As all of them are outfitted with Psychoframe technology, they all resonate together and end up causing it to glow blue.

If there are more than one expansion pack, expect to see MultiFormBalance kick-in. MetaMecha is an extreme example of this. Compare FrillyUpgrade, the MagicalGirl equivalent.

*** In ''Anime/GundamBuildDiversReRise'', Hiroto's Core Gundams has the PLANETS System, which is a set of armor which allows him to take up brand new forms and purposes. Currently, there is the Mercone (aquatic combat), Veetwo (long-range combat), Earthree (general purpose) and Marsfour (close-range combat)

** The [[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam V2 Gundam]] received the Assault and Buster variants, a melee to mid-range and long-range power-up respectively, and could even equip both outfits at once (giving it the cumbersome name of V2 Assault Buster Gundam). However, the energy requirements and additional weight of the packs lowered the V2's max specs at the same time...
*** The Overhang Pack of the original V Gundam and the AceCustom V Gundam Hexa is also this, as it gives the Gundam extra boosters as well as two powerful beam cannons for long-range assault. Attached to a regular Core Fighter, the Overhang Pack turns it into a Core Booster.

** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'' loves this trope so much, it married it. The Strike Gundam started the trend with its Striker Packs, including the main three.[[note]]Aile ("wing"), Sword, and Launcher. In the first series, the Aile pack only permitted Strike to fly in space, giving it rocket-assisted and sustained leaps on Earth, this was largely ignored in the second series.[[/note]] Several more MS pop up with follow the "flight[=/=]melee[=/=]gunner" set-up, including the Impulse Gundam's Silhouettes and ZAKU Warrior[=/=]Phantom's Wizard Packs from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny''. And that's not even factoring in all the ''other'' Strikers, Silhouettes, and Wizards that show up in side-media, or the mecha that don't quite fit the same dynamic, like the Dagger L and Windam[[note]]which have the Jet, Cannon, and nuclear missile Strikers[[/note]] and the Akatsuki.[[note]]which has its own custom flight and AttackDrone Strikers.[[/note]]

** The [=GP03=] ''Dendrobium'' from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory'' is somewhere in-between this and MidSeasonUpgrade, with a generous helping of CoolShip. The [=GP01Fb=] plays it straight, though.
*** The [=GP01Fb=] is an odd duck; originally, the [=GP01=] could be configured for space combat simply by giving it a new Core Fighter (in other words, a classic MechaExpansionPack). However, Kou gets the Gundam trashed by trying to use it in space without the pack, so Anaheim Electronics rebuilds it into the Full Vernien, which is more of a half-MidSeasonUpgrade. The manga retelling, ''Rebellion'', gives the GP-01 the Full Armor gear that was once meant for the original Gundam.

** In ''Anime/GundamBuildDiversReRise'', Hiroto's Core Gundams has the PLANETS System, which is a set of armor which allows him to take up brand new forms and purposes. Currently, there is the Mercone (aquatic combat), Veetwo (long-range combat), Earthree (general purpose) and Marsfour (close-range combat)

** Played straight one more time towards the end of the series, long ''after'' the MidSeasonUpgrade. Most of the Gundams received add-on weapon and equipment packs (the 00 just got a new sword and the 0 a new battery pack) in time for their swansong.

* In ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000,'' the SpaceMarines Centurion armor is in actuality an expansion kit for a Marine's regular suit of PoweredArmor. It has a ChestBlaster of either rocket launchers, a hurricane bolter, or the sort of GrenadeLauncher usually mounted on tanks depending on the pattern, and carries modular {{Arm Cannon}}s or [[ThisIsADrill assault drills]] depending on their tactical role.

* Insertion Armor from ''WesternAnimation/RoughnecksStarshipTroopersChronicles'' is this [[XMeetsY by way of a]] DropPod. It plugs into a Mobile Infantryman's PoweredArmor and provides a re-entry shield, plus some MoreDakka to help defend the landing zone. Once it runs out of ammo or juice, it's jettisoned.