Blox

Blox (also known as Z-Builders) are a special type of Zoid featured in the Battle Story and Zoids: Fuzors.

Overview

Unlike other Zoids, which are biomechanical in nature, Blox-type Zoids are built around an "Artificial Zoid Core", making them purely mechanical and therefore cheaper to mass produce. As a result, they lack the free will and wild instincts of a normal Zoid, making Blox less powerful but also more user friendly thanks to not requiring a bond between the Zoid and its pilot; an advantage that was embraced by humans but viewed with disdain by Zoidians due to it being at odds with their cultural values as a proud warrior race. Therefore, it is arguable whether or not Blox could actually be considered Zoids or merely combat vehicles built in the image of Zoids. Blox-type Zoids are highly modular, able to be disassembled and recombined with each other or standard Zoids to become Fuzors.

Blox type Zoids appear in the Fuzors anime, but are not referred to by this name and are functionally no different from normal Zoids. This contradicts Tomy's attempts at retconning Fuzors into the Three Tigers era of the Battle Story's continuity. Blox would not appear in Zoids: Genesis, with the exception of the Beam Tortoise.

Model kits

Blox differ greatly from standard Zoid model kits. They are generally non-motorized and built around cube-shaped parts with a soft rubber hole on each side, allowing them to be linked together by connector pieces for a greater level of articulation. Rather than utilizing Gyro caps like standard Zoid model kids, the joints on Blox-type Zoids are held together by rubber "ring caps". Blox are made of a sturdier, less brittle plastic than standard Zoid model kits, making them more suitable for play. However, the rubber connection points can become loose over time, causing the model to sag or in extreme cases no longer able to stand up. Most of these flaws would be corrected in the later Neo-Blox line.