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Beyblade file · Plastic generation

Vortex Ape

Borutikku Eipu · ボルティックエイプ

Also known as Voltaic Ape (Takara) / Voltaic Ape 2 (anime, Japanese) / Vortex Ape 2 (anime, English)

Defense type Dunga Magnacore System 2002
Bit-beast
Vortex Ape · Earth · Giant ape
Code
A-77
Maker
Takara Tomy
Released
May 9, 2002 (Japan)

5

parts

1

special move

4

notable battles

Description

The brute-force blade of the Saint Shields' enforcer, introduced when Dunga flattens Wyatt and then fights Kai to a standstill twice. Vortex Ape wins by hammering: it charges, absorbs the counter-hit and charges again, and its owner's temper means it rarely stops until something breaks. It is the blade that seals Driger inside the ancient rock, the Saint Shields' most decisive blow against the Bladebreakers, and it later brawls with King's Ariel at the tournament gala.

Dunga wields this Defense Type as his second Beyblade in the anime, known as Voltaic Ape in Japan. Its Bit Chip depicts the Vortex Ape motif, and the build gathers a Mountain Hammer Attack Ring, a Magne Weight Disk, a Neo Right SG (North Core) Spin Gear, a Defense Ring Support Part and a Customize Metal Sharp Blade Base. Community builders single it out as one of the strongest all-around releases of the V2 Series.

Special moves

Called shots

Spark Hammer

Notable battles

Where it mattered

  • Kai vs. Dunga, draw (S2 ep 5)
  • Kai vs. Dunga, second draw (S2 ep 12)
  • Ray vs. Dunga, Driger sealed (S2 ep 33)
  • Dunga vs. King, gala brawl (S2 ep 44)

Debut

First seen

S2 episode 5: Guess Who's Back in Town?

On file

The record

Type
Defense
System
Magnacore System
Series
Beyblade VForce
Takara Tomy code
A-77
Released in Japan
May 9, 2002
Japanese name
ボルティックエイプ
Romaji
Borutikku Eipu
Also known as
Voltaic Ape (Takara) / Voltaic Ape 2 (anime, Japanese) / Vortex Ape 2 (anime, English)
First anime appearance
Rock Bottom!
Owner (in the story)
Dunga
Colours
brownyelloworange

Takara name Voltaic Ape; Hasbro name Vortex Ape.

Parts

Open in the builder Swap any part and watch the stats move.

Part by part

Parts in detail

Described by the source's author as their personal favorite Beyblade of the generation.

SlotPartWeightSpinNote
Attack Ring Mountain Hammer 6.0 g Right (strong) and Left (usable) Looks defensive but is actually a very aggressive ring, giving strong Smash Attack in Right Spin (roughly on par with Triple Wing but more recoil-prone) and usable but non-competitive performance in Left. Its raised contact points struggle against lower-profile opponents on tall bases, but that same height makes it one of the better rings for reaching over Circle Survivor Defense.
Weight Disk Magne Weight Disk 14.3 (mold 1) / 14.8 (mold 2) g A light disk with mass spread evenly over a wide area via soft plastic outer shells; the magnetic gimmick barely affects in-battle performance, and the shape still carries more recoil than Wide Defense or Wide Survivor.
Spin Gear Neo Right Spin Gear Shells (North Magnecore) 1.15 each / 2.3 total g Right The standard Neo-style right-spin shell housing, preferred for compatibility with all SG-compatible bases and Neo cores, including the Heavy Metal Core.
Spin Gear North Magnecore 3.3 g A Neo-only core whose magnetic polarity barely matters outside dedicated Magnecore stadiums; its practical value is a middle-ground weight between the light Metal Weight Core and the heavy Heavy Metal Core, useful for balancing recoil control against speed on attack builds.
Support Part Defense Ring 2.91 g Arguably the single best support part of the generation. Its low reach and compact, low-recoil shape give it the best life-after-death of any support part, making it a top pick for both survival/zombie builds and conventional defense or compacts.
Blade Base Customize Metal Sharp Base 5.8 g A metal-tipped sharp base with plastic surrounds (similar in concept to MFB's WD tip) giving solid stamina and good precession; better balanced and more defensively capable than other sharp-tipped bases, though still easy to knock out.

Weights are single copies weighed on their own; a part can vary by a few tenths of a gram.

Colours & Versions 2

1 recolour · 1 edition.

VersionKindColours
Voltaic ApeLimited Green Ver.EditionAeon Shop Limited
Voltaic ApeShadow Black Ver.RecolourRandom Booster 11

In play and in the story

Mountain Hammer looks round but its Ape-head bumps generate real Smash, useful in heavy, momentum-driven Smash Attack builds even though it also throws off notable Recoil that rules it out of most Defensive setups. Defense Ring is prized for Zombie customisations, since it steals spin through small notches, resists Upper Attack and offers strong life after death without crowding parts like Wide Survivor; it also finds a second home in compact builds through Driger V2's Change Base. Customize Metal Sharp gives solid stamina and stability, but its low grip and height leave it exposed to Upper Attack, and most stamina bases -- this one included -- lag well behind Zombie-style parts in serious competitive use.

Community testing, 2012-01-22 — summarised

The competitive view

A plastic-generation Beyblade whose real value is its Defense Ring support part: a spin-stealing, upper-attack-resistant piece with what the author calls the best life-after-death of any support part, making it a staple in Zombie customizations. Its Mountain Hammer attack ring and Customise Metal Sharp base are secondary.

Mountain Hammer produces fair smash but heavy recoil in less aggressive builds, ruling it out for Defense; it has some smash-attack use in compact, high-weight setups. Defense Ring shines in Zombie and Defensive Zombie combos using bases like Wolborg 2's Left SG or Burning Kerberous's Neo Left SG, and also helps compact builds via Driger V2's Customize Change Base. Customise Metal Sharp gives surprising stamina and self-righting despite low grip, but is outclassed by dedicated Zombie parts and is vulnerable to lower and Upper attackers.

Verdict as the draft gives it: Defense Ring is considered arguably the best support part ever made for Zombie customizations, and the article recommends serious Defense/Stamina players own multiple copies for it alone.

  • AR Mountain Hammer: two ape-head contact points, compact overall shape
  • SP Defense Ring: notches steal spin from below the weight disk; also fits Driger V2's Customize Change Base compacts
  • BB Customise Metal Sharp: tall base, conical metal spike tip
  • Alternate versions: Voltaic Ape Limited Green Ver. (Aeon Shop Limited, bundled with 10 Heavy instead of Magne WD); Voltaic Ape Shadow Black Ver. (Random Booster 11)

Condensed from community testing; competitive opinions are the community's, not ours, and may be out of date.

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