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The Omnimatrix, often referred to as the Omnitrix, is a powerful alien hi-tech device that was one of Azmuth's creations and it is the main aspect of the Ben 10 sci-fi superhero cartoon franchise.
Appearance/History[]
Original Canon[]
The Omnitrix most commonly resembles a wristwatch. The Prototype Omnitrix was primarily black and grey in color, with a greyish black dial in the middle (like a watch face) which has a green hourglass shape (the intergalactic "peace" symbol, also on Plumber's Badges and Galvan Prime) on it. When Ben selects his aliens, it shows the alien's silhouette. During the Omniverse flashback timeframe, the colors of the Omnitrix symbols have been changed from white and grey to green and black. According to Derrick J. Wyatt, this is due to the removal of a scratch guard that fell off after the events of Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens.
When it recalibrated in Alien Force, the Omnitrix gained a more watch-like shape, a green wristband, became smaller and sleeker, and the face dial became black and green. The inside of the hourglass shape glowed in different colors at certain moments. These colors signify the mode that the Omnitrix was presently in. When Ben is selecting his aliens, it shows the alien's hologram standing on the core. The Omnitrix was destroyed in "The Final Battle: Part 2" and replaced with the original Ultimatrix.
Unlike the Omnitrix, the original Ultimatrix looked more like a gauntlet. The central component, the selection interface remains the same, while the watch band was replaced by a gauntlet-like band extending up to almost half of the wearer's arm (since the band's ability to morph its shape was not placed into it).
The New Omnitrix was first mentioned by Azmuth in "Map of Infinity". He was planning on giving it to Ben, but it was not yet complete, and Ben's maturity needed to increase before he would be allowed to use it. By the events of "The Ultimate Enemy: Part 2", Azmuth had completed the New Omnitrix and claimed that he was working on it ever since Ben got the porotype nearly 6 years ago. In the same episode, he gave it to Ben because he deemed him worthy of wielding it after removing the original Ultimatrix from the latter's wrist.
The New Omnitrix's face plate is now square instead of round, and has a white and green color scheme. The faceplate is black with two green stripes forming an outline for the hourglass of the intergalactic peace symbol. When the faceplate is slid back, the Omnitrix's core is revealed.
Overall, the Omnitrix contains DNA samples from throughout the Milky Way Galaxy, as stated by Azmuth in "War of the World: Part 1". Ben eventually gains 5 DNA samples from the Andromeda Galaxy during the first season of Ultimate Alien. Derrick J. Wyatt and Duncan Rouleau have both confirmed that the Omnitrix contains DNA of species introduced in media not canon to the original continuity. However, these aliens (ex. Overflow, Shock Rock, Slapback, Portaler, Bob the Blob, Antigravitesla, and Plantapocalypse) are probably locked.
Reboot Series[]
During the first season of the reboot, the Omnitrix resembled the prototype featured in the original series. After it was reformatted by Ben using Upgrade in "Omni-Tricked: Part 4", the white chords and dial were recolored silver and green. The four buttons on the faceplate were replaced with grey squares, there was an additional band of dark grey running around the center of the device, and the activation button was on this strip.
After it was rebooted in "Innervasion Part 5: High Override", the Omnitrix's dial rim was white, and the squares on the second upgrade were replaced by green arrows, and both the area behind the hourglass and the wristband became medium stone grey. The outer band was black with green arrows, and the sides of the dial and the ends of the wristband were silver. The top of the grey wristband had a green hourglass underneath the dial.
As of "Summer Breakers", the Omnitrix is almost completely grey, with black ends. The arrows on the dial are absent, the hourglass coloring is two different tones of grey, and there are white support tubes surrounding the dial.
It is stated in the online short "Grey Matter AW1: The Archivists" that this Omnitrix contains DNA samples from across the entire universe. According to Rouleau, that grand total includes every canon Omnitrix alien that has been confirmed to exist in the original continuity, even if most of them will not be appearing in the show.
During Ben's appearance in the OK K.O.!: Let's Be Heroes episode "Crossover Nexus", Ben gains access to forms based off characters from nearly every Cartoon Network original series (or "Cartoon Cartoons"). However, Rouleau has stated that those forms can only be accessed in the Nexus Realm.
Transformations[]
| Alien | Species | When It Was Unlocked/Obtained/Locked/Removed |
|---|---|---|
| Alien X | Celestialsapien | First used in "X = Ben + 2" |
| Alien Z | Unknown | Unlocked off-screen after Omniverse |
| AmpFibian | Amperi | Obtained by scanning Ra'ad in "Fused" |
| Antigravitesla | Unknown | Unlocked off-screen after Omniverse |
| Arctiguana | Polar Manzardill | Unlocked off-screen after Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens |
| Armodrillo | Talpaedan | Obtained by scanning Andreas in "Andreas' Fault" First used in "Hero Time" |
| Astrodactyl | Pturbosaurian | First used in "While You Were Away" |
| Atomix | Unknown | Unlocked by Azmuth in "For a Few Brains More" |
| Ball Weevil | Insectoid | First used in "Of Predators and Prey: Part 1" |
| Big Chill | Necrofriggian | First used in "Kevin's Big Score" |
| Blitzwolfer | Loboan | Added to active playlist by "sampling" the Werewolf Alien's DNA in "Benwolf" |
| Bloxx | Segmentasapien | First used in "The More Things Change: Part 1" |
| Bob the Blob | Unknown | Unlocked off-screen after Omniverse |
| Braindrain | Ormerowon | Unlocked off-screen after Omniverse |
| Brainstorm | Cerebrocrustacean | First used in "Pier Pressure" |
| Bullfrag | Incursean | Unlocked by Azmuth in "The Frogs of War: Part 2" |
| Bungee Sponge | Unknown | Unlocked off-screen after Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens |
| Buttercup | Transhuman | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Buzzshock | Nosedeenian | Unlocked by Phil Billings' electromagnetic interference in "Max's Monster" |
| Cannonbolt | Arburian Pelarota | First used in "The Big Tick" |
| Chamalien | Merlinisapien | Obtained by scanning Prisoner 775 in "Prisoner Number 775 Is Missing" |
| Crashhopper | Orthopterran | First used in "It Was Them" |
| Chowder | Cat-bear-bunny thing | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Chromastone | Crystalsapien | First used in "All That Glitters" Destroyed by Vilgax in "Vengeance of Vilgax: Part 2" Reobtained by scanning Sugilite in "The Secret of Chromastone" |
| Clockwork | Chronosapien | First used off-screen prior to "Inspector 13" |
| Decagon Vreedle | Vreedle | Unlocked off-screen during Omniverse |
| Dexter | Human | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Diamondhead | Petrosapien | First used in "And Then There Were 10" |
| Ditto | Splixson | First used in "Divided We Stand" |
| Eatle | Oryctini | First used in "A Knight to Remember" |
| Echo Echo | Sonorosian | First used in "Ben 10 Returns: Part 2" |
| Edd | Human | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Eon | Chronian | Unlocked by Eon in Ben 10: Race Against Time (retconned) |
| Eye Guy | Opticoid | First used in "Ben 10 vs. Negative 10: Part 2" |
| Fasttrack | Citrakayah | First used in "Basic Training" |
| Feedback | Conductoid | Unlocked off-screen after Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens Destroyed by Malware in "Showdown: Part 1" Restored in "Showdown: Part 2" |
| Festro | Disgustoid | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Finn the Human | Human cyborg | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Four Arms | Tetramand | First used in "Washington B.C." |
| Frankenstrike | Transylian | Added to active playlist by "sampling" Viktor's DNA in "Be Afriad of the Dark" |
| Funguy | Unknown | Unlocked off-screen after Omniverse |
| Gax | Chimera Sui Generis | First used in "Omni-Tricked: Part 1" Absorbed and locked by Vilgax in "Omni-Tricked: Part 3" |
| Ghostfreak | Ectonurite | First used in "Permanent Retirement" Removed when Zs'Skayr escaped in "Ghostfreaked Out" Reobtained by scanning Zs'Skayr in "Ghost Town" |
| Goop | Polymorph | First used in "The Gauntlet" |
| Gravattack | Galilean | First used in "A Jolt from the Past" |
| Grey Matter | Galvan | First used in "Washington B.C." |
| Grim | Skeleton reaper | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Grizzly | Grizzly bear | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Gumball Watterson | Cat | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Gutrot | Unknown | First used in "Animo Crackers" |
| Heatblast | Pyronite | First used in "And Then There Were 10" |
| Hippopotomass | Unknown | Unlocked off-screen after Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens |
| Humungousaur | Vaxasaurian | First used in "Ben 10 Returns: Part 2" |
| Invincible | Unknown | Unlocked off-screen after Omniverse |
| Jake the Dog | Dog/Shape-shifter hybrid | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Jeff Randell | Human | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Jetray | Aerophibian | First used in "Everybody Talks About the Weather" |
| Johnny Bravo | Human | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Juryrigg | Planchaküle | First used in "The Eggman Cometh" |
| Kickin Hawk | Unknown | Added to active playlist by "sampling" Liam's DNA in "Outbreak" |
| K'nuckles | Human (w/ a serious case of Stubble) | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Lodestar | Biosovortian | Unlocked by the reset in "War of the Worlds: Part 2" First used in "Simple" |
| Mole-Stache | Mystaxian | Unlocked by Blukic and Driba in "Outbreak" |
| Monkey | Metahuman monkey | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Mordecai | Blue jay | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Moxy | Dog | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Nanomech | Human/Nanochip hybrid | Obtained by scanning the Nanochips in Ben 10: Alien Swarm |
| NRG | Prypiatosian-B | Obtained by scanning P'andor in "Too Hot to Handle" First used in "The Forge of Creation" |
| Overflow | Cascan | First used in "Waterfilter" |
| Pesky Dust | Nemuina | Unlocked by Blukic and Driba in "Outbreak" |
| Plantapocalypse | Unknown | Unlocked off-screen after Omniverse |
| Portaler | Unknown | Unlocked off-screen after Omniverse |
| Prohyas Warrior | Human | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Rath | Appoplexian | Unlocked by the Tiffin's electromagnetic interference in "Con of Rath" |
| Ripjaws | Piscciss Volann | First used in "The Krakken" |
| Robot Jones | Model KX-8 Robot | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Rocks | Basalt | Unlocked off-screen during Omniverse |
| Sandbox | Unknown | Unlocked off-screen after Omniverse |
| Shadowman | Unknown | Unlocked off-screen after Omniverse |
| Shellhead | Unknown | Unlocked off-screen after Omniverse |
| Shock Rock | Fulmini | Unlocked when the Omnitrix was reformatted in "Omni-Tricked: Part 4" First used in "The 11th Alien: Part 1" |
| Shocksquatch | Gimlinopithecus | First used in Ben 10-Generator Rex: Heroes United |
| Slapback | Ekoplektoid | First used in "Omni-Copped" |
| Snakepit | Unknown | Unlocked off-screen after Omniverse |
| Snare-oh | Thep Khufan | Added to active playlist by "sampling" the Mummy Alien's DNA in "Under Wraps" First used in "The Return" |
| Snark Tanque | Snidellerodontus | Unlocked off-screen after Omniverse |
| Snorecupine | Unknown | Unlocked off-screen during Alien Force |
| Spidermonkey | Arachnichimp | First used in "Be-Knighted" |
| Spitter | Sphoeroid | Unlocked off-screen after Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens |
| Squidstrictor | Cephalod-ae | Unlocked off-screen during Omniverse |
| Squirtapiller | Roebekampus Multipede | Unlocked off-screen after Omniverse |
| Stinkfly | Lepidopterran | First used in "Washington B.C." |
| Stretcheleo | Unknown | Unlocked off-screen after Omniverse |
| Supercow | Cow | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Swampfire | Methanosian | Unlocked by the recalibration in "Ben 10 Returns: Part 1" |
| Terraspin | Geochelone Aerio | Obtained by scanning Galapagus in "Escape from Aggregor" First used in "Reflected Glory" |
| Terrorsaur | Unknown | Unlocked off-screen after Omniverse |
| Toepick | Unknown | First used off-screen prior to "Special Delivery" |
| Uncle Grandpa | Immortal Humanoid/Shapeshifter | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| Upchuck (Perk version) | Perk Gourmand | Unlocked by Xylene in "The Visitor" |
| Upchuck (Murk version) | Murk Gourmand | Unlocked by Azmuth in "War of the Worlds: Part 1" |
| Upgrade | Galvanic Mechamorph | First used in "Permanent Retirement" |
| Ventrilosquid | Unknown | First used off-screen prior to "Let's Do the Time War Again" |
| Walkatrout | Ickthyperambuloid | Unlocked by Blukic and Driba in "Outbreak" |
| Water Hazard | Orishan | Obtained by scanning Bivalvan in "Fame" First used in "Too Hot to Handle" |
| Way Big | To'Kustar | Unlocked by Azmuth in Ben 10: Secret of the Omnitrix |
| Whampire | Vladat | Obtained by scanning Lord Transyl in "The Vampire Strikes Back" |
| Wildmutt | Vulpimancer | First used in "And Then There Were 10" |
| Wildvine | Florauna | First used in "Camp Fear" |
| Wirt | Human | Unlocked by K.O. using Strike's pen in "Crossover Nexus" |
| The Worst | Atrocian | Unlocked by Blukic and Driba in "Outbreak" |
| XLR8 | Kineceleran | First used in "And Then There Were 10" |
Trivia[]
- The Omnitrix was referred to in the production stage of the original series as the "Megawatt"/"Megawhat", which was short for "Megadeoxyribonucleictransdimensionaltransforminalnumerator".
- According to Wyatt, the Omnitrix does not contain DNA for aliens featured in the Extranet Ben 10 television series, as those aliens are fake transformations created for the show though not by Deefus Veeblepister.
- The Omnitrix was originally intended for Max Tennyson, as it was programmed to work with his DNA. Ben only wears it because, as Max's grandson, his DNA is the closest genetic match to Max's.
- Wyatt has confirmed that there exists an alternate timeline featuring "Max 10", in which Max actually does get the Omnitrix.
- A Galvan known as Albedo created a replica Ultimatrix resembling a white and red version of the New Omnitrix as a stabilizer for his mental transformation powers. When the Polymorphic Crystal was added, the replica Ultimatrix reformatted it self into a smaller version of its original namesake. The replica Ultimatrix is disabled by Azmuth.
- Skurd spent the 8th season of Omniverse being attached to the New Omnitrix, allowing himself to generate weapons for Ben made from the alien DNA stored within it.