From Bakuten Shoot to Beyblade X, explore the full history of Beyblade and how it evolved through every generation, system, and major innovation.
Spinning into History: The Evolution of Beyblade
Beyblade isn’t just a toy—it’s a phenomenon. Since its launch in 1999, it has gone through multiple generations, each with new systems, better mechanics, and fresh anime storylines.
From plastic Beys to metal beasts, from explosive Burst battles to high-speed Beyblade X clashes, the franchise has continued evolving while staying true to its roots—competitive battling with customisable tops.
Let’s take a deep dive into the history of Beyblade, breaking down each generation and what made them special.
Generation 1: Bakuten Shoot Beyblade (Plastic Generation, 1999–2005)
Before Metal Fight, Burst, or Beyblade X, there was Bakuten Shoot Beyblade, the original series that started it all.
🔹 The Early Days: The First Beyblade Anime & Game (1999–2001)
- The first Beyblade anime followed Takao Kinomiya (Tyson), Kai Hiwatari, Ray Kon, and Max Tate—a team of top bladers known as the Bladebreakers.
- The Beyblades in this era were made of plastic with metal weight discs, leading to aggressive, high-speed battles.
- Bit-Beasts—spirit animals inside the Beyblades—played a big role in the anime’s power scaling.
🔹 V-Force & the Rise of Advanced Gimmicks (2002–2003)
- Beyblade V-Force introduced hidden features in Beyblades, such as the Spin Gear system, which allowed more customisation and attack potential.
- The anime shifted towards Bit-Beast battles and cyber-enhanced Beys, but many fans missed the original tournament-style action.
🔹 Fierce Battle (2002) – The First Beyblade Movie
- Introduced Daichi Sumeragi and his Gaia Dragoon (Strata Dragoon).
- Featured the Dark Beyblades, a group of evil Beys with uncontrolled power.
- Despite being non-canon, it was a huge hit and made Daichi a fan-favourite character.
🔹 G-Revolution & Engine Gear (2003–2005)
- Beyblade G-Revolution brought back the tournament structure and raised the stakes with Engine Gear Beyblades.
- Engine Gear (EG) System introduced Beyblades with self-spinning motors, allowing for automatic speed boosts mid-battle.
- The final arc saw Tyson battling Brooklyn, with Dragoon MS evolving into Dragoon MSUV, marking the transition to the next generation of Beyblades.
HMS (Heavy Metal System) – The Forgotten Bridge Between Generations (2004–2005)
After G-Revolution ended, Takara introduced HMS Beyblades—but the anime barely covered them.
🔹 What Made HMS Unique?
- Fully metal Beyblades—smaller but heavier and faster than Plastic Gen Beys.
- Introduced Magnet Core & Bearing Core Beys for insane spin endurance.
- Only appeared briefly in G-Revolution, with Dragoon MS and Dragoon MSUV being the final evolutions of Tyson’s Beyblade.
💡 Fun Fact: Some of the best HMS Beyblades—like Phantom Fox MS, Jiraiya MS, and Dark Effigy MS—never appeared in the anime but are highly sought-after collector’s items today.
Despite its high-quality builds, HMS was discontinued in favour of a new, fully rebooted Beyblade system.
Generation 2: Metal Fight Beyblade (MFB, 2008–2015)
In 2008, Takara Tomy rebooted the franchise with an all-new cast, an anime, and the Metal Fight Beyblade (MFB) system.
🔹 The First MFB System (2008–2010)
- MFB Beyblades were larger and heavier, featuring metal wheels for increased durability and power.
- The anime introduced Gingka Hagane, the new protagonist, along with rivals like Kyoya, Ryuga, and Tsubasa.
🔹 Evolution into Hybrid Wheel System & 4D Beys (2010–2013)
- Hybrid Wheel System (HWS) introduced two-part wheels for better attack, defense, and stamina combinations.
- 4D System (2011–2013) brought in changing modes, rubber tips, free-spinning components, and shock-absorbing features.
🔹 Metal Fight’s Final Evolution: Zero-G/Shogun Steel (2013–2015)
- Beyblade Zero-G (Shogun Steel) introduced swaying stadiums and the Synchrome system, where two metal wheels could be fused together for ultimate power.
- This marked the end of the Metal Fight Beyblade era before Takara Tomy rebooted the series again.
Generation 3: Beyblade Burst (2015–2023)
Beyblade Burst revolutionised battles by introducing the Burst System, where Beys could explode apart mid-battle for extra points.
🔹 The Burst System (2015–2017)
- Beyblade Burst used a layer-disc-driver system, making Beys fully customisable.
- The anime introduced Valt Aoi, Shu Kurenai, and a more sports-like competitive format.
🔹 Beyblade Burst Evolution & Turbo (2017–2019)
- Evolution (God Layer System) introduced layer gimmicks like spring-loaded attacks & free-spinning parts.
- Turbo (Cho-Z System) brought metal reinforcement to layers for stronger attacks.
🔹 GT (Gatinko), Superking, and Dynamite Battle (2019–2023)
- GT Beys had modular layer parts, improving attack strategies.
- Superking Beys (2020) added Dual Chassis layers for more weight.
- Dynamite Battle (2021–2023) brought in low-profile Beys and Perfect Gear combos for extreme power.
Burst ended in 2023, paving the way for the next-gen Beyblade X.
Generation 4: Beyblade X (2023–Present)
Beyblade X is the fastest and most aggressive Beyblade generation yet, with Takara Tomy officially marketing it as a competitive “Gear Sport”.
🔹 The New Beyblade X System (2023)
- Three-Part System: Blade, Ratchet, and Bit.
- Xtreme Dash Mechanic: Beys accelerate mid-battle using a built-in gear system.
- More Durable Build: Designed for high-speed, high-impact battles.
- Fully Competitive Format: Takara Tomy finally achieved its vision of Beyblade as a serious, meta-based sport.
With Xtreme Dash arenas, pro-level tuning, and fresh customisation options, Beyblade X is the most competitive system to date.
Final Thoughts: The Future of Beyblade
From Plastic Gen to Beyblade X, Takara Tomy has continuously pushed the boundaries of what Beyblade can be.
💡 Will Beyblade X dominate for years?
💡 Will Takara Tomy introduce another revolution in the future?
Whatever happens next, one thing is for sure—Beyblade isn’t slowing down anytime soon.