This article is about a/an source of power/location in the Power Rangers franchise. |
The Morphing Grid is an energy field which gives power to every Power Ranger even if they are an alien, child or adult. It was first mentioned by Zordon then assumed and proven to give power to all Rangers and each team of Rangers has a specific link to the Grid. TV STORY-Once a Ranger Rangers use their morphers to create an entryway into the Grid to gain their powers and once they finish morphing these powers are instantaneously entered into their cellular makeup. TV STORY-Welcome to the Jungle
Nature
In Season 2 of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers it is mentioned by Lord Zedd that the Grid is maintained by a balance between major forces of good and evil (i.e. Zordon and Lord Zedd in that time period). The Grid is mentioned and plays a major role again in nearly every series from Power Rangers Dino Thunder and beyond.
In Power Rangers RPM Doctor K explains that she discovered a Bio-Field of electrical energy from which she draws power for the Ranger Operators and their subsequent weapons, morphers and Zords. Though never identified as such it is implied and assumed the Bio-Field is meant to be the Morphing Grid. In the Boom! Studios comics Doctor K mentions that Lord Drakkon's Black Dragon Cannons which were designed to disrupt Grid connections could disrupt Bio-Field connections indicating they are one and the same. TV STORY-Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Boom! Studios) Issue 27
In Beyond the Grid it is revealed the Grid exists in most universes; only the Void is disconnected due to a planet of Zeo Crystals and will atrophy into nonexistence unless reconnected. The comics also introduce the Solarix, a Grid fragment that once exists in the Void. This supercharges Ranger powers allowing them to utilize the Grid's ability to create constructs such as suits, expanding it to create duplicates of Zords and allowing them to morph in places with no access whatsoever. TV STORY-Beyond the Grid
The Grid's physical form is only shown once in the Dino Thunder special leading into Power Rangers S.P.D. as a large boulder with a gem on top. This functions like an absorption device allowing Rangers to add memories to the Grid; it also functions like a psychic's crystal ball allowing Rangers a small glimpse of future Rangers and battles. Once a Ranger's memories have been added it will go into a standby mode so only future Rangers themselves can insert memories. However, certain objects can suppress these memories such as the Rock of Time. TV STORY-Rangers Back in Time During its appearance in Power Rangers Operation Overdrive the Grid is shown to have electrical surges firing off inside. TV STORY-Once a Ranger
In Power Rangers Beast Morphers Grid Battleforce gives the Grid a physical state in Morph X which can be used as a clean energy source as well as for creating another team of Rangers. However, this can be infected by viruses such as Evox. TV STORY-Beasts Unleashed
The Grid can only contain a single bearer each of a certain power meaning when two or more of the same color and power-type try coexisting one will have to go. This is shown when the Grid suffers an imbalance from Trent Fernandez-Mercer and his clone. TV STORY-Strange Relations This is also mentioned when Zordon forbids the use of the second Pterodactyl Power Coin stating "Too much pink energy is dangerous". TV STORY-Wild West Rangers Oddly enough the Grid does not fluctuate erratically when Lauren Shiba is introduced as the true Red Samurai Ranger; this may have been due to Lauren's use of an older Samuraizer in comparison to the newer one her brother Jayden Shiba wields. TV STORY-Fight Fire With Fire In Power Rangers Super Megaforce Gosei warns the Rangers that using the Legendary Ranger Keys for an extended period and in general challenges their strengths and weaknesses each time they unlock new powers. Indeed, a well-placed shot during their first battle forces the team to return from the forms of the Mystic Rangers prompting them to do constant switches from then on. TV STORY-Super Megaforce (episode)
Much of the Grid is unknown or not explained in the series. Zordon mentions twice that the destruction of the Rangers' Zords also means the loss of their powers as with the Thunderzords. TV STORY-Ninja Quest This is most likely true only for teams such as the original Power Rangers as many subsequent generations lose their Zords and their powers remain intact though in some cases only temporarily. When Lord Zedd attempts to destroy the Dino Megazord the Rangers do not lose their powers because Alpha 5 rescues whatever he can to recreate them as the Thunderzords (it is assumed what remains are used to create new Zords again and again since they are components of the Thunderzords). TV STORY-The Mutiny
With some Rangers their powers and health are (un)willingly connected through the Grid and if spread too far and thin the resulting consequences can be dangerous. Accordingly, when Kimberly Ann Hart has her Crane Power Coin stolen and presumably replaced with a fake by Katherine Hillard she begins to weaken and her lifeforce fades away, especially when exerting herself in battle and during gymnastics training which lands her in the hospital; this is possibly amplified by her energy being drained when captured by Tenga Warriors and both her Power Coin and the Ninja Falconzord's technology are already in use to simultaneously tap into Ninjor's own powers to energize the Blue Globbor monster; the Rangers learn they are unable to destroy the monster without harming one of their allies. TV STORY-Changing of the Zords TV STORY-A Different Shade of Pink
It should also be noted that Alpha 6 tells Adam Park on Power Rangers in Space that using a damaged morpher (also mentioning the destruction of the Power Coins but its assumed only the powers were gone) might kill him and Adam starts to lose his remaining powers after he morphs which takes a toll on his body. TV STORY-Always a Chance In Dino Thunder Tommy Oliver mentions that the only way to sever the Dino Gems' bonds with their hosts is to destroy said hosts. TV STORY-Day of the Dino
In Power Rangers Ninja Storm when the first five Ninja Storm Rangers face Madtropolis who drains them dry they are left feeling weak and tired without their ninja energies until Cameron Watanabe helps restore them TV STORY-The Samurai's Journey; when Motodrone siphons off Hunter Bradley's energy he is unable to move whatsoever although Cam reveals that only an imprint of Hunter's power is taken. TV STORY-Brothers In Arms When Lothor uses Cam's Samurai Amulet to steal their powers permanently only the Wind Rangers' civilian powers remain which they use to seal Lothor in the Abyss of Evil TV STORY-Storm Before the Calm although their Power Disks only have enough energy left for one battle by the time he escapes. TV STORY-Thunder Storm
In Super Megaforce it is unknown how Gosei links the Ranger Keys to the Grid allowing the Super Mega Rangers to transform into past Rangers. It is also unknown how Rangers who lose their powers regain them for the final battle against the Armada. TV STORY-Legendary Battle TV STORY-The Legendary Battle: Extended Edition
In Shattered Grid it is theorized by Jen Scotts that the Grid can manipulate the space-time continuum should something catastrophic happen as she reveals that the linear timeline is separated into different universes as the death of Tommy at the hands of his alternate self Drakkon causes such damage since he is important to the Rangers as a whole that the Grid literally separates eras to isolate Ranger teams so deaths of previous members do not affect later ones.
In the 2018 Free Comic Book Day special Zordon travels into the Grid to speak with the Morphing Masters. Little else is known about them aside from the fact that they are powerful. However, Zordon's attempt to gain an audience with them meant he sacrificed his future in the Grid saying at minimum he would've joined the Grid upon death (similar to Star Wars when Force-users become "one with the Force" upon mortal death). It is unknown if all beings become one with the Grid or Zordon would be a special case.
The Grid also has the power to manipulate matter; Alpha taps into the Grid to produce flowers outside the Command Center and clothes for Bulk and Skull when the reprogrammed Alpha teleports them into the Australian outback. TV STORY-The Wedding Alpha again taps into the Grid to create Christmas decorations and presents. TV STORY-Alpha's Magical Christmas It can also be inferred that with the same applications the Grid can turn things such as the Galactabeasts, Animal Spirits and Wildzords into actual Zords.
Beast Morphers shows that combining Morph X with Evox's power can be used to turn objects into monsters, create avatars of individuals and power other machines; when avatars are first created the original's mind and body are rendered comatose until the avatars are destroyed. TV STORY-Beasts Unleashed Other malevolent entities can tap into the Grid's power or collect its data for their own purposes; many have done this to create or become evil Rangers, take control of Zords and Megazords, provide energy sources for or create weapons, monsters and other things, provide countermeasures against the Rangers and block out or cut off access to the Grid entirely. TV STORY-Green With Evil TV STORY-The Green Candle TV STORY-The Green Dream TV STORY-The Power Stealer TV STORY-Green No More TV STORY-Changing of the Zords TV STORY-Shadow Rangers (episode) TV STORY-The Darkest Day TV STORY-White Thunder TV STORY-Burning at Both Ends TV STORY-Copy That TV STORY-Triassic Triumph TV STORY-Fighting Spirit TV STORY-Katastrophe TV STORY-Broken Spell TV STORY-Belly of the Beast TV STORY-Beyond a Doubt TV STORY-Danger and Destiny TV STORY-Vrak is Back TV STORY-Evox's Revenge TV STORY-Thrills and Drills TV STORY-Tools of the Betrayed TV STORY-Tuba Triumph TV STORY-Seeing Red TV STORY-Gorilla Act TV STORY-Ranger Reveal TV STORY-Evox: Upgraded
History
In Dino Thunder it was revealed Tommy found the Grid's physical form and used it to create the Ranger Archives with information on every generation of Rangers leading up to that point in time. TV STORY-Legacy of Power
In S.P.D. Kat Manx and a group of human scientists experimented with the Grid to create the morpher technology used by SPD Rangers though this had the side-effect of mutating the humans' genetics and DNA causing their children to be born with unusual superhuman abilities. TV STORY-Sam (episode) Kat later mentions overhauling the Grid to review previous Ranger battles. TV STORY-Insomnia
In Operation Overdrive the Grid is damaged by Thrax, Flurious' forces, Moltor's forces, Kamdor's forces and the Fearcats. When Sentinel Knight restores the Retro Rangers' powers it is shown the only damaged part of the Grid is the section connected to the Overdrive Rangers. Andrew Hartford reinforces the Grid to prevent further damage but it has to be repaired from the inside which a reactivated Alpha 6 does. TV STORY-Once a Ranger
Groups and individuals such as Lightspeed, Time Force, the Animarian Warriors, the Wind and Thunder Ninja Academies, Space Patrol Delta, Hartford, Robert James, the Ancient Samurai Rangers and Gosei are shown to have established access to the Grid to form Ranger teams but how they found the Grid itself is given little to no explanation at all.
The Grid is presumably where Noah Carver acquires the Legendary Ranger Database from which proved invaluable against the Armada. TV STORY-Earth Fights Back
In Beast Morphers it is revealed Grid Battleforce discovered a substance originating from the Grid created by Nate Silva called Morph X; through its connections to the Grid they learn of other Rangers and their battles against evil forces such as Rita Repulsa, Sledge and Galvanax. The idea of using the Grid as a power source disturbs Mayor Adam Daniels who worries another evil will rise in light of this like all Ranger enemies which is later confirmed through the emergence of Evox who wishes to take over the Grid itself. Luckily the Grid Battleforce, who have foreseen this form the Beast Morphers Rangers to combat the virus and his followers.
Items Linked to the Morphing Grid
The following are objects confirmed or implied to be linked with the Grid itself.
Mainstream
- Morphers
- Power Coins
- Sword of Darkness
- Powerdraining Candle
- Sword of Power
- Sword of Light
- The Power Ruby
- Zeo Crystal
- Golden Power Staff
- Quasar Sabers
- Lights of Orion
- Key
- Power of the Knight
- Power Animal Crystals
- Power Disks
- Dino Gems
- Xenotome
- Animal Spirits
- Engine Cells
- Symbol Power
- Power Cards
- Wild Sword
- Legendary Ranger Keys
- Energems
- Ninja Nexus Prism
- Morph X
- Fury Cells
Comics
Films
Trivia
- Throughout the fight scenes of Power Rangers sparks and smoke flies off the Rangers' suits when they get hit. In the YouTube series DeathBattle it was speculated this was actually the energy of the Grid taking the bulk of hits for the Rangers.