Transformers Generation 1/Characters/Autobots

This character sheet is for listing the tropes related to Autobots in the various Transformers Generation 1 continuities.

For the character sheet listing tropes related to the Decepticons, see Transformers Generation 1. For the listing of tropes related to everyone else, see the main Transformers Generation 1 character sheet.

Function: Commander
""Freedom is the right of all sentient beings.""

The leader of the Autobots and arguably the main character of the franchise. -
 * A Father to His Men
 * An Axe to Grind
 * Badass
 * Badass Baritone
 * Badass in Charge
 * Badass Pacifist
 * Big Badass Rig: He becomes one.
 * Four-Star Badass
 * Beware the Nice Ones
 * Big Good: It's like the Autobots shut down without him.
 * BFG: His Ion blaster.
 * The Captain
 * Catch Phrase: "Autobots, transform and roll out!"
 * Deadpan Snarker: More than you'd expect.
 * Death Is Cheap: Is it ever!
 * Fan Nickname: Robo Jesus.
 * Gentle Giant
 * Hammerspace: His trailer.
 * The Hero
 * Honor Before Reason: Many, but the most extreme example is when Optimus allowed himself to be killed over a videogame. Needless to say, Optimus got better.
 * Hurting Hero: There is an ever present yet dignified sadness in Peter Cullen's performance of Optimus, as if The Great War has affected him so deeply, that he is always crying deep inside. Cullen stated in interviews that he drew inspiration from his brother, a Shell-Shocked Veteran of the Vietnam War, who told him before the audition for Optimus "Don't be a tough hero; you are strong enough to be gentle."
 * Ideal Hero
 * Martyr Without a Cause
 * My Greatest Failure: When the Ark was boarded by the Decepticons, Optimus crashed the ship onto Earth in an attempt to kill the Decepticons on board. Not only did it fail, it ended up bringing the war to Earth, putting humanity in danger.
 * Nice Guy
 * One-Man Army: One of the few Autobots who can fight Megatron on even terms.
 * Papa Wolf: Not as much as later versions, but he is all about this in "Prime Target".
 * Parental Substitute: A meta-example; to many children in the 1980's he is the strong yet loving and kind father that should have been there for them. Which is why his death in the movie was so hard hitting back then.
 * Wide Eyed Idealist: Whole-heartedly believes that the universe can be a kinder and gentler place, in spite of all the pain, horror and sadness that he has witnessed in his long life.
 * Worthy Opponent: His rivalry with Megatron transcends petty hate into a deep respect and understanding: So much so that whenever they fight side by side for a common goal, they are unstoppable.

Function: Gunner
""I never met a Decepticon I didn't dislike.""

An Autobot who was traumatized after his home city was destroyed by the Decepticons. -
 * Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: In Transformers the Movie, several Autobots are working at the foot of Lookout Mountain and are trapped there as the Battle of Autobot City begins. Bluestreak included. The film depicts a couple of them surviving. While one of them (Huffer) is confirmed deceased at a later episode. Bluestreak, however, is never mentioned or depicted after this point of the film. His fate never determined.
 * Doomed Hometown: Praxus.
 * Improbable Aiming Skills: In the animated show, Bluestreak is depicted as a sharpshooter. In "The Ultimate Doom, Part 2", Laserbeak is flying away with a captured Spike Witwicky. Bluestreak fires at the flying bird, successfuly wounding its leg without harming the hostage. In "Enter the Nightbird", the Autobots are trying to capture Nightbird, a robotic Ninja without harming her. Bluestreak manages to shoot her sword out of her hands. Without leaving a scratch on her body. In a Transformers comic book story called "Man of Iron", Bluestreak manages to take down Thundercracker in mid-flight. With a single shot.
 * Motor Mouth
 * Stepford Smiler: The reason he talks so much is to keep himself sane, so it oftentimes comes off as this.
 * Palette Swap: of Prowl.
 * Roaring Rampage of Revenge: He has a score to settle with the Decepticons.
 * Friendly Sniper

Function: Demolitions
""Might over microchips.""

A small but powerful Autobot. -
 * Fastball Special: Optimus Prime and Brawn use this technique in "A Plague of Insecticons".
 * The Napoleon
 * Nigh Invulnerability: The episode "Fire on the Mountain" features a A Day in The Limelight for Brawn. He is starring in most of its combat scenes, gives trouble to several high-profile Decepticons and even manages to wrestle control of Megatron's personal fusion cannon. Using it against Megatron himself. In the process Brawn shrugs off direct hits in several parts of his body, including his head.
 * Subverted in Transformers the Movie. He is supposedly one of several killed Autobots. While the deceased are typically shown taking massive damage, Brawn's death scene only depicts him taking a shoulder wound. Fans have long doubted if this was enough to kill him.
 * Pint-Sized Powerhouse: He may be small compared to the other Autobots, but Brawn sure packs a mean wallop, and can easily take on opponents twice his size or more with sheer strength.
 * The Worf Effect: In Transformers Generation 2, Megatron receives a series of upgrades and has more destructive abilities than before. He demonstrates said abilities by easily destroying the nigh-invulnerable Brawn.

Function: Espionage (Bumblebee), Espionage Director (Goldbug)
"Bumblebee: "The least likely can be the most dangerous."

Goldbug: "To know others you must know yourself first.""

One of the smaller Autobots who frequently befriends their human allies. -
 * Friend to All Children: Always the guy working with the kids.
 * Inexplicably Identical Individuals: In a case of "How many Bumblebees are there?" The episode "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5" features concurrent battles between Autobots and Decepticons taking place in Cybertron and Earth. Bumblebee is depicted taking part in both of them, being in two places at once. Later (a) Bumblebee is reconstructed as Goldbug. But in "The Rebirth, Part 3", Bumblebee and Goldbug are depicted together, standing next to each other in the epilogue.
 * Kid Appeal Character: Former Trope Namer (The Bumblebee)
 * Nice Guy
 * Paper-Thin Disguise: In "More than Meets the Eye, Part 3" the Autobots are trying to lure the Decepticons into a trap. Creating a fake rocket base as a target to their opponents. Bumblebee disguises himself as a human scientist. By simply wearing a lab coat over his regular humanoid form.
 * Plot-Relevant Age-Up: In most continuities, he gets injured and must be repaired into a more adult-like form, Goldbug.
 * Sixth Ranger: Goldbug, to the Throttlebots.

Function: Warrior
""Strike first, strike fast, strike hard.""

An overly combat happy Autobot. -
 * BFG: Cliffjumper is tiny by Transformers' standards. But pulls out a huge rifle cannon in "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1".
 * Blood Knight:
 * Conspiracy Theorist: In the episode "Traitor", Cliffjumper becomes convinced that Mirage is working for the Decepticons. He spends the episode interpreting any random event according to this theory. Comic book interpretations of the character generally depict him as paranoid, seeing traitors all around him.
 * Hammerspace: His character description includes "He makes a habit of pulling ridiculously huge guns out of nowhere".
 * Jerk With a Heart of Gold
 * Leeroy Jenkins: Established as part of his characterization in "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1", the first episode of the animated series. Cliffjumper and Hound are send on a scouting mission. When the two locate the main forces of the Decepticons, Cliffjumper takes a shot at Megatron. Resulting in two Autobots facing a small army of Decepticons.
 * Palette Swap: Of Bumblebee, a deep red.
 * He wasn't such at first, but since both characters had little horns and similar transformations, later versions of Cliffjumper became Palette Swaps of the corresponding Bumblebee.
 * Proud Warrior Race Guy

Function: Transport, Reconnaissance
""Nobody wins a war - somebody loses.""

-
 * Deadpan Snarker
 * Extreme Doormat: In the episode "Changing Gears", the Decepticons capture Gears and remove one of his circuits to use in a new device. The removal of said circuit causes a change in personality. Leaving Gears to be cheerful, overly polite, and willing to assist/obey anyone in his immediate vicinity. Making him the perfect servant. Though his flowery speech still includes various insults to Megatron. "How can I help you, Megatron, heh heh, you rotten hunk of scrap?"
 * Grumpy Bear: Right, Transformers aren't a Sugar Bowl, but Gears is still this when compared to the other Autobots.
 * Beneath the Mask: Gears is actually putting on an act to lighten the mood. It does get to him sometimes.
 * Sensor Character: "More than Meets the Eye, Part 2" reveals that Gears has in-built infrared sensors. Allowing him to trace the heat traces of Ravage, a stealthy infiltrator.
 * We Want Our Jerk Back: Partially averted in "Changing Gears". As Optimus Prime prepares to restore Gears to his original, annoying personality, Trailbreaker interrupts him with: "Uhh, just a minute, we took a vote and...uhh, well we decided we like Gears the way he is now."

Hauler
A Constructicon-type working for the Autobots. Transforms into a crane. Only appeared in a single episode, "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1". He is seen with Cliffjumper, recovering a wounded Hound; he was never seen again. However a toy version of him was created in 2003 and detailed origin stories followed.
 * One-Scene Wonder: Despite his all too brief appearance, his similarity to both Grapple and the Constructicons led to various theories before the character got an official origin. Which confirmed him as a rogue member of the Constructicons.
 * We Hardly Knew Ye: A single episode and no spoken lines.

Function: Scout
""Observe everything, remember even more.""

An Autobot scout who actually likes Earth and the humans. -
 * Become a Real Boy: He wouldn't mind being human, apparently.
 * Kid Appeal Character: He was this in the pilot to the cartoon, before the former Trope Namer took over. Obviously, it didn't last.
 * Master of Illusion: Thanks to his holographic projector.
 * Nature Hero: His character description mentions a special bond to native life (humankind), tracking skills, and spending his free time exploring "the breathtaking caverns" and "mountainous expanses" of Earth.
 * Out of Focus: Hound is featured prominently in the first two seasons of the original series. But only got a cameo in Transformers the Movie. Then not seen at all in the third season. He was given a single speaking appearance in Transformers Headmasters.

Function: Construction Engineer
""Molecular structure is the key to success.""

A member of the Ark crew, who is always melancholic about returning to Cybertron. Despite that, he's an AWESOME construction engineer. -
 * Deadpan Snarker
 * Dropped a Bridge On Him: Huffer makes his last appearance in Transformers the Movie, at the beginning of the Battle of Autobot City. His death in said battle is only mentioned in Dark Awakening, taking place off-screen.
 * The Eeyore: Huffer is constantly pessimistic and seems to view the world in gloomy colors. The episode Divide and Conquer has Prime severely wounded in battle. Huffer is quick to cheer everyone up with lines such as "He's doomed. I know it. I can feel it in my databank." In "The Autobot Run", the Autobots participate in a charity race and fall victim to an ambush. Huffer reacts with ""I knew the racing bit was bad news, but would anyone listen to me? Oh, noooo!"
 * Pint-Sized Powerhouse: In the episode Dinobot Island, Part 2, Huffer wrestles with a time-traveling mammoth. He defeats the animal and lifts it over his head. Pointing out: "I'm not the biggest Autobot but I'm one of the strongest!"
 * The Resenter: Hates Earth because it keeps him from returning to Cybertron.

Function: Security
""High tech security is no replacement for guts.""

One of the older Autobots, Ironhide is Optimus Prime's most-beloved friend and second in command. Whenever Prime himself is out of commission, the responsibility of leadership more often than not falls on the broad-shoulders of this gruff, ancient warrior. -
 * Badass Grandpa
 * The Big Guy: Ol' Ironhide often found himself fillin' this role. Might have to do with his Texas drawl, or the fact that he's one o' the Autobot mos' likely ta forgo usin' weapons an' start bustin' Deceptichops with his bare hands.
 * Cool Old Guy
 * Good Ol' Boy
 * Kill It With Ice: Ironhide uses liquid nitrogen spray against Starscream in the episode "Divide and Conquer".
 * New Powers As the Plot Demands: He seems to have it more than the others.
 * Proud Warrior Race Guy

Function: Special Operations Agent
""Do it with style or don’t bother doing it.""

Another Autobot officer, and head of Special Operations. -
 * Alien Arts Are Appreciated: He loves Earth culture and entertainment.
 * Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: He survived the movie, but wasn't seen too much afterwards.
 * Real Life Writes the Plot: His voice actor died.
 * Cool Car: Jazz himself transforms into a Porsche 935, a famous racing car. Several of his animated appearances focus on his speed or depict him in a speed race.
 * Indy Ploy: Jazz is supposed to be the master of improvisation among the Autobots, instantly adapting to even the most surprising situations. No indication of actually thinking ahead.
 * Jive Turkey
 * Meaningful Name: He loves music.
 * Number Two / The Lancer: Alternates with Prowl.

Function: Spy
""Who and what I am I hide from the enemy.""

-
 * Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: While the storyboard for Transformers the Movie included a scene depicting Mirage wounded or killed, said scene was never animated. Leaving his disappearance from the series unexplained.
 * Holographic Disguise: Technically this is his actual ability and he can change his superficial appearance any way he likes, but outside of a tiny handful of situations it's almost invariably used only for...
 * Invisibility
 * Master of Illusion: Mirage reveals an ability to project realistic holograms in "Masquerade". An ability typically used by Hound.
 * Spot the Imposter: In "Masquerade", Mirage infiltrates the Decepticons while posing as Drag Strip. Other Autobots impersonate the rest of the Stunticons, counting on the real Stunticons being incapacitated elsewhere. When Drag Strip and his fellows return, a typical Spot the Imposter episode takes place, leading to one of his rare uses of Holographic Disguise when the Autobots form their own Menasor.
 * Upper Class Wit
 * Vehicular Sabotage: In "More than Meets the Eye, Part 3", Mirage infiltrates the Decepticons' space cruiser and sabotages it in mid-flight. Instead of escaping Earth and flying out in outer space, the Decepticons sink to the bottom of the ocean.

Function: Military Strategist
""Logic is the ultimate weapon.""

An Autobot officer, usually a deputy to Optimus Prime. -
 * Depending On the Writer: He copped this hard in the IDW continuity. Simon Furman and Shane McCarthy wrote him as the Straw Vulcan Jerkass detailed below, Nick Roche's portrayal makes him a Manipulative Bastard, and Mike Costa initially went in a very different direction, before reverting him to Roche's portrayal, with a bit of beat cop thrown in. James Roberts and John Barber have sought to meld the differing portrayals in Prowl's most recent appearances
 * Didn't See That Coming: His character description mentions that Prowl always estimates the most advantageous course of action in any situation. But when confronted by entirely unexpected situations, he loses it.
 * Intelligence Equals Isolation: He is dedicated to logic and reason. But reportedly this negatively affects his social skills and isolates him from his fellow Autobots.
 * Jerkass: His Straw Vulcan tendencies make him come off as this more often than not, which led to the widely-held belief that Prowl is a prick.
 * Slowly Slipping Into Evil: In IDW's Transformers universe, Prowl has been morally ambiguous for some time, as his actions in Nick Roche-penned works will attest. In the opening arc of John Barber's Robots in Disguise ongoing, Prowl takes further steps towards what many fans believe will be the role of the book's villain.
 * The Lancer: Alternates with Jazz.
 * The Strategist

Function: Medic
""You break it, I'll remake it.""

The Autobots' medical officer. -
 * Combat Medic: While he is the designated medical officer, Ratchet also participates in the combat. For example, he fly-kicked Thundercracker in "Changing Gears".
 * The Engineer: In the animated series, Ratchet is consistently partnered with Wheeljack when needed to upgrade various devices. The presumption being that the two share similar engineering skills.
 * The Medic
 * Screw the War, We're Partying: He's described as a party bot. Not that it comes up much.
 * Took a Level In Badass: In the Marvel comics.

Function: Warrior
""I don't break rules, I bend them - a lot.""

-
 * Blood Knight\Boisterous Bruiser: His character description specifically mentions that Sideswipe is "more into battle for the sport of it" and "most craves a glorious fight to the finish as a test of his mettle". But there is also mention of a humorous, playful side and a tendency to prank others.
 * Combat Pragmatist: He considers cheating in battle a valid option, "all in the name of possible victory".
 * Didn't Think This Through: In comic book story "Power Play!" the Autobots are suffering from fuel problems. When the Decepticons attack, Sideswipe decides to use his energy-consuming rocket pack and expends all his energy in said battle. This action leaves him drained and powerless to stop Starscream from claiming a strategic victory for his side. According to his character profile is quite prone to such rash decisions.
 * Flight: Prime had to borrow his rocket pack to go after the Decepticons' spaceship at the end of the original Five Episode Pilot.
 * Robo-Family: His brother Sunstreaker.

Function: Warrior
""They can't beat the best.""

-
 * Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Survived the film but did not appear afterwards. Even in the film, he gets a minor role flying in Optimus and the Dinobots to help Autobot City, but says no lines and disappears after the battle is over.
 * The Dandy: He complains about Decepticons damaging his new paint job. He worries that the colors of his new water skis don't match his base coat. He is definitely the most fashion-conscious of the Autobots and the most obsessed with maintaining the condition of his body.
 * Fantastic Racism: In "Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1", a public relations campaign by Megatron results in most of humanity turning against the Autobots. Sunstreaker expresses his racist views on humans. "I knew the humans would turn on us someday. They're such undependable creatures. Inferior lifeforms."
 * The Fighting Narcissist:
 * Jerkass
 * Robo-Family: his twin brother Sideswipe.
 * Watch the Paint Job
 * Word of Gay: In the Dreamwave comics.

Teletraan I
The semi-sentient computer of the Autobots. Responsible for repairing and reviving both the Autobots and Decepticons after 4 million years. Also responsible for changing their alternate modes from Cybertronian forms to terrestrial vehicles and animals.
 * Magic Tool: Teletraan I manages to revive a small army of Cybertonians and reconfigure their forms without seeming to need any new mechanical parts or additional fuel sources.
 * Suspiciously Similar Substitute: After Casey Kasem quit the show in disgust over its Ethnic Scrappy portrayal of Arabs (Kasem is Lebanese-American), Teletraan I was upgraded to Teletraan II, apparently exactly the same except for the voice.

Function: Defensive Strategist
""An Autobot's as good as the fuel in his tank.""

-
 * Barrier Warrior: He has a forcefield.
 * Heroic Self-Deprecation: He also has a low self-esteem stemming from feeling that he's The Load. Sometimes he mopes about this.
 * Sad Clown: His bio implies some shades of this
 * Incredibly Obvious Tail: In "More than Meets the Eye, Part 2", Trailbreaker has been assigned to maintain surveillance over the Decepticons' base and spy on their communications. He simply parks out of said base, making little to no effort to hide. Unsurprisingly, this attracts the attention of the Seekers, but only after he leaves.
 * The Prankster
 * The Stakeout: His mission outside the Decepticons' base.

Function: Mechanical Engineer
""Never do what your enemy expects you to do.""

The Autobots' main engineer, who has a tendency to blow himself up. -
 * Back From the Dead: A peculiar instance. In Transformers the Movie, Wheeljack is one of several characters killed. With his corpse depicted on screen. He re-appears and is actually given a major role in several episodes of Transformers Victory. With no explanation given.
 * The Engineer
 * Gadgeteer Genius: That said, his inventions have displayed a noted tendency to literally blow up in his face.
 * Mad Scientist: He's a good and likable guy, but otherwise follows this trope to a T.
 * Ultimate Job Security: At times Wheeljack seems more of a threat than the Decepticons. But gets to keep his job for being exceptional at it. In "S.O.S. Dinobots", Wheejack unleashes his new creations (the Dinobots) within the Autobot's headquarters. Resulting in severe damages. Prime commands him to pull the plug on the project. Wheeljack disobeys direct orders and keeps secretly working on upgrading the Dinobots. It pays off when the upgraded Dinobots turn out to be reliable Super Soldiers.

Function: Warrior
""Quick action equals quick victory.""

-
 * Fragile Speedster: His character description mentions that Windcharger is the fastest land vehicle among the original Autobots. But he is not particularly durable. Keeping this speed up for too long damages his systems. "Windcharger often finds himself stumbling home, reeking of ozone and burned insulation, and needing medical attention".
 * Mauve Paint Job
 * Selective Magnetism: Windcharger's arms can be used as "the poles of a precisely controllable electromagnet, powerful enough to levitate ten tons of steel 700 feet away".
 * The Voiceless: Windcharger had no speaking part in the initial episodes. The first time he speaks was in "Divide and Conquer", the 6th episode of the series.

Function: Aerialbot Leader (Silverbolt), Ground Troop Support (Slingshot), Air Warfare Strategist (Skydive), Warrior (Air Raid), Reconnaissance (Fireflight), Air Warrior (Superion)
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/slingshot_4452.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/air_raid_6896.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/superion_1576.jpg "Silverbolt: "Don't look down, look straight ahead."

Slingshot: "I'm even better than I think."

Skydive: "Only by studying the past can we win the present."

Air Raid: "If you look first, you may not leap."

Fireflight: "When I'm flying, no enemy is safe - nor friend."

Superion: "To live is to fight; to die is to stop.""

-
 * Five-Man Band to the Stunticons' Psycho Rangers:
 * The Hero: Silverbolt
 * The Lancer: Slingshot
 * The Smart Guy: Skydive
 * The Big Guy: Air Raid (for sheer insanity) and, arguably, Fireflight (him having the bomber alt-mode, the seriously nasty fire-fog missiles, and his alt having the heaviest armor)
 * The Chick: Fireflight
 * The Starscream: Slingshot, for awhile
 * Ironic Fear: Silverbolt is afraid of heights, despite being a giant robot capable of transforming into a jet and being the leader of the Autobots' main air squadron. Despite this, he proves to be a level-headed, extremely qualified leader who always does his duty.
 * Jerkass: Slingshot
 * Jerk With a Heart of Gold: Slingshot, again. Sort of. A case could be made for a few of the other Aerialbots.
 * Acrophobic Bird: Silverbolt
 * Straight Man: Silverbolt. To pretty much his entire team.
 * Badass Bookworm: Skydive. In his bio it mentions that he might be the most skilled Transformers flier in existence. He's also a history nut and would prefer to read about fighting rather than actually do it.
 * The Klutz: Fireflight. At Mach 2.

Alpha Trion
A very, very old Transformer and mentor the younger generation of Autobots. -
 * The Mentor: to Optimus Prime
 * Time Abyss: Ancient, even for a Transformer.
 * Toyless Toyline Character

Function: Geologist
""Know the conflict within before facing the conflict without.""

-
 * Friend to All Living Things
 * Nature Hero

Function: Communications
""When the music is rockin', I'm rollin.""

The Autobots' Communications Officer. -
 * Good Counterpart: to Soundwave (well, Soundwave came first), in terms of abilities.
 * Rhymes On a Dime occasionally
 * Sizeshifter
 * No Indoor Voice
 * Depending on the Medium: Contrast his Boisterous Bruiser cartoon schtick with his ultra-serious, almost brooding loner persona in the comics.

Chromia
A member of Elita One's Female Autobots, and Ironhide's girlfriend. -
 * The Lancer: To Elita One
 * Good Ol' Gal

Function: Reconnaissance & Communications
""Reach for the stars, but never leave your friends.""

-
 * Captain Crash: While not remarked upon in the TV show, Cosmos is rarely in an episode without crashing into something. One of the few times he got through an episode without it, it seems like Optimus is Tempting Fate by sending him out into space a third time in a day.
 * This Looks Like a Job For Aquaman: He was only ever really used to shuttle two or three Autobots around deep space, and since he's nowhere near as powerful a fighter as Omega Supreme and later, Sky Lynx, he can't do that much else. Even Megatron only put him to use as a power booster after capturing him once.

Function: Dinobot Commander (Grimlock), Flamethrower (Slag), Jungle Warrior, Demolitions (Sludge), Desert Warrior (Snarl), Dinobot Bombardier (Swoop)
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/slag_1369.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/snarl_5328.jpg "Grimlock: "Among the winners, there is no room for the weak."

Slag: "I have no need for friends, even less for enemies."

Sludge: "Stomp your enemy, crush him under your feet."

Snarl: "Only in war is there happiness."

Swoop: "Fear can hit targets unreachable to bullets.""

A quintet of wild and powerful Autobots with dinosaurs as their altmodes. They tend to dislike Optimus Prime, and are prone to going off on their own to do their own thing. Their members include their leader, Grimlock (a tyrannosaurus rex), Slag (a triceratops), Snarl (a stegosaurus), Sludge (an apatosaurus) and Swoop (a pteranodon). In some continuities, they were known as the Dynobots before coming to Earth and taking their dinosaur altmodes. -
 * Adult Child: Particularly Grimlock, and especially in season 3.
 * Asskicking Equals Authority: Other Dinobots follow me Grimlock because me Grimlock strongest! Me Grimlock king!
 * The Big Guy: Collectively, they fill this role in relation to the other Autobots.
 * Blood Knight: Snarl finds only happiness in war, but Slag really takes the cake in how much he enjoys fighting.
 * Breath Weapon: They all breathe fire, and it's even hot enough to melt through the durable outer hull of Unicron!
 * Dumb Muscle: While all Dinobots are this to some extent, Sludge really takes the cake.
 * Everything's Better With Dinosaurs: Well, duh.
 * Five-Man Band: Like most subgroups, they form one on their own:
 * The Hero: Me Grimlock king!
 * The Lancer: Slag.
 * The Big Guy: Sludge, Snarl.
 * Us Dinobots no need puny smart guy! Us Dinobots trounce Decepticons with brute force!
 * Us Dinobots no have puny Chick! Us Dinobots warriors! (Swoop would probably qualify as both. Well, as much as a Dinobot can.)
 * Gentle Giant: Sludge is probably the best example; he's the biggest of the Dinobots but also much friendlier and less aggressive than Grimlock, Slag or Snarl. Swoop, while the smallest Dinobot, is also the nicest and most easy-going, and has on occasion functioned as as a Gentle Giant to smaller Autobots or even humans.
 * Yes, Grimlock is a violent killer who respects only strength, which also means he hates anyone who abuses strength (AKA, those who use it to bully the weak), giving him a brutal sense of compassion that eventually allowed him to soften into a still-savage-but-kind-hearted warrior.
 * Hair-Trigger Temper: Slag all the way. Just about anything will set him off. Anything.
 * Hulk Speak: Me Grimlock talk this way most of time. Other Dinobots too, mostly.
 * Loners Are Freaks: Snarl rarely, if ever, displays any sort of emotion. And he's just as expressive when it comes to talking.
 * Multiple Choice Past: It varies by continuity. Were me Grimlock and other Dinobots built on Earth in 1980s by puny Wheeljack? Or did we Dinobots exist already and get stuck in black sticky stuff when fighting Shockwave in distant past?
 * Or even a variation of the second one, fighting the Insecticons rather than Shockwave.
 * Odd Name Out: Grimlock is the only Dinobot whose name doesn't begin with S.
 * The Rival: Swoop with the Predacon Divebomb. It began when Swoop's name was Divebomb and that 'Con defeated him and took his name.
 * Stock Dinosaurs: Including a pteranodon, which as we all know is not a dinosaur.

Emirate Xaaron
-
 * Palette Swap: to Megatron, sans helmet.
 * Rebel Leader
 * Toyless Toyline Character
 * You Keep Using That Word: An emirate is not a person, but a place that is ruled by an emir. (No, Xaaron's not one of the "big enough to be a Genius Loci" bots).

Elita One
The leader of the Female Autobots and Optimus Prime's lover. -
 * Lady of War
 * Time Stands Still: She can freeze time, but this would result in her death.
 * Toyless Toyline Character

Firestar
A member of Elita One's Female Autobots who specialises in search and rescue. -
 * The Big Girl

Function: Architect
""Beauty is in everything except war.""

-
 * Mad Artist: A benign (mostly) version of this.

Function: Maintenance
""You have to be rolling before you can be fighting.""

-
 * The Medic: A variation, his toy bio indicates that his specialty is in maintenance (making sure that his fellow Autobots are in tip-top shape) rather than repairs, but this distinction never shows up in the cartoon.
 * Palette Swap: to Trailbreaker.
 * The Watson: To Grapple, often cheering him on to make his creations.

Function: Search & Rescue
""Where there's smoke, there's me.""

-
 * Big Good
 * Fire Engines Are Hot
 * Heterosexual Life Partners: Him and Red Alert are CLOSE.

Function: Air Guardian
""Among mysteries of science lies the key to victory.""

A scientist and former Decepticon who defected to the Autobots. -
 * Flat Earth Atheist: Rejects the myths about Primus and Unicron.
 * Heel Face Turn
 * Multiple Choice Past: Did he come from Cybertron, or was he built on Earth by Shockwave? In any case, he still is a Decepticon who did a Heel Face Turn and joined the Autobots.

Moonracer
A member of Elita One's Female Autobots and reportedly the best sharpshooter in the galaxy. -
 * The Chick: On a team of women, Moonracer is the Chick.
 * Friendly Sniper

Function: Defense Base
""Unyielding resolve has no conqueror.""

-
 * Humongous Mecha: Status: indisputable. Dimensions: questionable.
 * Last of His Kind: Guardian model: Discontinued.
 * More Dakka: Firepower: considerable.
 * Terse Talker: Page quote: achieved.

Function: Scientist
""One's ultimate truth lies in one's molecular structure.""

The Autobots' chief scientist. -
 * Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness
 * The Smart Guy
 * Spock Speak

Function: Warrior
""To stop me, you have to catch me first.""

The one-robot air show and one of the few Autobots who can take on the Decepticons in their own element. -
 * Ace Pilot
 * Boisterous Bruiser
 * Catch Phrase: "And awayyyyyy we go!"
 * Top Gun: Not as much as he thinks he is, though.

Function: Protectobot Leader (Hot Spot), Scout (Groove), Doctor (First Aid), Interceptor (Streetwise), Air Support (Blades), Super Warrior (Defensor)
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/groove_5845.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/streetwise_8042.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/defensor_4750.jpg "Hot Spot: "Rust never sleeps, and neither do I."

Groove: "War is a problem, never a solution."

First Aid: "An ounce of maintenance is worth a pound of cure."

Streetwise: "You have to know where you are before you know what to do."

Blades: "War's a dirty game - and I'm a dirty player."

Defensor: "As long as one innocent being is threatened, none are truly free.""

A combiner team made up of Search and Rescue vehicles who seem to act as the bridge between Autobots and humans. For once a combiner team that doesn't fit easily into the Five-Man Band format. -
 * Technical Pacifist: Groove, though he wishes he was an...
 * Actual Pacifist: First Aid ran off with it, though.
 * Barrier Warrior: Defensor can generate a forcefield.
 * Blood Knight: Blades likes to get close.
 * Hyper Awareness: Streetwise's shtick.
 * The Hero: The Protectobots may not fit entirely into the Five-Man Band role, but Hot Spot is definitely this.
 * The Medic: First Aid.
 * Beware the Nice Ones: The Protectobots in general; Hot Spot in particular.
 * Only Sane Man: Defensor. The Protectobots being so nice and cooperative means they have the only real mentally stable combined form on both sides.
 * Gentle Giant: Defensor doesn't understand why humans always seem to be afraid of him.

Function: Security Director
""Caution can never be overused.""

The Autobots' paranoid security director. -
 * Conspiracy Theorist: Thinks that everyone's out to get him.
 * Never Live It Down: His spotlight episode happened to be one in which he spent most of the time running around with brain (processor?) damage due to an accident. The manic paranoia stemming from said damage was taken as the norm and run with by the fandom even though it had been fixed by the end of the episode. (Not to say he isn't legitimately paranoid, though.)
 * Fire Department Lamboes Are Hot
 * Heterosexual Life Partners: Him and Inferno are CLOSE.
 * Palette Swap: Of Sideswipe.
 * Improbably Cool Car: His altmode is a fire chief's car. Do you know any fire chiefs who drive Lamborghinis?

Function: Ground Assault Commander
""War is a dirty business... and I'm as dirty as they come.""

Part of the Wreckers (in every and ALL Transformer continuities). -
 * Blood Knight: He's not happy unless he's fighting Decepticons. Else, he can be downright gloomy and depressing.
 * Guns Akimbo

Function: Naval Defense
""Be unyielding as the ocean waves and your enemies shall fall.""

-

Function: Theoretician
""Deep down, we are more like than unlike humans.""

The Autobots' resident theoretician and daydreamer. -
 * Technical Pacifist (in the G1 comic series)
 * Badass Bookworm who apparently knows Earth's Football.
 * Ascended Extra: In the cartoon, he had exactly two lines of dialogue across two episodes of the entire series. In the G1 comics, he gets his own Day in The Limelight issue and is an integral part of the end of the Robot-Master storyline.

Function: Diversionary Tactician
""A look can be deceiving; a touch can be lethal.""

The resident Jack Sparrow. -
 * Palette Swap: of Bluestreak.
 * The Gambler: His Day in The Limelight episode is even called this.
 * Shout-Out: His toy is based on a Real Life touring race car from the 1980s.
 * We Need a Distraction: His specialty.

Function: Land & Sea Assault (Topspin), Demolitions (Twin Twist)
"Topspin: "The thrill is the journey."

Twin Twist: "War is wherever I want it to be.""

Brothers and members of the elite squad called the Wreckers. -
 * Badass Bookworm: Topspin is a former cartographer who mainly joined the Wreckers to keep an eye on his brother.
 * Drill Tank: Twin Twist's alt-mode.
 * This Is a Drill: Twin Twist has two, befitting his name.

Function: Warrior
""Looking good is what life is all about.""

-
 * Ambiguously Gay
 * Flying Car
 * Watch the Paint Job

Function: Warrior
""A good shot is worth more than a good intention.""

-
 * Adult Child
 * Blood Knight
 * Fun Personified: A jolly and likable fella who just happens to be a combat junkie.
 * Proud Warrior Race Guy: A friendly example, but still.
 * Tank Goodness
 * Verbal Tic: He makes booming sounds between sentences. (BLAM!) (POW!)

Function: Aerial Assault
""If used logically, madness makes a great weapon.""

-
 * Ax Crazy: James Roberts took the above quote about madness and spun it into Whirl literally being insane.
 * Badass: Comes with the territory of being a Wrecker.
 * Characterization Marches On: In Whirl's early appearances in the IDW-verse, while we admittedly didn't really get inside his head, Whirl was simply another badass Wrecker. It was only when James Roberts got ahold of him that the other tropes here really started to apply.
 * Robotic Psychopath
 * Sociopathic Hero: Despite this, he's still considered a good guy, by virtue of being an Autobot.

Function: Cavalier (as Hot Rod), Protector (as Rodimus)
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rodimus_prime_1587.jpg "Hot Rod: "My actions speak louder than words."

Rodimus Prime: "Experience is the benchmark of maturity.""

A character created for the movie who eventually became leader of the Autobots. -
 * The Chains of Commanding
 * The Chosen One
 * Empathic Weapon: Dr Sparks/Firebolt
 * I Have Many Names
 * Kid Hero: Well, a kid by Cybertronian standards, at least.
 * Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: His interference in Optimus' fight against Megatron in The Movie led to Optimus' death.
 * The comics (knowingly?) set up a similar situation, but subverted the trope: Optimus realizes that a battle with the Decepticons was staged to leave Ratchet and the Ark defenseless, and he sends the rest of the Autobots back to the ship, which leaves him alone against all of the Decepticons on Earth. Hot Rod bails out at the last minute and returns to help Optimus, and when Pretender Starscream attacks, it's his shot on the Pretender shell that turns the tide of the fight.
 * Replacement Scrappy: In Universe. Not many were happy about him leading after he got Optimus killed. Extends into real life to a degree.
 * Unlikely Hero: The brash teenager who becomes Autobot leader.

Arcee
The first recurring female Transformer in the series. -


 * Ax Crazy: In IDW's comics, Arcee was forcibly converted into a female Transformer by the mad scientist Jhiaxus, which had the side effect of making her a psychotic assassin obsessed with tracking him down.
 * Mama Bear: She acts as a mother figure to Daniel Witwicky, and pity anyone who threatens the boy.
 * Pink Means Feminine
 * The Smurfette Principle: Even though some female Autobots had previously appeared, Arcee was the first one to become a regular cast member, and the only one for some time.
 * Toyless Toyline Character: For the duration of the series. She later got a toy as a repaint of Blackarachnia for Bot-Con 2001 and another in 2008 as part of Binaltech, but none with her original appearance.
 * Third party toy companies have recently made "unlicensed" figures of her.

Function: Data Courier
""The faster it is, the better I like it.""

An Autobot scout who is very hyperactive. -
 * Empathic Weapon: Haywire
 * Motor Mouth
 * Verbal Tic: Hetalksreallyfast.
 * Super Speed

Function: Warrior
""The past is the greatest teacher.""

An elderly Autobot who often spins a tale of the old days to give advice. -
 * Communications Officer: In Wings Of Honor he serves as this on Thunderclash's ship.
 * Cool Old Guy
 * Empathic Weapon: Recoil
 * The Mentor: Specifically to Hot Rod, but IDW has him teaching a lot of other Autobots, including Optimus.
 * New Meat: His younger self in Wings Of Honor.
 * Seen It All: And he'll tell you War Stories about them all too!!
 * Time Abyss: All of the Transformers are this, really, but it's particularly noticably with Kup. How old is he? Well, no concrete numbers are given, and the continuities vary, but take, for example, the G1 cartoon. There, the war against Megatron began 9 million years ago, and Optimus Prime took control when it began. Kup is portrayed as being significantly older than Optimus Prime. That means Kup could potentially be twelve million years old or more!
 * Wide Eyed Idealist: Ditto.

Function: Air and Sea Assault
""I like the sea far away and my feet on the ground.""

Part of the Wreckers. He also serves as the Autobot's "cab" during the G1 cartoon (ala Jetfire and Omega Supreme). -
 * Sizeshifter
 * Why Did It Have To Be Heights AND The Sea?!
 * (Yet you'll hear none of that from him during the G1 cartoons.)

Function: Electronic Surveillance
""Clutch hitting is the key to an effective offense.""

One of Blaster's tapes, he's obsessed with Earth sports. -

Function: Communications
""Weapons can win battles, but words can win wars.""

-
 * Communications Officer: Sometimes.
 * Palette Swap: Of Cliffjumper, without the rear spoiler.
 * The Barnum: Apparently a con man.

Function: Battle Station
""Vigilance is the foundation on which victories are built.""

-
 * Humongous Mecha: He's the size of a city.
 * The Rival: To Trypticon.

Function: Gunner
""Rules are detours on the road of life.""

-
 * Drives Like Crazy
 * Considering how he's supposedly from down undah...
 * Palette Swap: Of Brawn (though they gave him a roof-mounted gun)

Function: Warrior
""One being's junk is another's art.""

-
 * Fantastic Anthropologist
 * Palette Swap: Of Huffer (though he transforms differently)

Function: Warrior
""Flee before me or else you'll fall before me.""

The Big Guy if Blaster and his tapes were a Five-Man Band. -
 * Rhino Rampage
 * Stuttering (during his accidental visit to Cybertron in the past).

Function: Archivist
""Too much information is never enough.""

-
 * Adorkable
 * Encyclopaedic Knowledge
 * Heterosexual Life Partners: With Chromedome, in The Transformers IDW.
 * Insufferable Genius
 * The Smart Guy: Of Blaster's tapes.

Function: Recconnaissance
""When the smoke clears, I've cleared out.""

-
 * Technical Pacifist (during the G1 cartoon)
 * Dune Buggy + Helicopter = AWESOME.
 * A Friendly Enemy to Octane

Function: Lieutenant Commander
""The best achievements are worth repeating.""

-
 * Combining Mecha: Of a sort. His space shuttle half and cargo carrier half can separate into a dino-bird and a lynx, but both are the same mind and personality. They can also remain together as a four-legged dragon-like beast. In vehicle mode he is always combined, the shuttle is never without the cargo section.
 * Everything's Better With Dinosaurs: Well, part of him anyway, though it might be more dragon than dino.
 * Insufferable Genius: His huge form is dwarfed by his massive ego. He's got the skills and power to back it up, though.
 * Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Sky Lynx effectively replaced Omega Supreme as the giant warrior and group transportation in the third season. Omega did have a few appearances, though, and an entire episode where he got to trounce Decepticons on the Planet of Junk (and the only episode where Omega and Sky Lynx appeared together).

Function: Aerial Defense
""Strength is more than physical.""

An Autobot introduced in the movie, he is frequently leader of the Wreckers, an elite squad of Autobots. -
 * The Big Guy
 * Loveable Rogue

Function: Tracker
""What the eyes don't see, the nose knows.""

Blaster's answer to Soundwave's Ravage. -
 * Everything's Better With Lions.
 * Momma Bear's Claws when Carly Witwicky was searching for her son Daniel (as well as Grimlock).

Function: Metallurgist
""Molecular structure is the key to understanding.""

-
 * Attention Deficit Ooh Shiny: Gets distracted very easily.
 * Drives Like Crazy
 * Palette Swap: Of Gears.
 * Motor Mouth: In The Transformers IDW, his nickname at the Academy was "Shut the Hell Up".
 * Plucky Comic Relief: In IDW.
 * Wall of Blather: In IDW.

Function: Scout
""Let my fellow mechanical beings go!""

-
 * Palette Swap: Of Windcharger.

Function: City Commander
""Consistency is victory.""

An Autobot who runs Autobot City on Earth. Frequently described as the brother of Optimus Prime. - ""All weapons are trained on them in case they try something 'hilarious.'""
 * Arch Nemesis: Of Galvatron.
 * Big Badass Rig: Becomes one.
 * Bounty Hunter: His IDW incarnation works as an enforcer, hunting down anyone, Autobot or Decepticon, that violates the Tyrest Accord.
 * Catch Phrase: "I can't deal with that right now." Ascribed to him by Memetic Mutation, though he only says it the once, in a situation that's understandable in context.
 * The Comically Serious: IDW Ultra Magnus is essentially the ultimate old-fashioned Straight Man, especially in "More Than Meets the Eye". Even when he's actually trying to be up-to-date and/or give snappy one-liners, he fails miserably.


 * Good Counterpart: To Cyclonus.
 * Number Two: To Optimus or Rodimus. It's how he prefers it.
 * Proud Warrior Race Guy: So brave and honorable he is respected by Autobots AND Decepticons.
 * Robo-Family: Sometimes said to be Optimus Prime's brother.
 * Worthy Opponent: He respects Cyclonus as a brother warrior, and the feeling is mutual.

Function: Survivalist
""Only the fierce shall live.""

-
 * Kid Appeal Character: Specifically, to Daniel.
 * Rhymes On a Dime
 * Robot Kid

Function: Junkion Leader
""Collect and save, collect and save.""

Leader of the Junkions. More of an ally to the Autobots than an Autobot per se. -
 * Verbal Tic: The Junkions speak in mixed advertisement shout-outs.
 * The Weird Al (in his G1 themesong and his Animated counterpart).
 * Grail in The Garbage: The Planet Junkion. Meh...

Impactor
Founder of the Wreckers and its first leader. -
 * Catch Phrase: "Wreck and Rule."
 * Toyless Toyline Character.

Function: Biomechanical Engineer
""The strongest tyrant cannot crush freedom of thought.""

-
 * Lack of Empathy: Somewhat. In IDW's comics, Brainstorm makes it his mission to create incredibly excessive and creatively brutal weaponry, and shows little guilt over the implications of this.
 * Losing Your Head: He's a Headmaster.
 * For Science!: He's the Autobots' idea man. In Last Stand of the Wreckers, this tips fully over into Mad Scientist.
 * Small Name, Big Ego

Function: Computer Programmer
""A battle plan is only as good as its programmer.""

-
 * Heterosexual Life Partners: With Rewind, in The Transformers IDW.
 * Interrogating the Dead: In IDW he's a "mnemosurgeon" that can read robots' memories, especially dead 'bots.
 * The Lancer: To Fortress Maximus, in the anime.
 * Losing Your Head: He's a Headmaster.
 * Telepathy: In IDW. More specifically, he's a skilled mnemosurgeon, who can hack into the minds of other Transformers to read their memories.

Function: Weapons Supervisor
""Don't shoot until you see the wires in their eyes.""

-
 * Empathic Weapon: Pinpointer.

Function: Warrior (Fastlane), Sky Fighter (Cloudraker)
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cloudraker_6212.jpg "Fastlane: "Either you're out of my way or out of luck."

Cloudraker: "Gravity is the chain that binds us all.""

Identical robots who transform into completely different vehicles (a race car and a plane, respectively) -
 * Drives Like Crazy: Fastlane.
 * Why Did It Have To Be Enclosed Spaces?: Cloudraker.

Function: Headmaster Leader
""Prepare for war, but strive for peace.""

-
 * Arch Nemesis: To Scorponok.
 * Actual Pacifist: He'd like to be, at least.
 * Losing Your Head: Is a Headmaster.

Function: Ground Assault
""It's either MY way - or NO way!""

-
 * Losing Your Head: He's a Headmaster
 * Tank Goodness
 * Meaningful Name: He's extremely stubborn.

Function: Electronic Warfare
""War is the playground of the ignorant.""

-
 * Losing Your Head: He's a Headmaster.
 * Insufferable Genius: Hoo boy. Dangerously combined with...
 * Upper Class Wit

Function: Military Strategist (Grotusque), Counter-Intelligence (Repugnus), Supply Procurer (Doublecross)
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/repugnus_9327.jpg "Grotusque: "If it ain't fun to do, it ain't worth doing."

Repugnus: "No job is too disgusting to disgust me."

Doublecross: "Decepticon destruction is my favorite sport... and mine, too.""

Three Autobots who transform into fantastic beasts. They are Grotusque, Repugnus, and Doublecross. -
 * Meaningful Name: Repugnus is a worse person than half the Decepticons.
 * Playing With Fire: They can all can breathe it in beast mode.
 * Split Personality: Doublecross.
 * Token Evil Teammate: Repugnus is the nastiest Autobot to still be portrayed as a hero; only the comic-exclusive Flame, an unrepentant villain, is worse. The only reason the Autobots keep him around is because he's the only one willing to do less-than-ethical missions when they prove necessary.

Function: Enforcer
""Be brief of speech and long on action.""

-
 * Empathic Weapon: Peacemaker.

Function: Double Agent
""In my business, there are no friends, only suspects.""

-
 * Reverse Mole: He's undercover as a Decepticon.
 * Split Personality: According to his bio, Punch experiences blackouts that imply Counterpunch could be developing a personality of his own.

Function: Sharpshooter
""Believing in yourself improves your aim better than target practice.""

-
 * Cold Sniper
 * Empathic Weapon: Spoilsport, a Cold Sniper in his own right

Function: Technobot Leader (Scattershot), Data Processor (Lightspeed), Assault Vehicle (Nosecone), Gunner (Afterburner), Aerial Gunner (Strafe), Warrior (Computron)
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lightspeed_9049.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/afterburner_7703.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/computron_2417.jpg "Scattershot: "Decepticons are like rust spots - they're ugly and they can pop up anywhere."

Lightspeed: "Space travel is the only flight to freedom."

Nosecone: "It's not who's the fastest; it's who reaches the finish line."

Afterburner: "Following leaders leads nowhere."

Strafe: "Shoot everywhere - since that's where the enemies are."

Computron: "Complete data analysis is essential for the synthesis of successful strategy.""

They merge to form Computron. -
 * The Five-Man Band who transform into futuristic (for 2006) / Cybertronian vehicles.
 * The Hero / The Big Guy: Scattershot (leader and can transform into a jet and cannon-thing)
 * The Big Guy: Meanwhile, Afterburner has anger management issues and a gun.
 * The Lancer: Afterburner (argues with Scattershot all the time) and Lightspeed (who, considering his personality is the real foil to Scattershot's, and with his tendency to take over ordering the others around when Scattershot isn't there, arguably makes him the better fit as lancer of the team.)
 * The Chick: Lightspeed, but Strafe may also fill this role considering his chronic paranoia and the fact that he's honestly just a really sweet guy underneath it all... at least according to his bio. The show doesn't get that across so much.
 * The Smart Guy: Poor Nosecone (though technically all of them to an extent. Nosecone and Lightspeed just display it more.)
 * Attention Deficit... Ooh, look at the stars: Lightspeed
 * Badass Bookworm: Nosecone
 * Jerkass: Afterburner. He has a Berserk Button that is constantly in some state of pressed.
 * Leeroybot: Strafe Sets It Off
 * I Just Want to Be Special: Lightspeed is a variation of this. He's a futuristic car who would love nothing more than to be reformatted into a spaceship to explore the universe.
 * Knowledge Is Power: Computron.
 * During the cartoon's third season, Grimlock used his suddenly advanced intelligence (a long story) to build the Technobots out of spare parts found in Unicron's brain. He then transfered his knowledge into the Computron's brain; hence reverting Grimlock back to his old self.
 * Awesomeness By Analysis: Computron. He takes forever to make a move in a fight, but once he does? OHKO all the way, baby. (It's actually getting that hit in before he gets pulverized that's the problem.)
 * Lightspeed pulls this off in the show as well (in "The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1") by taking a split-second to look at the situation and coming up with a plan that he quickly sets in motion through his teammates. And it works.

Function: Scout (Chase), Saboteur (Freeway), Surveillance (Searchlight), Tracker (Rollbar), Materials Transport (Wideload)
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/freeway_2607.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rollbar_1132.jpg "Chase: "Hunters drive; targets park."

Freeway: "Words can cut deeper than steel."

Searchlight: "Seeing is, by itself, not enough for believing."

Rollbar: "When the going gets tough, the tough get driving!"

Wideload: Look good and you'll have the world in your pocket.""

A group of Autobots led by Goldbug, the former Bumblebee. They are Chase, Freeway, Searchlight, Rollbar and Wideload. Tropes about Goldbug go in Bumblebee/Goldbug, above. -
 * Expy: They replaced the Mini-Vehicles in the toy line.
 * Chase is one of Cliffjumper.
 * Composite Character: Rollbar has many characteristics of both Brawn and Trailbreaker.
 * Motor Mouth: Chase.
 * Jerkass: Freeway thinks he's a comedian. The others... don't.
 * Sixth Ranger: Goldbug. Sometimes he isn't even acknowledged as part of the team.
 * The Quiet One: Searchlight.
 * Watch the Paint Job: For a dump truck, Wide Load is very particular about his appearance.

Function: Space Defense
""You can't tell a bot by his cover.""

-
 * The Charmer: A facade. He's actually really insecure about himself.

Function: Warrior
""Run hot, but always keep your cool.""

-
 * Escape Artist

Function: Ground Trooper
""The first one in is the first one to win!""

-

Function: Squadron Leader
""The truth wrapped in a lie is still a lie.""

-
 * Failure Knight

Function: Emergency Rescue
""If at first you don't succeed, keep trying.""

-

Function: Warrior
""Enjoy each moment like it's your last.""

-

Function: Materials Transport
""Adventure is found in unlikely places.""

-
 * Fat Slob: The Transformer equivalent. He's the Autobots' waste-disposal guy, and actually a very nice bot, but the other Autobots dislike him because he never cleans up after himself and smells really bad.

Function: Asteroid Miner
""The greatest treasures are found in the darkest places.""

-

Function: Detective
""Truth is revealed in the smallest detail.""

An Autobot who likes to solve mysteries. -
 * Hardboiled Detective: Frequently written as an homage to the genre, especially by Furman.
 * Losing Your Head: He's a Headmaster (as shown in a single Marvel UK issue)
 * Private Detective: Especially in Classics.

Function: Surveillance (Catilla), Ground Trooper (Chainclaw)
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chainclaw_2916.jpg "Catilla: "Stalk before you strike."

Chainclaw: The only thing for certain is uncertainty.""

They are the hunter Catilla and the worrywart Chainclaw. -
 * Everything's Worse With Bears: Chainclaw.
 * Heel Face Turn: Before being an Autobot, Catilla was part of the Mayhem Attack Squad.
 * Hunting the Most Dangerous Game: Catilla treats his enemies like prey.
 * Panthera Awesome: Catilla.

Function: Chemist
""The faster it is, the better I like it.""

-
 * For Science!
 * Hair-Trigger Temper

Function: Assault Warrior
""A confused enemy is a defeated enemy.""

-

Function: Field Infantry
""Generosity has its own rewards.""

-
 * Determinator
 * Empathic Weapon: Two of them: Holepunch and Tracer

Function: Incendiary Damage Control
""Act first, ask questions later.""

-
 * Losing Your Head: He's a Headmaster, even if it's never shown in the comics.
 * No Indoor Voice: Exaggerated in Transformers Classics.
 * The Watson: to Nightbeat.

Function: Scout
""Imagination is the key that unlocks the chains of reality.""

-

Function: Audio Correspondant (Grand Slam), Video Correspondant (Raindance)
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/raindanceart_5514.jpg "Grand Slam: "The sounds of war are history speaking."

Function: "Every Picture tells a story."

An Autobot composed of the cassettes Grand Slam and Raindance. -
 * Intrepid Reporter

Function: Interceptor
""Sometimes, if you wait long enough, problems solve themselves.""

-
 * Drives Like Crazy
 * Power Incontinence: Has been known to forget his Powermaster engine, leaving him stuck in vehicle mode at... inopportune times.

Function: Military Strategist (Fizzle), Interceptor (Sizzle), Ground Assault (Guzzle)
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sizzle_7585.jpg "Fizzle: "Planning a battle is ten times more important than fighting it."

Sizzle: "Life in the fast lane is the only life worth living."

Guzzle: "It is better to have fought and lost than never to have fought at all.""

Composed of the talkative Fizzle, the reckless Sizzle, and the gruff veteran Guzzle. -
 * Drives Like Crazy: Sizzle.
 * Tank Goodness: Guzzle.

Function: Naval Commander
""Outflank your enemy and you won't have to outgun him.""

-

Function: Lookout (Backstreet), Aerial Combat (Dogfight), Scout (Override)
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dogfightart_9555.jpg "Backstreet: "A moment of indecision can be your last."

Dogfight: "Don't fire 'til you see the lights of their eyes."

Override: "Let your actions do the talking and no one will misunderstand you.""

Composed of the nervous Backstreet, the homicidal Dogfight, and the brash Override.
 * Ax Crazy: Dogfight toward Decepticons.

Function: Naval Warfare
""Freedom for all starts with freedom of navigation.""

-

Function: Rapid Deployment Strike Force
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sidetrack_6268.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sunrunner_8463.jpg ""It is better to strike first, than to not strike at all."

Composed of Flak, Sidetrack, Sun-Runner, and Big Shot. -

Function: Aerospace Commander
""For a world without evil, you need a universe without evil.""

A Micromoaster, he runs the Autobots' Rocket Base. -

Function: Ground Reinforcement
""A warrior is only as good as his weapons.""

-

Function: Surveillance
""Burn, baby, burn!""

-
 * Multiple Head Case: Each head actually has a different function.

Function: Construction Engineer
""Everyone loses if there's nothing to win.""

-

Function: Field Commander
""A life without risk is a life without reward.""

-

Function: Long Range Defense
""Communication is the key that unlocks victory.""

-
 * Firemen Are Hot

Function: Communications Bay
""Strong support needs a good foundation.""

-

Function: Undersea Defense
""The greatest truths lie at the greatest depths.""

-

Function: Covert Activities
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/high_jump_1838.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tote_1159.jpg ""Don't follow orders, follow instincts.""

Composed of Musdlinger, High Jump, Powertrain, and Tote. -

Function: Troop Transport
""Know your enemy and he's yours.""

-

Function: Chemical Engineer
""Be humble of word, but great in deed.""

-
 * Mad Scientist: Says it right there in this Tech Spec!

Function: Reconnaissance
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/freewheeler_8895.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tailspin_3404.jpg ""In confusion there is opportunity.""

Composed of Swindler, Freewheeler, Roadhandler, and Tailspin. -

Function: Search & Rescue
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/redhot_7937.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/stakeout_9354.jpg ""True victory can lie only in the ability to locate and mend the injured.""

Compose of Redhot, Seawatch, Fixit, and Stakeout. -

Function: Ground and Air Assault
""There is no disgrace in not succeeding, only in not trying.""

-
 * Knight in Shining Armor

Function: Saboteur
""Don't take a chance if you don't stand a chance.""

-

Function: Air Defense
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/blaze_master_5006.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tread_bolt_9185.jpg ""Keep your eye to the sky!""

Composed of Blaze Master, Sky High (the other one), Eagle Eye, and Treadbolt. -
 * The Sociopath: Blaze Master is another candidate for most morally-bankrupt Autobot; his favorite pastime is covering Decepticons in napalm, then laughing as they burn to death.

Function: Interstellar Defense
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/phaser_5525.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/barrage_4180.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/moonrock_9860.jpg ""There's no speed like light speed!""

Composed of Heave, Barrage, Blast Master, Moonrock, Phaser, and Missile Master. -

Function: Ground Reinforcement
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/groundpounder_5663.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crumble_1460.jpg ""The foundations of freedom are forged on solid ground.""

Composed of Groundpounder, Neutro, Takedown, and Crumble. -

Function: Regional Ground/Air Defense
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/battlefield_headquarters-1_831.jpg ""Speed and power are the driving force for victory.""

Two Micromasters who run the Autobots' Battlefield Headquarters. -

Function: Highway Recon
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/trip-up_9067.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/greaser_4566.jpg ""The essence of speed relies on our power to perform.""

Composed of Trip-Up, Hubs, Greaser, and Big Daddy. -

Function: Urban Protection
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/road_burner_5099.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/slide_5721.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wheel_blaze_526.jpg ""Protecting life is the most unselfish act of all!""

Composed of Road Burner, Power Run, Slide, Oiler, Strikedown, and Wheel Blaze. -

Function: Ground Transport
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/heavy_tread_4828.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/slow_poke_6690.jpg ""We're a giant, mobile wall of Autobot might!""

Composed of Heavy Tread, Big Hauler, Hydraulic, and Slow Poke. -

Function: Ground Defense and Counterattack
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tanker_truck_7302.jpg ""Leave the enemy spitting dust and bolts.""

Two bickering Micromasters who command the Autobots' Tanker Trucks. -
 * Odd Couple
 * Tank Goodness

Function: Long Range Defense
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/missile_launcher-1_2458.jpg ""Perseverance leads to triumph.""

Two battle-hardened Micromasters who pilot the Autobots' Missile Launchers. -

Jackpot
 * Born Lucky
 * Handsome Lech (in TransTech)
 * Hustler (ditto)
 * Those Two Guys: With Hubcap (ditto, again)

Kick-Off

Mainframe
 * Absent-Minded Professor
 * The Spock

Over-Run
 * The Neidermeyer
 * Small Name, Big Ego

Rad

Rollout

Skyfall
 * (in Last Stand of the Wreckers)
 * Gadgeteer Genius
 * (again, in LSOTW)

Sprocket
 * Blood Knight
 * Cloudcuckoolander (in Wings of Honor)

Function: Assault Force Leader (Gripper), Scout, Messenger (Lightspeed), Tactician, Troubleshooter (Flame)
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lightspeed_1314.jpg "Gripper: "To go forward across unknown terrain is only the beginning..."

Lightspeed: "Light years flash past at mind numbingly sub-atomic speeds."

Flame: "Too hot to handle is ice cold to me.""

Composed of Gripper, Lightspeed, and Flame. -
 * Name's the Same: There's another Autobot named Flame, a Toyless Toyline Character with a... rather different personality.
 * As well as the Technobot named Lightspeed.
 * No Export for You: They were only available in Europe, where the Generation 1 line continued three more years.
 * Palette Swap: Of the Brainmasters from the Japanese series Transformers Victory.
 * Three Man Band
 * The Hero: Gripper.
 * The Lancer: Lightspeed.
 * The Smart Guy: Flame.

Function: Commander-in-chief (Thunder Clash), Forceleader (Boss), Defense Tactics Specialist (Hurricane), Decoy (Flash), Rear Guard (Scorch), Guide & Strategician (Rotorstorm)
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bossart_8509.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/flashart_9249.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rotorstorm_4189.jpg "Thunder Clash: "We're ready and more than able. Let them throw all they want at us. We stand as one."

Boss: "Never underestimate the enemy... he's always worse than you could ever imagine."

Hurricane: "Give it all you've got. There may not be a tomorrow."

Flash: "Don't blink. I was that blur on the horizon."

Scorch: "No one gets past me. If they know what's good for them."

Rotorstorm: "Get into your enemy's mind. And them beat him at his own game.""

Composed of Thunder Clash, Boss, Hurricane, Flash, Scorch, and Rotorstorm. -
 * Six Bot Band:
 * The Hero: Thunder Clash.
 * The Lancer: Boss.
 * The Smart Guy: Hurricane.
 * The Big Guy: Flash (in personality; in practice, he's a Fragile Speedster) and Scorch (a Stone Wall)
 * The Chick: Rotorstorm (male)
 * The Ace: Rotorstorm, in Transformers Last Stand of the Wreckers (though he turns out to be more of a Broken Ace in the end).
 * The Captain: Thunderclash, in Transformers Wings of Honor.
 * No Export for You: Only available in Europe.
 * An Officer and A Gentleman: WoH Thunderclash again, with a bit of either Southern Gentleman or Quintessential British Gentleman depending on how you interpret his accent and mannerisms.
 * Would Hit a Girl: WoH Thunderclash, though he laments having to do it.

The Rescue Force
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/RescueForceTunnelBorerArt_2062.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/RescueForceHeavyLiftVehicleArt_5846.jpg

Composed of Rescue Force, Rescuer Force 1, Rescue Force 2, and Rescue Force 3. Seriously, that's their names. -
 * Combining Mecha: They form the equally-imaginatively-named Big Rescue Force... in theory. The resulting robot has no arms, thanks to the Breastforce members that form the arms not being exported.
 * No Export for You: They were only available in Europe.
 * Palette Swap: Of the Breastforce from Transformers Victory.

Breakaway

 * Actual Pacifist
 * Distressed Dude
 * Healing Hands
 * The Medic
 * The Pollyanna
 * Really 700 Years Old

Drift

 * Heel Face Turn: A former Decepticon.
 * The Fundamentalist: His brush with death during the Chaos storyline is said to have re-awakened his spiritual side.
 * Heroes Prefer Swords
 * Katanas Are Just Better
 * Warrior Poet

Flame

 * Mad Scientist

Function: Archaeometrist
"Erudition is the privilege of those who observe detail." -
 * Adventurer Archaeologist
 * Absent-Minded Professor
 * Cunning Linguist
 * Depending On the Artist: She can look exactly like the toy or have a more feminine shape.
 * Palette Swap: to Bumblebee.

Landshark

 * Big Brother Mentor: To young Kup.
 * Captain Crash
 * Cool Old Guy: He's by far the oldest member of the Elite Guard, but acts nothing like the typical old wise crankpot elderly Transformer, and everything like a young punk.
 * Older Than They Look
 * Plucky Comic Relief
 * Vitriolic Best Buds: With Flak.

Rung

 * Adorkable
 * Big Ol' Eyebrows: Which several other characters have commented on.
 * Butt Monkey
 * Distressed Dude: To the point of starting to become a Once an Episode gag.
 * Geek: Collects and builds model spaceships, for starters.
 * Opaque Nerd Glasses
 * The Shrink