Transformers Generation 1/Characters/Decepticons

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


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

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

Nemesis Decepticon crew

Megatron (メガトロン megatoron)

Function: Leader

Alt. Mode: Walther P-38 Pistol

"Peace through tyranny."

Megatron combines brute strength, military cunning, ruthlessness and terror. Aches to return to Cybertron to conquest after destroying all Autobots on earth. Plans to possess all Earth resources. Incredibly powerful and intelligent. Fires nuclear- charged fusion cannon. Can link up interdimensionally to a black hole and draw antimatter from it for use as a weapon. No known weakness.

  • A Father to His Men: Believe it or not, albeit a gruff and angry one. Has worked with Optimus Prime on numerous occasions to protect his warriors.

"I do this only for the welfare of my Decepticons. It grieves me that you should profit from it."

Starscream (スタースクリーム sutāsukurīmu)

  • Starscream

    Starscream

  • Pretender Starscream

    Pretender Starscream

Function: Air Commander
Alt. Modes: F-15 Eagle Fighter Jet, Human in Futuristic, Spiked Armor (Pretender Shell)

"Conquest is made of the ashes of one's enemies."

Seeks to replace Megatron as leader. Ruthless, cold-blooded, cruel... considers himself the most sophisticated and handsome of Decepticons. Believes Decepticons should rely more on guile and speed rather than brute force to defeat Autobots. Fastest flyer of group, can reach Mach 2.8 and an altitude of 52 miles. Shoots cluster bombs and null-rays which disrupts the flow of electricity. Very good at what he does, but sometimes overrates himself.

Pretender Starscream is a cheating, traitorous villan. Ruthless and cold-blooded. Always plotting another evil attack against the heroic Autobots. Determined to rule the universe with a fist of iron. Outer shell armed with methylial-powered jet pack and thermal carbine that can either freeze or melt metal on impact. Inner robot armed with null ray rifle that shorts out electrical impulses. Maximum speed: Mach 3. Also equipped with suborbital capabilities. Arrogance is Starscream's only weakness.

  • Actor Allusion: In one episode a large snake landed around Starscream's head causing him to freak out. Chris Latta's (Starscream's voice actor) other most famous role was Cobra Commander.
  • Big Bad Wannabe: On the few times he takes control, he just can't cut it.
  • Chronic Backstabbing Disorder
  • Depending on the Writer: While the cartoon version of Starscream is even more inept than Megatron, some continuities have him as a very capable (and frighteningly sadistic) fighter and nearly as crafty as Megatron (who is also much more competent in those continuities).
  • Dirty Coward: See above. He wouldn't shoot Megatron in the face if you held a gun to his.
    • From the comics: After being destroyed at the end of the Underbase saga, he was revived as a Pretender by a Not Quite Dead Megatron, Brainwashed, and almost defeated Optimus Prime and all of the Decepticons on Earth. But Ratchet had actually turned him into a reverse Manchurian Agent, hiding his true personality deep within his neural circuitry. Hot Rod shoots Starscream during the fight, and he immediately panics and begs mercy to Scorponok.
    • In the season 2 episode "A Prime Problem", Megatron made a clone of Starscream fight a clone of Optimus. The real Starscream was running the clone on remote, and even the Autobots remarked how good a fight he was putting up that day.
  • The Dragon: Megatron's most iconic lieutenant.
  • Evil Sounds Deep: Averted. Starscream has the screechiest voice among the Decepticons.
    • Except in the Japanese version, see the Hey, It's That Voice! entry.
    • But he's at his most genuinely sinister when his voice does drop.
  • Famous Last Words: "Megatron, is that you?"
  • Fan Nickname: Screamer.
  • Fatal Flaw: It's not greed or ambition (even though he has plenty of both) but Pride.
  • Hey, It's That Voice!: Fans of Mobile Suit Gundam may recognize his Japanese voice as the Memetic Badass Team Dad, Captian Bright Noa. You suddenly want to see him slap wimps into MEN OF DESTINY. It's also very much Playing Against Type.
  • It's All About Me
  • Joker Immunity: Usually, but not always, avoids severe/fatal punishment for his insubordination. Of course, since his spark is immortal, he can never truly die.
  • Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: In the pilot episodes, it was Starscream giving some parting shots at the Ark that caused a disabled Optimus Prime to fall into the path of the repair machine. Whoops.
  • Not So Harmless: For all his flaws, Starscream is a dangerous combatant, with plenty of Autobots under his belt. This is the only reason Megatron keeps him around.
  • Palette Swap: With his Seekers (Thundercracker, Skywarp, Ramjet, Dirge, and Thrust)
  • Rage Against the Mentor: Some of Starscream's recent characterizations have this.
  • Smug Snake: Starscream believes himself to be smarter, deadlier, and handsomer than the rest of the Decepticons. He has frequently been portrayed as more interested in being Decepticon leader for the sake of the title than defeating the Autobots. Unsurprisingly, most of the Decepticons hate him.
  • The Starscream: Though that goes without saying.

Soundwave (サウンドウェーブ saundowēbu)

Function: Communications

Alt. Mode: Tape Player

"Cries and screams are music to my ears."

It is said Soundwave can hear a fly sneeze. Uses anything he hears for blackmail to advance his status. Opportunist. Despised by all other Decepticons. Sensors can detect even lowest energy radio transmissions. Able to read minds by monitoring electrical brain impulses. Acts as radio link for others. Locates and identifies Autobots, then informs Decepticons. Carries a concussion blaster gun. Often target of retaliation by his comrades.

"As you command, Megatron."
"Soundwave: superior. Constructicons: inferior."

  • No Mouth: Mostly, see Depending on the Artist
  • Operation Blank: Soundwave would seem to use this trope, except his speech patterns meant he was simply issuing orders.
  • Pet the Dog: Or robot panther, in this case. There are a few moments where Soundwave pets or scratches Ravage like a pet cat. It's quite adorable.
  • Robo Speak
  • Screams Like a Little Girl: Believe it or not.
  • Sizeshifter Transforms into a cassette player.
  • The Spymaster: He sends his little minions out to spy on the Autobots...and his fellow Decepticons.
  • Telepathy: His often forgotten power
  • Undying Loyalty: To Megatron. In the original screenplay its shown that he opposed Starscream's decision to throw the mortally-wounded Megatron off Astrotrain, and fought for Decepticon leadership just so he can force Astrotrain to go back for him. This was ufortunately cut to "save screentime."
  • Villainous Friendship: Type 1 with Megatron, whom he loves like a brother. There is a reason why Megatron begged for his help when mortally-wounded, as he is the only being, much less Decepticon, he could trust. Thankfully, this love is fully returned even when his leader became Galvatron, as he brought him back to life as Soundblaster after he died fighting Blaster.

The Cassetticons (Cassettron (カセットロン kasettoron))

Buzzsaw (バズソー bazusō)

Function: Spy

Alt. Mode: Cassette Tape

"My bite is worse than my bark."

Civil and sophisticated yet very cruel and destructive. Approaches his lethal tasks like a fine artist. Each deadly mission is like working on a new masterpiece. Can pinpoint and photograph a thumbtack from 20 miles away. Flies at 250mph. Carries twin mortar cannons. Diamond-hard, micro-serrated beak can carve up almost any opponent. Due to large ego, will often sulk rather than proceed if his plans go astray.

Laserbeak (Condor (コンドル kondoru))

[[File:laserbeak_5424.jpg|frame|Function: Interrogation\\ Alt. Mode: Cassette Tape

"The only point I like in Autobots: Melting point."

Laserbeak takes pleasure in hunting his prey -- usually the straggling survivors of a battle. Noticeably not brave. Will run for safety if threatened. Flies at speeds up to 250mph. Uses two independently targetable laser cannons with extreme precision to get information from capitves. Shortage of ruby crystals that powers the lasers can panic his systems into shutting down.

  • Adaptation Expansion: In the original cartoon Laserbeak appeared much more often than his counterpart Buzzsaw, and even gained Buzzsaw's role as a spy.
  • Informed Flaw: His tech specs tell he's a Dirty Coward, but he hasn't shown any cowardly tendencies.
  • Pirate Parrot: He sits on the shoulder of Soundwave or anyone who is the Decepticon leader at that time. Most noticeable in the comics. A joke in the tfwiki tells "Autobots pass the Matrix, Decepticons pass the Laserbeak".
  • Sizeshifter

Ravage (Jagar (ジャガー jagā))

Function: Saboteur

Alt. Mode: Cassette Tape]

"Today's Autobots are tomorrow's scrap metal."

Ravage operates best alone. A creature of the night. Craftiest of all Decepticons. Adept at devising deadly new strategies. Remains aloof from others, but his deeds command their respect. Can virually escape detection -- emits an electromagnetic emmission shield, has soundless walk, disappears in subdued light or shadow. Carries 2 powerful heat-seeking missiles. Light-sensitive. Can be blinded.

Rumble (ランブル ramburu) & Frenzy (フレンジー furenjī)

  • Rumble

    Rumble

  • Frenzy

    Frenzy

Function: Demolitions (Rumble), Warrior (Frenzy)
Alt. Modes: Cassette Tapes

Rumble: "Destroy what's below and what's above will follow."
Frenzy: "Sow panic and surrender will bloom."

Rumble is your basic street punk. Small, but always acting tough. Quick temper and mean disposition. Follows Megatron's orders eagerly. Transmits immense low frequency groundwaves to create powerful earthquakes. His small size limits his physical strength, but his ability to shatter the ground makes him difficult to approach in a fight.

If Frenzy needed to breathe, war would be his oxygen. He knows no cause, only craves to spread fear and destruction. His efforts are appreciated by other Decepticons. His devotion to warfare makes him hard to deal with on a personal level. Can roll his drums to produce high-pitch, grating sound of 200db. Disorients and disrupts electrical flow in opponent's circuitry which makes them malfunction. Physically weak. His manic attack can be countered with cool logic.

Reflector (リフレクター rifurekutā)

Spectro (Reflector-1 (リフレクター1 rifurekutāwan))


Viewfinder (Reflector-2 (リフレクター2 rifurekutātsu))

Spyglass (Reflector-3 (リフレクター3 rifurekutāsurī))

Function: Reconaissance
Alt. Mode: Camera

"See and you can know, know and you can destroy."

Loves to observe things: vegetation, architecture, Earthen topography, and particularly comrades' mistakes. Likes to blackmail his associates and is impressed with his own ability. Has highly-developed infra-red vision that can record images in darkness, through camouflage and at great distances. In camera Mode, can emit powerful flash explosion that leaves enemy blind and disorientated for up to 15 seconds.

  • Blackmail Is Such an Ugly Word: Like Soundwave, except Reflector likes to use images to blackmail fellow Decepticons.
  • Depending on the Writer: Reflector is either a Transformer with three bodies in robot mode or just three independent Transformers who combine into an altmode.
  • No Name Given: In Japan the individual robots weren't given names.
  • Sizeshifter: The miniature 'Cons whom form a camera that can be held by robots.

Skywarp (スカイワープ sukaiwāpu)

Function: Warrior

Alt. Mode: F-15 Eagle Fighter Jet]

"Strike when the enemy isn't looking."

Skywarp is the sneakiest of all Decepticons. Enjoys playing cruel pranks on fellow Decepticons and appearing out of nowhere to attack Autobots. Not too smart. Would be useless without Megatron's supervision. Top speed of 1500mph. Can instantly teleport up to 2.5 miles. Carries heat-seeking missiles and variable-calibre machine guns.

  • Dumb Muscle: Easily one of the stupidest Decepticons. The only time Skywarp actually becomes a credible opponent for the Autobots is when a more intelligent Decepticon, like Megatron or Starscream, is present to supervise his teleportational shenanigans.
  • Inexplicably Identical Individuals: Four unnamed Seekers in variations of Skywarp's colors turn up in More than Meets the Eye, Part 2.
  • Palette Swap: Like Thundercracker, he's one for Starscream. Personality-wise, however, the three Seekers are drastically different.
  • Teleporters and Transporters: The only Decepticon with the built-in ability to teleport. While one might think this would make Skywarp a crafty and dangerous adversary, in truth the Seeker is far too dimwitted to employ his unique talents for anything more than pulling childish pranks, like pushing his comrades down a flight of stairs.

Thundercracker (サンダークラッカー sandākurakkā)

Function: Warrior

Alt. Mode: F-15 Eagle Fighter Jet

"The deadliest weapon is terror."

Contemptuous of anything that cannot fly. Not totally convinced of the Decepticons' cause, but they persuaded him to continue battling Autobots. Flies at speeds up to 1500 mph... produces controlled, deafening sonic booms that can be heard for 200 miles. Equipped with powerful drone rockets and incendiary gun. Doubts about cause sometimes impede effectiveness.

  • Anti-Villain: He's uncertain he really believes in Megatron's cause. Or in the attacking and killing of humans.
  • Halfhearted Henchman: In the episode "Fire on the Mountain", Thundercracker is frustrated with Star Scream over a previous argument. During the main battle, Thundercracker has a chance of shooting down Skyfire and completing the mission. He hesitates, considering that Star Scream would get the credit of a successful mission. And that he has no reasons to want that. He then contemplates that the failed mission could be blamed on his hated superior officer. At that point Screamer himself takes action and Thundercracker loses his chance to undermine him.
  • Inexplicably Identical Individuals: Six unnamed seekers in variations of Thundercracker's colors turn up in More than Meets the Eye, Part 2.
  • Loud of War: His sonic boom could collapse structures and blow up enemy jets.
  • Palette Swap: for Starscream.

1984/85 Decepticons

Shockwave (Laserwave (レーザーウェーブ rēzāwēbu))

Function: Military Operations Commander

Alt. Mode: Cybertronian Handgun

"Clarity of thought before rashness of action."

Cold, brutal, scientific approach to war. Seeks to overthrow Megatron as leader of Decepticons because he believes logic says he would be better. As laser gun, can emit lethal beams of energy from anywhere on the electomagnetic spectrum: gamma rays, X-rays, visible light, infrared rays, radio waves, etc.. Flies in laser gun or robot Mode. High fuel use, but can be powered by nuclear sources. Often confounded by initiave, emotional thinking.

Astrotrain (アストロトレイン asutorotorein)

Function: Military Transport

Alt. Modes: JNR Class D51 Steam Locomotive or Space Shuttle Oribter

"In confusion there is opportunity

Creating confusion is his specialty. As a Triple Changer, can switch from space shuttle to train to robot almost instantaneously. Thrives on foes' panic and fear. As shuttle, travels at 20,000mph in orbit, up to 50,000mph out of orbit... can launch weapons and satellites. Carries cargo. As a train, top speed is 400mph, range 1700 miles. As robot has great strength, carries powerful ionic displacer rifle.

  • Big Bad Wannabe: In the Sunbow cartoon. His idea of leading the Decepticons was to create an army of drone trains, which could seem a good idea at first, but their A.I.s were too primitive for creative thinking. Contrast with Blitzwing, whose plan seemed dumb at first but ended being better and more successful.
  • Cool Train
  • Meaningful Name: He transforms into an astroship and into a train.
  • Sizeshifter: Stands shoulder to shoulder to Starscream in robot form; can transform into a space shuttle that can fit the entire Decepticon army" in his hull.

Blitzwing (ブリッツウイング burittsuuingu)

Function: Ground and Air Commander

Alt. Modes: Soviet MiG-25 Fighter Jet or Japanese Type-74 Assault Tank

"Destroy first, think later."

Ability as Triple Changer to rapidly transform makes him one of the most dangerous Decepticons. Cruel sense of humor, loud-mouthed, belligerent, and brash. Flies at mach 2.7, range 1500 miles, has heat-seeking concussion missiles as plane. As tank, has track-mounted cannon that fires explosive shells 3.5 miles. As robot has electron-scimitar and gyro-blaster rifle. Often gets stuck in mid-transformation.

  • Aborted Arc: See the Antivillain trope, below. He is exiled from the Decepticons and refuses to join the Autobots... but is later seen in some crowd shots with other Decepticons. Is this an oversight on the part of the producers? Or was the whole idea of his exile just quietly dropped? Maybe Galvatron just forgave him for some reason. Who knows...
    • This arc was going to continue in the episode "Starscream's Ghost", but his role was taken by Octane to promote the new character.
  • Anti-Villain: In "Five Faces of Darkness", it is shown that he cares for the survival of the entire Transformers race over Decepticon victory, and is willing to work with Autobots to prevent their mutual extinction at the hands of the Quintessons. Even after he is exiled by Galvatron for allying with Rodimus and betraying the Decepticons, he graciously refuses Rodimus' offer to join the Autobots and quietly accepts his punishment, such is his loyalty to his own brothers.
  • Cool Plane
  • Genre Savvy: He gives off the impression that he knows more about what's going on than anyone else. For example, in "Triple Takeover", he has the foresight to recruit a human who he sees as an expert in strategy. In "Five Faces of Darkness", he knows not to trust the Quintessons, despite having a fuzzy recollection of them.
    • It should be noted that the aforementioned human was an American Football coach, and yet Blitzwing's interpretations of his advice proved to be surprisingly effective.
  • Tank Goodness

The Constructicons (Buildron (ビルドロン birudoron))

Scrapper (スクラッパー sukurappā)

Function: Construction Engineer

Alt. Mode: Wheeled Payloader

"My work is a monument to - and of - my enemies."

A wizard at designing fortresses and energy plants, but modest. Shows his true malevolent genius by incorporating defeated Autobots into his buildings' structures. Shovel can slice through 12in. thick carbon-steel, lift 30 tons. As right leg and part of torso, combines with fellow Constructicons to form giant robot "Devastator".

Hook (Gren (グレン guren))

Funciton: Surgical Engineer

Alt. Mode: Nissan Diesel Unic Truck Crane

"Strive for perfection even if others must suffer."

With the precision of a fine jeweler, Hook performs his job with skill unequalled among the Transformers, whether reconnecting a damaged microchip or setting a two ton girder into place. He's a snobbish, supercilious, unpopular perfectionist who is able to lift 20 tons. As shoulders and head module, combines with fellow Constructicons to form giant robot "Devastator".

Mixmaster (ミックスマスター mikkusumasutā)

Function: Material Fabrication

Alt. Mode: Volvo F12 Cement Mixer

"How strong the steel, how quick the conquest."

Nothing is safe from him... he will use anything from unliving rock to living robot in making new materials. Uses acids and bonding agents to reduce and recombine almost anything inside mixing drum... a chemistry lab on wheels. As left leg module, combines with fellow Constructicons to form giant robot "Devastator".

Bonecrusher (ボーンクラッシャー bōnkurasshā)

Function: Demolitions

Alt. Mode: Bulldozer

"Hit it till it stands no taller than dust."

Rubble-strewn wasteland is his idea of beautiful landscape. His wild ways create fear and terror. As vehicle, at 30mph. Exerts 800,000psi... has short-range concussion bomb launcher. As robot, carries laser pistol. As left arm module, combines with fellow Constructicons to form giant robot "Devastator".

Long Haul (ロングハウル ronguhauru)

Function: Transport

Alt. Mode: Hitachi DH321 Mining Dump Truck

"A battle front is only as good as its supply line."

Unhappy with unglamorous role, but understands its importance... helps build Decepticons' massive energy-recovery installations. As vehicle, can carry 90 tons for 1200 miles, use a dual heat-seeking missile mount. As torso module, combines with fellow Constructicons to form giant robot "Devastator". Can be goaded into a fight in which he's overmatched.

Scavenger (スカベンジャー sukabenjā)

Function: Mining & Salvage

Alt. Mode: Shovel Excavator

"Everything is worth something, even me."

Desperately tries to prove his worth to comrades by trying to find things of value -- whether by digging up a hillside or a backyard. Only tolerated because of ability to use shovel's magnetic, ionic, electrical, gas sensors to detect presence of fuels, metals, etc. As right arm module, combines with fellow Constructicons to form giant robot "Devastator".

Devastator (Devastor (デバスター debasutā))

Function: Warrior

"Thinking and winning do not mix."

Awesome and terrifying, this Decepticon is a bizarre combination of six Constructicons: Scrapper, Scavenger, Bonecrusher, Hook, Long Haul, and Mixmaster. He is pure brutality as his sole purpose is to crush all in his path. His mind is a melding together of his six parts, but he is limited by their competing thoughts. He possess enormous height and incredible strength -- can knock down a bridge with one punch. He carries a 10,000 degrees Celcius solar energy beam rifle. Devastator is slow, awkward, and not too bright.

A group of Decepticons who transform into construction vehicles and serve as the Decepticons' engineers. They are frequently portrayed as the first combiner team and combine into Devastator.

  • Combining Mecha: their combined form, Devastator.
  • Dumb Muscle: Devastator sets the ground-rule in G1 that once Combiners become one, their conflicting personalities WILL turn the resulting giant into a retard as dumb as a box of rocks, no matter how smart each individual component may be. Devastator, case in point, is made up of 6 genius level engineers, only to be a roaring, screaming retard that can barely roar Crush! Kill! Destroy! without falling over himself.
  • Five-Bad Band:
  • Leader Forms the Head: Actually averted with The Constructicons, the First of the Combiners. Scrapper, the Leader Shovel-dozer of the six warriors, actually forms the right leg of Devastator, whereas it is actually Hook the Crane who forms the Head instead.
  • Multiple Choice Past: Were they built on Earth? Are they Autobots reprogrammed by Megatron? Are they the Decepticons that built Megatron in the first place?
    • It doesn't help matters that, unlike most of the other examples on this page, all three of these wildly contradictory origins came from the cartoon itself.
  • Never Live It Down: Mixmaster's Verbal Tic from the "City of Steel" episode. He never used it before or again.
  • Ur Example: Devastator is the first Combiner in the Transformers franchise (but not Diaclone).

The Combaticons (Combatron (コンバットロン kombattoron))

Onslaught (オンスロート onsurōto)

Function: Combaticon Leader

Alt. Mode: Mobile Anti-Aircraft Truck

"The mind is the greatest weapon."

Believes the key to a mission's success lies in the perfection of its planning. Prefers devising sinister schemes to actual combat, but a relentless, furious fighter when stirred into action. As a missile trailer, Onslaught is capable of launching 6500-mile range photon missiles, each equivalent to 3000 tons of TNT. Accuracy of missiles is hampered by electromagnetic interference. Uses powerful sonic stun gun in robot Mode. Joins with fellow Combaticons to form robot "Bruticus".

Vortex (Vorter (ボルター borutā))

Function: Interrogation

Alt. Mode: Kaman SH-2 Seasprite Helicopter

"I'm Vortex, fly me - if you dare."

Gives a ride to remember -- in your nightmares! Takes Autobots on dizzying, death-defying flights to scare information out of them. As helicopter, goes 300mph with a range of 1200 miles. Whirls rotor blades to create 200-300 mph wind funnels. uses semi-automatic glue gun. Combines with fellow Combaticons to form "Bruticus".

Swindle (スィンドル swindoru)

Function: Munitions Expert

Alt. Mode: FMC XR311 Combat Support Vehicle

"Make Deals, not war."

Easy-going and good natured, but within him beats the fuel pump of the most greed-driven street hustler. Thrives on wheeling and dealing, works for his own personal material advancement. A one-robot "black market". Uses a scatter blaster that sprays explosive pellets, gyro gun that disrupts Transformers' balance center. Combines with fellow Combaticons to form "Bruticus". Prone to overturning on sharp turns.

Brawl (ブロウル burouru or ブロール burōru)

Function: Ground Assault

Alt. Mode: Leopard 1A3 Main Battle Tank

"I was built to be wild."

Noisy, irritates all nearby. Hair-trigger temper, blusteringly belligerent... a terrifyingly effective warrior. Enormously strong, resistant to most conventional artillery. As tank, goes 45mph, range 600 miles. Turret mounted gun shoots 200lbs TNT-equivalent shells, twin sonic cannon shoots powerful, ear-splitting 300-decibel bursts of concentrated sound energy in stereo. In robot Mode, has 10-Megawatt electron gun. Combines with fellow Combaticons to form "Bruticus".

Blast Off (ブレストオフ buresuto ofu)

Function: Space Warrior

Alt. Mode: International NASA Space Shuttle

"I destroy Autobots by choice, not command."

Feels literally and figuratively about the other Transformers as he soars through outer space. Aristocratic, aloof -- disguises his long distance loneliness. Cruelly efficient at raining destruction on Earth. Flies at 26,000mph, stays in orbit for 8 months. Shoots powerful X-ray laser to hit target 12,000 miles away. In robot Mode, uses ionic blaster. Combines with fellow Combaticons to form "Bruticus".

Bruticus (ブルーティカス burūtikasu)

Function: Super Warrior

"The road to conquest is paved with Autobot wrecks."

Bruticus transforms into the five Combaticons. Can destroy his enemies with ultrasonic waves and smash metal bridges with a single chop of his hand. Cold blooded, likes nothing more than destroying Autobots. Once he starts running wild he is unstoppable. Has small brain circuits, making him simple-minded. Carries a sonic stun gun and a missile cannon.

Dirge (ダージ dāji)

Function: Warrior

Alt. Mode: F-15 Fighter Jet

"Fear is the element that unites all losers."

The sound of his engines causes petrifying fear in those who hear them. He's a master at handling fear... other Decepticons are put off by his mournful, silent ways. "He gives me the creeps," says Ramjet. He carries two concussion missiles. Needs to control a situation; otherwise, he too falls victim to fear, making him useless as a warrior.

The Insecticons (Insectron (インセクトロン insekutoron))

Kickback (キックバック kikkubakku)

Function: Espionage

Alt. Mode: Grasshopper

"Friend is another word for fool."

Charming, but cruelly clever... makes friends so he can influence them to do his bidding by digging up facts he can hold against them. Humans particularly susceptible to this Insecticon. In insect Mode can jump 40 ft. for a distance of .1 miles... kick a hole in 1/4 inch steel. In robot Mode can fly 30mph up to 100 miles. Sub-machine gun fires 300 rounds per minute. Very vulnerable as insect and flying in high winds.

Shrapnel (Sharpnel (シャープネル shāpuneru))

Function: Electronic Warfare

Alt. Mode: Stag Beetle

"Control electricity and you control the world."

The noise of war and the scream of his foes are music to this loathsome Insecticon's audio-modules... has piercing battle cry... can be heard 8 miles away. In insect Mode, can use antennae to control almost any electrical device. In robot Mode, can attract lightning bolts to antennae and shoot them out hands. Grenade launcher shoots 30-pound steel balls that splinter into razor-sharp spikes. Insulation can stop his electrical blasts.

Bombshell (ボンブシェル bombusheru)

Function: Psychological Warfare

Alt. Mode: Rhinoceros Beetle

"The mind is my playpen."

Can turn foes into helpless accomplices by injecting cerebro-shells into their head (robot or human) with his stinger...gives him control of their minds...has a cruel sense of humor...arms himself by having his victims debase themselves. In insect Mode this insecticon can fly 10km. In robot Mode wears head-mounted mortar...throws 25 kg explosive shell 15 km. Cerebro-shells can be used against him if removed from victim's head.

Venom

Function: Psychological Warfare

Alt. Mode: Cicada

"Friends are more dangerous than enemies."

Will use his poisonous talents even on fellow Decepticons because he trusts no one and suspects everyone is trying to usurp his role as leader. His stinger can discharge fluids harmful to mechanical and organic life; corrosive acids, destructive catalysts, paralyzing toxins, and others. Stinger can penetrate 1/4 inch steel, but sometimes gets stuck and breaks off. Flies at 15mph for 300 miles. Carries electro-blaster in robot form.

Chop Shop (チョップショップ choppushoppu)

Function: Thief

Alt. Mode: Stag Beetle

"I take no prisoners, just spare parts."

Sneakiest of the Insecticons... if it's not bolted to the floor, it's not safe from his greedy grasp. No challenge is too great; the more difficult something is to steal, the more he wants to steal it. As insect, flies 30mph with two small jets on his back. Pincer-like antennae can slice through 2-inch thick steel. Has twin pinpoint lasers on mouth; can carry 30 tons. As robot has photon cannon.

Barrage

Function: Gunner

Alt. Mode: Rhinoceros Beetle

"Nothing left standing means nothing left to change."

Winning is not enough -- this Insecticon's attack continues until the ground is scorched and leveled. Merciless, cruel... believes kindness only stirs hope among the vanquished. Disliked by fellow Decepticons. In insect Mode, can shoot non-stop explosive charges from gun mounts, high energy photons from antenna. Flies 15mph with 400 mile range. Has powerful sonic rifle in robot Mode.

Ransack

Function: Warrior

Alt. Mode: Locust

"The sight of ruin only makes me crave more."

Unconcerned about safety of innocents... will level an entire town to hunt down an enemy. A tough-talking, straight-to-the-point Insecticon, always looking forward to the next battle. In insect Mode, leaps 200 feet at insect size, 1.5 miles normal size. Rear legs can shatter foot-thick steel; their vibrations from rubbing can crumble a brick wall. Antennae shoot 80kV electricity. Carries concussion blaster gun in robot Mode.

  • Big Creepy-Crawlies
  • Extreme Omnivore: Bombshell, Kickback, and Shrapnel are shown capable of and willing to eat anything.
  • Irony: Venom transforms into a cicada, which aren't poisonous insects.
  • Japanese Beetle Brothers: Shrapnel (stag beetle) and Bombshell (rhinoceros beetle), along with Chop Shop and Barrage, are a Type A example of this.
  • No Export for You: The "deluxe" Insecticons (Venom, Chop Shop, Barrage, and Ransack) were toys made by Bandai, a rival company to Takara, so the toys didn't get released as Japanese Transformers. For whatever reason, Chop Shop did appear in Japanese media, which is why he has a Japanese name while the others don't.
  • Psycho Electro: Shrapnel's main power is manipulating electricity, electricity.
  • Send in the Clones: The main three Insecticons are capable of creating clones of themselves. Often overlaps with Expendable Clone and The Swarm.
  • Verbal Tic: Shrapnel always repeats the last word of his sentences, sentences.

Ramjet (ラムジェット ramujetto)

Function: Warrior

Alt. Mode: F-15 Eagle Fighter Jet with F-16XL Wings

"If it flies, crash it!"

Mid-air collisions are his specialty. It makes little difference if the target is an opponent or not, he'll crash into it just for the fun of bringing terror to the skies. These crashes can take their toll on him, particularly doing damage to his internal mechanisims. "The skies are my castle and I like to live alone.", he says. His nose module can withstand the impact of three-foot thick concrete at 1500mph, and he flies as fast as mach 2.8 while carrying cluster bombs.

The Stunticons (Stuntron (スタントロン sutantoron))

Motormaster (モーターマスター mōtāmasutā)


Function: Stunticon Leader
Alt. Mode: Kenworth K100 Aerodyne Sleeper Truck

"These wheels are made for crushing."

No one on the road is colder and crueler. Shows no mercy to Autobots who happen to be on the highway with him. Seeks to destroy Optimus Prime so he can claim to be "King of the Road". Can survive a collision with anyone, except Optimus Prime. Reaches a top speed of 140mph and can shatter a 20-foot concrete block. Uses a 400mph wind producing cyclone gun. Forms robot "Menasor" with fellow Stunticons.

Drag Strip (Drag Stripe (ドラッグストライプ doragusutoraipu))


Function: Warrior
Alt. Mode: Tyrrell P34 Six-Wheeler Race Car

"The first one to cross the finish line lives."

Nasty, underhanded, loves to gloat over his victories. Would rather be scrapped than lose. Prone to overheating. Megatron would sooner melt him than talk to him, but knows he's even worse company for the Autobots. In car Mode, has a plasma-energy blaster. Carries a gravity-enhancing gravito-gun. Combines with fellow Stunticons to form "Menasor".

Dead End (デッドエンド deddoendo)


Function: Warrior
Alt. Mode: Porsche 928 Sports Car

"We are all just food for rust."

Sullen, fatalistic, sees little reason to continue Transformers' war. Motivating him to fight is always a problem. Vain -- Spends most of his time shining himself. In car Mode, goes 220mph. Radar scan covers 200 mile radius. In robot Mode, has a compressor-air gun that shoots a 40,000 psi blast of air. Combines with fellow stunticons to form "Menasor".

Wildrider (ワイルドライダー wairudoraidā)


Function: Terrorist
Alt. Mode: Ferrari 308 GTB Sports Car

"Either you're out of my way or you're out of luck."

Look out motorists -- he exults in the accidents he causes! Driving recklessly, screaming and laughing. Some comrades think it's an act, others really know he's as nuts as he appears. Fears quiet, prone to tire blow-outs. In car Mode goes up to 250mph with amazing maneuverability. In robot Mode, his scattershot gun sprays laser beams over wide areas. Combines with fellow Stunticons to form "Menasor".

Breakdown (ブレークダウン burēkudaun or ブレイクダウン bureikudaun)


Function: Scout
Alt. Mode: Lamborghini Countach Sports Car

"Keep your optical sensors to yourself."

Thinks everyone is staring at him, even Earth cars and stoplights. His self-consciousness hurts his performance. Finds heavy traffic nerve-wracking. Would prefer to be human so he could fit in better. In car Mode, engine emits vibrations that cause mechanical failures in other vehicles; prone to leaky fuel pump. In robot Mode, carries a concussion rifle which also causes mechanical failures. Combines with fellow Stunticons to form "Menasor".

Menasor (メナゾール menazōru)


Function: Super Warrior

"Leave no Autobot uncrushed."

A clanking, crushing terror that destroys all in his path -- the ulimate Decepticon weapon if he wasn't so confused by the opposing thoughts of the 5 Stunticons who comprise him. (Motormaster is loathed by the other four.) Tremendous strength, his punch has the force of 140 tons. Impervious to most artillery. Uses Motormaster's cyclone gun and carries an ionizer sword with a 50,000 volt charge.

Thrust (スラスト surasuto)


Function: Warrior
Alt. Mode: F-15 Eagle with VTOL Wing Fans

"My engines' roar is my enemies' song of doom!"

He rattles the air with the roar of his jets... believes half the battle is won if the opponent is "psyched out" by his mere arrival, so he makes no attempt to be sneaky. Pompus, loud-mouthed braggart and not too brave. Sudden, powerful accelerations can topple nearby buildings. Flies at mach 2.5, can double speed in 20 seconds for up to two minutes. Carries four air-to-air missiles and two automatic missile launchers in robot Mode.

1986 Decepticons

Galvatron (ガルバトロン garubatoron)


Function: City Commander
Alt. Mode: Cybertronian Laser Cannon or Cybertronian Laser Gun

"My power is everything; defeat is absurd!"

The resurrected remains of the mortally-wounded Megatron, who was forced and literally reformatted into a new life of servitude by Unicron, the God of Destruction. He slays the usurper Starscream and wrestles the leadership of Decepticons from him. Though far more powerful than his past life, Galvatron was driven irrevocably insane after being trapped in a sea of lava, as the molten rock seeped into his head and literally fried his brain. What little remained of the proud warrior Megatron died that day, and in his place stood the raving madman Galvatron, who would just as soon turn his cannon on his men as he would the Autobots.

  • Adaptation Dye Job: Galvatron is colored purple in the cartoon but his toy is silver and blue. A cartoon-colored version was released in Japan, though.
  • Arm Cannon
  • Ax Crazy: Galvatron is not mentally stable.
    • He goes so crazy that Cyclonus and Scourge take him to a planet designed to deal with psychotic people, but Galvatron ends up demolishing the planet.
      • Note, he "demolished the planet" not through force, but by being so flat out bonkers that the entire planet had a mental breakdown when it tried to analyze and cure him. Yes, the planet itself.
  • Bad Boss: Whereas Megatron was genuinely respected by his warriors, Galvatron was feared and hated for his erratic tendency to suddenly kill them for the most insignificant of slights.
  • BFG: Transforms into a futuristic howitzer cannon.
  • Big Bad
  • Deal with the Devil: Galvatron was born when Megatron signed an agreement of bondage to the Eldritch Abomination Unicron in his desperation to live... ...and yet in losing himself dies anyway.
  • Depending on the Writer: There are some continuities where Galvatron is a seperate person and rival to Megatron.
  • The Dragon: To Unicron in The Movie, a position he is not happy with, making him a...
  • The Dreaded: Whereas Megatron was consistently mocked and made a fool of by Autobots and humans alike, the mere mention of Galvatron conjures despair in the bravest of hearts: even his own warriors fear for their lives every waking moment.
  • Evil Laugh: With a gloriously-retarded-sounding one in the Malaysian-dub.
  • Evil Overlord
  • Large Ham: It does not help that Frank Welker decided to give Galvatron a high-and-screechy voice, not unlike another screeching-and-effeminite mentally-retarded villain called Skeletor.
  • One-Man Army
  • Purple Is Powerful: Galvatron's color.
  • Samurai: The crests upon his head clearly invoke an imagery of the helmet worn by Samurai.
  • That Man Is Dead: Galvatron consistently acknowledges himself as a distinct entity from his past life, and in spite of possessing tenfold of Megatron’s already considerable hubris and ego, ‘’proudly’’ refers to himself with a name given to him by an entity that he hates and despises. As far as the Decepticons are concerned they also consider Megatron to be dead, and have a memorial built in his honor, even though at least Rumble clearly knows that he and Galvatron are "the same guy" (only in the most technical sense, of course).
  • Too Spicy for Yog-Sothoth: The victims of the Hate Plague are so crazed and violent that Galvatron says they're too much for him. Twice.
  • Ungrateful Bastard: Subverted at the end of season 3. After Optimus Prime cures the Hate Plague and, as a side effect, Galvatron's insanity, he proposes a truce.

"There will be no war today, Optimus Prime; you have earned Galvatron's respect."

  • Villainous Friendship: Type 1. His love for Soundwave as a brother is the one thing of Megatron that is left in him. He showed genuine sorrow and anger at the death of the communications officer, and cared for him enough to bring him back to life as Soundblaster.
  • Why Don't You Just Shoot Him?: Inverted. Galvatron's first major act in The Movie is to straight-up execute Starscream.

Cyclonus (サイクロナス saikuronasu)


Function: Saboteur
Alt. Mode: Cybertronian Fighter Craft

"Compassion is the Autobots' downfall."

Nightstick (ナイトスティック naitosutikku)


Alt. Mode: Black-Beam Gun

Cyclonus is a huge and emotionless air warrior. He has vast resources of power and can draw strength in direct proportion to his need. Cyclonus is equipped with nuclear-powered turbine engines which enable him to reach speeds greater than Mach 2. In robot mode, he carries an oxidating laser that fuses an enemy robot's internal mechanisms. Cyclonus has no weaknesses and no interests other than conquest.


Targetmaster Cyclonus is an emotionless marauder whose single-minded purpose is to destroy the Autobots. Incapable of fear. Paired with Nightstick, a Nebulan master criminal who doubles as a blinding, corroding black-beam gun. In space jet mode, has nuclear-powered turbine engines that allow him to cruise at Mach 2 in suborbital altitudes and achieve escape velocity for interstellar space travel.

  • Badass
  • Base Breaker: Bombshell or Skywarp? Who was Cylonus really? The occasional Internet Backdraft that spring from this debate is quite impressive to say the least.
  • The Dragon: To Galvatron.
  • Empathic Weapon: Nightstick.
  • Evil Counterpart: To Ultra Magnus. This is actually lampshaded by a Quintesson scientist in The Killing Jar.
  • From Nobody to Nightmare: His original form? Bombshell. As in, the Insecticon.
  • Noble Demon: Due to the lingering decency of his previous life as Skywarp, Cyclonus is a warrior who conducts war with as much honor-and-compassion as Galvatron would allow him, and respects his enemies enough to save them from ignonimious deths. As he explains to Ultra Magnus after rescuing him from the clutches of a black-hole.

"Warriors such as you and I should meet their end in battle."

Gnaw (ノー nō)


Function: Assault Sentry
Alt. Mode: Robotic Frog-Like Creature with Shark Teeth

"I live for the taste of an Autobot's fuel line!"

Travels in packs with fellow Sharkticons. Fearless and vicous. Loyal only to the master who last fed him. Powerful tail fin allows him to travel at speeds over 150 Knots. Carnivourous with a voracious appetite. Possesses several rows of razor-sharp teeth that can tear through solid steel. In robot Mode, carries a maceration laser that shoots salt-based corrosive liquid. Also carries a barbed mace.

Octane (オクトーン okutōn)


Function: Fueler
Alt. Modes: Extended Truck Cab with Fuel-Tanker Trailer or Twin-Engined Boeing 767 Jet Plane

"He who has fuel, has power."

A greedy, mean-spirited bully. Enjoys watching fellow Decepticons become painfully inoperative from lack of fuel. Forces Autobots off roads and Aerialbots to abort landings just for fun. Crashes make him laugh. In jet Mode: range 700 miles, maximum speed 750 mph. In tanker Mode: range 65,000 miles, maximum speed 90 mph, carries 10,000 gallons of fuel. Carries fuel-powered flamethrower and deflecto-shield.

The Predacons (Animatron (アニマトロン animatoron))

Razorclaw (レーザークロー rēzākurō)


Function: Predacon Leader
Alt. Mode: Lion

"All good things succumb to those who wait."

All business. Hates waste in any form... won't burn an extra drop of fuel unless he's certain the results will be worth the effort. Long stretches of inactivity often mistaken for laziness. Explodes into furious, ferocious action when it's time to strike. As a lion, can leap distances as long as a football field. Claws can rip through foot-thick steel. Has twin concussion blasters and sonic sword. Combines with fellow Predacons to form Predaking.

Rampage (ラムページ ramupēji or ランページ rampēji)


Function: Gunner
Alt. Mode: Tiger

"Those who conquer, act; those who are conquered think."

Barrels through life with an uncontrolled fury. Has difficulty talikng coherently for more than a few seconds before violently lashing out at anything near him, friend or foe. TV calms him... stares at rock music videos for hours. As tiger, can leap 300ft. in height, 500ft. in length. A kick from his foreleg can crumble a cinder block. As robot, carries 60,000 volt lightning rifle, 5000 degrees Farenheight thermo-sword. Combines with fellow Predacons to form Predaking.

Headstrong (ヘッドストロング heddosutorongu)


Function: Ground Assault
Alt. Mode: Rhinoceros

"The best advice is not to listen to advice."

Doesn't listen to anyone, particularly his friends. Smug, arrogant. Puts up a stubborn front to hide deep-rooted insecurities. More vulnerable to psychological rather than physical attacks. In rhinoceros Mode, his horn can puncture 3-foot thick steel, release corrosive acid. Uses plasma-sphere shooter that emits explosive energy balls; has light distorting diffraction sword. Combines with fellow Predacons to form Predaking.

Tantrum (タントラム tantoramu)


Function: Fueler
Alt. Mode: Water Buffalo or Bull

"Anger gets me running better than any other fuel."

Prefers brute force over reason. Steam comes from his nasal ducts when he's enraged. Smashes head-first into highway trestles and small buildings to relieve his aggression. Always feels better afterwards. Carries 4 exterior fuel tanks, capacity: 1600 gallons, as a reserve for himself and his comrades. His horns shoot bolts of 20,000 volt electricity. Carries a catalytic carbine that shoots destructive chemicals, and an electro-sword. Combines with fellow Predacons to form Predaking.

Divebomb (Dimebomb (ダイムボム daimubomu))


Function: Aerial Assault
Alt. Mode: Eagle

"Conquer the skies and below you will fall."

He's like a kid at a candy store - always delighted by all the targets he has to choose from. Builds mecha-nests atop tall buildings and mountains; composed of late Model sports cars, wings of jets, theater marquees. Back-mounted rocket thrusters allows speeds of 300mph, 2000 mile range. Can see a dime from 10,000 feet. Has particle-beam rifle with infra-red sight, and laser-guided sword. Magnetism inhibits flying ability. With fellow Predacons, forms Predaking.

Predaking (プレダキング puredakingu)


Function: Warrior

"Destroy first, ask questions later."

The closest thing to a perfect fighting machine that the Decepticons have. As a warrior he has no equal; as a weapon he has no restraints. His actions result from seemingly savage, animal instinct. Can lift 500 tons; reacts to any movement he sees within .002 seconds. Can generate protective electric field. Wields powerful X-ray laser cannon. Each foot houses twinm mortar shell launchers. No known weaknesses.

A quintet of wild and powerful Decepticons with powerful, savage animals as their beast modes. In some continuities, they are the forebears and original leaders of the Predacon faction from Beast Wars. Their members include their leader, Razorclaw (a lion), Divebomb (an eagle), Headstrong (a rhinoceros), Rampage (a tiger), and Tantrum (a bull). In all continuities, they are able to combine in order to form the mighty Predaking.

  • Combining Mecha: See above.
  • Dumb Muscle: Predaking is arguably the mightiest of the G1 Combiners, yet is barely above a rampaging beast.
  • Five-Bad Band: Par for the course with Combiner teams:
  • Evil Counterpart: A quintet of five vicious, near-feral robots with savage animal modes who refuse to listen to their leader's orders? Sounds like they fit the bill for the Dinobots to me.
    • Invoked by the rivalry between Divebomb and the Dinobot Divebomb Swoop. When they picked up their rivalry on Earth, the rest of the Dinobots and the rest of the Predacons joined in the fight. The Dinobots were less than impressed.
  • Informed Ability: Their combined form of Predaking is supposedly a nigh-unbeatable Genius Lightning Bruiser. In all the myriad continuities in which Predaking has appeared, however, the big guy acts like a dumb brute and has had perhaps one victory against anyone, and that was against the Combaticons.
  • Non-Indicative Name: While rhinos and buffalo can be very dangerous and destructive, they are not predator animals. Also counts as a Dub-Induced Plot Hole since the Japanese group name Animatron doesn't have this problem.

Ratbat (ラットバット rattobatto)


Function: Fuel Scout
Alt. Mode: Cassette Tape

"The road is my dinner plate."

Has no friends, only business partners... his only allegiance is to himself. Refuels by plunging his mecha-fangs into new cars' gas lines -- the better made the car, the better the gasoline tastes. Maximum flying speed: 65mph. Carries two radar-guided, free-electron lasers that detect the presence of an object as small as a fly. Wings contain mechanical sensors for locating fuel sources. Has one foot wingspan that can enlarge to ten feet. Wings are vulnerable to artillery.

Runabout (ラナバウト ranabauto) and Runamuck (ラナマック ranamakku)

  • Runabout

    Runabout

  • Runamuck

    Runamuck

Function: Shock Troopers
Alt. Modes: Lotus Turbo Esprit (Runabout); Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (Runamuck)

Runabout: "A pretty car makes an even prettier wreck."
Runamuck: "The road is my playpen; cars are my toys!"

Runabout likes to watch things blow up -- the bigger the explosion the better. Uses parked cars and gas station fuel pumps for target practice. Usually very busy as a Battlecharger, but terrified of boredom. Maximum speed 300 km/h. Range: 900 km. Has high-energy particle beam rifle. Easily distracted by a beautiful car -- because he wants to destroy it, not admire it.

Cackling like a mechanical wildman, the Battlecharger Runamuck is a twilring, tumbling two-lane terror. Spreading fear is his favorite pasttime. Admires junkyards like humans admire art museums. Maximum Speed 180 mph. Range: 600 Miles. Uses friction rifle that increases kinetic energy of its target's molecules for 5 minutes. Even the slightest movement resulst in tremendous friction, causing flames and melting. Afraid of heights.

Scourge (スカージ sukāji)


Function: Sweep Leader
Alt. Mode: Cybertronian Hovercraft

"Desolation follows in my trail."

Fracas (フレイカス fureikasu)


Alt. Mode: Incendiary Cannon

Scourge is fearsome, merciless and implacable hunter. Created from Decepticon wreckage, he leads "The Sweeps", a wolf pack of tracker-terminator's designed to hunt down and eradicate Autobots. Scourge possesses powerful high-tech scanning equipment and a disintergater ray that can cut through solid rock. In robot Mode, he carries a laser blaster that shoots short bursts of intense heat. Scourge's only weakness is his arrogance.

Targetmaster Scourge is merciless, fearsome -- only his extreme hatred of Autobots prevents him from attacking his Nebulan allies. The Nebulan is a high-temperature incendiary cannon with a violate temper to match. In vehicle Mode, Scourge is a hunter-destroyer, land-scouring vehicle. Equipped with optical and heat sensors for detecting and eliminating enemies. Maximum speed: 260 mph.

Trypticon (Dinosaurer (ダイナザウラー dainazaurā))


Function: Assault Base
Alt. Modes: City or Mobile Defense Station

"Total victory requires total destruction."

Doesn't stop blasting until he's hip-deep in smoking rubble. Completely without mercy. The most lethal fighting machine devised by the Decepticons. In dinosaur Mode, jumps 20 miles with rocket backpack. Shoots heat-seeking plasma bombs from mouth and mind-controlling hypno-beam from optical sensor. As city, has landing and repair bays, communications center and rotating scanners. In mobile station Mode, has laser cannon, rotating blasters, destructo-beams and dual photon launchers.

1987 Decepticons

Scorponok (スコルポノック sukoruponokku)


Function: Headmaster Commander
Alt. Modes: Scorpion or Defense Base

"Kindness is no virtue... and cruelty is no vice."

Lord Zarak (ロード・ザラク rōdo zaraku)


Alt. Mode: Head

Despair and isolation are all that remain in his wake. Believes the poor should be exploited, the weak oppressed, and the noble corrupted. Others' pain is his sole pleasure. In scorpion Mode, tail shoots 100,000 volt electric bursts, has twin pulse blasters, claws can crush mountains. In defense base Mode, has over-the-horizon radar, communications center, anti-aircraft sonic cannon, repair bay, construction bay; semi-autonomous armored interceptor with dual photon cannons that patrols the base perimeter. In robot Mode, has fusion-powered anti-gravity gun. Binary-bonded to Lord Zarak, leader of the evil Nebulans.

Zarak: Huuuu... Puh-Prime? Did... Did... kuuuu... I do... good?
Optimus Prime: Yes, old friend. You did good.

Apeface (エイプフェイス eipufeisu)


Function: Saboteur
Alt. Modes: Gorilla or Cybertronian Jet

"Obnoxiousness is not a problem, it is an art."

Spasma (スパズマ supazuma)


Alt. Mode: Head

Thoroughly obnoxious -- pounds loudly on his chest plates, insults everyone he talks to, knocks over anyone in his way, never changes his lubricant so he smells like a grease-encrusted turboworm, and spits fuel in public. Binary-bonded to the nervous, insecure Nebulan Spasma. In jet Mode, maximum speed: 3250mph, emits powerful jamming frequencies. In ape Mode, has super-agility. In robot Mode, carries electro-shield and semi-automatic sonic boomer gun.

Battletrap (バトルトラップ batorutorappu)


Function: Assault Team
Alt. Modes: AH-64 Apache Helicopter and Ford F-150 Camper Truck

"We're only halves of a whole, but double the trouble."

He's the wrestling tag team of robots. Likes to trap his foe between his jeep and helicopter vehicles and have "fun" with him -- knock him back and forth a bit -- before finally destroying him. Jeep maximum speed of 90 mph, range 600 miles. Helicopter maximum speed of 780 mph, range 1200 miles. In robot Mode, carries double-barreled assault missile launcher with leaf-imaging for night-firing capability.

Flywheels (Flywheel (フライホイール furaihoīru))


Function: Assault Team
Alt. Modes: F-4 Phantom II Fighter Jet and Self-Propelled Howitzer Tank

"Believe in yourself, but only if you both agree."

Split personality -- fights himself more often than his foes. Each half of him is jealous of the other. Often heard arguing with himself, even when unified in robot Mode. Tank has maximum speed of 75mph, range 350 miles. Jet has maximum speed of 1300mph, range 1800 miles. In robot Mode, carries a laser cannon with infra-red sensors for heat-seeking capabilities.

Mindwipe (Wipe (ワイプ waipu))


Function: Hypnotist
Alt. Mode: Bat

"Just one look from me and you've lost."

Vorath (ボラス borasu)


Alt. Mode: Head

A mystic; spends most of his time trying to contact the electromagnetic essences of long-dead Decepticons than talking to live ones. Binary-bonded to Vorath, former Nebulan Minister of Science, expelled from office as a result of an illegal experiments scandal. In bat Mode, has hypnotic stare, flies at 700mph. In robot Mode, uses vipor pistol -- shoots streams of neuro-circuitry paralyzing liquid.

Misfire (ミスファイアー misufaiā)


Function: Interceptor
Alt. Mode: Cybertronian Flying Vehicle

"Keep shooting, eventually, you're bound to hit something."

Aimless (エイムレス eimuresu)


Alt. Mode: Ion Particle Blaster

When Misfire shoots, his fellow Decepticons run for cover. Has terrible aim, but he says he's improving. No one else shares his confidence. Paired with the cowardly Nebulan, Aimless, a former construction engineer who had one too many buildings collapse due to poor design; now he doesn't care enough about anything to even bother aiming when he shoots as an ion particle blaster. Maximum speed: 1600mph.

Overkill (オーバーキル ōbākiru)


Function: Warrior
Alt. Mode: Cassette Tape

"Too much destruction is never enough."

Whether talking, terrifying, or attacking, he does everything to excess. So busy proving how tough he is by snapping cars in half between his jaws, that he forgets his mission. Can record data as a cassette, rip open the hull of a battleship as a tyrannosaurus. Armed with 2 batteries of motion missiles -- each reacts to any moving object bigger than a baseball and explodes on contact.

Pounce (パウンス paunsu) and Wingspan (ウイングスパン uingusupan)

  • Pounce

    Pounce

  • Wingspan

    Wingspan

Function: Infiltrator (Pounce), Data Processor (Wingspan)
Alt. Modes: Puma (Pounce), Hawk (Wingspan)

Pounce: "Terror is the stage on which I perform."
Wingspan: "Knowledge is the most deadly weapon of all."

Pounce is sly, silent, and savage. The right machine for the right job. Often ignores his victims' pleas for mercy. In puma Mode, can leap .7 miles. Possesses superior eyesight and sense of smell. In robot Mode, laser range finder in optical sensors provides 99.4% accuracy with twin anti-personnel missile launching bayonets. Clone brother is Wingspan.

Wingspan is always poking his beak where it doesn't belong. Nosey. Voracious appetite for new data to analyze. Looks in people's windows as readily as he spies on enemy troops. In hawk Mode, has superb vision. Chemical and infra-red sensors collect and analyze geographical data, locate resources. In robot Mode, has two electro-burst rifles. Clone brother is Pounce.

Sixshot (シックスショット sikkusushotto)


Function: S.T.A.G. (Solo Transformer Assault Group)
Alt. Modes: Tank, Spaceship, Laser Gun, Off-Road Vehicle, Wolf

"Life is worth saving only as long as there are enemies worth destroying."

A vile, nasty murderous sort who carries out his job with ferocious intensity. Only redeeming quality is he speaks well of those he's sent to "the great junkyard in the sky," his phrase for destruction. Has 6 forms: robot, armored carrier (with twin laser batteries), ramming-tank (with infra-red rangefinder and target tracker), jet-propelled laser pistol, star fighter (maximum speed: 80,000 mph; range: .8 million miles), and wolf-creature Modes. Only the wolf creature has no need for Sixshot's 2 hypersonic concussion blasters, the wolf Mode prefers to rip apart enemy Autobots with his razor fangs.

  • I Gave My Word: The only reason such an honorable warrior like Sixshot would continue to work for a deranged genocidal maniac like Galvatron was his sense of sworn-duty to Megatron.
  • Instant Awesome, Just Add Ninja: In the japanese Headmasters series.
  • Meaningful Name: Sixshot, being a Six Changer, has six forms--his robot mode, a tank, a gun, a spaceship, an off-road vehicle, and a winged wolf.
  • Noble Demon: Sixshot only serves the Decepticons out of a sense of sworn duty to Galvatron, and is actually a principled, decent and honorable warrior who does not kill children or innocents in cold blood. This hidden decency allows him to befriend Daniel later on, resulting in a Heel Face Turn.
  • One Bot Army: Sixshot is perfectly capable of holding his own against far more numerous opponents. Fitting, given that he is also a...
  • Person of Mass Destruction: In the IDW comics, Sixshot is one of Megatron's "Phase-Sixers", a trio of extremely powerful Decepticons who are expected--and perfectly capable--of razing entire planets to the ground whenever they see action.

Skullcruncher (スカルクランチャー sukarukuranchā)


Function: Swamp Warrior
Alt. Mode: Alligator

"Autobots are like bad fuel - weak and greasy."

Grax (グラックス gurakkusu)


Alt. Mode: Head

Has a habit of grinding his teeth before he strikes -- annoying his friends and tipping off his enemies. Binary-bonded to Grax, a Nebulan industrialist who's joined up to eliminate his competition. In robot Mode, uses softening ray run -- gives metal the consistency of rubber, making his enemies easier to chew when he reverts to alligator Mode.

Slugfest (スラッグフェスト suraggufesuto)


Function: Messenger
Alt. Mode: Cassette Tape

"Expect betrayal and your friends won't disappoint you."

He's as slow and stupid as he looks. Plays back the messages he carries, thinks others are talking about him, goes into violent rages. End result is usually destruction of messages and nearby small towns that get in his way. In stegosaurus Mode, plates on back, like teeth on a chainsaw, cut through almost any substance; carries 2 solar-powered vibro-cannons.

Slugslinger (スラッグスリンガー suraggusuringā)


Function: Air Defense
Alt. Mode: Cybertronian Twin-Cockpit Space Fighter

"The only way to survive a duel with me is to not show up."

Caliburst (カリバースト karibāsuto)


Alt. Mode: Automatic Machine Gun

A brawling, swaggering braggart, claims he'll challenge anyone to a duel, but prefers sneaking up and shooting enemies in the back. When his ammunition runs out, so does his courage. Paired with Caliburst, one-time Nebulan leading actor who only does this for the money. As an automatic machine gun, Caliburst can shoot armor-piercing shells at 1200 rounds per minute. In jet Mode, maximum speed: 2400mph.

Snapdragon (スナップドラゴン sunappudoragon)


Function: Interceptor
Alt. Modes: SR-71 Blackbird Spy Plane or Theropod Dinosaur

"If it doesn't get you dirty, it's not worth doing."

Krunk (クランク kuranku)


Alt. Mode: Head

Wading up to his neck in grease is his idea of a good time. Lazy, difficult to motivate, but has a hair-trigger temper. Binary bonded to Krunk, the vicious, vile bodyguard to the Nebulan leader, Lord Zarak. In jet Mode, maximum speed 8800mph... has 2 independent booster fins. In reptile Mode, carbon-steel claws and teeth can cut through almost anything. Has 2 balance destroying gyro-guns in robot Mode.

The Terrorcons (Terrortron (テラートロン terātoron))

Hun-Grrr (Hun-Gurur (ハングルー hangurū))


Function: Terrorcon Leader
Alt. Mode: Two-Headed Dragon

"Eat only what you need - destroy the rest."

He has two mouths to feed -- his own -- and spends most of his time doing it. Since his mouth is usually full, his orders are usually misinterpreted. Prefers eating non-living to living things... doesn't like anything that might still be wriggling about after he swallows it. Can refashion digested materials and spit them out as crude missiles. Has powerful sonic stun gun in robot Mode. Combines with fellow Terrorcons to form Abominus.

Rippersnapper (リッパースナッパー rippāsunappā)


Function: Terrorist
Alt. Mode: Bipedal Shark-Like Monster

"Autobots are an error I intend to correct."

Any organic creature whose status on the evolutionary scale ranks higher than a slime mold, particularly Autobots, sends him into a ferocoius frenzy. Hates the smell of carbon-based life forms. In creature Mode, claws and teeth can slice through almost any substance. Has twin, ground-to-air, voice-guided missile launchers. In robot Mode, has cyclone gun. Combines with fellow Terrorcons to form Abominus.

Sinnertwin (シナーツイン shinātsuin)


Function: Sentry
Alt. Mode: Two-Headed, Two-Tailed, Quadrupedal Dragon

"The sound of ripping metal is music to my audio modules."

Prowls the perimeter of the Terrorcons' lair looking for trouble -- and hoping to find it! Then he can show off his razor-sharp teeth, piercing pronghorns, and steel-shredding claws. Has flame cannon and flame breath in creature Mode, armor-piercing rocket-grenade launcher in robot Mode. Combines with fellow Terrorcons to form Abominus. Unnerved by small creatures like mice, insects, and mini-droids.

Blot (Butt (ブット butto))


Function: Foot Soldier
Alt. Mode: Ogre

"I'm not as bad as I look - I'm worse."

The most disgusting of all Transformers. Wherever he goes, he leaves a trail of foul-smelling lubricant which is oozing out of several different joints at any given moment. Dumb, brutish, but loyal. In creature Mode, claws allow him to climb any wall. Breathes fire. In robot or creature Modes, uses slime gun to shoot stream of corrosive liquid. Combines with fellow Terrorcons to form Abominus.

Cutthroat (カットスロート kattosurōto)


Function: Shock Trooper
Alt. Mode: Gargoyle or Wyvern

"Compassion is the currency of losers."

Not a trace of mercy can be found among his microchips. Insatiable lust for destruction. In battle, lashes out with wings, beak, and claws to cut everything to ribbons. In creature Mode can leap 4 miles in one jump, breathes flame. In robot Mode, carries double-barreled magnetizer that oppositely charges any metal target so it tears itself apart. Combines with fellow Terrorcons to form Abominus.

Abominus (オボミナス obominasu)


Function: Gestalt Warrior

"Chaos is my only ally, and destruction my only friend."

Abominus transforms into the five Terrorcons. Has overwhelming destructive power. Likes attacking large or moving objects, climbing tall buildings, and sinking ships. Has no heart/soul and is nothing more than a killing machine. Abominus carries a sonic concussion blaster.

Triggerhappy (トリガーハーピー torigāhāpī)


Function: Gunner
Alt. Mode: Cybertronian Fighter Craft

"Have gun, have fun!"

Blowpipe (ブロウパイプ buroupaipu)


Alt. Mode: Compressed-Air Cannon

Usually too busy laughing uncontrollably and drooling out oil to look where he's shooting. Loves the sound of his guns blasting away. Wild and unpredictable. Paired with Blowpipe, a powerful compressed-air cannon who is also the conniving, envious brother-in-law of Lord Zarak, the Nebulan leader of the Decepticon Headmasters. In jet Mode, has side-mounted, rapid-fire photon-pulse guns. Maximum speed: 1,980 mph.

Weirdwolf (ウィアードウルフ wiādourufu)


Function: Tracker
Alt. Mode: Wolf

"My pleasure with my enemy's pain comes."

Monzo (モンゾ monzo)


Alt. Mode: Head

Cruel, viscous, but apparently built with a few wires crossed. Talks to himself in a sing-song backward way: "Destroy the Autobots I shall. Tear them to scrap metal I will." Binary-bonded to Monzo, a brutish, professional hyperwrestler-turned underworld nightclub owner. In robot mode, uses photon pistol and thermal sword. In wolf mode, nose module is equipped with various tracking sensors. Can leap .8 miles.

1988 Decepticons

Bomb-Burst (Blood (ブラッド buraddo))


Function: Predator
Alt. Modes: Cybertronian VTOL Jet (Vehicle), Humanoid Bat Creature (Pretender Shell)

"The greater the foe, the sweeter his fuel."

A vicious, vile automated vampire! Enjoys swooping down on unsuspecting Autobots and using his serrated metallic fangs to drain the fuel from his victims. Specially-textured outer shell causes rust rash on contact. Blinded by bright sunlight. The ultimate terror in darkness. Without shell, transforms into a vertical take-off and landing hover jet with dual lasers. Within shell, armed with corrosive slime shooter and armor-piercing battle axe!

Bugly


Function: Strategist
Alt. Modes: Hover Jet (Vehicle), Humanoid, Clawed Insect Creature (Pretender Shell)

"The greatest power is the power to control."

A deadly warrior with pinpoint maneuverability in the air. Intense, mystical, and very cruel. Practices the deadly martial art of Circuit-Su, which channels energy into one powerful electric blast. Electro-stingers in helmet deliver 3,000 volt charges that paralyze on contact. Also armed with 2 photon rifles. Transforms to lasered, hover jet with built-in, forward-thrust turbo boosters. Also able to pilot outer shell by remote control.

Carnivac (カーニバック kānibakku)


Function: Hunter/Tracker
Alt. Modes: Wolf (Vehicle), Timber Wolf (Pretender Shell)

"A cunning smile is more devastating than the fiercest weapon."

A growling, howling, mad dog destroyer. Commits abominable acts with unrelenting glee. Always smiling, even in battle. Outer shell has built-in hydrollic lifters that enable him to jump over 50 feet in any direction. High-intensity laser beams in eyes incinerate targets in seconds. In robot Mode, armed with anti-thermal cannon with infrared scope that freezes targets on impact.

  • Anti-Hero: Post-Heel Face Turn in Marvel UK continuity. Somewhere between a Type II and a Type III (arguably a type IV in his revenge arc).
  • Anti-Villain: Before Heel Face Turn in UK comic continuity.
  • Badass
  • Blood Knight: (Marvel UK) As he says to Springer: "I'm a Decepticon warrior! The need to fight is in my oil." However, he comes to value the fight for more than its own sake whilst defending humans from his former Decepticon comrades.
  • Cruel Mercy: Stops Springer from killing Bludgeon, Stranglehold and Octopunch as he reasons "denying them their 'warrior's death' is the worst fate I could think of".
  • Defector From Decadence: Marvel UK. Breaks away from the Mayhem Attack Squad with his Pretender comrade Catilla and joins up with the remnants of the Wreckers to form the Survivors. Later comes to admire and value human life.
  • Enemy Mine: Teams up with the Wreckers to fight Megs and Galvy in Time Wars.
  • Even Evil Has Standards
  • Fire-Forged Friends: With Springer and the Wreckers as a result of their Time Wars team-up.
  • Heel Face Turn: Again, in Marvel UK continuity. Joins the Autobots and comes to appreciate the value of human life; however, he still retains his Decepticon ruthlessness when fighting his former comrades. See Cruel Mercy and Roaring Rampage of Revenge.
  • Noble Demon: In the Marvel UK continuity, he disobeys his orders to "kill any Wreckers left standing" after fighting with them against Galvatron and Megatron in Time Wars.
  • Proud Warrior Race Guy: Marvel UK.
  • Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Takes out most of the New Mayhem Attack Squad after they kill his comrade, and fellow Defector From Decadence, Catilla. However, he spares Bludgeon, Stranglehold and Octopunch in the spirit of Cruel Mercy.

Darkwing (Blackwing (ブラックウイング burakkuuingu))


Function: Aerial Assault
Alt. Mode: Panavia Tornado GR1 Fighter Jet

"Things are never as bad as they seem - usually they're worse."

Throttle


Alt. Mode: Power Engine

Never has anything nice to say, but says it anyway. Believes that life is one long ordeal of pain and suffering and strives to insure that others experience more of it than he does. Binary bonded to the Nebulan, Throttle, a hot-headed burglar prone to over-heating while in engine Mode. Armed with two laser-guided electro-kinetic blasters. Combines with Dreadwind to form the fearsome Dreadwing.

Doubledealer (Doubleclouder (ダブルクラウダー daburukuraudā))


Function: Mercenary
Alt. Modes: ICBM Missile Launcher Truck or Robotic Falcon

"The price of victory is never too high."

Knok


Alt. Mode: Power Engine

Skar


Alt. Mode: Power Engine

A ruthless, battle-ready robot for rent. A traitorous backstabber. Only loyal to the highest bidder. Valued by all, trusted by none. When binary-bonded to Knok, Doubledealer disguises himself as an Autobot robot. When binary-bonded to the bat creature, Skar, Doubledealer transforms into a Decepticon falcon. Armed with intercontinental ballistic missile that can travel 3,000 miles in 30 minutes. Equipped with enough explosives to flatten a mountain range. Uses solid light blaster in robot Mode.

  • Heel Face Revolving Door: It's just business, as far as he's concerned.
  • Only in It For the Money: He's a mercenary with allegiance to neither side. He only cares about who will pay better.
  • Transformation Trinket: He's a unique style of Powermaster. Knok allows Doubledealer to transform into an Autobot humanoid robot. Skar transforms Doubledealer into a Decepticon falcon.
  • True Neutral: Doubledealer's truck mode has no visible faction symbol. He also doesn't care about the Autobot or Decepticon cause.

Dreadwind (ドレッドウインド doreddouindo)


Function: Air Defense
Alt. Mode: General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon Jet

"Fear is a friend whose presence is felt long after he's left."

Hi-Test


Alt. Mode: Power Engine

As ominous as a storm cloud and as chilling as a winter breeze. Grim and gloomy -- always acts as if his best friend just became permanently inoperative. Binary-bonded to the Nebulan, Hi-Test, a thrill-seeking, over-achieving perfectionist, constantly striving to keep Dreadwind's morose mind on his evil work. Equipped with two thermal melters and two air-to-air missiles. Combines with Darkwing to form Dreadwing.

Fangry

Function: Tracker

"Leaders are for fools who need to follow."

Finback

Function: Naval Assault

"Ashes to ashes, rust to rust."

the Firecons

Function: Firestorm Trooper (Cindersaur), Warrior (Flamefeather), Cryptologist (Sparkstalker)

Cindersaur: "Crash and burn... and burn... and burn."
Flamefeather: "The only good Autobot is a deactivated Autobot."
Sparkstalker: "The smallest details reveal the largest secrets."

The pyromaniac Cindersaur, the violent Flamefeather and the intelligent Sparkstalker, who can transform into a trio of fire-breathing beasts

  • Ax Crazy: Cindersaur and Flamefeather, much to Sparkstalker's chagrin.
  • Hair-Trigger Temper: It's said that Flamefeather's greatest achievement in life was talking to someone for a full minute without going into a frothing rage.

Horri-Bull

Function: Ground Trooper

"Smash all that stands and trample the rest."

Iguanus

Function: Terror Trooper

"Sow the seeds of fear and victory is yours."

Needlenose

Function: Aerial Warrior

"Get hip or get hit!"

  • Crying Wolf: Does this in the appropriately named Marvel UK strip Cry Wolf; his comrades don't take it well; Carnivac (HeelFaceTurned Decepticon with wolf Pretender shell and alt mode) uses Needlenose's fear and paranoia to his advantage, making the paranoid Decepticon the first target of his Roaring Rampage of Revenge.
  • Empathic Weapons: Sunbeam and Zigzag.
  • Evil Counterpart: Needlenose's interest on Earth culture makes him very similar to Jazz.

Quake

Function: Ground Assault

"Nothing lasts forever... so why not destroy it now?"

Roadgrabber

Function: Gunner

"Destruction has a beauty all its own."


The Seacons

Function: Seacon Team Leader (Snaptrap), Underwater Excavations (Nautilator), Undersea Terminator (Overbite), Undersea Reconnaissance (Seawing), Amphibious Assault (Skalor), Underwater Demolitions (Tentakil), Undersea Warrior (Piranacon)

Snaptrap: "Broken Autobots never mend."
Nautilator: "Blame someone else before they blame you."
Overbite: "There are two kinds of creatures: predator and prey."
Seawing: "The darkest depths reveal the darkest secrets."
Skalor: "I stink, therefore I am."
Tentakil: "Embrace your enemies... until they're terminated."
Piranacon: "Underwater, no one can hear you scream."

A team of six Decepticons who transform into sea creatures. They are Snaptrap (leader, a turtle), Nautilator (a lobster), Overbite (a shark), Seawing (a manta ray), Skalor (a coelacanth) and Tentakill (a squid).

  • Affably Evil: Tentakil, so very much.
  • Blood Knight: Snaptrap's favorite part of the hunt is the kill.
  • Butt Monkey: Nautilator. If not for the Seacons being relatively unknown, one would believe Futurama's Zoidberg is an Expy of him.
  • Combining Mecha: They form Piranacon
  • Egomaniac Hunter: All of them, and taken to such an extreme in Piranacon that Snaptrap had to install an automatic timer to insure that they'd separate after a certain amount of time to prevent them Piranacon from hunting all the time.
  • Empathic Weapon: Piranacon's a "Scramble City" Combiner with special hands. So any one of his limbs can become his gun.
  • Genius Slob: Skalor DOES NOT CARE about what other Decepticons think about his lack of personal hygiene.
  • Leeroy Jenkins: Nautilator. His physical abilities are certainly impressive...but he's such a moron that the rest of the Seacons end up Face Palming every time he gets himself in trouble and they have to rescue him.
  • The Load: The rest of the Seacons feel this way about Nautilator, since they've repeatedly had to fish his chassis out of the depths whenever he gets himself lost. Whenever they form Piranacon, the Seacons always make Nautilator serve as their weapon, rather than let him form a body part. As Snaptrap says, if Nautilator didn't occasionally find something useful when he got lost, they would have left him to rust a long time ago.
  • Never My Fault: Nautilator is, according to his tech specs, a "stumbling, bumbling amphibious foul-up." Of course, whenever he's called out for his screw-ups, he always tries to shift the blame to someone else.
  • "No Respect" Guy: Nautilator
  • Serial Killer: Tentakil is oh~so~smooth.
  • The Starscream: Seawing, inside the team.
  • Super Drowning Skills: Nautilator tends to rust easily, he can't navigate to save his spark, and he has trouble swimming. And he's a member of the Decepticons' underwater strike force.

Skullgrin

Function: Siege Warrior

"Those who stand against me shall soon fall before me!"

Snarler

Function: Assault Warrior

"Stealing isn't a crime, getting caught is."

Spinister

Function: Aerial Assault

"Respect your foes' abilities as you would your own."

Squawkbox

Function: Interrogator (Beastbox), Translator (Squawktalk)

Beastbox: "Speak now if you intend to ever speak at all."
Squawktalk: "If you have nothing interesting to say, say it anyway."

A Decepticon composed of the cassettes Squawktalk and Beastbox.

Squeezeplay

Function: Saboteur

"Place brawn before brains and victory is yours."

Submarauder

Function: Undersea Warfare

"Conquer the seas and the rest will fall!"

the Triggercons

Function: Data Collector (Crankcase), Combat Assault (Ruckus), Air Defense (Windsweeper)

Crankcase: "Things are never as good as they seem."
Ruckus: I take a licking and keep on kicking."
Windsweeper: "Uninvited guests soon become smoldering wrecks."

Composed of the whiny Crankcase, the loud Ruckus and the neatfreak Windsweeper. They are part of the Mayhem Attack Squad.

1989 Decepticons

The Air Strike Patrol

Function: Espionage

"The more tightly you hold a secret, the more we like ripping it a way."

Consists of Whisper, Storm Cloud, Nightflight, and Tailwind.

Airwave

Function: Aerial Defense

"My price is too high and you're going to pay."

Bludgeon

Function: Electric Warrior

"To know your own limits, you must first know your foe's limits."

A Decepticon martial artist whose Pretender shell is samurai skeleton.

Flattop

Function: Naval Warfare

"Terror is the ultimate weapon."

Greasepit

Function: Fuel Depot

"An engine is only as powerful as the fuel that runs it."

Octopunch

Function: Salvage

"Anything that can sink is worth sinking."

A Pretender whose shell resembles a humanoid squid monster.

the Pretender Monsters

Function: Aerial Attack Trooper (Birdbrain), Ground Assault (Bristleback), Demolitions (Icepick), Sonic Saboteur (Scowl), Combat Artist (Slog), Aerial Assault (Wildfly), Super Warrior (Monstructor)

Birdbrain: "Anyone who is not a predator is considered prey."
Bristlebck: "You can't tell a Decepticon by its cover."
Icepick: "From today's rubble-strewn fields shall emerge a new Decepticon world!"
Scowl: "Control sound, and the faintest whisper can be the fiercest weapon."
Slog: "Destruction is the highest form of art."
Wildfly: "Strike fear into your enemy, and you've won half the battle."

Six pretenders whose shells and altmodes are monster-shaped. They are Birdbrain, Bristleback, Icepick, Scowl, Slog and Wildfly.

Roadblock

Function: Ground Forces Commander

"To show fear is to admit defeat."

Roughstuff

Function: Aerial Defense

"Shoot first, aim later."

Skyhopper

Function: Aerial Assault Commander

"The bigger the boom, the better I like it!"

Skystalker

Function: Interstellar Assault

"Terror reigns from the skies, the hapless rule on the ground."

the Sports Car Patrol

Function: Advance Assault

"It takes force to push back the enemy, but speed clears the way."

Composed of Detour, Blackjack, Hyperdrive and Road Hugger.

Stranglehold

Function: Enforcer

"Rule one is: There are no rules!"

Thunderwing

Function: Aerial Espionage

"Cover yourself with lies and no one will find you."

  • Big Bad: of the "Matrix Quest" arc.
  • Bad Boss: He seems to be this, risking his troops' lives to get the Matrix, but when he finally gets it and uses it to attack Spinister, he notices the corrupted Matrix is influencing him, since he wouldn't harm a fellow Decepticon.
  • From Nobody to Nightmare: In the IDW comics, his experiments with Pretender polydermal grafting technology made him unfathomably powerful and nigh-indestructable, at the cost of obliterating his sanity and turning him into a mindless engine of destruction. The Autobot and Decepticon armies took on Thunderwing, combined and in their entirety, and even then they still couldn't kill the monster he had become.
  • Person of Mass Destruction: While he wasn't the only factor contributing to Cybertron's decline, he was definitely the one to push things over the edge and leave the planet a barren, radiation-choked wasteland utterly inhospitable to Transformer life.
  • Sealed Evil in a Can: By virtue of having run out of energy and being locked within his own Pretender shell. That is, until Bludgeon and his insane Pretender cult roused the beast from its slumber...

1990 Decepticons

Axer

Function: Bounty Hunter

"No prey is too large, no fee is too small."


the Battle Squad

Function: Aerial Counterattack

"The higher they fly, the faster they'll fall!"

Composed of Direct-Hit, Power Punch, Fireshot, Vanquish, Meltdown and Half-Track.


Banzai-Tron

Function: Martial arts warrior

"To the victor go the profits"


Blackout and Spaceshot

Function: Ground Infantry

"Persistence is the cornerstone of victory"


the Constructor Squad

Function: Battlefield Fortification

"There's nothing like the feel of cold steel."

Composed of Grit, Knockout, Sledge, Hammer, Stonecruncher and Excavator. Micromasters who form only half a vehicle and need to combine with their partner to form the full one.

  • Hates Being Touched: Hammer will kill you.
  • Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: Excavator (quiet, introverted, withdrawn until there's a project to work on) and Stonecruncher (frat boy personality, loud and aggressive)
  • Berserk Button: Mess with Excavator in Stonecruncher's presence. Do it.
  • Boring but Practical: Sledge values function over aesthetics and doesn't even try to combine the two. This is because he's a "soldier first, builder second" and honestly doesn't care about construction beyond what it takes to get the job done.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold:
    • Sledge. He may seem gruff and antisocial, but if he sees his teammates struggling with anything then he's always the first to rush in to help.
    • Stonecruncher. He's loud and aggressive, but he honestly means well. So long as you're a Constructor, that is.
  • Blessed with Suck: Hammer can't move around in his own alt-mode unless he's attached to Sledge (or any other front-end micromaster).
  • The Rival: Hammer views the Constructors as being this toward the better-known Constructicons. And he's sure that his team is better.
  • The Quiet One: Excavator prefers being off by himself until there's something to build, at which point he suddenly comes to life.
  • The Fatalist: Grit is a strangely optimistic version of this, in that he figures that, okay, yeah, they're all going to die and everything they know and value is going to crumble to dust at some point or another because time is kind of a dick like that, but hey: He's certain that at least the Decepticon empire will continue to thrive.
  • Sleepyhead: Knockout. To the point of narcolepsy, though it really only happens whenever he gets excited about something. Sometimes he does this while in alt-mode and poor Grit has to haul him around until he wakes up.


Gutcruncher

Function: Air-to-ground support

"Conquest of the Autobots begins with control of the sky!"


Krok

Function: Foot soldier

"The road to conquest is best travelled one step at a time."


the Military Patrol

Function: Front Line Assault

"The ultimate force is the force of destruction."

Composed of Bombshock (leader), Dropshot, Growl and Tracer.


the Race Track Patrol

Function: Mobile Assault

"There are two kinds of fighters, Decepticons and losers."

Composed of Barricade (leader), Ground Hog, Motorhead and Roller Force.


Terror-Tread and Cement-Head

Function: Demolitions

"We aim for nothing less than total victory!"

Treadshot

Function: Gunslinger

"A gun is only as good as the one who holds it!"

1991 Decepticons

Overlord

Function: Self Contained Nomadic Assault Machine

"I stand my ground... I accept any challenge... I am hungry for conflict."

A legendary Decepticon leader and One-Man Army.

Slicer

Function: Massive assault specialist

"Annihilation equals victory!"

1992 Decepticons

The Predators

Function: Air Commandant (Skyquake), Leader (Falcon), Scientific Advisor (Skydive), Surveillance (Snare), Advance Fighter (Talon), Communications Expert (Stalker)

Skyquake: "Break them, crush them - grind them to dust!"
Falcon: "I despise weakness and spit on compassion."
Skydive: "True cruelty is the highest form of art."
Snare: "Fear? What's fear? It's all fun to me."
Talon: "Don't get me mad... when I get mad, I get even."
Stalker: "Hate till it hurts and then hate some more."

Composed of Skyquake, Falcon, Skydive, Snare, Talon, and Stalker

Canon Immigrants

Straxus

"Mercy is not dispensed here, fools... only death!"

A Decepticon warlord who took command on Cybertron after Megatron and company disappeared.

Sunstorm

Function: Aerospace warrior

"Unchecked power is the true path to divinity."

  • A God Am I
  • Ascended Extra: He first appeared as an unnamed background character in the first animated episode.
  • Walking Wasteland: Sunstorm is so named because he is dangerously radioactive; his mere presence causes other Transformers to melt, corrode and die. This, combined with his physically and mentally unstable nature, has resulted in Sunstorm developing a massive god complex.
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