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Darkest Hour (episode)

2026-03-13T22:18:56Z

Bromega2477: /* Quotes */

{{disambig3|Darkest Hour}}

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 52
|prev=Regeneration (Prime)
|next=Darkmount, NV
|next2=Triple Combination! Swordbot - Samurai!
|image=PrimeDarkestHourOPArm.jpg
|caption=WISE FWOM YOUR GWAVE
|title="Darkest Hour"
|season=2
|season ep=26
|airdate=[[November 2]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Allspark (company)|Hasbro Studios]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEl-H0ZAfFg
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''When Megatron turns the power of the Omega Lock on Earth, Optimus is forced into making a risky decision that could have inescapable consequences for the entire Autobot team.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:DarkestHour-captives.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Jack: It's all because of us. Miko: We're so fragged. Raf: Can I go to the bathroom?]]

The two groups stand on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], locked in a face-off. While the [[Autobot]]s have the [[Omega Key]]s, the [[Decepticon]]s have [[Jack Darby|Jack]], [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]]. [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] orders [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] to get ready to expose Jack to Cybertron's toxic atmosphere. Though the kids are ready to sacrifice themselves to save the planet, [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] isn't, and the Autobots throw down their weapons. [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] hands over his key in exchange for Miko, [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] hands over his for Raf, and Megatron insists that as someone who was entrusted with the [[Matrix of Leadership]], Jack is surely worth ''two'' keys, so Arcee and Smokescreen are compelled to hand over theirs. The exchange done, a [[space bridge]] opens and the Autobots are quickly surrounded by [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]].

On [[Earth]], [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] gets a call from [[June Darby]], worried as she can't get in touch with Jack. Ratchet, unable to get in touch with Optimus and unaware that the kids are on Cybertron, is more concerned with keeping the comm lines clear, and quickly ends the call.

Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave and Knock Out each hold a key, and activate the [[Omega Lock]]. At a touch from Megatron, the lock sends out a beam of energy that recreates a nearby ruin, turning it into a pristine building. Though Optimus requests he be allowed to take the [[human]]s back to Earth, Megatron replies that they'll be safer where they are. He has Starscream open up a space bridge portal over the Omega Lock site, and unleashes a mechaforming beam through it... to Earth, just outside of [[Jasper]], [[Nevada]]. A horrified June drops her phone, and the Autobot base's systems go haywire from the energy overload.

[[Image:DarkestHour-June.jpg|right|thumb|300px|"I've been watching far too many movies."]]

Miko wonders aloud if the beam will simply restore Earth, but Optimus says that this won't be the case; the beam will instead [[cyberforming|cyberform]] the planet, turning it into another metallic world, and in the process destroying ''all'' indigenous life. Megatron revels in his victory as he, Starscream, and [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] share a professional grade evil laugh, unintentionally dropping their guard. Unable to let Earth die, Optimus leaps into action, slicing his way through the guards with his blade and lunging for the [[Star Saber (Thirteen)|Star Saber]]. Though Megatron tries to respond with the [[Dark Star Saber]], Optimus neatly cleaves the purloined Prime arm off of the Decepticon leader and sends the Dark blade flying, charging the Lock. Starscream gets his face stamped on as he tries to stop Optimus, and the other two Decepticons dive for cover as the Star Saber finds its mark, resulting in a massive explosion.

The cyberforming beam dissipates, and Ratchet's equipment clears up in time to get a transmission from Optimus requesting a space bridge. As the Decepticons pick themselves out of the rubble, the Autobots retreat through back to Earth. Knock Out tries to lighten the mood, earning a quick backhand from Starscream, snarling that he needs to attend to their wounded leader. Starscream's ranting at Optimus's actions is cut of by a burst of maniacal laughter from Megatron... "They can run, but they can never again run ''home''!"

[[Image:DarkestHour-NewKaon.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Always check the (future) neighbors out before you sign the lease.]]

Ratchet is aghast as the Autobots return carrying the children, and even more so when they tell him Optimus has destroyed the Omega Lock. He staggers, lamenting that the sheer depth of loss the war has brought has all come to naught, with Cybertron now doomed to forever be a lifeless husk. [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] snaps at Ratchet, claiming it's not his place to question Optimus's battlefield decisions, and Ratchet does not exactly react well to that. The discussion is cut short by a call from an absolutely furious [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]], suggesting they take a look outside. As the Autobots reach the mountaintop via elevator, they find a huge [[Darkmount (Earth)|Cybertronian fortress]] now stands right on their doorstep. Fowler, landing his helicopter next to them, wonders why they picked Jasper. As the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' arrives, the answer becomes painfully clear: the Decepticons have found the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]].

Megatron, still missing his arm, rallies his air troops with a speech damning Optimus for his actions, and Starscream launches his armada of silver-toned Jet Vehicons, followed by the [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]] horde. The Autobots retreat into the base, but Fowler jumps back into his helicopter and flies directly through the oncoming Decepticon formations. While he's soon outgunned and being chased by Vehicons, the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]'' streaks into view—[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] has come to lend a hand, much to the surprise of the Autobots, since their last parting was not exactly on friendly terms, but he affirms that they're all still Autobots at the end of the day.

[[Image:DarkestHour-thisistheplace.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[Revenge of the Fallen: The Album|We're going 'til the world stops turning, while we burn it to the ground tonight!]]]]

Optimus orders the Autobots to abandon base via [[GroundBridge]], each departing to different locations in the [[United States of America|USA]] in the hopes that it will allow them to evade capture easier and regroup. Bumblebee and Raf head out first, then Bulkhead and Miko, then Arcee and Jack. Outside, Fowler avoids more Decepticons only to see the ''Nemesis'' moving into position over the Autobot base. At the same time, June is approaching the base by car in search of her son, but is stopped by a low-flying Vehicon. Fowler moves fast, gunning the Decepticon down and pulling June to safety. Though Wheeljack has bought the Autobots time, the numbers are against him, and a pair of seeking missiles from Starscream soon send the ''Jackhammer'' plummeting to Earth in a trail of smoke.

Smokescreen having departed on his own, Ratchet and Optimus are the last ones left in the base. Optimus tells Ratchet to go on, while he will make sure the Decepticons can't follow. Realizing the implications, Ratchet sadly takes his leave. Optimus moves to use the Star Saber to destroy the space bridge controls, but at that moment his task is rendered moot as the ''Nemesis'' fires a colossal cannon, destroying the Autobot base in a huge explosion.

Megatron and Starscream fly down to the remains, landing on the Autobot [[insignia]]. The two gloat over their victory... and not far, all that can be seen of Optimus is his hand sticking out from the burning rubble...
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (1)
* [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (2)
* [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (3)
* [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (4)
* [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
* [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (14)
* [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] (18)
|c2=
* [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (6)
* [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (9)
* [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (10)
* [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (12)
* [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (13)
* [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] (17)
|c3=
* [[Jack Darby]] (7)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (8)
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (11)
* [[June Darby]] (15)
* [[William Fowler]] (16)
}}

==Quotes==
"I guess we should cancel the welcome home party."
:—'''Knock Out''' tries to lighten the mood

"What about '''OUR''' planet?! All of our struggles and Energon spilled and ''countless'' sacrifices! '''FOR NOTHING?!"
:—'''Ratchet''' processes what just happened

"Our opportunity to revive Cybertron has been lost, due to the treachery of Optimus Prime. But from our fortress of New Kaon, we will instead seize control of ''this'' world! [[Megatron (Animated)|'''Decepticons! Transform and rise up!''']]"
:—'''Megatron''' rallies his troops

"We're still on the same team Doc. Always will be."
:—'''Wheeljack''' affirms that there's no bad Energon between them

"And that's how you wreck a Wrecker!"
:—'''Starscream''' revels in finally winning for once

"I... never imagined it would end like this." 
"Neither did I, old friend."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Optimus Prime''' on the breaking of [[Team Prime]]

"This is the place, all right." 
"This ''was'' the place." 
"United we stand, divided they fall."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron''' dance on the ashes of their enemies

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Megatron remembers that Jack was entrusted with the [[Matrix of Leadership]] back in "[[Orion Pax, Part 3]]". Technically, Jack was entrusted with the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], but the result is the same.
* Ratchet vaguely references the events of "[[Hurt]]" when expressing surprise at Wheeljack's arrival. This also seems to be the reason why no one enlisted his aid for the events of the previous episode.
* Optimus cuts off Megatron's Prime arm, which he acquired in "[[Alpha/Omega]]".
* Soundwave began narrowing down the location of the Autobots' base through knowledge of their human allies' residences within [[Jasper]] in "[[Hard Knocks]]", and [[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]] was in driving distance of the base when he found Smokescreen. Though considering Megatron was angrily ranting about finding the base at the end of "[[Inside Job]]", the Decepticons must've finally found it in the short span of time between then and Megatron's departure to Cybertron in the previous episode, considering Megatron decided to plant New Kaon ''right'' on the Autobots' doorstep in this episode.

===Transformers references===
* "[[Darkest hour]]", yet again.
* Megatron commands his troops to "Transform and rise up!", a phrase coined by the ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] in "[[Megatron Rising - Part 2]]".
* Megatron plans to [[cyberforming|cyberform]] Earth.

===Real-world references===
* Optimus Prime explains that the Omega Lock will "cyberform your planet in favor of its new matrix, destroying all indigenous life in the process," a reference to the Genesis Device in ''[[Star Trek]] {{w|Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|II: The Wrath of Khan}}''. [[Spock]], describing the effect of the Device on an inhabited world, explains that it "would destroy such life, in favor of its new matrix."

===Animation and technical errors===
* As in previous episodes, Megatron's jet mode retains the fusion cannon even though he no longer has it.
* During Ratchet's last scene before he enters the GroundBridge, part of his helmet goes through his chest.
* When Optimus transforms his arm into his regular sword, the Vehicons behind him are suddenly ground units.
* When Starscream takes off with his Vehicon armada, one of the Vehicons transforms and stops mid-air mid-transformed behind Knock Out.
* The Autobots must ''really'' be in disarray after the Omega Lock's destruction if they thought it was a good idea to just stand on top of their base (which was already marked with a conspicuous helicopter pad for Fowler) when they know that Laserbeak was within driving distance of the base during "[[Hard Knocks]]". Arcee even makes a point about the gravity of the Decepticons being close enough to the base to be able to find the kids right before Fowler alerts them to New Kaon's presence.

===Trivia===
[[Image:PrimeDarkestHourStarscreamsArmadaSingle.jpg|thumb|250px|ARE YOU SARAH CONNOR?]]
* A new type of Decepticon flyer debuts, sporting a silver and grey paint job. According to the season three DVD commentary, they were an off-screen gift from Megatron to Starscream for returning to the Decepticons.
** They also possess a red Decepticon insignia just like Starscream.
* June has evidently bought a new car, her old one having been destroyed in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 1]]".
* Optimus makes use of his integrated sword for the first time since the arrival of the Star Saber.
* Fowler manages to kill four Decepticons in this episode, two of which he shoots down with the gun on his helicopter. He must have gotten an upgrade after its lackluster performance in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]" and "[[Crisscross (episode)|Crisscross]]".
* Soundwave actually cackles along with Megatron, Starscream, and Knock Out during the activation of the Omega Lock on Earth. His voice is not audible, but the laughing motion of his head is noticeable.
* Optimus' "death" was added in so there would be a reason to give Optimus a new body in season three.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=So it was a crazy meeting, but you know, we initially uh, I think the way season 2 ended as scripted as storyboarded it was wisping smoke from the Autobot base. Cut to black. And uh see ya next season. And what we sort of improvised in the meeting is, oh and they also wanted a new Optimus Prime to sell, a new body. So we said well look we were you know we were gonna open season 3 to show how everybody secretly escaped through secret passages that kind of thing and they on the run. But we said what if, brainstormed in the meeting with Jeff and I, oh what if we see Optimus' body lying in the rubble. He was the last one to leave, to make sure everybody else was safe and we leave him for dead. We see his eye blink out we see a destroyed hand sticking out of the rubble.|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT6tvD6NyzY&t=14459s|name=Duane Capizzi|site=YouTube|year=2021|month=08|day=14}}</ref>

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Le Nouveau Kaon'''" ("The New Kaon")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die Entscheidung'''" ("The Choice")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 27|27 February]] [[2013]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Kyūkyoku Henkei! Tatakae! Transformers'''" (究極変形!戦え!トランスフォーマー, "Ultimate Transformation! Fight! Transformers")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 30|30 March]] [[2013]]
:*The title is a reference to ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'', the Japanese title of the original Generation 1 franchise.
:*'''Cut:''' As the Japanese broadcast of ''Prime'' had to limit the show to only 52 episodes, "Darkest Hour" became the series finale. To accommodate this new role, the entire [[cliffhanger]] ending in which the Autobot base is destroyed was cut and the series ends on a more ambiguous tone (the final shot is of Optimus destroying the control panel). Editing like this would make 4Kids blush.

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'ora più buia'''" ("The darkest hour"), "'''L'Ora più Oscura'''" (2017 airing, "The Darkest Hour")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 19|19 February]] [[2013]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Hora Mais Escura'''" (The Darkest Hour")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2012 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2013 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Vol. 26 ([[Avex Trax]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Volume 5: Advance on Cybertron ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Folge 12: Die Entscheidung ([[EDEL:kids]]) — English and German audio. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2014 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Saison 2 Vol. 4: Bataille épiques ([[Primal Screen]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season 2 Vol. 4: Darkest Hour (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Intégrale Saison 2 (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Stagione 2 Vol. 4: L'ora più buia (Primal Screen) — English, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — The Complete Season 2 (Primal Screen) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — La Seconda Stagione Completa (Primal Screen) — English, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian audio.
;Blu-ray
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2012 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2015 — ''Transformers Prime'' — Season Two Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

2024-11-21T22:21:32Z

Bromega2477:

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|{{factions/icons|custom=Car Robots Destron.png|cSize=30px|cLink=Commando (RID)|cPretty=Combatron}}|ttdecepticon|sgDecepticon|ascenticon}}
{{disambig2|the Transformers faction|the ''Robots in Disguise'' episode|The Decepticons}}
[[File:Symbol decept reg.png|upright=1.4|thumb|Get this tattooed on you and all you'll need is a black trenchcoat and a long ponytail. Then people will love you.]]

{{quote|'''''Decepticon''' (di-sep-ti-con) A member of a subversive sect or society. From the noun — 'deception'; one who deceives.|the [[New Cybertronic Dictograph]]}}

The '''Decepticons''' are one of the primary factions in the ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' mythos. They are typically concerned with such things as conquering [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], defeating the [[Autobot]]s, amassing large quantities of [[energon]], developing powerful weaponry, and beating people up. Not necessarily in that order.

Unlike the Autobots, whose leader is a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] bearing a [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], the Decepticons are led by the [[Decepticon leader|most powerful]] of their ranks. This tends to cause some conflict, given how generally ''every'' Decepticon thinks that they're the most powerful.

Also, the Decepticons are not exactly the most compassionate beings in the universe, but not all fight for greed. More than a few have a [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|sense]] [[Scourge (Cybertron)|of]] [[Dreadwing (Prime)|honor]], while others believe that Cybertron would be better protected by [[Decepticon Empire|aggressive expansion]]. Even though the name does a good job of demonizing them, it usually comes from a sense of being evil ''ironically'' or due to being labelled as such, as most members genuinely believe that their cause is just and are just seen as the bad guys by the Autobots... or are just psychopaths looking for an excuse to do what they do.

Ultimately, the Decepticons desire to protect their homeworld, even if it is at the expense of others. [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Usually]].

In at least [[2019 IDW continuity|one universe]], the faction starts off being named the '''Ascenticons''' before taking its more traditional appellation.

{{quote|The Decepticons are a malevolent race of robot warriors, brutal and merciless. The Decepticons are led by a single undeviating goal: total domination of the universe.|[[Narrator]]|[[Secret Files of Teletraan II]]}}

==Generation 1 continuity family==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
[[File:Thelaststand-prepare.jpg|left|upright=1.95|thumb|MUSTER THE GOOMBAS! HAND OUT THE DE-EVOLUTION GUNS! PREPARE FOR DESTINY!]]
The Decepticons emerged from the gladiatorial [[Games (competition)|State Games]], which caused [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s rise to public prominence - in the aftermath of the destructive Vos-Tarn War, Megatron was able to use his fame and charisma to unite both the survivors and the planet's malcontents into a new army. His plan was to turn Cybertron into a mobile cosmic dreadnought and conquer the galaxy. {{storylink|State Games}} The Decepticons developed new technology to allow them to transform into attack vehicles and weaponry, launching a devastating attack that killed billions and shook the planet from its orbit before [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] turned the tide.

Megatron, Shockwave and others were lost on Earth for four million years; as Optimus was too, the Autobots swiftly lost ground to Decepticon leaders [[Trannis]] and [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]]. Cybertron was devastated and conquered, causing the cream of the Decepticons to leave the burnt-out planet to form a [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]] out in the stars, while Straxus threw all those he considered weak into the [[Smelting pool]]. The Empire would go on to slaughter and Cyberform planet after planet, their actions unknown on Cybertron.

Eventually the Earth-bound Decepticons would awaken in 1984, sparking off a new front in the war. After the presumed suicide of Megatron, an escalation in fighting would see Decepticon leadership fragment and change hands rapidly, with frequent clashes, plots and counter-plots between the primary leadership, namely [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], until most of them were killed in the [[Underbase]] conflict, leaving Scorponok the only surviving commander. A brief truce with the Autobots was held when [[Unicron]] attacked in 1991, but Scorponok was killed in the following conflict. Immediately after this, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] came to power. Charismatic and driven, Bludgeon turned the beaten Decepticons into a new army; after a defeat on [[Klo]], they regrouped and reorganised. ([[Another Time & Place|In one reality, they were immediately massacred afterward.]])

{{--}}

====Earthforce====
{{Earthforcefiction}}
In the side-continuity of [[Earthforce]], while Unicron continued on to Cybertron, Megatron and Shockwave continued a Decepticon civil war on Earth with a small handful of troops - wasting most of their time trying to take each other out. Eventually Soundwave and Starscream overthrew them, uniting both factions into a stronger Decepticon force. The two former leaders attempted to regain their position but never appeared to succeed.

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
Bludgeon invaded Earth with the intention of capturing the Matrix and making a new generation of Decepticons, but Megatron returned, killed Bludgeon in one-on-one combat, and stole this plan. However, the threat of the Cybertronian Empire forced an alliance between the Autobots and Decepticons again.

====''Classics''====
{{noteclassics}}
{{groupstub}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
Following Bludgeon's defeat on Klo, the Autobots turned their attention internally to Cybertron, repatriating Decepticons who chose to lay down their arms while leaving Bludgeon's faction free to conquer other planets and build up his [[Warworld]]. Having abandoned Earth to its own devices, the Autobots were unaware of Megatron's revival, and his subsequent devastation of the planet with the help of his horde of [[Zombie|zombified]] Decepticons (which included a few Autobots in its ranks by circumstance). The horde was stopped when Optimus Prime killed Megatron once and for all.

Meanwhile, [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] used the Decepticons on Cybertron to subvert the Autobots' peace, destroying the [[Last Autobot]] and clearing the way for Bludgeon's eventual return. In the interim, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] launched his own covert invasion of Cybertron, with the intent of using his [[Gene Key]] to overwrite the [[CNA]] of every Autobot on the planet, turning them into Decepticons. Scorponok's efforts were ultimately thwarted by [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], and Bludgeon's subsequent invasion was ultimately repelled by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]], but at the expense of leaving the Autobots virtually defenseless.

While Rodimus led an Autobot task force on a preemptive strike against the Cybertronian Empire's [[Hub (G2)|Hub network]], the [[Dark Matrix|Dark Matrix creature]], which had manipulated events on Cybertron, Earth, and [[Nebulos]], spread itself across Cybertron, turning every Transformer it could reach into [[Shadow-leech]]es. The last known surviving Decepticons were [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]], [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], and [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]], who, facing extinction, renounced the ways of the Decepticons and became ambassadors for peace.

====''Transformers '84''====
The ultimate ambition of the Decepticons was to reshape their world into a planet conquering warworld through what was known as [[Project Dreadnought]]. While they had great successes in the war's opening stages, Megatron's increasing obsession with defeating Optimus Prime stalled their expansion efforts, {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 1|Secrets & Lies #1}} and created fractures in the army. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 3|Secrets & Lies #3}}

After Megatron and [[Decepticon High Command]] had been lost in space, {{storylink|Transformers '84 issue 0|'84 #0}} [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] became the closest thing to the new [[Decepticon leader]], leading his army on a violent campaign against [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]' Autobots. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 3|Secrets & Lies #3}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:Ffod4 early soldiers.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]

The Decepticons began life as a line of military hardware robots created by the [[Quintesson]]s, alongside the consumer goods robots that would become the Autobots. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} It is unknown exactly what role the military hardware robots played in the eventual rebellion of the robots against their creators; the only ones seen to participate in the conflict were the Autobots' ancestors, led by [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A-3]], but given their fighting ability, the proto-Decepticons seem like they would have made logical soldiers in the fight. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

Following the defeat of the Quintessons and their exile from Cybertron, a brief period of peace descended, before the base differences between the two breeds of robot led to the outbreak of conflict. Lusting for power, the Decepticons, as they now called themselves, rallied under [[Trannis|a leader]] and began a war with the peaceful Autobots, who proved unable to match their inborn military skills. After the fall of several successive Autobot leaders, the heroic robots turned to stealth, and invented the art of [[transformation]]; with this edge, [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] defeated the Decepticons' leader, ending the war and ushering in the prosperous [[Golden Age]] of Cybertron. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}
[[File:Masterplan2 earth germ.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"Excuse me, do you have seating for 3?"]]
Over time, the defeated Decepticons married transformation technology with [[robot mode]] flight powers, leading to the creation of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] around nine million years ago. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Gathering like-minded warriors like the loyal [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]], the emotionless [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and the young upstart [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], and brain-washing others into his service with the [[Robosmasher|Robo-Smasher]], {{storylink|The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)|The Secret of Omega Supreme}} Megatron slew Sentinel Prime and reignited the war. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Against the Autobots under the command of new leader [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], the protracted warfare ran for five million years, draining Cybertron dry of energy and forcing the Transformers to seek new power sources on other planets. When Optimus Prime's best and brightest departed on this quest aboard [[Ark (G1)|a spacecraft]], Megatron's elite followed them, and the battle that erupted led to a crash-landing on prehistoric Earth that entombed all the combatants in stasis for four million years. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}

In 1984, a volcanic explosion led to the reactivation of the Transformers; the Decepticons were first to recover, and immediately set about plundering Earth's natural resources to build a [[Victory (G1)|space cruiser]] that would take them back to Cybertron. Sabotaged in mid-flight, the ship crashed into one of Earth's oceans, {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}} but the Decepticons survived and rebuilt the crippled craft to serve as their new [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|headquarters]] for the continuing conflict on the planet. A [[space bridge]] was established between Earth and Cybertron, and any resources the villains could purloin would be sent back to the dying planet to secure their stranglehold over it. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion (episode)|Transport to Oblivion}}
[[File:FFOD5 Decepticons attack.JPG|thumb|upright=1.4]]
At some point over the next twenty years, the Decepticons focused their attentions away from Earth and managed to take complete control of Cybertron, forcing the Autobots to relocate to twin moonbases on Cybertron's two satellites, and to [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on Earth. In 2005, learning that the Autobots planned a major strike to retake Cybertron, the Decepticons launched an [[Battle of Autobot City|attack]] on Autobot City, with disastrous consequences for the Autobots. The battle saw one of the Decepticons' long held dreams achieved in the death of Optimus Prime, but Megatron was damaged, and left to rot in deep space, along with several of his wounded followers. Found by the monster planet [[Unicron]], Megatron was reformatted by him into [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]], and the others into [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]]s, in return for their servitude. Soon after, while Unicron was attacking the Decepticon-controlled Cybertron, Galvatron duelled with the new Autobot leader [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]], who triumphed and hurled him into the void of space. Their world and their forces devastated and their leader gone, the Decepticons were easily routed by the Autobots, who forced them into exile on the burned-out world of [[Chaar]] while they retook and restored Cybertron. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

{{quote|Once the Decepticons held the quadrant through terror, now we scrap like [[Slaarg]]s over a few [[energon cube]]s.|[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]|[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1]]}}
[[File:Rebirth 2 Decepticon offerings.JPG|left|thumb|upright=1.4]]
On Chaar, the Decepticons faced constant energy shortages and engaged in constant in-fighting over what little they did have. Determined to restore order, Cyclonus hatched a plan to locate the lost Galvatron, in hopes that he could lead the Decepticons to glory once more. Although they were successful, Galvatron proved to have been driven insane by his experiences, and while his return did herald the recommencement of hostilities with the Autobots, the Decepticons never quite recovered their old standing, continuing to operate on Chaar throughout 2006 and regularly entering into ill-fated alliances with the Quintessons. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness}}

Eventually, the Decepticons went into hiding following the resurrection of Optimus Prime. When they returned, it was in force, launching an attack on Autobot City in order to steal the key to the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]] on Cybertron, intending to use the chamber to overload the sun and destroy Earth and Cybertron together. The battle for the key carried several of their number to the planet [[Nebulos]], where they became [[binary bonding|binary bonded]] to the planet's evil rulers, the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]], as [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]]. They returned with the key to Cybertron, but Autobot intervention caused the energy of the chamber to backfire on them, hurling their battlestation [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], with the amassed forces of the Decepticons aboard, off into the far reaches of the universe. {{storylink|The Rebirth}}

{{--}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
{{note|In Japanese cartoon continuity, the events of "The Rebirth" do not occur, and Headmasters and Targetmasters have a different origin.}}
[[File:FourWarriors Decepticon Headmasters flaming balls.jpg|thumb|There were more burning rocks in the Japanese continuity.]]

Following the return of Optimus Prime, the Decepticons consolidated their power base by heavily fortifying Chaar and turning it into an actual, functional base of operations. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} Their ranks were swelled with the addition of the Decepticon Headmasters—Cybertronians who had fled their homeworld millions of years before and taken up residence on the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], but who had been exiled by the local leader [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] for an attempted coup. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Headmaster commander [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] coveted leadership of the Decepticons for himself, and finally obtained it when the Autobot Headmasters entombed Galvatron in an iceberg. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg}} Under Scorponok's leadership, the Decepticons nearly succeeded in destroying the Earth with [[crysmagnetal]] and [[plasma energy]], but upon the destruction of Scorponok's [[Transtector]], they ultimately elected to finally withdraw from Earth once and for all. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
[[File:BirthHeadmasterJrs Decepticon Jrs in transtectors.jpg|left|thumb]]
The Decepticons returned to Chaar, and over the next few years, fought the Autobots on [[Athenia]] in a series of space-based exchanges that became known as the [[Master Wars]]. Circumstances changed when the mysterious alien [[Devil Z]] was able to brainwash Scorponok, placing him and by extension, the entire Decepticon army, under his command. {{storylink|The Headmasters Now!!}} While Scorponok, now known as "BlackZarak", continued to lead the Decepticons' space based forces, a small group of [[Pretender]]s operating under Devil Z's direct command on Earth furthered the evil alien's attempts to fuse human and Transformer life to create the ultimate lifeform by bringing about the rise of the [[Headmaster Junior]]s and the [[Godmaster (lifeform)|Godmasters]]. {{storylink|Birth! Headmaster Jrs}} {{storylink|Super Warriors - The Godmaster Brothers}} A group of Autobot Pretenders worked to counter his schemes by doing the same, and the repeated failure of his human Transformers to triumph over their Autobot counterparts led Devil Z to conclude that he had been incorrect, and that humanity was of no use to him. He transformed the Headmaster Jr and Godmasters into full robotic lifeforms, but soon after, he and BlackZarak were destroyed by the Autobot leader [[Ginrai (human)|Ginrai]], and the Decepticons fled the Earth once more. {{storylink|A Battle... and Then...}}
[[File:Deathsaurus throne.jpg|thumb]]
Leadership was briefly taken up by [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]], but by the year 2025, the Decepticon army was reorganized under the new Emperor of Destruction, [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]], and began attacking numerous different planets all across the galaxy in pursuit of a world they could take for their own. {{storylink|The Brave Hero of the Universe - Star Saber}} Deathsaurus led the [[Breastforce]] and [[Dinoforce]] in attack on Earth, seizing enough energy to reactive his [[Planet-Destroying Fortress]], but he was stopped by the new Autobot [[Supreme Commander]], [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]]. {{storylink|Showdown! The Fortress vs the Victory Unification}}
[[File:TVMJuly1990Mashougun.jpg|left|thumb]]
Deathsaurus' defeat marked a decline in Decepticon activity, but soon a more supernatural force seized command: [[Violengiguar]], a being made up of the spirits of many defeated Decepticons, rallied together [[Nine Great Demon Generals]] from throughout Decepticon history to capture for him the Autobots' new [[Energon Z]], and the life-giving [[Zodiac]], which he would combine to create a "[[Decepticon Zone]]" from which he could conquer the universe. His plans were stopped by new Autobot leader [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]], {{storylink|Transformers: Zone (franchise)|Zone}} and the Zodiac was instead used to bring Optimus Prime back to life. This stood in the way of the plans of the mysterious alien [[Dark Nova]], so he used his powers to resurrect Galvatron from his Arctic tomb and transform him into Super Megatron. The Decepticon army was virtually non-existent under Dark Nova; Super Megatron had no actual Decepticon troops at his command, merely Dark Nova's [[Novaroid]] and [[Galaman]] warriors, though they did bear the Decepticon insignia. Dark Nova later upgraded Super Megatron into Ultra Megatron, then merged with him to become "Star Giant", but was destroyed by the resurrected Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Transformers: Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy}}

By the year 2035, Decepticon leadership had been taken up by the enigmatic [[Scrash (G1)|Scrash]], and fighting was primarily occurring in outer space once again. The development of [[Power Core Combination]] by the Autobots and their human allies on Earth drew Scrash's attention back to the planet, and he sent [[Battle Gaia]] and the [[Jet Corps]] to create distractions while a team of Decepticons reformatted to be able to take control of the Autobots' new inventions were sent to steal the combiner tech. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Operation Combination (franchise)|Operation Combination}} Some reports suggest that when his plans were foiled, Scrash himself made another attack on the planet along with his warriors [[Flashwing]], [[Deathplay]], [[Darkfly]] and [[Sharpedge]] which also met with failure. {{storylink|Japanese Generation 1 cartoon timeline#2035-2036|2007 timeline}} [[File:G2 Humans killed Megatron's friend.jpg|thumb|There were also more gigantic plastic army men in the Japanese continuity.]] Following this, Megatron retook command of the Decepticons, but with his damaged sanity circuits repaired, he abandoned his evil ways and united the Decepticons with the Autobots as the [[Cybertron Alliance]]. This was not to last, unfortunately, when a misunderstanding led a human military unit to kill [[Kiloton|a Decepticon]], prompting Megatron to begin the war all over again. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|Autobots vs. Decepticons: Combat Secrets}}

Defeated by Optimus Prime in a duel in the [[Mirtonian constellation]], the badly wounded Megatron disappeared with the Decepticons into the far reaches of the universe, and the war appeared to be over once more. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|The Autobots Triumph in the Battle of Good Vs. Evil!}} Alas, it was not to be so, as a [[Galvatron II|parallel version of Galvatron from an alternate dimension]] appeared and took control of the Decepticon army, renewing hostilities {{storylink|Hybrid Style Convoy Black Version}} and bolstering their forces with the addition of biomechanically-engineered monsters. {{storylink|MP-1B Cybertron Commander / Convoy Black Ver.}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon===
The Decepticons fought the Autobots in the Great War but were ultimately defeated and forced to sign the [[Pax Cybertronia]] which left them in a second class position. A small number of Decepticons were granted amnesty for their crimes but by the era of the [[Maximal]]s, most of these had retired. The Decepticons were succeeded by the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] who shared their ancestors' dream of galactic conquest and schemed to quietly subvert the rule of the Maximals. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 1)}} {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:DeceptLitho.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|"My Liege, when did you get that sw—" "CAN'T HEAR YOU, FANWANKING"]]
The Decepticons arose out of the [[Gladiatorial combat|underground fights]] that Megatron once partook in. After discovering certain secrets about Cybertron's origin, including massive [[planetary engine]]s, Megatron began using the games to recruit combatants. For nearly half a million years, they grew in numbers and trained, until they rebelled against the [[Council of Ancients]] and took [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] by force.

While the war raged on, the Constructicons repaired the engines and introduced a mecha-forming process, but what they really needed was a power source. Megatron became convinced that he could find one powerful enough within the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], which was in the possession of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. However, when Megatron finally killed the Prime, he discovered that it was not within him. Soon after, Optronix became Optimus Prime, and Megatron initiated a plan: an assassination team under Communications Officer [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] would elimate the Prime and claim the Matrix, while Military Operations Commander [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] would lay siege to Iacon, preventing the Autobots from coming to Prime's rescue.

However, Megatron made two mistakes: he informed Air Commander [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] of his intentions, and he underestimated Optimus Prime. The Prime managed to erase some of Megatron's memories of what he discovered, while Starscream activated the mechaforming process using energy from the planetary engines. The engines were destroyed before the process was complete, ruining both. {{storylink|Transformers: The War Within|The War Within}}

After Megatron disappeared with Optimus Prime in a space bridge test, Shockwave became Decepticon leader, though Starscream and High Auditor [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] broke off with their own splinter factions shortly afterwards. The Decepticons allied with [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s Autobots and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]'s [[Lightning Strike Coalition]] (an Autobot splinter group), to stop the machinations of [[The Fallen]]. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}} Several thousand years later, Shockwave was prepared to sign a peace treaty with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], who had become Autobot leader, the LSC, and Ratbat's [[Ultracon]]. However, Megatron returned with the [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]], an army of [[Quintesson]] created [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] drones, whose abilities allowed the Decepticons to fully conquer Cybertron and enslave the Autobots. The Decepticons' control over Cybertron was ended when Optimus Prime returned to Cybertron and the Air Warriors were defeated. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Age of Wrath|War Within: The Age of Wrath}}

When Megatron disappeared along with the ''Nemesis'' crew, Shockwave again emerged as Decepticon leader, this time as head of a triumvirate including Ratbat and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. With [[energon]] becoming scarce, Shockwave agreed to work with Ultra Magnus and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] in the creation of the [[Micromaster]]s, Transformers who were downsized for better fuel efficiency. Shockwave suffered a rebellion when [[Skystalker (G1)|Skystalker]] overthrew him, using Shockwave's severed head as a tool. {{storylink|Transformers: Micromasters}} However, all Transformers on Cybertron entered [[stasis lock]] when the [[Great Shutdown]] occurred.

Around 1,000 B.C.E., Shockwave was reactivated by Scourge, and then defeated the Unicronian Transformer. Studying Scourge and discovering some of the secrets Megatron had learned, Shockwave made peace with the Autobots, installing himself as Head of State with an [[Autobot High Council]] as a legislature, while Ultra Magnus became his senior security officer. However, the High Councillors were unsuited for peace time government, and gradually gave Shockwave more and more power... which is exactly what he had planned.

On Earth, the ''Nemesis'' crew was reawakened in 1984. Cut off from Cybertron, the Decepticons concluded that they had no other choice but to conquer the planet. Megatron soon learned that others had come looking for them, including [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]]. The Decepticons captured Jetfire and the Dinobots except Grimlock, and used the hostage situation to force Grimlock to serve the Decepticons. Additionally, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] located Earth and served under Megatron. In 1998, the Autobots allied with humanity to defeat the Decepticons. They were to be returned to Cybertron in the ''[[Ark II]]'', but Shockwave, through a human intermediary, sabotaged the ''Ark II'', causing the ship to crash and send the Transformers aboard into stasis lock.

Renegade members of the [[United States military]] managed to capture the Decepticons and a number of Autobots, intending to use them as instruments of war, but [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]] later stole them and set himself up as an arms dealer. Unfortunately, Megatron overwhelmed the programming that kept him a prisoner, and freed the other Decepticons. Megatron then intended to unleash a technovirus on Earth, but the Autobots defeated him. {{storylink|Prime Directive}}

A year later, Shockwave arrived to tie up loose ends, quickly capturing Megatron and the ''Nemesis'' crew. Starscream ejected Megatron out of the ship carrying them to Cybertron, leaving him to die in space. The ''Nemesis'' crew were granted amnesty, but Starscream quickly recruited them into going back to Earth to conquer the planet, taking the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] with them. Shockwave was finally overthrown when Optimus Prime united the Autobot resistance groups, but he escaped with a small number of troops. {{storylink|War and Peace}}

Meanwhile, Megatron was rescued by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], who repaired his memory loss. Using some recovered Air Warriors, Megatron located the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], who were used to take control of Shockwave's small army. On Earth, Starscream's failures during [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]'s rampage were reason enough to convince the ''Nemesis'' crew to mutiny against Starscream in Megatron's favor. With two combiner teams, an army of Seekers, Soundwave's cassettes, and knowledge of Earth's connection to Cybertron, Megatron prepared to lead the Decepticons on the conquests of Earth and Cybertron {{storylink|Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave) |G1 ongoing}}...

{{note|...At which point Dreamwave went bankrupt. Damn.}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:MegatronOrigin2 fightcrowd1.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|]]
During the reign of [[Nominus Prime]], Cybertronian civilization was stratified by a [[Functionism|Functionist]] society that equated one's worth as an individual with the usefulness and uniqueness of one's altmode. Among the impoverished lower classes was a young, idealist miner named [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] who sought to peacefully end Functionism as an institution. His [[After the Ark: Nominus Prime and the Illusion of Progress|treatise]] gathered momentum among Cybertron's working class,{{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}} but the Decepticon movement didn't come about until later, when an embittered and disillusioned Megatron began circulating more radical and violent samizdat writings. Indeed, the name Decepticon was taken from one of Megatron's favorite rallying cries: "You are being deceived." They soon began scaring people in high society.

Despite the Senate's best efforts to quash the burgeoning social movement by instituting a [[Clampdown (event)|clampdown]] {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}} and having Megatron reassigned to distant mining colonies, {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} they proved unable to suppress Megatron for long; soon, the Decepticon leader found a way back to Cybertron {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} and eventually spearheaded an uprising in [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]], taking the city and killing [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}} The Decepticons soon began spreading across the planet, recruiting downtrodden victims of Functionist society, smuggling illegal weapons, {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 3: Behind My Bleeding Back|Behind My Bleeding Back}}, and carrying out terrorist strikes in advance of their main assaults. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blurr}} Sentinel Prime's successor [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta]] attempted to restore order, but his destructive, morally dubious campaign led to both [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] and Megatron teaming up against the mad Prime and killing him. Although they'd overthrown the Senate and yet another Prime, it was clear that Megatron sought to institute a brutal dictatorship of their own, {{storylink|Overthrown}} and Orion—now "Optimus Prime"— rose up to fight back against the Decepticons. {{storylink|Rise}}

As the war spread into space and beyond, the Decepticons first sought to institute a [[Decepticon Empire]], conquering, razing, and [[cyberforming]] organic worlds into colonies in their new [[Constellate]]. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}} Under Megatron's command, the Empire included a [[Decepticon Secret Service]] that handled spying and tech acquisitions; {{storylink|Spotlight: Hot Rod}} penal colonies like [[Styx]]; Tactical Assault Units like the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave|Spotlight: Shockwave}}, and the elite [[Decepticon Justice Division]], assembled to hunt down and kill traitors to the cause. {{storylink|The Permanent Revolution}} The war they started proved ''too'' destructive for Cybertron to handle, and the Decepticons had to abandon it after the disastrous [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] incident. {{storylink|The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer}}

Despite Megatron's vision of "cleansing" the galaxy of impure organic lifeforms, the Constellate proved too costly to sustain; in its place, the Decepticons devised the [[infiltration protocol]]: {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|Last Stand of the Wreckers #2}} a cheaper method by which undercover Decepticons would gather intelligence, deploy [[Facsimile construct|facsimiles]], and deliberately inflame pre-existing planetary tensions, effectively manipulating the natives into annihilating themselves. {{storylink|The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration}} In extreme circumstances, the Decepticons would send in a [[Phase Sixer]] like [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] to destroy whatever remained. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sixshot}}

In the early 21st century, after centuries of cloak-and-dagger warfare against the Autobots across the galaxy, Megatron finally dropped infiltration protocol; during the [[Surge (event)|Surge]], Decepticons across the galaxy abruptly broke cover and launched an all-out offensive on major Autobot positions. {{storylink| Bullets}} Megatron and his innermost forces attacked Earth, where they ran amok for almost a year before Optimus Prime and his Autobots were able to recover, grievously wound Megatron, and drive his forces from the ravaged planet. Starscream took control through a charade of wielding the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron}} The counter-offense left the Decepticons in tatters; some Decepticons remained on Earth, where they fruitlessly scrounged for fuel, while others retreated with Starscream to a barren asteroid, where they began to cannibalize each other for energon and spare parts. After three years of convalescence, Megatron finally returned and took back his rightful position. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}}

[[File:AHM1 decepticons attack.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]
Later, Megatron allowed himself to be captured and brought to a mostly restored Cybertron, where he used a [[space bridge]] built into his body to summon the Decepticon army to him. Everyone but Megatron and [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] were brainwashed by [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] and/or [[D-Void]] into combining with the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]]s to form a "[[Deceptigod]]". {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}} Once the monster was defeated, the weakened Decepticons were all captured by the Autobots. They were imprisoned and kept under control using [[inhibitor/deterrence chip]]s in their heads, and the war was considered over. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}} Megatron was believed dead after standing up to the creature.

Though many Decepticons returned to Cybertron, an even greater number of cells opted to remain in space, communicating with each other and waiting for an inevitable call to arms. {{storylink|Stranger Eons}}

The Decepticons were released and eventually, in the interests of peace, the chips were deactivated. An uneasy peace emerged between Decepticon, Autobots, and the [[NAIL|returning neutrals]], with Starscream rising to power as the Decepticon spokesman (after arranging the death of their previous spokesman, Ratbat, before he could start another war). {{storylink|The World & Everything in It}} {{storylink|A Better Tomorrow}} Out in space, however, the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] refused to accept the war was over and continued hunting down and murdering anyone on their 'list'. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}} Megatron soon returned, having spent the intervening time in the wilds of Cybertron, learning about the "strange energies" that allowed the Deceptigod to form and communicating them with his inner circle of loyalists. Wielding a new [[Devastator (G1)|combiner]], he and his followers once again attempted an uprising, but the Autobots successfully quashed the conflict and managed to imprison Megatron once again. In the ensuring chaos, Starscream abandoned the Decepticons managed to convince the NAILs to support him as the sole leader of Cybertron; with their support, the remaining Autobots and Decepticons were exiled from Iacon. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head}}

Following the [[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] crisis, Megatron allowed himself to be put on trial on [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]], having supposedly abandoned the Decepticon cause. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Thanks to a technicality in the Luna 2 legal system, Megatron was allowed to join the ''[[Lost Light]]'' crew in its quest for the [[Knights of Cybertron]], postponing his ultimate verdict until the Knights could judge him in person. However, in exchange for his continued freedom, Megatron was forced to recite a statement declaring his renouncement of all Decepticon ideals and ordering all remaining Decepticon forces to stand down and do the same. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} In the aftermath of Megatron's defection [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] took command of the Decepticons {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}} and led them to Earth where they forged an alliance with the EDC. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}} According to Ravage, however, Galvatron would be instantly abandoned if Megatron gave the word. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}}

After Galvatron's demise, {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 6: No Fair Fights|No Fair Fights}} the Earth-based Decepticons fell under [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]'s command and worked, somewhat uneasily, alongside the Autobots within the [[Council of Worlds]]. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|To Walk Among the Chosen}} Out in space, [[Nickel]] assumed command of [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]]' troops with the cell being caught in the crossfire of the [[Galactic Council]] and the [[Black Block Consortia]]. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}}

Shortly before his fall from grace, Starscream sent [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] into space to rally all the scattered Decepticon cells into one massive fleet. {{storylink|Stranger Eons}}

The techno-geneticist [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] had his own plans to revive the Decepticons (now hovering somewhere around 10,000 individuals) and finally achieve victory. Via a creature called the [[Firstborn]], Scorponok intended for the Decepticons to briefly become organic creatures and sexually reproduce so as to refresh their numbers. {{storylink|Kill All 'Cons}}

Upon [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Onyx Prime]]'s return to Cybertron, he unveiled the truth about [[Horri-Bull]]'s death, turning the Decepticons against Soundwave. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 3: The Ground|The Ground}} As the leaderless faction clashed with the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] worshippers, they noticed Starscream sneaking around and asked him to become leader again. Though hesitant at first, {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 5: Endless Forever|Endless Forever}} Starscream ultimately agreed and led his army away to draw up new plans of conquest. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 6: Unforgivable|Unforgivable}} Shortly afterwards, Starscream visited the imprisoned Shockwave who revealed his master plan was to have [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] soften up the galaxy before killing him via the corrupted [[Vector Sigma]] and restoring the [[Decepticon Empire]]. {{storylink|Last Stand (Unicron)|Last Stand}}

Under Bludgeon's guidance, the scattered cells came together to form the "[[Decepticon Vengeance Division]]", being dispatched by Starscream to contain and destroy Unicron at [[G Nebula 89]]. Though the fleet's firepower was immense, Bludgeon himself was loyal to Unicron, the Decepticons subsequently being warped into Unicron's heralds. {{storylink|Stranger Eons}} When Unicron arrived at Cybertron, the Decepticon citizenry swarmed into [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], {{storylink|Our Finest}} before the entirety of the population was teleported to Earth by the [[magic]] of the [[Spectral Knight]]s. {{storylink|Road's End}}

Along with all other factions, the Earth-bound Decepticons joined in the attack on the DVD, {{storylink|Assembly (Unicron)|Assembly}} settling into a new life on Earth once Unicron had been defeated. {{storylink|Ceremony}} {{storylink|Post}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
After being reactivated in [[1984]], the Decepticons carried out operations on Earth, seemingly under the command of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], {{storylink|Cultural Appropriation}} before the war spread beyond Earth and turned increasingly violent, resulting in the [[Earth Defense Command]] banning all Transformers from their space. The Decepticons were the ones to finally sour all human/Transformer relations when they used a stolen Autobot shuttle to destroy the human colony of [[Xin Shanghai]]. {{storylink|Micro-Aggressions}}

At an unidentified point in the 21st century, [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] reformatted, or revived, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] into the powerful [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] who continued, or retook, Decepticon leadership. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}} Both Autobots and Decepticons briefly joined forces to combat the Chaos Bringer, eventually destroying him. {{storylink|The Inexorable March}}

The Decepticons then invaded the planet [[Nebulos]] via [[infiltration protocol]] before the intervention of the [[Human Confederacy]] turned the war hot and ended in the [[Scouring of Nebulos]]. The enormous loss of life was the final straw for the [[human]]s, who restricted all Cybertronians to the [[Allowed Zone]], where the war could do no further harm to the galaxy. {{storylink|Micro-Aggressions}} {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}} Galvatron did not take this threat lying down and quickly conquered the Allowed Zone to rebuild his army and destroy humanity in the [[Great Push]]. The battle ended in a humiliating defeat for the Decepticons, and resulted in the Allowed Zone being cut in half. Galvatron himself would eventually be executed via a [[Quintesson]] judgement. {{storylink|Micro-Aggressions}}

In the aftermath, [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]] took command of the Decepticons, {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}} before [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] overthrew him. {{storylink|Cultural Appropriation}} Thunderwing led his troops to seize the [[Underbase]] on [[Moonbase Two|Artemis]] and bonded with the ancient artifact's power. Rendered insane, he cut a swath of destruction across Cybertron, forcing the Autobots and Decepticons to once again unite to combat their mutual foe. Thunderwing's defeat marked the technical end of both Autobots and Decepticons as both parties reorganized themselves into the [[Builder of Cybertron|Builders of Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Not All Megatrons}}

Having created the [[Energon Matrix]] to substitute for the lost [[Vector Sigma]], [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] created the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] as the descendants of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Head Games}}
{{-}}

===''Of Masters and Mayhem''===
When the Great War broke out, the Decepticons quickly proved themselves a superior fighting force to the former Autobot rulers. {{storylink|The Truth We Make}} Despite this, the length of the war caused some teams, such as the [[Raptoricon]]s, to abandon the conflict entirely. {{storylink|Life Finds a Way}}

A Decepticon project throughout the war was the recreation of the Creation Matrix, {{storylink|Foundation and Wreckage Part 1: Deadly Aim|Deadly Aim}} Shockwave undertaking many an experiment to this end. {{storylink|The Toxic Transformer}}

The Decepticon experiments eventually created the [[Matrix of Malice]] which unleashed [[Thunder Mayhem]] on the planet, the combiner's destructive rampage wiping out Cybertronian civilization, the Autobots included. {{storylink|Foundation and Wreckage Part 1: Deadly Aim|Deadly Aim}} Some Decepticon units managed to survive by fleeing on starships and in stasis pods, {{storylink|Life Finds a Way}} with even Megatron himself managing to flee in a personal craft. {{storylink|History}}

===''Star Trek vs. Transformers''===
Four million years ago, the Decepticons pursued the Autobots into the Sol [[asteroid belt]], their boarding of the ''Ark'' causing it to crash on prehistoric Earth and knocking all aboard into stasis lock. The Decepticons were reawakened in the 1980s and began a secret war over Earth's supply of [[energon]] before [[World War III]] forced them off the planet. Trailing the Autobots aboard [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], the Decepticons boarded [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] in orbit of [[Cygnus Seven]], the act again causing all aboard to fall into stasis lock when the Autobot ship crashed. In the 23rd century, a [[Federation]] survey team unknowingly reactivated Maximus. Awakened first by the Titan's repair protocols, Megatron healed his troops and led an attack on the surface. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}}

While Decepticon firepower made quick work of the mining colony, they were unprepared for the intervention of the [[USS Enterprise|USS ''Enterprise'']], its [[photon torpedo]]s proving able to damage the Decepticons. Falling back to a nearby moon, the Decepticons found Trypticon being occupied by the [[Klingon]]s, Megatron soon smooth talking the aliens into an alliance. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part One}}

Though the Decepticon/Klingon alliance had initial successes, {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Three}} it soon collapsed when it was revealed that Starscream had manipulated the Klingon sense of honor to have [[Kuri]] give him a personal cloaking device. Enraged, Megatron ordered a retreat from Cygnus Seven to pursue Starscream. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Four}}

The Decepticons caught up with Starscream on [[Kronos]], within the chambers of the [[Klingon High Council]], and began conquering the planet. When the Autobots and [[Starfleet]] arrived to defend Kronos, Soundwave unleashed his audio disruptor waves on their foes, only to learn that the Klingons were deaf to the frequency he utilized. Caught off-guard, the Decepticons were subject to a surprise attack by a fleet of [[Warbird (Star Trek)|warbirds]]. By the terms of [[James T. Kirk]]'s peace with [[Gorkon]], the Decepticons were left behind in Klingon custody. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Five}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
[[File:Ascenticon rally.JPG|thumb|Look, we're not saying that that banner is just one accidental flag-hanging away from a Decepticon symbol. We're just implying it.]]

{{quote|Your life is yours to shape. In doing so, you owe nothing to those who came before you. But you owe everything to those as yet unforged. Let no shaping of yours, limit what they, in their turn, might yet be and achieve.|One of Termagax's writings|The World In Your Eyes Part One}}

The ''''Ascenticon'''' faction began with [[Termagax]], noted Cybertronian engineer and philosopher, in the aftermath of the [[War of the Threefold Spark]]. Dissatisfied with the way Cybertron had developed in response to the [[Nominus Edict]], Termagax created the Ascenticon to become part of the Cybertronian senate and institute reforms, starting with scrapping the Edict. Termagax's student, a young firebrand named [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], became the first Senator of the Ascenticon faction. {{storylink|Orion Pax: Free Fall}} {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}}

Over time, Termagax's dissatisfaction with Cybertronian society grew more extreme, until she eventually recused herself from society entirely, leaving the Ascenticons in Megatron's hands... just as the senator wished. Megatron shared his mentor's desire to get rid of what he saw as the restrictions on Cybertron's growth, but not her grassroots approach. Megatron began a scheme to make sure the Ascenticons rose to power, even if by mass deception. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two}} {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four}}

Megatron's scheme began with the creation of a sub-faction, called [[The Rise]], composed of those radically opposed to the Edict, and the Autobot hegemony. The intent was to have the Rise creation friction, which would turn the Autobots increasingly fascistic, and therefore drum up support for the Ascenticon way. Unknown to all, Megatron had Shockwave returned from exile to whip the Rise into suitable shape. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four}}

In the senate, the Ascenticons proved contentious, siding against the Autobots and [[Reversionist]] factions. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Four}}

In public, Megatron began giving rallies, gaining popular support while condemning the violence of the Rise. As the cycles passed, their rallies grew harder and harder to control as support for their cause grew and grew, with the most recent rally having injured a dozen people. Senator [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] attempted to parley with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], seeking a delay of the latest Ascenticon rally in [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]], but Megatron rebuffed these efforts, simply stating that he sought change on Cybertron, and as long as he was allowed to speak he would continue to do so. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}} At the rally in Tarn, Megatron's speech was supposedly interrupted by an assassination attempt. Megatron publicly vowed to catch whoever was responsible, {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Two}} while denouncing the Autobots and their attempts to keep the peace, declaring the formation of a new "Ascenticon Guard", {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Three}}

While the Guard was nominally under the command of Elita-1, it was Senator Soundwave who was in charge of recruitment, and the senator was extremely untrusting of any recruit with Autobot sympathies. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Five}} Meanwhile, the Guard took in such luminaires as Refraktor, Skytread, and unhinged war veteran Quake. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Three}}

The situation soon escalated after the Rise murdered Brainstorm, when the scientist stumbled onto their illegally siphoning energon, {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}}{{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part One}} an act witnessed by a Voin. Acting quickly, Soundwave contacted the Rise to deal with the situation. They sent Quake, {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}} who did silence the witness, but also murdered the young Cybertronian Rubble when he stumbled onto the scene. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Five}}

In the ensuing investigation, the security services found evidence of the Rise's activities and armaments, and officer Barricade's connection to these events. Elsewhere, recruitment for the Guard began to surge, including Barricade. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part One}}

Megatron, on learning of Soundwave's actions, was outraged at the decision. He quickly updated his plans, to accelerate events. Broadcasting a speech to Cybertron as a whole, Megatron declared the Ascenticons would no longer wait peacefully for change to come, but force it, before unveiling a revised version of the Ascenticon insignia. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}}

Soon after, Ascenticons began branding themselves with the new insignia. Elsewhere, Soundwave approached Sentinel Prime, stating the Ascenticon viewpoint that the planet's situation dictated an immediate, accelerated election, which Sentinel angrily refused. Meanwhile, Soundwave covered the Ascenticons' tracks, erasing the knowledge of when 'bots such as Quake and Barricade had joined up. On hearing of a fight between Risers and the security service, Soundwave ordered Elita and Bumblebee to intervene and show Cybertron the new face of the Ascenticons. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part One}}

After witnessing the fallout of the Rise's actions, {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Two}} Megatron visited Shockwave and beat him until he agreed to fall into line within the command chain of the Ascenticons. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}}

[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] made plans to arrest the Ascenticon leaders at an upcoming [[Senate]] session only for [[Heretech]] to reveal this to Megatron, driving the Ascenticon leader to accelerate his plans. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Four}}

When the Senate met, Megatron's forces attacked the building, overpowering the guards and taking the Senators hostage where Megatron cast aside the mantle of "Ascenticons" and adopted Sentinel's mocking moniker of "Decepticons". {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: We Have Deceived You|We Have Deceived You}} Now in control of Iacon, the Decepticons focused their attention on winning over those Cybertronians who controlled the everyday functions of society. {{storylink|War World: Awakenings|Awakenings}}

As the Decepticons consolidated their rule, Megatron ordered the death of Cybertron's orbiting fleet of [[Titan (group)|Titans]] while the bulk of his force was sent to the [[Forge Pyramid]] for the unborn Titan sparks, {{storylink|War World: Titans|Titans}} managing to claim just one. {{storylink|Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Two}} The Decepticons later mobilized to claim the [[Enigma of Combination]] only for the device to lost into the Sea of Rust as the [[rust worm]]s were set loose on the planet. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Enigmatic|Enigmatic}} The Decepticons later marched on the Autobot refuge of [[Crystal City]]. While they destroyed the city, their advanced was halted by the arrival of [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] and [[Computron (G1)|Computron]]. {{storylink|A Dust of Crystals}} {{storylink|The Landscape of Fear}}

Faced with loose rust worms, the rogue [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] and a returned [[Exarchon]] seeking the [[AllSpark]], the Autobots and Decepticons agreed to a temporary truce, {{storylink|The Landscape of Fear}} {{storylink|War's End Part Two}} though Megatron was quick to violate the spirit of the alliance. {{storylink|Radical Time}}

Under [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]'s command, the Decepticon Guard and [[Team Stream]] allied with [[Pyra Magna]]'s [[Companion]]s to defeat Exarchon, sealing him within the last Titan spark that Pyra then destroyed. As a show of respect, Sixshot allowed the Autobots to depart the [[Sonic Canyons]] in peace. {{storylink|War's End Part Four}}

Following the rust worms and Insecticons being turned on each other, {{storylink|End of Time}} the Decepticons launched a final attack on the Autobot refuge of [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]]. Though they came very close to preventing the Autobots from escaping, Computron managed to hold off the advancing army long enough for the Autobot ships to launch, leaving Cybertron as a Decepticon world. {{storylink|Transformers: Fate of Cybertron|Fate of Cybertron}}

===''Transformers/Ghostbusters''===
While the Autobots fled Cybertron at the end of the Great War, [[Decepticon High Command]] was visited by [[Gozer]] who proceeded to take Starscream's form and attack Cybertron. Though the Decepticons fought back, they found their power outmatched by the invader. Unable to flee, Megatron was approached by [[Kremzeek|Kremzeek the Scavenger]] who had come seeking the [[AllSpark]], shuttled off Cybertron by the recently departed Autobots. Bargaining with the Decepticon leader, Kremzeek turned [[Decepticon High Command]] into [[ghost]]s, leaving the Decepticon army to be destroyed by Gozer along with their planet. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}} {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 2}} {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4}}

When Kremzeek was defeated on Earth, his Decepticon prisoners were freed. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4}} Though Optimus offered to use the AllSpark to revive them, Megatron attacked his arch-foe in a vengeful fury, even dreaming of possessing Optimus and using the Autobots to rebuild the [[Decepticon Empire]], before he was detained in a [[ghost trap]]. Soundwave and Shockwave were likewise imprisoned by the [[Ghostbusters]] while Starscream fled the planet. In the aftermath, Optimus took the Decepticon ghosts with him, hoping to one day rehabilitate and resurrect them, while [[Ectotron]] opted to patrol the galaxy for any more Decepticon spectres that might be out there. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 5}}

===''Transformers vs. The Terminator''===
In the original timeline, in the year 1984, the Decepticons aboard the ''Ark'' awoke first, taking advantage of the situation to execute their Autobot foes. Free of any resistance, the Decepticons conquered Earth, defeating [[Skywatch]], an organization born to challenge them, and forcing its supercomputer, [[Skynet]], to surrender some time prior to the year [[2029]]. Skynet was later executed by Starscream in 2029 when it was found to have only feigned surrender. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}}

Before its death, Skynet had succeeded in constructing a [[time displacement device]], sending a lone [[T-800]] unit back in time to destroy the Decepticons before they could awake in 1984. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part One}}

While the unit arrived too late to prevent the Decepticons' reactivation, and lacked the capability to destroy them, its interference allowed the Autobots to survive, the Decepticons withdrawing from the ''Ark'' as a result. After scouting the nearby area, they launched an attack on a [[Cyberdyne Systems]] facility, {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}} where they clashed with the Autobots once again. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Three}}

By interrogating the personnel of Cyberdyne Systems, Starscream had managed to deduce that the T-800 was from the future and threatened to destroy the humans unless it worked with him. Though the android deduced that the hostages were expendable, it agreed to work with Starscream. When the Seeker attacked Soundwave, the chaos allowed the Autobots to overpower the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], turning the tide of the battle against the Decepticons. When Starscream tried to turn the time traveller against Megatron, the Decepticon leader contemptuously hurled the interloper back at Starscream, downing the traitor but leaving Megatron open to a crippling attack from Optimus. After Soundwave had chased off Starscream, only to then be downed by the T-800 and [[Sarah Connor]], the Autobots hurled the T-800 into Megatron's open wound, destroying the tyrant from within.

Taking their prisoners back to the ''Ark'', the Autobots discovered that the duplicitous T-800 had destroyed their ship. With no means of returning to Cybertron, Optimus proposed that the Autobots and Decepticons work together for the time being, a truce that Thundercracker, Skywarp, Bombshell and Skrapnel agreed to. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Four}}

===''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' cartoon===
{{groupstub}}

===''My Little Pony/Transformers''===
As they fought to hold a malfunctioning [[space bridge]], the portal suddenly activated and dragged the Decepticons and their foes to the land of [[Equestria]]. Upon arrival, Megatron aligned himself with [[Queen Chyrsalis]], the one whose [[magic]] had brought the Cybertronians to Equestria. {{storylink|Transformation Is Magic}} The nature of their arrival however had left the Decepticons scattered across the land, forcing Megatron to rally them. {{storylink|Pet Sounds}}

After the Decepticons had indulged in some mischief across Equestria, they rallied with the [[changeling]]s to attack the [[Crystal Empire]] only to be met by an Autobot/pony force, the changelings having deliberately misinformed their allies of the ponies' strength. Though the changelings hoped to trap the Decepticons in Equestria and let them raze the land, it was soon discovered that changeling magic was not required to return to Cybertron, Optimus Prime combining the [[Matrix of Leadership]] with [[Twilight Sparkle]]'s magic to send the Decepticons home. While Shockwave reported that the Decepticons had not seized any magical artifacts, he noted it was possible to instead bring magic to Cybertron. {{storylink|Finale (Friendship in Disguise!)|Finale}}

Building a new space bridge, the Decepticons pilfered magical relics from Equestria only for the Seekers to run afoul of Twilight Sparkle and her friends. When the [[Pony|ponies]] followed to Cybertron, the princess accidentally unleashed a blast of magic that freed the tyrant [[King Sombra]]. Using his mind control abilities, the unicorn king enslaved several Decepticons, including Megatron, forcing the remainder of the faction, now under Shockwave's command, to ally with the Autobots for Cybertron's sake. {{storylink|The Magic of Cybertron}}

After the Cybertronians and Equestrians had worked out how to free Sombra's thralls, {{storylink|The Beauty of Cybertron}} the alliance attacked the tyrant as he sought to unearth the Titan [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. After the Titan had been destroyed, and Starscream seen off for attempted regicide, Megatron agreed to end hostilities as Cybertron and Equestria moved towards an official trade alliance. {{storylink|Finale (The Magic of Cybertron)|Finale}}

===''Transformers/Back to the Future''===
Four million years prior to 1984, the Decepticons boarded the ''Ark'' and caused it to crash on Earth, knocking all aboard into stasis lock. When they awoke, both Autobots and Decepticons began a secret war for control of Earth, {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 1|Transformers/Back to the Future #1}} one that the Decepticons had decisively lost by the year 2015. Having used the [[DeLorean time machine]] to skip ahead form 1985, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] decided that 2015 was unsalvageable and claimed the DeLorean to travel back to [[1974]] and built up his strength for the next decade before he hacked into the ''Ark'' to ensure that it repaired only his fellow Decepticons who executed the prone Autobots. Having no need of two Rumbles however, the Megatron of the new timeline executed the time traveller, sparing his head for the future knowledge it held. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 2|Transformers/Back to the Future #2}}

With none to oppose them, the Decepticons conquered Earth within a year, enslaving its population and forcing the humans to produce energon cubes. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 1|Transformers/Back to the Future #1}} By 2015, the Decepticons were the absolute masters of Earth, having driven what few Autobots were left into hiding. One Decepticon however, the number-cruncher [[Gigawatt]], found himself unable to tolerate Megatron's needlessly brutality and abandoned the Decepticons, scanning the DeLorean, gaining its time travel abilities, and defecting to the Autobots, hoping to use his new powers to undo Megatron's reign. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 2|Transformers/Back to the Future #2}}

After [[Doc Brown]] had repaired Gigawatt's damaged [[flux capacitor]], the turncoat and [[Marty McFly]] travelled back to 1984 and activated the Autobots before Rumble arrived, leaving the Decepticons locked in stasis and undoing their reign. When Marty returned home however, he failed to notice the Decepticon emblem on his new pickup truck... {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 4|Transformers/Back to the Future #4}}

===''Last Bot Standing''===
Led by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], the Decepticons waged the Great War across the galaxy before the conflict consumed all known sources of energon, ending the war. {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 2|Last Bot Standing #2}}

Sometime after the war's end, the Autobot trio of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]], [[Gripper (G1)|Gripper]] and [[Strongarm (G1)|Strongarm]] stumbled onto a pair of Decepticon warships, {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 1|Last Bot Standing #1}} who pursued them to the planet [[Donnokt]]. The Autobots managed to pick off the Decepticons until only [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]] and [[Talon (G1)|Talon]] remained. While Talon sought to return to their ship and send out a signal to any remaining Decepticons, Fangry was more interested in Donnokt's energon-sympathetic materials before Rodimus executed the two. {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 4|Last Bot Standing #4}}

Elsewhere in the universe, the ex-Decepticon [[Steel Jaw|Steeljaw]] assumed command of a pack of Cybertronian survivors who rebuilt themselves to run on [[biofuel]], the pack shedding their factional allegiances in spite of still wearing their insignias. {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 2|Last Bot Standing #2}} When the pack arrived on Donnokt, Steeljaw, upon being informed that Rodimus had destroyed their biofuel and left them with no way to return to energon, decided to destroy Donnokt and die like a Decepticon before Rodimus killed him. {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 4|Last Bot Standing #4}}

===Energon Universe===
Many years ago, Cybertron underwent an energy crisis following a long period of peace. During this time, the Decepticons rose to power, waging a war against the Autobots defending the planet's old ways of peace. After 200 years of fighting, the Autobots attempted to flee Cybertron aboard the ''Ark'', but a group of Decepticons led by [[Megatron (G1)#Energon Universe|their most powerful warrior]] followed, resulting in the ''Ark'' crash landing on Earth. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 2|Transformers #2}}

In the present day, most Decepticons on Cybertron went into stasis to conserve energy, watched over by [[Shockwave (G1)#Energon Universe|Shockwave]]. When [[Skuxxoid]] arrived attempting to sell a [[Quintesson Prosecutor]], Shockwave informed the bounty hunter of Cybertron's situation before ordering him to leave before he had the [[Rockeroid]] stripped for spare parts for bringing the Quintesson to his world. {{storylink|Void Rivals issue 4|Void Rivals #4}} Meanwhile, the Decepticons aboard the ''Ark'' laid dormant underneath [[Hanger's Rock]] until [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] arrived and unearthed the crashed ship. Jetfire reactivated the ship's computer [[Teletraan I|Teletraan One]] to revive the ship's inhabitants, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] being the first. However, as Jetfire had left Cybertron before the Decepticons rose to power, he had no knowledge of the war and was very surprised to see his old friend immediately execute a [[Bumblebee (G1)#Energon Universe|dormant Autobot]]. This also meant that Teletraan One was reviving Transformers indiscriminately, so when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] was restored, a fight broke out. Starscream, noticing how the computer was reviving them, ordered the newly restored [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] to begin dragging Decepticon warriors to his position as to overwhelm Prime and the Autobots. First was [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and his cassettes, but before any other Decepticons could be revived, Optimus Prime destroyed the computer.

Upset at the computer's destruction, Starscream and Skywarp gave chase to the fleeing Autobots, but had to turn back due to interference from a damaged Jetfire and Skywarp's low energy reserves. Returning to the ''Ark'', Soundwave explained that they did not possess enough [[Energon]] or materials to repair Teletraan One or even power themselves, so Starscream had to collect some. Before he left, Starscream asserted his leadership, ordering Soundwave to never mention ''his'' name again. Starscream, with [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]'s assistance, attacked a local power plant, killed a [[Davey|human worker]] {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 1|Transformers #1}}, and returned with enough energy for the others. The group returned to the plant with an energy converter from the ''Ark'' to harvest more energy and terrorize more humans. Starscream intercepted a military jet sent to investigate and was shot in the face by [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|one of its pilots]]. The crashing jet almost hit Skywarp and Soundwave. Meanwhile, Laserbeak began following a van with a painted headshot of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 2|Transformers #2}}

The group returned to the Ark with the materials as Laserbeak attacked the van's driver [[Carly]], only to be intercepted by the Autobot [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]. The cassette sent a priority alert to the other Decepticons, who were at that time learning from Soundwave that the Earth's materials (or at least those present at the power plant) were not advanced enough to repair Teletraan One. Soundwave attempted to lament on what Megatron would do in the situation before being slapped by Starscream. Upon receiving Laserbeak's alert, Starscream sent Skywarp to deal with the Autobot. Skywarp attacked Cliffjumper and a militia of humans at a local bar, shrugging off the human's firepower with ease. Before he could kill Cliffjumper and Carly, he was met with the arrival of Optimus Prime, and the two did battle. This did not end well for Skywarp once [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|one of the humans]] was shot. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 3|Transformers #3}}

==2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' continuity family==
{{note|Car Robots'', the Japanese version of [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|the 2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon]], is regarded as part of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]] and the [[Primax]] [[Universal stream|universal cluster]]. However, ''Robots in Disguise'' itself constitutes a different continuity family and is designated as the [[Viron]] universal cluster. In ''Car Robots'', the six Decepticons were known as Combatrons, the same name used for the [[Combaticon (G1)|Generation 1 Combaticons]], and were explicitly a subgroup of the "Destrongers" (itself a subgroup of the [[Predacon (BW)|beast-generation Destrons]]).}}

[[File:LandfillRIDDecepticons.jpg|thumb|350px|"I've identified several worthy candidates. Now that [[Spider-Man]]'s gone, this city will never be the same."]]
Uniquely, the Decepticons of the [[Viron]] cluster universes were an offshoot of the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]], rather than the inverse. In the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon]], the Decepticons were a brand new faction that came into being during the events of the story. Because there were so few of them (only six or seven), and because they were a subset of the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] antagonists, they can almost be viewed as a [[subgroup]] rather than a proper faction. For the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|Hasbro toyline]] and various [[Ask Vector Prime]] entries, several other non-show Decepticons were added to help fill out the ranks, while also revealing that in certain universes, another Predacon/Decepticon subgroup called the [[Destructicon (RID)|Destructicon]]s, share the Decepticon insignia.

===2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon''===
[[File:The Test Scourgeruination.jpg|left|250px|thumb|"How many men did you have in mind? "I want to keep it small. Everything you need is already at OsCorp."]]
The Decepticons were created on Earth when [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] captured a set of [[Autobot]] [[stasis pod]]s from an ancient Transformer spaceship that had been found on [[Earth]] and reprogrammed them using his own "dark spark energy", leading to the birth of the [[Commando (RID)|Commandos]] and [[Scourge (RID)|Scourge]]. {{storylink|The Decepticons}} Their deployment left Megatron's old Predacon forces as second-class villains in fear of losing their jobs. The two groups of henchmen would often clash, with the Predacons sometimes trying to undermine the Decepticons and constantly vying for Megatron's favor. {{storylink|Commandos}} {{storylink|Volcano (episode)|Volcano}}

When Megatron was upgraded into [[Megatron (RID)|Galvatron]], he claimed he was now a new individual and had been "reborn as a Decepticon". {{storylink|Maximus Emerges}} Following the discovery of [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Fortress Maximus]] and the revelation that Scourge had a degree of control over the Titan, the Decepticons staged a failed coup on Galvatron {{storylink|Mistaken Identity}} and were subsequently reprogrammed into loyal, mindless servants for their trouble. {{storylink|Surprise Attack!}} This was immediately followed by a huge final battle where Galvatron's Predacon and Decepticon forces were defeated and taken into custody. {{storylink|The Final Battle (RID)|The Final Battle}}
{{groupstub}}

===''Robots in Disguise'' toy bios===
On 21st century Earth in [[Viron 102.0 Beta]], Galvatron offered [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]], who had came from the future, refuge aboard his ship, the ''[[Megastar]]'', in exchange for a body upgrade. By Cryotek's hand, the Predacon leader become "Megatron Megabolt". {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/30}} This "[[Emissary (RID)|emissary]] mode" was designed to combine with both [[Megastar|his space cruiser]] and the Autobots' [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|secret defense fortress]]. In a show of arrogance, Megatron also began calling himself a Decepticon.<ref>Megatron Megabolt on-package bio [http://tftechspecs.com/pics1/11664.jpg (scan at TFTechSpecs.com)]</ref> {{storylink|Megatron (RID)#Megabolt|Megatron Megabolt toy bio}}

[[Axer (G1)|Axer]], a native from a [[Generation 1 continuity family|Primax reality]], travelled through a [[black hole]] on a rescue mission, and ended up joining [[Megatron (RID)|Galvatron]] in order to monitor his "operation." Galvatron placed him under [[Scourge (RID)|Scourge]], whose leadership Axer resented.<ref>[https://toys.tfw2005.com/axer-662 Axer's ''Robots in Disguise'' on-package bio]</ref> {{storylink|Axer (G1)#Robots in Disguise (2001)|Axer toy bio}}

===Dreamwave ''Robots in Disguise'' comic===
[[File:UltraMagnustotheRescue DecepticonsPredacons.jpg|thumb|"I'm not sure how I got here... has to do with Spider-Man, I think. I'm still figuring this place out, but I think a bunch of guys like us should team up, do some good."]]
While Megatron himself set himself up as a distraction (attracting the attention of the [[Autobot Brothers]]), the Decepticons participated in an Arizona raid on a human research plant, looking to steal an experimental nuclear generator. Unfortunately, the Predacons were also part of the raid, and the bickering between Scourge and Sky-Byte put the two groups at odds with each other. When Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus arrived, a battle broke out, but Scourge forced a stalemate by threatening some innocent humans. The Predacons managed to stop him from hurting innocents, and successfully acquired the generator. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus...to the Rescue?}}

===Shell Game===
In [[Viron 704.31 Epsilon]], Megatron died at the hands of Omega Prime during the final confrontation on Earth. In his absence, the monstrous [[Megazarak (Universe)|Megazarak]] rose to power over the combined Decepticon / Predacon alliance, killing Scourge when he contested the position, and led a universal conquest that nearly decimated the Autobot forces, even killing [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]]. Megazarak would augment his forces with [[Robosmasher|robo-smashed]] Autobots, such as the components of [[Devastator (Universe Ultra)|Devastator]] and [[Dominus Trannis]], having their [[personality component]]s replaced with those of veteran Predacons. Only [[Defensor (OTFCC)|Defensor]] and the remaining Predacons, led by [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]], were able to defeat this new Decepticon empire and bring the war to a bittersweet end. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#July 30, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 30/07/2015}}

===Spychanger continuity===
In [[Viron 1103.12 Gamma]], after Earth's energon was rendered toxic by Sky-Byte and the remaining Predacons' and Decepticons' stash was blown up, only energy-saving [[Spychanger]]s could stay active. Scourge was the only Decepticon who could convert and unluckily found herself up against thirteen Autobots! {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/18}}
{{--}}

==Unicron Trilogy continuity family==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''Armada'' cartoon====
[[File:Prehistory-Autobots vs Decepticons.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|]]
The ''exact'' origins of the Decepticon faction are a bit muddled. It is widely assumed, though never directly confirmed, that the movement was founded by [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. Also, the enslavement of the power-enhancing [[Mini-Con]]s is considered to be the impetus to the Decepticons' rise to a massive multi-planet-spanning army, though at what point in the war this occurred is unclear; it's possible the Mini-Cons' arrival was what gave Megatron the opportunity to rise to power, or that they arrived after the war had already begun.

Either way, the Mini-Cons fueled the war machine for centuries, and the war with the [[Autobot]]s soon spread from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to other worlds. The self-imposed exile of the Mini-Cons to an unknown destination was seen as a major setback for the Decepticons (and something of a pyrrhic victory for the Autobots), but despite this, the war continued, as both sides had amassed a large enough power base to continue on without the little buggers.

The Autobots and Decepticons seemed to fight to a stalemate, neither able to gain a distinct advantage over the other. When a signal reached Cybertron centuries later that the Mini-Cons had landed on [[Earth]], it seemed neither side was capable of sending a full force to retrieve them, despite the power they contained. Though the Decepticon force sent to Earth was small in numbers, it was far from insignificant; Megatron himself led the squad, backed by some of his most trusted warriors.

[[File:Armada decepticons alliance.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
When Megatron returned to Cybertron, the overwhelming majority of the Mini-Cons were in the protective custody of the Autobots, but Megatron was unfazed; he had assembled the Mini-Cons required to make the three legendary weapons: the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]], [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom Shield]] and [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]]. Bolstered by this new power and the apparent death of [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], Megatron attempted to take Cybertron once and for all.

But Megatron's (now calling himself Galvatron) return to Cybertron was the beginning of the end of the Decepticon army. When [[Unicron]] revealed himself as a threat to both armies, fueled by the negative psychic energies from centuries of death and destruction, the two sides eventually joined to beat back the planet-eater. Despite the truce, Galvatron and Prime engaged in a brutal duel on the surface of the weakened Unicron after the three legendary weapons had been removed from his core. Realizing their battle was keeping Unicron active, Galvatron sacrificed himself, and both Unicron and Galvatron disappeared into nothingness.

====''Energon'' cartoon====
[[File:Energon Decepticon insignia.jpg|left|127px|thumb|Now available with added purple!]]
Galvatron's final orders to his troops still stood: work ''with'' the Autobots. The Decepticons maintained a degree of autonomy, still wearing the faction sigil and often taking military/defensive positions in the growing number of [[energon]]-mining colonies, but they were ultimately answerable to Optimus Prime and the Autobots. There were, of course, dissenters, most of whom were captured and imprisoned. For a decade, Autobot and Decepticon worked side by side in a somewhat stable truce.

[[File:Decepticons Megatron Resurrected.jpg|thumb]]
Both sides found themselves the target of attacks from Unicron again; hordes of [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon drones]], sent by [[Alpha Quintesson]] to steal energon ore with which to revive the now-shattered husk of Unicron. What the alien did not count on was that Galvatron's [[spark]] had survived within the remains, and was siphoning energon from Unicron's body. Soon the Decepticon leader revived himself in a new form,(calling himself Megatron again) drove off Alpha Quintesson, and along with an elite cadre of soldiers and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of mindless Terrorcon drones, began his ''new'' plans for conquest.

When news of Megatron's return reached Cybertron, hundreds of Decepticons rose up and rebelled, eager to get back to conquering. But having been joined to Unicron for so long apparently had given Megatron a taste of godhood; he had no more interest in amassing a galaxy-spanning army of troops. Countless Decepticons died in the resulting battles, with Megatron more than willing to sacrifice them without a thought to attain ultimate power for himself. As "the Powerlinx Battles" -as they came to be called- came to their climax, Megatron (calling himself Galvatron ''again'') found that his actions and thoughts were being influenced and controlled by the dark spark of Unicron. Unwilling to let Unicron stand in his way, Galvatron ultimately sacrificed himself (again) and seemingly destroyed Unicron's spark by plunging himself into a newly formed energon sun created by [[Primus]].
{{--}}

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
[[File:Cyb ep31 yet more nonsense.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|]]
What little remained of the once-mighty Decepticon army after [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron's]] loss was at best a loose association of criminals, thugs, and lunatics, with no real political or military power to speak of. For a decade, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] was once again at peace, with the population overwhelmingly [[Autobot]] or neutral. The Transformers had withdrawn from [[Earth]] and its other colonies to focus on revitalizing their homeworld after the devastation of the Powerlinx Battles. However, two great catastrophes shattered this peace; the energon sun collapsed in on itself, forming the powerful black hole known as the [[Unicron Singularity]], which threatened to devour Cybertron and, if left unchecked, the entire universe... and the return yet once again of Megatron, who had absorbed much of what remained of Unicron's power.

Megatron's goal of attaining godhood was now at hand. By obtaining the legendary [[Omega Lock]] and the four [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, Megatron intended to accelerate the growth of the black hole, consuming the universe in a vast sea of nothingness that only he would survive, then use his powers to re-create the universe in his image.

To this end, he had no need of an army. He gathered a small group of allies and lackeys to seek the items he needed, but they were nothing more than pawns to him, to be used and discarded at a whim.

The Decepticons briefly regained their status as a mass army of individuals when [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]], who had long suffered at Megatron's hands since the beginning of the Decepticons, made his own bid for ultimate power with the help of the [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]] agent [[Sideways (Armada)|Sideways]]. Having sealed Megatron and his troops in a trap, Starscream freed hundreds of criminal Transformers who had been locked up on [[Earth]] for millennia, and formed his own globe-spanning army. The Decepticon "Monsters" were tasked with finding the Omega Lock and Earth's Cyber Planet Key, which they eventually brought to their leader. However, numerous Decepticons were killed in the battles with the Autobots, and it soon became apparent that Starscream, like Megatron before him, didn't care. Most of these criminals soon abandoned Starscream and went into hiding.

As for Megatron, he too had deserters among his own considerably small ranks. Most notably, the powerful [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]], leader of the [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Jungle Planet]] and the colossal [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]] from [[Gigantion]], both of whom eventually joined forces with their former enemies the Autobots.

This was not seen as a concern for Megatron, however, as by this time Starscream and his allies were seemingly destroyed on Gigantion, and Megatron (now calling himself "Galvatron" again) had the Omega Lock and all four Keys. What few Decepticons remained loyal to him were too stupid to see what Galvatron had planned, and made perfect distractions as he set his final plan in motion. If they weren't strong enough to survive the coming cataclysm, then so be it.

[[File:NewDecepticonArmy.jpg|thumb|The yutz, the ditz, the klutz, and the putz.]]
Ultimately, Galvatron's plan failed, and the Unicron Singularity was sealed. His remaining Decepticons quickly left him, realizing what was likely to have happened to them, and eventually joined the Autobots. After Galvatron's seemingly-final defeat and death in a one-on-one duel with [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron's]] moon, the Decepticons, not knowing when to quit, rose again, albeit in a rather pathetic fashion. Having cobbled together a rather rickety rocket, [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]], [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] and [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]] shanghaied the reluctant [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]], who was ''really'' keen on being on the winning side for once, and flew off to parts unknown as the "[[New Decepticon Army]]".

They made it to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] before the rocket crash-landed.

Meanwhile, the Autobot [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] reported form a deep-space recon mission that he thought he had picked up traces of Starscream, seemingly backed up by Sideways and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]]. [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] and the former Decepticon [[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]] raced off to join Wing Saber and investigate...

===Dreamwave ''Armada'' continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
Founded by Megatron, the exact number of the original Decepticons is unknown. Using the Mini-Cons as weapons, they were able to conquer Cybertron and force the Autobots underground. Eventually they were beaten due to the arrival of Unicron: his heralds slaughtered the entire Decepticon base on Cybertron, and the Chaos-Bringer's arrival forced them to join forces with the Autobots. With Megatron shot dead during the Unicron battle, the peace held for a period of years.

==Live-action film series==
{{note|In a departure from previous Transformers incarnations, Japan used the name "Decepticons" for this franchise, rather than "Destrons".<ref>[http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/products/movie/decepticons.html Movie Decepticons toy listing on Takaratomy.com]</ref>}}

[[File:Defiance3 wearenowDECEPTICONS.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|LATER: Megatron realizes he blew his entire budget on the giant rotating wall symbol.]]
The origins of these Decepticons began when the Fallen turned on his [[Dynasty of Primes|brother Primes]] in an attempt to seize power at the cost of humanity's existence. One account has it that the Fallen gathered a small army of [[Constructicon (ROTF)|construction drones]] to assist him and named them Decepticons. {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 3}} Either way, he would become known as the ''first'' Decepticon and would go on to become the [[Emperor Palpatine|Sidious]] to Megatron's [[Darth Vader|Vader]] {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}, tempting the latent aggressive edge in the Protector. Filled with dreams of power and paranoia of losing that power, Megatron reformed the Cybertron defense force into a massive engine of war, ready to wipe out entire alien species who would dare challenge them.

When science leader [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]'s opposition became known, Megatron branded them traitors and declared his followers to be the Decepticons. Soon after, The Fallen commanded Megatron to build the ''[[Nemesis (ROTF)|Nemesis]]'', a ship that would carry his sarcophagus and Decepticon soldiers in their search for the [[Matrix of Leadership]] left on Earth. Megatron was commanded to remain on Cybertron, so [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] commanded the expedition. Most of the Decepticons left Cybertron, leaving Megatron with a reduced, but still potent, army. {{Storylink|Transformers: Defiance|Defiance}}

[[File:BBfilm-Decepticons-surround-the-Autobots.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|right|Company photo day.]]
The Decepticons began the war, destroying any who defied them. When the Allspark was thrown into space, Megatron followed after it, eventually landing on Earth, where he became frozen. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}} Despite the absence of their supreme leader, the Decepticons were able to conquer Cybertron and drive the Autobots off-world while operating under the joint leadership of [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] and Soundwave. In [[1987]], [[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] learnt that Optimus Prime was planning to regroup the Autobots on Earth while torturing [[Bumblebee (Movie)|B-127 "Bumblebee"]], and attempted to summon the [[Decepticon fleet]] and bait a trap for the rebels, only to be slain before they could make the transmission. {{storylink|Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee}}

[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] began a search for Megatron and the AllSpark. After a while, Starscream began to focus more on the AllSpark, hoping Megatron would remain lost, something the other Decepticons began to suspect. {{storylink|Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday|Ghosts of Yesterday}} In 2003, Starscream's retrieval team made their way to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], destroyed the [[Beagle 2 Rover]] and made their way to Earth. {{storylink|Transformers: Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel}}

In 2007, the Decepticons began to make their presence known, with [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] destroying [[SOCCENT Forward Operations Base]] in [[Qatar]], searching for information on Megatron and the AllSpark. A few days later, [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] hacked [[Air Force One]]'s computers. Although he was unable to find out the truth about [[Sector Seven]], he avoided detection and managed to get a clue in [[Sam Witwicky]], whose ancestor [[Archibald Witwicky]] had discovered Megatron a century earlier. His glasses had been marked with coordinates to the AllSpark's location, so [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] and Frenzy attempted to confront the boy. Although they were defeated by Bumblebee and [[Mikaela Banes]], Frenzy hid in Mikaela's purse, and accompanied them to [[Hoover Dam]], where Megatron and the AllSpark were hidden. As Starscream ordered the Decepticons to mobilize, Frenzy shut down the temperature controls while Starscream destroyed the external generators. Megatron was freed, but Bumblebee took the Cube with a group of survivors from Blackout's attack to Mission City, meeting with Optimus Prime's Autobots along the way. In the Battle of Mission City, Megatron and most of the Decepticons were killed and the AllSpark believed destroyed. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}}

After the battle of Mission City, Starscream, who had survived, stole Frenzy's remains to access whatever information the humans had on the AllSpark to build [[Replica AllSpark|his own AllSpark]]. Returning to Cybertron, Starscream proclaimed himself [[Decepticon leader]] and began building the replica. One month later, the replica was ready, but it didn't work properly and [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] made a coup attempt. Starscream barely survived and made his way back to Mars, questioning his purpose. {{storylink|Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream}}

When he received word that the Autobots would be helping the humans destroy Megatron's remains, and hoping to destroy Prime, Megatron, and the traitor [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]] all at once, Starscream returned to Earth. Although he managed to destroy Wreckage, Prime had already left with Megatron's body. Just as he defeated Bumblebee, Starscream received word from Soundwave, who had brought the ''Nemesis'' to Earth's solar system. After meeting up with Soundwave, Starscream explained the situation, and returned to the ''Nemesis'' to awaken the remaining Decepticons and oversee the spawning of more [[hatchling]]s while Soundwave lead a scout team to Earth. {{storylink|Transformers: Alliance}} Over the next two years, the Decepticons under Soundwave's command searched for the [[Tomb of the Primes]], which housed the Matrix needed to activate the solar harvester only to be opposed by the Autobot/human task force [[NEST]].

[[File:ROTF Fallen message.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|The Fallen performs what may be the greatest [[Rick Astley|Rick roll]] in history.]]
In 2009, Soundwave discovered Megatron's resting place in the [[Laurentian Abyss]] and the presence of an AllSpark shard on [[Diego Garcia]]. Dispatching [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] and the [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]]s, the Decepticons managed to restore Megatron's [[Spark]] and bring him back to life. Returning to the Decepticon flagship, the ''Nemesis'', Megatron learned from the Fallen that the AllSpark's knowledge was now within Sam Witwicky's mind, who had destroyed the Cube when he killed Megatron. Further commanded to kill Optimus Prime, Megatron captured the boy. Although the boy escaped, Megatron, Starscream and Grindor battled Optimus, and Megatron eventually managed to kill the last Prime. Megatron then decided that a show of force was needed to compel the humans to turn Sam over to them. The Fallen lead Decepticon protoforms to Earth and then broadcast a message demanding the humans turn over Sam. Sam was eventually found in [[Egypt]], where the harvester was hidden under a pyramid. In Egypt, a battle took place around the pyramids. Although the Fallen managed to reclaim the Matrix, it had already been used to resurrect Optimus, who was then made super-powerful by being fused with Jetfire, a Decepticon-turned Autobot. Optimus Prime then destroyed the harvester and confronted the Fallen, slaying the ancient Decepticon after a short, but vicious fight with him. Seeing his master's demise, Megatron, who had been severely injured during the battle, retreated with Starscream, vowing revenge. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

[[File:DOTM-Moonspacebridge.jpg|upright=1.67|right|thumb|Fly me to the Earth.]]
After three years of relative quiet, the Decepticons returned to NEST's radar when they enacted a scheme decades in the making, luring Optimus to the crashed ''[[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]]'' on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. Optimus revived [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]], who soon revealed that he had joined up with Megatron to restore Cybertron. Sentinel activated his space bridge, bringing forth an army of Decepticons who had hidden on the Moon. Sentinel issued an ultimatum to humanity: deport the Autobots from Earth or be destroyed. Humanity complied and the Autobots left in their spacecraft, but Starscream destroyed the ship once their human operative [[Dylan Gould]] learned they would leave without a fight. The Decepticons then stormed Chicago, slaughtering thousands of humans and made the city into a fortress impenetrable to the human military. Decepticons scattered across the globe to get Sentinel Prime's [[pillar]]s in place, so that they could create a space bridge large enough to bring Cybertron to Earth, enslaving humanity to reconstruct their home.

However, the Autobots had survived the destruction of their ship, foreseeing the Decepticons' treachery, and with the help of Sam Witwicky and a small crew of human allies, began a great battle to destroy Sentinel's space bridge. In the ensuing battle, the majority of the Decepticons' chain of command was killed off before the Autobots took the fight to Sentinel once the control pillar was temporarily disabled. After a brief duel with Optimus, Sentinel ordered the Decepticons' entire [[Orbital Assault Carrier]] fleet to attack his former pupil. With Sentinel battling the majority of the Autobots, the OAC's attacking Optimus, and the [[Wreckers]] engaging the incoming terrestrial Decepticons, Gould was left to reactivate the control pillar. Though he succeeded, he was killed by Sam, and the pillar was destroyed, taking Cybertron, the Decepticons' remaining air force, and the space bridge with it. Sentinel attempted to escape, but was intercepted by Optimus and they fought once again. Although Sentinel managed to defeat Optimus, he was attacked and grievously wounded by Megatron, who sought to regain the power he had lost in the past few years. Megatron then asked for peace, but Optimus refused and seemingly killed the tyrant once and for all. Sentinel Prime was then executed by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

[[File:AOE-Climb.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|left|HE STOLE MY LINE!!!]]
Unfortunately, this Autobot victory was quickly negated when [[Harold Attinger]] created [[Cemetery Wind]], a secret [[CIA]] cabal who began hunting down all Autobots and Decepticons left around the globe, with the help of [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]], a Cybertronian bounty hunter. Five years later, less than a dozen Transformers from either faction had survived the hunt. Though both factions were being slaughtered, Attinger claimed he was only hunting Decepticons, and their remains were sent to [[Kinetic Solutions Incorporated]] to be melted down to be made into new Transformers remote-controlled by humans. Megatron's head was recovered from Chicago, but no one except [[Brains]] discovered that the Decepticon leader had survived, and was biding his time by secretly worming his way into KSI's military prototype, Galvatron. Megatron also gave his new body operational control of the other fifty drones KSI had built. This was all in order to obtain the [[Seed]] that Lockdown would eventually pay Attinger and KSI with in exchange for help in apprehending Optimus Prime, so that Megatron could cyberform a large city to announce his return and build a massive army.

Optimus only became aware of Galvatron's true nature after doing battle with the drone, and passed the knowledge on to his human ally [[Cade Yeager]]. Yeager tried to warn [[Joshua Joyce]] of Galvatron's plot regarding the Seed, but it was too late, and Galvatron rebelled, christening the drones he took control of Decepticons. The Autobots came to rescue Joyce and the Seed in Hong Kong, but Galvatron set his army upon them, sparking a large battle. [[Hound (Movie)|Hound]] and Bumblebee were nearly overwhelmed by the Decepticons until Optimus arrived with the [[Dinobot (AOE)|Dinobots]], decimating the majority of them. The last few Decepticons were killed when Optimus detonated one of Lockdown's grenades. Galvatron, having escaped the battle when the Dinobots arrived, headed off for parts unknown, his plans temporarily stymied. {{Storylink|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction}}

[[File:TLKDecepticonsRollOut.jpg|right|upright=1.6|thumb|I am the leader of the Decepticons... which is only like, one or two or three of them.]]
Over the next few years, new Decepticons continued to arrive on Earth, but soon fell into disarray without a leader. Several Decepticons were killed in skirmishes with humans and Autobots, while others were captured by the TRF. After years of anarchy, Galvatron returned to Earth with a new body and reverted to his Megatron persona, now serving Quintessa in her plan to restore Cybertron at the cost of destroying Earth. Megatron initially kept his existence a secret to all except Barricade, who he used as a scout.

Eventually, Megatron came out of hiding and reformed the Decepticon army, negotiating the release of his henchmen [[Mohawk]], [[Dreadbot]], [[Nitro Zeus]], and [[Onslaught (ROTF)|Onslaught]] (only settling for the latter when his request for the volatile-even by Decepticon standards-[[Berserker]] was denied). The Decepticons and [[Transformers Reaction Force]] attacked an Autobot [[Junkyard (TLK)|refugee camp]], but were forced into a retreat thanks to the efforts of Yeager's team of Autobots and Dinobots, with Mohawk, Onslaught, and Dreadbot perishing during the battle. Decepticons began making their way to Cybertron after Megatron retrieved the [[Staff of Merlin]]. However, practically all Decepticons-including Nitro and [[Infernocus]]-fell before the combined might of the Autobots, the [[Transformers Reaction Force]], Quintessa's former [[Guardian Knight]]s, and their other allies as well as the [[British Armed Forces]]. Seeing as how Megatron and Barricade's current statuses are unclear, the return of the Decepticons is uncertain. {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}}

{{groupstub}}

===Titan movie comics===
[[File:Titan23 decepticonsmassing.JPG|upright=1.4|thumb|left|Company photo day.]]
War devastated Cybertron. While the Decepticons were heavily reliant on drone units to bolster their forces and were forced to automate many of their outposts, {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 5|Lost In Space 3: Ironhide}} the risk was still too high that they might claim the AllSpark, forcing Optimus Prime to make the desperate decision to launch the AllSpark into deep space. Megatron obsessively followed after it, and disappeared. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 1|Prelude: Optimus Prime}}
{{groupstub}}

====Alternate timeline====
{{groupstub}}

{{-}}

==''Animated'' continuity family==
Around 1 billion years ago, the [[Destron (Animated)|Destrons]] emerged as a new faction on the Protectobot governed Cybertron. Led by [[Devron (Animated)|Devron]], the [[Third Cybertronian War]] was fought between the Destrons and the Protectobots (who were led by the new leader [[Nova Magnus]]). ''The Destrons emerged victorious, though many Cybertronian records were forever lost due to the [[Great Purge]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

The Decepticons came to prominence as a sub-faction of the Destrons around 70 million years ago. They advocated the use of the AllSpark to bring Cybertron itself to life, that it might serve as a cosmic juggernaut that would allow the Transformers to return to the era of expansion and colonization of other worlds they had enjoyed nearly 700 million years beforehand. When the Decepticon leader [[Megazarak (Animated)|Megazarak]] was ousted by charismatic rhetorician named [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], tensions finally exploded, and the Autobots and Decepticons went to [[Great War (Animated)|war]] for possession of the AllSpark.

After something in the vicinity of six million years of civil war, things reached a crisis point when the Decepticons began a strategic bombing campaign on Cybertron, demanding the AllSpark be turned over in exchange for a cessation of hostilities. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}} Rather than give in to Megatron's demands, the Autobots instead sought to put the AllSpark beyond any Cybertronian's reach, launching it randomly through a [[space bridge]] to some distant corner of the galaxy, where it was hoped it would never be found. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}
The Autobots pulled a victory only due to their exclusive access to [[space bridge]]s, [[Project Omega]], and their decision to send the [[AllSpark]] into deep space. Defeated, the Decepticons dispersed, and, according to [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]], the only sight of them would be an occasional scout ship. In fact, they had been missing for so long, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] believed a Decepticon presence was a thing of the past. This was quickly reassessed upon encountering [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron's]] crew. The ensuing confrontation over the newly rediscovered AllSpark took Megatron - injured from an assassination attempt by his lieutenant [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] - and the Autobots to Earth, where Megatron would be sent crashing to Earth. The Autobots' ship crash-landed in [[Lake Erie]], and during the next fifty years, [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]] reverse-engineered technology from Megatron's severed head to build a robotic empire. Starscream would follow the AllSpark's trail to Earth, and the Autobots subsequently became heroes, though they were unaware of Sumdac's use of Megatron's technology. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}

[[File:PayThePiper.JPG|thumb]]
Megatron revived in Sumdac's lab and covertly manipulated the scientist into helping him build a new body, poising as an incapacitated Autobot. {{storylink|Home Is Where the Spark Is}} His loyal Decepticons [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] arrived on Earth to find him, {{storylink|Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found}} and when the time was right, helped restore him to a functioning body. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 1}} Megatron killed Starscream for his betrayal, but in the ensuing battle with the Autobots, the AllSpark was dispersed across the [[Detroit]] area. Though disheartened by the loss of the AllSpark, Megatron kidnapped Sumdac {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 2}} and downloaded a schematic of an Autobot space bridge, plotting to build one to invade Cybertron from within. The three Decepticons made camp in an abandoned mine that shielded their signals from the Autobots, {{storylink|The Elite Guard}}, but were surprised when Starscream was reanimated by an AllSpark fragment. Megatron reestablished contact with his double-agent on Cybertron, [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]], and ordered his troops around the galaxy to begin attacking the Autobots' space bridges. {{storylink|Mission Accomplished}}.

[[File:ABTC-AttackOfTheClones.jpg|thumb|left]]
Megatron would have his troops go after AllSpark fragments {{storylink|Garbage In, Garbage Out}} or supplies for his space bridge {{storylink|Rise of the Constructicons}}. Megatron also ordered a large bounty on the rogue Starscream. {{storylink|A Fistful of Energon}} When the space bridge was completed, the Decepticons engaged in a fierce three-way battle with the Earthbound Autobots and Starscream's army of [[Starscream clone (Animated)|clones]]. Megatron would emerge victorious with the Autobots captured and the Starscream clones defected to his side, though the space bridge ended up malfunctioning and sucked in him and Starscream. A long night of bickering ensued. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}}

[[Team Chaar]] and other Decepticons around the galaxy began succeeding in taking the Autobots' space bridges, but were dismayed when Megatron failed to arrive on Cybertron to begin the invasion. Megatron and Starscream were found by the comatose [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]], and Megatron cut his losses and cancelled the invasion, seeking to use Omega to conquer Cybertron himself. He was able to bring the Autobot to Earth to attack Optimus Prime's crew, but [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]]'s intervention trapped Megatron and Starscream inside Omega and sent them transwarping around the galaxy randomly. {{storylink|TransWarped}}

His cover about to be blown, Shockwave mortally injured Ultra Magnus before escaping with the [[Magnus Hammer]], putting Cybertron in disarray. {{storylink|Where Is Thy Sting?}} [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] had [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] capture Lugnut, Blitzwing, [[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]], [[Ramjet (Animated)|Ramjet]], and the stasis-locked [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] for him. {{storylink|Five Servos of Doom}} However, Swindle would be revived en route to Cybertron, and freed his fellow prisoners, though only he and Lugnut would escape the ship and not be recaptured. {{storylink|Decepticon Air}} Lugnut found his way to Megatron, and Shockwave brought the group [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]]. {{storylink|This Is Why I Hate Machines}} The Decepticons returned to Earth and constructed a group of [[Lugnut Supreme|dark clones]] of Omega Supremes with the codes in Arcee's processor, and attacked Earth. {{storylink|Endgame, Part I}} Autobots and Decepticons did battle; Ratchet led a team to rescue Arcee and Omega Supreme, while Bulkhead and [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] defeated and captured Lugnut and Shockwave. Starscream took control of the Lugnut Supremes, rigging them to blow and destroy Detroit. [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] and [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] reconstructed the AllSpark, killing Starscream once and for all, and managed to use the power of the AllSpark to save Detroit. Megatron was captured by Optimus, and the Autobots returned to Cybertron with the Decepticon leader, Lugnut, and Shockwave as prisoners. {{storylink|Endgame, Part II}}

Megatron and his men would be incarcerated in [[Trypticon Prison]], and [[Strika (Animated)|Strika]] took command of the Decepticons for the time being. She ordered [[Team Stunticon]] to break out Megatron, but when they failed, Strika led an invasion of Cybertron's Energon farms. {{storylink|The Stunti-Con Job}}

{{note|As with the movie Decepticons, the Animated Decepticons are not called Destrons in Japan.}}

==''Shattered Glass''==
===Fun Publications ''Shattered Glass'' continuity===
[[File:Decepticon Shattered Glass.png|thumb|Decepticons wage their battle to destroy...]]
{{quote|Your tyranny ends here, Prime! Cybertronians will once again know the freedom which is their right!|Megatron|"[[Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass]]"}}
The Decepticons began as a resistance group, rallied by the mathematician [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]] against [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]]'s conquests. After managing to conquer back some portions of Cybertron, the Decepticons invented [[transformation]] as a means to hide in plain sight. When the Decepticons attempted to destroy the Autobot flagship, the ''[[Ark (SG)|Ark]]'', they were aided by [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] from another universe who helped them succeed before joining their ranks. {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}}

When a group of Decepticons stranded on [[Earth]] made contact with Cybertron, Megatron opened diplomatic relations with the organic planet. {{storylink|Transhuman}} After Megatron had been reborn as Galvatron, another group of refugees from Cliffjumper's universe led by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Mammoth]] joined the Decepticons in their fight. {{storylink|Falling into Place}}

The Decepticons eventually established [[Decepticon City (SG)|Decepticon City]] on Earth {{storylink|Distant Fissures}} where Galvatron, thanks to [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus]]' trickery, was able to deal a fatal barrage to Optimus Prime, forcing the Autobots to retreat. {{storylink|Memory's Splinter}} {{storylink|Restoration}}

As the Decepticons followed back to Cybertron, the planet revealed itself as the [[alternate mode]] of [[Primus/Shattered Glass|Primus]], the Order Bringer attacking the displaced Earth of [[Primax 207.0 Epsilon]] for its infringing on his perfect order. The Decepticons failed to match their creator's godly power, the deity only falling when Earth revealed itself as [[Gaea]] who, with aid from the [[Knights of Unicron (SG)|Knights of Unicron]], defeated the Order Bringer. After Gaea had transformed into a New Cybertron, the Decepticons settled onto the new planet as peacekeepers. {{storylink|The Future Buried...}} Though the war was considered over, the Decepticons and their dimensionally displaced allies still hunted for Rodimus' cell and Megatron's [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|counterpart]] trying to rebuild his own Decepticons. {{storylink|Divination}}

===IDW ''Shattered Glass'' continuity===
The Decepticons began as a civil rights group protesting the corrupt rule of the [[Senate]]. When the political tensions of the time devolved into a full-scale war, the Decepticons fought against the ruling class of Autobots. When the fighting spread off-world, Megatron crashed on Earth, followed by the rest of the Decepticons who discovered that Earth was home to [[Rarified Energon]]. The Autobots followed and continued the war on Earth. Despite the Decepticons' best efforts, they were outmatched, being forced to retreat as Megatron fought a delaying action. The Decepticons returned to Cybertron only for the Autobots to follow. Being defeated once again, the rudderless Decepticons scattered across Cybertron's underground. Megatron eventually managed to return to Cybertron but upon seeing the planet's sorry state, he set himself up as a hermit, instructing his former lieutenants not to contact him. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 2|Shattered Glass #2}}

After [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]] had found that his spark could be used to awaken the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[Metroplex (SG)|Metroplex]], he sought out Megatron. Convincing his former leader to restart the fight, the two infiltrated [[Kaon (polity)|Gold City]] to meet with [[Soundwave (SG)|Soundwave]] and send out a rallying call only for [[Goldbug (SG)|Goldbug]]'s forces to capture Starscream. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 3|Shattered Glass #3}}

While [[Skywarp (SG)|Skywarp]] and the [[Insecticon (SG)|Insecticons]] mounted an ultimately unsuccessful rescue mission into Goldbug's fortress, {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 4|Shattered Glass #4}} Megatron rallied the rest of his scattered forces. Though the Decepticons managed to conquer Gold City, Goldbug had managed to kill Starscream and claim his spark. As the Decepticons began to rebuild, Megatron offered [[Jetfire (SG)|Jetfire]] a chance to join them and help reclaim Starscream's spark. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 5|Shattered Glass #5}}

By the time that [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]] had overthrown [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]], the Decepticons had rechristened Gold City as "New Kaon". On Magnus' orders, [[Blaster (SG)|Blaster]] infiltrated New Kaon to take out the Decepticons' long-range communications. When he failed in this task, the [[Wreckers]] beheaded him and used his severed head to listen in on the Decepticons' movements. {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 2|Shattered Glass II #2}}

Using Starscream's spark, Goldbug managed to reactivate Metroplex, {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 3|Shattered Glass II #3}} the Decepticons massing at the feet of the Titan as he marched towards New Kaon. {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 4|Shattered Glass II #4}} [[Soundwave (SG)|Soundwave]] and Jetfire eventually managed to remove Starscream's spark from Metroplex, sending him back to stasis. As Soundwave began his march home, he reflected that the Decepticons would never stop in their fight for freedom. {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 5|Shattered Glass II #5}}
{{-}}

==Aligned continuity family==
{{bigquote|Sometimes deception is necessary, when those who should listen to the truth will not, and will only understand once they have been lied to and forced to see their own lies.|[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]].}}

[[File:Megatroncamehome.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|"Breakdown! Assume the footrest position! Soundwave! Log into my Netflix! Knock Out, you... erm. Go make some popcorn or something."]]

[[The Fallen|Megatronus]], a member of the Thirteen, considered himself the first Decepticon. {{storylink|Lockout}} He killed [[Solus Prime]] {{storylink|Battlegrounds, Part 2}} and was imprisoned for it in an alternate dimension. {{storylink|Battlegrounds, Part 1}}

The Decepticons originated from those in the [[Functionism|lower castes]] of Cybertronian society in the [[Badlands (Cybertron)|Badlands]]. Megatron, a gladiator who seized control of all the gladiatorial pits and assumed the name of The Fallen, began preaching to the dispossessed on the Grid. He allowed them to bomb Cybertron and throw their society into chaos, for he rightly believed if he denied any connection to their extremist behavior, it would elevate him in the eyes of the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]]. Even the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] kidnapped [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Sentinel Prime]] for him. When the Council questioned Megatron about the movement's name, he denied he had heard of it, though he also accepted it for reasons outlined above.

When Halogen appointed Orion the new Prime, Megatron declared his Decepticons would continue to fight for freedom. During the war they conquered eighty-five percent of the planet, as well as occupying [[Moonbase One|Moon Base One]] and [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]] Station, before poisoning the [[core]] itself with [[Dark Energon]]. When the Autobots left aboard the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'', Trypticon transformed into the ''Nemesis'' and followed them with Megatron, Starscream, [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]], and [[Lugnut (WFC)|Lugnut]] into unknown space, while [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] took control of the Cybertronian Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
Eons later, Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave, [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]], and [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] were based on [[Earth]], with a mass-produced [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] army. During a three-year lull, Starscream was ordered to build a [[space bridge]] and to mine more Energon. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)|Transformers: Prime}} Megatron returned, but not with the army Starscream had hoped for. Instead he tried to raise an army of [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcon]] [[zombie]]s to eradicate humanity, but failed and perished in a space bridge implosion, leaving Starscream in command once more. {{storylink|Darkness Rising}} It emerged he survived, and he was retrieved and placed in sickbay. {{storylink|Masters & Students}} Meanwhile, Starscream and Soundwave waited for opportunities to pounce on [[Team Prime]] with their Vehicons. {{storylink|Con Job}} {{storylink|Convoy (episode)|Convoy}}
[[File:DeusExMachina-fourcons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Starscream: "We're gonna go out there and catch those museum thieves red-handed!" Breakdown: "What color are their hands now?"]]

Megatron eventually returned to life, nearly killing Starscream for his part in his near-death in the space bridge explosion. {{storylink|Sick Mind}} {{storylink|Out of His Head}} {{storylink|Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone}} Despite his brush with death, Starscream continued to secretly operate against Megatron {{storylink|Operation: Breakdown}}, which came to a grinding halt when Megatron forced him to beg for his life in an abandoned Energon mine. {{storylink|Rock Bottom}} Finding neither respect from Megatron following this incident nor mercy from the [[Arcee (WFC)|Autobots]], as well as seemingly being replaced by former rogue [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]], Starscream abandoned the Decepticons, becoming neutral, and leaving Airachnid to take his place. {{storylink|Partners (Prime)|Partners}}

Seeking to attain more Dark Energon to coincide with a prophecy that he interpreted as his own destiny in the [[Covenant of Primus]], Megatron raced to complete a second space bridge. Optimus Prime sought to stop this plot by finally ending the Decepticon leader's life{{storylink|One Shall Fall}}, but a larger problem became apparent. Following an explosion of Dark Energon from a volcano, it was surmised that [[Unicron/Aligned|Unicron]] was awakening at the [[Earth's core]]. Rejected from Unicron's service,{{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}} Megatron formed a shaky alliance with Optimus {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 2}} to defeat the Chaos Bringer. During this time, acting Decepticon leader Airachnid attempted to abandon Megatron to Unicron's wrath, but following a humiliating defeat at the hands of Soundwave, relinquished command to the communications officer. With the power of the Matrix of Leadership, Optimus was able to defeat Unicron. However, Optimus' surrender of the Matrix's power also lost him his memories of being a Prime, and he took upon his old 'Orion Pax' persona. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}} Megatron took advantage of Orion's amnesia, setting him to work on [[Project Iacon]], to find various relics from Cybertron hidden on Earth. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 1}} Eventually, however, the Autobots were successful in restoring Orion Pax to Optimus Prime, halting work on the project. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}

Former Seeker captain [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] arrived on Earth, {{storylink|Loose Cannons}} and was promoted to second in command following Airachnid's departure and murder of Breakdown (whose remains were recovered by human terrorist organization MECH). {{storylink|Crossfire (Prime)|Crossfire}} Airachnid later sent her armada of [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] to kill Megatron, but following her defeat at the hands of Arcee, the Insecticons were freed from her control and then integrated into Megatron's forces. However, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead's]] actions caused the ''Nemesis'' to crash on Earth, {{storylink|Armada (episode)|Armada}} prompting Megatron to use Dark Energon to repair the ship. Unexpectedly, the Dark Energon enhanced ''Nemesis'' gained sentience, and disabled the Decepticons and worked to complete Project Iacon and collect the relics around the world. Through the efforts of [[Jack Darby|the]] [[William Fowler|Autobots]]' [[Miko Nakadai|human]] [[Raf Esquivel|allies]], the ship's sentience was defeated, but had already located four Iacon relics. {{storylink|Flying Mind}} The Decepticon forces were sent to the four locations around the world: Knock Out and an Insecticon to New York City, {{storylink|Tunnel Vision}} Dreadwing to Antarctica, {{storylink|Triangulation}} Soundwave to a forest, {{storylink|Triage (episode)|Triage}} and [[Hardshell]] to a volcano around the equator. {{storylink|Toxicity}} Knock Out, Dreadwing, and Hardshell's endeavours all end in failure, Soundwave being the only victorious one. {{storylink|Triage (episode)|Triage}} After mistakenly reporting Bulkhead's destruction to Megatron, Hardshell was himself destroyed by a vengeful Wheeljack and Miko. {{storylink|Hurt}}

[[File:FlyingMind-DecepticonsOnDeck.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67|And the Decepticons always remembered this as the day Megatron said, [[Frank Welker|"Well it was either this or college!"]]]]
Breakdown's remains were used to save the mortally wounded {{storylink|Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime}} MECH leader Silas - to Megatron and Knock Out's disgust - who attempted to join the Decepticon ranks, but when his offering of Project Damocles was destroyed by the Autobots, he was hauled away for dissection by Knock Out. The effort did bear fruit in that the location of Raf Esquivel's home was discovered,{{storylink|The Human Factor}} narrowing down the location of the Autobot base. {{storylink|Hard Knocks}}. The Decepticons lost the upper hand briefly when Optimus acquired the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] {{storylink|Legacy (episode)|Legacy}}, but the blade was destroyed by Megatron's knock-off [[Dark Star Saber]]. Additionally, the Decepticons found the existence of the [[Omega Key]]s on Earth, though they were unaware of their true function. {{storylink|Alpha/Omega}}. Knock Out successfully retrieved a Key, while Dreadwing lost one, but it turned out new Autobot recruit [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] is the final Key, and was promptly kidnapped by Soundwave. {{storylink|Hard Knocks}} Megatron learned of the Omega Keys' ability to revive Cybertron, but Smokescreen made off with the two Keys the Decepticons possessed. However, the rogue Starscream was able to steal all three Autobot Keys, and proposed to use them as a bargaining chip to return to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Inside Job}}

Naturally, Megatron was less than convinced of Starscream's loyalty, and watched his memories via cortical psychic patch to find his true motives. While evidence of Starscream's treachery was rampant, Megatron allowed him to return since the Decepticons must be united to revive Cybertron. However, Dreadwing was enraged and disillusioned by Megatron's pardon, since his leader was apathetic to Skyquake becoming one of the undead, {{storylink|Patch (episode)|Patch}} but his attempt to murder Starscream was halted when Megatron killed him with his own blaster. Starscream returned to his position of second-in-command, and worked out the location of the Omega Lock on Cybertron. Megatron battled the Autobots on their home planet, lost the Keys, but Starscream, Knock Out and Soundwave kidnapped the Autobots' human allies and held them hostage. {{storylink|Regeneration (Prime)|Regeneration}} The Autobots handed over the Keys in exchange for the children, and Megatron turned the power of the Omega Lock on Earth to cyberform it. Optimus used the Star Saber to destroy the Omega Lock and all hope of restoring Cybertron, but Megatron launched a full-scale invasion of the Earth from his new fortress of [[Darkmount (Earth)|Darkmount]], with his first act of aggression being destroying the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]]. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour}}

In the wake of the Autobots' defeat, and having found no corpses in the base's remains, the Decepticons increased global surveillance to find them - also dealing a similarly devastating blow against the United States military with its fusion cannons. Megatron feigned a desire for peace to the US government, a cover for his eventual violent conquest of Earth. A search on Cybertron for the missing relics turned up [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]], {{storylink|Darkmount, NV}} who is quickly reinstated into the Decepticon command structure as first lieutenant of all scientific endeavors, to Starscream's chagrin. Efforts to find the Autobots resulted only in failure, leading Shockwave to unleash the massive [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] he cloned, [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] to hunt down the Autobots, {{storylink|Scattered}} only for it to come home empty-handed. {{storylink|Prey (episode)|Prey}} The Autobots were able to spread the Decepticon ranks thin and away from Darkmount, and the newly arrived [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] lead the regrouped team to assault the fortress. The attack was eventually halted and the Autobots were taken prisoner, only for an upgraded Optimus Prime to arrive and single-handedly turn the tide. Earth's military was able to bring Darkmount crumbling to the ground, forcing the Decepticons to go on the defense and return to using the ''Nemesis'' as their base of operations. {{storylink|Rebellion (Prime)|Rebellion}}

The Decepticons turned their efforts to cloning, and enjoyed a string of successful ventures to retrieve Predacon fossils to engineer an army of the extinct beasts thanks to the efforts of Shockwave and Soundwave, {{storylink|Project Predacon}} the Predacon, {{storylink|Chain of Command (Prime)|Chain of Command}} and Knock Out. {{storylink|Plus One (Prime)|Plus One}} Jealous of Megatron's favoring Shockwave, Starscream coerced Knock Out to create an army of super soldiers with a mix of Dark and [[Synthetic Energon]], starting with the imprisoned Cylas. However, this only created a new form of Terrorcon that craved and drained Energon from a victim, starting a plague that threatened the entire ship. The Decepticons struggled to repel the infected, until Cylas freed Airachnid from her stasis pod. The former prisoner killed Cylas and called the Insecticons to rejoin her, but Airachnid's latest attempt to overthrow Megatron was put down by Soundwave, who bridged her and her army to a dead moon of Cybertron. The crisis weakened the Decepticons with the loss of the Insecticons and the infected Vehicons, having depleted more than half of their military strength. Shockwave subsequently speeded up progress on Project Predacon, {{storylink|Thirst}} but Predaking revealed his sentience and ability to transform on the verge of the project's completion. The former beast asked to lead the coming Predacons on Megatron's behalf, but the Decepticon leader and his command staff knew better than to give him control of a more powerful army than the depleted Decepticons. Following a plot engineered by Starscream, the Decepticons allowed the Autobots to destroy the Predacons before they escape their pods, to Predaking's horror and rage. The destruction of the lab, coupled with the presence of Synthetic Energon, resulted in the lab being filled with pure [[Living metal|Cybermatter]]. {{storylink|Evolution}}

[[File:Deadlock-Megatron-Decepticons-extinguished.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Megatron shouldn't have gone to Unicron for life insurance.]]
Shockwave realized the Cybermatter could cyberform entire worlds. Megatron resolved to restore the Omega Lock and rule a cyberformed Earth and a revived Cybertron, but found the synthetic Energon formula was incomplete, and had Ratchet delivered to him by the captured Soundwave, while his lieutenants gathered human technology to repair the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Minus One}} As the device was being restored, Megatron appealed to Ratchet to finish the synthetic Energon formula, playing on the medic's love for his home to outweigh his reservations about aiding the leader of the Decepticons. Ratchet eventually consented when he was shown the nearly completed Omega Lock {{storylink|Persuasion}} and soon completed the formula. In return, Megatron turned him over to the vengeful Predaking, but Ratchet - having learned the truth thanks to a slip up from Knock Out - revealed Megatron's plot to wipe out Project Predacon. Predaking turned on the Decepticons and slaughtered countless Vehicons, but was bested by Megatron in combat. Ratchet gave his comrades a way onto the warship, and Megatron mobilized his remaining army for their last stand. {{storylink|Synthesis}} While Megatron battled Optimus with the Dark Star Saber, Jack and Miko banished Soundwave to the [[shadowzone (dimension)|shadowzone]] on the bridge, while the other Autobots fought to capture the ship. Smokescreen and Bumblebee tried to get the Star Saber to Optimus, but Megatron killed Bumblebee as he tried to do so. However, the scout's corpse, having fallen info the Omega Lock, was revived by the Cybermatter, and ran Megatron through with the Star Saber, finally killing the leader of the Decepticons once and for all. Their leader dead, Shockwave, Starscream, and what few Vehicons remained abandoned ship, while Knock Out attempted to join the winning team. The ''Nemesis'' was used to fire the Omega Lock into the [[Well of All Sparks]], and Cybertron was restored. {{storylink|Deadlock (episode)|Deadlock}}

Most of the Vehicons had theoretically surrendered to the Autobots, and were part of an inept crew of construction workers under Bulkhead's watch. Though, not all hope was lost for the Decepticons. Shockwave & Starscream had been moving to the former's labs, cloning more Predacons to overthrow the Autobots in their newly restored home world. However, when Unicron took over Megatron's semi-lifeless body, the [[Skylynx (Prime)|two]] [[Darksteel (Prime)|Predacons]] they had cloned joined [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] in helping the Autobots save Cybertron from an army of Terrorcon-Predacons headed to corrupt the core once more, after Shockwave had been beaten up by the zombie dragons and encouraged the Predacons' decision. To make matters worse for them, Knock Out, who had been imprisoned by the Autobots, officially joined their side. When the Autobots put a stop to Unicron's plans and trapped Unicron in the [[AllSpark]]'s container, Megatron officially disbanded the Decepticons after being victim of Unicron's eternal torture and realized the true meaning of oppression. With Starscream all alone, he returned to his roots and decided to take command of the no longer functioning faction, but the Predacons had something in store for their former abuser... {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}}

===''Rescue Bots'' cartoon===
At some point during the Decepticons' campaign on Earth, [[Rescue Force Sigma-17]] arrived on the planet in response to the message sent into space by [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]. Prime judged them as not ready to face the Decepticons, and instead stationed them in the technologically advanced town of [[Griffin Rock]]. {{storylink|Family of Heroes}} For their protection, Optimus apparently kept their existence a secret from the Decepticons and seemingly the other Autobots, with the exception of Bumblebee and Ratchet. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue (RB)|Bumblebee to the Rescue}} While the Decepticon empire never touched the island, Optimus and Bumblebee occasionally lent a hand when [[Doctor Morocco|other]] [[Quint Quarry|threats]] arose. {{storylink|It's a Bot Time}}

In an alternate timeline where [[Doctor Morocco]] ruled [[Griffin Rock]], Bumblebee mistook the [[MorBot]]s as Decepticons, only to have Heatwave correct him. {{storylink|Bot to the Future}}

===2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
[[File:RID-steeljawsgang.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66|We're not getting a whole lot of toys, are we? Bumblebee and his damn army of toys, the fiend!]]
At some undetermined point, the Autobot prison ship ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]'' took off from Cybertron, its cargo of [[stasis pod]]s carrying several hundred of the most-wanted Decepticons, who [[To sell toys|for some unexplained reason]] all possessed robot or [[beast mode]]s based on Earth animals. At least some of them were simply members of naturally-occurring, animal-shaped Cybertronian sub-races, reminiscent of the Insecticons of the ''Prime'' cartoon. After Megatron disbanded the Decepticons, any remaining Decepticons seemed to have been forced into hiding or had defected after the planet repopulated with Autobots. Megatron apparently kept his promise about not inflicting any more oppression as he had remained unseen by the time Bumblebee traveled to Earth.

In the aftermath of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s restoration, the population was overwhelmingly Autobot. [[Cyclonus (WFC)|Cyclonus]] and his troops quickly worked to overthrow the High Council and take over Cybertron. With the planet under their control, they began making preparations for the rebirth of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Freedom Fighters}}

Years later, [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] caused the ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]'' to crash on [[Earth]] near [[Crown City]], its cargo being scattered around the countryside in the crash. {{storylink|Lockout}} The [[Mini-Con]] [[Fixit (RID)|Fixit]] sent a mayday, however on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], working as a street cop for the repopulated planet, was instead alerted by a vision of [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]. Optimus gave Bumblebee a new mission on Earth, sending the young Autobot to the nearest [[space bridge]]. Bumblebee unwillingly found himself accompanied to Earth by his cop partner [[Strongarm (RID)|Strongarm]] and the delinquent [[Sideswipe (RID)|Sideswipe]]. Joined by the ex-Decepticon prisoner [[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Grimlock]] and two [[human]]s — [[Denny Clay]], owner of a vintage salvage depot for the discriminating nostalgist (a scrapyard) and his son [[Russell Clay|Russell]] — Bumblebee and his team were tasked with tracking down the escaped prisoners and prevent harm coming to Earth or its native population. {{storylink|Pilot (Part 1)}}

Chief among the threats poised by the Decepticons was the charismatic [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]], who sought to organize the escaped prisoners into an effective cabal to conquer the planet. {{storylink|Trust Exercises}} Steeljaw first teamed up with [[Minitron]], who took control of Grimlock and was able to snatch Underbite. Though Minitron was captured, Steeljaw made off with Underbite {{storylink|True Colors}} and made an alliance with the Decepticon criminal, [[Thunderhoof (RID)|Thunderhoof]]. {{storylink|As the Kospego Commands!}} Setting up a base in an abandoned factory, Steeljaw was eventually able to assemble a new team of Decepticons - consisting of [[Underbite]], [[Thunderhoof (RID)|Thunderhoof]], [[Clampdown (RID)|Clampdown]], the bounty hunter [[Fracture (RID)|Fracture]] (who had initially arrived on Earth to collect a bounty placed on Bumblebee by the High Council). {{storylink|Hunting Season}} and his Mini-Cons, [[Airazor (RID)|Airazor]] and [[Divebomb (RID)|Divebomb]]. After a short battle with Bumblebee's team, Steeljaw's gang were apprehended by the Autobots, however, Steeljaw was able to free everyone and the team escaped. {{storylink|Sideways (episode)|Sideways}}

Steeljaw and his "pack" went on to have a series of failed attempts at trying to free the captured Decepticons inside the [[Vintage Salvage Depot for the Discriminating Nostalgist|Autobot's base]]. Seeking access to the scrapyard, Steeljaw engineered a diversion by using [[Kickback (RID)|Kickback]] as bait. While Bumblebee's team was distracted, Steeljaw broke into the scrapyard, and his gang quickly took Fixit, Russell, and Denny hostage. Steeljaw also rigged up a sub-sonic pulse that would disable the Autobots and prevent them from gaining access. Steeljaw tried to get Fixit to free the other Decepticon convicts, Fixit managed to stall long enough for the Autobots to break in and deactivate the sonic weaponry; in the ensuing fight, Steeljaw was defeated yet again by Bumblebee. Back at the Decepticon hideout, Steeljaw exploded at his comrades and ordered them to leave. The arrival of a [[The Fallen|mysterious entity]] snapped him out of his funk, and Steeljaw reluctantly agreed to build him a gateway and serve as his minion for the time being. {{storylink|Lockout}}

Steeljaw and his "pack" searched for materials and constructed a doorway for Megatronus to enter the material world, however the Autobots arrived to stop him and Steeljaw's portal was destroyed by a resurrected Optimus Prime. Despite this, Megatronus successfully made it through {{storylink|Battlegrounds, Part 1}} and proceeded with his true plan: to merge the AllSpark and Anti-Spark together to destroy both Earth and Cybertron. With the revelation that the planet he intended to conquer would be destroyed, Steeljaw turned on Megatronus and attempted to fight him, only to be backhanded out of sight. The remaining members of his gang placed in stasis after the death of Megatronus, with Steeljaw and Kickback the only specific Decepticons known to be at large. {{storylink|Battlegrounds, Part 2}}

After a Groundbridge accident at the scrapyard, [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (who was still trapped in the shadowzone after the end of the war) managed to escape, quickly dispatching the Bee Team. However, with a coordinated attack, he was sent back just as fast as he escaped. {{storylink|Portals}}

[[File:TRID S2 E12 DIP1 SC 4.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|A normal day at [[Activision]] headquarters]]
Steeljaw eventually managed to assume control of all Decepticons on Earth, intending to rebuild the [[Decepticon Empire]] on the planet, {{storylink|Decepticon Island (Part 1)}} before he was defeated and all the Decepticons were shipped back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Decepticon Island (Part 2)}} The High Council freed Steeljaw and a select few others to act as decoys for the [[Bee Team (RID)|Bee Team]] while they worked to continue their plans. {{storylink|Exiles}} {{storylink|Freedom Fighters}}

The High Council eventually sent a quartet of genetically-engineered Activator [[Mini-Con]]s to aid Soundwave in escaping from the Shadowzone so he could summon [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] back home. {{storylink|King of the Hill (Part 2)}} {{storylink|The Great Divide}} {{storylink|Railroad Rage}} {{storylink|Freedom Fighters}} Soundwave was defeated however and placed in [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]'s custody. {{storylink|Collateral Damage}} {{storylink|Freedom Fighters}}

When the Bee Team arrived on Cybertron, they discovered the High Council's true identities and, as a result of [[Cyberwarp (RID)|Cyberwarp]]'s hesitations, managed to defeat their combined form of [[Galvatronus (RID)|Galvatronus]], freeing Cybertron from Decepticon control. [[Strongarm (RID)|Strongarm]] took Cyberwarp's desire for peace as a hopeful sign that Autobots and Decepticons might one day peacefully co-exist on Cybertron. {{storylink|Freedom Fighters}}

===''Rescue Bots Academy'' cartoon===
[[Wedge (RBA)|Wedge]] used to be a Decepticon, but Optimus Prime saw potential in him and got him to join the Autobots. When the Rescue Bot recruits encountered the Decepticon [[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]], they assumed he'd be highly dangerous until Wedge told them his own backstory. [[Perceptor (Prime)|Perceptor]] cleared Laserbeak to stay at the academy as his criminal record was clear. {{storylink|More Than Meets The Eye (RBA)|More Than Meets The Eye}} Though Laserbeak believed his past as a Decepticon prevented him from fitting in, the recruits thought otherwise {{storylink|Space Party}} and Optimus later made him an official Autobot. {{storylink|Crash Of The Titan}}

==''Cloud''==
The Decepticons of [[Cloud World]] are made up of the disgruntled cast-offs of Cloud's society of multiversal sentinels, banned from interdimensional travel and exiled from its capital [[Metropolis]] to the slums of the [[Underground (Cloud)|Underground]].

{{stub|Pretty much all of [[Transformers Cloud]]}}

==''Cyberverse'' cartoon==
[[File:Cyberverse Decepticon Plankowners (Cyberverse - Megatron Is My Hero).jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I'm sure you're wondering why we're here...]]

[[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]] established the Decepticons as a political movement, opposing the [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] status quo. Standing alongside the former gladiator as he declared his vision of a Cybertron where [['Til all are one|all would be one]] were [[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]], [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus]], [[Soundwave (Cyberverse)|Soundwave]], [[Arcee (Cyberverse)|Arcee]], [[Ratchet (Cyberverse)|Ratchet]], and [[Shadow Striker (Cyberverse)|Shadowstriker]]. Optimus, at least, would soon become disillusioned with Megatron's actions, finding his friend's chosen course too violent and power-hungry; after a final confrontation with his old friend where he failed to sway him from his course, he fully broke away to chart a [[Autobot|different path]]. {{storylink|Megatron Is My Hero}}

Circa 66 million years ago, the Decepticons launched a plan to use [[Vector Sigma]] to reprogram the [[AllSpark|Allspark]], {{storylink|Megatron Is My Hero}} only for the Autobots to send it off Cybertron. {{storylink|Allspark (episode)|Allspark}} While the Autobots manually searched for the lost Allspark in space, {{storylink|The Journey}} the Decepticons remained on Cybertron and tracked the artifact remotely. Once it had been tracked to Earth, [[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]] sent [[Slipstream (Cyberverse)|Slipstream]] to scout the planet, {{storylink| Fractured}} while he rallied the [[Decepticon fleet]], {{storylink|Siloed}} launching an invasion of the planet when the [[Ark (Cyberverse)|''Ark'']] crew had awoken. {{storylink|Eruption}}

When the Autobots acquired the Allspark and made for Cybertron, the Decepticons returned home via the space bridge, {{storylink|Escape From Earth}} using [[Chromia (Cyberverse)|Chromia]] to bait a trap for their foes. {{storylink|The Crossroads}}

Upon arrival into Cybertronian orbit, Optimus' failure to raise Chromia led him to suspect a trap and set the ''Ark'' on autopilot, leaving it to be destroyed by a [[laser snare]], allowing the Autobots to ambush the Decepticons. {{storylink|Battle For Cybertron I}} {{storylink|Battle For Cybertron II}} The battle that followed saw the AllSpark restored to the planet's core, the fight ending in a stalemate. {{storylink|Battle For Cybertron IV}}

Off in space, the Cybertronian species was betrayed by Starscream to the [[Quintesson]]s {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}} with both Autobots and Decepticons ending up trapped in a virtual reality where their [[spark]]s were drained. {{storylink|The Loop}} After [[Hot Rod (Cyberverse)|Hot Rod]]'s group freed the Cybertronian race, {{storylink|The Scientist}} the Autobots and Decepticons allied to save their planet. {{storylink|The Alliance}} Though they managed to destroy the invading [[Judge (Cyberverse)|Judge]] and flagship, Starscream revealed himself as the new Judge. {{storylink|The Judge (episode)|The Judge}} Salvation for the Cybertronian race came from Megatron, who had stolen an alternate version of the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. Combining it with Optimus', the two leaders managed to kill Starscream. In the aftermath, Megatron divided Cybertron in two, leading his Decepticons to one hemisphere, {{storylink|The End Of The Universe IV}} and preparing for the arrival of "[[Megatron X (Cyberverse)|the Other One]]", the alternate version of himself from whom he'd stolen the Matrix from. {{storylink|The Other One}}

To prepare for his other self's impending invasion, Megatron began fashioning an [[unspace]] weapon, his secretiveness causing friction in the ranks. {{storylink|Rack 'n' Ruin 'n' Ratchet}} After Optimus Prime had been warned by [[Alchemist Prime]] to destroy the alternate Matrix, {{storylink|Dweller In The Depths (Cyberverse)|Dweller In The Depths}} the Autobots invaded Decepticon territory. As the Autobot strike team reached the Decepticon control room, the Other One's [[Decepticon supersoldier]]s teleported in. {{storylink|Silent Strike}} After two waves of the invaders had been defeated, the Other One arrived and reclaimed his Matrix, killing Megatron in the process. Though the Other One was ready to conquer this new reality, his Matrix had been infected by a psychic shard of [[Windblade (Cyberverse)|Windblade]] who short-circuited the artifact allowing Optimus Prime to paralyze the alternate Megatron who was taken away by [[Astrotrain (Cyberverse)|Astrotrain]]. {{storylink|The Other One}}

With Megatron dead, [[Shadow Striker (Cyberverse)|Shadow Striker]] and [[Soundwave (Cyberverse)|Soundwave]] assumed command of the Decepticons. Some time after the Other One's demise, the Autobots and Decepticons signed the [[Treaty of the Wall]], ending the [[Great War (Cyberverse)|Great War]]. {{storylink|The Immobilizers}}

Some time afterwards, Cybertron was invaded by the Other One's supersoldiers who, bereft of their master, had begun a civil war for leadership. Optimus and Soundwave were approached by one of the supersoldiers, calling himself [[Tarn (Cyberverse)|Tarn]] who asked for help in stopping the war. After the Decepticons had first made an attempt to destroy the invaders, Optimus and Soundwave helped Tarn find the [[Cortex Helm]] of [[Onyx Prime]] only for the supersoldier to take the Helm first using its power to exert control over his brethren before he crowned himself as the new [[Decepticon leader]]. As Tarn ordered all Decepticons to kill the other Autobots, he set the supersoldiers against Optimus. When the Prime fell, Tarn prepared to kill Optimus before the Autobots and the non-supersoldier Decepticons joined forces against Tarn. Disgusted by Tarn, Soundwave managed to pry the Helm off him and use it himself, giving the supersoldiers the free will to choose their path. Before Tarn could reclaim the Helm, Soundwave unleashed a massive sonic attack that killed both him and Tarn. With the supersoldiers standing down, Shadow Striker became the Decepticon leader, the two factions now living in peace. {{storylink|The Perfect Decepticon}}

===Alternate universe===
In Megatron X's timeline, the tyrant killed Optimus outright when the young Prime refused to stand beside him. Without Optimus to rally the Autobots into a proper resistance, the Decepticons quickly won the Great War. Once Megatron created his Perfect Decepticons, he turned them on the "unneeded" Decepticons, wiping them all out save [[Astrotrain (Cyberverse)|Astrotrain]] and the [[Insecticon (Cyberverse)|Insecticons]]. {{storylink|The Other One}} {{storylink|The Perfect Decepticon}}

==''Earthspark'' cartoon==
Under [[Megatron (ES)|Megatron]], the Decepticons originally fought [[Great War (ES)|the war]] on the ideals of creating a more equal Cybertron. With the war's expansion to Earth however, Megatron soon came to realize how far his faction had strayed from his original vision and joined the Autobots in hopes of ending the conflict. When Megatron seemingly destroyed the AllSpark in the final battle of the war on Earth, the Decepticons found themselves stranded on Earth as the SpaceBridge to Cybertron was destroyed along with it. For his actions Megatron was branded a traitor by many of his former soldiers such as [[Shockwave (ES)|Shockwave]] and [[Soundwave (ES)|Soundwave]]. {{storylink|Warzone}} {{storylink|Decoy (episode)|Decoy}}

Stranded on Earth, Decepticons were forced to go on the run to evade imprisonment by [[G.H.O.S.T.]] and had to resort to stealing Energon. {{storylink|Secret Legacy, Part 1}} Even high ranking commanders such as [[Starscream (ES)|Starscream]] found themselves becoming the prisoners of the Autobot-Human alliance. {{storylink|Decoy (episode)|Decoy}} Many hapless Decepticons though found themselves working for the anti-Cybertronian scientist, [[Mandroid]], as usually either mind-controlled slaves or as part of a deal to protect them from G.H.O.S.T. {{storylink|Secret Legacy, Part 2}} {{storylink|Age of Evolution, Part 1}}

While as prisoners of G.H.O.S.T., Decepticons such as [[Skullcruncher (ES)|Skullcruncher]] found themselves being unwilling experiments that left them severely weakened. When the Terran, [[Hashtag (ES)|Hashtag]], inadvertently hacked G.H.O.S.T.'s security systems she ended up disabling the shields of the prison cells containing their Decepticon prisoners, leading to a short-lived prison uprising. {{storylink|Hashtag: Oops}}

Many Decepticons found themselves participating in underground fighting rings known as "Bot Brawls" done for the amusement of their human audiences, the losers in these fighting bouts being chained to the ceiling and left to die. One of these being run by Mandroid who salvaged Cybertronian body parts from the losers for his own body modifications. {{storylink|Home, Part 1}} Following another defeat by the Terrans, Mandroid rendezvoused with G.H.O.S.T. director, [[Karen Croft]], where she formalized a partnership between them to begin constructing more Cybertronian control badges to use at her disposal, offering Mandroid the Decepticon prisoners under her watch as his test subjects. {{storylink|Home, Part 2}}

==''One'' film==

[[File:TFone DecepticonsRiseUp.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Upright=1.66|''We are Kremlings, hear our cry!'' / ''Hoist the crossbones to the sky!'' ''We are Kremlings and proudly we stand'' / ''On the coastlines of our land'']]
After killing Cybertron's corrupt leader [[Sentinel Prime (One)|Sentinel Prime]], a vengeance-fuled [[Megatron (One)|D-16]] rallied the former members of Cybertron's [[High Guard]]. Declaring the age of Primes and other false prophets over, D-16 declared that he would lead them into the future and renamed himself "Megatron". However, [[Optimus Prime (One)|Orion Pax]], reformatted by the [[Matrix of Leadership]] into Optimus Prime, defeated Megatron and banished him from Iacon, along with the High Guard for their role in the brief insurrection. From the shadows, Megatron and his new followers branded themselves with an insignia resembling [[The Fallen|Megatronus Prime]]'s faceplate and renamed themselves "Decepticons" to symbolize how they will not be blinded by the lies of others, swearing revenge on Optimus. {{storylink|Transformers One (film)|One}}

{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===''Transformers'' (2007)===
====Transformers Movie Screen Cleaners====
[[File:Movie Decepticon Screencleaner.jpg|105px|thumb|Transforms your dirty screen to a clean one and — well, actually just the first thing.]]
*'''Decepticon''' (2008)
:Released by Tomy Yujin on January, this dangler is a [[Insignia|faction logo]]-shaped screen cleaner for your cell phone, with a stock image of Decepticon insignia printed on the other side.
{{-}}

===''Age of Extinction''===
[[File:3DLightFX DecepticonShield.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
* '''Decepticon Shield''' (3D Deco Light, 2014)
: A three-dimensional wall light fixture from [[3D Light FX]] in the form of a Movie-style Decepticon insignia. It uses purple LED lights and is battery powered. It comes with a sticker in the form of a wall crack, which is meant to look as though the insignia is somehow breaking through the wall.
{{-}}

===Kidrobot===
[[File:Kidrobot GIJoe Enamel Pin Series.jpg|thumb|250px]]
====Enamel Pin Series====
*'''Transformers logos''' ([[November 3]], [[2017]])
:*''Rarity:'' 2 in 20
:Released by [[Kidrobot]] in their [[Blindpacking|blindboxed]] ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' Enamel Pin Series, this is a flat, enamel pin badge of the Decepticon symbol, packaged in with a similar [[Autobot#Enamel Pin Series|Autobot]] pin in a release called "Transformers logos" {{sic}}.
{{-}}

===Icon Heroes===
[[File:Icon-Heroes-Decepticon-Bookend.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Decepticon Faction Bookend''' ([[2022]])
: A set of bookends in the form of the Decepticon insignia made of polystone and produced by Icon Heroes.

{{comingsoontoy}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
*The suffix "con" is typically attached to Decepticon subgroups, such as the [[Constructicon (disambiguation)|Constructicon]]s and [[Predacon (disambiguation)|Predacon]]s. Notable exceptions would be the [[Mini-Con]]s and [[Omnicon]]s.
*In an earlier draft of the [[Transformers (film)|2007 movie]] called the '' Prime Directive'', Optimus reveals that the Decepticons were named so for their betrayal of the dynasty of Primes.
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Destron''' (デストロン ''Desutoron''), '''Combatron''' (''Car Robots'', コンバットロン ''Konbatoron''), '''Decepticon''' (ディセプティコン ''Diseputikon'')
*''Armenian:'' '''Deseptikonner''' (Դեսեպտիկոններ, "Decepticons")
*''Cantonese:'' '''Kwòng Pāǐ''' (Hong Kong, 狂派, "Con Faction", literally "Mad Faction" or "Crazy Clan")
*''Danish'': '''Bedragerne''' (Marvel comic, "Betrayers"), '''Bedraonerne''' (''The Transformers'' cartoon)
*''French:'' '''Deceptican''' (France, ''The Transformers'' cartoon, ''Unicron Trilogy'' cartoons, IDW ''Movie universe'' comics), '''Decepticor''' (France, ''Beast Wars'' cartoon), '''Decepticon''' (France, in other media and Canada)
*''Hebrew:'' '''Shekernikim''' (שקרניקים, "Lie-niks")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Álcák''' (Marvel comic and 2007 onwards, "Disguises"), '''Decepticonok''' (toy commercial, second ''The Movie'' dub, ''Armada''), '''Varangyok''' (first ''The Movie'' dub, "Toads"), '''Robotikák''' (first dubs of ''Energon'' and ''Cybertron'', "Roboticas")
*''Italian:'' '''Distructor''', '''Distructors'''
*''Korean:'' '''Evil Corps''' (악마군단 ''Akmagundan''), '''Destron''' (데스트론 ''Deseuteuron''), '''Decepticon''' (디셉티콘 ''Diseptikon'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Decepticon''' (Taiwan, 迪賽剛 ''Dísàigāng''), '''Bàtiānhǔ''' (China, 霸天虎, "Heavenly Tyrant Tiger")
*''Polish:'' '''Szachraje''' (G1 VHS lector, ''"Tricksters"''), '''Deceptikon''', '''Decepcjokon''' (first ''The Movie'' dub, "Deceptiocon"), '''Dezorientac''' (''Beast Wars'', Disorientator)
*''Portuguese:'' '''Decépticos''' (Portugal comic), '''Malignus''' (Brazil comic)
*''Russian:'' '''Decepticon''' (Десептикон)
*''Serbian:'' '''Deseptikon'''
*''Swedish:'' '''Bedragare''' (Marvel comic, "Betrayer")
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Obmanoyid''' (Обманоїд, "Deceitoid"), '''Decepticon''' (Десептикон)

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Alternators]]
[[Category:Alternity]]
[[Category:Animated factions]]
[[Category:Armada]]
[[Category:Beast Machines]]
[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising factions]]
[[Category:Beastformers franchise]]
[[Category:Cybertron franchise]]
[[Category:Dark of the Moon]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Energon franchise]]
[[Category:Factions]]
[[Category:Generation 1 factions]]
[[Category:Generation 2]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) factions]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) factions]]
[[Category:Machine Wars]]
[[Category:Micromaster]]
[[Category:Movie]]
[[Category:Operation Combination]]
[[Category:Predacon subgroups]]
[[Category:Prime]]
[[Category:Return of Convoy]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen]]
[[Category:Robotmasters]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2001)]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce]]
[[Category:The Headmasters]]
[[Category:Universe (2003)]]
[[Category:Victory]]
[[Category:Zone]]

Transformers One (film)

2024-11-07T21:48:38Z

Bromega2477: /* Synopsis */

{{Nav-one}}
{{movie|
|seriess=Transformers One
|prev=
|next=
|title=''Transformers One''
|image=Transformers One New Theatrical Poster.jpg
|caption=The motion picture you are about to see is an adaptation of the [[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]] story. While artistic and historical license has been taken, we believe that this film is true to the essence, values and integrity of a story that is a cornerstone of faith for [[fandom|millions of people worldwide]].
|production companies=[[Hasbro Entertainment]] [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura|di Bonaventura Pictures]] Bayhem Films [[Paramount Animation]] New Republic Pictures
|distributor=[[Paramount Pictures]]
|executive producer=[[Steven Spielberg]] [[Zev Foreman]] [[Olivier Dumont]] [[Brian Oliver]] [[B.J. Farmer]] [[Matt Quigg]] [[Greg Moordain]]
|producer=[[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]] [[Tom DeSanto]] [[Don Murphy]] [[Michael Bay]] [[Mark Vahradian]] [[Aaron Dem]]
|story by=[[Andrew Barrer]] [[Gabriel Ferrari]]
|screenplay by=[[Eric Pearson]] Andrew Barrer Gabriel Ferrari
|directed by=[[Josh Cooley]]
|cinematography by=
|edited by=
|music by= [[Brian Tyler]]
|release date=[[September 20]], [[2024]]
|runtime=104 minutes
|budget= $75 million
|box office=$128 million<ref>https://the-numbers.com/movie/Transformers-One-(2024)#tab=summary</ref>
|credits=Transformers One (film)/credits
}}

'''''Transformers One''''' is an animated film released on [[September 20]], [[2024]]. It is written by [[Eric Pearson]], [[Andrew Barrer]] and [[Gabriel Ferrari]] from a story by Barrer and Ferrari,<ref name="deadlinereveal">[https://deadline.com/2015/09/transformers-writers-room-akiva-goldsman-transformers-5-1201531918/ 'Transformers' Writers Room Wraps] on Deadline</ref> and directed by [[Josh Cooley]].<ref name="cooleyreveal">[https://deadline.com/2020/04/transformers-animated-movie-paramount-hasbro-toy-story-4-director-josh-cooley-1202921100/ Animated 'Transformers' Prequel Activated; 'Toy Story 4's Josh Cooley To Direct For Hasbro/eOne & Paramount]</ref> The movie is an origin story set on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] three billion years ago<ref name="collidercinemacon">[https://collider.com/transformers-one-animated-movie-title/ New ‘Transformers’ Animated Movie Rolls Out a New Title at CinemaCon] on Collider</ref><ref name="screenrantsandiegocomiccon">[https://screenrant.com/transformers-one-timeline-setting-takes-place// When Transformers One Takes Place In The Franchise Timeline] on Screen Rant</ref> in the days before the Autobot-Decepticon war, and focuses on [[Optimus Prime (One)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (One)|Megatron]] as they go from brothers-in-arms to enemies.<ref name="cooleyreveal" />

{{bigquote|The line between friend and enemy is not as clear as I once believed. Once it's crossed, there is no going back. Because some transformations are permanent...|[[Optimus Prime (One)|Optimus Prime]]}}

==Synopsis==
Long ago, the benevolent [[Primus]] sacrificed his life essence to become the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and created the [[Thirteen|first generation of Transformers]], the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]]s. Through the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]], [[energon]] flowed freely from the planet's core, and the Primes ruled justly for a time. However, when the alien [[Quintesson]]s began a long war of invasion, the Primes were eventually slain, and the Matrix of Leadership was lost, leaving only [[Sentinel Prime (One)|Sentinel Prime]] to rule the planet in their absence after the Cybertronians relocated to massive underground cities, abandoning the dangerous surface.

[[File:TFOne Orion caught.jpg|left|thumb|300px|She's exhausted from the day's work. Uh, not that it was too much! We-we quite enjoyed it!]]
Fifty cycles after the war, Cybertronian society now relies on an [[Cogless|underclass]] of manual laborers born without [[transformation cog]]s, including a caste of miners who physically extract what few veins of usable energon remain from the tunnels beneath the subterranean [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] City, while Sentinel Prime makes periodic journeys to the surface in search of the missing Matrix. One impulsive miner named [[Optimus Prime (One)|Orion Pax]] has been searching for information regarding the Matrix, in the hopes that finding the artifact will restore Cybertron to prosperity and allow him and his fellow miners to choose their own path in life. Unfortunately, this search for information has led him to repeatedly break into the city's data archives without authorization. His latest attempt draws the unwanted attention of two [[Guard (One)|guards]] who have caught him several times in the past already, leading to a wild (and nearly lethal) chase through the skyways, through buildings, and eventually into the ground-level public transport station. Though the guards eventually catch up to Orion, the miner's friend [[Megatron (One)|D-16]] provides a distraction and sends the guards off on a wild goose chase. On the train to work, the pair discuss Orion's latest life-endangering adventure, and Orion, knowing that his friend idolizes the strongest Prime, gifts D-16 a rare first-edition decal of [[The Fallen|Megatronus Prime]]'s helmet he'd found.

[[File:TFOne Mine Explosion.jpg|right|thumb|300px|We're trying to get the funny man out of the well!]]
In the mines, D-16 and Orion work under the supervision of their go-getting captain [[Elita-1 (One)|Elita-1]], using [[jet pack]]s and deployable support poles to keep Cybertron's shifting geology stable long enough for them to extract raw energon. However, [[Wheeljack (One)|Wheeljack]] accidentally hits a vein of unstable energon, and the ensuing explosions trap [[Jazz (One)|Jazz]] under a rockfall. Orion and D-16 defy protocol and use a jet pack to save their coworker, but the chaos ends up damaging and destroying a lot of mine equipment. One of the mine's guards, [[Darkwing (One)|Darkwing]], blames Elita for the disaster, and informs her she's been demoted to waste management duty, despite Orion sticking up for her and taking the blame.

That evening, Sentinel Prime returns to Iacon to announce that he still has not found the Matrix; to take the blow off this bad news, Sentinel declares that the prestigious [[Iacon 5000]] race will be held the next day. Orion tries to persuade D-16 to join him in the race, hoping that they can prove to the rest of Cybertron that mining bots deserve respect, but D-16 has no interest in the idea. On the day of the race, Orion discreetly leads D-16 to the maintenance area inside the giant starting signal above the race's starting line; while D-16 is initially excited to watch from a perfect vantage point, Orion reveals his true intention as he straps jet packs to the two just as the race begins and they're dropped into the thick of a throng of racing robots. Using their jet packs and some quick thinking to compensate for their inability to transform, the two dodge the numerous traps and obstacles and briefly manage to take the lead, sending bots across the city into a frenzy, especially their fellow cogless miners. The pair are just about to limp across the finish line and take first place, but end up being run down by [[Chromia (One)|Chromia]], who snags victory for herself. The pair figure they can still be proud of second place... until several dozen other racers whip by them in vehicle mode.

[[File:TFOne Sentinel visits.jpg|left|thumb|300px|I seek to build an empire, and your only goal is to amuse yourselves by tearing it down. Have I taught you nothing?]]
In Iacon's medical center, where many, many racers have ultimately ended up, Sentinel Prime meets with Orion and D-16; the pair are immediately certain they are in ''massive'' trouble, especially when they're scanned by Sentinel's creepy aide [[Airachnid (One)|Airachnid]] before his arrival, but it turns out it's quite the opposite. Sentinel ''loved'' their little stunt, and tells them that the miners' productivity after that showing was already at 150%. Sentinel offers them a chance to tour the mines and help inspire their comrades to work harder, with promises of some pampering along the way, and the pair quickly agree. However, Darkwing arrives before Airachnid can escort them to Sentinel's private quarters; infuriated that he nearly lost the race to the pair after they humiliated him, he drags them to the planet's fiftieth sub-level (ten levels below what they ''thought'' was the lowest level of the planet) and locks them in a trash incineration station.

The two bots soon meet the eccentric and exceptionally talkative [[Bumblebee (One)|B-127]], who has been trapped at the job of "look at garbage and take anything of value out before it's burned" for years, with only garbage statues for "company". When one of B's pals "[[Steve (One)|Steve]]" utters some electronic gibberish, Orion accidentally beheads the "bot", but discovers within the wreckage an old beacon from the Quintesson war, still broadcasting a set of coordinates located somewhere on the planet's surface. Orion, B-127, and D-16 decide to investigate, escaping the only way they can: by climbing up the dump chute. Ew. The trio stow away aboard an automated surface-bound garbage train but coincidentally encounter Elita-1, who now works the refuse line. She handily clobbers the three but ends up locked in the train with them as it departs. She heads for the front, intending to report them to security, a mad dash that gets all the harder as the train starts moving vertically towards its destination. She manages to pop a hatch and make it out of the train, and the trio gives chase, but all four are stopped cold as they're enveloped in light and they find themselves traveling along Cybertron's surface.

The four are stunned by the planet's natural beauty, only to become horrified as said natural beauty starts violently heaving upwards behind them, tearing up the self-building rail and scattering train cars. They run for it but are thrown off, waking in just enough time to completely miss another train, the rail un-building behind it. Elita is furious, but agrees to join Orion's search for the Matrix, on the conditions that 1) she's in command, 2) she holds the map, and 3) after they find the Matrix and bring it back, the other three turn themselves in for their idiotic plan and sing her praises to the authorities. Orion very quickly agrees, and the four head off, confused by the weird not-metal life growing on the surface. They spy a group of robotic quadrupedal lifeforms, which suddenly snap to attention and run for it as the ground begins to tremble. It's soon apparent the cause of their panic: a massive Quintesson spaceship! As the ship scans for any lifeforms (obliterating one of the Cybertronian fauna with a massive cannon blast when it ends up in the tracking beams), the four barely evade detection and the ship moves on.

[[File:TransformersOne-AlphaTrionTransformationCogs.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66|Take the staff in your hand, Moses. With it, you shall do My wonders.]]
Soon they find themselves at the end of the map's trail, a [[Mouth of Unicron|hidden and extremely creepy cave]]. Inside they find a scene of absolute horror: the spot where the ancient Primes made their final stand against the Quintessons, their bodies lying broken and covered in overgrowth. Although the Matrix is nowhere to be found, Orion discovers that [[Alpha Trion (One)|Alpha Trion]]'s spark still pulses and uses an [[energon cube]] provided by B to revive him. The four attempt to bring Trion up to speed on recent events, but their mention of "Sentinel Prime" causes Trion to reveal the terrible truth: Sentinel is an imposter, a traitorous aide who led the Primes into a Quintesson ambush in exchange for "ruling" Cybertron under the invaders' command. However, when Sentinel tried to claim the Matrix after prying it from [[Zeta Prime (One)|Zeta Prime]]'s corpse, the artifact judged him unworthy and disappeared. To appease his new masters, Sentinel has deliberately stolen transformation cogs from newborn Transformers to keep them producing energon in the mines; at Trion's urging, the four emerge from the cave to witness Sentinel pledging servitude to the [[Quintesson High Commander]] and learn the city's garbage trains are actually transporting Cybertron's dwindling energon supplies to Quintesson ships, leaving barely enough for the people of Cybertron. These revelations leave the bots horrified, but D-16 takes it the worst of all, having also looked up to Sentinel for years. Alpha Trion decides to give the team hope by gifting them the transformation cogs from four of the fallen Primes, as well as a recording of Sentinel's treachery. However, Airachnid spotted the four when they were watching Sentinel's meeting with the Quintessons, and a squad of Sentinel's [[Tracker]]s arrive. Despite his disrepair, Alpha Trion uses his leonine alternate mode to wipe out the squad, allowing Orion and the others to escape, but is quickly incapacitated by Airachnid.

The four bots have a very rocky time learning to transform in the middle of fleeing a squad of Trackers, tumbling downhill with only ''parts'' of them shifting into their new vehicle modes, but desperation forces them to adapt ''very'' quickly. Each one finds new abilities and an aptitude for combat, and soon they're able to destroy their pursuers. Overjoyed at their victory, they make the plan to use the incriminating information Trion gave them by returning to Iacon and exposing Sentinel as a traitor. In their excitement, they fail to notice a Tracker about to shoot them from behind until D-16 uses his new tank mode to kill him first... and then starts laughing at what he just did. D-16 snatches the evidence and takes the lead, his ever-growing intensity and openly stated desire to kill Sentinel leaving Orion more and more unnerved.

Back in Iacon, Alpha Trion is brought before Sentinel, who mocks the "old-timer" and gloats about his station, complaining to Airachnid about the Primes' stuffiness and boring speeches. Trion's word of warning that Sentinel's time will soon be over only annoys the false Prime further, and in a fit of rage he kills the ancient Prime before sending Airachnid back to the surface to hunt down the wayward miners.

[[File:TFoneStarscreamSoundwaveShockwaveInterrogation.jpg|left|thumb|300px|You're playing with the big boys now!]]
Along the path to Iacon, a series of shots ring out, and each bot slips into stasis... Orion and the others are brought back online, bound (and gagged in B's case) as prisoners of the former members of Cybertron's [[High Guard]], who have been fighting a guerrilla war against the Quintessons ever since the fall of the Primes, led by [[Starscream (One)|Starscream]]. D-16 is not impressed, and giving into his growing rage, challenges Starscream's authority, and the two quickly end up in a brawl. While Starscream plays it tough even as D-16 crushes his neck and damages his speech module, his attitude soon changes as D-16 manifests a massive cannon on his arm, aimed directly at Starscream's head. The Guard quickly rallies behind their new leader, ready to take the fight to Sentinel... but Airachnid's forces arrive and ambush them.

[[File:TFOne Airachnid attacks.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Not much of a snake-charmer, are you?]]
Orion, having been buried in the battle, awakens when Elita drags him from the rubble to find that D-16, B-127, and much of the Guard have been taken prisoner, and the data crystal containing the evidence of Sentinel's betrayal has been shattered. Orion despairs, believing their quest to be hopeless now, but Elita won't have it. Though she's still not above taking some digs at Orion, she points out that it is the bot's endless ''optimism'' that makes him a true leader, one that can make bots do amazing (and occasionally amazingly ''stupid'') things. Orion takes the praise (and insults) and decides it's time to rally, and the two quickly formulate a plan; the Guard may be strong, but the last battle proved they aren't enough on their own, they need a true army... and Orion knows exactly where to get one. After Elita quickly shuts down any dissent from the remaining Guard (thanks to a very swift punch to [[Shockwave (One)|Shockwave's]] eye), Orion primes the warriors for the coming battle, with a cry of "''[[Roll out|Transform and ROLL OUT]]!''"

The captives have been brought to Sentinel's tower, where the puppet leader gloats over them, mocking Starscream's scrambled voice and sneering at D-16. But the miner does not cower or balk at all, declaring that he is not afraid of Sentinel, as he has nothing left to lose. Noticing the worn Megatronus decal, Sentinel reveals that he took Megatronus's transformation cog when he killed him, ripping the decal from the miner's arm before slapping it back onto his chest... and then, knocking the miner on his back, using a mining tool to crudely ''carve'' the Prime's face into D-16's chest.

Orion uses his new form to rocket-glide into the depths of Iacon City, entering the miners' quarters (and bodily hurling Darkwing aside in the process). Orion reveals the truth to the miners and rallies them to join forces with the High Guard and rebel against Sentinel's regime. Meanwhile, Elita, Shockwave, and [[Soundwave (One)|Soundwave]] have commandeered a returning "garbage" train, transporting the Guard into the city in a sneak attack. But the sudden appearance of hundreds of Trackers makes things look very bad for the plan... until Orion and the miners leap into the fray and cut a swath through the incoming horde, armed with their jet packs and mining tools. Airachnid attempts to kill Orion, slamming him into the train engine, and revealing the ''incredibly horrifying'' array of optics hidden in the back of her head. But her multi-scanning abilities give Orion a sudden idea as the train plows towards Sentinel's tower.

[[File:TFOneSentinelvsD16.jpg|left|thumb|300px|I will not be dictated to. I will not be threatened.]]
Sentinel, angered as D-16 once again attempts to rise up, is just about to blow the miner's head off when the train slams into his tower. Soundwave frees the prisoners and the fight spills across the city. Sentinel transforms into combat mode, but D-16 will not be deterred, the two launch into battle. Elita leaps into action, tackling Airachnid and attempting to take her prisoner (with only ''some'' gratuitously satisfying pummeling along the way). She drags the semi-conscious bot to one of Iacon's broadcast stations, and B makes a ''very'' over-enthusiastic entrance. Airachnid's memory banks are quickly scanned, and her memories of Sentinel's most recent meeting with the Quintessons are broadcast throughout the city, leading the populace to also join the fight.

Sentinel fares badly in his fight with D-16, and seeing his cowering before the Quintessons on dozens of screens, his empire in ruins, tries to flee, and when that fails, begs D-16 to spare him, claiming they can co-rule Cybertron. D-16 insists that Sentinel must die for his crimes, but Orion tries to convince his friend that they can be better than their enemies. D-16 violently disagrees, knocking his friend aside and readying the kill shot... only for Orion to leap in the path, the cannon blast tearing through his torso and sending him tumbling over the edge. D-16 grabs Orion's one good arm, horrified... ''that Orion would stop him from killing Sentinel''. With this betrayal, he vows he is ''done'' saving Orion from his mistakes and lets his dying friend plummet into Cybertron's depths. As Orion falls, D-16, insistent that there will be no more Primes, kills Sentinel by bisecting him with his hands. He then seizes Megatronus' cog from Sentinel's chest, replacing the one gifted to him by Trion, which transforms him into an even ''more'' battle-ready form. Declaring himself "Megatron", he commands the High Guard to destroy everything Sentinel built... in other words, what's left of the city.

[[File:One-Megs-Prime-face-to-face.jpg|thumb|300px|Goodbye... brother.]]
Meanwhile, the mortally wounded Orion falls through the planetary strata, which slides and shifts out of his way, until he finally reaches Cybertron's core. There, he encounters the spirits of the Primes as Trion announce that Primus has deemed him worthy for the future of Cybertron and to carry the Matrix of Leadership, reformatting Orion and restoring his spark to declare him the newest of the Primes: "Optimus Prime", before being sent rocketing back to the surface in a blaze of blue light.

Elita and B try and fail to stop Megatron's rampage, their former friend ready to kill them too, but Optimus smashes onto the scene. Megatron is incensed at this new betrayal both by his former friend ''and'' the Matrix itself, and launches himself at Optimus. During their fight, Optimus manifests an energy battle axe to fight against Megatron along with Starscream, Soundwave, and Shockwave before using it to destroy Megatron's new cannon, ultimately winning their fight. Unwilling to kill his oldest friend, Optimus reluctantly banishes Megatron and his new allies to the surface. Megatron seethes but decides that now is not the time, and takes his new army to the surface.

With the return of the Matrix of Leadership, Cybertron is restored to life: energon flows once again from the planet's core to the surface, and ''all'' of the cogless bots receive transformation cogs, becoming fully autonomous "[[Autobot]]s" who vow to defend Cybertron from any future Quintesson incursions. However, the Quintessons are not the only looming threat—though banished from Iacon, Megatron and his followers rechristen themselves the "[[Decepticon]]s" and swear revenge.
{{-}}

==Cast==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=Miners
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (One)|Orion Pax / Optimus Prime]] ([[Chris Hemsworth]])
*[[Megatron (One)|D-16 / Megatron]] ([[Brian Tyree Henry]])
*[[Elita-1 (One)|Elita-1]] ([[Scarlett Johansson]])
*[[Bumblebee (One)|B-127]] ([[Keegan-Michael Key]])
*[[Jazz (One)|Jazz]] ([[Evan Michael Lee]])
*[[Arcee (One)|Arcee]] ([[Jinny Chung]])
*[[Bluestreak (One)|Bluestreak]]
*[[Brawn (One)|Brawn]]
*[[Firestar (One)|Firestar]]<ref group=note name="uncredited">Denotes a character, or unidentified members of a group, who speaks, but has no credited voice actor. The performance was likely done by an ADR voice cast member.</ref>
*[[Hound (One)|Hound]]
*[[Huffer (One)|Huffer]]
*[[Ironhide (One)|Ironhide]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Mirage (One)|Mirage]]
*[[Moonracer (One)|Moonracer]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Prowl (One)|Prowl]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Ratchet (One)|Ratchet]]
*[[Red Alert (One)|Red Alert]]
*[[Sideswipe (One)|Sideswipe]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Smokescreen (One)|Smokescreen]]
*[[Sunstreaker (One)|Sunstreaker]]
*[[Wheeljack (One)|Wheeljack]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Windcharger (One)|Windcharger]]

|h2=[[High Guard]]
|c2=
*[[Starscream (One)|Starscream]] ([[Steve Buscemi]])
*[[Soundwave (One)|Soundwave]] ([[Jon Bailey]])
*[[Shockwave (One)|Shockwave]] ([[Jason Konopisos-Alvarez]])
*[[Skywarp (One)|Skywarp]] (Josh Cooley)
*[[Thundercracker (One)|Thundercracker]]
*[[Dirge (One)|Dirge]]
*[[Ramjet (One)|Ramjet]]
*[[Thrust (One)|Thrust]]
*[[Slipstream (One)|Slipstream]]
*[[Redwing (One)|Redwing]]

|h3=[[Thirteen#One film|Primes]]
|c3=
*[[Alpha Trion (One)|Alpha Trion]] ([[Laurence Fishburne]])
*[[Zeta Prime (One)|Zeta Prime]] ([[James Remar]])
*[[The Fallen#One film|Megatronus Prime]]
*[[Alchemist Prime#One film|Alchemist Prime]]
*[[Amalgamous Prime#One film|Amalgamous Prime]]
*[[Liege Maximo#One film|Liege Maximo]]
*[[Micronus Prime#One film|Micronus Prime]]
*[[Nexus Prime#One film|Nexus Prime]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Onyx Prime#One film|Onyx Prime]]
*[[Prima#One film|Prima Prime]]
*[[Quintus Prime#One film|Quintus Prime]]
*[[Solus Prime#One film|Solus Prime]]<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Vector Prime#One film|Vector Prime]]

|c4=
*[[Sentinel Prime (One)|Sentinel Prime]] ([[Jon Hamm]])
*[[Airachnid (One)|Airachnid]] ([[Vanessa Liguori]])
*[[Quintesson High Commander]]
*[[Quintesson Soldier]]s
*[[Primus]]
*[[Tracker]]s<ref group=note name="uncredited"/>
*[[Guard (One)|Guards]] ([[Steve Blum]], Jason Konopisos-Alvarez)
*[[Announcer Bot]] (Steve Blum)
*[[Control Room Guys]] (Josh Cooley)

'''Racers'''
*[[Darkwing (One)|Darkwing]] ([[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]])
*[[Chromia (One)|Chromia]] (Jinny Chung)
*[[Injured Racer]] ([[Dillon Bryan]])

|nonumbering=true
}}
<references group=note/>

==Quotes==
"Let me guess. Chased out of the archive?" 
"Yeah. I had to jump out of a window this time. Almost died. It was wild." 
"And digging through ancient data is worth dying for?" 
"Yes, it is." 
"Oh, I need a new best friend..."
:—'''D-16''' and '''Orion Pax''' meet up before their shift.

"Are you ''crazy?!''" 
"Sure feels like it!"
:—'''D-16''' and '''Orion Pax''' summing up their initial relationship.

"You just '''had''' to do it, didn't you?" 
"Me? What did I do?" 
"You just had to go to the surface, had to enter the Iacon 5000, you just '''HAD''' to break protocol!" 
"Who cares about protocol?" 
"'''I do'''! I care! Because nothing bad happens when you ''stay on protocol!''" 
"Sentinel Prime has been forcing us to work in the mines until our gears strip. And all the while he's been giving our Energon away to our greatest enemies!" 
"And what do you think he's gonna do to us when he finds out that we know?!" 
"I'm not thinking about what ''he's'' going to do, I'm thinking about what ''we're'' going to do." 
"That's the whole thing! You're never thinking about anything else, just yourself. Fantastic! Another Orion Pax 'master plan'! I can't wait to hear this!" 
"Don't you want to stop him?" 
"NO, '''I WANT TO KILL HIM!''' I wanna put Sentinel in chains and march him through the mines so everyone can see him for the '''false Prime''' that he is! I want him to suffer, and then to ''die'' in ''darkness.'' But we all know it doesn't matter what I want, ''right'', Pax? The fact is, we're just cogless bots. Right? We had limited options, and now... now we have ''none''."
:—The first cracks show in '''D-16''' and '''Orion Pax''''s friendship.

"What defines a Transformer is not the cog in his chest, but the spark in that resides in their core. A spark that gives you the will to make your world better. My fellow Primes had that spark. And I see their strength in you. Take their cogs and access your full potential. Prima. Onyx. Alchemist. Micronus. Warriors of noble spirit, loyalty, strength. Their uniqueness enhanced by these. They were one. ''You'' are one. '''ALL''' are one!" 
"Wait. We have... You-- You gave us..." 
"The ability to change your world. How you choose to use that power is up to you."
:—'''Alpha Trion''' inaugurates '''Orion Pax''' and our heroes with the tried and true phrase.

'''Starscream''': Now, are you spies, or incompetent lackeys? 
'''Orion Pax''': We're not spies. 
'''Elita-1''': But he is incompetent.
:—Elita-1 on her boss-to-be

"Uh... why is he gagged?" 
"He wouldn't stop talking." 
"Even when he was unconscious?" 
"''ESPECIALLY'' WHEN HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS!"
:—'''Elita-1''' asks '''Shockwave''' about B-127's restraints.

"Hey! What are you doing?" 
"I'll tell you what I'm not doing. I'm not cowering in some busted ship, playing king of the throne. I'm not pretending that I'm making a difference by throwing one punch and running away to hide. I found out that Sentinel is rotten today, and I'm going to make him pay for it! TODAY!" 
"You think you can insult me and just walk away? No one leaves unless I say so." 
"Is that right? Well, how can you say so... with my head in your teeth?"
:—'''Starscream''' and '''D-16''', right before he beats the living scrap out of him.

"Bear witness! ''This'' is the '''last''' time I show mercy! Decide right now! You can stay here in hiding, bowing before your pathetic leader, or follow me as we march on Iacon and I take down Sentinel '''ONCE AND FOR ALL!'''"
:—'''D-16''', as he usurps the High Guard's leadership from Starscream.

"Listen to me, I really want you to hear this. Are you listening?" 
[Orion looks up at Elita] 
"I'm better than you." 
"Yeah, okay, I'm hearing you." 
"I'm better than you in every way, ''except'' you have hope. You always have. You went back into the mine to rescue Jazz, you snuck up to the surface to find the Matrix of Leadership!" 
"Oh, yeah, and how'd that work out?" 
"My point is that your instincts tell you to break protocol for a ''reason''. This blind optimism that you have is why you make such bold and courageous choices. That are also extremely stupid." 
"First time giving a pep talk?" 
"You're inspiring. You can envision a better future that no one else can see. If you ever want to see B and D-16 again, that, ''that'' is the Orion Pax that we need right now. Listen to me. We can do this."
:—'''Elita-1''' attempts to give '''Orion Pax''' a pep-talk. ''Attempts'' to.

'''Soundwave''': "What is our first move?" 
'''Orion Pax''': ''(quietly and intensely)'' "We roll out." 
'''Skywarp''': "...what?!" 
'''Elita-1''': ''(quietly)'' "Louder!" 
'''Orion Pax''': "TRANSFORM AND ROLL OUT!"
:—Orion realizes that dramatic one-liners aren't that dramatic if no one can hear them.

'''Jazz''': "Is that... Orion?" 
'''Orion Pax''': "Jazz." 
'''Jazz''': "Is it really you?" 
'''Orion''': "Yeah, I know I, uh, look a little... different." 
'''Jazz''': "Little? There's nothing 'little' about you." 
'''Ironhide''': "Uh- How is this possible?" 
'''Moonracer''': "Sentinel told us you died from your race injuries!" 
'''Orion''': "Sentinel is a '''liar'''." 
'''Arcee''': "Huh?" 
'''Ironhide''': "What?" 
'''Orion''': "Look, I know how this will sound coming from me. I was never the most... ''focused'' miner, but as you can see, everything is different now. I went to the surface. And I learned the truth. My friends, we were ''all'' born with transformation cogs. And then Sentinel, ''he stole them from us.'' '''He took away our ability to make our own decisions.''' '''''He stole our freedom.''''' But now, I'm offering you your first '''real choice'''. You can work a twenty-third shift and mine yourself to death, or fight back against Sentinel with me. Right now." 
'''Sideswipe''': "How are we supposed to do that?" 
'''Arcee''': "We can't fight. We don't have cogs." 
'''Orion''': "What defines a Transformer is not the cog in its chest, but the spark that resides in their core. A spark that gives you the will to make your world better. And that spark, Sentinel can ''never'' take from us." 
'''Jazz''': "There's not enough of us. We need an army." 
'''Orion''': "And we have one. Elita is bringing troops. We are not alone in this. If we want to be in control of our own destiny, we will have to fight for it. Now is the time for us to stand up. For ourselves. Stand up for this injustice! I promise you, this fight will be worth it. Follow me. Nothing can stop us when we stand together! Together as '''one!'''"
:—And with the miners chanting his name, Orion Pax delivers his first heroic speech.

''(Airachnid opens the back of her head to reveal'' dozens ''of eyes.)'' 
"You can't defeat me, miner. ''I see '''everything.'''''" 
"Yes, you do, except for that tower we're about to crash into."
:—'''Airachnid''' gets creepy and '''Orion Pax''' gets an idea.

"You pathetic little twits! Did you really think that you could knock down what I've built?" 
"It's over, Sentinel! You can't escape the truth!" 
"What truth? That I plucked the cogs from your newborn chests? Forced you to mine so that I could pay off the Quintessons and live like a king? None of that matters! Because the truth... is. ''What. I. '''Make it!'''''"
:—'''Sentinel Prime''' teaches '''Orion Pax''' that he won't go down without a fight.

"I'm ''done'' saving you."
:—'''D-16''' lets his ''former'' friend fall.

"The Age of Primes has ended! '''NO MORE FALSE PROPHETS'''! Follow me, and you will ''never again'' be ''deceived!'' '''RISE UP!''' ''I'' will lead us all into the future! ''I...'' '''AM...''' '''''MEGATRON!'''''"
:—With the death of Sentinel Prime, '''D-16''' renames himself as '''Megatron'''

"''Orion Pax.'' Your noble sacrifice for the greater good has proven you worthy in the eyes of Primus. He entrusts in you the future of Cybertron, and... the Matrix of Leadership! '''Arise...''' '''''Optimus Prime.'''''"
:—Speaking for Primus, '''Alpha Trion''' and the Primes rebuild Orion Pax.

"We could have built the future ''together!"'' 
"I'll build it myself. After I tear down everyone '''''IN MY WAY!'''''"
:-'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Megatron''' set the stage for eons of conflict to come.

"We were given the power to change our world, and you chose to destroy it. Just like Sentinel. You have betrayed Cybertron and its citizens, and you betrayed... ''me.'' Go. Take the High Guard, and leave. You are banished from Iacon. It didn't have to end this way." 
"This isn't over... ''Prime.''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Megatron''' share one final exchange.

"This is the greatest day of my life... I get to work for the ''government''!"
:—'''B-127''' knows a good benefits package when he sees one.

"And now we stand here together as one, proving we all have the power to transform; to become who we were destined to be; to right wrongs; to make our world better. Because here, freedom and autonomy are the right of all sentient beings. Here, all are truly ''Autobots''. This message is a warning to all Quintessons: If you dare return to Cybertron, the Autobots will be waiting. ''I'' will be waiting. I... am ''Optimus Prime''."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' gives his first dramatic ending monologue...

"Sentinel, the betrayer, is dead. But his death has given life to a new enemy...a stronger enemy... a ''personal'' enemy. We will ''not'' be blinded by his deception! We are the ones who are... '''DECEPTICONS! ''RISE UP!'''''"
:—...and '''Megatron''' gives the coming darkness its new name.

==Continuity notes==
The movie that would ultimately become ''Transformers One'' entered preliminary development in early 2015, when the project was first pitched as part of a writer's room that would lay out a number of sequels, prequels, and spinoff films that would turn the ongoing [[live-action film series|slate of live-action movies]] into a proper "cinematic universe", an attempt to cash in on the then-meteoric hype of the {{w|Marvel Cinematic Universe}}. Like pretty much all the other "cinematic universes" pitched at around this time, this ambitious vision was not to be: following the box-office bomb that was ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'', most of these projects were shelved, while others were heavily reworked—perhaps most infamously, ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'' was recut into a film that contradicted ''The Last Knight'' and its depictions of Bumblebee fighting in [[World War II]], shifting the film and [[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|its sequel]] into a more ambiguous "soft reboot" that only loosely connect to the five Bay films.

It appears that a similar conceptual drift occurred over the course of ''Transformers One'''s production. When the film entered full production in mid-2020, ''One'' was said to be "separate and apart" from the ongoing live-action films, though at the time just ''how'' distinct the film would be from its predecessors remained a mystery.<ref name="cooleyreveal" /> When later asked if the film was a prequel to the live-action films, a reboot, or its own universe, director Josh Cooley answered "yes" to all of the above.<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/news/transformers-one-director-confirms-new-movies-canon-status/ Transformers ONE Director Confirms New Movie's Canon Status - ComicBook.com]</ref> While a few details and visual nods—such as Bumblebee's original name of "B-127", the function of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] in which it dissolves into dust if it deems someone unworthy to wield it and the incorporation of a closing monologue delivered by Optimus—referenced the live-action films, the film otherwise draws heavily upon the mythology first laid down in the [[Aligned continuity family|"Aligned" continuity family]] and has gone on to inform just about every major ''Transformers'' universe afterwards, particularly in its depiction of Orion Pax and D-16 as former allies fighting against a corrupt Cybertronian government.

As the film's release date drew closer, multiple comments from the film's creatives indicated that the filmmakers viewed the movie as something entirely separate from the ongoing live-action films. In July, Josh Cooley stated that the film was set in a "new Transformers continuity"<ref>{{citesocial|quote= "Hey little nerd in my profile picture, what if I told you someday you'll create a new Transformers continuity, that begins earlier than anything you've seen on the Transformers lore timeline, with the greatest crew and cast ever assembled?"|link= https://x.com/CooleyUrFaceOff/status/1817235351095894510?t=Oju3b9v53cYIHlH4MLEsXg |name=Josh Cooley|site=Twitter|year=2024|month=7|day=27}}</ref>; in another interview from a week before release, di Bonaventura ultimately admitted that ''One'' didn't fit into the chronology of the live-action films, and described ''One'' and the live-action films as "two universes" that would be "[kept] separate".<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/news/is-transformers-one-a-prequel-optimus-prime-origin-story-exclusive/ Is Transformers One a Prequel or Reboot? The Animated Movie's Origin Story Is Both, Director Says]</ref> These statements were ultimately borne out by the movie itself, which featured multiple plot points that are pretty much irreconcilable with the live-action films—early on, the film establishes that [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] is long dead, negating his appearance in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''; additionally, the movie ends with the newly christened Megatron killing Sentinel Prime, leaving no wiggle room for the events of ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'' to occur. As a result, the wiki has opted to treat ''One'' and any potential sequels as a new [[continuity family]] entirely separate from the ongoing live-action films.

==Transformers references==
* As with pretty much every major ''Transformers'' project since 2010, ''Transformers One'' is the latest interpretation of the modernized ''Transformers'' backstory that originated with [[Binder of Revelation|Hasbro's internal design documents]] and was first laid down in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]''—the story of [[Primus]], the [[Thirteen|thirteen original Transformers]], and the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron as former friends who fought against inequality on pre-war Cybertron until Megatron's extremism drove them apart. Notably, this version of the story portrays both Orion and Megatron as [[energon]] miners on the bottom of Cybertron's caste system—most other interpretations have instead depicted Orion as a somewhat higher-ranking data clerk. While other tellings of the story have Orion advocating for non-violent social change, this take on the origin ends with Orion Pax working alongside the future Decepticons to directly overthrow the reigning Prime, evoking [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'' miniseries.
* Many contemporary works of pre-war ''Transformers'' fiction have established that pre-war Cybertronians organized themselves under a job-based [[Functionism|caste system]], with miners and other manual laborers occupying the lowest ranks of Transformer society. ''One'' features a very simplified version of this hierarchy, where Cybertronians without transformation cogs are an oppressed underclass while other Transformers receive additional rights and job opportunities.
* With the exception of D-16—whose origins as a low-ranking miner date back to IDW's ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]''—all of the other miners shown in the film go on to join the Autobots, while the forerunners of the Decepticons are depicted as ex-members of the elite [[High Guard]]. This specific class divide dates back to the ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]'' episode "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]" and, to a lesser extent, "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]", which explained the war between the Autobots and Decepticons as an entrenched conflict between civilian laborers and military robots.
* All the character designs are far closer to their Generation 1 designs (both the cartoon and the original toys) than the previous films. Characters also earn their iconic design traits in pivotal scenes, such as Optimus Prime's [[Energon-axe]] and [[mouthplate]], or Megatron's [[fusion cannon]]. In the final scene, many miners gain details to match their Generation 1-selves even closer after they receive their cogs; in particular, Arcee gains her pink visor from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. Starscream, Soundwave, and Megatron's newly applied insignias in the post-credits scene are also in the same place as their original counterparts, with Starscream's even being upside-down!
* Optimus Prime's original identity of "Orion Pax" is a name taken from the ''The Transformers'' episode "War Dawn". Notably, the cartoon's version of Orion Pax was also a manual laborer, although the film does seemingly pay homage to Orion Pax's other famous job by having him sneak into the Cybertronian Archives at the very beginning of the film. D-16 takes [[Dion (G1)|Dion]]'s place as his best friend and co-worker.
* The 'bot who will one day be known as "Megatron" initially goes by the name "D-16", a moniker lifted from ''Exodus'' and itself based on the [[TakaraTomy]] ID number of the [[Megatron (G1)/toys#The Transformers|original Megatron toy]]. D-16's original body—with a black, dome-shaped helmet and yellow eyes—references Megatron's [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel Comics appearance]], which in turn was based on concept art for an unproduced prototype version of the original Takara Micro Change figure. Much like Orion Pax, his modern gladiator job is paid homage in his fight with Starscream.
* B-127 is heavily based on his [[Bumblebee (Movie)|live-action film series counterpart]]: his helmet design and blasters bear a resemblance to his appearance in those films; additionally, his overly-talkative nature is a meta-gag about his "future" self being best known for not being able to speak. The name "B-127" derives from the [[Bumblebee (film)|''Bumblebee'' movie]], where, much like this film, he did not receive the name "Bumblebee" on Cybertron. B-127's battle mask resembles his [[Bumblebee (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart's]] [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#The Transformers|original toy]]; towards the end of the film, he fights with a pair of "knife hands" seemingly based on ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|War for Cybertron]]'' Bumblebee's melee weapons.
* In general, Elita-1 doesn't draw upon as many specific references as her co-stars, although her purplish-pink color scheme and motorcycle [[alternate mode]] may be a reference to her [[Elita-One (Movie)|''Revenge of the Fallen'' design]]. Notably, of the four main protagonists, Elita's the only one who ''doesn't'' have an alternate alias—especially odd given that her [[Elita One (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]] originally went by "Ariel" in the ''The Transformers'' episode "War Dawn". (This exclusion is perhaps less odd when one considers that subsequent to 1985, Disney secured a near-strangehold on toys named "{{w|The Little Mermaid (1989 film)|Ariel}}".)
* Sentinel Prime is based on [[Sentinel Zeta Prime]], the former leader of Cybertron in the [[Aligned continuity family|"Aligned" continuity]]. Like that version of the character, this take on Sentinel Prime is explicitly a "false" Prime who never carried the Matrix of Leadership, and a puppet ruler who was appointed to the position by the Quintessons. Design-wise, this take on Sentinel draws from his "Aligned" counterpart, his [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|''Dark of the Moon'' appearance]], and has details from his [[Sentinel Prime (G1)#Titans Return|''Titans Return'' toy]] and the thematically similar character, [[Nominus Prime]]. Sentinel's battle mode is inspired by his [[Apex Armor (G1)|Apex Armor]] from the ''Megatron Origin'' comic. He also has his [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]]'s glorious chin, as well as carrying on his 'arrogant jerkwad' personality rather than the more stoic attitude of other Sentinels. His double-bladed weapon takes specific inspiration from DOTM Sentinel's [[Primax Blade]], now with the additional ability to retract one or both of its blades when required.
* Airachnid is derived from the ''Prime'' [[Airachnid (Prime)|character of the same name]]—a notable inclusion given the primarily G1-based main cast—sharing a similar design, alternate mode as a helicopter, and antagonistic personality. Role-wise, however, she draws from her [[Airachnid (G1)|IDW 2005 counterpart]] being a subordinate of the [[Starscream_(G1)/2005_IDW_continuity|shady sovereign ruler of Cybertron]].
* Like Sentinel Prime, the Quintessons are primarily based on their depiction in the "Aligned" lorebook [[Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|''The Covenant of Primus'']], which depicted them as shadowy manipulators who ruled Cybertron and exploited its natural resources through a proxy government; notably, the Quintessons in the ''Covenant'' helped maintain their hold on Transformer civilization by withholding the power to transform from the general populace. In a notable deviation from traditional ''Transformers'' lore, the bodies and starships of the film's Quintessons appear to be organic in nature.
* Primus' design seen in the hologram Orion plays is largely based on the [[IP infringement|"third party"]] 01 Studio Seed figure, itself inspired by the oft-referenced [[:File:UltimateGuidePrimus.jpg|original character model]] for his planet-body from [[DK Publishing|DK]]'s [[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide|''The Ultimate Guide'']]. His head and chest are closer to his ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' appearance, also pulling a simplified version of [[Primus#Cybertron|that toy]]'s transformation scheme. Primus' willing sacrifice of his locomotion and birthing of the Thirteen pulls from his appearance in the eponymous ''Covenant of Primus''.
* The Thirteen are similarly based on their "Aligned"' incarnations for their backstory and designs. Nexus, Megatronus, Solus, and Alchemist Prime also draw from their ''[[:File:NexusPrimeflankedbyotherPrimes.jpg|Timelines]]'', ''[[:File:Megatronus.jpeg|Titans Return]]'', ''[[:File:SolusPrime-PowerofthePrimes.jpg|Power of the Primes]]'', and ''[[:File:TheCitizen IaconusCitizens.jpg|Cyberverse]]'' designs, respectively, while Vector Prime is based squarely on his original ''Cybertron'' design.
* Megatronus is also inspired by his ''Revenge of the Fallen'' design, including his face being based on the Decepticon symbol (or vice versa in-universe), although it is far more obvious in this movie, coincidentally evoking [[Tarn (G1)|Tarn]]. Megatronus' face becoming the in-universe inspiration for the Decepticon symbol reflects the real life story of [[Soundwave (G1)|Generation 1 Soundwave]]'s face inspiring the iconic symbol.
* Alpha Trion's abilities to recreate and store memories as information calls back to the archival role of his [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Aligned counterpart]]. His alternate mode being a leonine beast with a unicorn-esque horn is a direct homage to his [[Alpha Trion (G1)#Titans Return|''Titans Return'' toy]], itself based on his [[Alpha Trion (G1)#Toys|cancelled BotCon toy]].
* The mysterious [[Thirteenth Prime]] is replaced with Zeta Prime, who also takes [[Prima]]'s role as leader and Matrix-bearer, though Prima himself is still present. Zeta's design is also based on "Aligned" Sentinel Zeta Prime, as he appears in the ''War for Cybertron'' video game.
* The Thirteen are not actually referred to as the "Thirteen", but rather the Primes or the "Council of Elders", a term that originated in ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''. This is likely because it would contradict Sentinel's narrative painting himself as a fourteenth Prime. Notably, none of the archives or displays of the Thirteen include Sentinel.
* The cameo miners mostly draw from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)/cast#Season 1|1984 Autobot cast of the original cartoon]], along with the [[Female Autobots]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], and recolors such as [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]. The background High Guard characters, meanwhile, are based on the endless Starscream recolors that have appeared throughout ''Transformers'', commonly known as the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. Notably, one of their helmet variations is based on [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity#Cybertron cartoon|''Cybertron'' Starscream]]'s, while some Seekers including [[Thundercracker (One)|Thundercracker]] sport triple-barreled weapons on their arms that resemble the [[neutron assault rifle]] from ''Fall of Cybertron'' – specifically the split-in-half configuration seen in the [[Starscream (WFC)/toys#Generations|''Fall of Cybertron'' Starscream toy]] and its redecoes, even including a gear-shaped detail behind the barrels echoing the gears on the toy's accessories.
* Shockwave, Soundwave, Starscream/the Seekers, and the cogged versions of Ironhide, Ratchet, and Arcee have details based on their ''Bumblebee'' designs.
*The jet modes of Starscream/the Seekers are also based on ''Bumblebee'', while Soundwave's vehicle mode is based on his [[Soundwave (ROTF)/toys#SS83|''Studio Series Bumblebee'' toy]]. Shockwave's alternate mode resembles his [[Shockwave (WFC)|''War for Cybertron'' counterpart]], and both he and Starscream/the Seekers have details from their [[War for Cybertron: Siege|''Siege'' toys]].
*When Orion "transforms" to run away from the guards, he moves his limbs in a way that evokes [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Toys|his original toy]]'s transformation.
* The Matrix causing Energon to flow and 'killing' the planet when lost calls back to the [[AllSpark]].
* When discussing their mining ability, Elita says Orion "[doesn't] have the touch or the power," a reference to the [[The Touch|beloved song]] from ''The Transformers: The Movie.''
* The Iacon 5000 derives from the Marvel UK ''The Transformers'' [[Source:Darn 'n' Blast#Issue 326|issue 326's "Darn 'n' Blast" letter page]]. Many of the racers in the Iacon 5000 are characters from Generation 1 and ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'', with their colors and vehicle modes next to their names on the leaderboard, though they do not correspond to specific models except for the miners, Darkwing, and Chromia.
** Racers based on their Generation 1 counterparts include [[Mirage (One)|Mirage]], [[Clampdown (One)|Clampdown]], [[Silverbolt (One)|Silverbolt]], "[[Deadend (One)|Deadend]]", [[Slingshot (One)|Slingshot]], [[Cliffjumper (One)|Cliffjumper]], [[Dragstrip (One)|Dragstrip]], [[Tracks (One)|Tracks]], [[Swerve (One)|Swerve]], [[Powerglide (One)|Powerglide]], [[Jetstorm (One)|Jetstorm]], [[Windblade (One)|Windblade]], [[Afterburner (One)|Afterburner]], [[Blurr (One)|Blurr]], [[Fireflight (One)|Fireflight]], [[Cosmos (One)|Cosmos]], [[Cordon (One)|Cordon]], [[Breakdown (One)|Breakdown]], [[Swindle (One)|Swindle]], [[Tailgate (One)|Tailgate]], [[Lightspeed (One)|Lightspeed]], "[[Spinout (One)|Spinout]]", [[Greasepit (One)|Greasepit]], [[Scattershot (One)|Scattershot]], [[Inferno (One)|Inferno]], [[Motormaster (One)|Motormaster]], [[Bludgeon (One)|Bludgeon]], and "[[Hotrod (One)|Hotrod]]".
** Racers based on their ''Generation 2'' counterparts include [[Blowout (One)|Blowout]], [[High Beam (One)|High Beam]], [[Double Clutch (One)|Double Clutch]], [[Meanstreak (One)|Meanstreak]], [[Motormouth (One)|Motormouth]], [[Speedstream (One)|Speedstream]], "[[Roadrocket (One)|Roadrocket]]", [[Jolt (One)|Jolt]], and [[Staxx (One)|Staxx]].
** [[Override (One)|Override]] and [[Tankor (One)|Tankor]] are based on their ''[[Override (Cybertron)|Cybertron]]'' and ''[[Tankor (BM)|Beast Machines]]'' counterparts, respectively.
**Racers that are only named through dialogue are [[Tailwind (One)|Tailwind]], [[Strafe (One)|Strafe]] (spelled "Streak" in the Spanish subtitles), [[Skyfire (One)|Skyfire]], and original characters [[Thunderglide]] and [[Behemoth]]. Phew!
* After being knocked off the train and stranded on the surface, Elita-1 calls Orion, D-16, and B-127 a bunch of "idiot [[GoBots|go-bots]]".
* The film's themes, "Resting Place of the Primes" and "The Fall", includes a leitmotif from the main theme of ''Transformers: Prime'', which was also composed by Brian Tyler. "The Fall" also plays a motif lifted from ''The Transformers: The Movie'''s "[[Death of Optimus Prime]]" in a different key. More specifically, the motif is from when [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] flatlines and dies. Fitting, as "The Fall" plays when Orion Pax is dropped into Cybertron's [[core]] and Optimus Prime is born. Incidentally, this scene and the music are also quite similar to when Megatron fatally shoots Bumblebee in the ''Transformers: Prime'' series finale "[[Deadlock (episode)|Deadlock]]".
*D-16's eye color gradually shifting from yellow to red upon declaring himself "Megatron" is similar to how his [[Megatron (WFC)|Aligned counterpart]]'s eye color changed from blue to red after being denied the rank of Prime as seen in the flashbacks of "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]".
*The part of "The Fall" that plays when Megatron rips Sentinel in half also includes a leitmotif from [[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron's]] "The Great Exodus".
* The notion of the Matrix actively rejecting an "unworthy" candidate and disintegrating was a plot point in ''Revenge of the Fallen''.
* Alpha Trion announces "All are one!" as he bequeaths the main quartet their new transformation cogs, a reference to the classic slogan "[['Til all are one]]!" originating from ''The Transformers: The Movie''.
* An empty Matrix chamber is visible behind Orion's chest window after receiving his cog, even before finding the actual Matrix.
* The throne Starscream sits on is loosely based on the crown his [[Starscream (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]] wore during his coronation in ''The Transformers: The Movie''.<ref>[https://youtu.be/fo7EwIlSNAs?si=8y1UWHCLv46WKzE7&t=190 Brian Tyree Henry & Josh Cooley Dissect The Evolution Of Megatron | Transformers One Behind The Shot]</ref>
*Soundwave scans Orion's electrical impulses to check if he is lying, a rarely referenced ability from his [[Soundwave (G1)|original toy's bio]].
*Shockwave's eye flickers when he speaks, just as it did in the original Generation 1 cartoon. Similarly, Optimus Prime's faceplate bobs up and down when he speaks.
* Starscream has a normal-sounding voice (for Steve Buscemi, anyway) when he first appears, but after D-16 crushes his [[voice box]] during their duel, his voice becomes shriller and scratchier in the style of [[Chris Latta]]'s portrayal of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]].
*Shockwave and Elita have a small rivalry, reflecting their Generation 1 versions in Elita's introduction episode, "[[The Search for Alpha Trion]]".
* Soundwave orders the High Guard to "[[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|eject]]" when descending on Sentinel's tower.
[[File:TFoneOrionJump.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Let my people go!]]
* During the battle in Sentinel Prime's tower, Orion leaps into the air and shoots one of the Trackers, with his midair pose homaging Optimus Prime's famous midair shooting pose from ''The Transformers: The Movie''.
* Megatron is the 'bot who shoots Orion and leaves him on the brink of death until he is resurrected as Optimus Prime in what is likely a reference to the ''The Transformers'' episode "War Dawn". However, the specific framing of the scene—in which Megatron shoots Orion and drops him into the depths of the planet, only for him to find the Matrix and return as Optimus—is, however coincidentally, nearly identical to the events of [[Transformation (issue)|issue #9]] of ''Autocracy''. Orion finding the Matrix in the planet's core also evokes the climax of the ''War for Cybertron'' games.
* The fatal wounds Orion Pax sustained from D-16 before his descent into Cybertron's core strongly resemble the wounds Optimus Prime sustained at the end of the ''The Transformers'' episode "[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]".
* Megatron disposes of Sentinel Prime in the same manner that his [[Megatron (Movie)|live-action counterpart]] killed [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]]—by bisecting the bot with his bare hands. Similarly, this is also how the [[Rainmaker]]s disposed of Sentinel in the [[2019 IDW continuity]].
* When both Orion Pax and Sentinel Prime die, [[aggressive depigmentation|their bodies turn grey]].
* "Arise, Optimus Prime", intones Alpha Trion as Orion receives the Matrix, evoking the climax of ''The Transformers: The Movie'', in which a ghostly Optimus Prime said the same to [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] as he transformed into Rodimus Prime.
* Megatron using a long piece of sharp, orange shrapnel to attack Optimus comes from their iconic fight in ''The Transformers: The Movie''.
* Optimus using a defeated Shockwave's cannon to attack another enemy is a fighting move Optimus made in ''Dark of the Moon''.
* After Optimus and Megatron's fight concludes, Megatron is shown with "tear stains" of mech fluid under his eyes, precisely matching the fluid-streaks the original Megatron had running down ''his'' face after his fight with Optimus in ''The Transformers: The Movie''. In ''One'', Megatron then declares "This isn't over, Prime," mirroring his line from ''The Movie'': "It's over, Prime."
* When restoring Cybertron's Energon supply, Optimus holds the Matrix in the same pose Hot Rod holds it when transforming into Rodimus at the end of ''The Transformers: The Movie''.
* Optimus' concluding narration is presented as a "message" being sent into space, continuing the recurring concept of the ''Transformers'' films ending in such a way, introduced in the [[Transformers (film)|first live-action movie]].
*Optimus' transformation during his ending monologue is accompanied by the original transformation noise.
* In the post-credits scene, Megatron brands the Decepticon insignia onto his troops much like his [[Megatron (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]] did in "[[A Bridge Too Close, Part I]]". Megatron also orders the Decepticons to "[[Roll out#Transformers_Animated|rise up]]", quoting his ''Animated'' counterpart who originated the phrase "transform and rise up" in "[[Megatron Rising - Part 2]]".
* While the newly christened Decepticons fire into the sky, the glow of the laser beams shines on Megatron's insignia in a way that homages the metallic effect of the [[:File:TF-G1-HD-Logo-Evil-Decepticon.png|original Decepticon ''The Transformers'' logo]], and many a [[scene transition]].

==Real-life references==
* One of B-127's "friends" is named [https://youtu.be/Dd7FixvoKBw?t=104 A-A-Tron].
* As Orion Pax and D-16 approach the finish line in the Iacon 5000, the announcer quotes verbatim Joe Starkey's call of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Play_(American_football) The Play] from the 1982 Cal-Stanford game. "The most amazing, sensational, dramatic, heart-rending, exciting, thrilling finish in the history of—" It can be assumed he would say "The Iacon 5000" in place of "college football," had Chromia not sped past to win the race.

==Errors==
* The history record about Primus, the Primes, and the Matrix that Orion Pax watches in the archives is recorded by [[Laurence Fishburne|a voice]] that clearly belongs to Alpha Trion. Yet, the events described in the history record include the disappearance of the Matrix, which happened after the Primes were killed and Alpha Trion went offline. So how could Alpha Trion have made that recording when he was lying comatose in a cave during that time?
* Many of the miners based on recognizable characters appear multiple times in the background or between shots, with many, such as Ironhide, having numerous occupations and being in multiple places at the same time.
* The High Guard has the same issue. Slipstream is shown to have been captured by the Death Trackers, but is later shown to take part in the attack on Sentinel's tower. Thundercracker is sliced in half by Airachnid, but is present the rest of the film.
* Mirage, with the colors and land-based vehicle mode of his [[Mirage (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]], appears on the leaderboard of the Iacon 5000, but one of the cogless miners is clearly based on Generation 1 Mirage.
* Chromia is the racer that wins the Iacon 5000, but a bot that better resembles [[Chromia (G1)|Generation 1 Chromia]] appears as a miner too. Production designer Jason Scheier would confirm the miner bot is just a bot that resembles Chromia, while the one in the Iacon 5000 is the 'real' Chromia.
* One of the cogless miners is clearly meant to be [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], with a black crest, red pelvis, and red pips on his shoulders. However, the scene after the Iacon 5000 in Iacon's medical center has a voice on the intercom paging a "Dr. Ratchet".
* Airachnid's legs are floating behind her back in her conversation with Sentinel Prime after he murders Alpha Trion.
* The incriminating clips of Sentinel replayed from Airachnid's mind reuse clips from previous scenes of the movie instead of being from Airachnid's point of view. She wasn't exaggerating when she said "I see ''everything''"!
* During the long take of Optimus Prime using his Energon axe to fight off Megatron, Starscream, Shockwave, and Soundwave at the end of the film, Soundwave's shoulder cannon is on his left shoulder. In every other shot of the film, he is depicted with the cannon over his right shoulder like his G1 counterpart usually does.

==Music==
A score album, ''[[Transformers One (Music from the Motion Picture)]]'', features the original music by composer [[Brian Tyler]] and was released concurrently with the film. It notably repurposes a leitmotif from his work on [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|''Transformers: Prime'']] into this film's main theme. The score also has other Transformers references, both in the melodies and titles of the tracks. The composer, under his electronic side project "Are We Dreaming", also produced the end credits song, "If I Fall", featuring rappers [[W:Quavo|Quavo]] (of Migos fame) and [[W:Ty Dolla Sign|Ty Dolla $ign]].

Canadian DJ {{w|Excision_(musician)|Excision}} released the dubstep song "Together As One", which samples numerous lines from the film's cast, as part of the film's marketing campaign. Many of the lines in this song would go unused in the film's final cut. Chinese artist {{w|Yuqi}} released the song "ONE" as part of the film's Chinese marketing campaign. Neither song is present in the film.

==Reception==
{{quote|Just when you’re about to give up on stories that endlessly repackage the same trademarked properties, along comes a movie like Josh Cooley’s “Transformers One.” As its subtly confident title suggests, it carries itself as if nobody had ever made a Transformers movie before.|Matt Zoller Seitz|[https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/transformers-one-film-review Rogerebert.com]}}

While [[Michael Bay]]'s ''Transformers'' films were notable for their record-breaking profits despite overwhelmingly negative reviews, ''Transformers One'' faced the opposite problem. While [[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|the previous theatrical ''Transformers'' film]] met with mixed reviews, ''Transformers One'' enjoyed an almost universally positive reception from both film critics and casual moviegoers. Critics praised the film's visual design, its nuanced approach to characterization and worldbuilding, and the performances of the film's voice actors, with many singling out Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry for their portrayals of Orion Pax and D-16. As of October 2024, its RottenTomatoes rating sits at 89% positive critical reviews and 98% positive audience reviews.

In the United States and Canada, ''Transformers One'' was originally projected to gross between 30 and 40 million dollars on its opening weekend. Ultimately, the film only made 24.6 million dollars, and finished second in the box office behind ''{{w|Beetlejuice Beetlejuice}}'' (which had been released ''two weeks'' prior) in a surprise upset. <ref> [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/box-office-can-transformers-one-borrow-a-page-from-spider-verse-and-recover-1236009559/ "Box Office: Can Transformers One Borrow a Page From Spider-Verse and Recover?"] </ref> In its second weekend, the film lost out out to rival animated robot movie ''{{w|The Wild Robot}}'', and ultimately took in a mere 9.2 million dollars after suffering a 62.8% drop. <ref>[https://deadline.com/2024/09/box-office-megalopolis-the-wild-robot-1236101618/ "'Wild Robot' Powers To Third Best September Animated Pic Debut With $35M; 'Megalopolis' Collapses With $4M & D+ CinemaScore; 'Saturday Night' Alive In Limited Release -- Box Office Update" </ref>

==Development timeline==
[[File:Transformers-One-Teaser-Poster.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''There can be miracles when you believe Though hope is frail, it's hard to kill Who knows what miracles you can achieve When you believe, somehow you will You will when you believe'']]
*March 27, 2015 — As part of the development of ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|Transformers: The Last Knight]]'', [[Paramount Pictures]] negotiates with [[Akiva Goldsman]], hiring him to create a "writer's room" to build a cinematic universe.<ref name="goldsman">[https://deadline.com/2015/03/transformers-akiva-goldsman-paramount-sequels-spinoffs-1201400027/ Paramount Enlisting Akiva Goldsman To Ramp Up 'Transformers' Output] on deadline.com</ref> Among the writers hired are ''Ant-Man and the Wasp'' scribes [[Andrew Barrer]] and [[Gabriel Ferrari]], who pitch the concept of an animated ''Transformers'' prequel set in the [[Live-action film series|live-action series universe]].<ref name="barrerferrari">[https://deadline.com/2015/05/transformers-ant-man-andrew-barrer-gabriel-ferrari-cybertron-1201433402/ 'Ant-Man' Scribes Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari Join 'Transformers' Writers Room] on Deadline</ref>
*December 20, 2018 — Following the release of ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'', [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]] hints in an interview that the animated prequel is still in the works.<ref>[https://www.metro.us/will-there-be-a-bumblebee-2-whats-the-future-for-the-transformers-universe-heres-what-its-producer-told-us/ Lorenzo di Bonaventura interview for Metro USA]</ref>
*April 29, 2020 — Director [[Josh Cooley]] (''Toy Story 4'') is reported to have been brought into the project to oversee a final draft, which is said to be "separate and apart" from the live-action films.<ref name="cooleyreveal" />
*May 18, 2021 — [[Allspark Pictures]] President [[Greg Mooradian]] credits the animated ''Transformers'' film on his Linkedin page with a 2023 release.<ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-mooradian-4a5062200/ Greg Mooradian's Linkedin:] "TRANSFORMERS (Animated Feature), with Oscar-winner Josh Cooley directing (2023 release)"</ref>
*May 24, 2021 — Hasbro CEO [[Brian Goldner]] confirms the animated feature is in development, and will be released at some point after ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Transformers: Rise of the Beasts]]''.<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2021/05/24/tfw2005-coverage-of-49th-j-p-morgan-conference-434088 TFW2005 Coverage Of 49th J.P. Morgan Conference]</ref>
*January 21, 2022 — Paramount announces an untitled animated Transformers movie will be released on July 19, 2024.<ref>[https://collider.com/new-transformers-animated-movie-release-date/ Collider: New 'Transformers' Animated Movie Release Date Set For 2024]</ref>
*April 20, 2023 — di Bonaventura reveals that the entire film takes place on Cybertron, and the setting explores how they begin to question the hierarchy of how their society has gotten stratified, and how the common man doesn't have the voice that they want to have.<ref name=collider2023>[https://collider.com/transformers-animated-movie-characters-plot-cybertron-lorenzo-di-bonaventura-comments/ Here’s What the New Animated ‘Transformers’ Movie Is About (Exclusive)]</ref>
*April 21, 2023 — A day after the previous interview, di Bonaventura confirms [[Industrial Light & Magic]]'s involvement as the film's animation studio, bringing the company back to the franchise for the first time since ''Bumblebee''.<ref>[https://collider.com/new-transformers-animated-movie-ilm-lorenzo-di-bonaventura-comments/ The New 'Transformers' Animated Movie Is Partnering With an Industry Giant for the CGI (Exclusive)]/</ref>
*April 27, 2023 — The first members of the film's voice cast are revealed, consisting of [[Chris Hemsworth]] as Optimus Prime, [[Brian Tyree Henry]] as Megatron, [[Scarlett Johansson]] as Elita, [[Keegan-Michael Key]] as Bumblebee, [[Jon Hamm]] as Sentinel Prime, and [[Laurence Fishburne]] as Alpha Trion.<ref>[https://variety.com/2023/film/news/transformers-animated-prequel-chris-hemsworth-scarlett-johansson-1235596692/ ‘Transformers’ Animated Prequel Sets Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and More Voice Cast]</ref>
*May 24, 2023 — Paramount moves the film's release date to September 13, 2024.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2023/05/transformers-one-release-date-pushed-by-paramount-1235379167/ ‘Transformers One’: Paramount Pushes Date For Animated Feature]</ref>
*June 7, 2023 — di Bonaventura teases how the film stands out from previous entries in the franchise, praises Chris Hemsworth's casting as Optimus Prime, and mentions a vocal transition from Hemsworth's voice to [[Peter Cullen]]'s as the character for audiences to witness. [[Steve Desmond]] and [[Michael Sherman]] (''Knock at the Cabin'') were revealed to be additional writers for the film, but where uncredited when the final credit came in.<ref>[https://collider.com/transformers-one-chris-hemsworth-optimus-prime-lorenzo-di-bonaventura-comments/ 'Transformers One' Producer Is Already Hyped for Chris Hemsworth's Optimus Prime]</ref>
*June 15, 2023 — Scarlett Johansson discusses the film's animation and praises Cooley as director.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWqG5mlRxzs Scarlett Johansson Says Transformers One Looks So Cool]</ref> Chris Hemsworth later brings details on voicing Optimus Prime for the film and his reasoning he joined the project through his love of the script. He confirms that he will not use his regular voice for the character.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWrsvSzWHoE Chris Hemsworth's Optimus Prime Sadly Won't Be Australian in Transformers One]</ref>
*July 20, 2023 — di Bonaventura confirms Optimus Prime and Megatron in the film will be depicted under their Orion Pax and D-16 identities.<ref>[https://onetakenews.com/2023/07/20/lorenzo-di-bonaventura-transformers-one/ Lorenzo di Bonaventura Teases Upcoming Film ‘Transformers: One’: “It’s Something I’ve Wanted To Do For A Long Time” (Exclusive)]</ref>
*December 15, 2023 — Keegan-Michael Key mentions his voice for Bumblebee is closer to his regular speaking voice.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLM71B5xmFY Transformers One: Keegan-Michael Key Reveals What Bumblebee Sounds Like in New Animated Film]</ref>
*April 11, 2024 — The cast of the movie previews the trailer and reveals a new logo for the film at Cinemacon 2024, The Hollywood Reporter also confirms [[Steve Buscemi]] has joined the cast.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/transformers-one-animated-movie-chris-hemsworth-scarlett-johansson-1235871998/ Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and Brian Tyree Henry Debut Origin Story 'Transformers One' - The Hollywood Reporter]</ref> During the presentation, Hemsworth revealed that Cullen served as a consultant on the getting the voice down.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-one-news-film-is-testing-very-well-and-peter-cullen-consulted-chris-hemsworth-on-voice/48127/ Transformers One News: Film is Testing Very Well and Peter Cullen Consulted Chris Hemsworth on Voice]</ref>
*April 16, 2024 — Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry announce the date of the film's first trailer being on Thursday, April 18, 2024, as it will be launched into space.<ref>[https://collider.com/transformers-one-trailer-premiered-from-space/ The 'Transformers One' Trailer Will Be Premiered From Space - Collider]</ref>
[[File:TransformersOne-weatherballoon.jpg|right|thumb|250px|''So how do you judge what a man is worth? By what he [[Toy|builds or buys]]? You can never see with your eyes on Earth Look through Heaven's eyes Look at your life. Look at your life Look at your life through Heaven's eyes'']]
*April 18, 2024 — A livestream hosted by Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry follows a small craft launched towards space, with a screen that plays the trailer once it reaches 125,000 feet. The movie's release date has been pushed back by one week, to September 20, reportedly to avoid the release conflicting with that of ''{{w|Beetlejuice Beetlejuice}}''.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2024/04/transformers-one-trailer-release-date-1235889037/ ‘Transformers One’ Launches Trailer In Space, A First For A Movie Studio; Pic Going Later In September]</ref> When asked whether the film is a fresh start, a prequel to the live-action films, or its own thing, Cooley replies "yes to all of the above".<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/news/transformers-one-director-confirms-new-movies-canon-status/ Transformers ONE Director Confirms New Movie's Canon Status - ComicBook.com]</ref>
*May 20, 2024 — [[Brian Tyler]] is attached as the film's composer.<ref>[https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/05/20/brian-tyler-scoring-josh-cooleys-transformers-one/ Brian Tyler Scoring Josh Cooley’s ‘Transformers One’ - Filmmusicreporter.com]</ref>
*June 7, 2024 — Production for the film is revealed to be finished in the following month.<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2024/06/07/work-on-transformers-one-animated-movie-is-set-to-wrap-up-in-july-513038 Work On Transformers: One Animated Movie Is Set To Wrap Up In July - TFW2005]</ref>
*June 10, 2024 — A work-in-progress cut of the film was screened at the {{w|Annecy International Animation Film Festival}} to a standing ovation.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/transformers-one-chris-hemsworth-scarlett-johansson-1235918820/ Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson’s ‘Transformers One’ Draws Laughs, Cheers in Its Annecy Debut - Hollywood Reporter]</ref>
*June 12, 2024 — Several media outlets, including representatives from TFWiki, are invited to an [[Transformers One London advance screening|advance screening]] hosted by di Bonaventura and Cooley.
*June 18, 2024 — Production designer Jason Scheier confirms animation for the film is finished.<ref>[https://twitter.com/ScheierJason/status/1803227407404638226/ Production Designer Jason Scheier's post on Twitter]</ref>
*June 27, 2024 — Sound-mixing for the film is finished, with production finally now complete around three months in advance of release.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/C8vPCEUS3Bs/ @CooleyYourFaceOff - Instagram]</ref>
*July 9, 2024 — A panel for the film has been announced for [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2024 on Thursday, July 25 at 11:45 am PST at Hall H.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2024/07/transformers-one-comic-con-1236004636/ Paramount Animation & Hasbro Entertainment’s ‘Transformers One’ Will Be More Than Meets The Eye At San Diego Comic-Con]</ref>
*July 13, 2024 — Chris Hemsworth, Bryan Tyree Henry, and Keegan-Michael Key reveal a new clip of the main cast transforming for the first time at the Kids' Choice Awards 2024.<ref>[https://twitter.com/transformers/status/1812285185427431646/ Post from the official Transformers account on Twitter]</ref>
*July 23, 2024 — Cooley discusses how ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' influenced ''One''.<ref>[https://ew.com/transformers-one-comic-con-preview-optimus-prime-megatron-origin-story-8676886 Transformers One director reveals how infamous 1986 animated movie influenced new prequel film]</ref> A screening of the finished film was shown at a fan-event at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles and in New York City.<ref>[https://comicbook.com/anime/news/transformers-one-review-first-reactions/ Transformers One First Reactions are Raving Over "Best Transformers Film to Date"]</ref> Hemsworth talks about voicing Optimus Prime in the film and how his depiction stands out.<ref>[https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/transformers-one-chris-hemsworth-optimus-prime-orion-pax/ Chris Hemsworth on Becoming Optimus Prime for Transformers One (Exclusive)]</ref>
*July 24, 2024 — Several new posters are released, along with the announcement of a new trailer the following day at the SDCC panel.<ref>[https://twutter.com/transformers/status/1816111093917573615/ Second trailer announcement on Twitter]</ref>
*July 25, 2024 — Details at the SDCC panel were revealed, along with the debut of the second trailer and Bucsemi's role announced to be Starscream.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2024/07/transformers-one-chris-hemsworth-comic-con-1236022134/ ‘Transformers One’ Ignites Comic-Con With Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry & Keegan-Michael Key: How Two Best Friends Became Immortal Enemies]</ref> [[Eric Pearson]] was revealed to be an additional writer.<ref>[https://www.awn.com/news/paramount-drops-transformers-one-trailer-2 Paramount Drops ‘Transformers One’ Trailer #2]</ref>
*August 21, 2024 — A new clip of Orion Pax and D-16 competing in the Iacon 5000 race is released on Paramount's YouTube channel.<ref>[https://youtu.be/7o-bGIBZxdc?feature=shared/ TRANSFORMERS ONE Film Clip IACON Race Begins (2024)]</ref>
*August 23, 2024 — Evan Michael Lee is revealed to be voicing Jazz.<ref>[https://twitter.com/Evanmichaellee/status/1826960202920530306/ Evan Michael Lee on Twitter]</ref>
*August 24, 2024 — [[Jon Bailey]], [[Jason Konopisos-Alvarez]], [[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]] and [[Vanessa Liguori]] are revealed to be voicing Soundwave, Shockwave, Darkwing and Airachnid respectively, with Bailey reprising his role from ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]''.<ref>[https://punto.com.ph/paramount-pictures-our-crew-rolls-deep-meet-the-voice-cast-behind-the-characters-in-transformers-one-in-cinemas-september-18/ PARAMOUNT PICTURES : OUR CREW ROLLS DEEP: MEET THE VOICE CAST BEHIND THE CHARACTERS IN “TRANSFORMERS ONE,” IN CINEMAS SEPTEMBER 18 on Punzo.com]</ref>
*September 6, 2024 — The film's credits song, '[[If I Fall]]' by [[Quavo]], is released.<ref>[https://youtu.be/M3FCIf0HFnk?si=NB1J3bT9XNPOpKCc/ If I Fall (Music from the Motion Picture Transformers One / Lyric Video)]</ref>
*September 12, 2024 — In an interview, Lorenzo di Bonaventura clarifies that ''One'' doesn't directly connect to the live-action films, and describes them as "two universes" that will be "[kept] separate". However, he notes that ''One'' will likely have an influence on future live-action projects.<ref>[https://comicbook.com/movies/news/is-transformers-one-a-prequel-optimus-prime-origin-story-exclusive/ Is Transformers One a Prequel or Reboot? The Animated Movie's Origin Story Is Both, Director Says]</ref> The film's review embargo is also lifted, and the film debuts with an 89% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-one-critic-reviews-are-out-currently-89-on-rotten-tomatoes/48337/ Transformers One Critic Reviews are Out, Currently 89% on Rotten Tomatoes]</ref>
*September 13, 2024 — The film's main theme is released.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFnuXrOH0fs/ Brian Tyler - Transformers One Theme | Transformers One (Music from the Motion Picture)]</ref>
*September 17, 2024 — In an interview with Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Josh Cooley, when asked again about ''One''{{'}}s relation to any of the live-action movies, di Bonaventura stated, "It was like 300 million years before the [[Transformers (film)|first Michael Bay movie]], so if that's a prequel, that's a prequel."<ref>[https://screenrant.com/transformers-one-lorenzo-di-bonaventura-and-josh-cooley-interview/ Transformers One Producer Hopes For Sequel & Confirms G.I. Joe Crossover]</ref>
*September 18, 2024 — An early fan event screening is held, preceded by a seven-minute featurette consisting of interview segments with Hemsworth, Henry, and Key, footage of main cast recording their dialogue, and some [https://twitter.com/damnyouwillis/status/1836584462341054907 hilarious trivia]. Attendees receive one of four exclusive keychains and poster prints featuring Orion Pax, D-16, B-127, or Elita-1.<ref>https://bleedingcool.com/movies/transformers-one-4-new-posters-tickets-go-on-sale-fan-screenings/</ref>
*September 20, 2024 — The first 300 ticket holders at participating theaters receive a poster print of {{w|Shadow the Hedgehog}} to promote the upcoming release of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''.<ref>https://kotaku.com/sonic-3-shadow-print-transformers-one-theater-showtimes-1851649010</ref>

===Changes before, during, and after production===
*Although the broad story beats of ''One'' remained more or less consistent over the course of the film's development, the first draft—written before Josh Cooley's involvement—was a silly, joke-heavy script that was very different in tone from the final product. When first brought on to direct, Cooley pushed for a more serious treatment to bring the film closer in line to the usual tone of the ''Transformers'' franchise.<ref name="gizmodo">[https://gizmodo.com/transformers-one-director-interview-josh-cooley-easter-eggs-2000489187 ''Transformers One'' Director Josh Cooley Talks Lore, Easter Eggs, and Alternate Versions] </ref>
*At one point, a bird robot based on ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Aerobolt]] would've played a role in the story. <ref>{{citesocial|quote= "In an older version of the story we explored Aerobolt being part of the story. It never made it into the final."|link=https://x.com/ScheierJason/status/1840624306465755358|name=Jason Scheier|site=Twitter|year=2024|month=9|day=30}}</ref>
*An early draft had a scene where Orion and D-16 played an arcade game together, which would've featured an 8-bit version of "The Touch". The gag was eventually dropped, although the arcade machine and a different reference to the song made it into the final film.<ref name="gizmodo" />
*Another draft had D-16 as a gladiator, alluding to another part of the character's standard origin story, but ultimately this concept was cut for time.<ref>[https://www.indiewire.com/features/animation/transformers-one-star-wars-old-republic-interview-1235017651/ ‘Transformers One’ Director Talks Bringing the Franchise to Its ‘Old Republic’ Era - Indiewire]</ref>
*Originally, the film would've ended on a smash cut to the film's title, accompanied by a rendition of the classic ''Transformers'' [[theme song]]. However, Cooley decided that the scene would be overly self-referential, and instead [[Brian Tyler]] scored an original composition to close out the film.<ref name="gizmodo" />
*A shot of Orion, Elita, Soundwave, and Shockwave exiting the train after crashing into Sentinel's tower is not in the final film, and only appears in promotional material.

==Notes==
*As seen in the cast list above, Arcee and Chromia are voiced by Jinny Chung, the film's story / script coordinator. The Injured Racer is voiced by Dillon Bryan, Josh Cooley's assistant. Cooley himself cameos as Skywarp, the "Control Room Guys", and the PA system.
* Several international releases of the film are edited to cut away from Orion's "finger transformation" a few seconds earlier, as well as changing any mention of Bee's "knife hands" to refer to them as "sword hands" instead.
* The credits feature a dedication to former Hasbro CEO [[Brian Goldner]], who passed away in October 2021.
*Darkwing was named by Hasbro designer [[Mark Maher]], when his boss asked him "If this was a Decepticon flyer, who would it be?"<ref>{{citesocial|link=https://www.instagram.com/stories/markclonus/|name=Mark Maher|site=Instagram|year=2024|month=09|day=08}}</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''''Transformers/One''''' (トランスフォーマー/ONE ''Toransufōmā Wan'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''''Bin Ying Gam Gong: Choh Chi Pin''''' (變形金剛：初始篇, "Transformers: The Beginning")
*''French:'' '''''Transformers : Le Commencement''''' (France, "Transformers: The Beginning"), '''''Transformers : Un''''' (Canada, "Transformers: One")
*''Hungarian:'' '''''Transformers Egy''''' ("Transformers One")
*''Korean:'' '''''Transformer ONE''''' (트랜스포머 ONE ''Teuraenseupomeo ONE'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''''Biànxíng Jīngāng: Qǐyuán''''' (变形金刚：起源, "Transformers: The Beginning")
*''Portuguese:'' '''''Transformers: O Início''''' ("Transformers: The Beginning")
*''Russian:'' '''''Transformery: Nachalo''''' (Трансформеры: Начало, "Transformers: The Beginning")
*''Spanish:'' '''''Transformers One''''' (Spain), '''''Transformers : Uno''''' (Latin America, "Transformers: One")

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:One| ]]
[[Category:Real world films]]