Combaticon (G1)

2026-05-08T19:27:35Z

Clodinator: Added a screencap of the WWII vehicles that became the Combaticons from "Starscream's Brigade"

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|autobot|eliteguard|exarchon}}
{{disambig3|Combaticon}}
:''The Combaticons are a [[Decepticon]] [[subgroup]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:TVMGuideCombaticons.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|The Dirty Half-Dozen Minus One—from left to right Swindle, Vortex, Onslaught, Blast Off and Brawl.]]
The '''Combaticons''' are a unit of fierce Decepticon soldiers, operating with (mostly) military precision under the watchful eye of the tactically brilliant Onslaught. They sometimes operate out of [[Combaticons' headquarters|their own headquarters]].

The Combaticons combine to form the highly powerful, but woefully unintelligent [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]. They possess a heated rivalry with the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]s.

The Combaticons consist of:
*The tactician [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (leader)
*The rage-fueled [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
*The egotistical [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
*The con-man [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
*The unhinged [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]

{{quote|We aim to maim!|Brawl tells us the basic gist of the team|"[[Spotlight: Arcee]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:Starscreamsbrigade Combaticons WWII Vehicles.jpg|upright=2.0|thumb|Why did a bomber become space shuttle? A question stumping our scientists to this very day.]]
[[File:Starscreams brigade 5 letsgo.jpg|upright=2.0|thumb|Dad's Army]]
When [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] was banished from the Decepticons for Yet Another Failed Coup Against [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], he was deposited on the island of [[Guadalcanal]], the site of one of the major battles between the [[United States of America]] and [[Japan|Imperial Japan]] during [[World War II]]. There he found and rebuilt several abandoned US military vehicles to pass the time. After he finished, he decided that if Megatron can have a Decepticon army, then so can he!

After bluffing his way past [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] to use the [[space bridge]], he travelled to a [[Decepticon Detention Center|detention center]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and liberated the [[personality component]]s of several [[Renegade Decepticon|Decepticon political prisoners]] before destroying the rest. Back on [[Earth]], Starscream installed the components into the rusting military vehicles and ordered them to transform.

The reborn Combaticons were less than pleased with their "new," primitive bodies, nor were they particularly thankful to Starscream for freeing them after millions of years of imprisonment. That is, until the former Decepticon Air Commander revealed that he had neglected to install [[energy absorber]] units into their bodies, so they would have no way of refueling. As he was the only one with the knowledge and expertise to install them, he demanded their allegiance in his aim to overthrow Megatron. The Combaticons agreed to obey Starscream, for now.

[[File:Combaticons group.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7|Swindle suddenly becomes a fervent opponent of [[scale]].]]
Under Starscream's leadership, the Combaticons managed to capture several prisoners, then used their energy absorbers to recharge themselves at a power plant. Unfortunately, Megatron and the Decepticons attacked, while the Autobots rescued their comrades. The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] formed [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], who was quickly defeated by the Combaticons' much more powerful, but dull-witted combined form, Bruticus. Starscream ordered Bruticus to grab Megatron, forcing his former commander to acknowledge Starscream as the new leader of the Decepticons. Under duress, Megatron did so as the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] watched nearby. The latter group, deciding that Starscream would be too dangerous as a leader, quickly formed [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and defeated Bruticus with a single attack. Starscream and the Combaticons were banished from Earth on a small asteroid, left to wallow in their own misery and blame each other for their failures. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}}

Starscream and the Combaticons quickly had a falling-out. After Starscream left, the Combaticons attacked Cybertron, easily defeating [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and his [[Sentinel (G1)|drones]]. Thirsting for revenge, Onslaught reprogrammed the space bridge to pull Earth closer to the [[Sun]], in the hopes of destroying it and every Transformer there. The Autobots and Decepticons temporarily joined forces to retake Cybertron and prevent Earth's destruction, and with Starscream's help, they deactivated the Combaticons once they formed Bruticus through a failsafe device built into the treacherous giant's back. Optimus Prime and Megatron agreed that Bruticus must be destroyed, but the Decepticon leader fooled the Autobots by using Shockwave's [[holographic projector]] to make it appear as though Bruticus was destroyed, when in reality the combiner was reprogrammed to be loyal only to Megatron. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

[[File:BOT-Road.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"Uh, boss, why are Blast Off and I on the-"<br>"DON'T QUESTION MY BRILLIANT PLAN, VORTEX!"]]
Soon afterwards, during Megatron's latest scheme on Earth involving the theft of fighter aircraft using Middle-Eastern criminals, the Combaticons were called into service to defend Megatron's [[Giant Purple Griffin]], a large... thing that apparently pumped [[oil]]. Or something. Struggling against the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], the Combaticons formed Bruticus, yet were still knocked over when the Aerialbots twisted a tow cable around his legs. The Decepticon combiner was finally defeated when the Aerialbots ignited the nearby oil wells, causing a massive explosion that sent Megatron, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], Bruticus and gas prices flying away. {{storylink|Aerial Assault}}

While attacking a human city, Bruticus was destroyed in battle with [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (man, this guy can't seem to catch a break). Only Swindle survived, and he sold the remains of his comrades to various mercenaries and [[El Presidente|third-world dictator-types]], only to be forced to locate and rebuild the Combaticons by Megatron. The reformed Bruticus was then defeated when Megatron's disruptor cannon was overloaded by the human-built [[B.O.T. (G1)|B.O.T.]], once again sending the Decepticon flying into the sky. {{storylink|B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.}}

[[File:Combaticons bruticus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|Not often you can get a view of the whole team AND their combined form in a single screencap.]]
After the great battle at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], the Combaticons were among the battered Decepticon forces who withdrew to [[Chaar]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} Swindle was instrumental in negotiating an alliance with the [[Quintesson]]s; {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}} the Combaticons later participated in a Quintesson-led assault on the Autobots on [[Goo Number 8739-B|Goo]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

A lone Blast Off later attacked a [[Skuxxoid]] who was using [[death crystal]]s to blow stuff up in Decepticon territory, and forced the alien to tell him where he got the ammunition. When a group of Autobots tried to find the crystals as well, Blast Off attacked them alongside [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]]. {{storylink|Chaos (episode)|Chaos}} The Combaticons later failed to assassinate Decepticon exile [[Octane]] at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}} then succeeded in shooting up a shuttle meant to take human delegates to an interstellar peace conference. {{storylink|Surprise Party}}

During a Decepticon attack on the [[Netherlands]], Swindle infiltrated [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and stole his [[Transformation cog (biology)|transformation cog]], whilst Vortex was charged with guarding [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}} The Combaticons later participated in the assault on [[Paradron]], where they guarded the imprisoned Paradronians, among other things. {{storylink|Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee}} When the Earth was infected by the [[Hate Plague]], the Combaticons (Bruticus) were among those infected. Brawl was seen driving along the road and infecting [[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] who, in turn, infected [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] while Vortex attacked a civilian plane on a runway. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}

Under [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]'s directions, the Combaticons constructed a giant planetary rocket engine that was used to propel Cybertron into orbit around Earth. They also dragged away the bodies of defeated Autobots to use as fuel for the engine. Once Scorponok and Fortress Maximus began to fight the Combaticons ran away. They presumably left Cybertron with Galvatron in Scorponok {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}
{{-}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====Scramble City=====
When the Stunticons were dispatched to hinder the Autobots from constructing [[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]], they were attacked by the Aerialbots and did not fare too well. The Combaticons arrived to help, and together Bruticus and Menasor easily overpowered Superion. However, Scramble City itself soon arrived and blasted both combiners away. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
The Combaticons participated in an all-out Decepticon attack on Cybertron, {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} until [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] arrived and drove them away. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Shortly afterwards, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] set out to find the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and bring it to Optimus Prime, and the Combaticons were among the troops sent out to stop him. They were ambushed by the Protectobots, and defeated when Defensor buried Bruticus in a rockfall. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} Not long after that, the Combaticons defended [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] against [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Twincast]]'s attempted infiltration, but failed when the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] arrived and distracted them. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}

[[File:UltraMagnusDies Combaticons.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"All six Combaticons present and accou... Wait! Why are [[Snapdragon (G1)|YOU]] with us?"]]
The Combaticons were later part of ''another'' attack on Cybertron, during which they killed plenty of [[Generic|soldiers]] before getting into another fight with Defensor. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} They lost. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}} When the Decepticons planted a giant carnivorous plant in [[San Francisco]], the Combaticons and Stunticons were ordered to with attack any Autobots who arrived to kill it. When the Aerialbots and [[Trainbot]]s did just that, Bruticus got into an energy-sword fight with [[Raiden]]. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}} Sixshot later sent the Combaticons, [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] and [[Horrorcon (G1)|Horrorcons]] to attack an Autobot energy facility in [[Florida|Miami]], in order to lure Autobot troops away from [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}}

The Combaticons were present when [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] held a speech about Galvatron's recent death and took control of the Decepticons. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} Bruticus was later part of a small group of Decepticons who tried to lead Fortress Maximus away from the Decepticon base on [[Master (planet)|Master]]. {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}} He then stood by and laughed as [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] sank the luxury liner ''[[Queen World]]'' in the Atlantic Ocean, before being stationed at one of Scorponok's [[Death Tower]]s in Canberra, [[Australia]]. He defended the tower against Defensor until it activated, at which point [[Wingspan]] and [[Pounce]] ordered him to withdraw. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}}

Bruticus participated in the final battle with the Autobots at the North Pole, and fought [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] alongside [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]. As Scorponok's energy-absorbing satellite started tearing the Earth apart, Bruticus retreated into the atmosphere to watch the results alongside the rest of the Decepticon forces. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
{{-}}

=====''Zone'' OVA, manga, and story pages=====
Seeking to create a [[Decepticon Zone]] to counter the [[Micro|Autobot Zone]], [[Emperor of Destruction|Decepticon Emperor]] [[Violengiguar]] gathered together the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]], upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. The Combaticons were of those summoned, but only in the form of Bruticus. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone Part 1}} {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (manga)|Zone}} {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

====''TV Magazine'' comic continuity====
=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic=====
[[File:FSRLmanga08-title.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]

Bruticus arrived to help the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] fight [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] at a baseball stadium in [[Japan]]. He quickly defeated Defensor, injuring [[Hot Spot (G1)|his torso]] and preventing him from combining. In response, Superion disabled Brawl and Swindle using his [[electrostatic discharger rifle]], allowing [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] and [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] to steal their places as Bruticus's legs. Taking control of the giant's flight systems, the two Protectobots flew off with Bruticus as [[Kenji]] cheered at them to drop the Combaticons into the sea. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 5|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5}} Onslaught later joined the Stunticons in a scheme to defame the Autobots by destroying factories around Japan whilst wearing Autobot [[insignia]]s. When confronted by the real Autobots, he "combined" with fellow [[Decepticon Trailer Corps]] member [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]], but they were defeated and sent packing by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 7|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #7}}

The Combaticons' next mission was to hunt down [[Battle Dog|an escaped dog]] that Megatron had experimented on, imbuing it with powerful energy. Brawl managed to fatally injure the animal, much to Onslaught's annoyance as they were supposed to capture it alive. The Autobot [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] soon arrived to put a halt to their activities, and the dog expressed its gratitude by using its powers to energize Powerglide with [[Scramble Power]]. As Powerglide used the power to combine with his fellow [[Mini-Vehicle|Minibots]], the Combaticons responded by forming Bruticus. He proved weaker than this new [[Minibot combiner]], however, as it used the "Minibot Warrior Spiral Attack" to drill straight through Bruticus' chest, defeating him.

The dog still died, though. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8}}

=====''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers''=====
The Combaticons emerged as Bruticus alongside the other Decepticon super-warriors, ready to storm the Autobot energy tower on the planet [[Feminia]]. Galvatron and his men laughed off the presence of Superion, Defensor and [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]... but the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibots]]? Carrying a length of thread?! Oh, the horror. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 5|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5}}

=====''The Great Transformer War''=====
The Combaticons and Stunticons were working out of Trypticon where the kidnapped scientist Doctor [[Dalton]] was being forced to work for Galvatron's evil ends. When the Aerialbots and Protectobots arrived to save the scientist, Onslaught and Motormaster combined with Trypticon in their deployment launcher modes. Hurtling their fellow Decepticons at Superion did such damage that the Aerialbots were forced to disassemble. Somehow, however, the remaining Protectobots managed to hold off both Bruticus and Menasor long enough for [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] to repair the Aerialbots, and for [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] to sneak past the Decepticons and retrieve Dalton. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 1|The Great Transformer War #1}}

=====''Super-God Masterforce'' comic=====
Brawl and Blast Off participated in an attack on [[Athenia]] by forming the right limbs of [[Scramble 7]], a Decepticon combiner using various combiner team members in a supposedly "ideal" configuration. Despite being so great, however, Scramble 7 was defeated by [[Ginrai (human)|Super Ginrai]], [[Lightfoot (G1)|Lightfoot]], and [[Ranger]] thanks to their use of [[Chōkon Power]]. {{storylink|The Battle Begins! The Earth-Space Alliance Army}}

===''Wings Universe''===
{{Wingsnote}}
[[File:EliteGuardCombaticons TheComingStorm2.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1| DUM DUM DUUUUUUM!]]
The Combaticons were an [[Elite Guard]] special ops unit created by [[Magnum]] to take out the various [[Decepticon leader|leaders]] of the new Decepticon faction, in the hopes of ending the war quickly. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 2}} After they ended up getting captured by [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]], the silver-tongued Decepticon manipulated the Combaticons to join him so they could prove their superiority over the rest of the Elite Guard. In return, he modified them so they could combine into Bruticus. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 4}}

They attacked Elite Guard HQ, using their new combined form {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 5}} and managed to slaughter most of the Elite Guard defenders, until [[Dion (G1)|Dion]] injured the giant, forcing them to separate. They departed the scene, assuming everyone to be dead. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 6}} Returning to Deathsaurus's base, they underwent repairs, though they were startled to learn that Deathsaurus could control their merging remotely. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 2}} As the remnants of the Elite Guard tried to attack the base, the Combaticons joined the other Decepticons in defending it. However, as they tried to merge into Bruticus, they were blasted by some new arrivals {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 3}} who were, it turned out, even more survivors of the massacre. Blast Off was captured and bound by [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]], meaning the Combaticons were unable to form Bruticus for the rest of the battle. After Deathsaurus called a retreat, the team was slow to comply, and as a result were captured by the Elite Guard. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 4}}

In the hands of the compromised [[Gyronian Sentry|Gyronian Sentry Team]], the Combaticons were whisked away to Deathsaurus's fortress, now under Megatron's control. Though Megatron gave them the option, none of them cared to help Deathsaurus, and they were imprisoned and their personality components subsequently interred in the Decepticon Detention Center. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 5}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Buster combaticons second generation.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
''The Combaticons and their fellow [[Special Teams]] were first conceived within [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]]'s mind shortly after the human had relinquished control of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] was able to view this data remotely and prepare for their development.'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}}

[[File:Onslaught afterdeath.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]
On their first mission on Earth, the Combaticons followed [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] to retrieve the human [[hydrothermocline]] plant. When they arrived, they faced Optimus Prime and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] waiting for them. The Combaticons formed Bruticus and stared down [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] when a nearby human named [[Ethan Zachary]] suggested that they play a [[Multi-World|video game]] over the plant instead. Optimus Prime and Megatron both agreed, and the Combaticons were sent into the game to attack the Protectobots. However, they lost every battle due to not taking the "wildlife" AI into account. {{storylink|Afterdeath!}} ''These events were observed by the [[time travel]]ling [[Dicet Alpha-zero]].'' {{storylink|The Quest!}} After this, the Combaticons didn't do much but follow Megatron around, even when their mentally unstable leader heavily damaged Brawl for mouthing off. {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}}

''Later, [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] led the Combaticons to kill [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]—and co-incidentally [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]—while they were trapped in the cooled lava flow of [[Mount Verona]]. After making short work of the human military encamped on the site, the Combaticons set up explosive charges around the volcano to obliterate the entire area but their operation was met with resistance thanks to [[Cindy Newell|three]] [[Susan Hoffman|human]] [[Joy Meadows|women]], as well as [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] and the [[Throttlebot]]s. When the Combaticons retreated to detonate their explosives, their remote signal was jammed by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]].'' {{storylink|Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night}} ''In response to that humiliation,'' the Combaticons would later attack the [[Throttlebot]]s in a used car lot, only for the Protectobots and Blaster to interfere and force them to retreat. {{storylink|Used Autobots}} Shortly afterwards, the group decided to ambush the Protectobots on their way to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. This time, Bruticus claimed victory over Defensor by hitting him with a train, but was soon tricked and broken into his component parts by Blaster. After this, Blaster took control of Blast Off and flew into space, separating the shuttle from the other Combaticons. {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}} Along with most of the Decepticon army, the Combaticons later ambushed the Autobots on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], only to be beaten back by Blaster and [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

''At some point thereafter, the Combaticons worked with [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] under the command of [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] to steal a backup of the [[floppy disk]] containing Optimus Prime's personality.'' {{storylink|Prime Bomb!}}

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
[[File:Totalwar-combaticons.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|Grrrrrr... feisty!]]
After Bludgeon's defeat, Swindle took the returning Decepticon leader Megatron on a tour of the [[Warworld]] battleship he had inherited. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}} Soon after, Brawl and Blast Off were among the Decepticons preparing to charge into battle against the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronians]]. {{storylink|New Dawn}} Vortex was seen with various other Decepticons attacking the [[Ethos raiding party|Cybertronians]] on [[Ethos]]. {{storylink|Escalation!}} As the alliance progressed, Onslaught was struck by empathic pains as his apparent spawn [[Mindset (G2)|Mindset]] was consumed by the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]]. {{storylink|Swarm (issue)|Swarm}}

During the final battle at [[Earth]], all the Combaticons later attempted to defend the Warworld against a Cybertronian boarding party led by the treacherous Starscream. Despite Onslaught's emphatic orders of "maximum firepower", they didn't do so well. {{storylink|Total War!}}
{{-}}

====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
{{groupstub|{{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 11|Transformers in Action: He Who Laughs Last ...}}}}

===Young Corgi continuity===
[[File:BBTI-Combaticons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|right]]
When the fleshlings discovered a mysterious lost civilization buried underneath the ice, the Combaticons Brawl, Vortex and Blast Off joined [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] in seeking whatever treasures the hidden city might have. They were confronted by the Aerialbots named [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] and [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]], and fought on the surface over the city. Little did they know that the [[city-dweller]]s were robots themselves, remotely storing and copying images of the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, imprinting themselves with the skills of warfare. They were only stopped by the unlikely duo of Ravage and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]. After the city-dwellers were defeated, the Autobots granted safe passage to their one-time Decepticon allies. Blast Off expanded to his maximum size to transport his fellow 'Cons back to Decepticon headquarters. {{storylink|Battle Beneath the Ice}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
The five soldiers who would one day become the Combaticons were early participants in the Decepticons' war effort. While Onslaught and the others joined Shockwave in attacking [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and the [[High Council Pavilions]] being protected by the Autobots, Swindle chose to throw in with Starscream, helping him to disable [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and assume temporary control over Megatron's planetary juggernaut project. {{storylink|Transformers: The War Within|The War Within}}

At some later date, these five warriors were officially brought together as a combiner team, given the ability to form Bruticus. Like the other Combiners, they were banned from operating together on any given faction during the Dark Ages, by decree of the [[Crisis Intervention Accord]] to prevent any more devastation to the planet at the hands of the super-robot combiners.{{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Guide}} The Combaticons were still authorized to operate individually and separately among the various Decepticon factions. Given his previous efforts helping [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] and the [[Battlecharger]]s with Starscream's coup, Swindle may have joined them as a member of the [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]], although this was never stated. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

[[File:Onslaught G1DW routeofallevil.jpg|upright=1.5|thumb|left|"YOOOOOO CON!"]]
By the modern era, the Combaticons had been declared war criminals by the united Cybertronian government under Shockwave and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. The details of their crimes and why they were singled-out for imprisonment is unclear—Shockwave may have been intentionally eliminating [[Ratbat (G1)|potential rivals]] or [[Stunticon (G1)|loose cannons]], or may simply have allowed their imprisonment as a token showing of cooperation with the Autobot High Council. Once the Transformers from Earth were contacted, and uprisings began taking place on Cybertron, Starscream managed to worm his way into the [[Detention Banks]] and recover the five stasis pods containing the Combaticons. He loaded them onto his stolen transport and brought them back to Earth with him and the rest of his hand-picked crew. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

On Earth, Starscream reactivated the Combaticons as his personal "brigade", scanning Earth military vehicles for their alternate modes. Using the Combaticons as shock troops, he made a two-staged assault on the Ark, and successfully took five of the seven remaining Autobots off-line. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}} Starscream and Bruticus' efforts to complete their set were interrupted by the arrival of [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]], Starscream's crazed clone-brother, and Bruticus was damaged in the melee. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}} After the battle with Sunstorm, Starscream attempted to train the Combaticons into better military shape, using the Autobot prisoner [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] as a "tackling dummy". His training efforts were interrupted by the return of Megatron and his combiner team, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. Even as Bruticus, the Combaticons quickly fell before the might of [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
{{-}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
The Combaticons were among the Decepticons under control of "the Son of Megatron", [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]]. Onslaught tried to protect his leader from a vengeful Optimus Prime while Brawl, Vortex and Blast Off were seen fighting against a combined Autobot-[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] army. Swindle, however, was nowhere to be found. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:SpotlightArcee AimToMaim.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|]]
Early in the [[Great War (G1)|war]], Brawl and Onslaught were part of an armored division led by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]. They participated in the defense of the [[Citadel (building)|Citadel]] but were overwhelmed by the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]]. {{storylink|Endgame}} When [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] was overthrown by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], the Combaticons were among the Decepticons who refused to their new leader and left Cybertron to do their own thing. While breaking into an armory at the [[Presidium (planet)|Presidium]], they were approached by [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] and offered ample payment for their return to the frontlines. {{storylink|Primacy issue 2|Primacy #2}} They accepted, and Onslaught and Brawl were later seen participating in Megatron's attack on [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. {{storylink|Primacy issue 3|Primacy #3}} {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}}

During the war [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] became one of the worst violators of the [[Tyrest Accord]], constantly selling Transformers technology to alien races, and had gone AWOL from the Decepticons, hunted by both sides of the war. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ultra Magnus}} The other four remained Combaticons, and were a dangerous tactical unit capable of taking on and beating superior numbers (even ones backed up by [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|total loonies]]). Under orders from [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzaitron]], they successfully raided the [[Garrus-9]] Autobot prison and abducted [[Pretender Monster|the six newest inmates]], the gestalt Transformers, despite taking some damage from a high threat convict, Arcee, who was released to stop them. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}} Soon afterwards, the Combaticons were among the only survivors of an attack by the [[Dead Universe]] Transformers, who activated the gestalt combined form, [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]], inside Banzaitron's base. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} After a deal was negotiated between Arcee and Banzaitron; the Combaticons, remaining [[Decepticon Secret Service|DSS]] members and the crazed Autobot fought Monstructor on [[Rotan]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Two years after the fall of Megatron, the Combaticons were among the Decepticons left behind on Earth. Swindle joined up with a small band of roaming Decepticons, {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} while Onslaught was one of many Transformers captured by [[Skywatch]] using their reverse-engineered energon and Cybertronian technology. He and several other Decepticons were rescued from Skywatch custody by Swindle's team, who removed the mode-locks placed on them by Skywatch's restraint tech. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"|A Rude Awakening}} After Swindle failed to take advantage of some rebellious Autobots in an attempt to get off Earth, he disappeared. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 5: "Earthworks"|Earthworks}}

[[File:RanksOfBronze CombaticonsRelax.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|The Relaxicons.]]
Fleeing to [[North Korea]], Swindle made a deal with [[Kim Jong Du]], the leader of the nation, offering him the Combaticons as an invasion force in exchange for energon. He left when he got the energy he needed, but the other Combaticons remained. {{storylink|Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|A Second Chance at Eden}} Soon enough, Onslaught, Brawl and Vortex were invading [[South Korea]] for their employer (Blast Off's whereabouts were unknown: Skywatch noted that the Koreans had enough energon for five Transformers, but he might just have left Earth on his own). {{storylink|International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"|"The Land Ironclads"}} They ended up in a brawl with both the Autobots (allied with Skywatch) and [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] (allied with [[China]]), but were ultimately defeated. Luckily for them, the Autobots didn't have the resources at hand to take them captive. {{storylink|International Incident Part 4: "All My Sins Remembered"|"All My Sins Remembered"}}

Brawl later tried to kill [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] on Swindle's behalf, but failed and was captured by the Autobots. {{storylink|Police Action Part 2: Only Forward|Only Forward}} Swindle himself was taken in shortly afterwards when his latest scheme failed. {{storylink|Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|A Second Chance at Eden}} The captured Combaticons, and likely the others as well, ended up being forced to work for the Autobots on a restored Cybertron once the war was declared over. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}} The Decepticons felt oppressed under a provisional government of Autobots, Non-Aligned Cybertronians, and Starscream. Starscream approached Onslaught to buy the Combaticons' services as he made his play for Iacon's leadership. In exchange for protecting him from those like the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] or unruly bots, Starscream would allow the group a position of power when the time came. {{storylink|Applicable Skills}}

Blast Off and Brawl were among those brought by Starscream to pressure Prowl into revealing one of his secret discoveries below ground. Later underground, they witnessed a Titan declare that Starscream was the Cybertronian destined to unite their whole race. They and the other Cybertronians celebrated afterwards with Starscream. {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things}} Later, most of the Combaticons were involved in the rioting that began when Megatron returned, although Swindle, along with [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], offered their testimony on Prowl's murder of [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] and the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. {{storylink|City on Fire}} {{storylink|The Verge}} Some time later, when Starscream successfully became the ruler of Iacon, he reneged on his deal with Onslaught, who was furious over the betrayal. {{storylink|Applicable Skills}}

After Megatron's defection to the Autobots, [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] took command of the Decepticons and led a contingent back to Earth, which included Brawl, where they formed an alliance with the [[Earth Defense Command]] against the Autobots. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World}} Back on Cybertron, with Metroplex's installation as Cybertron's new capital, Onslaught and many other disgruntled Decepticons chose to live in slums outside the city instead. When they caught Optimus Prime making his way through their territory, many of them formed a mob and attacked him. {{storylink|City of Steel (issue)|City of Steel}} Blast Off joined the riot for Metroplex's space bridge under Swindle's claims that a better life was possible on [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]]. {{storylink|You, Me, and the Universe}} Swindle himself would be blasted in the back by Starscream in order to keep him from revealing his role in the attack on Caminus, and apparently expired. {{storylink|All That Remains}}

[[File:ChooseMe OnslaughtGrenade.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|"Where's the pin?"<br>"What pin?"<br>''*BOOM*'']]
Onslaught later skulked by as a group of Camiens were passing out fliers regarding Optimus Prime's divinity in the district. Brawl returned from Earth at this time to help rally the Decepticons for Galvatron's campaign. {{storylink|The Transgressors}} The Combaticons soon reunited and stewed over Starscream's leadership. Upon throwing an energon canister at a viewscreen promoting Starscream's success in uniting some of the lost colonies, Onslaught declared that they wouldn't let Starscream forget the past, not without having to go through them first. They sprayed "SWINDLE LIVES" on a wall {{storylink|The Will of the Few}} thanks to Onslaught being informed by an anonymous informant, "[[Rattrap (BW)|DC-357]]", that Swindle was alive and had damaging info on Starscream. {{storylink|07:00:00}} Brawl, Blast Off, and Vortex got Onslaught a new grenade in light if the newly declared "Chosen One Day". {{storylink|Choose Me}}

Brawl rejoined [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] and [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] to prepare for Galvatron's conquest of Earth. Brawl and Needlenose led a team of Decepticons, including Onslaught, to the Space Bridge nexus, where they transported aboard the ''[[Ark-7]]'' to overpower the Autobots in Earth orbit. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange|Lagrange}} Brawl, Onslaught and the Decepticons engaged Arcee, [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] and [[Alpha Trion]] before the ship crashed into Shanghai, China. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 4: Perihelion|Perihelion}} The Earth Defense Command's "mindbomb" felled several of the Decepticons within the first minute of the battle. After the Chinese Mecha Force began tearing through the Decepticons, Brawl was taken through the space bridge by Ironhide, but began fighting his way through the Autobots in a panic and reignited the fight at the other end. Barely surviving an attack by [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], he and several Decepticons were able to slip away. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth|Once Upon a Time on Earth}}

Onslaught continued to search the underbelly of Cybertron for the missing Swindle, and as the [[Badgeless]] began to brutalise Decepticons for information, he became sure DC-357 was onto something. However, the other Combaticons, particularly Blast Off, became worried he was too focused on finding Swindle, costing them paying jobs. The idea of dropping the search made Onslaught storm off in a huff, failing to notice a new message from DC-357. Blast Off did catch it, however, and soon he donned a Badgeless disguise, joined a patrol, and as soon as he got a chance he shot a Decepticon dead and sent footage of it to the press. {{storylink|07:00:00}} With riots breaking out, Vortex and Brawl were eager to join in, but Onslaught held them back until Blast Off returned. Onslaught suspected the situation was orchestrated by Starscream so that the colonists would be made to turn against their cause, until Blast Off admitted to doing the killing by following DC-357's suggestion to provoke an uprising. Onslaught hit upon a sneaky plan: he started a large protest that marched on Starscream to shake the tree and see what happened, and when what happened was Ironhide was made head of the cops and opened them up to anyone who wanted. Onslaught then started a fight so that Blast Off could 'stop him' and 'denounce' his plans, thus getting into the police as someone Ironhide would trust. {{storylink|Applicable Skills}}

[[File:TheLineBetweenUs CombaticonsAntespace.jpg|thumb|left|upright=2.0|Blast Off's the designated driver.]]
Blast Off was able to use his position to eventually uncover surveillance footage of [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] taking Swindle. While Onslaught took Brawl and went to Rattrap's, Blast Off and Vortex barged into Wheeljack's home, and ultimately threatened to kill [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] unless Wheeljack talked. Wheeljack admitted that he and Rattrap had tried to save Swindle, but he was currently brain dead. Onslaught was unperturbed by Swindle's condition, and forced Rattrap to retrieve the [[Enigma of Combination]]. {{storylink|Things We Said We'd Never Do}} Onslaught used the Enigma on himself and his team, forming [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], hoping that he might be able to access the dirt Swindle had on Starscream. As Bruticus rampaged through Iacon, within the combiner's psyche, Vortex reveled in the power that they wielded as Bruticus, Brawl was wallowing in pain after feeling Swindle's death, and Blast Off struggled to keep them all together. Eventually Onslaught found what he was looking for, and he, Brawl and Vortex began reveling in their path of destruction despite Blast Off's protests. Though [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] tried to appeal to the Combaticon combiner to help her take down Starscream with their evidence, it was to no avail. Eventually Ironhide was forced to fire a rocket at Bruticus' head, and the shock forced the Combaticons to disconnect. Windblade frantically tried to get the Combaticons to wake up to share what they had learned, but failed. {{storylink|The Line Between Us}}

The Combaticons were imprisoned and awaiting trial, though Ironhide was reluctant to prosecute them if their mental scarring proved too great. {{storylink|Ping}} They were still comatose when Starscream told the [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Eukarian]] [[Mnemosurgery|mnemosurgeon]] [[Airachnid (G1)|Airachnid]] to turn them to his side as one of his combiners. Though the Combaticons minds had imprinted on each other during their combination, making them susceptible to the process, one of the Combaticons was required to be aware of the deception in order to cover any holes in their story should the others get suspicious. Blast Off was chosen and bribed into accepting the deal after Starscream reminded him that Onslaught would never let the past go or ever take any real interest in him. As a result, the others Combaticons were made to believe that Onslaught's original deal with Starscream had worked out, with them having been his secret and loyal bodyguards, and that their forming of Bruticus had been a last-ditch attempt to save Swindle's life with Starscream's approval. Starscream informed Ironhide that Airachnid would be testifying that the Combaticons had not been responsible for their actions as Bruticus. {{storylink|The Price of You}} Soon the Combaticons "resumed" their work of protecting Starscream, and Onslaught and Blast Off arranged a date. Shortly afterwards, Swindle was restored, with his memories manipulated as well. {{storylink|If I Know You}}

[[File:TheChosenOne CombaticonsImprisoned.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|They finally get Swindle back, then kick Blast Off out.]]
The Combaticons later provided security for the ceremony to welcome Earth into the Council of Worlds. When [[Iron Ring|a group of human assailants]] attacked, the Combaticons mobilized to fight back and evacuate Starscream. {{storylink|First Strike issue 1|First Strike #1}}

Onslaught and Vortex later ushered Circuit and Longtooth out of the Council chambers during Windblade's official return to her post, with Vortex daring the two reporters to resist. When Windblade invited people to speak with her one-on-one during her campaign to become the new leader of Cybertron, Brawl was an unexpected supporter of her war-free vision. Vortex and Blast Off later stood guard outside Starscream's office as Windblade confronted Starscream, and Blast Off was disturbed at Vortex's ideas for what they were doing. During the final debate, Starscream revealed all of his crimes to the public, including the manipulation of the Combaticons. As a result, all of the Combaticons were imprisoned for their rampage as Bruticus, and Blast Off was ostracized by the others for his role in their manipulation. {{storylink|The Chosen One}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
The Combaticons infiltrated [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] disguised as their vehicles. During the Decepticon-[[Cobra]] attack on the [[United Nations]], the Combaticons revealed themselves and combined into Bruticus to fight [[GIJONIN]]. {{storylink|Expelled from the Garden}}

===''Kre-O'' online comic===
[[File:Kre-O Combaticons.jpg|thumb]]

Summoned by [[Starscream (Kre-O)|Starscream]] to act as his elite squad (whose first mission, of course, was to overthrow [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]]), Onslaught, Brawl, Swindle, and a repainted Vortex rolled onto the scene. After they all declared their specialties, Onslaught, Brawl, and Swindle were irritated when Vortex offered to stay behind and guard the base. Even though the Combaticons combined into Bruticus, Vortex's constant worry for the base's safety compelled the team to withdraw. When Starscream, under imminent threat of a beating from Megatron, contacted the team to demand to know where they were, the Combaticons happily informed their illustrious leader they were all protecting the base together. Aww. {{Storylink|New Military Unit Combaticon! Bruticus, Combine!}}

Swindle was able to steal [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s [[Transformation cog (biology)|transformation cog]], but his looking forward to being rewarded was interrupted when the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] tracked him down to take back his loot. The Combaticons combined to form Bruticus, but were defeated by the Protectobots' own combined form, [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], and taken back to the Autobot base to have his injuries treated by the gentle [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]. {{storylink|Bad at Fighting? Rescue Team Protectobots, Dispatch!}}
{{-}}
===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' marketing material===

[[Swindle (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Swindle]] was following [[Megatron (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Megatron]] before the Decepticon movement even existed, and was one of few Decepticons to survive every second of the Great War. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Swindle's bio}}

The Combaticons fought multiple tours together. On the first one, [[Blast Off (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Blast Off]] changed his Cybertronian spaceship mode into an Earth-styled space shuttle. It's likely that this was when the other Combaticons changed their alternate modes as well. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Blast Off's bio}}

[[Onslaught (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Onslaught]] was the team's commander, and had shaped it into a nearly unstoppable strike force. He had high expectations for them, putting exacting precision in both his planning and orders. {{storylink|Onslaught (G1)#Combiner Wars|Onslaught's bio}}

[[Soundwave (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Soundwave]] remarked that [[Vortex (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Vortex]] was unique in that he had no preferred form, being equally comfortable in helicopter and robot modes, and an effective interrogator in both. In the former he liked to pick up victims magnetically in order to scare them into spilling their secrets, and in the latter his rotors were an effective threat... but he could also weasel information out of fellow Decepticons with his charming, disarming personality. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Vortex's bio}}

[[Brawl (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Brawl]] was often needled and frustrated by his fellow Combaticons in order to make better use of his focused battlefield fury. He often needed to be told important information multiple times, but he ''was'' learning from Onslaught. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Brawl's bio}}

Swindle had a real reputation for being the most famous con-man on Cybertron, to the point where the Combaticons only get along with him because they knew better than to trust him with ''anything''. He also had a bad habit of trading Cybertronian technology with other species, which put him on the wrong side of the [[Tyrest Accord]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Ultra Magnus]]. As a result, he stuck close to his teammates. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Swindle's bio}}

[[Bruticus (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Bruticus]] as a combined form was created by [[Shockwave (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Shockwave]] for the express purpose of pummeling Autobots. {{storylink|Shockwave (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Decepticon Shockwave's bio}}

Blast Off's preferred fighting style from a distance left him isolated, easy to capture and imprison on Cybertron so the Autobots could take Bruticus out of the picture.

He was eventually reunited with the rest of the team. Onslaught subsequently mandated that he switch his alternate mode once again in order to stay close, so - much to Blast Off's anger - he reformatted into a fighter jet. Onslaught welcomed this new temperment because he considered his subordinate to be a more effective soldier afterwards. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Blast Off's bio}} He was equally happy blasting Autobots from space as he was planet-side, so this anger was likely a form of [[mode attachment]]. {{storylink|Blast Off (G1)#PWTSE|''Special Edition'' Decepticon Blast Off's bio}}

The Combaticons were posted on Cybertron during the [[Combiner Wars (event)|Combiner Wars]]. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Swindle's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Blast Off's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Vortex's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Brawl's bio}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
[[File:ConstructiconsRisingPart4 Combaticons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|Swindle? He's busy running [[Swindle's|his casino]]. Who needs him?]]
During the interwar period between the [[War of the Threefold Spark]] and the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], the Combaticons; Onslaught, Blast Off, Vortex and Brawl; were agents of [[The Rise]] under [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s command. After the devastation of [[Mayalx]], the Combaticons were sent to the colony to collect a bounty of [[energon cube]]s. {{storylink|Constructicons Rising, Part 4}}

When [[Exarchon]] returned, the Combaticons were summoned to Shockwave's bunker to meet with the ancient warlord. Though Blast Off had rocketed away after receiving a message, the other three pledged their loyalty to the Threefold Spark. {{storylink|War's End Part One}} No sooner had they arrived to reinforce him at his fortress in the [[Sonic Canyons]] did the Decepticons arrive and the Combaticons engaged them with the help of Exarchon's swarm of [[Skywarp drone]]s. {{storylink|War's End Part Two}} The [[Companion]]s showed up to try and stop Exarchon only for all hostiles to retreat when [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] arrived. {{storylink|War's End Part Three}} When the Autobots and Decepticons returned for a united attack, the Combaticons rushed to Exarchon's defense only for the Threefold Spark to ultimately be trapped and destroyed. In the aftermath, Onslaught, Vortex and Brawl surrendered and were taken into Decepticon custody. {{storylink|War's End Part Four}}

Having been invited to join him on the damaged [[Winged Moon]] by [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], Blast Off helped his friend repair the satellite, managing to get the lights on by the time the Autobots arrived to seek refuge. {{storylink|Transformers: Fate of Cybertron|Fate of Cybertron}}

===Energon Universe===
[[File:TF2023 no. 9 – The Combaticons Corner Elita One.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|right]]
Stationed in [[Shockwave's Tower|Shockwave's fortress]], {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 11|Transformers #11}} the Combaticons pursued [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] when she tried to rescue Ultra Magnus. After gunning down Vortex, Elita managed to flee with Magnus through a [[space bridge]] to Earth. Giving chase, Onslaught ordered the Combaticons to combine only for Elita to damage the space bridge, resulting in Brawl being bisected at the waist and him and Onslaught being cut off from the other Combaticons as the portal shut down. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 9|Transformers #9}}

Dragging Brawl out of the way, Onslaught largely kept to himself as he waited for repairs to be effected to the space bridge. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 10|Transformers #10}}

After the space bridge was repaired, Shockwave briefly returned to Cybertron, being greeted by Vortex, Blast Off and Swindle. Shockwave quickly brushed aside their concerns and ordered them to battle stations in anticipation of the fortress' high energon signature attracting Autobot rebels. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 11|Transformers #11}}

Standing guard at the space bridge, the Combaticons were at ground zero when [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] was kicked through. After Shockwave returned, he ordered the three to dispose of Cliffjumper before Optimus Prime arrived. Finding themselves outmatched by the Autobot leader, the Combaticons quickly fled the area. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 12|Transformers #12}}

After Optimus Prime had severed the space bridge link between Cybertron and Earth, a chunk of Cybertron broke off and landed in Earth's oceans, causing a tidal wave. Caught up in the event, Onslaught and Brawl were rescued by Starscream and Astrotrain. Landing at the fragment of Cybertron, the two reunited with the other Combaticons, the group pledging fealty to Starscream. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 14|Transformers #14}}

After being fully repaired, the Combaticons were deployed into battle against Soundwave's faction, forming Bruticus as their opening salvo. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 15|Transformers #15}}

Bruticus then engaged in combat with the Constructicons (having formed Devastator), before they (along with the rest of the Decepticons fighting in the city) were both washed away by a flood after Optimus destroyed a nearby dam. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 16|Transformers #16}}

Both factions of Decepticons then took their fight to the city of [[Seattle]], where the two Combiners’ fighting caused immense destruction throughout the city, {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 17|Transformers #17}} which climaxes in Devastator following Bruticus up a high-rise building they scale to come to the aid of a wounded Starscream, grabbing them by the head and jumping off the building, taking Bruticus with them, engulfing the surrounding area in dust as a result of the impact. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 18|Transformers #18}}

{{ongoing}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
The Combaticons were a tight-knit unit of elite soldiers. {{storylink|Decepticon Directive}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
[[File:G1Onslaught toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"How come the other Combaticons aren't as tall as I am? Because I'm a natural-born leader, HAH!"]]
[[File:G1Vortex toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"Ride the whirlwind! Slag, I got it wrong!"]]
[[File:Bruticus toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"Rargh... humans transform Bruticus wrong... and blame Bruticus's design..."]]
*'''Combaticons''' (1986/1991)
**[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]
**[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
**[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
**[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
**[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]

:*''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-69'''

:As a [[Scramble City (toyline)|Scramble City]]-style [[combiner]] team, the Combaticon team includes four small toys, sold carded at the $5 price point, and one large leader toy, sold boxed for $12 or so and including all the combiner [[kibble]]. They were available as part of the 1986 and 1987 assortments. In most markets, the Combaticons were only sold as individuals; the combined [[giftset]] was only available in Japan and Italy.

:Like their counterparts, the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]], the four small Combaticons feature unique transformation schemes. All have attachable weapons for their vehicle modes. Posability varies from figure to figure; Brawl and Swindle have knee and "elbow" joints (their shoulder joints are halfway down their arms), but their legs are conjoined at the knees. Blast Off and Vortex feature an early use of [[ball joint]]s in their shoulders, giving them near-universal range of motion, but are otherwise similarly limited.

:Like the other three original Scramble City teams, the small limbs can attach to [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s robot mode, while the leader can be used to make an additional ramp/platform for Metroplex or [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]].

:All five Combaticons were later available as part of the [[Europe]]an ''[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]'' line in 1991.

:The Combaticon molds have been frequently redecoed (and slightly retooled) over the years; they have been used to make ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Operation Combination (toyline)|Operation Combination]]'' [[Battle Gaia]], [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'']] [[Ruination (RID)|Ruination]], and ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Ruination. They are also a favorite for [[Knockoff|bootleg]] toy manufacturers to copy, sometimes sold with bizarre new names like [[Onslaught (G1)|Tugging Gun]], [[Swindle (G1)|Copter]], [[Blast Off (G1)|Secpmdary]], [[Onslaught (G1)|Steel Generals]], [[Blast Off (G1)|Secondary Brain]], [[Brawl (G1)|Panzer]], [[Vortex (G1)|Armament]], and [[Bruticus (G1)|Steel Hetman]].
{{--}}

===''Generation 2''===
*'''Combaticons''' (1993)
**Onslaught
**Brawl
**Blast Off
**Swindle
**Vortex

:A redeco of the Generation 1 molds that looks like they just went through a paintball war... and lost. They all combine and kick Superion's behind as the big, bad, battling Bruticus.

*'''Bruticus''' (Box set, 2012)
{{toydesigner|[[Andrew Franks]] (deco artist)}}
[[File:Generationstoy-G2Bruticus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"You all laughed when I wore these colors before.
WHO'S LAUGHING NOW!?"]]
: Bruticus is a G2-styled giftset [[exclusive]] to [[Amazon (website)|Amazon]] and [[BigBadToyStore]], containing [[redeco]]es of the ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]]'' Combaticons in their ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' colors with G2-style Decepticon insignia. This may be considered a tie-in to Amazon's preorder bonus for the game: a "''Generation 2''"-themed skin for Bruticus.

{{--}}

===''Alternators''===
*'''Swindle''' (2004)

{{main|Swindle (G1)#Alternators}}

===''Universe'' (2008)===
*'''Onslaught''' (Legends of Cybertron, 2008)
*'''Onslaught''' (Ultra, 2008)

{{main|Onslaught (G1)#Universe (2008)}}

[[File:Universe-ROTF-toy BruticusMaximus.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Bruticus Maximus''' (2008)

: The ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' Combaticons are [[redeco]]s of the ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Destruction Team]]. In this incarnation, Swindle is a helicopter and Blast Off is a tank, while their combined form is known as Bruticus Maximus for [[trademark]] reasons. They were only available as a Bruticus Maximus multi-pack.

: The Combaticons are identical to the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Combaticon (ROTF)|Combaticons]].
{{--}}

===''United''===
*'''Bruticus Maximus''' (2012)

:Released exclusively in Takara's Asian markets, this redeco of the ''Energon'' Bruticus Maximus set has colours similar to the previous ''Universe'' (2008)/''Revenge of the Fallen'' release, but with a much greater emphasis on G1-accuracy. Additionally, the hand/feet/weapons previously cast in translucent coloured plastic are now opaque grey.

===''Kre-O''===
*'''Decepticon Bruticus''' (Micro-Changer Combiner, 2013)
**''Set number'': '''A2225'''

:One of the first ''[[Kre-O]]'' [[Micro-Changer]] combiner sets, Bruticus includes four [[Kreon]]s: [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]], [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]], [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] and [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]. These four component Kreons can be rebuilt into their alternate modes or taken apart and combined into Bruticus. While he is not included in the set, [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] was made available through the first wave of blind-bagged Micro-Changers and can be built onto Bruticus if you're feeling creative.

===''Combiner Wars''===
[[File:CWBruticus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|[[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)|Peace]] [[Bruticus Maximus (ROTF)|at]] [[Bruticus (WFC)#Generations|last.]] [[Transformers Unite Warriors|(Just kidding.)]]]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Onslaught''' (Voyager Class, [[2016]])}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Decepticon Blast Off''' (Deluxe Class, 2016)}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Brawl''' (Deluxe Class, 2016)}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Swindle''' (Deluxe Class, 2016)}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Decepticon Vortex''' (Deluxe Class, 2016)}}</ul>
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Decepticon Shockwave''' (Legends Class, 2016)}}</ul>
{{toydesigner|[[Shogo Hasui]] (TakaraTomy)}}

: Designed in the "Scramble City" style, all four Deluxe Combaticons can each become either an arm or a leg, and come with double-barrelled guns that can transform into either a foot or a fist to complete the limb. The stock photography shows Blast Off and Vortex as arms and Swindle and Brawl as legs. Notably, he is the first 'classic' combiner in the [[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]] series to not have a 'replacement' member. Continuing the aforementioned theme, however, Blast Off is a jet (a redeco of [[Slingshot (G1)#Combiner Wars|Quickslinger]]) instead of a space shuttle or a tank. Shockwave transforms into the combiner robot's handheld weapon.

: Originally there were plans to have a running change in Onslaught's colors; initial shipments were to feature the Bruticus chest cast in silver for a Bruticus-accurate color scheme, while a tan Onslaught-accurate color scheme was also revealed. However, the tan variant never made it to retail.

:Like [[Defensor (G1)#Generations|Defensor]] before them, all four limbs were released in the same wave, making it much easier to complete a set.

{{-}}{{anchor|CWG2}}{{anchor|CombinerWarsG2}}
[[File:CW-toy Bruticus G2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|TASTE THE RAINBOW. TASTE IT!!!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Bruticus''' (Collection Pack, 2016)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Weapons/combiner extremities, Onslaught's two guns, Blast Off's gun, Vortex's gun, Brawl's barrel rifle, Swindle's gun

: The whole <s>metamorphin' Dudicus</s> big, bad, battlin' Bruticus team was redecoed in their ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' colors, packed with a sorta-generically ''Generation 2''-esque, vaguely-[[Action Master]]-version-ish deco'd version of [[Shockwave (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Shockwave]]. However, despite being (broadly) accurate in their base colors, all of the Combaticons have Generation 1 insignias, while Shockwave comes with the movie version of the Decepticon faction symbol.

: There is no ''Generation 2''-colored version of the Space Shuttle Blast Off toy, sorry. You only get the jet.

: Weirdly, the ''backs'' of the antennae on Bruticus's head are painted silver, rather than the front where they'd be far more noticeable/make any amount of sense. On the other hand, the original ''Generation 2'' Bruticus had unpainted antennae, so hey.

: This version of the combiner was only sold as a complete team in a big box set, which also included a poster and a collector card based on the packaging art. This set was sold "exclusively" through multiple online outlets, though it eventually found its way to closeout retailers like TJ Maxx and Ross the following holiday season for well below its original price, alongside more or less all of the other "Collection Pack" semi-exclusives in the line.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2016/Decepticon/CWG2Bruticus/bruticus.htm More information on Generation 2 ''Combiner Wars'' Bruticus at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:Combiner-Wars-Special-Edition-Deluxe-Blast-Off.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Decepticon Blast Off''' (Special Edition Deluxe, [[2018]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Blaster, gun/fist/foot, [[The Fallen/toys#SpecialEdition|Megatronus]] [[Prime Master]]

:''Combiner Wars'' Special Edition Blast Off is a redeco of his [[#Unite Warriors 2|''Unite Warriors'' mold]], featuring a dark brown deco more accurate to his original toy (essentially, plastic colors almost identical to the original ''Combiner Wars'' jet figure), as well as Shuttler's reverse chest as compared to the ''Unite Warriors'' release. If desired, his torso can be disassembled and reassembled in the same configuration as the ''Unite Warriors'' release. As part of a trio of "Special Edition" toys celebrating the ''[[Prime Wars Trilogy]]'', he is packaged in a premium window box and includes a redeco of the [[The Fallen/toys#Generations|Megatronus]] [[Prime Master]] (sans [[Bomb-Burst (G1)#Generations|Bomb-Burst]] decoy suit) cast in translucent red plastic.

:Blast Off was first publicly revealed via preorder listings on Amazon and several Asia-based toy retailers without prior announcement from Hasbro.
{{-}}

===''Unite Warriors''===
[[File:TF-UW07-Bruticus.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Combatron Combined Soldier Bruticus''' (giftset, [[June 25]], [[2016]])
**''ID number:'' '''UW-07'''
**''English name:'' '''Decepticon Combaticons Combiner Bruticus'''
{{toydesigner|[[Hisashi Yuki]] (TakaraTomy)}}

:The ''Unite Warriors'' release of the set includes a cartoon-accurate color scheme, and a new Blast Off mold.
{{-}}

===''Age of the Primes''===
[[File:AOTP-Vortex-Stock.jpg|upright=1.75|thumb|Age Of The Primes Vortex]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''1 of 5: [[Vortex_(G1)#Age_of_the_Primes|Combaticon Vortex]]'''
(Deluxe Class, [[2025]])}}
{{Bp-d1|'''2 of 5: [[Blast_Off_(G1)#Age_of_the_Primes|Combaticon Blast Off]]'''
(Deluxe Class, [[2026]])}}
{{Bp-d1|'''3 of 5: [[Brawl_(G1)#Age_of_the_Primes|Combaticon Brawl]]'''
(Voyager Class, [[2026]])}}
{{Bp-d1|'''4 of 5: [[Onslaught_(G1)#Age_of_the_Primes|Onslaught]]'''
(Commander Class, [[2026]])}}
{{Bp-d1|'''5 of 5: [[Swindle (G1)#Age of the Primes|Combaticon Swindle]]'''
(Voyager Class, [[2026]])}}
{{toydesigner|[[Mark Maher]] (Hasbro), [[Takio Ejima]] and [[Shogo Hasui]] (TakaraTomy)|[[Amy Bence]] (packaging)<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMdjxMNBa7k Footage of the joint Hasbro/McFarlane Toys/Iron Studios panel] at [[CCXP#2025|CCXP 2025]] with [[Nate Purswell]] and [[Emily Bader]], recorded at the "Oficina dos Joes" YouTube channel</ref>}}

: Updated renditions of the Combaticons were released in the ''[[Transformers: Age of the Primes|Age of the Primes]]'' toyline, marking the most animation-accurate represention of the characters to date. Their combined form, [[Bruticus (G1)#Age of the Primes|Bruticus]], employs a similar limb combination method to that of ''Age of the Primes'' [[Superion (G1)#Age of the Primes|Superion]] and ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy]]'' [[Menasor (G1)#Legacy|Menasor]].
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===''Transformers Character Card''===
[[File:Transformers Character Card Bruticus and Defensor.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb]]
*'''Guardian & Bruticus Set''' ([[December]], [[2023]])
**''ID number:'' '''71 & 72'''

:Released as part of the tenth wave of the [[e-HOBBY]] exclusive ''[[Transformers Character Card]]'' series, this pair of holographic trading cards depict super-deformed art of "[[Defensor (G1)|Guardian]]" (with his components [[Blades (G1)|Blades]], [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]], [[Groove (G1)|Groove]], and [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]]) and [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (with ''his'' components [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]], [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]], [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]], [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] and [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]) along with [[bio|character profiles]] and [[Tech Spec|tech specs]].
::*''[[Source:Transformers Character Card#71|Translation of Defensor's Transformers Character Card]]''

{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:G1OddCombat.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Floro Dery does odd things.]]
*The Generation 1 cartoon [[character model]]s for the Combaticons look ''very'' little like their toys, much like the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]. This would seem to have spawned from [[:File:G1-Combaticon-early-patent-sketches.jpg|early patent drafts]] that featured the ''bare'' minimum of details, which were then used as the basis for the early, non-final Combaticon models (pictured at right). From there, the models were revised to the point where the finished character designs and toys had very little in common. Unlike the Stunticons, however; the finished Combaticon models ''do'' replace the original head designs with toy-accurate ones, which were likely based on the figures' [[package art]].
*The Combaticons are perhaps the most [[redeco]]ed Generation 1 combiner team, surpassing even the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s in this regard.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Combatron''' (コンバットロン ''Konbattoron''), '''Combaticon''' (コンバッティコン ''Konbattikon'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Zhàn Chē Duì''' (China, 战车队, "Combat Vehicles Team")
*''French:'' '''Combatican''' (Europe, "Combaticon")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Csatarobot''' ("Battle-robot")
*''Italian:'' '''Combacticon'''
*''Portuguese:'' '''Combatantes'''
*''Russian:'' '''Boevikon''' (Боевикон, "Thrillercon")

[[Category:Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category:Combaticons| Combaticon (G1)]]
[[Category:Combiner teams]]
[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Elite Guard]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Generation 2 subgroups]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) subgroups]]
[[Category:Kre-O subgroups]]
[[Category:Transformers Character Card Decepticons]]
[[Category:Unite Warriors subgroups]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Wings Universe subgroups]]

MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Combaticon (G1)

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Talk:Aftermath (disambiguation)