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Autobot

2024-08-05T07:25:58Z

Dwlee522: /* Foreign names */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|ttautobot|sgAutobot|{{factions/icons|custom=Ancient_Autobot_Symbol.png|cSize=30x30px|cLink=Autobot|cPretty=Ancient Autobot}}}}
{{disambig2|the faction|Generation 2 watch-Autobot|Autobot (G2)}}
[[File:Symbol autobot reg.png|upright=1.4|thumb|If you don't recognize this [[Insignia|symbol]], what the heck are you doing here?]]

{{quote|[['Til all are one]].|Autobot rally cry|''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''}}

The '''Autobots''' are one of the primary factions in the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'']] mythos. They usually find themselves defending both their own race and other species against the [[Decepticon]]s and upholding justice and freedom throughout the galaxy.

They are considered "the good guys" in most, but not in [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|all]] Transformers stories.

A generally heroic, honorable group, they tend to be dedicated to peace, and feel a need to protect other races from the Decepticons. As a result, they are usually Transformers who change into non-combat oriented [[alternate mode]]s such as domestic vehicles, cars, trucks, or rescue vehicles. This is not ''always'' the case, however, as their ranks certainly contain ne'er-do-wells, malcontents, and unsavory types, and the necessities of war have led many to adopt more combat-oriented alternate forms. While the Autobots have usually found themselves outnumbered by the Decepticons, the Autobots have always had home-field advantage, having not only the humans' military support, but also having more places on Earth to fall back on, while the Decepticons are entirely unwelcome on Earth.

Key concepts that repeat throughout most continuities are the use of the name [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] (or a variation thereof) to denote Autobot leadership, and the existence of an artifact of great life-giving power, usually referred to as a "[[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]", traditionally held by their [[Prime (rank)|leader]].

The collective noun for Autobots is an "exaltation".<ref>"...more dangerous than an exaltation of Autobots." — [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]], ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac]]'' (2009) p 101</ref>

{{bigquote|Few beings think of themselves as evil. Many justify their actions as good, even if they are not. But if you believe the 'good guys' would not harm any life-form, then you may consider me a member of that team.|[[Gears (ROTF)|Gears]]|''[[Transformers Classified: Switching Gears|Switching Gears]]''|width=800px}}

==Generation 1 / Beast Era==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
[[File:Primag2.jpg|left|thumb|The birth of Prima, the first Autobot. Just before Primus went around handing out cigars.]]
In the beginning [[Primus]] created the Transformers, a race of living robots that could change their bodies into the likeness of weapons, vehicles, and machinery, and all Transformers were Autobots, and he saw that they were good. The Autobot symbol (or [[insignia|Autobrand]] as it is sometimes called) was based on the face of the [[Last Autobot]], the sleeping guardian Primus left for the day when his plans came to fruition.

At first Autobot numbers were small (a mere [[Thirteen|13]] began things), but through [[Reproduction|budding]] they expanded their race to fill the planet. When the correct level of population was reached, a mechanism triggered and memory of the process was wiped from the Transformers minds. At some point in these early days Unicron was able to reach through the mental link he shared with Primus and sow the seeds of corruption in a few Autobots, though this dark cult of Unicron would not bear fruit for a long time.

Eons passed in relative peace. Autobot society formed its own traditions, institutions, city-states and politics. From a human perspective this society resembled that of ancient Rome. [[Senate|Senators]] and [[Emirate]]s governed wisely or corruptly, priests worshipped Primus and passed his holy Matrix to the chosen bearer (the lineage: [[Prima]] to [[Prime Nova]], Prime Nova to [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]), gladiatorial games were held for sport and entertainment, and above it all the [[Overlord (rank)|Overlords]] ruled.

It was only with the advent of [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] at the end of the [[Golden Age]], coinciding with the death of the last hereditary Overlord, and the subsequent rise of the Decepticons, that the words "Autobot" and "Transformer" ceased being necessary synonyms and the population was divided by war.

[[File:Optimusprimeg1marvelfirst.jpg|thumb|Optimus Prime appears to turn the tide.]]
In the early days of the war the Autobots were overwhelmed by the Decepticon war machine. They fell back again and again and for a while it looked like the war would be quickly lost... and then a young warrior rose from their ranks and rallied the troops to fight back. He made his reputation by denying Megatron access to the [[Underbase]], soon rose to command the Autobots' elite air corps, and then, at last, was granted full command of all Autobot armies. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] had turned the tide, and under his leadership the Autobots fought back until Megatron's war machine was stalled out and stalemated.

[[File:Marvel71 neversurrender.jpg|left|thumb|They won't need to. They'll just crumble to bits]]
The war ground on until Autobot scientists detected that their planet's path was going to pass through a deadly asteroid belt. Putting the planet-wide conflict aside for the moment they turned their attention to planetary salvation and the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] was built.

[[File:MarvelUS01-AutobotLineup.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|And now, shadow puppet theatre.]]
Optimus and a crew of his best soldiers took the Ark into space and cleared a path for the planet through the asteroid field. Unfortunately with their power depleted from that Herculean task they were then ambushed by Megatron and his Decepticons. The crews of both ships were lost to history.

Without Megatron or Prime the pace of the war slowed considerably. Still, fighting continued and both sides dug in for a long bitter struggle. In Prime's absence [[Xaaron|Emirate Xaaron]] led the Autobot forces in their struggle to retake their homeworld.

[[File:Autobots-disintegratedcircuits1.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

The next four million years passed quickly (as it is wont to do) and without any major alteration (only a general degradation) of the situation. Finally news came to Cybertron: Optimus Prime and his forces lived! Yet this news came at a steep price, as it meant a new front had opened in the war. Optimus Prime and his forces fought the Decepticons on the distant world of Earth, while Xaaron, his [[Wreckers]], and others carried on the war for Cybertron.

Despite Prime's dedication to protecting Earth, Autobot/Human relations were not good. Humanity viewed all Transformers as threats and attacked any they discovered regardless of faction. Industrialist [[G.B. Blackrock]] tried to inform the public that there were two factions, with the Autobots being the benign faction, but the [[Intelligence and Information Institute]], the government agency tasked with countering the Transformers, was either unable or unwilling to distinguish between factions.

Not long after his survival was discovered, tragedy struck and Optimus Prime was killed on Earth. The Dinobot commander [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] took on the leadership of Prime's soldiers, though he favored the abandonment of Earth and a renewed focus on Cybertron.

At roughly the same time, the great Autobot warrior [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] reached an important decision. He was tired of the war and if he could not end it he would leave it behind. Gathering a large following of likeminded warriors he left Cybertron for the world of Nebulos in hopes of a new and peaceful life. This was not to be. Decepticons followed Maximus and opened a third front to the war. In the end both factions abandoned Nebulos and Maximus led them to Earth to unite with the forces under Optimus Prime.

[[File:LastAutobot.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|From Prima to Last Autobot, we come full circle. You may close your notebooks.]]
However, when they arrived they discovered Prime dead and Grimlock less than welcoming. Grimlock and Maximus attempted to establish a single Autobot leader with trial by combat, but were interrupted by a devastating Decepticon attack. The upside of it all was that they ended up putting their differences aside and Optimus Prime was soon reborn to take up leadership of the Earth-based forces once again.

Not long after, a dimensional transporter accident led to the rediscovery and accidental disturbance of Primus deep in the center of Cybertron. The Autobots learned that their ancient myths about Primus were the truth, and Unicron was now coming for them. Since the Creation Matrix had been lost and corrupted, Optimus Prime offered the Autobots' unconditional surrender to the Decepticons in the hopes that this would lead the two factions to stand together against the coming threat. It did, and the Matrix was retrieved and purified in time to stop Unicron. Both Optimus Prime and Emirate Xaaron were killed in the battle, and Grimlock ascended to Autobot leadership again, this time over all Autobots.

The alliance with the Decepticons would be short lived. Cybertron appeared to be destroying itself and the Decepticons betrayed the Autobots, leaving them to die with their world. Grimlock's leadership led to the Autobots escaping that trap, and walking right into a different one. Oops. Thankfully, the awakening of the Last Autobot saved Cybertron and led to the rebirth of Optimus Prime, who reclaimed Autobot leadership and beat the Decepticons once and for all.

''(From this point the Marvel Generation 2, the Fun Publication's Classics comics and Regeneration One continue the story in separate and mutually exclusive directions.)''

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
The war finally over, most of the Autobots retired to the revived and prosperous Cybertron. It wasn't to last. Grimlock led a crew of Autobots not ready to take a vacation and put their feet up to try and track down any remaining Decepticon trouble. They found more than they could imagine as they discovered a vast and militant Empire constructed across the stars by Decepticons who left Cybertron long ago.

At the same time, Megatron reared his head again on Earth and soon the surviving Decepticons from the end of the war joined him, intent on restarting the war on Earth. It was not long before Decepticons and Autobots were teamed up against the forces of the Cybertronian Empire. Though this new conflict never touched the revived Cybertron, Earth was devastated by it. The Bot/Con alliance won, but how long this new alliance would last and what [[Liege Maximo|new threats]] awaited remained a question.

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

{{groupstub}}

====''Regeneration One''====
Twenty one years after [[Klo]], the Autobots had cemented their rule over Cybertron and rebuilt their planet. The ardent pacifism of Optimus Prime however prevented decisive action to end the renascent Decepticon threat on Cybertron as well as the tying up of loose ends on other planets. This attitude proved unpopular among the command staff of the Autobots with both [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] and [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] breaking ranks to deal with these issues themselves. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 1}} {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 2}}

While on [[Nebulos]], Grimlock was detained by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 5}} who revealed he had developed the [[Gene Key]], a device that altered the [[CNA]] of Cybertronians to activate the "warrior gene" and turn all Autobots into loyal Decepticons. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}} Though pretending to agree to join Scorponok, Grimlock managed to inform [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] of the plan who managed to neutralize the Gene Key before its abilities could be broadcasted on a planetary scale. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Five}} In spite of this, the actions many Autobots turned themselves in for war crimes they felt they had committed under the Key's influence. {{storylink|Destiny, Part One}}

After an attack by [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] was turned into "Rodimus Prime" and became the new leader of the Autobots. Concurrently, a group of Autobots construction workers was loaned to Optimus Prime to aid in the construction of a Space Bridge network between [[Earth]] and Nebulos. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 1}} When the rogue senator [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] returned to Cybertron, he engaged in some false pleasantries with Rodimus Prime before the Autobots went to war with the Cybertronian Empire. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 2}} {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}} {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}}

The victory proved pyrrhic at best. While the Autobots were away, the [[Dark Matrix]] had turned the entirety of Cybertron's population into [[shadow-leech]]es. Though the Autobots managed to defeat the malignant entity, it left them deprived of their biological immortality, eventually dying out millions of years into the future. The last Autobot, indeed the last Cybertronian, wound up being Rodimus Prime. Upon his death, the last vestiges of his [[spark]] energy served to ignite the [[Botanica (BM)|new generation]] of Cybertronians. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}

====''Transformers '84''====
Though managing to offer sufficient resistance to divert Megatron's attention away from [[Project Dreadnought]], {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 1|Secrets & Lies #1}} the Autobots were outmatched by the aggressors. Feeling that Megatron was the lynchpin of the Decepticon army, Optimus Prime conspired to trap his opposite off Cybertron, feeling that it would give his army a fighting chance. Aware that such an act would be sacrificial, Optimus left command of the Autobots to Ultra Magnus. {{storylink|Transformers '84 issue 0|Transformers '84 #0}}

Despite Optimus' gambit succeeding, [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] emerged as the new [[Decepticon leader]] and aggressively accelerated the campaign against the Autobots. When [[Punch (G1)|Punch]] brought the news that Straxus sought to restart Project Dreadnought, Ultra Magnus received a pep talk from Impactor and Roadbuster that inspired him to take a more decentralized approach to command. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 3|Secrets & Lies #3}} After the new commando team, the [[Wreckers]], had destroyed Project Dreadnought, [[Autobot High Command]] was led by Magnus, [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]], and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] who opted for a decentralized response to the increasingly fragmented war. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 4|Secrets & Lies #4}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:BetasAutobotRebels.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|There just weren't as many characters to cosplay as in the old days.]]
The Autobots originated as a line of non-living consumer goods robots, created by the [[Quintesson]]s alongside the military hardware robots that would become the Decepticons. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Developing sentience and emotion, the robots turned on their alien masters, though the Quintessons' gargantuan [[Dark Guardian]] robots made victory an unlikely prospect. A major tipping point occurred when the rebel leader [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A-3]] used his [[Coder Remote]], hidden within his slave brand, to deactivate the Dark Guardians, striking a major blow against the Quintessons and forever transforming the brand into a mark of autonomy that eventually became the Autobots' faction insignia. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}} At some point in these early days, the Autobots somehow gained possession of the mysterious [[Matrix of Leadership]], which was carried by each successive leader of their race, and became a repository for their consciousness upon their passing. During the early days of Quintesson rule, it was carried by [[Primon]], who was succeeded by the first robot to challenge the Quintessons, [[Prima]], followed by the leader during the rebellion, [[Prime Nova]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}
[[File:FFOD4 passing the matrix.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2]]
After the Quintessons were successfully forced from Cybertron, a period of peace descended during which the Autobots—as they now called themselves—began building a civilization, but the warlike Decepticons soon declared war on them, claiming the lives of leaders [[Guardian Prime]] and [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Outmatched by their enemies, many Autobots fled Cybertron, seeking to start new lives free of conflict elsewhere in the universe, {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}} settling on planets such as [[Paradron]]. {{storylink|Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee}} Outmached in strength and firepower, the Autobots turned instead to stealth, inventing the art of [[transformation]]. Using this power, Autobot leader [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] defeated [[Trannis]], and ended the war. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}
[[File:MTMTE2 stick it in neutral.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
Peace settled over Cybertron and what became known as the [[Golden Age]] began, but around nine million years ago, the Decepticons struck back, now under the command of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. Megatron slew Sentinel Prime, who passed stewardship of the Matrix to A-3—now Alpha Trion—who was busy working on a means of rebuilding the Autobots so they would be able to fight the Decepticons on equal footing. When a wounded young robot named [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Orion Pax]] was brought to Alpha Trion, Trion repaired him using the process, rebuilding him as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and giving him the Matrix that he might serve as the leader of the first of a new breed of war-ready Autobot. {{storylink|War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn}} Under Prime's leadership, 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. Optimus Prime's best and brightest departed on this quest aboard [[Ark (G1)|a spacecraft]], but were pursued and attacked by Megatron's elite, leading all involved to a crash-land on prehistoric Earth, entombed in stasis for four million years. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}
[[File:CosmicRust-BigGroup.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"Incompetent fools! There's only like seven Decepticons and fifty of us!"]]

In 1984, a volcanic eruption awakened the Transformers, and their war for energy continued on Earth. Believing the Decepticons had been defeated, the Autobots entered into an alliance with Earth's governments for the energy needed to repair their ship and return to Cybertron, {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}} but the unanticipated return prompted Optimus Prime and his men to stay on Earth to defend the planet. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion (episode)|Transport to Oblivion}} The Autobots rebuilt their spaceship to serve as their headquarters, integrating it with the volcano it lay in, and maintained a position of superiority on Earth over the following years, aided by their human allies in world's governments and the [[Witwicky (surname)|Witwicky]] family, and regularly bolstered by the addition of new troops from various quarters.
[[File:FightorFlee future autobots.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
Over the next twenty years, the Decepticons managed to drive the Autobots from Cybertron, forcing them to operate out of two bases on Cybertron's moons with a reserve force at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on Earth. In 2005, learning that the Autobots were preparing a major assault, the Decepticons [[Battle of Autobot City|besieged Autobot City]], leading to a battle which saw the deaths of many Autobots, including Optimus Prime, who passed leadership to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] before dying. Subsequently, the planet-eating [[Unicron]] attacked Cybertron, but the young Autobot [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] was able to prove himself Optimus's true successor when he used the Matrix to destroy Unicron, transformed in the process by its power into Rodimus Prime. Under Rodimus's leadership, the Autobots routed the remaining Decepticons on Cybertron, shattered by Unicron's attack, and they finally retook their home planet. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
The Autobots remained in control of Cybertron throughout 2006, slowly working to revitalize their homeworld while defending with comparative ease against various attacks by the surviving Decepticons, and the manipulations of the returned Quintessons. [[File:Rebirthpt2 headmasters charge.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2]] They did not neglect their adopted home-world of Earth, either, regularly working with [[Earth Defense Command]] to protect the planet. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness}} Despite the successes enjoyed under his leadership, Rodimus Prime was never comfortable with the burden of command, and happily relinquished it when Optimus Prime was later restored to life. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

In 2007, when the Decepticons mounted an all-out attack on Cybertron's [[Plasma Energy Chamber]], several Autobots were hurled across the galaxy by a blast of the chamber's power to the planet [[Nebulos]]. There, they became [[binary bonding|binary bonded]] to a cell of local rebels as [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]], helping them to defeat the planet's evil rulers, the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]]. Returning to Cybertron with the key to the Plasma Energy Chamber, they were able to thwart the Decepticons' plan to destroy Cybertron and Earth with the chamber, instead using its power to revitalize their home-world and restore the Golden Age. {{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:FourWarriorsfromtheSky.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]

Following Optimus Prime's resurrection, the Decepticons retreated into hiding, allowing the Autobots to expand their operations. A new major command post was set up on the planet [[Athenia]], and plans were made to terraform the planet into a second Cybertron, but this was tabled when the Decepticons returned in 2011, attempting to seize control of Cybertron through [[Vector Sigma]]. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} Bolstered by the addition of Headmasters to their ranks—Cybertronians who had left their planet long ago and taken up residence on the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], led by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]]—the Autobots were able to thwart their plan, but in the effort, Optimus Prime died once again, and Rodimus Prime became leader again. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} Rodimus's tenure was short-lived when, after a Decepticon bomb plot resulted in the destruction of Cybertron, he passed leadership to Fortress and set off into space to find a new homeworld for the Transformers. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}} Under Fortress's leadership, the Autobots succeeded in preventing a Decepticon plan to destroy the Earth with [[plasma energy]], and finally forced the evil robots off the planet for good. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
[[File:FourChojinWarriors.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2]]
The Autobots likewise withdrew from Earth, and, staging their operations from Athenia, proceeded to engage their enemies in a series of space-based exchanges known as the [[Master Wars]]. {{storylink|The Headmasters Now!!}} Learning that the mysterious alien [[Devil Z]] had taken control of the Decepticons and had a scheme brewing on Earth, Fortress left defense of the planet to a small team of [[Pretender]]s led by [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]], who had been operating there in secret among human civilization since neolithic times. {{storylink|Rise Up!! Pretenders}} To protect Earth against Devil Z's schemes, the Pretenders recruited human beings to become merged with Transformer technology as [[Headmaster Junior]]s and [[Godmaster (lifeform)|Godmasters]], and the most powerful of their number, [[Ginrai (human)|Ginrai]], destroyed Devil Z in combat. {{storylink|A Battle... and Then...}}
[[File:Brainmasters victory cartoon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
Following Devil Z's defeat, the Decepticons reorganized under [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] and began attacking planets all across the universe, prompting the Autobots to step up their game, allying with humanity and many other races to form the star-spanning [[Universal Peace Alliance]]. The Autobot swordsman [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]] was appointed the Autobots' new Supreme Commander and head of the alliance's Universal Defense Force, and led his elite [[Brainmaster]] and [[Multiforce]] troops in defending the Earth when it was targeted by Deathsaurus as a source of energy to re-power his [[Planet-Destroying Fortress]] in 2025. {{storylink|The Brave Hero of the Universe - Star Saber}}
[[File:SkyGarry1.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2]]
Star Saber was later injured defending the planet [[Feminia]] against the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]] and was succeeded as Autobot leader by [[Powered Master]] [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]], who foiled the evil entity [[Violengiguar]]'s plans for conquest using the power of the enigmatic [[Zodiac]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Zone (franchise)|Zone}} The Zodiac presented a possible avenue to resurrect the legendary Optimus Prime, so Dai Atlas entrusted both it and interim Autobot leadership to [[Sky Garry (G1)|Sky Garry]], who rescued Prime's body from the evil alien [[Dark Nova]]. Revived by the Zodiac as "Star Convoy," Prime destroyed Dark Nova. {{storylink|Transformers: Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy}}

In the year [[2035]], with Autobot/Decepticon conflict mostly occurring in space once again, the Autobots and humanity joined forced to develop [[Power Core Combination]] technology. This powerful new tech drew the Decepticons' attention back to the planet, but the schemes of their current eader [[Scrash (G1)|Scrash]] were put down by the new Autobot Power Core Combiners, [[Guard City]], and the Micromaster six-combiners. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Operation Combination (franchise)|Operation Combination}} {{storylink|Transformers United EX|United EX}} Following this, the Autobots and Decepticons laid down their arms and united to established the [[Cybertron Alliance]], rebuilding Cybertron. Unfortunately, Megatron soon turned to evil again, and Optimus Prime was forced to battle and defeat him in the [[Mirtonian constellation]], apparently bring the war to an end once and for all. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (pack-in manga)|G-2}} Alas, the Autobots had not reckoned with the time-travelling [[Galvatron II]], who arrived from another timeline to take control of the Decepticons and continue the war, and so bolstered their ranks to fight back with mass-produced [[Eldedroid]]s. {{storylink|MP-1B Cybertron Commander / Convoy Black Ver.|e-HOBBY storyline}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon===
{{main|Maximal}}

During the Great War, the Autobots launched the ''Ark'', a warship containing their mightiest heroes. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}} When the war reignited on Earth, the Autobots would be aided by the native humans, an act which history recorded as having been an important factor in securing an Autobot victory in the war. {{storylink|Code of Hero}}

The war finally ended with the Autobots defeating the Decepticons; peace was declared with the signing of the [[Pax Cybertronia]], with a few Decepticons granted amnesty and retiring to live in peace. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 1)}} The Autobots would eventually be succeeded by the [[Maximal]]s, who had little hard facts regarding their ancestors, viewing the Autobots as ancient legendary figures. {{storylink|Possession}} However, the Decepticons' descendants, the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]], lived as second-class citizens as a consequence of their ancestors having surrendered to the Autobots. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}

===''Beast Machines'' cartoon===
[[File:ProwlMaybe BM.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Where's your Pax Cybertronia now?]]
When [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] subdued Cybertron's population with his [[Transformation virus|virus]], he extracted their sparks and used their bodies as raw materials for building [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]. [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] and his team discovered a junkyard/factory with acres of these corpses, one of which very clearly bore the Autobot symbol (and an uncanny resemblance to [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]). {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}} Also, among the [[Vehicon General]]s were the revived Great War veterans [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], who may have been Autobots themselves. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike}}

===3H comics===
Many of the great Autobot and Decepticon heroes (such as Optimus Prime, Grimlock, Soundwave, and Megatron) retired to a strange quasi-reality called [[J'nwan]]. Almost all who tried to reach J'nwan and seek their aid succumbed to madness, and the ancient heroes did not appreciate being disturbed by any survivors. However, the great figures did eventually decide to fight once more at [[Point Omega]], an event which erased much of the timeline they had come from. It's unclear whether or not J'nwan or the events regarding it remained intact.

Meanwhile, some other Autobots and Decepticons, such as [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], and [[Devcon (G1)|Devcon]] did not enter J'nwan but remained active on Cybertron. Some Autobots became Maximals while others did not. {{storylink|Departure}} {{storylink|Betrayal}}

===2006 IDW ''Beast Wars'' continuity===
The three components of the combiner [[Magnaboss (BW)|Magnaboss]] are the Autobots [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. They vanished after the [[Pax Cybertronia]] was signed, but it is said they will return in a time of great need. {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:AutoLitho.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Come on you bots! Do you want to live forever?!?]]
The Autobots arose as the group who sided with Sentinel Prime and the [[Council of Ancients]] and opposed Megatron's desire for the conquest of Cybertron, but their inexperience with warfare led to a serious tactical disadvantage. Sentinel Prime led the war effort for half a million years, until Megatron killed him in combat, hoping to secure the Matrix from him. Sentinel's successor, Optimus Prime, originally decided to evacuate Cybertron, fearing that, even if the Autobots won, Cybertron would be a wasteland. However, a subsequent encounter between Optimus Prime and Megatron, where he learned of the planetary engines the Decepticon leader hoped to power with the Matrix, convinced Prime to remain on Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers: The War Within|The War Within}}

Later, Optimus Prime and Megatron disappeared in a space bridge explosion. Without strong leadership, both sides degenerated into factions. The [[Wreckers]] and the [[Lightning Strike Coalition]] broke off from the main Autobot army, which was led by Prowl. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}} After [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] took control of the Autobots, he reunified the factions, and manage to negotiate a cease-fire with [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave's]] Decepticons and Ratbat's [[Ultracon]]s. However, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream's]] [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]] made a last ditch assault, and Megatron suddenly returned leading the [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]], an army of [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] drones created by the Quintessons. Megatron managed to conquer Cybertron, forcing most of the Autobots into slavery and the escapees into hiding. The period of Autobot enslavement ended when Optimus Prime returned to Cybertron and the Air Warriors were destroyed. ''We don't know how.'' {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Age of Wrath|War Within: The Age of Wrath}}

Four million years before humans arose, Cybertron was threatened by a massive asteroid. The Autobots developed the ''Ark'' to destroy the asteroid. They were successful, but Megatron attacked with the ''Nemesis''. Both ships crashed on Earth, with both crews aboard the ''Ark''. On Cybertron, Ultra Magnus and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] worked to keep the Autobots from splitting up again. With energon growing scarce, Magnus agreed to work with Shockwave to create the [[Micromaster]]s, downsized Transformers intended for better fuel efficiency. Magnus also launched [[Operation: Containment]], a twofold program intended to prevent the Decepticons from threatening other planets and locating the ''Ark''. {{storylink|Transformers: Micromasters}} However, with the [[Great Shutdown]], all Transformers entered a period of enforced [[stasis lock]]. Shockwave was the first to be reactivated, and made peace with the Autobots, installing himself as Head of State with an [[Autobot High Council]] as a legislature.

On Earth, the Autobots on the ''Ark'' awoke in 1984. Cut off from Cybertron, and seeing that a sentient species had evolved around them, the Autobots resolved to defend Earth from the Decepticons. Over the next fifteen years, the Autobots were largely successful at preventing a Decepticon conquest, while also befriending the [[Witwicky (surname)|Witwicky]] family. Eventually, the Autobots allied with the humans and defeated the Decepticons, capturing them. However, rogue elements of the United States Military, apparently being manipulated by Shockwave, sabotaged the ''[[Ark II]]'', capturing several Autobots and most of the Decepticons, until the chief scientist, [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]], went rogue and set himself up as an arms dealer. [[Robert Hallo]], the original mastermind of the conspiracy, used [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] to reactivate Optimus Prime, who revived the Autobots and stopped a reactivated Megatron. {{storylink|Prime Directive}} A year later, Shockwave came to tie up loose ends and acquire the Matrix from Prime. A rebel Autobot cell managed to rescue Prime, who united the other resistance groups, and Shockwave was overthrown, bringing Cybertron under Autobot control. {{storylink|War and Peace}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
Over four million years ago, "Autobot" was a term used by other races to describe Cybertronians. It was derived from "automaton", describing how the species lived routine, monotonous lives without any change. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] was the first Transformer to lay claim to the name for their own use, saying it could stand for "autonomous" instead. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}} Under unknown circumstances, the name then came to be used by the [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s pre-war security forces. {{storylink|The Last Autobot}}

The symbol that would become the Autobot insignia was created over six million years ago by [[Onyx Prime]] to symbolize the alliance between eight [[Prime (rank)|Primes]], an alliance that would later become the [[Thirteen|Thirteen Primes]]. Onyx claimed that it was based on the face of [[Primus]] himself, described to him by [[Metrotitan (G1)|Metrotitan]], but in reality, Onyx was a temporally displaced [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] with the symbol being one of many ontological paradoxes he'd seeded history with. {{storylink|Origin Myths}} {{storylink|The Falling, Interlude: The First Who Was Named|The First Who Was Named}} As a symbol of the Primes' reign, it became considered a universal symbol of Cybertronians, and after their fall went on to be used by many other factions. {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}} By the time of the [[Senate]], it was used to represent Sentinel Prime's Autobots. {{storylink|The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin}}

Following the uprising of [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s Decepticon movement, [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] succeeded Sentinel and, joined by Orion Pax, refashioned the Autobots into an army to fight the Decepticons. However, Zeta's increasingly ruthless methods and neglect of the civilian populace made the faction widely unpopular. {{storylink|Law and Disorder}} Following Zeta's death, Orion Pax became Optimus Prime and convinced many neutral Cybertronians to join the Autobot army for the sake of defeating Megatron. {{storylink|Broadcast}}

With both Autobots and Decepticons now having powerful leaders and large armies, the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] between them broke out. Eventually, the Autobots spread across the galaxy and formed into small units to counter the Decepticon units infiltrating various planets. The two sides joined forces to combat [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] and the ensuing battle rendered Cybertron uninhabitable. {{storylink|The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer}}

Once the war ended, the Autobots governed over a "reset" Cybertron in an [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] populated primarily by [[NAIL|returning neutrals]]. They were disliked by most neutrals, who held them equally responsible for the war as the Decepticons, prompting Optimus Prime to step down and pass the mantle of Autobot leader to [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]]. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}} Bumblebee's attempts to control the situation went poorly, and following a resurgence of violence between Autobots and Decepticons, the neutrals voted to exile both factions from the city. Some Autobots responded by leaving the faction and becoming neutrals themselves. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head}} Following the [[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] event, they were allowed back into Iacon, and their fair trial of Megatron won back enough of the public trust that the neutrals even stopped referring to them as the "Autobot regime". {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}} By contrast, the humans viewed Megatron joining the Autobots as a betrayal, being incentive enough for them to agree to an alliance with [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}}

The Autobots experienced a major PR boost when Optimus Prime raised Metrotitan live on camera. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 5: As Above...So Below|As Above...So Below}} After Galvatron had been slain, {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 6: No Fair Fights|No Fair Fights}} Optimus toured the [[Cybertronian colonies|colony worlds]] and recruited [[Colonist Soldiers|a new generation of Autobots]]. {{storylink|Post}}

Soon enough, Onyx Prime returned to Cybertron and revealed himself as Shockwave. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 6: Unforgivable|Unforgivable}} When the final stage of Shockwave's master plan, [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] activated and launched its attack on the galaxy, the [[Autobot fleet]] tried to defend both the colonies, {{storylink|Last Stand (Unicron)|Last Stand}} {{storylink|Stranger Eons}} and Cybertron from the monster but were forced to evacuate their homeworld for Earth, leaving Cybertron to be destroyed. {{storylink|Our Finest}} {{storylink|Road's End}} Once Unicron had been felled, the Autobots settled onto Earth as their new home. {{storylink|Ceremony}} {{storylink|Post}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
After [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|a Predacon from an alternate future]] had slain Optimus Prime, {{storylink|A Change to the Agenda}} the Autobots reactivated in 1984 under the command of an unidentified leader. The Mini-Bots attempted to respond to a Decepticon raid at the [[British Museum]] but failed to stop their foes from making off with their prize. {{storylink|Cultural Appropriation}} In 1993, the Autobots worked with the humans to construct a [[warp gate]] on the edge of the Sol system. The war later moved off Earth and grew increasingly violent.

Ten years later however, Autobot/Human relations had deteriorated significantly as a result of the pan-galactic collateral damage to the point that the [[Earth Defense Command]] was formed to fight against all Cybertronians before a battle on [[New Earth]] caused humans to declare their space off-limits to Cybertronians. In 2026, the Autobot shuttle ''[[Star Arrow]]'' asked the human world of [[Tamil Duniya]] for aid only to be destroyed. {{storylink|Micro-Aggressions}}

At some point during the 21st century, the Autobots and Decepticons joined forces to save their homeworld from [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] before the war resumed. {{storylink|The Inexorable March}} After the Decepticons had invaded the planet [[Nebulos]], the Autobots travelled there to combat their foes, managing to use [[Nebulan]] technology to resurrect Optimus Prime. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}} {{storylink|Derailment}} The arrival of the [[Confederated Terran Colonial Fleet]] turned the Nebulan war hot. The Autobots responded to the violence by creating [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], an act which ultimately ended in the [[Scouring of Nebulos]]. The sheer loss of life resulted in the humans containing all Cybertronians in the [[Allowed Zone]]. The Autobots then fought [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s troops for control of the Allowed Zone but were ultimately defeated, forcing them to fall back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Micro-Aggressions}}

After [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] seized control of the Decepticons and the [[Underbase]], the Autobots joined with the not-completely bonkers Decepticons to combat this mutual threat. Once Thunderwing had been defeated, the Autobots and Decepticons reorganized themselves as the [[Builder of Cybertron|Builders of Cybertron]]. With [[Vector Sigma]] lost to them, [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] constructed the [[Energon Matrix]] to creates the Maximals, the successors to the Autobots. {{storylink|Broken Windshields}} {{storylink|Head Games}} {{storylink|Safe Spaces}}

During a raid on [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], [[Buzzclaw (BW)|Buzzclaw]] despaired that the Autobot symbol, once a symbol of hope and freedom, had become the symbol of the new generation of tyrants. {{storylink|Head Games}}

===''Of Masters and Mayhem''===
Once the ruling faction on Cybertron, the Autobots quickly found themselves outmatched by the Decepticon aggressors. {{storylink|The Truth We Make}} As the war continued with no end in sight, the Autobots commissioned Project: Ark to escape their wartorn world and serve as a representation of their hope that the war would one day end. {{storylink|The Toxic Transformer}} A few individual Autobots abandoned the cause and struck out on their own as the conflict continued. {{storylink|Life Finds a Way}}

The Decepticons eventually unleashed [[Thunder Mayhem]] on the planet, the combiner's destructive rampage wiping out Cybertronian civilization, the Autobots included. With Optimus Prime presumed, but not actually, dead, the Autobots were, for all intents and purposes, dissolved, factional allegiances taking on far less significance in the post-Cybertron era. {{storylink|Foundation and Wreckage Part 1: Deadly Aim|Deadly Aim}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
In [[Primax 185.0 Beta]], the Autobots launched the [[S.T.A.R.S.]] initiative. While the program met with initial successes, it would have disastrous long-reaching consequences as the Decepticons responded to it by creating the [[Decepto-Pack]]s, their [[hypno-chip]] derived technology enslaving hordes of [[human]]s that the Autobots proved unwilling to fire against. As a result, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] ordered the humans to construct a fleet of [[Zod]] drones, their raw power driving the Autobots to extinction, only [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] being known to survive. With their foes defeated, the [[Decepticon Empire]] launched an aggressive campaign of galactic conquest. The legacy of the Autobots would live however as Ratchet, aided by the [[Dreadnok]]s, managed to kill [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/06/04}}

===''Star Trek vs. Transformers''===
When an [[asteroid belt]] threatened to destroy Cybertron, the Autobots launched the ''Ark'' to clear a path for their homeworld. The task done, they were then boarded by the Decepticons, the ''Ark'' crashing on the nearby [[Earth]]. When the two factions awoke in the 1980s, they commenced a secret war over the planet's energon supply, the Autobots working alongside a handful of humans. Earth, however, soon fell victim to the [[Eugenics Wars]] and later [[World War III]], Optimus Prime deciding to abandon the blighted world aboard Fortress Maximus. Witnessing the extreme level of savagery and barbarism that humanity had inflicted upon itself left the Autobots with a decidedly low opinion of those whom they'd once sworn to protect.

After decades in space, the Autobots found the energon rich world of [[Cygnus Seven]] only to be once again boarded and sent crashing by the Decepticons. This time, they reawakened in the 23rd century by a [[Federation]] mining party that had roused Maximus' autonomic security protocols. Though the Autobots initially clashed with the landing party of the [[USS Enterprise|USS ''Enterprise'']], they soon allied with them against the Decepticon/[[Klingon]] alliance. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}} {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Three}}

The Decepticons, however, promptly abandoned the battle after Starscream had absconded with a bounty of [[dilithium]]. Brought to the ''Enterprise'', the Autobots used Cybertronian engineering to more quickly repair the ship. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Four}} During the flight, the Autobots helped build the "[[Crewbot]]s" allowing their allies to join them on [[Kronos]], the capital of the [[Klingon Empire]]. Backed up by [[Starfleet]] and the Klingons, the Autobots reengaged their foes only to fall victim to Soundwave's audio disruptor waves, being saved by the Klingons, deaf to Soundwave's frequency, summoning a fleet of [[Warbird (Star Trek)|warbirds]]. In the aftermath, the [[Klingon High Council]] allowed the Autobots to go in peace, though at the cost of leaving the Decepticons on Kronos. While [[James T. Kirk]] invited the Autobots back to the now peaceful Earth, Optimus declined, feeling his people's destiny lied elsewhere, and the Autobots resumed their own interstellar voyage. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Five}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
The Autobots were the oldest known faction on Cybertron. {{storylink|Orion Pax: Free Fall}} The movement's founder carried the [[Matrix of Leadership]] with the talisman subsequently becoming the symbol of office for the Autobot leader. {{storylink|War World: Titans|Titans}} Over time, the Autobots accumulated enough political power to become Cybertron's ruling body. They fought in [[War of the Threefold Spark|a war]] against [[Exarchon|Exarchon's Threefold Spark]] under the leadership of [[Nominus Prime]]. In the aftermath of the conflict, Nominus passed the [[Nominus Edict]], a law designed to help Cybertronian society heal. {{storylink|Orion Pax: Free Fall}}

In the modern day, [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] had succeeded Nominus as Autobot leader. By this time, Autobot law was increasingly frowned on by the common citizenry who began viewing the outdated policies as ones of constraint more than self-restraint. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two}} Despite this, the Autobots still held the majority in the [[Senate]]. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four}}

===''Transformers/Ghostbusters''===
With the Great War lost to them, the Autobots fled Cybertron, the ''Ark'' launching minutes before [[Gozer]] arrived to destroy their planet. Believing themselves the last Cybertronians in the universe, the Autobots drifted aimlessly in the ''Ark'' before they picked up a Cybertronian signal from the planet Earth, sending [[Ectotron|Ectronymous Diamatron]] to investigate. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}} After befriending the [[Ghostbusters]], Ectronymous found the source of the signal was the [[ghost]] of Starscream who'd sent out a signal to speak to the Autobots in the hopes that they could help him return to life. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 2}}

After Optimus Prime had been summoned to Earth, {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 3}} it was found that Starscream was working with the supernatural entity [[Kremzeek]] the Scavenger who sought the [[AllSpark]]. With the help of the [[Ghostbusters]], Optimus and Ectronymous - now calling himself "Ectotron" - were able to dispel Kremzeek but this act freed the trapped ghosts of [[Decepticon High Command]]. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4}} While Starscream managed to flee the planet, Megatron, Shockwave, Soundwave, were imprisoned in [[ghost trap]]s with Optimus taking them back to the ''Ark'' in the hopes of rehabilitating them before reviving them while Ectotron went his own way, becoming the first interstellar Ghostbuster as he searched for any other lost Cybertronian ghosts. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 5}}

===''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' cartoon===
{{groupstub|{{storylink|Siege episode 1}}{{storylink|Siege episode 2}}{{storylink|Siege episode 3}} {{storylink|Siege episode 4}}{{storylink|Siege episode 5}}{{storylink|Siege episode 6}}{{storylink|Earthrise episode 1}}{{storylink|Earthrise episode 2}}{{storylink|Earthrise episode 3}}{{storylink|Earthrise episode 4}}{{storylink|Earthrise episode 5}}{{storylink|Earthrise episode 6}}}}

===''Transformers vs. The Terminator''===
Millions of years prior to the human era, the ''Ark'' crashed on Earth, knocking the Autobots and Decepticons aboard in stasis. In the year 1984, the ship rebooted and reactivated [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] who proceeded to revive the rest of the Decepticons who executed most of the Autobots. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}} A few of their number survived to leave the ship but they had all been killed by the year [[2029]]. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part One}}

To prevent the Decepticon conquest of Earth, the AI [[Skynet]] sent a single [[T-800]] back to 1984 to destroy the Cybertronians. Its interference caused Optimus Prime to survive who proposed an alliance between his forces and the T-800 to defeat the Decepticons. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}}

After Arcee, Ratchet, Velocity and Wheeljack had been brought online, the Autobots located the Decepticons and quickly set out to meet them. During the subsequent battle at a [[Cyberdyne Systems]] facility, the Autobots were betrayed by the T-800, which had helped itself to their explosives, who remotely detonated [[Mount St. Hilary]] and buried the ''Ark''. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Three}}

When Starscream betrayed the Decepticons, the Autobots managed to turn the tide of the battle. Once the Seekers and Insecticons had been taken prisoner, Starscream flew off before the T-800 and [[Sarah Connor]] destroyed Soundwave. Following the death of Megatron, the Autobots parted ways with Sarah and returned to the ''Ark'', only to discover the T-800's duplicity. Unable to return to Cybertron without the Ark, Optimus proposed an alliance between Autobot and Decepticon until they could find another way home. With their situational allies, the Autobots made their way on Earth, covertly observed by Sarah who did her best to hide them from the world. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Four}}

===''My Little Pony/Transformers''===
While battling for control of a malfunctioning [[Space bridge|spacebridge]], a gaggle of Autobots were [[magic]]ally transported to [[Equestria]] by [[Queen Chrysalis]]. The friendly and rational sort, the Autobots quickly made allies with the equines who inhabited the land. {{storylink|Transformation Is Magic}}

Aware that the Decepticons would regroup and launch an attack on the ponies, Optimus traveled Equestria with [[Twilight Sparkle]] to rally the scattered Autobots, mustering the troops in time to mount a defense of the [[Crystal Empire]] against the Decepticon/[[changeling]] alliance. As the battle raged, a spacebridge opened through which Grimlock and Twilight's assistant [[Spike (MLP)|Spike]] came through. Realizing that changeling magic was not required to return to Cybertron, Optimus combined the power of the Matrix of Leadership with Twilight's magic of friendship, returning the Decepticons to Cybertron. After a delightful tea and energon party, the Autobots returned home, Optimus destroying the spacebridge to protect Equestria from further Decepticon incursions. {{storylink|Finale (Friendship in Disguise!)|Finale}}

When the Decepticons managed to open a new space bridge to Equestria and began pilfering magical relics, a clash with Twilight and her friends caused [[King Sombra]] to be unleashed on Sombra. Enthralling several ponies and Decepticons, the Autobots, at the firm insistence of [[Applejack]] and [[Rarity]], joined forces with the remaining Decepticons to combat the invader. {{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''===
By [[2015]], the Autobots had emerged as the victors of the Great War. When [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], having used [[Doc Brown]]'s [[DeLorean time machine]] to skip ahead to 2015, witnessed this, he stole the time vehicle to retroactively win the war. Breaking into the ''Ark'' ahead of schedule, Rumble hacked into Teletraan-I and had it revive only the Decepticons. When informed of Rumble's journey, Megatron turned his [[fusion cannon]] on the Autobots. What few survived became a, literal, underground resistance led by Rodimus Prime. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 2|Transformers/Back to the Future #2}}

The Decepticon turncoat [[Gigawatt]] and [[Marty McFly]] eventually managed to travel back to 1984 and reactivate the Autobots before Rumble arrived. After the Decepticon had been defeated and Marty used the DeLorean to return to 2015, the Autobots recruited [[Biff Tannen]] as their local mechanic and guide, defending the Earth for the next thirty-one years until Marty returned. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 4|Transformers/Back to the Future #4}}

===''Last Bot Standing''===
During the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], the Autobots were led by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] before he was replaced by [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]]. As the conflict continued, it 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. {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 4|Last Bot Standing #4}} Discovering that an organic species evolving on Donnokt, the three Autobots decided to stay on the planet to safeguard it and its people against any future Cybertronian incursions. {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 3|Last Bot Standing #3}}

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. Though the majority of the group was composed of once Decepticons, the former Autobots [[Wedge (RID)|Wedge]], [[Override (BWU)|Override]], {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 2|Last Bot Standing #2}} [[Wildwheel (G1)|Wildwheel]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] joined on. When Rodimus was reenergized to fight against the invaders, he admonished Wheelie for abandoning the Autobots' morals for the sake of survival. {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 3|Last Bot Standing #3}}

==2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon==
Here, the Autobots are the main race on Cybertron, and their enemies are the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]. The Autobots fought in the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars]], presumably against the Predacons. [[Vector Sigma]], the [[Transformer afterlife|Allspark]], chooses which Autobot is to be granted the Matrix and thus the position of commander-in-chief.

The Autobots were already on [[Earth]] when the Predacons arrived, having taken the form of Earth vehicles to work as camouflage and established a [[Global Space Bridge]] network and a central base monitoring the entire planet.

In their disguises, the Autobots integrated themselves into human society; [[Team Bullet Train]] worked as actual trains, [[X-Brawn]] was owned as a car by [[Kelly (RID)|Kelly]], and Optimus Prime was working for a fire department. This continued after they went public; both [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]] and [[Tow-Line (RID)|Tow-Line]], for example, were shown enforcing human laws in an apparently official capacity, suggesting the Autobots had official ties to human authorities.

It's known Optimus fought the Predacons on other worlds, presumably using the same tactics as on Earth.

==Unicron Trilogy continuity family==
===Dreamwave comic continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
Originally, the Autobots were not a faction, but the name of a peacekeeping organization; under the command of [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], they defended [[Cyber City]]. Their headquarters was adorned with the motto "Truth - Justice - Freedom". They were unable to stop the [[Mini-Con]]-powered Decepticons from taking Cyber City, and for a million years they were reduced to a rebel organization desperately trying & failing to protect Cybertron. The reactivation of the Mini-Cons on Earth gave the Autobots an opportunity to gain Mini-Con power of their own, but eventually the Decepticons were beaten not by them, but due to the attack of [[Unicron]].

===Cartoon continuity===
====''Armada'' cartoon====
[[File:Conspiracy-Welcome back.jpg|thumb]]

Four million years prior to 2010, [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] led the Autobots into the war against the [[Decepticon]]s for control of the [[Mini-Con]]s. When the Mini-Cons expressed a desire to leave the conflict however, Optimus Prime agreed to aid them, ordering the construction of the ''[[Exodus (Armada)|Exodus]]'' to allow them to leave Cybertron. Despite the Mini-Cons' departure, the war continued without them. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

In the year 2010, the ''Exodus'' reactivated and sent a signal back to Cybertron. Optimus Prime led his inner circle to the distant planet Earth to reclaim the Mini-Cons, {{storylink|First Encounter}} leaving [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] in command. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

After the Mini-Cons had been recovered, Optimus' force returned to Cybertron in time for the planet to be threatened by [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Uprising (Armada)|Uprising}} Entering into a formal alliance with the Decepticons to defeat Unicron, {{storylink|Alliance}} the Autobots managed to fell the Chaos Bringer. [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] sacrificed himself during the course of the battle, leaving behind an order for his troops to work with the Autobots. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}

====''Energon'' cartoon====
[[File:Energon Tower groupshot.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left]]
Megatron'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 (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|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. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}}

Both sides found themselves the target of attacks from Unicron again; hordes of 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 Megatron's spark had survived within the remains, and was siphoning energon from Unicron's body. Soon the Decepticon leader had revived himself in a new form, driven off Alpha Quintesson, and, along with an elite cadre of soldiers and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of mindless Terrorcon drones, begun his new plans for conquest. {{storylink|Energon Stars}}

When news of Megatron's return reached Cybertron, hundreds of Decepticons rose up and rebelled, eager to get back to conquering. {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}} 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 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, Megatron ultimately sacrificed himself (again) and seemingly destroyed Unicron's spark by plunging himself into a newly formed energon sun created by Primus. {{storylink|The Sun}}

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
[[File:Cyb ep22 autobots together.jpg|thumb]]
Another ten years after Energon, the energon sun created by Primus was gone, collapsed into the [[Unicron Singularity]], a giant black hole threatening to devour all of existence. Faced with Cybertron's destruction, the Autobots evacuated the populace to Earth. As the evacuation began, [[Vector Prime]] approached [[Autobot High Command]] and told them that only the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s and the [[Omega Lock]] could close the black hole. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}} {{storylink|Inferno (episode)|Inferno}}

Unwilling to so readily dive back into mysticism, the Autobots continued to explore technological means of collapsing the black hole, such as a [[gravitron grid]] but were ultimately forced to follow Vector Prime's plan. {{storylink|Hidden}}

The search for the Cyber Keys led them to [[Velocitron]], {{storylink|Landmine (episode)|Landmine}} and the [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Jungle Planet]]. {{storylink|Search (episode)|Search}} After acquiring the Cyber Keys of both colonies, and Earth's, the Autobots brought the three Keys and the Omega Lock to the core of Cybertron, using the [[Matrix of Leadership]] as a substitute for the missing Key, and triggered Primus' transformation to robot mode. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}}

The god informed the Autobots that the fourth key, on the planet [[Gigantion]], had been dragged into another universe. {{storylink| Balance}} With the [[Ogygia (Cybertron)|''Ogygia'']], the Autobots travelled to the lost colony. {{storylink|Warp}}

Though the Autobots managed to claim the last Key, {{storylink|Optimus (episode)|Optimus}} Galvatron managed to claim the Lock and the Keys, stranding the Autobots in the other reality, {{storylink|Showdown (Cybertron)|Showdown}} the Autobots only managing to return home, at the moment that they'd left, through Vector Prime's sacrifice. {{storylink|Guardian (episode)|Guardian}}

With Galvatron threatening the universe with total event collapse, the Autobots found reinforcements from the whole of their species. {{storylink|Homecoming (episode)|Homecoming}} When Primus managed to reclaim his full power, he sealed the black hole. {{storylink|End}}

In the new era of peace, the Autobots embarked on a new era of colonization, in honor of their ancestors' dream. {{storylink| Beginning}}

==Live-action film series==
{{quote|"Behind the lines during the war they called him many things... 'nice' was never one of them."|Sir [[Edmund Burton]]|[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|Transformers: The Last Knight]]}}

[[File:Movie Sam Mikaela meettheAutobots.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Hello [[Michael Bay]]. Goodbye childhood.]]
The Autobots (autonomous robotic organisms) are the second Cybertronian civilization, being the descendants of the early workers who served the [[Dynasty of Primes]]. Following the outbreak of the war, the Autobots became the Transformers who rallied around [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]], the last of the Primes, to prevent [[Megatron (Movie)|Protector Megatron]] from claiming the [[AllSpark]]. They were formed mostly from the [[Science Division]], the [[Security Force]], and what few members of the [[Defense Force]] rejected Megatron's violent ambitions. Although they fought valiantly, the Decepticons were more warlike, and they began to gain ground. {{storylink|Transformers: Defiance|Defiance}}

In a move to prevent the Decepticons from acquiring the AllSpark, Prime sent it hurtling into deep space. Megatron followed, and disappeared. After years of warfare, the Autobot resistance abandoned Cybertron once it had fallen into the Decepticons' grasp. Optimus had the scout [[Bumblebee (Movie)|B-127]] establish a base on a well-hidden planet called [[Earth]] while he and others would gather the scattered Autobots searching for the AllSpark across the universe. {{storylink|Transformers: Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel}} {{storylink|Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee}}

Following some twelve thousand years of searching, the Autobots encountered a stranded vessel in space. Known as ''[[Ghost 1]]'', the creatures aboard, named humans, revealed that they had developed the ship based on studies from Megatron. Recognizing that Megatron would destroy their world if he came back online, Optimus tried to send them back to Earth, but they sacrificed their lives to save Optimus from [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]. Already suspecting that the AllSpark was on their homeworld, the Autobots made efforts to find Earth. {{storylink|Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday|Ghosts of Yesterday}} In [[1987]], Optimus and others made planetfall shortly after B-127, now calling himself "Bumblebee", had prevented the Decepticons [[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] from rallying the Decepticon army to the planet. {{storylink|Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee}}

By the early 2000s, the Autobots discovered a link to the AllSpark with [[Sam Witwicky]]. Bumblebee came into Sam's possession, and contacted Optimus Prime. Prime came to Earth with [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] to retrieve the AllSpark and eliminate Megatron, fearing the Decepticon would use the Cube to raise an army from human technology. However, Starscream's retrieval team was also on Earth, having come for the AllSpark. The Autobots were further hampered by [[Sector Seven]], the human agency tasked with dealing with Transformers. Eventually forming a brief truce with Sector Seven and a group of Army Rangers who had encountered [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] and [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]], the Autobots fought off the Decepticons in [[Mission City]], which saw the deaths of Megatron, Blackout, [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]], and [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]], but Jazz was killed and the AllSpark destroyed when Sam Witwicky extinguished Megatron's spark. Without a means to restore Cybertron, the Autobots decided to remain on Earth, and Optimus Prime sent a message into space for Autobots to come and protect their new home and newfound allies in humanity. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}}

Over the next two years, more Autobots including [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] and [[Chromia (ROTF)|her]] [[Elita-One (Movie)|sisters]], [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]], [[Twins (ROTF)|the Twins]], and [[Jolt (ROTF)|Jolt]] began making their way to Earth and joined a human military force known as [[NEST]]. Under the classified Autobot Alien cooperation act, the Autobots entrusted the remaining AllSpark shard to humanity and gave them intelligence about the Decepticons they were facing. However, the Autobots refused to share weapons technology with humanity, knowing their history internecine warfare. {{storylink|Transformers: Alliance}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Veiled Threat|The Veiled Threat}}

In 2009, NEST had five encounters with the Decepticons on different continents, indicating that the Decepticons were searching for something. During a sweep of [[Shanghai]], NEST encountered [[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]] and [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]], who caused substantial damage to the city during their attempts to escape. Although they were neutralized, Demolishor relayed a warning to Optimus Prime: "[[The Fallen]] shall rise again". Following this, NEST returned to their base of operations at [[Diego Garcia]], where they relayed the warning to [[Morshower|General Morshower]] and [[Theodore Galloway|Director Galloway]]. Having been appointed liaison by the President, Galloway concluded that the Decepticons only interest in Earth was to hunt down the Autobots. Unfortunately, Galloway also revealed both Megatron's resting place and the presence of the shard on Diego Garica. [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] was listening to the briefing, and directed [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] and the [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicons]] to raise Megatron. Meeting with his master, The Fallen, Megatron was commanded to retrieve Sam Witwicky, who had absorbed the knowledge of the AllSpark, and kill Optimus Prime, the only one who could defeat The Fallen. Optimus died helping Sam escape, and the Decepticons launched multiple attacks to have the humans turn Sam over to them. Galloway used the attacks as an excuse to have himself placed in charge of NEST and place the Autobots under guard.

Meanwhile, Sam, his girlfriend [[Mikaela Banes]], and his roommate [[Leo Spitz]] were being hidden by Bumblebee and the Twins [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]], and with help from [[Seymour Simmons]] of Sector Seven, discovered Decepticon-turned-Autobot [[Jetfire (Movie)|Jetfire]], who told them that the Fallen, one of the founders of the Dynasty of Primes, was looking for the Matrix of Leadership needed to activate the [[Star Harvester]], which would destroy Earth's sun and make energon. As only a Prime could defeat the Fallen, Sam and his group started a search for the Matrix and located it, leading to a massive battle with the Decepticons near the Star Harvester during which Sam tried reach Optimus to resurrect him and the Decepticons attempted to stop him and get the Matrix. After most of the Decepticons were killed, Megatron killed Sam, but he was resurrected by the Dynasty of Primes and granted the Matrix which he used to resurrect Optimus Prime. With help from Jetfire, who sacrificed himself to give him his parts, Optimus was able to destroy the Harvester, defeat Megatron, leaving him seriously injured and kill the Fallen. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

A few years later, as there had been no major contact with the Decepticons since the death of the Fallen, the Autobots helped set up [[energon detector]]s in Earth's major cities to watch for a Decepticon presence. The Autobots, now common knowledge among Earth's people, helped out with major human threats. After Colonel Lennox learned of something alien at Chernobyl, the Autobots traveled there and encountered [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] and his [[Driller]] after retrieving a mysterious part. After Shockwave was driven off, Optimus was shocked to discover that it was an engine part from the long-lost ''[[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]]'', which had crashed on the Moon. He and Ratchet traveled to the ''Ark'' and recovered five of the [[space bridge]] [[pillar]]s along with [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] who was revived by the Matrix of Leadership. Sentinel eventually revealed himself to be a traitor, murdered Ironhide and used the space bridge to bring an army of over 200 Decepticons to Earth. Earth's governments forced the Autobots off the planet, with the Decepticons attempting to learn the Autobots' plans to fight back via Sam. Without revealing any plans, the Autobots left Earth in the ''[[Xantium (DOTM)|Xantium]]'' and were apparently destroyed by [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]].

The Decepticons, led by Megatron and Sentinel Prime took over the human city of [[Chicago]] unopposed and prepared to bring Cybertron to Earth to use Earth's natural resources and its people as slaves to rebuild their home. The Autobots, who faked their deaths to trick the Decepticons, arrived in Chicago and linked up with a team of humans led by [[Sam Witwicky]] and former NEST soldier [[Robert Epps]] who were determined to fight even against overwhelming odds. With the help of the team and later NEST, the Autobots launched an attack on the city and together the Autobots and humans managed to kill [[Laserbeak (DOTM)|Laserbeak]], the Driller, Starscream, [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], Barricade, Shockwave and many other Decepticons, losing only [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Que]] and possibly Wheelie and Brains in the process. Optimus Prime battled Sentinel Prime and though Optimus was defeated and nearly killed, Megatron suddenly turned on Sentinel and severely maimed him, having realized that he would never be able to remain leader of the Decepticons as long as Sentinel was alive. Meanwhile, the Control Pillar was destroyed by Bumblebee, and the collapsing space bridge destroyed Cybertron and the remaining Decepticon forces in Chicago. Megatron then tried to deceive Optimus into thinking that he wanted peace, but Optimus saw through the ruse and killed his seemingly eternal foe. Optimus then terminated Sentinel. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

However, after the devastation of Chicago, the Autobots' alliance with the humans was officially dissolved, and NEST disbanded, while [[Harold Attinger]] of the CIA was tasked with hunting down the remaining Decepticons. Attinger's unit, a secret cabal of the CIA known as "Cemetery Wind", instead set out to destroy all Transformers, Autobot and Decepticon alike. The public and even the White House were kept under the impression that Cemetery Wind was only hunting down the Decepticons and that they were preparing to send the Autobots away from Earth. When he learned of Cemetery Wind's mission, Optimus sent a distress signal to his troops, warning them of the betrayal and to run for their lives. The Autobots scattered, some remaining in groups and some striking out on their own. The neutral [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]], who was hunting Optimus for his own reasons, assisted Attinger's lieutenant [[James Savoy]] in hunting down the Transformers. Five years after the Chicago battle, [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]], [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]], and the majority of the Autobots had been slaughtered, their remains being used by Joshua Joyce's KSI to produce man-made Transformers, intending to replace the Autobots as humanity's protectors.

Around the same time of the demise of Ratchet, Optimus narrowly survived an ambush and went into hiding as a rusty old cabover truck. Optimus was inadvertedly discovered by [[Cade Yeager]], and befriended the struggling inventor. The two escaped Savoy and Lockdown with Cade's daughter [[Tessa Yeager|Tessa]] and her boyfriend [[Shane Dyson|Shane]]. After taking a new vehicle form, Optimus met up with the surviving Autobots - Bumblebee, [[Drift (AOE)|Drift]], [[Hound (Movie)|Hound]], and [[Crosshairs (AOE)|Crosshairs]], with the sad truth that they were the last Autobots on the planet sinking in as they learned of Leadfoot's demise. The Autobots assisted in infiltrating KSI, until they were informed of Ratchet's gruesome fate. Optimus snapped, and led a ferocious assault on KSI, also freeing the imprisoned [[Brains]] along the way. However, Joyce confronted the Autobots, declaring humans didn't need the Autobots anymore, who were now little more than outdated technology for humanity to abuse. Disgusted, the Autobots left, but were pursued by KSI's Galvatron and [[Stinger (AOE)|Stinger]], which resulted in Optimus and Tessa's capture by Lockdown.

In Chicago, the Autobots snuck aboard Lockdown's ship with Cade and Shane to rescue their friends, and succeeded in detaching a smaller ship from the whole before Lockdown learned of Optimus' escape. After regrouping and learning that Galvatron was a rebuilt Megatron plotting to use the Seed to kill millions of humans, Optimus ordered the Autobots to depart Earth forever and leave the humans to their fate. He was only convinced to stay when Cade convinced Optimus to have faith in who humanity could be. Hound and Bumblebee ended up separated from the group when they tried to retrieve the Seed from a repentant Joyce, only for Galvatron's new Decepticons to shoot down their ship. In the Wulong Valley, Optimus recruited the [[Dinobot (AOE)|Dinobots]] to join them, which they did after he beat some obedience into [[Grimlock (AOE)|Grimlock]]. The Dinobots' assistance proved invaluable in turning the tide against the Decepticons, who had nearly overwhelmed Hound, Bumblebee and Cade in battle. The entire group attempted to escort Joyce and the Seed out of Hong Kong, but Lockdown returned. Optimus, Bumblebee, and the Yeagers all worked together and were able to kill Attinger and Lockdown. After regrouping, the Dinobots were set free on Earth, and Optimus assigned his Autobots to defend the Yeager family, while he departed to take the Seed from Earth and to confront his mysterious Creators. {{storylink|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction}}

Transformers were declared illegal on Earth except in [[Cuba]], where Simmons fled with [[Topspin (DOTM)|Topspin]] and others. Falling in under Cade and Bumblebee's leadership, the Autobots hid out in a [[Junkyard (TLK)|junkyard]] in [[South Dakota]] provided to them by Sheriff [[Sherman]]. Their daily mission was to find Autobot refugees to rescue and repair, among them being Wheelie and [[Trench]]. The Autobots also tasked the vagabond salesman [[Daytrader]] with finding them a ship to get mobile or off of the planet. Things changed when Bumblebee accidentally led the [[Transformers Reaction Force]] straight to the base, leading to an invasion from Megatron's newly released gang of Decepticons. The Autobots fended off the attack, and in the aftermath, Cade took Bumblebee with him to England to meet with [[Cogman]] and Sir [[Edmund Burton]]. There, Burton recounted to Cade and [[Viviane Wembly]] the history of Transformers on Earth, including the tale of [[Hot Rod (DOTM)|Hot Rod]] and Bumblebee fighting alongside the allies in [[World War II]]. Optimus returned to Earth, albeit brainwashed by [[Quintessa (TLK)|Quintessa]], but was brought back to his senses by Bumblebee. As Cybertron loomed in the skies, Daytrader finally delivered the gang a ship, and the rest of the Autobots joined Optimus, Bumblebee, and the [[Guardian Knight]]s at Stonehenge for a great battle. Thanks to Viviane, the Autobots emerged victorious, and returned to a revitalized Cybertron, with Optimus summoning all Autobots across the stars to finally come home. {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}}

{{note|In the first movie, it is Ratchet who provides the name "Autobot", claiming it is an abbreviation after Optimus's line, "We are autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron". Seeing as how Decepticons also fit this description, this may imply that "Autobot" is the species name for the Transformers. In a departure from previous Transformers incarnations, Japan used the name "Autobots" for this franchise, rather than "Cybertrons".<ref>[http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/products/movie/autobots.html Movie Autobots toy listing on Takaratomy.com]</ref>}}

===Titan movie comics===
{{groupstub}}

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

{{-}}

==''Animated'' continuity family==
The Autobots first emerged as a sub-faction of the ruling [[Protectobot (Animated)|Protectobot]]s approximately 750 million years ago in the aftermath of the [[Third Cybertronian War]]. Though scientifically gifted, the Autobots were primarily a race of artisans. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}} Historically, Autobots did not fly. {{storylink|Where Is Thy Sting?}}

Eclipsing their predecessors in prominence, the Autobots advocated for an [[Expansion|Age of Expansion]], expanding the influence of their species beyond the [[Hadean System|Hadeen System]], colonizing the larger galaxy and founding the [[Autobot Commonwealth]]. The Autobots acted as the scientific arm of this expansion, being protected by the [[Destron (Animated)|Destrons]] when their empire-building came into border skirmishes with the [[Quintesson Pan Galactic Co-Prosperity Sphere]]. Though the Cybertronian race triumphed in these conflicts, tensions arose as the Destrons came to feel that they had done too much work for too little reward while the Autobots had grown rich on their sacrifices. The Destrons eventually evolved into the Decepticons, whose tensions with the Autobots increased. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

[[File:TFA TFandRollout Autobots.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]

30 million years ago, [[Powered Convoy|PC Magnus]] oversaw the construction of [[Fortress Maximus (Animated)|Fortress Maximus]], headquarters of the [[Elite Guard|Cybertron Elite Guard]]. 18 million years later, his successor [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] passed the [[Decepticon Registration Act]], sparking the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]]. The Autobot invention of [[space bridge]]s quickly cut off the early Decepticon expansion before the Decepticons began a bombing campaign, demanding that the Autobots turn over the [[AllSpark]]. In response, the Autobots threw the AllSpark into a space bridge, ensuring that no one would find it. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

As the war continued, the Autobots enacted [[Project Omega]], creating the [[Omega Sentinel (Animated)|Omega Sentinels]] as twelve large-scale living weapons. {{storylink|TransWarped}} Armed with these giants, the Autobots won ground against the [[Decepticon fleet]], crippling their foes in the [[Ambush of Floron III]]. The Autobots later enacted a "planet-hopping" campaign that freed all of the captured colonies, ending in the [[Battle of Omnitron]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

The Great War later comes to a close in the [[Battle for Iacon]], the Autobots triumphing thanks to the sacrifice of the Omega Sentinels. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}} {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}} {{storylink|TransWarped}} The war's end saw the signing of the [[Tyrest Accord]], granting the Decepticons amnesty in exchange for exile from the Autobot Commonwealth. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

Autobot victory in the Great War was later credited to their space bridges, Project Omega, and removing the AllSpark from the combat theater. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}} Military equipment and hardware was subsequently decommissioned. {{storylink|Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found}} Bereft of the AllSpark, the Autobots turned to [[Vector Sigma]] for new sparks. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}} Though military training was available for the new generation of Autobots, most would grow up without ever having seen a Decepticon. {{storylink|Mission Accomplished}}

When rumours spread throughout the galaxy that [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] still lived, the [[Decepticon Uprisings]] began, the fringes of Autobot society coming under attack. {{storylink|Mission Accomplished}} {{storylink|TransWarped}} In response, Ultra Magnus ordered the [[Ministry of Science]] to study the schematics of the captured [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]. Managing to extract the coding needed for flight, the scientists applied it to [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] and [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]], creating the first flight-capable Autobots and prototypes for a future group of [[Aerialbot (Animated)|Aerialbots]]s. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

After Head of Intelligence Longarm Prime was discovered to be the Decepticon spy [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]], he attacked and crippled Ultra Magnus, {{storylink|Where Is Thy Sting?}} his second in command, [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] took command and instituted a police state in Autobot society, locking down public venues and potentially subversive gathering places. {{storylink|This Is Why I Hate Machines}}

The Autobots eventually took Megatron prisoner when [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]'s team captured the warlord {{storylink|Endgame, Part II}} though they had to contend with Decepticon loyalists trying to free their master. {{storylink|The Stunti-Con Job}}

{{note|Takara also used the name "Autobots" instead of "Cybertrons" for the faction in this franchise.}}

==''Shattered Glass''==
[[File:Autobot Shattered Glass.png|177px|thumb|...the evil forces of the Autobots?]]
{{quote|'Til all are gone.|[[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]]|"[[Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass]]"}}

In this universe, the Autobots are the evildoers, bent on conquering and destroying everything in their path, starting with Earth. On Cybertron, they are the dominant faction, ruled by the Prime, specifically [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]]. Ranks are in constant flux due to their backstabbing nature. [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus]] may very well usurp rule one day. {{storylink|Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass}}

After a devastating battle at [[Decepticon City (SG)|Decepticon City]], Rodimus finally overthrew Optimus Prime, {{storylink|Familiar Reflections}} before Optimus, now reborn as Nova Prime through the power of [[Unicron/Shattered Glass|Unicron]], returned and overthrew Rodimus. {{storylink|Out of the One, Many}} Under Nova Prime's leadership, the Autobots sided with the Decepticons against their [[Primus/Shattered Glass|evil creator]] and attained a peaceful existence on [[Gaea]]. {{storylink|The Future Buried...}}
{{-}}

==Aligned continuity family==
[[File:DarknessRising1-untappedenergondeposit.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
The symbol of that would later be appropriated by the Autobots was utilized by the Cybertronian government prior to the [[Great War (Prime)|Great War]]. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}}

"Autobot", a contraction of "autonomous robot", was an old philosophical phrase [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]] found on the [[DataNet]] and one that he suggested to his friend [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] to be the name of their movement to abolish the [[Functionism|caste system]]. At their hearing with the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]], Orion used the term over and over again to remind his enthusiastic followers of the freedom they sought. He implored the Council choose a new Prime, so [[Halogen (WFC)|Halogen]] chose Orion as the new Prime, tearing Orion and Megatron's movement in two. In the war with Megatron's Decepticons, the Autobots only held fifteen percent of Cybertron, including [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and [[Kalis]]. The Autobots left Cybertron on the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'', transported by the [[space bridge]] to the [[Milky Way]]. [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]]'s [[Wreckers]], [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]], [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]], and [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] remained on the planet. With the bulk of the Autobots off Cybertron, the remaining Decepticons took [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

The Autobots remaining on Cybertron operated via a spy network based in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]]. After rescuing [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]], the Autobots joined the Decepticons in fighting off a [[Quintesson]] invasion. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} Autobots continued to abandon their planet after the invasion, {{storylink|Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots|Rage of the Dinobots}} with the few that chose to remain on Cybertron reorganizing themselves into underground communities and settlements under the stewardship of the [[Dinobot (FOC)|Dinobots]]. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 1|Beast Hunters #1}}

{{Main|Team Prime}}
Soon enough, Cybertron became all but deserted, with Autobot forces stretched thin across the universe. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)}} With the death of [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]], Optimus only had [[Team Prime|four Autobots]] with him on [[Earth]], {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} though he would later be joined on Earth with [[Rescue Force Sigma-17]], {{storylink|Family of Heroes}} [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]], {{storylink|New Recruit}} rogue member [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]], {{storylink|Loose Cannons}} [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]], {{storylink|Prey (episode)|Prey}} former Decepticon [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]], {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}} [[High Tide]], [[Servo (RB)|Servo]], {{storylink|Turning the Tide}} [[Salvage (RB)|Salvage]], and [[Blurr (Prime)|Blurr]]. {{storylink|The New Recruits}}

Discovering a manner to synthesize [[Living metal|cybermatter]], [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] persuaded [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] to aid him in rebuilding the [[Omega Lock]]. {{storylink|Persuasion}} Ratchet's Autobot morals ultimately triumphed over his desire to see Cybertron restored and allowed Team Prime to board the [[Trypticon (WFC)|''Nemesis'']]. {{storylink| Synthesis}} What followed ultimately turned out to be the final battle of the Great War, with Autobots emerging victorious. {{storylink|Deadlock (episode)|Deadlock}}

After Cybertron had been restored, [[Unicron/Aligned|Unicron]] attacked the planet in a bid to destroy [[Primus]]. The Autobots joined forces with the [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacons]] to defeat the Chaos Bringer. Though the alliance managed to defeat the Chaos Bringer, the battle ended with Optimus Prime sacrificing his spark to restore the [[AllSpark]] to the [[Core]]. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}}

Once the planet's population began to grow, a new [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] was established to rule the planet. [[Cyclonus (WFC)|Cyclonus]] and his troops however managed to replace the Council and made plans for a Decepticon-ruled Cybertron shoving the Autobots, particularly those close to Optimus Prime, into obscurity. The Autobots misinterpreted this as the will of the Cybertronian people and thus did not protest these acts. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy (RID)|Enemy of My Enemy}} The people of the restored Cybertron all wore the Autobot insignia but by all indications, the vast majority were only civilians and had no military roles or functions. {{storylink|Pilot (Part 1)}} {{storylink|Freedom Fighters}}

To cement their rule, the High Council implanted mind-control techniques to control the Autobots and use them as a military force to rebuild the [[Decepticon Empire]]. {{storylink|Five Fugitives}} {{storylink|Freedom Fighters}} The [[Bee Team (RID)|Bee Team]]'s interference however derailed Cyclonus's plans and allowed the Autobots to resume leadership of Cybertron. {{storylink|Freedom Fighters}}
{{-}}

==''Cloud''==
The Autobots of [[Cloud World]], also known as the '''Spacetime Police''' (時空警察 ''Jikū Keisatsu''), patrol the [[multiverse]] eliminating extradimensional threats in exchange for the [[Spacetime energy|fuel]] needed to sustain the [[SARA|energy being]] that propagates their home dimension.
{{stub|{{storylink|Prologue}}{{storylink|Uprising (Cloud)|Uprising}}{{storylink|Shock (Cloud)|Shock}} more probably}}

==''Cyberverse'' cartoon==
The ruling faction on Cybertron before the [[Great War (Cyberverse)|Great War]], the Autobots fought a losing war against the Decepticons. After it was found that [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]] sought to pervert the [[AllSpark]], {{storylink|Megatron Is My Hero}} the Autobots launched it off Cybertron, {{storylink|Allspark (episode)|Allspark}} only to later decide that this had been a mistake, Optimus Prime leading the [[Ark (Cyberverse)|''Ark'']] to find and retrieve it. {{storylink|Matrix of Leadership (episode)|Matrix of Leadership}}

The journey took much longer than expected however, leading the ''Ark'' crew to go into stasis. {{storylink|The Journey}} While the ''Ark'' located the AllSpark, it crashed on Earth, cutting off the crew from their comrades on Cybertron, now reduced to a small resistance movement. After the Cybertron Autobots had located the AllSpark on Earth, they sent [[Windblade (Cyberverse)|Windblade]] to Earth to find it where she reunited with an amnesiac [[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]]. {{storylink|Memory (Cyberverse)|Memory}} After locating [[Teletraan-X (Cyberverse)|Teletraan-X]], {{storylink|Teletraan-X (episode)|Teletraan-X}} and [[Grimlock (Cyberverse)|Grimlock]], {{storylink|King of the Dinosaurs}} the group managed to located the ''Ark'' just as the [[Decepticon fleet]] arrived. {{storylink|Eruption}}

After decades of warring on Earth, the Autobots located the AllSpark and allied with its guardian [[Cheetor (Cyberverse)|Cheetor]]. {{storylink|Trials}} After procuring the AllSpark, the Autobots left Earth for home, {{storylink|Escape From Earth}} short cutting via a [[space bridge]] after a distress call came in from [[Chromia (Cyberverse)|Chromia]]. {{storylink|The Crossroads}}

Arriving home and unable to raise Chromia, Optimus suspected a trap. Abandoning ship, the Autobot army met its Decepticon counterpart in the War's final battle, emerging victorious when the AllSpark was returned to the core. {{storylink|Battle For Cybertron I}} {{storylink|Battle For Cybertron II}} {{storylink|Battle For Cybertron III}} {{storylink|Battle For Cybertron IV}}

The peace would prove short-lived as the [[Quintesson]]s invaded Cybertron and began draining the populace's sparks. {{storylink|The Loop}} Once the populace had been freed, the Autobots and Decepticons worked together to repulse the invaders, {{storylink|The Alliance}} before each claiming one hemisphere of the planet. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe IV}}

When it became apparent that Megatron was arming the Decepticons for another invader, the Autobots sent a strike team into Decepticon territory only to be surrounded by [[Decepticon supersoldier]]s. {{storylink|Silent Strike}} The invaders were revealed to be the advance guard of another version of Megatron who had won the Great War and killed his own kind. After Megatron X had disabled his primary counterpart and been disabled, the war was considered properly over, the Autobots and Decepticons accepting co-existence, {{storylink|The Other One}} officiating the peace with the [[Treaty of the Wall]]. {{storylink|The Immobilizers}}

===Alternate universe===
In another timeline, [[Megatron X (Cyberverse)|Megatron]] killed Optimus Prime in the Great War's opening stages. Bereft of Optimus' leadership, the Autobots quickly lost the War, being rendered extinct by the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Other One}}

==Merchandise==
===''Transformers'' (2007)===
====Transformers Movie Screen Cleaners====
[[File:Movie Autobot Screencleaner.jpg|106px|thumb|This was originally the top bit of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion's]] pimp cane.]]
*'''Autobot''' (2008)
:Released by [[Gacha International|Tomy Yujin]] in January 2008, this dangler is a [[Insignia|faction logo]]-shaped screen cleaner for your cell phone, with a stock image of Autobot insignia printed on the other side.
{{-}}

====Kinnerton====
[[File:Kinnerton Transformers Tin.jpg|thumb|For holding all your Autobot-symbol-shaped cookies.]]
*'''Transformers Tin''' (2008)
: Confectionery and... stationery company [[Kinnerton]] produced Movie-style Autobot sigil-shaped tins. It is currently unknown what these tins were used for. These tins and other Kinnerton products were available in [[Australia]].
{{-}}

====PTI Group====
*'''Transformers Treat Containers''' (2008)
:Produced as an exclusive for [[Target]] stores, these blue plastic containers were molded in the shape of the Autobot symbol. They were sold in packs of three. While not dishwasher safe, they were perfect for containing any number of small treats.
{{-}}

===''Age of Extinction''===
[[File:3DLightFX AutobotShield.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
* '''Autobot Shield''' (3D Deco Light, 2014)
: A three-dimensional wall light fixture from [[3D Light FX]] in the form of a Movie-style Autobot insignia. It uses red 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 Autobot symbol, packaged in with a similar [[Decepticon#Enamel Pin Series|Decepticon]] pin in a release called "Transformers logos" {{sic}}.
{{-}}

===''Pop!''===
[[File:TRANSFORMERS_SERIES_AUTOBOT_POP.gif|thumb|right|200px|[[Scene transition|Dun da dun da naaa...]]]]
*'''Autobot''' ([[Funko Pop!#Digital Pop! NFTs|Digital ''Pop!'']], [[2022]])
**''Rarity:'' '''Series'''
:An NFT depicting a rotating Autobot symbol with the Funko Digital logo on the other side.
{{-}}

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

{{comingsoontoy}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Cybertron''' (サイバトロン ''Saibatoron''), '''Autobot''' (オートボット ''Ōtobotto'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Bǒk Pāǐ''' (博派, "Fraternity Faction")
*''Czech:'' '''Aubot''' (first movie's first dub only)
*''French:'' '''Autobot'''
*''Hungarian:'' '''Autobot'''
*''Italian:'' '''Autorobot'''
*''Korean:'' '''Autorobot''' (오토로봇 ''Otorobot''), '''Cybertron''' (사이버트론 ''Saibeoteuron''), '''Autobot''' (오토봇 ''Otobot'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Autobot''' (Taiwan, 奧特巴 ''Àu T<sup>h</sup>è Pā''), '''Bó Pâi''' (博派, "Bot Faction"), '''Qìchērén''' (China, 汽车人, "Car Person"), '''Zìyóurén''' (自由人, "Freeman"),
*''Polish:'' '''Autobot'''
*''Portuguese:'' '''Autobóticos''' (Portugal comic), '''Optimus''' (Brazil comic)
*''Russian:'' '''Avtobot''' (Автобот, "Autobot")
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Kiber''' (Кібер, ''Cyber''), '''Avtobot''' (Автобот, "Autobot")

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Animated factions]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising factions]]
[[Category:Armada]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Cybertron franchise]]
[[Category:Energon franchise]]
[[Category:Factions]]
[[Category:Generation 1 factions]]
[[Category:Generation 2]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) factions]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) factions]]
[[Category:Machine Wars]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2001)]]
[[Category:Universe (2003)]]

Decepticon

2024-08-05T07:24:28Z

Dwlee522: /* Foreign names */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|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]]. 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 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===
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}}

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, 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.}}
[[File:WedgesShortFuse Commandos firing in vehicle mode.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|If you look closely, you can see Decepticons behind those laser beams.]]
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 Decepticons (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.

The Decepticons were created on Earth when [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]]'s forces captured a set of [[stasis pod]]s from an ancient Transformer spaceship that had been found on [[Earth]], leading to the birth of the [[Commando (RID)|Commandos]] and [[Scourge (RID)|Scourge]]. The toy version of [[Megatron (RID)|Galvatron]] was also labeled as a Decepticon, although this "change" in the character's faction was only mentioned once in the cartoon series.

{{note|In the Japanese version of ''Robots in Disguise'', ''Car Robots'', the Decepticons were known as Combatrons, the same name used for the [[Combaticon (G1)|Generation 1 Combaticons]]. They were also a subgroup of the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] instead.}}

For the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|Hasbro toyline]], several other non-show Decepticons were added to the ranks to help fill out the line. It is currently unknown how many, if any, of these Decepticons, share a similar origin to the show's "brainwashed Autobots" origins, though one of them, [[Axer (G1)|Axer]], is actually a dimension-hopper who arrived from [[Generation 1 continuity family|a Generation 1 universe]].

In [[Viron 704.31 Epsilon]], [[Megazarak (Universe)|Megazarak]] assumed command of the Decepticons after Megatron's death and led a universal conquest that nearly decimated the Autobot forces. Additionally, the components of [[Devastator (Universe Ultra)|Devastator]] and [[Dominus Trannis]] were among the surviving Autobots, only to be brainwashed by the [[Robosmasher|Robo-Smasher]] and implanted with Predacon [[personality component]]s. 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.

==Unicron Trilogy continuity family==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''Armada'' cartoon====
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====
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!" <br/> 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}}

{{note|It is currently unknown how many, if any, of the Decepticons or Dinobots unique to the Japanese ''Adventure'' series were prisoners on-board the ''Alchemor'', or just made their way to Earth on their own.}}

===''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}}

==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]]

Optimus Prime (Armada)

2016-11-26T12:53:32Z

Dwlee522: /* Armada */

{{factions|autobot|{{factions/icons|custom=Energon Powerlinx symbol.png|cLink=Powerlinx}}|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Optimus Prime}}{{suite}}
:''Optimus Prime is the [[Autobot]] leader from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:ArmadaOptimusPrime dvd.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb|Prime, Prime, and [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Prime]].]]
'''Optimus Prime''' fights for truth, justice, and the Autobot way. He has led the search for the [[Mini-Con]]s, faced the resurrection of a [[Unicron|dark god]], and now aims to stop [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] from obtaining the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s. He's also died a couple times, and tends to find a second-in-commandy-type to combine with to form a super robot.

He learns martial arts from [[Scavenger (Armada)|whoever]] turns into a [[Landmine (Energon)|bulldozer]], thinks [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] has leadership potential and tends to recruit teenage children.

Also, he wants to make sure you don't sit too close to the TV screen.<ref>It's true! In a pre-show warning screen before every episode of ''Super Link'' (the Japanese version of ''Energon''), Optimus Prime would appear in still frame, telling kids to make sure they watch the show in a well-lit room, and not to sit too close to the screen. This isn't particularly uncommon in anime...not after, well. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denn%C5%8D_Senshi_Porygon You know.]</ref>

==Fiction==
===Toy pack-in comics===
[[File:Armada V1 Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|Special power: The ability to speak three languages at once.]]
Optimus Prime assigned [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] the task of destroying an energy-draining device. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 1}} He later checked on [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] when he was building a satellite dish that would help find [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 2}} After the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]] saw a distress signal from [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], Optimus Prime ordered them to not run off till they had backup. Nevertheless, the three [[Mini-Con]]s went and fell into a trap set by [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]], who combined them into the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Dark Saber]]. Optimus Prime and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] then arrived on the scene, combined, and kicked Galvatron to the sky, saving the Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Armada Volume 3}}

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Optimus Prime defeated Galvatron. While transporting him, Optimus Prime and [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]] were attacked by [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], who freed and combined with Galvatron. The battle was put to a pause when [[Unicron]] arrived. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 4}}

[[File:Energon V4 Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|left|Teamwork is using somebody else's fist to punch people.]]

Later, Optimus Prime battled [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]], [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], and [[Battle Ravage]] with [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] and Hot Shot. At a later point, [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] asked Optimus for permission to plant an [[energon tower]] on a hill, but the commander rejected the plan, citing [[Decepticon]] activity in the area. {{Storylink|Energon Volume 2}}

Optimus Prime would find himself beaten in battle, where he was besieged by Megatron, [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], [[Shockblast]], [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]], and [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]. Before they could strike, [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] leaped to Optimus's rescue, and the two combined. With their teamwork, they defeated the Decepticons. {{Storylink|Energon Volume 4}}

While investigating an energon reaction with Kicker, Optimus Prime found a dark duplicate of himself, [[Grand Scourge|Scourge]], already at the site. After the mysterious Transformer shot at them, Optimus leapt to battle. {{storylink|Optimus Prime VS Scourge|Optimus Prime VS Scourge Episode.1}} After some struggle and help from other Autobots, Optimus gained the upper hand, and Scourge disappeared into a mysterious portal after complimenting his counterpart. {{storylink|Optimus Prime VS Scourge|Optimus Prime VS Scourge Episode.2}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Armada'' continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
[[File:DWArmadaPreview OptimusPrime ouch.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb| Oh slag. There goes my bonus.]]
One million years ago, Optimus Prime was in the satellite room of the [[Loop]] in [[Cyber City]] when [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] unexpectedly arrived, carrying unsettling news of an attack on the [[Mini-Con]] Village D-10 by Transformers calling themselves "[[Decepticon]]s". {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 1|Armada #1}} While the Autobots investigated the remains of Mini-Con Village D-52, Optimus Prime demanded that they find clues as to what had occurred, as he did not know why the Mini-Cons had been taken and feared that these Decepticons had started a civil war. Soon afterwards, [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and his Decepticons invaded Cyber City and declared that the inhabitants now belonged to him. The Autobots arrived to defend the city, but were soundly beaten by the Mini-Con augmented Decepticons. Realizing that they were no match for the Decepticons, Optimus Prime ordered a retreat, for if they stayed and fought, they would die. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 2|Armada #2}}

Over the next million years, the Mini-Con empowered Decepticons steadily conquered the planet. Concerned that the conflict could escalate and put other worlds at risk, the [[Universal Peacekeeping Committee]] sent the famed mediator [[Fflaxl]] to the relatively unknown [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in an attempt to settle the dispute between the Autobot and Decepticon "tribes" peacefully. However, just as he arrived, Megatron and Optimus Prime were in the midst of a battle, and Optimus Prime was sent flying, eventually landing on [[Bix]], Fflaxl's bodyguard. The diplomat, seeing the scale of the war and its participants, decided that some conflicts were best left untouched and that everything would work out in the end. {{storylink|Armada Preview}} Meanwhile, the [[Exodus (Armada)|Mini-Con escape ship]] crash landed on a distant world known as [[Earth]], dispersing the occupants all over the planet. A member of the indigenous [[human]] species, [[Rad White]], stumbled upon the crash site and inadvertently activated the Mini-Con homing device, where it was detected by both Autobot and Decepticon forces. Optimus Prime resolved to go to this planet Earth, believing that this might be their second chance to bring back justice to their home. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 3|Armada #3}}

[[File:DWArmada4 OptimusPrime bruteforcelecture.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb| Oh no they DIDN'T!]]
The Autobots led by Optimus Prime used the [[space bridge]] to travel to Earth, unfortunately appearing right in front of a [[Ruby|group of human children]] on a field trip to the [[Allspark Power Generator Station]]. Optimus Prime quickly decided that stealth was of the utmost importance and that they should minimize contact with the local inhabitants, a policy that was questioned by [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] and [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], who just wished to tear through the planet to find the Mini-Cons, as their own troubles were of greater concern. This brought on them an angry rebuke from Optimus who declared that they weren't about to endanger Earth or its inhabitants to serve Autobot interests, but he also understood their frustration, telling them to save their anger for the Decepticons. Meanwhile, the Decepticons had also arrived on Earth and were giving chase to Rad, [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and their Mini-Con friends, [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]] and the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team|Street Action Team]]. As [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] and [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] caught up to the fugitives, Optimus Prime and Scavenger appeared and knocking them out of the sky. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 4|Armada #4}}

When Megatron arrived on the scene, Optimus Prime bided his time while Smokescreen got into position and distracted his enemy by trash talking, mocking that for all of Megatron's Mini-Con-enhanced power, he had continually failed to defeat the Autobots. Alexis thought that he was a "big red blabbermouth" while Carlos opined that it was like watching a wrestling match due to all the talking they were doing before fighting. Suddenly, Smokescreen pulverised the cliff Megatron was perched upon, burying the Decepticon leader in rubble. At first, Prime was able to beat on Megatron, but the Decepticon's Mini-Con advantage proved too much, and Megatron [[Powerlinx]]ed with all of his Mini-Cons, intending to obliterate all of Prime's circuits for his disrespect. Fortunately, [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]]'s team of Mini-Cons arrived, saving Rad and the others, then Powerlinking with the Autobots to force the Decepticons into retreat. The Mini-Cons requested an alliance with the Autobots, on the condition that they were equals in partnership. Optimus Prime agreed, stating the Autobots desperately needed the Mini-Cons' powers, but it was ultimately the choice of the diminutive robots to make. With the alliance formed, Optimus Prime ordered the Autobots to find suitable Earth vehicle modes and the construction of a local headquarters, for he had a feeling they were going to stay on this alien world for a long time. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 5|Armada #5}}

[[File:DWArmada7 OptimusPrime StarSaber.jpg|left|upright=1.95|thumb| Shut up dude, I'm TRYING to get it out of the stone!]]
Later, Optimus Prime sought out the kids at the [[Black Hills]] to tell them goodbye, as he felt they had been dragged into their war too deeply already. He wanted Sparkplug's support in the decision, but before the Mini-Con could fully voice his opinion, he received an emergency transmission from [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]] of the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]], who were under attack by the Decepticons in [[Rapid City]], [[South Dakota]]. Sparkplug proposed a covert rescue operation, but Optimus Prime flatly refused, fearing the Autobot Mini-Cons could be captured by the Decepticons. Fed up with Prime telling them what they could and couldn't do, the Mini-Cons and the kids went on their own. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 6|Armada #6}} Meanwhile, Megatron had modified and forced the Air Defense Team to powerlink together to form the mighty [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]], and used it to attack the [[Autobase]] in [[Lincoln, South Dakota|Lincoln]]. During the ensuing battle, Optimus Prime implored for the Air Defense Team to resist Megatron's manipulations and free themselves, as the power came from the three of them, not the one weapon, a concept that Megatron found unfathomable, as all he cared about was controlling the power. Sparkplug and the others returned to make amends, powerlinking with the Autobots to give them the edge they needed. Now on equal footing, Optimus fought back, telling Megatron and the Air Defense Team that it was about ''respect'': respect for the power and for the individual. The Air Defense Team broke free of their bonds and attacked the Decepticon leader. After the Decepticons retreated, so too did the [[Land Military Mini-Con Team|Land Military Team]] and the Air Defense Team. Prime felt that because there was now a balance to the war, the non-aligned Mini-Cons were right to leave and not tip the balance for either side. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 7|Armada #7}}

While out on a nature hike, Carlos and Rad encountered the Mini-Con [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], who tricked them into thinking he was escaping from the Decepticons. In truth, he was out to capture both humans for Megatron's latest scheme. Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Smokescreen came to the kids' rescue, but were also captured in turn. Optimus tried to free all of his captive allies, but as he was now completely outnumbered, he was taken prisoner alongside the rest of the Autobots. Thankfully, Swindle had a change of heart after the humans had offered him genuine friendship, and freed all of the Autobots from their bonds. Optimus and his soldiers forced the Decepticons to retreat, but were unable to stop them from taking the repentant Swindle along. {{storylink|Armada Free Comic Book Day}}

[[File:DWArmada10 OptimusPrime Illbeback.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb| Optimus Schwarzenegger.]]
Soon afterwards, a monolith crashed in [[Tranquility, Kansas|Tranquility]], [[Kansas]] and sent out a signal which summoned all Mini-Cons on Earth to converge at the monolith's location. [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] was not especially concerned considering the Autobot Mini-Cons could come and go as they pleased and that they might have just needed some time to cool off, but Optimus Prime was worried: after the situation with the Air Defense Team, he was unsure of what they might do next. While the Mini-Cons were in their trance-like state, the Decepticons arrived, intent on claiming all of Earth's Mini-Cons for themselves. Rad used Sparkplug's communications systems to call Optimus Prime for help, which soon arrived. Unfortunately, while the Autobots and Decepticons fought amongst themselves, the Mini-Cons (and Rad) entered the monolith and blasted off into space. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 8|Armada #8}} As the Autobots left for home, Optimus Prime explained to the kids the significance of the giant Mini-Con symbol that had been burned into the ground and that Rad had been taken to the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. He also told them the story about how the Mini-Cons had escaped Cybertron and eventually crashed their ship on the Moon, breaking it in half and sending the bow to Earth. Optimus' only plan was to wait for Megatron to make his move, and try to stop them, for they had no options for reaching the Moon that would not require specialised equipment or actions that would compromise their security on Cybertron. However, an opportunity provided itself when the majority of the Decepticon left for the Moon, {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 9|Armada #9}} allowing Hot Shot and Red Alert to erase any Decepticon sensor logs while Optimus Prime used the space bridge to travel to the Autobase on Cybertron. Unfortunately, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] had his hands full and resented Optimus Prime not leading the Autobots on Cybertron. However, Optimus did manage to get his hands on an [[Autobot shuttle|Autobot Transport Gunship]], {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 10|Armada #10}} which he used to travel to the Moon. Unbeknownst to Optimus, however, the selfish and cruel [[Destruction Mini-Con Team|Destruction Team]] leader [[Dualor (Armada)|Dualor]] had strapped Rad into one of the space mines protecting to Moon, and now Optimus was preparing to destroy the minefield, but he hesitated. While Sparkplug's Mini-Con friends and the [[Space Mini-Con Team|Space Team]] were working on rescuing Rad, Optimus Prime realised an itchy trigger finger would be disastrous. Optimus correctly deduced that [[Sky Blast]] meant no harm and allowed him to dock with the gunship whilst towing the dummy mine containing Rad. After blasting Cyclonus into pieces for attacking their ship, Optimus thanked Sky Blast for his help, and gave those back on the [[Mini-Con Moonbase]] transportation to Earth promising them that he and his compatriots were in for a lot of changes in how the Autobots treated them. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 11|Armada #11}}

[[File:DWArmada13 Autobots Mini-Cons.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.95]]

Prime's word was soon tested when two crises occurred at the same time: Scavenger and Smokescreen had detected the Decepticons building some sort of rocket launch facility in Death Valley, [[California]], and a Mini-Con escape pod from the Moon had been detected in northern [[Alaska]]. At first, the Autobot leader preferred to deal with the Decepticon situation, until Sparkplug convinced him that if he didn't assist the Mini-Cons, the ones in the Autobase would be walking out. With political concerns in mind, Optimus Prime offered the full resources of the Autobots in mounting a rescue mission, which seemed to satisfy the fractious Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Fire & Ice}} Unfortunately, additional problems presented themselves when [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]], overjuiced on the full power of the Destruction Team, began attacking any and all targets while Megatron was blasting them with his [[Solar Scalpel]], a superweapon deployed from the rocket in Death Valley. With little choice, Optimus asked Sparkplug to powerlink with him at maximum power, enabling the Autobot to defeat Cyclonus. With the crisis averted and the Mini-Cons rescued, a disappointed Optimus asked Sparkplug why he had been holding back on him, as he thought they trusted one another. As Sparkplug told him the legend of the Mini-Cons having the power to save the universe or destroy it, Optimus was suddenly taken to Cybertron, where he witnessed its destruction... {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 13|Armada #13}}

[[File:WorldsCollide4 JetOptimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|—a [[Furmanism|FURMANISM]]!]]

While the Autobots tried to figure out what had happened to him, Optimus wandered across the blasted ruins of Cybertron, he discovered [[Spinister (G1)|a lone survivor]], who had been reduced to a gibbering wreck. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4}} Optimus Prime refused to believe the confused, fragmented story the survivor told: Prince of Nothingness came, the heavens opened up, and their final judgment was pronounced. All those who fought perished and everything was destroyed. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4}} As [[Unicron]], the devourer of worlds closed in on Cybertron, Optimus begged the survivor to tell him of any way to fight back against the monster. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 3 of 4}} Sadly, the survivor was beyond help, allowing himself to be sucked into the oblivion of Unicron's maw, despite Optimus' pleas for him to resist. Unicron noticed the lone Cybertronian and took the form of the survivor, proclaiming that like this reality's [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], the Autobot would fall and his universe would be consumed - the gateway was being prepared by his heralds. Suddenly, Jetfire appeared, having jumped through a space bridge portal after destroying the Decepticon space bridge nexus that Unicron's heralds were using to open up space for their master to enter that reality. As this fallen Cybertron crumbled, Sparkplug, [[Comettor (Armada)|Comettor]] and the mysterious Mini-Con [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] appeared, having crossed realities to find the Autobot leader. Over-Run handed Optimus the [[Mini-Con Matrix]], the essence of this doomed Cybertron's Mini-Cons, giving the two Autobots the power to transform and combine into Jet Optimus. With one mighty blast, Jet Optimus delivered a broadside to Unicron, giving them enough time to escape back to their reality. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}}

With the fate of their universe at stake, Optimus called on the Mini-Cons scattered on Earth to join the Autobots and Decepticons in fighting Unicron. As Cybertron's general, Optimus stood as the bulwark against the Chaos Bringer's onslaught, leading their combined forces until the Mini-Cons united their power to deliver an almighty blast at Unicron, sending him back into the unknown. Though victorious, Optimus Prime considered that with such pure evil, [[Furmanism|it may never be over]], and they must be eternally vigilant. {{Storylink|The End}}

====''Energon'' comic====
[[File:Alphatrionsigomega.jpg|thumb|left]]
Ten years later, Optimus Prime found himself uncomfortable with the [[Autobot]]s' unpreparedness for war and requested the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] to put resources into [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s defense. [[Levitacus]] expressed the Council's decision that such an action would sap the little [[energon]] they had and would instigate the Autobot-[[Decepticon]] conflict all over again. Dejected, Optimus Prime went to see [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] with his concerns about [[Unicron]]. Over-Run replied that he could simply "ask" his planet for the answers he sought, suggesting that he understand himself before he can understand the Adversary. The [[Mini-Con]] pointed Optimus to an [[uplink platform]], where the Autobot went with [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] and [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]. Upon touching the structure, Optimus was pulled into the [[Hub (Energon)|Hub]], where he met [[Alpha Trion (Energon)|Sig-Omega]] and was granted a vision current events on Unicron that involved the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]]. The voice of [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] called out to Optimus and asked for assistance in freeing him from the spark core of Unicron. In exchange, Megatron promised to use his knowledge in the defeat of Unicron. He was pointed to [[Earth]], where [[energon]] that Unicron desired lay. {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}}

[[File:Optimus Prime Energon reformat.jpg|thumb]]

With those revelations, Optimus Prime returned to the High Council, but the Council was again reluctant. Still, they agreed to Optimus's mission to Earth, on one condition: that he go alone. His preparation was interrupted when [[Unicron's Four Horsemen]] attacked. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath}} In the ensuing battle, Optimus was beaten and battered by the powerful [[Rhinox (Armada)|War]]. Just as War was about to crush Optimus's head, the [[Omnicon]]s, on Over-Run's orders, rushed to his rescue. [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] explained to Optimus that, as the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], he had the innate ability to access the Hub at any location. Accessing the Hub, Optimus Prime again met Sig-Omega, who facilitated the reformatting of Optimus Prime to contain the [[Spark of Combination]]. He was granted a team of [[Prime Force|drones]], who he could [[Powerlinx]] with. Using his super mode, Optimus was able to fight off the Horsemen, who left the scene as they were ordered elsewhere. Soon after, Levitacus brought news that the High Council was informed by Cybertron itself that Unicron had begun moving again and was focusing his attentions on Earth. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Two}} In response to a distress call, Optimus Prime and a team of Autobots rushed through the [[space bridge]] to Earth, where they confronted [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and his Terrorcons, who were raiding the planet for its energon. Their power proved too much for the Autobots to handle, but the fallen heroes were saved when [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] destroyed an energon stockpile and Scorponok proved more concerned about safeguarding the remaining energon than in destroying the Autobots. While Optimus composed himself after his beating, Megatron's voice reached him again, declaring that he was ''ready'', having attained a new body constructed in Unicron. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}}

[[File:Cybercord Treaty.jpg|thumb|left]]

Recovered, the Autobots ran into [[Rad White|Rad]] and [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]]. After some reintroductions with their old [[human]] friends, the Autobots fought the Decepticons again at the [[Gregory Salt Sea]]. Now with [[energon weapon]]s from the Omnicons, the Autobots fared better this time, and the Decepticons were forcibly pulled back to Unicron through portals. Knowing the threat Earth was now under, Optimus Prime promised to defend the planet from Unicron and the Terrorcons. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Four}} To his end, he established the [[Cybercord Treaty]] with the [[United Nations]]. {{Storylink|Multiplicity}} Optimus started with establishing Cybertron-constructed [[energon tower|shield towers]] on Earth. {{Storylink|Aftershock (issue)|Aftershock}} However, his attempts to connect to the human populace were frustrated when the Omnicons nearly destroyed [[Chicago]] while trying to mine some energon they had detected. He assigned Hot Shot the task of acclimating the Omnicons to Earth, starting by having them attend to the shield tower in the [[Yukon|Yukon Territory]]. Further Autobot infrastructure required reinforcements from Cybertron, so Optimus personally entered the space bridge, only to be diverted to Unicron's core to face the still-trapped Megatron. {{Storylink|Omni-Potent}} Despite persuasion from the disembodied Megatron, Optimus refused to release the tyrant. In an attempt to show just how bleak the Autobots's situation was and how much Optimus needed him, Megatron called up a literal bird's eye view of the massive Terrorcon attack on Earth. {{storylink|Multiplicity}}

[[File:Optimus Prime comes to be cancelled.jpg|thumb]]

Pushed to desperation by the sheer devastation of Earth, Optimus Prime travelled deep into Unicron. Just as he was about to release Megatron's spark, he was bound by Unicron's defenses, despite being assured by Megatron that he would be kept invisible to Unicron's internal sensors. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 2}} Realizing that Megatron was afraid of alerting [[Alpha Quintesson]] to his presence, Optimus Prime managed to rip himself from Unicron's tentacles and free Megatron's spark, allowing him to enter his new body and join the battle on Earth, {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} leaving behind Optimus in Unicron's bowels. {{Storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}} Nevertheless, Optimus Prime managed to arm himself, warning Unicron that "Ready or not, Unicron... here I come!" {{Storylink|No Exit}}

{{Unreleased energon comic}}

Despite Optimus Prime's continued absence, the Autobots managed to continue protecting the Earth under Jetfire's command. {{storylink|Doomsday Redux!}} As Alpha Quintesson neared completion of Unicron's activation, Optimus Prime found less places to hide. Realizing that Unicron was gaining more resources than Optimus Prime could destroy, Optimus resolved to cut off the flow of energon into the planet's systems. Tapping into a low-priority sub-processor, Optimus hoped to cut off the supply chain, but instead discovered that it was [[Nervissa]], not Earth, that was being sapped. The Autobots had concentrated their defenses and attention on the wrong planet! {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 1}} This revelation prompted Optimus to travel to the surface to establish a beacon to inform the Autobots of what he just learned, but his journey was stopped when a [[seismic-shock warhead]] materialized in front of him and began counting down. {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 3}} Nevertheless, he pressed ahead and succeeded at sending an signal to the Autobots on Earth. [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], Autobot commander in Optimus Prime's absence, took off to aid his leader. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 4}}

On Unicron, both Optimus Prime and Jetfire were beset by Terrorcon drones and nearly consumed. They are saved when Megatron, who had returned to Unicron, rips through his interior, drawing attention away from the Autobots. The two fled to Cybertron, where Optimus used his connection to the Hub to allow the Omnicons access to the planet's energon core. He recalled all of his warriors to Cybertron, endowing some with the Spark of Combination. Optimus Prime had his army delay Unicron, who had been reactivated, still the seismic-shock warhead detonated, exploding Unicron to smithereens. However, they were soon faced with a new threat: a [[Unicron Singularity|giant black hole]] that formed from the foiling of Alpha Quintesson's plans. {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 5}}

===Cartoon continuity===
[[File:UT optimus cartoon collage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
{{main|Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity}}
Trained in the art of combat by [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] and [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]], Optimus Prime ascended to Autobot leadership following the departure of [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] from Cybertron 8000 years ago. He led the Autobots to Earth to recover the lost Mini-Cons in the year 2010, but when Megatron's Decepticons succeeded in harnessing the small 'bots power to create the [[Hydra Cannon]], Optimus gave his life to save Earth from its planet-destroying power. Using the Matrix of Leadership as a conduit, the Mini-Cons were able to bring Prime back to life to join the fight against Unicron, but the chaos-bringer confronted Optimus with some haunting truths about his beliefs, and once Unicron was destroyed, Prime departed on a soul-searching space voyage.

Returning several years later, Prime united the Autobots, Decepticons and humankind in an effort to mine [[Energon]]. In 2020, the revelation that Unicron still lived shattered the alliance, and Optimus led the Autobots in an attempt to prevent the planet-eater's reawakening. Now empowered with the [[Spark of Combination]], which allowed him to forge new and more powerful combinations with his fellow Autobots, Optimus claimed ultimate victory over Unicron by uniting the sparks of all his troops in one gigantic body and casting Unicron's spark into a sun made of pure Energon.

Alas, ten years later, the sun collapsed into a [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]] that threatened to destroy first Cybertron, and then the rest of the universe. Evacuating his Autobots to Earth, Optimus allied with the ancient Transformer [[Vector Prime]] and embarked on a quest to recover the four lost [[Cyber Planet Key]]s from Transformer colony worlds all across the galaxy. Once the black hole was successfully sealed, Optimus faced Galvatron in a final one-on-one battle on Cybertron's moon, which concluded with Galvatron's utter destruction. Optimus ordered the commencement of a new space bridge network to link the planets of the galaxy, and personally led the colonization mission.
{{-}}

===Panini ''Armada'' comic===
In the early stages of the war, Optimus Prime was shocked to learn of a full-scale Decepticon assault on the [[Autobot Command HQ]]. As he organized the defenses, he was contacted by the [[Mini-Con]] [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], who warned him that [[Dualor (Armada)|Dualor]] had planted explosives around the base in order to lure [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] in and destroy him. Prime subsequently ordered for the evacuation of the base before Dualor blew it up. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}} He and his troops were still fighting the Decepticons a few million years later, but it was a losing battle. Even if most of the Mini-Cons had left Cybertron, the Decepticons still had a few of them, and the Autobots were outclassed. Despite this, Optimus Prime knew the Mini-Cons leaving had been a good thing, and hoped that he would never find out where they went. However, his hope did him no good, as the Mini-Cons were soon found on [[Earth]], and he had to travel there to save them from Megatron. {{storylink|First Encounter!}}

Having gone to Earth alone to scout ahead without any backup, Optimus Prime was quickly defeated by the Mini-Con augmented Megatron. Thankfully, a few of the free Mini-Cons and the [[human]] [[Rad White]] distracted Megatron from finishing Prime off, giving him time to recover and summon [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] through a [[space bridge]]. As the free Mini-Cons decided to aid the Autobots, Sparkplug power-linked with Optimus Prime and granted him the power needed to punch Megatron in the face. After the Decepticons retreated, Prime thanked the Mini-Cons and Rad for their help. {{storylink|Friends and Foes!}} He soon realized that Rad and his [[Carlos Lopez|two]] [[Alexis Thi Dang|friends]] weren't very large contributors to their war effort, as they spent most of the time playing around. Reminding them that Megatron was a deadly threat, he sent them to recover the [[locator log]] from the Mini-Cons' crashed ship whilst he and the Autobots stood guard. They log ended up being destroyed due to interference from [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]], but Optimus Prime figured that maybe it was for the best. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 3|Deep Trouble!}}

[[File:DevicesandDesires-yourownsize.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Suffer my cliches, Decepticreep!]]
Prime decided that the best way to keep their Mini-Con allies out of the Decepticons' hands was to send them back to Cybertron, despite complaints from Sparkplug and the humans. When the process was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, the Mini-Cons refused to leave the Autobots behind and power-linked with them again. While the Decepticons were driven off, they still blew up the Autobots' space bridge, stranding them on Earth. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 4|No Way Back!}} Some time later, Optimus Prime and his troops saved the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Team]] from getting captured by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. In the aftermath, the Mini-Cons shot down Prime's offer to join the Autobots, but he still assured them he would help them whenever they needed him. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 5|Devices and Desires!}} Next, Optimus Prime learned from [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] that the Decepticons had gone to search for Mini-Cons on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. With his own space bridge still in pieces, he had no choice but to contact [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] on Cybertron for aid. While Jetfire sent troops to deal with the Decepticons, Prime watched as Sparkplug sent a probe to the Moon to activate any Mini-Cons there. After the probe was successful, Optimus Prime manifested as a hologram on the Moon's surface and taunted Megatron that he was too late. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 6|Between Two Worlds!}}

When Starscream got his hands on the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]] and failed to keep its power in check, Optimus Prime appeared out of nowhere to stop the sword from going wild and ripping the world apart. He grabbed the weapon from Starscream's hands and urged the Air Defense Team to separate, which they did. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 7|The Two-Edged Blade}} The threat of the Moon soon came up again, as the Decepticons prepared to fire missiles at the Autobots' base from their new lunar base. While the Autobot space bridge was still down, Optimus Prime had a plan and ordered Hot Shot to hurry and repair it. While the Mini-Cons bought them some time by pretending to surrender, the Autobots fixed their space bridge and linked it to the Decepticons' one on the moon. And so, when the Decepticons eventually did fire their missiles, the Autobots simply used the space bridge to warp them straight back into the enemy base. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 8|Earthshaker!}}

===Bendon ''Armada'' books===
[[File:RTD-OptimusMegatroncrash.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1]]
The kids successfully talked Optimus into letting them explore some nearby caves for mini-con crystals. While they were away, Optimus found himself having to fend off a Decepticon sneak attack via ramming Demolishor while in truck mode and later pushing Megatron back. {{storylink|Cave Catastrophe}}

After the kids and their Mini-Cons leave themselves exposed to danger, Optimus saves them from being killed by Megatron... by ramming him while in truck mode. There seems to be a trend here. {{storylink|Race to Disaster}}
{{-}}

===Reader's Digest ''Armada'' novels===
Optimus was present eons ago when the Mini-Cons were sent off into space as part of a truce between the Autobots and Decepticons to put a halt to their civil war. Peacetime did not last, however, and the war began anew without the Mini-Cons. When three children awoke the Mini-Cons on Earth, Optimus as well as several of his soldiers were pulled from the battlefield on Cybertron and teleported to the small blue planet. Here, Optimus resumed grappling against Megatron, until the Decepticon leader noticed the Mini-Cons, and attempted to capture them. Optimus managed to prevent Megatron from harming both the Mini-Cons and the children with them. [[Perceptor (Armada)|Perceptor]] then put an end to the battle by generating a shield, preventing Megatron from attacking both Optimus and the Mini-Cons. After Megatron's departure, Optimus was led to the remains of the Mini-Cons' ship, and with their permission, began fortifying it in order to use it as the Autobots' base of operations. He befriended the children, and learned that they were named Rad, Alexis and Carlos. The children then left with their Mini-Cons, leaving Optimus to prepare for the upcoming battle. {{storylink|Transformers Armada: The Battle Begins|The Battle Begins}}

After securing their base on Earth, Optimus, Hot Shot and Red Alert headed to a nearby highway to adopt new alternate modes based on local vehicles. Optimus opted to disguise himself as a semi-truck, impressed by the vehicle's powerful engine. The Autobots' human allies then joined them, with Optimus introducing his troops to both the humans and their Mini-Con companions. Nearby explosions interrupted the introductions. The Decepticons were attacking the Autobots' base! The Autobots launched a counter-attack, with Optimus taking on Megatron by himself once more. But Megatron's aerial troops assisted their leader, putting Optimus at a disadvantage. In order to fight back, Optimus assumed his "Super Optimus Prime" mode, transforming himself into a robot of cyclopean proportions. In this form, he swatted the flying Decepticons out of the sky as though they were mere insects. Megatron countered by combining with Leader-1, a Mini-Con he had recently acquired. The Decepticon leader then unleashed a powerful blast, which knocked Optimus off his feet despite it missing him by a wide margin. However, the blast unearthed several dormant Mini-Cons, and by linking up with two of them, Hot Shot and Red Alert gained enough power to turn the tide of battle once more. Optimus regained his bearings, grappled with Megatron, twisting his cannon's barrel and rendering it useless. Outmatched, Megatron sounded a retreat, though the Decepticons managed to snatch away the remaining Mini-Con panels before they warped off-planet. The children were distressed over the fact that they hadn't been able to stop the Decepticons from stealing the remaining Mini-Con panels, but Optimus comforted them; there was nothing more they could have done. Optimus further assured that the children were not to blame for reigniting the war between the Autobots and Decepticons, and he and his troops joined them in a "circle of friendship." {{storylink|Transformers Armada: Race for the Mini-Con Robots|Race for the Mini-Con Robots}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
Early in the war, Optimus confronted Megatron in [[Yellowstone National Park]], warning the Decepticon leader that the area they were in was geologically unstable and warfare could aggravate things catastrophically. Megatron ignored him and almost defeated Prime, until the intervention of [[Riptide (Armada)|Riptide]], [[QuickFire]] and [[Jake Williams]]. The unlikely team managed to see Megatron off, albeit with the loss of Williams's [[Starheart|beloved '57 Ford pickup]] into a mud pit. Optimus promised to retrieve and restore the truck, and suggested that Riptide and QuickFire return to hiding, to prevent the Decepticons from capturing them. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

===The Balance of Power===
On Cybertron, the Autobots' scanners picked up the signature of a Mini-Con artifact, deep within the Decepticons' territory. Hoping the artifact might provide clues to the location of the long-lost Cybertronian race, Optimus sent out [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] into the field to retrieve it. Before they could track down the artifact, both Autobots came under heavy fire, and Red Alert sent out a distress signal for reinforcements. Optimus joined them on the battlefield, crushing numerous [[Decepticlone]]s as he drove to his comrades' side. But Optimus's arrival drew out [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], who challenged Optimus Prime to single combat. Optimus accepted his nemesis's challenge, only for a portal to open up between them in the middle of their clash; a distress signal originating from the Mini-Cons' hiding place beckoned all nearby combatants into it. The Decepticons entered the portal with the Autobots in hot pursuit. They all materialized on Earth, and the search for the Mini-Cons began in earnest on this new world. {{storylink|The Balance of Power}}
{{note|This comic was written as a tie-in to the [[Transformers (PS2)|''Armada'' video game]], but its details differ from the introduction seen in the game itself. [[#PS2|See below]] for Optimus's role in the game.}}

===''Galaxy Force'' manga===
Optimus Prime and [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] were fighting a losing battle against Megatron on Cybertron as a [[Unicron Singularity|giant black hole]] loomed near the planet. Optimus neared defeat, unable to combat Megatron's powerful energy attacks, when the entire world collapsed under gravitational strain. All three combatants were rescued from certain death by Vector Prime, who whisked them away to Earth. They were separated during the trip, with Landmine being too injured to seek out Optimus.

Optimus happened upon Megatron, Vector Prime and Landmine in the middle of a forest fire, duking it out while the children [[Lori Jiménez|Lori]], [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] and [[Bud Hansen|Bud]] were caught in the middle of it all. Optimus first used his firetruck mode to douse the flames, then took on Megatron once again. But as before, Megatron's energy attacks overwhelmed Optimus. However, a bolstering encouragement from Coby gave Optimus the resolve he needed to push through Megatron's attack. The Autobot leader managed to land a mighty fist on his nemesis, sending Megatron reeling. Amused by this turn of events, Megatron retreated.

Optimus then took a moment to observe his surroundings, silently lamenting that the Cybertronian war had brought destruction to the humans' world... His mood improved when all three children flocked to him, showering him with thanks for rescuing them. {{storylink|Touchdown! Optimus Prime}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Devil's Dogfight! Coby's Courage}} {{storylink|Intense Race Planet! Velocitron}} {{storylink|Deep Sea Discovery! Vector Prime}} {{storylink|The Temple of Hell! Overhaul}} {{storylink|Galaxy Force Mission.7}} {{storylink|Galaxy Force Mission.8}} {{storylink|Galaxy Force Mission.9}}}}

===''Q-Robo Transformer''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Q-Robo Transformer}}}}

===''Cybertron'' toy bios===
Optimus Prime sent the Mini-Cons [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]] and [[Dirt Boss (Armada)|Dirt Boss]] to the [[Velocitron|Speed Planet]] under the protection of Hot Shot and Red Alert. {{storylink|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#Cybertron|Wal-Mart exclusive Hot Shot two-pack toy bio}} {{storylink|Red Alert (Armada)#Cybertron|Wal-Mart exclusive Red Alert two-pack toy bio}}

===''Universe'' toy bios===
Optimus Prime employed the speedster [[Clocker (Cybertron)|Clocker]] as a courier. {{storylink|Clocker (Cybertron)#Universe (2008)|The Data War}}

===''TransTech''===
{{voiceactor|[[Garry Chalk]] (English)}}
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Bee in the City 2: Electric Boogaloo}}}}

===Beast Prime===
[[File:InvasionPrologue-Primes.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|Everyone forgot this toy existed, didn't they.]]

====Toy bio====
Temporarily [[Reformatting|mutated]] by the [[Cyber Planet Key]] of the [[Animatron|Jungle Planet]], Optimus Prime continued his fight against [[Megatron (Armada)#Beast Megatron|Megatron]] among the trees of the planet's rainforest. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#Gorilla|Jungle Planet Optimus Prime toy bio}}

====Fun Publications====
Hailing from [[Aurex 1006.0 Beta]], this Optimus Prime saw the Autobot-Decepticon alliance survive battle against [[Unicron]], the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]] crisis, and even continue into the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole affair]]. Megatron was still a threat, though, and after he took a bestial new form, Optimus followed suit. He ended the war in his universe when he slew Beast Megatron with [[Rhisling]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 19/9/2015}}

Some time later, Optimus Prime was gathered in [[Axiom Nexus]] by [[Optimus Prime (TransTech)|its Optimus Prime]], along with a roster of other Optimus Primes and their kin in a group known as the [[Convoy (group)|Convoy]]. A multiversal cataclysm in [[Primax 207.0 Epsilon|a universe]] seeded with [[Rarified Energon]] and an invasion by natives of [[Primax -408.24 Epsilon|the negative polarity universe]] had called them into action. Since Matrix bearers were never allowed into Axiom Nexus, this was a grave threat indeed! {{storylink|Invasion Prologue}}

[[File:InvasionEpilogue-cardtable.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Depth Charges are also known for their, um, willingness to kill both themselves and their quarry.]]

In order to protect the [[Origin Matrix]], Optimus Prime and [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Hero Prime|Optimus Prime]] shrouded themselves in cloaks and sought out [[Depth Charge (BW)#Beast Wars: Uprising|Depth Charge]], who was renowned for his hunting skills. {{storylink|Invasion: Epilogue}}

His name was on a list of Convoy members given by [[Cheetor (TransTech)|Cheetor]] to [[Andromeda (TransTech)|Andromeda]]. The list noted his home [[universal stream]] and that he also went by the moniker "Beast Prime". {{storylink|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 21/5/2015}}

Beast Prime was present at a meeting of the Convoy after the turmoil caused by the [[Waruder]] invasion of Axiom Nexus. Though [[Optimus Prime (G1)#General Optimus|General Optimus Prime]] told [[Starscream (TransTech)|Starscream]] at the meeting that the criminal who had helped rebuke the Waruders was not a "Megatron" as he had originally suspected, Beast Prime saw through the General's lie. He respected his comrade's decision however, and informed him he would tell the other members of the Convoy to let "[[Megatron (Movie)#TransTech|C-81]]" be. {{storylink|Cybertron's Most Wanted}}
{{-}}

===''Hot Shot's Bot Thoughts''===
Hot Shot once stole Optimus's Matrix by telling him his shoes were untied, and then yanking the Matrix from his chest while he was distracted. {{storylink|Hot Shot's Bot Thoughts}}

===Spacewarp's Log===
[[Spacewarp]] considered Optimus Prime and his crew to suck up to lower life forms. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Spacewarp's Log|Spacewarp's Log, 27/10/2015}}

==Commercial appearances==
A child ran through a laser-lighted room, and used an enormous Cyber-Planet Key to unlock a door, revealing Optimus Prime beyond the threshold! The boy then stepped through the door's portal to join Optimus. {{storylink|Commercial#Cybertron|Cybertron Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Starscream commercial}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Armada: The Energon Within''===
As Optimus and Hot Shot prepared to escort a truckload of energon away from one of the Autobots' mines, the Decepticons launched a full-scale assault. The Decepticons' objective was to steal 100 Energon cubes. This scenario ended in two possible outcomes. Either the Decepticons eventually succeeded, though the battle costed them many of their troops and the mine remained under Autobot control, or Hot Shot inadvertently blew up the mine, prompting Optimus to say that they simply needed to start over at another mine... {{storylink|Transformers Armada: The Energon Within}}

===''Transformers'' (PS2)===
{{voiceactor|[[Garry Chalk]] (English)}}

Optimus Prime was dueling with Megatron atop a very high building just before Megatron received the Mini-Con beacon. Following his nemesis to prevent him from using the Mini-Cons for evil, Prime arrived on a new planet: Earth.

Arriving in the Amazon, he familiarized himself with the territory before going and recovering the first Mini-Con Panel. (Which Mini-Con it is varies with the game difficulty, with [[Lock-On]] being released on the first two difficulty levels). He then traversed a [[Scale|disproportionate]] bridge, had a brawl inside a temple, and scaled a pathway up a cliff face before arriving at a run-down temple and encountering Cyclonus. Cyclonus (sporting a fanciful, comic British accent) ordered a [[Heavy Unit]] to attack him, declaring Earth as "Decepticon property". Prime took care of the Heavy Unit, and Hot Shot and Red Alert joined him. Soon they discovered their old Mini-Con partners. (Sparkplug remains with Optimus for the remainder of the game, activating a rather pointless "Powerlinx" Max Payne-esque bullet time mode which drains Prime's health.)

{{charstubgame}}
{{storylink|Transformers (PS2)}}

===''Transformers Energon: Battle for Megatron''===
The Terrorcons happened upon Optimus Prime as they travelled deep into Unicron's defenses in their quest to release Megatron. They had to destroy both the Autobot leader and the numerous Tentacle Pods working in conjunction with him in order to proceed on their quest. {{storylink|Transformers Energon: Battle for Megatron}}

===''Transformers Quest''===
Optimus Prime travelled to Earth, Speed Planet and Jungle Planet in search of the Cyber Planet Keys. {{storylink|Transformers Quest}}

===''Roll Out''===
Optimus Prime battled [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]], [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] and [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] for possession of the Speed Planet Key. {{storylink|Roll Out}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Optimus-Prime-A..jpg|thumb|400px]]
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Optimus-Prime-Cybertron.jpg|thumb|400px|Too bad there won't be an Energon Optimus Prime.]]
Optimus Prime participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He appeared in two different bodies:
*''Optimus Prime A.'' — This Epic character first appeared in the "Armada: Episode 1" mini events, and could be recruited by collecting 650 units of Cybermetal, 350 units of Transmetal, 150 exclusive cores, and 50 cores of this character.
*''Optimus Prime Cybertron'' — This Epic character was first available as a reward to ''20'' leagues in the "Christmas Breaker" event.
{{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
{{main|Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys}}

==Notes==
===''Armada''===
[[File:MonsterConvoy.jpg|100px|thumb|Arise, Bigfootimus Prime.]]
*According to the [[Transformers (PS2)|''Armada'' PlayStation 2 game]] instruction booklet, Optimus Prime's ''Armada'' body has the following statistics:

:Mass: 18,960 lbs
:Robot height: 22' 11"
:Robot top speed: 31 mph
:Vehicle height: 8' 3"
:Vehicle top speed: 125 mph
:Vehicle power: 700 hp @ 2500 rpm

*One of the earliest ''Armada'' Optimus Prime concepts depicts him as being an ENORMOUSLY HUGE MONSTER TRUCK. Makes one wonder about the origins of the "Monster Convoy" inscription on Super Base Optimus Prime's tires.
*Super-Con Optimus Prime and Over-Run, who never appeared specifically in the western Armada cartoon, do appear briefly in a stock footage montage in the first Japanese opening.

===''Energon''===
*For at least part of the ''Energon'' animated series, the CGI model for Optimus Prime's handgun resembled an oversized six-shooter rather than the actual toy's chamber-less handgun.

*Energon Prime's non-super mode CGI model is always animated with his knees being ''much'' higher up on the leg than they are on the toy. Interestingly, Prime's toy ''does'' have a joint in that very same spot, but it is totally blocked off for unknown reasons. The elbows on Prime's non-super mode CGI model have a secondary joint, and the toy has it blocked off. Beyond ''that'', the CGI model also has the antennae on Prime's super mode helmet as perpendicular to the helmet's folded "cheek guard" sections when stored on his back. Again, the toy's antennae show signs of being able to be configured the same way at one point, but the final toy has blocked off curves and a pointless slot on the bottom of each antenna as well as unnecessary ball joints.

===''Cybertron''===
[[File:Early galaxy force flyer 1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*''Cybertron'' Optimus Prime has some design similarities to GaoGaiGar from ''[[wikipedia:The King of Braves GaoGaiGar|The King of Braves GaoGaiGar]]'', such as the chin protrusion and cheekguards. In addition, his [[Super Mode]] resembles ChoRyuJin from the same series (having the same chest and cannons), and his combination with [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]] recalls GaoGaiGar's combination with Goldymarg. His combination with Wing Saber also invokes the image of Galeon's head on GaoGaiGar's chest. This would not be the [[Optimus Prime (RID)|first such GaoGaiGar reference]] Transformers would see... [[Safeguard (Animated)|or the last]].
**Said Super Mode also evokes [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Powermaster Optimus Prime]].
*The toy instructions (and the photo on his first toy's box) for Super Mode position Prime's massive cannons over his shoulders. However, in the cartoon, Super Mode instead has the cannons slung ''under'' his arms. The toy can go either way (or, indeed, have one up and one down).
*''Cybertron'' Prime sported some different colors in his preliminary design, which found its way into a few shots in the Western version of the [[Fallen (episode)|first episode]]. It's not really an "error" as such, because the Japanese version (which features Galaxy Convoy/Optimus Prime in his regular colors in these shots) also features an unfinished shot of the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s that merely depicts four glowing lights on a black background, whereas the Western version actually shows the detailed keys against a spinning map of space, so it could be argued that Prime's colors might have been a deliberate choice… for whatever reason.
*Vector Prime has stated in [[Ask Vector Prime]] that Optimus could not combine with Wing Saber and Leobreaker at the same time: The power is too much for him!

===Foreign names===
====''Armada''====
*''Japanese:'' '''Convoy''' (コンボイ ''Konboi''), '''Armada Convoy''' (retroactive designation, アルマダコンボイ ''Arumada Konboi'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Optimusz Prájm'''
*''Korean:'' '''Optimus''' (옵티머스 ''Optimaseu'')
*''Polish:'' '''Optimus Pierwszy''' ("Optimus First")

====''Energon''====
*''Japanese:'' '''Grand Convoy''' (グランドコンボイ ''Gurando Konboi'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Első Optimusz''' ("Optimus, the First"), '''Optimusz Fővezér''' ("Prime Leader Optimus", 2nd ''Energon'' dub)

====''Cybertron''====
*''Japanese:'' '''Galaxy Convoy''' (ギャラクシーコンボイ ''Gyarakushī Konboi'')
*''Korean:'' '''Super Optimus Prime''' (슈퍼 옵티머스 프라임 ''Syupeo Obtimeoseu Peulaim'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Első Optimusz''' ("Optimus, the First"),

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Armada Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Cybertron Autobots]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Energon Autobots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Transformers with multiple modes]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:TransTech Autobots]]

Sonokong

2016-11-24T05:06:57Z

Dwlee522:

[[Image:SonokongLogo.jpg|frame|right|손오공주식회사]]
'''Sonokong''' (손오공) is a South Korean company that held the license to manufacture and market Takara toys, including ''Transformers'' and the various ''[[Brave (franchise)|Brave]]'' series, in Korea from 1995 to 2007. The Transformers franchises that Sonokong has produced are ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars II]]'', ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo]]'', ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)|Car Robots]]'', and ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Micron Legend]]''. Around 2007, Sonokong lost the Transformers license to [[Mocom Toy]].

Sonokong's ''Transformers'' toylines appear to be largely the same as their Japanese and American counterparts, with some notable differences:

* Sonokong Transformers toylines do not include all the original toys from those lines. For example, their ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|Car Robots]]'' line is missing the three basic-size Destrongers and the three Super Car Brothers. Other lines are even less complete, with their ''Micron Densetsu'' line including less than half of all the Takara ''Micron Densetsu'' toys.
* Sonokong Transformers toys are often packed in windowless boxes.
* Small toys from the Sonokong lines were released in versus packs and gift sets rather than individually. For example, the Car Brothers were released only as a 3-pack.
* Sonokong has done two weird repacks. They re-released a couple of their ''Beast Wars II'' toys in ''Car Robots'' packaging, including [[Armored Corps|an Autobot Megastorm]] and [[Scoutforce|a 4-pack of Autorollers]]. They also re-released two 4-packs of ''Beast Wars Neo'' toys in generic "Dino Robot" and "Jungle Robo" packaging without reference to ''Beast Wars Neo''.
* Sonokong quality control is arguably sometimes a little lower.
* Sonokong boxes are often less protective than Takara or Hasbro boxes because the toy is in a less secure plastic insert that allows it to move around inside the box more.
* Individual toys have some very small differences, such as Mach Alert having "Police" written in English on his door and Brave Maximus's tower sticker being placed upside-down.

The Sonokong versions of [[Megastorm#Beast_Wars_II|Gigastorm]] and [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Brave Maximus]] have become popular among Western collectors seeking lower-cost, easier-to-find alternatives to their respective [[Hasbro]]/[[TakaraTomy|Takara]] [[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]] predecessors.

Sonokong appears to deal with Takara rather than Hasbro, as evidenced by their release of their two Japanese-exclusive ''Transformers'' toylines and their many ''Brave'' toylines (not to mention their ''Beedaman'' and ''Jenny'' toylines, which are also originally Takara products). Sonokong's competitor, [[Young Toys]], appears to deal with Hasbro rather than Takara, and imports and produces Hasbro Transformers for the Korean market as well.

==See also==
*[[Young Toys]]
*[[Mocom Toy]]

{{stub}}

[[Category:Companies]]

Autobot

2015-10-02T09:35:24Z

Dwlee522:

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|ttautobot|sgAutobot}}
{{disambig2|the faction|Generation 2 watch-Autobot called, well, Autobot|Vector Prime (Cybertron)}}
[[File:Autobot symbol.png|upright=1.4|thumb|If you don't recognize this [[symbol]], what the heck are you doing here?]]

{{quote|[['Til all are one]].|Autobot rally cry|''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''}}

The '''Autobots''' are one of the primary factions in the [[Transformer]]s mythos. They usually find themselves defending both their own race and other species against the [[Decepticon]]s and upholding justice and freedom throughout the galaxy.

They are considered "the good guys" in most, but not in [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|all]] Transformers stories.

A generally heroic, honorable group, they tend to be dedicated to peace, and feel a need to protect other races from the Decepticons. As a result, they are usually Transformers who change into non-combat oriented [[alternate mode]]s such as domestic vehicles, cars, trucks, or rescue vehicles. This is not ''always'' the case, however, as their ranks certainly contain ne'er-do-wells, malcontents, and unsavory types, and the necessities of war have led many to adopt more combat-oriented alternate forms. While the Autobots have usually found themselves outnumbered by the Decepticons, the Autobots have always had home-field advantage, having not only the humans' military support, but also having more places on Earth to fall back on, while the Decepticons are entirely unwelcome on Earth.

Key concepts that repeat throughout most continuities are the use of the name [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] (or a variation thereof) to denote Autobot leadership, and the existence of an artifact of great life-giving power, usually referred to as a "[[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]", traditionally held by their leader.

The collective noun for Autobots is an "exaltation".<ref>"...more dangerous than an exaltation of Autobots." — [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]], ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac]]'' (2009) p 101</ref>

{{quote|Few beings think of themselves as evil. Many justify their actions as good, even if they are not. But if you believe the 'good guys' would not harm any life-form, then you may consider me a member of that team.|[[Gears (ROTF)|Gears]]|''[[Transformers Classified: Switching Gears|Switching Gears]]''|width=500px}}

==Generation 1 / Beast Era==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
[[File:Primag2.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|The birth of Prima, the first Autobot. Just before Primus went around handing out cigars.]]
In the beginning [[Primus]] created the Transformers, a race of living robots that could change their bodies into the likeness of weapons, vehicles, and machinery, and all Transformers were Autobots, and he saw that they were good. The Autobot symbol (or [[insignia|Autobrand]] as it is sometimes called) was based on the face of the [[Last Autobot]], the sleeping guardian Primus left for the day when his plans came to fruition.

At first Autobot numbers were small (a mere [[Thirteen|13]] began things), but through [[Reproduction|budding]] they expanded their race to fill the planet. When the correct level of population was reached, a mechanism triggered and memory of the process was wiped from the Transformers minds. At some point in these early days Unicron was able to reach through the mental link he shared with Primus and sow the seeds of corruption in a few Autobots, though this dark cult of Unicron would not bear fruit for a long time.

Eons passed in relative peace. Autobot society formed its own traditions, institutions, city-states and politics. From a human perspective this society resembled that of ancient Rome. [[Senate|Senators]] and [[Emirate]]s governed wisely or corruptly, priests worshipped Primus and passed his holy Matrix to the chosen bearer (the lineage: [[Prima (G1)|Prima]] to [[Prime Nova]], Prime Nova to [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]), gladiatorial games were held for sport and entertainment, and above it all the [[Overlord (rank)|Overlords]] ruled.

It was only with the advent of [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] at the end of the [[Golden Age]], coinciding with the death of the last hereditary Overlord, and the subsequent rise of the Decepticons, that the words "Autobot" and "Transformer" ceased being necessary synonyms and the population was divided by war.

[[File:Optimusprimeg1marvelfirst.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Optimus Prime appears to turn the tide.]]
In the early days of the war the Autobots were overwhelmed by the Decepticon war machine. They fell back again and again and for a while it looked like the war would be quickly lost... and then a young warrior rose from their ranks and rallied the troops to fight back. He made his reputation by denying Megatron access to the [[Underbase]], soon rose to command the Autobots' elite air corps, and then, at last, was granted full command of all Autobot armies. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] had turned the tide, and under his leadership the Autobots fought back until Megatron's war machine was stalled out and stalemated.

[[File:Marvel71 neversurrender.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|left]]
The war ground on until Autobot scientists detected that their planet's path was going to pass through a deadly asteroid belt. Putting the planet-wide conflict aside for the moment they turned their attention to planetary salvation and the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] was built.

[[File:Autobotline.gif|upright=2.2|thumb|And now, shadow puppet theatre.]]
Optimus and a crew of his best soldiers took the Ark into space and cleared a path for the planet through the asteroid field. Unfortunately with their power depleted from that Herculean task they were then ambushed by Megatron and his Decepticons. The crews of both ships were lost to history.

Without Megatron or Prime the pace of the war slowed considerably. Still, fighting continued and both sides dug in for a long bitter struggle. In Prime’s absence [[Xaaron|Emirate Xaaron]] led the Autobot forces in their struggle to retake their homeworld.

[[File:Autobots-disintegratedcircuits1.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

The next four million years passed quickly (as it is wont to do) and without any major alteration (only a general degradation) of the situation. Finally news came to Cybertron: Optimus Prime and his forces lived! Yet this news came at a steep price, as it meant a new front had opened in the war. Optimus Prime and his forces fought the Decepticons on the distant world of Earth, while Xaaron, his [[Wrecker]]s, and others carried on the war for Cybertron.

Despite Prime's dedication to protecting Earth, Autobot/Human relations were not good. Humanity viewed all Transformers as threats and attacked any they discovered regardless of faction. Industrialist [[G.B. Blackrock]] tried to inform the public that there were two factions, with the Autobots being the benign faction, but the [[Intelligence and Information Institute]], the government agency tasked with countering the Transformers, was either unable or unwilling to distinguish between factions.

Not long after his survival was discovered, tragedy struck and Optimus Prime was killed on Earth. The Dinobot commander [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] took on the leadership of Prime's soldiers, though he favored the abandonment of Earth and a renewed focus on Cybertron.

At roughly the same time, the great Autobot warrior [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] reached an important decision. He was tired of the war and if he could not end it he would leave it behind. Gathering a large following of likeminded warriors he left Cybertron for the world of Nebulos in hopes of a new and peaceful life. This was not to be. Decepticons followed Maximus and opened a third front to the war. In the end both factions abandoned Nebulos and Maximus led them to Earth to unite with the forces under Optimus Prime.

[[File:LastAutobot.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|From Prima to Last Autobot, we come full circle. You may close your notebooks.]]
However, when they arrived they discovered Prime dead and Grimlock less than welcoming. Grimlock and Maximus attempted to establish a single Autobot leader with trial by combat, but were interrupted by a devastating Decepticon attack. The upside of it all was that they ended up putting their differences aside and Optimus Prime was soon reborn to take up leadership of the Earth-based forces once again.

Not long after, a dimensional transporter accident led to the rediscovery and accidental disturbance of Primus deep in the center of Cybertron. The Autobots learned that their ancient myths about Primus were the truth, and Unicron was now coming for them. Since the Creation Matrix had been lost and corrupted, Optimus Prime offered the Autobots' unconditional surrender to the Decepticons in the hopes that this would lead the two factions to stand together against the coming threat. It did, and the Matrix was retrieved and purified in time to stop Unicron. Both Optimus Prime and Emirate Xaaron were killed in the battle, and Grimlock ascended to Autobot leadership again, this time over all Autobots.

The alliance with the Decepticons would be short lived. Cybertron appeared to be destroying itself and the Decepticons betrayed the Autobots, leaving them to die with their world. Grimlock’s leadership led to the Autobots escaping that trap, and walking right into a different one. Oops. Thankfully, the awakening of the Last Autobot saved Cybertron and led to the rebirth of Optimus Prime, who reclaimed Autobot leadership and beat the Decepticons once and for all.

''(From this point both the Marvel Generation 2 and the Fun Publication's Classics comics continue the story in separate and mutually exclusive directions.)''

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
The war finally over, most of the Autobots retired to the revived and prosperous Cybertron. It wasn't to last. Grimlock led a crew of Autobots not ready to take a vacation and put their feet up to try and track down any remaining Decepticon trouble. They found more than they could imagine as they discovered a vast and militant Empire constructed across the stars by Decepticons who left Cybertron long ago.

At the same time, Megatron reared his head again on Earth and soon the surviving Decepticons from the end of the war joined him, intent on restarting the war on Earth. It was not long before Decepticons and Autobots were teamed up against the forces of the Cybertronian Empire. Though this new conflict never touched the revived Cybertron, Earth was devastated by it. The Bot/Con alliance won, but how long this new alliance would last and what [[Liege Maximo (G2)|new threats]] awaited remained a question.

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

{{groupstub}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:BetasAutobotRebels.jpg|275px|thumb|There just weren't as many characters to cosplay as in the old days.]]
The Autobots originated as a line of non-living consumer goods robots, created by the [[Quintesson]]s alongside the military hardware robots that would become the Decepticons. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Developing sentience and emotion, the robots turned on their alien masters, though the Quintessons' gargantuan [[Dark Guardian]] robots made victory an unlikely prospect. A major tipping point occurred when the rebel leader [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A-3]] used his [[Coda Remote]], hidden within his slave brand, to deactivate the Dark Guardians, striking a major blow against the Quintessons and forever transforming the brand into a mark of autonomy that eventually became the Autobots' faction insignia. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}} At some point in these early days, the Autobots somehow gained possession of the mysterious [[Matrix of Leadership]], which was carried by each successive leader of their race, and became a repository for their consciousness upon their passing. During the early days of Quintesson rule, it was carried by [[Primon]], who was succeeded by the first robot to challenge the Quintessons, [[Prima (G1)|Prima]], followed by the leader during the rebellion, [[Prime Nova]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}
[[File:FFOD4 passing the matrix.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]
After the Quintessons were successfully forced from Cybertron, a period of peace descended during which the Autobots—as they now called themselves—began building a civilization, but the warlike Decepticons soon declared war on them, claiming the lives of leaders [[Guardian Prime]] and [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Outmatched by their enemies, many Autobots fled Cybertron, seeking to start new lives free of conflict elsewhere in the universe, {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}} settling on planets such as [[Paradron]]. {{storylink|Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee}} Outmached in strength and firepower, the Autobots turned instead to stealth, inventing the art of [[transformation]]. Using this power, Autobot leader [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] defeated [[Trannis]], and ended the war. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}
[[File:MTMTE2 stick it in neutral.jpg|thumb|225px]]
Peace settled over Cybertron and what became known as the [[Golden Age]] began, but around nine million years ago, the Decepticons struck back, now under the command of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. Megatron slew Sentinel Prime, who passed stewardship of the Matrix to A-3—now Alpha Trion—who was busy working on a means of rebuilding the Autobots so they would be able to fight the Decepticons on equal footing. When a wounded young robot named [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Orion Pax]] was brought to Alpha Trion, Trion repaired him using the process, rebuilding him as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and giving him the Matrix that he might serve as the leader of the first of a new breed of war-ready Autobot. {{storylink|War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn}} Under Prime's leadership, 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. Optimus Prime's best and brightest departed on this quest aboard [[Ark (G1)|a spacecraft]], but were pursued and attacked by Megatron's elite, leading all involved to a crash-land on prehistoric Earth, entombed in stasis for four million years. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}
[[File:CosmicRust-BigGroup.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"Incompetent fools! There's only like seven Decepticons and fifty of us!"]]

In 1984, a volcanic eruption awakened the Transformers, and their war for energy continued on Earth. Believing the Decepticons had been defeated, the Autobots entered into an alliance with Earth's governments for the energy needed to repair their ship and return to Cybertron, {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}} but the unanticipated return prompted Optimus Prime and his men to stay on Earth to defend the planet. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion (episode)|Transport to Oblivion}} The Autobots rebuilt their spaceship to serve as their headquarters, integrating it with the volcano it lay in, and maintained a position of superiority on Earth over the following years, aided by their human allies in world's governments and the [[Witwicky]] family, and regularly bolstered by the addition of new troops from various quarters.
[[File:FightorFlee future autobots.jpg|thumb|225px]]
Over the next twenty years, the Decepticons managed to drive the Autobots from Cybertron, forcing them to operate out of two bases on Cybertron's moons with a reserve force at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on Earth. In 2005, learning that the Autobots were preparing a major assault, the Decepticons [[Battle of Autobot City|besieged Autobot City]], leading to a battle which saw the deaths of many Autobots, including Optimus Prime, who passed leadership to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] before dying. Subsequently, the planet-eating [[Unicron]] attacked Cybertron, but the young Autobot [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] was able to prove himself Optimus's true successor when he used the Matrix to destroy Unicron, transformed in the process by its power into Rodimus Prime. Under Rodimus's leadership, the Autobots routed the remaining Decepticons on Cybertron, shattered by Unicron's attack, and they finally retook their home planet. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
The Autobots remained in control of Cybertron throughout 2006, slowly working to revitalize their homeworld while defending with comparative ease against various attacks by the surviving Decepticons, and the manipulations of the returned Quintessons. [[File:Rebirthpt2 headmasters charge.jpg|left|thumb|225px]] They did not neglect their adopted home-world of Earth, either, regularly working with [[Earth Defense Command]] to protect the planet. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness}} Despite the successes enjoyed under his leadership, Rodimus Prime was never comfortable with the burden of command, and happily relinquished it when Optimus Prime was later restored to life. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

In 2007, when the Decepticons mounted an all-out attack on Cybertron's [[Plasma Energy Chamber]], several Autobots were hurled across the galaxy by a blast of the chamber's power to the planet [[Nebulos]]. There, they became [[binary bonding|binary bonded]] to a cell of local rebels as [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster]]s, helping them to defeat the planet's evil rulers, the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]]. Returning to Cybertron with the key to the Plasma Energy Chamber, they were able to thwart the Decepticons' plan to destroy Cybertron and Earth with the chamber, instead using its power to revitalize their home-world and restore the Golden Age. {{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:FourWarriorsfromtheSky.jpg|thumb|225px]]

Following Optimus Prime's resurrection, the Decepticons retreated into hiding, allowing the Autobots to expand their operations. A new major command post was set up on the planet [[Athenia]], and plans were made to terraform the planet into a second Cybertron, but this was tabled when the Decepticons returned in 2011, attempting to seize control of Cybertron through [[Vector Sigma]]. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} Bolstered by the addition of Headmasters to their ranks—Cybertronians who had left their planet long ago and taken up residence on the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], led by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]]—the Autobots were able to thwart their plan, but in the effort, Optimus Prime died once again, and Rodimus Prime became leader again. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} Rodimus's tenure was short-lived when, after a Decepticon bomb plot resulted in the destruction of Cybertron, he passed leadership to Fortress and set off into space to find a new homeworld for the Transformers. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}} Under Fortress's leadership, the Autobots succeeded in preventing a Decepticon plan to destroy the Earth with [[plasma energy]], and finally forced the evil robots off the planet for good. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
[[File:FourChojinWarriors.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]
The Autobots likewise withdrew from Earth, and, staging their operations from Athenia, proceeded to engage their enemies in a series of space-based exchanges known as the [[Master Wars]]. {{storylink|Master File No, 1}} Learning that the mysterious alien [[Devil Z]] had taken control of the Decepticons and had a scheme brewing on Earth, Fortress left defense of the planet to a small team of [[Pretender]]s led by [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]], who had been operating there in secret among human civilization since neolithic times. {{storylink|Rise Up!! Pretenders}} To protect Earth against Devil Z's schemes, the Pretenders recruited human beings to become merged with Transformer technology as [[Headmaster Junior]]s and [[Godmaster]]s, and the most powerful of their number, [[Ginrai]], destroyed Devil Z in combat. {{storylink|A Battle... and Then...}}
[[File:Brainmasters victory cartoon.jpg|thumb|225px]]
Following Devil Z's defeat, the Decepticons reorganized under [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] and began attacking planets all across the galaxy, prompting the Autobots to step up their game, allying with humanity and many other races to form the star-spanning [[Galactic Peace Alliance]]. The Autobot swordsman [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] was appointed the Autobots' new Supreme Commander and head of the alliance's Galactic Defense Force, and led his elite [[Brainmaster]] and [[Multiforce]] troops in defending the Earth when it was targeted by Deathsaurus as a source of energy to re-power his [[Planet-Destroying Fortress]] in 2025. {{storylink|The Brave Hero of the Universe - Star Saber}}
[[File:SkyGarry1.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]
Star Saber was later injured defending the planet [[Feminia]] against the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]] and was succeeded as Autobot leader by [[Powered Master]] [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]], who foiled the evil entity [[Violen Jiger]]'s plans for conquest using the power of the enigmatic [[Zodiac]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Zone (franchise)|Zone}} The Zodiac presented a possible avenue to resurrect the legendary Optimus Prime, so Dai Atlas entrusted both it and interim Autobot leadership to [[Sky Garry (ROC)|Sky Garry]], who rescued Prime's body from the evil alien [[Dark Nova]]. Revived by the Zodiac as "Star Convoy," Prime destroyed Dark Nova. {{storylink|Transformers: Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy}}

In the year 2035, with Autobot/Decepticon conflict mostly occurring in space once again, the Autobots and humanity joined forced to develop [[Power Core Combination]] technology. This powerful new tech drew the Decepticons' attention back to the planet, but the schemes of their current eader [[Scrash (OC)|Scrash]] were put down by the new Autobot Power Core Combiners, [[Guard City]], and the Micromaster six-combiners. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Operation Combination (franchise)|Operation Combination}} {{storylink|Transformers United EX|United EX}} Following this, the Autobots and Decepticons laid down their arms and united to established the [[Cybertron Alliance]], rebuilding Cybertron. Unfortunately, Megatron soon turned to evil again, and Optimus Prime was forced to battle and defeat him in the [[Mirtonian constellation]], apparently bring the war to an end once and for all. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (pack-in manga)|G-2}} Alas, the Autobots had not reckoned with the time-travelling [[Galvatron II]], who arrived from another timeline to take control of the Decepticons and continue the war, and so bolstered their ranks to fight back with mass-produced [[Eldedroid]]s. {{storylink|MP-1B Cybertron Commander / Convoy Black Ver.|e-HOBBY storyline}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon===
{{main|Maximal}}

The Autobots won the Great War, and their descendants the [[Maximal]]s succeeded them. It's unclear what happened to the Autobots, though followup series provided more clues.

===''Beast Machines'' cartoon===
[[File:ProwlMaybe BM.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Where's your Pax Cybertronia now?]]
When [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] subdued Cybertron's population with his [[Transformation virus|virus]], he extracted their sparks and used their bodies as raw materials for building [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]. [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] and his team discovered a junkyard/factory with acres of these corpses, one of which very clearly bore the Autobot symbol (and an uncanny resemblance to [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]). {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}} Also, among the [[Vehicon general]]s were the revived Great War veterans [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], who may have been Autobots themselves. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike}}

===3H comics===
Many of the great Autobot and Decepticon heroes (such as Optimus Prime, Grimlock, Soundwave, and Megatron) retired to a strange quasi-reality called [[J'nwan]]. Almost all who tried to reach J'nwan and seek their aid succumbed to madness, and the ancient heroes did not appreciate being disturbed by any survivors. However, the great figures did eventually decide to fight once more at [[Point Omega]], an event which erased much of the timeline they had come from. It's unclear whether or not J'nwan or the events regarding it remained intact.

Meanwhile, some other Autobots and Decepticons, such as [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], and [[Devcon (G1)|Devcon]] did not enter J'nwan but remained active on Cybertron. Some Autobots became Maximals while others did not. {{storylink|Departure}} {{storylink|Betrayal}}

===IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics===
The three components of the combiner [[Magnaboss]] are the Autobots [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. They vanished after the [[Pax Cybertronia]] was signed, but it is said they will return in a time of great need. {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:AutoLitho.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Come on you bots! Do you want to live forever?!?]]
The Autobots arose as the group who sided with Sentinel Prime and the [[Council of Ancients]] and opposed Megatron's desire for the conquest of Cybertron, but their inexperience with warfare led to a serious tactical disadvantage. Sentinel Prime led the war effort for half a million years, until Megatron killed him in combat, hoping to secure the Matrix from him. Sentinel's successor, Optimus Prime, originally decided to evacuate Cybertron, fearing that, even if the Autobots won, Cybertron would be a wasteland. However, a subsequent encounter between Optimus Prime and Megatron, where he learned of the planetary engines the Decepticon leader hoped to power with the Matrix, convinced Prime to remain on Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers: The War Within|The War Within}}

Later, Optimus Prime and Megatron disappeared in a space bridge explosion. Without strong leadership, both sides degenerated into factions. The [[Wrecker]]s and the [[Lightning Strike Coalition]] broke off from the main Autobot army, which was led by Prowl. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}} After [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] took control of the Autobots, he reunified the factions, and manage to negotiate a cease-fire with [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave's]] Decepticons and Ratbat's [[Ultracon]]s. However, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream's]] [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]] made a last ditch assault, and Megatron suddenly returned leading the [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]], an army of [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] drones created by the Quintessons. Megatron managed to conquer Cybertron, forcing most of the Autobots into slavery and the escapees into hiding. The period of Autobot enslavement ended when Optimus Prime returned to Cybertron and the Air Warriors were destroyed. ''We don't know how.'' {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Age of Wrath|War Within: The Age of Wrath}}

Four million years before humans arose, Cybertron was threatened by a massive asteroid. The Autobots developed the ''Ark'' to destroy the asteroid. They were successful, but Megatron attacked with the ''Nemesis''. Both ships crashed on Earth, with both crews aboard the ''Ark''. On Cybertron, Ultra Magnus and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] worked to keep the Autobots from splitting up again. With energon growing scarce, Magnus agreed to work with Shockwave to create the [[Micromaster]]s, downsized Transformers intended for better fuel efficiency. Magnus also launched [[Operation: Containment]], a twofold program intended to prevent the Decepticons from threatening other planets and locating the ''Ark''. {{storylink|Transformers: Micromasters}} However, with the [[Great Shutdown]], all Transformers entered a period of enforced [[stasis lock]]. Shockwave was the first to be reactivated, and made peace with the Autobots, installing himself as Head of State with an Autobot High Council as a legislature.

On Earth, the Autobots on the ''Ark'' awoke in 1984. Cut off from Cybertron, and seeing that a sentient species had evolved around them, the Autobots resolved to defend Earth from the Decepticons. Over the next fifteen years, the Autobots were largely successful at preventing a Decepticon conquest, while also befriending the [[Witwicky]] family. Eventually, the Autobots allied with the humans and defeated the Decepticons, capturing them. However, rogue elements of the United States Military, apparently being manipulated by Shockwave, sabotaged the ''[[Ark II]]'', capturing several Autobots and most of the Decepticons, until the chief scientist, [[Lazarus (G1)|Adam Rook]], went rogue and set himself up as an arms dealer. [[Robert Hallo]], the original mastermind of the conspiracy, used [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] to reactivate Optimus Prime, who revived the Autobots and stopped a reactivated Megatron. {{storylink|Prime Directive}} A year later, Shockwave came to tie up loose ends and acquire the Matrix from Prime. A rebel Autobot cell managed to rescue Prime, who united the other resistance groups, and Shockwave was overthrown, bringing Cybertron under Autobot control. {{storylink|War and Peace}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
{{ongoing}}
Over four million years ago, "Autobot" was a term used by other races to describe Cybertronians. It was derived from "automaton", describing how the species lived routine, monotonous lives without any change. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] was the first Transformer to lay claim to the name for their own use, saying it could stand for "autonomous" instead. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}

The "First Face", the symbol that would become the Autobot insignia, was an ancient design used by many factions in the past and once considered a universal symbol of Cybertronians. {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}} During the time of the [[Senate]], it was used to represent their security forces led by [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin}} After [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] succeeded Sentinel, he and his good friend Orion Pax shaped the security forces into the faction known as the Autobots and appropriated the symbol for their use. {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}} The Autobots went on to lead the battle against [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]'s Decepticon terrorist movement, but Zeta's increasingly ruthless methods and neglect of the civilian populace made them widely unpopular. {{storylink|Law and Disorder}} Following Zeta's death, Orion Pax became Optimus Prime and convinced many neutral Cybertronians to join the Autobot army for the sake of defeating Megatron. {{storylink|Broadcast}}

With both Autobots and Decepticons now having powerful leaders and large armies, the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] between the broke out. Eventually, the Autobots spread across the galaxy and formed into small units to counter the Decepticon units infiltrating various planets. The two sides joined forces to combat [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] and the ensuing battle rendered Cybertron uninhabitable. {{storylink|The Transformers: Stormbringer |Stormbringer}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
The Autobots and Decepticons, isolated on Cybertron by humanity for causing too much devastation during the Great War, became the [[Builder of Cybertron|Builders of Cybertron]]. The Autobots constructed the Maximals as their descendants, naming them after [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. {{storylink|Broken Windshields}} {{storylink|Head Games}}

==2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon==
Here, the Autobots are the main race on Cybertron, and their enemies are the [[Predacon (RID)|Predacons]]. The Autobots fought in the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars]], presumably against the Predacons. [[Vector Sigma]], the [[Allspark]], chooses which Autobot is to be granted the Matrix and thus the position of commander-in-chief.

The Autobots were already on [[Earth]] when the Predacons arrived, having taken the form of Earth vehicles to work as camouflage and established a [[Global Space Bridge]] network and a central base monitoring the entire planet.

In their disguises, the Autobots integrated themselves into human society; [[Team Bullet Train]] worked as actual trains, [[X-Brawn]] was owned as a car by [[Kelly (RID)|Kelly]], and Optimus Prime was working for a fire department. This continued after they went public; both [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]] and [[Tow-Line (RID)|Tow-Line]], for example, were shown enforcing human laws in an apparently official capacity, suggesting the Autobots had official ties to human authorities.

It's known Optimus fought the Predacons on other worlds, presumably using the same tactics as on Earth.

==Unicron Trilogy continuity family==
===Dreamwave comic continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
Originally, the Autobots were not a faction, but the name of a peacekeeping organization; under the command of [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], they defended [[Cyber City]]. Their headquarters was adorned with the motto "Truth - Justice - Freedom". They were unable to stop the [[Mini-Con]]-powered Decepticons from taking Cyber City, and for a million years they were reduced to a rebel organization desperately trying & failing to protect Cybertron. The reactivation of the Mini-Cons on Earth gave the Autobots an opportunity to gain Mini-Con power of their own, but eventually the Decepticons were beaten not by them, but due to the attack of [[Unicron]].

===Cartoon continuity===
====''Armada'' cartoon====
Throughout the Unicron Trilogy, the Autobots switched motives after each major conflict. At first, they were attempting to liberate smaller robots, called [[Mini-Con]]s, from the tyrannical control of [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who saw them as tools to be used and disposed of when no longer needed. The Autobots followed the Mini-Cons' ship to Earth, where they crashed and eventually continued their battle against the Decepticons (some two million years later. Geez, Megatron can hold a grudge).

These two sides would unite to fight the Chaos Bringer, [[Unicron]], when he threatened to devour Cybertron. With Megatron sacrificing himself to save the rest of the Universe, Unicron shut down and was destroyed. The remaining Transformers united as the Autobots, following Megatron's order to assist them in rebuilding Cybertron.

====''Energon'' cartoon====
Megatron'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 (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|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.

Both sides found themselves the target of attacks from Unicron again; hordes of 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 Megatron's spark had survived within the remains, and was siphoning energon from Unicron's body. Soon the Decepticon leader had revived himself in a new form, driven off Alpha Quintesson, and, along with an elite cadre of soldiers and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of mindless Terrorcon drones, begun 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 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, Megatron ultimately sacrificed himself (again) and seemingly destroyed Unicron's spark by plunging himself into a newly formed energon sun created by Primus.

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
Another ten years after Energon, the energon sun created by Primus was gone, collapsed into the [[Unicron Singularity]], a giant black hole threatening to devour all of existence. In death, Unicron's power to destroy his only opposition - Primus - was greater than ever. The Autobots searched for a method of destroying the Black Hole and found a single answer; the Omega Lock, a powerful artifact linked to the Spark of Primus. With it, the Universe could be saved... or destroyed. Seeing an opportunity to rebuild existence in his own image, Megatron sought out the Omega Lock and the Cyber Planet Keys.

As the two sides battled for the Keys, the Autobots would eventually find all four and use them to revive Primus, but in doing so caused a massive earthquake that began shattering the planet around them.

Or so they thought.

Primus was emerging from Cybertron, awakened from the body he sculpted into a world for his creation. When informed of Unicron's destruction, he was infuriated to find that the universe was out of balance because of a severe lack of evil. Starscream attacked Primus's weakened form, due to the smaller robot stealing a piece of his spark and becoming an even equally huge monster, but was quickly dispatched by his creator. Defeated, Starscream flew off, leaving the Autobots to seal the Black Hole. Once this was accomplished, Galvatron attempted an escape from his fire dimension, but by combining Vector Prime's sword with the Omega Lock, the portal was sealed, and the Autobots returned home in peace.

The remaining Decepticons joined the Autobots, save for four who left Earth to start the New Decepticon Army. Their ship made it to Mars before crashing.

==Live-action film series==
[[File:Movie Sam Mikaela meettheAutobots.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Hello [[Michael Bay|Michael Bay.]] Goodbye childhood.]]
The Autobots (autonomous robotic organisms) are the second Cybertronian civilization, being the descendants of the early workers who served the [[Dynasty of Primes]]. Following the outbreak of the war, the Autobots became the Transformers who rallied around [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]], the last of the Primes, to prevent [[Megatron (Movie)|Protector Megatron]] from claiming the [[AllSpark]]. They were formed mostly from the [[Science Division]], the [[Security Force]], and what few members of the [[Defense Force]] rejected Megatron's violent ambitions. Although they fought valiantly, the Decepticons were more warlike, and they began to gain ground. In a move to prevent the Decepticons from acquiring the AllSpark, Prime sent it hurtling into deep space. Megatron followed, and disappeared. The Autobots then scattered among the universe, searching for the AllSpark. {{storylink|Transformers: Defiance|Defiance}} {{storylink|Transformers: Movie Prequel |Movie Prequel}}

Following some twelve thousand years of searching, the Autobots encountered a stranded human vessel in space. Known as ''[[Ghost 1]]'', the creatures aboard, named humans, revealed that they had developed the ship based on studies from Megatron. Recognizing that Megatron would destroy their world if he came back online, Optimus tried to send them back to Earth, but they sacrificed their lives to save Optimus from [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]. Already suspecting that the AllSpark was on their homeworld, the Autobots made efforts to find [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday|Ghosts of Yesterday}}

Eventually, the Autobots made their way to Earth, discovering a link to the AllSpark with [[Sam Witwicky (Movie)|Sam Witwicky]]. The Autobot [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] came into Sam's possession, and contacted Optimus Prime. Prime came to Earth with [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] to retrieve the AllSpark and eliminate Megatron, fearing the Decepticon would use the Cube to raise an army from human technology. However, Starscream's retrieval team was also on Earth, having come for the AllSpark. The Autobots were further hampered by [[Sector Seven]], the human agency tasked with dealing with Transformers. Eventually forming a brief truce with Sector Seven and a group of Army Rangers who had encountered [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] and [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]], the Autobots fought off the Decepticons in [[Mission City]], which saw the deaths of Megatron, Blackout, [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]], and [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]], but Jazz was killed and the AllSpark destroyed when Sam Witwicky extinguished Megatron's spark. Without a means to restore Cybertron, the Autobots decided to remain on Earth, and Optimus Prime sent a message into space for Autobots to come and protect their new home and newfound allies in humanity. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}}

{{note|In the movie it is Ratchet who provides the name "Autobot", claiming it is an abbreviation after Optimus's line, "We are autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron". Seeing as how Decepticons also fit this description, this may imply that "Autobot" is the species name for the Transformers. In a departure from previous Transformers incarnations, Japan used the name "Autobots" for this franchise, rather than "Cybertrons".<ref>[http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/products/movie/autobots.html Movie Autobots toy listing on Takaratomy.com]</ref>}}

Over the next two years, more Autobots began making their way to Earth, such as [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]], [[Jolt (Movie)|Jolt]], Mudflap, Skids, Elita One, and Chromia joining a human military force known as [[NEST]]. Under the classified Autobot Alien cooperation act, the Autobots entrusted the remaining AllSpark shard to humanity and gave them intelligence about the Decepticons they were facing. However, the Autobots refused to share weapons technology with humanity, knowing their history internecine warfare. {{storylink|Transformers: Alliance}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Veiled Threat|The Veiled Threat}}

In 2009, NEST had five encounters with the Decepticons on different continents, indicating that the Decepticons were searching for something. During a sweep of [[Shanghai]], NEST encountered [[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]] and [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]], who caused substantial damage to the city during their attempts to escape. Although they were neutralized, Demolishor relayed a warning to Optimus Prime: "[[The Fallen]] shall rise again". Following this, NEST returned to their base of operations at [[Diego Garcia]], where they relayed the warning to [[Morshower|General Morshower]] and [[Theodore Galloway|Director Galloway]]. Having been appointed liaison by the President, Galloway concluded that the Decepticons only interest in Earth was to hunt down the Autobots. Unfortunately, Galloway also revealed both Megatron's resting place and the presence of the shard on Diego Garica. [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] was listening to the briefing, and directed [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] and the [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicons]] to raise Megatron. Meeting with his master, The Fallen, Megatron was commanded to retrieve Sam Witwicky, who had absorbed the knowledge of the AllSpark, and kill Optimus Prime, the only one who could defeat The Fallen. Optimus died helping Sam escape, and the Decepticons launched multiple attacks to have the humans turn Sam over to them. Galloway used the attacks as an excuse to have himself placed in charge of NEST and place the Autobots under guard.

Meanwhile, Sam, his girlfriend [[Mikaela Banes]], and his roommate [[Leo Spitz]] were being hidden by Bumblebee and the Twins [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]], and with help from [[Seymour Simmons]] of Sector Seven, discovered Decepticon-turned-Autobot [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]], who told them that the Fallen, one of the founders of the Dynasty of Primes, was looking for the Matrix of Leadership needed to activate the [[Star Harvester]], which would destroy Earth's sun and make energon. As only a Prime could defeat the Fallen, Sam and his group started a search for the Matrix and located it, leading to a massive battle with the Decepticons near the Star Harvester during which Sam tried reach Optimus to resurrect him and the Decepticons attempted to stop him and get the Matrix. After most of the Decepticons were killed, Megatron killed Sam, but he was resurrected by the Dynasty of Primes and granted the Matrix which he used to resurrect Optimus Prime. With help from Jetfire, who sacrificed himself to give him his parts, Optimus was able to destroy the Harvester, defeat Megatron, leaving him seriously injured and kill the Fallen. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

A few years later, as there had been no major contact with the Decepticons since the death of the Fallen, the Autobots helped set up [[energon detector]]s in Earth's major cities to watch for a Decepticon presence. The Autobots, now common knowledge among Earth's people, helped out with major human threats. After Colonel Lennox learned of something alien at Chernobyl, the Autobots traveled there and encountered [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] and his [[Driller]] after retrieving a mysterious part. After Shockwave was driven off, Optimus was shocked to discover that it was an engine part from the long-lost ''[[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]]'', which had crashed on the Moon. He and Ratchet traveled to the ''Ark'' and recovered five of the [[space bridge]] [[pillar]]s along with [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] who was revived by the Matrix of Leadership. Sentinel eventually revealed himself to be a traitor, murdered Ironhide and used the space bridge to bring an army of over 200 Decepticons to Earth. Earth's governments forced the Autobots off the planet, with the Decepticons attempting to learn the Autobots' plans to fight back via Sam. Without revealing any plans, the Autobots left Earth in the ''[[Xantium (DOTM)|Xantium]]'' and were apparently destroyed by [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]].

The Decepticons, led by Megatron and Sentinel Prime took over the human city of [[Chicago]] unopposed and prepared to bring Cybertron to Earth to use Earth's natural resources and its people as slaves to rebuild their home. The Autobots, who faked their deaths to trick the Decepticons, arrived in Chicago and linked up with a team of humans led by [[Sam Witwicky (Movie)|Sam Witwicky]] and former NEST soldier [[Robert Epps]] who were determined to fight even against overwhelming odds. With the help of the team and later NEST, the Autobots launched an attack on the city and together the Autobots and humans managed to kill [[Laserbeak (DOTM)|Laserbeak]], the Driller, Starscream, [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], Barricade, Shockwave and many other Decepticons, losing only [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Que]] and possibly Wheelie and Brains in the process. Optimus Prime battled Sentinel Prime and though Optimus was nearly killed, Megatron suddenly turned on Sentinel and severely injured him, having realized that he would never be able to rule Cybertron as long as Sentinel was alive. Meanwhile, the Control Pillar was destroyed by Bumblebee, and the collapsing space bridge destroyed Cybertron and the remaining Decepticon forces in Chicago. Megatron then tried to deceive Optimus into thinking that he wanted peace, but Optimus saw through the ruse and killed his seemingly eternal foe. Optimus then terminated Sentinel. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

However, after the devastation of Chicago, [[Harold Attinger]] formed a secret cabal of the CIA known as "Cemetery Wind", which set out to destroy all Transformers, Autobot and Decepticon alike. However, as far as the public and even the White House knew, Cemetery Wind was only hunting down the Decepticons. When he learned of Cemetery Wind's mission, Optimus sent a distress signal to his troops, warning them of their betrayal and to run for their lives. The Autobots scattered, some remaining in groups and some striking out on their own. [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]] assisted Attinger's lieutenant James Savoy in hunting down the Transformers. Five years after the Chicago battle, [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]] and the majority of the Autobots had been slaughtered, their remains being used by Joshua Joyce's KSI to produce man-made Transformers, intending to replace the Autobots as humanity's protectors.

Around the same time of the demise of Ratchet, Optimus narrowly survived an ambush and went into hiding as a rusty old cabover truck. Optimus was inadvertedly discovered by [[Cade Yeager]], and befriended the struggling inventor. The two escaped Savoy and Lockdown with Cade's daughter [[Tessa Yeager|Tessa]] and her boyfriend [[Shane Dyson|Shane]]. After taking a new vehicle form, Optimus met up with the surviving Autobots - Bumblebee, [[Drift (ROTF)|Drift]], [[Hound (Movie)|Hound]], and [[Crosshairs (AOE)|Crosshairs]], with the sad truth that they were the last Autobots on the planet sinking in as they learned of Leadfoot's demise. The Autobots assisted in infiltrating KSI, until they were informed of Ratchet's gruesome fate. Optimus snapped, and led a ferocious assault on KSI, also freeing the imprisoned [[Brains]] along the way. However, Joyce confronted the Autobots, declaring humans didn't need the Autobots anymore, who were now little more than outdated technology for humanity to abuse. Disgusted, the Autobots left, but were pursued by KSI's [[Galvatron (AOE)|Galvatron]] and [[Stinger (AOE)|Stinger]], which resulted in Optimus and Tessa's capture by Lockdown.

In Chicago, the Autobots snuck aboard Lockdown's ship with Cade and Shane to rescue their friends, and succeeded in detaching a smaller ship from the whole before Lockdown learned of Optimus' escape. After regrouping and learning that Galvatron was a rebuilt Megatron plotting to use the Seed to kill millions of humans, Optimus ordered the Autobots to depart Earth forever and leave the humans to their fate. He was only convinced to stay when Cade convinced Optimus to have faith in who humanity could be. Hound and Bumblebee ended up separated from the group when they tried to retrieve the Seed from a repentant Joyce, only for Galvatron's new Decepticons to shoot down their ship. In the Wulong Valley, Optimus recruited the [[Dinobot (AOE)|Dinobots]] to join them, which they did after he beat some obedience into [[Grimlock (AOE)|Grimlock]]. The Dinobots' assistance proved invaluable in turning the tide against the Decepticons, who had nearly overwhelmed Hound, Bumblebee and Cade in battle. The entire group attempted to escort Joyce and the Seed out of Hong Kong, but Lockdown returned. Optimus, Bumblebee, and the Yeagers all worked together and were able to kill Attinger and Lockdown. After regrouping, the Dinobots were set free on Earth, and Optimus assigned his Autobots to defend the Yeager family, while he departed to take the Seed from Earth and to confront his mysterious Creators. {{storylink|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction}}

==''Animated'' continuity family==
The Autobots in the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated continuity]] won the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]] with the Decepticons because of three things: the Autobot-exclusive [[space bridge]] technology, [[Project Omega]], and by sending the [[AllSpark]] into space to keep the Decepticons from getting it. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}} Since then [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] has known peace under the rule of the [[Autobot High Council]], headed by a [[Magnus (rank)|Magnus]], in this case [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]]. Magnus heads the military portion of the planet's defense force, the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]], which is based at [[Fortress Maximus (Animated)|Fortress Maximus]] ([[Alpha Trion (Animated)|Alpha Trion]] is in charge of the civilian guards, which may include the [[Cyber-Ninja Corps]]). [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] is a subordinate rank answerable to the Magnus, and [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]], [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]], [[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus]] and [[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm]] have been promoted to this rank. A lower officer is known as a [[Minor (rank)|Minor]]. The High Council, [[Cybertron Intelligence]] and the [[Ministry of Science]] are based at the [[Metroplex (Animated)|Metroplex]].
{{note|Takara also used the name "Autobots" instead of "Cybertrons" for the faction in this franchise.}}

==''Shattered Glass''==
[[File:Autobot Shattered Glass.png|177px|thumb|...the evil forces of the Autobots?]]
{{quote|'Til all are gone.|[[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]]|[[Shattered Glass]]}}

In this universe, the Autobots are the evildoers, bent on conquering and destroying everything in their path, starting with Earth. On Cybertron, they are the dominant faction, ruled by the Prime, specifically [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]]. Ranks are in constant flux due to their backstabbing nature. [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus]] may very well usurp rule one day. {{storylink|Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass}}
{{-}}

==Aligned continuity family==
[[File:DarknessRising1-untappedenergondeposit.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
"Autobot", a contraction of "autonomous robot", was an old philosopical phrase [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]] found on the [[DataNet]] and one that he suggested to his friend [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] to be the name of their movement to abolish the [[caste system]]. At their hearing with the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]], Orion used the term over and over again to remind his enthusiastic followers of the freedom they sought. He implored the Council choose a new Prime, so [[Halogen (WFC)|Halogen]] chose Orion as the new Prime, tearing Orion and Megatron's movement in two. In the war with Megatron's Decepticons, the Autobots only held fifteen percent of Cybertron, including [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and [[Kalis]]. The Autobots left Cybertron on the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'', transported by the [[space bridge]] to the [[Milky Way]]. [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]]'s [[Wrecker]]s, [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]], [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]], and [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] remained on the planet. ''{{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}''

{{Main|Team Prime}}
Soon enough, Cybertron became deserted, with Autobot forces stretched thin across the universe. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)}} With the death of [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]], Optimus only had [[Team Prime|four Autobots]] with him on [[Earth]], {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} though he would later be joined on Earth with [[Rescue Force Sigma-17]], {{storylink|Family of Heroes}} [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]], {{storylink|New Recruit}} rogue member [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]], {{storylink|Loose Cannons}} [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]], {{storylink|Prey (episode)|Prey}}, former Decepticon [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]], {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}} [[High Tide]], [[Servo (RB)|Servo]], {{storylink|Turning the Tide}} [[Salvage (RB)|Salvage]], and [[Blurr (Prime)|Blurr]]. {{storylink|The New Recruits}}
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==Merchandise==
===Transformers (2007)===
====Transformers Movie Screen Cleaners====
[[File:Movie Autobot Screencleaner.jpg|106px|thumb|This was originally the top bit of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion's]] pimp cane.]]
*'''Autobot''' (2008)
:Released by [[Gacha International|Tomy Yujin]] in January 2008, this dangler is a [[Insignia|faction logo]]-shaped screen cleaner for your cell phone, with a stock image of Autobot insignia printed on the other side.
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====Kinnerton====
[[File:Kinnerton Transformers Tin.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|For holding all your Autobot-symbol-shaped cookies.]]
*'''Transformers Tin''' (2008)
: Confectionery and... stationary company [[Kinnerton]] produced ''Movie''-style Autobot sigil-shaped tins. It is currently unknown what these tins were used for. These tins and other Kinnerton products were available in [[Australia]].
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====PTI Group====
*'''Transformers Treat Containers''' (2008)
:Produced as an exclusive for [[Target]] stores, these blue plastic containers were molded in the shape of the Autobot symbol. They were sold in packs of three. While not dishwasher safe, they were perfect for containing any number of small treats.
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==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Cybertron''' (サイバトロン ''Saibatoron''), '''Autobot''' (オートボット ''Ōtobotto'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Bǒk Pāǐ''' (博派, "Fraternity Faction")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Autobotok'''
*''Italian:'' '''Autorobot'''
*''Korean:'' '''Cybertron''' (사이버트론 ''Saibeoteuron''), '''Autobot''' (오토봇 ''Otobot'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Qìchērén''' (China, 汽车人, "Car Robot"), '''Bó Pâi''' (博派, "Bot Faction"), '''Zìyóurén''' (自由人, "Autonomous Robot" or "Freeman"), '''Autobot''' (Taiwan, 奧特巴 ''Àu Tè Bā'')
*''Polish:'' '''Autoboty'''
*''Portuguese:'' '''Autobóticos''' (Portugal comic), '''Optimus''' (Brazil comic)
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Cybery''' (Кібери, ''Cybers'')

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Animated factions]]
[[Category:Armada]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Cybertron franchise]]
[[Category:Energon franchise]]
[[Category:Factions]]
[[Category:Generation 1 factions]]
[[Category:Generation 2]]
[[Category:Machine Wars]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2001)]]
[[Category:Universe (2003)]]