Thirteen

Vector Prime steps forward from the First 13 Tabernacle Choir with a heartfelt solo.

When Primus first created Cybertron, he created a crew of 13 living robotic beings to man him. These beings, in imitation of Unicron's transformation abilities, were able to change their forms into the likeness of vehicles, weapons, and machinery. They were the first Transformers.

Many of the 13 died in a cataclismic first battle with Unicron, where he was sucked down into a black hole and trapped along with his acolyte known as The Fallen, one of the 13 who had turned against his brothers and joined Unicron.

Of those that survived many abandoned their original functions and were lost to time. Only Vector Prime is known to still be following the path he was set upon by Primus.

The 13

The identities of the 13 remain shrouded in mystery.

Confirmed members are:

• Prima, the first Transformer and first Matrix-Bearer
• The Fallen (original name unknown)
• Vector Prime

Possible hinted members are:

• Maccadam

Rumor on Cybertron says that he is one of the 13 and that his bar exists outside regular space-time, though the rumor is chalked up to the overactive imaginations of the bar's drunken patrons. (The story "Prime Spark" from the Legends anthology confirms the rumor but is of questionable canonical status.)

• The Liege Maximo

G2 establishes he was created at the same time as the first Prime, but implies that this was perhaps unintended, so leaving open whether he should count. Confirmed in Simon Furman's "Alignment" story as one of the first 13, but the story is "unofficial" and of debatable canonicity.

• Skyfall, Landquake, and Breakaway

In Fun Publications' fan club magazines, Unicron spends a period during Cybertron focusing his energies on gathering up the timelost original 13 Transformers in order to destroy them. In the accompanying comic, he has expressed interest in the members of the fan club combiner members.

Numerous other very ancient Transformers exist, including Alpha Trion (A3), Boltax, The Keeper, and the Last Autobot but none have been yet included in the ranks of the first 13.

From Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki, a Wikia wiki.