Decepticon leader

Whoever wins, we lose.

Among the Decepticons, there is one guiding principle: rule of the strong. Whereas the leader of the Autobots consults his subordinates, the strongest and the most powerful Decepticon leads, and everyone else is expected to follow without question. But strength of body is not enough. One must also have the brains to lead, the intelligence to outwit their rivals and plan their victories. Thus, the Decepticon leader is the strongest and smartest of their ranks.

Guess how many Decepticons think they qualify.

“	Only a select few ever lead, Starscream.	”
—Megatron on the nature of power, "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1"

Fiction

Generation 1

Marvel Comics continuity

Marvel Comics

Events from the UK-only comic stories are in italics.

First...

...and the worst.

Megatron served as commander over all of the Decepticons for over one thousand years until he and other Decepticons and Autobots were lost buried in a volcano on Earth. The Transformers In his absence, the War-Lord Trannis took control of the Decepticon army. Trannis conqured most of Cybertron and destroyed Iacon, forcing the Autobots underground. In time Trannis grew complacent and some Decepticons had the opinion that he was insufficiently aggressive. The Decepticon high command made plans to oust him, but the Wreckers beat them to it when they assassinated him. He was succeeded by the more relentless Straxus. Cybertron: The Middle Years! Straxus became "Lord High Governor of Polyhex". The Smelting Pool!

Meanwhile, four million years had passed and the Decepticons on Earth awoke isolated from Cybertron and unaware of current events. Megatron continued his role as commander, effectively making him leader of the Earth-bound Decepticons. The Transformers Starscream would briefly try to nick his job and failed miserably. The Enemy Within!

"Now, I am the le-"

"...never mind."

When Megatron was defeated shortly after the Decepticons reactivated, Military Operations Commander Shockwave defeated the Autobots The Last Stand and usurped Megatron, reducing Megatron to second-in-command. The New Order Megatron was soon defeated by the Dinobots and went missing for a time. Repeat Performance! Shockwave was then, himself, beaten and briefly stucked in a swamp. Prime Time! Soundwave took command in their absence Crisis of Command! and scored a major victory. Dinobot Hunt! Megatron returned Shooting Star! to command some of the Earth Decepticons while Shockwave led a group of others. Soundwave played for both teams, until, for the good of the Decepticons, he demanded they work together Second Generation!; the two agreed to joint leadership, The Bridge to Nowhere! until Megatron was able to use logic to convince Shockwave to give him full leadership. Command Performances!

Meanwhile, after receiving a mayday from the Earth bound Decepticons, Straxus contacted the Earth-bound Decepticons, and the two groups agreed to cooperate. Straxus built a space bridge to transport resources back and forth. Straxus went boom The Bridge to Nowhere! and was reduced to a floating head. The Harder They Die! On Earth, Megatron's growing paranoia caused Shockwave and Soundwave to try removing him Prey!; instead, Megatron ended up on Cybertron, where his presence and madness undermined Straxus. Lord Straxus attempted to possess Megatron in an attempt to end this threat and gain a body, but this ended with Straxus dead (sort of). Resurrection! With Straxus dead, fuel auditor Ratbat ascended to de facto command of Cybertron. King of the Hill! However, an unseen Decepticon Imperial Headquarters would give him marching orders. Club Con!

After seemingly killing Optimus Prime, Megatron went mad and apparently killed himself, allowing Shockwave to assume full leadership of the Earth-bound Decepticons again. Gone but Not Forgotten! The Earth-bound Decepticons coordinated with Ratbat. King of the Hill! Ratbat himself eventually came to Earth, and had a very uneasy alliance with Shockwave; in contrast to his clashes with Megatron, Shockwave was left trying to justify his strategies and impress the fuel auditor. Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom Following a massive cock-up by Shockwave that undermined his authority Enemy Action!, Ratbat oversaw several Earth operations directly. Toy Soldiers!

While this was going on, the Decepticon Scorponok took his unit to follow Fortress Maximus to Nebulos, where he underwent binary bonding with Zarak. Following Fortress Maximus to Earth, Scorponok operated independently from Shockwave and Ratbat, leading his own troops. Headmasters

Shockwave went missing in action and Ratbat, happily letting this happen to Shockers, became commander of Earth's Decepticons. The Desert Island of Space! Scorponok, meanwhile, was operated his own faction on Earth. Trial by Fire! Shockwave set up shop with a small third faction in Fortress Sinister Salvage!, but he'd eventually lose his men as he went mad. Time Wars Eventually, Scorponok and Ratbat met up... and had a big punch-up, thanks to manipulation by Starscream Cold War! By the end of this and some fun with the Underbase, Ratbat was shot dead by Scorponok and Starscream killed by the Underbase's power. Without any rivals, Scorponok easily settled into power as Earth's sole Decepticon leader. Dark Star

''On Cybertron, Thunderwing petitioned the Decepticon High Council to be appointed the new leader (even though someone else appears to have been leader. The Big Shutdown! Assault on the Ark! Straxus/Megatron (don't ask) arrived in Helex to find the Decepticon Empire had become lax under the ruling Decepticon Triumverate. Straxus/Megatron inspired a crowd of Decepticons to take action. The Triumverate were killed and Straxus/Megatron took control of the empire. The Fall and Rise of the Decepticon Empire Megatron arrived and confronted Straxus/Megatron leading the latter to take his own life Two Megatrons!, but kept his return secret. The confusing situation was made simpler when Megatron became lost in a portal Skin Deep and Thunderwing was killed due to his Matrix obsession. All Fall Down

With Unicron fast approaching Cybertron, Optimus Prime made the decision to surrender to Scorponok, in return for allying with the Autobots against Unicron. Surrender! Scorponok planned to betray Prime, but Zarak later agreed to the alliance. On the Edge of Extinction! However, Scorponok's troops were growing disgruntled, especially by his recruitment of the (newly not dead) Starscream. Taking advantage of this, Shockwave managed to get several disgruntled Decepticons to ally with him and attack Scorponok's group. ...All This and Civil War 2 Ultimately, they were all transported to Cybertron by Primus, who named Optimus Prime as the commander of Cybertron's united army. Out of Time!

After the battle with Unicron, the scope of Cybertron society is drastically reduced for storytelling reasons. References to existing Cybertron-based Decepticon forces and the underground Autobot resistance is dropped, leaving primarily the core Earth-based cast. Presumably, Unicron killed everyone else.

During the battle with Unicron, Optimus Prime and Scorponok were both killed. On the Edge of Extinction! As Shockwave and Starscream fled the dying Cybertron, A Savage Circle Bludgeon was acclaimed Decepticon leader by the surviving Decepticons. Exodus! He led the Decepticons in the conquest of Klo, The Last Autobot? then massacred the Autobots who arrived to stop them. However, Optimus Prime had been revived by the Last Autobot, whom Bludgeon had worshipped as the Ultimate Warrior. The Last Autobot revived the fallen Autobots, and Bludgeon agreed to lead the Decepticons into exile...planning to bide their time. End of the Road!

Shockwave, meanwhile, had hijacked the Ark alongside Starscream with the intention of using it to conquer Earth. Still Life! He didn't count on an alternate timeline Galvatron to have attempted the same thing. He also didn't count on Ratchet and Megatron (yep, he's back again) to be on board the Ark in stasis, though, nor did he expect the pair to awaken during the journey. Exodus! While Megatron kept Shockwave and Starscream occupied, Ratchet forced the Ark to crash violently into the ground. Galvatron was the only one to emerge from the crash, and he appeared to be the only survivor. A Savage Circle

In an alternate timeline, Scorponok, Shockwave and Megatron were having a three-way Decepticon civil war over Decepticon leadership during the late 80s/early 90s. Trigger-Happy!

Marvel UK future timelines

Everyone would follow a bore like him!

Scorponok, Shockwave, and Megatron had a three-way civil war for Decepticon leadership; Megatron won. Aspects of Evil! In 2006, Megatron was transformed into Galvatron (ending an attempt by Starscream to seize leadership) Target: 2006 and would later escape by time travel. Fallen Angel! This led to a very messy leadership situation, as Shockwave, Cyclonus and Scourge (working as Unicron's proxies), and Soundwave would all take command sequentially over the next few years. Shockwave succeeded in re-conquering half of Cybertron, and Soundwave pulled off the nifty trick of conning the Autobots into saving his army from Quintesson attack.

Eventually, a post-Time Wars clean-up of the timeline happened, and Galvatron had now always been commander since 2006.

Earthforce

These stories do not fit into the normal Marvel continuity. See Earthforce for details.

Megatron and Shockwave were both stuck on Earth with small platoons, and waged a constant civil war over leadership and the planet. Life in the Slow Lane Scorponok is referred to as also existing, and presumably commands the Decepticons that aren't on Earth. Mindwipe of all people tried to become Decepticon leader by usurping Scorponok's command; it went poorly. The Living Nightlights!

The Autobots sabotaged any attempt to stop the leadership conflict. The Bad Guy's Ball! Eventually, Starscream and Soundwave deposed Megatron and Shockwave, uniting the two factions as joint Decepticon leaders. Internal Affairs! Unsurprisingly, they both planned to backstab the other and take sole control at some point. Megatron and Shockwave also teamed up, attempting to regain control. External Forces!

Another Time and Place

That'll teach you to be a late 80s character and want scenes!

Following the defeat on Klo, Bludgeon attempted to bring back Megatron to lead instead of him. Another Time and Place

Generation 2

Bludgeon led his forces back into battle, arming his army in preparation for a major strike. Old Evils Ghosts However, Megatron challenged Bludgeon for leadership of the Decepticons. After a fierce battle, Megatron emerged victorious. Tales of Earth Part Two

Classics

Megatron's status as the Decepticon leader is all but unchallenged... on Earth. However, Bludgeon and his loyal troops remain, scattered across the universe.

And then Megatron killed him and took command. At Fight's End

Cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

At first, the Decepticons were led by an old Decepticon who could not transform. However, when he lost the Second Cybertronian War against the Autobots, he was replaced with Megatron, who led the Decepticons to conquer much of Cybertron. However, when Megatron and Optimus Prime disappeared, the war on Cybertron entered a stalemate. Shockwave had been appointed Guardian of Cybertron in Megatron's absence, and became de facto Decepticon leader. Once Megatron resumed contact with Cybertron, Shockwave resubmitted to his authority. More than Meets the Eye, Part 1 Transport to Oblivion At one point, Megatron introduced himself to Skyfire, addressing himself as Supreme Leader. Fire in the Sky

Air Commander Starscream, long contemptuous of Megatron's leadership, made several attempts to supplant Megatron. They all ended with failure, usually due to his own impatience or the other Decepticons' loyalty to Megatron.

However, Starscream eventually decided to get some help.

He made plans with Blitzwing and Astrotrain to trap Megatron in a tunnel and freeze him. However, the Triple Changers betrayed Starscream, leaving them both to freeze, and proceeded to wreak havoc. Megatron and Starscream were freed due to an accident on Astrotrain's part, and after defeating Astrotrain, Blitzwing, Devastator, and Starscream, Megatron resumed leadership of the Decepticons. Triple Takeover

By 2005, the Decepticons had conquered Cybertron. However, the Autobots retained control of two moons and held a reserve force at Autobot City. Megatron launched an assault on Autobot City, where he and Optimus Prime mortally wounded each other. During the trip back to Cybertron, Astrotrain required the Decepticons to jettison excess weight or he would be unable to make it back. The wounded Decepticons were thrown overboard to allow the survivors to return, with Starscream personally ejecting Megatron. After a mild scuffle aboard Astrotrain, Starscream emerged as the new Decepticon leader. However, Megatron was discovered by Unicron, and reformatted into Galvatron. With a new body and troops, Galvatron returned to Cybertron and killed Starscream with a single blast, ending Starscream's glorious reign of about twenty minutes (or twenty seconds depending on how you look at it). Galvatron was hailed as the new leader of the Decepticons. The Transformers: The Movie

After Unicron's attack on Cybertron and the disappearance of Galvatron, the Decepticons fled to Chaar. Without strong leaders like Galvatron, Starscream, or Shockwave, the Decepticons fell into a period of disunity, where they fought each other for scraps of energon. Ultimately, Cyclonus located Galvatron, who reorganized the Decepticons. Five Faces of Darkness

Robot Masters

After the disappearance of Megatron, the leadership of the Decepticons was helmed by Starscream. However, a Megatron from another time challenged Starscream for leadership and won.

Dreamwave

Screw Megatron, let's see more of the real Decepticon leader!

At first, Megatron was the sole leader of the Decepticons, with his chief lieutenants being Air Commander Starscream, Military Operations Commander Shockwave, and Communications Officer Soundwave. The War Within After Megatron was believed to have been destroyed along with Optimus Prime in a space bridge explosion, Shockwave became Decepticon leader. However, Starscream and High Auditor Ratbat broke off from the Decepticon army, forming the Predacons and Ultracons, respectively. War Within: The Dark Ages Megatron's return to Cybertron saw him resume command of the fragmented Decepticons. War Within: The Age of Wrath

After Megatron, Starscream, and Soundwave disappeared chasing Optimus Prime's crew aboard the Ark, Shockwave emerged as Decepticon leader, this time as part of a triumvirate that included Scorponok and Ratbat. He was briefly overthrown by Skystalker, who used his head to issue commands to Shockwave's troops, but Skystalker was defeated and Shockwave resumed command. Transformers: Micromasters

With the Great Shutdown, all Transformers entered a period of enforced stasis lock. Shockwave was reactivated by Unicron's herald Scourge, but Shockwave defeated Scourge, studying him. Learning secrets about Cybertron that Megatron had previously discovered, Shockwave made peace with the Autobots, installing himself as Head of State with an Autobot High Council as a legislature. On Earth, Megatron retained command of the Nemesis crew, but he was defeated when Shockwave arrived, intent on gaining the Matrix from Optimus Prime. Starscream ejected Megatron from the ship transporting them back to Cybertron, then recruited the Nemesis crew and the Combaticons to conquer Earth. When Optimus Prime was brought to Cybertron, he united the Autobot resistance groups and overthrew Shockwave. Shockwave was able to retain command of a small number of loyal Decepticons still on planet, while Starscream led the Nemesis crew back to Earth. Prime Directive War and Peace

Meanwhile, Megatron was repaired by Wreck-Gar, and managed to locate a trio of Air Warriors he used to recruit the Predacons. Heading for Cybertron, he took command of Shockwave's forces, forcing Shockwave into a subordinate state. On Earth, Starscream's failures against the Autobots and Sunstorm made Soundwave, his cassettes, and the Seekers all too willing to mutiny against Starscream in favor of Megatron. Generation One

Dreamwave's More Than Meets The Eye makes a passing reference to the "reign of the mighty Scorponok" occurring sometime after the (second) disappearance of Megatron and before the Great Shutdown. It is unknown if this preceded or succeeded the events of Micromasters.

IDW Comics

Megatron founded the Decepticons in a violent uprising Megatron Origin, and in a shocking twist of fate reigned without problem: most potential challengers, such as Starscream, were too piss-scared of Megatron Infiltration #6 and even the idea of questioning Megatron was a worry. Devastation #1 While he wanted Starscream to take over from him at some point, he would only allow it if Starscream was able to take command; All Hail Megatron #11 when Starscream attempted a rebellion, Megatron took his best shots and then crippled him, but left him alive. Infiltration #6 In contrast, when Ramjet attempted rebellion, Megatron beat him to death. Spotlight: Ramjet

Prowl has noted with envy and annoyance that the Decepticons are far more unified than the Autobots. All Hail Megatron #15

This all went to pot when Megatron achieved near-victory, and the Decepticon advance stagnated. The troops were disgruntled, and Starscream warned that coup attempts were going to come. Unsurprisingly, Starscream himself led one with most of the Earth-based Decepticons... a coup Megatron anticipated and appeared to have wanted, as he had a convoluted plan to reshape his troops into a less nasty form now he'd won. Unfortunately for him, he was viciously damaged by a surprise Autobot attack. All Hail Megatron Immediately, leadership fragmented: Soundwave and his crew kept Megatron alive, providing a barrier to any attempt at legitimacy; Starscream had temporary command but knew Razorclaw or someone would challenge him for it. In desperation, he waved the stolen Autobot Matrix around and declared it had chosen him, gaining legitimate command that way. All Hail Megatron #13

Live-action films

"It's funny how 'leading' looks a lot like sitting on your arse."

Originally styled High Protector of Cybertron, Megatron amended his title to Lord High Protector upon forming the Decepticons. Defiance Movie Prequel Notably in this continuity family, while Megatron leads the Decepticons, his loyalty to The Fallen, known as the first Decepticon, means supreme command lies with him. Revenge of the Fallen (film) He was the one who told Megatron what strategies to take in the early days, though he left Megatron to command by himself as he left Cybertron to find a star harvester. Defiance During his absence while searching for the AllSpark, Starscream assumed command as Decepticon leader, though he grew quite comfortable with the position and would prefer Megatron remained absent, something Blackout sought to frustrate. Ghosts of Yesterday

Upon his revival, Megatron resumed command, just long enough to kill Jazz, beat Optimus Prime half to death, and be killed by Sam Witwicky. He was then dropped into the Laurentian Abyss almost immediately afterwards. Transformers Starscream then assumed leadership of the Decepticons and began styling himself Lord Starscream. Although Barricade and Thundercracker accepted Starscream without objection, Starscream was betrayed by Dreadwing and Ramjet, shattering his faith in his leadership. The Reign of Starscream When Soundwave and the Nemesis reached Earth, Soundwave recognized Starscream as Decepticon commander, and Starscream's ambitions were renewed. Alliance However, a number of Decepticons were unsatisfied with Starscream, feeling he had not earned the right. As such, they began efforts to revive Megatron The Veiled Threat However, Starscream soon discovered another obstacle to his role as true leader on Soundwave's ship... Training Day

While Starscream was tending to the hatchlings on the Nemesis per the Fallen's decree, Soundwave commanded the Decepticons on Earth. First, he tried to track down lost Seekers to gain information and keep the Autobots from knowing about the Fallen's plans. Outlaw Blues Turnabout Later, he had Megatron resurrected, which transferred command back to the big Meg.

When he returned to the Nemesis, Megatron struck Starscream for his presumption of assuming command, saying that even in death, there was no command but Megatron's. This statement was slightly undermined by his next course of action, which to bow before the Fallen. Megatron was left in sole command following The Fallen's death at the hands of Optimus Prime. Revenge of the Fallen (film)

We know that other Decepticons have tried to become leaders of the main Decepticon faction, including Mainframe Transformers: Rise of the Chevy Autobots and Dreadwing The Reign of Starscream, but it rarely goes well. Following that mess with the Fallen, Bludgeon decided to form his own group of Decepticons on Earth and lead that. Inside Out! In one timeline, Stockade did the same thing. Return to Cybertron: Part 1

Animated

Head master.

Styled Supreme Leader, the title was held by Megatron for over four million solar cycles, since the days of the Great War. When Megatron was believed killed trying to secure the AllSpark, Starscream immediately nominated himself the new Supreme leader...no one took him seriously. Transform and Roll Out

He finally did manage to get the Decepticons Lugnut and Blitzwing to swear allegiance to him in exchange for repairs. Lost and Found However, this was also short-lived, as Lugnut was really taking orders from the disembodied head of Megatron. Megatron Rising - Part 1 After his restoration, the Decepticons repledged their loyalty to Megatron, who decided to reinforce it by seriously damaging Starscream. Megatron Rising - Part 2

When Megatron was absent yet again, Shockwave was seen giving orders to group commander Strika. However, rather than taking full command, his orders were to wait until Megatron came back (much to Strika's frustration). TransWarped

Shattered Glass

Unlike previous incarnations, the leader of the Decepticons is a heroic resistance leader, intending to free Cybertron from the Autobots and save the galaxy from their evil ways. Megatron stands as their current leader, and it seems that Starscream will be a successor rather than a usurper.

Aligned

Exodus

In an act of keeping his enemies closer than his friends, Megatron appointed his surgeon Shockwave to be his lieutenant despite his belief the scientist would eventually betray him. Megatron's movement was fairly disparate in the beginning, consisting of his gladiators in his employ and followers across Cybertron who listened to his teachings on the Communication Grid. Megatron was aware his followers were going to resort to terrorism, but did nothing to improve his reputation by distancing himself from their extremism. However, he accepted the gift of a kidnapped Sentinel Prime by the Seeker Starscream. Already plotting to usurp Megatron's position as Cybertron's would-be savior, but patient enough to recognize how the revolution could turn sour, Starscream allied himself with Megatron but remained officially neutral, occupying Moon Base One and Trypticon for himself.

During the civil war, Starscream's Seekers only aided the Decepticons in some battles. Shockwave engaged in some power politics with the Seekers by taking control of Tarn and Vos and secretly assassinating the neutral Air Commanders there. When Soundwave discovered Trypticon was a hoard of Dark Energon, Megatron's gladiators brutally took control of the station, even forcing Starscream to subject two of his scientists to experimentation with the chaotic substance. Soon, Starscream, tired of Megatron's tactics and ashamed of their use of Dark Energon, released Sentinel from his Kaonian dungeon to kill Megatron, having been informed by Optimus Prime that all he sought was a just peace should something "happen" to Megatron. Sentinel failed, and Starscream fought Megatron and Blackout for the Code Keys to Teletraan-1, but was beaten and only spared as Megatron found him too useful to die. Megatron certainly considered Starscream elite enough to take him aboard the Nemesis, leaving Shockwave behind to lead the Cybertronian Decepticons. Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron

War for Cybertron

Starscream attempted to claim leadership of the Decepticons when Megatron was believed to be killed by Omega Supreme. Somehow alive, Megatron lambasted him through a communications line, and threatened to kill him and any other cowards trying to flee from Omega. Transformers: War for Cybertron

Prime

Starscream generally leads the Decepticons in the present because Megatron is too busy being absent while searching for Dark Energon or being comatose. Darkness Rising, Part 1 Regardless, the troops won't take him seriously as a full-time Emperor of Destruction. When Starscream attempted to hide Megatron's survival of the space bridge explosion, Soundwave's Deployer ensured he would bring his body back to sickbay. Masters & Students

Notes

• Unlike the Autobots, whose leader is called a Prime, the Decepticon leader has no "official name".

See also

• Emperor of Destruction
• Lord High Protector
• Air Commander
• Liege Maximo