Mercenary

This article is about the de facto faction. For Lockdown's assistants, see Shadow Raider.

File:Mercenary Symbol.png

Oh no you didn't!

Independent from both the Autobots and Decepticons, the Mercenaries are dangerous, skilled operatives whose only allegiance is to getting paid and to whichever side they find most beneficial at the time.

There are no factions out here.Doubledealer dealing his ideals, War for Cybertron Trilogy

Members

• Soundblaster
  • Buzzsaw
• Dome Guards
• Doubledealer
• Bug Bite
• Exhaust
• Coneheads
  • Dirge
  • Ramjet
  • Thrust
• Lockdown
• Mudflap
• Nightbird
• Detritus
• Deadlock
• Octone

Fiction

War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoon

File:Soundblaster in Siege.jpg

During the final days of the Great War, the Mercenaries, led by the faulty clone Soundblaster, traded energon among the neutral population, Bumblebee being a frequent visitor. Needing raw energon to launch the Ark, Bumblebee led the Autobots Arcee and Cog to the Mercenaries' base, only to be cornered as they located their target. Siege episode 5 Before Soundblaster could execute them, the effects of Shockwave's virus, meant to destroy the Alpha Trion Protocols, wreaked havoc on the base's systems, the chaos allowing the Autobots to escape. Siege episode 6

Toys

Cybertron

• Mudflap

The Decepticon-branded Cybertron Mudflap was repurposed as his Mercenary-self in the Transformers Trading Card Game.

Revenge of the Fallen

• Lockdown

The Decepticon-branded Revenge of the Fallen Lockdown was repurposed as his Mercenary-self in the Transformers Trading Card Game.

Generations

War for Cybertron: Siege

• Soundblaster

The Decepticon-branded Siege Soundblaster is depicted with a Mercenary symbol instead in the War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoon. The TakaraTomy release of the toy features a more show-accurate tape window, with a cleaner chest and Mercenary badge.

War for Cybertron: Earthrise

• Doubledealer

Earthrise Doubledealer was shown to be a Mercenary at New York Toy Fair 2020, and Mercenary symbols are featured on both the inner cardboard backdrop and the instructions. However, his packaging is outwardly branded as Decepticon, and he features changeable Autobot/Decepticon symbols on his shoulders in robot mode. Doubledealer is depicted with a Mercenary symbol in the War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoon.

• Decepticon Snapdragon

Snapdragon was shown to be a Mercenary at New York Toy Fair 2020, but was released as a Decepticon and uses the term in his trademark-friendly name.

• Thrust

Thrust has a Mercenary symbol featured on the inner cardboard backdrop. However, his packaging is outwardly branded as Decepticon, and he has Decepticon symbols on his wings. He is depicted as a Mercenary (although in a Cybertornian body) in the War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoon.

Generations Selects

• Nightbird

Selects Nightbird's packaging is outwardly branded as Decepticon, but she is depicted as a Mercenary in the Transformers Trading Card Game.

• Decepticon Exhaust

Exhaust is the first release to feature a Mercenary symbol on the toy itself.

• Bug Bite

Bug Bite is the first release to be a Mercenary and not be associated with the Decepticons, given how Exhaust has a trademark-friendly name using the term "Decepticon". The generic Selects box art for the War for Cybertron Trilogy was changed on this toy to feature a Mercenary logo.

• Soundblaster

The TakaraTomy version of Siege Soundblaster is also being released under Selects, with the product description explicitly referring to Soundblaster by his Mercenary depiction in the War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoon.

Merchandise

Transformers Trading Card Game

War for Cybertron: Siege II

• Detritus, Arms Dealer
• Deadlock, Soldier of Fortune
• Mudflap, Hired Muscle
• Nightbird, Enigmatic Agent
• Lockdown, Bounty Hunter
• Octone, Capricious Agitator

Foreign names

• Japanese: Mercenary (マーシナリー Māshinarī)