Mercenary

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

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, Earthrise episode 2

Fiction

War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoon

During the final days of the Great War, a unit of Mercenaries led by the faulty clone Soundblaster traded energon among the neutral population, with Bumblebee being a frequent visitor. Needing raw Energon to launch the Ark, Bumblebee led Arcee and Cog to Soundblaster's base, only to be cornered as they located their target. Siege episode 5

Before Soundblaster and his Dome Guards could execute them, Shockwave's anti-Alpha Trion Protocol virus wreaked havoc on the base's systems, giving the Autobots a chance to escape. After the Ark had left Cybertron, Teletraan I detected the Fool's Fortune, a ship operated by a unit of Mercenaries led by Doubledealer. Siege episode 6 Earthrise episode 1

While taking control of the Ark, Doubledealer and his subordinates got the Autobots to stand down when Bumblebee—who had now joined the Autobots—attacked Bug Bite. Thrust and Dirge piloted the Fool's Fortune to Chaar, where they rendezvous with Doubledealer and their teammates aboard the Ark. Their payment for the mission was denied when their client, a Quintesson Judge known as Deseeus, suddenly mutilated most of its faces and turned on Doubledealer. Hoping for a chance at revenge, Doubledealer's unit helped the Autobots escape and battled the Quintesson's forces. They were then tasked by Megatron to follow the Ark. Earthrise episode 2

Catching up with the Fool's Fortune, Deseeus took control of Doubledealer's mind in hopes of wiping out Autobot and Decepticon alike. Though Ramjet, Dirge, and Thrust were able to escape the Quintesson, Bug Bite and Exhaust willingly (and begrudgingly) sided with their client-turned-boss. Having been knocked out of the Ark when the ship took damage, Cog took the opportunity to offline Bug Bite and Exhaust before battling Deseeus. The Quintesson was able to mortally wound Cog thanks to an opportunity caused by the Fool's Fortune taking damage from the Nemesis. Once Deseeus fled the Fool's Fortune, the ship exploded with both Doubledealer and Cog getting killed and debris knocking the Ark' and the Nemesis towards Earth. Earthrise episode 6

Known members:

• Bug Bite
• Buzzsaw
• Dirge
• Dome Guards
• Doubledealer
• Exhaust
• Ramjet
• Soundblaster
• Thrust

War for Cybertron Trilogy marketing materal

Snapdragon was a Mercenary, Toy Fair 2020 though he aligned with the Decepticons. The Mercenaries, including Doubledealer, were one of the few unforeseen dangers ahead of the Autobots and Decepticons in their race for the Allspark. Earthrise webpage

Known members:

• Doubledealer
• Snapdragon

Games

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

Transformers: Earth Wars

As a Mercenary, Doubledealer, and Snapdragon can be recruited by both Autobot and Decepticon players.

Known members:

• Doubledealer
• Snapdragon

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 was later depicted as a Mercenary 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 faction symbol, and has a Hasbro Pulse release as part of Selects.

• Nightbird

A Selects add-on to Siege, Nightbird's packaging and instructions are outwardly branded as Decepticon, but her toy-body was later depicted as a Mercenary in the accompanying Transformers Trading Card Game. The toy itself features no faction symbol.

War for Cybertron: Earthrise

• Doubledealer

Earthrise Doubledealer was depicted as 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 the toy itself features changeable Autobot/Decepticon symbols on his shoulders in robot mode.

• Decepticon Snapdragon

Earthrise Snapdragon was depicted as a Mercenary at New York Toy Fair 2020, but was solely branded as a Decepticon. His toy-body was later depicted as a Mercenary in the Earth Wars game.

• Thrust

Earthrise Thrust is primarily branded as a Deception but has Mercenary symbols on the inner cardboard backdrop, likely due to his status in the accompanying War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoon.

War for Cybertron Trilogy

• Decepticon Exhaust

A Selects add-on to War for Cybertron Trilogy, Exhaust is the first release to feature a Mercenary symbol on the toy itself. Exhaust also has the Mercenary symbol on his instructions but his trademarked name brands him as a Decepticon. His toy-body was later depicted as a Mercenary in the accompanying War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoon.

• Bug Bite

A Selects add-on to War for Cybertron Trilogy, Bug Bite is the first release to be a Mercenary and not be associated with the Decepticons. The generic Selects box art for the War for Cybertron Trilogy was changed to feature a Mercenary logo.

Foreign names

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