Decepticon
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The Decepticons (also known as Destrons in Japan) are the enemies of the Autobots, and the villains in the fictional universe of the Transformers toyline and related spin-off comics and cartoons. Their best known leader is Megatron, later reformed as Galvatron.
The Decepticons were also briefly the name of a street gang in the 1980s.
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Cartoon
The original animated series continuity, the Decepticons owe their warlike ways to their faction's origin as military hardware robots, created by the five-faced aliens, the Quintessons, while the Autobots were designed as consumer goods. Following the rebellion that forced the Quintessons off the planet, the Decepticons - as they named themselves - lusting for power, began a civil war. The Autobots could not hope to match the superior firepower and battlefield prowess of the Decepticons, and instead turned to stealth, developing the art of transformation, modifying their bodies so that they could assume other forms. With this additional power, the Autobots were able to win - or at least stalemate - the conflict, and a period of peace began, known as the Golden Age of Cybertron, when energy was plentiful and the planet shone with a golden hue.
However, a viper lurked within this paradise. Working in secret, the Decepticons also developed transformation technology, along with new robot-mode flight powers, and, under the command of one of the first of this new breed, Megatron, they attacked one of the capital's outer cities, killing the current Autobot leader. This act was not made public knowledge, however, and younger robots continued to idolise these powerful new flying robots - until one such young robot, Orion Pax, was duped by Megatron into allowing him access to an energy storage facility. Megatron turned on Pax and fatally injured him, but the ancient Autobot, Alpha Trion, then rebuilt Pax into the first of a new, battle-hardly breed of Autobot - now, he was Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, who led them against Megatron and the Decepticons as the civil war erupted once more.
By the Earth year 2005, however, the Decepticons had succeeded in completely conquering Cybertron, but the attack by Unicron, coupled with the temporary loss of Galvatron (a reconstructed Megatron) in that same year shattered their forces, allowing the Autobots to reclaim their home planet and route their foes. The Decepticons fled to the planet Chaar, a world of ash and ruin, where they struggled to survive until Galvatron returned to them and reorganised them into a fighting force, battling to take back Cybertron.
Marvel comic continuity
In the Marvel comic continuity there have been many leaders, such as Shockwave, Scorponok, and Ratbat; in addition to the traditional leader Megatron. In the G2 Marvel series (which continues from the G1 Marvel series) it is stated that "From the Liege Maximo came the Decepticons and all their subsequent Generations."
Dreamwave comic continuity
Keeping with the Marvel continuity, Dreamwave had all Transformers evolve from the will of Primus, a godlike figure whose material body is Cybertron itself.
List of known G1 Decepticons
1984
- Megatron (Walther .p38 pistol)
- Soundwave (microcassette player)
- Jets
- Starscream (F-15 jet)
- Skywarp (F-15 jet)
- Thundercracker (F-15 jet)
- Mini-Cassettes
- Ravage (jaguar/microcassette)
- Laserbeak (condor/microcassette)
- Rumble (microcassette)
- Buzzsaw (condor/microcassette)
- Frenzy (microcassette)
1985
- Shockwave (ray gun)
- Reflector (camera)
- Insecticons
- Shrapnel (beetle)
- Kickback (grasshopper)
- Bombshell (stag beetle)
- Deluxe Insecticons
- Barrage
- Chop Shop
- Ransack
- Venom
- Constructicons/Devastator
- Scrapper (payloader)
- Bonecrusher (bulldozer)
- Hook (truck crane)
- Long Haul (dump truck)
- Mixmaster (concrete mixer)
- Scavenger (steam shovel)
- Jets
- Dirge (jet)
- Ramjet (jet)
- Thrust (jet)
- Triple-Changers
- Astrotrain (space shuttle/locomotive)
- Blitzwing (jet/tank)
1986
- Galvatron (laser cannon)
- Cyclonus (spacecraft)
- Scourge (spacecraft)
- Trypticon (dinosaur/battle platform/city)
- Triple-Changers
- Octane (airliner & tanker truck)
- Mini-Cassettes
- Ratbat (microcassette)
- Stunticons/Menasor
- Motormaster (truck)
- Breakdown (Lamborghini)
- Dead End (Porsche)
- Drag Strip (race car)
- Wild Rider (Ferrari)
- Combaticons/Bruticus
- Onslaught (missile trailer)
- Blast Off (space shuttle)
- Brawl (tank)
- Swindle (jeep)
- Vortex (helicopter)
- Predacons/Predaking
- Razorclaw (lion)
- Divebomb (eagle)
- Headstrong (rhino)
- Rampage (tiger)
- Tantrum (bull)
- Battlechargers
- Runabout (Trans-Am)
- Runamuck (Tran-Am)
1987
- Headmaster Leader
- Scorponok (scorpion/city) with Lord Zarak
- Headmasters
- Weirdwolf (wolf) with Monzo
- Mindwipe (bat) with Vorath
- Skullcruncher (alligator) with Grax
- Headmasters Horrorcons
- Apeface (ape/jet) with Spasma
- Snapdragon (dragon/jet) with Krunk
- Targetmasters
- Misfire (spacecraft) with Aimless
- Slugslinger (twin-nosed jet) with Caliburst
- Triggerhappy (jet) with Blowpipe
- Six-Changer
- Sixshot (jet/armoured car/ramming tank/wolf-creature/laser pistol)
- Terrorcons/Abominus
- Clones
- Pounce (puma)
- Wingspan (hawk)
- Duocons
- Battletrap (jeep & helicopter)
- Flywheels (tank & jet)
- Mini-Cassettes
- Overkill (tyrannosaurus/microcassette)
- Slugfest (stegosaurus/microcassette)
Japanese Exclusives
- Soundblaster (recreated Soundwave, microcassette player)
1988
- PowerMasters
- Dreadwind (jet) w/ Hi-Test
- Darkwing (jet) w/ Throttle
- Dreadwing (combined form jet)
- Doubledealer (tank/eagle) w/ Knok & Skar
- Headmasters
- Fangry (winged wolf) w/ Brisko
- Horri-Bull (bull create) w/ Kreb
- Squeezeplay (crab monster) w/ Lokos
- Double Targetmasters
- Needlenose (jet) w/ Sunbeam & Zigzag
- Quake (tank) w/ Tiptop & Heater
- Spinister (helicopter) w/ Single & Hairsplitter
- Seacons/Piranacon
- Snap Trap (turtle)
- Nautilator (lobster)
- Overbite (shark) aka Overbite
- Seawing (manta ray)
- Skalor (fish monster)
- Tentakil (squid)
- Triggercons
- Crankcase (4x4)
- Ruckus (dune buggy)
- Windsweeoper (jet)
- Firecons
- Cindersaur (monster)
- Flamefeather (bird monster)
- Sparkstalker (monster)
- Mini-Cassettes
- Beastbox (ape)
- Squaktalk (parrot)
- Squawkbox (combined form)
- Pretenders
- Bomb-Burst
- Bugly
- Finback
- Iguanus
- Skullgrin
- Submarauder
- Pretender Beasts
- Carnivac (wolf)
- Snarler (boar)
- Pretender Vehicles
- Roadgrabber
Japanese Exclusives
- Browning (pistol)
- Overlord (tank & jet/base)
- Black Zarak (scorpion/city)
1989
- Pretenders
- Bludgeon (skeletal samurai/tank)
- Octopunch (octopus monster/crab)
- Strangehold (humanoid/rhino)
- Starscream (humanoid/jet)
- Monster Pretenders/Monstructor
- Birdbrain
- Bristleback
- Icepick
- Scowl
- Slog
- Wildfly
- Mega Pretender
- Thunderwing (humanoid/jet)
- Ultra Pretender
- Roadblock (assault vehicle/humanoid/spacecraft/car)
- Micromaster Patrols
- Air Strike Patrol (jets)
- Whisper
- Nightflight
- Stormcloud
- Tailwind
- Sports Car Patrol (sports cars)
- Black Jack
- Detour
- Hyperdrive
- Roadhugger
- Air Strike Patrol (jets)
- Micromaster Transports
- Flattop (jet/aircraft carrier)
- Roughstuff (truck)
- Micromaster Stations
- Airwave (jet)
- Greasepit (monster truck)
- Micromaster Base
- Skyhopper (jet/helicopter)
- Micromaster Command Centre
- Skystalker (car/spacecraft)
Japanese Exclusives
- Deathsaurus (dragon) w/ LioBreast & TigerBreast
- Breastforce
- Leozack (jet) w/ LionBreast
- Drillhorn (drill tank) w/ HornBreast
- Gaihawk (jet) w/ HawkBreast
- Hellbat (jet) w/ KoromiBreast
- Jaruga (car) w/ JaguarBreast
- Killbison (tank) w/ BisonBreast
- LioKaizer (combined form)
- Dinoforce/DinoKing (recoloured Monster Pretenders w/ new dinosaur-themed shells)
- Doryu (stegosaurus)
- Gairyu (ankylosaurus)
- Goryu (tyrannosaurus)
- Kakuyru (triceratops)
- Rairyu (brontosaurus)
- Yokuryu (pterodactyl)
- Crossformers
- Black Shadow (humanoid/jet) (remoulded Thunderwing)
- Blue Bacchus (humanoid/helicopter) (remoulded Crossblades)
1990
- Actionmasters
- Megatron with Neutro Fusion Tank
- Axer with Off Road Cycle
- Banzai-Tron with Razor-Sharp
- Devastator with Scorpulator
- Gutcruncher with Stratotronic Attack Jet
- Krok with Gatoraider
- Shockwave with Fistfight
- Soundwave with Wingthing
- Starscream with Turbo Jet
- Treadshot with Catgut
- Micromaster Patrols
- Military Patrol
- Bomshock (tank)
- Dropshot (armoured car)
- Growl (armoured car)
- Tracer (helicopter)
- Race Track Patrol
- Barricade (race car)
- Groundhog (sports car)
- Motorhead (sports car)
- Roller Force (race car)
- Military Patrol
- Micromaster Combiners
- Battle Squad
- Meltdown & Half-Track (missile trailer)
- Direct-Hit & Powerpunch (anti-aircraft truck)
- Fireshot & Vanquish (jet)
- Constructor Squad
- Stone Cruncher & Excavator (truck crane)
- Sledge & Hammer (dump truck)
- Grit Knockout (steam shovel/truck)
- Battle Squad
- Micromaster Combiner Transport
- Cannon Transport with Cement-Head & Terrortread (dump truck)
- Micromaster Combiner Base
- Anti-Aircraft Base with Spaceshot & Blackout (jet)
Japanese Exclusives
- Metrotitan (city/battle station) (Metroplex recolour)
- Metroshot (robot) (Six-Gun repaint)
- Metrodash (car) (Scamper repaint)
- Metrotank (tank) (Slammer repaint)
- Metrobomb (car) (Skystalker repaint)
1991
No Decepticon toys were sold in America or Japan this year.
European Exclusive Actionmasters
- Bombshell with Needler
- Charger with Firebeast
- Take-Off with Screech
- Slicer (Wheeljack repaint) with 4WD Assault Vehicle
- Thundercracker (Starscream repaint) with Solo Mission Jet Plane
1992
No Decepticon toys were sold in America in this year.
European Exclusives
- New Constructicons (yellow recolours of the six Constructicons, sold without individual names or the parts needed to combine them into Devastator)
- Predators
- Skyquake (jet) (called "Crash" in French-speaking regions of Europe)
- Stalker (tank) (called "Buzzard" in French-speaking regions of Europe)
- Falcon (jet)
- Skydive (jet)
- Snare (jet)
- Talon (jet)
Japanese Exclusives
- Jet Army Corps
- The Predator jets, bar Skyquake, were released in two-packs with the European Autobot Turbomasters, renamed Flarejet, Darkjet, Moonjet & Shadowjet. Additionally, Stalker and Skyquake were released, but not as part of the official Transformers line of that year, but rather in European packaging, with a Japanese sticker on the back. The magazine articles on the fiction of this Transformers line, Operation Combination, make reference to a Decepticon leader name "Scrash" - apparently, this was intended to be Skyquake, given a name that combined both his European monikers.
- Battle Gaea (Bruticus recolour)
- Great Cannon (Onslaught recolour)
- Target Hawk (Vortex recolour)
- Leeland (Swindle recolour)
- Shuttle Gunner (Blast Off recolour)
- Sandstorm (Brawl recolour)
List of known Beast Wars Second Decepticons
While they have the same insigna as the Predacons, the are mostly machine Transformers at the start of the series.
- Leaders
- Combatrons
- Starscrem/Hellscream
- BB/Max-B
- Thrust/Thustol
- Dirge/Dirgegun
- Autorollers
- AutoStinger
- AutoCrasher
- AutoJetter
- AutoLauncher
- Seacons/God Neptune
- Halfshell
- Sea Phantom
- TerrorMantar
- Coelagon
- Scylle
List of known RiD/CarRobot Decepticons
In Robots in Disguise, the Decepticons were a group of Autobots Protoforms recuited by the Predacons to served Megatron/Galvatron.
List of known Armada/Energon Decepticons
- Megatron/Galvatron
- Starscream
- Cyclonus/Snowcat
- Demolisher
- Wheeljack
- Thrust
- Tidalwave/Mirage
- Shockblast
- Sixshot
- Bruticus Maximus
- Constructicon Maximus
List of known Cybertron Decepticons
- Megatron
- Starscream
- Thundercracker
- Crumplezone
- Ransack
- Dirt Boss
- Scourge
- Wreckloose
- Brimstone
- Mudflap
- Scrapmetal
- Thunderblast
Notes
- Note 1: The proper spelling of the Terrorcon leader's name is controversial among the Transformers fandom. The toy itself spells it Hun-Gurrr with an "u" and three "r"'s in the second syllable in fourteen places among the toy's box and instruction manual, but Hun-Grrr without an "u" in the Tech specs. The Marvel comics have included spellings such as Hun-Gurr and Hun-Grr with two "r"'s, the latter also being used in the scripts of the animated series. The Finnish translation even spelled it Huh-Grr in one place. The fact that most of these spellings are pronounced identically doesn't help much.