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In fact, newcomers to the Transformers franchise might be surprised to learn that there are a multitude of other Transformers factions that have a stake at what’s to happen to the future of Cybertron as well as their fellow Transformers. Moreover, some of them have more power than fans would realize, and may even turn the tide of the war between Autobots and Decepticons should they choose a side.

10 Cybertronians

Not to be confused with the original Cybertronians, the new Cybertronian faction was born soon after the Ark that carried both the Autobots and Decepticons crashed on Earth. With no direct line of communication between Decepticons on Cybertron and Megatron, the Decepticons back in Cybertron were in dire need of new soldiers. This predicament led to the rediscovery of budding, a Cybertronian reproduction method via mitosis.

While budding did enable Decepticons to form new Transformers, they did so without the influence of Primus. As such, the new generation of Decepticons and their descendants were devoid of any morals, and eventually abolished ideologies reflected by both Autobots and Decepticons. Now simply Cybertronians, they’ve acknowledged Cybertron as a barren wasteland and have begun cyberforming other planets to be compatible for their survival, with a view of themselves as a superior species.

9 Autobots

Perhaps the most iconic faction in the Transformers franchise, the Autobots are known to defend themselves and other races against the evil Decepticons, all for ideals of freedom, justice, and peace throughout the galaxy. Given their rather pacifist nature, Autobots tend to choose non-aggressive transformation modes, such as cars and trucks. During the war, the Autobots learned how to use more combative modes as well.

Originally the only kind of Transformer out there, the birth of the Decepticons led to members that vastly outnumbered the Autobots. It was through the intervention of Optimus Prime that the Autobots were able to turn the tide in the harsh war for Cybertron’s future. And when Optimus Prime and the rest of the Autobots got sent to Earth through the Ark, it became the Autobots’ new mission to protect this new planet.

8 Decepticons

Opposite the Autobots are the Decepticons, Transformers who want nothing but pure control over their planet and domination over others. The faction is primarily more concerned with amassing power and exerting it over the galaxy, with goals such as developing weapons, securing energon resources, and defeating the Autobots. Given their aggressive nature, Decepticons chose more combative machinery as their alternate modes.

Unlike the Autobots that almost always have a Matrix-bearing Prime as their leader, the Decepticons simply follow the one who is the strongest among them. Aside from this tenet causing internal conflict among their ranks, this does mean the Decepticons also have members of different motivations - greed, power, and aggressive expansion of Cybertron.

7 Maximals

In the far future of Cybertron, the Great Upgrade affected Autobots and provided smaller, more fuel-efficient bodies. Now called Maximals, they easily became the predominant species of the planet and effectively became its leaders. As with the Autobots, the Maximals are mostly “civilian” in terms of upbringing, often upholding the views of their ancestors regarding democracy and freedom.

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Taking after the pacifist nature of the Autobots, the Maximals also have rather civil and non-combative beast modes. These tend to be in the form of mammals, fish, and birds, although some Maximals can become dinosaurs, reptiles, and insects. Now led by Optimus Primal, the Maximals aim to preserve life in the new Cybertron.

6 Predacons

In the far future of Cybertron, the Predacons slowly developed a hatred towards both Maximals and Autobots as they seek to dominate through cunning and brute strength. While their origins differ depending on the universe, Predacons are almost always either Decepticon descendants or new Cybertronians that took their name out of the Decepticon sub-faction.

Similar to Megatron of the Decepticons, a Megatron also leads the Predacons. This time around, Megatron named himself after his ancestor and sought the original Megatron’s vision of traveling back in time to ensure the war on Cybertron happened in favor of the Decepticons. Armed with his unique brand of cunning and scheming, Megatron transformed the Predacons into a force to be reckoned with.

5 Mini-Cons

Due to the nature of Transformers as capable of interfacing with any type of machine, the Mini-Cons demonstrated it’s completely possible to become human-sized instead. Although identical in terms of basic appearance to any Transformer, Mini-Cons have the unique ability to Powerlinx with a Transformer, either boosting their base abilities or even providing them access with unique weapons.

Although they remain a neutral faction nowadays, the Mini-Cons had a sinister origin. While the war on Cybertron was raging, Unicron created the Mini-Cons to blend in with the populace and, upon activation, bond with them and generate more chaos. It’s through this negativity that Unicron would supposedly rise up and devour Cybertron. Thankfully, the efforts of Autobots helped the Mini-Cons gain their independence.

4 Dinobots

Separate to the next generation Maximals and Primals, the original Dinobots is a subgroup of the original Autobots. Considered as some of its fiercest warriors, the Dinobots possess alternate modes based on fearsome dinosaurs. However, despite being an Autobot subgroup, the Dinobots don’t necessarily like the Autobots as they see them as either cowardly or weak to take extreme measures needed in combat.

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This was due to the fact that their original purpose was to destroy anything too strong for Autobots to handle, which also contributed to their attitudes being rowdy and aggressive. Some also view the Dinobots as disobedient and with a penchant for pranks, notable for their jokes that often escalate into fights.

3 Combiners

One of the most notable qualities of Transformers is their ability to combine with each other, but not all Transformers are capable of doing this. Known as Combiners, various Transformers can combine with each other through different means. For instance, various Combiners are groups compatible with each other that form a Super Robot. Meanwhile, Gestalts are combination robots that have one dominant personality. A Scramble City Combiner, meanwhile, is a Super Robot with interchangeable limbs.

Regardless, Combiners find their first origins from the Constructicons, created by Shockwave and imbued with life from Optimus Prime’s Creation Matrix. In some instances, Megatron brainwashed the original Constructicons into working with the Decepticons. In the comics, a being known as Nexus Prime wielded the Enigma of Combination, a relic capable of bestowing the power of combination to anyone its wielder desired.

2 Junkions

Perhaps one of the most intriguing Transformers factions out there, Junkions are Transformers that inhabit the planetoid Junkion. Unlike typical Transformers, their physical forms are more or less made out of trash metal from their homeworld. However, despite how this radically alters their appearance, being “scrap-made” made Junkions extremely resilient. Not only are they extremely difficult to kill, but they’ve routinely learned how to repair themselves quickly out of spare parts and even salvage injuries on Transformers that Cybertronian science would deem irreversible.

Oddly enough, Junkions also formed an obsession around Earth broadcasting, with much of their culture and speech made out of clippings from radio and television. This also made Junkions a bit playful and mischievous, and not outside using dirty tricks to gain the upper hand when engaged in combat.

1 Rescue Bots

Coming from the television show Transformers: Rescue Bots, the Rescue Bots are a team of specialized Autobots designated to stay within Fire Station Prime in order to use their skills to help others. Although from a show geared towards children, it’s interesting to note that Optimus Prime himself selected the Autobots that would become the Rescue Bots, now officially under Rescue Force Sigma-17.

Interestingly enough, the show would eventually feature Rescue Bot Training Academy students, all Transformers training to become Autobots to be sent on real missions. Despite being part of a kid’s show, the Rescue Bots offer an interesting look towards modern-day training to become a part of a well-known faction of Transformers.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will be released in 2023.

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