Decepticon
Faction of sentient robots from the Transformers universe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Decepticons are a fictional faction of sentient robots in the Transformers multimedia franchise.[1] Serving as the main antagonists in the franchise, their goals include conquering their fictional homeworld planet Cybertron, defeating the Autobots, and achieving universal domination.
Other: Chaar, the Victory (G1), the Megastar (RID), Decepticon City (G1), the Nemesis (G1, ROTF, Animated, SG, Prime).
| Decepticon | |
|---|---|
 Decepticon insignia | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics, IDW Publishing, Dreamwave Productions, Devil's Due Publishing, Fun Publications |
| First appearance | The Transformers #1 (September 1984) |
| In-story information | |
| Base(s) | Homeworld: Kaon, Cybertron Other: Chaar, the Victory (G1), the Megastar (RID), Decepticon City (G1), the Nemesis (G1, ROTF, Animated, SG, Prime). |
| Leader(s) | Megatron/Galvatron (stated in exodus and the cartoon), Starscream, Steeljaw, Liege Maximo, Unicron, The Fallen/Megatronus (in the movie series) |
Description
The Decepticons are the primary antagonistic faction of the Transformers franchise and are usually identified by red or yellow eyes and a purple, face-like insignia on their chests or shoulders. Unlike their more civilian-oriented nemeses, the franchise protagonist Autobots, Decepticons almost always transform into military hardware, such as military aircraft, military vehicles, and ground combat vehicles, though there are instances of Decepticons that transform into construction vehicles, luxury cars, sports cars, and even smaller-than-human-sized household objects like cameras and cassette players. While their factional goal is ostensibly to protect their homeworld, Cybertron, at all costs, this has resulted in a faction bent on conquest, plundering, and genocide in practice, and the Decepticons are anything but united in purpose.
The name Decepticon is a portmanteau of the word "Deception" and the suffix "-con," which suffix is used often in the franchise alongside "-bot" and "-tron" to denote a robotic organism. In the Japanese continuity, Decepticons are instead called Destron[2] or Deathtron (Japanese: デストロン Desutoron), though the Decepticon characters in the Japanese Car Robots series are instead called Combatrons (coincidentally, the same name used in Japanese for the Decepticon G1 subgroup known in English as the Combaticons). In the Beast Wars successor series to the Transformers G1 continuity, the Decepticon-equivalent faction is known as the Predacons in both languages.
While it varies depending on the particular continuity, the highest-ranking Decepticon is typically Megatron, who is often, but not always, the group's founder and among its most dangerous combatants. In Japanese, this position usually carries the title Emperor of Destruction (Japanese: 破壊大帝 Hakai Taitei), although the simpler "leader" or "Lord" title is preferred in English. Whatever the title, this position is contrasted by the Autobots' supreme leader, or "Prime," a position almost always held by Optimus Prime. Attempts by other Decepticons, usually Starscream but sometimes others, to usurp Megatron form a common plot element across continuities. While some Decepticons are genuinely loyal to the cause, many have their own, sometimes opposing, agendas, and still others are kept in line only by the threat of force or the promise of an outlet for their destructive tendencies.
The Decepticons are characterized by their physical strength and powerful weaponry, and most continuities open with them in a superior strategic position. However, the Autobots usually gain ground due to the propensity of the Decepticons to in-fight and overestimate themselves, and the egomania rampant in the Decepticons' ranks is an often-exploited weakness. The Autobots are also usually successful at turning at least one primary Decepticon to their cause during the course of a series, and occasionally more honorable Decepticons will quit an unworthy or sufficiently immoral battle or operation even when it is on the verge of success.
Beginning with the original Generation 1 cartoon, the Decepticon rallying cry has been "Decepticons attack!". "Transform and rise up!" is used in Transformers: Animated as a play on the Autobots' traditional "Transform and roll out!".
Depictions in media
Transformers: Generation 1
The original animated series depicts the Decepticons as a malevolent faction of robots dedicated to the conquest of their home planet, Cybertron. When the story opens, they have largely succeeded at this, but millions of years of fighting has depopulated Cybertron and drained it of nearly all resources. Hoping to find resources off-world to help them turn the tide, the remaining Autobots flee Cybertron aboard their flagship, the Ark, but are pursued by Megatron and his cadre of high-ranking Decepticons aboard their own warship, the Nemesis.
Nemesis catches the Ark, and the Decepticons board. In the ensuing struggle, control over both ships is lost, and they crash on prehistoric Earth; the trauma of the crash forces all involved into stasis. Four million years pass, during which the remaining denizens on Cybertron essentially fall into dormancy. Shockwave, Megatron's viceroy on Cybertron, remains mostly active, and uses this time to perfect teleportation technology and suppress and torture the remaining Autobot insurgents.
In 1984, geothermal activity jolts the Ark's main computer, Teletraan I, back into service, and it begins indiscriminately repairing and reactivating the fallen warriors, assigning to them new alternate modes based on Earth devices and vehicles. Skywarp, a Decepticon, is brought online first, and he ensures that Teletraan I thereafter works only on Decepticons. However, Starscream insubordinately fires on the Ark as the Decepticons depart to plunder Earth's resources, an act which ultimately results in Teletraan I beginning repairs on Autobots as well.
The Decepticons are often portrayed as militaristically superior to, but less disciplined and loyal than, the Autobots, and are commonly hindered by their own in-fighting and differing motivations; occasionally these differences even result in individual Decepticons assisting the Autobots or striking out on their own. Later continuations and adaptations of the G1 story sometimes depict the Decepticon cause as having once been nobler, usually basing it around the overthrow of a corrupt Cybertronian regime, though this cause is invariably corrupted into one of control, conquest, and genocide.
Transformers: EarthSpark
Under Megatron, the Decepticons originally fought the war on the ideals of creating a more equal Cybertron. With the war's expansion to Earth, however, Megatron soon came to realize how far his faction had strayed from his original vision and readily joined the Autobots in hopes of ending the conflict. When Megatron seemingly destroyed the AllSpark in the final battle of the war on Earth, the Decepticons found themselves stranded on Earth as the SpaceBridge to Cybertron was destroyed along with it. For his actions, Megatron was falsely branded a traitor by many of his former soldiers, such as Shockwave and Soundwave. Stranded on Earth, the Decepticons were forced to go on the run to evade imprisonment by the secret human organization G.H.O.S.T. and had to resort to stealing Energon.
A year after Mandroid's successful defeat and death, a group of Decepticons led by Starscream rebels shortly after the destruction of the Ember Stone. They seek its fragments before the Terrans, the Autobots, the humans, and Megatron can find them. This leads to the creation of the Chaos Terrans and the discovery of some secrets about Witwicky himself; the secret involves a Terran Titan born on Earth named Terratronus, whose body was covered by mounds of rock and earth that would later become the site of Witwicky.
The stakes eventually get higher when the Quintessons get involved and threaten the Maltos, the Autobots, and Earth following the Decepticons' departure from Earth on Prowl's ship, leaving Starscream behind after betraying them.
Back on Cybertron, the Decepticons ally with Hot Rod and a former Prime named Liege Maximo, who was imprisoned long ago. He plans to transform other planets into Energon sources to recreate Cybertron. After clashing with the Autobots and Malto, they sense the AllSpark, believing it was destroyed by Maximo. Upon learning of his deception, they abandon him.
Transformers One (2024)
In this animated film, the Decepticons were formerly known as the Cybertronian High Guard, elite warriors selected by the original Primes to aid in their struggle against the invading Quintessons. After Sentinel defects to the Quintessons in exchange for the right to rule Cybertron as viceroy, the Primes are killed and the High Guard falsely branded treasonous. Thus begins the High Guard's centuries-long guerilla war; at first heroic, the High Guard is eventually tainted by their hatred, and begin to view the world through a cruel, survival-of-the-fittest lens.
Much later, D-16, Orion Pax, and their allies are captured by the High Guard on suspicion of espionage. D-16 duels the High Guard leader, Starscream, and wins; he then delivers a charismatic rallying speech and assumes command. Following discovery by Sentinel's forces, the High Guard assaults Sentinel's seat of power, Iacon, under D-16's leadership while Orion, Elita-1, and B-127 expose Sentinel's lies via planetary broadcast.
Sentinel, now physically defeated and without popular support, is held at gunpoint by D-16, who intends to execute him without trial. Orion, however, intercepts the blast and is mortally wounded after his attempts to talk D-16 down fail. Renaming himself Megatron, D-16 angrily lets Orion fall to his death and proceeds to destroy Sentinel anyway. Megatron orders the High Guard to destroy all of Iacon in retribution for its supposed complicity in Sentinel's false regime; full of pent-up rage, they comply. But Orion returns as Optimus Prime, defeats Megatron, and exiles both Megatron and the High Guard to the Cybertronian wastes. As they depart, Megatron renames the High Guard the "Decepticons," chosen as an ironic reminder of the many lies that enslaved, and still enslave, his world, and vows to "liberate" Cybertron from Optimus and his followers, the Autobots.
