10 Most Powerful Transformers In All 8 Movies, Ranked (& Optimus Isn’t Top)

The Transformers franchise revolves around epic battles between the Autobots and the Decepticons, none of which could take place without extremely powerful robots at the center of the action. There is no doubt that the franchise has lasted as long as it has and has moved from animated TV series into live-action movies because of the strength of these characters.

Both sides of the conflict have powerful participants. For example, Sideswipe’s wheels and speed make him hard to catch and Ironhide can only be taken down by a rust gun, while on the Decepticon side, Starscream has superstrength and can transform into a jet to fly away and Soundwave can manipulate sounds and read minds. Several Transformers are more powerful than the others, which is no small feat in such an epic franchise.

10) Scorponok

First introduced to the movie franchise in 2007’s Transformers, Scorponok is one of the most deadly and unique of the Decepticons. He has the unusual ability to transform into a scorpion, which gives him advantages in any battle that are hard to overcome.

During his first appearance, Scorponok wins a battle in Qatar using his scorpion powers. His ability to burrow through sand is part of what gives him an advantage here, as he can go underneath it and pop up to attack an enemy. His tail is also poisonous and can be used to stab enemies. In this first scene, he demonstrates that he is a force to be reckoned with. However, if his tail is removed, he loses most of his power, as happened later in the movie.

9) Sideswipe

Sideswipe’s powers in Revenge of the Fallen are more ordinary than some other Transformers, but that doesn’t make him any less of a formidable foe to the Decepticons. Throughout the movie, Sideswipe’s super speed allowed him to chase Sideways all through Shanghai, and his skill with weapons at close range was what finished the Decepticon off when he finally caught up with him.

Many Transformers are good fighters, but Sideswipe’s combined superspeed and skill at one-on-one combat make him a unique, powerful addition to the Autobots’ team. His speed allows him to dodge enemy attacks easily and to quickly slide in to finish off an opponent, skills which cannot be taken for granted. Unfortunately, he arrives too late to save Optimus Prime in what is arguably the best action scene in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, but his contributions elsewhere in the film demonstrate his power.

8) Soundwave

Soundwave’s ability to take over communications systems is a strong asset to the Decepticons in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Arguably, the Decepticons wouldn’t be able to do much damage in the film without his help, as his hacking into a military satellite enables them to find the piece of the AllSpark necessary to rebuild Megatron. Additionally, he later takes over Earth’s telecommunications systems so that the Decepticons can send a message to humans.

These examples demonstrate the extent of his power. While Soundwave is often described as being able to manipulate sounds, it’s more accurate to say that he can take over planetary communications. Additionally, he knows how to dispatch minions to do dirty work, often working behind the scenes while they fight the actual battles, which is a strong skill in and of itself. Although Soundwave was a composite of several earlier Transformers, he is an important and loyal Decepticon who has changed the franchise permanently.

7) Mirage

Mirage has a skill that no other Transformer has: the ability to create holographic duplicates of himself. This skill allows him to distract and confuse enemies, especially when combined with his seemingly basic appearance, which can make it appear that he is no threat at all.

Mirage’s sacrifice at the end of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts by turning himself into an exo-skeleton to shield Noah from Scourge’s fire leaves him damaged. However, the fact that he is still able to transform again after Noah repairs him with parts from a Porsche demonstrates how powerful he is.

6) Shockwave

In Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Shockwave demonstrates that he is one of the Decepticons’ most lethal killing machines. His power comes partially from his lack of empathy — he operates on pure logic and is able to attack and kill with impunity if it furthers his goals.

In Dark of the Moon, however, it also seems his power comes from another source. Shockwave works with his pet, the robotic worm Driller, whom he can utilize to attack Autobots and kill them faster. Thus, it is debatable whether Shockwave is powerful on his own; however, he is also said to be the only killing machine that rivaled Megatron, so he is clearly a serious threat.

5) Lockdown

Like Shockwave, Lockdown is a killing machine who operates on cold logic and won’t hesitate to destroy as many of his enemies as possible. In Age of Extinction, Lockdown is a bounty hunter tasked with killing Optimus Prime, and he leaves a trail of destruction behind him. It is unclear what his origin is — although he aids the Decepticons, he has green eyes, suggesting that he is not originally one of them.

Lockdown is a formidable enemy who is able to hide underwater, quickly appear where he needs to, and use tools like large magnets to decimate Earth in pursuit of his goals. He is equipped with missiles and a face cannon, and often launches grenades, all of which add to his power. It’s a shame that he is introduced in one of the least popular movies in the franchise, as he is a powerful Transformer who deserves more airtime.

4) Devastator

Devastator is formed from anywhere from six to nine Constructicons, making him so huge that he can’t support his own weight and has to move on all fours. His huge size allows him to intimidate Autobots and to leave devastation in his wake, and in addition, he torments the Constructicons he is built from with each movement he makes.

However, Devastator’s biggest source of power is the Vortex Grinder. This is a faux black hole in his mouth that he uses to suck in everything around him and destroy it. He even attempts to eat Autobots in Revenge of the Fallen, though he has limited success with this, as Mudflap doesn’t actually die and fights his way back out. However, the Vortex Grinder causes significant damage before Devastator is finally killed near the end of the movie.

3) Quintessa

Quintessa is the self-appointed god of the Transformers, and her powers are such that it seems nearly impossible to defeat her. She is introduced in Transformers: The Last Knight when Optimus Prime searches for his makers. Her hypnotic and mind-reading abilities are so strong that she easily disarms Optimus Prime, puts him in a trance, and reprograms him as Nemesis Prime, though he is able to break free of her programming once he is away from her.

Some of Quintessa’s power comes from her staff, which she got Megatron to deliver to her after her Nemesis Prime plot fell apart. However, she is seemingly immortal even without the staff, as she survived Bumblebee’s seemingly fatal shot to the back in the movie’s climax.

2) Optimus Prime

Optimus Prime is obviously powerful, considering he is the leader of the Autobots, though he has never successfully gotten rid of Megatron. He was originally a scientist, but is protective of the Autobots and will put all his energy into protecting them from the Decepticons.

Ironically, the strongest proof of Optimus Prime’s strength is also his weakest point. He was easily brainwashed and reprogrammed by Quintessa into Nemesis Prime; however, his behavior while under her influence demonstrated that he holds back some of his power, as Nemesis Prime nearly killed Bumblebee before Bumblebee broke Quintessa’s hold on him.

1) Megatron

Megatron is the primary villain throughout the Transformers franchise, so it’s not surprising that he’s one of the most powerful Transformers in existence. The leader of the Decepticons seems indestructible, as he always returns no matter how many times he is killed.

In the first Transformers movie, Megatron shows his superstrength by slamming Optimus Prime into a building and then flying through a skyscraper. Although he dies at the end of this movie, he is resurrected in Revenge of the Fallen, and in Dark of the Moon, Optimus Prime is forced to temporarily ally with him to get rid of Sentinel Prime, demonstrating again how powerful Megatron is.

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