The Energon Pub

I was thinking about this today.

Which Autobot would have made the best Decepticon, and Vice versa?

Here's four of my picks:

-Brawl: Dude just seems like he loves to fight, wheras most Autobots are fighting for peace.. He has the least sentimental attachment to humans. He strikes me as a robot that wouldn't cope well with peace.

-Grimlock: OK, While I realize he detests the decepticons, I always got the feeling that it was simply because he has a fiercely loyal personality, and a sense of responsibility. I can easily see his persona meshing had he been made a Decepticon.

-Hook: OK, this goes for the Constructicons as a whole, but IMO Hook embodies what they're about: Creating, not Destroying. He seems like he'd be content building monuments of stability and peace. Typcially when Constructicons are fighting, they do so after they have been provoked, or when they're under direct orders from Megatron.

Now, you can argue that Devastator is the embodiment of destruction, but I believe that isn't by choice. Devastator has a very small brain, and pretty much anybody can manipulate him. If he were an Autobot, again I could easily see him as a tool for building things, not destroying.

-Scorponok: The Decepticon version of Grimlock, IMO. A fierce Warrior without compassion for the enemy, but you get the feeling that he's simply doing it out of loyalty to the side he started out with. Unlike all the other Decepticon commanders, Scorponok isn't driven by ego or a lust for power. He simply wants to protect his own. In a lot of ways, he has more in common with the Autubots.

Starscream to Autobots - because in Armada he really did like Optimus as he said "Optimus was a leader of integrity."

Grimlock to Decepticons - this guy wants power... and that is what the Decepticons will give him.

Bumbled wrote:Grimlock to Decepticons - this guy wants power... and that is what the Decepticons will give him.

I doubt it, Grimlock has already tasted power and it corrupted him, he was later disgusted with this. This became way more evident in the late G1 run and early G2 run.

Punch/Counterpunch. But that's way too obvious.

Thundercracker. He would be a possible good guy if it weren't for his fear of Megatron.

I agree with Thundercracker. I'd also like to say Blitzwing. If it weren't for his loyalty to the Decepticons...

Interesting point about the Constructicons. Remember the G1 episode where Devastator ends up helping the Autobots, and Chip mentions he was hoping they might join their side? I wonder, given the origin given to them, if there were at some point in time plans to have the team switch sides.

Blitzwing was almost there in G1(though they mysteriously gave his story to Octane at certain points, as I recall).

Hmmm... so, for the Autobots:

-Whirl - Given the guy's backstory, he was about two fries away from not having a Value Meal anyway. It's not hard to believe he might jump the fence.

-Blades - He's a little too vicious for an Autobot. Under the right cirumstances, I could see him being manipulated to the Decepticon cause. (What is it about Autobot helicopters?)

-Hubcap - His personality screams Decepticon, and yet he's in the Autobot army. Given his nature, it's not impossible to believe he might betray his comrades if given the chance.

-Computron - I'm going to give myself a "stretch" character for each side, and here's the Autobot one. If left together for an extended period of time, driven by pure logic, Computron might conclude that the Decepticon course made the most logical sense.

- It'll Never Happen Award: Mirage. One, Mirage has proven his loyalty in the face of questioning time and again. Beyond that, I'd always imagined the Decepticon movement got started because of class conflict(which appears to be the case in the Origin book), and Mirage is part of the elite in society on Cybertron. The 'Cons would probably just as soon kill him as look at him.

Decepticons:

-Soundwave. This would probably only happen post movie, but he appears to have a little more appreciation for the culture of other worlds, and his loyalty is a little out of place on the Decepticon side. His loyalty to Megatron is a barrier, but as Galvatron slipped into madness, I could see him wanting the war to end. I could easily see Soundwave as an idealist who originally joined up because he thought the Autobots were in the wrong. At least, that's MY take on the character.

-Swindle. He's probably only on the 'Con side of things because it's easier to do things the way he wants to. But he's essentially a nastier version of Hubcap, but he's slick enough to at least adapt to the Autobot side.

-Dead End. I'm partial to this thanks to the way Dead End's player worked it out in TF Blogs. He's always had a morose sense about him, thinking death was inevitable. But what if, in seeing the human world, he found a cause worth dying for? Plus DE as the Autobot's answer to Marvin the Paranoid Android is awesome to think about.

-Sixshot. Because of the Headmasters storyline.

-For my oddball choice, I'm going to go Energon/Superlink and say THEIR Sixshot. The whole reason he sides with the 'Cons is because he's told Prime had a hand in killing his brother. If he'd known otherwise, he would have sought revenge against the 'Cons. And, around the Autobots, he would have been allowed the freedom he wanted so badly, and wouldn't have been held down. He would have eventually become an Autobot in spirit, I think.

- It'll Never Happen Award: Starscream. Sure, he was a scientist and an Autobot is serving as the closest thing he had to a friend. But he LIKES what the Decepticons embody, and he wouldn't want to be less than second fiddle on his side. He'd never be trusted by the Autobots at all. In the end, it would never happen... unless we're talking G2 comic "tainted by the Matrix" Starscream. Then all bets are off.

I read in one of his bios that due to his deviousness (is that a word ) Smokescreen is the closest Autobot to becoming a Decepticon.

here are my choices

SLINGSHOT: In the cartoon he hatedhumans and longed to be a seeker.

SUNSTREAKER: A vain and often violent autobot with a short temper and a dislike of humans.

GRIMLOCK: I almost said slag, butthe other dinobots are so loyal to grimlock he'd have to defect first before they do. I'd go into his many decepticon like traits, but other people have already covered them.

REPUGNUS: According to dreamwaves More Than Meets the Eye character bio, he seems to be almost their.

SWINDLE: Just show him a profit in it.

OCTANE: Same as swindle but the friendship with sandstorm and exile from the cons makes it more likely.

THUNDERCRACKER: He has his doubts.

DEADEND: More depressed than evil, he already sees the war as pointless.

Stormwolf wrote:

Bumbled wrote:Grimlock to Decepticons - this guy wants power... and that is what the Decepticons will give him.

I doubt it, Grimlock has already tasted power and it corrupted him, he was later disgusted with this. This became way more evident in the late G1 run and early G2 run.

Really I thought Grimlock loved power, as he said in G1. Maybe now power but damn it did he like strength.

Hi-Q wrote:I was thinking about this today.

Which Autobot would have made the best Decepticon, and Vice versa?

Here's four of my picks:

-Brawl: Dude just seems like he loves to fight, wheras most Autobots are fighting for peace.. He has the least sentimental attachment to humans. He strikes me as a robot that wouldn't cope well with peace.

-Grimlock: OK, While I realize he detests the decepticons, I always got the feeling that it was simply because he has a fiercely loyal personality, and a sense of responsibility. I can easily see his persona meshing had he been made a Decepticon.

-Hook: OK, this goes for the Constructicons as a whole, but IMO Hook embodies what they're about: Creating, not Destroying. He seems like he'd be content building monuments of stability and peace. Typcially when Constructicons are fighting, they do so after they have been provoked, or when they're under direct orders from Megatron.

Now, you can argue that Devastator is the embodiment of destruction, but I believe that isn't by choice. Devastator has a very small brain, and pretty much anybody can manipulate him. If he were an Autobot, again I could easily see him as a tool for building things, not destroying.

-Scorponok: The Decepticon version of Grimlock, IMO. A fierce Warrior without compassion for the enemy, but you get the feeling that he's simply doing it out of loyalty to the side he started out with. Unlike all the other Decepticon commanders, Scorponok isn't driven by ego or a lust for power. He simply wants to protect his own. In a lot of ways, he has more in common with the Autubots.

Disagree with almost all of these. Brawn (not Brawl) would never switch to the Decepticons. He likes to fight to some extent, but it's more a case of exercising his strength, which he's really proud of. He's exuberant, certainly, but he's not bloodthirsty. He's far too nice a guy to swap.

Grimlock has been explored in the Dreamwave comics. In War Within it was established that he got involved in the pit fighting because during peacetime, he needed an outlet for his rage. But again, while he certainly has a predilection towards power, he's essentially a good guy... as he said to Starscream, "Me not like Autobots all that much, but me like you and yours even less." In the G1 comics he even did switch sides briefly when Megatron convinced him of the futility of protecting the humans, but he soon realised his error and returned to the Autobots. I don't see him going back in a hurry.

Hook may be a creator rather than a destroyer, but he's still a pompous, evil-minded sonuvabeach. Of all the Constructicons, I'd actually peg Scrapper as the most likely to switch, but it'd still never happen.

Scorponok, I'll give you. Since merging with Zarak, he has developed more of a conscience, and in the Marvel comics, he did side with Prime at one point. It's possible (maybe not likely, but possible) that he could finally snap at the Decepticon's tyranny and try to fight it.

Bumbled wrote:Starscream to Autobots - because in Armada he really did like Optimus as he said "Optimus was a leader of integrity."

Armada Starscream, maybe. I'm not familiar enough with the storyline to comment for sure, but from what I've heard he's a pretty likely switcheroo.

KingEmperor wrote:Punch/Counterpunch. But that's way too obvious.

Obvious, but by far the most likely in my book. Punch is slipping further and further, and unless he actually starts to realise it and seeks help, he'll eventually go beyond all hope and Counterpunch will be in permanent control.

Zombie Starscream wrote:Thundercracker. He would be a possible good guy if it weren't for his fear of Megatron.

I always used to think so too, but nowadays I'm less sure. Certainly he's with the Decepticons mostly because of Megatron; Megatron convinced him to join at the beginning, now his fear of retribution and constant coersion fromthe likes of Skywarp keep him onside. But I don't think Thundercracker was ever a 'good guy'. As far as I can tell, he's far too easy a killer to side with the Autobots.

KoH4711 wrote:Blitzwing was almost there in G1(though they mysteriously gave his story to Octane at certain points, as I recall).

I don't remember that. Comics or 'toon?

KoH4711 wrote:-Whirl - Given the guy's backstory, he was about two fries away from not having a Value Meal anyway. It's not hard to believe he might jump the fence.

He seems nuts, but as far as I can tell, it seems to be either an act, or a simple stress-release valve. I think it's the latter, but he makes out it's the former. Again, I think he's a nice guy.

KoH4711 wrote:-Blades - He's a little too vicious for an Autobot. Under the right cirumstances, I could see him being manipulated to the Decepticon cause. (What is it about Autobot helicopters?)

Maybe. I have no idea what those circumstances might be, though. He's certainly bloodthirsty, and a bit too eager to rip his foes to shreds. But Hot Spot seems convinced that his spark's in the right place, and when it comes down to it, his wild antics get the job done, if not in the way his superiors would like. I'd say he's an outside chance. Not likely, but possible.

KoH4711 wrote:-Hubcap - His personality screams Decepticon, and yet he's in the Autobot army. Given his nature, it's not impossible to believe he might betray his comrades if given the chance.

Again, I'll have to disagree. Hubcap isn't a bad guy, he's not just not particularly motivated. His facade tries to cover his laziness... I don't think he has any ulterior motives. Even if he was bad enough to switch, Megatron would see through his chatter soon enough, and I reckon unless he pulled his act together and actually started doing something, he'd be slagged before he knew it.

KoH4711 wrote:-Computron - I'm going to give myself a "stretch" character for each side, and here's the Autobot one. If left together for an extended period of time, driven by pure logic, Computron might conclude that the Decepticon course made the most logical sense.

That really is a stretch in my book. The logic angle may, in a pinch, work for Computron, but not for the Technobots. With the possible exception of Afterburner, they're all far too loyal to the Autobots to allow their gestalt form to side with the Decepticons.

KoH4711 wrote:- It'll Never Happen Award: Mirage. One, Mirage has proven his loyalty in the face of questioning time and again. Beyond that, I'd always imagined the Decepticon movement got started because of class conflict(which appears to be the case in the Origin book), and Mirage is part of the elite in society on Cybertron. The 'Cons would probably just as soon kill him as look at him.

Good take. Agreed. Mirage used to be unsure of the Autobot cause, but although others in their ranks may have suspected him of not being entirely loyal, he was blatantly never going to betray them.

KoH4711 wrote:-Soundwave. This would probably only happen post movie, but he appears to have a little more appreciation for the culture of other worlds, and his loyalty is a little out of place on the Decepticon side. His loyalty to Megatron is a barrier, but as Galvatron slipped into madness, I could see him wanting the war to end. I could easily see Soundwave as an idealist who originally joined up because he thought the Autobots were in the wrong. At least, that's MY take on the character.

Disagree. Soundwave's no idealist, he's all about self. He's a dirty, scheming blackmailer, who's constantly taking steps to advance his position. I think he's with the Decepticons mostly because he sees them as the winning side. He's loyal to Megatron because it serves his purposes to do so. I've always seen him in the same light as the Mirror Universe Spock in Star Trek - if it came down to it, he could probably easily lead the Decepticons, but that'd put him in the firing line for all those trying to usurp his position (Starscream, Shockwave etc). Where the increasing instability of Galvatron would leave him, I'm not sure. It might even be the jolt he needs to snap him into going for the reins, or maybe he'd even strike out on his own. But he's no Autobot under any circumstances. Even if he tried to join, I think there'd be too much history for them to ever trust him anyway.

KoH4711 wrote:-Swindle. He's probably only on the 'Con side of things because it's easier to do things the way he wants to. But he's essentially a nastier version of Hubcap, but he's slick enough to at least adapt to the Autobot side.

Possible, if he sees is at as the profitable thing to do. But I think he's with the Decepticons because they're going to be the ones pressing the conflict, and it's conflict he's after. As he's said before, there's no profit in peace.

KoH4711 wrote:-Dead End. I'm partial to this thanks to the way Dead End's player worked it out in TF Blogs. He's always had a morose sense about him, thinking death was inevitable. But what if, in seeing the human world, he found a cause worth dying for? Plus DE as the Autobot's answer to Marvin the Paranoid Android is awesome to think about.

Never really thought about this before. He's a possibility, I suppose, if he actually found that spark of compassion that you suggest, which seems unlikely but not impossible. He could also see it as his way out from under the heel (or ankle ) of Motormaster, which wouldn't hurt him at all.

FirstChAoS wrote:SLINGSHOT: In the cartoon he hatedhumans and longed to be a seeker.

For about twenty minutes, but he soon realised how bad a plan that was. He thought the Seekers were cool initially, but he didn't realise that didn't automatically make them a good thing. And it only applies to the 'toon. He's generally a good 'bot, who puts on a facade of arrogance to hide his insecurities.

FirstChAoS wrote:SUNSTREAKER: A vain and often violent autobot with a short temper and a dislike of humans.

Finally. I thought no-one was going to suggest him.

FirstChAoS wrote:REPUGNUS: According to dreamwaves More Than Meets the Eye character bio, he seems to be almost their.

Again, good choice. I don't think he's quite a Decepticon though. He's amoral, and willing to pull any number of dirty tricks, but like Grimlock, I think he likes that fact that being with the Autobots gives him validation for it. In peacetime, he'd probably be a criminal, but in war he has a focus for all his vitriol.

Bartrim wrote:I read in one of his bios that due to his deviousness (is that a word ) Smokescreen is the closest Autobot to becoming a Decepticon.

I don't know which bio that was, but I don't see it. He's a friendly and popular Autobot, and Prime trusts him implicitly. He even uses Smokescreen's camaraderie to find out about the problems that others wouldn't tell him about to his face. Sure, Smokescreen has a certain deviousness to him, but it's not malicious in the slightest.


My picks, that I can think of, would be:

Punch: As I said, he's a small step away from losing his Punch identity once and for all. If he doesn't seek help, and soon, he's doomed.

Sunstreaker: Ratchet's worried about sociopathic tendencies, and he has every right to be. Other Autobots have noted how he looks at them... "like he's thinking of about ten different ways to rip out their fuel pump". I'd like to think he's like some of the others in that the war gives him focus for his viciousness, but when it comes down to it, I have a feeling it's all about his ties to Sideswipe. If anything happened to him, I think all bets would be off.

Scorponok: He's been close in the Marvel comics, and I think it could come to a point where Zarak's influence could sway him to side with the Autobots.

Bumbled wrote:Really I thought Grimlock loved power, as he said in G1. Maybe now power but damn it did he like strength.

He doesn't love power, he respects it. He wanted to lead the Autobots originally not just because he wanted to lead them, but because he felt Optimus' compassion made him weak and unworthy for the task. As he said in War Within... "Need military leader now... need Prime with clout!". He felt he was the leader the Autobots needed.
He's since decided that Prime does have what it takes to lead, and now has much more respect for him.

From everything I've seen on him, I'd say G1 Astrotrain might switch (don't know enough about other versions to say).

He is described on a website "devoted" to him that I once found on google (but never again) that "he is often used too much as only a transport in his opinion, never used or treated like a real warrior and despises his lonely role..." He could end up as the new Transformers club version ended up, as a bounty hunter or a mercenary instead.

Him and Long Haul both. But similarly, as disillusioned as may be with his specific function, he's certainly not about to turn good because he's bored. And though there are plenty of Decepticons who could easily turn solo if the mood took them, I don't peg Astrotrain as one of them.

Sideswipe: He believes humans r inferior!

Sunstreaker: Arrogant and hates humans!

Mirage: HE can never be fully trusted, he also hates being on earth! The Traitor episode excluded!

Smokescreen: Same as Mirage

Soundwave: He really never comes across as a badguy to me!

Hound: Hes too good to be true!

Constructicons: Never were built to destroy!

Hardhead: He might get so mad about following orders that he will switch sides and become a Decepticon!

Warpath: He'll want to fight so much that he'll be Decepticon a destroy things like Brawl!

Insecticons: Will want to destroy Megatron so bad that they will become a Autobot! But the Autobots hate those dirty bastards so much that it wont happen!

Swindle: He'll do anything to get a cut-in 4 himself! His name speaks 4 himself!

Aerielbots: They think they're the best Autobots, ver arrogant, and think Decepticons r cool!

Nightbeat: Hes to shady!

I can see Starscream forming his own side.

Wow, Godz... I don't know where to start shooting those down... right, from the top...

Godzilla wrote:Sideswipe: He believes humans r inferior!

I don't know where the hell you got this ridiculous idea from. Sideswipe is a popular, good-natured Autobot. Pretty much his worst character traits are that he's reckless and a bit too cocky for his own good.

Godzilla wrote:Sunstreaker: Arrogant and hates humans!

The only 'bot on the list I'll agree with. But 'arrogant and hating humans' is hardly reason for becoming a Decepticon. Being a sociopath is.

Godzilla wrote:Mirage: HE can never be fully trusted! The Traitor episode excluded!

As I (and others) have said, while he may not have been sure of the cause in the beginning, he's proved himself over and over again, over many years of loyal service.

Godzilla wrote:Smokescreen: Same as Mirage

Rubbish. As I said, 'devious' does not automatically equate to 'evil'. He's one of Prime's most valued intelligence agents, and one of his most trusted, for the reasons stated earlier.

Godzilla wrote:Soundwave: He really never comes across as a badguy to me!

Oh, he really is. I guess I can see why you might get that if you're going by the 'toon, and only paying attention to the 'lapdog' aspects of his portrayal in it. There's a whole lot more to him than that. Read some comics, seriously.

Godzilla wrote:Hound: Hes too good to be true!

Riiiiight...

Godzilla wrote:Constructicons: Never were built to destroy!

So you've never heard of Devastator, then..?

Godzilla wrote:Hardhead: He might get so mad about following orders that he will switch sides and become a D!

He's stubborn and pig-headed, but again, that doesn't mean evil. Besides, you think Megatron would stand for his malarkey any more than the Autobots do? I think not.

Godzilla wrote:Warpath: He'll want to fight so much that he'll be Decepticon a destroy things like Brawl!

Again, likes fighting, but not evil, or indeed approaching it. If he was that close to the edge, he'd be far less liked than he is.

Godzilla wrote:Insecticons: Will want to destroy Megatron that they will become A!

So... "the enemy of my enemy is my friend", eh? Right, that's always been a realistic outlook. You don't think they hate the Autobots more?

Night Raid wrote:I can see Starscream forming his own side.

He already did - the original Predacons, in War Within.

Autobots and Decepticons have personalities, but they also have political ideals, and these dictate their alliances rather than their "good or evil" alignment.

Grimlock despises the Decepticons' statist philosophy. He may be villainous, but he'd rather exist amongst those who find his philosophy opprobrious than in an all-encompassing state.

There's nothing particularly evil about Smokescreen. He lies, cheats, and gambles, but these are trademarks of anyone in intelligence.

Comparatively, Hook would not enjoy a society of limited government such as that which the Autobots seek. He seeks authority- authority to rule and authority to finance the monoliths he seeks to create.

In the DW Comics, the only reason Grimlock switched sides was to locate the missing Dinobots. Despite that speech defect, his brain was working over time.

Didn't you guys forget Double dealer? Allegiance unknown......

How about Twin Twist? So reckless in the use of his drills, that he often causes the destruction of human property. Optimus Prime has even considered rendering him inoperative a few times. Such thoughts could alienate Twin Twist into taking the wrong path.

fenrir72 wrote:Didn't you guys forget Double dealer? Allegiance unknown......

How do you switch sides when you never picked one?

ScorpoMax wrote:Optimus Prime has even considered rendering him inoperative a few times. Such thoughts could alienate Twin Twist into taking the wrong path.

I've never heard that one before. It'd take something pretty extreme (seriously so) to make Prime even consider taking one of his own offline. I wouldn't see Twin Twist coming even close to that line, as reckless and macabre as his antics may be.

Hot Rod could be the greatest Decepticon of all time. He's possibly the most evil Transformer that ever existed.

During the whole battle of autobot city he fires 2-3 shots, not at the Cons but to blow up the shuttle that interfered with his fishing. He helped kill Optimus Prime. He then tried to steal the matrix but being out numbered he handed it to Magnus. Unicrons immune system attacked the other bots but not Hot Rod or Galvatron, maybe because they both work for him. Think about it how did Unicron get that footage of prime dying and Hot Rod trying to still the Matrix?

After he steals the Matrix back from Galvatron and betrays Unicron does he do what Prime would have done and unite the surviving Transformers on Cybertron? No he kicks all the surviving Cons off Cybertron and banished they to Char. Til all are one indeed.

He left minibots to guard teletran 1, we all know how that ended.

In rebirth nearly all the Autobots were killed in the final battle because he went missing with vital troops and forced Optimus to leave the battle to find him while he was wasting time on Nebulos.

Rodimus being one of the good guys played his part in destroying several planets such Quintessa, the planet of goo, Paradon(Poor Sandstorm) and Cybertron.

Universe put in danger during his rule:
1)Because he wouldn't shut the Time window in "Forever Is a Long Time Coming".
2)Primacron in "Call of the Primitives"
3)Unicron nearly rebuilt by Starscreams ghost.
4)He loses the matrix to two Constructicons in "The Burden Hardest to Bear"
5)Lets Optimus kill himself in "Dark awakening"
6)Quintessons use the kill switch to deactivate all Transformers in "Five faces of darkness"
7)Billions die from Hate plague that would have destroyed all life if Optimus hadn't been revived.

You get the idea....

Ramrider wrote:

fenrir72 wrote:Didn't you guys forget Double dealer? Allegiance unknown......

How do you switch sides when you never picked one?

ScorpoMax wrote:Optimus Prime has even considered rendering him inoperative a few times. Such thoughts could alienate Twin Twist into taking the wrong path.

I've never heard that one before. It'd take something pretty extreme (seriously so) to make Prime even consider taking one of his own offline. I wouldn't see Twin Twist coming even close to that line, as reckless and macabre as his antics may be.

Read it right here: http://www.seibertron.com/comics/universe/original/?tf_id=twintwist

Wasn't there something in Trypticon's tech specs about having doubts about the Decepticon cause ? That would make him a candidate. A big, very relevant candidate.

ScorpoMax wrote:Read it right here: http://www.seibertron.com/comics/univer ... =twintwist

Blimey, you're right. In that case, if TT found out about that, it could go either way - either it could jolt him into getting his act together, or, as you said, alienate him completely.

Creature SH wrote:Wasn't there something in Trypticon's tech specs about having doubts about the Decepticon cause ? That would make him a candidate. A big, very relevant candidate.

There is, actually, well spotted. Whether this could sway him to the other side is questionable, since he seems to hate everything else, as ell as himself. But his disdain for warfare could eventually make him leave the Decepticons, which could be a potential opening for an invite.