The Energon Pub

Who do you think showed the best scientific or engineering ability which was actually shown (as in his abilities show in some form of the media not just a tech spec saying he's the greatest)?

bots-wheeljack

cons-shockwave

Decepticons: Shockwave, both comics and cartoon.

Autobots: Cartoon, probably Wheeljack. Comics, there were a few good Autobots who could build stuff. Grapple, who rebuilt the Ark pretty much and also designed and built Omega Supreme. Ratchet, of course, you have to be an awesome engineer to be able to put mechanical beings back together.

Pipes- Though I think his tech specs classified him as a warrior, he is seen in several season 3 episodes repairing other bots.

but as for the best- I'd probably go with Wheeljack and Shockwave.

Shockwave created the triplechangers and duocons afterall.

I can see why wheeljack is popular (tough luck perceptor) but what did shockwave do in the cartoon that makes him the best decepticon scientist in that canon? In all the comics he was obviously superior but I can't think of anything he did in the cartoons that made him the obvious choice, any help?

Perceptor.

In a single episode Grimlock created some of the most technical Autobots.

The Technobots.

Starscream showed some engineering skills when he got the Combaticons up and running and also managed to design them in a way to form Bruticus and he does have a Scientific background and knowledge as he did identify an old communications device in the episode 'Rust'

Starscream also did run that platform in WFC when he first met Megatron.