Summary

• Autobots are the main heroes, ruled by Primes, and determined to protect Earth from threats like Megatron.
• Decepticons, led by Megatron, are the main villains seeking to bring down the Autobots in the Cybertronian War.
• Maximals, Terrorcons, and Predacons bring new factions of Transformers with unique abilities and origins in the franchise.

The Transformers franchise has featured many characters, and all the types of Transformers robots in the universe remain iconic. Paramount launched its live-action Transformers movie franchise in 2007 with Michael Bay directing the film. The movie took its time introducing audiences to the idea of transforming robots by focusing on its human characters first. However, once the Transformers characters based on Hasbro's popular toys showed up, the franchise continued to expand the mythology associated with the aliens.

For as much attention as Optimus Prime and Bumblebee receive in the many Transformers movies, they are only two characters who are part of a single faction of Transformers. The movies have introduced several different groups as the sequels have been released. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts even plays a massive role in expanding the reach of the Transformers by introducing new types of robots that each have specific histories. These are all seven Transformers types featured in the Transformers movie franchise so far.

Autobots

The Main Heroes Of The Transformers Movies

Autobots are the main types of Transformers robots featured in the movies. They were created by the Creators and originally called Cybertron their home before the Cybertronian War began. This led the heroic faction to flee Cybertron and settle on Earth as their new home. They are ruled by the seven Primes, which include characters featured in the Transformers movies, like Prima and Megatronus Prime. The Autobots have been at the forefront of every Transformers movie, as they have repeatedly protected Earth from various threats.

Optimus Prime and Bumblebee are the prominent of the Autobots in the movie franchise, appearing in every entry so far.

Optimus Prime and Bumblebee are the prominent of the Autobots in the movie franchise, appearing in every entry so far. Autobots appearing in the first Transformers include Jazz, Ratchet, and Ironhide, while Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen brought in Sideswipe, Jolt, Arcee, and more. Transformers: Dark of the Moon added Autobots like the Wreckers: Roadbuster, Topspin, and Leadfoot.

Transformers: Age of Extinction also brought Hound, Drift, and Crosshairs, while Transformers: The Last Knight included the likes of Cogman, Hot Rod, and more. Bumblebee brought back several Autobots and added Brawn to the mix, while Transformers: Rise of the Beasts includes Mirage.

Decepticons

The Main Villains Of Michael Bay's Transformers Movies

The other main types of Transformers robots are Decepticons. The villains share the same origin as the Autobots, although the faction rises for the Cybertronian War to try and bring down the heroes. They were founded by Megatronus Prime, who became known as The Fallen once he became opposed to the Autobots' mission. The Fallen disagreed with the other Primes who vowed not to harvest Energon from suns that had inhabited planets. Once The Fallen became lost, Megatron became leader and led them in the Cybertronian War.

Megatron is the biggest recurring threat to the Autobots, as he appeared in all five of Michael Bay's movies

As the main villains of the Transformers movie franchise, Decepticons have been featured repeatedly. Megatron is the biggest recurring threat to the Autobots, as he appeared in all five of Michael Bay's movies, including going by Galvatron in Transformers: Age of Extinction. The first Transformers film included notable Decepticons like Starscream, Blackout, Brawl, Bonecrusher, and Barricade.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen introduced Grindor, Shockwave, and Sideways, while Transformers: Dark of the Moon included Laserbeak, Shockwave, and Sentinel Prime, who defected from the Autobots. Other notable Decepticons in the Transformers movies include Stinger, Onslaught, Shatter, and Dropkick.

Constructicons

Decepticons Who Created the Devastator

There is also a sub-type of Decepticons in the Transformers movies known as Constructicons. Featured in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, the Constructicons are Decepticons whose vehicle form is some type of construction vehicle. These types of Transformers robots featured many who were combiners, allowing a collection of the Constructicons to create Devastator. There are also known Constructicons like Demolisher and Rampage who did not combine to create the behemoth Transformer.

There were initially 6 Constructicons in the Transformers canon.

There were initially 6 Constructicons in the Transformers canon: Scrapper, Bonecrusher, Scavenger, Mixmaster, Hook, and Long Haul. They were highly popular even among the already popular Transformers toy range, since they combined into the Devastator. Future iterations added more Constructicons beyond the initial 6, such as Gravedigger and Scoop. They also weren't all Decepticons either. Some, such as Hauler and Erector, switched sides and became Autobots.

Dinobots

The Autobot's Dinosaur Allies

Another type of Transformers in the movie franchise is known as Dinobots. They are a sub-group of the Autobot faction, although they traditionally have a complicated relationship with Optimus Prime's group. The Dinobots debuted in the Transformers films in Transformers: Age of Extinction and returned for the sequel. Grimlock, the Tyrannosaurus Rex-shaped Transformer, is the leader of the Dinobots. He has been featured alongside Slug, Strafe, and Scorn. There are also Mini Dinobots in the Transformers movie franchise, which is how Mini Grimlock, Mini Slug, and Mini Strafe ed Transformers: The Last Knight.

They were first introduced in 1985 in the Transformers cartoon episodes "Dinobot Island" part 1 and 2, and were an instant hit among the fanbase.

As their name suggests, all Dinobots transform into some kind of dinosaur. They were first introduced in 1985 in the Transformers cartoon episodes "Dinobot Island" part 1 and 2, and were an instant hit among the fanbase. There was also a choose-your-own adventure book based exclusively on the Dinobots released the same year, titled Dinobot War.

Maximals

Upgraded Autobots That Turn Into Animal Forms

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts introduces the Maximals. In the usual Transformers lore, Maximals are another faction that evolved from the Autobots. They are descendants of the Autobots and came to be following the third Cybertronian War when all Autobots took part in the Great become Maximals. This Transformer type has upgraded abilities, allowing them to change into animal forms with artificial organic skin. They are the main protagonists in the Beast Wars storyline, as the heroic offshoot of Autobots.

Introducing the Maximals in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts brought a few of the group's biggest into the franchise.

Introducing the Maximals in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts brought a few of the group's biggest into the franchise. This includes the Maximal leader Optimus Primal, whose beast mode resembles a gorilla. The new Transformers group in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts also brings recon and surveillance specialist Airazor (bird beast mode), tech expert Cheetor (cheetah beast mode), and Rhinox (rhino beast mode).

Terrorcons

Upgraded Versions Of Decepticons

Another new Transformer types Transformers: Rise of the Beasts introduces to the live-arm cinematic arm of the franchise are Terrorcons. They are descendants of Decepticons and a notoriously evil faction of Transformers. The origin of Terrorcons evolved and changed over time. They began by being constructed from dead Transformers using Dark Energon. They are zombielike versions of Transformers who can survive death thanks to an Anti-Spark. They have also been portrayed as combiners that form Abominus.

Scourge is the Terrorcon leader and his mission is to open a portal to bring Unicron to Earth.

There are three Terrorcons introduced in Rise of the Beasts. Scourge is the Terrorcon leader and his mission is to open a portal to bring Unicron to Earth. He also brings his minions in Nightbird, as his right hand and as a giant female ninja robot, and Battletrap into the story. Unicron also adds a legion of drones who help forces with the Terrorcons.

Predacons

Only Played A Minor Role In Rise Of The Beasts

The Predacons are another Transformer type featured in the movies after Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. They are also descendants of the Decepticons and are traditionally the main villains of the Beast Wars era. Predacons are evil Transformers with beast modes, making them the villainous counterpart to the Maximals, and traditionally take on reptilian, amphibian, or invertebrate forms. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts only introduced Scorponok as the main Predacon in the Transformers movie.

Predacons were introduced into the Transformers canon in 1986, though during the first generation they were a group of 5 who combined into a single massive Transformer — Predaking. It wasn't until Beast Wars that the Predacons became a faction in their own right. They were descendants of the Decepticons, and were ruled over by Megatron (not to be confused with the Megatron of the mainline Transformers timeline).

Transformers Types Yet To Debut In The Movies

The Cinematic Franchise Still Has More Types Of Transformers To Include

While the Transformers movies have featured many of the various types of Transformer in the wider canon, there are still several it can include. One of the most prominent of these are the Mini-Cons. While there have been various smaller Transformers in the movies, none were labelled as Mini-Cons, and they were missing a key ability of them — to transform into unique weapons or gadgets that increase the power of a normal Autobot (or Decepticon). The Mini-Cons were initially a villain faction, though they have since become more neutral have been potrayed as both antagonists or protagonists depending on the iteration.

When the next live-action Transformers movie arrives, there are plenty of new Transformer types that could make their debut.

Another type of Transformer the Transformers movies have yet to use are Junkions. Junkions are relatively unique as they don't come from Cybertron at all, but from the scrap metal planet also called Junkion. As the name suggests, Junkions are all made from trash and recycled components, giving them an incredibly unique aesthetic. In the lore of the universe they're both extremely tough compared to regular Transformers, and able to repair themselves much more easily.

There are also several minor factions and Transformer types. Sharkticons, for example, are a handful of Transformers that transform into sharks. There are also Titans — vast Transformers that are able to transform into whole cities or starships. When the next live-action Transformers movie arrives, there are plenty of new Transformer types that could make their debut.