How did the Autobots vs. Decepticons war really begin?
The war between Autobots and Decepticons is the most famous conflict in the entire Transformers universe. But how did it really begin? Was it an ideological divergence, a political conspiracy, or the impact of former Primes like Liege Maximo ? To better understand this complex origin, also check out the Transformers Movies , the Transformers Guide , and the complete Autobots page.
The Cybertron War: a conflict that began long before Optimus and Megatron. The Golden Age of Cybertron: a world at peace… on the surface
Before the war, Cybertron was a prosperous world ruled by the Autobot Council. A brilliant society where figures like Alpha Trion (blog not yet available, but possible to link to it later) and the Primes guided technological and cultural evolution.
But this peace concealed a deep fracture: the social division between castes . The Autobots represented the intellectual, scientific, and administrative elite, while other castes—miners, soldiers, laborers—were relegated to repetitive tasks. Among them was a certain miner who would become the most dangerous being on Cybertron: Megatron .
The youth of Orion Pax and Megatron: friendship before chaos. When Megatron and Optimus were allies
In many stories, Megatron begins as a sincere revolutionary, denouncing an unjust system. His movement attracts the attention of a young archivist: Orion Pax , the future Optimus Prime . The two initially shared the same ideals: freedom, the end of the caste system, and equality.
But a fundamental difference separates them:
- Orion Pax believes in change through wisdom and dialogue.
- Megatron believes that only force can bring justice.
When Orion is chosen by the Matrix, Megatron sees it as a betrayal. This is the precise moment when the hatred that will fuel the war is born.
The rise of an army: the Decepticons
Megatron, influenced by warlike ideologies and sometimes even by the old manipulations of Liege Maximo , founded an army: the Decepticons . He rallied warriors like Starscream , Soundwave , and Skywarp to his cause.
Their goal: to overthrow the established order, retake Cybertron by force, and impose a new reign based on power and conquest. Opposing them, Optimus Prime organizes the Autobots, gathering heroes like Ironhide , Bumblebee , Ratchet, and Jazz .
Golden Age: Cybertron prospers under the Autobot Council
Social injustice: the emergence of castes and internal tensions
Meeting: Megatron & Orion Pax united in a common ideal
Breakthrough: Optimus Prime is elected, Megatron descends into violence
Total war: the rise of the Decepticons and the counter-offensive of the Autobots
An ideological conflict… but also a very personal one
The war did not arise solely from a political disagreement. It arose from the divergence of two worldviews:
- Optimus Prime : peace, freedom, responsibility.
- Megatron : strength, domination, brutal revolution.
This opposition is so profound that even in the films — where Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox) plays a crucial role alongside the Autobots — their duel remains central.
Throughout the ages, this conflict repeats itself: Cybertron falls, is reborn, falls again. War is not just a historical event; it is etched into the narrative DNA of Transformers.
Relive the birth of the Cybertronian War
To extend your exploration of Transformers mythology, discover a selection of products inspired by the major episodes of the conflict between Autobots and Decepticons:
Go back to the origins of the Cybertronian Wars
The war between Autobots and Decepticons isn't just a conflict: it's the foundational story of Transformers. Discover the heroes, traitors, myths, and battles that shaped this universe.