Summary
In theTransformersmovies, the Autobots are known as defenders of the Earth to some people but to others, they pose a threat to human civilization. The latter set of people however is proven wrong time and time again whenever the Autobots face down foes that want to destroy the planet and vanquish those enemies in an all-out battle. Thanks to their vehicular modes as Transformers, Autobots continue to prevail against their enemies.
During all their fights, certain Autobots in theTransformersmoviesstand out with the impact their presence has in a fight. The followingstrongest Autobotspossess incredible skills and battle prowess that can quickly turn the tide of battle in favor of the heroes upon their arrival.
Updated July 13, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam:As Transformers One retells the origins of the bitter rivalry between Optimus Prime and Megatron - who by then were still Orion Pax and D16 - fans of the Transformers franchise might be wondering who else will eventually join the ranks of the Autobots by the time of their creation.
While fans already know Bumblebee and Arcee will remain Optimus Prime’s most faithful companions, the movie series featured more surprising Autobots with vastly different powersets - such as an eventual traitor, and one of the most powerful Autobots to ever live.
Status
Unknown
InRevenge of the Fallen,Joltleads the Autobot team responding to a sudden Decepticon activity spike. When the subsequent events led to thedeath of Optimus Prime, Jolt was among the loyal Autobots who remained vigilant in their mission to defend Earth from the new threat of the Fallen.
When Sam Witwicky manages to use the Matrix of Leadership to resurrect Optimus Prime, Jolt uses his control over electrical fields to supercharge the process of Optimus Prime’s fusion with the aging Jetfire. Not only did this process pave the way for a flight-enabled form, but it also helped the Autobot leader secure victory. Cybertronian fusion isn’t a common concept among the species, which means Jolt also possesses significant knowledge and know-how of Cybertronian physiology and electric control to facilitate such a fusion.
Combat Performance
Many of Jolt’s appearances in the films are minor, as he’s often seen shooting at random Decepticons with no relevant combat screen time. However, perhaps more interesting for the character is the demonstration of his control over electrical currents - both from his dual electrically charged whips and his ability to release surges. Jolt is powerful enough to give Optimus and Jetfire the necessary juice to perform one of the rare instances of Cybertronian fusion, which is a testament to the Autobot’s overall power output.
Deceased (Original), Alive (Transformers One)
In the Generation One cartoons,Elita-Onewas once an ordinary Cybertronian named Ariel who had a boyfriend named Orion Pax, who eventually became Optimus Prime. During the conflict against the Decepticons, Ariel adopts the persona Elita-One and becomes a skilled Autobot leader—a trait she carries in the films. In the original timeline, Elita-One accompanies Arcee and Chromia as a trio of female Autobots serving under Optimus Prime.
DuringRevenge of the Fallen, Elita-One is among the Autobot casualties in the fight between NEST and the Fallen. However, it’s implied that Elita-One is still alive in the upcomingTransformers Onefilm, although it’s yet to be seen if this is a retcon, or if there’s a story reason behind her survival. She retains her alternate sports bike form, giving Elita-One a bit of finesse in terms of overall appearance compared to the other bulkier Autobots.
Despite her short stay in theTransformersfilms, Elita-One is a formidable combatant in the scenes where she is present. Being considered one of Optimus Prime’s officers means she has significant combat experience and is worthy of leading others. In her robot form, Elita-One boasts a bladed hand and a wheel hand she can use to fight up close. However, she can also use a gun to hit foes from more than four miles away. She has a natural “attraction field” that can cause other machines to overheat - a useful ability she hasn’t used often in her appearances.
Presumed Deceased
Considered the team’s combat specialist,Sideswipeis said to be capable of adjusting to any combat situation with whatever tools he possesses. Although pragmatic and merciless to a fault, Sideswipe remains dedicated to the Autobots’ cause of defeating the Decepticons and maintaining peace on Earth. Such was his skill and potential that Optimus Prime assigned him as his second-in-command after the death of Ironhide.
Sideswipe often provides backup to the Autobots or conducts missions on his own to spy on Decepticons. He was once caught spying on Decepticons but was rescued by his fellow Autobots. InDark of the Moon, Sentinel Prime is seen firing a cannon at Sideswipe, shooting him down, but it’s unknown whether he survived.
Sideswipe demonstrates his combat prowess as soon as he first appears inRevenge of the Fallen. The Autobot is seen self-propelling through his sword and firing his back-mounted guns to attack his foes. He’s present in many of the Autobots’ larger fights, where he’s often shot at but manages to push back with returning fire. Not much is seen from Sideswipe after that, although as Optimus’ second in command, it’s implied that he’s capable of holding his own in combat and skilled enough to lead a platoon of his own.
Deceased
Originally a servant of the Fallen,JetfirebeginsRevenge of the Fallenas a Decepticon. Being an older Cybertronian, Jetfire is known for being sarcastic and rather vain about his appearance. His alternate form of a Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird is a callback to hisTransformersanimated series appearance, and the surprise reveal that he was a Decepticon all along made itdifficult for the Autobots to fight the Fallen.
Near the film’s climax, Jetfire is seen with the Autobots in Egypt, where both sides fight for the Star Harvester and the Matrix of Leadership. Upon realizing the disastrous implications of what the Fallen would bring to Earth, Jetfire defects to the Autobots. With his dying breath, he encourages Optimus Prime to take his parts to receive enhanced abilities. Jolt assists in this process, giving Optimus Prime a flight-enabled form powerful enough to defeat the Fallen.
Despite his frail nature, Jetfire is by no means a weak combatant. While wielding a cane, Jetfire easily decapitates the large Mixmaster and crushes the head of Scorponok despite receiving a lethal wound. Thanks to his encouragement, Optimus manages to get a significant flight-enabled upgrade to defeat the Decepticons. Jetfire’s knowledge of the potential to strengthen Optimus Prime with his parts means he has a remarkable knowledge of Cybertronian anatomy and unique features of their biology, such as fusion.
Alive
Despitehaving a limited presence in theTransformersfilm,Cheetordemonstrates the same cheery yet light-hearted vibe he’s been known to have in the originalBeast Warsseries. Much of his appearances throughoutRise of the Beastshave him accompany Optimus Primal, denoting his loyalty to the Maximals and their mission in guarding the Transwarp Key.
However, Cheetor’s limited presence in the film doesn’t make him less of a likable character. Alternate to his slender cheetah Beast Mode is an athletic Transformer Mode, bearing similarities to hisBeast Warscounterpart but with the bulkier feel of the new films’ aesthetic.
Cheetor’s little screen time in the film is compensated with his combat prowess. Aside from being the fastest among the Maximals, Cheetor can contend with the speed of other Transformers who typically rely on wheeled alternate modes. Despite his size, he can sneak up on Mirage from behind trees. He’s also no slouch in combat, demonstrating skill in using the spear even against multiple foes and hitting a flying target as he’s being tackled.
A Maximal of few words,Rhinoxbests Cheetor as the Maximal with the fewest lines in theTransformersfilm. That aside, Rhinox boasts quite a hulking body - both as a Transformer and in his Beast Mode - and is the muscleamong the Maximals.
Rhinox’s loyalty to Optimus Primal and the Maximals is no question, as he’s always seen following Optimus Primal in even the direst of situations. He’s highly protective of his fellow Maximals and the Transwarp Key, always willing to fight to communicate his point.
Considered the stereotypical muscle of the Maximals, Rhinox has chosen a rhino for Beast Mode. This juggernaut of a form allows him to plow through enemies with ease and can become a powerful force of nature when tackling opponents with the right momentum. As a Transformer, Rhinox pummels foes with his hammer and quickly spins it to multiple enemies simultaneously. Such is his control over his body that he’s able to balance carrying Arcee as she shoots opponents while he also bulldozes through Terrorcons at the same time.
Among the friendliest and most compassionate of the Maximals isAirazor, the one most committed to embodying its mission to protect life throughout the universe. She could bridge alliances between the Maximals, Autobots, andtheir new human friends. Sadly, the corruption she experienced at the hands of Scourge also led to her ultimate demise.
Throughout her presence in the film, Airazor demonstrated the capabilities of an excellent negotiator and communicator. She can establish trust with the wary Autobots by offering condolences for the loss of Bumblebee, and can even establish rapport with Elena Wallace and Noah Diaz.
Although she dies around the middle part of the film, Airazor has demonstrated some of the most complex arsenal of weapons as a Transformer. Her chosen Beast Mode is the peregrine falcon, with the beast’s prominence as the fastest animal on the planet is evident in her combat speed. On top of sharp beaks and talons are feathers she can sharpen at will, transforming her wings into bladed weapons or even throwing them as projectiles. Lastly, she can unleash a flamethrower that on more than one occasion has staved Terrorcon attacks. She is strong enough to pose a threat to multiple Terrorcons and even Optimus Primal during her final fight.
Although not much ofApelinqis shown inRise of the Beasts, having survived with his team up to the last moment of Unicron’s full-blown assault in their Jungle World is a testament to his capacity as a leader and strength as a fighter. After all, Apelinq’s understanding of the importance of guarding the Transwarp Keyagainst the likes of Unicronhints at a capacity to have organized (and succeeded) in obtaining knowledge against this ancient enemy.
Beyond his knowledge of Unicron, the implication that Apelinq and the Maximals have used the Transwarp Key to help usher life to other planets implies a vast understanding of space travel and biology.
Like his original counterpart in the mainTransformerscontinuity, Apelinq is similar to Optimus Primal in appearance. Also based on the gorilla, Apelinq is a juggernaut with a massive body and uses arm blades in combat. When Unicron sent the Terrorcons in their siege of their Jungle World, Apelinq could contend with the likes of Terrorcon leader Scourge, demonstrating some degree of combat expertise. While Scorge does kill Apelinq, the latter’s strength being only bested by another leader-type Transformer shows a lot about his combat prowess.
Ever thevigilant leader of the Maximals in theTransformersfilm,Optimus Primalfound himself the leader of his group when Unicron destroyed their Jungle World and forced them to go into hiding on Earth. He’s tasked the Maximals with protecting the Transwarp Key with their lives, cautiously awaiting the time Unicron sets his sights on Earth.
Optimus Primal protects the Maximals as a leader while remaining steadfast in their mission to save the Transwarp Key. He doesn’t hesitate to fight to accomplish their task, as he’s willing to fight Optimus Prime during their encounter.
Optimus Primal has chosen the gorilla as his Beast Mode, similar to his predecessor. He possesses innate strength, durability, and even combat prowess. Optimus Primal shares a knack for dual blades like his originalBeast Warscounterpart. Being the equivalent of a Prime, Optimus Primal is implied to possess the same combat characteristics as Optimus of the Autobots, sans the preference for guns.
Strafe, also known as Swoop, is one of the newer characters to appear in theTransformersmovie franchise. Appearing inAge of Extinction, Strafe becomesone of the Dinobotsto serve under the leadership of Optimus Prime. Unlike other Dinobots, Strafe has quite a friendly, gentle, and calm personality. These qualities allowed him to make fast friends, particularly with Bumblebee.
As a robot, Strafe takes the form of one of the Arthurian Knights, wielding a sword and a crossbow. However, his dinosaur mode gives him the form of a mechanized, two-headed pterodactyl. This form may be a callback to his Generation 1 original appearance, which was that of a two-nosed jet.
Despite his friendly nature, Strafe is no slouch in combat. In his Dinobot form, Strafe is a two-headed pterodactyl capable of dispatching opponents with brutal blows up close. When taking the form of an Arthurian Knight, Strafe equips a sword and crossbow, proving capable of doing battle at any range.
