Predacon (Prime)

Ooh, scary!

The Predacons are an ancient Cybertronian race from theAligned continuity family.

ThePredaconsare a race of ancient Cybertronian beasts. Originally led by the one called "thePredaking",the ancient Predacons were the largest Cybertronians to be born from theWell of All Sparks,emerging from its depths on the final day of the genesis ofCybertron's biosphere. Enormous, savage, anddraconicin form, these creatures were once among the mightiest beings on Cybertron, second only to the last surviving members of theThirteen;one of the Primes,in particular, the Predacons drew a strong pattern from. While other inhabitants of prehistoric Cybertron learned to extractEnergonfrom the ground, the Predacons hunted other Cybertronians for their energon, draining their prey's Energon and cycling the metallic remains out of their system. However, tragedy struck their kind during a disaster known as theGreat Cataclysm,in which dire circumstances rendered the entire race extinct.

In more recent times, however, theDecepticonscientistShockwavehas discoveredthe tricktocloningthe ancient beasts from preservedCNAsamples found in fossilized Predacon remains. Finding successful results, Shockwave's efforts have given birth to new iterations of these ancient beasts—such as the newPredaking—who have evolved beyond the originals, learning even how to transform! Furthermore, Shockwave's experiments have even extended to splicing the CNA samples into normalCybertronians,leading to hybrids like his devout discipleSer-Ket.

Fiction

The Covenant of Primus

Dragon Talestook a weird turn.

Several days after the ignition of the Well,Predakingemerged, the first and most powerful Predacon. He was followed shortly afterwards byTwinstrikeandLazerback.The Well continued creating new Predacons every so often, and soon they had assumed a niche at the very top of the primitive Cybertronian food web. Although they were intelligent and capable of speech, they adhered to primitive lifestyles; they competed with one another for food and territory in savage duels, and fed off other life forms indiscriminately. They even terrorized the youngTransformerrace untilPrimaintervened.

When the Great Cataclysm struck Cybertron, the Predacons were among the first groups to succumb to the maddening electromagnetic radiation. Most of them fell into an irradiated frenzy, blindly attacking one another until they expired. Predaking, Lazerback, and Twinstrike managed to ride out the worst of the disaster by enteringstasis lock,but never managed to re-awaken after the Cataclysm.

Millions of years later, after theGreat Exodus,Shockwavestudied schematics of the Predacons and incorporated some of their traits into theDinobots,such as the ability tobreathe fire.The Covenant of Primus

This original group of Predacons included:

IDW Aligned comics

The Predacons had been extinct for eons, but in the period after theArkandNemesisleftCybertron,Shockwavelearned how to clone the creatures. One such clone wasBackbite,who was subsequently put at the disposal of Shockwave's disciples, theForged.WhenUltra Magnushad his craft shot down during the finalAutobotevacuation of the planet, the Forged leader Ser-Ket dispatched Backbite and a number of soldiers to retrieve the enemy commander. They were successful, and Backbite even managed to return with an extra prisoner in the form of theDinobotSwoop,whose team had also been investigating the crash.Rage of the Dinobots #1

Primecartoon

In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a kingdom rests in the hands of a young man. His name... Merlin.

The Predacons once ruled Cybertron but became extinct at the beginning of Cybertronian history, in an apocalyptic wipe-out known as theGreat Cataclysm.EvolutionDuring the Great War,Shockwavecloned a small army of Predacons, whichMegatronsent toEarthto destroyAutobotsand look forenergon.After eliminating the Autobot presence on the planet, the Predacons stood a long vigil on Earth, where they awaited the arrival of Megatron but ultimately perished, with their fossilized bodies becoming buried at various points around the world. In time, the Predacons entered into human legends as various mythological monsters, though the true nature of the creatures remained a mystery to the inhabitants of Earth, and was eventually forgotten.Project PredaconMany years later, Shockwave discovered more fossilized remains from which he was able to extractCNAand begin the process of cloning the ancient beasts once again.Prey

"Keep absolutely still. Its vision is based on movement."

After suffering a setback with hisspace bridgework, leaving him stranded on Cybertron, Shockwave restarted his experiments and cloned a newPredacon.He activated it after rejoining Megatron's forces on Earth.ScatteredThe new Predacon proved formidable in battle against the AutobotsPreythough it proved susceptible to the cold of theArctic.RebellionFollowing the destruction ofDarkmount,the Decepticons began searching for the remains of Shockwave's earlier batch of clones, aided by the fact that the scientist had micro-chipped them.Bombshockobtained a Predacon bone in a cave while Shockwave andSoundwavesucceeded in retrieving another bone in New Mexico.Project Predacon

The originalPredaconeventually broke free of his icy slumber and returned to the Decepticon warship. However he immediately become the source of abuse from Starscream, even when the Predacon tried to kill him numerous times. The Predacon was later assigned to find another bone and proved very efficient in hunting the bone as well as engaging the Wreckers.Chain of CommandDespite their track record, the Decepticons eventually lost a Predacon spinal cord bone to Wheeljack and Arcee, though Knock Out was able to obtain one to make up. The original Predacon, having watched Starscream work the computers on theNemesis,managed to use the warship's databanks to learn more about the ancient Predacons.Plus One

"So this is how you make dinosaurs?"
"No. This is how you play God."

When Shockwave's cloning process neared fruition, the existing Predacon revealed that he had developed intelligence and discovered the ability to transform. Nominating himself leader of the future Predacons, the Predacon, renaming himself "Predaking", affirmed his loyalty to Megatron. The Decepticons however were suspicious that the Predacons would turn on them, so they arranged for the Autobots to find and destroy the cloning facility, knowing that it would strengthen their alliance with Predaking.Ultra MagnusandWheeljackindeed found and destroyed the lab, killing the awakening Predacons and enraging Predaking. Though Predaking managed to destroy Magnus's hand and theForge of Solus Prime,he was prevented from executing him and Wheeljack thanks to the interference ofOptimus Prime.After the battle, Shockwave returned to his lab and found that no Predacons had survived but that their CNA had merged with theSynthetic Energonto createcyber-matter.Evolution

Predaking still believed Megatron would uphold his promise to clone more Predacons onceCybertronwas destroyed and continued to serve the Decepticons, assisting in their plan to rebuild theOmega Lock,even fighting Optimus Prime himself.Minus OneAfterRatchethad been abducted to complete the Synthetic Energon formula, the Decepticons threw him to Predaking. Thanks to a freudian slip byKnock Out,Ratchet was able to make Predaking see that the Decepticons had arranged for the death of the Predacons, sending Predaking on a rampage throughout theNemesis.Megatron, with help from Starscream, managed to defeat Predaking and send him flying out of one of theNemesis's escape pods' chute.SynthesisPredaking managed to cling the ship's hull and hopped off at Cybertron following the planet's rebirth.Deadlock

Enter the Dragons!

Also forced to abandon theNemesisin the battle, Shockwave and Starscream resurrected the idea of cloning Predacons, Shockwave succeeding in bringing two new clones,SkylynxandDarksteel,online while a third Predacon was being cloned. The two were put to use by searching for other Predacon remains to clone more of their kind. On a search in theSea of Rust,they met Ultra Magnus andSmokescreen.While Skylynx managed to seriously damage Magnus, thePhase Shifterprotected Smokescreen, who carried Magnus away. Victorious, the two Predacons returned to Shockwave's lab, where they were scolded by Starscream for revealing themselves to the Autobots.

UtilizingBumblebee's tracking skills, the Autobots found Predaking, who had taken refuge at a Predacon burial ground that had been uncovered by Cybertron's revitalization. The Autobots tried to make peace with Predaking, stating that more than one race could peacefully co-exist on the planet, but he refused to forget the Autobot's part in the destruction of his army. Acting on the Autobots' words, Predaking tracked down the site of Skylynx and Darksteel's battle with the Autobots. Hoping to bring the two to him, Predaking fired a flaming beacon into the sky, only for it to instead attractUnicronin Megatron's body. Hoping that Predaking would damage him enough that his body would be of no use to Unicron, Megatron tricked the Chaos Bringer into fighting Predaking, only for the god to triumph and learn of the Predacon fossils.

Zaldrīzes buzdari iksos daor

Skylynx and Darksteel struck gold for Shockwave's fossil hunt when they discovered the same Predacon burial ground. While the Decepticons were collecting the bones, Unicron arrived to raise an army ofTerrorconPredacons. After Skylynx and Darksteel made a futile charge against the Chaos Bringer, Unicron reanimated the fossils, sending his new army to the Well of AllSparks. When Predaking later returned to the burial site, he swiftly asserted his leadership over Skylynx and Darksteel. After some advice from Shockwave, Predaking then led his Predacons into battle to assist the Autobots in fighting Unicron's horde of undead Predacons. Following the grounding of theNemesis,the Predacon trio became the first line of defence but were ultimately overpowered and dragged into the Well by the Terrorcon horde. When Unicron was contained, the Terrorcons disintegrated. Flying out of the Well, the Predacon trio tracked Starscream down toDarkmount,intending to exact some revenge for his abuse.Predacons Rising

Tales of the Beast Hunters

Shockwave cloned the Predacons usingHyperevolution Chambers,Tales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 3the first one activated beingPredaking.Tales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 1FollowingLazerback's activation, the Predacon went rogueTales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 3and made an apparently-successful assassination attempt on Megatron.Tales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 6He also approachedRipclawwhen she was activated, in an attempt to turn her against the Decepticons.Tales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 8The rebelliousness of the Predacons resulted in Shockwave making an attempt to shut down and destroy the laboratory.Tales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 11

Further Predacons escaped from the lab, includingSkystalkerTales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 12andGrimwing.Tales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 15Shockwave andKnock Outfled the chaos to Cybertron, taking the last two Predacons with themTales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 22and wakingVertebreakon arrival.Tales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 21

Go!cartoon

At some point, the Demon EmperorDragotronwas buried inMount Fuji,while his four attendants were buried in the land surrounding the volcano. Dragotron awoke when a child kicked a small stone into the dormant caldera, inadvertently causing a rockslide that unburied his head. He called out for hisfour servantsand theirminionsto reactivate and retrieve theLegendiscs,but when they located the disc held byIsami Tatewaki,they were foiled by the by theSwordbotSamurai Teamthat the Legendisc summoned.Triple Combination! Swordbot - Samurai!Likewise the Oni failed to retrieve the disc held byTobio Fūma,who was aided by theSwordbot Shinobi Team.Triple Combination! Swordbot - Ninja!While Dragotron continued to slumber, the Oni made a number of attempts to go back in time using the Legendisc he possessed, hoping to retrieve the two Legendiscs lost in history. Despite all their efforts and the less-than-capable help of theJaki,they were foiled each time by the Swordbots and their human companions. Dragotron eventually woke and aided his men against the Autobots.Depart! Optimus Exprime!Enter! The New Warrior!Taking the Legendiscs and the two boys, Dragotron absorbed the Four Oni and began using the Legendiscs' power to Cyberform the planet. The two boys had copied the power of the Legendiscs into their own hearts, and enabled the Autobots to eventually defeat Dragotron, with a little help fromOptimus Exprime.The Autobots then sealed Dragotron away once more.Final Battle! Link-Up Triple Combination DaiKenzan!Final Battle! Link-Up Triple Combination DaiGekisou!

This group of Predacons included:

Renegade Rhetoric

A group of Predacons led by Fright Face found themselves inAxiom Nexus,and took up residence in theHeap.They bit off more than they could chew when they attackedCy-KillandWarpathas the Renegades went about their illicit business; Cy-Kill dodged South Claw's freeze ray, clogged up Gore Jaw's maw, and dodged Heart Attack's fire while deducing his weak spot, while Warpath took out Weird Wing in a brutal dogfight (and found where Fang was hiding).

Though Warpath wanted to destroy them, Cy-Kill had another idea. He challenged Fright Face to single combat, with the loser to pledge allegiance to the winner. Cy-Kill prevailed, and Fright Face honored the terms of the deal. They were upgraded withcombinertechnology, allowing them to form the mightyMonsterous.Renegade Rhetoric (1), 2015/10/16They helped bail out their new leader afterCheetorcaught wind of Cy-Kill's criminal activity, and accompanied Cy-Kill and the other newRenegaderecruits to theGargentcluster.Renegade Rhetoric (1), 2015/10/21

2015Robots in Disguisecartoon

Skylynx and Darksteel chased Starscream deeper into Darkmount. Upon reaching an inner chamber, Starscream triggered the fortress' intruder defence systems, killing his pursuers.Mini-Con Madness

Toys

Prime

Predaking

• Twinstrike(Cyberverse Legion, 2013)
• Hun-Gurrr(Cyberverse Legion, 2013)
• Blight(Cyberverse Legion, 2013)
• Rippersnapper(Cyberverse Legion, 2013)
• Windrazor(Cyberverse Legion, 2013)
• AbominusCombiner 5-pack:
  • Consists of translucent redecoes of all five Legions
• Predaking(Cyberverse Commander, 2013)
• Lazerback(Deluxe, 2013)
• Ripclaw(Deluxe, 2013)
• Skystalker(Deluxe, 2013)
• Vertebreak(Deluxe, 2013)
• Skylynx(Deluxe, 2013)
• Grimwing(Voyager, 2013)
  • IncludesBlackbeak
• Predaking(Voyager, 2013)
• Darksteel(Voyager, 2013)
• Beast Fire Predaking(Ultimate, 2013)

Bot Shots

Scourge

• Buzzclaw(cancelled)
• Hun-Gurrr(cancelled)
• Hydrax(cancelled)
• Scourge
• Skystalker
• Twinstrike

Kre-O

Lazerback

• Battle Net Bumblebee(2013)

IncludesStormrazor.

• Dragon Assault(2013)

Includes Kreon-scaleGrimwing.

• Mech Venom Strike(2013)

Includes Kreon-scaleCorhada.

• Ripclaw Strike(2013)

IncludesRipclawand Ripclaw Kreon.

• Beast Blade Optimus Prime

IncludesLazerback

• Autobot Command Center

IncludesRippersnapper

Go!

Goradora

• G04Gaidora
• G07Bakudora
• G08Budora
• G09Goradora Set
  • Dorara
  • Barara
  • Garara
  • Jurara
  • Burara
• G12Dragotron
• G21Judora
• G23Guren Dragotron

If you build it, they will play. Thistoys & merchandise-related article is astub. You can helpTransformers Wikibyexpanding it.

Notes

The prototype symbol. Not as badass, huh?

• A very different faction insignia appeared onstock photosfor several figures, even though the final toys sport the final Predacon insignia instead:
  • Almost all stock photos forBeast HuntersDeluxe ClassRipclaw:The early stock photos depicting a hand-painted prototype that were used for the "Shockwave's lab" interactive feature on Hasbro's official website have the toy sport the early Predacon insignia, while the same photos when printed on the back of the toy's packaging have been edited to show the final Predacon insignia instead; furthermore, the later stock photos depicting a pre-production samplealsostill have the figure sport the early Predacon insignia!
  • Early stock photos ofBeast HuntersDeluxe ClassLazerbackdepicting a hand-painted prototype have the toy sport the early Predacon insignia. Like with Ripclaw, the same photos when printed on the back of the toy's packaging have the symbol changed to the final version.
  • Early stock photos ofBeast HuntersCyberverseLegion ClassTwinstrikedepicting a hand-painted prototype have the toy sport the early Predacon insignia, which wasnotfixed for back of the toy's packaging.
• The symbol even appears on several toys that made it to retail:
  • Aminor redecoofBeast HuntersVoyager ClassPredakingavailable in a two-pack with aminor redecoof Voyager ClassOptimus Prime(available only as aToys "R" Usexclusive in some European countries and at general retail in Brazil) has the early Predacon insignia, both in his stock photos and on the actual toy released at retail.
  • The symbol can also be found on the sticker sheets for at least some specimens ofRipclawfrom theKre-OBeast Hunters"Ripclaw Strike" set andCorhadafrom theKre-O"Mech Venom Strike" set, even though the stock photos for both sets (including the ones depicting pre-production samples) have the toys sport the final Predacon insignia.

Foreign names

• Mandarin:Jù Zhēngníng(China, cự dữ tợn, "Giant Malevolent" )