The live-action Transformers franchise has featured Megatron as a primary antagonist in most of its installments but has only scratched the surface of the Decepticon’s powers and abilities. Both Bumblebee and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts hardly feature any Decepticons as their primary antagonists. Owing to this, Megatron does not make an appearance in the two reboot films. However, in the Michael Bay Transformers movies, Megatron was consistently presented as one of the main villains and the leader of the Decepticons.
To establish why Megatron ranks above most other Decepticons, the movies put his superhuman strength, durability, and speed on full display. The films also highlighted how he possessed the ability to emit electricity and radio waves, excel in hand-to-hand fights, fly, and formulate ingenious plans to take his enemies down. However, despite walking through the gamut of his abilities, the Transformers live-action movies did not portray many of his powers from the original lore.
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10 Black Hole Generation & Up-Linking
Used in The Transformers animated series
In the animated Transformers series, G1 Megatron has the unique ability to create black holes by generating massive energy waves. By creating this self-made black hole, he can produce a strong gravitational pull that hauls even his strongest enemies towards him. He also uses the black hole’s gravitational pull to create a mass of debris that he chucks at his opponents. Other than creating his own black holes, Megatron has space-bridge technology that allows him to remotely link to black holes in outer space. While this black hole up-link grants him many unique abilities, its most notable advantage is that it also helps him bend space and time like the Transwarp key.
9 Energy Vampirism
Used in the Transformers animated reboot, Robots In Disguise
When Megatron transforms into Galvatron in the animated Transformers‘ first reboot, he gains the ability to suck energy from other Cybertronians to fuel himself. With this ability, not only is he able to destroy his enemy with ease but also grows stronger every time he takes someone down. When he first gains his energy vampirism powers, he ruthlessly targets his own henchmen to become mightier and only then goes on to use it on his enemies.
8 Antimatter Manipulation
Used in The Transformers animated series
With his ability to remotely link to distant black holes, Megatron can also mine antimatter from the depths of the black holes and use it to destroy his opponents. However, he has to be cautious about using this power because antimatter can be extremely unstable. If he fails to control it, it will not only obliterate everything it comes in contact with but also demolish Megatron. Owing to antimatter’s potency, Megatron only uses it as his last straw when nothing else seems to work, and the reward of winning is far greater than the risk of getting himself killed by his own ability.
7 Walther P38 Pistol Transformation
Used in The Transformers animated series
Unlike the live-action movies, where Megatron primarily transformed into jets and tanks, Generation 1 Megatron could turn into a giant gun, specifically a Walther P38 pistol. Considering how the live-action movies focus more on spectacle and less on exploring the bizarre forms the central Cybertronians can take, it seems unlikely that Megatron will ever transform into a full-fledged gun in the movies. Even from a practical standpoint, it is hard not to wonder how Megatron would gain any tactical advantage by turning into a gun. However, despite all the mysteries surrounding its use, Megatron’s pistol transformation highlights how the movies have not even scratched the surface of all the things he is capable of doing.
6 Super GT GT-R Racing Car Transformation
Used in the Transformers GT toyline
A Megatron that could transform into a Super GT GT-R racing car was introduced when the Transformers franchise had a collaboration with the Super GT racing championship. Apart from merging the two properties, the Transformers toy line also introduced a backstory that explained why the Cybertronians had given up on war and switched to racing. According to this backstory, both the Autobots and Decepticons eventually grew sick of battling each other all the time. Therefore, instead of destroying one another in combat, they settled for friendly car races by transforming themselves into Super GT racing cars.
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5 Megatron’s Beast Mode Tyrannosaurus Rex Transformation
Used in the Beast Wars cartoon
Megatron is introduced as the Predacon leader in Beast Wars, whose beast mode is an intimidating Tyrannosaurus Rex. In one of the arcs from Beast Wars, both Maximals and Predacons also get exposed to massive energy waves that turn them into beings called Transmetals and, later, Transmetals 2. In his Transmetal 2 state, Megatron takes the form of a Dragon and eventually ends up becoming Optimal Megatron in the final arc of Beast Machines. Considering how Transformers: Rise of the Beasts has introduced the Maximals, the live-action franchise can bring in Predacons and explore the Transmetal evolutions of Megatron in future installments.
4 Triple Changer After Merging With Unicron
Used in The Transformers animated series’ Unicron Trilogy
Primus tries to imprison Unicron’s spark at the heart of the sun. However, this leads to the sun’s collapse, which forms a dangerous black hole near Cybertron. Megatron somehow escapes the sun and enhances his abilities by merging himself with the remains of Unicron. This allows him to become a Triple Change, with the ability to transform into both a plane and a racing vehicle. From rear-mounted missile launchers to energy stream generators, he acquires them all after gaining his new form. After merging with Unicron, he also gets access to high-velocity thrusters and a massive battle claw called the Death Claw.
3 Size And Density Manipulation
Used in Transformers: Escalation Issue #3
Apart from transforming into a massive gun, Megatron could also manipulate his size and density in such a way that he could fit in the hands of humans. Given how this ability stretches the suspension of disbelief a little too far, it seems unlikely that live-action movies will ever portray it. However, since future Transformers live-action movies will likely feature collaborations between humans and Cybertronians, the two forces will likely find other creative ways to join forces and work together.
2 Double Megatron Tornado
Used in Transformers: Robot Masters
The Transformers: Robot Masters introduces a second Megatron, initially introduced as a mysterious Cybertronian called Reverse Convoy. After a bizarre twist of events, the two Megatrons team up to create the “Double Megatron Tornado” that combines their energies. However, to stop them, Optimus Prime, Optimus Primal, and Lio Convoy also merge their energies to form the “Triple Convoy Tornado Link Attack.” Since both the Double and Triple Tornado attacks are a little over the top for the live-action storytelling medium, they will likely never make it to the movies. However, they are still fun to watch in the animated series.
1 Reanimation And Zombie Creation
Used in Transformers: Prime
In Darkness, Rising Part 1, Megatron thinks about using the “blood of Unicron” to reanimate fallen Transformers. The Dark Energon from Unicron’s blood even works when he tests it on Autobot Cliffjumper, bringing him back to life as a zombie Terrorcon. Although Megatron’s plan of creating a zombie Transformers army never sees the light of day, Transformers: Prime introduces a darkly intriguing power that the future installments of live-action Transformers movies can use to add a tinge of horror to the franchise.
Transformers
Transformers is a multimedia franchise consisting of movies, TV Shows, video games, and comics. The franchise centers on a race of humanoid robots called the autobots who must protect Earth from the Decepticons. Some of the most popular characters include Megatron, Optimus Prime, and Bumblebee. In 2007, the first live-action movie in the franchise was released starring Shia Labeouf.
- Created by
- Hasbro
- First Film
- Transformers (2007)
- Latest Film
- Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
- Upcoming Films
- Transformers One
- First TV Show
- Transformers
- Latest TV Show
- Transformers: EarthSpark
- First Episode Air Date
- September 17, 1984
- Cast
- Frank Welker , Peter Cullen , Corey Burton , John Stephenson , Jack Angel , Michael Bell , Dan Gilvezan , Casey Kasem , Christopher Collins , Shia LaBeouf , Megan Fox , Josh Duhamel , Tyrese Gibson , John Turturro , Rosie Huntington-Whiteley , Mark Wahlberg , Hailee Steinfeld , Anthony Ramos
- Character(s)
- Megatron , Optimus Prime , Starscream , Bumblebee , Mirage , Ratchet , Ironhide , Jazz , Sam Witwicky
