The Autobots represent the highest ideal of Cybertronian principles. Primarily non-aggressive in nature, the Autobots will heroically defend a threatened world, city or even a single being with every last vestige of their energy. Led by the Council of Ancients, the Autobots were primary architects of Cybertronian civilization for the majority of recorded history. The Autobots were the default element of the planet's society, with a few exceptions, until the Decepticon forces arose under the leadership of Megatron. Until that time, it was simply assumed that all Transformers were Autobots.
When the Great War broke out on Cybertron, an elite cadre of Autobots banded together under the leadership of their then-fledgling commander, Optimus Prime. Circumstances put them at the forefront of the conflict and they learned from each other as the war changed their world around them. Optimus Prime gained insight from them as they took inspiration from him, making these 19 tightly knit Autobots the iconic core of their army. Prime selected them to act as his crew on the doomed first flight of the Ark, which led them to be removed from the war for over 100,000 Earth years. In their absence, the Autobot movement lost much of its will to fight. Leadership fluctuated between Fortress Maximus and Ultra Magnus, neither of whom could motivate the army in the same manner as Optimus Prime. By the time of the Great Shutdown, the Autobots had lost much of the ground they had regained under the leadership of Optimus Prime.
When Cybertron was reactivated by Shockwave, intial Autobot reluctance to trust him faded when certain key Autobots agreed to share leadership of Cybertron with him. Several became immediately suspcious of the arrangement, forming an underground resistance movement. The young Hot Rod rose to leadership of the most aggressive resistance faction largely due to his charismatic and honest behavior. With his mentor Kup acting as his chief organizer, Hot Rod's faction was characterized by bold action, leaving subversive graffiti as its trademark in the struggle against Shockwave's oppressive, brainwashing regime.
With the return of Optimus Prime to Cybertron, the majority of Autobots rededicated themselves to eliminating the Decepticon menace.
Leader:
Optimus Prime
Autobot Cars:
Prowl
Jazz
Ironhide
Ratchet
Wheeljack
Bluestreak
Sideswipe
Sunstreaker
Hound
Mirage
Trailbreaker
Mini-Bots:
Bumblebee
Cliffjumper
Brawn
Gears
Huffer
Windcharger
Dinobots:
Grimlock
Sludge
Slag
Snarl
Swoop
Cybertron Cars (Wave 2):
Grapple
Hoist
Inferno
Red Alert
Smokescreen
Tracks
Skids
Mini-Bots (Wave 2):
Beachcomber
Cosmos
Powerglide
Seaspray
Warpath
Omnibots:
Camshaft
Downshift
Overdrive
The Wreckers:
Ultra Magnus
Roadbuster
Whirl
Topspin
Twin Twist
Aerialbots: (Superion)
Silverbolt
Air Raid
Fireflight
Skydive
Slingshot
Communication Autobots:
Blaster
Eject
Rewind
Ramhorn
Steeljaw
Slamdance (Grand Slam and Raindance)
Protectobots (Defensor):
Hot Spot
Streetwise
Groove
Blades
First Aid
Triplechangers:
Springer
Broadside
Snadstorm
Technobots (Computron):
Strafe
Lightspeed
Afterburner
Nose Cone
Scattershot
Mini-Bots (Wave 3):
Wheelie
Hubcap
Outback
Pipes
Swerve
Tailgate
Throttlebots:
Goldbug
Freeway
Chase
Rollbar
Searchlight
Wideload
Headmsters:
Fortress Maximus (Cerebros and Spike)
Brainstorm (Arcana)
Chromedome (Stylor)
Hardhead (Duros)
Highbrow (Gort)
Hosehead (Lug)
Nightbeat (Muzzle)
Siren (Quig)
Targetmasters:
Pointblank (Peacemaker)
Sureshot (Spoilsport)
Crosshairs (Pinpointer)
Hot Rod (Firebolt)
Kup (Recoil)
Blurr (Haywire)
Landfill (Silencer and Flintlock)
Quickmix (Ricochet and Boomer)
Scoop (Tracer and Holepunch)
Clones:
Fastlane
Cloudraker
Monsterbots:
Grotusque
Doublecross
Repugnus
Powermasters:
Doubledealer (Knok)
Getaway (Rev)
Slapdash (Lube)
Joyride (Hotwire)
Pretenders:
Cloudburst
Landmine
Wave Rider
Groundbreaker
Sky High
Splashdown
Metal Hawk
Catilla
Chainclaw
Gunrunner
Doubleheader
Longtooth
Pincher
Crossblades
Vroom
Skyhammer
Sparkabots:
Fizzle
Guzzle
Sizzle
Triggerbots:
Backstreet
Dogfight
Override
Action Masters:
Rad
Rollout
Jackpot
Mainframe
Kick-Off
Skyfall
Over-Run
Sprocket
Base Autobots:
Omega Supreme
Metroplex
Other Autobots:
Rodimus Prime
Jetfire
Perceptor
Arcee
Skylynx
Quickswitch
Punch
Autobot Micromasters
