What they say is true, the only thing cooler than one giant robot is a bunch of giant robots that come together to make a SUPER robot. From Voltron to Power Rangers, to GoBots and beyond, genre fiction involving mechanical warriors uniting in mind and body to become even stronger is a much-beloved staple of the character archetype. If merging robots is such a popular story convention, it would only make sense for Transformers the most successful big robot franchise of them all to include the concept in its various incarnations. Referred to as combiners, these types of Transformers are the byproduct of two or more Transformers fusing their bodies and consciousness' to create a new more powerful being.
The most common form of combiner in Transformers is called a gestalt, a robot that takes shape using the parts of its smaller components forming a personality based on their individual wants, fears, and behaviors. The gestalt combiner is more powerful than the super robot combiner, a singular Transformer who receives upgrades using the components of one or more teammates but can suffer from their merger if they inherit one or more debilitating personality traits. As dangerous and unpredictable the combination process can be, the added benefit of power and ability far outweigh the cons, with both the Autobots and Decepticons utilizing the technology in their ongoing conflicts. Here is CBR's list of the top 20 Strongest Combiners and what each conglomerated titan is capable of to make them a deadly threat that is more than meets the eye.
20 GALVATRONUS
The name Galvatronus has been used for multiple Combiner characters but originated in the collector oriented “Generations” toyline. The designers behind the toyline, based on the five-part Combiner model of one robot as a torso and four for the limbs, wanted to introduce a new version of Cyclonus who would be a combiner component unlike his incarnation in the original 80s Generation 1 franchise.
The new Cyclonus figure gave the character a torso mode allowing him to combine with four other robots to make Galvatronus, a combiner based around Cyclonus' original master and Emperor of Destruction Galvatron. Since that figure's creation, the name and character of Galvatronus have appeared in two different iterations of Transformers, Transformers RID (2016) where Cyclonus once again formed his torso, and the IDW comics featuring a completely different team that served Galvatron. Galvatronus in all incarnations boasts impressive strength, and in at least one instance the ability to pull weaker Transformers into his thrall with mind control.
19 MAGNABOSS
In the future era of Beast Wars, the Autobots and Decepticons have retired being succeeded by their smaller more energy efficient descendants the Maximals and Predacons. There are some holdovers of the bygone era, such as the Maximal High Council of Prowl, Silverbolt, and Ironhide who are Autobots that have been reformatted into new Maximal bodies.
Now in addition to beastial altmodes and more energy efficient bodies, the three former Autobots can also combine to make the mighty and brutish Magnaboss! Magnaboss also has an equivalent in the Japanese exclusive Beast Wars II series but composed of characters with different origins and personalities from the Maximal High Council. In either of his incarnations, Magnaboss sends Predacons running with his mighty megaton sword and triumvirate strength.
18 PIRANACON
Formed from a sextant of aquatic-based Decepticons called the Seacons, Piranacon is an underutilized but all the same intimidating combiner in the Transformers franchise. Piranacon boasts the shared predator instincts of his components plus an impressive arsenal that includes shoulder canons, a mighty sword, and the ability for one of the Seacons to form a handheld blaster.
In Japan, instead of being six individual robots the Seacons are one singular leader in command of an army of identical clones. The Japanese Seacons can come together and form Piranacon’s equivalent King Poseidon. The biggest weakness of both iterations of Piranacons is their unpredictability, with both versions of the combiner ignoring orders after being distracted from their animalistic urges.
17 COMPUTRON
The super advanced Technobots originally debuted in the G1 cartoon as creations of Dinobot leader Grimlock when he received a mental boost. In addition to their high tech weaponry and intellect, the Technobots can also come together to form a combiner with the greatest mind of all Transformers canon; Computron.
Computron, like his components, boasts a detailed design that screams technological superiority. As his name implies, Computron’s greatest skill is his ability to make complex calculations at astounding processing speeds of the Technnobots. Computron's advanced decision-making process makes him a more organized fighter than other gestalts but is also a weakness, with the impressively armed genius sometimes paralyzed from his decision making giving his enemies the opportunity to strike.
16 RUINATION
A recolored version of the G1 character Bruticus, Ruination hails from the continuity of the animated series Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001), which began with a conflict between the vehicle Autobots and beast mode Predacons. About midway through the series a new third faction arises named after the classic original Transformers villains the Decepticons.
Five of these new Decepticons made up the Commandos sub-faction and together would merge into the fearsome Ruination. The leader of the Commandos, Mega-Octane, retains his personality when controlling Ruination and thus the combiner does not suffer the personality flaws of other gestalts. Additionally, Ruination had two configurations, "land formation" and "sea formation," which gave him different abilities depending on which vehicles formed which of his limbs.
15 DEFENSOR
Formed by the security and rescue oriented Protectobots, Defensor's goals are is a bit different than the other combiners in the franchise. Though Defensor certainly has capabilities that make him formidable in battle, the personalities and ethos of his components make him more concerned with protecting civilians while causing as little collateral damage as possible.
Though Defensor does see himself more as a guardian than an offensive combiner he is quite capable, able to use an array of weaponry and has a more synchronized mind then some of his gestalt friends and enemies. Defensor's biggest weakness is his desire to protect innocents which is so compelling it causes him to often disregard his own safety in exchange for the safety of others.
14 ABOMINUS
Barbaric, vicious, and savage the Decepticon combiner Abominus is the rival to Computron who is as feral as his nemesis is wise. The vibrant amalgamation horror is formed by the beastial Terrorcon faction which is numbered by the likes of the slobbish Blot and gluttonous leader Hun-Gurr among others.
Along with the Predacons who form Predaking, Abominus was one of the Decepticon’s main combiners in season 3 of the Generation 1 cartoon. Abominus made things difficult for Rodimus Prime's Autobots thanks to his raw strength and deadly sonic concussion blaster. Plus he has dragon heads for knees, which everyone knows is horrifying. Awesome to be sure, but horrifying.
13 RAIL RACER
Rail Racer is a combiner who has appeared in multiple Transformers continuities following his debut in Transformers RID (2001). Formed from the three members of the train-themed Team Bullet Train, Rail Racer is gargantuan thanks combining the mass' of his three sizeable components. Rail Racer dominates his adversaries with impressive attacks such as the fusion laser rifle blast and super turbo punch.
The second incarnation of Rail Racer was a lesser-known toy exclusive character under the Transformers Universe branding. The TF Universe Rail Racer was a noticeably smaller mini-bot combiner who was composed of six tiny robots instead of three large ones. Regardless of his components, Rail Racer's high-speed barrages unquestionably make him the choo-choo that could.
12 MOTORMASTER
Formed by the insane and reckless Stunticons, Menasor was the far less efficient second combiner to join the Decepticon ranks in Generation 1. In creating Menasor, Megatron desired to bolster his mostly aerial Decepticons with more traditional land vehicles like his Autobot enemies.
Unfortunately, the Stunticons are considerably impeded as a combiner and unit due to their psychological issues and constant in-fighting. The Autobots would be in vast danger from Menasors mighty strength and swordsmanship, had the combiner not also have to deal with the paranoia of Breakdown or the abusive bullying of Motormaster.
11 MONSTRUCTOR
Not appearing in the G1 cartoon, Monstructor was one of the last US releases in the 80s toy line. Of the various canon, the most major appearance of the ghoulish creature was in the IDW comics where the character had a significant role.
Made up of the Monsterbots, in the IDW continuity Monstructor was an imperfect experimentation with combiner technology designed by the Cybertronian scientist Jhiaxus. Monstructor had unique strength as the first gestalt of the IDW continuity, thanks to Jhiaxus trying to reverse engineer combination without a sacred artifact called the Enigma. Flawed and a borderline abomination, Monstructor is a danger to itself and everything around him lashing out with raw fury.
10 SUPERION
With the advent of Menasor, the Decepticons had two combiners compared to the Autobots' zero. Evening the odds against their foes, as well as trying to gain more aerial support, the Autobots create the Aerialbots who are capable of forming Superion. Superion tries to avoid the usual trap falls of gestalts by ignoring its contrasting personalities altogether suppressing traits like Silverbolt's fear of heights and Slingshot's braggart nature, but this suppression also makes Superion hesitant to make decisions.
Flaws notwithstanding Superion is still a great asset to the Autobots and an intimidating combiner. Superion boasts impressive levels of athleticism for a being of his size, mixed in with the usual brute strength of towering combiners. In terms of firepower, Superion blasts energy projectiles from his stress fracture canon.
9 LIOKAISER
An elite group of Decepticon warriors and the personal strike force for Decepticon warlord Deathsaurus, the effective Destrons are at their most formidable when combined into the fearsome Liokaiser. A breakthrough of combiner technology Liokaiser has the savage strength of Abominus, calculating mind of Computron with none of the personality defects that affect other combiners.
A six part-combiner (in most continuities) with a proficiency for melee combat and the ability to turn invisible, Liokaiser is such a force to be reckoned with that his power even rivals his Emperor Deathsaurus. The perfect mix of cunning and brute force, Liokaiser makes even the Autobots' heavy hitters tread carefully.
8 BRUTICUS
The military-minded Combaticons are some of the most professional Decepticons under Megatron's command. Go in, make a well-coordinated assault, accomplish the mission that is what goes through the brain modules of Onslaught and his men. This well-adjusted goal-oriented attitude translates when the Combatitcons combine to form the nearly unstoppable Bruticus.
Bruticus is singularly-minded to obey commands, and crush the enemy. The simplicity behind Bruticus' thinking makes him one of Megatron's most useful combiners but also means he is unable to get creative when accomplishing a task. Nevertheless, he makes himself useful to Megatron with his highly impenetrable armor, brute strength, and duel mounted shoulder cannons.
7 VOLCANICUS
Big in stature and popularity, the fan-favorite Dinobots are among the most popular sub-factions in Transformers fandom. The Dinobots individually are capable of incredible destruction, debuting some concepts to the franchise such as fiery breath and pre-historic dinosaur strength.
Fans have dreamed of the irrepressible force that would come from an enhanced Dinobot whose talents would be increased through the combining process, their wishes fulfilled in 2017 with the Power of the Primes toyline and Forged to Fight video game. The mighty Volcanicus embodies all that is Dinobot with incredible strength, a fearsome silhouette complete with warrior crown, and an appropriately volcanic dino sword.
6 VICTORION
In 2015, Hasbro asked fans for their input in creating a new combiner that would be revealed at the then official annual Transformers convention Botcon. Fans voted on all elements of the character such as their color scheme, alt-modes, history, gender, and name. The final result was Victorion, the first female combiner composed of the Caminien Torchbearers.
The Victorion and the Torchbearers hail from Caminus, one of the Cybertronian colony worlds that were founded long before the war of the Autobots and Decepticons. With a brave spirit and swashbuckling sword Victorion is now an immense hit with the fans, leading to her prominent feature in media such as comics and online web-series.
5 DECEPTIGOD
Deceptigod is perhaps the most unconventional combiner in Transformers history. A gargantuan abomination formed from the countless bodies of Decepticon minions, the Deceptigod serves the will of its master an eldritch horror known as the D-Void.
The Deceptigod poses a formidable challenge due to its sheer inconceivably large stature. However, the Deceptigod's unusual composition is also its weakness, for though it is capable of withstanding many individual attacks, a concentrated blast of powerful energy causes its structure to come undone. A towering threat with an Achilles heel of hitting it really hard, the Deceptigod proves all kinds of adages about big things and how they fall hard.
4 DEVASTATOR
The very first combiner in Transformers history, Devastator holds a special place in the heart of fans thanks to his interesting design, iconic unified color scheme, and thirst for devastation. Though the character, and his components the Constructicons, debuted in the Generation 1 cartoon they have continued to enjoy numerous appearances in the various iterations of the franchise.
One of the most memorable encounters for the combiner was in Transformers the Movie, where it took the efforts of all five uncombined Dinobots to keep the verdant warrior at bay. With the strength to destroy bridges in a single blow, and armed with a solar energy rifle, Devastator is a name that fills dread in the sparks of every Autobot.
3 NEXUS PRIME
Though not the first combiner in the real-life chronology of Transformers, Nexus Prime holds the in-universe distinction of being the progenitor of combiners in several continuities. A member of the Thirteen, the sometimes mythical sometimes magical forebearers to all Transformers. Nexus Prime represents the combiners in the same way other members of the Thirteen represent variant Cybertronians body types such as Micronus Prime who represents Mini-cons, and Onyx Prime who embodies Transformers with beastial forms.
Due to being the first Transformer to introduce combining to his people, Nexus believed in adaptability and the benefits of change making him something of a free-spirit but with a hidden temper. If angered, Nexus Prime could meet any challenge with legendary might and occasional supernatural aid.
2 OMEGA PRIME
In Transformers: Robots in Disguise, Optimus Prime and his brother Ultra Magnus are the Autobots two best warriors. Both possessing formidable personalized weapons and talents, with the glaring difference of Magnus having huge attitude issues. When these two heroic leaders put their differences aside, they form the powerful Autobot combiner Omega Prime.
Omega Prime makes many liberties with the combiner formula, such as only having two components, and not being burdened by the personality flaws of Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus. On the contrary, Omega Prime takes the best qualities and skills of his components and magnifies them to an incredible degree. Omega Prime benefits from all previous fighting capability of his components while having new attacks and armaments such as the mighty Matrix Blade.
1 PREDAKING
The pinnacle of Decepticon combiners, Predaking holds the distinction of being Megatron's largest most exceptional combiner. Formed from the Predacons, Predaking does not suffer from the same personality defects that effect so many of his enemies and allies, with his components mutual methodical zeal for the hunt keeping Predaking focused on destroying his prey.
Not only does Predaking have an orderly intellect, and a towering size, he has the weaponry and firepower that makes him a one-bot army. Wilding a massive sword, the ability to generate protective energy fields, an X-ray laser cannon, and two mortar shell launchers on each foot Predaking is the equal of no single combiner.