Who Is Devastator and the Constructicons in Transformers?

The Transformers franchise debuted numerous subgroups and factions beyond the main Autobots and Decepticons in the Generation 1 progenitor continuity. One of these separate factions was the Constructicons, who were an iconic section of Megatron’s horde. Though their vehicle modes suggested construction as their pastime, they and their combined form were far more interested in devastation.

Devastator was the original Combiner Transformer, and this united form put the Constructicons on the map in G1. Despite that, the team has rarely been portrayed in newer continuities, namely in a form resembling the original group. There have been numerous teams inspired by the Constructicons, however, proving that one of the most destructive groups of Transformers has a long-lasting legacy.

Updated by Timothy Blake Donohoo on November 5, 2024: When it comes to the Transformers franchise, the name Devastator immediately conjures images of the brand’s first and most iconic Combiner. The united form of the Constructicons, Devastator and his subgroup are one of the most iconic parts of the franchise’s Generation 1 incarnation. Now set to receive new action figures through a current toyline, Devastator and the Constructicons continue to be just as recognizable as Optimus Prime, Megatron and Bumblebee.

Who are the Constructicons?

The Iconic G1 Team Turned Into the First Combiner

Debuting in Season 1 of the 1984 cartoon series The Transformers, the Constructicons first showed up in the episode “Heavy Metal War.” Made up of six separate Decepticons who all transformed into construction vehicles, this team had little in the way of separate characterization for each individual member of the team. That was more than made up for given the popularity of their greatest power. Uniting into Devastator, the merged Constructicons took on the persona of a violent giant who easily dwarfed most other Transformers. This included their power levels, with even the might of Grimlock and the Dinobots being challenged by Devastator.

The Constructicons had some of the most conflicting origins in the classic cartoon series, with their introduction portraying them as being built on Earth. Later episodes changed this to have them existing long beforehand on Cybertron, with the Constructicons apparently being the ones to build the Decepticons’ leader, Megatron. Conversely, they were also portrayed as once being great constructive artists who were friends with the gigantic Omega Supreme. Sadly, they were corrupted by Megatron (again, making their origins confusing), with their turn to villainy seeing them destroy the beautiful Crystal City.

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Other Combiner groups involving Autobots and Decepticons were later introduced, but Devastator proved to be the most popular in Generation 1. To this end, the team survived the events of The Transformers: The Movie, and in the Japanese Transformers anime, the Constructicons later appeared in the one-episode OVA, Transformers: Zone. It’s worth noting that Devastator was made up of six components, which differentiated him from most G1 Combiners. Teams such as the Stunticons, Combaticons, Aerialbots and Protectobots were “Scramble City” teams with five members, with the legs/arms being interchangeable. Devastator wasn’t such a Combiner, and having one extra component showcased just how powerful he was.

G1 ended with an “Action Master” Devastator toy, and this figure was merely the combined robot and unable to separate into individual components. The Action Masters as a whole were figures that didn’t transform, instead opting to more accurately portray the characters’ designs as they appeared in the classic cartoon. Transformers: Generation 2 re-released the Constructicons twice, with the first of these switching out the Decepticons’ classic green and purple color schemes for a more typical yellow palette. Likewise, the second release opted for orange, instead. These evoked the predominately orange/yellow color scheme of the toy from the Diaclone franchise that became Devastator.

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For years, the characters were never updated in toys or in fiction, despite the popularity of their classic forms. This has been upended in the past decade, however, with sublines such as Combiner Wars finally giving fans modern toys for the Constructicons that also combine into Devastator. Likewise, the Transformers Studio Series line is releasing a new set of Constructicon toys based on their appearances in 1986’s The Transformers: The Movie. These will be able to combine into Devastator, giving fans another new take on the classic Combiner. Likewise, a non-transforming “retro” figure by Super7 recreates the animated design of G1 Devastator, albeit in his classic Diaclone toy colors. These toys have helped Devastator remain relevant in the franchise, and he’s still perhaps the most beloved Combiner compared to other Combiner groups seen in Generation 1.

The Robots In Disguise (2001) Build Team Were Autobot Equivalents to the Constructicons

The Anime Had a Different Kind of Construction-Based Combiner

During the long absence of the Constructicons, different teams with a similar theme were prevalent in the Transformers franchise. One of these was the Build Team, which appeared in Transformers: Robots In Disguise (2001). Their ranks were made up of Wedge, Hightower, Heavy Load and, ironically enough, Grimlock, with the latter having nothing to do with the classic Dinobot commander. Together, they combined into the gigantic Landfill, whose Decepticon rival was Ruination (himself a repaint of the G1 Bruticus/the Combaticons).

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Long before this toy was made, there was another Autobot Combiner group with a construction theme. This was a team of Micromasters who united to form Sixbuilder, who — true to name — had six components. Sadly, this toy was released in the Operation Combination section of the tail-end of the Japanese Transformers G1 toyline. Thus, Western fans went decades without being able to buy the toy. Thankfully, it was used years later and repainted as a Micromaster version of Devastator, being the Constructicons’ first toy in several years. Since then, however, a new version of Sixbuilder and Landfill have yet to be made.

IDW Publishing Added Prowl to the Constructicons

The IDW Comic Books Changed the Mythos of the Combiner

IDW Publishing once had the publication rights to Transformers comic books before said rights were acquired by current home Skybound Entertainment. The IDW comics largely updated the classic G1 characters, though there were several twists and turns to keep things interesting. There, the team’s technology (referred to as “gestalt” technology) was perfected by both Shockwave and the Insecticons on the orders of Megatron. Due to the Constructicons’ mutual appetite for destruction, they were able to merge in ways that others were not.

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One major exception is that, at one point, the Autobot Prowl is captured to test the combination process. This allows him to merge with the Constructicons and become a central part of Devastator, which is both a blessing and a curse. The combined Devastator persona actually resented Prowl for “abandoning the team” at one point, and this allowed the violent behemoth to become the dominant personality. Since these comic books have been released, third-party Transformers toys have also been made that allow Prowl to unite with the Constructicons to form Devastator.

Transformers: Energon and Transformers: Animated Didn’t Feature Devastator

Two Transformers Shows Almost Featured Devastator, but Not Quite

The anime series Transformers: Armada introduced an Autobot named Scavenger, who initially seemed to be a Decepticon. Scavenger shared the name of a G1 Constructicon, and he even had a green/purple color scheme and a construction vehicle alternate mode. Likewise, in Japan, he was named Devastor, the Japanese name for Devastator. Thus, Transformers: Energon introduced the Construction Team, who united into Constructicon Maximus. It was never explained as to why the American version of the toy was called this instead of Devastator Maximus, especially since his rivals retained their G1 names (Superion Maximus and Bruticus Maximus).

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In Japan, however, the character was simply named Buildtron (the Japanese term for the classic Constructicons) due to Scavenger having already been called Devastor. The Cartoon Network show Transformers: Animated initially only had two Constructicons named Mixmaster and Scrapper. At first, they had the more common construction vehicle color schemes of yellow and black, but upon becoming true Decepticons, they acquired their classic green and purple paint jobs. Likewise, they’re later lead by a diminutive Constructicon named Dirt Boss. The show’s fourth season would have supposedly involved them combining into Devastator, but sadly, the series was canceled.

Bayformers Featured the Most Controversial Version of Devastator

Many Fans Despised Michael Bay’s Take on Devastator

The live-action Transformers movies were fairly controversial, particularly when it came to how just about any of the classic and fan-favorite characters were portrayed. The Constructicons were no different, with none of them resembling their classic designs besides perhaps Long Haul. The matching green/purple color schemes were also one, with this lack of uniformity only making their combined form of Devastator even more jarring. Devastator was portrayed in an almost dog-like form, with the unbecoming design disliked by many.

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The combined Transformers did little in terms of actual damage and was merely there to look intimidating. Additionally, it was the human military that ultimately defeated him, cementing this Devastator as the character’s weakest incarnation yet. Since this version’s appearance in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, the series has been rebooted, starting with the 2018 movie Bumblebee. Given how that movie changed things to portray various characters in more traditional ways, it’s highly likely that future entries could finally do justice to the Constructicons. Of course, if that happens, it’ll be bad news for Optimus Prime and the Autobots, with the heroic Cybertronians being forced to prepare for extermination.

Devastator In the Energon Universe, Explained

The Combiner Has Made a Big Impact in the Recent Comic Books

The Energon Universe is the shared universe featuring not only Skybound Entertainment’s new Transformers comic book series, but also various spinoffs based around G.I. Joe and the original series Void Rivals. One major change compared to previous incarnations is that the action sequences among the Transformers are more visceral and violent. There are more deaths and higher body counts, with the Cybertronians’ effects on human society seen as more disastrous than in other continuities. Among the cast (which is mostly derived from G1) is Devastator, who, once again, is the combined form of the Constructicons.

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Devastator is finally brought back online once Starscream (who leads the Decepticons in Megatron’s absence) has enough energon to revive the individual Constructicons. Ordered to unite and form Devastator, the Constructicons attack and demolish the Autobots. Even Optimus Prime struggles to defend against his onslaught, only being able to rip off the giant’s finger and briefly keep him at bay. Devastator even rips off one of Ratchet’s legs before being stopped, and even this brief respite from his rampage is temporary. It’s clear that he’ll continue to have a major role in the series, though there’s no sign of any other Combiners yet. Thus, the Energon Universe currently cements Devastator as the king of all the Transformers Combiners.

Transformers

Transformers is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons, two alien robot factions at war that can transform into other forms, such as vehicles and animals.

First Film

Transformers

Cast

Peter Cullen , Wil Wheaton , Shia LaBeouf , Megan Fox , Luna Lauren Velez , Dominique Fishback