"Beast Wars": The Original Predacons Quiz

Answer: Megatron

The two factions are descendants from the two groups found in the original "Transformers" series - the Autobots and the Deceptecons. The sides are a clear portrayal as good versus evil.

Megatron's beast mode is a Tyranorasaurus rex. When transformed, he is able to fire powerful laser beams out of his fist (which is also his beast form T.rex head). He is dark and sadistic, even to many of his fellow Predacons. He is ruthless in his attempts to destroy the Maximals. Despite this, Megatron should not be viewed as a mindless madman, as he is cunning and extremely talented in the art of war.

The Megatron which features in "Beast Wars" should not be confused with the Megatron of the original "Transformers" era. The beast Megatron took the name of the famous Decepticon as a mark of respect and so is sometimes referred to as Megatron II.

Answer: Scorponok

After being blasted away by Scorponok, Dinobot then challenged Optimus for leadership over the Maximals. In this, he also failed. However, he did gain a place amongst the Maximals.

Dinobot's beast mode is a velociraptor. Other animal forms of the predacons include a scorpion (Scorponok), a spider (Tarantulus), a pteranodon (Terrorsaur), and a wasp (Waspinator).

While Dinobot left to join the Maximals, the Predacons remained at their base. This base was the Predacon ship, the Darksyde, which the Preds used in an attempt to escape Cybertron after stealing the Golden Disk.

Answer: Energon

It is, in fact, the Predacons who desire the energon. By obtaining large amounts of the substance, they would be able to become incredibly powerful. The Maximals quest to find the energon is driven by the desire to prevent the Predacons from gaining too much power.

Because of the large amounts of energon on this planet, the robots are forced to take on animal forms. Both teams performed a scan of the local wildlife in order to detect possible hosts for their robot forms.

Answer: Terrorsaur

Megatron's dismissive attitude over the other Predacon's was the main cause of the near successes of Terrorsaur's many plans.

Examples of Terrorsaur's treachery are shown when he found a floating mountain containing a huge source of energon. Being one of the few transformers capable of flight, Terrorsaur took full advantage and absorbed much of the power of the energy crystals. He then used this power to defeat Megatron in a face to face battle. However, the power given to Terrorsaur soon drained his energy, leaving him weak and in need of more energon.

Also, after believing Rattrap's defection to the Pradacons to be true, Terrorsaur declared that he was the new Predacon leader. He made Rattrap his lieutenant, and together, they froze Megatron in his beast mode. Rattrap used Terrorsaur's naivety to discover how the Predacons had been decoding Maximal messages. This came to a head in a showdown at the end of the episode, which saw Terrorsaur's head blown off and Megatron's resumption of power.

Answer: Dinobot

The Predacons successfully created a clone of their treacherous former member Dinobot and planned to use him to infiltrate the Maximal base. The original Dinobot was out of action after following the Predacon, Terorrsaur, into a trap. Whilst being physically identical to Dinobot whilst in beast mode, the clone is unable to transform. Convincing the Maximals that the Predacons were about to launch an ambush, the clone led Rattrap out to investigate, before knocking him into a river of lava. Whilst the other Maximals left to find Rattrap, the clone was alone in the base to do his dirty work. Just as the clone believed his work to be done, the real Dinobot returned to base and the clone soon ended up as lunch!

Answer: Waspinator

This stemmed all the way back to early in the first series. Cheetor was running, making the most of his new animal body and its abilities, before chasing a large wasp. He later learnt that this was the Predacon, Waspinator, who proceeded to transform and fire several missiles at the cat. This is one example of the impulsiveness of Cheetor. He is constantly portrayed as the youngest member of the Maximal team and often had to learn lessons the hard way.

Indeed, many of the Maximals had a Predacon with which they would usually fight when in a group skirmish. Optimus would obviously face Megatron, Rhinox would face off against Tarantulus, Dinobot against Scorponok, and Rattrap would take on Terrorsaur. Although these group skirmishes were common in the early first series, they became a rare treat later on.

Answer: "Yesss"

Megatron's "yesss" often followed his proposed plans (usually involving obtaining energon or making life difficult for the Maximals). Indeed, there were many attempts to destroy or immobilise the Maximals. The Predacons were masters of ambush, turning up when the Maximals were vulnerable and trying to eliminate their rivals. Good examples of this would be at the beginning of the second episode of the first series, where they entire Predacon team opened fire on Dinobot and Optimus as they fought on a rock bridge, or later in the same series when Rhinox, Rattrap, Cheetor, and Dinobot were attacked after losing their sight.

"Well, that's just prime" was the catchphrase of Optimus Primal.

Answer: Tarantulus

Such projects included an energy draining web, a floating sphere which could leave Maximals unable to transform, and countless "bugs"/viruses which could be fired from his gun. He was also able to fire several rounds of ammunition from the ends of his eight legs whilst in his robot form.

Tarantulus was unique in that he was the only original Predacon who could match Megatron in terms of intellect. He was regularly in charge of the technological aspects of Predacon missions, such as the design of Blackarachnia.

Answer: Megatron

With Dinobot being shot down by Predacons outside the ship, Optimus chose to try and retrieve him. He sternly ordered Rhinox to stay in the ship and lift off when they could, whether Optimus was on board or not! Cheetor joined Optimus in facing the Predacons outside. Cheetor managed to later climb on board, and Dinobot was thrown on board the ship whilst it was in semi-flight. However, whilst clinging on to the ship himself, Optimus was shot down by Scorponok.

After a powerful punch and a stomp from the Maximal, Rhinox, Megatron was ejected from the ship. However, he managed to destroy the control panel before this and so brought down the Axalon. Optimus was able to cushion the fall of the ship, probably saving the lives of his fellow Maximals. Despite this, Rhinox declared afterwards that the ship wouldn't fly again, and so they remained on this unknown planet.

Answer: No

While the Predacons sent Waspinator and Terrorsaur, the Maximals sent Rattrap, Rhinox, and Cheetor. After the two flying Preds blew up an icy bridge, the Maximals were forced to take a longer route to the pod. This meant that Waspinator and Terrorsaur were able to get a significant head-start in this race to the pod.

The Predacons were able to reach the pods first, but Dinobot was able to direct programming instructions to the pod via a laser beam from the Maximal base. Therefore, with the help of their new member, Tigatron, the Maximals defeated their enemies in the short skirmish which followed.