I'd go with Predaking overall, certainly over Monstructor. Even with various character bios in mind, it's hard to completely separate 'em from sheer toy size, and Monstructor is about as big as Predaking's foot.

I always saw the Scramble City 5-bots as more or less equals, but superior in a particular area over the rest, based on their components and/or drawing from their bios: Computron-intelligence, Abominus-brute strength, Bruticus-military tactics, etc.

 

See, this is the problem with not looking at the sources. Superion is actually stronger than Defensor... at least in terms of his having a higher Endurance, but the same strength. Also, Superion is described as being fixated on his targets, and otherwise being cold and aloof... so that would be quite the opposite of worrying too much about protecting humans.  

Interestingly, Superion is by FAR the fastest of any of the Combiners (8!), looking at stats. I don't know if the Speed score reflects his overall speed, or just his ability to fly, but most of the combiners have VERY low Speed (around 1-3), so I would assume this would take into account their agility.

I disagree about Predaking. He's described as being too primal, too instinctive. I don't think he has much ego, or thinks about stuff that much... Also, "no weaknesses" pretty much means no weaknesses. Other transformers have "overconfidence" listed as weaknesses. Not him.  

I tend to agree with this...

Also, I think it's noted that Bruticus is actually pretty efficient and works well with his composite mind... he'll follow orders to the T, but he just can't think creatively.

Sol Fury raises some good questions with the Japanese gestalts, but since I really don't know much about them, I'll shut up on that.  

zmog

 

"devastator is strongest one there is!"

 

I took those thoughts right out of my head without looking at spechs. I always thought Superion would be weaker then Defensor.

but dosent Megatron beat Predaking on his own in the comics..how does that compute if Predaking is so badarse ?

 

Cos Predaking is the most over rated transformer ever.

 

...

okay, I like you again.

 

Sol Fury you were always my favorite.

Glad I'm not the only one to consider Liokaiser. He's totally badass. Took out both Star Sabre and God Ginrai. Dino King couldn't take out Star Sabre although he could handly Road Ceasar

 

Because in the old Marvel comics, the leader characters were like low-yield nuclear weapons. They were in a class of their own... combiner, giant guy, whatever. Megatron beat Predaking because he's pretty much one of the most powerful Transformers ever, period.

Also, he shot him in the face. Coming from Megatron, that would hurt anyone.  

To make some comparisons, Shockwave single-handedly wipes out the Dinobots. It's also mentioned that at their full strengths, Megatron is far more powerful than Shockwave. Then Megatron single-handedly wipes out the Dinobots. The Dinobots don't catch a lot of breaks in the Marvel comics.  

The Dinobots on the other hand, were able to fight Trypticon to a standstill. If you do the math, it basically just comes out as Megatron being hardcore.

And of course, like the cartoon, the comics were pretty wildly inconsistent. It all depended on the writer of any particular story.

zmog

 

Decepticons/Predacons:

Devestator
Menasor
Bruticus
Predaking
Abominus
Piranacon
Monstructor
Lio Kaiser
Dinoking
Battle Gaea
G2 Devastator (yellow)
G2 Devastator (orange)
G2 Bruticus
Tripredicus
God Neptune
Baldigus
Ruination
Arctic Ruination
Desert Ruination
Decp. Sixwing
Devastaor 6 Builder
Black Sixturbo
Universe Devastator (micromaster)
Devastator Maximus
Bruticus Maximus
Universe Devastator(Landfill repaint)
Classics Devastator



Autobots/Maximals:

Superion
Defensor
Computron
Raiden
Road Ceaser
Landcross
Sixliner
Sixbuilder
Sixwing
Sixturbo
Sixtrain
Guard City
G2 Superion
Magnaboss
Tripredicus
Sixbuilder (repaint)
Berserker Sixwing
Sixtrain (repaint)
Hate Plague Sixtrain
Black Landcross
JRX/Railracer
Buildking/Landfill
Landfill (yellow)
Superion Maximus
Universe Superion(micromaster)

There's a list of all combiners , just incase you need to know.

 

If Jap-G1 is included, of course it would most definitely be Lio Kaiser  . Sol Fury stated all the reasons plus his parts actually belong where they are. Drill Horn & Kill Bison are the legs, Hellbat & Gaihawk are the arms, & the body's made up of Jauguar & Leozak. Everybody had a part specifically to them and that's what I didn't like about the "Scramble City" combiners. They're mostly just a main body with 4 pegs that get stuck on as "body parts".

 

ive always liked Menasor, but one thing i was thinking involved the size of the gestalt. How on earth was Menasor, consisting of 4 regular cars and a truck/trailer combination anywhere near the size of a robot made from 5 jets? look at the scale of things for the new movie. Superion really should have towered over Menasor!

JL

 

Fought optimally, wouldn't Superion be the most lethal? I know comics and cartoons have PIS everywhere but unless they have to fight in a closed space, I don't see how anyone can overcome Superion's mobility.

It's like any other VS thread I love participating in. I look for who gains and maintains initiative. Usually the Autobots have to protect something or attack something so Superion can't just fly away and attack at his leisure. If this were a simple brawl, I'd like to think he should have the advantage.

Note: I'm incredibly biased.

 

raiden [trainbots] from japanese headmasters

 

In B4 Zombie thread lock.

Also, Computron still wins.

 

On paper, I would give it to Predaking. However, he's demonstrated time and again to not be anywhere near as effective as he should be.

I'd have to give it to Defensor, actually. In a straight fight, he'd be pretty damn effective. Assuming this takes place in one of the infinite deserts of the G1 cartoon, where civilian casualties aren't an issue.

 

I've got to go with Predaking. The Predacons seem more of a cohesive unit than the others.

 

Liokaiser, from Victory

 

I also vote for Liokaiser from Victory because of the tech specs. Everything is nine or ten. Unfortunately, because I'm not a fan, Computron is second.

 

I didn't even know threads from 2007 still existed.