This episode has been re-edited and reuploaded due to a copyright claim. It's *NOT* one of the upcoming *updated episodes* promised in last week's video - the first of those will be coming next week! In the meantime, this is one of my favourite videos from last year, so enjoy re-watching it, and hey, leave a comment for the algorithm!

imagine working so hard at a video about explaining the lore of war and then offlined by a cosmically powerd KZfaq strike

It’s so interesting how the war started with Megatron’s desire for an equal Cybertron but devolved into a pointless conflict

"They say 'war never changes,' but In the world of Transformers. Change is constant." *Old Snake smirks a bit*

I like the idea of the Decepticons wanting power, as in the energy. Like instead of taking over a country and enslaving their people, they raid the battery store.

Something i liked about the backstory of the war in the G1 cartoon that is rarely used today is the idea that Optimus and Megatron weren't the founders of their respective factions, but merely the latest in a long line of leaders that preceded them. I feel that adds a lot more history and significance to the war. We've had the whole "Optimus and Megatron were old friends who had a falling out" backstory many times now, it's getting tired and played out. I'd like for the next iteration of Transformers to try something new again.

It is kind of interesting to see how the war has transformed over the decades to be less this eternal conflict with a nebulous beginning and no true end in sight to basically being a relatively recent proxy war for Optimus and Megatron's shattered bromance.

This is one of the reasons why Transformers has remained consistently timeless. They can tell whatever story that reflects of the times they're in. You could make up why they're continuously fighting and it would still makes sense

There was also an "end of the war" story in a UK annual. Set 500 years into the future, Rodimus Prime's Autobots defeated (killed) all the Decepticons. Rodimus then handed over leadership to Springer. But some Autobots disagreed and the war restarted, now with Autobot against Autobot!

I have an idea where the Decepticons were a military created to protect Cybertron from external threats (possibly from the old "military hardware" bots), but mistreatment and abandonment by the government as the threats never materialized led to Megatron taking charge of them, using their anger and frustration to build a cult of personality, which he used to try and seize power.

It is no secret that teh Great War is one of my favorite aspects of the Transformers franchise (would be crazy if it wasnt given how its the whole foundation of it) and I love how it has become more complex over the years. Specially when the story focuses on the post-war rebuilding

Personally i always like the ideas of why the war started and how they parallel from real life from resources, to politics of unfair rights. Even when Megatron see's himself as a hero who is willing to use force, but really is just a power-hungry tyrant that sees his ideology of peace through tyranny.

Optimus as Professor Xavier and Megatron as Magneto seems to be the backstory that's most popular these days.

I love how in Cyberverse, when the Autobots were in stasis on Earth, the Decepticons…just waited around. Like what *were* they doing in that 65 million year timegap? 😭

It should be noted that although Orion's speech was most likely a motivational and inspiring one, thats like his whole thing, the High Council most likely chose him because it would mean that although Cybertron no longer ran under a Caste System, their government would still be in power. In truth, they don't care that much about the lower Cybertronians. Theres a comic that depicts the Aligned version of this scene and we can clearly see that most of the Higher ups were corrupt and total jerks especially towards Megatron.

I loved what IDW did post-War. Imperial Optimus Prime and repentant pacifist Megatron were an amazing take on the characters. I wish the Lost Light never ended.

I love the Aligned Megatron and the Great War in the Aligned Continuity because like real life its more of a grey morality and at some point neither side was wholly right. I like how Megatron starts out a revolutionary hero who even Orion Pax really agrees with but throughout the horrors of war and corruption Megatron lives long enough to see himself become the villain.

Honestly, what surprises me is that they've never done a series that takes place on Cybertron during the war (unless you count the Netflix series). Seems like that would be a really interesting series or movie, and there'd be no human characters for fans to complain about.

One of the very few POSITIVE things the Bayverse actually give to the TF franchise that was really good was established Megatron and Optimus as friends before the war, and as always IDW and the Aligned continuity perfected. I personally prefer this version of Megatron starting as a Gladiator and rally the lower class cybertronians who where put in the mines and less favorite conditions of live by the corrupted senate and this origins founded the Decepticons and eventually the Autobots, having Orion been friend with Megatron and only their different ideologies keep them in different sides but still work together to bring equality to Cybertron until that meeting that grant Optimus his Prime status......I love this and of course been the Prime version of the origin have become the most influential for TF media. I always love how always TF evolves their own concepts in multiple media and shows, is so fascinating, the only other franchise that reinvented constantly in this cool way without making their own fanbase be angry about is the Ghost in the Shell universe (ironically also robots and technology is heavily involve in the Ghost in the Shell stories XD).

I like the idea of "military hardware VS builders" concept, but as a transversal thing. no autobot or decepticons, but warriors both good and evil and workers pretty much the same way warpath is an autobot, but autobot code aside, the guys a triggerhappy brute which first response is shooting, the costructicons are builders, pretty much every targetmaster partnership is a mental yard waiting to happen regardless of side, the monsterbot are borderline new menbers of the terrorcon, but on the other side, pretty much al version of soundwave and team are an happy and respecting family naturally, like all ideologies, a side would attract some common denominators, with the decepticon ruthlesness being more conductive to psycho and empathy-less individuals, but there's a reason there are multiple decepticon with canonical repairing and healing abilities and know-how beside the need for plot reason, and autobot that are barelly restained balls of fury too

as a fan of the wfc trilogy,this is probably one of the best concepts in the franchise,i love how most of it was from the soviet wars,which is cool as hell

You forgot a key part about the councils meeting with Megatron in the aligned series. The council hardly gave Megatron a voice, spatting down to him since he was a lower class, which simply pissed him off worse and made the war even more reasonable to start, according to Exodus. Megatron didn't get a say hardly, but Orion got to say his peace fully.

War may never change, but the reasons for it certain do. Honestly I'm not sure which Origin of the war I like best, the Decepticons being a downtrodden working class whose rebellion got out of hand and led to the corruption of their original ideals, or the Autobots being a scrappy resistance movement to the Decepticon's imperialist rule. I think it would be cool for a series to use both origins, with the Autobot as resistance following the Decepticon's takeover and corruption. What I like most about both is that they show how at their core the two sides really believe the same thing, that they are fighting for their freedom against oppression, but that the key difference is how they go about it. One thing not mentioned I think, is the two factions' views on organic life, as the Decepticons viewing it as lesser really goes to show how, even when they have a sympathetic reason for fighting they are ultimately hypocrites, wanting "freedom" only for themselves as opposed to the Autobots wanting it for all.

My first exposure to the aligned continuity was in the WFC/FOC games. Those games really brought the lore to life.

Another great video from Chris McFeely that gives "The Basics" and lore from the history of Cybertron. Your videos are one of the few channels that I look forward to weekly and watch as soon as I can. They're actually a bonding moment for my son and I because we sit and watch them together. Thanks for all of the hard work and dedication.

Would honestly love a comic or video game, taking inspirations from real life wars and militaries and focusing on mostly unknown decepticon and autobot grunts on the frontline of Cybertron.

Taking in consideration all the information and "conflicting" sources it amazes how easy you make it to understand the origin of the war. Thank you Chris. here's to many more years of the Basics!

I Love the concept established by the bayverse, that the war started by Megatronus prime A.K.A. The Fallen. It's give him much more character and backstory rather than just a prime who was fallen million years before the war, I hope that concept will re-established by a future storyline

Even if the Netflix WFC isn't a great show, I still loved how they potrayed Megatron. He wasn't entirely evil, just tired of fighting. I feel like if Magnus had convinced Megatron to sit and talk with Prime, they could've actually ended the war. Megatron only became truly evil after he killed Magnus.

Megatrons distaste against the class systems was a admirable goal, imo he went about it the right way. He was willing to bare the burden for the greater goal.

Love the ending tag line on how ‘war never changes’ and the spin ya put on it. Clever

"in the world of transformers, change is constant"

Now that I think about it Chris, you are right: IDW2 finally allowed us to get over the "revolutionary" excuse of the war, and it's a shame that, since the comic was axed, this way may be forgotten.

I actually like the idea of the Ascenditicons and him already being a politician. I feel like that makes more sense. This gives more opportunities to explain and explore the war in more depth.

I loved the Ascenticons story. One last issue to go and one last War's End also. Its been really good and was an interesting take on something that has been done to death now. Last Bot Standing will be interesting to see how everything ends for the Transformers. Moon was a surprise character to be in it as well which was great. Bit of BW 2 thrown into the mix!

I always kind of preferred the idea of the original G1 cartoon where Optimus, or rather Orion Pax, was just a simple dock worker; The right man at the wrong time getting shot and rebuilt as a Super Soldier and to eventually becoming the Autobot Leader we all know and love. Nowadays, people either depict him, before donning the Matrix and becoming Prime, as a Copper, a Librarian with great knowledge of Cybertron's past, The CHOSEN ONE, or even the 13th Prime reincarnated, (And while it is great to see different takes of the character), something about the Great Leader of the Autobots, whose just pretty much your Giant Robot Dad, was once just a simple Average Joe just gravitates towards me. Megatron, on the other hand, I absolutely LOVE his modern portrayals/backstories.

I would like a version where Megatrons gladiator back story was just a made up propaganda by him that became legend over time, and only the oldest few autobots know the truth.

I think it would be pretty neat narrative if the Autobots were the ones to start the war in a Decepticon-ruled Cybertron. The Bumblebee movie did allude this with it's "Autobot Resistance" line and since then I've been obsessed with the idea of the Autobot philosophy of "freedom is the right of every sentient being" being brought to life in a Decepticon environment.

I’d love a series that returns to the “biologically different” origin perspective, if only to explore how it isn’t true and gives a deeper character study on both the bots and cons that explores the greyer areas of the war.

This war never changes. It transforms.

I personally like the modern depiction of the great War. In previous storyline the great War only happened because of simply the good vs evil trope. Which was fine but not very deep. In modern series they actually give a much better reasons behind it.

Technically, when Ron Perlman said the famous hallmark of the fallout series the words before were “Blood has been spilled in the name of everything from God, to Justice, to Simple Psychotic rage.” In a broader sense The Great War can still be put under that umbrella, it’s not listing the individual reasons why war happens, but more the major reasons

I love the idea of the cybertronians being part of different factions and for different reasons the dominant factions would end up being the autobots and decepticons whether other factions were destroyed, switched sides, or were absorbed. I really need to look into the fan favorite comics. Also, I love how megaton is robot Spartacus.

"Both the Autobots and the Decepticons fight in the hope that one day it will end." Gonna have to disagree, there has been many many instances of Decepticon (and some Autobots) who just wanted the fighting to go on forever.

Shame you had to re-edit & re-upload this video, but it's still an excellent video to watch. I love how you link together TransFormers who have had the same name in your videos, instead of going universe by universe. Makes things easier and less frantic, you know? You had mentioned about going into Optimus's story again in future videos. I'd love to see that sometime.

Exodus, the first half of it, is a really solid sci-fi read. Unfortunately the second half reads as though written by a different author. It becomes complete childish idiocy. However I still recommend it for that first half. You have great world building and characterization of the Optimus/Megatron relationship.

my favourite concept of the great war lore has to be the alliegend contunity and armada,it did a great job on making it more darker instead of being (kinda) kid friendly like g1

It all started because Rung wanted that curly straw

I've been slowly working on my own fan universe with its own origin for the Great War. Much like the Aligned Continuity Cybertron had a caste system which had Megatron as a lower caste labourer, with gladiator being one of the few forms of recreation available to that caste... and also one of the only ways to gain more freedom. Freedom enough to have time to consider more then merely surviving. He used his growing fame as a gladiator to lay the foundations for his ideals, for wanting to abolish the caste system. Though he didn't fully begin to grasp the idea of it as an ideology until he was visited by Orion Pax, who was inspired by Megatron's post-match speeches. When the two gathered enough of a movement for the Council to take notice they where invited to speak before the Council. Accepting the invitation the two friends presented their arguments, all well prepared and researched to show that not only was it possible, but beneficial to the Cybertronian people as a whole. The Council deliberated, out of ear shot of the pair, and eventually offered a seat on the council to Pax. Megatron was disappointed the seat wasn't his, but figured Pax, being of a higher caste, was more paletteable to the traditionalists, and also figured that with Pax on the Council at least change could begin. He was stunned when Pax refused, instead calling out the Council for offering a token seat, with no real power, to appease them with no intention of allowing change since they could just out vote him. The start of the war was a joint decision made by both Orion Pax and Megatron, rallying their follower as the Autocons to overthrow the corrupt Council and their Loyalists. It was Pax's willingness to take up arms, and wisdom to refuse the Council's offer that caused the Matrix of Leadership to choose him to be the next Prime. Even no Megatron didn't feel denied anything, He was still half of the leadership of the Autocons, the rallying figure of the lower castes, and actually held the lion's share of military power in the rebel forces. Optimus Prime was the political leader, Megatron was the military leader, and the two got on like a house on fire. It wasn't until the Loyalist forces broke and the final attack on the Council itself that the Schism happened. With power about to fall into their grasp the differences between the two become great enough they couldn't ignore it. Prime advocated for leniency on the former Council, allowing them to live but never hold a seat of power again, while also establishing a democratic government where not only where all Cybertronians equal, but equally able to come to power. Megatron wanted to publicly execute the former Council and their Loyalists while establishing a Duarchy with himself and Prime ruling absolutely over all others. Neither was willing to budge, tempers flared and they came to blows in the Council champers, unleashing their full power against one another for the first time, reducing the chamber to ruins... thus starting the Autobot/Decepticon civil war.

The rivalry between Megatron and Optimus in the Aligned continuity sounds like rivalry between Professor X and Magneto

Evolution of the great war & the transformers: 0:03-0:28-4:43-5:36-8:25-9:18-10:03-12:14 Marvel comics 1:52 G1 continuity family 3:33 IDW comics 6:02-8:52-10:34-11:10 R.I.P. Brian golder/aligned continuity family 6:45

I always like the stories where Optimus and Megatron have to work together, you really see their old friendship break through. Even though they're now enemies and struggle to trust eachother.

The war started when a young Orion Pax stepped on Megatron's new sneakers.

hmm, no verbal mention of Energon and Cybertron. one was a post war story which early on showed the dissatisfaction of the decepticons during peacetime bringing the remnants to retaliate with their new force of terrorcons granted by Alpha Q for their own ends... till Megatron usurped control and broke out decepticon war criminals to bolster his forces. Cybertron meanwhile saw the end of any major conflict leading to an interplanetary council whose task it was to connect the worlds together with an intergalactic space bridge. personally I found these to be some of the more interesting takes on the end of the cybertronian war

God I loved that IDW ended the War in 2011, it was SUCH a fresh take and, honestly, I rather liked the whole politics angle with trying to create this new Council of World. I really wanted to see more of how humanity could influence that council, maybe a conflict with the Galactic Council, instead of Unicron, being the inciting incident for the end of that version of the universe.

As George Lucas had done in Star Wars, I’d like to design a Transformers series that takes common elements from wars throughout history.

Change is constant! So true!👍🙏

Animated has to be my Favourite take on the show, I Like the idea of post war universe.

Not gonna lie, I really like the "Populist Megatron" concept from IDW2. While the "revolutionary" motive was interesting, I feel it's more realistic that conflict is deliberately generated by those with political power.

So you're saying that Megatron... Is a Tankie.

Who was right ? Megatron or Optimus Prime. Megatron wanted to overthrow the corrupt with action but Optimus Prime wanted a peaceful transition.

The "ascenticons" sounds like a call alternate name for decepticons because they're known for flying. Really nice. Who ever came up with that, good on ya.

I loved the Animated version, where there were still fierce conflicts on the periphery but Cybertron itself was full of lazy and borderline corrupt bourgeois Autobots who were infiltrated by both Decepticon spies and narcissistic leaders.

Makes me wonder what would've happened in the Aligned continuity if Megatron had been chosen as Prime. Of course, that wasn't going to happen as that would mean the council willingly giving up their cushy position of power. Would Megatron have still become a power hungry dictator if he lost his rationale for an an armed takeover?

11:38 I like this. I think that each continuity should have their own unique version of the war’s origins. Like the one of the corrupt Cybertron and Megatron being a miner turned gladiator should stay unique to the Aligned Continuity. IDW’s 2019 reboot sounds like a good modern origin for the G1 war, etc.

Modern TF media depecting Megatron as having a morally correct reason for starting the war, only to fall victim to the old "absolute power corrupts absolutely" adage, is the best thing about modern TF stories, but then I'm a sucker for a good villain redemption so it's nice there's something there to be redeemed. I'm glad the franchise has managed to grow and change to become more nuanced.

Am I the only one who thinks the IDW 2019 Continuity is basically all the previous versions of the war put together? Like in most continuities, the Autobots are the dominant faction in pre-war Cybertron. Like in 21st century continuities, their government is far from perfect. However they are still pretty benevolent like in 20th century continuities. The Nominus Edict is unpopular and stifles Cybertron, but given how their age of colonialism and expansion lead to a brutal war on their homeworld and how even in modern times there are Cybertronians who want to exploit the organic inhabitants of colonies for energy and resources, the Edict has many good points. It probably just had to be amended in some areas to match the current times given how basically the production rate of Transformers was pretty low by design when it no longer had to be, not to mention how the colonies that did exist were basically left on their own. It’s kind of like how things were in the Star Wars galaxy before the Clone Wars. As for the Decepticons, they start our as a legitimate political force, quite like in modern continuities. However they are mostly made up of former soldiers and gladiators who all miss the old days. This can be seen in Megatron who like his 21st century version does still believe in politics, but like his 20th century version, he believes in militarism because Cybertronians are a powerful race, not because it is a means to an end. And the lineage of Primes come off as more sympathetic. Like in modern continuities they aren’t too popular in the modern age on Cybertron, though like in the 20th century, they at least tried their best. Hence, the combination of material from both G1 and the modern age.

It's always nice to revisit this videos!

Wow! I feel the "fan-documentary" has been done to death on KZfaq at this point, but yours was able to breath new life into the concept, with tight editing skills, good quality narration and a good choice of clips/images in GOOD resolution, which is a great differential. I like Transformers, but I'm far from being a super-fan with lots of knowledge, so I'll definitely be checking all the other entries in this series to educate myself. Other than that, keep up the good work!

What I like about the cyberfirst origin of the war is that what's a year optimism megatron would have a ceasefire and try to be diplomatic and talk about ending the war. But the war has corrupted megatron so much that he couldn't See a way to end the war peacefully And still be in charge.

The Og Lore was that the Quintozenes discovered Cybertron some centuries after Primus locked himself and Unicron away, the Quins then augmented the internal machinery of Cybertron and forged the first Autobot and Decepticon units, the Autobots were designed for custodial work, helping the quins maintain cybertron and their Decepticon weapons. The Decepticons were used entirely for warfare, serving the Quins as foot soldiers and transport until Megatron rebelled and instead of freeing his autobot brothers he enslaved them just as the Quins did. The Autobots discovered they too could be weapons then rebelled against the Decepticons.

I think there should be a movie/game where we can witness a Cybertron before the war,the rise of the Decepticons and eventually ends with the war beginning.

Great video! Thank you! Love those IDW comics, but I still haven't got caught up with their first run, and can't even think of getting the rebboted stuff yet . . . .

I'm still a bigger fan of the G1 concept, which made more logical sense for me. But then I was there when it all started and the two W.F.C games 🎮 by the original HighMoon Team were excellent in their execution of the great war also. 👏

I think IDW's reboot of the war corrected a flawed concept of the evil Decepticons in a brilliant and much needed way, rather than Megatron and being a relatably sympathetic leader of the downtrodden. I do prefer overall the original G1 cartoon explanation of the Quintessons building the war and power-hungry military robot Decepticons and the consumer goods Autobots, but I am a die-hard G1-er

I was wondering the other day while waiting for this episode What would your personal version or idea for a transformers story or origin story would you want to see? I'm still working out my own thoughts and I really enjoy your videos!

The essential summary guide to the deep lore of the Transformer War. You can't help but notice that, as is always the case in sci-fi, Megatron always wears the face of humanity's worst fears and Prime that of its greatest hopes.

Megatron being against the Caste System is why i think He should have a Gun Alt Mode ~What? A Gun can't be a Leader? Guess what? That's what's the Caste System was based on~ then changing it to a New Alt Mode (like a Tank) when He need to have a Stronger form for keep the ever more Violents and Power-Hungry Decepticons under his Command

There's a reason why I love Season 4 of the G1 Cartoon. I like how expansive the universe is. Frankly I'd like to see a story where the Deceptions conquer the universe and the Autobots Earthlings and Nebulonians take em down.

The great war has lasted almost from the dawn of time, when Unicron and Primus were created. They came to opposite conclusions about life in the universe, Unicron wanted no life and Primus wanted life to exist everywhere. This conflict lead to the creation of the 13 Primes, Megatronus Prime's betrayal and being transformed into The Fallen, the first Decepticon, which lead to a power struggle between the Autobots and Decepticons lasting billions of years until the conflict finally left Cybertron and arrived on Earth in 1984 following the great energy crisis during the time when Optimus Prime and Megatron had become the latest Transformers commanders. The war continued until the start of the Beast Wars when the Predacons and Maximals time traveled to see if changing history was one possibility of rewriting the ending of the Great War. This has been my favorite version of the Great War, since it started with Primus and Unicron, and there is no end in sight, with the war continuing in the present with the opponents now being Optimus Prime and Megatron/Galvatron. My favorite, fan made, ending of the war has ALL the Transformers: Autobots, Maximals, Predacons, and Decepticons fighting against Unicron in an all or nothing final ultimate battle that threatens to bring about the extinction of the Transformers.

It's interesting that the Great War is based on the Cold War. The Great War is also the real contemporary nickname for World War I, and similar to this conflict, the Transformers suffer major casualties among their race probably never before seen. I'm making Transformers fanfiction set after the war is over, focusing on a small team that travels the galaxy helping everyone they encounter during peacetime.

12:37 i can't believe you referenced Fallout's signature line: "War never changes"

Always a pleasure to rewatch one of your videos, and this is a favourite of mine so I was glad to have another reason to watch it again

tbh I'm glad IDW's rebooted comics tried a new take on how the Great War started. For as fascinating as the Aligned version's story is and of all the similar stories, the big critical flaw with them IMO is that they paint the Decepticons as rebels against a brutal, unfair, oppressive system- and then make them into a horde of brutal psychopaths out to conquer and oppress anyway, and make the Autobots, who were part of and enabled that original oppressive system, into the heroes. IDW did a lot to smooth over the _really_ rough implications of this in their original universe, but there's still that uncomfortable disconnect that I'm glad got sidestepped entirely. If the Decepticons _must_ be the villainous faction, they need a straightforward, villainous motivation, because any noble intentions they get given are painted in a bad light by being associated with them.

Instead of #4, 5, and 6 they should have started a 2-3 movie series focused on the War for Cybertron with no humans involved.

I loved how IDW handled it, it's my favorite backstory for Megs.

@Chris McFreely, I still wanna see a Tfp and Bay-Verse rendention, of the Great War. 😔

I never understood the original timeframe of the war lasting MILLIONS of years. For no side to gain an advantage in that amount of time is just mind boggling.

I can imagine two deceptocon leaders before Megatron. One was strong but foolish the other was wise but weak. They first one started the war, knowing autobots and deceptions can never coexist. He never attempted to copy the autobots transaction ability, calling it a weakness. The second leader saught peace with the autobots. He was able to copy the autobots transformation ability. But his subordinates rose up against him because he was weak against the enemy.

I may be remembering wrong, but didn't Marvel's comic have an end to "the great war" in its story line. I think the Autobots and Decepticons united when they were forced to face unicron.

Megatron Origin was the best Transformers story I've read. Never had I related to the great Decepticon leader so much because of the story

I honestly strongly agree with Megatron in the aligned continuity. Yes, ofcourse the council chose Optimus over Megatron, a corrupt council of highly privileged bots isn't going to willfully let themselves get torn down. So ofcourse they'll go with the peaceful option that Orion Pax leaned towards. Megatron has every right to feel betrayed and I feel like his call for war is justified in a way.

It's okay Chris great stuff as per usual

Optimus: Megatron, the Decepticons are evil! Megatron: From my point of view the Autobots are evil! Optimus: Then you are lost!

NGL I’d like for a new origin for the war to come around. I find the “Megs fighting a revolution for freedom” idea to be a bit repetitive at this point.

You forgot the 2 greatest origins of the war! The curly straw and that time when Optimus stepped on Megatron’s gun form! In all seriousness, great work showing just how nuanced the war’s become and how the Decepticons could be seen as victims of power corrupting with how noble their cause initially was. Can’t wait to see what old videos get updated!

Somehow Megatron has never _felt_ working class to me. Prime seems more like a better fit for such an origin.

I'm a subscriber, but usually don't comment or "like" videos, but I have 2 say this was an especially superlative 1; well done Chris!

8:00 kinda messed up that the corrupt system gets to chose who will fix it.

I love the Transformers franchise.