Beast Wars: Transformers was a computer-animated cartoon show that ran from 1996 to 1999. Set on a prehistoric Earth, the show detailed the struggle between the Maximals, the future descendants of the Autobots, and the Predacons, the future descendants of the Decepticons. Both factions are expected to appear in 2023’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Though some Transformers fans initially disliked the show, it has since gone on to be one of the more beloved Transformers series, with praise being given to the story and the characters. Today, we’ll be looking over some of those characters, specifically the Maximal faction. Here’s every Maximal in Beast Wars, ranked.
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11 Airazor
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The second Maximal flier at the time of her introduction, Airazor’s aerial combat skills definitely helped level the playing field as the Predacons already had two fliers and would have a third a few episodes later. Like Tigatron, she preferred to be out in the field, which led to the two of them developing a close bond. Unlike Tigatron, she doesn’t get any episodes that really focus on her. She does remind Tigatron occasionally that it’s not a good idea to isolate himself all the time. Still, Airazor really needed at least one episode aside from her debut that really focused on her.
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10 Tigerhawk
If we went by pure power, Tigerhawk would be a top three contender for sure, but as a character, he’s just not around long enough to make a lasting impression. He only shows up for the penultimate episode of the series and the finale, during which he dies. At least he blows up the Predacon base single-handedly and puts up a decent fight against the Predacon warship, Nemesis, so he’s got that going for him.
9 Blackarachnia
There is a huge difference between Predacon Blackarachnia and Maximal Blackarachnia, and it’s that she was way more interesting as Predacon. She defects at the end of season two or the beginning of season three. It’s a little vague as to precisely when it happens. Even her Transmetal 2 upgrade doesn’t help all that much since it happens so late in the show, and it’s never really shown what she can do with it aside from its introductory episode. It’s not like the Maximals can’t integrate a Predacon who defects to their side, but it was done much better with another character.
8 Cheetor
The “kid” of the original group of Maximals that crash-landed on Earth, Cheetor was always viewed as the immature one, a stigma which he really wasn’t able to shake. He got the ability to fly when he became Transmetal, then was given a Transmetal 2 upgrade as well, though it’s only major addition seemed to be allowing him to run real fast in robot mode. He was given an utterly pointless crush on Blackarachnia in season three, when she was firmly with Silverbolt at the time. He’s not a terrible character by any means, but everyone higher than him on this list has a lot more in their favor.
7 Silverbolt
A chivalrous half-eagle, half-dog, Silverbolt was the always noble Fuzor whose affections for Blackarachnia could sometimes cloud his judgment. However, he was successful in getting her to defect to the Maximals. He also gets some very good moments in the episode, “Transmutate,” when a defective Transformer befriends both him and the Predacon, Rampage. He’s a decent fighter, a loyal teammate when not blinded by love, though it is easy to see how his noble act can get on everyone’s nerves. Even Blackarachnia gets sick of it from time to time. Minus a few points for losing constantly to Waspinator, of all people.
6 Tigatron
The first new Transformer introduced on the show, Tigatron certainly stood out. He preferred to spend more time in the wild, being closer to his animal side than his robot side. He was very in tune with nature and even had a close relationship with another tiger at one point. Cheetor looks up to him like an older brother, an interesting dynamic since technically Cheetor is the older one. Tigatron’s basically a hippie, but he gets enough focus to make him interesting.
5 Depth Charge
Introduced in season three, Depth Charge is a manta with a mission, namely to kill Protoform X/Rampage. He’s got a personal history with Rampage, who slaughtered every inhabitant of the colony Depth Charge was supposed to protect. He mouths off to Optimus and even ruins a few Maximal operations; ironically one of them happened when he decided to finally be a team player for once. Still, he is a powerful Maximal, and he does help out more often than not. Depth Charge is also the second of only two Maximals to kill a Predacon. Unfortunately, it costs him his life to do it.
4 Rhinox
Rhinox is a powerhouse. The Predacons have targeted him on two separate occasions. One time involved turning him into a Predacon, which backfired horribly. The other involved infecting him with an energon-based virus. That one ended with Rhinox defeating Megatron with a fart. Yes, really. Rhinox would prefer to peacefully study the planet, but if push comes to shove, he’ll break out the best nicknamed weapons in the show, his legendary Chainguns of Doom.
3 Optimus Primal
The leader of the Maximals, he’s a bit more laid back than Optimus Prime, but Primal is just as good a leader as the legendary Autobot. A father to his men, Primal’s a fairly cunning leader as well. Then again, he has to be given how his opposite number in the Predacons is. In the first two seasons, he’s a great fighter. He loses this somewhat when he becomes Optimal Optimus, mostly because the Predacons usually come up with a way to disable him before doing something else. Still, anyone who can handle Rattrap, Dinobot, and Depth Charge deserves some high praise.
2 Rattrap
Hailing from the Brooklyn part of Cybertron(?), Rattrap was never afraid to say what was on his mind. Early on, he would outright refuse to follow Optimus’ commands, though he eventually dropped this to become one of the most dependable Maximals on the roster. He’s got nicknames for everybody, with “Bird-dog” for Silverbolt, “Boss Monkey” for Optimus, and “Chopperface” for Dinobot being some of the more memorable ones. A sneaky and dirty fighter (he’s kicked Waspinator in the privates on at least one occasion), Rattrap was also the first Maximal to outright kill a Predacon when he blew up Ravage’s ship and Ravage with it in the three-part episode, “The Agenda.”
1 Dinobot
Dinobot has the honor of being the only non-G1 Transformer voted into the inaugural class of the Transformer Hall of Fame. It’s an honor he richly deserves. A Predacon who defected to the Maximals, Dinobot has an interesting sense of honor, resembling something similar to bushido. He’s one of, if not the best, combatants on the Maximal side. He quotes Shakespeare from time to time, especially Hamlet. He also gets one of the moving and touching deaths of any Transformer. A true warrior to the end, Dinobot is easily one of the most popular characters Beast Wars has produced.
