Villains Wiki

Hi. This is Thesecret1070. I am an admin of this site. Edit as much as you wish, but one little thing... If you are going to edit a lot, then make yourself a user and login. Other than that, enjoy Villains Wiki!!!

READ MORE

Villains Wiki
Villains Wiki
Advertisement

Easy prey!
~ Breakdown's last words as he prepares to kill Airachnid, only to end up getting killed by her instead.

Breakdown is a supporting antagonist of the Transformers Aligned Universe, serving as a supporting antagonist in Transformers Prime and a minor antagonist in the War for Cybertron games.

While initially a scout crippled by paranoia while on Cybertron, Breakdown became a Decepticon brute whose weapons include two built-in hammers - as well as being Knock Out's best friend and Bulkhead's archnemesis. Despite this, he is shown to have a healthy degree of respect to both friend and enemy alike.

He was voiced by Adam Baldwin in Transformers: Prime and Crispin Freeman (who also voiced Itachi Uchiha in Naruto, Alucard in Hellsing, Kirei Kotomine in the Fate franchise, Jeremiah Gottwald in Code Geass, Firefly in the Batman: Arkham series, Sundowner in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Electro in The Spectacular Spider-Man and Lieutenant Nolan in Star Wars: The Bad Batch) in Transformers: War for Cybertron.

Personality[]

Breakdown is best known for his his brute strength, loyalty, and surprisingly complex personality. At first glance, he appears to be the typical muscle-bound enforcer, relying more on his physical prowess than his intellect. However, as the series progresses, Breakdown reveals layers to his character that make him stand out among the Decepticon ranks.

One of Breakdown's most defining traits is his unwavering loyalty to the Decepticon cause and, more specifically, to his partner Knock Out. This loyalty often manifests as a willingness to follow orders without question, even when it puts him in dangerous situations. His dedication to Knock Out, in particular, shows a capacity for friendship and camaraderie that is rare among the often self-serving Decepticons.

Despite his imposing size and strength, Breakdown displays moments of insecurity and self-doubt. This is particularly evident in his rivalry with Bulkhead, his Autobot counterpart. Their long-standing feud seems to stem from a deep-seated need for Breakdown to prove himself, suggesting that beneath his tough exterior lies a character seeking validation and respect.

Breakdown's relationship with humans is complex and evolves. Initially dismissive and hostile towards them, his experiences – particularly his capture and torture by M.E.C.H. – lead to a shift in his perspective. This traumatic event not only showcases his vulnerability but also adds depth to his character, as he grapples with the aftermath and its impact on his psyche.

Interestingly, Breakdown exhibits a certain level of honor in combat. While he doesn't shy away from using his strength to overpower opponents, he seems to prefer fair fights and often engages in one-on-one battles. This trait sets him apart from some of the more ruthless or underhanded Decepticons.

There's also a hint of a softer side to Breakdown, occasionally revealed in his interactions with others. His partnership with Knock Out, while primarily professional, shows glimpses of genuine care and concern. This suggests that Breakdown is capable of forming meaningful connections, even within the harsh Decepticon hierarchy.

Breakdown's intelligence is often underestimated, both by his allies and enemies. While he may not be the strategic mastermind of the Decepticons, he shows moments of quick thinking and adaptability in battle situations. His tendency to be underestimated can work to his advantage, allowing him to surprise opponents with unexpected tactics.

Biography[]

Transformers: War For Cybertron[]

Breakdown was once a proud Autobot soldier and thought no one could beat him. When the Decepticons leader Megatron invaded Iacon, Breakdown challenged him to a duel and he said if Megatron could beat him he would join the Deceptions. Unfortunately, Breakdown lost and he kept his promise and joined the Deceptions.

Transformers: Prime[]

In "Operation: Breakdown", he was captured by a human terrorist organization called M.E.C.H. - as their head commander named Silas seeks to learn from his parts. M.E.C.H. soon begin to dismantle Breakdown when Silas orders his surgeon to "open him up", starting with his eye. Eventually, Bulkhead arrived to rescue Breakdown before they could go anything else. The two worked together in defending off M.E.C.H. mercenaries until Silas called in a retreat when detectors were summoned on raider; at first they assumed it was the Autobots joining the battle, but instead it turns out that Megatron's second-in-command Starscream had led a rescue mission with his Vehicons. Although Breakdown pointed out that Bulkhead rescued him, Starscream nonetheless ordered him to eliminate his nemesis. Breakdown momentarily hesitated before proceeding to relent in the end, as he attacks Bulkhead. However, Bulkhead managed to best Breakdown before using his body to bash the Vehicons. The battle looks set to continue when the Autobots arrive just as Starscream begins to attack himself. This forces Starscream and the Vehicons to retreat, shortly before Breakdown follows them out of the Autobots way. Breakdown thereafter heads back to the Nemesis, though not before Starscream halts him to give him a reminder that his rescue has impacted the fact that Breakdown will eventually have to choose which Decepticon leadership he will stand up - Megatron's or Starscream's. At the same time, Silas discloses that M.E.C.H. is making progress with their agenda despite Breakdown being able to evade their captivity.

As seen in "Metal Attraction", Breakdown took to wearing an eye-patch as a reminder of his failure. When Soundwave detected a magnetic signature, Breakdown saw the chance to redeem himself and insisted on retrieving the polarity gauntlet. Once there, however, he found himself under attack by Airachnid - who also coveted the device and made a failed attempt to trap him underground. They fought over it until Arcee and Bulkhead arrived to seize the relic on the Autobots' behalf.

As the two Autobots and two Decepticons receptively battled each other, Breakdown was able to use the gauntlet to magnetically stick the two Autobots together. He then left the scene and started to request a ground bridge on his way back to the Nemesis, but ended up getting ambushed by Airachnid and consequently webbed him to a derelict gas station. He was freed when the Autobots turned up and the gauntlet was triggered, yanking him off the wall. At one point during the following battle, he got hold of the weapon and used it to hit Bulkhead with an oil derrick. After some more fighting, Airachnid tried to make a getaway with the gauntlet and Bulkhead threw her at Breakdown. Breakdown was forced to return to the ship without the gauntlet, but made up for it by presenting Megatron with Airachnid, who had become stuck to his back.

In "Crossfire", Breakdown was sent by Megatron with his first lieutenant Dreadwing on a mission to terminate Airachnid. Despite admitting earlier that he was "intrigued" by her, Breakdown was the first to attack Airachnid. She managed to lure him into a trap where she sliced into his body and decapitated him. This killed him and his remains were later discovered by M.E.C.H to the point where they take them to Silas.

Afterwards, in "The Human Factor", M.E.C.H used his body to create a shell and life support system for Silas - who had earlier on been critically injured following a battle with the Autobots. Silas tried to convince Megatron to allow him to take Breakdown's place "at the table", to which Megatron tested his usefulness by sending him to go kill the Autobots' human child allies - starting with Raf as the latter was a critically intellectual ally to the Autobots.

Once Silas failed after Bulkhead and Smokescreen intervened, Megatron dismissed him saying he was no longer useful. Knockout and Starscream then tortured, dissected and experimented on Silas out of both revenge and to discover further knowledge of Human biology until they accidently used a mix of Dark and synthetic energon to bring Breakdown back to life as a zombie. The Breakdown/Silas zombie wandered the halls of the Nemesis, converting many Vehicons before being killed by Airachnid, again... However, he managed to infect her before his passing; the mangled body of Silas also thanked her for putting him out of his misery before dying.

Following Silas' death and the end of Airachnid's rampage, nothing more has been notified about Breakdown and it is more than likely that his legacy has been all but quashed in the end.

Victims[]

  • Possibly numerous counts of unnamed Autobots.
  • MECH soldiers.
  • Airachnid (posthumously, Infected)

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • Breakdown was originally intended to be Lugnut before being dropped and replaced by the said Decepticon due to the show creators wanted a land-based Decepticon instead.
  • Despite his lack of on-screen accomplishments, in Operation: Breakdown, Starscream claims he is a key player to the Decepticon cause indicating that Breakdown apparently did score major victories upon battling Autobots back on Cybertron, before the show began.
  • Breakdown is characterized as very close to his G1 counterpart in War for Cybertron, with a Japanese toy bio explaining
  • Breakdown upgraded his physical form to better face Bulkhead. His Prime design still retains his red face and yellow eyes.
  • Breakdown is the third named Decepticon to die in Transformers Prime, after Skyquake and Makeshift.

Navigation[]

            Transformersprimelogo Villains

Decepticons
Nemesis Crew: Megatron | Starscream | Soundwave | Shockwave | Knock Out | Breakdown | Airachnid | Dreadwing | Makeshift | Vehicons | Trypticon
Combaticons: Onslaught | Brawl | Swindle | Vortex | Blast Off | Bruticus
Insecticons: Sharpshot | Kickback | Hardshell
Predacons: Predaking | Sky Lynx | Darksteel | Ser-Ket | Backbite
Steeljaw's Pack: Steeljaw | Thunderhoof | Underbite | Clampdown | Fracture | Quillfire | Airazor | Divebomb | Groundpounder | Overload | Bisk | Springload
Glowstrike's Crew: Glowstrike | Scorponok | Saberhorn | Kickback
Scavengers: Clawtrap | Paralon | Scatterspike | Thermidor
Starscream's Crew: Starscream | Shadelock | Roughedge | Razorhorn
Stunticons: Motormaster | Heatseeker | Wildbreak | Dragstrip | Slashmark
High Council: Cyclonus | Cyberwarp | Skyjack | Treadshock | Riotgear | Galvatronus
Other Decepticons: Megatronus | Thundercracker | Skywarp | Barricade | Skyquake | Rumble & Frenzy | Hammerstrike | Chop Shop | Terrashock | Filch | Minitron | Ped | Malodor | Nightstrike | Vertebreak | Octopunch | Headlock | Scowl | Zizza | Pseudo | Backtrack | Ransack | Polarclaw | Crazybolt | Slicedice | Razorpaw | Swelter | Glacius | Torpor | Simacore | Axiom | Theorem | Bludgeon | Clout | Anvil | Hammer | Silverhound | Back | Forth | Stockade | Major Mayhem | Crustacion | Ragebyte | Zorillor | Boostwing | Jacknab | Pilfer | Shadow Raker | Flamesnort | Wingcode

M.E.C.H.
Silas | M.E.C.H. Surgeon

Other
Corrupted Worm | Scraplets | Spiders | Thaddeus Morocco | Nightra | Terrorcons (Terrorcon Cliffjumper) | Thunderwing | Unicron

Advertisement