Totally loyal to Megatron, Soundwave is Megatron's most trusted and closest lieutenant commanding a great deal of Megatron's army, often acting as his right-hand man in the absence of Decepticon second-in-command, Shockwave. He is known for being "such a nerd", and was once placed in charge of Kaon Prison.
In the Prime cartoon, Soundwave is completely silent, preferring to observe and record everything going on around him and use parts of other 'bots and 'cons sentences he hears as his own. His loyalty to Megatron remains unquestionable, and he keeps a wary optic on his fellow Decepticons should they begin feeling like standing against their master.
- "War for Cybertron"
- ―Autobots. Surrender immediately, or be destroyed!
- "Prime"
- ―That blasted Soundwave sees and hears everything! [src]
Fiction[]
Exodus novel[]
Soundwave has command over the Minicons: Rumble, Frenzy, Ravage, and Laserbeak.
Exiles novel[]
Soundwave was among the crew of the Nemesis.
Prime cartoon[]
Toward the end of Cybertron's golden age, Soundwave became one of Megatronus's most reliable soldiers as they prepared to change Cybertron. One Shall Rise, Part 3
Many years later, Soundwave was among Megatron's forces on Earth. He intercepted a conversation between Cliffjumper and Arcee and reported it to temporary commander Starscream. Sometime later he reported that he was receiving a transmission emminating from somewhere deep in space, and Starscream asked for certainty before activating the space bridge, through which Megatron arrived. Darkness Rising, Part 1
Shortly after Megatron left the Nemesis, Starscream told Soundwave he believed Megatron was not as sane as he once was, and told him to increase global surveillance, and Soundwave reminded him Megatron was still in charge. Soon he intercepted Agent Fowler talking about the Autobot base, and sent Laserbeak to retrieve the human. Darkness Rising, Part 3
After the ship's interstellar navigation satellite was damaged, Soundwave went to a telescope array in Texas to use it to aim the space bridge at Cybertron. However, someone else was preventing him from aligning them and upon viewing security footage extended a tentacle into the room some human children were in. Miko attempted to sever his tentacle with an ax, but Soundwave took it and used it to sever the computer system's hardline, locking the dishes on Cybertron. Before he flew off, Soundwave took photos of the humans to record their identities. Darkness Rising, Part 5
However the space bridge was destroyed and Megatron presumably killed. Starscream declared himself leader but was unable to rally the Vehicons, Starscream had Soundwave locate Skyquake. While watching Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Skyquake fight, Soundwave detected a signal from the site of the destroyed space bridge, and believed it was Megatron. Starscream reluctantly agreed to investigate, but Soundwave sent Lazerbeak to ensure Starscream did his job. Though Skyquake was killed, Soundwave and Lazerbeak made sure Starscream returned the barely-alive Megatron to the Nemesis. Masters & Students
He monitored the fight between Optimus Prime and him. Starscream ordered the communications officer to download Wheeljack's form into Makeshift so he could infiltrate the Autobot base. Soundwave fled with Starscream when the fake Wheeljack exploded on top of the Nemesis. The silent con aided Knock Out and Breakdown in retrieving the Energon Harvester by sneaking round the back and taking off in his jet mode. Soundwave also made sure Starscream kept Megatron online while he was in stasis.
Soundwave was in charge of monitoring Megatron's signal while he escorted the Autobots to Unicron. The Con was present when Airachnid suggested abandoning Megatron and taking command of the Decepticons. Soundwave decided to take charge and question Airachnid's authority. The two high ranking commanders fought on the bridge of the Nemesis with Airachnid throwing the first blows. He blocked all of her shots and lifted her into the air then throwing her across the ship. He deployed Laserbeak to assist by stunning her. He put his foot down on her and held her down. She then gave Soundwave control over the Decepticons for the time being. He picked up Megatron's life signal after thinking he was offline and was present when the Decepticon leader returned who was accompanied by Optimus Prime.
Season 2[]
Soundwave was in control of making sure Orion Pax did not come across Decepticon information while decoding the Iacon Database. To make sure Orion did not find out who he was, Soundwave replaced all images of Optimus Prime with pictures of Ultra Magnus. Eventually, Orion broke through his encryptions and realized who Optimus Prime was, thanks to the help of Starscream. He was ordered by Megatron to make sure Arcee was 'escorted' off the ship before she could find the location of the Autobots' missing leader. He used his Ground-Bridge technology to bridge her off the ship and ignored Orion Pax who questioned about the commotion when he came right after the whole situation. Soundwave informed Megatron of Airachnid's disloyalty by playing back her planning to leave Megatron on Earth. Soundwave was on the bridge when the Nemesis was taken over by Dark Energon. He took action by trying to regain control of the vessel by hacking into the systems. However he was zapped into stasis before he could regain control. Soundwave was sent after the 3rd Iacon relic. He attacked Wheeljack and Ratchet by deploying Laserbeak and used him as a distraction. He found the relic before the Autobots but he was attacked by Wheeljack.
Soundwave with his tentacles outstretched.
The two bots fought, each landing attacks until Wheeljack seemingly got the upper hand. Soundwave was at Wheeljack's mercy until he used the relic against him. The con left Wheeljack to return to Laserbeak's SOS signal. He picked up Laserbeak and returned to the Nemesis with the relic. A grenade was discovered in Soundwave and once disposed of, he returned to work. Soundwave used Laserbeak to locate Smokescreen and once he did Soundwave GroundBridged in and captured him. Soundwave broke into a communications building to gain control of a laser satellite, he had control but failed to stop the humans from hacking and retreated in jet mode before the Autobots arrived.
Soundwave later took Raf hostage in exchange for an Omega Key, after locating him and the other human children during his search for the Autobot base. He arrived on Cybertron with the other Decepticons with the humans as hostage. He traded the human for a key with Bumblebee. He also witnessed the activation and destruction of the Omega Lock. He returned to Earth with the other Cons and saw the destruction of the Autobot Base.
Season 3[]
Soundwave deployed Laserbeak to find the humans and Autobots who were scattered. He tried to fix Laserbeak to recover footage and also SpaceBridged Shockwave to Earth. Soundwave figured out before Starscream that the Autobots were trying to get the Decepticons to separate their army. Soundwave aided Shockwave in Texas, while in jet mode he took on Optimus and shot him down using Laserbeak. Soundwave Groundbridged a Predacon bone to Megatron and retreated. With the infection outbreak on the ship Soundwave was in charge of clean up duty. He took a team of Decepticons and saw the destruction of the infected Cons. He saw that the traitor Airachnid was free from her pod and Spacebridged her to one of Cybertron's moons along with her Insecticon army.
Starscream later accompanied a group of Vehicons on a mission to acquire components for rebuilding the Omega Lock. The Autobots tried to get several Vehicons that were getting away with their spoils. Emerging from the sky in his alternate mode, he prepared a GroundBridge for the Vehicons in front of the retreating Vehicons. Soundwave soon dispatched Laserbeak, preparing for a rematch with Optimus Prime. Despite wanting to defeat him, he himself was taken out when Optimus used his missile launcher and took him out. While Laserbeak escaped, Optimus and the rest of the Autobots brought Soundwave in for questioning. Optimus asked him for information on Megatron's then-upcoming plans. However, Soundwave found his interrogation as a joke and replayed Optimus and his voice set to a musical tone and remix, before showing a smile emoticon on his front screen. While Optimus threatened to subject him to harsher means if he doesn't cooperate, Soundwave broadcasted a sonic pulse that caused the Autobots and humans alike to gain pain in their ears.
Ratchet soon suggested opening Soundwave up to obtain his information, knowing that he kept all of the Decepticon plans he had been informed off in his personal archive. However, those plans came crashing down when Soundwave merely deleted all of his data directly from their drives. In a stunning act, he finally broke his vow of silence when he told the Autobots that he was superior and that they were inferior. Deciding that he would be unable to keep the charade up, Soundwave's visor blacked out as he went off-line, slumping on the table. Soon after, Laserbeak used the surveillance records that Soundwave had on the Autobots' human allies to track down and follow William Fowler|Agent Fowler]], with the intent of getting to the Autobot base with his use. This plan succeeded, Laserbeak arrived at the Autobots' new base and soon reunited with Soundwave, having him come online and soon attacking the Autobots. Despite Smokescreen lunging at him, Soundwave easily disposed of him by grabbing him with his tentacle, shocking him and did the same for Bulkhead. Agent Fowler tried to get involved as well, but failed to defeat him, being easily shoved aside as Soundwave approached Ratchet with his tentacles.
Soundwave was present when Megatron was convincing Ratchet to help the Decepticons. The Communication Chief picked up Laserbeak's signal even though he was on his chest. Realizing that the Autobots were attempting to locate the Nemesis, Megatron dispatched Starscream and his Seekers to destroy
Soundwave was stationed on the bridge during the Autobot assault of the Decepticon war ship. The Wreckers stormed the bridge of the Nemesis. As they charged on toward Soundwave he opened a GroundBridge sending them to a Vehicon platoon. When Ultra Magnus reported this, Jack had a plan to get rid of Soundwave using his "relocation trick" against him. He Groundbridged to the Nemesis bridge where four Vehicons aimed at him. Miko then jumped through wearing the Apex Armor, killed them and charged at Soundwave. He opened a GroundBridge with his fingers, but she stopped before entering. He then walked towards her trying to push her in. Raf then opened a Bridge behind Soundwave. The Decepticon was caught within the two portals feeding off each other. Jack was nearly pulled in before Miko caught him, as her new found mass was seemingly immovable. As the portals disappeared, Soundwave charged at the two humans. To his surprise, he phased right through them, and could hear and see everything but could not be heard or seen. He was forced to watch as Jack and Miko took over the ship, unable to interfere, and was left trapped in the Shadowzone.
Transformers Robots in Disguise[]
- "Steeljaw: That wasn't my deal. I'm to rule Earth, a living planet! Not a lifeless wasteland!
Soundwave: Your ambitions are irrelevant. Like the Activators, you have served your purpose. Find another world to rule!" - ―Soundwave and Steeljaw arguing how Earth was gonna be.[[Collateral Damage| [src]]]
Soundwave returning from the Shadowzone.
Trapped in the Shadowzone, Soundwave followed Megatron back to Earth, but got stuck on the planet after Megatron departed. Some years after Cybertron's rebirth, a statue of Soundwave was constructed as shown in Pilot (Part 1). His role in the war as Megatron's top lieutenant, and his fearsome reputation as a tactical genius, were well documented on Cybertron, as was his entrapment in the Shadowzone during his final battle aboard the Nemesis.
Soundwave attacking Team Bee.
In Portals, after wandering aimlessly for an unspecified amount of time, Soundwave finally got his chance to escape the Shadowzone after Fixit caused an accident to the GroundBridge, creating a portal to the Shadowzone. Soundwave flew through the rift and, along with his Mini-Con Laserbeak, overwhelmed Bumblebee's team, throwing the yellow Autobot into the Shadowzone and knocking out Grimlock and Strongarm with his tentacles. After that, Soundwave set to work constructing a radio array, hoping to contact Megatron and spark a mass Decepticon exodus to Earth. He was hampered by the antics of Fixit, Denny and Russell, who managed to distract him long enough for Grimlock and Strongarm to regain themselves. The two Autobots renewed their assault on the Decepticon, prompting Soundwave to portal them away with Laserbeak. While the Autobots and humans regrouped and conferred with Bumblebee, Soundwave finished constructing his device. As he chased Denny into a crane with his tentacles, Russell stole the last component. Soundwave fired a barrage of portals at the human, until they overlapped and opened another Shadowzone portal, allowing Bumblebee to return and fight the Decepticon. Denny used his crane to knock Soundwave back through the Groundbridge, and Fixit kept the portal open long enough for Strongarm and Grimlock to return Laserbeak to the same realm.
Season 3[]
At some point during Soundwave's imprisonment, he was freed from the Shadowzone but this time by Cyclonus (who also intend to bring back Megatron) and provided with a group of genetically modified Activator Mini-Cons by an unknown group to collect weapons for him as revealed in Collateral Damage.
In King of the Hill (Part 2), after obtaining Bumblebee's Decepticon Hunter, Stuntwing returned it through a GroundBridge portal back to Soundwave.
In Defrosted, Soundwave dispatched Trickout through another portal to find more of the Decepticon Hunters.
In The Great Divide, Trickout returned to Soundwave some time later with a second Decepticon Hunter that he obtained from Sideswipe. Soundwave stated he was halfway to the power he needed before telling Trickout to return to him.
In Guilty as Charged, when Hi-Test returned without a weapon, Soundwave was unhappy and threatened to terminate the Mini-Con, who fled.
In Railroad Rage, Goldgear would later succeed where Hi-Test failed, leaving Soundwave one step closer to completing his "project". At the same time, the Autobots began to realize that there was a connection with the thefts of their Decepticon Hunters.
In Prepare for Departure, after Steeljaw's Pack was sprung from custody by a group of mysterious "benefactors", Soundwave contacted them through a portal, revealing that he was associated with said benefactors and directing them to prepare for their arrival on Earth or face painful deactivation.
In Collateral Damage, after Steeljaw obtained some nuclear fuel rods, Soundwave, now reformatted to a new body and vehicle mode, used the Decepticon Hunters to escape the Shadowzone and rendezvoused with him at a demolition derby. There, he revealed a transgalactic beacon generator constructed from wreckage in the Shadowzone which he planned to use to summon Megatron back to Earth. He dismissed the resulting destruction of life on Earth as a result of the radiation from the rods as collateral damage, much to Steeljaw's disgust. Forcing Steeljaw to retreat, Soundwave proceeded to take the generator to the highest point in the city, the Crown City Bank Building. Detecting Autobots, he sent Laserbeak in pursuit of Optimus Prime before being engaged by Bumblebee's team. Using the combined Hunters weapon to freeze Bumblebee and Strongarm, he found himself being disarmed by Sideswipe before Bumblebee, freed by Grimlock, used the weapon to first cut off the ends of Soundwave's tentacles to bring him to his knees and then freeze his body. As the generator started to fire up, Soundwave declared that Megatron would return before it was suddenly destroyed by a missile from Optimus, who had linked with Hi-Test. His mission failed, Soundwave went into stasis, and he and Laserbeak were taken into custody by Optimus to stand trial.
In Freedom Fighters, Soundwave was mentioned by Cyclonus when revealed he freed him from the Shadowzone of working together to summon Megatron for the Decepticon's triumph.
Games[]
War for Cybertron[]
- Voice actor: Isaac C. Singleton, Jr. (English)
When Megatron launched an assault on an orbital station commanded by the "Autobot" Starscream, Soundwave led a troop of Decepticons and gained control over a portion of the station, turning it into Megatron's command post. When Megatron arrived, Soundwave informed him, Brawl, and Barricade that Starscream locked down what was left of the station under his command from Decepticon reach. He also told Megatron he sent advance teams to clear the way for Megatron and his mini-squad. After Starscream and his fellow Seekers reactivated the Energon Bridge that fed the orbital station power to manufacture more Dark Energon, Soundwave informed Megatron that the Dark Energon was manufacturing at maximum efficiency. Megatron, pleased, then ordered a full-scale assault on the Autobot city of Iacon, where Zeta Prime and the Autobots guarded the Omega Key, which opened the way to the core of Cybertron, where Megatron would then plant Dark Energon to gain control of Cybertron itself.
Soundwave accompanied Megatron and Breakdown during the assault on Iacon. After fighting wave after wave of Autobots, they encounter Brawl taking down an entire squadron of Autobots near the Iacon Vaults, where Zeta was protecting the Omega Key from Decepticon reach. After assisting taking down the Autobots, they called in bombers to blast the door enough for Megatron to use Dark Energon against it. When they found the Key, it flew away and landed on Zeta's hand and began attacking his defenses. After the first few attacks, Soundwave stated that Zeta's machinery could be damaged during his recharge cycle. They were able to defeat Zeta and his machine, but Zeta explained that that device he was holding wasn't the actual Key; rather, it was a device that merely activated the Key.
Megatron, Soundwave, and Breakdown tracked the Omega Key and were being intercepted by a massive Autobot ship. Destroying the two bombers that were escorting warship, the ship flew past the Decepticon flagship and transformed. Megatron stated that the unknown Autobot "was" the Omega Key, as his fake Key was beeping faster. The Autobot stated that it's name was Omega Supreme, and declared that the enemy was terminated, throwing the ship at a wall. Miraculously surviving, Soundwave stated that his scans detected ion cannons at the top of the chasm wall. The Decepticons, destroying numerous Autobots, were able to lure Omega Supreme to the area, and shot him down. Megatron, Soundwave, and Breakdown then went in for the kill as Omega crashed down into an arena. When Omega attacked, Soundwave observed Omega grabbing a canister of Energon to rejuvenate himself. After contaminating a few of them with Dark Energon, Omega's defenses lower, opening up an opportunity for the Decepticons to attack. Soon Omega Supreme fell, corrupted with Dark Energon. Megatron then declared that the core of Cybertron and the Autobot's most powerful weapon were his.
He appeared during the battle of Iacon city, collecting Energon and ordering a street with some Autobots on it to be destroyed. he Then he noticed the Autobot group where he was stationed and warns others of the incoming Autobots. Later Megatron gave Soundwave command of Kaon's prison complex. As a pair of guards arrived up with some random prisoners, Soundwave ordered them to take the prisoners to recycling. He waited in Zeta Prime's cell to do battle with the rescue party that had purposefully had themselves caught, and used Zeta's Spark to make an energy barrier around himself, while dispatching Frenzy, Rumble, and Lazerbeak to terminate them. However, as each were defeated, he would have to go and revive them, exposing himself to heavy Autobot fire. When he sustained enough damage, he tried to re-energize himself using Zeta's spark, but was interrupted by Optimus. In a last-minute ditch, he fired a shot at Zeta, but the foolish rescue leader took the shot instead, which caused the Autobots under his command to momentarily forget about Soundwave as he ran damaged.
Rise of the Dark Spark[]
- Voice actor: Isaac C. Singleton, Jr. (English)
Fall of Cybertron[]
- Voice actor: Isaac C. Singleton, Jr. (English)
Soundwave was present when a captured Optimus Prime was brought before Megatron. He witnessed Megatron's "death" at the hands (literally) of Metroplex.
Later, after Starscream assumed command of the Decepticons, Soundwave, with the help of his minions, Laserbeak and Rumble, he is able to reassemble and re-energize his fallen master.
When Megatron assaults the prison complex built around the impact crater that resulted from Trypticon's crash landing, Soundwave accompanies him. They discover that Trypticon has been disassembled and is being slowly drained of his Energon, however, he is still alive. Megatron has a plan from just removing Trypticon's battery core to freeing Trypticon himself.
After Megatron had removed the restraints keeping all of Trypticon's components separated, Soundwave arrived to reformat Trypticon. Megatron held off the swarm of Autobots that attempted to stop them while Soundwave did his work. After the process was complete Soundwave attempted to give Megatron an estimated repair time for Trypticon. Megatron has an idea and tolds Trypticon that he "failed" to destroy Autobots. However, Trypticon was success to almost destroy Lacon City and kills few more Autobots. Soundwave inform Megatron that Trypticon's auxiliary mode would be permanently and Megatron giving him the new Nemesis Protocol mode.
In the final hours of the War for Cybertron, Soundwave spearheads the assault on the Ark by riding the first of the boarding tubes into the hull of the Ark. He then, with help from his minions, disables the Ark's defensive batteries by destroying the ammunition bay.
Toys[]
Generations[]
Soundwave Deluxe toy from Generations
- Cybertronian Soundwave (Deluxe, 2010)
- Accessories: Gun, Shoulder Cannon
- Soundwave transforms into a Cybertronian armoured car. the cannons can be mounted on each side. In robot mode he is one the less accurate figures. His chest draw can open revealing a cavity for his cannons when not in use.
- Cybertronian Soundwave (Voyager, 2012)
- Accessories: Gun, Shoulder Cannon, shown with Laserbeak.
- This Soundwave also transforms into the same mode as the Generation Soundwave. The only differences are in size (and price obviously), colour and accessories.
Prime[]
- Soundwave (Deluxe, 2012)
- Accessories: Laserbeak
- This is a very accurate representation of the Transformers: Prime Soundwave. He transforms into a Stealth UAV resembling the Global Hawk, the differences being the jet engine is integral, and the "cockpit" is slimmed down. In humanoid mode, Laserbeak can attach to his chest as in the cartoon, or can peg onto his hand.
Prime: Beast Hunters[]
- Soundwave (Deluxe, 2013)
- Accessories: Ravage
Further information in this article is coming soon as it pertains to information that is not currently appropriate for inclusion.
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Notes[]
- His type is a Scientist, having the abilities Spawn Sentry and Barrier and the primary weapons Neutron Assault Rifle and Energon Repair Ray.
- Starscream and Soundwave are just backup second-in-commands. The true second in command is Shockwave.
- Just like his Generation One counterpart, he's able to eject one of his minions or Energon cubes out of his chest.
- In War for Cybertron, during the Decepticon missions, Soundwave often acts as the one who figures out what to do in an area, such as corrupting Omega Supreme's Energon supply with Dark Energon. This is most likely the game's attempt to avoid the annoying on screen guides that pop up to give advice that have been present in other Transformers games... and a far less annoying guide than a certain other.
- He is also one of the few (if not the ONLY) who has a third alt mode in War for Cybertron. He has a Cybertronian SUV-like vehicle as well as the boombox-looking mode he assumed when guarding. Zeta Prime.
- Soundwave has another altmode in Fall of Cybertron where he takes on the form of a familiar object from the G1 cartoon: A space-age lamp-post!
- In the game War for Cybertron, if you look closely on his back, there is a Decepticon insignia. This can be seen on Megatron and all the Seekers as well.
- Soundwave has been mistaken by fans as a girl in Prime, mistaking a transmission recording he played back to Starscream as his actual voice. Though listening very closely to the transmissions he plays back there is an alternative Soundwave-style voice repeating what the transmissions say, though is muffled by the actual transmission.
- Simply put, he records everything he hears and plays back parts of the recordings when he needs them.
- The Minicon that Soundwave deploys has a slight scale issue. Soundwave's alt mode is of a Predator drone, which is the size of a small plane. When he is seen deploying the drone from his body it appears to be much smaller than he is, but when it is seen attacking Agent Fowler's helicopter it is seen to be as large as the copter. This would make it only slightly smaller than Soundwave at that point.
- The same problem occurs in season 2 when Laserbeak attacks the Jackhammer.
- In Fall of Cybertron, in Soundwave's lab where he rebuilds Megatron, there is what appears to be a console that bears a resemblance to his Generation 1 counterpart's Cybertronian alt mode. It is the object that Laserbeak perches on when you can "pet" him.
- So far, Soundwave is the only character seen in the cartoon that has no visible weapons, melee or ranged. The only combat capability he has been seen to use is the weapons of Laserbeak, using his long arms to block weapon strikes, and using his tentacles to toss his opponents around.
- soundwave has the same wheel pattern as dead end.
- It is worth noting that Soundawave has never failed in a mission assigned to him by Megatron. As of season 3 episode 10 Minus One he speaks for the first time his classic line of Soundwave superior Autobots inferior before crashing his own drive to avoid interrogation.
- He also has the same voice as his G1 counterpart, but it just sounds way more awesome with his new body