Spoilers ahead for Transformers One.
Transformers One features many characters and elements that have a long history in the franchise, including the Matrix of Leadership. This artifact ties into the animated prequel’s origin story of Orion Pax/Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and D-16/Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry), as the Transformers are split into the Autobots and Decepticons. Transformers One explores the close friendship Orion and D-16 share before becoming Optimus Prime and Megatron, leading their respective sides in the seemingly never-ending Autobot and Decepticon conflict.
Since Transformers One is just beginning to flesh out this larger story in a series that will hopefully span more animated movies, it introduces additional characters and elements to better understand the Matrix of Leadership. This includes the Transformers’ creator, Primus, the Elder Primes, the energy source known as Energon, and the planet Cybertron. All these aspects flesh out the Matrix of Leadership’s importance and allow it to be a deus ex machina during Transformers One‘s ending.
The Matrix Of Leadership In Transformers Lore Explained
It Is Intertwined With The Autobots’ Leadership
The Matrix of Leadership is one of the most powerful artifacts in the Transformers universe. It is used to channel the power of Primus himself and is typically wielded by the leader of the Autobots, who is deemed worthy by the Transformers god Primus to wield such power. The Matrix of Leadership can even be used to reignite a Transformer’s life spark, meaning that it can be used to resurrect a Transformer after they have been killed, and their physical body has been seemingly damaged beyond repair.
It is passed down to each successive Autobot leader who is worthy of possessing it.
Creating and restoring life is one of the Matrix’s greatest strengths and it can also be used to manipulate energy and prove who is worthy of leading the Transformers. It is passed down to each successive Autobot leader who is worthy of possessing it. While it is central to the Autobots and their way of life, the Matrix’s immense power is often coveted by the Decepticons and other enemies, who seek to use the artifact for their own nefarious purposes.
Why The Matrix Of Leadership Went Missing In Transformers One
Sentinel Prime’s Plan Backfired
In Transformers One, Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm) kills Zeta Prime and the other Elder Primes as part of a plot to take the Matrix of Leadership for himself. Sentinel was successful in murdering the Primes and becoming Cybertron’s puppet leader for the Quintessons. However, Sentinel failed to acquire the Matrix of Leadership, as it rejected him, and disappeared, waiting for a Transformer who was worthy of wielding the burden of its profound power.
Elder Primes In Transformers One |
Alpha Trion |
Megatronus Prime |
Micronus |
Zeta Prime |
Prima Prime |
Vector Prime |
Onyx Prime |
Quintus Prime |
Liege Maximo |
Solus Prime |
Nexus Prime |
Alchemist Prime |
Amalgamous Prime |
Primus recognized that Sentinel was selfish, manipulative, cowardly, and destructive, with all these traits making him unworthy of the Matrix. Sentinel could not reveal his failure or his betrayal to the masses, though, and instead perpetuated lies about how the Matrix went missing after they were killed by the villainous Quintessons many years ago. Orion, D-16, and the other denizens of Iacon City are left hoping that the Matrix can be found again, with Orion even believing he can help Sentinel find it.
Why Optimus Prime Got The Matrix Of Leadership But Sentinel Didn’t
Optimus Was Worthy In All The Ways Sentinel Was Not
Unlike Sentinel Prime, Optimus Prime is deemed worthy of the Matrix of Leadership. His traits are the polar opposite of Sentinel, with Optimus being selfless, honest, courageous, and hopeful in his quest to save his friends and peacefully unite all Transformers. The moment that truly solidifies this is when he places himself between Megatron and Sentinel, sacrificing his own life in an attempt to spare Sentinel and to stop Megatron from going down a dark path that will further divide the Transformers.
Even though Optimus knows about Sentinel’s many treacheries, he also recognizes that murder is not the answer and will not fix Sentinel’s many injustices. He is also worried about his friend becoming consumed by vengeance and losing himself entirely. Optimus sacrificing himself to save an enemy’s life and to help his friends and all Transformers is more than enough to show Primus that he deserves the honor of wielding the Matrix of Leadership.
How Powerful The Matrix Of Leadership Is
It Is Powerful, But Not The Most Powerful Artifact In The Franchise
The Matrix of Leadership is shown to be incredibly powerful in Transformers One as it revives Optimus Prime, gives him new powers, restores all the Transformers’ transformation cogs, and ensures that Energon once again flows in abundance on Cybertron. No other artifact in the animated prequel can rival this power. With Transformers One clearly setting up a sequel, though, there is potential for the next installment to introduce other powerful artifacts and weapons.
Others include the Transwarp Key, which can create portals through space and time, and terraforming devices like the Star Harvester and the Transformium Seed.
One such object is the AllSpark, which is even older than the Transformers, and can be used to create worlds and fill them with life, which makes the AllSpark even more powerful than the Matrix of Leadership. Others include the Transwarp Key, which can create portals through space and time, and terraforming devices like the Star Harvester and the Transformium Seed. While they all have their own powers, the Matrix of Leadership is particularly powerful in its own right.
How Transformers One’s Matrix Of Leadership Compares To Michael Bay’s
It Played A Pivotal Role In Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Prior to Transformers One, the Matrix of Leadership appeared in Michael Bay’s 2009 movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. In this story, the human Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) sacrifices himself to save Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen). Just as Optimus’ sacrifice in Transformers One proves him to be worthy of the Matrix, Sam’s sacrifice in Revenge of the Fallen, shows the Elder Primes that even though he is a human, he has earned the right to wield the Matrix.
Movie | Tomatometer Score | Popcornmeter Score |
|---|---|---|
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | 20% | 57% |
Transformers One | 88% | 98% |
The Primes revive Sam, and he then uses the Matrix to resurrect Optimus. The Matrix has further uses in this story, though, as the Decepticons use it as a key to activate the Star Harvester as part of a plot to terraform Earth into their new home. Despite some differences, the key tenets of the Matrix embodying the power of Primus, only being used by those deemed worthy, and having the ability to revive a fallen Transformer remain consistent in Transformers One and in Revenge of the Fallen.
What The Matrix Of Leadership Means For Transformers One’s Future
It May Be Too Powerful For Future Stories
Now that Optimus Prime has the Matrix of Leadership in Transformers One, Energon is flowing once more across Cybertron and all Transformers have their transformation cogs again. There is no longer an Energon shortage and there is no need for anyone to continue toiling in the mines. Life in Iacon City is better for everyone, although the abundance of Energon, and the fact that the fuel is no longer being delivered to the Quintessons, will undoubtedly cause conflict in the sequels.
Sentinel Prime had been delivering the majority of the limited Energon to the Quintessons.
As for the Matrix itself, Optimus may need to lose it, if only temporarily, as it may lower the stakes of future stories. With the Matrix, he can revive any fallen Transformer and solve countless problems, as he did at the end of Transformers One. The Matrix may also be sought after by Megatron and his Decepticons or by the Quintessons, although they will be unable to wield it due to being unworthy. Regardless of its future, it is important that Transformers One has already introduced and established the importance of the Matrix of Leadership.
