In the fictional Transfomers Universe, the Autobot Matrix of Leadership (or Creation Matrix as it is known in the comics) is a talisman of legend, passed down from Autobot leader to Autobot leader. It comprises an oval-shaped container, holding a glowing crystal. To open the matrix is to release an unpredictable wave of power from this crystal. In some continuities, the Matrix itself seems to have an intelligence of its own, able to determine when and how it will be used. It can not be opened or wielded in any way by someone without a matrix affinity. The Matrix also serves as a source of power, able to morph a transformer with a matrix affinity (for example Hot Rod, Scourge) into a higher-powered being, sometimes with a modified alternate mode. The transfer of the Matrix usually carries with it to the recipient, upon transformation, the title "Prime". Unexpected results may occur when someone without Matrix affinity receives the it - such as the ghosts of Autobot leaders of old appearing when Galvatron attempted to hold it in The Burden Hardest To Bear.

History

First appearing in Transformers: The Movie, the Matrix had no given origin or history, beyond being part of a prophecy that said: "One day, an Autobot shall rise from our ranks and use the power of the Matrix to light our darkest hour." This chosen one, it transpired, was Hot Rod, who became Rodimus Prime and used the Matrix to destroy Unicron. Subsequently, the following cartoon season revealed more on the nature of the Matrix - it contained the accumulated widsom of the Autobot leaders throughout history, although its precise origin was still never revealed (but it was hinted that it was in some way connected to Primacron , the creator of Unicron).

Later, in the Beast Wars and even more in the Beast Machines series, the full nature of the Matrix was divulged - not merely a container of wisdom for Autobot leaders, it was a gateway into the Transformer afterlife, also referred to as the Matrix, or the Allspark, which contained the accumulated wisdom and experience of all the Transformers that had ever lived. This does not, however, mean that the Matrix is a limitless power source - the totality of the wisdom was expelled from the Matrix to counteract the Hate Plague, leaving the Matrix empty, requiring that it be refilled over the ensuing years.

The Matrix was also used as a nickname in the Beast Wars series for the facility which produced Maximal protoforms .

In the Marvel Transformer comics, the "Creation Matrix," as it is there called, first appeared as a computer program in Optimus Prime's mind, required to bestow life on newly-created Transformers. It was later retconned into a physical object (as it appeared in the cartoon), but here it had a full origin - it was a fragment of Primus, the creator-god of the Transformers, imbued with his lifeforce (encoded in the crystal in light patterns), hence capable of granting life. Unlike the cartoon, there is no evidence that it allows the user to communicate with the sparks or laser cores of deceased Transformers, although it does retain imprints of these Autobots, giving it a rudimentary sentience. It remains the only thing capable of destroying Primus' enemy, Unicron. It is capable of changing both machine and biological life. It was also at one point corrupted by evil when Thundwing possessed it and it later corrupted Starscream with goodness when he obtained it.

In the Japanese Continuity the Matrix also has the ability to temporarily superpower a being it has already changed, for instance, turning Convoy into Burning Convoy in the Beast Wars Second movie (Japanese Continuity) and it was also used by Big Convoy in Beast Wars Neo to power up his cannon though one suspects that those matrices are actually lesser versions of the actual one.

Known holders of the matrix

Cartoon

• Six unnamed robots, as seen by Rodimus Prime during his journey through the Matrix
• Optimus Prime
• Ultra Magnus
• Rodimus Prime

Marvel Comic

• Prima
• Prime Nova
• Sentinel Prime
• Optimus Prime
• Buster Witwicky - in the US G1 comic series, the matrix is not an object but a program-like ability (see History above). Shockwave kidnaps Prime's head and tries to steal it for the Decepticons, but Prime "transfers" it to Buster to prevent it. The matrix eventually returns to Prime.
• Thunderwing - when the Matrix was lost in space, it became tainted with evil and Thunderwing briefly possessed it.
• Starscream - possessed the Matrix during the G2 comic, using it to combine himself with Bludgeon's War World, and giving it up when he found himself being turned to the side of good by its power.

The Botcon -exclusive comics added 'Primon' to the head of this list, identifying him as the first holder of the Matrix.

In addition, the UK Marvel Comics included Rodimus Prime in their stories, and he once lost the Matrix to a Quintesson General, Ghyrik.

Japanese Series

Big Convoy and Lio Convoy from the Japanese Beast Wars series possessed what was identified as a Matrix, but it seems unlikely that these were the actual Matrix.