Choose your last stand

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

I've never questioned it before but looking at the art, they chose not to include their strongest Autobot (Brawn) or their actual "warriors" (Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, Windcharger).

Seems like the best choice would have been

Optimus Prime
Brawn
Trailbreaker
Sideswipe
Ironhide

I'd switch out Trailbreaker for Hound for the illusions (though I haven't read much of the Marvel comics so I don't know if he still had that ability or it was just holographic maps - if so then Mirage who was also pretty badass and has misdirection abilities) and possibly Sideswipe for Sunstreaker (ruthlessness vs willingness to cheat when necessary, plus slightly better arms and armor - with only 5 members every advantage counts).

[snaketales]

I have no idea why Blue Streak or Huffer were chosen in-universe: Huffer has no special abilities and Blue Streak doesn’t strike me as a fighter. He has to be rescued during the battle and then freezes against Jetfire late in the run.

I would keep Optimus (naturally) and Ironhide for his experience and endurance.
But I would have Windcharger up front behind one of Trailbreake’s forcefields and use his magnetic ability to mess the Cons up. I’m surprised we never saw more use of that ability.

And I’d stick with Mirage for his holo powers and fighting (he went back to fight after losing an arm!)

So:
Optimus
Ironhide
Mirage
Trailbreaker
Windcharger

[Seraphim Prime]

Just thinking through the list, you definitely want Prime as he's strong all round and the leader of the team. Trailbreaker can support with his forcefield and has decent personal strength. For he rest of the team, I'm wanting a bit of a balance between firepower and physical strength, so I went back to the tech specs, and Ironhide is your typical all rounder.

Otherwise the last two surprised me.

Wheeljack sits with the third highest firepower and fourth highest strength, and high intelligence and courage to use it
Bluestreak sits with the highest firepower of all the Autobots, he's mid tier strength but otherwise pretty well rounded - he's let down by courage, but figured his main roll is in distance work and he has the speed to support that too.


Optimus Prime
Ironhide
Trailbreaker
Wheeljack
Bluestreak

[Jetfire in the sky]

Optimus
Brawn
Ironhide
Hound
Wheeljack as medic in place of the away Ratchet

[Lint]

Windcharger
Wheeljack
Jazz
Cliffjumper
Bumblebee

All these guys have real experience defending Autobot assets from Decepticons and monster planets.