Transformers Warfare: Magnus (Rank)
The title of Magnus is one worthy of dignity and respect. Often considered to be the second highest rank achievable within the Autobots, just below "Prime", the mere mention of a Magnus on any given battlefield is enough to strike fear in many a Decepticon. To be worthy of such a rank, one needs to be courageous, tough, and compassionate. Many bots have tried to become a Magnus, but few have succeeded.
Possibly the most famous among the Magni is Ultra Magnus, leader of the Wreckers, an elite group of some of the toughest soldiers within the Autobot ranks. Ultra Magnus is one of Optimus Prime's oldest friends, having known each other from the Autobot leaders' days as Orion Pax.
Little is known about this Magnus, aside from her similarity in both color scheme and demeanor towards the Autobot Arcee, leading some to suspect that Arcana is a counterpart to her from an alternate timeline or universe. She is a recluse, preferring to keep hidden on the spider-infested planet of Archa Seven. If this is actually an Arcee counterpart, whatever happened to her to make so unwilling to go against the Decepticons anymore - not to mention her techno-organic spider mode - is a mystery, one few Autobots are willing to uncover.
Formerly known as "Leader-1", Leader Magnus is the commander of the Autobot subfaction, The Guardians. The Guardians were originally an Autobot equivalent birthed from a similar Great War on the Cybertronian colony planet of Gobotron, until the planet was destroyed by said warfare and much of the population was decimated. Now a Magnus within the Autobot ranks, Leader looks to keep the rest of his friends alive, and perhaps correct his past mistakes which lead to his home planet's death.
One of the few flight capable Autobots who is neither a Triple Changer nor affiliated with the Aerialbots, Skyhammer Magnus is a powerful yet graceful warrior. Although he and his team have spent much time exploring the galaxy, searching for supplies, species to aid, or stray Decepticon outposts to take down, news of Team Prime's location on Earth has drawn them to the planet... just in time too.
Although she doesn't use the Magnus title - Elita Magnus just sounds pretentious - Elita-1 still very much qualifies as one, and is often eager to show Decepticons why that is. Strong and capable, she acts as Optimus Prime's second in command on Earth, having left command of her previous unit to...
Splendid Magnus is a courageous and honorable leader, unafraid to make the hard decisions. Formerly the SIC to Elita-1 in the all-femme attack squad Shield of Solus, Splendid was granted both the rank of Magnus and command of the team when Elita left Cybertron with Optimus.
The leader of the Primal Vanguard, Delta Magnus and his team were once some of the best soldiers in the Autobot army. Unfortunately, an attack from the Decepticon Heavy Brigade left a large number of them dead, Delta included. The left over members would reform under the leadership of Grimlock as the Lightning Strike Coalition, then later the Dinobots.
Though she doesn't follow conventional naming schemes, Pyra Magna of Caminus is every bit a Magnus as everyone else with the name thanks to her relentlessness and ambition. Much like Splendid Magnus and Elita-1 previously, Pyra leads an all-femme team known as the Torchbearers, which can combine into Victorion. Although the team is more suited for and accustomed to collection and preservation of ancient Cybertronian artifacts, one can always count on Pyra and her "Rust Renegades" to come to their aid, should she hear their cry.
A close friend to the Camien Windblade, Maximal Magnus was a virtuous Autobot of great leadership capabilities. Unfortunately, virtue was not enough to save her from deactivation. When she travelled to Eukaris to negotiate and trade for supplies, she was ambushed by the newly formed Predacons, inspired by the Decepticon Preditron. Maximal Magnus sacrificed her life to save her team and a small group of Eukarians, but in doing so left her team leaderless. However, her sacrifice inspired a new faction to rally up and stop the new threat, using the first half of her name as their moniker. Her group, meanwhile, has found new leadership, though they will never forget their first leader.