Previously, the Autobots and Decepticons had shifted their battles away from Earth into outer space. The Decepticon Shockwave had created an army of a new faction called Predacons, who then broke away from the Decepticons and scattered across the universe by the hundreds. In response to this, the Autobots and Decepticons both used Preda-Armor to upgrade their bodies into a new form called Hunter Mode. Then, a group of Predacons led by the Demon Emperor Dragotron arrived on both Earth and specific points in the universe with the intent of invading them, but the Autobots and Decepticons followed them back to Earth and, together, succeeded in sealing away Dragotron deep underground using the power of a Legendisc. Afterwards, Optimus Prime and his Autobots departed Earth once more to hunt down the remaining Predacons throughout the universe. Should any Predacons on Earth return, however, Optimus had entrusted two teams of Autobot combiners called Swordbots with the task of dealing with them. That day has now come, as the Predacons have reawakened and once again threaten the Earth, aiming to revive their master Dragotron.