I never really got into the cartoon but didn't Optimus own Megatron all day in it?
I know its what has to happen since he's the good guy but thats really all we have to go by isn't it?
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Movie: If it was a rematch, I'd say Opt wins, if they were fighting in an environment where no innocent lives would be at stake so no holding back would be necessary for Prime. His cannon on his arm shouldve wrecked Megatron, I just read in a guide that one blast of it is equal to 3000 lbs of TNT. And it didnt even take anything near that amount to beat Megatron with those bombs at the end.
For the comics. Optimus. It was stated that his powerset is above Galvatron especially when he got his transformation to second grade. He was easily dumping Unicron-bots even with his power level on low. In the new comics Optimus took out Devastator (constructicons united). Megatron was only able to beat Prime when he sucked in energy so it wasn't from his own power and even like that he had a hard time crushing Prime who still survived.
Actually, to come to think of it, Megatron def has the speed advantage over Optimus and can strike in flight-mode with his lightning cannon which is very powerful while Opt is limited to only regular missiles on the semi.
Thats pretty much how it is in every cartoon with Optimus and Megatron. It is generally known that Optimus is stronger, more powerful but he holds back most of the time for fear of putting people in harms way.
I see no reason to see why the movie is any different.
He did and he wouldn't have died if not for Hot Rod. Optimus is above Megatron because he has too much experience (wise as all the autobot leaders in the past) thanks for the Matrix.