Cyclonus appears in the animated series Transformers: Robots in Disguise as a significant antagonist, primarily operating from the shadows during the show's final season. He is a Decepticon who leads a specialized cell of his fellow soldiers, including Cyberwarp, Skyjack, Treadshock, and Riotgear. This group's ultimate objective is the restoration of the Decepticon Empire led by their master, Megatron.

Cyclonus presents himself as an extremely loyal and efficient air warrior for the Decepticon cause, with a chilling voice that speaks of the destruction he intends to bring upon his enemies. He takes a distinct pleasure in cruelty and manipulation, showing a notable lack of concern for morality or the suffering of others, which he once dismissively referred to as a "happy bonus" to his plans. While he boasts a glorious and fearsome reputation, his past reveals a less heroic streak; on at least one prior occasion, he chose to flee when a confrontation turned against him. In the events of Robots in Disguise, he relies much more heavily on subterfuge, intricate manipulation, and using other characters as pawns rather than direct confrontation. Despite this preference for scheming, he remains a capable and dangerous fighter when forced into battle and is backed by considerable physical power.

In the story, following the restoration of the planet Cybertron, a new High Council was formed to govern. Cyclonus and his team secretly usurped this council, using technology called Light Benders to disguise themselves as Autobots. From this position of hidden authority, Cyclonus orchestrated a grand conspiracy to conquer Earth and usher in a new age of Decepticon rule. To further his goals, he formed an alliance with the dangerous Decepticon criminal Steeljaw, using him as a distraction to torment the Autobots on Earth. Crucially, Cyclonus also engineered the release of Soundwave from the Shadowzone, reprogramming him to assist in the plan to summon Megatron back to lead their new empire.

Cyclonus has several key relationships that define his role. His primary driving motivation is his profound loyalty to Megatron, and his entire scheme is designed to bring about his master's return. He treats his own team members, particularly Cyberwarp, as subordinates whose concerns about their mission's morality are quickly dismissed. His relationship with Steeljaw is purely transactional, viewing the criminal as a useful but ultimately disposable errand-bot for the Decepticon Council's plans.

In terms of development, Cyclonus remains a steadfast and committed antagonist, displaying little change in his core personality. His most significant development is the full unveiling of his plan and his eventual defeat. When the Autobot Bee Team destroyed his Light Bender, exposing his true identity, Cyclonus responded by ordering his team to combine into the powerful gestalt warrior known as Galvatronus, with Cyclonus forming the torso. In this combined form, he battled the Autobot combiner, Ultra Bee. The fight turned against Galvatronus when one of his components, specifically Cyberwarp, hesitated to deliver a killing blow. This moment of doubt allowed Ultra Bee to defeat the Decepticon combiner, and Cyclonus was knocked unconscious alongside his team, leading to his arrest for his crimes.

Notable abilities include his transformation into a sleek, Cybertronian starfighter capable of high-speed flight. His most formidable power, however, is the ability to combine with his four comrades to form the massive and powerful combiner Galvatronus. As the central component, Cyclonus serves as the combined form's torso and, presumably, its directing intelligence, granting him immense strength and firepower in this state.