Thrust serves as a Predacon warrior under Galvatron during the Gaia conflict, partnered with Dirge in the Combatrons unit. Their comedic dynamic positions Thrust as the "funny man" opposite Dirge’s "straight man," often prioritizing humor over mission objectives and causing repeated failures. Despite an underlying shrewdness, this trait seldom yields field success. Thrust specifically avoids sea breezes due to rust vulnerability, fueling animosity toward the Maximal Scuba.

Originally transforming into a yellow-and-black Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor with a transparent pink cockpit, his robot mode sports a "buckethead" silhouette from Machine Wars toy origins, enhanced by pink light-piped eyes. He wields a large yellow rifle assembled from dual leg-stored components.

His operational history features consistent failures: distraction by mockery of Starscream and BB led to crashing while pursuing Galvatron’s critical white lion target; surveillance directives to locate Tripledacus were botched by overlooking Jointron components; and hostage operations on a Maximal recon ship collapsed when Jointron festivities outmaneuvered them, enabling escape only via distraction.

Following Predacon power struggles, Thrust shifted allegiance when Megastorm’s Angolmois Energy exposure transformed him into Gigastorm. Thrust and Dirge pledged unconditional loyalty, undergoing Angolmois infusions that rebirthed Thrust as Thrustor. This upgrade replaced his jet mode with a cybernetic Velociraptor form (classified Transmetal 2 in some sources), amplifying physical capabilities and combat threat. Despite enhanced prowess under Gigastorm, making him less dismissible to Maximals, Thrustor retained his original personality flaws, comedic dynamic with Dirge, and operational ineptitude, underscoring unchanged fundamental traits.