I've just recently started really caring about transients when making my drums, but I'm confused. on some of my fav drums(madeon's to be specific) there isn't a "transient" right at the start of the drum, but they're still punchy and clear. I'm just wondering what a good transient """"should"""" look like and sound like.

use your ears on this one.

You can get things to sound the way you want them to with just a good understanding of eq. no side chain needed.

I can see how a compressor works for shaping transients, but that seems to be more of the subtractive approach.

Transient shaper helps with just that part more so than a compressor.

but use both if you're having trouble.

Thanks to both of you! I have Transient Master by NI, but i'll try that one out too 

also the effects chain should be considered as well.

i usually roll a transient shaper into a compressor