Robot Wars World Series - Episode 1 Analysis

As 2017 draws to a close, there's just enough time for a special edition. The World Series pits eight robots from the UK against eight robots from the rest of the world (sort of) in a quest to find out which country is truly the best at combat robotics. Of course, it wouldn't be a Robot Wars international special without a horribly mismatched line-up: this episode has ex-champions Apollo, former FRA champions Gabriel and Terrorhurtz, and powerful drum spinner Sabretooth, facing off against veterans TMHWK and Cobra, a loanerbot from Portugal... and a very familiar face.

Robot Wars S10 - Grand Final Analysis

It all comes down to this, then. After a thrilling series full of shocks, surprises, and smashed-up bits of arena, we know five of the six robots that will be competing in the Grand Final for the coveted Robot Wars trophy. Will it be Carbide for the second year running? Will it be the expensive, precision-engineered Rapid, or the equally well-engineered Magnetar? Will it be Behemoth, after nineteen long years? Or will Nuts 2 pull off its biggest shock yet? We're a day away from finding out!

Robot Wars S10 - 10-Robot Rumble Analysis

My Grand Final preview is going to be split over two articles. The five heat winners will get their own article, but first, I'm going to look at the ten robots who'll be vying for the final place alongside them. Robot Wars has never had a 10-way battle before, and I think I speak for most fans when I say that I am really looking forward to watching it.

It's a strong and varied line-up, and it includes: one former Robot Wars champion; four former FRA champions; two former Robot Wars Grand Finalists; two robots built by schoolchildren; and an impressive veteran drum spinner. I'll be rating each of their chances out of 10, before delivering my final verdict on who's most likely to claim that last Grand Final spot.

Robot Wars S10 - Week 5 Analysis

This is turning into one of the most unpredictable seasons of Robot Wars ever... which is a bit of a pain in the ass for me, when the whole point of this blog is to predict it. Still, the fifth and final heat looks a bit easier to predict: it should be a straight fight between Magnetar, the successor to Pulsar, and veteran axe-bot Thor. The other bots vying for contention are front-hinged flipper Push to Exit, stylish crusher Coyote, a much-improved Hobgoblin, and a not-quite-so-improved Expulsion. Who will take the glory?

Robot Wars S10 - Week 4 Analysis

Last week saw Rapid's redemption, Terrorhurtz flattening everything in sight, and Apex self-destructing, so what can we expect from this week? Drum spinner Concussion had an impressive debut last year, reaching the Grand Final, but they'll face stiff competition from two-time FRA champions Iron-Awe 6 and the wacky-but-deadly Nuts 2. Also in the mix are vertical spinner Tauron, vertical crusher Androne 4000... and a robot made from a beer keg.

Robot Wars S10 - Week 3 Analysis

Last week saw the most competitive heat line-up in Robot Wars history, so how on earth do you top that? Well, this week's heat has a lot less pedigree, with long-running veterans and two-time FRA champions Terrorhurtz the standout name. John Reid's famed axe-bot has struggled in the last two series, but will go into this heat as one of the favourites.

Standing in Terrorhurtz' way are Apex and Rapid, two strong machines hoping to bounce back from underwhelming debuts; Bucky, basically an enormous biting mouth on wheels; Vulture, one of the most maddest, coolest designs I've ever seen; and Track-Tion, the first tracked robot to appear in the reboot. Last week may be a tough act to follow, but this is not a weak heat by any means.

Robot Wars S10 - Week 2 Analysis

Last series, Mentorn got quite a bit of criticism for putting champions Apollo and runners-up Carbide in the same heat. Not only have they done the same thing again this year, they've upped the ante even further, and assembled what I dare say is the single toughest heat line-up in Robot Wars history.

We have the three highest-ranking returnees from last series: champions Carbide, runners-up Eruption, and fourth-placed Aftershock. We have the two-time FRA champions Big Nipper, and the 2016 FRA champions Gabriel, both returning after sitting out Series 9 as reserves. Finally, we have Crackers 'n' Smash, one of the most impressive newcomers from last year, but going into this heat as massive underdogs. There's a higher proportion of Grand Final-worthy bots here than in any other heat I can remember, but only one is guaranteed to make it...

Robot Wars S10 - Week 1 Review

The first episode of Series 10 is finally upon us, and it's set to be a scorcher. Series 8 champions Apollo, ever-presents Behemoth, and fan favourites Sabretooth are all vying for the heat win, while Donald Thump, Apocalypse, and The Swarm will be hoping to prove they're not just there to make up the numbers. Who will come out on top? Let's find out!

Robot Wars S10 - Week 1 Analysis

Robot Wars is back, with a new hazard - the Fog of War - and a new format that, I have to admit, seems unnecessarily convoluted. We'll get to the details later, but what it means for now is that each heat only has six robots, down from eight previously. This blog has a new format too - as well as the usual pre-episode analysis, I'll be posting my thoughts on each episode after they air. I didn't want to do this for Series 9 as I felt BattleBots Update did a good enough job of this already, but this time I'm gonna give it a go myself. It helps that I attended filming this year.

The first six bots are a tasty line-up. We have the deposed champions Apollo, looking to regain their crown; Behemoth, hoping to bounce back after a turbulent Series 9; Sabretooth, who have changed things up by not changing things up; The Swarm, Ian Watts' latest creation; Apocalypse, an axebot with a clever gimmick; and Donald Thump, which intends to make Robot Wars great again.

Robot Wars S9 - Grand Final Preview

So, here we are then: the Grand Final, and in all likelihood, a new champion is about to be crowned. We've seen some of the biggest hits in Robot Wars history, some epic upsets, newcomers that have proven their worth, and veterans that have finally come good. Now only six remain, but who can take home the trophy?

Robot Wars S9 - Week 5 Analysis

The final heat is upon us, and it's the big one. The one we've all been waiting for even since the heats were announced. Apollo and Carbide, the bots that came first and second last year, pitted against each other once again. Only one of them can win this heat. Joining them are six robots who are probably wishing they were in any heat but this one.

Robot Wars S9 - Week 4 Analysis

Last week's episode wasn't short on spinners, but this week's is utterly packed with them. We have grand finalists Pulsar, and their terrifying drum. We have Ironside 3 and Apex, two ferocious bar spinners, and newcomers Frostbite, a slightly less ferocious bar spinner. We have veterans Supernova, now with a redesigned flywheel, and HIGH-5, a SMIDSY clone with an interchangeable spinning drum. No matter what happens, I can tell you one thing for sure: at least one of these robots isn't making it out in one piece.

Robot Wars S9 - Week 3 Analysis

It's gonna have to go some to top last week's drama, but Week 3 has a pretty solid line-up. Last year's wildcard Grand Finalist Thor returns, along with Foxic and MR Speed Squared, two of the machines it beat last year; all three have been completely rebuilt and look far tougher than before. There's also a trio of spinners with interesting gimmicks, a group of newcomers with an impressive-looking drum spinner... and Chimera.

Robot Wars S9 - Week 2 Analysis

I thought about doing post-heat analysis, but let's stick with what I know for now. On to Heat 2, then, which sees the return of Eruption and PP3D, two of the losers from last year's Heat of Death, as well as Robot Wars stalwarts Behemoth. There's also a new robot from the former owners of Dantomkia, and Robot Wars' first-ever eggbeater. What's an eggbeater, I hear you cry? Read on and find out!

Robot Wars S9 - Week 1 Analysis

With Series 9 just on the horizon, it's time to start looking at each week's robots and seeing how they stack up. Last year, I posted these weekly predictions on my Facebook profile, but this year, I'm posting them for the world to see. There's no way that can go wrong.

Anyway, Week 1 sees the return of Grand Finalists Team Shock, with a frightening new machine, as well as former Grand Finalists Terrorhurtz. There are only two new machines in this heat, but they couldn't be any more different.