Welcome back to the Beat! Thanks to last week, we don’t have a 32, but a 34-bot bracket as they’ll duke it out for the most sacred prize in robot combat, the Giant Nut. The big question: Can anyone prevent the title from going back to Auckland? Defending champs and top seeded End Game have looked ridiculously dominant, and they’ll get the winner of a 32nd-seeded play-in. We cover what we can I guess call the Auckland and Cambridge regions of the bracket, for End Game and SawBlaze, with the Worchester and Thousand Oaks regions (Ribbot and Whiplash) next week.

Hey, it’s something. Onto the fights!

12. Shatter! vs. 21. Riptide
Shatter!: 2-0 (W, JD 3-0 vs. SubZero; W, JD 3-0 vs. Blacksmith)
Riptide: 2-1 (W, KO 0:XX vs. HUGE; L, JD 3-0 vs. Defender; W, KO 2:39 vs. DUCK!)

We don’t start with the play-in bracket, but with Brooklyn’s own! Shatter! was one of the 2-0 bots that didn’t get a third fight, much to most of those bots’ chagrin. On one hand, it saves you spares (and therefore money), but on the other hand, having these preseason fights helps give an idea of this iteration of the robot.

Riptide has showed that yes, their eggbeater does something without false starting (like against HUGE) with a win over the normally tough DUCK!, which went out with a sad quack. Can they get their best rookie win to date against a quarterfinalist from last year?

Shatter! does not have their anime sword for this fight, but their standard hammer, this head referred to as New Rusty (since Old Rusty, their previous AR500 head, got bent last year). We’ll see if favoring power works out for them.

Shatter! didn’t rush, but straddled for the potential angle. Riptide didn’t bite just charged instead and ripped the left side of the front ablative armor off. Yes, it’s supposed to be damaged, but getting ripped clean off isn’t a good start. Neither is Riptide’s weapon getting to the underside, even if Shatter! landed some of a shot to the top. Riptide took the hammer bot for a ride and popped them onto the Upper Deck. Shatter! was fine and got off, but was met with Riptide again just them to the punch and flinging them off the glass and flipping them. Shatter! was able to flip, but once again, a bot trapped in the short corner is a bot in peril. Fortunately it was the Shatter! pulverizer so they didn’t have to deal with that, but the bot was starting to smoke. Shatter! looked slightly stuck on its rear ablative (which was mostly off) and tried to flail it off… and managed to get the hammer stuck under the rails. They could fire their pulverizer, but it wasn’t going to get an unstick out of that. Just a count-out. Though that’s a new and interesting way of getting your robot beached, points for that. Guess I’m not wearing my Bots FC shirt as an undershirt in three weeks at rehearsal.

Riptide wins by KO in a little over a minute.

13. HyperShock vs. 20. P1
HyperShock: 2-0 (W, KO 1:11 vs. Slammo!; W, KO 1:32 vs. Lock-Jaw)
P1: 2-1 (W, JD 3-0 vs. Valkyrie; W, KO 2:45 vs. Jäger; L, KO 2:59 vs. Ribbot)

Oh, so it’s this fight. Is this why they didn’t give HyperShock a third fight, so they didn’t have to do as much seed fuckery to get this one?

This is, of course, the #JusticeForP1 fight as HyperShock got in as the 32nd seed last year over P1, which was the only 2-1 bot to not get in in 2020. Also, it means Will Bales doesn’t have to dye his hair either green or HyperShock yellow.

P1 finally got to come in its own this year, the front-hinged flipper that has steadily improved. I mean, they beat Valkyrie this year, and Valkyrie won Most Destructive last year!

The two bots met in the middle, and HyperShock’s forks actually beat P1’s wedge in that first exchange. The weapon hadn’t spun up enough for HyperShock to capitalize, but that is an important bit of information, as HyperShock charged and flipped P1 over. P1 self-righted and HyperShock charged again, and, true to form, this is where things turned for the always mercurial HyperShock, because they went right up the ramp and pressed R twice.

This flipped HyperShock over and right into the corner. Oh, and by the way, HyperShock removed its srimech after it not working last year, or ever for that matter. They replaced it with the “bunny ears” that you see on other non-srimech verts (like Bite Force!) where the hope is by using the back wheels and weapon, you can bump a wall and get yourself over. The worse news: the bunny ears just got bent from the barrel roll, and now HyperShock’s plan still was maybe doable, but much more difficult. They tried to bump a wall to no avail, because it’s a lower angle and now the weapon doesn’t have as much speed, especially if it’s also bouncing on the floor.

At this point P1 didn’t need to use the flipper too much, and just use the wedge for control. Flipping HyperShock over, while showing aggression, would probably be a terrible life choice because HyperShock had the ground game edge (and probably not go full send again) and the more likely to hurt weapon. P1 did get a successful Upper Deck lift, using the wall to keep HyperShock inverted. HyperShock got down and once again ramped itself off P1 back onto the Deck, but the screws were also unkind to get them back over. And so this continued. HyperShock finally got enough speed to hit the wall and pirouetted, but the robot gods are cruel and they remained inverted. Oddly enough it took a weird hop off I don’t even know what to flip the robot back over. Which is exactly what P1 did not want at this point, as HyperShock finally lined up a hit and sent P1 10 feet in the air and doing all sorts of twists and flips. P1 righted, HyperShock charged but the weapon was now dead after spending about a minute and a half grinding against the floor. But now a renewed HyperShock was doing the chasing as P1 escaped briefly before being in the yellow bot’s clutches, taking a hit from the killsaws. The fight ended with HyperShock pinning P1 and doing a spin. But was it a victory spin?

Damage: On one hand, P1 got its wedge scuffed up. But on the other, HyperShock’s bunny ears going shaped the fight and its weapon died. This is 3-2 or 4-1 P1.
Control: HyperShock clawed a point back thanks to the first 30 seconds and the last minute. 2-1 P1.
Aggression: HyperShock had short bursts of aggression while righted. P1 wasn’t super aggressive, instead being content to lay back. 2-1 HyperShock.

P1 wins by unanimous decision, though a controversial one if you ask the peoples. But clearly I have the same decision. Oh, HyperShock. One day we’ll get the in-shop semi or final that we’ve all dreamed about, HyperShock vs. Witch Doctor. Until then… limitless amounts of pain and heartbreak. If they don’t make at least a bounty final again I will be shocked.

32 seed play-in: Malice vs. Skorpios
Malice: 1-2 (L, JD 3-0 vs. Tantrum; L, KO 0:48 vs. Jackpot; W, JD 3-0 vs. Blacksmith)
Skorpios: 1-2 (W, JD 3-0 vs. Blade; L, JD 2-1 vs. Whiplash; L, JD 2-1 vs. Yeti)

Okay, I have a minor issue here. If I ranked the four play-in robots and then had them as 31 vs. 34 for the 31 seed, 32 vs. 33 for the 32 seed, I’d have this fight as Malice vs. Hydra—with two split decisions in main events, and one being against Whiplash, I have Skorpios, not Hydra, as the best 1-2 bot this year. Also, Malice, with their big horizontal weapon that seems intermittent at the best of times, has about the worst possible matchup they could have gotten, resident horizontal killer, Skorpios. Which eats horizontal spinners for any meal of the day.

Also, winner gets End Game, so good luck against overwhelming odds, winner of this fight!

Skorpios box rushed and popped a wheelie. The wheelie’s less than ideal considering they need the leverage. But what that box rush did was… yup, immediately stop Malice’s spinner.

Well, I guess this is going to be mostly academic. Skorpios could use its hammer-saw and see if it could crack through the spinner supports and push Malice around.

Or at least until about halfway in Skorpios started smoking a little more heavily than the usual friction from the belt. But it went away, so I guess it was still the belt smoke. In the dying seconds Skorpios got Malice up onto the screws, but it didn’t flip it over. It went to the judges and this should be as cut and dry as they come.

Skorpios wins by unanimous decision. They get to fight End Game later.

16. Minotaur vs. 17. Bloodsport
Minotaur: 2-1 (L, JD 3-0 vs. SawBlaze; W, KO 1:23 vs. Dragon Slayer; W, KO 1:10 vs. Deep Six)
Bloodsport: 2-1 (L, KO 2:59 vs. Whiplash; W, KO 2:10 vs. SubZero; W, JD 3-0 vs. Claw Viper)

We have our middlest seeds square off. Minotaur is Minotaur. You know Minotaur. You love Minotaur. Even it’s loss wasn’t too bad considering it was to SawBlaze, and SawBlaze was probably the second-most dominant robot in-season.

Bloodsport has a new weapon bar for this fight—it’s an aluminum exterior with a steel core. It’s an interesting take on the dual bar with the circle surrounding it, and it’s meant to extent their reach.

Both bots spun up, and the first exchange sent Bloodsport off the top of the rails and broke thae tip off of its bar, which essentially meant that the weapon was dead. Minotaur was able to come in and do more damage (including the other tip), and Bloodsport’s weapon was not dead but it looked bent. Minotaur continued to go after Bloodsport and attack, and again the overhead spinner got airborne thanks to the drum.

Eventually a big, tumbling shot from Minotaur sent Bloodsport cartwheeling and once again doing its best LeMans impersonation. But was Minotaur’s drum dead now too after such a big hit? Well, no, but it took Bloodsport to the pulverizer and went to pin.

Drum seemed to still be fine as Minotaur continued to work Bloodsport over, pop it back up and took it back to the pulverizer. The fight to the judges but that should be a formality.

Damage: 5-0
Aggression: 2-1. Even if it was fairly mindless aggression from Bloodsport, they did try, so they don’t get skunked!
Control: 3-0

Minotaur by unanimous decision. They’ll get either End Game or Skorpios.

4. SawBlaze vs. 29. HiJinx
SawBlaze: 2-1 (W, JD 3-0 vs. Minotaur; W, KO 2:44 vs. MadCatter; L, KO 0:29 vs. End Game)
HiJinx: 2-1 (L, KO 1:44 vs. Mammoth; W, JD 3-0 vs Kraken; W, KO 2:01 vs. SubZero)

SawBlaze is as good of a pick as any to finally win the Nut this year. Step one is to take down the undercutter of HiJinx. And Jamison Go vs. Orion Beach is a high-level driving battle, so we’ve got a little for everyone!

This is a new bar on HiJinx. It’s not chamfered, like its usual bar, because this AR500 bar is meant to cut through wedges, because SawBlaze has the defensive wedge on.

HiJinx looked to be leading with the tail to also try and get under the wedge. SawBlaze rushed to the side and stuck right to the wheel of HiJinx, not letting it spin. The hammer-saw took HiJinx to the pulverizer, and still trying to work the right wheel and remove it. SawBlaze was unsuccessful; it took off an armor panel instead from HiJinx and a motor popped out.

Next in this attempt of a vivisection, SawBlaze went for HiJinx’s tail and took that off. Then to the left side. HiJinx was able to survive long enough to spit out the motor, but not really getting out of the corner. Until SawBlaze drove it there to get another couple hits. And as long as HiJinx moved SawBlaze came to pick it up, hit with the hammer saw, and push it to the Upper Deck.

Somehow, this actually lasted the full three minutes. HiJinx kept moving and that begged for SawBlaze to continue to engage (and there are engagement rules, or else SawBlaze would have probably left it for the last however long). That seemed like a quick round upon watching it, but probably an eternity for Jen Herchenroeder, Orion Beach, and the rest Offbeat Robotics. Props for still driving and still being operational while having one of its drive motors no longer in the robot.

SawBlaze wins by unanimous decision, surprising absolutely nobody. They get P1 next.

By the way, SawBlaze vs. P1 was a teasered or trailered fight, so I unfortunately knew P1 would win once I saw the bracket shake out. P1-HyperShock was also one of the fights, which is why I thought it would be a main event or something.

9. Glitch vs. 24. Witch Doctor

Glitch had been having weapon issues throughout the event. Fun fact, the tip speed was about 130 mph. Remember that the limit is 250 mph. I know that tip speed isn’t everything to maximize bite, but they’re going to return with a much more powerful weapon next year. But, after the Hydra fight, it totally died. And they tried to switch bots and systems, but no luck there either. So Glitch, unfortunately, had to withdraw from the tournament. Because this was moved back to the last fight of the session in order for Glitch to get as much time as possible, you can’t just say “Okay, everyone move up a seed.” And I’m guessing Malice or one of the other play-in bots don’t get in on it, though that would make sense, either Hydra, Defender, or Malice (possibly in that order) would get priority? But no.

Instead, Mammoth replaces Glitch.

For the record, if a team has to withdraw going forward, as per the rules, their spot would go to a bot eliminated in the previous round.

24. Witch Doctor vs. 9-Alt. Mammoth
Witch Doctor: 2-1 (W, JD 3-0 vs. DUCK!; L, KO 1:08 vs. End Game; W, KO 0:55 vs. Rusty)
Mammoth: 1-2 (W, KO 1:44 vs. HiJinx; L, KO/JD 3-0 vs. Tombstone; L, KO 2:29 vs. Lucky)

So we get the first alternate, Mammoth. Remember, they made the round of 16 last year after upsetting Copperhead. And, you can argue they were still mobile when Tombstone got the nut stuck in the killsaw slot. (Giggity.) Fluky, yes! Are the rules in need of clarification? Also yes!

Also important to note that Witch Doctor has to change its strategy on the fly too. They were going to go with actual forks against Glitch (they had them made and everything), but I guess not in this case. They do know they have to go for the wheels, because they’re the easiest thing on Mammoth to hit and it means you’ve avoided the weapon. And hell, Lucky and Tombstone both did it.

Mammoth didn’t totally rush, and Witch Doctor came in working the struts first, flipping Mammoth over. Mammoth tried to self-right and WD helped them, by slamming their weapon into them. As one does. Witch Doctor continued to chew away at Mammoth and finally took out the right wheel. And by took out, I mean removed the wheel from the axle, and removed the foam from the rubber. I have no idea how, considering the tire looked in one piece.

Well, that second chance didn’t work. Witch Doctor by KO in under a minute.

1. End Game vs. 32. Skorpios
End Game: 3-0 (W, KO 1:36 vs. Hydra; W, KO 1:08 vs. Witch Doctor; W, KO 0:29 vs. SawBlaze)
Skorpios (32 play-in: JD 3-0 vs. Malice)

End Game is 3-0, 3 KOs, against three top bots, in under 100 seconds each. They’re a top robot on top of their game, enough said.

Skorpios has always been a tank against horizontals, but now they get a vertical. It’s gone the full 12 minutes in its four fights, so we all know it’s well battle-tested though. Zach Lytle and crew are surprisingly not going with their standard plow but with a different fork config than the Whiplash fight. They’ve got forks on the outside to try and get around whatever End Game’ll have. Which is… the long forks inside and the wedgelets behind, as seen against SawBlaze.

Skorpios was able to get around early, but as we saw even against Malice, it was spinning and wheeling and unstable and almost immediately got a tire shredded, then the forks bent up, and then beached on the Upper Deck rail. And faint smoke. But more importantly, beached.

End Game wins by another quick KO. They’re 4 for 4, and now they get Minotaur. As for Skorpios, we’ll see them in the bounty fights as a bounty bot! (It seems that the six bots that won bounties last year will be the bounties again—both the four that won against the bounty bot—Rotator, Skorpios, Lock-Jaw, and Gigabyte, and the two that defended their bounties—Tombstone and Witch Doctor.) And for what it’s worth, they lasted longer than SawBlaze. Hell… almost twice as long! 57 seconds.

And now, the highlighted/YouTube fights.

8. Copperhead vs. 25. Lucky
Copperhead: 2-0 (W, JD 2-1 vs. Lock-Jaw; W, KO 1:45 vs. Fusion)
Lucky: 2-1 (L, KO 1:44 vs. Tantrum; W, KO 0:46 vs. Blade; W, KO 2:29 vs. Mammoth)

First off, Lucky could very well be 3-0 if not for unsticking Tantrum from the wall. I could see them making a great run, but they do have Copperhead, only a year removed from a 3 seed and winners of 5 straight fight card fights. But unlike predecessor Poison Arrow, Copperhead has yet to make headway in the tournament though, after Son of Whyachi got revenge in the Season 4 play-ins and Mammoth’s mammoth upset last year. Could Lucky get Lucky with an upset? Well, I don’t love how chunky those forks are on them… let’s find out.

First off, I don’t think that’s Matt Olson working the flipper, props to whoever the weapons operator is for all the quick self-rights, and Matt Olson does get commendations for (mostly) keeping Lucky’s front on Copperhead. Copperhead was just too low to the ground, nothing Lucky could do. I don’t even think they’d get a point in the decision, it was all snek.

Copperhead wins by unanimous decision. They’ll get Witch Doctor in the next round.

5. Uppercut vs. 28. HUGE
Uppercut: 2-0 (W, KO 1:08 vs. Gigabyte; W, KO 1:58 vs. Free Shipping)
HUGE: 2-1 (L, KO 0:59 vs. Riptide; W, KO 1:06 vs. Retrograde; W, KO 2:36 vs. Switchback)

If Uppercut had had three fights, I would have wanted Whiplash vs. Uppercut, winner probably locks up the 2 seed over Ribbot. But instead, they got bounced down to the 5 seed, though that sets up a potential quarterfinal rematch with SawBlaze. HUGE is one of the robots the Uppercut build had in mind.

Meanwhile, HUGE saved its season with two wins, and a win here would set up a rematch with Riptide to try and avenge it. And the Tegris wheels are back once again! As is the chin to hopefully absorb Uppercut’s uppercuts along with its longest bar.

I’ll be honest, I thought this could be a potential unstick at first. But they weren’t stuck to each other. Uppercut was wedged against the Upper Deck rails and HUGE was totally dead. Hence, the double KO. With that in mind, Uppercut still has to win all three categories, right?

Uppercut wins by unanimous decision and becomes current leader in KOs with 4, in only 3 fights (so ahead on End Game by tiebreaker.)

That does it for this week. Next week we have another bracket half to cover. See you then.