User blog comment:Diotoir the son of nemesis/Grand Final prediction/@comment-3321301-20160822191411

If Thor get the Wildcard (and if they don't, I'm picketing the BBC), I can see them taking it. But I'm a bit rambly, so lemme do robots one by one.

Pulsar's got no chance here. It's too unreliable and its drum seems too high up most of the time. I can't see it beating any of the robots here unless Apollo wheelies into it or something.

Apollo, I'm not nearly as impressed with as most people. It strikes me as the new Spawn Again, a barely functioning robot that barely scrapes through battles with a superpowered flipper. I mean, if its drive fails and flipper jams four battles in a row, that's more than just bad luck. If another robot drives onto it near the side wall, it could flip them out, but I don't hold out much hope.

TR2, I keep forgetting about tbh. Just another good flipper. I won't write it off, it could certainly win, but I feel like we haven't really seen it take heavy blows yet, and I'm not sure how well it can push if it can't get underneath.

Carbide, I can see in with a chance, but I think Thor would basically do what Terrorhurtz did better (it's faster, with a functioning axe). Shockwave could probably hold it off too if it keeps going in scoop first, and with aggression the new leading factor, that could hurt Carbide's chances.

Shockwave, actually, I think could be a dark horse here. The thing just doesn't die, and it doesn't let its opponents breathe, which is invaluable when it comes to spinners. I know people will be upset to have another shover win (what are you talking about of course storm ii won series 7), but though it's not my favourite newcomer, it's the one that's impressed me most.

On the other hand, Thor, for me, has been the most impressive robot in the series. Embarrassing breakdown notwithstanding, it's been potent, tough, and aggressive. For me, this could be the champion. Unless it loses the Wildcard, in which case, hell if I know. Probably Shockwave, regardless of the Wildcard.