User blog:Toon Ganondorf/Series 10 Predictions

Time to get the jump on the competition and lock in my Series 10 predictions for our upcoming fights next week. We have six robots and a fascinating new format, but like last time I'm ranking the six robots based on likelihood of winning, rather than plotting the exact path to the final (i.e. I don't know who will fight who in round 1).

I've used the trailers to make these predictions, but there's nothing concrete in there, just things like the ability to breach ground clearance or tank damage. I have not analysed the likely matchups.

6. Apocalypse
I was so pleased when the producers called for different weapon types, and even more so to see Apocalypse answer the call. A throwback to classic Series 5 Splinter, Apocalypse remains a mild X-factor in Heat 1, certainly able to do a fair job in a one-on-one fight. How will it do in a 3-way melee where only one progresses? Hard to say, because Splinter's experience in three-way melees are tainted by the unjustified murder of Killertron and the breakdown of Centurion. I don't rate its chances in a four-on-one fight with The Swarm, not with weapons that can only mob one robot at a time. Duck and Blenda have a good chance of getting their weapons into play. Apollo, Behemoth and Sabretooth are just too good to be considered on paper. I can only consider Apocalypse beating Sabretooth on judges, just like Jellyfish did, by controlling it and resisting damage. Unlike against Jellyfish, Sabretooth will be working at full capacity. Apocalypse has almost no hope of winning the three-way melee, which means its only prospects of progressing is to draw Donald Thump in the redemption knockout, and even then I'm unwilling to rebut my presumption that a vertical spinner can beat an axe.


 * Prospects of Success
 * vs. Donald Thump: Mid-to-moderate
 * vs. Sabretooth: Low to mid
 * vs. Behemoth: Low
 * vs. The Swarm: Very Low
 * vs. Apollo: Non-existant

5. The Swarm
It's so great to see Team Big Brother back, and whilst I was hoping to see Or Te redeem itself at some point, I applaud the show and team for bringing us such an ingenious competitor - a four part clusterbot with all different kinds of weapon. I was so disappointed when the show brought ingenious designs like Crushtacean to Series 9 in order to be OHKO'd by spinners, but I'm glad to see The Swarm placed in a heat where it at least gets two chances to fight without being wrecked. I might give The Swarm a fighting chance against Donald Thump, but there's only one fight (in the redemption knockout) where that matchup is going to help it progress (i.e. if two fight together in round one but Apollo or Behemoth is in there, it's not going to help them). Behemoth can tank heavier hits than Blenda can deal out, Apollo can send parts of the clusterbot into orbit, and Sabretooth can shred them into pieces. Can't wait to watch it in action, though.


 * Prospects of Success
 * vs. Apocalypse: Moderate
 * vs. Donald Thump: Mid-to-moderate
 * vs. Sabretooth: Low-to-mid
 * vs. Behemoth: Low
 * vs. Apollo: Non-existant

4. Donald Thump
Gold is the hardest metal in the world, guaranteed, okay, guaranteed.

I'm so excited to see Donald Thump on the show, and it's so outstanding its in the first episode. The bar is a largely unknown factor, it could be decent or completely underpowered. The brief footage we have of it suggests it's at least strong enough to give knocks, and against the lightweight Swarm clusters that could be decisive. Think 259's massacre of enemy robots and that's what I envisage in a fight between Donald Thump and The Swarm (hopefully).

Donald Thump, like The Swarm and Apocalypse, has little chance of winning the first round melee outright when there are three tier-one bots above; it would need to draw Swarm and Apocalypse and I just don't see that happening. I'm not sure how durable Sabretooth is but a 1v1 fight would certainly be interesting and if I could root for an upset, it'd be there. Behemoth and Apollo though, are a different story. Behemoth can tank heavy hits from everyone bar Carbide, and Apollo can probably decide it in one decent flip.

Then again, Aftershock was ripping off Donald Thump's design. Maybe history can repeat.


 * Prospects of Success
 * vs. Apocalypse: Good
 * vs. The Swarm: Good
 * vs. Sabretooth: Moderate
 * vs. Behemoth: Low
 * vs. Apollo: Low

3. Sabretooth
Sabretooth feels like it is moving towards finalist status, with an outstanding victory against Terrorhurtz in Series 9 cementing it as one of the upper-tier bots for the first time. But we can't forget how much damage they took in the fights with Aftershock and Terrorhurtz - it is not the hardiest machine. Whilst I'm confident it could shred The Swarm and edge damage over Apocalypse, Donald Thump remains an unknown. Can they take chunks out of the drum before smashing into Thump's side? What if the drum takes damage in Round 1 and hamstrings Sabretooth for the rest of the heat? We've only had two wins to assess Sabretooth on, and whilst I'm happy to give it the benefit of the doubt, I need to assess for a few more.

Sabretooth can probably win a firs round melee if it draws The Swarm and Donald Thump, but only if it's lucky. I don't give Sabretooth much prospects against Behemoth, but I'm not counting it out because Behemoth just seems to lose a lot. Apollo is a very interesting one. I think Apollo can definitely breach their ground clearance, and I have a feeling the drumbot won't like being hurled around. But what if Sabretooth can get a key hit on Apollo's flipper tip, crumbling and ruining the flipper's use? The Series 8 champion could be at the receiving end of drum damage all fight, and pushing was never Apollo's strong suit. If there's going to be a shock upset in Heat 1, it'll be a Sabretooth victory over Apollo.


 * Prospects of Success
 * vs. The Swarm: Good
 * vs. Donald Thump: Moderate
 * vs. Apocalypse: Mid to moderate
 * vs. Apollo: Mid to moderate
 * vs. Behemoth: Low

2. Behemoth
The "returning champion" Behemoth is back and looks to have a better chance this year than last year. In my opinion, last year's campaign was decided when Behemoth was flipped out by Eruption - even if it had won against Cherub as it should have, it would've been just another failed heat final campaign to add to the bouquet. This year, Behemoth are against Apollo, who are out to prove their A-list status is not tarnished. A fight between them will be excellent, but Apollo has it locked up in my opinion and Behemoth might - just might be going out of the arena a fourth time.

As far as the rest go, Behemoth is the clear second best. It's scoop can resist Sabretooth, especially if they use the plough to avoid being crumpled. Apocalypse will prove no more dangerous to it than Bonk, Terrorhurtz, Kat 3, or The Steel Avenger ever have. Donald Thump, again, the plough would be the best bet. The Swarm is where I give Behemoth's unlucky status the most prospect of rearing its ugly head. It would be so very Robot Wars to have Behemoth lose a judges decision to The Swarm, and it's a factor I'm not ruling out.

Behemoth winning a first round melee would be sweet and its entirely possible if it draws anyone but Apollo and The Swarm (so any combination of Sabretooth, Thump and Apocalypse). I have a feeling Behemoth will have a longer trek to its heat finalist status, and I give it good prospects against nearly everyone. But Apollo, as I've said, the pod bay doors are closed.


 * Prospects of Success
 * vs. Donald Thump: Good
 * vs. Apocalypse: Excellent
 * vs. Sabretooth: Good
 * vs. The Swarm: Low to mid
 * vs. Apollo: Very low

1. Apollo
The real returning champion gets the heat I would have loved for it in Series 9. I'm rooting for Apollo to send pieces of The Swarm into orbit and perhaps even get an OOTA over the regular walls. Bar any Sabretooth shock, Apollo's plowing through this heat unchallenged. It's the most likely to win the first round, as we've seen it single handedly dominate the first rounds of Series 8 and 9. Donald Thump is going on its head, The Swarm into orbit, Apocalypse will fare a high stakes rematch of Bigger Brother vs Splinter, and Behemoth a reminder of its low success rate against flippers.

It's so rare that one can hype a favourite robot and feel confident in doing so, but Apollo looks undeniable.


 * Prospects of Success
 * vs. Donald Thump: Very good
 * vs. Apocalypse: Excellent
 * vs. The Swarm: Excellent
 * vs. Behemoth: Excellent
 * vs. Sabretooth: Moderate