Robot Wars: The Second Wars

Robot Wars: The Second Wars was the second series of the British television game show Robot Wars. It was originally broadcast from 1998 to 1999 on BBC2. The series was hosted by Craig Charles and Philippa Forrester with commentary provided by Jonathan Pearce.

Format
The series consisted of twelve heats, with six robots competing in each heat. The twelve winners from the heats moved onto the semi-finals. In each heat, the six robots would compete through a series of three challenges - the Gauntlet, the Trial and the Arena.
 * The Gauntlet was an obstacle filled maze defended by house robots. Competitor robots had to make their way as far down the course as possible in the time allowed. The robot covering the least ground was eliminated, leaving five robots to continue.
 * The Trial varied from heat to heat with games like, 'Sumo', 'Football', 'Skittles', 'Tug of War', 'King of the Castle', 'Joust', and 'Pinball'. Each trial had a specific goal and the worst performing robot was eliminated, leaving four robots to continue.
 * The Arena was the point at which the robots finally entered the arena to do combat. The four remaining robots paired off and fought head-to head in the enclosed arena patrolled by the house robots. The two victorious robots then fought for the heat championship. The winner of each heat then went through to the semi-finals.

The series had two semi-final shows, each with six heat finalists reprising the Gauntlet and the Trial, followed by arena combat. The two winners from each semi-final went through to the Grand Final, where the four remaining robots paired off in two eliminator rounds and the two winners met for a final battle to determine the series champion.

Seeded robots
The Second Wars featured seeded robots based on performance in the previous series. It was intended that the six grand finalists from the first series would be seeded but as Cunning Plan and T.R.A.C.I.E. did not return for the second series, seedings were given to Mortis and Killertron instead. It should be noted, however, that the competitor Griffon was built by the same team as Cunning Plan.


 * 1) Roadblock
 * 2) Mortis
 * 3) Bodyhammer
 * 4) Killertron
 * 5) Cassius
 * 6) Chaos

Heat A
Robots competing in Heat A: Victor, Napalm, Panda Monium, Piece de Resistance, Demolition Demon, Caliban

Gauntlet: Caliban eliminated

Trial (Skittles): Piece de Resistance eliminated

Arena Semi-Finals
 * Napalm vs. Panda Monium: Napalm won
 * Victor vs. Demolition Demon: Demolition Demon won

Arena Final
 * Napalm vs. Demolition Demon: Napalm won

Heat B
Robots competing in Heat B: Mace, Leighviathan, Wheelosaurus, Death Trak, Tantrum, Chaos

Gauntlet: Death Trak eliminated

Trial (Tug of War): Tantrum eliminated

Arena Semi-Finals
 * Mace vs. Leighviathan: Mace won
 * Chaos vs. Wheelosaurus: Chaos won

Arena Final
 * Mace vs. Chaos: Mace won

Heat C
Robots competing in Heat C: Challenger, Dreadnaut, Mortis, Oblivion, Rameses II, Griffon

Gauntlet: Griffon eliminated

Trial (Joust): Challenger eliminated

Arena Semi-Finals
 * Dreadnaut vs. Oblivion: Oblivion won
 * Rameses II vs. Mortis: Mortis won

Arena Final
 * Mortis vs. Oblivion: Mortis won

Heat D
Robots competing in Heat D: Razer, Inquisitor, Milly-Ann Bug, Bodyhammer, Behemoth, Elvis

Gauntlet: Bodyhammer eliminated

Trial (Football): Milly-Ann Bug eliminated

Arena Semi-Finals
 * Razer vs. Inquisitor: Inquisitor won
 * Elvis vs. Behemoth: Behemoth won

Arena Final
 * Inquisitor vs. Behemoth: Behemoth won

Heat E
Robots competing in Heat E: Spin Doctor, Killertron, Pain, ORAC, Technophobic, Schumey

Gauntlet: Pain eliminated

Trial (King of the Castle): Schumey eliminated

Arena Semi-Finals
 * Killertron vs. ORAC: Killertron won
 * Technophobic vs. Spin Doctor: Technophobic won

Arena Final
 * Killertron vs. Technophobic: Killertron won

Heat F
Robots competing in Heat F: Disruptor, Panic Attack, Corporal Punishment, Whirling Dervish, Ron, The Parthian Shot

Gauntlet: The Parthian Shot eliminated

Trial (Sumo): Ron eliminated

Arena Semi-Finals
 * Panic Attack vs. Whirling Dervish: Panic Attack won
 * Corporal Punishment vs. Disruptor: Disruptor won

Arena Final
 * Panic Attack vs. Disruptor: Panic Attack won

Heat G
Robots competing in Heat G: Roadblock, Killerhurtz, Onslaught, Nemesis, R.O.C.S., Limpet

Gauntlet: R.O.C.S. eliminated

Trial (Skittles): Limpet eliminated

Arena Semi-Finals
 * Killerhurtz vs. Roadblock: Roadblock won
 * Nemesis vs. Onslaught: Onslaught won

Arena Final
 * Roadblock vs. Onslaught: Roadblock won

Heat H
Robots competing in Heat H: Sting, Loco, Cassius, Groundhog, Rampage, Wizard

Gauntlet: Rampage eliminated

Trial (Football): Sting eliminated

Arena Semi-Finals
 * Loco vs. Groundhog: Loco won
 * Cassius vs. Wizard: Cassius won

Arena Final
 * Loco vs. Cassius: Cassius won

Heat I
Robots competing in Heat I: King Buxton, Robo Doc, Prometheus, Rottweiler, All Torque, Cruella

Gauntlet: Cruella eliminated

Trial (Joust): Rottweiler eliminated

Arena Semi-Finals
 * Robo Doc vs. King Buxton: King Buxton won
 * All Torque vs. Prometheus: All Torque won

Arena Final
 * All Torque vs. King Buxton: King Buxton won

Heat J
Robots competing in Heat J: Talos, Ivanhoe, KillDozer, Broot, Penetrator, G.B.H.

Gauntlet: Broot eliminated

Trial (Tug of War): Penetrator eliminated

Arena Semi-Finals
 * Ivanhoe vs. KillDozer: Ivanhoe won
 * G.B.H. vs. Talos: G.B.H. won

Arena Final
 * Ivanhoe vs. G.B.H.: G.B.H. won

Heat K
Robots competing in Heat K: Enzyme, The Mule, Phoenix, Plunderbird 2, Mega Hurts, Demon

Gauntlet: Phoenix eliminated

Trial (King of the Castle): Mega Hurts eliminated

Arena Semi-Finals
 * The Mule vs. Demon: The Mule won
 * Enzyme vs. Plunderbird 2: Plunderbird 2 won

Arena Final
 * Plunderbird 2 vs. The Mule: Plunderbird 2 won

Heat L
Robots competing in Heat L: Tender Caress, Haardvark, Vercingetorix, Havoc, Angel of Death, Flirty Skirty

Gauntlet: Angel of Death eliminated

Trial (Sumo): Tender Caress eliminated

Arena Semi-Finals
 * Haardvark vs. Vercingetorix: Haardvark won
 * Havoc vs. Flirty Skirty: Havoc won

Arena Final
 * Haardvark vs. Havoc: Haardvark won

Semi-Final 1
Robots competing in Semi-Final 1: Napalm, Behemoth, Panic Attack, Mortis, Mace, Killertron

Gauntlet: Mace eliminated

Trial (Pinball): Napalm eliminated

Arena
 * Mortis vs. Panic Attack: Panic Attack won
 * Killerton vs. Behemoth: Killertron won

Semi-Final 2
Robots competing in Semi-Final 2: Roadblock, Cassius, Haardvark, King Buxton, G.B.H., Plunderbird 2

Gauntlet: Plunderbird 2 eliminated

Trial (Pinball): G.B.H. eliminated

Arena
 * Cassius vs. Haardvark: Cassius won
 * Roadblock vs. King Buxton: Roadblock won

Battle 1
Cassius vs. Roadblock

Roadblock started by getting underneath Cassius and pushing it around the arena. Cassius eventually escaped but it drove straight into Sir Killalot, who flipped Cassius onto its back with the lance. Cassius self-righted but meanwhile Roadblock had driven into the arena wall, into the clutches of Shunt and Dead Metal. Cassius got underneath Roadblock and flipped it onto its side against the arena wall. Roadblock was unable to self-right and Cassius was into the final battle.

Winner: Cassius

Battle 2
Killertron vs. Panic Attack

Panic Attack started quickly and pushed Killertron into the perimeter patrol zone, where it was met by Dead Metal and Sir Killalot. Killertron appeared unable to move and it was turned over onto its back by the lance of Sir Killalot. Killertron was left to the mercy of Sir Killalot, while Panic Attack spent the remaining time attacking the other house robots and pushed Sgt. Bash into the pit of oblivion, going in itself in the process. However, Killertron had long been immobilised and Panic Attack went through.

Winner: Panic Attack

Play-Off
Killertron vs. Roadblock

Roadblock got straight in and underneath Killertron and pushed it around the arena before attacking with the circular saw. Roadblock then pushed Killertron into the PPZ, where both robots were attacked by the house robots, while Roadblock tried to get underneath and flip Killertron. The robots eventually escaped from the house robots and Roadblock pushed Killertron across the arena and into the pit of oblivion.

Third Place: Roadblock

Final
Cassius vs. Panic Attack

Both robots started quickly and Cassius was able to get underneath Panic Attack, but did not flip its opponent. Cassius again charged at Panic Attack and went straight underneath, causing Panic Attack to fly up into the air and land on its wheels. Panic Attack then pushed Cassius into Dead Metal, who attempted to flip the house robot before escaping. Cassius then attempted to attack Panic Attack before reversing and turning around, which allowed Panic Attack a run at the back of its opponent and it took this opportunity by pushing Cassius into the pit of oblivion.

Second Wars Grand Champion: Panic Attack

Awards
These are the winners of the various awards given out at the end of the series:

Best Design: Razer Best Engineered: The Mule Most Original Entry: Milly-Ann Bug Sportsmanship Award: Plunderbird 2

These are the champions of the other weight categories in the series:

Super-Heavyweight Champion: Kick Robut Middleweight Champion: Hard Cheese Lightweight Champion: Slippery Strana Featherweight Champion: Demolisher

Grudge Matches
After the main series, a special episode was shown featuring a number of grudge matches. This gave robots the chance to settle old scores and also allowed robots that did not feature in the main series a chance to battle in the arena.

Judgement Day
This grudge match was between Cassius and Mortis. The grudge dated back to a judges' decision in The First Wars when Recyclopse (the Cassius team's first robot) controversially defeated Mortis for a place in the Grand Final. In the grudge match, Cassius was unable to get underneath Mortis and Mortis did damage with its axe. Cassius nearly drove into the pit, but was rescued by Shunt. Mortis stayed close to the pit and Cassius drove at it, but completely missed and flew into the pit of oblivion.

Winner: Mortis

Reserve Rumble
This match was for the reserve heavyweight robots that did not feature in the main series. The robots were: Lateral Thought, Malice, Bumblebot, Forklift and Jim Struts. Lateral Thought and Malice were pitted early on by the house robots and Forklift was flipped and burned on the flame pit. Bumblebot attempted to attack Jim Struts with its hammer and Jim Struts attempted to kick Bumblebot away. Eventually, Bumblebot was attacked by the house robots and the enormous walker robot Jim Struts was declared the winner.

Winner: Jim Struts

Inferno Insurrection
This match featured Sgt. Bash and two flammable robots which were sprayed with paraffin before the event. The robots were Nemesis and Ramrombit, a sacrificial robot designed for this match and driven by George Francis. Sgt. Bash immediately set both robots on fire and they were left to burn for the entertainment of the audience.

Super Showdown
This match was the final of the super-heavyweight category of the championship. The robots were: Siren, Kick Robut, Berserk and Demon Duck. Siren was pushed into the pit by Matilda, Berserk was placed on the flame pit by Sir Killalot and Demon Duck was immobilised. Kick Robut was the only active robot at the end of the match.

Winner: Kick Robut

Internet Insurrection
This grudge match was to decide which team had the best website. The robots were: Griffon, Killerhurtz, Bodyhammer and Corporal Punishment. Griffon started by flipping Sgt. Bash onto its side while Shunt lifted Killerhurtz and turned it onto its back. Sgt. Bash recovered and pinned down Corporal Punishment while Boddy hammer wedged itself under Dead Metal and got stuck. The judges awarded the match to Griffon.

Winner: Griffon

Judgement Day 2
This grudge match was between Mortis and Napalm. This grudge dated back to the Trial in the series semi-final when Mortis sustained damage to one if its tracks but were given a second chance by the production team and gained enough points to eliminate Napalm from the championship. In the grudge match, Mortis went on the attack and caused damage to Napalm on many occasions. Napalm attempted to fight back but it drove too close to the pit and Mortis was able to push it down and out.

Winner: Mortis

 