User blog:Drop Zone mk2/Draft Interchangeable Weapons Article

Interchangeable Weaponry is a system when a robot could be modified between battles, allowing the team to change their weapons depending on the opponent. The rules of the show allowed for this, as long as the weapons still conformed to the weight, height and width restrictions, the weapons were offensive additions rather than defensive additions, and the team declared all the weapons they could use before the tournament.

The first robot to use interchangeable weaponry was Shogun, which had side spikes which were interchangeable with spikes of different sizes.

Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
 * Interchangeable weaponry gives a robot a wider range of attacking options and tactics that can be used.
 * Interchangeable weaponry allows the robot to be modified depending on the opponent.
 * If one weapon proved ineffective, it can be replaced with another. In Series 4, the X-Terminator team found their axe weapon was not damaging enough, so they changed it to the scoop flipper, which helped them win their Heat Final.

Disadvantages
 * Weapons that did not conform to the rules were not allowed to be used. Tornado were not allowed to use their anti-spinner weapon, and their anti-crusher frame was banned after Extreme 2, because they were deemed defensive additions.
 * For a robot to have interchangeable weapons, it must be designed to allow the weapons to be changed.
 * Different interchangeable weapons will have different disadvantages. For example, the spike addition to X-Terminator prevented them from self righting, a problem they could have avoided by not using it.
 * Buying and/or building multiple weapons for a robot is more costly and time-consuming.

List of Robots with Interchangeable Weapons
Robots are listed alphabetically. Robots that aren't heavyweight are listed with a green background.

{|class="wikitable" !Robot !Series Appearances with Interchangeable Weapons !Notes |- |-
 * All Torque
 * Series 3
 * Had a scoop which was interchangeable with a snow plough with horizontal crushing spikes.
 * AM CVn
 * Extreme 2
 * Designed to have interchangeable weapons, like the teams heavyweight, only the axe was seen. The other weapons it could use are not known.
 * Ansgar
 * Extreme 1
 * Interchangeable flipper, leaver and spear.
 * Anvil
 * Extreme 1
 * The front spikes were interchangeable with a scoop, but only the spikes were seen on the show.
 * Anvil
 * Extreme 1
 * The front spikes were interchangeable with a scoop, but only the spikes were seen on the show.
 * The front spikes were interchangeable with a scoop, but only the spikes were seen on the show.
 * Atilla the Drum
 * Series 4
 * Interchangeable axe and mace. The axe was only used in one battle out of four.
 * Bamm Bamm
 * Dutch Series 1
 * Axe interchangeable with a hammer, flipping club and novelty “club” covered in foam. Bamm Bamm only used the axe in Dutch Series 2 and UK Series 7.
 * Big Nipper
 * 2016 Series
 * As well as the lifting claws seen in Series 5 and 7, the 2016 Series version of Big Nipper had a spinning drum that was interchangeable with the claws.
 * Caliban
 * Series 2
 * Had “multiple spinning weapons”, a flail which could be changed for a full body spinner. However, only the flail was seen as they went out in the Gauntlet.
 * Cataclysmic Variabot
 * Extreme 1-2
 * Had interchangeable weapons pods including a flipper, a disc and a spike, though throughout its three appearances, only the axe was used.
 * Cutlet
 * Series 7
 * Originally only had a saw, rebuilt for Series 7 for the saw to be interchangeable with a flipper. Only the flipper was seen on the televised show.
 * Falcon
 * US Season 1
 * In Season 1 of Extreme Warriors, Falcon had a lifting arm interchangeable with an axe, but in Season 2, only the lifter was used.
 * Gabriel
 * 2016 Series
 * A thwackbot with interchangeable overhead weapons; the team’s signature sword, a sledgehammer, a pickaxe and a battle axe. The battle axe was used in one battle; the sword was used in the other four (five including the whiteboard battle with Behemoth).
 * Hammerhead (Series 3)
 * Series 3
 * Interchangeable axe and hammer.
 * Havoc
 * Series 2
 * Interchangeable flipper and mace.
 * Kan-Opener
 * Series 6-7, Extreme 2
 * Had a set of interchangeable claws, but only the blue and grey ones were used on the show.
 * Killerhurtz
 * Series 3-4
 * Originally only had a bladed axe, but in Series 3 and 4, had interchangeable axe heads, a bladed axe and a custom-made spiked axe shaped like a birds head. Bladed axe was not used in Robot Wars after Series 2.
 * Loco
 * Series 2
 * Armed with a spring powered ram, which had interchangeable blade and spikes.
 * Kan-Opener
 * Series 6-7, Extreme 2
 * Had a set of interchangeable claws, but only the blue and grey ones were used on the show.
 * Killerhurtz
 * Series 3-4
 * Originally only had a bladed axe, but in Series 3 and 4, had interchangeable axe heads, a bladed axe and a custom-made spiked axe shaped like a birds head. Bladed axe was not used in Robot Wars after Series 2.
 * Loco
 * Series 2
 * Armed with a spring powered ram, which had interchangeable blade and spikes.
 * Loco
 * Series 2
 * Armed with a spring powered ram, which had interchangeable blade and spikes.
 * Killerhurtz
 * Series 3-4
 * Originally only had a bladed axe, but in Series 3 and 4, had interchangeable axe heads, a bladed axe and a custom-made spiked axe shaped like a birds head. Bladed axe was not used in Robot Wars after Series 2.
 * Panzer
 * Series 3
 * Interchangeable disc cutter and spikes, though the disc cutter was not used.
 * Plunderbird 1
 * Series 1
 * Only the original machine of the five they entered had interchangeable weapons. Had two weapon pods; a retracting spike powered by a laser sight, much like 101’s, and an electric circular saw on a moving arm which flipped out of the robot when operational. Eliminated in the Gauntlet, so neither was seen in combat.
 * Pressure
 * Extreme 2
 * Had side panels that flipped out to act as srimechs, which spikes could be added to in order to make them axes. The spikes were seen on the official photo, but not used in battle.
 * Raizer Blade
 * Series 3-4
 * Had side a chainsaw and a bludgeoning spike (called the Crucifix of Doom by the team) in Series 4 (in Series 3 it was an interchangeable backup weapon should there be problems with the chainsaw).
 * Revolution 3
 * Series 3-4
 * Much like Tornado, had a drum (incorrectly referred to as a flywheel) on the front, which could be removed and replaced with a scoop. Only the drum was seen on the show, presumably due to the active weapons policy.
 * Shogun
 * Series 1
 * The side spikes were interchangeable in size and thickness, making Shogun the very first robot to use interchangeable weaponry.
 * Storm 2
 * 2016 Series
 * Originally a weaponless rambot, had a lifting arm added for Series 7, and a set of interchangeable weapons in the 2016 Series. These weapons include the four-bar lifting arm, a front-hinged flipping arm that allows the robot to self-right, and a vertical spinning disc, which was ultimately not used on the show.
 * Sumpthing
 * 3-6, Extreme 1-2
 * Interchangeable pickaxe/moveable circular saw and lifting forks. Circular saw used in Series 5 and Extreme 1.
 * Tetanus
 * Series 6, Extreme 2
 * Interchangeable crusher, seen in Series 6, and a lifter, seen in Extreme 2.
 * The Steel Avenger
 * Series 3
 * Interchangeable axe heads; a spiked axe and bladed axe. From Series 4 onwards, only the bladed axe was used.
 * Thor
 * 2016 Series
 * Originally had a hammer in the original series, but this was replace for a bladed axe in the 2016 Series, with interchangeable axe heads.
 * Tornado
 * Series 4-7, Extreme 1-2
 * Originally only had a pneumatic spike, had a range of interchangeable weaponry from Extreme 1 onwards, including; a spinning drum, a spiked scoop, a static spear, a scoop lifter, a chain flail, and the horizontal bar spinner which was part of the anti-crusher frame.
 * Victor
 * Series 2-3
 * Had a spinner on the front, with an interchangeable lawnmower blade and flail.
 * X-Terminator
 * Series 4, Extreme 1
 * In Series 4, it had an axe interchangeable with a flipper. The Extreme 1 version had a spike that could be fixed to the front.
 * 2016 Series
 * Originally had a hammer in the original series, but this was replace for a bladed axe in the 2016 Series, with interchangeable axe heads.
 * Tornado
 * Series 4-7, Extreme 1-2
 * Originally only had a pneumatic spike, had a range of interchangeable weaponry from Extreme 1 onwards, including; a spinning drum, a spiked scoop, a static spear, a scoop lifter, a chain flail, and the horizontal bar spinner which was part of the anti-crusher frame.
 * Victor
 * Series 2-3
 * Had a spinner on the front, with an interchangeable lawnmower blade and flail.
 * X-Terminator
 * Series 4, Extreme 1
 * In Series 4, it had an axe interchangeable with a flipper. The Extreme 1 version had a spike that could be fixed to the front.
 * X-Terminator
 * Series 4, Extreme 1
 * In Series 4, it had an axe interchangeable with a flipper. The Extreme 1 version had a spike that could be fixed to the front.