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|category_of_weapon=[[Rotating weapons]]
 
|category_of_weapon=[[Rotating weapons]]
 
|pioneer=[[Caliban]]
 
|pioneer=[[Caliban]]
|notable_robots=[[Mace]]
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|notable_robots=[[Mace]], [[Nuts|Nuts 2]]
 
|house_robots=
 
|house_robots=
 
}}
 
}}
'''Flails''' are a loose-hanging and versatile type of [[Rotating weapons|rotating weapon]] found in ''[[Robot Wars]]''. They first appeared in Series 2, with [[Caliban]] being the first of six robots from that series to be equipped with them. The most successful and notable robot with flails is [[Mace]], which reached the Semi-Finals of Series 2 and 3 with this weapon.
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'''Flails''' are a loose-hanging and versatile type of [[Rotating weapons|rotating weapon]] found in ''[[Robot Wars]]''. They first appeared in Series 2, with [[Caliban]] being the first of six robots from that series to be equipped with them. The most successful and notable robots with flails are [[Mace]], which reached the Semi-Finals of Series 2 and 3 with this weapon, and [[Nuts|Nuts 2]], which used flails in tandem with its [[Sit-and-spin#Meltybrain|Meltybrain]] technology to finish joint-third overall in Series 10.
   
 
==Definition==
 
==Definition==
 
*A '''flail''' is a rotating weapon with spikes, blades or other objects that dangle loosely from the weapon mechanism, usually by a chain. The mechanism can take any form, from simple axles to flywheels/discs and even revolving rings attached to the robot's chassis. When the weapon rotates at full speed, the objects at the end "flail" around, hence the name, with the intention of hitting opponents and causing cuts, scratches or dents to their armour or locomotion.
 
*A '''flail''' is a rotating weapon with spikes, blades or other objects that dangle loosely from the weapon mechanism, usually by a chain. The mechanism can take any form, from simple axles to flywheels/discs and even revolving rings attached to the robot's chassis. When the weapon rotates at full speed, the objects at the end "flail" around, hence the name, with the intention of hitting opponents and causing cuts, scratches or dents to their armour or locomotion.
   
Flails were sometimes used in conjunction with [[Full-body spinners]], their flexible designs helping to prevent recoils to the robot's main body and armour.
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Flails were sometimes used in conjunction with other spinning weapons, such as [[Full-body spinners|full-body spinners]], their flexible designs helping to prevent recoils to the robot's main body and armour.
   
 
==Advantages and Disadvantages==
 
==Advantages and Disadvantages==
 
'''Advantages'''
 
'''Advantages'''
 
[[File:Mace_chaos.JPG|thumb|Mace uses its flails to cause further damage to the eliminated Chaos]]
 
[[File:Mace_chaos.JPG|thumb|Mace uses its flails to cause further damage to the eliminated Chaos]]
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[[File:Nuts_2_vs_Androne_4000.jpg|thumb|In tandem with Meltybrain technology, Nuts 2's flails were able to damage Androne 4000's hydraulic lines during their Series 10 Heat Semi-Final]]
*The flailing motion of the flail objects increases the amount of kinetic energy they can carry. This allows them to cause more damage than an equivalent rigid spinning weapon.
 
*Flails can absorb shocks better than rigid blades, allowing them to continually attack instead of jamming up like [[Chainsaws|chainsaws]], [[Circular saws|circular saws]] and [[Cutting discs|cutting discs]]. [[Mace]], for example, was able to continue damaging [[Leighviathan]] and [[Chaos 2|Chaos]] even after repeatedly hitting them with its rear flail.
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*The non-rigid nature of flails allows them to often keep spinning even upon contact with other robots, unlike weapons such as [[Bar spinners|bar spinners]] and [[Cutting discs|cutting discs]]. [[Mace]], for example, was able to continue damaging [[Leighviathan]] and [[Chaos 2|Chaos]] even after repeatedly hitting them with its rear flail.
*Flails can be attached to large discs or a [[Full-body spinners|full-body spinner]], increasing their damage output even further. This was best demonstrated by [[Jackson Wallop]] in Series 7, whose flails were not only able to cause substantial damage to [[Killerkat|Killerkat]] and [[Shunt]], but also knock the former onto its side.
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*Flails can be attached to large discs, [[Full-body spinners|full-body spinners]] or - less commonly - [[Sit-and-spin|sit-and-spin]] robots, increasing their damage output even further. This was best demonstrated by [[Nuts|Nuts 2]] in Series 10, whose flails were able to cause significant damage to [[Concussion]], [[Androne 4000]] and [[Carbide]] during its run.
*They can be incorporated into invertible designs, as demonstrated by [[Nuts]].
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*They can be incorporated into invertible designs, as demonstrated by Nuts.
*Flails have a wide damage radius, which can help prevent opponents from attacking close to it. This was the logic behind Nuts' tactic against [[Carbide]] ahead of their 2016 series Head-to-Head battle.
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*The length of flails give the weapon a wide damage radius, which can help prevent opponents from attacking close to it. This was the logic behind Nuts' tactic against Carbide ahead of their Series 8 Head-to-Head battle, and which later contributed to Nuts 2's successes in Series 10.
  +
*Flails can be designed to double up as [[Entanglement devices|entanglement devices]], which can be absorbed by spinners.
   
 
'''Disadvantages'''
 
'''Disadvantages'''
[[File:Terrorhurtz_vs_Nuts.jpg|thumb|Nuts' flail ring detaches after a few attacks from Terrorhurtz]]
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[[File:Carbide_vs_nuts.gif|thumb|Nuts' flail ring detaches following sustained attacks from Carbide in Series 8]]
[[File:Chaos_2_vs_Mace_2.JPG|thumb|Mace 2 was left unable to self-right after getting flipped completely over by Chaos 2]]
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[[File:Chaos_2_vs_Mace_2.JPG|thumb|The position of Mace 2's flails left it unable to self-right after getting flipped over by Chaos 2]]
  +
*Flails are less durable than solid spinners, consisting of much thinner and less rigid metal, which can occasionally be ripped from a robot entirely.
*Flails are prone to being damaged or broken off very easily. [[Inquisitor|Inquisitor's]] weapon was so badly damaged during its Series 2 battle against [[Razer]] that it was not repaired for its next battle, while [[Nuts|Nuts']] flail ring detached from the robot completely during its 2016 series battles against [[Carbide]] and [[Terrorhurtz]] respectively.
 
  +
*The usage of flails powered individually by a motor became outdated as ''Robot Wars'' progressed due to a history of lower damage output, and generally have to work in unison with another spinning weapon or body in order to be effective.
*Depending on their position, a flail can often restrict a robot's ability to [[Self-righting mechanism|self-right]] if they are mounted at the rear. [[Mace|Mace 2's]] weapon in particular prevented it from righting itself during its Series 3 Semi-Final battle against [[Chaos 2]].
 
*Flails attached to powerful spinning mechanisms could pose serious safety concerns with ''Robot Wars'' producers. [[Mauler]] was infamously disqualified from [[The First World Championship]] after the producers deemed that its weapon was too powerful for the arena to contain safely.
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*Flails attached to powerful spinning mechanisms originally posed safety concerns with ''Robot Wars'' producers. [[Mauler]] was infamously disqualified from [[The First World Championship]] after the producers deemed that its weapon was too powerful for the arena to contain safely, while modern flail spinners often have to be tested in the full-size Robot Wars Arena instead of the test arena.
   
 
==List of Robots with Flails==
 
==List of Robots with Flails==
Robots are listed alphabetically. Robots which are not heavyweight are listed with a green background.
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Robots are listed alphabetically. Robots which are not heavyweight entries are listed with a green background.
 
[[File:Caliban.jpg|thumb|Caliban, the pioneer of flails]]
 
[[File:Caliban.jpg|thumb|Caliban, the pioneer of flails]]
[[File:Jackson_wallop.JPG|thumb|Jackson Wallop]]
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[[File:Cjaksonwallop.png|thumb|Jackson Wallop]]
[[File:Mace_2_offical_image.png|thumb|Mace 2]]
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[[File:Mace 2 offical_image.png|thumb|Mace 2]]
 
[[File:Marauder.jpg|thumb|Marauder]]
 
[[File:Marauder.jpg|thumb|Marauder]]
 
[[File:Mauler2K.jpg|thumb|Mauler]]
 
[[File:Mauler2K.jpg|thumb|Mauler]]
[[File:Nuts_2016.jpg|thumb|Nuts]]
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[[File:Nuts 10.png|thumb|Nuts 2]]
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[[File:Tornado flail.jpg|thumb|Tornado with its flail scoop]]
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[[File:Victor 2.jpg|thumb|Victor 2]]
 
{|class="wikitable"
 
{|class="wikitable"
 
!Robot
 
!Robot
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|-
 
|-
 
|[[Nuts]]
 
|[[Nuts]]
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|Series 8-10
|2016 series
 
|Flails attached to chains on the ends of a rotating ring surrounding the robot. Primarily relies on [[Sit-and-spin|sit-and-spin]] tactics, but the flails can move independently as part of the ring.
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|Flails attached to chains on the ends of a rotating ring surrounding the robot. Primarily relies on sit-and-spin tactics, but the flails could move independently as part of the ring in the original Series 8 version. In Series 10, the flails and interchangeable rings of '''Nuts 2''' can operate as a conventional spinning weapon through the robot's Meltybrain technology. Finished joint-third in Series 10 in the latter form.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Tantrum]]
 
|[[Tantrum]]
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|One of its interchangeable weapons for Series 7 only. A modified version of the 'Spiked Scoop', with the flail mounted in the centre of the scoop.
 
|One of its interchangeable weapons for Series 7 only. A modified version of the 'Spiked Scoop', with the flail mounted in the centre of the scoop.
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Victor|Victor 2]]
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|[[Victor]]
|Series 3
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|Series 2-3
|Interchangeable with a [[Lawnmower blades|lawnmower blade]].
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|Interchangeable with a [[Lawnmower blades|lawnmower blade]] in Series 2. Modified into a 2ft long 'morning star' flail for Series 3.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Whirling Dervish]]
 
|[[Whirling Dervish]]

Revision as of 06:47, 29 May 2019

Flails are a loose-hanging and versatile type of rotating weapon found in Robot Wars. They first appeared in Series 2, with Caliban being the first of six robots from that series to be equipped with them. The most successful and notable robots with flails are Mace, which reached the Semi-Finals of Series 2 and 3 with this weapon, and Nuts 2, which used flails in tandem with its Meltybrain technology to finish joint-third overall in Series 10.

Definition

  • A flail is a rotating weapon with spikes, blades or other objects that dangle loosely from the weapon mechanism, usually by a chain. The mechanism can take any form, from simple axles to flywheels/discs and even revolving rings attached to the robot's chassis. When the weapon rotates at full speed, the objects at the end "flail" around, hence the name, with the intention of hitting opponents and causing cuts, scratches or dents to their armour or locomotion.

Flails were sometimes used in conjunction with other spinning weapons, such as full-body spinners, their flexible designs helping to prevent recoils to the robot's main body and armour.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

Mace chaos

Mace uses its flails to cause further damage to the eliminated Chaos

Nuts 2 vs Androne 4000

In tandem with Meltybrain technology, Nuts 2's flails were able to damage Androne 4000's hydraulic lines during their Series 10 Heat Semi-Final

  • The non-rigid nature of flails allows them to often keep spinning even upon contact with other robots, unlike weapons such as bar spinners and cutting discs. Mace, for example, was able to continue damaging Leighviathan and Chaos even after repeatedly hitting them with its rear flail.
  • Flails can be attached to large discs, full-body spinners or - less commonly - sit-and-spin robots, increasing their damage output even further. This was best demonstrated by Nuts 2 in Series 10, whose flails were able to cause significant damage to Concussion, Androne 4000 and Carbide during its run.
  • They can be incorporated into invertible designs, as demonstrated by Nuts.
  • The length of flails give the weapon a wide damage radius, which can help prevent opponents from attacking close to it. This was the logic behind Nuts' tactic against Carbide ahead of their Series 8 Head-to-Head battle, and which later contributed to Nuts 2's successes in Series 10.
  • Flails can be designed to double up as entanglement devices, which can be absorbed by spinners.

Disadvantages

Carbide vs nuts

Nuts' flail ring detaches following sustained attacks from Carbide in Series 8

File:Chaos 2 vs Mace 2.JPG

The position of Mace 2's flails left it unable to self-right after getting flipped over by Chaos 2

  • Flails are less durable than solid spinners, consisting of much thinner and less rigid metal, which can occasionally be ripped from a robot entirely.
  • The usage of flails powered individually by a motor became outdated as Robot Wars progressed due to a history of lower damage output, and generally have to work in unison with another spinning weapon or body in order to be effective.
  • Flails attached to powerful spinning mechanisms originally posed safety concerns with Robot Wars producers. Mauler was infamously disqualified from The First World Championship after the producers deemed that its weapon was too powerful for the arena to contain safely, while modern flail spinners often have to be tested in the full-size Robot Wars Arena instead of the test arena.

List of Robots with Flails

Robots are listed alphabetically. Robots which are not heavyweight entries are listed with a green background.

Caliban

Caliban, the pioneer of flails

Cjaksonwallop

Jackson Wallop

Mace 2 offical image

Mace 2

Marauder

Marauder

Mauler2K

Mauler

Nuts 10

Nuts 2

Tornado flail

Tornado with its flail scoop

Victor 2

Victor 2

Robot Series Appearances with Flails Notes
Caliban Series 2 Pioneer of flails. Interchangeable with a full-body spinner.
Hoot Dutch Series 2, Nickelodeon Loanerbot
Humdrum US Season 1, Nickelodeon Loanerbot
Inquisitor Series 2 Was destroyed by Razer before it had the chance to be used in combat.
Jackson Wallop Series 7 Attached to a top-mounted spinning disc. Disc was 1.2m in diameter, the largest body-to-weapon ratio allowed.
Joker US Season 2, Nickelodeon Attached to an angled spinning disc.
Mace Series 2-3 Series 2 and 3 Semi-Finalist, the latter as Mace 2.
Marauder US Season 2 Middleweight entry, although eligible for heavyweight competition. Two truck hitch balls at the end of a curved spinning bar, rotating at 3,000rpm.
Mauler Series 3 Two flails and two chisels dangling from a top rotating lid. Disqualified from The First World Championship due to safety concerns.
Nuts Series 8-10 Flails attached to chains on the ends of a rotating ring surrounding the robot. Primarily relies on sit-and-spin tactics, but the flails could move independently as part of the ring in the original Series 8 version. In Series 10, the flails and interchangeable rings of Nuts 2 can operate as a conventional spinning weapon through the robot's Meltybrain technology. Finished joint-third in Series 10 in the latter form.
Tantrum Series 2
The Parthian Shot Series 2 Never made it into the arena
Tornado Series 7 One of its interchangeable weapons for Series 7 only. A modified version of the 'Spiked Scoop', with the flail mounted in the centre of the scoop.
Victor Series 2-3 Interchangeable with a lawnmower blade in Series 2. Modified into a 2ft long 'morning star' flail for Series 3.
Whirling Dervish Series 2
Whirlpool 70 Extreme 1 Built out of a swimming pool cleaner.