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For the UK competitor that failed to qualify for Series 4, see Slicer (Series 4).

"This is our robot, Slicer. He's propelled by two tracks. Can also drive [when] flipped upside-down. His weapon is this very heavy drum weighing 22 kilograms, with which we will hack our way to victory!"
— Erik de Vrijer introduces Slicer (Mech+ subtitles)

Slicer was a tracked robot which competed exclusively in the first series of Dutch Robot Wars. A distant successor to Techno-Lease, it became the inaugural and retired Dutch champion after defeating Lizzard in the Grand Final, but never returned for the second series as reigning champions, making it one of the few competitor robots never to be defeated in televised competition.

Design[]

"Built like a tank from WWI, which as we know, can take on a lot, but they’re also at risk of occasionally losing a caterpillar track on the battlefield."
Eric Corton describes Slicer before its first fight (translated from Dutch)
Slicer2

Slicer in the pits

Slicer DS1

Slicer at the start of its first battle

Slicer was an invertible wedge-shaped robot with tracks for locomotion, and armed with a rear-mounted 22kg spinning drum lined with ten large red teeth. The drum was large and immensely powerful, capable of causing great damage and flipping other robots over, but used a lot of energy, which resulted in Slicer rationing its usage throughout its battles. Slicer's tracks were also vulnerable to being damaged, with sections of one of them being broken off mid-battle on one occasion. The robot was painted silver all over with black and yellow hazard stripes along its sides, numbers and the team/robot's logo printed on the wedge, sides and drum. Slicer was not especially fast but proved fairly durable and reliable, ultimately never being defeated by another competitor.

The Team[]

Team Slicer

Slicer with its team

Team Slicer comprised captain and driver Erik de Vrijer and teammate Jos Boon. The team had also previously competed with Techno-Lease in The First World Championship and the International League Championship, both of which were filmed as part of Robot Wars: The Third Wars in the UK series. The presenters of the show made no effort to downplay Slicer's commanding performances against its Heat opponents, but the team nevertheless kept a modest attitude all the way through the competition, showing little overconfidence.

Qualification[]

Slicer was completed ahead of Dutch Series 1 by one of the few teams in attendance with prior experience in Robot Wars, being selected for the show after the Eindhoven rehearsals. A brief clip of its appearance at Eindhoven is featured in Robot Wars: The Kick-Off. It is unknown why Slicer did not return for the second Dutch series of the show, where it would have competed as the defending champion.

The team did, however, originally plan to apply for Series 7 of UK Robot Wars with Slicer, as revealed by producer Django[1]. Despite these early intentions, however, Slicer ultimately did not attend the qualifiers for the Seventh Wars[2].

"Impact did not qualify, Slicer didn't show up."
— Niels de Carpentier of Hammerhead 2 (translated from Dutch)[3]

Robot History[]

Series 1[]

Slicer competed in Heat D, where it faced Enderbot in its first-round battle. Team Slicer were relatively fearful of Enderbot's weapon.

"Upside down. Boy, you turn me..."
— Eric Corton references Diana Ross while Slicer throws Enderbot over (BNN broadcast, translated from Dutch)
Enderbot vs Slicer R1

Slicer throws Enderbot over

Slicer vs Enderbot R1

Slicer blocks the escape of the hindered Enderbot

In the opening seconds, it immediately rammed drum-first into Enderbot, throwing it over and rendering its axe useless. Slicer drove around the arena and spun near the pit before charging at Enderbot again, but missed. Eventually, it slammed into Enderbot again, launching it off the arena floor, before stopping near the arena wall, turning and pushing Enderbot across the arena. In doing so, Slicer drove underneath Enderbot again, forcing the latter to roll off its wedge, before proceeding to rip a chunk of Enderbot's armour off. Again, Slicer hit, lifted and pushed Enderbot into a CPZ, and backed away as Enderbot was attacked by Sir Killalot. After briefly driving into Sir Killalot, Slicer charged into Enderbot once more, skewing one of its wheels in the process, before repeatedly ramming it over a CO2 jet and against the wall. Slicer escaped as Sir Killalot picked Enderbot up, before driving into Enderbot as soon as it was freed and seemingly getting stuck underneath it. With both robots showing limited mobility, Refbot counted both of them out, with Slicer twitching and sitting motionless as Sir Killalot picked Enderbot up, carried it and spun around the arena. Nevertheless, Slicer was declared the winner.

Bridget Maasland: "Slicer was the clear winner."
Erik de Vrijer: "Slicer did some slicing."
Bridget Maasland: "He went up against a big opponent, and there isn't even a scratch on him."
Erik de Vrijer: "No, I'm quite surprised by that myself. I was expecting more from the competition. It seems I flipped it upside down on our first contact. I didn't notice, so I was very careful around it. To stay away from its huge hammer. But it was underneath it. So I started pushing [Enderbot] around."
— Erik de Vrijer on Enderbot's performance (Mech+ subtitles)

In the second round, Slicer fought El-Mower, entering as the overwhelming favourite.

Bridget Maasland: "I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone that Slicer is in the second round, so surely it isn’t for you guys either."
Erik de Vrijer: "No, we got through the first round pretty smoothly, it went well."
Bridget Maasland: "What are you going to do now with that cute little bear?"
Erik de Vrijer: "We’re going for a frontal attack, it’s sitting pretty safely, but you never know."
Bridget Maasland: "It could get decapitated!"
Erik de Vrijer: "Well, I think the House Robots will do more evil than we will."
— Team Slicer remain modest despite the high expectations (translated from Dutch)
Slicer vs El-Mower

Slicer quickly immobilises El-Mower

It quickly approached El-Mower as the latter sluggishly backed away towards the Flame Pit, and hit it twice with its drum, nearly turning El-Mower over on the second hit. With El-Mower appearing to be immobilised, Slicer hit it again, throwing El-Mower into Shunt and leaving it to sustain attacks from the House Robot. Refbot counted El-Mower out after it was pushed onto the Flame Pit by Shunt, allowing Slicer through to the Heat Final while El-Mower was thrown by the Floor Flipper and pitted.

Bridget Maasland: "But I guess you guys also know for certain that you are going to win?"
Erik de Vrijer: "We are going to go for it, and I hope we won’t get infected with the Blue virus as well when we start the fight."
Bridget Maasland: "Because then you’re really far from home?"
Erik de Vrijer: "Well, we saw what happened to Blue, so you never know, but we’re gonna go for it. We’ve done it before, so we’re just going to try it again, but it will probably be quite a battle again, so we’ll see."
— Team Slicer approach the Heat Final calmly (translated from Dutch)

In the Heat Final, Slicer met Enderbot for the second time, after the latter won its Losers' Melee following their first-round encounter.

"Slicer is so fast that maybe he could use it [Enderbot] as a ramp!"
— Eric Corton (translated from Dutch)
Slicer vs Enderbot HF

Slicer targets the tyre of Enderbot

Enderbot vs Slicer HF

Slicer pins Enderbot, while Dead Metal pulls its opponent's tyre away

As before, Slicer charged straight for Enderbot, which drove away to avoid the drum, before hitting one of its wheels and driving close to Dead Metal's CPZ. It rammed into Enderbot again, without causing any damage, before buffeting and pushing it against Dead Metal. Driving away, Slicer waited until Enderbot escaped before hitting its wheel, only to drive itself into the CPZ in doing so and bump Dead Metal while it escaped. Slicer again attacked Enderbot and pushed it towards Dead Metal, but got itself pinned between the two robots as it and Dead Metal forced Enderbot against the wall. In the process, Dead Metal pulled one of Enderbot's loosened tyres off with his pincers, leaving it immobilised on the arena floor. Slicer rammed into the immobile Enderbot once more before Dead Metal dragged it away and caused damage to its other tyre, and pressed the pit release button just before Enderbot was counted out. As a result, Slicer advanced to the Grand Final.

Rob Kamphues: "So, the winning guys, it seems that you don’t even have a scratch on you."
Erik de Vrijer: "Well actually, there is a pretty unbelievable amount of dents."
Rob Kamphues: "Really?"
Erik de Vrijer: "Yes."
Rob Kamphues: "Oh, finally?"
Erik de Vrijer: "Everyone was so jealous that ours remained intact all the time, but now we have battle scars."
Rob Kamphues: "Ah, so you’re part of the clique."
Erik de Vrijer: "He looks a little bit ‘lived’ now, and that’s what we’re here for."
— Team Slicer on receiving their first battle scars (translated from Dutch)

In the Grand Final, Slicer faced Twisted Metal and wildcard Lizzard in its first-round melee. Team Slicer had noted Twisted Metal as their biggest fear before heading into the Grand Final.

Rob Kamphues: "Who are you most scared of in the Grand Final?"
Erik de Vrijer: "The one with the big disc?"
Rob Kamphues: "Oh, Twisted Metal?"
Erik de Vrijer: "Yes, that’s very dangerous."
Rob Kamphues: "Well, go patch it up and we’ll see you in the Grand Final of Robot Wars."
— Team Slicer point out Twisted Metal as their most feared opponent in the interview after their Heat Final victory (translated from Dutch)
Lizzard Slicer Round 1

Slicer and Lizzard attack each other after vanquishing Twisted Metal

Lizzard Slicer Sir Killalot

Slicer pushes Lizzard into Sir Killalot

After briefly hesitating in the opening seconds, it charged towards Lizzard, spinning round as its drum clipped Lizzard's tail. Slicer then drove into Lizzard after the latter sustained damage from Twisted Metal, momentarily lifting it off the floor before backing away. It rammed into Lizzard a few more times before the two robots pushed each other around the arena; with Slicer's drum buffeting against Lizzard's front end several times as they did so. Slicer was pushed back by Lizzard before both competitors separated, with Slicer charging into and throwing Twisted Metal off the floor after the latter was pushed into Sir Killalot by Lizzard. Slicer drove away from a pursuing Twisted Metal before the three robots met each other; Slicer again hitting and damaging Lizzard with the drum. Twisted Metal became immobilised as a result of these attacks, with Slicer pressing the pit release button and slamming into Lizzard again, lifting and pinning it against Sir Killalot. Even so, with Twisted Metal being counted out, thrown by the Floor Flipper and pitted, both Slicer and Lizzard progressed to the Semi-Finals.

In its Semi-Final, Slicer fought a second horizontal spinner in a row, Botwork.

"That boy is like Mike Tyson..."
— Eric Corton as Slicer throws Botwork over with its first charge
Slicer botwork

Slicer throws Botwork off the floor

Once again, it immediately charged into Botwork's side, throwing it clean over with its drum, before launching it off the floor with a second slam. Slicer then pushed Botwork over the Flame Pit, where the latter coasted towards an angle grinder and hesitated before backing out. While Botwork struggled to drive over the Flame Pit due to control problems, Slicer spun its drum up and slammed into it again, almost throwing it onto its side. It stayed away as Refbot pushed the smoking Botwork off the Flame Pit, where Botwork was left vulnerable to an attack from Sir Killalot. After Sir Killalot received a yellow card and left Botwork near the Flame Pit, Slicer slammed into Botwork once more, again almost flicking it onto its side, before tearing one of its side bars off with the drum. It flipped Botwork back upright with another slam, before Botwork was finally counted out.

With this, Slicer reached the Grand Final, where it faced Lizzard for the second time.

Lizzard Slicer Final 1

Slicer is pushed around by Lizzard in the opening stages

In the opening seconds, it lunged straight towards Lizzard, before turning round and bumping into its front end. Lizzard pushed Slicer sideways into an empty CPZ in response, and into another once Slicer escaped, preventing Slicer from using its drum effectively. The two robots collided head-on seconds later, with Slicer's drum buffeting against Lizzard’s 'face' before they separated. Slicer then attempted to hit Lizzard's tail as the latter spun, but was unable to damage it, and weathered an attack from Lizzard before being pushed into Dead Metal's CPZ, all while losing sections of one of its tracks. Again, Slicer jostled Lizzard several times with its drum, but was caught by Dead Metal and sustained minor damage from the House Robot's saw.

Slicer Lizzard Matilda

Slicer attacks Lizzard just as the latter is catapulted by Matilda

Lizzard Slicer Final 2

Slicer lifts Lizzard off the floor

Slicer escaped, and charged into Lizzard's tail just as Matilda launched it into the air with her flywheel. It proceeded to jostle, lift and push Lizzard into the wall, dodging Matilda's flywheel as it backed away, and hesitated before bumping into Lizzard a few more times. Even so, Lizzard pushed Slicer into Dead Metal's CPZ once again seconds later, with Slicer again slicing into its front end and escaping quickly as Dead Metal attacked Lizzard. While Lizzard struggled to escape, especially after driving over one of its dislodged eyes, Slicer charged into it and lifted it again, with the two robots now stuck together and requiring Refbot to separate them. Slicer was pressed against an angle grinder by Lizzard, but responded by pushing Lizzard, and slowly retreated to the centre of the arena near one of Lizzard's dislodged tail sections. It crawled towards the pit release button before suddenly losing mobility just as 'cease' was called, with both robots surviving to a Jury's decision. After a close battle, the Jury ruled 2-1 in favour of Slicer, making it the first Dutch Robot Wars champion.

Team Slicer DS1 trophy

Team Slicer, champions of Dutch Series 1

The Grand Final marked Slicer's last appearance in any version of Robot Wars, with Team Slicer deciding not to enter the second Dutch series to defend their title.

Results[]

SLICER - RESULTS
Series 1
Dutch Championship
Champion
Heat D, Round 1 vs. Enderbot Won
Heat D, Semi-Final vs. El-Mower Won
Heat D, Final vs. Enderbot Won
Grand Final, Round 1 vs. Lizzard, Twisted Metal Qualified
Grand Final, Semi-Final vs. Botwork Won
Grand Final vs. Lizzard Won

Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 6
  • Losses: 0

Series Record[]

Slicer wedge

The wedge of Slicer

Dutch Series[]

Dutch Series Slicer Series Record
Series 1 Grand Champion
Series 2 Did not enter

UK Series[]

Series Slicer Series Record
The First Wars Did not enter
The Second Wars Did not enter
The Third Wars International events with Techno-Lease
The Fourth Wars Did not enter
The Fifth Wars Did not enter
The Sixth Wars Did not enter
The Seventh Wars Withdrew from qualifiers
Series 8 Did not enter
Series 9 Did not enter
Series 10 Did not enter

Trivia[]

Slicer Extreme 1 cameo

Slicer's cameo appearance in Extreme 1

  • Slicer is the only tracked robot to win a major domestic or international series competition.
  • Excluding the incumbent German and Dutch champions Black Hole and PulverizeR, Slicer is one of two domestic champions which did not attempt to defend its title in the following series. The other is UK Series 7 champion Typhoon 2.
  • In terms of combat performance, Slicer is the opposite of its predecessor, Techno-Lease, as it won all of its televised fights. By contrast, Techno-Lease did not win any of the three battles it fought in, although it did draw in one battle.
  • Slicer from the Netherlands was one of three robots in the first Dutch series whose team had taken part in a televised Robot Wars competition before, the others being NEAT Machine also from the Netherlands and Philipper from Belgium.
  • Slicer is the joint holder of the record for most wins without a single loss, with a total of six, along with Extreme Warriors/Nickelodeon series loanerbot Tut Tut.
  • Slicer is one of only two robots to win a competition final via split Judges' decision, alongside Razer in The First World Championship, with Slicer also being the only robot to do this during a domestic championship.
  • The batteries Slicer used during the Dutch Grand Final originally came from Tornado.
  • Slicer makes a brief cameo appearance during Episode 3 of Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1; it can be seen in The Pits during Julia Reed's interview with Team Make Robotics, prior to their Challenge Belt battle.
  • Slicer is one of only four tracked robots to ever make it past the heats of a domestic championship, the other three being 101, Mortis and Plunderbird.
    • Slicer was the only one of the four not to compete in the UK Series although its team did appear in Series 3.
    • Plunderbird was the only one of the other three not to appear in the same episode as Team Slicer.

Honours[]


Honour
Undefeated Robot (6 wins)


References[]

Navigation[]

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