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Hello, everybody. It's been a while since I've done one of these. So after a while away from the Wiki Blogs spotlight, I thought it'd be nice to cover the section of Robot Wars episodes that also rarely see the spotlight: Round 2 battles.

Lists and blogs typically cover melees, Heat Final, Semi-Finals, Title Fights and so on. And this is all perfectly good - after all, the more content and opinions the better! But now it's time to cast my eyes over that bridge between Round 1 and the Heat Final that a machine needs to cross in order to have what would typically be considered a 'good' campaign.

Here, we cover the Series 6 installments of these particular battles. From Razer vs. Cyrax to Disc-O-Inferno vs. Killer Carrot 2, they're all here, and they're all about to get ordered. So, without any further ado, let's get on with it.

24. Vader vs. Aggrobot 3 - Heat E[]

Vader vs Aggrobot

aggrobot 3 expertly uses its skid-steering to veer away from vader's spinning weapon

There's always at least a handful of short fights with technical issues in a series of Robot Wars, and here we have one of those. In short, Vader simply delivers a good, solid shot to Aggrobot 3, and that was enough to inflict an early KO blow.

One-shot fights aren't always disappointing. The likes of Pulsar vs. Supernova, and even Kadeena Machina vs. Dee can help provide a reaction from the watching audience. Vader's hit was a genuinely good one, especially for the classic wars, and a potentially-pleasing destruction fight could well have been on our hands, with Vader's follow-up attacks on an immobile Aggrobot 3 seeing split armour and warped weaponry. However, what we got speaks for itself, and Vader vs. Aggrobot 3 does take bottom spot in this list.

23. Panic Attack 24k vs. A-Kill - Heat I[]

Panic Attack vs A-Kill

hardly the most enthralling fight you'll ever see

Panic Attack 24k's infamously 'boring' fight is second in this list. And Craig Charles is right: it is boring. However, this is a fight that was just a poor matchup in general, and not because Panic Attack 24k is worse than the previous version of the machine. This matchup would prove a tedious one with those older Panic Attacks in place instead. A-Kill is a completely ineffective machine offensively, but its shape and general design also make it awkward for less damaging opponents to beat quickly or in an entertaining way, too.

In the fight itself, Panic Attack 24k eventually provides us with a very classy drive across the arena and subsequent pitting, and if that manoeuvre happened relatively early on, then this fight would've been a perfectly okay one. But the reality is that we had to sit through almost 2 minutes of love taps and bumps until we got there, and it was not an engaging watch during that time.

22. Anarchy vs. Inshredable - Heat G[]

Anarchyaxe

this axe blow - oh yes 👌

Coming in at 22 is Anarchy's one on one victory that it achieved in its Round 2 bout with Inshredable. Inshredable's own contribution is minute. It is very stop start, and and ultimate breakdown is what hurts this fight a lot.

Anarchy, however, provided us with some solid content. Its first attack was a visual-pleasing, sharp-edged axe strike through Inshredable's back panel. Anarchy also carried out some clean flips. It continued to throw Inshredable around after the vertical spinner bot was KO'd, with a couple of casual flips towards the arena walls. If Inshredable was positioned correctly, an Anarchy OotA really wasn't out of the question here. What a sight that would've been.

However, that is but a dream. What we did get was some decent attacks on a struggling machine that allowed a walker access to the Heat Final for the very first time. Nothing too impressive, but adequate work from Anarchy itself nevertheless.

21. Spawn Again vs. Spam - Heat H[]

Spam Again

noice

Next up is Spawn Again's victory over Spam... if you could call it that. The story of this battle is quite simple: Spawn Again trundles around, weaponless, and slowing in terms of movement as the battle progresses, while an ineffective-for-pushing Spam gets stranded up on Spawn Again a couple of times, and eventually Pits itself.

For general in-battle competency, this bout is right at the bottom. However, the potential of Spam getting through to the Heat Final and a hilarious self KO makes the fight at least partly 'funny-bad' as apposed to simply bad. Spam binning its own unthinkable Heat Final place is a negative in itself, but down the bottom of this list, decent comedy can easily help out. Not much more than placing it 4th bottom overall still, though.

20. Hypno-Disc vs. Bulldog Breed - Heat K[]

Hypno-Disc attacks Bulldog Breed

Hypno-Dics coasts through to the Heat Final

Into the Top 20, and we're outside of the realms of total boredom/incompetency, but we still have to wait a little while yet until things truly improve in overall quality.

Hypno-Disc's win over Bulldog Breed in Series 6 was not a good watch. A Bulldog Breed attack was followed by a couple of swipes from Hypno-Disc, which were already sufficient enough to cease meaningful mobility from Bulldog Breed. Hypno-Disc came in with some more decent attacks after the fight was that, and once again Bulldog Breed had lost to the Roses' machine.

This fight was very similar to the Heat Final bout in Series 5. A Bulldog Breed attack was opportunistic but not completed, and then a couple of hits were enough to hinder Bulldog Breed from there on in.

Even in that bout, Bulldog Breed has visibly lost drive on one side. If the cheeky removable link attack didn't occur, these two bouts would've been about as carbon copy as we could've got. Ultimately, a worse repeat of the first battle between the two leaves this fight in 20th in this particular list.

19. Razer vs. Cyrax - Heat A[]

Razer vs Cyrax

gotta use the official photos

From this point on, the quality of bouts goes up. Razer vs. Cyrax is the first in this next batch. The battle is a decent one. Razer litters Cyrax with gashes and 'crevasses' - as Jonathan Pearce loves to say. The purple pyramid managed a melodramatic flip late into the fight to provide a little bit of variety, and Mr. Psycho and Growler also played around in the arena for the first time with modest contributions. It's a perfectly decent fight with good attacks and both machines functioning throughout. A solid Round 2 battle.

18. Firestorm 4 vs. Barbaric Response - Heat B[]

Firestorm 4 barbaric response

"Barbaric Response using that hydraulic flipper to crush down through Firestorm!!"

In 18th is a fight that could've been a really quite decent affair if it kept going past the point of the actual immobilisation. What we got was perfectly fine. The pace of the fight was good, and Firestorm 4 gave us a couple of aggressive flips - though a dishonourable mention for the poor camerawork on Firestorm 4's terrific throw of Barbaric Response that nearly ended in a pitting.

Barbaric Response does manoeuvre well at times during the fight, wedging under Firestorm 4 a couple of times, and getting at its sides. Unfortunately, Barbaric Response struggled to worry Firestorm with its attempted flip, and the eventual KO was one of those fun-killing ones. The fight we got was fine, and a Refbot flip over is always funny. Again, like the Razer fight, we got some fine attacks and moments, which pulls it away from the 20s, but it is still quite limited overall.

17. Dantomkia vs. Mighty Mouse - Heat C[]

Mighty Mouse OotA

JP's being caught mid sentence on an OotA 👌

This fight was a pretty straightforward script for Dantomkia to follow. Mighty Mouse's fundamentals aren't a match for Dantomkia - so much so that Dantomkia immobilised Mighty Mouse just by nudging it onto its side during this bout. Mike Lambert's machine didn't wrap up the fight in that way though. His Dantomkia machine carried out some nice flips, and the OotA itself was visually stylish too. Very much a filler fight in its competitiveness, but it could've been worse too. Not a bad way for Dantomkia to build on its debut fight and prepare for the important Heat Final bout to follow.

16. Terrorhurtz vs. Kronic 2 - Heat I[]

Terrorhurtz Kronic 2

*insert eggman saying "get a load of this" against a machine based off of Sonic the Hedgehog*

Very curious fight, this one. There's a good spell of Terrorhurtz axe aggression, but then its axe freezes up. There's a good pace to the fight, but then Kronic 2 comes to a stop. There's good House Robot action with Growler atop of Kronic 2 and Terrorhurtz damaging Sgt. Bash, but then the House Robots are also a mess in trying to remove an immobile Kronic 2 from the CPZ. The good points in this fight are very entertaining, and give it an edge on the previous fight in this list, while the flaws stop it going a couple of places higher.


15. Tornado vs. Thor - Heat G[]

Tornado Thor 1

Thornado, haha

This fight's another decent one. Tornado shoves Thor around the arena well, and causes good, visible damage through pure ramming. Part of this being forced thanks to Thor's fur for clogging up the spinner. Late in the fight, Tornado repeatedly attacks the area where Thor has already lost a panel - not dissimilar to what an aggressive, 7 year-old NJGW always did with his pullbacks toys. Meanwhile, Jason does an ICU-in-Round-1-of-the-New-Blood impression by nearly reversing into the Pit randomly. Shoutout to Growler for some nice, aggressive charges across the arena too. A well-paced fight, solid damage caused, and the loser hanging on in there (Thor did also land a random, decent axe blow, so minor credit there).

14. Stinger vs. Fluffy - Heat F[]

Stinger vs Fluffy

some very good moments, but also very stop start

This is a fight I'd expect to be a bit higher on some peoples' lists. It's one which has been praised in the past for Stinger's comeback after a dominant start by Fluffy. I, too, give some credit to the fight for these things. However, Fluffy only really lands two strong hits before Stinger ceases up for a period, and Stinger's comeback is more to do with Fluffy's weapon randomly dying and it driving over the Flame Pit than something Stinger did. The fight still provides good moments. Fluffy's first big hit that sends Stinger spiralling is a highlight, as is Mr. Psycho's attack on Fluffy in the CPZ. Those things, and the comeback element make the fight rather intriguing, but this could've finished much higher on this list if both machines were functioning properly.

13. Hydra vs. Comengetorix - Heat J[]

Hydra vs Comengetorix S6

official photo

Comengetorix vs Hydra

"iT's An AnTi-LiFtEr DeViCe As WeLl: An AlD!!11"

The Mortis clones, if you'd so openly call them, provide 13th place of the Series 6 Round 2 battles. Hydra came into Series 6 after a rather soft defeat to Spawn Again in the previous wars, while Comengetorix came in off the back of, well... not qualifying for Series 5.

In Series 6, both of the axe-lifter bots progressed through their melees, and faced off in the second round. When the two engaged, it was clear that Hydra had the beating of Comengetorix. Its lifter in combination with its more-swift driving allowed it to carry out many an aesthetic lift and thrust. Comengetorix struggled to do much in reply, aside from JP getting far too excited by Comengetorix's axe sliding into Hydra late on.

This fight could've climbed higher with a functioning and more competitive Comengetorix involved, but Hydra's nice lifts, and even Comengetorix snapping its own weapon off were all enjoyable moments, and gives this fight a solid place on this list.

12. Shredder vs. The Alien - Heat D[]

The Alien vs Shredder

a proper-solid scrap

Shredder vs The Alien

dishonourable/honourable mention to The Alien for genuinely trying to flip Shredder with its srimech btw

Shredder vs. The Alien was a bout between two decent machines with an opportunity of a Heat Final place. What we were given was pretty decent in itself. As stated by others previously, Jonathan Pearce sums it up best with his commentary line of: "no it's not the most destructive, but this is a different side to Robot Wars: The tenacity, the competitiveness, the durability of well-manufactured machines."

And that really is what this was. The pace of the fight is good too. It really is a good driving battle with good use of driving angles, and use of the arena by both machines. Shredder is sometimes seen as a unfitting winner of this bout, but this very-much looks like another Mute vs. Judge Shred 3 situation, with The Alien very noticeably slowing towards the end - a factor which would've no-doubt been more pronounced in real time, with an extended period of poor mobility likely. And these fine margins being squeezed out by these two bots right until the end helps give this fight a certain edge, even without fully-functional weapons.

11. Crushtacean vs. Chaos 2 - Heat C[]

Chaos 2 Crushtacean 1

let's ignore the ending, hey?

Chaos 2 Crushtacean 2

how I look, snoring in the middle of the night

After beating Behemoth in Round 2 of its debut campaign in Series 5, Crushtacean was looking to provide another second round shocker here against George Francis' famous flipper. What developed was a very strong start for Crushtacean. The crab machine even pulled off an acceleration forwards to temporarily strand Chaos 2 on the arena wall. In a very-similar fashion to how it set up the pitting on Behemoth last time around.

However, the Pit was not open this time around. And what is often ignored in this bout is that Chaos 2 was coming back strong in the last 30 seconds before the Crushtacean self-pitting occurred. Crushtacean's right claw looked like it may have locked up, too.

Good action from both machines is spoilt by the eventual conclusion of the fight. Not to mention Jonathan Pearce, who nearly ruins the entirety of Robot Wars history all by himself by claiming that Crushtacean could very well win this fight via an OotA. Yeah, I didn't make that up...

Good stuff though, and a fight that'd be fighting right near the top if it had continued as it had started in the first minute or so.

10. 13Black vs. Double Trouble - Heat F[]

Double Trouble vs 13 Black

"didn't you hear me!!"

Single Trouble

thumbs up/down to toast for naming this image "single trouble"

Into the Top 10 we go, and opening things up is a destructive 13Black and a determined Double Trouble. 13Black provides some really good damage throughout. The standout moment is 13Black's shattering dual attack in one movement. Double Trouble has its entire front panel ripped off - for the second time in two fights lol - to 13Black's first flywheel, and then it loses a spinning disc to 13Black's second flywheel during the same attack. It's such a nice attack to watch - especially in the immediate replay afterwards.

Double Trouble is evidently carrying battle scars from its Round 1 melee too, and 13Black ensures it will suffer more, with some strong hits to knock Double Trouble aside, before peeling part of Double Trouble's armour away.

There is some awkward dead air during the middle period of the battle, before Double Trouble grinds 13Black's weapons to a halt. Double Trouble finally starts to push its opponent around in the remaining few seconds. It's a shame Double Trouble retreating during the dead-air spell wasn't replaced by it charging into 13Black and stopping the flywheels earlier. If Double Trouble managed a couple of pushes into danger areas, this fight could've had a bit more tension about it.

Nevertheless, it's a fight I enjoy. Double Trouble takes a lot of punishment, but still functions fine, 13Black puts on a very damaging fight which isn't common-occurrence for it, and Jonathan Pearce takes the mick out of himself once again. Good stuff.

9. Supernova vs. Ming 3 - Heat H[]

Supernova vs Ming 3

Supernova taking out Ming 3's srimech is a fun little moment too

Always been a slightly overlooked destruction fight, this. Supernova delivers some devastating hits. The standouts being the one where it spirals off, and the shattering hit on Ming 3's back panel.

Ming 3's tyres were the main narrative for this fight. I do like how much attention the show gave to Andrew Cotterell's worry about the exposed tyres. It was one of the main, first examples of this type of fear, and the fight itself showed why.

Funnily enough, the tyres themselves are one of my personal disappointments in this fight. Ming 3's start to lock up super early into the bout, and the main appealing damage is to the other areas of Ming 3.

Nevertheless, an entertaining bout, and a nice Supernova one vs. one KO.

8. X-Terminator vs. Mega-Hurts 2 - Heat B[]

X-terminator mega hurts

this is the type of attack I did far too much with the axe point of my Dominator 2 minibot toy

The second of the Heat B Round 2 battles is up next, and it's a pretty enjoyable watch. X-Terminator causes some nice, visual damage to Mega-Hurts' monitor which is good in itself, and Mr. Psycho follows this up with two massive slam downs at the end of the fight - one of which even throws sparks of Mega-Hurts 2 (mainly because it hit the pickaxe tip before the hit on the body itself, but still!!).

The funny thing is, most of the visual damage in this fight is partly due to fragile builds of certain parts of these machines, with X-Terminator's axe point fully coming off as well. But that visual damage in itself adds to the overall fun, and both machines carry out some strong drives into the bottom corner CPZs, where Growler gets involved with a slam too.

Is this a fight between two bots with high build quality? In this particular fight, no. But the fragility of certain parts of these machines adds to the overall entertainment, especially when their fundamentals of solid drives and shoves are of good quality. Always been a fan of this one.

7. Disc-O-Inferno vs. Killer Carrot 2 - Heat L[]

Killer carrot 2 disco inferno

"The Killer has been a bit of a trooper; I love my carrot souper!!"

Another spinner win within the last four entries, and another very nice destruction fight. I particularly like this one for the variety of damage. The way Killer Carrot's armour shatters in some hits is so visually pleasing, and Disc-O-Inferno adds to this with attacks that rip armour panels backwards, and also inflicting a nice wobbly tyre.

Eventually, Disc-O-Inferno mucks around and basically kills itself. The wobbling Killer Carrot can't take advantage though, and the battle concludes in a puzzling, but still-entertaining way. Also, it may have suffered too much damage to do anything decent late on, but I also want to give Killer Carrot 2 credit for how it performed early in the fight. It may have been hurt a ton, but it wedged itself in and around Disc-O-Inferno nicely - even managing some decent lifts. Too bad the Killer Carrot line of machines has a record of 67 attempted flips in Robot Wars, with none actually being completed...

But no, a good fight with varied damage, Killer Carrot 2 genuinely giving things a good go, and some beautiful Robot Wars wackiness in Disc-O-Inferno mucking around and nearly losing the whole fight.

Let's just not highlight JP saying "I tHiNk KiLlEr CaRroT 2 WaS iMmObIlIsSeD bEfOrE dIsCo-InFeRnO!!11" bit of commentary at the end of the fight, shall we.

6. Barber-Ous vs. Kat 3 - Heat K[]

Barberous kat 3

Barber-Ous shaving some kitty whiskers

Up next is one of Barber-Ous' main highlight reel moments. The immediate charge and shattering hit that chucks Kat 3 off the arena floor, and the follow-through attack afterwards all chains together so satisfyingly. The battle itself has little past that, with Kat 3 unable to right itself, but the attack in itself, as well as Jonathan Pearce speculating on Barber-Ous' potential power going forwards makes a very concise, but pleasing chapter in the Series 6 Round 2 battles, and for Barber-Ous in general.

5. S3 vs. Sir Chromalot - Heat D[]

Sir Chromalot vs S3

For some reason in this battle I always think Sir Chromalot gets counted out while on its side. Mandella effect for you

Into the Top 5 we go, and this fight is one involving the great fun of the Sir Chromalot boys, as well as some strong S3 hits. Things start with Sir Chromalot keeping its distance to say the least, before S3 starts to take over with such meaty hits that fling Sir Chromalot up, and balance its opponent on its own outer ring.

S3 isn't without minor worry itself, with its unwieldy shape in combination with an open Pit giving minor thoughts of Steve Merrill's wacky tactics actually working. But eventually on another one of Sir Chromalot's retreats, S3 cuts across its driving line expertly, chucks it over again and finishes it off. Some great fun and some wonderful hits. Funnily enough, I'm of the opinion that an actively aggressive Sir Chromalot could've actually caused more problems than Steve Merrill thinks, but then we may have had a less fun, memorable battle as a result, so who knows! Great stuff all around though.

4. Raging Reality vs. Tetanus 2 - Heat A[]

Tetanus 2 Raging Reality pit

Raging Reality is near the edge of the Pit!! and... then the camera cuts and Tetanus 2 is all but immobilised...

In 4th place is one of the notable Series 6 comeback wins, as Raging Reality turns the tide to lift Tetanus 2 over the arena side wall. Tetanus 2 very much starts in control, as we know, with its wide, protruding prongs easily hugging Raging Reality. We then get some M2 vs. Tiberius 3 moments in that bottom-corner CPZ.

Unfortunately, unlike in that battle, we don't get the full story. We do see Raging Reality right near the edge of the Pit - albeit from a really bad camera angle - but then instead of showing Raging Reality eventually escaping, the camera suddenly cuts, and Tetanus 2 is motionless against the arena wall. This allows Raging Reality to carry out an effortlessly-pleasing OotA - not before Refbot had fallen into the Pit that is.

The fact the fight wasn't fully pieced together is frustrating. Because if an important chunk wasn't directly cut out then this fight could've been a place or two even higher on this list.

But either way, it's still proper good stuff though. Tetanus 2 showed the potential it can have against certain designs, Refbot provides fun, and Raging Reality's main moment in the fight is the big moment. Jonathan Pearce's commentary tops things off a treat, and provides the opening Heat of the series with another strong battle.

3. Dominator 2 vs. S.M.I.D.S.Y. - Heat J[]

Dominator 2 vs SMIDSY

if only S.M.I.D.S.Y. also tried to use that centrifugal force as well!!

Onto the Top 3, and Series 6 provides a very high standard of fights in this area - not that it hasn't done so with the last few fights too! Here, we have one of those uncommon occasions where a highly-seeded machine doesn't have things in its own favour. Not only does Dominator 2 initially struggle to land consistent attacks, but its opponent, S.M.I.D.S.Y., also does a lot of early controlling.

Despite some good drives, S.M.I.D.S.Y. never quite does enough to topple Dominator 2 over fully and force extra problems for it. The turning point of this fight has often been highlighted as Growler's giant ram into the competing machines. And while this moment was notable, credit also must go to Dominator 2 itself, which was really working up a head of steam, with two strong tyre snipes and a long axe-and-clamp drive into the CPZ itself to set up the eventual Growler charge.

It's an excellent, varied battle though. Both machines jostle for the most minute of attacking angles, they both use general driving and weapon usage well, and Growler delivers one of his standout moments in the show.

Let's just not mention JP saying "aNd DoMiNaToR 2 UsInG tHe CeNtRiFuGaL fOrCe Of ThE aReNa FlOoR dIsC!!", shall we...

2. Bigger Brother vs. Behemoth - Heat L[]

Behemoth bigger brother

such a gorgeous shot

Taking silver on this highly-competitive podium is Bigger Brother vs. Behemoth, as the two machines came to blows in Round 2 of Heat L.

This battle was fast-paced, technical and tactical throughout. Behemoth carries out some lovely early thrusts, while Bigger Brother consistently opts for a more probing approach, as it pokes at Behemoth before immediately reversing - as if it's working out the precise moment needed for a flip later in the fight.

And at one point, Bigger Brother does indeed carry out a fantastic attack. It prods Behemoth's front scoop, unbalances it, and then chucks Behemoth over, before carrying out a smart, aggressive reverse towards the arena Pit bumper. Bigger Brother somehow tops off its expert manoeuvre all in one go, with the rear-ended lift, clamp and then drive down into the Pit.

It truly is a wonderful battle, and no surprise it finishes so high. So, what eclipses it? Well, to be honest, either of these can be the number 1. I simply split them up for the sake of the blog.

Let's just not draw attention to JP saying "OH EXCELLENT SELF-RIGHTING FROM BIGGER BROTHER" in a self-righting attempt which wasn't even successful, shall we...

1. Wild Thing 2 vs. 259 - Heat E[]

259wildthing

"good, great, awesome, outstanding, amazing!"

Wild Thing 2 vs 259

"dull, stupid, terrible, bad, poor, unimpressive, always-the-same, totally expected"

And taking top spot (I guess) is Wild Thing 2's victory over 259 in Heat E! 259 went into this fight with a lot of hype - and by gosh, why wouldn't it! That Round 1 domination was an excellent display throughout.

And here, it started even stronger, chucking Wild Thing 2 over and over, cartwheeling the seeded machine through the air, and pushing the durability that Nick Adams' machines are famed for to the limit.

The thing is, Wild Thing 2 wasn't just being thrown, its armour was being split and shattered. Polycarbonate went flying, struts and panels of armour were being fractured. It truly was one of the strongest starts in the show's history.

Unfortunately, 259 then lost the key to its almighty weapon - the weapon belt. And from here on in, Wild Thing 2 had the advantage. However, despite it putting 259 under pressure here and there, it didn't actually have things all its own way against a weaponless 259, with Adam Clark's machine using its rear-wedge shape well to carry Wild Thing 2 around on a couple of occasions.

With the battle drawing to a close, 259 flat-out dies in heartbreaking fashion, and Wild Thing 2 is left as the victor. JP and Philippa's sadness at losing 259 is something that gives this fight even more of a feeling of importance. Bigger Brother vs. Behemoth has a much concise, knitted-together flow to the fight, but I'll give this bout a minor edge in 2020 for the damage, the domination, the sparring, and the grinding out both machines did during this fight. It felt like a very important fight for Robot Wars: The Sixth Wars specifically, and so takes number 1 overall here.

Let's just not draw attention to JP noticing 259's weapon belt fell off about 5 minutes after it actually did (and me forgetting to put this wonderful fight on The Ultimate Countdown) shall we...

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