The second episode of Season 1 aired on January 15th, 2018. It continued the first round of the competition, featuring eight head-to-head battles between robots making their televised debuts.
Competing robots
- Burning Twin Star
- Chinese Aegis
- Dark Knight
- Great White
- Hammerhead Shark
- Hot Wheel
- Hurricane
- Ninja General
- Rust Boar
- Steel God of War
- Spin Doctor
- Tánshè
- Thunder and Lightning
- Thunderstorm
- Two BBQ
- Unlimited Numbers
Battles
Steel God of War vs Thunder and Lightning
Thunder buckles the wedge of Steel God of War
Thunder is lifted by the Floor Rods
Initially, neither Thunder nor Lightning moved from their starting positions, and one of Steel God of War's wedges ran straight into the disc of Lightning (blue), and was thrown over. Steel God of War's drum spinner approached Thunder (red), but Thunder had the lower wedge, and buckled the wedge of its opponent, then slammed it upwards, while Lightning focused on a wedge robot. However, Thunder failed to escape, and a wedge drove under its back end to drive it towards a Grinder, where Thunder was held briefly. When freed, Thunder was also suspended by the Floor Rods briefly.
Lightning pushes two robots at once
Lightning gyro-dances into the Grinder
Lightning was also damaged by the arena saws, but managed to launch a brutal attack on a Steel God of War wedge, throwing it high into the air and over, before grinding at its wedge. Lightning was then able to push both static wedges at once, driving them both towards the Grinder, but Lightning instead drove straight into it, and was knocked away in recoil. Lightning attempted to gyro-dance using the power of its spinner in order to self-right, but was stopped by its wedges, as it wobbled onto a floor flipper, and would not be righted until it danced into the Grinder, sustaining damage in the process. Lightning struggled to drive away, and turned itself back over again, before Steel God of War pushed it straight back into the Grinder.
Thunder gyro-dances
Thunder is pinned against the spikes
It had become evident that Lightning had lost the use of one wheel, but Thunder recovered by throwing a wedge of Steel God of War over, also chasing the main body of the machine across the arena. Thunder was pushed from behind by Steel God of War, and used gyroscopic procession to turn itself over, and it was pinned against the wall while Lightning was also pushed back into the Grinder before time expired on a very close match. Although the Judges were not unanimous in their decision, a 2-1 split decision put Thunder and Lightning through to the next round, with the backing of Ian Lewis.
- Ian Lewis: "Damage for 'blue' was very good. It was very strong."
- Fellow Judge: "So for the control, I think for the whole fight, 'blue' controlled the two bots, kept fighting, working with each other, but I don't think the 'three-one' [Steel God of War] worked very... teammates. So control, I think 'blue' is better."
- — The Judges praise the teamwork of Thunder and Lightning
Winner: Thunder and Lightning
Great White vs Spin Doctor
The opening hit
Spin Doctor lights up Great White
Both robots overturned
- "Spin Doctor is a really really fierce opponent. I think it probably would've been the favorite to win the competition."
- — Steven Martin
As the two vertical spinners converged, it was Great White's flywheel that landed the heavier hit than Spin Doctor's drum, sending the American robot flying into the side spikes and dislodging the plexiglass panel protecting its side. As Spin Doctor moved away, Remora drove into the side and sheared away the rest of the panel, but the impact sent the featherweight hurtling into the side spikes and flying out of range. Remora tried to recover while Great White landed more powerful blows on Spin Doctor, delivering hard knocks to the drum, chassis and wedge but not causing lasting damage. Great White, rather, was showing signs of wear, as its flywheel began to slow down. With its opponent less dangerous, Spin Doctor charged in and set off its flamethrower, concealing both in a blaze of fire.
Heavy hits are given
Heavy hits are taken
Remora flies across the arena
Within the inferno, Spin Doctor's drum began to chew up Great White's armor, bending the side panels out of shape. Eventually, Great White was able to escape by driving over Spin Doctor. Spin Doctor took the lead, snapping off the side panels for the flywheel and pressuring Great White into the side walls where it was overturned by the drum. However, the side drums on the arena also caught Spin Doctor and overturned it, with Remora pressuring the American robot to alleviate the pressure on its partner robot. Both Spin Doctor and Great White self-righted, but Remora became stuck on its disc and was carried right into the side wall, where it was hurled away in explosive fashion, after which point it would not move. It became clear that Spin Doctor's flamethrower was not working, but it kept the pressure up on Great White, who dealt another powerful hit but was overturned. The two battled on even footing, trading blows, but in the last thirty seconds of the match, Great White got a slam on the side of Spin Doctor that dislodged the drum and bent the wheels out of alignment. Left immobilized, Spin Doctor was counted out and Great White progressed by knockout.
A powerful hit is dealt to the back of Spin Doctor
- "I think his robot worked really well, and had the battle going for as long as it did with all the massive hits was amazing, so credit to the robot for being as good as it is. But fortunately, we just came out on top, and I think it could've gone either way."
- — Steven Martin
Winner: Great White
Dark Knight vs Tánshè
- Gabriel Stroud: "What do we want to say the most when we face our opponent in the arena, John?"
- John Reid: "Best of luck!"
- — The team lay down the gauntlet
Tánshè lifts Dark Knight lightly
Tánshè launches Dark Knight onto the rail
Tánshè exited its square rapidly and drove straight under Dark Knight to reach its back end. Tánshè then manoeuvred Dark Knight into the spikes on the wall. Tánshè drove under the drum of Dark Knight, and sparks were thrown as the wedge made contact with the spinner, but Tánshè flipped Dark Knight back into the spikes. Dark Knight meandered in the center of the arena, so Tánshè circled around and then rammed into the side of it. It was evident that Tánshè had the lower ground clearance, as it breached the wedge of Dark Knight, and later flipped it over, albeit not with a full-pressure flip. Dark Knight landed on Tánshè and made contact with its drum, as Tánshè pushed it towards the spiked walls, sustaining damage. Tánshè flicked the Dark Knight up, but not over. Finally, Tánshè moved into a position where it could launch Dark Knight into the arena wall with a full-pressure flip. As Dark Knight was stuck on the rail, unable to break free, Tánshè drove around the arena in celebration, flipping itself over, until Dark Knight was counted out, awarding Tánshè the win.
- Gabriel Stroud: "That was our first fight together, how are you feeling, brother?"
- John Reid: "Very happy. Must get that first win. Once you've got that first win, you can settle down into it. Gives you a lot of confidence. So we propose that we get to the final, we become the very first champion of King of Bots."
- — Team Enemy Alliance aim for victory
Winner: Tánshè
Hurricane vs Hammerhead Shark
Hammerhead Shark weathers an early collision with Hurricane's spinner
Hurricane shears off one of Hammerhead Shark's drum mounts
Hammerhead Shark pushes Hurricane over the flame jets
In the opening seconds, Hammerhead Shark drove straight into Hurricane, with the two competitors proceeding to exchange several blows with their spinning weapons. One of these collisions resulted in Hurricane ripping off one of Hammerhead Shark's drum mounts, causing the latter's drum to hit the floor as it drove into Hurricane again. This stopped both of their weapons from spinning up, but Hammerhead Shark pushed Hurricane away from the red square, before both robots separated. Hammerhead Shark continued ramming and pushing Hurricane around the arena, all while surviving more hits from its opponent’s spinner. The former was pushed into the wall spikes by Hurricane, but reversed away as Hurricane momentarily pinned itself under them. The two competitors continued pushing and dodging each other until time ran out, with the battle going to a Judges’ decision. Despite the damage inflicted by Hurricane, the Judges ruled in favor of Hammerhead Shark as a result of it displaying more control throughout the battle.
Winner: Hammerhead Shark
Hot Wheel vs Ninja General
Hot Wheel loses one of its discs to the Grinder
Arena saws send sparks as it saws Hot Wheel
Immediately the cluster splits into three, with the red and blue cluster coming in from both sides slamming into Hot Wheel, only to barged out of the way. As the clusterbots back away and getting ready another attack, Hot Wheel steered towards the arena grinders, turning and completely removing one of its own cutting discs. Hot Wheel drove into the other grinder where it is damaged internally. Ninja General avoided contact with Hot Wheel as it drove slowly in circles and on top of the arena saw blades, sending a shower of sparks as it impacts.
Hot Wheel uses its arm to slice into the blue cluster of Ninja General
The blue cluster becomes wedged on the front spikes of Hot Wheel, and is slowly driven into the side wall spikes. The red cluster smacks itself at the back of Hot Wheel, trying to free the blue cluster. Hot Wheel uses its arm to scrap the top of the blue cluster of Ninja General, creating sparks, but failing to make must of an impact as Ninja General ran away. Hot Wheel reverses slowly onto a flame jet, and circular saw once more as Ninja General rams into it from all sides, with the blue cluster being caught on the back spikes once more. As time ran out, it went to a judges decision with Ninja general being declared the winner.
Winner: Ninja General
Burning Twin Star vs Thunderstorm
A weaponless Thunderstorm immobilizes one half of Burning Twin Star with a powerful ram
Thunderstorm attacks the remaining part of Burning Twin Star as time runs out
Prior to the battle, Thunderstorm’s team captain failed to check the robot’s bar spinner before entering the arena - as a result, Thunderstorm fought with its weapon disabled. The weaponless Thunderstorm approached and bumped into the black part of Burning Twin Star, before pushing the white part into one of the grinders. The black part of Burning Twin Star attempted to attack Thunderstorm, only for Thunderstorm to get underneath, turn and ram it into the grinder mount. The impact immobilized the black part of Burning Twin Star, which Thunderstorm pushed into the grinder before it and the white part rammed each other. Sparks flew from the white part’s drum, but Thunderstorm kept pushing it into the spikes, grinders and circular saws until time ran out – the white part of Burning Twin Star had also been flipped over prior to Thunderstorm’s final attack. The battle went to a Judges’ decision, which ruled in favor of Thunderstorm.
Winner: Thunderstorm
Rust Boar vs Unlimited Numbers
Unlimited Numbers' chains slip
Unlimited Numbers is pummelled by the hammer
Unlimited Numbers drove straight out of the starting square in an attempt to negate the drum spinner of Rust Boar, but the immediate contact with the drum caused Unlimited Numbers to be knocked upwards, and a chain powering its weaponry fell loose, leaving Unlimited Numbers without a form of attack. It briefly destabilized Rust Boar with a slam, but sustained a direct blow to the side of the machine. Rust Boar drove under Unlimited Numbers using its drum, but Unlimited Numbers pushed it into a corner where the hammer was brought down on Rust Boar.
Unlimited Numbers is cast into the air
Unlimited Numbers is left unable to self-right
However, despite instigating this attack, Unlimited Numbers' poor turning circle meant that it struggled to leave that corner of the arena, and was struck by the hammer itself. This allowed Rust Boar to line up an attack which tossed Unlimited Numbers into the air, inflicting damage. Unlimited Numbers managed to escape slowly, but drove over the flame jets. It was at this stage that Unlimited Numbers had exposed its back end to Rust Boar, and the drum spinner ripped pieces away from Unlimited Numbers before barging it into an arena drum, which turned Unlimited Numbers over through a combination of both spinners. Unlimited Numbers was stranded on its back with no method of self-righting, and it was immediately counted out, awarding the win to Rust Boar.
Winner: Rust Boar
Chinese Aegis vs Two BBQ
The initial collision between Two BBQ and Chinese Aegis
Both robots hesitated in the opening seconds as they got their spinning weapons up to speed, before Two BBQ charged into a waiting Chinese Aegis. Sparks flew as Two BBQ shepherded Chinese Aegis towards the wall – a second hit launched Chinese Aegis into the spikes, ripping its shell apart and immobilizing it completely. Two BBQ drove towards and spun away from Chinese Aegis, but attacked no further as the latter was counted out - it gyro-danced and spun round in celebration as its victory was confirmed, after one of the shortest battles in King of Bots history to date.
Winner: Two BBQ
Trivia
- The battle between Steel God of War against Thunder Lightning saw five active robots in the arena, a record for the show until the later Tag Team/2v2 and Rumble battles.
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