BattleBots was founded in 1999 by Greg Munson and Trey Roski. The competition series has run for 12 successful seasons, and over the years, we’ve witnessed some truly impressive and terrifying robots. Join us as we break down the top BattleBots of all time and explore what made them such fierce competitors!
1. Bite Force (Heavyweight)
Bite Force was a straight beast on BattleBots, racking up a 26-1 record and knocking out 19 of its opponents. Designed by Paul Ventimiglia, this heavyweight robot wielded its vertical spinning bar with precision and force. Bite Force appeared in four seasons and won three Giant Nuts. This robot has the best record of all time and has some legendary wins, including dismantling Tombstone, Witch Doctor, and Minotaur. We just wished Bite Force had managed to defeat Chomp and retire undefeated.
2. Biohazard (Heavyweight)
Biohazard was an incredibly durable robot and is considered the best lifter bot ever. This robot displayed excellent maneuverability and was a pioneer, with many subsequent robots copying its design. Biohazard secured four championship titles between 1996 and 2002, and while not being a knockout specialist, was virtually impossible to beat.
Biohazard retired with a record of 27 wins and three losses. It scored 12 knockouts and went to the judge’s decision on 15 occasions. This robot has won the most Giant Nuts. Also, out of his losses, we only consider the one against Vlad to be legit. He faced a big weight disadvantage against SoW, and Voltarc just held on to him the whole battle.
3. Hazard (Middleweight)
Engineered by Tony Buchignani, this formidable robot captivated audiences with its deadly spinning disc weapon. Hazard’s strong design propelled it to an unprecedented four consecutive middleweight championship titles from 1999 to 2002.
Hazard won 10 of his 18 fights by KO and completely destroyed opponents. Hazard even managed to go undefeated in its first 3 seasons, ultimately returning with a 17-1 record.
4. Tombstone (Super/Heavyweight)
Tombstone was famous for inflicting massive damage on its opponents. Designed by Ray Billings, this super heavyweight juggernaut featured a devastating horizontal spinning blade capable of tearing through opponents. Tombstone won 28 times and racked up 19 knockouts. Although Tombstone only managed to win one Giant Nut, it did reach the finals on numerous occasions. Based on the destructive spinning blade that other robots feared, Tombstone deserves a spot on our list.
5. Son of Whyachi (Heavyweight)
Son of Whyachi was an innovative robot famed for its unpredictability. Created by the Gage Cauchois team, this robot shocked BattleBot fans with its unique tri-bar spinning weapon. Son of Whyachi’s unorthodox design and relentless aggression propelled it to victory in the 2001 BattleBots season.
SoW is a controversial bot due to bending of the rules during season three of BattleBots. It also had one of the best matches in BattleBot history when it took on Biohazard in the Finals. Very few robots have a win as good as SoW’s victory over Biohazard, especially in such a big match.
Unfortunately, following tasting championship success in season three of BattleBots, SoW rested on its laurels. The robot struggled to perform and never made it back to the finals. SoW finished its career with an 18-9 record, which included 16 knockout wins.
Following the Biohazard win, SoW never made it past round 16. SoW’s lack of success following its Gian Nut win left BattleBot fans disappointed. If the robot had kept up its winning ways, then who knows, maybe SoW would go down as the greatest BattleBot of all time.
6. Ziggo (Lightweight)
Ziggo was a lightweight destroyer thanks to its unconventional shell spinner design. Its remarkable agility and spinning ability earned the Inertia Labs robot two Giant Nuts. Ziggo will forever be remembered for his unique style and incredible knockout percentage. Of Ziggo’s 18 wins, just one came from a judge’s decision!
With a record of 26-1, the number one BattleBots of all time is Bite Force. It KO’d 19 of its opponents with its vertical spinning bar and was the most destructive robot we’ve seen. In second place has to be the heavyweight bruiser Biohazard, which is the best lifter bot in the history of BattleBots. We would’ve loved to see a match between Bite Force and Biohazard!
Read More: How to Build a BattleBot
