History Series / RobotWars

** The paramount example has to be a a robot called Niterider. Its weapon was a "disemboweler", a drill accoutred with three flanges. The idea was to dig into the opponent's innards, and the flanges would flail around and slash the electronics. In practice though, lining up an attack with such an unwieldy weapon was impossible, and most metals can't be pierced with a drill.

*** 29th seeds Sir Chromalot's description mentioned that a fight between them and [[ArchEnemy Plunderbird]] would be "a must-see fight". When they finally did meet in Extreme 1, the resulting battle was extremely boring.

* SpectacularSpinning: In general, spinners are known for scattering more bits of metal across the arena than any other weapon type. But when a spinning weapon works, ''[[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown it works]]''.

* OffModel: The in-game version of Crasha Gnasha in ''Metal Mayhem'' looks nothing like the actual robot whatsoever, being purple instead of blue and missing both of the real robot's weapons- it doesn't have its saw, and the side-to-side hammer has been replaced with a physically improbable overhead whip.
** The version of Tornado in ''Extreme Destruction'' has the box-shaped chassis of the Series 4 version and the weapon of the Series 5 version, making it both this and a CompositeCharacter.

* OffModel: The comic strip in the first incarnation of the official magazine tended to depict robots in this way, such as its depictions of Behemoth and Wild Thing [[http://robotwars.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Drop_Zone_mk2/Scanned_in_Robot_Wars_Magazines?file=RWm11p20-21.jpg here]].

A British television show about [[UsefulNotes/RobotCombat fighting robots]]. The original run aired from 1997 to 2004, airing seven series (each comprising one UK championship, with a few sideshow tournaments and specials in most series) plus two series of "Robot Wars Extreme", a house show-esque format featuring several different events and mini-tournaments. The first 6 (and the two Extremes) aired on [[Creator/TheBBC BBC2]] while the last season aired on Creator/ChannelFive. [[ScrewedByTheNetwork The latter channel's treatment of the show proved to be the death of it]], but it lived on in repeats and live events organised by the roboteers. In 2016, [[{{Revival}} a new 6-part series aired on BBC 2]] and ended a hiatus of more than a decade; the revival lasted for two more series in 2017, but was [[https://twitter.com/UKRobotWars/status/974672709455097856 cancelled]] in early 2018.

* PianoDrop: During the House Robot Rebellion in ''Extreme Warriors'', one bot was placed under The Drop Zone and has a large piano dropped on it,

** Dutch robot Vortex Inducer was armed with a flywheel mounted on a unique movable arm that allowed the disc to be positioned either horizontally or vertically. In theory, this would let it combine the strengths of both weapon types and adapt to its opponents. In practice, the arm was very heavy and unwieldy, and even with a fragile, poorly-armoured chassis, the team had to remove Vortex Inducer's tank tracks in order to make the weight limit. In its only battle it was too slow to actually do anything, was counted out, and then [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe cut cleanly in half]] by Sir Killalot.

* PianoDrop: During the House Robot Rebellion in ''Extreme Warriors'', one bot was placed under The Drop Zone and has a large piano dropped on it,

* DeathFromAbove: The Drop Zone, where robots placed underneath are crushed by items such as washing machines, ovens, bowling balls, televisions, and metal ocean buoys. Given the competitors were already immobilized and therefore out of the running when placed on the Drop Zone, though, it's also an example of KickThemWhileTheyAreDown.

* GracefulLoser: ''Everyone'', since nobody took the competition seriously enough to get upset at losing. Even [[FriendlyRivalry supposed rivals]] are more than happy to shake each other's hand, help each other out in the pits, and promise to come back the following year with a better robot.

* DeathFromAbove: The Drop Zone, where robots placed underneath are crushed by items such as washing machines, ovens, bowling balls, televisions, and metal buoys. Given the competitors were already immobilized and therefore out of the running when placed on the Drop Zone, though, it's also an example of KickThemWhileTheyAreDown.

** Bafflingly, in the Fifth Wars S3 were called "the new guys" by Craig Charles, and won best newcomer award, despite having appeared in two previous series, with S3 being a [[MeaningfulRename complete redesign]] of the team's previous entry, Sting; the clue is in the number. Perhaps to smooth over this mistake, Jonathan Pearce, whose commentary was added in post-production, briefly mentions the original entry, but the drastic redesign is apparently excuse enough to call them newcomers.

* ForkliftFu: While a few robots (most notably Panic Attack) had "lifting forks", the contestant that bore the most resemblance to an actual forklift was Series 4 robot [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/robotwars/images/a/a0/Indefatigable_front.JPG/revision/latest?cb=20160306195153 Indefatigable]]. It lost its only fight to Chaos 2 and was hurled out of the arena.

** This trope was noticeably prevalent in the Third Wars, which featured robots based on [[NeverSmileAtACrocodile crocodiles]][[note]]Crocodilotron, Dundee, and Ally Gator[[/note]], turtles[[note]]Terrorpin and Shell Shock[[/note]], [[AngryGuardDog dogs]][[note]]Pitbull, Bulldog Breed, and Cerberus[[/note]], [[CatsAreMean cats]][[note]]Pussycat and Kater Killer[[/note]], [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons]][[note]]Red Dragon[[/note]], cows[[note]]Robocow[[/note]], pigs [[note]]Robopig[[/note]], [[ThreateningShark sharks]][[note]]Crasha Gnasha and Shark Attack[[/note]], [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs dinosaurs]][[note]]Max Damage, Velocirippa, and Steg-O-Saw-Rus[[/note]], [[YouDirtyRat rats]][[note]]Rattus Rattus[[/note]], aardvarks[[note]]Haardvark[[/note]], [[GiantEnemyCrab lobsters]][[note]]Thermador[[/note]], and [[BigCreepyCrawlies insects]][[note]]Evil Weevil and Milly-Ann Bug[[/note]].

* DeathFromAbove: The Drop Zone, where robots placed underneath are crushed by items such as washing machines, ovens, bowling balls, and metal buoys. Given the competitors were already immobilized and therefore out of the running when placed on the Drop Zone, though, it's also an example of KickThemWhileTheyAreDown.

* DeathFromAbove: The Drop Zone. Given the competitors were already immobilized and therefore out of the running when placed on the Drop Zone, though, it's also an example of KickThemWhileTheyAreDown.

** Many roboteers in later seasons whose machines possessed [[EverythingsBetterWithSpinning flywheels]] would claim to be more destructive than [[TheDreaded Hypno-Disc]]. Needless to say, this wasn't reflected in the robots' performance.

** The Hypno Disc team had [[EverythingsBetterWithSpinning "Spin to win"]] as their battlecry, spoken as they spun a finger pointing up. When they lost, they instead said "In the bin" with the finger pointing down.

* DifficultySpike: In the Second Wars Semi-Finals, the Gauntlet was far harder than it was in the heats, with the Sentinel being given 360 degree movement, a pit being added to the see-saw/ramp path, and a sphere being added to blockade the path with the Ramrig.

* AwesomeMcCoolName: Some roboteers went really over-the-top when it came to naming their machine- the most prominent was probably ''Raging Knightmare.''
** The second Dutch series saw an entry called ''Blackdevil Warzone.''
** ''Vincent Blood'', one of the team members for Razer.

* SpectacularSpinning: In general, spinners are known for scattering more bits of metal across the arena than any other weapon type. Of course, SturgeonsLaw applies to spinners as much as anything else, but when a spinning weapon works, ''[[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown it works]]''.

* AnimalMotifs: Pussycat, Bulldog Breed, [[ScaryScorpions Dead Metal]], Razer... the wars had animal-based robots [[http://robotwars.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Animal_Based_Robots to spare]]. Taken to its logical conclusion in the Commonwealth Carnage, which saw a [[SpidersAreScary spider]][[note]]Panic Attack[[/note]], a [[AngryGuardDog dog]][[note]]Cerberus[[/note]], a [[TurtlePower turtle]][[note]]Terror Turtle[[/note]], and a [[GiantEnemyCrab crab]][[note]]Crushtacean[[/note]] in the arena at the same time.
** This trope was noticeably prevalent in the Third Wars, which featured robots based on [[NeverSmileAtACrocodile crocodiles]][[note]]Crocodilotron, Dundee, and Ally Gator[[/note]], [[TurtlePower turtles]][[note]]Terrorpin and Shell Shock[[/note]], [[AngryGuardDog dogs]][[note]]Pitbull, Bulldog Breed, and Cerberus[[/note]], [[CatsAreMean cats]][[note]]Pussycat and Kater Killer[[/note]], [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons]][[note]]Red Dragon[[/note]], cows[[note]]Robocow[[/note]], pigs [[note]]Robopig[[/note]], [[ThreateningShark sharks]][[note]]Crasha Gnasha and Shark Attack[[/note]], [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs dinosaurs]][[note]]Max Damage, Velocirippa, and Steg-O-Saw-Rus[[/note]], [[YouDirtyRat rats]][[note]]Rattus Rattus[[/note]], aardvarks[[note]]Haardvark[[/note]], [[GiantEnemyCrab lobsters]][[note]]Thermador[[/note]], and [[BigCreepyCrawlies insects]][[note]]Evil Weevil and Milly-Ann Bug[[/note]].

* AnAxeToGrind: One of the most common weapons, though generally ineffective. Mortis in early series, and Dominator 2 and Terrorhurtz later on, were three of the few exceptions. Not to mention Shunt. Thor too in the rebooted series, although it's more of a hammer/axe.

* PutOnABus: Newer house robots Mr. Psycho, Cassius Chrome and Growler did not return for the rebooted series 8 (nor were they mentioned), but perhaps more surprisingly Sgt. Bash, one of the original four house robots, did not return alongside its fellow originals. In March 2017 an online petition was started to bring Bash back including new designs to make Bash more dangerous.

** Firestorm ''charging'' Mr. Psycho, and then '''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YdZyMFYAC4&t=1m08s flipping it.]]''' For reference, Firestorm weighs 99kg, and can comfortably fit under Mr. Psycho with room to spare. Mr. Psycho weights '''750 kg''' and makes [[UpToEleven even the other house robots]] look small. Especially awesome because Firestorm caught Mr. Psycho off-guard [[KarmicDeath while it was dropping a defenseless Panic Attack into the pit.]]

** Jonathan Pearce's commentary in the first two series dialled his usual [[LargeHam hamminess]] UpToEleven, almost bordering on NoIndoorVoice at times. Even his shouting was comparatively subdued from Series 3 onwards, whereas in Series 1 he was practically screaming at the top of his lungs (see his commentary on the Roadblock-Killertron fight from Series 1 for a good example of this).

* GracefulLoser: ''[[UpToEleven Everyone]]'', since nobody took the competition seriously enough to get upset at losing. Even [[FriendlyRivalry supposed rivals]] are more than happy to shake each other's hand, help each other out in the pits, and promise to come back the following year with a better robot.

** Granny's Revenge took it UpToEleven.

* NiceHat: The captain of S3 sported a nice trilby hat, and a team member from The Stag donned a very nice hat with lights and moving parts! Also contributed to the popularity and awesome aura of the Nuts team come Series 8.
** In the 2nd and 3rd Wars, Team Wizard entered two robots featuring giant sorcerer and witch hats respectively. During the 3rd Wars, driver Emma Boulter also dressed in full witch regalia complete with hat. Sadly, in this same series the robot's hat wobbled so much during its only fight that it tripped the kill switch and immobilised itself, eliminating the Witch from the competition.

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: A lot of teams who had been present in many (if not every) previous series disappeared in the Sixth and Seventh Wars. [[note]]No team ever competed in all seven Wars: Firestorm, Chaos, Panic Attack, Pussycat and Behemoth came closest at six apiece.[[/note]]