Number 45 - Blacksmith

 

Flaming hammer bot Blacksmith makes my top 50 list because it has fought so many great matches with some of the greatest Battlebots in history. Against Bite Force, Witch Doctor, Minotaur (as seen above), Warhead, , SawBlaze, and Rotator in order, Blacksmith's fights as an underdog stunned the world. Blacksmith debuted in 2016's season 2. In order to enter the tournament, it had to win one of four play in rumbles to fight a returning semifinalist in the qualifying round. Blacksmith dominated opponents Basilisk and Gemini and drew Bronco. Even though it suffered one of its two career knockouts, it did well enough to earn a wildcard and the 26th seed in the round of 32. It lost to Minotaur and was out of the tournament. In season 3, Blacksmith was matched up against 2015 champion Bite Force, who exited early in 2016 as well. Blacksmith lost in a judges' decision but the fight really could have gone either way. It dominated mulitbot The Four Horsemen in its next fight and drew an 0-1 Witch Doctor for its third fight. Witch Doctor dominated the first two and a half minutes but Blacksmith drove Witch Doctor into the screws, apparently knocking it out. Just then, the screws reversed for the first time ever, giving Witch Doctor the win from the judges. The incident is known as "screwgate." In season 4 in 2019, Battlebots officials said that the screws would automatically reverse when jammed, and they have ever since, but I don't believe this for one millisecond. Witch Doctor's popularity likely saved its tournament hopes. At any rate, Blacksmith fought Minotaur in another coin toss fight, lost, and battled Warhead in a special exhebition match. It beat the snot out of Warhead but still lost. That was a tough break. In season 4, Blacksmith went an impressive 2-2 in the regular season and fought Rotator in a special play in fight. Blacksmith beat Rotator in a surprising upset and made the round of 16 as the 15th seed. It rematched against Witch Doctor and this time it suffered its only other knockout. Blacksmith did not return for season 5 during the 2020-2021 season. Blacksmith's overall record is 5-9 (.357) with two knockouts (if it had won all five fights against Bite Force, Witch Doctor, Minotaur, Warhead, and SawBlaze instead of losing them all, it would be 10-4 [.714] with three knockouts). For its fantastic fights against legends (particularly against Bite Force), Blacksmith is a solid member of the top 50 Battlebots of all time.