BattleBots just premiered its new nightly live show in Las Vegas on February 3! You no longer have to wait for the TV film dates to get a chance to see your favorite robots in the BattleBox in person! You probably have some questions about this new live show, so here’s what we know!
What is BattleBots Destruct-A-Thon?
The official description from BattleBots.com: The world’s first daily robot-combat show, exclusive to Las Vegas and containing all the drama, action and destruction of the hit TV series. It’s an intense, fast-moving fight fest featuring famous robots that have delighted millions of fans all over the world, including bots like Witch Doctor, Kraken, Mammoth, HyperShock, Whiplash and more, as well as several new robots being specially created for this live experience. Some shows will even feature fights from rookie teams eager to try out for the next BattleBots World Championships, and existing BattleBots stars coming to test out their new robots ahead of the next TV taping.
Can I watch it on TV?
Nope, these fights will not be recorded to air on any channel. The only way to see the battles is to buy tickets to the Las Vegas venue.
Which robots are in Destruct-A-Thon?
While the lineup may change nightly and you likely won’t see every bot compete every night, there is a great variety of bots competing! From the current TV show, you may see Witch Doctor, HyperShock, Kraken, Malice Whiplash, and Nightmare. You’ll also see the return of some classic favorites such as Diablo, Ginsu, Tazbot, and Overkill. You can even see some all-new bots like Chopper!
Will I be able to see the teams in Las Vegas too?
While some teams are making occasional appearances at Destruct-A-Thon, it is not likely that you’ll see the usual teams from the TV show. We all have jobs and families that make it difficult to move to Las Vegas, so we’ve trained a new team to compete and fix our robots. That being said, each TV show team DID build the robots!
Is that the REAL Witch Doctor? It looks a bit different!
We built an all new Witch Doctor for this show, designed specifically to be able to battle every night! The changes make this Witch Doctor easier to repair, since it has to be ready to fight again so quickly. For example, the biggest change on Witch Doctor is that we designed it with a steel frame instead of our usual aluminum frame, since it’s a better choice for quick repairs. We’re also trying out some new things that we may end up implementing for the next TV show Witch Doctor!
Are the battles real? Is the damage real?
The battles are 100% real! The fights are not scripted at all, and all the damage you see from robots like HyperShock and Nightmare is all real damage! Here's a look at some of the damage to Witch Doctor from a single battle:
Will the Destruct-A-Thon battles count toward the TV show robot’s records? Will the selection committee look at these fights as part of a robot’s history?
BattleBots Destruct-A-Thon is entirely separate from the TV show and will not affect rankings or bot history in any way. This is a stand-alone event that is aimed at putting on a spectacular show, not necessarily winning the most battles. For example, you’re much more likely to see a bot unstick it’s opponent to keep a battle going, even if it means a loss for the team. The goal is the best robot fighting possible!
Will new teams be able to compete at Destruct-A-Thon to prove themselves to the selection committee and increase their chances of getting on the TV show?
Yes! BattleBots has said that it welcomes new teams to use Destruct-A-Thon as a proving ground. It may take some time, but we’re hoping to see new teams get some experience, and even established team trying out new ideas!
How can I get more information and buy tickets?
From Las Vegas Review Journal: “BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon” opens Feb. 3 at BattleBox Arena at Caesars Entertainment Studios. Show times are 6 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with 3 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and noon on Sundays. Tickets are onsale Nov. 14. Prices range from $49 general-admission, with $150 family “bundles,” to $125 VIP packages where guests are allowed to view the robots and their teams up close before and after the show. https://battlebots.com/tickets/
Watch the official BattleBots Destruct-A-Thon promo here: