Deadblow

Deadblow in Season 5.0 with Grant Imahara.

Deadblow was a middleweight robot built by MythBuster Grant Imahara for BattleBots. It was a silver box-shaped robot armed with a CO2-powered pickaxe (which later had a lifter attachment) and side skirts which were added for Season 3.0 after Deadblow lost to Bad Attitude the previous season. Deadblow participated in every season of BattleBots in which its weight class was represented, and did particularly well (Becoming the Season 1.0 runner-up) until Season 4.0. Deadblow had a severe weakness to wedged robots, losing to a wedge in three of the six seasons it competed.

Robot History

Long Beach 1999

Deadblow's Long Beach 1999 appearance.

Deadblow's was scheduled to fight SlapPest, but SlapPest had technical issues and was forced to forfeit. Deadblow won by default and advanced to the next round, where it faced Scorpion "Beta 3". Deadblow won on a judge's decision and advanced to the next round, where it faced Son of Smashy.

Deadblow getting axed by Son of Smashy.

The fight began with both robots driving at each other before Deadblow fired its axe and got it stuck behind Son of Smashy's axe. After a couple of minutes, the robots were separated and the fight resumed. As soon as the fight began again, Son of Smashy and Deadblow started trading blows. Deadblow stopped moving but started moving again after a few axe blows. The two continued to trade axe blows until Deadblow stopped moving. Son of Smashy won by KO at 1:19 and Deadblow was now in the loser's bracket, where it faced Junior.

The lifting arm of Junior was ineffective against Deadblow as Deadblow was invertible. Deadblow managed to dent Junior a couple of times. Both robots were still moving in the end and Deadblow won by crowd vote. This win put Deadblow to the next round, where it faced Turtle Road Kill. Turtle Road Kill won by crowd vote and Deadblow was eliminated from the tournament.

Deadblow attacking Stuffie.

Deadblow attacking SlapPest.

Deadblow wasn't finished, however, as it participated the middleweight royal rumble at the end of the tournament. In the beginning, Deadblow went straight at the left side of Stuffie and started hitting it with its axe. Deadblow then pushed Stuffie against the spikestrip and started delivering blows onto its front. Deadblow backs away and started moving around the BattleBox. After this, Knee-Breaker got its hammer over Deadblow and Deadblow starts pushing it against the spikestrip. Deadblow started attacking Stuffie again and a blow from Deadblow caused a piece from Stuffie's front to come off. Deadblow kept leaving dents on Stuffie's front and pushed it against the spikestrip. After this, Deadblow was attacking the multibot SlapPest with its axe for the majority of the rumble. Deadblow took a hit from Knee-Breaker's hammer and Deadblow delivers a blow onto the rear of Spaz before the time ran out. In the end, Deadblow was one of few robots still moving and it was declared the winner of the megabot rumble.

Season 1.0

Deadblow's Season 1.0 appearance.

Alien Gladiator being pounded by Deadblow when it lost its hammer.

After receiving a bye in the round of 16, Deadblow went up against Alien Gladiator in the middleweight quarterfinals. Both robots went straight at each other, but Alien Gladiator started to get pierced by Deadblow's axe and eventually stopped moving after getting its weapon caught in the hellraisers. Deadblow kept hitting Alien Gladiator until metal fatigue tore off Deadblow's axe. Alien Gladiator then got its weapon caught under the hellraisers and could not move, leaving Deadblow to win by KO at 1:08. This win put Deadblow to the middleweight semifinals, where it faced Pressure Drop.

Pressure Drop gets axed by Deadblow.

Deadblow was the aggressor in this fight and kept hitting Pressure Drop on the top with its axe. Pressure Drop could not do much to retaliate so after a trip over the killsaws towards the end that bent the rear axle. Deadblow won on a unanimous 9-0 judge's decision and advanced to the middleweight finals, where it faced Hazard.

Hazard hits Deadblow, sending it flying.

Both robots drove out and met each other in the middle of the BattleBox. Deadblow was struck by Hazard's blade once, then retaliated a few seconds later with a few strikes with its axe. Deadblow was struck again by Hazard, only it was a lethal hit to the side this time, denting its paneling and knocking out the battery. Deadblow was counted out by the referee at 53 seconds and became the runner up of the Season 1.0 middleweight competition.

Deadblow attacking Hazard.

Deadblow wasn't finished, however, as it was repaired in time for the middleweight royal rumble at the end of the tournament. In the beginning, Bad Attitude went straight at Deadblow and gets underneath it. Deadblow slides off Bad Attitude's wedge and Deadblow runs away. Deadblow went straight at Hazard, who wasn't spinning its blade, and starts delivering blows on Hazard's front with its axe. While this was happening, Hazard started pushing Deadblow and pushed it against the spikestrip near the pulverizer. Hazard backs away and charges straight at Deadblow again. Deadblow was delivering blows on Hazard's

Hazard pushes Deadblow against the spikestrip.

spinning blade and Hazard ran away from Deadblow. After this, Ankle Biter got underneath the front of Deadblow and pushed it against the spikestrip. Subject to Change Without Reason got underneath the rear of Deadblow and Deadblow slides off its wedge. Ankle Biter got underneath the front of Deadblow again and pushed it around an immobile Pressure Drop. Deadblow then took a hit from Hazard's spinning blade and delivers a blow on the right side of Pressure Drop. Deadblow backs away and took another hit from Hazard's spinning blade. Hazard got underneath the right side of Deadblow and pushed it against the spikestrip. Deadblow backs into a flipped Ankle Biter and gets slammed by Hazard again. Deadblow started hitting Alien Gladiator with its axe and Hazard pushes Deadblow against the spikestrip again. After this, Deadblow backs away and Hazard pushes Deadblow against the spikestrip once again. Deadblow tried to escape, but Deadblow got both of its right wheels stuck on the spikestrip and it was left there for the rest of the rumble. In the end, Hazard was declared the winner of the middleweight rumble and Deadblow lost overall.

Season 2.0

Deadblow's Season 2.0 appearance.

After receiving a bye in the round of 32, Deadblow fought Kegger in the round of 16. Deadblow immediately attacked Kegger, leaving several holes in Kegger's thin armor. Deadblow then pushed Kegger against the wall, but was backed into, forcing Deadblow to drive over the killsaws. Deadblow continued pounding into Kegger's side, where the hammer got stuck for several moments. Kegger suddenly stopped moving and Deadblow pushed it towards the entrance ramp, where Deadblow continued hitting Kegger. With around 15 seconds left in the match, Deadblow continued to attack and the pulverizers on that side of the arena were being activated in an attempt to convince Deadblow's driver to move Kegger over to one of them but one of them fell off in the process. Kegger was counted out with only one second left on the clock, advancing it to the middleweight quarterfinals, where it faced Bad Attitude.

Deadblow attacking Kegger's top.

Bad Attitude charges at Deadblow and pushes it for awhile, but Deadblow turns around and started hitting Bad Attitude with its axe. Deadblow was then pushed by Bad Attitude and got under the pulverizer. The robots realign in the middle of the BattleBox and Bad Attitude pushes Deadblow again into the wall. Deadblow continues hitting Bad Attitude with its hammer. Bad Attitude nearly gets upended by the hellraisers, but skids away. Deadblow has Bad Attitude pinned briefly against the wall, but Bad Attitude turns around and slams Deadblow against the arena wall multiple times. Bad Attitude pushed Deadblow again and got it stuck near the arena exit ramp, with its hammer stuck between the edges of the spikestrip. Deadblow is unable to free itself but time ran out before it could be counted out. Bad Attitude won on a 43-2 judge's decision and Deadblow was eliminated from the tournament again.

Bad Attitude slamming Deadblow hard into the wall.

Deadblow wasn't finished, however, as it participated the middleweight royal rumble at the end of the tournament. In the beginning, Deadblow went straight at the right side of Super Chiabot and delivered a blow with its axe. Deadblow started attacking Buddy Lee Don't Play in the Street and got its axe underneath rear of Buddy Lee, nearly flipping it onto its back. Deadblow then started attacking Blue Streak with its axe and backs away. Deadblow started attacking Buddy Lee again and Deadblow bumps into Instigator, where it started hitting it with its axe. After this, SABotage got underneath the left side of Deadblow and flips it onto its back, which self-rights immediately. Deadblow went straight at Scrap Daddy MW110 and delivers a blow on its rear wedge. Deadblow backs away and pushed an immobile Buddy Lee against the spikestrip. Deadblow bumps into one of the minibots from Super Chiabot and it was being pushed by Ankle Biter for a brief moment. Deadblow went straight at Instigator and pushed it onto SABotage's lifting arm. After this, Deadblow pushed SABotage against the spikestrip and Deadblow starts moving around the BattleBox. Deadblow went straight at Buddy Lee and pushed it against the spikestrip again. Deadblow bumps into Bad Attitude two times and the time ran out shortly after. In the end, Deadblow was one of few robots still moving and it was declared the winner of the middleweight royal rumble.

Season 3.0

Deadblow's Season 3.0 appearance.

Due to its seeding, Deadblow was allowed to skip the preliminary rounds of Season 3.0, where it eventually faced Spinster. Deadblow won by KO while having its axles sheared and advanced to the round of 16, where it faced Twin Paradox.

Deadblow fighting Spinster.

In the beginning, Deadblow rushes straight at Twin Paradox with its hammer down for an attempt to flip it. Twin Paradox gets lifted by the piston. Twin Paradox was pushing Deadblow from the rear and Deadblow drives over a set of killsaws and a skirt is sent flying across the BattleBox from the impact. Deadblow stopped moving as its poorly designed drive system had sheared again, and Twin Paradox was hitting the top of Deadblow with its spinning disc. Deadblow was sitting on the floor spinner and hits Twin Paradox with its axe as Twin Paradox was pushing Deadblow. Twin Paradox pushed Deadblow under the pulverizer and Deadblow was being counted out. Twin Paradox won by KO and Deadblow was eliminated from the tournament.

Deadblow gets flipped by T-Minus.

Deadblow wasn't finished, however, as it was repaired in the time for the middleweight royal rumble at the end of the tournament. In the beginning, Deadblow moved to the center of the BattleBox and gets hit by Blade Runner's spiked arm. Deadblow went straight at Village Idiot and was nearly flipped onto its back. Deadblow bumps into T-Minus and it was being pushed by Double Agent. Deadblow moved to the center of the BattleBox and T-Minus flips it over Twin Paradox and Village Idiot. Deadblow kept swinging its axe onto the BattleBox floor and almost flips T-Minus with its lifter attachment. Deadblow charged straight at the left side of Bad Attitude and Bad Attitude runs away. SABotage gets underneath the left side of Deadblow and nearly flipped it onto its back. As this was happening, Blade Runner pushed Double Agent underneath the rear of Deadblow. Deadblow stopped moving and SABotage nearly flipped it onto its back again. Deadblow kept swinging its axe onto the BattleBox floor and Bad Attitude pushes it against the spikestrip. Bad Attitude then moved the immobile Deadblow to the center of the BattleBox. The immobile Deadblow was then pushed onto the blue square by Double Agent and Little Drummer Boy. After this, the time ran out and T-Minus was declared the winner of the middleweight royal rumble.

Season 4.0

Deadblow from Season 4.0.

Deadblow's first and only match of the season was against Summoner. Summoner won on a close 25-20 judge's decision and Deadblow was eliminated from the tournament again.

Deadblow wasn't finished, however, as it participated the middleweight consolation rumble at the end of the tournament. It is unknown how well it did, but it eventually lost out to Malvolio and T-Wrex.

Season 5.0

Deadblow, unfortunately, was no longer seeded for this tournament and therefore had to go through the qualifiers again. It first met up against Blue Devil. Deadblow won on a 29-16 judge's decision and advanced to the next preliminary round, where it faced Angry Barracuda.

Deadblow won on a 29-16 judge's decision and advanced to the next preliminary round, where it faced Oh Debsy. Deadblow quickly got under Oh Debsy and pushed it around. Later, Deadblow did the same thing as Oh Debsy struggled to use its lifting arm. Eventually, Deadblow found itself up against the spike strip but got free. Time ran out and Deadblow won on a 29-16 judge's decision and advanced to the final preliminary round, where it faced Chummy. Chummy won on a close 23-22 judge's decision and Deadblow was eliminated from the tournament once again.

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 10
• Losses: 7

Competition	Wins	Losses
Long Beach 1999	SlapPest Scorpion "Beta 3" Junior	Son of Smashy Turtle Road Kill
Season 1.0	Bye Alien Gladiator Pressure Drop	Hazard
Season 2.0	Bye Kegger	Bad Attitude
Season 3.0	Spinster	Twin Paradox
Season 4.0	None	Summoner
Season 5.0	Blue Devil Angry Barracuda Oh Debsy	Chummy

Mark Beiro Introductions

"Weighing in at 114 pounds. He's mad as hell and he's not gonna take it anymore. Here is DEADBLOW!"

"Like a terrier in heat, other robots face defeat. Here is DEADBLOW!"

"Like a driver's ed film from high school, there will be robot parts everywhere. Here is DEADBLOW!"

"Oh sure it looks real pretty and shiny right now but remember, pretty, shiny things kill too. Introducing DEADBLOW"

Merchandise

Any appearances by Deadblow in merchandise are listed below:

• Deadblow/Grip N' Grappler
• Deadblow/Metal Mechanics
• Deadblow/Deluxe Metal Mechanics
• Deadblow/Battle Chains
• Deadblow/Build 'Em Bash 'Em
• Deadblow/BattleBots: Beyond The BattleBox
• Deadblow/MiniBot

Trivia

• Deadblow's design was inspired by the US Robot Wars' Thor due to the fast hammer.

Appearances in Mythbusters

Since Grant joining MythBusters in 2005 (alongside Blendo creator Jamie Hyneman and electronics/control wirer Adam Savage), Deadblow has been used on the show several times - though often with other attachments besides its original titanium hammer. Its debut came in "Bottle Rocket Blast-Off", when Grant demonstrated it - while its accomplishments were reeled off with accompanying footage - before using the pneumatic system that normally powered the hammer to test the pressure rating of a soda bottle. Its most notable use so far came in 2009 in "Driving In The Dark", which saw Grant, Tory Belleci and Jessi Combs testing the myth that smugglers can beat checkpoints at the Canadian border by turning off their wikipedia:headlights while not crashing or navigating wrongly due to lack of light. To simulate an oncoming car with its headlights ablaze, Grant fastened halogen lamps to Deadblow - which earned it the nickname of "Blinky" - and drove it towards Tory, who was playing the role of a smuggler in a go-kart with its headlights off, causing him to veer and crash into the tire wall.

Its other uses on the show include the "Beat the Guard Dog" myth where it played the part of a robotically controlled cat - all that Grant had to do was modify it to mount a taxidermied cat and make the cat's joints hang loosely.