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Tracer is a heavyweight robot built by Team KYMERA, which competed in BattleBots World Championship V and BattleBots: Bounty Hunters.

It is a four-wheel drive robot armed with an asymmetrical 2½" thick vertical spinner at the front driven by chains and spinning at 85mph. Tracer had unique sloped front armor which proved effective in preventing damage, but did not run both ways up. The armor could also pivot across two large shafts, as well as move side-to-side in order to cushion impacts. It also sported a spring suspension system which retracted Tracer's drive wheels into its chassis after big hits. Tracer featured a selection of minibots with different names and functionalities, but only one could accompany Tracer in the BattleBox. The better-known of the two was called Needle, and featured two lifting prongs capable of hoisting even robots many times its own weight, due to its setup providing an incredible amount of torque.

Tracer hero shot WCV

Tracer during World Championship V hero shots.

The other minibot was called Clean Cut - a modified robotic vacuum armed with a spinning weapon of its own, although this minibot was destroyed in its first match against Ribbot. Tracer did not do well in its debut season, largely due to issues relating to time and shipping preventing them from having a bot that could run inverted or self-right when flipped. Among the plans for Tracer ahead of the 2020 season were skids for invertibility, a self-righting arm and a horizontal spinner option, however none of these could be implemented in time. As such, Tracer was overturned in its first two fights and lost as a result, before grabbing a win against Bale Spear.

Tracer also entered BattleBots: Bounty Hunters, first the Icewave bracket and then the Witch Doctor bracket. However, Tracer lost out in the first rounds of both to P1 and Malice respectively.

Although Tracer applied for World Championship VI with an upgraded version of Tracer sporting a functional self-righting mechanism, Team KYMERA were not selected for the 2021 competition.[1] Tracer therefore became a testbed for JackPot's weapon upgrades. However, Jason Woods joined JackPot and brought Tracer regardless. He also brought Needle with him to accompany JackPot, renamed Ace.

Team captain Jason Woods is a long-time BattleBots competitor with his middleweight Slingshot, which the team still possess in their garage.

In February 2024, Tracer was listed for sale on eBay.[2] It was purchased by Matt, going under the Reddit username u/TracerRevengeTour, in mid-2024 with a view to upgrade it for future competition.[3]

Robot History[]

World Championship V[]

Tracer vs. Ribbot

Tracer and Ribbot fighting

Ribbot drives away as Tracer is flipped upside down.

Tracer's first match of the season was against the modular Ribbot. Tracer started off rather well as they were able to take a chunk off of Ribbot's right front tire as the rest fell off shortly after. However, this did not hinder Ribbot as it could still drive well, and Tracer was quickly flipped over. With no self-righting mechanism and its rear wheels off the arena floor, Tracer was counted out, giving Ribbot the win by knockout.

Tracer vs. HiJinx

Tracer's second Fight Night draw was against fellow newcomers HiJinx. This fight was not shown in full during the original Discovery airings, later being released as a Basement Tape battle and included in Episode 8 of the ITV4 UK version.

"One thing I noticed is that Tracer was actually designed for horizontal spinners. That's why they've got that big flat space and a giant hunk of armor up there on the front. So, this might be a perfect combo for him."
— Bot Whisperer Pete Abrahamson assesses Tracer's design prior to the HiJinx fight (ITV4 UK version)
Hijinx knocks Tracer over

Tracer gets knocked over by HiJinx.

Following a tentative start by both machines, Tracer rammed the tail of HiJinx, though the impact caused it to flick upwards. Seconds later, it exchanged a direct blow with HiJinx's undercutter, which was enough to flip Tracer over. Tracer skittered into a nearby paddle on its own spinner, where it lay upside-down and unable to self-right. Taking a final side-on blow from HiJinx, it was soon counted out, in a very similar fashion to its previous fight.

Tracer vs. Bale Spear

Tracer vs Bale Spear

Tracer tears off one of Bale Spear's front attachment.

Tracer vs Bale Spear 2

Tracer hits Bale Spear's side.

Tracer slams Bale Spear into the screws

Tracer slams Bale Spear into the screws.

Tracer's next opponent was veteran Bale Spear. Tracer started off well, attacking Bale Spear, sending one of Bale Spear's front attachments flying and throwing them into the air, where Bale Spear landed on top of Tracer's minibot Needle. This allowed Tracer to hit them again, which put them underneath their opponent. Tracer took this opportunity to send Bale Spear across the arena and into the screws. Bale Spear could only twitch in place or fire its weapon and was counted out, giving Tracer the win by knockout.

BattleBots: Bounty Hunters[]

Icewave Bracket[]

Tracer vs. P1

Tracer rips off P1's right front wheel

Tracer rips off P1's right front wheel.

Tracer grinds P1

Tracer attacks P1.

P1 slams Tracer into the screws

Tracer is slammed against the screws by P1.

Alongside competing in the fifth season, Tracer had the opportunity to compete in the Icewave BattleBots: Bounty Hunters episode. For that to happen though, it first had to face the front-hinged flipper of P1. For this fight, Tracer had its inversion skids, wings on the sides of the front panels to try and prevent it getting flipped as easily, and ran with its other minibot of Needle. Tracer was off to a very poor start as within 20 seconds of the fight, they were hung-up on the casing for the screws. Luckily they were freed by their opponent and were able to remove their opponent's right front wheel. Unfortunately, their opponent had the better ground clearance and were pushed all around the arena while being unable to cause any further damage. Time ran out with Tracer somewhat on top of a nearly immobile P1 and the judges awarded a 2-1 split decision for P1.

Witch Doctor Bracket[]

Tracer vs. Malice

Tracer loses it belt against Malice

Tracer loses its weapon belt not long after Malice.

Like Kraken and Deadlift, Tracer featured in a second BattleBots: Bounty Hunters bracket, this time with the chance to compete against Witch Doctor. First however, it had to overcome Bunny Sauriol's Malice. Despite sacrificing Needle for additional armor welded to the bot, Tracer started on the back foot in this fight as Malice dealt a blow to Tracer's side. Although this impact seemed to hurt Tracer more than Malice, it became apparent that Malice's weapon belt had flown away. Now little more than a pusher, Tracer was able to attack with more confidence, dealing an uppercut to Malice and overturning it in the process. As the fight continued, Tracer's weapon also slowed, allowing Malice to attack with less fear. Malice then used its superior drive to bully Tracer into the corner of the box, but Tracer was now dead on one side. Only able to move in circles, Tracer was counted out and was eliminated once again in the first round.

Results[]

TRACER
World Championship V
Fight Nights
1-2
Fight Night #1 vs. Ribbot Lost (KO)
Fight Night #2 (Untelevised) vs. HiJinx Lost (KO)
Fight Night #3 vs. Bale Spear Won (KO)
Bounty Hunters
Bounty Hunters- Icewave Bounty
Quarter-Finals
Quarter-Final vs. P1 Lost (Split JD)
Bounty Hunters - Witch Doctor Bounty
Quarter-Finals
Quarter-Final vs. Malice Lost (KO)

Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 1
  • Losses: 4
Competition Wins Losses
World Championship V Bale Spear (Undercard Match) Ribbot (Undercard Match)

HiJinx (Untelevised Undercard Match)

BattleBots: Bounty Hunters None P1 (Icewave Bracket)

Malice (Witch Doctor Bracket)

Faruq Tauheed Introductions[]

"From Gold River, California, it's TRACER!"

"From Gold River, California, the ravager by the river... TRACER!"

"From Gold River, California, here to outline your body in chalk, it's TRACER!"

"From Gold River, California, here to mine for Bounty riches. It's TRACER!"

References[]

  1. https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/sf0q66/jackpot_20_ama_hit_us_with_your_questions/hunp3ud?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3
  2. https://www.ebay.com/itm/116067850301
  3. https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/1dao18v/coming_back_soon_to_a_battle_box_near_you/

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