The Havoc Rundown

S3E6: Max Morningstar Talks Big Wheels, Meta Breaking & NHRL

The road to NHRL April 4th is heating up, and in this episode of Havoc Rundown we break down the matchups, the bots everyone’s watching, and the potential chaos waiting in the bracket. From dangerous dark horses to the machines that could dominate the night, we’re digging into what really matters before the event kicks off.We’re also joined by Max Morningstar of Team Roboctopi Combat Division (TRC) for a behind-the-scenes look at his builds, how he approaches competition, and what it’s like navigating the ever-evolving meta at NHRL. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into staying competitive at this level, this is the conversation you don’t want to miss.Max also shares where to follow his work—check out TRC on YouTube and dive deeper into his bots on the NHRL Wiki:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRC4918NHRL Wiki: https://wiki.nhrl.io/wiki/index.php/TRCIf you’re following the event, building your fantasy lineup, or just want to know who to keep your eyes on April 4th—this episode sets the stage.Stay up to date with everything Havoc Rundown, including the fantasy league and full bot registry, at https://havocrundown.com/enBackground Music:Teddy Bass by Ariel Shalom: https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/teddy-bass/6000230Sparks by Aves: https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/sparks/132130Luscious by Tim Maslov: https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/luscious/109465

S3E5 - Corey Nason Goes Global

In this episode, we sit down with Corey Nason to talk about his trip to New Zealand to compete at Robot Rampage and what it’s like taking your bot to an international stage.From travel logistics to adapting to a completely different competition environment, Corey walks us through the experience of fighting abroad, the challenges he faced, and how the event stacked up against what we’re used to at home.We dive into the matches, the competition level, and what makes Robot Rampage such a unique event in the combat robotics world, along with Corey’s takeaways from the trip and what it means for future builds and events.If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to compete internationally in combat robotics, this is one you won’t want to miss.Corey's Builder Profile: https://havocrundown.com/en/builder/corey-nason-1763909431321Website: https://havocrundown.com/enBackground Music Credits:- Go On by Flint- The Observer by Evgeny Bardyuzha- Fake Table by Benno, Eden Ladin

S3E4 - Sitting Down With a Champion Ft Zack Knight

What does it take to stay competitive at the top of the 12-pound division? This week, we sit down with Zack Knight — the builder behind Pramheda, one of the most consistent and feared vertical spinners in NHRL, for a deep dive into design philosophy, strategic thinking, and what keeps him pushing the sport forward.Zack breaks down how he approaches robot design, why calculated risk-taking is just as important as engineering precision, and what it means to be part of the NHRL builder community. We also get a sneak peek at the stacked robot lineup heading into the next competition — and trust us, you're not going to want to miss it.Plus, Ryan takes over Game Corner with a robot name guessing game featuring some of the most creative (and chaotic) bots heading to the March NHRL event. Can the crew hold their own against Ryan's increasingly unfair ruleset? Tune in to find out.Zack Knight: https://havocrundown.com/en/builder/zack-knight-1763909411206🎵 Music Credits:No Trust by Flint & Roie ShpiglerLate Night Dreams by Kirsten CollinsNight Lights by Alex MakeMusicAll music licensed via Artlist.io

S3E3: Spyfall, Sparks & the Papasians

In this episode, we break down the February 7th NHRL event from top to bottom, the standout performances, the biggest upsets, and what the results mean moving forward.We’re joined by Julian and Dima Papasian to talk about their experience at the event, high-level driving strategy, tough matchups, and how preparation and adjustments play out inside the cage.We dive into the top-performing bots across the weight classes, early exits that shook up expectations, and the evolving flame bot meta that continues to shift strategy at NHRL. We also unpack a full Havoc Rundown Fantasy League recap, including major leaderboard movement and a dramatic climb up the standings.And in true Havoc fashion, things take a turn with a round of Spyfall, where one robot is the secret and the interrogation gets intense. It’s part mind game, part chaos, and exactly the kind of energy you’d expect from this crew.We wrap it all up with Listener Mailbag questions from the community, bringing even more personality and perspective into the episode.From bracket chaos to strategy deep-dives to a little undercover fun, this episode covers everything that went down on February 7th.🌐 Website: https://havocrundown.com/en🎵 Background Music Credits:Kissing the Moon by SkygazeBasement by MonakoEpisode 6 by Walz

S3E2 - Mass Destruction Returns: Resurgence 5 Preview with Team Omega

We’re gearing up for the first major combat robotics event of 2026, and this week we’re joined by Team Omega to break down everything you need to know about Mass Destruction: Resurgence 5, happening January 31st at the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation in Waltham, Massachusetts.Team Omega, the builders behind legendary robots like Starchild and Ripperoni and longtime pillars of the New England combat robotics scene, joins us to talk about the history of Mass Destruction, why they brought the event back, and what makes it one of the most approachable and community-driven tournaments in the sport. We dive into what makes the Mass Destruction arena unique, including its infamous launching pit, how it changes match strategy, and why this event continues to attract both first-time builders and top-tier competitors.We also walk through what to expect from the upcoming event, including the beetleweight and plastic ant classes, standout bots attending, how the event is structured to maximize fights, and what makes Mass Destruction different from larger, more rigid competitions. Along the way, Team Omega shares behind-the-scenes insight into running an event, evolving arena design, and the philosophy behind keeping robot combat fun, accessible, and chaotic in the best way possible.🛠️ Event Links - Havoc Rundown Event Page:https://havocrundown.com/en/events/events-6468Official Mass Destruction Registration:https://www.robotcombatevents.com/events/6468📺 Live Stream (Omega Robotics Team):https://www.youtube.com/@OmegaRoboticsTeam/streams🌐 Havoc Rundown Website:https://havocrundown.com/en🎵 Background Music CreditsCactus Flower (Instrumental) by Southern CallLosing Time (Instrumental) by Brian McMasterSmoke & Sizzle by Danny Shields