Nightwish

* AWS 63
* AWS 62
* AWS 61
* AWS 60

**Nightwish** was a robot that appeared at AWS 60 and AWS 61. Based in part on the design of heavyweight Overhaul, it was armed with two front wedges and a central overhead clamping arm. Nightwish’s design reflected its name, being mainly black dappled with white paint to represent stars.

## Robot History

### AWS 60

Up first was Up the Antie, a Team Tomb, Team Foxfire rematch! Nightwish starts the fight off by going straight in, struggling to get a solid grab on Up the Antie but still getting under and pushing it towards the pit, leaving Up the Antie slightly off the edge. Nightwish backs off and Up the Antie recovers by dashing back to the center of the arena. Nightwish again struggles with gripping the curved surface of Up the Antie's flipper, but is able to pin it down shuffling it around and finally getting a good push, pushing Up the Antie into the pit for the win.

The next battle was against the formidable Bullydozer. Bullydozer charges in and gets under Nightwish, lifting it up and pushing it over the pit. Nightwish flails and tries to use its claw to push back against the wall and get its wheels down for traction but is unable to do so, and quickly ends up in the pit.

### AWS 61

In its first fight of AWS 61, Nightwish faced Sorry about the wedge, a robot, as its name suggested, armed with a wedge. Sorry about the wedge initially attempted to get to Nightwish’s sides, but Nightwish got underneath Sorry about the wedge’s front and clamped down, lifting the front wheels off the ground and pushing it back into the wall. Nightwish reversed, freeing Sorry about the wedge, but Nightwish again got underneath the front, steering Sorry about the wedge towards the pit. Sorry about the wedge escaped to the centre of the arena, and the two circled each other, each attempting to get to the other’s side. Nightwish wedged underneath slightly again, clamping down on one wheel, before getting to Sorry about the wedge’s rear, scooping it up and forcing it into the wall. Turning, Nightwish pressured Sorry about the wedge into the pit.

Nightwish was then against a vertical spinner in Super Nintendo Chalmers. From the start, Nightwish was able to get underneath Super Nintendo Chalmers’ front, pushing it around and towards the pit but keeping the arm well away from Super Nintendo Chalmers’ disc. Nightwish almost pushed Super Nintendo Chalmers into the pit, but it was just able to escape. Continuing to pursue Super Nintendo Chalmers, Nightwish wedged underneath its opponent’s front once again as Super Nintendo Chalmers turned to attack, forcing it into the wall. As Nightwish reversed away, Super Nintendo Chalmers finally got its disc into play, but only succeeded in grinding away at Nightwish’s front wedge slightly. Manoeuvring away, acetate flew from one of Nightwish’s wedges as it and Super Nintendo Chalmers came together again. Bouncing slightly on Nightwish’s wedge, Super Nintendo Chalmers suddenly flipped over forwards, enabling Nightwish to quickly push it into the pit.

 Nightwish’s next opponent was B-Bot, a six-wheeled robot with hinged forks. The fight began evenly, with each robot slipping underneath the other but neither really being able to gain an advantage. Getting underneath again, Nightwish was able to get to B-Bot’s rear as the forks folded back on themselves. Nightwish clamped down and attempted to steer B-Bot towards the pit, but lacked traction, settling for ramming it into the wall. Nightwish repositioned and looked poised to push B-Bot into the pit, but B-Bot slipped up Nightwish’s wedge and escaped. B-Bot retaliated, pushing Nightwish into the wall and getting underneath its sides a few times in succession. Slipping under B-Bot’s front corner, Nightwish clamped down on it, with both robots spinning their wheels as Nightwish attempted to push B-Bot towards the pit, to no avail. Nightwish briefly got another hold on B-Bot’s side, before B-Bot escaped, getting underneath Nightwish and pushing it across the arena. The two robots came to the centre of the arena, each attempting to exploit the other’s ground clearance. B-Bot’s hinged forks allowed it to slot underneath Nightwish’s front, levering it upwards and forcing it back towards the pit. Repositioning, B-Bot drove both Nightwish and itself into the pit.

Now in the losers’ bracket, Nightwish faced an ailing No1. Best Boi + Virus <3. Originally a clusterbot, No1. Best Boi fought alone as Virus proved beyond repair after a destructive victory over Combatant. In addition, No1. Best Boi’s disc was not functioning. Nightwish closed quickly, slipping underneath No1. Best Boi’s side, but failing to get a grip. No1. Best Boi escaped, but Nightwish wedged underneath it again, forcing it into the wall and clamping down. Gripping hold, Nightwish manoeuvred away before pushing No1. Best Boi back into the wall, pinning it in the corner as Nightwish ‘patted’ No1. Best Boi repeatedly with the clamping arm. Nightwish reversed, letting No1. Best Boi drive away before giving chase, getting underneath its rear, and pushing it into the pit.

Nightwish then faced a four-wheeled wedge, Kharuul. The two manoeuvred around each other before Nightwish got underneath Kharuul’s wedge and clamped down, forced both robots’ fronts off the ground. With one wheel touching the ground Kharuul managed to escape, and both robots danced around each other, each looking for an opening. Kharuul wedged underneath Nightwish and pushed backwards. Nightwish was able to spin away from Kharuul’s wedge, but rode up on top and was carried into the wall. Kharuul briefly slipped underneath Nightwish twice more but was unable to capitalise, and Nightwish retaliated by getting to Kharuul’s side, clamping down, and forcing it towards the pit. Kharuul was able to escape, but Nightwish slipped underneath the front corner and pushed Kharuul into the wall. The two came head-to-head again, with Nightwish again getting underneath and forcing Kharuul into the wall, but Kharuul itself slipped underneath and pushed back. Getting underneath the front corner again, Nightwish got a grip, and both drifted sideways across the arena as Kharuul tried to escape. Another clamp seemingly bent Kharuul’s front wedge upwards slightly.

Kharuul drove away, trying to flank Nightwish, but Nightwish nearly forced Kharuul into the pit with two wheels over the edge. Kharuul escaped, but Nightwish managed to grab hold briefly at the front corner yet again. Wedging underneath, Kharuul drove Nightwish into the wall, but Nightwish once again clamped down on the same corner. The two circled each other, before meeting head-to-head again. This time, Kharuul forced Nightwish back into the wall, managing to flip it over. Nightwish self-righted and came back on the attack, getting to Kharuul’s side and pushing it around. Nightwish wedged underneath and clamped down. Separating, Kharuul drove straight up Nightwish’s wedge, with the front wedge managing to dislodge Nightwish’s top armour slightly. Nightwish reversed away. After manoeuvring around each other, the two met head on again, with Kharuul’s front getting wedged underneath Nightwish’s top plate. The robots pushed back and forth, with neither really able to gain the advantage, before Nightwish forced Kharuul back into the wall and separating the two. Nightwish wedged underneath Kharuul’s side, bringing the arm down and pushing it around the arena and into the wall. Kharuul fought back, getting underneath Nightwish’s front a couple of times, but Nightwish got under Kharuul’s side once again, opting to hold it in place for a few seconds. It became apparent that Kharuul’s side was stuck underneath Nightwish’s top armour. The two unable to free themselves, spinning around the arena stuck together as the final seconds elapsed. The fight went to the judges, who ruled that Nightwish was the victor.

UnorthodoX, a walker armed with a flipper, was Nightwish’s next opponent. The fight started slowly, with Nightwish content to let UnorthodoX approach. UnorthodoX missed its first flip, but got underneath Nightwish’s side and launched it into the wall, with Nightwish landing upright. A second flip caused Nightwish to somersault, before it attempted to grip hold of UnorthodoX’s flipper. UnorthodoX flipped Nightwish onto its back, but Nightwish drove backwards into the wall and self-righted. Fighting back, Nightwish slipped underneath UnorthodoX’s front, and a missed flip enabled Nightwish to turn UnorthodoX over, although it quickly self-righted. Nightwish clamped onto UnorthodoX’s flipper blade, but UnorthodoX freed itself with a flip. Again getting underneath UnorthodoX’s front, Nightwish was flung over its opponent and was briefly stuck on the wall. UnorthodoX sat off as Nightwish attempted to free itself, managing to do so after a few seconds. Coming together again, another missed flip allowed Nightwish to put UnorthodoX onto its rear. UnorthodoX recovered, but Nightwish got to its side and rear, pushing it around. As the two met head-to-head, UnorthodoX flipped Nightwish away, but both landed upright. Another minor flip barely affected Nightwish, which baited UnorthodoX into a number of missed flips. Nightwish managed to turn UnorthodoX over again as it mistimed another flip, but UnorthodoX retaliated, throwing Nightwish onto its back. Self-righting, Nightwish circled UnorthodoX, turning it over briefly, before slipping under the front again. UnorthodoX met Nightwish’s lowering arm with the flipper, flinging it away. A succession of flips followed, although Nightwish landed upright. Nightwish managed to get UnorthodoX between itself and the pit, and, keeping the arm out of the way, managed to force UnorthodoX towards the pit. UnorthodoX dug in, pushing back slightly, but Nightwish was eventually able to push its opponent in. With this victory, Nightwish was through to the finals.

At this point, Nightwish was drawn against fellow Team Foxfire robot Little Kit IV. Little Kit IV had lost the use of its flipper over the course of the tournament, so it was decided that, as it was in the better condition, Nightwish would advance at the expense of its teammate.

Nightwish was then through to face Valjean, another four-wheeled wedge. The two met in the centre of the arena, with Nightwish turning and attempting to clamp down on Valjean’s front wheel. Valjean escaped, but Nightwish managed to get behind it and force Valjean towards and into the pit.

Nightwish then fought another four-wheeled wedge in Bzwroink…. The two approached the centre of the arena cagily, with Nightwish slipping under the front corner of Bzwroink… briefly. Bzwroink… responded in kind, wedging under Nightwish and pushing it back into the wall, holding it there for a few seconds. Turning, Bzwroink… pushed Nightwish the length of the arena towards the pit, but Nightwish managed to spin away. Nightwish attempted to retaliate, but Bzwroink… forced Nightwish into the wall again. Bzwroink… reversed, and this time Nightwish got underneath the front of Bzwroink… and pushed it back a little before Bzwroink… escaped. Nightwish gave chase, eventually getting underneath the front of Bzwroink… again and clamping down, bending the acetate. Bzwroink… got away, but drove back into Nightwish’s jaw, enabling the clamper to push Bzwroink… back. Bzwroink… span away, slipping underneath Nightwish and carrying it into the wall. Getting away, the two danced around each other in the middle of the arena, seeking an opening, before Bzwroink… rode up Nightwish’s wedge, allowing Nightwish to press down on one wheel. Nightwish got underneath Bzwroink… a couple of times in succession, but was unable to take advantage. Bzwroink… in turn wedged underneath Nightwish, managing to prop it up on top of a pit barrier, holding it there for a couple of seconds, but Nightwish fell safely. Fighting back, Nightwish grabbed hold of the front corner of Bzwroink… and attempted to force it backwards into the pit. Bzwroink… had too much traction, however, and forced Nightwish back. Nightwish resisted, before reversing as Bzwroink… came forwards, still with the pink robot in its jaw, and Nightwish hit the wall next to the pit. Bzwroink… was left with two wheels over the edge, and could only reverse into the pit.

In the penultimate round of the losers’ bracket, Nightwish faced Devious Plot, a clusterbot. The smaller part of Devious Plot came to meet Nightwish in the centre of the arena, with neither able to get underneath the other. Nightwish attempted to grab hold, but the larger half wedged underneath Nightwish and carried it into the pit. This loss finally ended Nightwish’s deep tournament run, meaning that it placed joint fifth overall.

### AWS 62

Nightwish was new and slightly re-designed chassis for AWS 62, sporting a slightly larger grabbing claw, more defensive wedges, and better, more stylish top armour.

This new Nightwish first faced off against The Underminer, succeeding in many grapples and driving power, The Underminer was a slippery opponent and escaped numerous times before getting harassed into the pit.

Extendo-Bot made short work of Nightwish in the next bout, simply driving around the side and flipping Nightwish out of the arena.

Nightwish redeemed itself against Percussive Maintenance, having the nice flat top to latch onto, it was easily able to drive the flailing hammerbot into the corner and out of the arena.

Nightwish couldn't resist the wedge of Firestorm in a Teacup and much like Extendobot beforehand, was quickly and unceremoniously pitted.

This was the worst performance from Nightwish so far, likely due to the redesign and some teething issues with the drive.

## Wins/Losses

* Wins: 18
* Losses: 8
	+ *Round 1 of the Final Stage Losers’ Bracket of AWS 61, where Little Kit VI forfeited, is omitted from the Wins tally.*

## Outside AWS

    In February 2020 Nightwish competed at Ant Freeze 7 in Leicestershire, and was the best performing machine from Team Foxfire. It won a number of fights, but lost after **Calm down it's only a drill!** drilled through its top armour and into its lithium polymer battery, causing it to ignite.

## Trivia

* According to Peter Waller, long term competitor of the Antweight World Series since AWS 3, it is believed that Nightwish’s fifth place at AWS 61 is the highest ever position achieved by a female driver and builder in an AWS competition.
* The first version of Nightwish (AWS 60) was a last minute build, using servo boards as speed controllers for the drive and weapon, but resulted in being the most successful Team Foxfire robot to enter AWS 60 and 61.