The Tartarus Cup
In honour of Tartarus Robotics Group's rookie run to the semifinals in 2016's Pressure Drop, each year, the Tartarus Cup is awarded to the most promising rookie team. Rookie being defined as having competed in three or fewer events on ARC.
The nominees are...
Code Red Robotics: Possibly ARC's youngest member, TCR came into the event having little clue what he was doing, but left with a greatly improved understanding of the game and a couple of major upsets under his belt.
Team Design Flaw: Maxi had shown hints of being good at this before, but in the final event of his rookie season, his team really came of age, with multiple playoff appearances including a semifinal run, top shelf RPs, and some major upsets scored.
Team Eagle Robotics: Playoff runs weren't in the cards for ARC's second absolute rookie, but just the fact that Billy was in contention in multiple divisions until late in the game shows that he has solid fundamentals that'll serve him well going forward.
Nighthawk Robotics: Fielding only a two bot team, this rookie outfit used solid designs and RPs as well as audacious stat spreads, to insert itself into the playoff picture early. The payoff was a brief playoff appearance, but surely with better to come.
Team Design Flaw: Maxi had shown hints of being good at this before, but in the final event of his rookie season, his team really came of age, with multiple playoff appearances including a semifinal run, top shelf RPs, and some major upsets scored.
Team Eagle Robotics: Playoff runs weren't in the cards for ARC's second absolute rookie, but just the fact that Billy was in contention in multiple divisions until late in the game shows that he has solid fundamentals that'll serve him well going forward.
Nighthawk Robotics: Fielding only a two bot team, this rookie outfit used solid designs and RPs as well as audacious stat spreads, to insert itself into the playoff picture early. The payoff was a brief playoff appearance, but surely with better to come.
The Covenant Cup
As a nod to the overwhelming historical dominance of the now-retired Team Covenant, this award is given to the best-performing team of the event taking into account titles won, bots into the playoffs, and overall winning percentage.
The nominees are...
Alpha Robotics: Languishing near the bottom of ARC's infamous dirty dozen coming into the event, Drew stepped up his game in a big way, making the playoffs with three of his four bots, enjoying an undefeated regular season with Fenrir, and earning Diablo Genesis III a spot in the championship with results pending.
Team Blood Gulch: Entering the tournament with middling expectations, ARC's oldest active team went on an immediate tear to prove all and any doubters wrong, boasting easily the best record of any team by the close of the fourth round. Despite an only average playoffs, Josh solidified his ranking and proved that he still has plenty left in the tank.
Ice Cubed Robotics: Alex was one of only two people to bring a full four-bot team into the playoffs. After starting slow, he went on a late regular season tear that saw him accumulate more ranking points than any other team. While his championship finals appearance resulted in heartbreak at the altar yet again for perennial powerhouse Dreadnought, Ice Cubed Robotics reaffirmed its status among the sport's absolute elite.
Team Instant Regret: Starting slow, The number one ranked outfit quickly picked up steam, heading into the playoffs with a full slate of four machines. While HFL was surprisingly shut out of the title picture this team, each of his bots were very much contenders and he still walks away with more than enough ranking points to justify his continued dominance.
Interrobang Robotics: Starting the tournament in fifth position, Gabe seemed like a man on a mission. Despite the deadweight of a novel but ineffective SHW, Interrobang Robotics dominated with its three other machines, including the undefeated Chimera. With Scion in the MW finals, another title is very much a possibility.
The Monsterworks: Having given up his LW spot, Alex entered the tournament with only three bots and a tall order if he wanted to retain his number two rank, much less gain any ground. All three bots made the playoffs, two with undefeated records. All won at least one match, with Black Diamond claiming the team's sixth overall title with a rare perfect season.
Tartarus Robotics Group: On the verge of retiring, Laz was a last-minute entry with only two machines. Machines of destiny, they proved to be. With both suffering only a single, inconsequential, loss in the group stages, they proceeded to romp through the playoffs following dominant regular-season runs, with both fighting for titles in the final week and favoured to win.
Team Blood Gulch: Entering the tournament with middling expectations, ARC's oldest active team went on an immediate tear to prove all and any doubters wrong, boasting easily the best record of any team by the close of the fourth round. Despite an only average playoffs, Josh solidified his ranking and proved that he still has plenty left in the tank.
Ice Cubed Robotics: Alex was one of only two people to bring a full four-bot team into the playoffs. After starting slow, he went on a late regular season tear that saw him accumulate more ranking points than any other team. While his championship finals appearance resulted in heartbreak at the altar yet again for perennial powerhouse Dreadnought, Ice Cubed Robotics reaffirmed its status among the sport's absolute elite.
Team Instant Regret: Starting slow, The number one ranked outfit quickly picked up steam, heading into the playoffs with a full slate of four machines. While HFL was surprisingly shut out of the title picture this team, each of his bots were very much contenders and he still walks away with more than enough ranking points to justify his continued dominance.
Interrobang Robotics: Starting the tournament in fifth position, Gabe seemed like a man on a mission. Despite the deadweight of a novel but ineffective SHW, Interrobang Robotics dominated with its three other machines, including the undefeated Chimera. With Scion in the MW finals, another title is very much a possibility.
The Monsterworks: Having given up his LW spot, Alex entered the tournament with only three bots and a tall order if he wanted to retain his number two rank, much less gain any ground. All three bots made the playoffs, two with undefeated records. All won at least one match, with Black Diamond claiming the team's sixth overall title with a rare perfect season.
Tartarus Robotics Group: On the verge of retiring, Laz was a last-minute entry with only two machines. Machines of destiny, they proved to be. With both suffering only a single, inconsequential, loss in the group stages, they proceeded to romp through the playoffs following dominant regular-season runs, with both fighting for titles in the final week and favoured to win.
Crouching Frogger, Hidden Bomber Cup
In honour of Aquatic Robotics' and Team Stealth's amazing 2018 season improvements, this award is given to the team that showed the largest improvement during the CBC season.
The nominees are...
Team 57: This veteran Canadian outfit has spent the majority of its tenure in a strange sort of ARC limbo: generally a cut above most of the field but not quite able to solidify a place within the Dirty Dozen. With its two serious entries this year, that may have finally changed, and a maiden title could be in the offing for perennial contender Tidal Wave 2.
Code Red Robotics: Code's new here. We get that. Code's young. We get that. This tournament saw him go from being a pesky, clueless kid to a legitimate ARCer, though. Most impressive, depending on the championship result, might be that he stands as the only one to have beaten the terrifying Blood Eagle.
Team Design Flaw: While most of us got the sense that Maxi would end up being pretty good at this, his run in CBC3 exceeded all expectations, outperforming those of far more experienced teams and making this hot prospect seem like a lock for a (very near) future berth in the Dirty Dozen.
Team Worst Swordsman: While Cassie didn't end up having as strong a playoff run as she probably would've wanted, her team made the leap from being fringe to contending. Virtually none of her bots were seen as free wins, and one was even viewed as a title favourite going in. This was a strong performance from a team on the rise.
Code Red Robotics: Code's new here. We get that. Code's young. We get that. This tournament saw him go from being a pesky, clueless kid to a legitimate ARCer, though. Most impressive, depending on the championship result, might be that he stands as the only one to have beaten the terrifying Blood Eagle.
Team Design Flaw: While most of us got the sense that Maxi would end up being pretty good at this, his run in CBC3 exceeded all expectations, outperforming those of far more experienced teams and making this hot prospect seem like a lock for a (very near) future berth in the Dirty Dozen.
Team Worst Swordsman: While Cassie didn't end up having as strong a playoff run as she probably would've wanted, her team made the leap from being fringe to contending. Virtually none of her bots were seen as free wins, and one was even viewed as a title favourite going in. This was a strong performance from a team on the rise.
Other Awards that still need formatting
Galaxy Brain (Actually) Award: Best RPer - Team Design Flaw, Team Instant Regret, The Monsterworks, Interrobang Robotics, Tartarus Robotics Group, Ice Cubed Robotics
Phil Swift Award: Most destructive - Blood Eagle, Chronic Jobber, Triple 6, Carbonemys, Hartmann's Youkai Bot, Dragonfist, Shade Fist, Fenrir
Deathroll Balls of Steel Award: Most resilient - Diablo Genesis III, Tiny Torque, Santangelo, Black Diamond, JEVIL, Dreadnought mk. 4, Lifter 2: Electric Boogaloo, Final Boss
Field of Dreams Award: Favourite arena - Vertigo, Stormhavn, The Woodshed, Shooting Star
Field of Screams Award: Most hated arena - Asylum, Shooting Star, Gothiq
The Masterpiece Award: best render - Evil Destroyer, Psychosis, IDCMF, Santangelo, Eudial, Vortex 3, Killjoy III
Golden Keyboard: Best Fight - Dreadnought vs Trashman, Phobos Anomaly vs Evil Destroyer, Triple Six vs IDCMF, Long Arm of the Law vs Death Metal, Terpsichora vs Blood Eagle, Santangelo vs Triple Six, HYB 2 vs Final Boss (Rematch), Black Diamond vs Dreadnought
Bombshell Award: Biggest Upset - ISaN def. Chronic Jobber, ISaN def. Dragonfist, Tiny Torque def. Blood Eagle, Santangelo def. Triple 6, Dragonfist def. Jawsome
Golden Magpie: Best Darkhorse Run - Diablo Genesis III, Triple 6, Carbonemys, Tabor, Long Arm of the Law, Final Boss, Petaflare
Howling Cup: most shocking favourite elimination - Dragonfist, Harpy, Cruelty, Fenrir, Phobos Anomaly, Dysprosinator
Gold Leaf Clover: luckiest run - Hartmann's Youkai Bot, Final Boss, Carbonemys
Giant Screw: worst luck - Dragonfist, Starfish Prime, NKC, Storm Worm, Petaflare, Fenrir, Manglerfish, HAN-D
Vicious Metabastard Award: best design - Dreadnought mk. 4, Blood Eagle, Triple 6, Black Diamond, Scion, Diablo Genesis III, Santangelo
Ferox Award: most innovative - NKC, Evil Destroyer, Phobos Anomaly, Vortex 3, Petaflare, Psychosis
Golden Duck: most aggressive - Santangelo, Compound Fracture, Cuddle Time!, Shade Fist, Harbinger, Cruelty, JEVIL
Phil Swift Award: Most destructive - Blood Eagle, Chronic Jobber, Triple 6, Carbonemys, Hartmann's Youkai Bot, Dragonfist, Shade Fist, Fenrir
Deathroll Balls of Steel Award: Most resilient - Diablo Genesis III, Tiny Torque, Santangelo, Black Diamond, JEVIL, Dreadnought mk. 4, Lifter 2: Electric Boogaloo, Final Boss
Field of Dreams Award: Favourite arena - Vertigo, Stormhavn, The Woodshed, Shooting Star
Field of Screams Award: Most hated arena - Asylum, Shooting Star, Gothiq
The Masterpiece Award: best render - Evil Destroyer, Psychosis, IDCMF, Santangelo, Eudial, Vortex 3, Killjoy III
Golden Keyboard: Best Fight - Dreadnought vs Trashman, Phobos Anomaly vs Evil Destroyer, Triple Six vs IDCMF, Long Arm of the Law vs Death Metal, Terpsichora vs Blood Eagle, Santangelo vs Triple Six, HYB 2 vs Final Boss (Rematch), Black Diamond vs Dreadnought
Bombshell Award: Biggest Upset - ISaN def. Chronic Jobber, ISaN def. Dragonfist, Tiny Torque def. Blood Eagle, Santangelo def. Triple 6, Dragonfist def. Jawsome
Golden Magpie: Best Darkhorse Run - Diablo Genesis III, Triple 6, Carbonemys, Tabor, Long Arm of the Law, Final Boss, Petaflare
Howling Cup: most shocking favourite elimination - Dragonfist, Harpy, Cruelty, Fenrir, Phobos Anomaly, Dysprosinator
Gold Leaf Clover: luckiest run - Hartmann's Youkai Bot, Final Boss, Carbonemys
Giant Screw: worst luck - Dragonfist, Starfish Prime, NKC, Storm Worm, Petaflare, Fenrir, Manglerfish, HAN-D
Vicious Metabastard Award: best design - Dreadnought mk. 4, Blood Eagle, Triple 6, Black Diamond, Scion, Diablo Genesis III, Santangelo
Ferox Award: most innovative - NKC, Evil Destroyer, Phobos Anomaly, Vortex 3, Petaflare, Psychosis
Golden Duck: most aggressive - Santangelo, Compound Fracture, Cuddle Time!, Shade Fist, Harbinger, Cruelty, JEVIL