Havoc Rundown

WALTHAM, Mass. — The Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation once again played host to a day of vehicular violence this past Saturday, January 31, 2026, as MassDestruction: Resurgence V brought together some of the region’s best combat robotics teams. Presented by LeafLabs, the event featured grueling brackets in both the Plastic Antweight (1lb) and Beetleweight (3lb) classes, culminating in two dramatic championship bouts.

Turbo Fiend Conquers the Beetleweight Bracket

In the heavy-hitting 3lb Beetleweight division, Turbo Fiend emerged as the undisputed champion after a grueling day of combat. The "Red Demon" fought its way through a competitive field to face Mako, a veteran multi-bot team known for its control and sawing capabilities, in the grand final.

The championship match was a chaotic affair involving Mako’s dual-bot setup—a "blocker" bot equipped with a soldering iron tip (intended to melt through plastic armor) and a saw-wielding main bot. Despite Mako's creative weaponry and control strategy, Turbo Fiend’s durability and relentless drive proved superior. After a match that saw Mako’s soldering iron bot stuck upside down and its saw bot heavily damaged, the judges awarded the victory—and the MassDestruction championship trophy—to Turbo Fiend.

Other notable Beetleweight highlights included:

The Father-Son Grudge Match: In a special "Family Feud" bout, the father-son duo behind Murphy’s Law and Mothership faced off. The son’s robot, Murphy’s Law, secured the win after dismantling Mothership’s wheels in a methodical performance.
Rickety Cricket: The gyroscopic "walker" robot became an instant crowd favorite for its chaotic movement and terrifying weapon power, despite its struggles to drive in a straight line.

Illegal Dorito Takes the Plastic Ant Crown

The 1lb Plastic Antweight division, which limits competitors to 3D-printed chassis and weapons, saw Illegal Dorito spin its way to victory. The unique triangular ring-spinner faced off against Gerald, a highly effective drum spinner that had dominated its earlier matches by knockout.

The final was a tense, tactical battle. Illegal Dorito used its gyroscopic stability and distinct geometry to deflect Gerald’s attacks, eventually knocking off Gerald's side armor and weapon supports. The catastrophic damage left Gerald unable to mount a significant offense, leading to a judges' decision in favor of Illegal Dorito.

Event Awards & Highlights

Beyond the brackets, the event celebrated the creativity and spirit of the builders:

Best in Show / Spirit Award: Went to Synthwave for its vibrant aesthetic and team spirit.
Most Destructive / Excellent Hits: Awarded to Anubis, a vertical spinner noted for its purple LEDs and ability to launch opponents into the ceiling.
Rumble Winners: A chaotic end-of-day rumble saw Soggy Waffles and Fury survive the melee to claim the final honors of the night.

MassDestruction: Resurgence V confirmed the vibrancy of the Northeast combat robotics scene, with builders already looking forward to repairing their machines for the next event in the summer.

View the full live event on Youtube