RSL at the Armory in May 05/16/2026

We are excited to host another MRCA qualifying combat robot competition at the National Guard Armory in Hastings, MN! This event will feature the following weight classes:

1lb Plastic Antweight
1lb Antweight
3lb Beetleweight

All matches will take place in enclosed arenas to keep the action safe but exciting.

Sign Ups

We will not have caps for sign up for this event. However, to ensure we have enough space planned we will not exceed 120 robots.

Sign ups open March 19th at 10 AM CST

Event Details

Date: May 16, 2026
Location: Hastings National Guard Armory – 3050 MN-316, Hastings, MN 55033
Venue: Plenty of pit space with provided tables and chairs. TVs will be available to watch fights live.

Tournament Format

Group Stage Followed By Single Elimination

Group Stage: 3 rounds

Advancement: Robots with a 2–1 record or better move on to the Single-Elimination Bracket

Dropping from the Event

You may withdraw during the group stage without a forfeit as long as you drop before the next round is published

If you drop in time, you’ll simply be removed from the event

After Group Stage

We will start Single Elimination Brackets for each weight class.
Once all 3 group rounds are complete, open matchmaking will be available

Open Matchmaking

After the Group Stage, we’ll open up for matchmaking. How this will work:

Matches will start with an organized queuing period.

Inform the Queue Manager when you are ready to be added for matchups
Robots are paired against opponents close to their current rank for fair and exciting matches. (For Plastic Ants, this will be random match ups)

Rankings are based on MRCA Elo

Robots without an MRCA ranking will start at 1500

Rankings are updated throughout the day

Once a match is assigned, it must be fought - withdrawing from an assigned match counts as a forfeit

Queue limits per driver:

Only one robot per weight class may be queued at a time. For example: One antweight and one beetleweight may be queued simultaneously, for a single driver.
If you have multiple robots in the same weight class, only one may be queued until its match is completed

Matchmaking Fees & Eligibility

Open matchmaking is included with event registration — there is no additional fee

Any robot registered for the event may enter matchmaking at any point, including after Group Stage or after eliminated from Single Elimination

A robot can attend the competition strictly for matchmaking, if this is the case, register your bot under "Matchmaking Only"

If you have further questions, please email robotsmashingleague@gmail.com.

PlasticAnt Prizes

We’ll have trophies for First, Second and Third Place.

Ant and Beetleweight Prizes

We’ll have trophies for First, Second and Third Place.

Food

Minne’s on Glenwood – Sliders, Chicago Dogs, Street Polish

El Huarache Food Truck – Variety of authentic Mexican options

Arena Specs

Beetleweight Arena: 8’ x 8’, painted plywood floor

Antweight Arena: 6’ x 6’, painted plywood floor

Schedule

8:00 AM – Doors Open for Competitors and Safety Opens
9:45 AM - Drivers’ Meeting
10:00 AM – Spectators Welcome / Group Stage Fights Begin
2:00 PM - Matchmaking Opens & Single Elimination Brackets Start

Entry Fees

First entry per driver: $35
Additional entries: $25
Youth competitors: $25 per entry (flat rate)

You can pay ahead of time via Paypal or Venmo. Just include the name of your bot in the notes. Otherwise feel free to pay day of.

Ruleset

This event will follow MRCA rules and building requirements for Ants & Beetles. For Plastic Ants the SPARC construction rules will apply.

Spectators and Volunteers

Spectators: Free entry, doors open at 10 AM
Live Stream: The event will NOT be fully broadcasted live. We will start a live stream around 2:00 for the single elimination bracket.
Volunteers: Email robotsmashingleague@gmail.com if interested

Stay Connected

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for livestreams and videos after the event
Email robotsmashingleague@gmail.com with any questions

About This Event