Hammer
If you were looking for the weapon component, see Sledgehammer
Hammers have all one thing in common: weapons attached to a burst motor with a long extender between the motor and weapons.
Hammer (vertical)
Real life examples: Frenzy, Killerhurtz, The Judge, Diesector (partly)
RA2 examples: Grog, BEAR, Bushido
A bot that basically brings down a weapon on the opponent using a burst motor (not to be confused with Torque reaction hammer). Can be everything: Bear claws, Axe, Samurai Sword, Sledgehammer... but most commonly builders use multiple razor tips for efficiency.
A hammer is basically better against bots with a vulnerable roof (rammers). It can be efficient against a bot with a lot of extenders and against horizontal spinners if built (extremely) well.
Side Hammer
Real life examples: Splinter (Robot Wars)
RA2 examples: Atom Smasher
Basically, kind of a hybrid between a clamp, a thwacker and a hammer. Rather than bringing down the weapon, it is bringing it from the sides, like a claw closing on the opponent.
This type hasn't generally the damage values of a normal hammer and doesn't avoid horizontal weapons, but can be made invertable then.
If you want your hammer to be damaging, then put several weapons on your hammer head. A hammer head featuring three razor tips is way better than a simple sledgehammer.
Trivia
Hammers are a rarely built type.
A few builders still perpetuate the species, mainly Sage, Clickbeetle and to a lesser extent Naryar.
PROS
- Repeated damage
- Vertical hammers are good against large bots that don't protect their top (HS and Rammers mainly). Side hammers are good against everything that hasn't side protection (sometimes hammers, but mainly vertical spinners)
- Weapons aren't easy to hit (excepted on horizontal ones)
- Extremely good when pinning an opponent
- Side hammers can be used as SnS to a lesser extent
CONS
- Needs front protection
- Somewhat unstable when firing it's weapon
- Flanking is a big issue on vertical hammers; not that big on side ones, but top protection is.
- Vertical hammers do miss more than other weapons