Weapon types

Type	How it works	Strengths	Weaknesses
Vertical spinner	Horizontal-axis disc/bar throws opponents up	Self-righting hits, hard to flip	Bite can be inconsistent
Horizontal spinner	Vertical-axis bar/shell sweeps the floor	Huge energy, wide reach	Gyro forces, drives itself around on hit
Drum / eggbeater	Small-diameter horizontal-axis drum	Fast spin-up, controllable	Lower tip speed than a bar
Flipper / launcher	Pneumatic or electric arm	Control, crowd-pleasing, low self-damage	Needs the opponent on top of it
Hammer / axe	Overhead striking arm	Good vs. thin top armor	Low match-ending power
Control / wedge	No active weapon; geometry and pushing	Reliable, cheap, hard to damage	Can’t finish fights; loses on aggression

Picking one

Beginners often do best with a wedge or flipper: fewer failure modes, and you learn driving before you manage a spun-up weapon. Spinners deliver the most damage but punish design and wiring mistakes.