NHRL Open Rules - 2026

Introduction and Notes

Compared to the 2025 revisions, the 2026 rules have more modest revisions. These revisions have been made with the following priorities:

• Increase entertainment value of fights
• Codify unclear procedures
• “Patch” rules that are starting to be used or exploited in undesirable ways
• Improve safety and tournament logistics
• Improve judging consistency and intuitiveness
• Increase brevity and simplicity
• Improved competitor experience
• Writing for the majority of builders, allowing flexibility to address outlying issues

The posted Spirit of the Rules and Bot Design Rules sections are complete and final in scope and attempt, but may have wording changes in the coming weeks. The Judging and Tournament Procedure rules will replaced the Judging Change Overview and Tournament Procedure Change Overview sections below.

Note that the Weapon Functionality Test page has also been edited, increasing the rigor of the DUMMY Test for many robots.

Also note, that looking forward for 2027, we expect to continue to look critically at changes to the NTL weight bonus system. We have NOT changed weight bonuses for 2026, including a reversal of an early plan to remove weight bonuses for bristle bots. If weight bonuses will be altered for a substantial number of robots for the 2027 season, ample notice will be given, early to mid 2026.

Any changes to these rules will be noted in the 2026 Rules Change Log.

The Spirit of The Rules

NHRL Open is a competitor-centric event that prioritizes creativity, safety, and entertainment. Our rules are designed to foster innovation while ensuring a safe and enjoyable event for all participants and spectators, and are written with our core principles in mind.

Core Principles

• Safety: Our paramount concern is the well-being of competitors, audience, and crew. While we aim for minimal restrictions, safety measures are non-negotiable.
• Fun: We strive to create exciting and enjoyable events for competitors and spectators.
• Competitive Integrity: We require competitors to uphold principles of fair play and sportsmanship to ensure that victories are earned through honest effort, skill, and ingenuity, rather than exploitation or non adherence to the rules.
• Innovation: We encourage and celebrate novel, interesting, and unconventional ideas in robot design and strategy. We encourage competitors to push the limits of robotic combat, provided it's done safely and enhances the enjoyment of the event.
• Inclusivity: NHRL is meant for builders of all experience levels, from newcomers to seasoned veterans. We strive to welcome and celebrate builders of all backgrounds,  providing a platform for learning and high-level competition.

Expectations for Competitors

Hosting an event in accordance with the principles above is only possible with the cooperation of an immense community of amazing competitors who are willing to help. In pursuit of hosting the best possible events, we ask the following of every member of the NHRL competitor community:

• Be excellent to fellow builders, NHRL staff, and members of the audience.
• Come to events prepared to compete in accordance with the rules.
• Take a proactive approach to safety - model safe behavior and best practices and encourage it in others. Communicate any safety concerns with NHRL staff.
• Express your passion, personality, and creativity freely, but maintain enough decorum to keep the events family-friendly and welcoming to all.
• Design and compete in good faith, with the Spirit of the Rules in mind. We encourage competitiveness and innovation in robot design and strategy, but discourage the exploitation of rule loopholes or ambiguities.
• Ask proactive questions! If you are uncertain of how something works, unsure of the intent of a rule, have suggestions on how to improve an event, or if you want to do something fun that doesn’t fit within our normal competition, reach out to NHRL as early as possible by sending your questions and ideas to hello@nhrl.io

Builder Conduct Policy

It is a privilege to be part of the Havoc Robotics and National Havoc Robot League (collectively, “NHRL”) community. Everyone who is associated with NHRL must refrain from illegal, violent, dangerous, or irresponsible conduct that is detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the league. We must show respect for others inside and outside our community and we must strive to conduct ourselves in ways that favorably reflect on ourselves, our sport, our teams, the communities we represent, and NHRL. As such, NHRL has established this Builder Conduct Policy (BCP), which applies to existing and former builders, builders who have registered to compete, prospective builders, and members of our social media community (collectively, “Builders”).

The BCP is intended to address and sanction conduct detrimental to the league and sport. In order to uphold our high standards, when violations of this BCP do occur, appropriate disciplinary action must follow.

Expectations and Standards of Conduct

Builders must conduct themselves in a way that is responsible, promotes the values of NHRL, and is lawful. Builders that NHRL determines have engaged in conduct that violates these rules or the values of NHRL including, but not limited to, any of the following (“Prohibited Conduct) will be subject to discipline.

• Actual or threatened physical violence against another person, including dating violence, domestic violence, child abuse, and other forms of family violence;
• Assault and/or battery, including sexual assault or other sex offenses;
• Violent or threatening behavior toward any person in any NHRL setting;
• Stalking, harassment, or similar forms of intimidation;
• Illegal possession of a gun or other weapon (such as explosives, toxic substances, and the like) in any NHRL setting;
• Illegal possession, use, or distribution of alcohol or drugs;
• Crimes involving cruelty to animals as defined by state or federal law;
• Crimes of dishonesty such as blackmail, extortion, fraud, money laundering, or racketeering;
• Theft-related crimes such as burglary, robbery, or larceny;
• Disorderly conduct;
• Crimes against law enforcement, such as obstruction, resisting arrest, or harming a police officer or other law enforcement officer;
• Conduct that poses a genuine danger to the safety and well-being of another person; and conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity of NHRL, its facilities, or its personnel.
• Conduct that undermines the integrity of NHRL events and competitions or violates the letter or intent of the BCP.

“NHRL setting” means any physical or virtual location or conveyance used in connection with NHRL activities, including but not limited to event facilities, offices, private or off-site events, workshops, and social media platforms.

Reporting Misconduct

If you have witnessed Prohibited Conduct by a Builder, or are aware of any incident which, if the allegations were true, would constitute a violation of the BCP, you are obligated to promptly submit a report to NHRL’s Commission.

Reports must be sent via email to complaints@nhrl.io, and must contain:

• Your full name
• Your phone number
• Date(s) and time(s) of the incident(s), as applicable
• Any relevant information or context about the nature of the incident, identity of any all parties involved (including the legal first and last name of any individual(s) and contact information, as known or available)
• Any supporting evidence, like photographs, social media activity, emails, complete and unedited screenshots or transcripts, a news article, a police report, or other materials as applicable

Upon receipt of an incident report, the Commission will review it in a timely manner, and open an investigation. The investigation may include conducting interviews with the complainant, the accused, witnesses, and/or may include contacting the authorities if the Commission deems it necessary. The timing and scope of any investigation will be based upon the particular circumstances of the matter. In conducting investigations, the Commission will make reasonable efforts to safeguard requests for confidentiality from complainants or others with information. In addition, the Commission will not tolerate, and will discipline, any retaliation, threats of retaliation, intimidation, harassment, or any other adverse action against anyone who in good faith reports a possible violation or provides truthful information during an investigation.

In certain cases when further investigation is warranted, the Commission may choose to temporarily ban or restrict any individuals who are subject to said investigation until it has concluded, at which time the temporary ban may be lifted or extended or augmented with additional discipline.

Discipline

In the event where a Builder has been found in violation of the BCP, either by being formally charged with a crime or through the course of the Commission’s investigation, the Commission will determine what, if any, disciplinary action will be taken, and communicate its decision with the necessary parties involved. This decision is final and cannot be appealed.

Depending on the nature of the violation and other circumstances, discipline may be a suspension for a fixed or an indefinite period of time, or banishment from the league and/or its digital platforms. Discipline may also include a probationary period and conditions that must be met for reinstatement and to remain eligible to participate in the league. Repeat offenders will be subject to enhanced and/or expedited discipline.