[KosmicKhaos]

Many people consider the 4th robot to be the "back-up" bot of the alliance, however this is not always the case. Yes often times the 4th robot is a "back-up" robot but a 4th robot also allows alliances to deploy different strategies in elimination matches and different strategies in choosing a third robot.

Arguably, in previous years like 2015 the role of a 4th robot was not all that significant as the goal was to just score as many points as you can. This year, 2016, with defense, that opens up a whole new world of possibilities and strategizing for that 4th robot.

My favorite example of the value of the 4th robot on an alliance is of the number one alliance on the Tesla division (2056, 1690, 3015, 1405). Keep in mind 1405 was the 4th pick of the alliance but ended up playing in the finals on Eisenstein. Not because 3015 broke but because of that alliances strategy. From an outside observer it would appear that 2056 picked 1690 and 3015 to play offense early on in eliminations when they could win by merely out scoring the opposing alliance but picked 1405 to sub in for 3015 when they could not win by just out scoring the opposing alliance and needed someone to play defense. This well planned and executed strategy of using the 4th robot clearly helped the alliance to get as far as they did.

*sub-note I don't like to consider a 4th robot the back up robot because that isn't necessarily what they are as proved in 1405's case*