If we're looking at both bulldozing and gripping/piercing, then why not try a HR like Shunt?
Maybe make it for the feathers however - the HWs would probably keep on throwing it over lol.
Maybe to try and avoid too many angry roboteers, try having a slightly blunted blade or low force rating behind the axe.
It could look good at hitting for a start, and also be effective for driving the feathers into the new hazards (or maybe out of them lol)
Also, another small suggestion if we're keeping the pit - try and get rid of those lips between the arena floor and the pit pannel.
Usually when Stu tries to lift the pit up during feather fights, he cant because a couple of feathers are wedged under the arena floor boards.
Maybe try and modify the pit so that there is no over hanging floor boards once the pit is down.
And maybe try and set a time limit for when the pit release can be pressed, so that we dont have the pit going down in the first 2 seconds of the fight.
It would mean much more fighting and technique.