Orbit

About This Part

Orbit is a driver Takara Tomy released for the Burst System and the Dual Layer System, first appearing in Japan inside the B-41 Starter Wild Wyvern Vertical Orbit on April 29th, 2016, before Hasbro brought it west in the Atlas Anubion A2 Yell Orbit starter pack. It carries a freely spinning plastic ball tip the same width as Massive, ringed by three tabs intended to brake against knock-outs. In practice the free-spinning ball undercuts most of the knock-out resistance that its wide contact patch would otherwise give, though a hard launch does send it into an aggressive early pattern toward the Tornado Ridge. The heavy layers and discs typically paired with it, plus its stronger spring lock, give an Orbit build unusually strong burst resistance and stamina instead.

In Play

Competitive players treat Orbit as one of the strongest choices for defence and stamina builds, running it under heavy God-Chip layers and discs in stamina, balance and stationary-attack combinations; it trails only Atomic, which offers more life-after-death, while Orbit answers back with tougher burst resistance.

• Debuted in Japan inside the B-41 Starter, Wild Wyvern Vertical Orbit, on April 29th, 2016.
• Reached western markets in Hasbro's Atlas Anubion A2 Yell Orbit starter pack.

The Competitive View

In Stamina combos such as Guardian Kerbeus/Deep Chaos 0/2/4/5/7 Glaive/Cross/Star Orbit it outspins most Stamina/Defense rivals; in Balance combos such as Galaxy Zeus 2/4/5/7 Glaive/Cross/Star Orbit it bolsters Stamina and Burst resistance while enabling Burst potential through the square-shaped layer; and in Stationary Burst Attack combos such as Sieg Xcalibur/Twin Nemesis 2/4/5/7 Glaive/Cross/Vortex/Bump/Meteor Orbit, its low friction raises RPM for powerful hits while reducing self-Burst risk. Atomic has since narrowed Orbit's edge, limiting Orbit's clearest usage to pure Stamina and Stationary Burst Attack roles.

Verdict as the draft gives it: Orbit is considered a must-have for competitive bladers, still one of the best Drivers for pure Stamina customizations with greater Stamina and Burst Defense than Atomic; on the weaker-springed Hasbro Revolve, Hasbro's Orbit is considered one of the best Drivers overall for Stamina, Balance, and Stationary Attack, alongside Hasbro's Atomic.

• Free-rotating plastic ball tip, larger diameter than Massive, three-tabbed surrounding ring
• Takara Tomy releases: B-41 Wild Wyvern Vertical Orbit (translucent turquoise); B-61 Dark Deathscyther Jerk Orbit (Random Booster Vol. 4, translucent dark green); B-61 Holy Horusood Triple Orbit (Random Booster Vol. 4, translucent yellow); Wild Wyvern Vertical Orbit (Whopping Gold Ver., metallic gold); B-65 Kaiser Kerbeus Down Orbit (Beyblade Super Custom Set Speed Ver., translucent black); B-67 Xeno Xcalibur Down Orbit (Random Booster Vol. 5, translucent ice blue); B-71 Acid Anubis Yell Orbit (translucent black)

Works with

• Synergizes with Guardian Kerbeus/Deep Chaos, Galaxy Zeus, and Sieg Xcalibur/Twin Nemesis Layers plus heavy Discs (0/2/4/5/6/7) and Life-After-Death Frames (Glaive/Cross/Star).

Related parts named in the draft: Massive, Atomic, Revolve, Guardian Kerbeus, Deep Chaos, Galaxy Zeus, Sieg Xcalibur, Twin Nemesis.

Condensed from community testing of Jan. 14, 2018; competitive opinions are the community's, not ours, and may be out of date.