Thesebattle droids appeared to be similar in general design to theB1-Series battle droid series, but with a noticeably different head shape and larger, white photoreceptors . Their voices were notably different compared to the B1 series, sounding more akin to the deep voices ofB2 super battle droids. Unit leaders, which held the rank ofcaptain, were fitted with white marks on their brows and chestplates and frequently wielded a vibrosword.[5]
They had the same operating abilities as B1 battle droids, with the addition of infiltration software.[1] This, along with theirhumanoid shape, allowed them to fit into aclone trooper'sarmor. In addition to this, the droids were capable of modulating their voices to match that of others, though they could not accurately copy their mannerisms or vocabulary, nor respond properly to unexpected situations outside of combat.[5]
The droidcommandos were built to be substantially faster and stronger than a regular battle droid, and also possessed heavier armor capable of withstanding multiple shots from mostblasters. Sustained barrages or a single headshot could overwhelm them, but there are observed instances of bisected droids remaining semi-operable until dispatched by further damage, similar to super battle droids andIG-100 MagnaGuards; Eeth Koth cut a BX-series model in half, but it remained functional until Koth rendered it inoperable by piercing its head with his lightsaber.[5] The head, generally, appears to have been a weak point; Senator Padme Amidala destroyed a BX with a headshot while wielding anELG-3A royal blaster pistol, hardly bigger than ahold-out blaster. The only real drawback of these droids was that they were far more expensive to produce than the regular infantry. This made the droids a fairly rare sight on the battlefield, instead used almost exclusively on special operations missions and high importance tasks.
Three commando droids wielding blaster rifles.
The BX-series commando droid wielded a variety of weapons, depending on the operation, including:E-5 blaster rifles, astun baton, and afusioncutter; additionally, the leader of a droid commando unit often carried avibrosword for close-combat purposes. They were also known to usegrenades against enemy emplacements. Demonstrating the variety of roles the type was utilized in, a two-droid team of BX droids were observed onSaleucami acting as a marksman team; one shooter with asniper rifle and one spotter usingelectrobinoculars.[5]
BX-series droid commandos were designed to accomplish tasks that an overwhelming force of droids could not.[1] Captain Rex and Commander Cody both defeated droid commandos in combat on theRishi moon, and the clone deserter, Cut Lawquane, managed to defeat a force of almost two dozen Commando droids with only minimal assistance from Captain Rex onSaleucami, although the droids they fought were heavily damaged. They were capable of hand-to-hand combat, had greater accuracy with their E-5 carbines than the line B1 model, and possessed familiarity with a variety of close and long-range combat arms. However, due to their prohibitive cost, they could not be mass-produced in such a manner as to replace the Confederacy's other battle droids, relegating them to special operations, boarding parties, and raids.[8] A commando droid once crossed paths with aBith Jedi Scholar in a jungle, where the Jedi usedPlant Surge to constrict the droid.[9]
Battle of the Rishi Moon[]
"The outpost is secure, General. We shut down the alarm and turned on the all-clear signal."
―A droid commando reporting the capture of the listening post to General Grievous —Link▶️(file info)[5]
Droid commandos prepare to execute Sergeant O'Niner
Around22 BBY,[10] ConfederateGeneralGrievous, theSupreme Commander of the Droid Armies, planned to invade theWild Spaceplanet ofKamino, where the Republicclone troopers were grown. In order to invade the planet unnoticed, Grievous sent severalDroch-class boarding ships containing BX-series droid commandos to themoon ofRishi, where a Republiclistening post, theRishi Station was located. Theclones stationed on the listening post identified the boardingships as a meteor shower, and did not alert a nearby Republicfleet. The droids caught the deck officer,CT-327, by surprise, stunning and killing him. They theninfiltrated the listening post, but were met by two clones,Droidbait andNub, who had been sent bySergeantO'Niner to find out why CT-327 did not reply. Upon hearing weapons fire, the remaining clones rushed to help, but were outnumbered by the commando droids. O'Niner/ was also killed by the commandos in the ensuing firefight. However, four clone troopers were able to escape the station through a ventilation shaft. The droids then secured the post and jammed the all-clear signal.[5]
The droid commandos, however, were not aware that a routine inspection of the station conducted byCommanderCody andCaptainRex was on its way. Upon arriving in theNu-class attack shuttleObex, the two cloneofficers were greeted by a commando droid dressed in aclone armor. The droid tried to convince the clone troopers to leave the listening post; however, Rex saw a droid attack flare fired from the survivors. Realizing the trick, he shot the disguised droid through the head. The commando droids then launched an ambush, and after throwinggrenades toward the clones and destroyingshuttle, the droids believed that the two haddied in the explosion. In fact, Cody and Rex had survived with the help of their harpoon cables. Meeting the survivors of the first droid assault below the station, the officers introduced themselves and a plot to retake the station was developed. Rex used a droid commando head to cheat the droids within the station to open the door. The clones then stormed the station, eventually regaining control of the control center after killing the commandos, including the droid captain. Despite reinforcements sent by General Grievous, the clone troopers blew up the station, cutting off the all-clear signal, thus alerting the Republic fleet of the planned Confederate invasion.[5]
During theBattle of Ryloth, at least two droid commandos were present in the capital city ofLessu. The two attacked theARF troopersRazor andStak, shortly after the two troopers activated the plasma bridge and allowed Republic forces to enter the city. Even using fellowbattle droids as projectiles, they eschewed the use of blasters and engaged the two troopers in hand-to-hand combat, but were soon defeated.[11]
A squad of such commando droids accompanied General Grievous when he boardedJedi MasterEeth Koth'sVenator-class Star Destroyer. The droidsdefeated the Jedi's clone trooper guards but were destroyed by Koth. Later, during a rescue attempt conducted by the Jedi to rescue Master Koth,Jedi GeneralObi-Wan Kenobi'slight cruiser was boarded and its crew was assaulted by BX-series droids.Anakin Skywalker andAdi Gallia found a squad of commando droids, commanded byTV-94, guarding Koth when they boarded Grievous's flagship. Skywalker and Gallia destroyed all of the droids and rescued Koth.[7]
Later during theBattle of Saleucami, Grievous's forces were forced to crash land onto the planetSaleucami where a pair of commando droids serving as a sniper unit were operational. The droid spotter observed the arrival ofCloneCaptainRex whereupon the sniper took a shot that wounded the target. However, the sniper pair was tracked down and killed by Rex's comrades. While Rex recuperated atCut Lawquane's farm, another squad of heavily damaged BX-series droids were in an escape pod that crashed into the fields of the farm, and were accidentally reactivated by Cut's adopted childrenShaeeah andJek. The droids attacked the farm and despite their heavy damage were able to pin down and nearly overwhelm its defenders. After a hard fought battle and close call they were destroyed by Lawquane and Rex.[14]
Citadel Escape[]
Commando droids with hand-held personal energy shields
A reinforcement battalion was sent to strengthen the position on a Separatist outpost to prevent Republic victory deep in Confederate territory ofFelucia. Commando droids were present in this group, and shortly after the deployment of the reinforcments, the outpost commanded byTZ-33 came under fire by RepublicAT-TEs. TZ-33 then ordered all units to form up for a counterattack, thereby lowering the outpost gate; this order proved to be the outpost's downfall as the Republic clones ofWolfpack—led by Anakin Skywalker,Plo Koon,Ahsoka Tano, Rex, andWolffe—then attacked the droid outpost, destroying all the droids, including the commando droids. Although the Separatists did not win, Tano was captured by aTrandoshan sport hunter by the name ofLo-Taren.
Skirmish on Naboo[]
An unarmed BX commando with the markings of a captain
Just before theSkirmish on Naboo, commando droids were deployed byMinisterRish Loo onNaboo afterAnakin Skywalker,Padmé Amidala andBossLyonie confronted him after discovering that Rish Loo was a traitor. In the fight that followed, all of the commando droids were destroyed by theJedi and Amidala, while Loo stabbed Lyonie and fled the underwater city where the fight took place.
Battle of Kiros[]
Several droid commandos were present during the Separatist occupation of the planetKiros. When theGalactic Republic came toliberate Kiros, a group of droid commandos on speeders ambushed a clone party led byJedi MasterObi-Wan Kenobi,Anakin Skywalker andPadawanAhsoka Tano. While the clones took some casualties, all the commandos were ultimately destroyed. Two units were also guarding the Separatist commander in-charge of the occupation,Darts D'Nar. However, they were also destroyed when Kenobi arrived.
Battle of Dathomir[]
Around21 BBY,CountDooku orderedGeneralGrievous to eliminateAsajj Ventress, together with theNightsisters ofDathomir. Grievous began hisinvasion of Dathomir, where he deployed several BX-series battle droids, together withB1 andB2 super battle droids,AATs, oneDefoliator tank and other forces. One of the BX-series droids used arocket launcher to destroy the wall of the cave, in which Talzin and OldDaka tried to kill Dooku via Nightsister magic. Grievous managed to eliminate Old Daka and a Nightsister, while Talzin disappeared. The BX-series droid emptied the cauldron, and Dooku survived.
Battle of Onderon[]
A number of BX-series droid commandos were present on the planetOnderon where they served under thesuper tactical droidKalani, who was dispatched to defeat alocal rebellion brought against the Confederacy. These droid commandos were among the forces battling theOnderonian rebels, where they were ultimately defeated due to the armaments and training the rebels had received from the Republic. When theRoyal Onderon Militia abandonedKingSanjay Rash to fight for the rebels, BX-series droid commandos replaced them as his bodyguards until the Separatists withdrew from the planet and Rash was executed by Kalani.
The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Rookies onStarWars.com(original site is defunct)
commando droid in theEncyclopedia(original site is defunct)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Rookies"
