T-series tactical droid/Legends

A tactical droid was a model of supervisor droid serving the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars.

Characteristics
"That droid exaggerates."

- Wat Tambor, to Dooku, about TA-175



This model was more intelligent than standard battle droids and was deployed to command Separatist troops. Their bodies were approximately the same size as a B2 super battle droid. Tactical droids were observed to be impatient and demanding. They believed themselves superior to other droids, as evidenced by their poor treatment and insults to battle droids, such as during the battles of Quell and Ryloth. When pushed, tactical droids would even order the destruction of their own allies if they got in the way, as seen at the Battle of Quell. Some of these droids were also in charge of entire fleets and land forces.

Tactical droids were not as homogeneous as other battle droid models. The personalities and voices between units had slight variation, making no two units identical. Tactical droids also bore colorful paint schemes, each of which is said to be unique as well. Whether the particular paints schemes bear any significance such as rank, type designation, or unit affiliation (as with other battle droids or clone troopers) is unknown.

History
"Ha-ha, ha-ha. You lose, General Kenobi."

- Tactical droid TX-20 to Obi-Wan Kenobi

At least two tactical droids were used in the staging of the Battle of Christophsis. One such droid had its head stolen to discover how the CIS knew the Republic's strategies, and a clone traitor was later revealed. Asajj Ventress later dispatched another tactical droid to give orders to General Whorm Loathsom while she left to continue her master's plan.

Later, Commander Bly and General Aayla Secura encountered a tactical droid on one of their missions. They planned on using the droid's severed head to search for Separatist secrets. Shortly after, at the Battle of Quell, another tactical droid was used to dispatch orders onboard a Munificent-class star frigate.

On Naboo, a tactical droid was used to carry out orders while Dr. Nuvo Vindi was planing to release the Blue Shadow Virus back into the galaxy. The droid used a Flitknot speeder to do scopes of the area with three STAP-mounted B1 battle droids. His speeder was destroyed, and the droids' remains were taken back to Theed so they could be scanned. This eventually led to the discovery of Vindi's laboratory.

One such tactical droid, TX-20, would also lead droids during the Battle of Ryloth, under the watchful eye of Wat Tambor, and was in charge of the proton cannons there. TX-20 furthermore took the Twi'leks of Nabat hostage and used them as a "living shield" for the cannons. TX-20 also employed gutkurrs to attack the Republic forces. However, after General Obi-Wan Kenobi freed the Twi'lek prisoners, the former hostages destroyed the unit.

Another such droid, TA-175, also served to command the operations of the Separatist fortress at the capital city of Lessu on Ryloth. This unit was very strict in obeying orders and maintaining schedules, to the point where he ordered the departure of the evacuation shuttle from the planet, abandoning Wat Tambor, who selfishly refused to leave until the delayed MTTs carrying the last of the spoils arrived. The droid disobeyed Tambor's commands in doing so, rigidly acknowledging Count Dooku's superiority in the situation.

Known units

 * TA-175
 * TX-20
 * Tactical droid 1 (Christophsis)
 * Tactical droid 2 (Christophsis)
 * Tactical droid (Naboo)
 * Tactical droid (Quell)
 * Tactical droid (unidentified planet)

Behind the scenes
Tactical droids were introduced in the animated TV series as characters to create competent enemy commanders that were simultaneously disposable. In part, this was meant to create a degree of variety in the TV series so that the same enemies would not be defeated continuously.

The word "Tactical" is written along the side of the head of at least one tactical droid in Aurebesh.

Because the the crew of Star Wars:The Clone Wars wanted different villains that were expendable, Tactical droids are given different paint schemes and voices. Among those who have voiced Tactical droids are, James Arnold Taylor, Matthew Wood, Phil LaMarr, Corey Burton and Gary Scheppke.

Appearances

 * The Clone Wars: Headgames
 * The Clone Wars: The Valley
 * The Clone Wars: Covetous
 * The Clone Wars: The Valley
 * The Clone Wars: Covetous
 * The Clone Wars: Covetous

Notes and references
Taktikdroide Droide Táctico Tactical Droid