Droideka

"They're no match for droidekas."

- Rune Haako, regarding a pair of Jedi Knights

Droidekas, also known as  destroyer droids, were a type of droid used by the Trade Federation during the Invasion of Naboo and, later, by the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars. Manufactured by the Colicoids on Colla IV, droidekas were dangerous and deadly, designed to exterminate their adversaries with extreme prejudice. They could transform their shape by curling into a ball and moving up to 75 kilometers per hour across a surface, or stand on three legs and utilize a shield generator while firing at a target. Before the Invasion of Naboo, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn had to face droidekas on a Droid Control Ship.

Droidekas came equipped with numerous armaments, both defensive and offensive. In particular, they made use of twin blasters and personal deflector shield generators. A droideka's shields were so strong and powerful that they could easily repel or deflect short-range, high-velocity attacks; rendering sidearms or blasters ineffective. Most hand held weapons did not have enough power to pierce it. Although powerful, they featured several flaws that could be exploited to guarantee a kill; droidekas were blind from behind and their shields were ineffective against slow and stationary objects. Rear assaults, coupled with a distraction and a well thrown Electro Magnetic Pulse grenade, were an extremely effective combination.

Following the Clone Wars, the Droideka Oppressor and Droideka Sentinel variants were used by smugglers, and were also used by the Alliance to Restore the Republic and Galactic Empire during the Galactic Civil War.

Non-canon appearances

 * William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace: Star Wars Part the First