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"Roger, roger."

- Typical response of a B1 battle droid

B1 battle droids, also referred to as standard battle droids, were the most widely used battle droids manufactured by Baktoid Combat Automata and Baktoid Armor Workshop, and were the successor to the OOM-series battle droids. Even though they were widely produced and deployed, the B1 battle droid was flimsily designed and easy to destroy, and was only truly successful in large numbers. Early versions of the model also required the use of a Central Control Computer, but despite these weaknesses they saw extensive service as the mainlines soldier of the Trade Federation's mechanized droid army. The droid army was deployed during the Invasion of Naboo, and after landing B1 battle droids marched into the Naboo capital of Theed, and using the massive army the Trade Federation captured the city. The droids continued to keep the Trade Federation's grip on the planet throughout the occupation, and the majority of Federation droid troops were deployed to combat the Gungan Grand Army at the Great Grass Plains. In the ensuing battle many militiagungs were killed, but the entire droid army was defeated because it shut down when the control computer was destroyed with the Federation’s Droid Control Ship by the young Force-sensitive pilot, Anakin Skywalker during the portion of the battle that was in space.

During the Separatist Crisis, the Trade Federation leadership met with other commerce guilds on the planet Geonosis, and the Federation had given its droid army, including the B1 battle droid, to the growing Confederacy of Independent Systems. The droids became the main soldier of the new Separatist Droid Army. The forces of the army used newer reworked B1s. These newer B1 battle droids did not have the reliance on a central command signal and were capable of independent thought; however, it was limited. On Geonosis the droid army clashed with the Galactic Republic's new army of clone troopers for the first time. This battle launched the galactic conflict known as the Clone Wars. The B1 battle droids and the other models of combat droids used by the Confederacy fought the forces of the Republic on countless worlds for the duration of the three-year-long conflict.

Throughout the droids' history, it was evident that the B1 was dim-witted. Programming glitches manifested as the B1 battle droids developing personality quirks, and they were known to make commentary on what occurred around them. The B1s were outmatched by the clone troopers of the Republic, but massive numbers of B1s could gain victory over the more experienced clone troopers, and even members of the Jedi Order. The B1 battle droids, nicknamed "clankers" along with other Separatist droids by the Republic, were manufactured in countless numbers for the Separatists, but military officers, like the Supreme Commander of the Droid Army, General Grievous, grew angry at the failings of the B1. Following the defeat of the Confederacy, B1 battle droids were deactivated by the Galactic Empire along with the rest of the droid army. Despite this, and battle droids becoming outlawed under the Empire, B1 battle droids continued to see use through Separatist holdouts and the black market during the Imperial Era.

Design
"Look, it's RB-551.''" "No wonder he got blasted. He's one of those older models programmed by a central computer." "Not us, we're independent thinkers." "Roger Roger." "''Roger Roger."

- Several B1s discussing how they were upgraded models from the older RB-551

Part of the B-series battle droid line, B1 battle droids were humanoid fourth class battle droids measuring 1.93 meters, or 6 feet and 4 inches, tall. Designed by the Geonosians, who designed them in their image, for the Trade Federation, the B1s possessed a skeletal shape, which made them resemble animated skeletons. B1 battle droids were the successors to similar looking the OOM-series battle droid. These droids could preform more functions when compared to a B1, due to the level of independent reasoning in their programming. While Count Dooku once stated that B1s were expensive, B1 battle droids were mass-produced quickly and cheaply. The B1 itself was a flimsy droid model that was not truly designed for warfare. However, despite their limited capabilities, the B1 battle droid would be used as shock troops and the primary frontline soldiers of mechanized armies.

B1s could be controlled by a centralized and networked command center /mainframe, or B1s could be programmed for independent action. However, B1 battle droids originally required the connection to the command mainframe, the Central Control Computer. These computers were located in an orbiting Droid Control Ship, which transmitted instructions, computer-automated commands, and orders from Trade Federation leadership. These early B1s were incapable of independent thinking, and all B1 battle droids obeyed the central master command signal transmitted by the control ship. The B1 forces of the Federation needed this signal to operate. Central Control Computers saved costs in the already inexpensive droids, as the Trade Federation saved the production costs on what would have been thousands of individual droid brains, and the computers were an outgrowth of Neimoidian society's hierarchical structure. The control battleships that the computers were housed in constantly tracked the movement of every droid's position, and, to receive signals from the control ship, the comlink booster packs worn by B1 battle droids had command ship signal receivers. Instead of a droid brain, the beaked head of each B1 contained a receiver for their orders from the control ship. B1s themselves possessed small processors that would collect limited sensory data and movement to transmit back to the Droid Control Ship. Contained within the head of a B1 were the signal transmission lines, the dephasing anticode sieve, the signal receiver, the override signal receptor, and the signal confirmation module, and B1's skull contained a servomotor, a device used for movement in droids and cybernetics, but exposure to moisture could corrode the motors. The B1's head also held the unit's simple vocabulator, which allowed the droid to speak, and the voice of a B1 ranged from a rather robotic sounding voice, a high-pitched voice, to a lower and more monotone voice.

While the use of Central Control Computer could save on costs, the B1's need for a central command signal to operate proved to be shortsighted because every B1 battle droid would switch off and enter a stand by hibernation mode once a Droid Control Ship was destroyed. By the time B1s were being used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems, newer models of B1 battle droid were fitted with individual independent intelligence centers which let B1s operate without a master signal. Autonomous thinking was introduced to battle droids by the Geonosians, although the B1 was not programmed with a particularity robust artificial intelligence, and networked control centers were seen as too large of a vulnerability by Separatist leadership. The newer models of B1 were capable of prolonged independent action, limited independent thought, and making their own independent tactical decisions. New B1s did not need a control ship to operate or program them, and the newer B1s saw themselves as "independent thinkers." At least some of the new B1s believed themselves to be superior to their predecessors. However, within the Separatist Droid Army, some older B1 models were still used, but the older B1s were largely phased out. Central Control Computers still remained in some use because of the battle droids that required them, as was on the Subjugator-class heavy cruiser, Malevolence. These units were given commands from the computer to preform complicated technical duties. In addition, the newer B1 model was able to have its programming overridden by a control ship's signal.

A droid possessing a humanoid design allowed them a degree of versatility, and the B1 battle droid showcased this. B1s were able to operate weapons, vehicles, and machinery originally designed for organic operators and pilots. However, the B1 had a limited programming which could make them unfit for more advanced jobs. During the Mission to Rugosa, a B1 battle droid at the controls of the laser cannons on a Munificent-class star frigate missed every shot it fired at Republic escape pods. When the B1 battle droid was confronted about this by the OOM command battle droid in command of the frigate, the droid told the commanding officer that it had missed due to flawed programming it suffered. The limited programming of the B1 battle droids also made them unfit to serve many of the jobs they were tasked with on the advanced Subjugator-class heavy cruiser Malevolence.

In addition to their several servomotors, other B1 components included their pistons, which functioned like muscles, and the B1 possessed balance stabilizers, which battle droids could supposedly quake in, motivators, a key component of droids, and knobby exposed motorized joints. Contained within the B1's head was a processor, but a blaster bolt hitting it could cause it to short-circuit. Once this occurred, the short-circuited processor could cause the B1 to develop a conscience. Supposedly, restoring a B1 to their base programming with a memory wipe would fix this. The body of the B1 battle droid was also designed so the unit could be able to fold into a compact stowed configuration for transportation in Multi-Troop Transports. In this configuration one hundred and twelve B1 battle droids could be stored into the troop transport, and, when B1s were activated from this folded position, it only took seconds for them to deploy. Their limbs deployed first from being folded, resulting in the droid standing up, and their long neck was the last part to unfold. While B1s did not always possess a blaster when folded, after their neck was unfolded the droids could reach to their backs to claim their E-5 blaster rifle. B1 battle droids would also fold into this configuration when their power cells were low. A way B1s could have drained power cells was prolonged marching, and a B1 needed to close down and recharge when low on power. Operating on low power impaired a B1's functionality, as the unit would be slower, less reliable, and have a impaired speech.

B1 battle droids had an integrated comlink at their head, and their photoreceptors could switch to an infrared mode. B1 battle droids had the ability to pick up electromagnetic fields, such as the small fields generated from holoprojectors. As droids, B1s did not need to drink, eat, or breathe, and units could operate underwater and in a vacuum, such as in space. As they were also unaffected by poisons and toxins, B1s could continue to operate if a form of biological warfare had been deployed.

While an inexpensive yet durable metal protected the droid's signal-receiver assembly, the B1's armor was thin and did not protect B1 battle droids against blaster fire or lightsabers well, as these weapons could easily defeat a B1. Another weak point in the B1 was the droid's capacitors, and, as shown by enemy snipers, hitting between the capacitors could take out the unit. However, while tactics like these could defeat a B1, the only true way to kill a battle droid was to aim for their head. This was because the droids did not require their limbs or bodies to report intel back to central command, but a head-shot would be successful. However, if the head of a B1 was physically removed from its body, the droid's body could still function and move, but it had no form of sight. A Separatist Duke, Solha, as well as his brother and sister, operated a droid factory on Mokivj that created B1 battle droids and B2 super battle droids made from cortosis towards the end of the Clone Wars. This metal made the droids more resistant to blaster bolts and lightsabers, but this factory was ultimately destroyed in the Mokivj catastrophe.

Tactics, battlefield roles, and countertactics
"Droids were a bit dim. More so than I imagined.''" "They make up for it in numbers. They're designed to overwhelm." "''But they're not designed to deal with our approach."

- Saw Gerrera, Ahsoka Tano, and Anakin Skywalker

While individual B1 battle droids were not effective soldiers against enemies like clone troopers in combat, the B1 battle droid was meant to be deployed in mass-assault tactics. Deploying a massive force of droids off-set the model's weaknesses, could effectively overtake civilians, and overwhelming forces of droids were the answer to clone troopers and Jedi as a battle droid horde could overpower their more skilled opponents. The cheap cost of the B1 battle droid made deploying swarms of droids a viable tactic for military use. Entire battalions could be sacrificed for victory without concern, and, in line with how every B1 was built to sacrifice itself, when one wave of B1s was taken down, another would take its place. While B1s could be classified as blaster fodder and did not have a high battle prowess, a horde of B1s under the command of a competent officer could be a massive threat because an opponent had to overcome their high amount of blaster fire and the coordination of B1s operating under a clear plan.

While B1 battle droid was originally only used to protect transports, the B1 was the main soldier in the Trade Federation Droid Army and later the Separatist Droid Army. In the Separatist Army, the order of battle centered on the B1 and the vehicles used to deploy them. The army also tended to field B1s on Single Trooper Aerial Platforms as cavalry, and, in addition to the B1 seeing heavy use on the front lines, the droid was also used as security on worlds and military locations such as warships and bases. The Confederacy could also use B1s to lift crates aboard DH-Omni Support Vessels, but preforming taxing work meant that B1s would a break time. B1 battle droids were above the astromech droids used by the Confederacy. and B1s were able to hold military ranks such as sergeant and lieutenant. While OOM command battle droids were part of the B1's predecessor line, the OOM-series, B1 battle droids could be specially programmed and modified to serve as OOM command units. In the Separatist Droid Army, these B1 commanders lead forces below the strength of a regiment. B1 battle droids could also serve as scouts and gunners.

Early B1 models that required a master signal would mainly swarm and parade into a battlefield, did not possess combat proficiency, and would fail to use basic combat strategies like seeking cover, but B1s located in Theed Royal Palace during the Battle of Naboo did hide behind cover. In addition, the later control ship independent B1 models used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems could still be easily defeated by superior foes. B1 battle droids also proved to be single-minded and dim-witted, but the B1 was not designed to be smart, and instead the model was meant to provide abundant firepower in their large numbers as opposed to clever tactics. While these factors meant a leading officer would keep B1s in as tight of a rein as they could, advanced programming was not required for the B1's swarm tactics, so their limited intelligence never needed to be fixed. However, this still meant B1s had a limited intelligence compared to other soldiers. Opponents could use this to outsmart a B1, but the units could still fall back on their numbers. Motion-capture data from highly trained organic soldiers allowed the B1 to demonstrate an array of combat stances, positions, and maneuvers. However, while the B1 was programmed with moves from highly trained soldiers, B1s were mostly inaccurate shots with a blaster. B1 battle droids could also be unaware of proper military protocols, as one B1 needed to ask if they took prisoners during the Battle of the Rishi moon, but B1s taking prisoners was uncommon. While B1s did not seem dangerous at first glance and were viewed as an inept fighting force, B1 battle droids could be frightening in their uniformity, with the droids only being individually distinguished by their numbers found on their comlink booster packs.

When confronting a horde of B1 battle droids, opponents could try to gain victory by scattering their robotic enemies. To scatter B1s, a useful tactic was the Sword and Shield maneuver, in which a clone trooper would throw grenades into the droid ranks as Jedi blocked incoming fire. Once a multiple of B1s were taken out, and their ranks were successfully scattered, the opponents would form up and push forward. Alternatively, opponents could find cover and hold their position as a force of B1s attacked, but an alternative tactic, one that was unorthodox for Republic clone troopers, was to rush B1s head-on. An example of this rarer tactic came from the Republic special forces squad known as Clone Force 99. These clone commandos had their own way to deal with a wave of B1s, as seen through plan 82. This tactic was where the squad would push towards the droid ranks, as "Wrecker" would use his strength to bring a form of cover to block incoming blaster fire, while the squad fired at the droids. Once they got closer, Wrecker would stop, and, as the squad was safe behind their cover, "Tech" reported a position in the droid ranks for "Hunter" to throw an Electro Magnetic Pulse grenade into. Once the grenade was at a desirable location, "Crosshair" fired his sniper rifle at it, and the resulting electromagnetic pulse would take out a large number of B1s.

Plan 82 was also an example of how B1 battle droids were just as vulnerable to EMP weapons as other droids because electromagnetic energy would shock droids into deactivating. The Gungan Grand Army used boomas, balls of explosive plasma, against B1 battle droids, and clone troopers used Electro Magnetic Pulse grenades, which were nicknamed "droid poppers", against B1s and other battle droids. The Republic would also develop the electro-proton bomb, which could short-circuit an entire droid army. As they were droids, B1s could be reprogrammed, and their opponents could perform a robolobotomy on a B1&mdash;provided a unit was not heavily damaged&mdash;to gain information from the droid. While one needed to pass through the B1's access codes, information from the droid's memory logs and guidance system were available. In addition, B1s were not designed to deal with the special approach of the Onderon rebels. The rebels would hit the Separatists were it was least expected, and, before their enemies figured out what had happened, the rebels would fade into the rest of Onderon's population. Their tactics proved to be effected and helped to turn the tide against the CIS on Onderon.

A massive programming glitch
As opposed to more peaceful droid models like 3PO units, B1 battle droids were soldiers programmed for destruction and violence, but the B1 suffered programming glitches that would manifest in units as "personality quirks." B1s could be goofy, and, when displaying their quirks, B1 battle droids could exhibit various tones of voice, such as fear, sadness, confusion, and joy.

While B1 battle droids were programmed to never surrender, their quirks could instead make a unit more fearful and cowardly. A B1 might have then focused more on self-preservation and escape instead of remaining in a fight, with a droid possibly wanting to physically run away, but at least one B1 battle droid, R0-GR, lacked "running way" as part of his original programming directives. Before reprogramming, R0-GR's only programming directive was field combat. B1s were also designed to be easily controlled, inexpensive to mass-produce, and unquestioningly obedient, but, despite this being their design, there were instances where B1s would question their orders. An example was during the Battle of Quell, in which T-series tactical droid TF-1726 gave the order to destroy Republic Jedi General Aayla Secura's Venator-class Star Destroyer. A B1 battle droid disagreed with this and questioned the order by bringing up that there were still hundreds of droids on board the cruiser. TF-1726 responded that he didn't care and ignored the B1's protest, so the B1 followed its orders to fire on the enemy ship. Another example was when a B1 questioned the hired bounty hunter Cad Bane's decision not to launch reinforcements to the vulture droids engaging Republic forces during the Battle of Devaron. Later during the battle, two B1s were concerned over their orders to defend the ship's bridge. The droids knew only the few battle droids stationed on the bridge would be defending against incoming Jedi.

In addition to units questioning and commenting on their orders, B1s would often have "banter" or make other comments, with some B1s making comments because of the fighting they were in the midst of. Examples of their comments were when two B1 battle droids spoke on Skytop Station, as one's servomotors were being corroded due to high amounts of moisture, and the other units suggested getting its head adjusted, and when a group of B1 battle droids talked about how they believed they were superior models to the older RB-551. B1 battle droids also made other types of comments on duty, such as one B1 battle droid commenting on the beauty of the planet Hissrich, and another insulting clone troopers during the Battle of Teth, calling the clones of Torrent Company "Republic dogs." One B1 battle droid seemingly saw itself as being above the astromech droids of D-Squad, as it called them "stupid astromechs." B1s were also able to have opinions. During the Battle of Ryloth, one B1, which had to clean the Gutkurrs cells in Nabat, remarked that it had the worst job in all the Droid Army. B1s could also seemly develop attachments. During a sandstorm in the final acts of the Second Battle of Geonosis, a B1 battle droid asked a fellow B1, O.M.5, where Poggle the Lesser was leading them. When this B1 saw that O.M.5 was no longer beside him, he called out to his fellow unit, but the B1 kept on following Poggle. O.M.5 had been swept into the sand due to the storm, and his final words were weakly asking to not be left behind. However, R0-GR lacked friendship in his original programming directives, and it needed to be added to him.

Origin
"Some of you gathered here today are old enough to remember when Baktoid Armor Workshop came to Geonosis and struck a deal with us to build foundries and produce battle droids and other automata for which we were handsomely rewarded."

- Archduke Poggle the Lesser to the Geonosians

In the early days of the B1 battle droid, the model would see use due to the wealthy interplanetary corporation known as the Trade Federation. Notoriously ran by the normally cowardly Neimoidian species, the Federation held a monopoly on Outer Rim trade routes, which allowed it to have enough power to buy a seat in the Galactic Senate, and the Federation, despite the galaxy ostensibly being in a era of peace, was also allowed to use a private automated defense force to keep its forces safe from pirates and to protect its valuable shipments. The "defense" force would be made up of battle droids due to the Trade Federation leaders not trusting forces it could not control, and the B1 battle droid would be the main soldier of this army.

B1 battle droids would be manufactured by Baktoid Combat Automata and Baktoid Armor Workshop, a member firm of the Techno Union, and this company would approach the Geonosians the qausi-insectoid species of the planet Geonosis, to design droid foundries for the Trade Federation. The Geonosians would be rewarded for their deal to built battle droids and other weapons, and, while Archduke Poggle the Lesser once later claimed they did not know they were working for a trade cartel, the Geonosians were the ones who designed the B1 battle droid for the Trade Federation. and the work for the Federation kept the Geonosians content and busy, which kept the species out of disorder, and the Geonosians designed the B1 battle droid in their own image. The Trade Federation had also commissioned for the B1 to have humanoid physiques, so that way the units could operate pre-existing machinery, vehicles, and weapons designed for organics. By using existing technology, the Federation was saved from needing to pay for production costs and retrofitting.

Baktoid Combat Automata was contracted to produce the B1s within these foundries-turned-factories on Geonosis, and the B1s were quick to assemble and cheap to produce. On Geonosis, Poggle the Lesser, who was also backed by the shadowy Trade Federation benefactor, Darth Sidious, would have millions of B1 battle droids manufactured for the Trade Federation. However, due to the colossal cost that each B1 receiving a droid brain would be, and as an outgrowth of Neimoidian society's hierarchical structure, the budget-minded Federation chose to have numerous B1 battle droids be controlled simultaneously by Central Control Computers.

Prior to the construction of the army of B1 battle droids, the Trade Federation used small numbers of the B1's predecessor, the OOM-series battle droid, on the starships of the Federation fleet. While the OOM-series could preform more functions than B1s, B1 battle droids served as main infantry force in the Federation's Droid Army. However, OOM-series units did continue to see use, and OOM-series battle droids could even be deployed alongside their B1 successors.

Initially, the B1 was merely used to protect transports, a role that fell in line the allowed role of the defense force being used a protection, and&mdash;despite their coming role in the plan of the Sith &mdash;the design of the B1 was not truly meant for warfare. However, this fact was ignored, as the B1s were the front line soldiers of a Federation which used the Droid Army to back its economic might. The threat of the army gave the Federation the opportunity to influence local politics, and the Federation could easily target planets that lacked a military force. For the planets that did have a military, most worlds used one for ceremonial purposes or internal security only, and, with the Republic only possessing the Jedi Order to keep security, the Droid Army of the Trade Federation would come bring it closer to galactic supremacy. The true power of the Federation's "defense" force was also not known to most in the Galactic Senate, while others were paid to look the other way. However, Republic leaders would be alerted to the new status quo because of the first deployment of the battle droids, the Invasion of Naboo.

Invasion of Naboo
In 32 BBY, Prop 31-814D made Free Trade Zones eligible for taxation,

The Battle of Naboo
"Finally the mackineeks gottin us surround, but mesa and the rest, we just looked at each other smiling. We was going to rush them. We didn't care about their flashers. We just had a feeling that we'd like seeing what we could be doing. And that's when the mackineeks switched off."

- The Gungan militiagung Oma Prumba's account on the end of the Battle of Naboo

and in retaliation the Trade Federation initiated a blockade of the planet Naboo. The Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn were sent to negotiate with the Federation, but the negotiations were thwarted when Darth Sidious contacted Neimoidian Viceroy Nute Gunray and ordered him to kill the Jedi. Although the two Jedi were able to escape, the Trade Federation sent an invasion force to Naboo in hopes of forcing Queen Padmé Amidala to sign a treaty which would legitimize the occupation. At the end of the occupation B1s fought against the Gungan Grand Army at the Great Grass Plains during the Battle of Naboo, and did gain the upper hand. This was truly a distraction to draw the main droid forces away from Naboo’s capital city of Theed, which had been occupied since its capture by the Federation. In Theed they fought against the Royal Naboo Security Forces under the command of the Queen of Naboo, Padmé Amidala. The droids were ultimately shut down at the end of the occupation during the Battle of Naboo when the Trade Federation's orbiting Droid Control Ship was destroyed by the young Force-sensitive pilot Anakin Skywalker.

However, Gunray was able to stall his four trials in the Supreme Court, avoid prison, and remain the Federation's viceroy. However, the Neimoidian now wanted his to have his revenge on Padmé Amidala and the Republic, and his plan for revenge shape the future of the B1 battle droid because of its coming role in war.

After the Invasion of Naboo and the Separatist Crisis
"Our friends from the Trade Federation have pledged their support, and when their battle droids are combined with yours, we shall have an army greater than any in the galaxy. The Jedi will be overwhelmed, and the Republic will agree to any demands we make."

- Count Dooku, to the members of the Separatist Council prior to the Battle of Geonosis

The Trade Federation had ultimately lost thousands of B1 battle droids in the Battle of Naboo, and the defeat showed the faults of the B1. While the invasion made it clear B1s could effectively bully civilians, the B1 was not a match for trained soldiers. However, the Techno Union was able to take the so-called "lessons" learned from Naboo to develop the B2 super battle droid. This new unit was a heavy infantry model of droid that was designed solely for combat &mdash;although it would see some other uses&mdash;and equipped with aggressive programming.

The underlining tensions from the Invasion of Naboo ultimately remained, and the Federation was among the groups that started building up their military forces. Further problems would rise for the Republic when, Two years before the coming Clone Wars, Count Dooku of Serenno, a former Jedi Master and secret Sith Lord, founded the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Also called the Separatist Alliance, Dooku claimed his government would be fairer than the Republic. Thousands of star systems went on to secede to the CIS, and the galaxy was now faced with the Separatist Crisis. While the Separatists originally lacked a standing military, the Separatist planets used their wealth to purchase vast droid armies. Corporations like the Federation had already allied with Dooku, and the Separatists funded the Techno Union and Federation to build up the armies. The Separatists constructed these battle droids in secret, and the Federation agreed to pledge its droid forces to the Confederacy. The B1 battle droid was now seeing production for the Separatists, and Dooku himself went to Geonosis to renew the contract

Viceroy Gunray

that were being manufactured far from the Republic.

A meeting on Geonosis
as a founding corporation and

the Federation pledged their droid armies, and therefore the B1 battle droid, to the Confederacy

Gunray allied with Count Dooku, but he

Viceroy Gunray, who came to Count Dooku for help during the Crisis, became interested in the possible wealth to be gained and wanted his to have his revenge for the Naboo invasion.

A chance presented itself

The Trade Federation would come to ally itself with the growing Confederacy of Independent Systems.

Separatist leadership had come to see networked control centers for B1s as a vulnerability, and the reliance on a central command signal, the tactic that had cost the Federation the Battle of Naboo, eventually was removed from the B1 battle droids.

In 22 BBY, ten years after the Battle of Naboo, the Federation provided B1 battle droid forces to the Confederacy of Independent Systems, a secessionist movement composed of wealthy industrialists and disgruntled citizens of the Outer Systems, and the Confederacy's Droid Army. The Separatist Crisis soon broke into full war.

The Clone Wars spread
The Clone Wars, named after the Republic's clone troopers, engulfed the galaxy for three years. The clones and Jedi Order, who had now left their role as peacekeepers by leading the Grand Army in war, fought against the Separatist Droid Army throughout the conflict, but the droids greatly outnumbered the Republic Army. Count Dooku once went as far as to say that the clone troopers were outnumbered by a margin of one hundred to one. When it came to the Separatist's soldiers, the B1 battle droid dominated the Droid Army's ranks as its main infantry. The B1 saw use for the entirety of the Clone Wars, and, while the B1 itself was never truly designed to be used in warfare, the order of battle in the droid army centered on the B1s and the vehicles to deploy them. The B1's cheap price tag allowed it to stay mass-produced over other units that could have taken its place in the army. The lower price made it so there were often one hundred B1 battle droids on a battlefield for every one B2 super battle droid, while BX-series droid commandos, a droid unit superior to the B1, were regulated to small numbers due to their price tag.

However, despite B1s being produced in great numbers as the bulk of the Army infantry corps, the battle droids were not as versatile as their clone trooper adversaries. Battle droids were single minded, as opposed to the independent and creative clone troopers. Clones could easily blast through dozens of enemy droids, However, newer clone troopers could underestimate their mechanical foes after they had destroyed isolated B1 patrols; however, this opinion was quickly weeded out of these new troopers. B1s were still dangerous, but they needed the large numbers they were made for. The B1 battle droid managed to kill numerous clone troopers throughout the Clone Wars. Still, an experienced clone trooper could take out a number of B1s, with some clones even keeping count of the number of droids they blasted, and one Clone Officer, Captain CT-7567, also know by his nickname "Rex," later recounted he may have blasted thousands or tens of thousands of B1s during the war.

During the war, the enormous droid army was lead by its Supreme Commander, General Grievous. Grievous, known as a feared Jedi hunter and brilliant strategist, lead his army across the galaxy, but Grievous was one of many commanders who was angered by the limitations of the B1,

but

Grievous was forced to command the battle droids throughout the Clone Wars.

Grievous would insult his B1s, viewed them to be stupid, and was frustrated with his battle droids' insipid tactical sense and capabilities.

and many B1s became victims of the General's temper, with Grievous sometimes even destroying his own battle droids in his fits of anger. Grievous blamed his droids for losses against the Jedi Order and would hardly hide his disdain for the droids. Another major Separatist commander was Asajj Ventress, Count Dooku's apprentice and most trusted assassin, but she too could be angered by her B1s.

The battles faced by R0-GR
During the war, one of the many B1s deployed was R0-GR.

The war's second year
Battle of Murkhana

The Blue Shadow Virus
"All the doors are locked. How are we gonna get out?''" "It's not our problem." "''Boy, that's a relief."

- Two B1 battle droids in the laboratory after the virus was released

Republic victory on Geonosis
"That looks like a lot of droids.''" "Well, it is a droid factory." "As long as we can destroy 'em faster than they can make 'em, we'll come out on top." "''I love your simple logic, Skywalker."

- Jedi Generals Anakin Skywalker and Luminara Unduli

The Battle of Saleucami to Pantora's blockade
"Sir, you made it.''" "Get back in the pod and send out a distress signal to what's left of our fleet. We need to get a shuttle down here immediately." "Roger, roger. But I must inform you, sir, there are multiple life-forms approaching from the east and west." "''Battle positions!"

- A B1 battle droid and General Grievous

Battles for the CIS and more
"A battle droid with a conscience. Now, I've seen everything.''" "So, my frazzled friend&mdash;you're ready to switch sides, are you?" "''You bet! Battle droid B1-0516 at your service."

- Clone Captain Rex, Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi, and B1-0516 during the Battle of Horain

Attack on the Nightsisters
"Fire the Defoliator.''" "''Roger, roger."

- Two B1 battle droids during the Battle of Dathomir

Utapau and the fight for Anaxes
(Bring up Kix post Anaxes)

The death of the Separatist Alliance
"Send a message to the ships of the Trade Federation. All droid units must shut down immediately."

- Darth Sidious to Darth Vader

Age of the Empire
Battle droids were outlawed by the Galactic Empire, the totalitarian state that replaced the Republic, in the wake of the destructive conflict in 19 BBY, and the wide-scale use of droids in combat led to an increase in anti-droid propaganda and rhetoric following the Clone Wars.

Imperial stormtroopers were to shoot and destroy battle droids on sight.

The unofficial end to the Clone Wars
By the time of the early rebellion against the Galactic Empire, the super tactical droid General Kalani continued to command some remaining battle droids and droidekas at a wrecked Separatist supply ship on Agamar. These droids had not been given the shut-down code issued years prior, as Kalani had believed it was a Republic trick. After the rebel group known as the Spectres&mdash;joined by Rex&mdash;made contact with the Separatist remnant, the two forces joined to fight off an Imperial attack. With the aid of two Jedi, Kalani and several of his B1 battle droids were able to escape the planet in a Sheathipede-class transport shuttle. Due to this mission, Kalani and Rex came to an unofficial end to the Clone Wars, which they both accepted as the war's end.

Ruen's workshop
During the Galactic Civil War, several B1 battle droids were among the rebuilt battle droids in the workshop owned by Ruen on the Wreck Belt. Ruen did not treat his droids well, but he kept them controlled through ethical programming and control loops. Ruen activated his battle droids, including B1 battle droids and B2 super battle droids, to apprehend the assassin droids 0-0-0 and BT-1 while the two were there for business. BT-1 quickly destroyed all of the droids Ruen had activated, and Ruen was forced to help the two assassin droids. After this was done however, BT-1 was able to hack into the remaining droids and remove the restraints Ruen had placed, which 0-0-0 viewed as an act of emancipation. Ruen tried to contact Quarantine World III to report about 0-0-0, but the remaining now-freed B1s and other battle droids turned on him. The droids killed Ruen and destroyed the workshop as BT-1 and 0-0-0 watched from a distance. As the two left the Wreck Belt they discussed how they believed that if organics treated droids better, violence between droids and organics wouldn't be necessary.

Rebellion on Akiva
"A battle droid? You wanted to show us&hellip; a battle droid? The most incompetent droid soldier in the history of both the Republic and Empire. A mechanical comedy of errors. And you believe that Surat Nuat wants a meager, worthless B1 droid?"

- Makarial Gravin, to Temmin Wexley upon seeing Mister Bones

Equipment
"With our trusty E-5 blasters in our hands and Comlink booster strapped to our backs, B1 battle droids were ready for anything the Republic could throw at us. Until things were actually thrown at us."

- R0-GR

In the field, B1 droids often utilized E-5 blaster rifles and wore

B1s were also often equipped with comlink booster packs, which listed a B1's designation on its back. However, in the early control ship models of B1, having a droid's designation on its back was only for organic commanders, as the control ships tracked every B1.

The droids were also able to use macrobinoculars and thermal detonators on the field. During the Battle of Ryloth, two B1s in Nabat used electropoles to force Gutkurrs to move to attack Ghost Company.

Vehicles
"Those things were floating death traps! I'm still convinced more battle droids were destroyed by STAPs than by Jedi during the Clone Wars&mdash;and we were the ones flying the darn things."

- R0-GR, on STAPs

While at least one B1, R0-GR, originally lacked the programming needed to serve as a pilot, B1 battle droids were often used as the pilots for a number of vehicles.

served as pilots for vehicles like the STAP or the Sheathipede-class transport shuttle.

gunners for Armored Assault Tank

pilots for STAPs, AATs?, MTTs?, Federation ships?

Notable individuals
"I PERFORMED VIOLENCE. ROGER-ROGER."

- Mister Bones, to Temmin Wexley

Some notable B1 battle droids included the OOM command battle droid OOM-9. During the Galactic Civil War, the modified battle droid Mister Bones served as a companion to Temmin Wexley. Following the Rebellion on Akiva, Bones along with Temmin joined the New Republic. Another notable B1 battle droid was R0-GR, a B1 veteran of the Clone Wars who later served the Freemaker family.

Specialized B1 battle droids



 * B1-series rocket battle droid&mdash;Standard B1 droids that were specifically modified to hunt down escape pods in space. They donned rocket packs and were distinguished by their orange and black colored bodies.
 * B1 grapple droid&mdash;A B1 variant that were specialized in hand-to-hand combat and had white and green plating.
 * B1 recon droid&mdash;A variant of the B1 that was specifically designed and used for reconnaissance.
 * B1 repeater blaster droid&mdash;A B1 variant that utilized a repeating blaster. The droid had the same markings as the standard B1 battle droid.
 * B1 rocket launcher droid&mdash;A variant of the B1 that used a missile launcher, and this variant had the same markings as the standard B1 battle droid.
 * Droid worker&mdash;Modified B1 battle droids that were created by and served Karina.
 * Firefighter battle droid&mdash;battle droids tasked to suppress and extinguish fires. Firefighter droids were positioned aboard the Malevolence during the Republic's assault on the vessel. Their bodies were mostly colored black with yellow stripes, and a single red spot could be found on their heads.
 * Heavy battle droid&mdash;battle droids designed to support heavy fire in battle. Armed with repeating blasters, these battle droids were capable of wielding heavy weaponry such as Z-6 rotary blaster cannons. They were identifiable by the overall gray body and dark red paintings.

Behind the scenes
"This is one of our battle droids, actually&hellip; This is our new stormtrooper."

- George Lucas, to his friend Steven Spielberg, on the set of The Phantom Menace

B1 battle droids first appeared in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace.

In the mid-1990s, Doug Chiang's earliest designs of the battle droids were a nod to the helmets worn by the stormtroopers of the original trilogy. The finished droid's proportions are reminiscent of African sculpture. Early design had towering droids twice the height of humans, but subsequent iterations brought their height down to human size.