BX-series droid commando

"Those clankers have tough armor!"

- Commander Cody, on the durability of commando droids

BX-series droid commandos, also known as commando droids, were advanced battle droids used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars. They were created as an improvement over standard battle droids and had greater agility and computer processing power. Their lithe body structure allowed them to don Phase I clone trooper armor, and their improved durability allowed them to withstand several direct hits from standard-issue clone blasters. They were even able to continue fighting after having their legs sliced off with a lightsaber, in contrast to standard B1 battle droids that could be defeated simply by knocking them over. For improved infiltration capabilities, commando droids were able to alter their voices in order to imitate clone troopers. However, their awkward movements in the armor and atypical responses to orders (usually "roger roger", a common battle droid response) meant that observant individuals could see through the ruse.

Despite their numerous improvements over rank-and-file B1 and B2 battle droids, their production costs proved to be prohibitive for anything but small-scale manufacturing.

Clone Wars
The commando droids were first used during the Clone Wars when they infiltrated and took control of the Republic's Rishi moon Station. At first, the droids were able to maintain control of the station until Commander Cody and Captain Rex arrived to inspect the station. Along with the survivors, Cody and Rex were able to retake the station from the commando droids and destroy it.

A pair of commando droids were stationed in Lessu during the Battle of Ryloth. There they attempted to stop the ARF troopers Stak and Razor from activating the plasma bridge, but were defeated.

Grievous used a squad when he boarded Jedi Council member Eeth Koth's flagship, the Steadfast at Ardra and captured Koth. Grievous and his tactical droid, TV-94 then used them against fellow Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Adi Gallia, and Anakin Skywalker when they rescued Koth from Grievous at Saleucami. A pair of commando droids then acted as snipers after Grievous was forced to crash land on Saleucami's surface. One of the droids then shot Captain Rex as he approached them.

The bounty hunter Cad Bane used a pair of commando droids when he held several members of the Galactic Senate hostage. There, they were able to impersonate the Senate Commandos stationed at the entrance.

Commando droids were also used as guards at the Citadel under Warden Osi Sobeck. There they guarded the prisoners and operated the laser cannons.

The Confederate minister Rish Loo used a pair of commando droids against General Anakin Skywalker and Senator Padmé Amidala when his plan was exposed.

On Kiros, commando droids drove speeders and AATs when the Republic forces arrived. The Confederate commander Darts D'Nar had several with him as his guards when he negotiated with Obi-Wan Kenobi for his surrender.

During the Confederate–Republic peace conference on Mandalore, Commanders droids served as guards to the Confederate delegation. Several then took Onderon's Senator, Lux Bonteri when he spoke out against Count Dooku for part in his mother's murder. After Padawan Ahsoka Tano rescued Bonteri from his execution, the commando droids then fought the Senate Guards there when the peace conference broke down.

Commando droids were used by Grievous when Darth Sidious and Dooku ordered the destruction of the Nightsisters of Dathomir. There, they helped Grievous track down Mother Talzin and Old Daka to a secret cave in the Nightsister lair.

Several commando droids were deployed to the Onderonian capital city Iziz. They were used to lead the attack on the Onderon rebels' base in the highlands.

Several commando droids took part in Grievous's invasion of Hondo Ohnaka's Gang's base on Florrum.

Admiral Trench used several commando droids in his defense of Ringo Vinda's station.

Commando droids were used by Dooku when he invaded Scipio. There, they fought Commander Thorn's detachment of the Coruscant Guard.

Galactic Civil War
Commando Droids would later be used by Darth Vader and Doctor Aphra after the destruction of the first Death Star when Vader discovered that his master, Darth Sidious planned to replace him with the help of a rogue cybernetics doctor named Cylo.

In 5 ABY, the Siniteen prison builder Golas Aram used several commando droids to guard his private compound on the planet Irudiru. The New Republic operatives Sinjir Rath Velus and Jas Emari fought and managed to defeat several of Aram's droids with the help of the New Republic Special Forces soldier Jom Barell.

Equipment
Droid commandos used a variety of weapons during battle. They commonly used the standard blaster of the Droid Army, the E-5 blaster rifle. They were also known to use vibroswords for melee combat. For ground assault and riot-control, they used thermal detonators, bombs, and blaster rifles for sniping.