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- "There's assassin probes down here!"
- ―Anakin Skywalker
The SD-K4 assassin droid,[6] also known as the assassin probe,[4] or the assassin probe droid,[5] was a model of assassin droid manufactured by Baktoid Combat Automata.[1] Used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars, it was also referred to as the Separatist assassin probe[7] and Separatist assassin droid.[2]
Characteristics[edit | edit source]
A fourth class droid,[3] the SD-K4 assassin droid[6] manufactured by Baktoid Combat Automata[1] was designed to assassinate targets with high efficiency.[8] Spider-like droids programmed for quiet killing, assassin probes moved[7] quietly[8] on eight razored legs they could use to lurk silently in for the kill.[2] They were equipped with multiple[7] red[4] photoreceptors for scanning their surroundings. If cornered[7] or destroyed,[2] an SD-K4 could release thirty[5] smaller[7] SD-K4a mini-assassin droids[9] from pores on its head[7] to finish any job the assassin probe started.[8]
History[edit | edit source]

Anakin Skywalker fighting an assassin probe.
Manufactured by the Techno Union,[2] SD-K4 assassin droids were used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars.[4] As the Galactic Republic's highest echelons began disappearing, it suspected the use of assassin probes.[8] In the year 21 BBY,[10] Tal Merrik, senator of Kalevala and a secret Death Watch sympathizer, smuggled three SD-K4s aboard the spaceliner Coronet to assassinate Satine Kryze, duchess of Mandalore. However, the trio and their probe killers were destroyed before they could eliminate their target, though not before killing several of her clone trooper security detail.[4]
After the Clone Wars, the Techno Union was absorbed by the Galactic Empire,[11] who used their assassin probes during the Galactic Civil War. The Rebel Alliance also modified some for combat and provided them to Saponza's Gang.[6]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Star Wars: Force Arena
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Voyage of Temptation" (First appearance)
- Star Wars: Commander (First identified as SD-K4 assassin droid)
- Aftermath: Life Debt
Sources[edit | edit source]
"Voyage of Temptation" Episode Guide – The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Ultimate Star Wars (First identified as Separatist assassin probe)
- Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
- Collapse of the Republic (First identified as assassin probe droid)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Character Encyclopedia - Join the Battle!
Separatist Assassin Droid in the Databank (backup link)
Notes and references[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Character Encyclopedia - Join the Battle!
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6
Separatist Assassin Droid in the Databank (backup link)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 According to Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia, assassin droids are classified as fourth class droids.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Voyage of Temptation"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Collapse of the Republic
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Star Wars: Commander
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Ultimate Star Wars
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 CM Simon (2017-09-27). 09/28 Update Details. Retrieved on November 4, 2017. "As the highest echelons of the Galactic Republic started to disappear, the Galactic Republic began to suspect the use of the Separatist Assassin Droids. The droid, made by the Techno Union, is designed to assassinate targets with high efficiency. This big-spider like drone moves quietly, and can attack its targets with its 8 sharp legs. If there is a need to deploy them, its small probe killers will finish any job the assassin droid started." (backup link not available)
- ↑
Voyage of Temptation Episode Gallery on StarWars.com (backup link) (Slide 8)
- ↑ Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates the events of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode "Landing at Point Rain" to 21 BBY, and
Star Wars Helmet Collection 76 (Highlights of the Saga: The End of Endurance) dates the death of CT-411 "Ponds", as seen in the episode "Lethal Trackdown", to the same year. Since
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Chronological Episode Order on StarWars.com (backup link) places "Voyage of Temptation" between "Landing at Point Rain" and "Lethal Trackdown," its events must take place in the same year.
- ↑ Star Wars: Uprising