A - series assassin droid The A - series assassin droid was a type of advanced battle droid deployed by the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars . It was one of the more advanced and elite models of combat automaton used by the Separatists , and it should not be confused with the more basic battle droid assassin . Characteristics . At 2 . 4 meters tall , A - series assassin droids were quite taller than Humans , and somewhat resembled B2 super battle droids in size and physique . They had an angular humanoid chassis , and lean faces , dominated by four red photoreceptors beneath a sharp , swept - back crest . Although their primary function was the assassination of specific targets , these droids typically fought in sizeable teams , overpowering their targets with firepower and combat skill rather than stealth . They seem to have been used sparingly , and on both their recorded front - line deployments , they were sent against groups of Jedi at the direct command of the most senior Separatist commanders . Weapons . Assassin droids could use a wide range of weapons . All apparently carried a blaster at the left shoulder , but this usually served as a backup to their other armaments . The most basic model apparently used a hand - held blaster , but some of the droids on Jabiim carried a fixed blaster under either wrist , while the group at Phindar used a variety of weapons , including a flechette , sonic detonator launchers , flamethrowers , hard - sound gun s , hand - held tractor beam projectors , and apparently , vibroblades . History . Though it was claimed that they were created under the aegis of the Trade Federation , their origin actually predates the organization . The A - series was created by Anx scientist Pollux Poi , who was hired by the Shell Hutts to create an assassin droid to attack the Gejalli kajidic . The Gejalli sent Dashade Shadow Killer s after Poi , who fled to Kashyyyk . For twenty years , the A - series served as Poi ' s bodyguards , stopping the Dashade from killing their creator . After Poi died of natural causes shortly after the conclusion of the Great Sith War , the remaining assassin droids found a piece of Rakata n technology which advanced them further . They went to the Gree Enclave , and were hired out as a group of assassins . When Count Dooku traveled to the Gree Enclave , he purchased the droids , knowing that they would be useful in the coming war . A group of assassin droids was dispatched to the Battle of Jabiim by Count Dooku , modified for operations on the rain - drenched planet , where they fought alongside the Nimbus commando s under the direct command of Alto Stratus . Later in the war , Asajj Ventress carried eighteen assassin droids aboard her personal starfighter , " Last Call " , which she deployed against Yoda and his team at Phindar Spaceport . A number of assassin droids were also attached to the Separatist field headquarters when it was located on Vjun , but it is not clear whether they were assigned permanently as guards , or if their deployment was a precaution adopted specifically because of Yoda ' s anticipated arrival . After the establishment of the New Republic , many A - series assassin droids were still serving the Nimbus commandos . Behind the scenes . In " " , it is said that Anakin Skywalker ' s report from Jabiim described the standard model of assassin droid as using a hand - held blaster plus the shoulder - mounted weapon , but no assassin droids with this particular armament are shown in the relevant issues of " " . The units seen in " " all appear to carry fixed blasters beneath their wrists , while the only group encountered directly by Anakin , near the end of the battle , appear to be completely unarmed : the mountings for their shoulder cannon are visible , but the weapons themselves are absent . It is thus not entirely certain whether Anakin ' s report of the basic assassin droid ' s weaponry is accurate . Also , the idea that assassin droids can switch into a fast - moving wheel - like mode reminiscent of the droideka is only found in the novel , where they are described as having come " spinning " down a corridor before they " unpacked " into combat stances ; no indication of such a capability is given in the comic , but the droids ' crested heads are somewhat reminiscent of those of the droidekas ' Colicoid creators , albeit mounted on a humanoid chassis .