Technobeast Technobeasts were part machine , part organic Sithspawn mutant s . They were created by infecting living organisms with the nanogene spore , a technovirus developed through a combination of Sith alchemy and a Force technique called " mechu - deru " . The virus grew metallic tumors over the bodies of its victims , ultimately lobotomizing their brains and transforming them into weaponized cyborgs . Living subjects from a number of different species were infected by the virus , spawning mutated amalgamations of metal and flesh in a variety of shapes and sizes . In the last quarter of the New Sith Wars , a Dark Lord of the Sith known as Belia Darzu devised a dark side ritual called " mechu - deru vitae " , using it to build her own army of technobeasts — the Metanecrons . Housing the creatures inside a hidden stronghold on the planet Tython , Lord Darzu used her army of mutated cyborgs against the Galactic Republic and the Jedi during the two - decade Sictis Wars . The subsequent assassination of Darzu ended the creation of new Sithspawn hybrids , leading to their disuse after the conclusion of the New Sith Wars . Characteristics . Transformation . Technobeasts were characterized by an infection from the nanogene spore , a technovirus capable of transmuting living tissue into metallic parts . Consisting of microscopic nanogene droid s , the technovirus instinctively moved towards the brain of the victim , lobotomizing their frontal lobe and rendering them incapable of higher thought . By this point , the subject ' s transformation into a Sithspawn hybrid was irreversible . Before the lobotomy took place , however , it was possible to halt the transformation through the power of the Force , or by purging the nanogene droids with intense heat . While they were initially deemed intelligent beings , technobeasts with long - term exposure to the nanogene spore would undergo severe mental degradation , limiting their motor functions and reducing the creatures to clumsy , shambling automata . Once fully transformed , most remnants of living tissue on the creatures would have rotted away , leaving only small strands of skin and sinew surrounded by metallic scraps , rods and wires . The transformation also deteriorated the victim ' s vocal cords , rendering the technobeasts incapable of speech . Due to the innately experimental nature of the nanogene spore , the manner in which the subjects were transformed had varying results , making all technobeasts unique . Some of the creatures possessed zigzags of scarred tissue caused by the virus building upon its own metallic chunks . In other cases , victims ended up with multiple heads or crab - like pincers . Combat capabilities . Designed primarily for destruction , most humanoid technobeasts had their arms replaced with skewers or saws , while others were known to have jagged blades extending from their elbows . Larger technobeast variants — specifically those created from rancors and banthas — were forged into war machines . In particular , the mutated rancors brandished a very large claw that resembled a club , though they were also known to bite their foes when given the opportunity . Along with the transformed banthas , the rancors bore spiked armor plating to replace their hides , in addition to having blaster cannons fused to their shoulders . Infested with the nanogene spore , technobeasts were able to infect other living organisms with the virus , potentially transforming additional victims into the creatures themselves . The humanoid variants were capable of dispersing clouds of the technovirus from their mouths . In combat , the creatures became enraged while attacking their foes , relentlessly swarming against them in large numbers . Despite their aggressive nature , the technobeasts attacked in a slow , cumbersome manner . In addition , the creatures were vulnerable to heavy blasts of energy from the Force , as well as Sith lightning and lightsaber strikes . History . Origins . Thousands of years before the Great Sith War , a small number of Sith magicians discovered " mechu - deru " , a Force technique granting them the ability to manipulate mechanical structures . Using this technique , the Sith created part - machine , part - organic hybrids known as technobeasts . The power of " mechu - deru " was practised by only a few at this time , causing its secrets to fade into obscurity . Resurgence . In a later period called the New Sith Wars , a Dark Lord of the Sith by the name of Belia Darzu researched " mechu - deru " alongside Sith alchemy . With her knowledge of both , Lord Darzu derived a new technique known as " mechu - deru vitae " , using it to transform living beings into technobeasts by means of a nanogene virus . Bound to Darzu ' s will and imbued with the power of the dark side , the technobeasts were created and housed inside a secret fortress on the planet Tython . Within this stronghold , living beings from several different humanoid and non - humanoid races were transformed into technobeasts themselves , forming an army of the creatures known as the Metanecrons . In addition , Darzu constructed a holocron containing her knowledge of the techniques used to create the Sithspawn creatures . The technobeasts of Belia Darzu were used against the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order , becoming recognized as the signature horror of a two - decade conflict known as the Sictis Wars . In combat , the mutated hybrids were known to infect other living beings with the nanogene virus , assimilating Darzu ' s fallen enemies into her cyborg army . On one occasion , however , a Jedi Knight prevented the virus from fully transforming him into a Sithspawn mutant , preserving his identity and becoming known as the " technobeast Jedi " . By the end of the Sictis Wars in 1230 BBY , the production of new technobeasts came to a halt after Darzu was assassinated , sabotaging her army . Despite this , subsequent Sith Lords continued to utilize the creatures , though in smaller numbers than before . The use of technobeasts ended when the Sith were defeated at the Ruusan campaign in 1000 BBY . Legacy . Over two centuries after the fall of Lord Darzu , some of her technobeasts remained active inside her stronghold on Tython . Years of disuse had left them in a dilapidated , rusted state , causing some of their weapons to malfunction . In addition , the creatures became mentally and physically debilitated by the long - term effects of the nanogene spore . Drawn towards the dark side energy radiating from the holocron of Belia Darzu , the surviving technobeasts congregated around the device within the inner sanctum of the Tython fortress . In 990 BBY , a Sith Lord known as Darth Bane encountered the technobeasts on Tython while seeking the holocron of Belia Darzu . When Bane attempted to seize the device , the horde of mutated cyborgs immediately attacked him in waves . Despite their efforts to kill the Sith Lord , the creatures were unable to penetrate the defences of his orbalisk armor . At various points throughout the skirmish , the technobeasts infected Bane with the nanogene spore , spewing clouds of the virus in his vicinity . Nonetheless , the orbalisk parasites on Bane ' s armor were able to purge the virus from his body , preventing the transformation . Despite their persistent attacks , the technobeasts inside the fortress were ultimately destroyed at the hands of Bane . Centuries later , a number of Sith scroll s containing Belia Darzu ' s knowledge of " mechu - deru " were acquired by Roganda Ismaren , an agent of the Galactic Empire . In addition , the son of Roganda — the cyborg known as Irek Ismaren — possessed an accelerated mastery of " mechu - deru " by means of a brain transplant . Together , the pair had the potential to create and unleash a new horde of technobeasts upon the inhabitants of the galaxy . During the era of the Yuuzhan Vong War , the technobeasts and methods used to create them were discussed in " " , an essay written by Jedi Knight Tam Azur - Jamin . Behind the scenes . The technobeasts were first mentioned unnamed in " Tales of the Jedi Companion " , a roleplaying supplement published by West End Games in 1996 . The creatures received yet another unidentified reference in " The Lost Art " , an adventure seed featured in the 2001 article entitled " The Emperor ' s Pawns " . In 2005 , both of these references were retcon ned by Abel G . Peña , an author who named the creatures in a article called " " . " The New Essential Guide to Droids " provided more detailed information regarding the technobeasts in 2006 , along with the first actual images of the creatures by artist Ian Fullwood . The technobeasts made their debut appearance in " " , the second novel of Drew Karpyshyn ' s " Bane " trilogy . The Junk Golem figurine included in " The Force Unleashed " miniatures set was once called a " technobeast " . In the third part of , the alchemical creations of a character named Cronal were also dubbed " Trailian technobeast s " .