L8 - L9 L8 - L9 was a prototype battle droid built by TaggeCo during the Clone Wars . The droid was created in the utmost secrecy , and was part of a ploy by Baron Orman Tagge to gain favor in the sight of Palpatine . To test the L8 - L9 , Orman Tagge arranged the droid to fight in the Rattatak arenas to show off its abilities . Unfortunately for L8 - L9 and Tagge , Dark Jedi Asajj Ventress bested the robot , therefore shutting down any further production of the combat droid L8 - L9 was based on . However , the legacy of the project lived on through the Z - X3 experimental droid trooper , also worked on by TaggeCo . Eventually , while both products failed , they led to the famed Dark trooper project . Description . The droid was equipped with advanced servomotors and equilibrium center s . These additions helped to give the droid increased agility and maneuverability when compared to most battle droids in use during the Clone Wars . Mounted inside the droid ' s arms were built - in plasma cannon s and flamethrowers , which proved effective against most combatants . The helmet of the combat droid was purposfully modeled after that of a clone trooper . TaggeCo felt that this " nod " to the prospective buyers would help persuade the Republic to throw their support to the project . An enhanced sensor globe sat in the upermost portion of the helmet . The " fingers " located at the tips of the blast nozzles were of little use in manipulating objects , but , when spinning rapidly as they had been designed to do , could cut through solid durasteel . History . Design . Orman Tagge began sketching out plans for L8 - L9 almost immediately after the blockade and invasion of Naboo , as an army for the Republic to use against the droid forces of the Trade Federation . When the Clone Wars broke out in 22 BBY , TaggeCo frantically moved the units from design to production , through a secret division . Tagge intended to replace infantry units in environments that were deemed unsafe , even for the Republic ' s expendable clone troopers . Eventually , he hoped that the droid units would phase out the need for the troopers . The product was considered to be top secret for several reasons , most notably the restrictions placed on battle droid development following the invasion of Naboo . TaggeCo also wanted to protect the design from competing companies . As production continued , the L8 - L9 became a pet project for Orman Tagge , who eventually set the combat droid as a foothold to gain favor in the sight of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine . Testing the new droid . Before making the creation of the L8 - L9 public , Tagge wanted to test it under the most extreme conditions available . Scouts from the House of Tagge reported that the back - water planet of Rattatak and its barbaric arena death matches would be excellent training grounds . Tagge ordered that L8 - L9 was to be tested there and entered into one of the arena battles . The young man was so confident in the combat droid ' s abilities that he bet 100 , 000 credits on his victory . Unfortunately for Tagge , the prototype L8 - L9 was doomed due to the Dark Jedi Asajj Ventress . During the battle between the gladiators , L8 - L9 identified Asajj as the greatest threat , and attacked her . The resulting spread of fire and plasma took out many other contenders , but was unable to defeat Ventress , who held L8 - L9 in a Force grip and destroyed him by smashing him against the ceiling . Legacy of L8 - L9 . The aftermath of the battle caused TaggeCo to halt production of any further combat droids based on L8 - L9 . However , Tagge continued to work on his idea of an automated trooper , and with the rise of the Galactic Empire and help from General Rom Mohc , TaggeCo began work on a new droid trooper project . This new unit would supplement stormtroopers in later battles . Eventually , both of these projects would be considered and improved on in the later dark trooper projects . Behind the scenes . L8 - L9 was first sighted in Chapter 6 of the " " , where the droid was Asajj Ventress ' s main opponent . L8 - L9 ' s original color scheme was a slate blue ; however , when entered into the Rattatakian arena , the paint color was changed to red .