Summary
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there existed alotof robots. Droids are an integral part of theStar Warsmythos – whether they’re filling the role of diplomats, cannon fodder, or comic relief, these automatons frequently exhibit just as much character and personality as the humans they serve.
Many of these droids have become iconic in their own right; the casual observer could likely pick R2-D2, C-3PO, or BB-8 out of a crowd. But in the vastness of space, just how many types are there? The simple answer is ‘five’… but it goes a bit deeper than that. Let’s pick apart each of the main ‘classes,’ to help you find the droids you’re looking for.
There’ll bea few minor spoilers for assorted Star Wars media, from theatrical films to TV series, so take heed if you’re the type who somehowstilldoesn’t know the exact relationship between Luke and Vader!
Class 1
Class 1 droids were what you’d call ‘thinkers’.Working in scientific, mathematical, and medical fields, droids of this class weretypically afforded greater cognitive processing powerthan those assigned to menial labour.The 2-1B series, for instance, tended to patients and conducted surgeries, most notably on Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker after his fall to the Dark Side, transforming him into the feared Darth Vader.
JN-66 analysis droidswere used in the Jedi Temple as part of the grand archive of knowledge, curated by Madame Jocasta Nu – they assisted Obi-Wan Kenobi in his efforts to trace a poison dart to the planet of Kamino. On Kamino itself,AZI-3, a diminutive and more timid medical droid, would play a vital role in the exposure of the Order 66 conspiracy and the escape of the Bad Batch.
There were even Class 1 droids devoted to childbirth;‘midwife droids’ delivered Luke and Leia Skywalkeras their mother, Padmé Amidala, perished. Padmé, sadly, was beyond their help, having lost the will to live after seeing her husband become a violent dictator.
Class 2
Class 2 droids were built to have a bit more elbow grease, typically used for engineering and ship maintenance.By far the most iconic droid within this class wasthe GNK, or ‘Gonk’ droid,known for its slow, plodding gait and repetitive vocalizations.Effectively a walking battery, it and its cousin, the PLNK droid, could provide emergency power in the form of gas or solar energy for any vehicle that was running on empty.
Class 2 droids also saw heavy use inthe galaxy’s dangerous recreational activities, namely podracing. Famed racer Ody Mandrell hada renowned crew of DUM-series pit droids, which kept his pod in tip-top condition for many years – until one fell foul of the engine’s exhaust port during the Boonta Eve Classic, bringing an end to Mandrell’s career.
Even the Empire made use of Class 2 droids.WED-15 septoids, whose spindly arms and excellent flexibility made them perfect candidates for repairs, worked on the first Death Star and various Star Destroyers. Owen Lars, Luke Skywalker’s uncle, almost purchased a WED-15 for his moisture farm, before C-3PO and R2-D2 were chosen instead.
Some astromech droids also fell under the Class 2 designation, though not all– it was dependent on their usage. R2-D2, who started his service as a repair droid on Queen Amidala’s Naboo cruiser, counts as a Class 2 by technicality; thoughhis intelligence, battle prowess, and longevity vastly outweighed most of his peers,making this a fairly meaningless label.
BB-8, Poe Dameron’s personal droid,abided by similar logic in that he performed tasks far beyond the expected capabilities of most BB-series units.
Class 3
Class 3 droids were those designed to interact at length with humans – essentially robot diplomats.Not very handy technically, but programmed for etiquette and protocol, they could often be foundaccompanying senators and other important politicians,for the purposes of translation or interpreting.
C-3PO is the most readily recognizable Class 3 droid in the saga. Originally built by a young Anakin Skywalker, he would pass through a variety of owners and bear witness to some of the most important conflicts in galactic history, becoming a valued member of the Rebellion.Fluent in millions of languages, he developed a prissy, anal-retentive personality that drew much ire,but Threepio was nonetheless a dependable ally.
Other Class 3 droids includedTC-14, a protocol droid employed by the Trade Federation to receive ambassadors during their blockade of Naboo. The FA-5 series, or ‘valet droids’,were stationed in Coruscant docking bays and would park locals' speeders for them. Likewise,the BD-3000 and CZ-serieswere ‘secretary droids’, humanoid in appearance and filling an administrative role in major corporations.
Class 4
Class 4 covered any droids built explicitly for military purposes. ‘Battle droids’ was the generic term for Class 4, but not all members of this class actually participated in direct armed conflict. Exceedingly common wereB1 units, distinguished by their skeletal frame, conical heads, and cries of ‘roger, roger.‘These were deployed en masse during the Clone Wars, and continued to see action long into the reign of the Empire.
Other Class 4 droids includeddestroyer droids, or ‘droidekas’, whose ability to roll along at high speeds and activate a shield generator made them formidable opponents.‘Super battle droids’, or B2 units,were tougher variants of the B1 line, with bulky torsos and rapid-fire arm cannons.
T-series and L1-series tactical droids, meanwhile, were stationed far behind the front line, ordering troops and devising plans of attack. Off the battlefield,GU-series droidskept the peace in municipal areas, functioning as robotic police; whilethe KX-series Imperial enforcer droidsensured Emperor Palpatine’s will was exercised across the galaxy.
Class 5
The final group,Class 5, designated any droids with minimal (or zero) intelligence intended for repetitive manual labour. While Class 2 droids generally possessed a degree of sentience, to allow them to comprehend the complex inner workings of starships, Class 5 droids werelittle more than unthinking machines programmed to perform a singular action ad nauseam.
The’mouse droid’, or MSE-series, was a good example of Class 5. Tiny and easily startled, these miniature robots were often likened to rodents as they zoomed around Imperial ships, attending to basic physical damages and cleaning floors.IW-37 loaders, or ‘pincer droids’,were utilized by the Republic at the height of the Clone Wars to move cargo onto vessels.
PK units, or ‘cleanup droids’, were constructed by the Trade Federationto retrieve and tidy the remains of B1 and B2 units that had fallen in battle, to be either scrapped or repurposed in later fights. Polishing starfighters, incinerating garbage, stirring food –Class 5 droids very rarely found a calling that rose above the tedious, with the select few that developed sentience often becoming dissatisfied with their lot.
