The B2 super battle droid (SBD) was an upgraded version of the B1 battle droid, with superior armament and armor. I call them occasionally Phase II SBD, since I have introduced the Phase I prototype, beta version, so this one as the second available SBD trooper form in the game Galactic Battlegrounds, they are the next step, the second phase. They were manufactured after the Invasion of Naboo proved need for stronger droids. The stronger and more dangerous B2s were used by the Trade Federation, the Techno Union, and later, on a much larger scale, the Confederacy of Independent Systems.

One of the main design flaws of the standard B1 battle droid was its reliance on a Droid Control Ship to provide a signal; if the ships were disabled, the battledroids would become useless. To remedy this, the super battle droid did not rely on such a signal and had a greater capacity for independence. However, the droid still operated best with a command signal, otherwise they tended to forget about enemies as soon as they moved out of visual range. But anyway, this is the first change, the first advantage.

Additionally, the sturdy duranium frame of the super battle droid was larger and more heavily armored than those of a B1. This is their second advantage: their thicker and stronger armor. Unlike its predecessor, the B2's delicate processing unit and signal receptor were buried deep inside the torso, offering much more protection from enemy fire. They were fearful, even Count Dooku had some as personal bodyguards as it was seen in the Geonosis VIP box. There were no magnaguards at this time, so having an SBD guard meant a perfect top category protection.

The third advantage is the better firepower. Small dual laser cannons were mounted on their right forearms, along with a triShot weapon system. The B2's forearms could also be replaced by rocket launchers, that would be the heavy SBD, but I study them next time. They could use external weaponry (except in rocket launcher configuration), though their large hands had difficulty with smaller blasters. When they were not using their built-in laser cannons, for example they were marching, or they have already won, they had their right forearm locked upright, as a kind of stand-by stance. As heavy infantry droids, B2s could take much more punishment than their flimsy predecessors. Even after being defeated, they could keep up an attack although this was detrimental to their combat skill. Despite such traits, some models seemingly suffered low heat tolerance and were subject to bursting into flame upon contact. Most post-Battle of Geonosis B2 droids were capable of communicating with each other using an oversimplified version of Galactic Basic Standard.

Though the first super battle droids seen on Geonosis wore an unpainted dull silver tone, many of the droids used in later battles of the Clone Wars were painted dark blue, likely to differentiate them from the tan coloration the Confederacy used for its standard battle droids, or perhaps due to varying manufacturers. In the game Galactic Battleground they have again those silver-grey color, but thier designations, team colors may vary of course, but those color would cover just a very small area of their body in certain spots. The SBD possessed a more violent temperament than the B1 model, to the point they would even strike down allied units in order to quickly intercept enemy targets, as seen in the Battle of Geonosis. As well as that, they were also considerably more durable and intelligent, capable of easily withstanding light blaster bolts.

Further orders were placed on worlds controlled by Baktoid and quadrillions of B2s were soon running off the assembly lines. Despite their advantages and ease of production, however, they were not manufactured as extensively as their inferior cousins, the B1s. The normal, basic battle droids were much much more, first because their production has been started earlier than SBS's, second they were cheaper. Despite almost all B1 droid class had an SBD variant, the backbone of the CIS droid army remained the B1 battle droid. And SBD variants had even more classes, for example two jetpack-equipped variants of the droid, the jump droid, and the rocket droid, where also developed. Other variants included super battle droids armed with various weapons, such as the Mortar Super Battle Droid, the Anti-Air Super Battle Droid, and the Repeater super battle droid. A more heavily armed and armored version was the Heavy super battle droid, and orray troopers were B2 droids armed with flamethrowers which rode orrays. These variants were produced at Geonosian troop centers. These are known as playable SBD classes in the game Galactic Battlegrounds. But during the Clone Wars, SBSs became an important component of the Separatist Droid Army. They participated in most battles. Following the execution of the Separatist Council by Darth Sidious's new apprentice, Darth Vader, the B2s were deactivated.

In the game Galactic Battlegrounds we can build superbattle droids if we control the CIS and if we have Troop center(s). A Phase 2 SBD obviously the trooper of the second tech level, if we advance to level III, Phase 2 SBD can be upgraded to Phase 3. The name of the SBD is Trooper. To build one you have to pay 25 food and 35 carbon. This is not a big sum, however the gamer probably has now more resources in Tech level 2, but that is never enough, because of those constant upgrades, but some money will remain for the SBDs, so this price is a fair one. A Phase 2 SBD has 35 HP, which means that is the droid's "life". Its line of sight is 3 , its damage is 8.

If we have built some SBDs, we can start upgrading them. This won't make them Phase 2 droids, simply these works can upgrade some of the abilities of the Phase 1 SBD. For example its armor. We need a War center, where we can improve 2 of their basic attributes. The first icon from the left is light armor. It costs 200 food and 100 nova, a single price that improves all SBD's armor with +1/+1. Here we go, their armor is thicker and not only with +1, but because of the previous upgrade on the Beta version, not they have +2. They can hardly move advancing quite slowly under the weight of their armor. Not so slow that the prototype walked, but their movement is not too much faster. Fortunately you can accelerate them in the second level, they can be fastened a bit. Just click on the lighter armor icon. However that is a lighter armor plate, the droid won't be more vulnerable, because this newer plate guarantees the same protection with less weight, that will give the droid extra speed. So they can move 5% faster, and only 100 food is needed for this upgrade. And that's not all! Select the portable scanners icon! This is like a sniper rifle, or a field binoculars, helps the droids to aim better, see further, and notice the enemy sooner. It costs 225 food, and all troop center units gain +2 line of sight and +2 range, which means they notice the enemy from 2 clicks further, and they do not only see them, but they will be able to fire at them from 2 squares larger distance.   But the forth icon can be useful in this second level: that is the cooling sleeves, which helps the droids and the mechs by cooling them while they fire at the enemy targets.  With that their shots are more accurate, and powerful. With this, your SBD gains +1 damage after all successful hits. This upgrade also costs 250 food and 100 nova, but makes all troop center units (except AA droids) more powerful by giving them +1 attack, and for the mechs.

Well, that is seems to be all. The Phase 2 SBD can show us that much. They are quicker, stronger, and see further. Their damage is 8+2 at this moment, line of sight is 3+2, the shield is 0+2/1+2. This is a great condition, and a perfect base for later upgrades. After these, the droid can be the best infantry unit of the whole game. But in this level, it is kind of cool. The enemy troops almost the same at this points, but as the time goes if we focus only the troop center units, the difference will be bigger, and the CIS will dominate. The next step will be the grenade Super Battle Droid, which can maybe called Phase 3, because you can build that in the Tech level 3. It will cost 175 food, 300 nova. You have to click that icon which I have pointed with the mouse, and you can start building Heavy Super Battle Droids, but I will introduce them in the next article.

written by: Norbert Rostas 2014.03.27., the figure was made years before it