The B3 ultra battle droid was based on the B2 super battle droid model, though it was far larger and bulkier than the B2. The B3 had two large arms fitted with a flamethrower and a wide-spray plasma cannon. Two smaller arms, located underneath the primary limbs, featured deadly rapid-fire blasters, similar to the B2 battle droid. In addition, the ultra droid had a magazine of brilliant missiles located to the left of its large, neckless head. The B3 also had a density projector to increase its weight, keeping it from falling over in combat.
- "…but clearly, even your acrobatics weren't enough to stop that thing."
- ―Saesee Tiin to Mace Windu at the Battle of Iktotch
The B3 Ultra Battle Droid was by far the deadliest soldier manufactured by the Trade Federation. Thankfully for the army of the Galactic Republic, the droids suffered from technical problems and were never mass produced. Wat Tambor had held a challenge for two teams, Metalorn and Foundry. Foundry had developed a droid known as the Avatar-7. This was the droid who received General Grievous' blessing. It was dubbed the B3 and was issued to be a front line soldier. Baktoid Combat Automata never visualized having them sent in numberless hordes, as they were extremely expensive. B3 units were used by the Trade Federation for frontline assaults against well defended targets. They were often used in place of droidekas, being far cheaper than the destroyer droids.
An arsenal of many weapons gave this droid its bite. Two smaller arms wielded retractable rapid-fire blaster cannons in the forearm. The right arm was equipped with a tight spray flamethrower, while the left sported a wide-spray plasma cannon. Built into the left shoulder was a rocket launcher that was capable of delivering heavy damage. Another addition to the rockets was that they could track multiple targets at once. Its most outstanding device was its density projector, capable of increasing the droid's weight twenty-fold. This enabled it to lock itself in place and made it nearly impossible to topple over.
Jedi Masters Mace Windu and Saesee Tiin faced the Avatar-7 prototype at the Battle of Iktotch. Though their individual skills were not enough to overcome the behemoth, the Jedi worked together to defeat it, eventually destroying it by crushing it under the remains of a Hailfire droid. B3s were also used during the Outer Rim Sieges, where they served as sparse heavy units for each Separatist commander. However, huge price tags and malfunctions with density projectors prevented widespread use.
- "Heavy Metal Jedi"—Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures Volume 1 (First appearance)
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith video game (GBA/DS versions)
- The New Essential Guide to Droids
- Threats of the Galaxy
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Threat of the Conqueror (Card: Shien Deflection) (Picture only)
- The Essential Guide to Warfare