The members ofClone Force 99inStar Wars: The Bad Batchare considered an elite squad for a reason, but the massive threat they pose as a unit varies on an individual basis. The Batch is undoubtedly one of the Grand Army of the Republic’s most threatening forces, both during and after the Clone Wars.
This is because their original four members - Hunter, Tech, Wrecker, and Crosshair - were all given mutations of enhanced traits desirable in soldiers. Echo joined their ranks inStar Wars: The Clone Warsseason 7 following the experimentation he faced at the hands of the Techno Union that turned him into a cyborg, and theyoung clone Omegasoon followed suit.
Together, they all pose an undeniable threat, butthat threat level varies slightly on an individual basis. Between what we’ve seen on-screen and new details provided in Lamar Giles’Star Wars: Sanctuary (A Bad Batch Novel)(spoilers ahead for those who haven’t yet read), we now have a better idea of who’s the “baddest” in this batch.
6Omega Is Capable, But She’s Still Learning
The biggest mistake you could ever make is underestimating Omega. Despite the fact she’s still quite young throughoutThe Bad Batch, she proves time and time again that she’s extremely capable on her own. She wields her energy bow with elite precision, althoughher brilliant mind and her big heart are easily her most effective weapons.
Omega is an amalgamation of all her brothers, much of which is credited to both her own observations and their individual training, but there are also some useful skills she’s learned entirely on her own.Sanctuaryhones in on her medical expertise specifically, with the young girl playing a critical role in the birth of a healthy baby.
Omega is more than capable of being a threat, but compared to the rest of the members of her family, she’s still learning. I’m more than certain thatOmega’s threat level could genuinely rival that of her brothers' as she gets older, but for now, she trails them as she continues to learn and grow.
5Echo Is The Most Dangerous ARC Trooper There Ever Was
It must not be forgotten that Echo is an ARC trooper, with training he received long before he nearly died at the Citadel and was made into a cyborg by the Techno Union. Those skills and that endurance still remain after Echo’s resurrection and transformation, andhe adapts them with his new enhancements to become a massively threatening soldier.
This was certainly proven inThe Bad Batchseason 3, when Echo managed to infiltrate Mount Tantiss completely on his own without ever being caught, until he brought himself to light.Fans have even deemed Echo the “Butcher of Tantiss"for the way in which he held his own against Doctor Royce Hemlock’s menacing CX troopers.
Echo is undoubtedly the best of the regular clone troopers, called Regs by the Bad Batch, even if the original four members of Clone Force 99 still have a small lead on him. Much of this comes fromEcho’s own heart and sense of honor, which makes him less likely to revert to the Bad Batch’s more brutal tactics.
4Crosshair Isn’t Someone You Want To Make An Enemy Of
Crosshair is a capable threat not only as a member of Clone Force 99, but also as an adversary to them, prior to his defection from the Empire inThe Bad Batchseason 2. He’s proven that he’s not someone you want to make an enemy of, asboth his enhanced abilities and his fierce loyalty give him immense strength.
Crosshair’s enhancements focus largely on his role as a sniper, allowing him to hit targets from great distances with little to no stress, buthe’s just as well-rounded as the rest of his brothers. He also makes for a fearsome commanding officer when given the chance, as seen throughout his time spent within the Empire’s ranks.
After turning on the Empire and being tortured for months within Tantiss' walls, however,Crosshair is forever changed. While he maintains the same drive to fight for what, or who, he believes in, he also fights a tremor in his hand that heavily affects his ability to shoot. Still, however, Crosshair remains a massive threat to any adversary.
The name “Wrecker” alone is enough to clue you in to just how threatening Wrecker is as a soldier. While he may be the softest of his brothers in all other respects,Wrecker’s massive size and muscle mass alone is enough to make him a threat to just about anyone who dares to pick a fight with him.
He is, however, so much more than his physical capabilities. He can lift, smash, and throw anything he wants anytime of the day, butWrecker’s military expertise on explosives, blaster rifles, and more gives him a leg up from just about any other trooper. He loves explosions to the point of being able to control their sizes.
Perhaps the only thing that makes Wrecker less threatening than the other half of his squad is the sensitive heart he bears within his broad chest.Wrecker loves to fight, but he’s also much more likely to withhold a punchthan some of his more short-tempered brothers. He also has an aversion to stealth, which certainly limits him sometimes.
2Tech Is So Much More Than Just A Brilliant Mind
It would be so easy to write Tech off as nothing more than the squad’s technical expertise, but similarly to Omega, that would be making a critical error in judgment. Tech is just as capable as the rest of his brothers in physical combat, andhis ability to blend those skills with his aptitude for strategy and technology is awe-inspiring.
Tech can assess a situation and its outcome in mere seconds with more expertise than any type of technical system could dream of, all while holding his own to keep both himself and the rest of his squad alive.Sanctuaryeven reveals thatTech crafted and mastered his own fighting style, developed from “fourteen different styles of unarmed combat.”
Much like the rest of his squad,Tech’s drive to be such a threat as a soldier comes from his desire to keep the rest of his family safe, so much so that he makes the ultimate sacrifice inThe Bad Batchseason 2 finaleto save the rest of them. This makes him only second to one other.
1Hunter Is Their Designated Leader For A Reason
Hunter is undoubtedly the most dangerous member of the Bad Batch for several reasons, though the largest rests with the nature of his enhanced skills. Named for his tracking abilities,Hunter and his enhanced senses can identify threats before they have even made themselves known, making it virtually impossible to hide from him.
This is in addition to Hunter’s threatening combat skills. He’s shown proficiency with a wide range of weapons, although he favors his knife,making him perhaps one of the only people who could successfully bring a knife to a gun, or blaster, fight. Beyond this, however, is his willingness to revert to brutal tactics.
Though somewhat subdued for the family-audience nature ofThe Bad Batch,Sanctuaryreveals Hunter’s brutality in full effect, including an interrogation scene where he uses his vibroblade to cut up an adversary’s neck with what’s described as “a surgeon’s finesse.” It’s not hard to imagine he’s used even more brutal tactics without Omega there to watch.
What truly makes Hunter such a threat inThe Bad Batch, however, comes solely from an insatiable desire to keep his family safe at all costs. As Tech puts it inSanctuary, “If Hunter considered you an enemy, beware. If he considered you a friend, there was no better ally in the galaxy.”
Purchase Star Wars: Sanctuary (A Bad Batch Novel) by Lamar Giles here
