View source for Basilisk war droid/Legends

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{{Youmay|the ancient [[Mandalorian/Legends|Mandalorian]] war droid|the ''[[Bes'uliik]]''-class starfighter, created in [[40 ABY]]}}
{{Droid_series
|image=[[File:Basiliskwardroid.jpg]]
|name=Basilisk war droid
|creator=[[Basiliskan]]s<ref name="HotM">{{InsiderCite|80|The History of the Mandalorians}}</ref>
|manufacturer=*Basiliskans<ref name="HotM" />
*[[Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders/Legends|Mandalorians]]<ref name="TEGW">''[[The Essential Guide to Warfare]]''</ref>
|designer=
|homeworld=[[Basilisk]]<ref name="TEGW" />
|line=
|model=
|class=[[Fourth-degree droid]]<ref name="NEGTD">''[[The New Essential Guide to Droids]]''</ref>
|degree=
|cost=
|length=
|width=
|height=2.98<ref name="NEGTD" /> to 5 [[Imperial standard meter|meters]]<ref name="Revan">''[[The Old Republic: Revan]]''</ref>
|mass=
|gender=
|sensor=
|plating=
|armament=*[[Shockwave generator]] rods<ref name="NEGTD" />
*[[Laser cannon/Legends|Laser cannons]]<ref name="NEGTD" />
*[[Pulse-wave cannon]]s<ref name="NEGTD" />
*[[Missile/Legends|Shatter-missile]] [[Missile launcher/Legends|launchers]]<ref name="NEGTD" />
*[[Space mine]]s<ref name="KotORCG">''[[Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide]]''</ref>
|equipment=*Heavy [[Armor/Legends|armor]]<ref name="Revan" /> and claws<ref name="NEGTD" />
*Fore and aft [[Sensor/Legends|sensor]] clusters<ref name="EGTD">''[[The Essential Guide to Droids]]''</ref>
*High-boost [[Engine/Legends|engines]]<ref name="EGTD" />
*1 [[Standard day/Legends|day's]] worth of consumable [[Food rations|rations]]<ref name="KotORCG" />
|affiliation=[[Mandalorian/Legends|Mandalorians]]<ref name="HotM" />
|firstmade=
|retired=}}
{{Quote|The Basilisk war droid is the epitome of weapon technology. State of the art weaponry, armor, and maneuverability.|[[Zuka]]|<ref name="KotORII">''[[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords]]''</ref>}}
The '''Basilisk war droid''' was a powerful, [[Sentience/Legends|semi-sentient]] [[Battle droid/Legends|combat droid]], designed by the [[Basiliskan]] [[Species/Legends|race]] [[Homeworld/Legends|native]] to the [[Planet/Legends|planet]] [[Basilisk]], located in the [[Core Worlds/Legends|Core Worlds]]. Following the [[Mandalorian Crusaders]]' [[Battle of Basilisk|conquest]] of Basilisk in [[4017 BBY]], the [[Mandalorian/Legends|Mandalorian]] [[Soldier/Legends|warriors]] pillaged the powerful war droids for themselves. To the Mandalorians, the Basilisk droid was known as the '''''Bes'uliik'''''—the "[[Iron/Legends|iron]] beast" in the Mandalorian [[Language/Legends|language]] of [[Mando'a/Legends|''Mando'a'']]—and came to be valued as animal-like companions. Measuring several [[Imperial standard meter|meters]] in height, Basilisk droids resembled a cross between a [[Zaloriis/Legends|Zalorian]] [[Zalorian rock-lion|rock-lion]] and a [[Karran beetle]], though there were those that noted the similarity between the war droids and their [[Reptile/Legends|reptilian]] Basiliskan creators. Basilisk war droids were armed with an array of weapons in and on their [[Armor/Legends|armored]] frame, including [[Laser cannon/Legends|laser]] and [[pulse-wave cannon]]s, shockwave generator rods, and [[Missile/Legends|shatter-missile]] [[Missile launcher/Legends|launchers]]. The Mandalorians were known for riding Basilisk war droids down into the [[Atmosphere/Legends|atmosphere]] of a world from [[Realspace/Legends|space]] at tremendous speeds, using gravitational force and the element of surprise to overwhelm their foes. Over [[Time/Legends|time]], the warrior culture adapted the droids to suit different combat roles, and developed new iterations of the Basilisk that included enhanced features such as a closed [[Cockpit/Legends|cockpit]].

With the Basilisk war droids under their control, the Mandalorian Crusaders struck at worlds across [[The galaxy/Legends|the galaxy]], [[Battle of Kuar|conquering]] [[Kuar/Legends|Kuar]] and [[Battle of Foerost (Great Sith War)|assaulting]] the [[Shipyard/Legends|shipyards]] of [[Foerost/Legends|Foerost]]. Aligned with the [[Sith Lord/Legends|Sith Lords]] [[Ulic Qel-Droma/Legends|Ulic Qel-Droma]] and [[Exar Kun/Legends|Exar Kun]] during the [[Great Sith War/Legends|Great Sith War]], the Mandalorians rode their Basilisks into combat during an [[Battle of Coruscant (Great Sith War)|attack]] on the galactic [[Capital/Legends|capital]] of [[Coruscant/Legends|Coruscant]], and again during the [[Battle of Ossus (Great Sith War)|fighting]] at [[Ossus/Legends|Ossus]] against the [[Republic Military/Legends|forces]] of the [[Galactic Republic/Legends|Galactic Republic]]. At [[Onderon/Legends|Onderon]], the Mandalorian Basilisk riders flew in [[Battle of Onderon (Great Sith War)|opposition]] to the world's famed [[Beast Riders]]. Following the end of the Great [[Sith/Legends|Sith]] War, the Basilisk war droids went on to become a powerful component of the [[Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders/Legends|Mandalorian Neo-Crusader]] forces during the subsequent [[Mandalorian Wars]]: Basilisk droids participated in battles at [[Cathar (planet)|Cathar]], [[Vanquo]], [[Essien]], and [[Althir III]].

Following the Mandalorians' [[Battle of Malachor V|defeat]] at [[Malachor V]] in the final battle of the Mandalorian Wars, the warriors were commanded by the [[Jedi Knight/Legends|Jedi Knight]] [[Revan/Legends|Revan]] to destroy their Basilisk mounts as part of the terms of their surrender. However, not all complied with Revan's demands, and numerous Basilisk droids continued to survive with Mandalorians who refused to give up their beast-like companions, including members of [[Clan Jendri]] and [[Clan Ordo]]. Even still, the war droids' numbers dwindled over [[Time/Legends|time]], and by the rise of the [[New Republic/Legends|New Republic]], most Baslisk droids could only be found in the museums of the [[Galaxy/Legends|galaxy]]. The Basilisk droid remained a symbol of strength in the Mandalorian culture, and the design of later Basilisk droids could be found emulated in the [[StarViper-class attack platform/Legends|''StarViper''-class starship]] manufactured by [[MandalMotors/Legends|MandalMotors]]; the Mandalorian company also named it's ''[[Bes'uliik]]''-class [[Starfighter/Legends|starfighter]] after the ancient war droids.

==Description==
A [[Species/Legends|beast]]-like [[Droid/Legends|droid]], the Basilisk [[Battle droid/Legends|war droid]] visually resembled a mechanical cross between a [[Zalorian rock-lion]] and a [[Karran beetle]], standing on its six [[Limb/Legends|legs]]—two clawed, powerful front legs, and four smaller hind legs—at a height that varied from 2.98 [[Imperial standard meter|meters]]<ref name="NEGTD" /> upward to closer to five meters, depending upon the model.<ref name="Revan" /> The Basilisk's [[Droid brain/Legends|droid brain]] gave it a rudimentary, animal-like self-awareness<ref name="NEGTD" /> of a [[Sentience/Legends|semi-sentient]] degree,<ref name="Revan" /> and though they could operate independently, the war droids most often took the role of loyal mounts to direction-giving riders,<ref name="KotORCG" /> and had to be powered up or shut down externally in a process that took [[Standard second|seconds]].<ref name="Revan" /> Basilisk droids formed powerful empathetic relationships with their riders,<ref name="NEGTD" /> and were known to howl as if in pain when their rider was [[Death/Legends|killed]].<ref name="Revan" />

[[File:Basilisk.jpg|thumb|left|225px|A Basilisk war droid and its rider in battle]]
The bodies of Basilisk droids were heavily [[Armor/Legends|armored]]<ref name="Revan" /> and often [[Color/Legends|colored]] in shades of green,<ref name="NEGTD" /><ref name="TEA">''[[The Essential Atlas]]''</ref> though others were known to display hues of gray,<ref name="KotORCG" /> or [[Color/Legends|red]] with [[Gold/Legends|gold]].<ref name="TFU">[[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (video game)|''Star Wars: The Force Unleashed'' video game'']]</ref> [[Mandalorian/Legends|Mandalorian]] riders, who controlled the beast-like droids from protective armored saddles atop the Basilisks,<ref name="Revan" /> were known to garnish their mounts with an assortment of their personal weaponry strapped to the droid's body, including [[axe]]s, [[Sword/Legends|swords]], and [[Mandalorian flashpistol|flashpistols]]. The war droid's open combat models were, themselves, armed with a powerful array of artillery:<ref name="EGTD" /> [[pulse-wave cannon]]s and auto-firing [[Laser cannon/Legends|laser cannons]],<ref name="KotORCG" /> [[Missile/Legends|shatter-missile]] [[Missile launcher/Legends|launchers]],<ref name="NEGTD" /> and [[Concussion missile launcher/Legends|concussion missile launchers]] with a four-[[Concussion missile/Legends|missile]] payload<ref name="KotORCG" /> could all be found on or under the armored plates of Basilisks. At the droid's nose resided the Basilisk's primary weapon, a cluster of [[shockwave generator]] rods that together could form a burst of [[Plasma/Legends|plasma]] capable of ripping through the [[Hull/Legends|hulls]] of [[Starship/Legends|starships]]. Even the droid's heavy claws that adorned it's two front legs, used mostly as landing struts<ref name="NEGTD" /> or for walking on the ground,<ref name="Revan" /> could be used for brawling,<ref name="HotM" /> crushing obstacles, or tearing open the body of an opponent.<ref name="NEGTD" /> Basilisk droids often carried a pair of deployable [[space mine]]s,<ref name="KotORCG" /> and war droids of the combat type could tow volatile [[atomic compression bomb]]s between them, catapulting the [[nuclear bomb]] into an enemy ship or [[Space station/Legends|space station]].<ref name="NEGTD" /> Mandalorian tinkering eventually spawned countless customized variants of the Basilisk,<ref name="TEGW" /> such as the two-seated [[Bomber/Legends|bomber]], which accommodated both a [[Pilot/Legends|pilot]] and [[Gunner/Legends|gunner]], while the designated stealth configuration bore lighter armament and supplementary engines.<ref name="EGTD" /> Later models departed dramatically from the original droid's design, incorporating closed [[Cockpit/Legends|cockpits]] and larger [[S-foils/Legends|S-foils]], virtually eliminating the droid's animalistic appearance in favor of a form more similar to a starship.<ref name="KotORII" />

Basilisk droids could operate effectively on the ground,<ref name="Revan" /> in the [[Atmosphere/Legends|air]], or in the vacuum of [[Realspace/Legends|space]], and [[Sensor/Legends|sensor]] clusters located at the fore and aft of the war droid allowed the Basilisk to detect threats from all directions.<ref name="EGTD" /> On the ground, Basilisk droids were typically slow and lumbering,<ref name="Revan" /> but could move at faster speeds when required.<ref name="TFU" /> In aerial combat, the Basilisk's rear armored wing plates<ref name="EGTD" />—typically tucked against their bodies while at rest<ref name="Revan" />—would lift up to expose a set of high-boost [[Engine/Legends|engines]]<ref name="EGTD" /> that allowed the Basilisk droid to fly at speeds up to 550 [[Kilometer/Legends|kilometers]] per [[Standard hour/Legends|hour]].<ref name="KotORCG" /> However, while the war droid could reach great speeds, especially during bombing runs, it was slow to turn, weighted down by its heavy armor, and without the [[Stabilizer/Legends|stabilizer]] fins at the tip of the droid's tail section, a Basilisk in flight was hard to control.<ref name="Revan" />

==Role==
{{Quote|The doors opened in front of me and the air was sucked out of the drop bay, scattering crystals of frozen vapor across my path. I can't describe what it feels like to look directly down at a world, falling continuously as you circle it, with barely fifteen centimeters of armor plate protecting you. When the magnetic locks disengaged on my droid I plunged out of the drop bay towards the battle that waited below.|[[Canderous Ordo]], speaking to [[Revan/Legends|Revan]]|<ref name="KotOR">''[[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic]]''</ref>}}
[[File:Basilisk_KOTORCG.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A Basilisk war droid flying into combat with weapons firing]]
With a level of intelligence slightly above that of typical domesticated creatures, the animal-like Basilisk droids formed strong empathetic bonds with their Mandalorian owners. These bonds allowed the droids to react almost preternaturally to the commands of their riders, and act as extensions of their own bodies. They were loyal companions,<ref name="NEGTD" /> and were capable of serving as mechanical beasts of burden, carrying heavy equipment or towing large [[Hoversled/Legends|sleds]] laden with cargo.<ref name="Revan" />

In spite of their mechanical beast-like appearance and animal-level intelligence, a Basilisk acted more often as a [[Gunship/Legends|gunship]] than a droid. Capable of operating in the vacuum of space—their Mandalorian riders dressed in pressurized suits of vacuum-sealed [[Mandalorian armor/Legends|Mandalorian armor]]<ref name="NEGTD" />—Basilisk war droids were carried aboard Mandalorian [[Warship/Legends|warships]], held in place by [[Magnet/Legends|magnetic]] locks until being launched from [[Hangar/Legends|drop bays]],<ref name="KotOR" /> where they could participate in [[Fleet/Legends|fleet]] engagements alongside other Mandalorian craft, even using their claws to latch onto opposing vessels.<ref name="Flashpoint2">[[Knights of the Old Republic 8|''Knights of the Old Republic'' 8]]</ref> Pairs of war droids were able to coordinate the deployment of towed bombs against enemy starships or space stations. Basilisk droids could also enter a [[Planet/Legends|planet's]] atmosphere, and it was not uncommon for Mandalorian riders to direct their mounts in a surging dive directly from [[Orbit/Legends|orbit]] to the planet's surface, using the rapid rate of descent to confuse the [[Targeting computer/Legends|targeting computers]] of opposing ground [[Cannon/Legends|cannons]].<ref name="NEGTD" />

Within the atmosphere, Basilisk droids were used to conduct high-speed bombing runs, or provide strafing air support for ground [[Troop/Legends|troops]] while hovering. On the ground, the typically lumbering war droids<ref name="Revan" /> were capable of significant bursts of speedy movement,<ref name="TFU" /> and could use their heavy claws to batter or slice the body of a hostile.<ref name="NEGTD" />

==History==
===Creation and capture===
{{Quote|In 4017 BBY, Crusaders appeared in the Core Worlds, waging war against the inhabitants of Basilisk. Overrun, the Basiliskans seeded their own world with toxins to deny it to the Crusaders who abandoned it but took numerous Lagartoz War Dragons, Basilisk warships, and war droids for their own use.|[[Vilnau Teupt]]|<ref name="TEGW" />}}
The Basilisk war droids were first created by the [[Basiliskan]] race, a technologically minded [[Reptile/Legends|reptilian]] people from the [[Core Worlds/Legends|Core Worlds]] planet [[Basilisk]],<ref name="HotM" /> thousands of [[Standard year/Legends|years]] prior to the [[Declaration of a New Order|rise]] of the [[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]]. In [[4017 BBY]], the [[Mandalorian Crusaders]] under the [[Commander/Legends|command]] of [[Mandalore the Indomitable]] launched an [[Battle of Basilisk|assault]] on Basilisk. The Basiliskans were overwhelmed by the Mandalorian [[Taung/Legends|Taung]] [[Soldier/Legends|warriors]], but rather than allow the invaders to claim their world,<ref name="TEGW" /> the arrogant Basiliskans<ref name="HotM" /> [[Poison/Legends|poisoned]] their own planet in order to deny it to the Crusaders. Their actions succeeded in ensuring the Mandalorians abandoned the toxic world,<ref name="TEGW" /> but not before looting countless Basilisk war droids,<ref name="HotM" /> along with numerous Basiliskan warships and Lagartoz War Dragons.<ref name="TEGW" />

===Mandalorian war mounts===
{{Quote|Time was when ''Mando'ade'' rode war droids into deep space, no fancy hulls, raw vacuum ''that far'' from your ''shebs''. That's how we won an empire.|[[Ram Zerimar]]|<ref name="Revelation">''[[Legacy of the Force: Revelation]]''</ref>}}
[[File:Mandalorians_-_TEA.jpg|thumb|left|300px|[[Mandalore the Indomitable]] leads his warriors into battle astride Basilisk war droids]]
Among the most unique weapons in [[The galaxy/Legends|the galaxy]], the Basilisk war droid became a frequent sight among the forces of the Mandalorian Crusaders.<ref name="KotORCG" /> Though the Mandalorians were traditionally ambivalent toward the use of droids,<ref name="NEGTD" /> preferring the benefits of their own hard work,<ref name="ImpCom501st">''[[Imperial Commando: 501st]]''</ref> the Mandalorians came to view their acquired war mounts as close companions, forming strong empathetic bonds with their droids.<ref name="NEGTD" /> Known in the Mandalorian [[Language/Legends|language]] of [[Mando'a/Legends|''Mando'a'']] as ''bes'uliike'', or "[[Iron/Legends|iron]] beasts",<ref name="Mando'a">{{Cite_web|url=http://www.karentraviss.com/page20/page26/index.html|title=Mando'a|author=Karen Traviss|work=[http://www.karentraviss.com Karen Traviss]|archivedate=20110925083955}}</ref> only the warriors of the highest standing in a clan were given the honor of piloting a Basilisk droid.<ref name="Revan" /> The Mandalorians took to feeding their Basilisks a combination of [[Locap plant|locap]] plasma and unrefined [[Mandallian Narcolethe/Legends|Mandallian Narcolethe]], and when a Basilisk droid fell in battle, it was given the funeral rites of a warrior before being sent to rest in the [[Heart/Legends|heart]] of a [[Star/Legends|star]].<ref name="NEGTD" />

With the Basilisk war droids under their command, the Mandalorian Crusaders [[Battle of Kuar|conquered]] [[Kuar/Legends|Kuar]],<ref name="TEGW" /> and raided the borders of [[Krath/Legends|Krath]] space near the [[Empress Teta system/Legends|Empress Teta system]]. There, the Mandalorians came into conflict with the [[Dark Jedi/Legends|fallen Jedi]] [[Ulic Qel-Droma/Legends|Ulic Qel-Droma]]: Qel-Droma and Mandalore the Indomitable agreed to a challenge of [[Lightsaber combat/Legends|single combat]] to take place on Kuar. Amidst the [[Duel on Kuar|duel]], Mandalore the Indomitable mounted [[Mandalore the Indomitable's Basilisk war droid|his Basilisk war droid]] in combat against Qel-Droma, only to be defeated and forced on his honor to swear loyalty to the recently anointed [[Sith Lord/Legends|Sith Lord]]. In service to Qel-Droma and his [[Sith Master/Legends|Sith Master]], [[Exar Kun/Legends|Exar Kun]], the Mandalorians under Indomitable rode their Basilisk war droids into battle in an [[Battle of Foerost (Great Sith War)|attack]] on [[Foerost/Legends|Foerost]] that allowed them to claim the fleet of vessels being constructed at the planet's [[Shipyard/Legends|shipyards]].<ref name="TOTJ1">[[Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Sith War 1|''Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Sith War'' 1]]</ref> Shortly thereafter, the Mandalorian Crusaders' Basilisk riders were part of the Qel-Droma's [[Battle of Coruscant (Great Sith War)|assault]] on the [[Galaxy/Legends|galactic]] [[Capital/Legends|capital]] world of [[Coruscant/Legends|Coruscant]]. Though the Mandalorians were ordered to retreat following the false declaration of Qel-Droma's death,<ref name="TOTJ2">[[Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Sith War 2|''Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Sith War'' 2]]</ref> they [[Battle of Onderon (Great Sith War)|struck at]] [[Onderon/Legends|Onderon]] atop their Basilisk droids, intent to conquer the world for Qel-Droma when they learned he had indeed survived. During the fighting at Onderon, however, a [[Galactic Republic/Legends|Galactic Republic]] [[Frigate/Legends|frigate]] opened fire on Mandalore the Indomitable's war droid, leaving the [[Mandalore (title)|Mandalorian leader]] to crash on Onderon's [[Moon/Legends|moon]], [[Dxun/Legends|Dxun]], where he perished at the hands of the indigenous beasts.<ref name="TOTJ6">[[Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Sith War 6|''Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Sith War'' 6]]</ref> Upon finding the ceremonial [[Mandalore's Mask|Mask]] of Mandalore, Mandalore the Indomitable was replaced by a new warrior as the Mandalorian leader. Although the [[Great Sith War/Legends|Great Sith War]] ended soon after, the new [[Mandalore the Ultimate|Mandalore]] had his own plans for the Mandalorians and their Basilisk droids.<ref name="TEGW" />

[[File:Mandalore_The_Ultimate_by_Darren_Tan.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Mandalore the Ultimate]] rallies his [[Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders/Legends|Neo-Crusader]] troops from atop a Basilisk war droid]]
Mandalore the Ultimate set to challenge the Republic and conquer the known galaxy, inducting as many of its [[Galactic community|inhabitants]] as Mandalorians as possible with his [[Army/Legends|army]] of [[Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders/Legends|Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders]] in what became known as the [[Mandalorian Wars]].<ref name="KotORCG" /> Mandalorian warriors astride Basilisk droid mounts [[Battle of Althir (first)|assaulted]] [[Althir III|Althir]],<ref name="KotOR" /> and [[Battle of Cathar|devastated]] [[Cathar (planet)|Cathar]],<ref name="Masks">[[Knights of the Old Republic 42|''Knights of the Old Republic'' 42]]</ref> [[Speciecide|wiping out]] close to ninety percent of the [[Cathar/Legends|Cathar]] populace, before moving on to [[Battle of Flashpoint Station|conquer]] [[Flashpoint (planet)|Flashpoint]].<ref name="TEGW" /> At the [[Battle of Vanquo|battle]] at [[Vanquo]], Basilisk droids took part in the orbital fighting, with at least one droid latching onto a Republic [[Aurek-class tactical strikefighter|''Aurek''-class starfighter]] and tearing the [[Viewport/Legends|canopy]] from the vessel with its front claws.<ref name="Flashpoint2" /> By this point in [[Time/Legends|time]], the Mandalorians had established a number of Basilisk war droid variants, and a large number of the droids took part in the Mandalorian [[Taris Siege|Siege of Taris]],<ref name="TEGW" /> with several patrolling the skies of [[Taris/Legends|Taris]] during the Neo-Crusader occupation.<ref name="KoS">''[[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic: Knights of Suffering]]''</ref>

War droids fought alongside the Mandalorians again at [[First Battle of Onderon (Mandalorian Wars)|Onderon]] and Dxun,<ref name="KotORII" /> while several Basilisks and their riders fell victim to the [[rakghoul]] [[Battle of Jebble|outbreak]] on [[Jebble]].<ref name="Vector4">[[Knights of the Old Republic 28|''Knights of the Old Republic'' 28]]</ref> At [[Essien]], at least a dozen Basilisk droids were part of the Neo-Crusader forces intent on taking the planet. During the [[Battle of Essien|fighting]], the war droid flown by [[Koblus Sornell|Ko Sornell]] was shot down, though she and her son [[Gheedor Sornell|Gheedor]] were saved from Republic [[Blaster/Legends|fire]] by the pacifistic [[Jedi/Legends|Jedi]] [[Zayne Carrick]].<ref name="KotOR War2">[[Knights of the Old Republic: War 2|''Knights of the Old Republic: War'' 2]]</ref> A [[Squadron/Legends|squadron]] of Basilisk droids were carried aboard the [[Kandosii-type dreadnaught|''Kandosii''-type dreadnaught]] ''[[Parjai]]'', headed for the planet [[Dantooine/Legends|Dantooine]] when the [[Mandalorian Knights]] targeted the [[Jedi Enclave]] there.<ref name="KotOR War4">[[Knights of the Old Republic: War 4|''Knights of the Old Republic: War'' 4]]</ref> At [[Duro/Legends|Duro]], the Neo-Crusaders [[Battle of Duro (Mandalorian Wars)|struck]] with numerous Basilisk droids, raining them down on the orbiting [[City/Legends|cities]] in a manner similar to [[Asteroid/Legends|meteors]],<ref name="KotORII" /> and war droids [[Battle of Jaga's Cluster|fought]] under [[Cassus Fett]] at [[Jaga's Cluster]].<ref name="KotOR" />

[[File:BasiliskAssault.jpg|thumb|left|180px|A Basilisk in flight, firing upon [[Lightsaber/Legends|lightsaber]]-wielding foes on the ground]]
The Mandalorian Wars came to an end with the [[Battle of Malachor V]], wherein Mandalore the Ultimate was killed in single combat by the [[Jedi Knight/Legends|Jedi Knight]] [[Revan/Legends|Revan]], and the Mandalorians' fleet was devastated over [[Malachor V]] by the [[Superweapon/Legends|superweapon]] known as the [[Mass Shadow Generator/Legends|Mass Shadow Generator]].<ref name="TEGW" /> In victory, Revan commanded that the Mandalorians disarm, and even destroy their Basilisk droids.<ref name="NEGTD" /> However, not all obeyed the terms Revan set down, and kept their war droids in secret; the Mandalorians of [[Clan Ordo|Clans Ordo]] and [[Clan Jendri|Jendri]] were two such groups who refused to give up their loyal mounts. While searching for Mandalore's Mask, taken and hidden by Revan following his defeat of Mandalore the Ultimate, several clans including Jendri and Ordo traveled to the [[Outer Rim Territories/Legends|Outer Rim]] world of [[Rekkiad]], bringing their Basilisks with them. The Basilisk droids belonging to Clan Ordo assisted in transporting heavy cargo across the frozen, [[Water/Legends|ice]]-covered surface of Rekkiad, before being forced into a [[Skirmish on Rekkiad|skirmish]] with the Basilisk riders of Clan Jendri, when Ordo's members crossed into the territory Clan Jendri had established. However, Jendri possessed only four war droids in comparison to Ordo's six, and the battle turned in Clan Ordo's favor as the members of Clan Jendri retreated with their Basilisks. Clan Ordo succeeded in recovering Mandalore's Mask from Rekkiad, and [[Canderous Ordo]] went on to become Mandalore the Preserver.<ref name="Revan" />

As the new ''Mand'alor'', the traditional leader of the Mandalorian clans,<ref name="TMPaC">{{InsiderCite|86|The Mandalorians: People and Culture}}</ref> Canderous Ordo attempted to unite the Mandalorians that had scattered after the end of the Mandalorian Wars, assembling his clan and others<ref name="HotM" /> at the Mandalorians' old [[Mandalorian Outpost (Dxun)|outpost]] on the Onderon moon of Dxun. There, [[Mandalorians (Clan Ordo)|the Mandalorians]] who rallied to Ordo kept a modified Basilisk war droid, one with an enclosed cockpit and room to seat three [[Humanoid/Legends|Humanoid]] individuals. When the Jedi Exile [[Meetra Surik]] traveled to Dxun, she made use of Clan Ordo's Basilisk droid to reach the Onderon capital city of [[Iziz/Legends|Iziz]], swooping sharply from the moon down to the planet's surface to evade the fire of the city's laser cannon defenses. The city locals feared the Basilisk's arrival, the memory of seeing the droid in action during the recent Mandalorian Wars still fresh in many of their minds.<ref name="KotORII" />

[[File:TFUBasiliskWarDroid.jpg|thumb|right|225px|The Basilisk war droid owned by [[Chop'aa Notimo]]]]
By [[2 BBY/Legends|2 BBY]], [[Chop'aa Notimo]] had come into possession of a [[Chop'aa Notimo's Basilisk war droid|Basilisk war droid]]. That year, Notimo and his band of Mandalorian [[Mercenary/Legends|mercenaries]] took [[Corellian/Legends|Corellian]] [[Senator/Legends|senator]] [[Garm Bel Iblis/Legends|Garm Bel Iblis]] [[Prisoner/Legends|hostage]] on the planet [[Bespin/Legends|Bespin]]. At the request of Jedi Knight [[Rahm Kota]], the former Sith apprentice [[Galen Marek]] set out to rescue [[Corellia/Legends|Corellia's]] senator from Bespin's capital, [[Cloud City/Legends|Cloud City]], engaging Notimo's mercenaries before finally confronting the veteran Mandalorian soldier. Notimo called upon his Basilisk war droid to [[Rescue of Garm Bel Iblis|engage]] Marek, using the droid's heavy claws and laser cannon to keep the [[Force-sensitive/Legends|Force-wielder]] at bay. However, Marek was eventually able to violently [[Telekinesis/Legends|throw]] the war droid into a wall, before ripping its mechanical body apart using the Force. Without his droid mount, Notimo attempted to fight Marek on his own but was defeated and killed, and Bel Iblis was rescued.<ref name="TFU" />

During the [[Galactic Civil War/Legends|Galactic Civil War]], engineers were able to acquire schematics for manufacturing recreations of the ancient Basilisk war droids. The droids the engineers designed were largely similar to the animalistic incarnation of the Basilisk, though they incorporated a pair of hind legs in addition to the long-standing front set, and could only carry one rider. During the early portion of the war between the Galactic Empire and the [[Alliance to Restore the Republic/Legends|Alliance to Restore the Republic]], these war droids were available for purchase to a number of [[Spacer/Legends|spacers]].<ref name="Galaxies">{{SWG|An Empire Divided}}</ref>

By the time of the [[New Republic/Legends|New Republic]], Basilisk war droids had become a rare sight in the galaxy. Most had been destroyed, and those that survived were largely deactivated, able to only be found behind the [[Transparisteel/Legends|transparisteel]] display barriers of the galaxy's museums.<ref name="NEGTD" />

===Legacy===
{{Quote|It's called the ''Bes'uliik''. The Basilisk. I always had a soft spot for the ancient battle droids. Good old ''Mando'' name and old-fashioned ''Mando'' iron in a state-of-the-art package.|[[Jir Yomaget]], discussing the ''[[Bes'uliik]]''-class starfighter|<ref name="Sacrifice">''[[Legacy of the Force: Sacrifice]]''</ref>}}
Despite the decline of the Basilisk's presence in the galaxy,<ref name="NEGTD" /> the war droid remained a powerful symbol in the Mandalorian culture,<ref name="Sacrifice" /> and an icon of Mandalorian strength.<ref name="Revelation" /> When [[MandalMotors/Legends|MandalMotors]]—a prominent Mandalorian starship company<ref name="TCSWE">''[[The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia]]''</ref> headquartered in the capital city of the planet [[Mandalore/Legends|Mandalore]], [[Keldabe/Legends|Keldabe]]<ref name="Sacrifice" />—began designing the [[StarViper-class attack platform/Legends|''StarViper''-class attack platform]] around the time of the [[Battle of Yavin/Legends|Battle of Yavin]], many element of later Basilisk droid incarnations were evident in the new starfighter's conception.<ref name="FoC">''[[Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption]]''</ref>

[[Standard decade/Legends|Decades]] later, the engineers at MandalMotors created a new prototype starfighter known as the ''Kyr'galaar''. However, upon the discovery of a new lode of nearly indestructible Mandalorian [[Mandalorian iron|''beskar'']] iron on Mandalore, the company's [[Chief Executive Officer/Legends|CEO]], [[Jir Yomaget]], decided to incorporate the addition of ''beskar'' armor plating and rechristened the vessel as the ''[[Bes'uliik]]''-class starfighter. A long-time admirer of the ancient Basilisk war droids, Yomaget felt the name appropriate for the highly advanced starfighter.<ref name="Sacrifice" />

==Behind the scenes==
{{Quote|The Basilisk war droid ''version'' presented in K2 was an intentional departure from the ones presented in ''Tales of the Jedi'', and we are happy, because frankly, those look really stupid. This is much the same reason that many of the designs in K1 are a departure from the ship designs in ''TOJ'', and with good reason. So yes, the Basilisk droid version was an intentional departure from the older models, and we take full responsibility. It is noteworthy that LucasArts and Lucasfilm agreed with our decision on the first pass, much as they agreed with the decisions made with K1's look.|[[Chris Avellone]]|url=http://forums.obsidianent.com/index.php?showtopic=28328&st=30}}
Basilisk war droids first appeared in the ''[[Star Wars]]'' universe in the first issue of the [[Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi|''Tales of the Jedi'']] story arc [[Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi — The Sith War|''The Sith War'']], entitled [[Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Sith War 1|''Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Sith War'' 1]] and written by [[Kevin J. Anderson]].<ref name="TOTJ1" /> The war droids continued to appear in subsequent issues<ref name="TOTJ2" /> throughout the story arc,<ref name="TOTJ6" /> and were given informational entries in ''[[The Essential Guide to Droids]]''<ref name="EGTD" /> and it's [[The New Essential Guide to Droids|later update]].<ref name="NEGTD" />

[[File:BasiliskTSL.png|thumb|left|200px|[[Canderous Ordo]]'s divergent Basilisk war droid, similar in appearance to the [[StarViper-class attack platform/Legends|''StarViper'']], in [[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords|''Knights of the Old Republic II'']].]]
The first ''[[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic]]'' [[video game]] provides a detailed mention of the Basilisk war droids,<ref name="KotOR" /> before appearing in the sequel, ''[[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords]]''.<ref name="KotORII" /> However, there was a discrepancy between the Basilisk droid as described by the player's companion, Canderous Ordo in ''Knights of the Old Republic'', and the appearance of the droid in the sequel. Ordo indicates that the vehicle is a small, open-aired mount,<ref name="KotOR" /> whereas ''Knights of the Old Republic II'' portrays a closed fighter, copying the design of [[Prince/Legends|Prince]] [[Xizor/Legends|Xizor's]] ''[[Virago]]'' from [[Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (video game)|''Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire'']].<ref name="KotORII" /> This was a conscious decision by [[Chris Avellone]] and the second game's developers, who described the original animal-like appearance of the Basilisk droids as "really stupid", and attempted to replace the fantastical, "ancient" look of the comics with the more grounded look of the movies.<ref name="Obsidian Forum">{{Cite_web|url=http://forums.obsidianent.com/index.php?showtopic=28328&st=30|title=The List of Continuity Mistakes, don't hate me, just having some fun|date=2005-02-23|author=[[Chris Avellone|Avellone, Chris]]|work=[http://forums.obsidianent.com/index.php Invision Power Board]|archivedate=20070301232217}}</ref> However, both designs exist within the [[Star Wars Legends|''Star Wars'' Legends continuity]], with references having subsequently been made to the older version; this difference may have been implicitly [[retcon]]ned as a difference between varying models of the war droid type.<ref name="TEGW" />

[[File:BasiliskWarDroid_egtd.png|thumb|right|200px|Basilisk [[:Category:Technical drawing images|schematics]] from ''[[The Essential Guide to Droids]]'']]
[[Dustin Weaver]], the artist for ''[[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic: Flashpoint]]'' seems to have made an effort to reconcile the design variations, depicting Basilisks with both the body of the traditional mount-type droid and the wings and details of the ''Virago''-like design from ''Knights of the Old Republic II''.<ref name="Flashpoint2" /> Basilisk war droids made a number<ref name="Masks" /> of appearances<ref name="KoS" /> throughout the [[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (comic series)|''Knights of the Old Republic'']] [[Star Wars comic books|comic series]],<ref name="Vector4" /> and into the subsequent mini-series, ''[[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic: War]]''.<ref name="KotOR War2" /> Several Basilisk droids featured in [[Drew Karpyshyn]]'s ''[[Star Wars: The Old Republic]]'' tie-in novel, ''[[The Old Republic: Revan]]'',<ref name="Revan" /> and the [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation Portable]], and [[Wii]] versions of ''[[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed]]'' included a Basilisk war droid as part of a boss fight on Bespin.<ref name="TFU" /> Two of [[Karen Traviss]]' ''[[Star Wars: Legacy of the Force]]'' novels, ''[[Legacy of the Force: Sacrifice]]''<ref name="Sacrifice" /> and ''[[Legacy of the Force: Revelation]]'', mention the Basilisk war droid,<ref name="Revelation" /> and Basilisk replicas can be found in the massively-multiplayer online game, ''[[Star Wars Galaxies]]''.<ref name="Galaxies" />

Some ambiguity over the origins of the war droid's name have arisen since it first appeared. When introduced in the ''Tales of the Jedi'' comics, the Basilisk name was given with no explanation,<ref name="TOTJ1" /> and may have been a reference to the [[Wikipedia:basilisk|basilisk]] of real-world myth.{{Fact}} Later, with the release of ''[[The History of the Mandalorians]]'' reference article in the [[Star Wars Insider 86|eighty-sixth issue]] of ''[[Star Wars Insider]]'', [[Abel G. Peña]] linked the Basilisk droids with the Basiliskan race of the planet Basilisk, implying that the Basilisk name was a descriptor based upon its creators.<ref name="HotM" /> However, Karen Traviss, while developing the ''Mando'a'' language, created the Mandalorian word ''bes'uliik'' in reference to the war droids, a name which meant "iron beast".<ref name="Mando'a" /> There is, as yet, no canonical explanation of the apparent [[Wikipedia:homonym|homonymy]] of the name of the planet and the ''Mando'a'' term, though various solutions are possible.

Page 86 of [[The New Essential Guide to Droids]] states that the Mandalorians obtained the war droids from "the Basilikian homeworld."<ref name="NEGTD" />

==Appearances==
*[[Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Sith War 1|''Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Sith War'' 1]] {{1st}}
*[[Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Sith War 2|''Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Sith War'' 2]]
*[[Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Sith War 5|''Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Sith War'' 5]]
*[[Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Sith War 6|''Tales of the Jedi &ndash; The Sith War'' 6]]

==Sources==
{{Mediacat|imagecat=Images of Basilisk war droids}}
*{{InsiderCite|26|The Horse's Mouth|Straight from the Horse's Mouth: A Guide to the Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi Universe, Part 1}}
*{{InsiderCite|27|The Horse's Mouth|Straight from the Horse's Mouth: A Guide to the Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi Universe, Part 2}}
*{{InsiderCite|28|The Horse's Mouth|Straight from the Horse's Mouth: A Guide to the Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi Universe, Part 3}}
*''[[The Essential Guide to Droids]]''
*{{FFCite|45|MIL11-12, ''Military Droids''}}
*{{InsiderCite|80|The History of the Mandalorians}}
*''[[The New Essential Guide to Droids]]''
*[[Bounty Hunters (Star Wars Miniatures)|''Star Wars Miniatures: Bounty Hunters'']]
*''[[Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption Expansion: Prima Official Game Guide]]''
*''[[Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide]]''
*''[[The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia]]'' {{C|As "war-mount"}}
*{{SonyCite|url=players/news_archive.vm?id=68484&month=102009|text=Friday Feature - Getting Around In ''Star Wars'' Galaxies|archivedate=20111124005307}} <!--2009-10-16-->
*''[[The Essential Atlas]]'' {{Po}}
*''[[The Essential Guide to Warfare]]''
*{{SW|url=news/the-not-so-magnificent-seven|text=The Not-So Magnificent Seven|int=The Not-So Magnificent Seven}}
*{{SW|url=news/drawing-from-the-imagination-mythological-creatures-in-star-wars-part-1|int=Drawing from the Imagination: Mythological Creatures in Star Wars|text=Drawing from the Imagination: Mythological Creatures in ''Star Wars'', Part 1}}
*''[[Suns of Fortune]]''
*{{InsiderCite|153|Legendary Authors|Authors of the Expanded Universe: Tales of the Sith}}
*''[[Nexus of Power]]''
*{{TORweb|url=info/news/article/20200624-0|text=Cartel Market Newest Additions: Available Now!}}

==Notes and references==
{{Scroll_box|content={{Reflist}}}}

==External links==
*{{SWGWiki|Basilisk War Droid}}
*{{SWGWiki|Basilisk War Droid (Schematic)|Basilisk War Droid Schematic}}
*[http://drawkin.com/swg Star Wars Galaxies - General 3D artist & UI], by SWG 2D/3D Artist [http://drawkin.com/about Christine Chugon]

{{Mandalorian spaceship classes}}

{{Interlang
|de=Basilisk-Kriegsdroide
|es=Droide de guerra Basilisco
|nl=Basilisk War Droid
|pl=Droid bojowy typu Bazyliszek
|ru=Боевой дроид «Василиск»
|ruGA=1
}}

[[Category:Battle droid models]]
[[Category:Mandalorian culture]]
[[Category:Mandalorian vehicles]]