There are many incredible Star Wars characters that Star Wars: The Bad Batch has brought to life over the course of its three seasons, but some stand out more than others. As a spin-off of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch already had an incredible roster of characters lined up, including the titular Clone Force 99. Each member had previously been featured in the opening four-episode arc of The Clone Wars season 7, which showed how the ARC trooper Echo ended up being a part of the elite clone squad.
The Bad Batch was then given the chance to expand on this lore by introducing some incredible new characters to Clone Force 99’s journey. While many of the thrilling character appearances in The Bad Batch see familiar characters, such as Cad Bane and Asajj Ventress, return to the galaxy, the character highlights of The Bad Batch truly rest with those who were created specifically for the animated series. From the premiere to the finale and epilogue, here are the 10 best characters The Bad Batch has introduced to the Star Wars galaxy.
Though certainly an underrated character, Shep Hazard, the mayor of Pabu, is a key player in the story of Clone Force 99. Making his debut in the latter half of The Bad Batch season 2, Shep is a warm presence who welcomes Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, and Omega to his island with enthusiasm. He’s eager to provide the clones on the run with whatever they want and need, from food and shelter to advice on raising a child.
Shep’s daughter, Lyanna, is also a wonderful addition to The Bad Batch cast, as she becomes a close friend of Omega’s. The strength of Shep and Lyanna is tested in season 3, when the Empire arrives for Omega and begins to tear their island apart. The way Shep stands up to them and helps his people however he can through it all proves that he’s truly a remarkable person, as is the way he welcomes back Clone Force 99 at the end of it all and provides them with their forever home.
The mysterious clone assassin CX-2 is a key part of The Bad Batch season 3, in many ways representing who Crosshair could have become if he remained loyal to the Empire. The sharpshooting assassin is a haunting figure who nearly succeeds in killing both Crosshair and Wrecker on two different occasions, proving that he’s a formidable foe against the elite clone troopers. The Bad Batch series finale reveals that he’s a part of what’s almost an evil antithesis to Clone Force 99 themselves, taking up the role Crosshair likely would have had in that squad.
The mystery of CX-2’s identity is what made him stand out for many viewers during the course of season 3, as many theorized that he could be a resurrected “Winter Soldier” version of Tech – though this is disproved in the finale. Still, CX-2 is a brilliantly terrifying character, especially when he makes the move in the series finale to cut off Crosshair’s shooting hand. This has cemented CX-2’s legacy as one of the series’ best antagonists, only bested by a few others.
The story of Cid in The Bad Batch is a complicated one, with her season 1 journey being defined mostly by humor and her season 2 journey taking a dark turn. Cid is a complicated ally of Clone Force 99 who introduces them to the mercenary business, though she tends to only help them when there’s something in it for her as well. Though Omega encourages her brothers to see the best in her, she only gets progressively worse, until she’s willing to fully stab the clone squadron in the back.
Cid’s betrayal doesn’t stop there, as it’s mentioned indirectly in The Bad Batch season 3 that she handed off intel to CX-2 about the Batch upon request. This makes her both a friendly and a villainous figure in this series, a dynamic that highlights her as a very interesting character. Her early “friendship” with the Batch is also a delight in season 1, and without her, much of the story in that season could not have happened – though other characters have since gone on to stand out even more.
While playing an otherwise small role in the grand scheme of the series, Commander Mayday is not only an incredible character, but also an important one. As the commander of the outpost on Barton IV, Mayday is a leader who cares greatly about his men, and who is glaringly aware of the Empire’s mistreatment of their kind. The way he bonds with Crosshair on their dangerous mission is what sparks the change in the former member of Clone Force 99, with him saving Crosshair’s life on multiple occasions.
Crosshair attempts to return the favor, but the sinister Lieutenant Nolan refuses to do anything to help Mayday, causing the commander to give in to his lethal wounds. This is what drives Crosshair to kill Nolan and fully turn himself away from the Empire, opening his eyes to the blatant betrayal he’s experiencing as one of their soldiers. Without Mayday, this change in Crosshair wouldn’t have been possible, making him both one of the best characters of this series and one of the most important.
The pirate Phee Genoa is a wonderful addition to The Bad Batch early on in season 2, as she quickly becomes a more positive type of replacement for Cid herself. While quickly taking a liking specifically to Tech, Phee ultimately befriends all of Clone Force 99, even bringing them to the island of Pabu – which later becomes their forever home. When Omega’s taken to Mount Tantiss a second time in The Bad Batch season 3, Phee is quick to offer the squad her ship and her support in a vital mission to locate Omega.
What’s most tragic about Phee’s character is no doubt the loss of Tech, who died before the two could fully bloom in their relationship with one another. Their dynamic is nothing short of both sweet and comedic, with Tech’s practicality often causing him to overlook Phee’s affection. Still, he eventually catches on, but can’t do anything about it before his heroic sacrifice in The Bad Batch season 2’s ending. The result is Phee mentioning him and the conversations they used to have often throughout season 3, which makes her feel even more like a part of the Batch’s family.
Acting as the primary antagonist of the Bad Batch in season 1, Vice Admiral Rampart is the leading figure behind Project War-Mantle, first mentioned amongst other Imperial projects named in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. War-Mantle concerns the transition from clone troopers to conscripted stormtroopers, something it succeeds in doing by the end of The Bad Batch. Rampart is also responsible for the destruction of Kamino, which he orders while Clone Force 99 is still present in Tipoca City. It’s Rampart, then, who’s largely responsible for the fate of the clones.
Rampart makes an unexpected return in The Bad Batch season 3 against his will, creating an incredibly hilarious dynamic between him and Hunter, Wrecker, Crosshair, and Echo. He meets his fate in the most perfect way, with Nala Se’s thermal detonator taking him, her, and her research out for good – perfecting her act of revenge against him and the Empire as a whole. Rampart is easily one of the best antagonists of this series, though one other enemy and several other friends still beat him out.
The reveal of Emerie Karr as another female clone in The Bad Batch season 2 is nothing short of shocking, with audiences assuming that Omega is the only exception. Though starting out as an antagonist working on behalf of Dr. Royce Hemlock, Emerie has one of the best redemption arcs in the series. The faith Omega places in her from the beginning of their relationship pays off over the course of The Bad Batch season 3 as Emerie learns to come to terms with the work she’s doing.
The best example of this is in “Identity Crisis,” an episode that focuses on Emerie as she takes over Nala Se’s role in Project Necromancer. Witnessing the true horror of the Empire experimenting on imprisoned children urges her to go against the path and the life she’s always known, which results in her becoming an ally of Echo once he infiltrates Mount Tantiss. By the end, she agrees to go with Echo to Pantora, where she will help him and Rex with the other displaced clones – rounding out a beautiful character and redemption arc.
There’s no doubt that Dr. Hemlock is the most sinister villain of The Bad Batch, as he’s also proven himself to be one of Star Wars‘ most terrifying villains as a whole. As the doctor in charge of Project Necromancer, Hemlock stops at nothing to get what he needs to bring his visions and goals to life. Known for his history of conducting odd experiments, it’s no surprise that he insists on experimenting on clones and children, making him one of the most evil people to ever set foot in the Star Wars galaxy.
All of this culminates in The Bad Batch season 3, particularly its finale, when Hemlock captures and tortures Hunter, Wrecker, and Crosshair in an attempt to either condition them as CX assassins or kill them. His death is one of the most celebrated in the franchise due to what he’s done to countless clones and children, which is only made possible by the way Omega, Hunter, and Crosshair all work together. It’s this evil spirit and brilliant mind that make him one of the very best, as it truly makes him a terrifying threat to Clone Force 99.
Easily the most beloved clone to come out of The Bad Batch that isn’t one of its titular characters or the fan-favorite Captain Rex, Captain Howzer makes his debut as Cham Syndulla’s right-hand on Ryloth. He acts very much like a protector of the Syndulla family, especially the young Hera, and is begrudging towards the Empire even in its earliest days. By the end of his season 1 arc, Howzer is willing to be arrested by Crosshair and the Empire in favor of getting through to his men, a remarkable bravery that puts him at risk.
Howzer survives later on in The Bad Batch, and once Rex and Echo’s crew rescues him from a one-way trip to Mount Tantiss, he becomes a key player in Rex’s fledgling clone rebellion. This role Howzer plays has long since made him a fan-favorite clone of the series, from his unique character design to his unwillingness to submit to the Empire. Only one other character introduced in The Bad Batch has a legacy better than Howzer’s, who will no doubt go down as one of the franchise’s most beloved clones.