If you’ve ever seen a clone trooper hauling around a monstrous, four-barreled cannon that looks like it belongs on a starship rather than strapped to someone’s back, you were probably looking at the Reciprocating Quad Blaster Cannon—or as some clone commandos like to call it, the Cip-Quad. This weapon isn’t just big—it’s smart, brutal, and specialized. Let’s break it down.
A Heavy Gun with a Smart Backbone
The Cip-Quad was an experimental infantry weapon developed during the Clone Wars by Merr-Sonn Munitions, Inc. Unlike typical clone rifles or blaster carbines, this cannon was built for extreme situations—where droids came in waves and armor plating didn’t yield to standard fire.
Here’s what makes it stand out technically:
- Power Source: It drew energy from a back-mounted power cell, strapped to the trooper’s armor.
- Mobility Assist: To manage its immense weight, it was mounted on a special harness equipped with microrepulsorlifts—essentially tiny lift generators—to ease the burden.
- Fire Modes: The four long barrels could fire in rotating pairs or individually, depending on the setting. A built-in coolant system helped regulate the intense recoil and heat.
This wasn’t the kind of weapon you handed to a rookie. The Cip-Quad required specialized clone armor with helmet-linked HUD systems and connections to the repulsorlift rig. It was built for ARC troopers—especially heavy gunners—who were trained to operate at the sharpest end of the spear.
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Hypori and the Clone Wars Microseries
The most memorable on-screen use of the Cip-Quad happened in the 2003 Clone Wars microseries created by Genndy Tartakovsky. In Chapter 21, a team of ARC Troopers deployed to the planet Hypori to rescue trapped Jedi from General Grievous. One ARC, carrying the Cip-Quad, held off waves of battle droids while his squad searched for survivors.
Despite the weapon’s sheer power, Grievous’s agility made him hard to hit. Still, the scene left a lasting impression. Watching the barrels light up and hearing the thunder of energy bolts set the tone for what kind of battlefield beast the Cip-Quad really was.
A Moment from Republic Commando: Triple Zero
The weapon isn’t just visual flair. It’s part of clone culture in the Expanded Universe. In Karen Traviss’s novel Republic Commando: Triple Zero, clone commando Mereel proudly carries one into battle. The moment stands out not just because of the gear—but because of the attitude:
“It’s all about a stealthy approach, you see,” he said. “Stealth, and a nice big Cip-Quad, of course.”
— Republic Commando: Triple Zero, p. 334
That quote captures the irony of clone humor and the reality of war: sometimes, stealth means walking softly and carrying a gun that could level half a wall. In that same passage, we also learn the weapon was almost the size of the Z-6 Rotary Blaster, another heavy-duty cannon used by clone infantry. Mereel powers it up, the microrepulsorlift engaging to take some weight off his hip, before advancing into combat.
Not a Starfighter Gun, But Close
While some fans on Reddit have noted the similarity to the Millennium Falcon’s quad laser turret, there’s no official evidence linking the Cip-Quad as a derivative or adaptation. Both share a four-barrel layout and a few visual cues, but the Cip-Quad was purpose-built for ground use by clones, not repurposed from starship mounts.
The weapon was about 80 centimeters long, which is massive for infantry standards. But thanks to its rig and balanced design, ARC troopers could wield it without losing mobility—at least not entirely.
Anti-Armor, Anti-Everything
The Cip-Quad wasn’t just a bigger gun—it had a job. Its role was clear: take down slow, armored targets. It was especially useful against:
- NR-N99 Tank Droids (Corporate Alliance)
- Trade Federation AATs
Against infantry? It was overkill—but effective. Against faster threats like Grievous, it struggled. This limited its use to strategic roles where overwhelming firepower was needed at the right time.
Fun Fact
While it never made a major appearance in the 2008 CGI The Clone Wars series, the Cip-Quad became a fan favorite through comics, books, and mods in Star Wars games like Empire at War. Fans even gave it affectionate nicknames like the “Clanker Spanker” and hoped to see it in Battlefront II as a reinforcement class weapon.