Over the course of the First Robotnik War, SWATbots were used as the primary military force of Dr. Ivo Robotnik's army. However, as the various Freedom Fighter groups began to form and oppose Robotnik's reign, the success of the SWATbots gradually decreased. By the time the Knothole Freedom Fighters were teenagers, the original SWATbot model had become obsolete. During this time Robotnik turned to creating other robot models, such as the Badniks, E.V.E. and later Combots. (StH: #1, #21, #34)