Summary
Star Warswould be nothing without its starships, mostly because everyone would immediately suffocate in the vacuum of space without them. It would certainly end all those wars in a big hurry. But the ships themselves are also a big part of the beloved series' identity, and their designs express endless creativity that continually draws in fans to this day.
The thing is, everyone knows classics like The Millennium Falcon and the standard X-Wing Fighter. What about those lesser-known vehicles tearing just as spectacular paths across the night sky? Here are a few from both canon and legends that might not get the appreciation they deserve.
10Fury-Class Imperial Interceptor
It’s a given that you’ll eventually obtain a ship no matter whichclass story you’re playing in Star Wars: The Old Republicfrom BioWare. But the Interceptor you get while playing as a Sith Inquisitor or Sith Warrior is truly something to experience.
Acting as both a competent asset in battle and a base of operations for its captain, this starship looks the part in any situation with its imposing yet oddly satisfying design. This also applies to its spacious interior, sporting a comfortable yet properly sinister look for a place where lots of nefarious shenanigans are sure to be afoot.
9Gauntlet
Bo-Katan Kryze commands a considerable presence in animation and live-action thanks to the undeniable charisma of Katee Sackhoff in the role, so she deserves a similarly eye-catching ship.
Gauntlet starfighter, a Kom’rk-class fighter and transport taken from Mandalorian cult leader Pre Vizsla after his death, earns its place as a ship worthy of note. Its design is elegant and sleek, rotating its wings up on landings like a colorful bird flashing its plumage. It knows it’s pretty and willing to flaunt what it’s got.
8The Moldy Crow
With a name like that, you know you’ve got something special. The Moldy Crow is in that Millennium Falcon class of ships where a crusty exterior hides bottomless character and utility.
Owned by mercenariesKyle Katarn and Jan Ors, the Moldy Crow served as their vehicle of choice during a number of missions before ultimately crashing in the aftermath of a climactic encounter. Its look just screams classic sci-fi in a way that its successor, the Raven’s Claw, never quite replicated.
7Scimitar
Looking like a TIE Fighter that told a lie, Darth Maul’s personal ship, the Scimitar, might not have the staying power of something like a Star Destroyer. But it still manages to inspire fear in those who see it coming.
Its simple design actually works in its favor, as the TIE-inspired wings give it that menacing look, while the elongated nose is just one of those choices that always seems right on a ship. It didn’t work out too well for Maul, but hey, it’s not like the ship is what sliced him in half.
6U-Wing
This ship is just so darn cool-looking that it deserves far more screen time. At least more than the snow speeders. They had their chance, and they blew it. Step aside and make way for these bad boys.
The U-wing has been a Rebel Alliance mainstay for years, yet it’s always exciting to see them come out. The four-engine look works so well on its own, but where the ship really shines is its wings, which go between a compact folded position out front to a flared-out state, evoking an aerial predator going in for the kill. Pay attention next time you see one. You won’t be disappointed.
5Luthen Rael’s Fondor Haulcraft
You probably don’t recognize the name, and Luthen would prefer you keep it that way. This unassuming transport has only been seen on the show Andor. But much like the series in which it debuted, it still made one heck of an impression.
One notable episode sees Luthen take on a huge Cantwell-class Imperial cruiser with his tiny yet heavily modified ship, deploying countermeasures (and proving that spinning is indeed a good trick) that neutralize the Imperials before they realize what’s even happening. Even aside from its capabilities, it’s just really nice to look at, too.
4TIE Reaper
Back to the bad guys, here’s a ship just as fearsome as its name with a surprisingly similar design to Luthen’s Haulcraft. The TIE Reaper may look like a wing got sheared off a TIE Interceptor and just kept on trucking, but if you laugh, it’ll probably be your last.
Its primary purpose is to transport elite troops to and from the field of battle, which is already enough to make it a threat. But it also possesses considerable weaponry and shields, offering a level of power you can feel when you pilot one ofthese ships in Star Wars: Squadrons.
3Lady Luck
The difference betweenStar Wars Legends and canoncan be stark these days, but one thing that’s remained consistent is Lando Calrissian’s taste for the finer things. That includes his ship, the Lady Luck, which thankfully managed to survive into the new timeline as well (with a few tweaks).
It’s a beautiful ship, too. The Luxury 3000 space yacht of his embodies all of those words, even 3000, somehow. It basically looks like if Jabba the Hutt’s sail barge finally got a good night’s rest. Not to mention the always classic dual-engine design.
2Banshee
As probably one of the most unique and obscure ship designs in all of Star Wars, the Banshee is an example of just how interesting things can get in this series. Flown by former Sith apprentice Asajj Ventress during the Clone Wars, it incorporates some fascinating choices.
Obviously, the most notable bit is the solar sail, which absorbs radiation to power its various systems. This allows for more efficient energy usage than other ships, which have to rely on limited reactors and such. Plus, it’s just so fun to look at, all reminiscent of those Japanese paper fans you get at souvenir shops and quickly mangle from whacking your siblings. Presumably, the sail is slightly more durable.
1B-Wing
Speaking of unique designs, have you seen this wild little guy? The B-wing first appeared in Return of the Jedi and opened the door for countless fantastical ships to join the series as time went on. But it’s not just its look and lack of resemblance to the letter B that makes it noteworthy. Well, technically, it can be a lowercase “b” if you look at it upside down.
It’s one of the few ships, aside from Boba Fett’s Slave I, that features a gyroscopic interior, which basically keeps the pilot perfectly level while the ship moves around them. This allows for tighter maneuvers while minimizing strain. Combine that with its heavy weaponry compared to other Rebel fighters, plus the slim design for some tight squeezes with the S-foils closed, and baby, you’ve got a weird-looking but absolutely delicious stew going.
