Every Major Imperial Star Destroyer In Star Wars Explained

Summary Star Destroyers have long since been an iconic part of the Star Wars franchise, and there are a few that play major roles in the galaxy's stories.

From Darth Vader to Grand Moff Tarkin, many brilliant Star Wars villains had a Star Destroyer to call home.

Some Star Destroyers have different legacies, with their notable mark on the galaxy having been during defeat in battle.

Every Star Wars enthusiast knows the iconic shape of the Empire's main capital ship, the Imperial Star Destroyer. One of the most important ships in the history of the Star Wars galaxy, the Imperial-class Star Destroyer was the backbone of the Empire's colossal fleet, and was a terrifying sight for anyone who wasn't an Imperial. They're not just cool to look at, however; they are also incredibly important to tons of Star Wars stories.

First appearing in A New Hope, the Imperial Star Destroyer is the second vehicle ever seen in Star Wars – and immediately communicates who the Empire is. Large, imposing, powerful, and looming over the small, rag-tag Rebel Alliance. The Imperial Star Destroyer is important to Star Wars's iconography, and therefore appears all over the Star Wars timeline. Here are the most significant Imperial Star Destroyers in canon, explained.

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10 The Devastator

Darth Vader's Flagship

The most iconic Imperial Star Destroyer in all of Star Wars also happens to be the first one that's ever seen. The Devastator is Darth Vader's personal flagship, an Imperial I-class Star Destroyer, and thus plays a very significant role in the saga. First appearing in the original trilogy, the Devastator has since appeared in several modern Star Wars projects as well, and it's as intimidating as ever.

The Original Star Destroyer

Since appearing over Tatooine in A New Hope, the Devastator also appeared in a minor role in The Empire Strikes Back. In terms of modern projects, it appears surprisingly and terrifyingly at Scarif in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Most recently, the Devastator appeared in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, where it chased the aged Jedi Master in its full glory, with Vader at the helm.

9 Chimaera

Grand Admiral Thrawn's Star Destroyer

Debuting in the 1991 book Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn, the Chimaera is Grand Admiral Thrawn's personal Star Destroyer. Serving as the Chiss Grand Admiral's tactical headquarters, art gallery, and mobile operations base, the Chimaera is the only Star Destroyer to be intentionally customized. Thrawn earned the ship upon becoming commodore, and had the stylized image of a chimaera painted on its underside.

The Chimaera is the only Star Destroyer to be intentionally customized.

The Star Destroyer On Peridea

As Thrawn made his triumphant return in Ahsoka, so did the Chimaera on Peridea. Emerging from behind the shrine, this Imperial I-class Star Destroyer truly felt huge as it loomed overhead. The ship also appeared in Star Wars Rebels, where it was carried away from Lothal by the purrgil hyperspace whales, damaging it in the process. This is why the Chimaera had to be repaired with golden metal on Peridea, making it even more customized than before.

8 Sovereign

Tarkin's First Star Destroyer

Grand Moff Tarkin was one of the most powerful people in the entire Empire, and the Sovereign was his flagship for a large span of years during his tenure. While it was Tarkin's for a significant portion of its existence, it was also assigned to a few other Imperials. During the early Imperial Era, the Sovereign notably served at Fondor and Mon Cala, stamping out potential sparks of rebellion.

The Rebels Season 1 Finale

Most notably, the Sovereign appears in the Star Wars Rebels season 1 finale, and is where most of that episode takes place. Jedi Kanan Jarrus is imprisoned there after finally being captured by the Grand Inquisitor, and the rest of the Ghost crew have to come rescue him. Onboard the Imperial I-class Star Destroyer, Kanan and his apprentice, Ezra Bridger, duel the Grand Inquisitor, and he falls to his death as the vessel is damaged, exploding over Mustafar.

7 Executrix

Tarkin's Second Star Destroyer

After the Sovereign, Grand Moff Tarkin moved on to the Executrix. Also an Imperial I-class Star Destroyer, the Executrix has an incredibly cool name, but had a little bit of controversy around it when it first appeared in Rogue One's trailer. Some viewers complained that it was too white, when in reality, Star Destroyers have always been this white; it's just the specific lighting of the Executrix.

Witnessing The Death Star's Completion

Appearing in Rogue One and its related materials, the Executrix iconically emerges from the shadow of the Death Star's superlaser as it's being installed – with director Gareth Edwards using the Star Destroyer to depict the scale of the Death Star. From its bridge, Tarkin is able to watch the battle station's final construction. During the Death Star's completion, Director Krennic comes aboard the Executrix for Tarkin's iconic first scene in Rogue One.

6 Dauntless

The Jedha City Star Destroyer

One of the most stunning visuals, again in Rogue One, is the Imperial I-class Star Destroyer hanging over Jedha City. Under occupation, the religious pilgrimage-site city has a Star Destroyer parked directly overhead, which is where lots of the city's kyber crystals are being taken. The Star Destroyer looming over the ancient city is the Dauntless.

The Dauntless represents everything the Empire is: a gigantic, technical, oppressive monolith, floating directly above and always watching.

The Empire's Might Visually Represented

The Dauntless hanging in the air over Jedha City represents everything the Empire is so well: a gigantic, technical, oppressive monolith, floating directly above and always watching. That's why the saddest part is when the Dauntless leaves the city, and it's only so the Death Star can fire on it, destroying the incredibly significant cultural site. While much is not known about the Dauntless, its image will never be forgotten.

5 Avenger

The Asteroid Field Star Destroyer

One of the best Star Wars movies for Star Destroyers is The Empire Strikes Back. In that film, the Star Destroyers are mostly just in pursuit of the Millennium Falcon from Hoth to Bespin. During this time, the Falcon goes into an asteroid field in an incredibly famous sequence, where it is initially followed by a Star Destroyer, the Avenger. The Avenger is pretty much the main Star Destroyer in the movie.

The Empire Strikes Back's Main Enemy

While it chases the Millennium Falcon, the Avenger is also responsible for several other iconic things in The Empire Strikes Back. It is the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer that launches the probe droids in the opening scene of the movie, leading to the Battle of Hoth. The Avenger is also the Star Destroyer that the Falcon hides on the back of while it releases its garbage, leading to its sneaky escape.

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4 Relentless

Konstantine's Star Destroyer

One of the first Star Destroyers seen in Star Wars Rebels, the Relentless was an Imperial I-class vessel that was the flagship of Admiral Kassius Konstantine. This recurring villain in the series was an Imperial assigned to the planet Lothal during the events of the series, as rebel activity began there. The Relentless is the main Star Destroyer associated with the planet Lothal, and was used by many villains.

Lothal's Imperial Presence

The Relentless was used at several points in combating the Spectres, the Ghost crew of Lothal. It was requisitioned by the Grand Inquisitor during Empire Day to combat the Spectres, and would go on to be used by the Inquisitor more times. The Relentless would also be a part of the blockade of Lothal, and even later the Battle of Atollon, a huge engagement between the early Rebellion and the Empire.

3 Tyrant

The Battle Of Hoth Star Destroyer

Arriving early on at the Battle of Hoth, the Tyrant was an Imperial II-class Star Destroyer that was part of Darth Vader's 'Death Squadron'. Tyrant blockaded the planet to trap the Rebel Alliance on the surface, and is an iconic image from the movie. The vessel was commanded by Captain Lennox, who famously says "Good. Our first catch of the day."

Disabled By The Ion Cannon

During the Rebel Alliance's daring escape from Hoth, the gigantic ion cannon on the surface of the icy world shot blasts into the sky to disable the Star Destroyers. The Tyrant prepared to intercept the first group of Rebel ships, but it was struck by an ion blast. This disabled the Tyrant, and allowed it to be passed by the Rebels as they escaped the system. Later in The Empire Strikes Back, the Tyrant almost collided with the Avenger and another Star Destroyer called the Stalker.

2 Tarkin’s Will

Tarkin's Apprentice's Ship

In the comic issue Star Wars (2020) #1 by Charles Soule and Jesús Saiz, we were introduced to one of the most unique Star Destroyers in all of Star Wars. Formerly known as the Fortitude, the Tarkin's Will was captained by Imperial Commander Ellian Zahra – the apprentice of Grand Moff Tarkin. Zahra was not originally in command of Tarkin's Will, but took the vessel as her flagship after the Battle of Yavin.

Damaged By The Death Star

The Fortitude was present at the Battle of Yavin, witnessing the attack from a distance. The station was destroyed by the Rebels, however, launching flames and shrapnel in its direction, scarring the craft. This is why Zahra chose to rename the Fortitude "Tarkin's Will", to honor her superior who died in the same battle that the ship was damaged in. The ship was never repaired, and was eventually destroyed by a team led by Poe Dameron's father, after it had pursued the Rebel Alliance for months.

1 Inflictor

The Jakku Star Destroyer

The only real Imperial Star Destroyer shown outside the original trilogy era is seen crashed into the sands of Jakku. In the opening act of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rey speeds through a ship graveyard, where she passes the iconic image of a crashed Star Destroyer. This vessel, the Inflictor, was a Star Destroyer that participated in the historic Battle of Jakku before crashing to the surface in defeat.

Ciena Ree's Capital Ship

During the Battle of Jakku, the Inflictor was captained by Ciena Ree, an Imperial from the planet Jelucan. One of the two main characters from the incredible book Lost Stars by Claudia Gray, Ciena is a die-hard Imperial who lasts until the final battle of the Galactic Civil War. The Inflictor is shot down by New Republic forces, as Ree is dragged off of the ship by her lover in the Rebel Alliance, Thane Kyrell. The heart-pounding tale of this Star Wars Star Destroyer is chronicled in Lost Stars.

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