World Devastator World Devastators , also known as World Smashers , World Sweepers , Planet Smashers , or City Eaters , were gigantic superweapons , successors of the Imperial Leviathan , with strong tractor beams attached to them that could wreak havoc on planets . They were designed by Umak Leth and employed by the Galactic Empire under the reborn Emperor Palpatine . Characteristics . Although it is debatable if the World Devastators were deadlier than the Death Star , they were undoubtedly more efficient . The Death Star could merely destroy worlds , while the World Devastators could use a targeted world ' s material resources for the Empire ' s benefit . A Devastator ' s primary tactic was to land on the surface of a planet . There , its mighty tractor beam projectors would literally tear the planet beneath it apart , thus making them " planet killers . " Thus , the World Devastators functioned similar to the Star Forge , which also harvested materials from a nearby astronomical object . The deconstruction of the planet and its resources would then be used for both fuel for the Devastator and for its massive foundries which churned out starships , starfighters , and droids which would be sent into battle straight from the assembly line . The internal factories could create anything from a starfighter or speeder to a medium - sized cruiser , given enough resources . Each World Devastator was controlled by a central droid brain — the sentient crewmembers were aboard to oversee production and handle navigation or weapons systems . The droid brain was responsible for creating the new weapons of war , and was programmed with a massive store of ship types and parameters , able to create a wide variety of vessels for any combat situation . In addition , the factories could also focus on upgrading the World Devastator itself ; a portion of the raw materials created in the molecular furnace was set aside for advancements to the main body . With these unique customizations , no two " mature " World Devastators were truly alike . Given sufficient time and resources , the World Devastators could even manufacture more World Devastators . These machines ' shields were so strong that even concentrated turbolaser fire could not penetrate them , and most times any contact with another enemy ship would result in the consumption of that ship by the World Devastator . Three smaller Devastators carried their shield generators on their outer hull , which were vulnerable to starfighter attack . If two of their four " legs " were destroyed , the Devastator would fall to the surface without their power . History . The Devastator design went through development in The Maw Installation research center prior to the first Death Star ' s completion , along with other superweapons , like the Sun Crusher . However , they were developed in secret Imperial shipyards with a vague outline of the project discussed in the , with Crix Madine believing circa 4 ABY that they never made it out of the planning stages . The earliest operational World Devastators were deployed in the Borderland Regions around 10 ABY , where rumors escaped to the New Republic of terrible " city - smashers " destroying worlds . Shortly thereafter , fleets of World Devastators appeared around dozens of Republic - affiliated worlds . They saw heavy opposition in the Battle of Mon Calamari , where they were used against the ocean world of Dac , the temporary capital of the New Republic after the remnants of the Empire recaptured Coruscant . The ocean world of Mon Calamari had once been slated for destruction by the first Death Star . With the destruction of that battle station — and its successor — it seemed as if Mon Calamari was free of the Empire ' s grip . But when the reborn Palpatine launched his attack , Mon Calamari became the first target of his World Devastators . Led by the massive " Silencer - 7 " , the Devastator squad descended on Mon Calamari , smashing the floating cities and shipyards , feeding their factories in anticipation of a New Republic counterstrike . These foundries would produce various assault vehicles including TIE / D fighters and wavewalkers . Admiral Ackbar sent a New Republic fleet to deal with the devastating attack on his homeworld , including the captured " Imperial " - class Star Destroyer " Emancipator " and a squadron of X - wings . Yet nothing the New Republic threw at the Devastators could stop their inexorable march . The World Devastators launched automated droid TIE fighters against the Republic starfighters , and one Devastator headed into orbit to face " Emancipator " head - on . The Devastator devoured the Star Destroyer in its boiling furnace , forcing the crew to evacuate or become the metal monster ' s next meal . Luckily , the Rebels had another force in reserve , and sent V - wing and E - wing squadrons to the surface to engage the Devastators . Rogue Squadron attacked and disabled three smaller Devastators . The squadron ' s actions saved nearby Mon Calamari cities . During the battle , the assault weapons stopped dead in the water . While the Alliance believed the Imperial commander was too inept to even claim victory with the Devastators , this sudden turn of events was entirely to plan . Luke Skywalker had infiltrated the upper echelons of Imperial command by supposedly allying himself with Palpatine . From his position as Supreme Commander of the Imperial Forces , Skywalker was able to shut down the Devastators . Unfortunately , their internal factories continued churning out wavewalkers and TIE / D fighters , forcing the New Republic to implement a new plan while they fought the Imperial vehicles . Luke Skywalker smuggled a wealth of Imperial data into Rebel hands , via the astromech droid R2 - D2 . The little droid was able to decipher the data , and create a new code that would interfere with the Devastators ' droid brains . The virus worked wonders ; the Devastators turned on each other , leaving nothing but dead hulks in the water world ' s oceans . The New Republic captured at least one World Devastator , as one was among the fleet surrounding Da Soocha V , eating up derelict spacecraft . Any craft the Republic had was later scrapped after a public outcry . The destruction of the World Devastator fleet seemed to bother Emperor Palpatine very little , and unsurprisingly , for he soon unleashed a more terrifying weapon : the Galaxy Gun . Behind the scenes . Plans were originally made to include super - sized " Momma Devastators " in " Dark Empire " , but the idea never went beyond concept art . The World Devastators seen in the video game " " could be destroyed by precision attacks against them made by Rogue Squadron ' s V - wing airspeeders . As the " Dark Empire " incarnation of the Devastators were repeatedly said to be virtually indestructible , this throws the notion of destructible Devastators ( notably smaller in " Rogue Squadron " than in the comics ) into a realm of uncertain canonicity . It is unknown whether the element of V - wings being able to destroy World Devastators , central to that level of the game , falls under the category of non - canon game mechanics or actually indicates that some of the smaller Devastators deployed at Dac were vulnerable to starfighter or airspeeder attack . The strategy guide for the game implied that the latter idea was the correct one . In the online game " Death Star Designer " , one can add a World Devastator to their Death Star design .