Superweapon / Legends A superweapon was a weapon with capacities far out of line with normal military technology , such as destroying entire planets or star systems , and often requiring great resources to create . History . Superweapons were created at various points in galactic history , such as the Mass Shadow Generator used during the Mandalorian Wars . World - devastating weapons often had an unknown origin , such as the ancient builders of Centerpoint Station , via its hyperspace tractor beam s , or came from an extra - galactic source , like the Yuuzhan Vong , although the latter ' s Vongforming technology more often fell into the category of bioweapon s . Yo ' gand ' s Core could fall under the category of superweapon or bioweapon , or both . Another famous example was the Star Forge , built in pre - Republic times by the ancient Rakata . Arguably the most powerful weapon ever built , the Star Forge constructed an infinite armada of warships , taking energy directly from the star of the Lehon system , Abo . This had many notable advantages , including that the Star Forge could remain hidden while still conquering the galaxy , unlike most superweapons of the Galactic Empire . One unique superweapon was the Shawken Device , with the potential to destroy the entire universe , but its method of functioning may have rendered it ultimately useless . Also , it is unknown if it was even operational . During the era of Ulic Qel - Droma , the Sith constructed a superweapon known as the Dark Reaper . The Dark Reaper drew power from the Force itself , and all of its weapons , both primary and defensive , were powered by the dark side of the force . The thought bomb was designed to kill all force sensitives in a certain area around it . It was used in the Seventh Battle of Ruusan against Lord Hoth and the Army of Light , both to turn the tide of the battle and so Darth Bane could reform the Sith under the Rule of Two . Rokur Gepta used a bioweapon , the electromagnetic torpedo , to wipe out all life on the planet Tund , and prevent life from ever returning . The Galactic Empire , via the Maw Installation and Bevel Lemelisk , built the Death Star prototype , the DS - 1 Orbital Battle Station , the Death Star II , possibly the Death Star III , the " Tarkin " , and the Sun Crusher , all before the Battle of Endor . When the reborn Emperor Palpatine surfaced , his loyalists at Byss built four more planet - destroying weapons : the Galaxy Gun , the World Devastator s , the " Eclipse " - class dreadnought , and the down - scaled " Sovereign " - class Super Star Destroyer . Superweapons were typically designed and manufactured by interstellar governments , as most minor factions could not afford the materials and technology required to build them . However , at certain points in galactic history , superweapons were commissioned by powerful crime lords . Sise Fromm commissioned the " Trigon One " , and Bevel Lemelisk designed the Darksaber for Durga the Hutt . It should be noted that large capital ships , such as the " Interdictor " - class cruisers , the Confederacy of Independent Systems ' " Providence " - class carrier / destroyers , and the Empire ' s " Imperial " - class Star Destroyers , were capable of rendering entire planets lifeless , but not completely annihilating them . Unlike the use of superweapons , this usually required a sustained bombardment , a Base Delta Zero , a combined assault from a fleet of ships , the sabotage of planetary shields , or some combination thereof . In later years , the Galactic Empire was criticized for its overuse of ultimately ineffective superweapons . Han Solo once discussed how the Empire might have reacted to the Yuuzhan Vong War :