Electromagnetic pulse / Legends An electromagnetic pulse ( EMP ) or magnetic bombard was a powerful burst of electromagnetic radiation . It was often used in weaponry designed to suppress technological systems . They were primarily used to disable droids and electronics ; however , a sufficiently powerful EMP could also kill organic life through electrocution . Electromagnetic pulse weaponry . Electromagnetic pulse weaponry delivered a powerful EMP which overloaded most electronic systems not specifically hardened against such an attack . The effect was somewhat similar to an ion cannon blast . Military magnapulse weapons were available in several different forms , which were first deployed by the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars , and were refined by the Galactic Empire some time before the Battle of Yavin . Though they were able to reduce an entire planet to a pre - technological state , even destroying enemy shields with one blast , these weapons were used only in relatively small numbers during the Galactic Civil War . Operational history . Clone Wars usage . EMP weaponry was favored by the Grand Army of the Republic because of the inherently technological nature of their enemy . The Droid Army was particularly vulnerable to weaponry which suppressed electronics . Portable EMP devices such as the EMP grenade and the EMP Launcher were used by clone troopers to deactivate the battle droids of the Confederacy of Independent Systems . Air - deployed magnetic pulse bombs known as " magpulse busters " were also used during the Clone Wars . They were only able to deactivate the enemy droids for brief periods , so they were usually used in concert with starfighters to destroy large groups of droids . Imperial developments . Merr - Sonn produced a weapon known as the DEMP gun for the Empire . These weapons were effective against droids , small vehicles , and powered armor . Sufficient exposure to DEMP pulses could harm living beings . This weapon was later refined into the DEMP 2 , which was seen in use around 13 ABY . In the form of a magnepulse weapon mounted on a starship of medium cruiser class or above , a magnetic pulse could delivered from orbit . This type of magnetic pulse device carried the risk of being reflected against the attacker , and this risk led to the development of magnapulse bombs . The magnepulse cluster bomb was approximately the size of a starfighter and could be dropped from orbit by any ship capable of launching TIE Series fighters . The early versions of the magnepulse cluster bomb were vulnerable to enemy fire , so they were redesigned to integrate shields and evasive flight computers . These devices continued to be used as late as 11 ABY , as part of the equipment included with the Modular Taskforce Cruiser ' s Inquisition Module . Planetary magnapulse cannons were surface - to - space weapons , used much like planetary ion cannon s . Later refinement . After the Battle of Hoth , magnetic pulse ordnance became available in the form of a projectile weapon similar to a proton torpedo . The mag pulse warhead was able to suppress the weapon systems of a capital ship for a short period . Around 7 ABY , Warlord Zsinj deployed empion mine s , which contained both an ion projector and an electromagnetic pulse device . The shadow droid s used during Operation Shadow Hand in 10 - 11 ABY carried a small EMP gun .