Star Wars: The Five Best Rebel Starfighters

Let’s take a look at the best fighters flown by the Rebel Alliance.

Starfighters, or snubfighters, are a huge part of Star Wars. Many of their models are iconic parts of Star Wars lore, and a huge part of the movies, shows, comics, books, and games revolve around fighters and fighter combat. We’ve taken a look at the best TIE fighters, the backbone of the Imperial fighter corps, and some of the most iconic bad-guy ships in sci-fi history.  We’ve also looked at the best fighters from the New Republic. Today let’s take a look at the best of the ships flown by their opponents, the brave freedom fighters (or vile terrorists) of the Rebel Alliance.

5. A/SF-01 B-wing Starfighter

A few weeks ago the B-wing made it onto my list of weirdest ships. Because of that, some people got the impression that I don’t like the ship. The truth however is that I adore the B-wing. Yes, it’s super weird, but that’s part of what makes it great. It’s a ship that stands out and blows stuff up. This heavily-armed bomber has made its mark on Star Wars history as a deadly but temperamental ship It’s got a massive weapon loadout with auto blasters, ion cannons, blaster cannons, and bombs and torpedoes. I just love a heavy ship that can take a pounding and still cripple a capital ship.

4.  Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 Starfighter

The ARC-170 is best known for its use by the Republic during the Clone Wars. This venerable fighter got a second lease on life as a fighter used by the Rebel Alliance. During the Galactic Civil War, a number of famous Rebel pilots flew ARC-170s, including Shara Bey, Poe Dameron’s mother. The fighter/bomber is a heavily armed and armored ship, with a pair of forward-facing medium laser cannons, two lighter aft facings cannons, and proton torpedo launchers.

It’s one of the more heavily armored fighters of the Clone Wars, though by the time of the Rebellion this was no longer true. What I really love about the ARC is the look of it. It manages to be a very “Star Wars” fighter, with elements of the X-wing obvious, while still being unique and evoking the cleaner lines of the Republic Era. It’s also one of those rare multi-crew fighters, invoking WWII two-person fighter/bombers, complete with a rear gunner.

3.  UT-60D U-wing Starfighter/Support Craft

The U-wing straddles the line between a starfighter and a light transport. As a combat craft, it’s not all that deadly, with only a pair of laser cannons. It’s not the fastest or most maneuverable ship either, though it is though, and like most Rebel fighters it has shields, life support, and a hyperdrive. Its main draw is the transport bay, which allows it to carry up to 8 passengers or a good amount of supplies.

Due to this, the ship was well suited for rapid insertion missions and could be equipped with door gunners to act as a fire support gunboat. This ship is the Rebel’s version of a helicopter. Because of that, the uses for this ship are just super cool. It makes an amazing ship for any team to use as a transport/base and is great for use in RPGs as the player’s home ship. It also just looks super cool, with a combination of bulkiness and grace when its s-foils are extended.

2. RZ-1 A-Wing Interceptor

The A-wing screams SPEED with every line.  This is a ship whose design perfectly matches its use. You take one look at it and you know it’s fast, deadly, and meant to hunt other fighters. The A-wing acts as the primary interceptor of Rebels, in essence, the direct counterpart to the Imperial TIE Interceptor. With a pair of laser cannons and two concussion missile launchers, it’s not the heaviest armed ship around, but still packs a punch and can even threaten capital ships. It’s fast, killy, and beautiful–what more could you want?

1. T-65B X-Wing Starfighter

The X-wing is the ship of dreams and arguably the most iconic spaceship in sci-fi history. This isn’t just another starfighter, it’s THE starfighter. It’s a perfect blend of speed, toughness, and firepower. With four laser cannons and a pair of proton torpedo launchers, the X-wing can take on any target, from other fighters to Imperial Star Destroyers. It’s got cool lines, and just enough asymmetry to look great. The ship also comes with sweet folding wing action and a slot for a loyal astromech companion. While there have been many variations of the X-wing, none beat the classic, original, T-65B, it’s the vehicle of many a young fan’s daydreams and will also hold the #1 spot in my jaded heart.

 

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Let us know what your favorite Rebel fighter is (and how mad you are that the Y-wing wasn’t on this list) down in the comments! 

Author: Abe Apfel

Abe is that rare thing, an Austin local born and raised here. Though he keeps on moving around, DC, Japan, ETC., he always seems to find his way back eventually. Abe has decades of experience with a wide range of tabletop and RPG games, from historicals, to Star Wars to D&D and 40K. He has been contributing to BOLS since almost the start, back when he worked at and then owned a local gaming store. He used to be big into the competitive Warhammer tournament scene but age has mellowed him and he now appreciates a good casual match. He currently covers 40K tactics and lore, as well as all things Star Wars, with occasional dabbling in other topics. Abe remains in mourning over the loss of WFB to this day.