Star Wars: The Galaxy’s Most Iconic Blasters
While there are countless blasters, some of them have that iconic look that are impossible to mistake for anything aside from the galaxy far far away.
DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistol
Possibly the most iconic of the Star Wars Blasters, the DL-44 is best known for being Han Solo’s weapon of choice, but if you happen to have a replica at home you’ll be ready to cosplay any one of roughly a million characters. Thanks to its instantly recognizable look, even the orange and white Nerf versions are impossible to confuse with anything else. In true Han Solo fashion, the DL-44 is known for being technically able to do a lot of damage very quickly, but overheats quickly.
E-11 Blaster Rifle
Being the standard-issue blaster of the Imperial Stormtroopers, the E-11 Blaster Rifle is easy to quickly associate with all things Empire. Combining lethal firepower and long range, this is the perfect blaster to give a bunch of plastic space soldiers with a shoot first ask questions later approach to diplomacy and next to no target accuracy training. But Stormtroopers aren’t the only ones seen wielding an E-11, Luke and Leia have both been known to grab one from time to time.
Defender Sporting Blaster Pistol
We don’t see Leia’s iconic blaster for long, but it has a silhouette that can’t be mistaken for anything else. This low-powered weapon was meant for civilian self-defense and was especially popular amongst aristocrats, making it the perfect weapon for a “diplomat on a peaceful mission that definitely had nothing to do with the Death Star or secret plans or stealing any secret Death Star Plans.” Unfortunately, that low power output made it all but useless against an Imperial boarding party.
NN-14 Blaster Pistol
The NN-14 Blaster looks like a toy gun. When it first appeared on the big screen it was so easy to picture it as a brightly colored foam dart shooting plaything, but a clunky design makes it impossible to forget or mistake for any other Star Wars blasters. Apparently, though, the design had numerous in-universe advantages, making the NN-14 uniquely compact with a reinforced frame and shell, large core, and flash suppressing muzzle.
WESTAR-35 Blaster Pistol
Sabine’s custom painted WESTAR-35 Mandalorian blasters are some of my favorites in the entire galactic canon. Their simple shape makes for some iconic blasters regardless of paint job or lack thereof. A common weapon of Death Watch during the Clone Wars, they stayed popular with Mandalorians into the Imperial Era and even broke through the animated barrier to make a few appearances with Bo Katan’s crew in The Mandalorian’s second season.
Which of the Star Wars Blasters is your favorite? Do any specific blasters just say “Star Wars” to you when you see them? Do you have any blaster replicas or props of your own? Have you made a blaster prop for cosplay? Let us know in the comments!
May The Force Be With You, Adventurers!
