Boba Fett’s Most Brutal Weapon Proves He Was Even More Merciless Than Darth Vader

As Star Wars’ most famous bounty hunter, it’s no surprise that Boba Fett has some pretty impressive weapons in his arsenal. However, a closer look reveals that one of those weapons might just take the cake as one of the franchise’s most ruthless weapons. Star Wars 100 Objects: Illuminating Items From A Galaxy Far, Far Away by Kristin Baver provides a look into many artifacts from the series, including Boba Fett’s remarkable pulse rifle.

The pulse rifle made its first appearance in 1978’s Star Wars Holiday Special and went on to inspire the disruptor rifle used by Din Djarin in The Mandalorian. With each appearance it makes, it proves to be an incredibly ruthless weapon, but the new descriptions of the rifle in Star Wars 100 Objects explain that the rifle does a little bit more than simply kill its victims. In fact, the rifle is so dreadful in its effects that even Darth Vader wanted to show restraint when it came to using it.

The Pulse Rifle’s Disintegrations Rip Its Victims Apart

According to Star Wars 100 Objects, the pulse rifle is much more ruthless than any ordinary blaster. Being hit with the rifle would cause one’s molecules to vibrate violently to such an extent that they become an explosion of energy. The book goes on to describe the results of its use: “A shower of sparks, charred flesh, and shreds of clothing were frequently all that was left, making victim-identification extremely difficult.” Blasters and lightsabers might destroy an opponent, but the pulse rifle completely obliterates them, and in an incredibly painful way.

The Pulse Rifle May Be Star Wars’ Most Brutal Weapon Yet

Despite his penchant for ruthlessness, even Darth Vader drew lines when it came to dealing with his enemies. In Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Vader specifically orders there to be no disintegrations when he sends Boba Fett and other Star Wars bounty hunters to go and retrieve the crew of the Millennium Falcon. Vader wasn’t known for showing mercy, but the horrific nature of disintegration made even him pause before giving Boba Fett free rein.

The lightsaber might be Star Wars’ most famous weapon, but it delivers a clean blow in the hands of a skilled Jedi. The pulse rifle rips its targets apart, molecule by molecule. When wielded by a driven bounty hunter, the pulse rifle has the potential to create unimaginable pain and chaos. When even Darth Vader wants to dial things back, that might be an indication of things going too far. Boba Fett‘s pulse rifle can thus be crowned as one of the galaxy’s most brutal weapons yet.

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