I just finished reading another masterpiece from the Star Wars comic series, and one moment really struck me—I finally realized why guns were completely replaced by laser blasters in the Star Wars universe.
This explains why we never see Clone Troopers, Stormtroopers, or anyone else using traditional firearms like we do here on Earth.
Table of Contents
Guns Are Useless Against Lightsabers
The Obi-Wan & Anakin comic series does an amazing job of explaining in detail why normal guns are completely ineffective against lightsabers. One specific moment stood out: when bullets fired from regular guns hit a lightsaber, they seemed to vanish into thin air. The bullets melt on impact, posing no threat to the wielder.
This five-issue comic series takes place after The Phantom Menace, during the early days of Anakin Skywalker’s training as Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Padawan. Obi-Wan, now a Jedi Knight, is focused on guiding Anakin down the right path. The series delves into Anakin’s internal struggle as he questions his place in the Jedi Order. At one point, Anakin even tells Obi-Wan that he’s thinking of leaving the Order, feeling disillusioned after realizing the Jedi isn’t what he once believed. Obi-Wan seeks advice from Master Yoda, but instead of clear answers, the two are sent on a mission to Carnelion IV.
On Carnelion IV, Obi-Wan and Anakin find themselves in the middle of a war between two factions—the Open and the Closed. Upon landing, they meet Pran and Kolara, members of the Open, but the group is soon ambushed by Grecker from the Closed, who attacks from the sky with an airgun. The airgun unleashes heavy fire on Obi-Wan, Anakin, Pran, and Kolara. Obi-Wan leaps into action, destroying the airgun in midair, causing Grecker to fall.
Anakin saves him, but tensions between Grecker and Pran erupt once more, with both pulling their weapons. Grecker refers to his gun as a “Banger,” a slugthrower resembling a shotgun that fires traditional bullets like the firearms we know on Earth.
Later, in Issue #3, the conflict escalates when Pran attempts to kidnap Anakin, believing his mechanical skills could give the Open an advantage in the war. Determined to rescue his Padawan, Obi-Wan sets out on foot to track him down.
When he reaches the Open’s base, he’s met with hostility and is attacked by a barrage of gunfire. This is where the comic visually demonstrates why traditional firearms are useless in the Star Wars universe. The bullets fired at Obi-Wan’s lightsaber melt upon contact, vanishing into the air without harming him in the slightest.
Why Exactly Gun Are Replaced by Blasters
1. Effectiveness Against Advanced Armor and Shields
The primary reason we don’t see slugthrowers, or traditional guns, in Star Wars is their ineffectiveness against the advanced armors used throughout the galaxy. Many types of armor, such as those worn by Stormtroopers, Clone Troopers, and the Mandalorian’s Beskar, are specifically designed to resist physical projectiles like bullets.
For instance, Phase I Clone Trooper armor is made of durasteel, which is more resistant than standard steel, and Beskar, famously worn by Mandalorians, is far stronger than common titanium alloys. Meanwhile, Imperial Stormtrooper armor, made from white plastoid, is also resistant to slugs. As stated on StarWars.fandom “Imperial stormtrooper armor was impervious to slugs.”
This explains why slugthrowers, such as the “banger” guns seen in some comics, are not practical choices when facing modern armors. On the other hand, we’ve seen that blaster bolts are capable of penetrating or damaging even advanced armors. For example, Rebel blasters can take down Stormtroopers, and Mandalorians in full Beskar-durasteel hybrid armor can still be injured by well-placed blaster shots. Blasters simply outperform slugthrowers in the Star Wars galaxy, making them the clear weapon of choice.
2. Ammunition Efficiency
Another factor I believe blasters are far better than normal guns is their efficiency when it comes to ammunition. Blasters don’t rely on physical bullets. Instead, they use energy packs or power cells that are lightweight and can hold far more shots—usually anywhere from 100 to 500 shots per pack, depending on the blaster model.
For example, the standard-issue E-11 blaster rifle, commonly used by Stormtroopers, carries about 500 shots per power cell, making it far more practical than a traditional firearm that would need to be reloaded frequently. This eliminates the need to carry heavy magazines of ammunition, which would quickly weigh soldiers down in prolonged battles.