When watching the Rebels in battle, we may have noticed that they don’t seem to use captured Imperial weapons and equipment. That trend may sound strange. What explains it? The Rebels often saw Imperial gear as unfitting for the occasion, but also stole and used their fair share of items. They just preferred not to take that course of action.
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Why Don’t the Rebels Use Imperial Gear?
This Reddit discussion prompted an interesting question about how Rebels don’t use captured Imperial weapons. With a reference to Rogue One, we may think that tendency is “weird” since a Rebel soldier is bound “to pick up a weapon or helmet or something.”
One response to this inquiry is how “captured Imperial gear just isn’t practical”, say stormtrooper armor being too “bulky” or their weapons needing “specific power cells.” Another post states how the Imperial guns and equipment were meant to “instill fear” and served as “symbols of oppression,” so Rebels wouldn’t want to showcase them.
Practicality and rejection of oppression are, hence, two good reasons why Rebels don’t use Imperial items. A previous discussion adds that by the time of the original trilogy, the Rebellion is “fully established and funded” and doesn’t need to rely on Imperial weaponry. Further, we could include how protection tends to be “lacking” in stormtrooper armor and was not really fit for the “guerrilla and unconventional war” that the Rebels carried out.
Deciphering these reasons, we probably notice that the timeline matters. If we are referring to Andor to Rogue One events, we would expect that there would be more use of Imperial gear, and there is (discussed below). Yet, the burgeoning Rebellion may have also rejected the Empire’s weapons and equipment, especially because they are more geared toward traditional combat and require more maintenance.
As described here, “servicing captured equipment” could be “annoying at best and impossible at worst” while the Rebels struggled to advance their cause. Moreover, Imperial arms and equipment could be “code-locked to only function” through access codes. Picking up an Imperial gun may work against their efforts.
As the Rebels scrambled around in the Battle of Scarif and launched their “incursion” on the Citadel, they had scant time to try to operate Imperial arms if they posed any problem. Yet, this battle also reflects the other explanations–they didn’t want to use oppressive weapons and didn’t need them as much.
As we moved into 0 BBY, the Rebel Army was getting well stocked with A280, A-300, and DH-17 blaster rifles, among other arms. While we do have several instances of stealing and using Imperial gear, we can also see why they chose not to.
When Have the Rebels Stolen and Used Imperial Gear?
Between the two Reddit discussions above, fans indicate many occasions when the Rebels did use Imperial gear. We may first think of Han and Luke wearing stormtrooper armor in A New Hope to rescue Leia, or how Han, Leia, Luke, Chewie, and 3PO use a stolen Lambda shuttle in Return of the Jedi. This video explores how the Rebels managed to steal the Tydirium and reflects how these actions were not atypical.
The Rebels series also showcased examples of Rebels stealing and using Imperial arms and equipment. “The Wynkahthu Job” in the third season is a good example of a planned theft, featuring proton bombs. In this scene, we can watch Ezra and Sabine steal a TIE Fighter. So, stealing and using Imperial items are not isolated instances.
However, these are examples of planned moments of theft. Do we have any times when Rebels randomly take Imperial arms or equipment? We do.
Andor gave us the origins of K-2SO as a stolen Imperial droid that was repurposed. That moment was spontaneous. It happened within the chaos of the Ghorman Massacre after K-2SO had been smashed into a wall. It also occurred back in the early stages of the building Rebellion, so it may speak to Rebel needs.
Then again, spontaneous theft and use of weapons occur later in the timeline too. In this climactic scene, Finn picked up a Z6 riot control baton to fight Captain Phasma. Here, the theft speaks more to survival and revenge, but it does reflect a continued use of Imperial weapons, as needed.
We do have other major moments too, such as the theft of the Accuser Star Destroyer following the Battle of Endor. As the Emancipator, sounding very Lincoln-like, this ship went on to serve the New Republic.
Rebel Reluctance to Use Imperial Gear
While we do have many moments when Rebels used Imperial weapons and equipment, it may be best to say they would prefer not to. Rebels tended not to use Imperial gear because they preferred their own and saw the Empire’s as oppressive and impractical. When they did seize a weapon or ship, it was for a purpose or to stay alive.