Battle of Yavin
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Multiple issuesTemplate:Infobox military conflict The Battle of Yavin is a key event in the fictional universe of Star Wars, in which the Galactic Empire confronts the Rebel Alliance around the gas giant Yavin and its fourth moon. It serves as the chronological reference point for the franchise’s in-universe dating system, with years denoted as Before or After the Battle of Yavin (BBY/ABY).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Following the Battle of Scarif, the Rebels obtain the plans for the Death Star, a massive Imperial space station with planet-destroying capability. The Empire locates the Rebel base on Yavin 4 and prepares to eliminate it using the Death Star. A hidden structural weakness is discovered, prompting the Rebels to launch a last-ditch assault. As the Death Star enters orbit, Rebel starfighters engage Imperial forces led by Darth Vader. Luke Skywalker, using the Force, successfully exploits the station’s vulnerability and destroys it. Vader survives and escapes.
The battle marks the Rebel Alliance's first major victory, though they are soon forced to relocate. Vader continues to pursue them, targeting leadership and key operatives.
The event is depicted in the 1977 film Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.<ref group="Notes" name=Title>Entitled Star Wars, when first released in 1977.</ref> It was produced primarily using practical special effects and is further explored in related novels, comics, and video games.
Universe
The Star Wars universe is set in a galaxy inhabited by humans and various alien species. It centers on the conflict between Jedi Knights and Sith Lords, Force-sensitive individuals who possess psychic abilities. The Jedi use the light side of the Force to maintain peace, while the Sith draw on the dark side to pursue power and domination.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Since Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm, Star Wars exists in two versions: "Legends" and "Canon." Both include the six original films and the series The Clone Wars. "Legends" includes additional content released before 2014 in books, comics, games, and TV movies. "Canon" includes all material released since 2014.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Background
Years before the Clone Wars, the Confederacy of Independent Systems begins developing a superweapon capable of destroying planets: the Death Star.<ref name=":14">Template:Harvtxt</ref> Following the war in 19 BBY, the Galactic Republic becomes the Galactic Empire, and Grand Moff Tarkin oversees the Death Star’s construction, completed nearly two decades later.<ref name=":5">Template:Harvtxt</ref> The weapon is designed to suppress opposition.<ref name=":0">Template:Harvtxt</ref>
From the Empire’s formation, resistance groups emerge, such as those led by Saw Gerrera and the crew of the Ghost.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref> Following the massacre on Ghorman and Mon Mothma's condemnation of Emperor Palpatine as its perpetrator, the rebel cells merge together into an organized rebellion, the Rebel Alliance.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Prelude
Official Universe
Engineer Galen Erso, involved in the Death Star’s design, secretly adds a fatal flaw.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref> He sends a message to Saw Gerrera, urging his daughter Jyn Erso to retrieve the plans. With Rebel Alliance leadership refusing to openly oppose the Empire, Jyn defies orders and leads a small team with the improvised callsign Rogue One to the Imperial archive on Scarif. Rogue One is initially heavily outnumbered, but receives support from the newly-arrived Alliance Fleet. A battle follows, both on the planet and in space involving rebel forces and Imperial troops led by Darth Vader. Jyn successfully transmits the Death Star plans before the station destroys the facility. The plans are received by the Tantive IV, which escapes under Princess Leia Organa's command.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Legends Universe
On the planet Toprawa, Rebel agents steal the Death Star plans and transmit them to the orbiting Tantive IV. The ship is intercepted by Darth Vader’s Star Destroyer and forced to flee.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Common part
The Tantive IV is intercepted by Darth Vader's Star Destroyer above Tatooine. Before capture, Princess Leia Organa hides the Death Star plans in the droid R2-D2, who escapes in a pod with C-3PO. On the planet’s surface, the droids are captured by Jawas and sold to Owen Lars, who assigns them to his nephew, Luke Skywalker. Luke discovers Leia’s message intended for Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, requesting help for the Rebellion. R2-D2 leaves to find Kenobi, followed by Luke and C-3PO. After an ambush by Tusken Raiders, they are rescued by Kenobi and taken to his home.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref name=":3">Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Meanwhile, Leia is imprisoned aboard the Death Star. With the Imperial Senate dissolved, she loses her political immunity. Grand Moff Tarkin demands the location of the Rebel base and threatens to destroy Alderaan. Although Leia names Dantooine, Tarkin orders Alderaan’s destruction.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref name=":4">Template:Harvtxt</ref>
On Tatooine, Luke learns his father was a Jedi, and Kenobi gives him his father’s lightsaber. Upon discovering his aunt and uncle killed by Imperial troops, Luke decides to join Kenobi and the droids. In Mos Eisley, they hire smugglers Han Solo and Chewbacca to transport them to Alderaan. Pursued by stormtroopers, they flee the planet aboard the Millennium Falcon.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref name=":3" />
The group exits hyperspace into an asteroid field where Alderaan once existed. Following Imperial fighters, they approach a moon—only to realize it is the Death Star. Captured by a tractor beam, they infiltrate the station disguised as stormtroopers and rescue Leia. Obi-Wan Kenobi confronts Darth Vader, ultimately sacrificing himself so the others can escape.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />
They reach the Rebel base on Yavin 4, where R2-D2 delivers the Death Star plans. Rebel engineers identify a structural weakness. However, the Empire had placed a tracker on the Falcon, allowing Tarkin and Vader to locate the base and send the Death Star to destroy it.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":13">Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref name=":4" />
Battlefield
The battle takes place in orbit around the gas giant Yavin, near its fourth moon, Yavin 4. It occurs both in open space and within the Death Star’s surface trenches.<ref name=":6">Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Technologies
The Imperial forces consist of the Death Star, a mobile battle station capable of destroying entire planets,<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":0" /> supported by TIE fighters, the Empire’s standard combat vessels.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref> Darth Vader participates in the battle aboard his customized TIE Advanced X1, optimized for performance and fitted to his armor.<ref name=":7">Template:Harvtxt</ref>
The Rebel forces include two squadrons: Gold Squadron, led by Jon "Dutch" Vander, composed of Y-wing bombers;<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":8">Template:Harvtxt</ref> and Red Squadron, led by Garven Dreis, composed of X-wing fighters.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":9">Template:Harvtxt</ref> They are supported by the Millennium Falcon, piloted by Han Solo and Chewbacca.<ref name=":10">Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Course
When the Death Star arrives at Yavin, it must maneuver into position before it can target the Rebel base. This delay allows the Rebels to launch an assault. The station’s weakness lies in a small exhaust port that, if hit by a proton torpedo, will trigger a chain reaction. Red and Gold squadrons launch their attack. Luke Skywalker, designated "Red 5," joins the mission with R2-D2 as his astromech. TIE fighters intercept the assault, engaging Red Squadron while Gold Squadron attempts a trench run.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":0" />
Gold Squadron is destroyed by Vader, prompting Red Squadron to take over. One by one, they are eliminated, leaving only Skywalker. As Vader closes in, the Millennium Falcon intervenes, damaging one TIE fighter and causing another to crash into Vader’s ship, sending him out of control. Guided by Obi-Wan Kenobi's voice, Luke uses the Force to fire a successful torpedo shot, destroying the Death Star moments before it can fire on Yavin.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":10" /><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Review
The Battle of Yavin is a victory for the Rebel Alliance.<ref name=":9" /> The Death Star and nearly all of its personnel are destroyed.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref name="Harvtxt|Tyler|2019a">Template:Harvtxt</ref> Darth Vader is the only known Imperial survivor, escaping in his damaged fighter.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref name=":7" />
Rebel losses are considerable.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref> Aside from the Millennium Falcon, only three ships return from the original assault, including those piloted by Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles.<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":8" /> Both squadron leaders are killed in action.<ref name=":8" /><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Consequences
Following the battle, the Empire begins constructing a second, larger Death Star near Endor. With their Yavin 4 base compromised, the Rebels relocate to the ice planet Hoth in the Outer Rim.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref> The second Death Star is later destroyed in a subsequent engagement.<ref name=":14" /><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Concept and creation
Prior to filming A New Hope,<ref group="Notes" name=Title/> George Lucas collaborated with model maker Colin Cantwell and artist Ralph McQuarrie. Cantwell designed early versions of the Y-wing and Millennium Falcon, while McQuarrie illustrated key scenes, including a Y-wing attack on the Death Star.<ref name=":15">Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Only one full-scale X-wing was constructed, shown in the Yavin 4 hangar.<ref name=":15" /> Space battle scenes were created using practical effects. A single cockpit set was used, with actors rotating through it and droids swapped as needed.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
In the 1997 and 2004 re-releases, several space battle scenes were enhanced with digital effects. These updates included additional rebel ships, improved explosions, and a shockwave added to the Death Star’s destruction.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Adaptation
Beyond films, novels, and television, the Battle of Yavin appears in various Star Wars-related derivative works.
Video games
The battle is featured in numerous video games. In Star Wars: Empire at War (2006), players can control either the Empire or the Rebel Alliance during the conflict around Yavin.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref> Star Wars: X-Wing (1993) and Star Wars: Rogue Squadron (1998) allow players to assume the role of Luke Skywalker in missions involving the Death Star assault.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Its sequel, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II - Rogue Leader (2002), opens with the trench run sequence.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref> The mobile game Star Wars: Trench Run (2009) simulates the trench battle from a pilot’s perspective.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
The arcade game Star Wars (1983) includes scenes based on the surface of the Death Star.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Figurines
Numerous action figures depict characters from the battle., Hasbro released figures of Red Squadron and Imperial pilots in 2012,<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref> as well as earlier figures of Wedge Antilles, General Jan Dodonna, and Dutch Vander in 2004–2005.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
LEGO released a Yavin 4 playset in 2012 (Set #9677), which includes a model of Luke Skywalker’s X-wing.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Amusement parks
A segment of the original Star Tours ride at Disney parks was inspired by the Battle of Yavin. Riders, aboard a Starspeeder 3000, join a Rebel assault on a third Death Star.<ref name=":11">Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref> This version of the ride existed at Disneyland and Walt Disney World (until 2010),<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref name=":11" /> Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan (until 2012),<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref> and Disneyland Paris in France (until 2016) before being replaced by Star Tours: The Adventures Continue.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Reception
Screen Rant ranks the battle third among the original Star Wars trilogy, praising its visual effects and Han Solo’s intervention.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref> In a separate list covering the entire saga, it places the battle first for its tension and pacing.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref> PubSquare Media also ranks it first, while Looper ranks it fifth, citing its smaller scale compared to later battles.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Posterity
In fan culture
Fan estimates of casualties aboard the Death Star vary, though figures often suggest approximately one million personnel were present at the time of its destruction.<ref name="Harvtxt|Tyler|2019a"/><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref> Online creators have reimagined the battle, including a video simulating the Death Star laser’s real-world appearance and a LEGO animation recreating the trench run with some liberties.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref> Some fans humorously parody real-world conspiracy theories by suggesting the Empire may have intentionally allowed the Death Star’s destruction.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The battle is referenced in pop culture, notably in The Simpsons. In "My Sister, My Sitter" from Season 8, Bart hears a voice advising him like Obi-Wan. In "Pygmoelian" from Season 11, a line referencing Darth Vader is used. A comic from 1999 also parodies the scene with Santa’s Little Helper wearing Biggs Darklighter’s helmet.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Star Wars timeline reference point
The Battle of Yavin serves as the baseline for the Star Wars dating system,<ref name=":12">Template:Harvtxt</ref> with years marked as BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) and ABY (After the Battle of Yavin), using a 365-day year. For instance, the Battle of Geonosis occurs in 22 BBY, and the Battle of Jakku in 5 ABY.<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
However, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Guide (2019) adopts a different reference point—the Battle of Starkiller Base from The Force Awakens (2015).<ref name=":12" /><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>
Notes and references
Notes
<references group="Notes" />
References
See also
Bibliography
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Citation
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite journal
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite web
- Template:Cite book