Star Wars is an action epic between good and evil that spans across systems. It can also be a pretty scary place, though, with awful monstrosities lurking within it. Here are some of the most frightening Star Wars creatures to grace the expanded universe.
Knobbly White Ice Spider
Appearing in The Mandalorian, the Knobbly White Ice Spiders are a species of awful arachnids that live in the ice caves of Maldo Kreis. They vary wildly in size and have a terrible resemblance to deep sea spiders, with long, bony legs and a hanging jaw appendage.
FFear of these spiders is rather rational, and any arachnophobes watching The Mandalorian Season 2 Episode 2 “Chapter 10” would have been praying dearly for them never to return to screens again. I think what gets me the most about these spiders are the two eyes nestled just below those scythe-like legs. They caused havoc for Mando and Grogu, and likely some nightmares for the audience.
Decraniated
The Decraniated are humans who have had most of their brain removed (hence the name) to become lobotomized servants by order of Dryden Vos, leader of the Crimson Dawn. Although the Decraniated themselves aren’t very scary, it’s the thought of the process that made them that truly chills my blood.
The worst part, for me, is that the creation of the Decraniated are entirely unnecessary when the droids they’re made to replicate exist. This makes these poor souls mere artistic pieces. To be murdered and fashioned into a slave as part of a money-making scheme makes my stomach churn.
There are some fates worse than death in Star Wars, and this certainly feels like one of them. The Decraniated appeared in Solo: A Star Wars Story and Rogue One.
Irling
Irlings are hive creatures that ambushed the Bad Batch in The Bad Batch Season 1 Episode 13. They are light-sensitive and found on Ord Mantell. And when disturbed, they can organize a great effort to rip anyone in their sight to shreds.
Like all hive creatures, the Irlings’ primary fear factor are the size of their swarms. The thought of hundreds of them catching up to you with the insidious hum of their wings would send shivers up anyone’s spine, and the “Infested” Bad Batch episode perfectly encapsulates this.
Zillo Beast
Zillo Beasts are a colossal reptilian species that are virtually extinct. They appeared in an important plot strand that branches between Star Wars: The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch.
Only one Zillo Beast is capable of ravaging Coruscant and almost destroying it, thanks to its near-sentience and incredibly tough hides. This creature is so strange and dangerous that the Republic had to bring it down using unconventional methods, instead of using raw firepower. The destructive capabilities of this strange, flailing monster would have been a sight to behold if you were in Coruscant.
Exogorth
Exogorths, or Space Slugs, live inside asteroids and can maintain entire ecosystems in their guts due to their gargantuan size that can reach up to 900 meters. The Millenium Falcon gets to see it first-hand in The Empire Strikes Back.
Strangely, the creatures themselves aren’t incredibly aggressive, and they aren’t mindless, as they feel pride for all the life they host in their bellies. However, their very existence as a giant worm floating through space on asteroids are not a sight one wants to behold. Giant space worms slithering in the gaps between the stars is an image that doesn’t sit right with me.
Drengir
The Drengir are species of botanical monsters from Mulita who featured in The High Republic stories. These man-eating sentient plants were a threat not just to their surroundings, but the galaxy.
Not much can threaten the galaxy other than Sith Lords – and even they don’t typically go about trying to devour all life. What makes these towering creatures worse is that they are a collective mind that can sway the minds of others, even Jedi. With healing abilities that can withstand blaster shots and lightsaber strikes, these monsters were rightfully feared.
The Nameless
The Nameless, also known as “Force Eaters,” are another terrible force present in the High Republic era.
Although the Nameless didn’t pose a galactic threat, they feast on the Living Force, becoming predators of Force-sensitives. The effects a Force-sensitive felt being near a Nameless were devastating, ranging from hallucinations to death. Force-sensitives have always been powerful, so to see the Nameless poised as a creature capable of hunting them down makes them all the more terrifying.
Mnggal-Mnggal
The Mnggal-Mnggal is an ancient creature that takes the form of sentient grey ooze. This ooze can control other beings, hollowing them out, and also has some shapeshifting and teleportation abilities.
What makes the Mnggal-Mnggal so scary is that it were likely around during the time of the Celestials, meaning we really know nothing about it. Note that this creature has only appeared in The Unknown Region, a Star Wars role-playing game, and so isn’t canon.
Summa-verminoth
Summa-verminoths are gigantic cephalopod-esque creatures that dwell in the Akkadese Maelstrom, seen in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Any colossal creature that can “swim” around in the vacuum of space is already terrifying, and the Summa-verminoths are no exception. One of the largest terrors seen in Star Wars, these monsters of legend have way too many tentacles.
Starweird
Finally, my favorite terrifying Star Wars beast – the Starweird. Appearing in the canon Doctor Aphra comic series, these ancient beings are incredibly powerful and even harder to kill. They were considered extinct until the last years of the Imperial era.
These creatures resemble giant ghouls that can twist and maneuver in space as they pursue their target. They scream an awful shrill that is agonizing to hear, and even if impaled, they will continue the chase. Their design and ancient features combined with being suspended in space are what makes Starweirds a terrifying presence.
