“Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.” – Han Solo, A New Hope

Lightsabers aside, blaster pistols are arguably one of the most iconic weapons in Star Wars. From Han Solo’s trusty BlasTech DL-44 in the original trilogy to Kyle Katarn’s Bryar to Carth Onasi’s twin rapid-fire sidearms in Knights of the Old Republic, the venerable pistol is the perhaps the most-preferred weapon of non-Jedi in the galaxy.

The Empire in Flames experience is no different.

Pistols are a close-combat weapon for ranged fighters. While accuracy quickly drops off at long ranges, up close they are fast-firing, suffer the least penalty from movement, and a wide variety of damage types.

While lacking the punch of its heavier cousins, the blaster pistol is not to be underestimated in combat.

Pistols tend to be favored by characters who are light on their feet, like smugglers. They also serve well as backup weapons for characters who favor melee combat to pin down opponents who attempt to kite, or by long-range snipers who need something quick to point and shoot should an opponent close to melee distance where long-barreled weapons are unwieldy.