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- "Our current assessment is that this is the next generation of the v1."
- ―Antoc Merrick in The Rebel Files
The TIE Advanced x1, or TIE/ad, was an advanced prototype starfighter that was part of the TIE line manufactured by Sienar Fleet Systems. Darth Vader notably flew a TIE Advanced x1 during the Battle of Yavin.
Contents
Characteristics[edit | edit source]
In designing the starfighters of its TIE line, Sienar Fleet Systems drew heavily on the designs of Kuat Systems Engineering ships such as the V-wing and Eta-2 interceptor. Sienar also experimented with advanced models featuring localized improvements and secret technological breakthroughs, including the TIE Advanced v1 prototype, based on Sienar's Scimitar Star Courier. This prototype led to the TIE Advanced x1, which boasted a hyperdrive and deflector shield generator. A modified early prototype of the Advanced x1 line was flown by Darth Vader himself. Vader's fighter boasted greater speed and heavier firepower, featuring fixed-mounted twin blaster cannons and a cluster missile launcher. Vader specified a custom cockpit to accommodate his armored suit, and high-performance solar cells were fitted into the fighter's curved wings.[1]
History[edit | edit source]

Darth Vader's prototype TIE Advanced x1
As of 4 BBY,[10] the Sith Lord Darth Vader owned and operated an experimental[11] modified early prototype of the TIE Advanced x1,[1] which he piloted into the midst of a rebel fleet in a daring attack that resulted in the destruction of the rebels' flagship, Phoenix Home.[10] He later used it to travel to Malachor to fight his former Padawan, Ahsoka Tano.[12]
During 0 BBY, during the Battle of Yavin, Vader again piloted his TIE Advanced x1 to pursue and eliminate the Rebel fighters attacking the first Death Star. He shot down several starfighters until his fighter was unexpectedly knocked out of the battle when a TIE/ln space superiority starfighter collided with it after a surprise attack by the Millennium Falcon. After the collision, Vader spun out of control into space, thereby escaping the destruction of the Death Star.[7] The ship was disabled and left to float in the battle station's debris field, though Vader and his ship were later picked up by a Gozanti-class cruiser piloted by Ciena Ree and Berisse Sai.[13]
Following the Battle of Yavin, the Alliance to Restore the Republic provided stolen examples of the craft to Saponza's Gang.[8]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Star Wars Battlefront II
- Star Wars: Starfighter Missions
- Lost Stars
- Lost Stars webcomic
- Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal
Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures – "Darth Vader vs. the Rebel Fleet - Fearsome Fighter Pilot"
Star Wars Rebels – "Twilight of the Apprentice"
- Thrawn: Alliances (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire
- Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series – Episode I
- Vader - Dark Visions 3
- Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope (First appearance)
Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures – "Han Solo – Taking Flight for his Friends"
Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures – "Luke vs. the Death Star - X-wing Assault"
- A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy
- Star Wars: A New Hope junior novelization
- Episode IV: A New Hope Read-Along Storybook and CD
- Star Wars: Heroes Path
- The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight
- Star Wars: Battle Pod
- "Desert Son"—From a Certain Point of View
- "The Angle"—From a Certain Point of View (Appears in hologram)
- Choose Your Destiny: A Luke & Leia Adventure (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars Annual 4
- Darth Vader 1 (Appears in flashback(s))
- Darth Vader 2
- Darth Vader 3
- Darth Vader 4 (Indirect mention only)
- Darth Vader 6 (Appears in flashback(s))
- Darth Vader 9
- Darth Vader 12
- Darth Vader Annual 1
- Vader Down 1
- Darth Vader 13 (Wreckage only)
- Darth Vader 20
- Darth Vader 21
- Darth Vader 24
- Darth Vader 25
- Star Wars 24
- Star Wars 25
- Star Wars 36
- Star Wars 51
- Star Wars 52
- Star Wars 53
- Doctor Aphra 40
- Target Vader 2
- Target Vader 3
- Target Vader 4 (Appears in flashback(s))
- Star Wars: Commander
- Vader - Dark Visions 1
- Vader - Dark Visions 4
"A Rebel Bounty"—Star Wars Adventures Annual 2020 (Appears through imagination)
"Tales of Villainy: Invasion of Echo Base"—Star Wars Adventures 1 (Appears in flashback(s))
- Star Wars: Squadrons (Appears in hologram) (DLC)
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi: A Junior Novel (Indirect mention only)
- Galaxy's Edge 2 (Appears as a toy)
Non-canon appearances[edit | edit source]
- Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes
LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures – "A Hero Discovered" (Appears in hologram)
LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales – "Mission to Mos Eisley" (Appears in flashback(s))
- The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Ultimate Star Wars (First identified as TIE Advanced x1)
- Star Wars: Ships of the Galaxy
- Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know
Star Wars: Card Trader (Card: Darth Vader's TIE Fighter - Blueprints)
- Star Wars: TIE Fighter Deluxe Book and Model Set (First identified as TIE/ad)
Star Wars Helmet Collection 26 (Helmets: In Pictures)
- Darth Vader: Sith Lord
- Art of Coloring: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
- Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: On the Front Lines
- Star Wars: Geektionary: The Galaxy from A - Z
- Star Wars: The Rebel Files
- Star Wars: A-wing Deluxe Book and 3D Wood Model
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Incredible Cross-Sections
- Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition – Galactic Empire Conversion Kit (Card: Darth Vader (TIE Advanced x1)) (Reissued in TIE Advanced x1 Expansion Pack)
Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition – Galactic Empire Conversion Kit (Card: Maarek Stele) (Reissued in TIE Advanced x1 Expansion Pack)
Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition – Galactic Empire Conversion Kit (Card: Storm Squadron Ace) (Reissued in TIE Advanced x1 Expansion Pack)
Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition – Galactic Empire Conversion Kit (Card: Tempest Squadron Pilot) (Reissued in TIE Advanced x1 Expansion Pack)
Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition – Galactic Empire Conversion Kit (Card: Ved Foslo) (Reissued in TIE Advanced x1 Expansion Pack)
Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition – Galactic Empire Conversion Kit (Card: Zertik Strom) (Reissued in TIE Advanced x1 Expansion Pack)
Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition – First Order Conversion Kit (Card: Zeta Squadron Pilot) (Reissued in TIE/fo Fighter Expansion Pack)
- Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition
- TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual
- Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition
Every Type of Ship in Rebels | Star Wars By the Numbers on the official Star Wars Kids YouTube channel (backup link)
Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition – Epic Battles Multiplayer Expansion (Card: Agent of the Empire)
Star Wars: Build Your Own X-Wing 22 (Starfighter Aces: Grand Inquisitor – Supreme Jedi Hunter)
- Starships and Speeders
Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian – "Practical"
- Star Wars Complete Vehicles, New Edition
- Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian: Making of Season Two (as graffiti)
- Star Wars Bust Collection 1 (Star Wars Universe: Darth Vader)
Darth Vader in the Databank (backup link) (First identified as TIE Advanced starfighter)
Darth Vader's TIE Fighter in the Databank (backup link)
Death Star in the Databank (backup link)
TIE fighter in the Databank (backup link) (as "prototype TIE Advanced")
TIE silencer in the Databank (backup link)
Notes and references[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Ultimate Star Wars
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Star Wars: TIE Fighter Deluxe Book and Model Set
- ↑ Star Wars Super Graphic: A Visual Guide to a Galaxy Far, Far Away
- ↑ Star Wars: Ships of the Galaxy
- ↑ Star Wars Complete Vehicles, New Edition
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Star Wars: Commander
- ↑ Darth Vader 20
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal
- ↑
Darth Vader's TIE Fighter in the Databank (backup link)
- ↑
Star Wars Rebels – "Twilight of the Apprentice"
- ↑ Lost Stars
External links[edit | edit source]
Every Starfighter in Star Wars Explained By Lucasfilm | WIRED on the WIRED YouTube channel (backup link)