The 10 Best Star Wars Creatures, Ranked

The Star Wars galaxy is filled with incredible alien creatures, but only 10 can qualify as the best in the franchise. Star Wars has a lot of truly iconic aspects to it, from the fight between the Jedi and the Sith to its countless unique and alien planets, but its creatures are responsible for making those planets feel alive. Throughout the Star Wars movies, various alien lifeforms have been introduced to give the heroes transportation, companionship, or simply to look interesting. They may not be the most important characters in Star Wars, but they’ve still had a considerable impact on the galaxy.

Star Wars has so many alien species that could be considered creatures that it’s useful to narrow them down. Ewoks, for example, may look like furry creatures, but since they are sentient and can communicate, they don’t qualify for this list. Similarly, non-sentient but hostile species, like rancors, also don’t qualify, as they instead have earned a spot on the list of the scariest monsters in Star Wars. The creatures on this list earned their spots due to their importance to the story, utility to main characters, or just how interesting they are. With that in mind, here are the 10 best creatures in Star Wars.

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10 Blurrg

First Appearance: Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Blurrgs have increased in popularity since their canon debut in Star Wars: The Clone Wars thanks to their inclusion in The Mandalorian. In The Mandalorian season 1, Din Djarin’s ally Kuiil raised a pack of Blurrgs on Arvala-7. Though they initially attacked Din as he landed, they eventually proved useful as mounts that could traverse the planet’s rough terrain. Blurrgs are one of the best mounts in Star Wars, and their odd appearance, with just two legs and no visible neck, make them one of the most visually distinct creatures in the galaxy.

9 Kowakian Monkey-Lizards

First Appearance: Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi

Kowakian monkey-lizards are sometimes considered annoying due to their high-pitched laughter, but that also made them one of the most memorable aspects of Return of the Jedi. The first Kowakian monkey-lizard to appear on-screen was Salacious B. Crumb, and his laughter filled the halls of Jabba the Hutt’s palace on Tatooine. Though they are often seen as pests due to their ugly appearance, Kowakian monkey-lizards also add quite a bit of character to the galaxy. Since Kowakian monkey-lizards are often puppets, they also highlight the practical effects that make the franchise so endearing.

8 Vulptex

First Appearance: Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

One of the most magnificent creatures in the galaxy was the Vulptex, sometimes known as a crystal fox, due to its coat made out of crystals. Vulptices were stunning, as their coats would glitter in the sunlight on Crait and make melodic jingling sounds as they ran. They also played an important role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi when they showed the remaining members of the Resistance a path out of the abandoned Rebel base the First Order had trapped them in.

7 Bogling

First Appearance: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Boglings were originally native to the planet Bogano in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, but they eventually spread to Koboh with the help of Greez Dritus. Boglings were either found underground in tunnels dug by their colonies or on the surface, hopping on their powerful hind legs. Their big, round eyes and fluffy ears and tails make them some of the cutest creatures in Star Wars, and boglings are always welcome as a ship’s pet, even if they got there by stowing away.

6 Porg

First Appearance: Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

Porgs have become known as one of the cutest and most endearing species in the entire galaxy after their first appearance in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Native to the planet Ahch-To, deep in the Unknown Regions, Porgs have been separated from the rest of the galaxy for most of the Star Wars timeline. They were seen during many antics, including investigating Rey’s lightsaber quite dangerously and shaming Chewbacca for eating one of them. Porgs are cute, expressive, funny, mischievous, and they make good companions, and even though they don’t accomplish much besides act as comedic relief, they are some of the best creatures in the franchise.

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5 Tooka

First Appearance: Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Tookas first appeared in The Clone Wars, but they became beloved in Star Wars: Rebels. A variant of the tooka native to Lothal known as a Loth-cat was sometimes domesticated, and the most famous example was Sabine Wren’s Loth-cat, Murley, in Ahsoka. Tookas are very similar to real-life cats, and their bad behavior and penchant for mischief could often be forgiven due to their cute and cuddly appearance. They also played an important part in Ezra Bridger’s journey to becoming a Jedi, as he used Tookas to train his ability to connect with living beings through the Force.

4 Purrgil

First Appearance: Star Wars: Rebels

Purrgils were some of the only creatures capable of living in the vacuum of space, which is an impressive feat by itself, but they were also important to some of the biggest events in (and beyond) the galaxy. The spacefaring whale-like purrgils have been important allies to both Ezra Bridger and Ahsoka Tano because of their migration pattern, as they followed the pathway to Peridea at the end of their lives. In addition to being the key to accessing Peridea, purrgils were also wildly impressive creatures, both because of their massive size and their ability to use hyperspace lanes.

3 Tauntaun

First Appearance: Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

Perhaps the most important mount in all of Star Wars, the tauntaun has had an enduring legacy since its debut in The Empire Strikes Back. In one of the movie’s most iconic scenes, Han Solo had to cut one open so he could use its body heat to keep an injured Luke Skywalker warm and alive. When they were alive, tauntauns were sturdy mounts that were capable of surviving the harsh climate on Hoth. They also became incredibly, yet indirectly, important to the galaxy by keeping one of the most powerful Jedi ever alive long enough to finish his training.

2 Bantha

First Appearance: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

Banthas have been a staple of Star Wars since A New Hope, and there’s good reason for their enduring popularity. Tatooine wouldn’t be the same without them striding across the sand, and the Tusken Raiders wouldn’t have their main method of travel across the planet. Banthas also have an iconic design, with their shaggy wool coats, spiral horns, and huge frames. Banthas were also iconic in-universe, as one of Jabba the Hutt’s favorite insults was to refer to his enemies as “bantha fodder,” shortly before ending them.

1 Varactyl

First Appearance: Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

Though it only had a short amount of time on screen, the varactyl in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith instantly made an impression. The varactyl’s powerful legs and long claws helped it maneuver through the tough terrain and vertical walls of Utapau, and Obi-Wan Kenobi saw the animal’s usefulness when he rode one to chase after General Grievous. Varactyls had an incredibly unique design as well, from its strange mix of lizard and bird body parts to its hauntingly cool, warbling call. Almost 20 years after its debut, the varactyl is still the best creature in Star Wars.

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The Mandalorian , Andor , Obi-Wan Kenobi , The Book of Boba Fett , Ahsoka , The Acolyte , Star Wars: Skeleton Crew , Lando , Star Wars: The Clone Wars , Star Wars Rebels , Star Wars: The Bad Batch , Star Wars: Resistance , Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures , Star Wars: Visions