Since the dawn of warfare, beings have sought larger and more effective means of destroying their enemies. Sticks and rocks gave way to bows and swords, then slugthrowers, aerial bombs, and energy weapons. As weapons evolved, so did the definition and scale of superweapons. The first so-called superweapons were primitive fission devices capable of destroying a single city in one blast. While this level of destruction was impressive at the time, it eventually gave way to the immense destructive capabilities inherent in modern weapons of mass destruction.

It is important to note that superweapons are capable of inflicting massive devastation on a planetary or stellar scale, usually with a single massive release of energy. Orbital bombardments from conventional weapons do not quality as superweapons, even when exercised to the extent of a Base Delta Zero, the deliberate extermination of all life on a planetary surface through sustained bombardment.

The size of superweapons vary greatly: some behemoths measure hundreds of kilometers, while others can fit into a freighter's cargo hold. Size is not necessarily indicative of destructive capacity, however. In short, a superweapon is any device capable of destruction on at least a planetary scale. More advanced superweapons take their offensive capabilities to the next level by wiping out entire star systems. For the purposes of this course, bioweapons are not considered part of the superweapon class, even though a sufficiently lethal bioweapon could theoretically destroy most lifeforms in the galaxy.

More important than simple widespread destruction, superweapons are intended to inspire terror and hopelessness in enemy populations. Frequently the threat of using a superweapon is more effective at cowing large numbers of dissidents than the actual use of that superweapon. To know that rebelling against the faction in power can result in the swift destruction of one's entire world or star system is a powerful deterrent. Conversely, actually using an available superweapon incites rebellion as beings panic and subsequently clamor for freedom from the threat of instant annihilation.

This course focuses on the actual superweapons themselves rather than the motivations underlying their development and use. A detailed analysis of the superweapons doctrine and implementation is found in the Imperial University's Tarkin Doctrine Course.