S-Mine Detonator

"Take cover!"

―Ahsoka Tano warns her companions as the Eighth Brother tosses three S-Mine Detonators^[1]

S-Mine Detonators, or Photon Grenades, were detonators used by the Eighth Brother, an Imperial Inquisitor. He was equipped with the small detonators on multiple occasions, including early in the Imperial Era and on a search for the former Sith Lord Maul on the planet Malachor in 3 BBY. When the Eighth Brother encountered the Jedi Kanan Jarrus, his apprentice Ezra Bridger, and the former Jedi Ahsoka Tano on Malachor, the outnumbered Inquisitor threw three S-Mine Detonators at them, allowing himself to retreat.

Description

S-Mine Detonators,^[4] also known as Photon Grenades,^[2] were small, disk-shaped explosives carried by the Imperial Inquisitor Eighth Brother. Gray and black in color, the detonators could be attached to a belt for easy access. The Eighth Brother typically carried several of them at once. The detonators glowed red when armed, and upon detonation, they exploded into various colors.^[1]

History

The Eighth Brother hurls three S-Mine Detonators at his Jedi attackers.

In 19 BBY,^[5] the Eighth Brother wore the detonators on^[3] his^[1] suit while training with the other Inquisitors on^[3] the planet^[6] Coruscant.^[3] He later wore them at the Inquisitorius Headquarters on Coruscant following a successful Jedi hunt by the Inquisitors^[7] in 14 BBY.^[8] In 3 BBY,^[9] the Eighth Brother brought several S-Mine Detonators to the planet Malachor as he tracked down the former Sith Lord Maul. When the Eighth Brother came across the Jedi Kanan Jarrus, his apprentice Ezra Bridger, and the former Jedi Ahsoka Tano, he hurled three S-Mine Detonators at the trio as they charged forward. The explosions collapsed the ground below Bridger, causing him to fall through and providing the outnumbered Inquisitor an opportunity to flee.^[1]

The Sith Lord Darth Sidious later depicted S-Mine Detonators in a visualization of the Inquisitors, including the Eighth Brother, in The Secrets of the Sith, a book that he wrote before^[10] his death during the Battle of Exegol in 35 ABY.^[6]

Behind the scenes

"His Photon Grenades are drawn from that initial fight where he leaps back and flings the colorful explosives at Kanan and Ahsoka."

―Galaxy of Heroes development team member CG_SBCrumb describes the Eighth Brother's Photon Grenades ability^[11]

S-Mine Detonators first appeared in part one of the two-part episode "Twilight of the Apprentice,"^[1] the finale of the second season of the animated television series Star Wars Rebels, which aired on March 30, 2016.^[12] The detonators were first pictured in the Season Two mid-season trailer released on January 15 of that year,^[13] and they were identified in the episode's accompanying episode guide. Concept art for "Twilight of the Apprentice" depicting the S-Mine Detonators dated to April 21, 2015 was done by^[4] senior concept designer^[1] Amy Beth Christenson.^[4] Additionally, concept paintings of the S-Mine Detonators exploding was created.^[14]

The Eighth Brother's Photon Grenades ability in Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes. — The Eighth Brother's Photon Grenades ability in *Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes*.

S-Mine Detonators were later identified as Photon Grenades in two separate forum posts from EA Capital Games on March 23, 2022,^[15]^[11] which served as previews for their inclusion in the video game Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes,^[16] which originally released on November 24, 2015.^[17] The Eighth Brother and his Photon Grenades were added to the game on March 24, 2022.^[16] Galaxy of Heroes game developers specifically designed the Photon Grenades ability name and animation in reference to the Eighth Brother's scenes in "Twilight of the Apprentice."^[11]