Introduced as an even deadlier upgrade to the Assault Gunboat, the Missile Boat is the elite long-distance weapons fighting platform. Designed by Cygnus under the commission of Grand Admiral Thrawn, the Missile Boat quickly made a name for itself, becoming an object of terror to convoys, starfighter pilots, and capital ship crews alike. A single Missile Boat can hold up to 80 concussion missiles, an unprecedented amount of fire power for a ship of that size.

Though deadly from long-range, Imperial pilots dislike the Missile Boat once they get into the thick of combat. A single weak laser cannon and bad maneuverability make the Missile Boat vulnerable in dogfights. For this reason it is best to dispatch a flight of TIE Advanced or Defenders to guard the Missile Boats and dogfight, freeing up the Missile Boat to sow death from long range.

Because of the Missile Boat's production cost and its dogfighting handicap, the Missile Boat has not become as common in Imperial fleets as many anticipated.