Stun grenades were a type of grenade designed to stun adversaries, typically employed in situations where the primary goal was apprehension, capture, or incapacitation rather than lethal force.
These weapons were compact, with a weight of approximately 0.5 kilograms, and possessed an effective blast radius spanning 3 to 4 meters. They saw use among mercenary groups, local law enforcement agencies, and military forces. Engineered to detonate upon impact, these grenades could render individuals within the blast zone unconscious due to the resulting concussive shockwave. Their effectiveness was limited to organic, living targets, proving ineffective against droids or electronic systems; for droid incapacitation, ion grenades or comparable devices were necessary. These items generally had a price point of 600 credits from 32 BBY to 4 ABY, though they could occasionally be found for as little as 250 credits. As with other explosive ordnance, their availability was frequently restricted.
The arms manufacturer Merr-Sonn Munitions, Inc. produced several variations of the stun grenade, including the C-10 stun grenade and the C-14A stun grenade, the latter of which uniquely could be recharged and used again. Another variant was the Spore/B stun grenade, which utilized microscopic Bothan stun spores to neutralize targets.
During the time of the Rise of the Empire era, Clone commandos carried stun grenades. During the Imperial era, they were deployed by the Coruscant Guards and specialized prison guards known as Imperial Dungeoneers. During the Rebellion era, they were used by Spacetroopers of the Galactic Empire and SpecForce infiltrators belonging to the Rebel Alliance.
Stormtroopers serving the Galactic Empire, as well as Stormtroopers within the Empire of the Hand, made use of stun grenades.
Bounty hunters, who pursued and retrieved sentient beings in exchange for compensation, also employed stun grenades. Because bounty hunters typically aimed to capture their targets alive rather than kill them, stun grenades were a valuable asset. Law enforcement and security forces also found stun grenades to be a useful tool when non-lethal methods were required.