Summary

• The power of a sci-fi ship is not solely determined by its firepower, but also by factors such as the character controlling it and the show in which it exists.
• Different sci-fi shows have their unique interpretations of powerful ships, with some favoring realism while others embrace fantastical elements.
• Each ship mentioned in the article, from the Rocinante to the TARDIS, has its own distinct characteristics and abilities that contribute to its power.

Sci-fi TV shows are often home to very powerful ships, although some are much stronger than others. While certain spacecraft rely on pure firepower and fortification, the strength of others comes in a different form altogether. The character in control of the ship also has an impact on its dominance when a ship finds itself in the middle of an interstellar dogfight with no backup.

The show in which the ship exists also affects the intimidation factor when held up against its rivals from other properties. While a certain craft may be at the top of the hierarchy in its franchise, it might not last more than a few exchanged blows with its more advanced counterpart from other shows. The beauty of sci-fi is there's a variety of different ways a ship can be considered powerful.

10 The Rocinante In The Expanse

The pride of the Martian navy is only realistically powerful.

the Rocinante's crew wouldn't stand a chance in more fantastical versions of space warfare.

All six seasons of The Expanse are streaming on Prime Video.

9 The Borg Cube In Star Trek: The Next Generation

These ships, which reappear in other Star Trek movies and shows, are enormous.

What a Borg Cube lacks in agility, it makes up for in force and adaptability. Any Starfleet ship unfortunate enough to encounter a Borg vessel may only land a couple of salvos, as the shields of every Borg ship in Star Trek quickly become immune to the damage. Cubes are also home to a great number of Borg Drones, which can be dispatched to opposing vessels and assimilate their crew into the Collective. However, Cubes are equally fallible to infiltration, with sometimes just a handful of Starfleet officers being needed to take down one from within.

All seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation are streaming on Paramount+.

8 The Planet Express Ship In Futurama

Appearances can be deceiving with "Old Bessie."

Although it may look like a fairly standard vessel, the Planet Express Ship is more than just a delivery vehicle. Armed and ready to defend itself should the need arise, the ship's true power lies in its propulsion system. Rather than the engines moving the craft through space, "Old Bessie," as the Planet Express Ship is sometimes called in Futurama, remains static as the universe moves around it. This ability shows the true power not only of the ship but also of its designer, Professor Farnsworth.

All 11 seasons of Futurama are streaming on Hulu.

7 The USS Orville In The Orville

Anything a Star Trek Federation ship can do, the USS Orville can do.

The Orville started as a love letter to the Star Trek franchise, but it came into its own as the show progressed. That being said, the layout of the Union ships and their abilities are almost an exact match for their counterparts in the property that inspired them. As a result, the USS Orville is a match for almost any threat it comes up against. It has everything a Federation vessel has, just under a different name.

6 Talyn In Farscape

The hybrid living vessel is especially powerful given his heritage.

A ship that can pilot itself is always a huge advantage, and that is the case with Talyn. The result of a Peacekeeper experiment, Talyn is a Peacekeeper/Leviathan hybrid. Leviathans are living ships, and while they typically aren't armed, Talyn's Peacekeeper DNA meant he developed both internal and external weaponry. He was commonly unstable due to his origins, even attacking Moya, his mother. Although he eventually sacrificed himself to save his friends, Talyn was considered one of the most powerful ships around, even while still growing.

All four seasons of Farscape are streaming on Peacock, Tubi, Pluto TV, Crackle, Plex, Shout! TV, The Roku Channel, and Fubo.

5 The USS Voyager In Star Trek: Voyager

Already quite powerful, its time in the Delta Quadrant improved the ship.

Even before the USS Voyager was pulled across the galaxy, it was already one of the most advanced ships in the fleet. Its breakthrough bio-neural gel packs increased response times from all consoles, the warp core allowed it to travel at warp 9.99, and its armory was surprisingly well-stocked for a vessel of exploration. On the crew's long journey home, they made several improvements to their ship, the most notable being the addition of Borg technology. A former Borg ing the crew meant Captain Janeway now had a way to augment the ship with the hardware of their enemy. The move made the Voyager an even more formidable ship.

All seven seasons of Star Trek: Voyager are streaming on Paramount+.

4 Din Djarin's N-1 Naboo Starfighter In The Mandalorian

Din's new ship is even more powerful than the one it replaced.

Following the destruction of the Razor Crest, Din Djarin needed a new vessel. Although it was a tall order to find a replacement for what was also essentially his home, Peli Motto helped him do just that. Din Djarin's new ship in The Mandalorian is a modified Naboo Starfighter, a vessel already designed for battle. However, Din and Motto rebuilt it from the ground up, improving both the weapons systems and the engines. The result is a terrifyingly fast ship that's armed to the teeth. With a pilot as skilled as Din Djarin at the controls, it's a force to be reckoned with.

3 The Invictus In Foundation

Its age means nothing when its legend and size are considered.

Although ancient, the Invictus remains untouchable. Foundation's antiquated jumpship is not only capable of defending itself from external threats, but its internal security systems are equally unforgiving in the event of an unauthorized presence. Its size is one intimidating factor, as is the legend that surrounds the gigantic craft as a ghost ship left jumping around the vastness of space for centuries. Reputation and firepower combine to create a powerful mix, with the Invictus a prime example of how effective such a union can be.

2 The TARDIS In Doctor Who

The Doctor's ship is unarmed yet still very dangerous.

It may seem strange to refer to a wooden box as powerful, but the TARDIS fits the description. With the ability to transport the Doctor to any point in time and space, it ranks among the most unexpectedly effective weapons in science fiction. Although travel is its main purpose, the living ship also harbors a great deal of raw power within its heart. When Rose Tyler looks into the source of this power in "The Parting of the Ways," the abilities she manifests put her near the level of a deity, with one of her most impressive feats taking the form of bringing Captain Jack Harkness back to life, forever.

"TARDIS" stands for "Time And Relative Dimension In Space."

All 26 seasons of classic Doctor Who are streaming for free on Tubi. All 13 seasons of the modern Doctor Who are streaming on Max while the 60th-anniversary specials are available to watch on Disney+.

1 The Space Cruiser In Rick And Morty

The most powerful sci-fi ship on television came from the mind of a genius.

Rick and Morty's Space Cruiser has seen better days from an aesthetic point of view, but its appearance does not diminish its power. Rick Sanchez's ship has access to weapons and devices that go far beyond the conventional, with many of them being created and added by Rick himself. One of the best displays of the Cruiser's true power comes in one of the best Rick and Morty episodes. In "The Ricks Must Be Crazy," Rick gives the ship the seemingly benign order to "keep Summer safe."

The on-board AI goes through progressively creative and dark measures to keep everyone at bay. Although it's the AI that uses the equipment available to it, it is gear that was presumably already installed by Rick himself. The show adds to the Space Cruiser's abilities every season, and so its power continues to increase over time.

The first six seasons of Rick and Morty are streaming on Hulu and Max. New episodes are available from Adult Swim.