Thermal

• Source: Custom

Thermal damage is caused by the transfer of internal energy; this process is also known as heat, but this damage not specific to effects which increase internal energy--they might also decrease it.

Heat can inflict serious, lethal damage upon biological lifeforms, who are comprised of organic compounds which can combust if large amounts of energy are added to them. Many proteins will fuse into useless masses when burned. Most organic life is water-based; such lifeforms can freeze if internal energy is taken away.

Heat can be less effective on inorganic lifeforms, droids, and vehicles, depending on how it is delivered. Blasters and lightsabers inflict damage by applying plasma to the target; such super-heated gas can easily melt or vaporize most metals and compounds on contact, allowing the plasma to damage the target's inner workings. In fact, plasma weapons were first derived because they were approximately similar in damage potential to both organic and inorganic targets, unlike other forms of damage which tend to favor one or the other.