Ionic destabilizers were short-range weapons that were used primarily against droids, but also were effective against most living targets, especially those with cybernetic components. The weapons were typically shaped like blasters, and delivered a small but powerful burst of electrons. This burst was normally enough to disrupt the programming of droids and computerized parts, rendering them inoperable; an effect similar to an electric shock could sometimes be observed in living targets with no electrical parts. The destabilizer had very little effect on machines that operated without electricity, and was too weak to use against most spacecraft or large ground vehicles, although it had some value against small ground vehicles such as speeder bikes.