Andross's Forces

Lore & Background

Andross rose to power through a combination of brute force, political manipulation, and an almost fanatical belief in his own supremacy over every other species in the galaxy. His forces are a patchwork of conquered peoples and manufactured war machines, united not by shared culture but by the simple, terrifying fact that resistance means annihilation. The fleet's ship designs reflect this philosophy: angular, heavily plated, and built for sustained bombardment rather than the nimble dogfighting that defines the Arwing's combat style. Where the Star Fox team relies on speed, evasive maneuvers, and pilot skill, Andross's army relies on numbers, layered defenses, and the sheer mass of its capital ships.

The hierarchy of the forces is personal as much as it is military. Pico, Andross's son, commands a loyal wing of the fleet and serves as both his heir and his most trusted field commander. His relationship with his father is one of fierce, almost desperate devotion, and his rivalry with Fox McCloud—pilot, son, and rival in the eyes of every fan—adds a deeply personal edge to every engagement. General Muro, a grizzled and pragmatic officer, oversees the more conventional military operations and serves as a counterweight to Pico's more aggressive, ego-driven tactics. Together, these lieutenants ensure that Andross's will is executed across dozens of star systems simultaneously.

What makes Andross's Forces a persistent and evolving threat across the series is their adaptability. In the original Star Fox, they are a straightforward invasion force. In Star Fox 64, they are a layered, multi-theater military machine with distinct battalions for each planet. In Star Fox: Assault, the threat is more personal and more dangerous, with Andross's forces operating in close-quarters, three-dimensional combat that strips away the open-space advantages the Arwing normally enjoys. Each iteration pushes the Star Fox team to evolve, ensuring that the rivalry never becomes stale.

In Their Own Story

The corridor of Andross's command deck smelled of ozone and scorched metal. Pico stood at the viewport, his small frame silhouetted against the slow rotation of a captured moon below. Through the glass, he could see the Star Fox squadron's Arwings—three of them, maybe four—streaking across the dark like angry sparks. Fox was always first. Fox was always the one who broke through the outer screen, who laughed while doing it, who made war look like a dare.

Pico's jaw tightened. He keyed the comm. "Muro. Shift the Z-Guard screen to the eastern vector. I want them funneled into the kill-box before the second pass."

A pause. Then Muro's gravelly voice: "And if the little fox goes solo again?"

Pico almost smiled. "Then I'll be waiting."

Behind him, the great figure of Andross stood motionless, his massive hands resting on the console as though the entire fleet were a toy he had not yet decided to break. He did not need to speak. He never did. The order was already in motion, the guns already turning, the galaxy already shrinking around a single, unyielding will.

Reader's Guide

DOSSIER: ANDROSS'S FORCES

Command Structure: Andross sits at the apex, issuing directives from his command ship. Pico, his son, leads the elite strike wing and serves as de facto heir. General Muro commands the conventional fleet battalions and handles multi-system logistics. Below them, hundreds of alien soldiers and automated drones fill every rank.

Objectives: Total galactic subjugation. Andross does not negotiate, trade, or ally. Every planet his fleet touches is either conquered or reduced to rubble. The Star Fox team's home system, Corneria, is a primary target, making the conflict deeply personal for Fox, Falco, Slippy, and Peppy.

Signature Vehicles & Tactics: The fleet favors heavy, angular capital ships and layered drone screens over the lightweight, high-maneuverability designs of the Arwing. Tactics emphasize saturation—swarms of Z-Fighters, Z-Snakes, and Z-Guards that force the Star Fox team to manage threats on multiple axes simultaneously. In close-quarters, Z-Head and Z-Brick units create chokepoints. In open space, Z-Turtles and Z-Spears deliver sustained bombardment.

Relationship to Star Fox: Unremitting enemies. There is no truce, no shared mission, no uneasy alliance. Every encounter is existential. The Fox-vs-Pico rivalry is the emotional core: two young leaders, son and rival, locked in a generational struggle that fans endlessly debate. Is Pico a tragic heir or a genuine threat? Does Fox fight him as a soldier or as a mirror? The franchise never fully answers, and that ambiguity is part of the rivalry's lasting appeal.

Did You Know?

• Andross has served as the primary antagonist across multiple Star Fox titles, including the original SNES game, Star Fox 64, Star Fox: Assault, and Star Fox Guard, making him one of the most enduring recurring villains i
• Pico, Andross's son, is a distinct playable or encounter character in several Star Fox games, and his personal rivalry with Fox McCloud is a fan-favorite dynamic that spans the entire series.
• In Star Fox 64, Andross's forces are organized into distinct battalions tied to specific planets and missions, meaning the Star Fox team faces different compositions of enemy ships and tactics depending on the theater of
• The Star Fox anime series, Star Fox: The Animation, expanded Andross's backstory and motivations, giving him a more developed political and personal history beyond the video game portrayals.