Summary
- Darth Vader despised the Death Star and may have allowed its destruction, as he criticized its power and knew the Imperials were too reliant on it.
- Anakin Skywalker's experience at the Battle of Naboo taught him how to destroy space stations, which he may have known the rebels would exploit.
- Vader had multiple opportunities to retrieve the Death Star plans but allowed the rebels to escape, suggesting he wanted its destruction to secure his place as Palpatine's apprentice.
Luke Skywalker may have destroyed the Death Star in Star Wars, but a chilling theory suggests that Darth Vader was responsible. This idea seems illogical at first glance, as Vader led the hunt for the Death Star plans at the end of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the entirety of A New Hope. However, several key moments throughout both movies hint at Vader's ulterior motives, and the Star Wars books and comics provide additional reasons for why he would allow the Death Star's destruction.
If this theory were true, it would radically change the context of Darth Vader's best Star Wars scenes and add more depth to his role within the Empire throughout the original trilogy. It also makes him a more selfish antagonist, establishing from the beginning that he's ultimately loyal to himself. A closer look at the entire Star Wars saga sheds light on how Vader could be responsible for destroying the Death Star and why it would benefit him.
Your browser does not support the video tag. Darth Vader Despised The Death Star 
Despite his efforts to retrieve the Death Star plans from the Rebel Alliance, Vader voiced his hatred for the battle station. He criticized Admiral Motti for being too overconfident in the Death Star's power, claiming that "the ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force." Vader knew that the Imperials were becoming over-reliant on the Death Star to solve all their problems and that this would cost them in the end. He may have detested the Death Star so much that he was willing to let the rebels destroy the station, and there's quite a bit of evidence pointing to this theory.
