The Mindbender class was an experiment using the same components as the conventional Federation Class Dreadnought, but creating a more compact craft to reduce target cross section. Just one prototype was built and was used in competitive trials against the Federation class. The Mindbender was more manoeuvrable. but top speed suffered as the design was less warp dynamic, it also suffered from restricted firing arcs for the primary hull lower phasers.

After the trials were complete Mindbender was retained as a trials and training ship.