10 Most Powerful ‘Star Wars’ Characters In Official Canon, Ranked

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Since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, the official Star Wars storyline has been refreshed with many compelling characters. While relationships between these characters have always been central to Star Wars stories, their powers are also crucial to creating the rich world of the franchise. Usually, being “powerful” means a character is skilled with the Force and a strong fighter. But there are a few characters who are exceptions to this.

This ranking doesn’t include the Mortis gods – the Father, the Daughter, and the Son – despite their immense power. These mysterious figures, introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, are essentially living representations of the Force itself. However, they haven’t had many chances to demonstrate their abilities, making it difficult to accurately place them on a power list. We’re also giving a special mention to Cal Kestis, the character from the Star Wars: Jedi video games, played by Cameron Monaghan. He’s incredibly versatile with the Force and in combat, but his strength largely depends on how the player controls him. Because he didn’t receive extensive training beyond his Padawan years, it wouldn’t be fair to rank him among the most powerful Star Wars characters.

Kylo Ren


Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

While other new characters in the Star Wars sequels weren’t particularly strong, Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren quickly became known as the most intimidating. Debuting in The Force Awakens (2015), his aggressive and rage-filled fighting style was surprisingly effective, even though his lack of emotional control often held him back. Being a descendant of the powerful Skywalker line – and Anakin Skywalker specifically – it’s clear that Kylo Ren (also known as Ben Solo) inherited some natural Force abilities.

Grand Admiral Thrawn


Disney+

As a critic, I have to say Lars Mikkelsen is Thrawn. And what makes him so compelling isn’t the Force – he doesn’t need it. He’s arguably the most brilliant strategist in all of Star Wars, and that intellect is genuinely terrifying when he’s leading troops. But even stripped of resources, even facing impossible odds, Thrawn always finds a way to win. Let’s be real, he’d lose in a direct duel with a Jedi or Sith, but that doesn’t diminish his strategic genius – it just means he needs that strategy, and that’s why he earns his place on this list.

Darth Maul


Lucasfilm

After losing to Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Phantom Menace (1999), the heavily tattooed Darth Maul survived through sheer willpower and a burning desire for revenge. Even though he lost his legs and replaced them with robotic parts, his lightsaber skills didn’t suffer at all – he likely became more dangerous. Free from his former master, he had nothing to lose and quickly rose to power within a criminal organization. And even after things fell apart, he persevered, continuing his relentless hunt for Obi-Wan.

Mace Windu


20th Century Studios 

Mace Windu is considered one of the most skilled fighters in the entire Star Wars universe. When wielding a lightsaber, very little can defeat him. Even his defeat by Emperor Palpatine in Revenge of the Sith wasn’t a straightforward loss – Anakin Skywalker intervened and distracted him. Windu’s unique Vaapad fighting style highlights his incredible self-discipline. Vaapad is a dangerous technique, as it draws power from the dark side of the Force. Fortunately, Windu is strong enough to resist the dark side’s influence and remains devoted to the light.

Avar Kriss


Marvel Comics

I’m a huge fan of Avar Kriss! She might not be a name everyone knows yet – she’s from the newer High Republic stories, set centuries before the movies. But trust me, she’s incredible. The series quickly establishes her as the most powerful Jedi of her time. Seriously, they even hint that she could go toe-to-toe with Jedi and Sith from any era! She became a legend during the High Republic, and even a scary story for those who fought against the Republic. I can’t wait for more people to discover how awesome she is!

Luke Skywalker


Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Luke Skywalker’s (Mark Hamill) true strength is often underestimated in the original Star Wars trilogy, partly because the lightsaber fights are drawn out and more traditional in style. As the son of Anakin Skywalker, Luke naturally possesses a strong connection to the Force and is a gifted lightsaber duelist. While many fans have issues with how Luke is portrayed in the 2017 film The Last Jedi, it does demonstrate the continued development of his abilities. His ability to project a realistic image of himself across vast distances, deceiving everyone, was an incredibly impressive accomplishment, making it understandable why he achieved oneness with the Force soon after.

Yoda


Lucasfilm

Yoda is a beloved Star Wars character for more than just his unusual way of speaking. This small, green Jedi Master is uniquely powerful with the Force, skilled in lightsaber combat, and incredibly wise thanks to centuries of experience. He truly represents the ideal Jedi: someone who avoids fighting if possible and always tries to find a peaceful solution. I believe that even in his final days on Dagobah, before becoming one with the Force, Yoda still had the strength to win a few more battles.

Emperor Sheev Palpatine


20th Century Fox

The Emperor, also known as Darth Sidious and portrayed by Ian McDiarmid, was likely the only one who could have defeated Master Yoda in a fight. Though using the Dark Side has disfigured him, it’s also where his incredible power comes from. He became emperor through a combination of political maneuvering and ruthless actions, but his sheer strength in overcoming opponents is what allowed him to maintain control for so long.

Darth Vader


Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Even before he became Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker was a formidable opponent. As a Sith Lord with nothing to lose, Vader was incredibly frightening. For years, he served as the Emperor’s top enforcer, eliminating anyone who posed a threat to the Empire – sometimes without even physically touching them. When Anakin returned at the end of the original trilogy, his victory over Emperor Palpatine demonstrated that he had become more powerful than his master. However, there’s still one character in Star Wars who exceeds Darth Vader’s power.

Darth Plagueis


Disney+

Even before appearing in the finale of the 2024 series Star Wars: The Acolyte, Plagueis was a significant figure in the Star Wars story. While Disney later changed parts of his history, much of what was known about him remains true. According to Palpatine, Plagueis was killed by his apprentice – Palpatine himself – while he was sleeping. Despite this, Plagueis was the one who discovered how to control life using the Force, a power that became crucial to the overall Star Wars narrative. Palpatine’s decision to strike while Plagueis was asleep suggests he understood he couldn’t defeat his master in a direct confrontation.

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2026-02-17 23:04