10 Best Jedi Who Turned to the Dark Side in Star Wars Canon & Legends, Ranked by Power

by

The Star Wars story is fundamentally about the conflict between good and evil. The Jedi, while fighting the dark side represented by the Sith, also struggle with their own inner demons and the temptation to fall to darkness. Some Jedi aren’t strong enough to resist this temptation.

While Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side and becoming Darth Vader is the most well-known case of a Jedi turning evil in Star Wars, he’s far from the only one. Both the official Disney canon and the older “Legends” stories feature many Jedi who have fallen to the dark side or become full-fledged Sith. Here’s a ranking of the 10 most powerful of these fallen Jedi – and be warned, there are spoilers ahead! You might be surprised to learn that Anakin/Vader isn’t at the top of the list!

Just a heads-up: Because we’ve included both current Star Wars characters and those from the older ‘Legends’ stories, we couldn’t include every Sith apprentice like Starkiller, Quinlan Vos, or Asajj Ventress, or the Inquisitors (who used to be Jedi). Our list focuses on the most powerful Sith, starting with those who are already very strong and going up from there.

10. Baylan Skoll (Canon)

Lord Baylan Skoll is a recent addition to the Star Wars universe, and we’re still discovering his story. However, what we have seen strongly suggests he’s a major player. He was a Jedi Master and a General during the Republic’s time, and one of the few powerful enough to survive the devastating Order 66. He then navigated the dangerous Imperial era as an independent mercenary, becoming so well-known – and feared – that he earned the title ‘Lord.’ As seen in Star Wars: Ahsoka, he’s incredibly skilled with the Force, easily demonstrated by his ability to throw massive objects at his enemies.

Baylan Skoll possesses a rare and powerful connection to the Force. He can easily read minds and even sense things happening far away, like the source of power linked to Grand Admiral Thrawn on the distant planet Peridea. What really stands out is how easily he defeated Ahsoka Tano in battle – she was trained by Anakin Skywalker and had previously fought well against powerful opponents like Maul and Darth Vader. Baylan Skoll is quickly becoming one of the most powerful fallen Jedi in the Star Wars universe, and he’s forging his own path to power.

9. The Stranger (Canon)

The High Republic was intended to be a golden age for the Jedi and the Force, but it wasn’t a perfect time for everyone. One individual, formerly a Jedi apprentice under the respected Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh, experienced a significant falling out and was expelled from the Order. Surprisingly, this apprentice was then taken in and trained by Darth Plagueis, the powerful Sith Lord who would later mentor Sheev Palpatine and transform him into Darth Sidious.

In Star Wars: The Acolyte, The Stranger is revealed to be a powerful Sith Lord operating during the High Republic era. He secretly worked to rebuild the Sith Order by adhering to the Rule of Two – creating an apprentice to replace him. He demonstrated incredible power, single-handedly defeating a group of Jedi Knights and successfully turning a young, Force-sensitive woman named Osha to the dark side. The Stranger also possessed advanced Force abilities, including healing and memory manipulation. His unique helmet could deflect lightsaber attacks, though at the expense of his senses, implying he relies heavily on Force perception. As an active Sith Lord during a time when the Jedi were at their peak, The Stranger foreshadowed the eventual downfall of the Jedi Order and the resurgence of the Sith Empire, hinting that the followers of Darth Plagueis would ultimately be responsible.

8. Count Dooku / Lord Tyranus (Canon)

Count Dooku began as a highly respected and ethical Jedi Master, but he grew increasingly dissatisfied with the direction the Jedi Order was taking during the Republic. This led him to fall to the dark side and become the second apprentice to Senator Palpatine, secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious. The fact that Palpatine chose Dooku as an apprentice highlights Dooku’s immense power, which was clearly shown in the prequel films through his skill with a lightsaber, his mastery of the Force, and, crucially, his sharp mind and strategic thinking.

Count Dooku was a skilled manipulator who brought together the Separatist forces and led them to break away from the Republic. He secretly orchestrated the Clone Wars from behind the scenes. His power was so great that he potentially could have surpassed his own master, Darth Sidious, which is why Sidious manipulated Anakin Skywalker into killing him.

7. Ben Solo / Kylo Ren (Canon)

Ben Solo, the son of Leia and Han Solo, turned to the dark side after Luke Skywalker briefly questioned his immense power in the Force. Manipulated by Palpatine, who disguised himself as Supreme Leader Snoke, Ben became Kylo Ren and a key leader in the First Order, the successor to the Empire. Kylo Ren aimed to follow in his grandfather Darth Vader’s footsteps, but never fully achieved the same level of power. In reality, Ben was a conflicted individual, not simply evil, and eventually found redemption. As a member of the Skywalker family, he was naturally incredibly strong with the Force, though perhaps not as strategically brilliant or skilled in combat as some of his relatives.

6. Kreia / Darth Traya (Legends)

During the Old Republic era, Kreia, a Jedi Master and independent thinker, challenged the traditional Jedi philosophy. She believed the Jedi needed to change to truly liberate all life in the galaxy from the Force’s control. After training Revan, a Jedi who fell to the dark side and built a new Sith Empire, Kreia was exiled. She then explored the dark side, hoping to find a balance between light and darkness, but instead became Darth Traya, aiming to establish her own Sith Order. Betrayed first by her student Revan, and later by her new Sith apprentices, Darth Nihilus and Darth Sion, Traya was defeated and cut off from the Force, leaving her wandering the galaxy. Eventually, she briefly returned to the light, training the exiled Jedi Meetra Surik as a means of exacting revenge. In a final confrontation on Malacor V, Kreia embraced the dark side once more, seeking retribution against both the Jedi and her former students, before being defeated and killed by Surik.

Kreia was an exceptionally powerful and knowledgeable Force user, arguably one of the most skilled of her time. Beyond her mastery of both the light and dark sides, she trained many of the Old Republic’s most influential Jedi and Sith. Her abilities were so advanced that she could even wield three lightsabers simultaneously, despite having no hands. At the time of her death, Kreia possessed the rare ability to foresee the destinies of the Jedi and Sith for generations to come. She truly embodies the idea of a Star Wars legend, particularly for those who experienced her story in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords.

5. Alek / Darth Malak (Legends)

During the Old Republic era, Alek was a dedicated Jedi from the planet Quelli, located in the Outer Rim, which was destroyed by the Mandalorians. He became friends with another Padawan named Revan, and together they rose to become Jedi Knights, fighting side-by-side. Though Revan and Alek – later known as Malak – were instrumental in ending the Mandalorian Wars, their investigation into a possible Sith involvement led them to the Sith Emperor, hidden in the Unknown Regions. They were captured and ultimately turned to the dark side.

Darth Revan and Darth Malak terrorized the galaxy, sparking the Jedi Civil War, also known as the Second Sith War or the Malak War. Eventually, Malak betrayed Revan, and a duel ensued where Revan sliced off Malak’s jaw with a lightsaber. The Jedi captured Revan and helped him return to the light side of the Force. Malak, however, continued to lead the Sith Order until his death, eventually facing Revan in a final duel. Both Revan and Malak were exceptionally powerful, exceeding the abilities of later Jedi and Sith from that era, though Revan ultimately proved to be the stronger of the two.

4. Revan / Darth Revan (Legends)

Revan and Malak’s stories are deeply connected—you can experience the details by playing Knights of the Old Republic. Revan strongly disagreed with the Jedi Order’s decision to avoid the Mandalorian Wars, leading him to start a protest movement called the Revanchist Movement. He adopted a Mandalorian mask and, alongside Malak, joined the Republic’s war effort, eventually becoming its Supreme Commander. After defeating the Mandalorian leader, Mandalore the Ultimate, Revan began to learn about the Sith. He was then transformed into Darth Raven by the Sith Emperor and, with Malak, tasked with rebuilding the Sith Empire across the galaxy, using the powerful Star Forge as their primary weapon.

Malak ultimately turned against Revan, taking control of the Sith. Jedi Bastila Shan then captured Revan and erased his memory, effectively giving him a new life as a Republic soldier. Revan later retrained as a Jedi, defeated Malak, and married Shan, settling in the Unknown Regions. However, his story didn’t end there. The Sith Emperor captured and tortured Revan for centuries before he was freed. Revan died while trying to activate a massive droid army to destroy the galaxy. He was an exceptionally powerful warrior, skilled in both Jedi and Sith ways, and one of the greatest heroes of the Old Republic. But his most lasting impact wasn’t his power – it was his ideas. Revan’s teachings continued to influence the Sith for thousands of years, inspiring figures like Lord Darth Rivan and Darth Bane, who used them to create the “Rule of Two.”

Jacen Solo / Darth Caedus (Legends)

In the older, expanded universe of Star Wars – known as “Legends” – Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo had a son named Jacen, along with his twin sister, Jaina. When they were thirteen and began showing abilities with the Force, both twins started training with their uncle, Luke Skywalker, becoming his apprentices. Jacen also had a younger brother, Anakin, who trained with Luke as well.

Jacen was a calm and thoughtful person, but the trauma of war deeply affected him. During a critical mission in the Yuuzhan Vong War, Anakin died and Jacen was captured, enduring almost a year of torture. This experience planted the seeds of darkness within him, leading to an intense focus on Force visions. He believed these visions held the key to preventing future disasters, like another devastating war. Like his grandfather, Anakin, Jacen formed a secret relationship and had a child, and these attachments intensified his desire to control the future and avoid catastrophe. These visions ultimately led him to the teachings of Lumiya, a Dark Lady of the Sith. As Darth Caedus, he ironically became the very threat he’d tried so hard to prevent. He seized power over the Galactic Alliance, committed terrible acts – including the murder of Luke Skywalker’s wife, Mara Jade, and the torture of his apprentice, Ben Skywalker – and caused widespread galactic suffering. Essentially, he’s a more fully realized villain than Kylo Ren in the Disney sequel trilogy.

Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader (Canon)

As a huge Star Wars fan, I’ve always been fascinated by Anakin Skywalker. He was prophesied to be the ‘Chosen One,’ meant to bring balance to the Force, but his journey was incredibly complex. Even his birth was tied to manipulation of the Force, and he quickly showed immense potential, becoming a powerful Jedi Knight and a celebrated general during the Clone Wars. It’s tragic, really, how Darth Sidious exploited Anakin’s strong emotions and past traumas. Sidious wanted a supremely powerful apprentice, and Anakin, with all his strength, was the perfect target. Ultimately, Anakin’s fall to the dark side led to the destruction of the Jedi Order, paving the way for the birth of Darth Vader. It’s a really heartbreaking story when you think about it.

As a huge Star Wars fan, I’ve always been fascinated by Vader and Palpatine. They spent years secretly controlling the galaxy, but it was clear they were always playing their own dangerous game, trying to outmaneuver each other like a twisted chess match – it’s just what Sith do! It’s amazing to me that no one could actually beat Vader in a fight. Instead, it was Luke, with his unwavering belief in good, that brought Anakin back from the darkness. Seeing Anakin finally defeat Palpatine, even if it didn’t last forever, was such a powerful moment. And honestly, considering everything he accomplished, both as a Jedi and a Sith, Vader is just… unmatched. He’s truly one of a kind.

A’Sharad Hett / Darth Krayt (Legends)

A’Sharad Hett was a Jedi Master and Republic general who fought in the Clone Wars. He became friends with Anakin Skywalker, even after learning about Anakin’s massacre of a Tusken village, and remarkably survived both the war and the devastating Jedi Purge (Order 66). Originally a member of the Tusken people, A’Sharad went into hiding on Tatooine and dedicated himself to fighting the Empire. After a duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi resulted in his banishment, he learned that Darth Vader was actually Anakin, and felt responsible for the fall of the Jedi. This led him to become a bounty hunter, wandering alone. Eventually, he encountered a Sith Lord named XoXaan, who trained him in the dark side. Later, during a different war, he was captured by the Yuuzhan Vong, and their torture and cruelty pushed him further towards darkness.

Known as Darth Krayt, this powerful Sith Lord secretly built a new Sith order, hiding it from the Jedi for a hundred years. He survived for a long time in a suspended state and reappeared after the Galactic Civil War, assisting Luke Skywalker in defeating a dangerous Force-based entity named Abeloth. Krayt then initiated a war that restored the Empire’s control over the galaxy. For almost ten years, his One Sith secretly manipulated events while attempting to dismantle the New Jedi Order. Despite being betrayed by one of his own advisors, Krayt demonstrated his incredible power as a fallen Jedi, becoming a Sith Lord who could overcome death itself – able to reunite his spirit with his body and heal, as long as his body remained whole. He almost threw the galaxy into complete chaos once more, but was ultimately defeated and killed by Cade Skywalker, a distant relative of Luke Skywalker.

https://comicbook.com/movies/list/3-jedi-who-survived-order-66-that-star-wars-still-needs-to-do-more-with/embed/#

Read More

2026-04-23 16:15