6 Strongest Jedi Who Were Killed in Order 66 (& Why They Should Have Survived)

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The Star Wars universe is showing us more and more Jedi who survived Order 66. We’ve even seen new survivors – Devon and her master, Eeko-Dio Daki – in the recent story, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord. However, as established in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and other series like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Star Wars Rebels, a huge number of Jedi were killed during the massacre.

Although Palpatine failed to destroy the Jedi completely—which is fortunate—Order 66 was a devastatingly effective plan to significantly reduce their numbers, eliminating even some of the Order’s most skilled and powerful members. These six Jedi, in particular, were exceptionally strong and, given their abilities, likely should have survived.

Depa Billaba

Depa Billaba was one of the most powerful Jedi, largely due to her training under the highly skilled Master Mace Windu. Her position on the Jedi Council further demonstrated her status as a top Jedi. However, Star Wars: The Bad Batch revealed she perished during Order 66 while shielding her Padawan, Caleb Dume, who later became Kanan Jarrus.

Depa Billaba faced a massive wave of clone troopers, but Ahsoka Tano also survived Order 66, even rescuing her close friend Rex. Although Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi revealed Anakin specifically prepared Ahsoka for a potential attack like this, the fact that she survived – especially after being separated from the Jedi Order for a while – suggests a fully trained Jedi Master should have been able to do the same.

Aayla Secura

Aayla Secura was a remarkably strong Jedi, and despite not being a member of the Jedi Council, she likely should have survived Order 66. Sadly, her death in Revenge of the Sith is particularly disturbing, as the film depicts her clone troopers continuing to fire upon her even after she had clearly fallen and was presumably deceased.

Similar to Yoda, Aayla Secura should have been able to anticipate the blaster fire and feel the disturbance in the Force when the clone troopers betrayed her. Yet, she appears completely surprised by the attack and falls quickly, which doesn’t feel believable for a Jedi.

Ki-Adi-Mundi

Ki-Adi-Mundi was a strong and respected member of the Jedi Council. Interestingly, the series The Acolyte showed that he had been a Jedi Master for a very long time, which should have given him an advantage during the dangerous Order 66. However, like Aayla Secura, he was completely unprepared when the attack began.

It was especially surprising when it came to Ki-Adi-Mundi. He was much more skilled than Aayla and even showed shock at the clones attacking him before he died. This meant he had a short chance to respond, but he didn’t manage to do so.

Shaak Ti

Shaak Ti’s death in Star Wars has become a running gag among fans, as she’s died in several different versions of the story. There were even scenes cut from Revenge of the Sith showing her death – once at the hands of General Grievous early in the film, and again during Order 66, killed by Darth Vader. The Clone Wars series later confirmed that the Order 66 scene was indeed how she met her end.

Facing Darth Vader was undoubtedly one of the most perilous situations during Order 66 – even a large number of clone troopers wouldn’t stand a chance against his power. However, the way Shaak Ti ultimately falls feels surprisingly weak, as if she should have been able to anticipate or withstand the attack. She’s caught off guard while meditating, which raises the question: shouldn’t her meditative state have heightened her awareness and allowed her to defend herself better?

Plo Koon

Plo Koon was a respected member of the Jedi Council, so his death was particularly upsetting. He was piloting a ship when Order 66 was enacted, and his own clone troopers shot down his vessel when they turned against the Jedi.

Honestly, Plo Koon’s death during Order 66 really bothers me. He wasn’t as flashy a pilot as Anakin, sure, but he was a Jedi Master – he should have felt the attack coming, like Yoda did. It just feels off that he was taken down so easily. He should have at least been able to dodge or do something!

Cin Drallig

As a huge Star Wars fan, I’ve always thought about who really should have survived Order 66. While we know Jedi like Mace Windu and Kit Fisto weren’t directly killed by the order itself – their deaths were connected, for sure – I believe Cin Drallig was the strongest Jedi who absolutely shouldn’t have fallen. Like Shaak Ti, he was killed by Anakin, or rather, Vader, during the purge. It just feels wrong that he was one of the victims.

Okay, let me tell you, I was genuinely shocked by Cin’s fate. Honestly, even more so than Shaak Ti! This guy wasn’t just any Jedi; he was the Battlemaster and Chief of Security for the entire Order. Considering his rank and what that implies about his fighting prowess, it just doesn’t make sense that he fell during Order 66. He should have survived, plain and simple. It felt like a real missed opportunity to showcase his skills, and frankly, a bit of a letdown.

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2026-05-13 16:14