Can the Sith Prevent Death?

In Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Chancellor Palpatine tells Anakin Skywalker an interesting story about Darth Plagueis. A Sith Lord that arose before the Clone Wars, Darth Plagueis is said to have held the power to escape death. 

Could this be true? Can the Sith Prevent Death? Some Sith do have the power to prevent death for a period, but they cannot fully escape it.

Darth Plagueis Almost Escapes Death

In the main Star Wars movies, Darth Plagueis is briefly included to reveal his possible death-escaping powers. Plagueis was the mentor to Palpatine and has a larger role in the Star Wars Expanded Universe of books and spin-off television series. 

When Chancellor Palpatine tells Anakin Skywalker this legend about Darth Plagueis, Anakin believes it to be true. Darth Plagueis is said to be so powerful that he could prevent death from happening. 

Anakin has been concerned about the possible death of Padmé Amadala and has been seeking ways to prevent it. Plagueis seemed to hold an answer.

Legend has it that Darth Plagueis knew how to manipulate microscopic lifeforms, known as midi-chlorians, to escape death. This form of Sith alchemy is presumably something that Plagueis mastered.

Darth Plagueis used his power to bring people back to life, such as the Sith Lord Darth Venamis. Plagueis even used this power on himself, having the ability to heal himself.  

However, Plagueis did not ultimately escape death. Palpatine actually killed him in his sleep. So ultimately, Plagueis was not able to use his power to cheat death.

Some Star Wars fans claim that he escaped death by transitioning to a spirit form that worked behind the scenes with Emperor Palpatine. But in terms of bodily form, he did indeed perish.

Another Sith that almost cheated death was Darth Sidious. In Star Wars Episode 6: Return of the Jedi, Darth Vader famously hurled Darth Sidious, or the Emperor, down a reactor core to save Luke Skywalker.

Yet, that was not the end of the Emperor. He returned in Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker. Darth Sidious had transferred his spirit into a clone body. So, it seems as though he did escape death.

However, Jedi Rey confronts the Emperor at the end of the movie. With the power of all the past Jedi behind her, she defeats Darth Sidious. So, once again, he was unable to escape death. 

Can the Sith Bring People Back to Life?

A few Sith seem to be able to bring people back to life. Darth Krayt is one of the Sith beyond Darth Plagueis that appears to have an ability to bring oneself and others back to life. 

Once a Jedi Master, Darth Krayt became a Sith Lord after the fall of the Emperor. As the son of the Jedi Sharad Hett, Krayt gained a Force power known as Dark Transfer. 

Krayt used Dark Transfer to bring Cade Skywalker, a descendant of Luke and Anakin Skywalker, back from death. He also used this power on himself.

The Sith Lord Darth Drear is known for creating an elixir with the power to bring people back to life. Back in 4645 BBY, Dark Drear founded the Sith academy and built a hidden temple for himself.

Hidden in that temple, Drear produced this concoction that was supposed to provide a way to secure eternal life. Yet, it was a complicated process that required spending time as a zombie and eating the heart of Jedi for it to work. 

Ultimately, Darth Drear died, instead of obtaining immortality.

Can Sith be Immortal?

Given the few cases of escaping death, can Sith still become immortal? 

As indicated above, the Sith may cheat death for a time, but they ultimately succumb to it. Hence, immortality is out of reach.

Take Darth Sidious. He seems to be immortal, but he actually transferred himself into a clone. So, this is something different, keeping in mind that in the end, he dies.

However, those known as the Nightsisters appear to mimic a form of immortality. These Dark Side users from the planet Dathomir draw on magic to transform into phantoms after death. 

Yet, the Nightsisters are ghosts, not living on eternally. And, they are not Sith.

Can the Sith Prevent Death?

In some limited cases the Sith do prevent death, but only for a time. Many Sith meet their end in battle. Some, like Darth Plagueis, are killed by their own apprentices. 

In the end, the Sith are unable to escape the inevitable.

Todd Wahlstrom

Todd Wahlstrom is a creative and analytical freelance writer and life-long Star Wars fan. He has covered such topics as Darth Vader, the Jedi, Boba Fett, and AT-AT Walkers. Todd has published a non-fiction book, holds a Ph.D. in history, and enjoys hiking, running, and reading about science.