You may not associate Vader with having apprentices. We probably best remember Vader attempting to make Luke his apprentice. Yet, if we draw on Legends, Vader had quite a few. Read on to learn about over 13 of Vader’s apprentices.
Table of Contents
1. Starkiller
Starkiller may be the first apprentice who trained under Vader. Originally known as Galen Marek, Starkiller was the offspring of two Jedi, born on Kashyyyk after the Clone Wars. When the Empire invaded his home planet, Vader killed his father and took Marek to train under the dark side.
This video places Marek/Starkiller first on its list of 13 apprentices who served under Vader. It indicates how Vader was impressed with Marek’s Force abilities as the latter “instinctively pulled Vader’s lightsaber into his hands” in an attempt to avenge his father. Vader trained Marek into Starkiller through his “cruel regimen” that amounted to torture, drills, and combat training.
This apprentice was meant to serve Vader’s purpose of deposing the Emperor, but this plan was foiled by Palpatine. At Sidious’s command, Vader nearly killed Marek who eventually returned to the light side and rejected being an apprentice of Vader. Nonetheless, Starkiller became one of the most powerful Sith-Jedi within the Star Wars universe before being killed by the Emperor.
2. Subject 1138
The above video also comments on Starkiller’s clone, Subject 1138, who likewise became Vader’s apprentice and was “twice as powerful, twice as deadly.” Vader took this cloned Starkiller on as “a true apprentice” instead of serving as an assassin, as with Galen.
Unfortunately for Vader, 1138 took on “the emotional imprints” of Galen and defected from his master. Subject 1138 ended up beating Vader in a lightsaber duel and capturing him, at least for a time.
3. Dark Apprentice
Not as much is known about Vader’s next apprentice, the Dark Apprentice, because he was not fully developed as a character. Also called Starkiller, this clone of the original Marek was part of Vader’s plan to create “a perfect, obedient duplicate” to replace the original Starkiller.
4. Lumiya, Dark Lady of the Sith
As an agent of the Empire, Shira Elan Colla Brie was already dedicated to the will of Palpatine. After taking on missions to work against the Rebels, Vader took a wounded and “near death” Brie under his apprenticeship. She emerged as Lumiya, Dark Lady of the Sith.
Lady Lumiya served both Vader and Palpatine until both died during the Battle of Endor. Still looking to carry out vengeance against Luke and the Rebels, Lumiya took on her own apprentice, a former stormtrooper named Flint.
5. Flint Lumiya
Flint had already been training under Vader. As the son of a Jedi, Flint became a stormtrooper who Vader trained to face-off with Lumiya for the coveted spot of Shadow Hand, second-in-command or apprentice by the time of Vader. Yet, with Vader’s death, Flint shifted to apprentice under Lumiya. Flint eventually abandoned the dark side and the Imperials.
6. Tao
Tao was yet another of Vader’s Sith apprentices. He trained as a Jedi and survived Order 66. Vader tracked him down and spared Tao’s life so that he could be his apprentice. Like Marek and others, Vader trained Tao in secret, but this apprentice “was never fully subsumed in the dark side.” Moreover, once Vader discovered Luke, he dropped Tao.
7. Kharys
Anakin had pledged to train this female apprentice after the Clone Wars. Keeping his word, Vader took “Kharys as his student”. She learned how to wield a lightsaber and the dark side Force with deadly intent. Kharys developed into a Fallen Jedi who began her career “under another Dark Jedi.” Luke eventually killed Kharys in “an aerial duel.”
8. Rillao
Rillao was another Force-sensitive female apprentice trained by Vader. Her penchant for using the Force to heal placed her in opposition to Vader, though. She fled from both Vader and her husband (below) and raised a son. Rillao was captured and tortured but eventually joined up with Leia on the light side.
9. Hethrir
Rillao’s husband, Hethrir, likewise trained with Vader. He became so enthralled with the dark side that he turned on his home planet of Firrerre and his wife. Hethrir even kidnapped his son Tigris and tried but failed to trap him under Vader and the Emperor. This apprentice was a true devotee to the power of the dark side and became the Procurator of Justice and leader of the Empire Reborn movement.
10. Antinnis Tremayne
As a human male cyborg, Antinnis Tremayne first served as High Inquisitor during the Civil War. Tremayne was first trained by Master Dav Kylanu, but this Jedi died in the Clone Wars. After being captured, Tremayne was sent to Byss with other Jedi meant to be converted to the dark side.
Vader trained him to be part of the Inquisitorius, or what we came to know as the Inquisitors who outranked other dark Jedi and hunted down or converted those true Jedi still on the loose.
11. Halmere, Lanu Pasiq, and Gwellib Ap-Llewff
These apprentices also followed the line of High Inquisitor after being taken captive like Antinnis Tremayne. Halmere and company became faithful servants of Vader and the Emperor. In this compilation, we can see all four Inquisitors in action.
12. Vost Tyne
Vost Tyne was a unique apprentice in that he had been an Imperial Navy admiral. After forging a bond with Vader, the latter trained Tyne, who became “proficient in many Force abilities.” Vader helped Tune retire from military duty, and then Tyne used lethal force to make himself the managing director of the hyperbaride synthesis plant. The Rebels dislodged him from this position.
13. Ahsoka Tano
If we include Anakin’s tenure, Ahsoka Tano counts as an apprentice of Vader. Fans are quite familiar with this master-apprentice relationship and their strong bond. Yet, we may not know that Ahsoka was initially “terrified” to be Anakin’s apprentice because she did not think she was ready to train under the Chosen One. Perhaps, she even recognized some of the underlying dark side lurking within Anakin.