Grievous might’ve been built to fight Jedi, but there were a few Force users he really didn’t want to mess with.
I’m talking about the kind of people who made him hesitate, back off, or straight up run. And out of all the Jedi and Sith in the galaxy, there were only three who actually scared him.
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Fearsome Grievous
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General Grievous is usually thought of as someone to be feared, not afraid of others.
Grievous’s “ruthless tactics” and intimidating cybernetic construction struck fear into defenders of the Republic.
Part of the reason he was so feared was his cyborg body.
Grievous did not need to eat or drink and was immune to poisons. His intimidating look was likewise complemented by two mechanical arms that could transform into four crawling limbs.
His form and function looked deadly to most opponents, and he had several victories over Republic leaders.
Jedi General Nahdar Vebb and Captain Roos Tarpais were among those Grievous killed. From canon to Legends, at least 10 Jedi were defeated by Grievous.
Known for his hatred of the Jedi, Grievous added to his fearsome reputation, especially by prevailing over Eeth Koth and Adi Gallia with his “under-handed tactics.”
Even those who were not afraid of Grievous and his willingness to fight dirty had their hands full when facing him.
His fight with Obi-Wan Kenobi in Revenge of the Sith displays a full range of intimidating factors.
From four expanded arms loaded with twirling lightsabers to his spider-like crawl and improvisation, Grievous was a formidable force to be reckoned with.
With this background in mind, it may be surprising to know that Grievous had fears of his own.
Yoda Was Too Much for Him
I’ve always thought Grievous wasn’t afraid of anyone, but Yoda was a different story. You know how Grievous was always flexing his lightsaber skills and taking on Jedi Masters like it was nothing? That didn’t work with Yoda. The way Yoda moved – spinning, flipping, striking from every angle – Grievous just couldn’t keep up.
They actually fought in the Yoda #7 (2023) comic, and it did not go well for him. Grievous made the mistake of mocking Yoda’s size at first. Next thing he knew, Yoda jumped over his head, landed a hit, and froze him with the Force. Grievous barely escaped thanks to his droids, and I don’t think he ever wanted that smoke again.
And then Yoda dropped this line on him:
“You may fight with a Jedi weapon, General… but possess our skills, you do not.”
Grievous hated stuff like that because it was true. He could swing a saber all day, but he didn’t have the connection to the Force that made Jedi like Yoda so powerful – and unpredictable. That’s why Yoda topped his “do not engage” list.
Dooku Wasn’t Just His Teacher – He Was a Reminder
Next up is Count Dooku, the guy who trained him. You’d think that would mean some respect, maybe even loyalty, but Grievous always came off more like a tool than a student. And the way Dooku treated him? Brutal.
Here’s what Dooku actually said in the Revenge of the Sith novel:
“He’s no longer even entirely human. With Grievous, the use of these bio-droid devices is almost forgivable; he was such a disgusting creature already that his mechanical parts are clearly an improvement. But a blend of droid and human? Appalling.”
Sidious Was on a Whole Other Level
And finally, we’ve got Darth Sidious. If Grievous didn’t want to face Yoda and got verbally destroyed by Dooku, Sidious was the one guy he never even tried to challenge.
Sidious didn’t even need to fight to scare people. His power in the Force was overwhelming, and he had no patience for weakness. Grievous knew exactly where he stood in the pecking order, and it wasn’t high. Sidious didn’t train him directly, but he could’ve ended him with a flick of the wrist if he wanted to. And Grievous knew it.
This fear wasn’t about lightsabers or strategy – it was pure survival instinct. When your boss is literally the Sith Lord manipulating a whole war and running both sides, you don’t question him.
Grievous Could Beat a Lot of Jedi – Just Not These Three
He was a Jedi killer. He was fast, aggressive, and terrifying. But when it came to Yoda, Dooku, and Sidious, Grievous knew he was outmatched in more ways than one. He could fight the best… just not the ones who saw through the armor and the rage.
And honestly? That says a lot.