I’ve always been fascinated by the “what if” scenarios in Star Wars, and one of the biggest ones for me is imagining just how powerful Anakin Skywalker—pre-suit Vader—could have been if he hadn’t been injured on Mustafar.
All of Anakin’s raw power is now fueled by the dark side, but without the physical limitations of his armor. It’s a mind-blowing thought.
Would he have surpassed Palpatine? Could he have rivaled Yoda or even been the most powerful Force user of all time? And what would it have meant for the galaxy if Anakin had reached his full potential without his injuries holding him back?
So this is exactly how strong Darth Vader is without needing the suit.
Pre-Suit Darth Vader Can Easily Kill Palpatine
The first thing I think of when it comes to Pre-suit Darth Vader is just how easily he could have overpowered Emperor Palpatine—maybe even with a single, decisive strike of his lightsaber.
If you’ve ever played the Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith video game, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
The game offers an alternative ending where Darth Vader doesn’t lose to Obi-Wan on Mustafar. Instead, he defeats Obi-Wan and returns to Palpatine for his reward: a new crimson lightsaber.
But here’s where it gets wild. After receiving the saber, Vader doesn’t just admire it—he ignites it and strikes down Emperor Palpatine in front of the clone troopers, ending the Emperor’s life on the spot. He then declares, “The galaxy belongs to me.”
Comics Show Just How Overpowered Pre-Suit Darth Vader Could Be
The 25th issue of the Star Wars comics from 2017 offers a jaw-dropping exploration of Anakin Skywalker’s untapped potential. In this story, Vader enters the Force realm, where his spirit separates from his physical body.
What emerges is not the dark, armored Sith Lord we know—but Anakin Skywalker, unburdened by his injuries and fully immersed in his power.
In this realm, Anakin embarks on a quest to save Padmé. Though he doesn’t succeed in bringing her back, the experience pushes him to unimaginable heights of strength.
He goes on to face and effortlessly defeat legendary Jedi like Yoda, Yaddle, Yarael Poof, and Mace Windu—all esteemed members of the Jedi Council.
But it doesn’t stop there. In this incredible depiction, Anakin’s spiritual form even confronts and destroys Darth Sidious with Force lightning, a move that showcases just how far his abilities could have gone.
This comic, which is part of the official Star Wars canon, serves as a testament to the unimaginable power Anakin could have wielded if not for his injuries on Mustafar. It paints a picture of a Pre-suit Darth Vader who wouldn’t just rival Palpatine—he would surpass him.