Today, let’s dig into a super interesting bit of Star Wars lore from “Dark Lord – The Rise of Darth Vader” that made me rethink a huge “what if” in the galaxy far, far away.
Ever wondered what Palpatine thought would’ve happened if Yoda had faced Vader on Mustafar? Yeah, turns out the Emperor had some thoughts on that showdown.
Vader’s Surprising Weakness
First off, did you know that right after the Clone Wars, when Vader turned to the dark side, he wasn’t just out there flexing his new powers? He was actually full of self-doubt and self-pity—especially when it came to Obi-Wan.
I mean, who would’ve thought that Vader, Darth freaking Vader, was doubting whether he could even take down his old master? It’s such a wild contrast from the ruthless Sith Lord we usually see.
And guess who noticed? Yep, Palpatine. He saw Vader’s self-pity as a serious problem, something that needed fixing fast because his whole plan for the Empire relied on Vader being this unstoppable force of fear and power.
But when Vader started venting his insecurities about not being able to beat Obi-Wan, Palpatine wasn’t just annoyed—he was frustrated. Yet, being the master manipulator that he is, Palpatine also played it cool, thinking several steps ahead.
Palpatine’s Take on a Yoda vs. Vader Showdown
Now, here’s where it gets juicy. In “Dark Lord – The Rise of Darth Vader”, we get a peek into Palpatine’s thoughts about Yoda facing Vader on Mustafar, and it’s pretty wild.
Palpatine knew that if Yoda took out Vader, it would be more than just losing his best enforcer. It would be a massive threat to the entire Empire. He saw Yoda as the last real symbol of the Jedi Order, and if he defeated Vader, it wouldn’t just be a loss—it would shatter the fear and invincibility that Palpatine was trying to build around the Sith.
In his eyes, Yoda was a legit danger, not just because of his power but because of what he represented. If Yoda won, the galaxy would see it as a sign that the Sith weren’t as unbeatable as they seemed. And that’s a big deal.
This hypothetical duel wasn’t just about lightsabers and Force powers—it was about two completely different ideologies clashing, with the fate of the galaxy on the line. If Yoda had won, it would’ve been a massive blow to everything Palpatine had worked for.
Palpatine’s belief that Yoda could potentially take Vader down shows just how fragile the Sith’s control over the galaxy really was. Even with all their power, it wasn’t as solid as they wanted everyone to think.