In Star Wars, the Sith reside on the dark side of the Force. They are Force-sensitives who contest the Jedi way of life. This has never sat well with the Jedi, who opted to annihilate the first Sith Order, known as the Brotherhood of Darkness.
From that point onward, the Sith and the Jedi have been at odds with each other. Eventually, the Sith determined that the only way they would be free to follow their interpretation of the Force would be by taking over the galaxy.
Thus, the quest for power ensued, and whoever stood in the Sith’s way got trampled without a second thought.
Given that power was the general goal of the Sith, the question of who is the most powerful has plagued the minds of many Star Wars fans.
Not to worry, this article will shed light on this question and more.
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Top Five Most Powerful Sith Lords
The Sith are arguably some of the most powerful Force users in the galaxy. In comparison to the Jedi, their archenemies, the Sith are fueled by their emotions.
Even though it may seem like emotions are the last thing you would want to use when fighting, it bodes well for the Sith.
The Sith’s number one rule is passion over everything. Therefore, they often opt to hold onto grudges and rage. Then they used those emotions to propel them forward in battle.
The Sith’s instinctual urge to pour all their emotions into the Force and then use them in every strike makes them a force to be reckoned with. Of course, there are some Sith that are more powerful than others.
So, without further ado, here are five of the most powerful Sith Lords in the galaxy.
1. Darth Sidious
Darth Sidious, also known as Palpatine, was one of the most influential people in the Star Wars universe. In fact, Darth Sidious accomplished more in his day than any other Sith Lord.
Palpatine’s major motivation was to gain control over the entire galaxy. The best way he saw to gain this power was to demolish the Galactic Republic and bring about the rise of the Galactic Empire.
Darth Sidious was very insightful and a master at strategies, which allowed him to defeat both Sith and Jedi that were at the top of their class.
It is even said that Darth Sidious single-handedly put all the pieces in place to ensure that Anakin would reject his Jedi heritage and turn to the dark side.
What’s more, Darth Sidious is one of the most seasoned Sith in terms of Force techniques. This worked in tandem with his ruthless personality and laser focus to make him one of the most feared characters in the franchise.
2. Exar Kun
Exar Kun was introduced in the Star Wars: Legends novels.
He was a Force-sensitive who began his journey as a Jedi. But just like Count Dooku, Kun made his claim to the dark side and fought valiantly against his former comrades in the Jedi Order.
To the Jedi, Kun on the dark side was to be greatly feared.
He had an arsenal of knowledge about the Force and was an impeccable swordsman. Against any other Jedi, he was nearly unbeatable.
What made Kun even more powerful was his continual growth in the Force. He discovered a way to separate his spirit from his body, all the while maintaining his Force powers.
Additionally, he poured so much of his dark energy into his lightsaber that it was capable of corrupting even the most loyal Jedi.
3. Darth Vitiate
The Sith Emperor, Darth Vitiate, showed his powerful, dark potential from a young age when he released carnage upon his homeworld of Medriaas. And his power only evolved from that point onward.
Vitiate was so filled with a thirst for power that he figured out a way to drain the power of the Sith Lords around him. That worked together with the power he drained from the entire planet to boost his own skill set.
This upsurge of power worked in Darth Vitiate’s favor, making him a heavy hitter in the franchise. Not surprisingly, he enjoyed every minute of it until he met his end.
4. Darth Bane
One of the most impactful Sith Lords in the Galactic Empire is Darth Bane. He was the one who made the Sith Order into the organization we know today.
After the Jedi wiped out the majority of the Brotherhood of Darkness and pushed the remaining Sith into hiding, Darth Bane was rightfully livid.
He vowed that they would have their revenge and took the steps necessary to ensure that the new Sith Order would not end up like their predecessors.
What did he do to prevent such carnage? He instituted the Rule of Two.
What exactly is the Rule of Two?
Darth Bane’s Rule of Two was a law that made it clear only two Sith could work together at any given time: one Sith Master who knows the way the dark side works and an apprentice who is hungry for the knowledge and power that the dark side has to offer.
This law allowed the Sith to stealthily work on their plan of attack. When the Jedi were comfortable thinking they got rid of all the Sith, the Sith were secretly getting stronger, all thanks to the Rule of Two.
Despite the few who chose to disregard it, Darth Bane’s rule was one of the most successful ploys of the Sith.
5. Darth Vader
Last but certainly not least, there is none other than Darth Vader.
Starting off with his given name, Anakin Skywalker was dubbed the “Chosen One” who would restore balance in the Force.
He was one of the most powerful Jedi to ever exist.
This was evident not only by his impressively high midi-chlorian count but also in his raw talent. This talent made Anakin quickly climb the ranks of the Jedi Order.
However, he fell short when he didn’t make Jedi Master, which was mainly because he had something dark growing inside of him.
Anakin went through a series of events that chipped away at the light inside of him.
Darth Sidious fed him the narrative that the Jedi were the horrendous ones and Anakin could only trust him.
The straw that broke the camel’s back was when the love of Anakin’s life, Padme, passed away, despite his trusting that the dark side was the way to save her. From there, Anakin fully embraced his role as the Sith Lord, Darth Vader.
Darth Vader was so filled with seething rage, hatred, gut-wrenching pain, and self-loathing that he was a machine when it came to battle.
Even with his declining health, Darth Vader was ruthless against those who dared to oppose him.
Conclusion
The strength of the Sith has always been debated in the Star Wars community, especially in comparison to the Jedi. What the Sith have is the innate ability to use their passion to push through their every movement.
Of course, there are some Sith Lords who are more powerful than others. What these top individuals have in common is their intense connection with their emotions as well as how they use this to obliterate their competition.
Furthermore, the top people, such as Darth Sidious, Darth Vader, and Darth Bane, have made significant contributions to the Sith’s quest for power.
Darth Sidious put all the gears in motion for the Sith to take over the galaxy, and Darth Bane single-handedly created the Rule of Two.
Then there was Darth Vader, who was an absolute boss and played an integral role in the Great Jedi Purge.