10 Best Sith Lords That Should Be Canon

As a lifelong Star Wars fan, one of the things I’ve always loved is the vast array of Sith Lords that exist within the galaxy’s lore. 

We’ve seen a few of them in canon, but I’d love to see more of these dark-side wielders get their moment on screen. 

Some of the most interesting Sith still live in the Legends timeline, while others have only been mentioned by name in canon but haven’t had the chance to shine in action.

So, I’ve put together a list of 10 Sith Lords—some from Legends, some already canon—but all deserving of more screen time. 

Whether you agree or disagree, I hope you enjoy reading through the list. And if you have a Sith Lord in mind who didn’t make the cut, feel free to share in the comments below!

1. Ajunta Pall – The First Dark Lord of the Sith

Ajunta Pall is one of the most important figures in Sith’s history because he represents the genesis of the Sith Order. 

Originally a Jedi, Pall led a group of dark side-aligned Jedi who opposed the Jedi Order during the First Great Schism. 

He was exiled to Korriban, where he and his followers discovered the Sith species, eventually merging with them and becoming their ruler. 

Pall’s mastery of the dark side was legendary, and he was the first to claim the title of Dark Lord of the Sith. 

His story would enrich the history of the Sith by providing context for how the Sith Order diverged from the Jedi, showing how Jedi ideals were twisted into the Sith philosophy of power and domination.

We could see Pall’s tale serving as the foundation for a new series or movie delving into the Sith’s origins. 

His character could show us how the Jedi inadvertently created their greatest adversaries in their attempts to maintain order. 

The inner struggles and ultimate fall of Pall to the dark side would add layers to the theme that even well-intentioned individuals can be consumed by power.

2. Marka Ragnos – The Ruler of the Sith Golden Age

Marka Ragnos was a Sith Lord who ruled during one of the most prosperous periods of the Sith Empire. His strength in both combat and the dark side made him nearly unbeatable. 

Even after his death, his spirit lingered and influenced future generations of Sith Lords, such as Exar Kun. 

What makes Ragnos particularly interesting is that he wasn’t just a warrior—he was a strategist and manipulator, orchestrating events that ensured the Sith Empire’s survival even in death. 

His rule, and the period known as the Golden Age of the Sith, was a time when the Sith expanded their knowledge of dark side powers, from Sith sorcery to alchemy.

By canonizing Ragnos, Star Wars could explore the deep history of the Sith and how their knowledge of the Force evolved over millennia. 

His story would offer a view into an era when the Sith were at their peak, showing the might of their empire and setting the stage for future conflicts with the Jedi.

3. Naga Sadow – The Master of Sith Sorcery

As a master of Sith sorcery, Naga Sadow was one of the most ambitious Sith Lords in history. 

He sought to expand the Sith Empire and waged the Great Hyperspace War against the Galactic Republic. 

His ability to create massive illusions and manipulate entire fleets was unparalleled. 

Sadow’s use of dark side alchemy allowed him to perform feats of great power, such as manipulating the stars and creating terrifying weapons. 

His boldness in leading a war against the Republic nearly led to its downfall, showing that the Sith were not to be underestimated even in their early days.

Bringing Naga Sadow into canon would offer an exciting opportunity to explore Sith sorcery in more detail, something that has only been lightly touched on in the current canon (The Rise of Skywalker briefly mentioned Sith alchemy). 

His story could expand on the ancient Sith Empire and offer a view of how they almost succeeded in toppling the Republic long before the Clone Wars.

4. Exar Kun – The Jedi Turned Dark Lord

Exar Kun was once a promising Jedi but was seduced by the allure of ancient Sith knowledge. After discovering the tombs of old Sith Lords, Kun embraced the dark side and waged war against the Jedi. 

What sets Kun apart is his mastery of both the Force and lightsaber combat. 

He was the first known wielder of the double-bladed lightsaber, a weapon that later became iconic with characters like Darth Maul. 

Kun’s war against the Jedi was devastating, and even after his physical death, his spirit remained a threat, haunting the galaxy for centuries.

Kun’s transformation from Jedi to Sith represents the eternal struggle between the light and dark sides of the Force. 

His complex character could offer a cautionary tale about the dangers of seeking too much power and knowledge. 

His story could also delve deeper into the Great Sith War, an era not yet explored in canon but full of potential.

5. Revan – The Complex Hero and Villain

Revan is one of the most complex characters in Star Wars history. His journey began as a Jedi Knight, but after falling to the dark side and becoming a Sith Lord, Revan later found redemption. 

His character represents the blurred lines between the light and dark sides of the Force. 

Revan’s story, told in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, features themes of memory loss, identity, and redemption, making him one of the most beloved characters in the Legends timeline. 

His influence spanned both the Sith and Jedi, and his legacy is felt across multiple eras.

Interestingly, Revan is already partially canon. In The Rise of Skywalker, the Revan Legion—the 3rd Legion of Sith Troopers—was named in his honor. This subtle nod officially tied his character to the larger Star Wars canon.

For those intrigued by why Revan is now considered canon, you can explore more about the Revan Legion and its significance in this article here.

Instead of just a mention, we want to see Revan in action—fully integrated into canon stories, possibly in a film or series that showcases his intricate journey between the light and dark sides.

6. Darth Nihilus – The Lord of Hunger

Among all the Sith Lords from Legends, Darth Nihilus stands out as one of the most terrifying not because of his combat skills, but due to his unique and destructive connection to the dark side of the Force. 

His hunger for the Force was so insatiable that he could drain the life force of entire planets, leaving nothing but death and desolation in his wake. 

Over time, he became less of a man and more of a dark side entity—a manifestation of the very hunger that consumed him.

Nihilus was a force of destruction, motivated not by conquest or personal ambition, but by a need to feed on life itself. 

This makes him fundamentally different from other Sith Lords we’ve seen. He wasn’t driven by the same thirst for power or control over the galaxy—he simply wanted to consume everything, including the Force itself.

Imagine for a moment if Darth Nihilus made his way into canon. 

He wouldn’t be your typical dark side villain, slashing through enemies with a lightsaber. Instead, his presence would introduce a threat that forces both Jedi and Sith to rethink everything they know about the Force. 

His hunger could devour entire planets, forcing even rival factions to unite against him, as survival would be at stake.

In the context of the Old Republic era, where the battles between Jedi and Sith were on a massive scale, Nihilus would be the ultimate wild card. 

He doesn’t seek to rule the galaxy or manipulate it like Palpatine—he simply wants to devour it, making him one of the most unpredictable and dangerous threats in the Star Wars universe.

7. Darth Talon – The Assassin of Darth Krayt

I believe we all have at least heard of Darth Talon and what she’s capable of. 

In fact, she nearly made it to Star Wars canon in a big way. 

If George Lucas had remained at the helm of the Star Wars franchise, his idea for the sequels would have involved Darth Maul as the central villain, training Darth Talon as his apprentice.

Talon’s story in Star Wars Legends centers around her role as an assassin and enforcer in Darth Krayt’s One Sith. 

Known for her striking red skin and black tattoos, which symbolize her complete submission to the dark side, Darth Talon was one of Krayt’s most trusted operatives. 

Her ability to hunt down Jedi and eliminate threats made her a key player during the Legacy era. Her skill with a lightsaber, combined with her mastery of deception and manipulation, made her a truly dangerous foe.

If Darth Talon had been included in the sequels, we could have seen her in live-action, continuing the legacy of the Sith and introducing a new generation to her ruthless tactics. 

Even though she remains a Legends character for now, incorporating Darth Talon into the canon would open up new possibilities for future Star Wars projects, offering fans a fresh take on what it means to serve the dark side.

8. Darth Tenebrous – Master of Plagueis

Darth Tenebrous isn’t a name that comes up often in mainstream Star Wars, but his role in the Sith lineage is pivotal. 

I believe many of us are familiar with his most infamous apprentice—Darth Plagueis, the Sith Lord who was obsessed with manipulating life and death. 

But Tenebrous himself was no ordinary Sith. 

Known for his scientific approach to the Force, Darth Tenebrous believed in applying logic, reason, and experimentation to the dark side, which made him one of the most forward-thinking Sith Lords of his time.

He wasn’t just a master of the Force—Tenebrous was also a master of Sith science. 

He believed that the Force was something that could be harnessed and studied, even on a molecular level. 

This perspective greatly influenced his apprentice, Darth Plagueis, who would go on to conduct experiments on manipulating the Force to cheat death. 

Tenebrous’s teachings planted the seeds of Plagueis’ eventual obsession, which in turn led to the rise of Darth Sidious, one of the most notorious Sith Lords in the Star Wars saga.

Interestingly, Tenebrous himself almost made it to canon through Darth Plagueis, a novel that still carries significant weight in the Legends universe. 

If his character were to be canonized, it would open up intriguing possibilities for exploring the ancient Sith’s scientific approach to the dark side—one that delves deep into the manipulation of the Force on a level we haven’t seen in the films.

9. Darth Sion – The Lord of Pain

Few Sith Lords in the Star Wars universe embody suffering and resilience quite like Darth Sion, the infamous Lord of Pain. 

Unlike many of his fellow Sith who seek power through knowledge, manipulation, or sheer brute strength, Sion’s power comes from his ability to endure unimaginable pain and use it to fuel his connection to the dark side. 

Every moment of his existence is agony, but he refuses to die, keeping his broken body together purely through his mastery of the dark side and his relentless will to live.

Sion’s story is best known from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords, where he served as one of the primary antagonists. 

His horrific appearance, with his shattered body held together by the Force, makes him one of the most terrifying Sith Lords. 

Sion’s unique relationship with pain allowed him to cheat death time and time again, making him an almost indestructible opponent. 

His ability to regenerate through sheer willpower gave him the title of Lord of Pain, as he embraced suffering and death as sources of strength rather than weaknesses.

Adding Darth Sion to canon would introduce a new kind of Sith Lord, one whose resilience and pain-driven power make him a symbol of the dark side’s destructive capabilities. 

He would fit perfectly into any storyline focused on the Old Republic era, where Sith Lords like Sion wreaked havoc across the galaxy. 

His raw, primal connection to the Force would challenge any Jedi or Sith he faced, forcing them to reckon with the true power of suffering.

10. Darth Plagueis – The Manipulator of Life and Death

Darth Plagueis, as we know, has made it to Star Wars canon, but his introduction has been rather dramatic. 

If you’ve watched the latest Disney series, Star Wars: The Acolyte, you would know that Plagueis finally made an appearance in the season finale. 

However, the real drama comes from the unfortunate cancellation of the show after just one season. 

Now, fans are left wondering whether we will see Plagueis again on screen or if we’ll have to wait indefinitely.

For those already familiar with Darth Plagueis from his novel, his story was first teased on-screen in Revenge of the Sith, when Darth Sidious (Palpatine) shared the “tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise” with Anakin Skywalker. 

Sidious described Plagueis as a Sith Lord so powerful that he could manipulate the midi-chlorians to create life and even prevent death. 

This chilling revelation set the stage for Anakin’s fall to the dark side, as Palpatine subtly hinted that these powers might be the key to saving Padmé’s life.

But Plagueis’s significance goes far beyond his ability to manipulate life and death. 

He was instrumental in shaping Palpatine’s rise to power, serving as his mentor and teaching him the darkest secrets of the Force. What made Plagueis particularly unique was his obsession with immortality. 

Unlike many other Sith Lords who sought political power or personal glory, Plagueis aimed to transcend death itself. His groundbreaking research into manipulating the Force to control life is one of the most dangerous and intriguing ambitions in Sith lore.