Most of the time, we see Darth Vader as a formidable Sith Lord who barely loses to anyone, except his own Master, Emperor Palpatine.
However, if you’ve played Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, you’ll witness something shocking—a completely new character in the Star Wars universe named Starkiller, who is Vader’s own apprentice.
In the game, we experience many incredible moments, but one of the most intriguing is seeing this new Force-user hold his ground against Darth Vader and nearly defeat him.
This scenario has divided Star Wars fans into two camps. One side believes there’s no way Starkiller is stronger than Darth Vader.
On the other hand, some fans believe that Vader is weak when facing Starkiller.
So what is your opinion?
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How Come Vader Looks Weak Against Starkiller?
Starkiller, born Galen Marek, had a dark beginning tied directly to Darth Vader. During a mission on Kashyyyk, Vader hunted down and killed a lone Jedi.
In the aftermath, he discovered the Jedi’s son.
Recognizing the boy’s immense potential in the Force, Vader took Galen and trained him in the dark side, shaping him into the lethal apprentice codenamed Starkiller.
Starkiller’s Lightsaber Training is a Dead Sentence
As the game progresses, we see Starkiller grow into a powerful Force-wielder, working under Darth Vader. But what truly stands out is how he hones his lightsaber skills—and let’s just say, it’s nothing like traditional training sessions.
Much of Starkiller’s training came from PROXY, a prototype holodroid who wasn’t just a companion but also a long-time friend also his deadliest trainer.
While PROXY and Starkiller share a long-standing bond, their training is anything but friendly. PROXY’s primary directive, given by Vader himself, is to kill Starkiller during these sessions—no matter what.
Here’s how it works: PROXY disguises itself as any opponent—whether a Jedi or even Vader—and launches surprise attacks on Starkiller whenever the opportunity arises. There’s no scheduling, no warning.
Training with PROXY is a constant life-or-death battle that only ends when Starkiller lands a critical strike. If he fails, PROXY will keep fighting until Starkiller is dead.
This brutal, unrelenting method turned Starkiller into a lightsaber master. Each session was a fight for survival, pushing him to sharpen his skills to perfection.
It’s no exaggeration to say Starkiller’s lightsaber abilities are a direct result of Vader’s ruthless, kill-or-be-killed training philosophy.
The Hatred of being Betrayed by His Master Darth Vader
One of the key factors behind Starkiller’s aggressive fighting style against Darth Vader is the deep anger and hatred he feels from being betrayed by his master.
This stems from a pivotal moment when Emperor Palpatine discovered Vader’s secret apprentice.
Confronted by the Emperor, Vader was forced to make a choice: eliminate Starkiller or face Palpatine’s wrath.
Vader, as expected, chose loyalty to the Emperor. Without hesitation, he seemingly killed Starkiller to prove his allegiance.
However, Vader secretly retrieved Starkiller’s body and revived him, intending to continue using him as a pawn in his schemes.
But the damage was already done. When Starkiller awoke, the betrayal burned deeply. From that moment on, doubt and hatred consumed him. Each time he faced Darth Vader, those feelings fueled his ferocity.
How Starkiller’s Power Challenged Darth Vader
We’ve seen how powerful Starkiller is throughout his journey, but words alone can’t capture just how much of a threat he posed to the galaxy’s most feared Sith Lords. One of the most striking examples of his strength comes at the climax of The Force Unleashed, where Starkiller takes on not just one but both Sith Lords—Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine—on his own.
By this point, Starkiller has joined the Rebel Alliance and infiltrates the Death Star. His first challenge is Darth Vader, and their duel is nothing short of intense.
Starkiller’s lightsaber skills are on full display as he overwhelms Vader, proving himself a match—even a superior one—for the Sith Lord who once struck fear into the entire galaxy.
But the battle doesn’t end there. After defeating Vader, Starkiller turns his attention to Emperor Palpatine. In a showdown against the galaxy’s ultimate puppet master, Starkiller comes agonizingly close to defeating him as well.
In fact, it’s only the intervention of Rahm Kota, who stops Starkiller from delivering the killing blow to Palpatine, that prevents Starkiller from sealing his victory.
Unfortunately, this hesitation gives Palpatine the opening he needs to unleash a devastating Force lightning attack on Kota.
In the end, Starkiller makes the ultimate sacrifice. Rather than fleeing, he holds off Palpatine’s power, using every ounce of his strength to buy time for the Rebels to escape the Death Star.