We all understand that the Inquisitors serve under Darth Vader. But did you know that when Vader and the Grand Inquisitor first met, they actually tried to kill each other?
Here’s exactly how that moment played out in canon—and once you see what happened, you’ll understand why the Grand Inquisitor was willing to go against Darth Vader.
Darth Vader’s Deadly First Encounter with the Grand Inquisitor
You can find this moment in Star Wars: Darth Vader (2017), specifically in issue #6, where Vader and the Grand Inquisitor first clashed.
The story takes place just days after Revenge of the Sith when Vader is still adjusting to his new cybernetic armor. Before this, he had already fought Jedi Master Kirak Infil’a to claim a Sith lightsaber, but after the battle, he returned to Coruscant to repair his damaged suit.
Once his repairs were finished, Vader received an urgent report—someone had infiltrated the Jedi Temple. Believing it to be a Jedi survivor attempting to retrieve something from the Jedi Archives, Vader wasted no time in hunting them down.
Inside the temple, a mysterious Force-wielder was scanning the Jedi Archives, relishing in the idea that no one could stop him from accessing their knowledge. But suddenly, Vader emerged from the shadows, igniting his newly constructed red lightsaber, ready to strike down what he assumed was a surviving Jedi.
However, this stranger wasn’t afraid. Instead, he ignited his own red lightsaber and lunged at Vader without hesitation. Vader blocked the first strike and immediately used the Force to hurl his opponent across the room. The impact knocked back the stranger’s hood, revealing a face we all recognize—it was the Grand Inquisitor.
But the Grand Inquisitor refused to back down. Fueled by his own arrogance, he boldly declared, “YOU WILL DIE!” and charged at Vader again with full force. Ditching his robe, he unleashed his double-bladed lightsaber, spinning it rapidly—a signature technique of the Inquisitors.
Vader wasted no time exploiting the flaw in the Grand Inquisitor’s technique. As the spinning blades whirled toward him, he simply thrust his lightsaber into the center, destroying the weapon’s mechanics in an instant. With the Grand Inquisitor now defenseless, Vader raised his blade for the final strike, ready to end him.
But just as Vader was about to deliver the killing blow, a voice cut through the tension. “Lord Vader, stop.”
Darth Sidious had arrived. Stepping into the temple, the Emperor halted Vader’s attack with a simple command. He then explained that the Grand Inquisitor was not an enemy, but an ally. The Inquisitorius operated under the Sith’s control, serving as hunters of the surviving Jedi.
If the Grand Inquisitor Had Killed Darth Vader, He Could Have Become Palpatine’s Apprentice
Now we know that when Darth Vader and the Grand Inquisitor first met, they were actually trying to kill each other. But as it turns out, this was all part of Palpatine’s plan to test Vader. While introducing the Inquisitorius project, Palpatine explains that the Grand Inquisitor was once a Jedi, but due to his rank, he was never granted full access to the Jedi Archives—something that always frustrated him. Palpatine sees value in keeping the Grand Inquisitor as a tool for the Empire, but Vader isn’t convinced.
Vader, still questioning his master’s intentions, directly asks, “You sent me to attack him. If he had beaten me, would he now be at your side?” To which Palpatine simply responds, “You of all people know better than to dwell on what could have been, my friend.”
That answer tells us everything. With just one fight, Palpatine set up multiple outcomes that all worked in his favor. First, he was testing Vader’s strength. This was only days after Revenge of the Sith, and Vader had just suffered his brutal defeat against Obi-Wan on Mustafar. Palpatine needed to see if he was still worthy of being his apprentice.
And here’s where it gets even darker—if Vader had lost, then that would’ve meant he was no longer useful. Palpatine could have replaced him with the Grand Inquisitor, someone who was already skilled in combat and had proven his willingness to serve the Empire.
If Vader won, which he did, then Palpatine got exactly what he wanted: a stronger, more obedient Sith apprentice and a new force of dark side warriors under his control.