You’d think that if someone sat on the Jedi High Council for years—someone with two brains, four arms, and some of the most advanced mental Force abilities we’ve seen—we’d at least get a proper send-off. But that’s not what happened with Jedi Master Yarael Poof.
If you’ve ever rewatched Attack of the Clones and noticed that tall, long-necked Council member from The Phantom Menace was suddenly missing, you’re not alone. And yeah, I’ve also asked: where did he go? Why isn’t there a single mention of what happened?
Turns out, there is an answer for that, it’s just not in canon.
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Canon Doesn’t Tell Us Anything
Here’s the weird part: there’s no canon story about his death. No official mention. He’s alive and well in 32 BBY, then he vanishes by 22 BBY when the Clone Wars are heating up. The Council just swaps him out with Coleman Trebor, and that’s all we get. It’s a big gap considering how important he was.
Legends Gave Us a Real Story—And It Was Actually Good
Now, if you look at Star Wars: Zam Wesel (Legends), there’s a solid explanation. In 27 BBY, he dies stopping a terrorist on Coruscant. A radical named Ashaar Khorda gets his hands on an ancient Force weapon called the Infant of Shaa. Basically, it’s powerful enough to split a planet in two.
Yarael Poof goes after him alone. During the mission, he saves a youngling from a gang, creates an illusion of a rancor to scare them off, and keeps pushing forward even though he’s clearly not at full strength.
When he finally faces Khorda, he’s mortally wounded in the fight but still uses his last strength to contain the artifact’s energy and save Coruscant.
He dies a hero. It’s actually one of the most Jedi-like deaths I’ve read in the lore. But since it’s Legends, none of that is canon now.
Why Was He Removed from the Movies?
Behind the scenes, the real reason he didn’t show up in Attack of the Clones is because George Lucas didn’t want people confusing him with the Kaminoans. So they digitally erased him and replaced him with Coleman Trebor using old footage from The Phantom Menace.
That explains the disappearance in the films, but it still feels strange that nobody ever circled back to give us any closure in canon.
He’s Treated Like a Joke, But He Deserves Better
I get it—he looks odd. Long neck, small head, super tall. He’s easy to meme. But he was seriously powerful. He had mind trick abilities most Jedi couldn’t even touch. He used illusions to mess with enemies’ minds and battle meditation to sway entire battles. He also helped win the Stark Hyperspace War, one of the earlier Republic conflicts, using those powers.
In the Jedi Temple, he was seen as wise, compassionate, and even a little playful. He had a second pair of arms he hid under his robes, two brains, and could speak multiple languages. This guy had depth. But most of us only remember him from comedy sketches or for how weird he looked.
Why It Still Feels Like a Missed Chance
We’ve gotten full arcs and novels about way more minor characters than him. Even Jedi who had just a few lines in The Clone Wars got their own stories. But Master Poof? Nothing. No official databank entry about his death. No canon comic. No animation.
All I’m saying is that it wouldn’t take much. Just a short story, a Tales of the Jedi episode, or even a mention in a novel. I’d love to see them bring back the story from Legends, because it was honestly great. Or tell something new that gives him the respect he earned.
