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Canon Sith Lords and Dark Side Users (In Chronological Order)
This is where the fun begins! But before you read this list, never forget Master Yoda’s warning: “Beware the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny”
Darth Plagueis – A Muun Dark Lord of the Sith, best known as the master of Darth Sidious. Plagueis was obsessed with manipulating life via the Force – according to Palpatine’s tale, “Darth Plagueis the Wise” even learned to cheat death and create life through midichlorians. Ultimately, Plagueis was betrayed and killed in his sleep by his apprentice Sidious. (His life story is detailed in James Luceno’s Darth Plagueis novel.) Though only briefly referenced in Episode III, Plagueis’s legacy looms large as the Sith who directly paved the way for Palpatine’s rise.
Darth Qimir – An enigmatic Sith Lord active in the High Republic era, also known simply as “the Stranger.” Originally a Jedi Padawan under Vernestra Rwoh, Qimir was cast out of the Order and trained in secret by Darth Plagueis. He donned the alias “Qimir” while recruiting his own apprentice, manipulating events from the shadows during the Acolyte storyline. Qimir’s true identity as the nameless Sith Master came to light when he slaughtered a Jedi team, revealing himself as a fallen Jedi-turned-Sith bent on continuing the Sith legacy.
Emperor Palpatine (Darth Sidious) – The scheming Sith Master who orchestrated the Clone Wars and destroyed the Jedi Order from within. Born Sheev Palpatine of Naboo, he rose from Senator to Supreme Chancellor and then Emperor by manipulating galactic politics. In secret he was Darth Sidious, training apprentices (Maul, Tyranus, Vader) while plotting to rule the galaxy. Vader killed him in Return of the Jedi, but Sidious returned decades later by unnatural means (Episode IX) to menace the galaxy once more. (In Legends, he also used clone bodies to return)
Darth Maul – A Zabrak from Dathomir who was Darth Sidious’s first apprentice. Maul debuted in Episode I – The Phantom Menace, where he killed Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn but was bisected by Obi-Wan Kenobi. He survived through his hatred, later emerging in The Clone Wars series with cybernetic legs. Maul built a criminal empire (Crimson Dawn) and even took over Mandalore. Though no longer a formal “Sith” after Sidious discarded him, Maul remained a powerful dark side user, ultimately confronting Obi-Wan again in Star Wars Rebels for a final duel.
Count Dooku (Darth Tyranus) – A former Jedi Master who became a Sith Lord and political leader of the Separatist Alliance. Born to Serenno nobility, Count Dooku left the Jedi Order and was lured to the dark side by Sidious. As Darth Tyranus, he orchestrated the Clone Wars as the Separatist figurehead, secretly serving Sidious’s agenda. Dooku is featured in Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Episode III, where Anakin Skywalker killed him on Palpatine’s orders, as well as in The Clone Wars series.
Asajj Ventress – A deadly Dathomirian Nightsister who became a dark side assassin aligned with the Sith. Ventress was trained by Count Dooku during the Clone Wars (though never formally given a “Darth” title). She fought notably against Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker across The Clone Wars series. After Dooku betrayed her, Ventress forged her own path as a bounty hunter. Her backstory (as seen in novels like Dark Disciple) adds depth: once a Jedi Padawan, she fell to darkness after her master’s death and sought vengeance throughout the war.
Savage Opress – A Nightbrother from Dathomir and the brother of Darth Maul. Savage was empowered by Nightsister magic and became Dooku’s Sith apprentice for a time. He later broke away and joined his resurrected brother Maul; together they formed a short-lived Sith splinter faction during The Clone Wars. Savage’s brute strength and rage made him a formidable foe – he helped Maul seize Mandalore – but he was ultimately killed by Darth Sidious when the Emperor moved to eliminate this rival threat.
Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker) – A central figure of the saga, originally the Jedi prodigy Anakin who fell to the dark side and became a Dark Lord of the Sith under Emperor Palpatine. As Darth Vader, he hunted down the Jedi and enforced Imperial rule with an iron fist, becoming the Emperor’s feared enforcer. Notably, Vader ultimately turned against Palpatine to save his son Luke, fulfilling the Chosen One prophecy by destroying the Sith (as seen in Episodes III–VI).
The Grand Inquisitor – A Pau’an former Jedi Temple Guard who turned to the dark side, becoming the leader of Palpatine’s Inquisitorius program. As Grand Inquisitor, he served Darth Vader by hunting surviving Jedi across the galaxy. He appears as the primary antagonist in Star Wars Rebels (Season 1), wielding a double-bladed spinning lightsaber. The Grand Inquisitor’s fall from the Jedi is explored in comics and hinted in Rebels – he grew disillusioned and was seduced by promises of knowledge in the dark side. (Other Inquisitors like the Fifth Brother, Seventh Sister, etc., also appear in Rebels and the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, all tasked with exterminating Jedi.)
Trilla Suduri – Formerly Jedi Padawan to Cere Junda, Trilla fell to the dark side after the Empire’s torture during Order 66 and became the ruthless Second Sister of the Imperial Inquisitors. Clad in black armor and wielding a red lightsaber, she hunted surviving Jedi relentlessly as Darth Vader’s servant. Despite her cunning intellect and dueling prowess that made her one of the deadliest Jedi hunters, Trilla’s tragic past and final confrontation with her former master led to a poignant end at Vader’s hand when she showed momentary remorse.
Taron Malicos – A human male Jedi Master-turned-dark sider who survived Order 66, crash-landing on Dathomir. Marooned and seduced by the planet’s darkness, Malicos mastered Nightsister magicks and took control of the Nightbrothers through deception and strength. By the time Cal Kestis encounters him (Jedi: Fallen Order), Malicos had become a self-declared ruler on Dathomir, attempting to lure Cal to the dark side with promises of power. Ultimately, he was defeated by Cal with the aid of Nightsister Merrin, who buried the fallen Jedi alive for his treachery.
Reva Sevander – A survivor of the Jedi Temple massacre, Reva (the Third Sister) became an Inquisitor obsessed with vengeance. Ambitious and volatile, this human female served the Empire under the Grand Inquisitor in the early reign of the Galactic Empire. Secretly, Reva’s loyalty to Darth Vader was a ruse – she hunted Obi-Wan Kenobi intending to betray Vader for slaughtering her fellow younglings. Reva’s journey in Obi-Wan Kenobi saw her torn between dark side wrath and buried pain, culminating in her choosing mercy over murder and stepping away from the path of the Sith.
Supreme Leader Snoke – The shadowy leader of the First Order in the sequel era, powerful with the dark side. Snoke was a mysterious being who guided and corrupted Ben Solo, turning him into Kylo Ren. He served as the primary antagonist in Episodes VII–VIII, wielding strong Force powers but ultimately was revealed to be an artificial creation of Palpatine (a puppet to ensure the Sith’s plans). Kylo Ren dramatically killed Snoke in The Last Jedi, seizing control of the First Order.
Kylo Ren (Ben Solo) – A dark side enforcer of the First Order in the sequel films. Ben Solo (son of Leia Organa and Han Solo) was seduced by the dark side and took the name Kylo Ren, becoming leader of the Knights of Ren. Although not a Sith Lord, he idolized his grandfather Darth Vader’s power. Kylo served as Supreme Leader Snoke’s apprentice and later ascended to Supreme Leader of the First Order himself (Episodes VII–IX). Notable for his conflicted nature, Kylo Ren ultimately found redemption and returned to the light side at the end of The Rise of Skywalker.
Morgan Elsbeth – A Dathomirian Nightsister turned Imperial magistrate, Morgan Elsbeth survived General Grievous’s purge of her people. As an Imperial industrialist, she helped build the Imperial Navy and later became a devoted follower of Grand Admiral Thrawn. In The Mandalorian she wielded a beskar spear against Ahsoka Tano, and in Ahsoka she embraced her witch heritage – aligning with Thrawn to restore the Empire and even receiving the Blade of Talzin from the Great Mothers. Morgan’s dark magicks and leadership of Thrawn’s rescue effort cemented her as a formidable foe until her final duel with Ahsoka on Peridea.
Baylan Skoll – A former Jedi Knight from the Clone Wars era, Baylan survived the Purge to reemerge as a mercenary Dark Jedi in Ahsoka. This human male, once a General in the Clone Wars, became disillusioned and sought greater power beyond the Jedi-Sith cycle. By 9 ABY, Baylan and his apprentice Shin Hati were allied with Morgan Elsbeth to find Thrawn, though Baylan’s true goal was to seek an ancient power calling to him on Peridea. Clad in dark armor and wielding an orange-bladed lightsaber, Baylan demonstrated measured, formidable combat skill (even besting Ahsoka in one duel) and ultimately set off alone to pursue the mysterious Force nexus tied to Mortis, hinting at a fate beyond conventional light or dark.
Shin Hati – The eager apprentice of Baylan Skoll, Shin Hati is a human female Dark Jedi trainee active in 9 ABY. Raised in the ways of the dark side, she served as Baylan’s ferocious enforcer during their mission to retrieve Grand Admiral Thrawn. Shin’s formidable dueling skills – often displayed in her clashes with Sabine Wren – and her predatory zeal made her a feared opponent. In Ahsoka, Shin pilots swift fighters and leads marauders, but as her master diverges on a personal quest, Shin is left to chart her own path, last seen among Peridea’s bandits with an uncertain future after Thrawn’s escape.
Legends & Expanded Universe Sith Lords (In Chronological Order)
King Adas – An ancient Sith King of Korriban (circa 28,000 BBY), famous for uniting the Sith species into their first empire. Adas earned the title “Sith’ari” (perfect being) and ruled for nearly 300 years until he died repelling the Rakata invasion around 27,700 BBY. His holocron became a coveted artifact in Sith lore
Ajunta Pall – The very first Dark Lord of the Sith, Ajunta Pall was a Jedi Master who led the Dark Jedi Exiles after the Hundred-Year Darkness (circa 6900 BBY). Cast out for experimenting with forbidden alchemy and creating life through the Force, Pall and his followers were exiled to deep space. Upon arriving on Korriban, Pall united the primitive Sith people under his rule – they hailed him as a god incarnate – and he founded the First Sith Empire, taking the title Jen’ari (Dark Lord). Ajunta Pall’s reign established the Sith tradition; he later regretted the endless betrayals it spawned. Long after his death, his spirit was redeemed by Revan during the Jedi Civil War, ending his millennia of unrest and symbolically uniting a fallen Jedi’s legacy with the light.
XoXaan – A female Dark Jedi from the Hundred-Year Darkness (6900 BBY) who became one of the first Sith Lords. As Marchioness of the exiled Dark Jedi’s Black Legions, XoXaan helped lead the defeated dark-side followers to Korriban, where they enslaved the native Sith species and founded the Sith Empire. Renowned among her peers for her skills in dark side healing, she recorded her lore in a holocron and was entombed in the Valley of the Dark Lords. Millennia later, XoXaan’s spirit tutored the fallen Jedi A’Sharad Hett (Darth Krayt) in Sith teachings, making her literally the “teacher of teachers” for a new Sith Order. Her legacy endured in Sith histories – Krayt even erected a statue to XoXaan, honoring her as the progenitor of his One Sith.
Karness Muur – One of the infamous Dark Jedi Exiles alongside Ajunta Pall and XoXaan, Karness Muur became a male Sith Lord whose evil expertise was Sith sorcery. He is best known for creating the dreaded Muur Talisman, an amulet that could transform nearby beings into mindless rakghoul monsters under his control. During the rise of the Sith on Korriban, Muur helped enslave the Sith species and was among the first to be called “Darth,” imbuing his talisman with dark power (and even engineering a plague to infect those immune to the talisman). Muur’s spirit endured inside his talisman for millennia, eventually encountered by Jedi Celeste Morne and even influencing Cade Skywalker, proving the chilling longevity of his malevolence.
Remulus Dreypa – A male human Jedi-turned-Sith from the original Dark Jedi Exiles, Baron Remulus Dreypa was a Sith Lord in the Empire’s first generation (circa 6900 BBY). He helped conquer the Sith species alongside Ajunta Pall and others, but Dreypa was never content to remain hidden in the Stygian Caldera. He attempted to leave Sith space and wage war on the galaxy, only to end up stranded on the planet Kesh after a clash with pursuing Jedi. There, Dreypa was betrayed and sealed in an oubliette (stasis prison) by his own dark allies, remaining entombed for nearly four millennia. When awoken during the Lost Tribe era (2974 BBY), Dreypa rampaged with Sithspawn leviathans in a bid to escape Kesh, but was ultimately tricked and destroyed – crashing into a volcano in a sabotaged ship – thus finally ending the threat of the “Great Sith Weapon” Remulus Dreypa.
Tulak Hord – An ancient Dark Lord of the Sith, revered as the “Lord of Hate” and “Master of the Gathering Darkness,” who ruled during the early Sith Empire (before 5000 BBY). Tulak Hord was famed for unmatched lightsaber prowess and mastery of dark side sorcery – Kreia noted that compared to Hord, modern Jedi and Sith were but children playing with toys. Donning a fearsome black mask in battle, he slaughtered scores of Jedi and conquered planet after planet, even single-handedly breaking a Jedi siege in his prime. Hord’s reign was marked by ruthless ambition: he amassed vast armies, practiced Sith rituals of life-draining, and eliminated potential rivals (even having his top general Kallig assassinated). His holocrons and hidden tomb on Dromund Kaas left a lasting legacy, with rumors that Tulak Hord had learned secrets to immortality and conquered over a hundred worlds for the Sith.
Marka Ragnos – A revered Sith Lord of the ancient Sith Empire (circa 5,000 BBY) who reigned during a golden age of Sith power. Ragnos was a hybrid of Sith and human blood and was immensely strong in the dark side. He ruled for over a century, and upon his death, he left no clear heir. The power vacuum led to a duel between his would-be successors (Naga Sadow and Ludo Kressh). Marka Ragnos’s spirit famously appeared at his funeral to declare that the strongest should rule, influencing Sadow to seize the mantle. Even in death, Ragnos’s spirit lingered in his tomb on Korriban – he later posthumously crowned Exar Kun as a Dark Lord centuries after (in Tales of the Jedi). In Jedi Academy (a game), a cult attempts to resurrect Ragnos, only for his spirit to be thwarted by Jedi. Marka Ragnos symbolizes the dark legacy that ancient Sith Lords left behind for future generations.
Ludo Kressh – One of the ancient Sith Lords of the Old Sith Empire (circa 5000 BBY), Ludo Kressh was a traditionalist rival to the ambitious Naga Sadow. A half-breed Sith of royal lineage, Kressh fought to uphold the status quo of the Sith Empire after the death of Marka Ragnos, opposing Sadow’s plans to invade the Republic. He briefly seized the mantle of Dark Lord during the Great Hyperspace War, only to be outmaneuvered by Sadow’s tricks and presumed dead. Kressh returned to challenge Sadow’s weakened forces but perished in the Battle of Korriban when Sadow rammed a ship into Kressh’s flagship, ending his claim to Sith leadership.
Naga Sadow – An ancient Sith Lord from over 5,000 years BBY, remembered for nearly conquering the Republic in the Great Hyperspace War. Naga Sadow was a skilled Sith sorcerer and alchemist who, after the death of Marka Ragnos, claimed the title of Dark Lord and pushed the Sith Empire to war against the Republic. He instigated a massive invasion, using illusions and dark side battle meditation to overwhelm Republic forces. Sadow’s campaign reached the Core Worlds but ultimately failed – internal betrayal and Republic counterattacks forced him into retreat. He fled to Yavin IV, where he went into exile, preserving Sith teachings for the future (it was his spirit that later tutored Freedon Nadd). Naga Sadow’s exploits are depicted in the Tales of the Jedi comics, and he stands as the central antagonist of the Great Hyperspace War, representing the aggressive ambition of the old Sith Empire.
Lord Vitiate (Sith Emperor) – Also known as Tenebrae or later Valkorion, Vitiate was an extraordinarily powerful Sith who declared himself Emperor and ruled for over a millennium. After the fall of the ancient Sith Empire (5000 BBY), Vitiate led the remnants to a secret world, rebuilt the empire, and achieved immortality through Sith sorcery. He is infamous for performing a ritual that consumed an entire planet’s population to grant him eternal life. Vitiate was the behind-the-scenes antagonist in The Old Republic MMO, even responsible for corrupting Revan and Malak initially. In the game’s storyline, he launches a war against the Republic centuries later. Eventually, Vitiate’s spirit is defeated by the Jedi and the Alliance Commander (in the SWTOR: Knights of the Fallen Empire expansion, he takes on the persona Valkorion). As a virtually immortal puppeteer of galactic events, Vitiate is one of the most formidable Sith in Legends lore.
Darth Andeddu – Known as the “Immortal God-King of Prakith,” Darth Andeddu was an ancient Dark Lord who possibly originated the title “Darth.” Paranoid and covetous of knowledge, Andeddu fled the Sith homeworld after being betrayed by his own followers, taking his secrets to Prakith where he ruled as a deathless deity for centuries. He mastered the art of essence transfer – cheating death by moving his spirit to new bodies – and stored this knowledge in his holocron. Long after Andeddu’s physical demise, his spirit persisted; his holocron became coveted by later Sith like Freedon Nadd, Darth Bane, Darth Tyranus, and Darth Krayt, each seeking the secret of immortality contained within and cementing Andeddu’s terrifying legacy.
Freedon Nadd – A dark side user who was once a promising Jedi, but chose to embrace the Sith teachings. Born on Ossus, Nadd became frustrated with the Jedi and sought greater power. He traveled to the tomb of Naga Sadow on Yavin IV, became Sadow’s pupil, and ultimately became a Sith Lord himself. Freedon Nadd conquered the planet Onderon, ruling as a tyrant king and teaching its people dark lore. Even after his death, Nadd’s tomb on Dxun and his spirit continued to corrupt Onderon’s rulers for generations (as seen in the Tales of the Jedi comics). In fact, it was the restless spirit of Nadd that later mentored Exar Kun briefly. Although not as widely known as others, Freedon Nadd’s legacy is significant in Legends – the Freedon Nadd Uprising and his role in corrupting Jedi like Exar Kun illustrate how one fallen Jedi can influence centuries of dark side history.
Exar Kun – An infamous Dark Lord of the Sith from the era of the Great Sith War (approximately 4000 years BBY). Exar Kun was originally a talented Jedi who turned to the dark side in his pursuit of forbidden knowledge. He learned Sith magic from the spirit of Freedon Nadd and seized the mantle of Dark Lord, with the ancient specter of Marka Ragnos anointing him. Along with his ally-turned-apprentice Ulic Qel-Droma, Kun launched a war against the Republic and the Jedi. He established a Sith stronghold on Yavin IV, where he performed dark rituals (even sacrificing Massassi followers to increase his power). Ultimately, Exar Kun was defeated when the Jedi combined their power to imprison his spirit. His physical body was destroyed, and his angry spirit was trapped in the temples of Yavin IV for millennia. (Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Academy students confront Kun’s spirit in the Jedi Academy novels.) Exar Kun’s legacy in Legends is as one of the most powerful Sith sorcerers, responsible for nearly destroying the Jedi of his time.
Ulic Qel-Droma – A contemporary of Exar Kun and another fallen Jedi hero of the Great Sith War. Ulic was a renowned Jedi Knight who, during a covert mission to infiltrate the Krath cult, succumbed to the dark side himself. He became Exar Kun’s Sith apprentice (after Ragnos’s spirit decreed it) and helped wage war on the Republic. Ulic dueled and tragically killed his own brother, Cay Qel-Droma, in battle. Eventually, Ulic was stripped of the Force by Nomi Sunrider (another Jedi) and, freed from Sith corruption, he repented. In the Tales of the Jedi comics, Ulic lives out his later years seeking atonement and teaching Nomi’s daughter before dying peacefully. His story is a tragic tale of a hero’s fall and redemption, and he’s remembered as a pivotal figure in the ancient Jedi–Sith conflicts.
Aleema Keto – A Tetan dark side sorceress from the Great Sith War (3996 BBY) depicted in the Tales of the Jedi comics. Along with her cousin Satal, Aleema formed the cult of the Krath in the Empress Teta system. She mastered Sith magic from ancient tomes and used powerful illusions against the Galactic Republic. Aleema helped topple the Tetan monarchy (murdering her own royal family) and briefly ruled as a dark queen. Notably, she manipulated Ulic Qel-Droma to the dark side and participated in the war against the Jedi, until her eventual betrayal and death at the hands of Exar Kun. (Legends – comics: Tales of the Jedi)
Darth Revan – A legendary Jedi-turned-Sith Lord from the Old Republic era, hugely popular from the Knights of the Old Republic video game. Revan was a heroic Jedi Knight who fought in the Mandalorian Wars but, upon discovering a hidden Sith Empire, fell to the dark side and declared himself Dark Lord of the Sith. Alongside his apprentice Malak, Revan waged war on the Republic until he was captured and had his memory wiped. Ironically, Revan then redeemed himself – as depicted in KOTOR, the player’s character regains Revan’s identity and defeats Darth Malak, saving the galaxy. Revan’s complex journey (from Jedi to Sith and back to Jedi) and iconic mask made him one of the most iconic Sith in Legends. (Revan is only tangentially canon; his name is referenced in The Rise of Skywalker Visual Dictionary.)
Darth Malak – The one-time closest friend and apprentice of Revan who became the primary antagonist of Knights of the Old Republic. Born Alek, he fought alongside Revan in the Mandalorian Wars. The two discovered the Sith Emperor (Vitiate) in deep space and, after breaking free of his control, started their own Sith Empire using the Star Forge superweapon. Malak betrayed Revan in an attempt to usurp power – he fired on Revan’s flagship, injuring his master and assuming the mantle of Dark Lord. However, Revan survived (with memory loss) and later confronted Malak. In the climax of KOTOR, Revan defeats Malak in battle, ending his reign and the war. Malak is remembered for the tragic loss of his jaw (he wears a characteristic prosthetic jawpiece) and his fall from loyal Jedi to tyrannical Sith Lord.
Darth Nihilus – An extremely feared Sith Lord from Knights of the Old Republic II, known as the Lord of Hunger. Nihilus was once an ordinary being but was transformed by a cataclysmic use of the Force. He became a wraith-like entity who literally fed on the life force of worlds. Wearing a haunting mask and robe, Darth Nihilus could consume the Force energy of entire populations – he “ate” the life of the planet Katarr, for example. In the game’s story, the Jedi Exile and her allies confront Nihilus when he targets Telos IV; they defeat him by exploiting his hunger-driven weakness. Even after death, Nihilus’s dark essence persisted in his mask and armor, cementing his legend as one of the most terrifying Sith in Legends.
Darth Sion – Another Sith Lord from KOTOR II, called the Lord of Pain. Sion was so consumed by hate that he achieved a form of immortality: he could will himself to live despite grievous injuries, held together by agony and the dark side. This gave him a grotesque, decayed appearance as his body was cracked and scarred but unyielding. Sion served under Darth Traya until he and Nihilus betrayed her. Ultimately, the Jedi Exile confronts Sion; she persuades him to let go of his pain. In that moment of release, Darth Sion finally dies permanently, as depicted in KOTOR II. His character represents the self-destructive nature of the dark side.
Darth Traya (Kreia) – The secret mastermind of KOTOR II. Known publicly as Kreia, an elderly mentor figure, she is revealed to be Darth Traya, a Sith Lady who sought to undermine the Force itself. Traya was once a Jedi Master, then the Sith teacher of Nihilus and Sion. Betrayed by her apprentices, she goes into hiding until guiding the Jedi Exile through the game. In the end, Traya attempts to use the Exile to destroy the Force, and the Exile must duel her. Traya is defeated in the game’s finale. Her philosophical doubts about the Force and her manipulations made her a very nuanced dark side character. (She appears only in the Legends game Knights of the Old Republic II.)
Lord Scourge (Legends) – A pureblood Sith Lord also known simply as Scourge, he served as the Sith Emperor’s Wrath – his personal enforcer – during the Old Republic era. Scourge earned the title through centuries of unwavering service and a dark gift of immortality granted by the Emperor. Grim and relentless, he personally executed over a hundred Jedi (and ten times as many fellow Sith) in his bloody career. Featured in the Revan novel and the Jedi Knight campaign of SWTOR, Lord Scourge ultimately became disillusioned with the Emperor’s nihilistic plan to consume all life. He betrayed the Sith Emperor by allying with the Jedi Knight Hero of Tython, helping defeat their common foe. Having outlived his old Empire, the red-skinned Scourge sought a new purpose, carrying 300 years of anguish, wisdom, and a rare perspective as a Sith who chose a different path.
Darth Malgus – A prominent Sith Lord during the Old Republic era, featured in Star Wars: The Old Republic (MMO) and its cinematic trailers. Malgus was a human Sith warrior known for his hulking armor and respirator mask (earned after a duel with Jedi Satele Shan that left him scarred). He fought in the Great Galactic War ~3700 BBY, sacking the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and killing many Jedi. Malgus was a relentless battlefield commander who later attempted to seize the Sith Empire’s throne for himself. Though ultimately defeated, his boldness and the cinematic depictions of his exploits (in game trailers and novels) made Malgus a well-known Sith among fans.
Darth Marr – A towering human Sith Lord who sat on the Dark Council during the Great Galactic War and the Cold War (c. 3700–3630 BBY). Renowned as a stoic warrior and staunch defender of the Sith Empire, Marr led the Sphere of Defense and was regarded as the Empire’s backbone – holding the line against Republic forces and curbing internal treachery. After Darth Vitiate’s disappearance, Marr became the de facto leader of the Empire, forging an alliance with Jedi to oppose the invading Eternal Empire. He ultimately sacrificed himself confronting Emperor Valkorion, but not before securing a united front that would later bring down their common foe. Clad in heavy armor and an impassive mask, Darth Marr exemplified honor-bound Sith principles and remained “the Empire’s Wrath” in spirit even after death.
Darth Thanaton – Born Teneb Kel, he was a Human Sith Lord and Dark Council member during the Old Republic era who embodied Sith traditionalism. Rising from slave origins to take the name Darth Thanaton, he headed the Sphere of Ancient Knowledge and opposed any Sith who defied orthodox teachings. In the Star Wars: The Old Republic storyline, Thanaton becomes the nemesis of the Sith Inquisitor player character – engaging in a legendary Kaggath (duel) against them. After his arcane power and knowledge of Sith lore failed to stop the upstart Sith (who bound Sith spirits to grow in strength), Thanaton was defeated and executed for his cowardice, with the victor claiming his Dark Council seat and the title Darth Nox.
Darth Nox – The title assumed by the Sith Inquisitor hero of Star Wars: The Old Republic, Darth Nox rose from slave origins to Dark Council member. This Sith Lord (player-determined identity) mastered the art of binding Sith spirits, absorbing the power of ancient Force ghosts to become extraordinarily powerful – a walking nexus of dark side energy. After vanquishing the traditionalist Darth Thanaton in a Kaggath duel and having the Dark Council acknowledge their victory, the Inquisitor claimed Thanaton’s seat and took the name “Darth Nox,” signifying the darkness they controlled. As Darth Nox, they oversaw the Sphere of Ancient Knowledge, and their storyline highlights “cool lore” such as exploring Tulak Hord’s tomb, wielding the Mask of Revan, and even cheating death through ghostly wrath. Their ascent showcases the Sith ethos of “power through any means,” even bending spirits to one’s will.
Darth Jadus – A mysterious human Sith Lord from the Old Republic era, Jadus sat on the Dark Council as head of Imperial Intelligence and was reputed to be second in power only to the Emperor himself. Unusually calm and soft-spoken, Darth Jadus believed fear was the ultimate tool of control. He orchestrated a massive terror plot known as Eradication Day, covertly bombing Imperial targets to eliminate his rivals and cull the weak, all to remake the Empire in his image. In the Imperial Agent’s storyline, Jadus fakes his death, then offers the Agent a chance to join him – demonstrating his Machiavellian mindset. Whether thwarted or temporarily in hiding, Darth Jadus’s legacy is one of dread: an embodiment of cold, calculating evil whose plans left an indelible mark on Imperial history.
Darth Atroxa – A Lethan Twi’lek female Sith Lord who fought during the Galactic War against Zakuul’s Eternal Empire (as seen in SWTOR expansions). Atroxa appears in the “Knights of the Eternal Throne” trailer, leading Imperial troops in a desperate battle. Clad in dark armor, she clashes with Republic forces (and even Jedi Knight Tau Idair) while the Eternal Empire attacks both factions. Renowned for her ferocity, Darth Atroxa embodied the Sith ideal of strength in war. Though her screen time is brief, she left an impression with her acrobatic duel against a Jedi and her rallying cry to Imperial soldiers amid a chaotic three-way conflict. Her fate is left ambiguous, but her presence enriched the lore of the Eternal Empire war – showing that even under Valkorion’s shadow, the Sith Empire had champions who would not go quietly.
Darth Desolous – A Pau’an former Jedi Master who fell to the dark side around 3522 BBY (post-Knights of the Old Republic era). After being expelled from the Jedi Order, he took the name Darth Desolous and vowed revenge. Desolous trained an army of fellow Pau’an warriors in melee combat (using cortosis shields to counter lightsabers) and led them in ambushes that slaughtered nearly 2,000 Jedi. His overconfidence led the Jedi to lure Desolous into a trap where he and his army were wiped out. Desolous’s ferocity became legend – a simulacrum of him was later used as a Jedi Temple training hologram (“Trial of Skill”) to test young Jedi with their fear. (Legends – mentioned in The Force Unleashed game lore)
Darth Phobos (Legends) – A Theelin female Sith Lord who lived “thousands of years” before the films, remembered for her deceptive and murderous cunning. Born on Korriban, Phobos used mind control and fear to dominate others, even slaying many of her own Sith followers in her quest for power. Her treachery earned her the nickname “The Hidden Fear.” Other Sith eventually turned on Phobos – her ship was destroyed and she was presumed dead, though she survived and formed a cult of acolytes to hunt both Jedi and Sith. Phobos was ultimately killed in battle by combined Jedi and Sith forces, but her specter lived on in history. Like Desolous, a projection of Darth Phobos was later used in Jedi trials to personify a Padawan’s fears. (Legends – from The Force Unleashed game lore).
Darth Bane – The ancient Sith Lord who reformed the Sith after their near-extinction, instituting the Rule of Two. Born a miner named Dessel, Bane survived a great war between Jedi and Sith about a millennium ago and concluded that the Sith’s infighting caused their downfall. He decreed that only two Sith (master and apprentice) would exist at a time, hidden in the shadows, preserving their power until the time was ripe. Bane is the protagonist of the Darth Bane trilogy of novels (Legends) and is mentioned in canon; Yoda encounters a vision of Bane’s spirit in The Clone Wars (making Bane canon in concept). His Rule of Two ensured the Sith lineage continued in secret leading up to Palpatine.
Darth Zannah – The heir of Darth Bane, Zannah ensured the Rule of Two continued after Bane’s death. A human female (once known as Rain), she became Bane’s apprentice following the Jedi–Sith war on Ruusan (~1000 BBY). Zannah was a master of Sith sorcery and deception, using spells to drive enemies mad. When the time came, she challenged Darth Bane in a duel – and won, killing (or possibly spiritually subsuming) her master on Ambria. As the new Dark Lord, Darth Zannah took on an apprentice of her own (Darth Cognus) and carried Bane’s teachings forward in secrecy. Her victory over Bane set the “magnificently vicious cycle” in motion, as noted by Darth Sidious – each Sith apprentice from Zannah onward would vie to overthrow their master, ensuring the Sith grew stronger with each generation until they culminated in Darth Sidious himself.
Darth Gravid – Remembered infamously as the “mad Sith” who almost destroyed the Sith Order from within, Darth Gravid was a male Sith Master about 500 BBY – part of Bane’s Rule of Two succession. Uniquely, Gravid became convinced that embracing some light-side principles was the key to the Sith’s survival. This led him to a disastrous decision: he began purging Sith holocrons and lore, trying to remake the Sith with compassion and empathy. His apprentice, Darth Gean, discovering this plot, fought Gravid in a fierce confrontation. Though Gravid maimed Gean horribly, she managed to kill him and save a portion of the Sith teachings. Gravid’s demise, while nearly causing a dark age for the Sith, ultimately served as a cautionary tale; the Sith would remember him as a traitor to their creed, one whose half-measure of light almost extinguished the dark.
Darth Gean – A Twi’lek Sith Lady in Darth Bane’s lineage, Gean was the apprentice of Darth Gravid (circa 533 BBY). When her master Gravid went “mad” and attempted to destroy Sith artifacts and merge Jedi teachings into Sith philosophy, Darth Gean stood as the savior of the Sith Order. She penetrated Gravid’s defenses and killed him to stop his heresy, though he grievously wounded her – severing an arm and part of her face. Gean survived using prosthetics and, despite her injuries, took an apprentice to continue Darth Bane’s Rule of Two. Her decisive (if brutal) action preserved centuries of Sith knowledge from annihilation. Darth Plagueis later lauded Gean’s “courage” to uphold the Sith legacy – her loyalty to the dark side in slaying her own master ensured the Sith Grand Plan endured.
Darth Tenebrous – The Sith Master of Darth Plagueis, Tenebrous was a Bith Dark Lord renowned for blending Sith arts with scientific foresight. Outwardly a suave starship designer (he secretly influenced the creation of Darth Maul’s Scimitar ship), Tenebrous carried on Bane’s Rule of Two as the galaxy edged toward the fall of the Republic. He manipulated the Force with a belief in prophecy and maths – even calculating the timing of Palpatine’s rise. Ultimately, Darth Tenebrous met his end when Plagueis betrayed and killed him, but not before Tenebrous implanted a failsafe: a consciousness fragment seeking to ensure the Sith’s grand plan survived. Tenebrous’s legacy lived on through Plagueis (who in turn trained Palpatine), making him a crucial if shadowy figure in the lineage that led to Darth Sidious.
Darth Venamis – The secret Sith apprentice of Darth Tenebrous (Plagueis’s master) in the Rule of Two era (circa 67 BBY). Venamis, a male Bith, was trained by Tenebrous in violation of the Rule of Two – essentially as a backup if Darth Plagueis failed. Though given the title “Darth,” his status was unofficial. After Tenebrous’s death, Venamis attempted to eliminate Plagueis but was defeated. Darth Plagueis then cruelly kept Venamis in a forced coma using a poison called the coma-bloom, experimenting on him to study midi-chlorian manipulation and immortality. Plagueis periodically revived and killed Venamis repeatedly in gruesome experiments (even in front of Palpatine) until Venamis finally expired for good. (Legends – introduced in the novel Darth Plagueis by James Luceno)
Starkiller – The secret apprentice of Darth Vader in The Force Unleashed multimedia project (Legends). Born Galen Marek, the son of Jedi survivors, he was abducted and raised by Vader to be an unstated Sith apprentice and assassin, codenamed “Starkiller.” Galen was trained to hunt down Jedi for Vader, all in secret. Over the course of the story, Starkiller turns against his master and sacrifices himself to protect the leaders of the budding Rebel Alliance. He thus unwittingly helps spark the Rebellion. (In an alternate ending he embraces the dark side, but the canon Legends path is sacrifice.) Starkiller’s legacy in Legends is that the Rebel Alliance’s symbol and unity were inspired by his heroic turn. (Note: Starkiller is non-canon now, but remains a fan-favorite from the 2008 Force Unleashed game and its sequel.)
Mara Jade – A famed example of a dark-side affiliate who left the darkness behind. Mara Jade began as one of Emperor Palpatine’s secret assassins, an “Emperor’s Hand,” carrying out clandestine missions for him. She was highly skilled in the Force and was fanatically loyal, tasked (among other things) with a directive to kill Luke Skywalker. After Palpatine’s death, Mara eventually crossed paths with Luke. In Timothy Zahn’s novels (Heir to the Empire and sequels), Mara struggles between the Emperor’s last command and her own sense of honor. She ultimately rejects the dark side and Palpatine’s programming, deciding her own fate. Mara Jade becomes a smuggler ally to the New Republic, then trains as a Jedi under Luke. In Legends, she marries Luke Skywalker and becomes a Jedi Master. While not a Sith Lord, Mara’s role as an Emperor’s Hand turned hero is iconic – she’s a prime example of a dark side agent who found redemption (her story is entirely in Legends books and comics).
Lumiya (Dark Lady of the Sith) – Originally Shira Elan Colla Brie, she was an Imperial agent and one of Vader’s protégés who rose to become a self-proclaimed Dark Lady of the Sith. Introduced in the 1980s Star Wars Marvel comics, Lumiya was an Emperor’s Hand sent to infiltrate the Rebel Alliance. After being unmasked and injured by Luke Skywalker, she was rebuilt with cybernetics and trained in the dark side (by Vader in some sources). Lumiya wielded a lightwhip and carried on the Sith legacy in the shadows after Palpatine’s death. In the Legacy of the Force novels, she re-emerges to mentor Jacen Solo, guiding him toward becoming Darth Caedus. Ultimately, Lumiya is defeated in combat by Luke Skywalker. Her persistence in trying to resurrect the Sith order earned her the title of Dark Lady, and she is a pivotal villain linking the Original Trilogy era to the next generation in Legends.
Darth Caedus (Jacen Solo) – The son of Han and Leia in Legends continuity, Jacen Solo was a powerful Jedi Knight who fell to the dark side. A hero of the Yuuzhan Vong War, Jacen later became convinced that only through Sith methods could he bring order to the galaxy. He took the name Darth Caedus and plunged the galaxy into a conflict known as the Second Galactic Civil War, declaring himself a Sith Lord. Jacen’s fall and reign are chronicled in the Legacy of the Force novel series. As Caedus, he committed dark deeds (including killing Mara Jade) in pursuit of galactic domination. Eventually, his twin sister Jaina Solo fought and killed Caedus to stop his tyranny. Jacen’s complex character (once compassionate and philosophically inclined) and his transformation into Caedus make him one of the notable modern-era Sith Lords in Legends.
Darish Vol – A human male Force-user who rose to become the Grand Lord of the Lost Tribe of Sith on Kesh (circa 41–44 ABY). As Grand Lord, Vol was the highest authority among the Keshiri Sith society, presiding over the Circle of Lords and maintaining the Tribe’s strict hierarchy. Cunning yet cautious, he initially welcomed the dark entity Abeloth as an ally – hosting her with feigned hospitality – only to be betrayed when Abeloth unleashed devastation on the capital city. Vol survived Abeloth’s onslaught but later died confronting her disguised form in the aftermath, ending his decades-long rule. His death marked a turning point for the Tribe, which had to adapt after losing its long-standing leader.
Vestara Khai – A teenaged human Sith from the Lost Tribe on Kesh, Vestara was introduced in the Fate of the Jedi novels (circa 43–44 ABY). Raised from birth among the Tribe, she was talented and resourceful, eventually becoming the apprentice of High Lord Taalon. When the ancient entity Abeloth emerged, Vestara found herself in an unlikely alliance with Luke Skywalker and his son Ben, fighting side by side with Jedi against Abeloth’s cosmic threat. Though nurtured in the dark side, Vestara formed a bond with Ben Skywalker, which tested her loyalties. By the end of that saga, she teetered between redemption and her Sith upbringing. Ultimately unable to abandon the Sith way, Vestara fled to forge her own path – a young Sith Lady alone in the galaxy, armed with both the teachings of the Tribe and the complex conscience shaped by her time with the Skywalkers.
Darth Krayt (A’Sharad Hett) – The Sith Lord who established the “One Sith” order in the far future of Legends (Star Wars: Legacy comics, set ~130 years after A New Hope). Formerly A’Sharad Hett – a Jedi from the Clone Wars era who survived the Great Jedi Purge – he fell to the dark side after years of hardship. Hett took on the name Darth Krayt and founded a new Sith movement that rejected the Rule of Two. As the Dark Lord of the One Sith, Krayt amassed an army of Sith followers, each foregoing the Darth title (he alone was “Darth” to emphasize his absolute rule). He launched a successful coup of the galaxy, overthrowing the Galactic Alliance and even the Fel Empire to declare himself Emperor. Krayt’s Sith were characterized by their red, tattooed armor and unified purpose. He was eventually challenged by Cade Skywalker (descendant of Luke) and fell in battle. Darth Krayt’s reign, though in a later era, is notable for fulfilling (in an alternate future) the Sith’s long-term goal of galactic domination – he demonstrated a new Sith philosophy, the “Rule of One,” where the Sith order acted as a collective under a single ultimate master.
Darth Talon – A lethal Lethan (red-skinned) Twi’lek Sith Lady who served as one of Darth Krayt’s two Hands in the One Sith Order around 137 ABY. Covered in ritual Sith tattoos, Talon was trained from youth to be utterly loyal to Krayt. She acted as his personal assassin – an extension of Krayt’s will – often working alongside her fellow Hand, Darth Nihl. In the Star Wars: Legacy comics, Darth Talon’s combat prowess was formidable: she dueled Jedi like Cade Skywalker and Wolf Sazen, nearly killing them on multiple occasions. Cold, seductive, and ruthless, Talon helped capture Cade to present to Krayt, and remained one of the Dark Lord’s most dangerous enforcers until the One Sith’s downfall.
Each of these characters has contributed to Star Wars lore, whether in the official Disney-era Canon or the expansive Legends continuity. From the most famous film villains to obscure comic-book Sith, their backstories and deeds showcase the enduring allure of the dark side in the Star Wars saga. Each Sith or dark sider brought their own twist to the eternal conflict between darkness and light – and together … Is the Dark Side stronger?
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