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TheStar Warssaga is all about the battle between good and evil, leading to the creation of several Sith Lords and other dark side users for theStar Warsmovies and TV shows. Although the Sith weren’t mentioned by name in theoriginalStar Warstrilogy, George Lucas always intended for them to be the main villains of the saga. TheStar Warsprequel trilogyrevealed more about Sith customs and their dichotomy with the Jedi Order, and countless books, comics, and video games have delved into Sith history inStar Warscanon and Legends.
While the Sith may appear synonymous with the dark side of the Force,Star Warsfeatures several dark side users who aren’t technically Sith. Many of them serve the Sith or have some connection, but others have their own history and unique ways of using the Force. While the movies and shows only feature a fraction of the dark side characters from other media, some of them eventually made their onscreen debut. From the original trilogy to the present, 53Star Warscharacters appear in the movies and shows that are Sith or another kind of dark side user.
53Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker
First Appearance:Star Wars(aka ANew Hope)
Darth Vader was the first dark side user and Sith Lord introduced inStar Wars, even though he wasn’t labeled as the latter onscreen. He would go on to appear in the rest of the original trilogy, become the main character of George Lucas' saga as Anakin Skywalker, and appear in several otherStar Warsmovies and TV shows.
52Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine
First Appearance:The Empire Strikes Back
Referred to only as “The Emperor” throughout the original trilogy, Palpatine first appeared via hologram inThe Empire Strikes Back. Palpatine was originally portrayed physically by Marjorie Eaton and voiced by Clive Revill, but Ian McDiarmid assumed the role forReturn of the Jediand all subsequentStar Warsfilms. For the 2004 DVD release, McDiarmid replaced the original Palpatine, making the character consistent across all his movie appearances. Palpatine appears in all threeStar Warsfilm trilogies and many of the TV shows, both animated and live-action.
51Darth Maul
First Appearance:Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
The first new Sith Lord introduced in 16 years, Darth Maul wielded a double-bladed lightsaber and set a new precedent for lightsaber duels. He and his master, Darth Sidious, established that “Darth” wasn’t exclusive to Vader but a title used by all Sith Lords. Despite apparently being killed by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Maul would return inStar Wars: The Clone Warsand make further appearances inStar Wars RebelsandSolo: A Star Wars Story.
50Darth Tyranus/Count Dooku
First Appearance:Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
The second apprentice of Darth Sidious, Count Dooku was once a Jedi before turning to the dark side and becoming Darth Tyranus. He and Palpatine manipulated both sides during the Clone Wars to ensure the eventual rule of the Sith, only for Dooku to be betrayed by his master, who pushed Anakin Skywalker to execute Dooku and later become his new apprentice.
49Asajj Ventress
First Onscreen Appearance:Star Wars: Clone Wars2D Micro-Series (LEGENDS)
Asajj Ventress debuted in the Legends continuity inStar Wars: Jedi - Mace Winduby John Ostrander and Jan Duursema before making her first onscreen appearance in theStar Wars: Clone Wars2D micro-series. She was raised by a Jedi named Ky Narec, but after he was killed, Ventress turned to the dark side and was later recruited as Count Dooku’s assassin.
InStar Warscanon, Dooku betrayed Ventress, leading to her becoming a bounty hunter and eventually faking her death. She resumed her work as a bounty hunter during the reign of the Galactic Empire.
48Mother Talzin
First Appearance:Star Wars: The Clone Warsseason 3, episode 12 “Nightsisters”
Mother Talzin led the Nightsisters of Dathomir, a matriarchal clan of witches who practiced dark magick. She was once an ally of Darth Sidious until he betrayed her and stole her son, Darth Maul, whom he raised as his apprentice. Talzin swore vengeance and put a long-term plan in motion, culminating in Maul’s return and a final confrontation with Sidious. Despite temporarily besting Sidious’s disciples, Talzin was later killed by General Grievous as Maul watched helplessly.
47Savage Opress
First Appearance:Star Wars: The Clone Warsseason 3, episode 13 “Monster”
Savage Opress was from the same clan as Darth Maul, handpicked by Asajj Ventress in a revenge plot against Count Dooku. However, Savage believed Ventress had betrayed him and returned to Mother Talzin, who revealed that he had a secret brother: Darth Maul. Savage sought out Maul and became his apprentice, and the two worked with Death Watch to take over the planet Mandalore. When Darth Sidious realized Maul had become a potential rival, he engaged the two in a lightsaber duel, killing Savage and taking Maul prisoner.
46The Son
First Appearance:Star Wars: The Clone Warsseason 3, episode 15 “Overlords”
The Son was one of the three Force gods of Mortis, ancient Force Wielders who each embodied a different aspect of the Force. The Son represented the dark side, the Daughter represented the light side, and the Father maintained the balance between them. When the Son fully gave in to the dark side, he killed his sister and attempted to leave Mortis, temporarily turning Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker to the dark side. The Father took his own life so Anakin could kill the Son, restoring balance to the Force and confirming that Anakin was the Chosen One.
45Pong Krell
First Appearance:Star Wars: The Clone Warsseason 3, episode 7 “Darkness on Umbara”
A Besalisk Jedi Master who wielded two double-bladed lightsabers, Pong Krell was a ruthless military tactician known for sacrificing clones to achieve victory. Captain Rex and the other clones discovered that Krell was secretly sabotaging the Republic forces of Umbara to gain favor with Count Dooku, hoping to become his apprentice and rule as part of the Galactic Empire he had seen in a vision. Despite Krell’s confidence in his future, he was shot by Dogma, the clone trooper who had blindly followed orders and trusted the Jedi Master more than anyone.
44Barriss Offee
First Dark Side Appearance:Star Wars: The Clone Warsseason 5, episode 17 “Sabotage”
Barriss Offee first appeared inStar Wars: The Clone Warsseason 2 as a model Jedi Padawan who obeyed her master and excelled during missions. However, when Ahsoka Tano was framed for bombing the Jedi Temple, Anakin Skywalker exposed Barriss as the true mastermind.
Barriss was recruited as an Imperial Inquisitor after Order 66 but later turned back to the light, and a final duel with the Fourth Sister left her survival ambiguous.
She believed the Jedi had lost their way and that the Republic would fail, which was proven true when Palpatine created the Galactic Empire. Barriss was recruited as an Imperial Inquisitor after Order 66 but later turned back to the light, and a final duel with the Fourth Sister left her survival ambiguous.
