Summary
TheStar Wars serieshas a lot of notable, iconic imagery, characters, storylines, sounds, music, and more. One of the things that makes it such a well-renowned series are the villains that inhabit it. Some of the villains are grand and fantastical, some are all powerful and threatening, and others are armor clad with cool weapons.
There are a large variety of villains across the Star Wars series of films, television shows, books, comics,video games, and every other medium the series has ventured into. In some instances, the villains even became the main characters of their own stories and adventures.
The Coolest Star Wars Bounty Hunter
Cad Bane is a bounty hunter whose primary goal is to make money. He shows very few scruples and, so long as the job gets done, he has no problem with almost anything he must do. Often enough, other villains hire Cad to do their dirty work because they know he’ll deliver the goods.
What sets Cad apart from some of the other villains is his overt coolness. He is based on classic western cowboy characters, with a similar outfit, a unique, droll voice, and a variety of weapons at his disposal too.
9Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin
You May Fire When Ready
Wilhuff Tarkin was born on a planet where position and station meant everything. The notions of respect and honor were important, and hunting was key to getting both. He eventually rose to be one of the highest ranked in the entire Galactic Empire.
Wilhuff was always desiring more. More power, more authority, more control. Ultimately, it led to his downfall when he seized control of The Death Star, which was then destroyed with him aboard it. At that point, he was so powerful that he could stand up against Vader and Palpatine in a way very few others could ever even attempt to do.
8Asajj Ventress
Assassin, Bounty Hunter, Nightsister
Asajj Ventress was trained in the ways of the Jedi, but she later abandoned the Order and turned to fighting for a living. That was before she was found and recruited by Count Dooku to be his assassin and apprentice during The Clone Wars.
Throughout The Clone Wars, she gradually grew disillusioned with her master, believing she wasn’t valued. She thenreturned home to the Nightsisters, abandoning the war in an act of vengeance. When they fell in battle, she became a bounty hunter, and eventually fell in love with Jedi Quinlan Vos before meeting her fate.
7Boba Fett
The Best Bounty-Hunter-Turned Crime Boss The Galaxy Has Ever Seen
Boba Fettwas a naturally aging clone of the infamous bounty hunter, Jango Fett. Jango taught the young Boba a lot, but perished at the beginning of The Clone Wars. Boba adopted Jango’s Mandalorian armor and weapons and fell in league with other bounty hunters who taught him the tricks of the trade.
After failing to get revenge for his father’s death, Boba fully committed to becoming the greatest bounty hunter in the galaxy. After falling into the Sarlacc Pit and being rescued by Tusken’s, he changed his ways and chose instead to become the leader of his own crime syndicate.
6Grand Admiral Thrawn
The Most Intelligent Star Wars Villain
Thrawn, also known as Mitth’raw’nuruodo, was born in The Unknown Regions. He joined the Empire after a falling out with his own people’s military and political leaders, and eventually he rose through the ranks to become a Grand Admiral. He vanished at the beginning of the Galactic Civil War after an encounter with Ezra Miller.
Renowned for his cunning, his tactical prowess, and his knowledge of other species, the Empire sought out Thrawn for many years. Eventually, they learned of his location and a remnant of the Empire, alongside a team of mercenaries, brought him back to the galaxy, in hopes that he would rekindle the fallen Empire.
5Count Dooku / Darth Tyranus
A Fallen Jedi Turned Politician And Sith Lord
Dooku was a Jedi and was often considered one of the greatest there ever was, especially when it came to lightsaber combat. After years of service to the Jedi Order and the Republic, he grew disillusioned with them and their ways, and with some nudging and influence from Darth Sidious, he left.
He then returned home to take on the title and position of Count of Serenno before becoming a political figure at the start of The Clone Wars. Dooku became the leader of The Separatists on a political level, continuing to spread war and do his master’s bidding until he was thrown aside like past apprentices.
4Ben Solo / Kylo Ren
The Last Of The Skywalker Lineage
The son of Han Solo and Leia Organa-Solo, Ben Solo was force sensitive and trained in the Jedi ways by his uncle, Luke Skywalker. After years of training, Ben met Snoke and was slowly manipulated towards the dark side of the force.
Sensing this, Luke sought to end this corruption early, but was caught in the act and instead pushed Ben further down his dark path. Ben adopted the name of Kylo Ren, becoming the leader of The Knights of Ren, and eventually the leader of The First Order. In the end, Rey and Leia managed to pull Ben back to their side just in time for him to help stop Palpatine once and for all.
3Maul
Abandoned, Twisted, Revenge-Seeking
Maul was Palpatine’s first-known apprentice and was very skilled in the ways of the force. He was motivated by pure hatred, wanting nothing more than to kill his foes and do his master’s bidding. However, he was slain by Obi-Wan Kenobi at the battle of Naboo.
Years later, during The Clone Wars, he was found alive, but twisted. Mother Talzin and Maul’s brother, Savage Opress brought Maul back together, figuratively and literally. This started Maul’s long quest for vengeance against Obi-Wan Kenobi, one which he sought out for almost 20 years until Obi-Wan finally killed Maul for good.
2Sheev Palpatine / Darth Sidious
The Dark Lord Of The Sith
The Dark Lord of the Sith, the main antagonist of the entire Skywalker Saga was one-time politician, Sheev Palpatine, aka Darth Sidious. Palpatine was a man who desired more and more, always. He wanted power, in any way he could get it.
He manipulated individuals, groups, political parties, and just about everyone until he became the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. He then played both sides and started The Clone Wars, seizing control and turning the Republic into The Empire. Even after his death, he continued to hold sway, with a cult bringing him back in clone form, ready to lead the galaxy once again, until he was finally slain by Rey.
1Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader
The Chosen One
Anakin Skywalker was a child born on the dust ball of a planet called Tatooine. He was gifted in the force; young, innocent, and a bit annoying. When Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn discovered him, he took it upon himself to train the young Anakin in the ways of the force, even if the Jedi Order forbade it. When Qui-Gon died, the Jedi granted Obi-Wan Kenobi permission to train the boy.
Years later, Anakin struggled with his emotions and feelings, often letting them dictate his actions. He even slew a band of Tusken’s in rage-fueled revenge. During The Clone Wars, he got his own apprentice, Ahsoka Tano, whom he became a father/older brother figure to. But Palpatine was slowly manipulating the young man, turning him against the Jedi. When the Jedi fell, Anakin becameDarth Vader, the most feared and powerful force user in the galaxy.
