The Star Wars saga chronicles the fight between the Jedi and the Sith, but other Force groups played an important role and set themselves apart from both orders. Some of these Force groups appeared or were referenced in the Star Wars movies, while others debuted through different mediums, especially the TV shows. Many Force groups predate the Jedi Order, directly influencing its creation just as the Jedi and Sith would inspire other Force wielders. Without these Force groups and their differences from the Jedi and the Sith, the Star Wars timeline may have been shaped in a very different manner.
These Force groups can also shape the future of the Star Wars timeline. Rey’s New Jedi Order movie will follow her efforts to rebuild the Jedi, and if she learns from the original Jedi texts, then she could learn from the group that inspired the Jedi. Kylo Ren also set himself apart from the Jedi or the Sith, implying that future Star Wars heroes and villains can learn from other light and dark side groups, respectively. 10 Force groups in Star Wars canon represent the variety of Force practices and philosophies that break away from both the Jedi and the Sith.
10 The Nightsisters
The Nightsisters of Dathomir were a matriarchal society of witches that used the Force to perform magic, something the Jedi viewed as merely an illusion. Count Dooku’s apprentice, Asajj Ventress, was born a Nightsister and returned to her people after Dooku betrayed her. Dooku later sent General Grievous to wipe out the Nightsisters, and eventually, a young Nightsister named Merrin was the only survivor. Unlike Jedi and the Sith Force abilities, Nightsisters’ magic manifested as a green mist when used on an opponent. The Nightsisters also remained loyal to each other, refusing to get involved in galactic affairs as the Jedi and Sith did.
9 The Knights Of Ren
The Knights of Ren were a band of dark-side marauders who followed the way of the Ren, a red lightsaber wielded by the group’s leader. They referred to the dark side as “the shadow” and often had to work together to perform Force abilities. This caused the Sith to look down on the Knights of Ren, though they were one of the few remaining Force groups that survived Palpatine’s purge. The Knights of Ren later recruited Ben Solo after he fell to the dark side, training him in their ways until he killed Ren and became their new leader, though he eventually killed them all upon returning to the light.
8 The Acolytes Of The Beyond
Inspired directly by the Sith, the Acolytes of the Beyond were a dark side cult that emerged after the fall of the Empire. Rather than viewing themselves as Sith, the Acolytes were religious zealots who worshiped fallen Sith and supposedly contacted the spirits of Sith Lords. Their practices included following the Sith religion, destroying Sith lightsabers to return them to their owners in death, and even sacrificing sentient beings. They also staged several attacks and revolutions throughout the New Republic, but despite their efforts, that had seemingly disappeared before Palpatine’s return.
7 The Ordu Aspectu
The Ordu Aspectu were a Jedi splinter group that sought to prolong life indefinitely. They were founded around 20,000 BBY, thousands of years before the Hundred-Year Darkness led to the creation of the Sith. The Ordu Aspectu’s history was largely shrouded in mystery because of the different accounts of who they were: some believed they were a selfless, non-violent group that sought to preserve life for all beings, while others thought they were a dark-side cult that sacrificed Padawans to achieve their ends. Whatever form they took, the Ordu Aspectu set themselves apart from the Jedi and Sith by seeking life after death long before either group considered it possible.
6 The Inquisitorius
The Imperial Inquisitors in Star Wars canon may have served the Sith, but the Rule of Two meant they were not truly Sith Lords. Most Inquisitors were former Jedi, either recruited by Palpatine before Order 66 or coerced by Darth Vader through torture. Though largely driven by fear of punishment from Vader, the Inquisitors still vied for power, as only one could hold the title of Grand Inquisitor at any given time. They wielded spinning duel-bladed lightsabers that allowed them to fly through the air and were often accompanied by a squad of elite stormtroopers. Most of the Inquisitors were killed before the start of the Galactic Civil War.
5 The Force Gods Of Mortis
A species of Force wielders viewed as god-like beings, the Father, the Daughter, and the Son resided on the ethereal world of Mortis. Each one represented a different aspect of the Force, and they withdrew from the rest of the galaxy to keep their power contained. They did not need lightsabers used by the Jedi and the Sith, and the siblings were immortal as long as the Father was alive. After the Son killed the Daughter, Anakin Skywalker restored balance by killing him as the Father perished. A mural of the Force gods of Mortis would later be discovered on Lothol as the entrance to the World Between Worlds.
4 The Rakatan Infinite Empire
The Rakatan Infinite Empire ruled the galaxy long before the formation of the Galactic Republic. While not much has been revealed about the Rakata in canon, they were a species of dark-side users in Legends, using their abilities to conquer countless worlds. They created a weapon called the Forcesaber, a dark side weapon that the Jedi used to create the first lightsabers. The Rakatan Infinite Empire was eventually destroyed by a plague that only affected the Rakata, allowing the people of the galaxy to rise against them. In canon, the Rakata were believed to have created hyperspace travel.
3 The Guardians Of The Whills
The Guardians of the Whills were an order based on Jedha that protected the Temple of the Kyber. Though most members were not Force-sensitive like the Jedi, the Guardians still believed in becoming one with the Force, preferring to listen and try to understand its will. Similar to the Jedi constructing a lightsaber, the Guardians constructed a lightbow as part of their tradition. The Temple of the Kyber was eventually seized and plundered by the Empire, robbing the Guardians of their original purpose. After Jedha City was destroyed by the Death Star, Guardians Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus joined Jyn Erso on her mission to steal the station’s plans.
2 The Force Priestesses
The Force Priestesses resided on the Wellspring of Life and represented the connection between the Living and Cosmic Force. Yoda was guided to them by the spirit of Qui-Gon Jinn to learn how to manifest his consciousness after death, so the Priestesses put him through several trials to see if he was worthy. The Priestesses appeared as five separate beings, each one representing joy, confusion, serenity, anger, and sadness. According to Dave Filoni, the Force Priestesses may have been one being that became several over time, possessing a limited ability to manifest herself in different forms.
1 The Dai Bendu
The Dai Bendu were the precursors to the Jedi Order, creating the first holocrons and the symbol that would later represent the Galactic Republic. In the Star Wars Legends continuity, they were known as the Order of the Dai Bendu, and some of its members were among the Force-sensitive groups brought to the planet Tython to found the Je’daii Order. The word Je’Daii was taken from the Dai Bendu language, with “Je” meaning mystic and “Dai” meaning center. While they were certainly different from the Jedi, with their study of numerology being an example, the Jedi Order owes much of its identity to Star Wars‘ original Dai Bendu monks.
