Here are the most powerful Star Wars characters in canon – beings powerful enough to reshape the history of the galaxy. What does it mean for a being to claim they are “powerful?” There are so many different types of power; political power, economic power, even technological power. Imperials such as Grand Moff Tarkin and Admiral Motti believed true power lay in the hands of those who commanded a vast military and industrial complex, using superweapons to control the Star Wars galaxy.

Most viewers, of course, would disagree with these military leaders. They’d agree with Darth Vader’s assessment; “The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.” That point was proven at the end of Star Wars Rebels, when one of the most powerful militiary leaders in the Empire – Grand Admiral Thrawn – was thwarted by a teenage Jedi Padawan whose last-ditch plan was prompted by the guidance of the Force. Following Darth Vader’s lead, then, who are the most powerful beings in the Star Wars galaxy?

10

Avar Kriss

One of the most remarkable Jedi Masters of all time

Jedi Master Avar Kriss is one of the most impressive Jedi of the High Republic Era, and she became famed across the entire galaxy. She experiences the Force as music, with each Jedi sensed as a unique tone and instrument in the Force. She can draw the power of all Jedi across the entire galaxy together, achieving feats beyond any individual Force user. In Charles Soule’s Light of the Jedi, she’s able to save a star system from destruction when a canister of liquid Tibanna strikes the sun at near-lightspeed.

“Across the system, Jedi reached out to the Force. Some closed their eyes, some lifted their arms, some stood, some sat meditating on the ground while others hovered above it. Some were in starships, others on the surface. Many were alone, but others were with members of their Order, or were surrounded by small groups of people who could sense, somehow, the import of what was happening, even if they themselves could not touch the Force.

Dozens of Jedi, acting as one.”

Avar Kriss’ story is still being told

Avar Kriss’ story is far from over, of course; Lucasfiilm’s Star Wars: The High Republic transmedia initiative is still ongoing, and her adventures will continue in Tessa Gratton’s Temptation of the Force. This has teased a thrilling story in which Avar finds herself tempted towards a forbidden Jedi romance with her old lover, Elzar Mann. Everybody in Star Wars feels the call of the dark side, but the most powerful feel it the most; will Avar and Elzar fall?

Pre-order Temptation of the Force from Amazon

9

Obi-Wan Kenobi

The ultimate Jedi

Some readers may be surprised to see Obi-Wan Kenobi on this list, but the Jedi Master shouldn’t be underestimated. Obi-Wan was at the height of his powers by Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, and his phenomenal skill was the reason he was sent to defeat General Grievous. According to Matt Stover’s novelization of the movie – written in consultation with George Lucas himself – Obi-Wan was considered by many to be the definitive Jedi Master.

Obi-Wan’s midi-chlorian count may have been nowhere near as high as Anakin Skywalker’s, but he still defeated him twice – once on Mustafar, and again in the Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ TV show. He grew in skill and ability throughout his years on Tatooine, even ending his long rivalry against Darth Maul – with devastating ease. There can be no doubt Obi-Wan’s death in the first Star Wars movie was a conscious choice on his part because he was ready to become one with the Force.

8

Yoda

In the end, he just didn’t have it

Some may be surprised to see Yoda appear so far down on this list; after all, his midi-chlorian count was second only to Anakin Skywalker’s, after all. But Yoda understood that feats and wisdom are not the same thing, and in truth he sought the latter. Heartbreakingly, even this wasn’t enough to prevent the destruction of the Jedi Order he had built, and Yoda was forced to flee from Darth Sidious in battle. Matt Stover’s novelization of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith puts this so well:

Finally, he saw the truth.

This truth that he, the avatar of light, Supreme Master of the Jedi Order, the fiercest, most implacable, most devastatingly powerful foe the darkness had ever known…

just –

didn’t –

have it.

He’d never had it. He had lost before he started.

He had lost before he was born.

Yoda’s greatest feat is so easy to overlook

It’s so easy to overlook Yoda’s greatest feat; he is one of the few Jedi to learn how to become a Force ghost, an abiliity only attainable to those who surrender themselves to the light side of the Force. What’s more, Star Wars: The Last Jedi revealed just how powerful Yoda’s Force ghost really was – when he was able to summon lightning from the heavens even after all those years. Yoda has well-earned his place on this list.

7

Bendu

His true nature is a mystery

Discovered slumbering on the planet Atollon in Star Wars Rebels, Bendu is different to most other Force-users on this list. “Jedi and Sith wield Ashla and Bogan,” he claimed, “The light and the dark. I’m the one in the middle.” Bendu was immensely powerful, able to appear and disappear at will – possibly teleporting. His true power was unleashed when Grand Admiral Thrawn attacked Atollon, and he summoned devastating storms that drove back the Empire. Bendu proved the Force should never be underestimated.

The nemesis of Grand Admiral Thrawn

Grand Admiral Thrawn learned the hard way not to underestimate the Force when he crossed paths with Bendu. The Force storms wreaked havoc with Thrawn’s forces, but he was able to launch an orbital bombardment that seemed to injure his enemy. Thrawn attempted to kill Bendu – only for the mysterious alien to simply vanish. He has’t been seen since.

6

Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader

The Chosen One never fulfilled his potential

Born by the will of the Force itself, Anakin Skywalker was the Chosen One destined to bring balance to the Force. A living Force vergence, Anakin had the potential to be the most powerful being in the entire Star Wars galaxy, but he never fulfiled that potential. This can be seen in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, when – in the middle of a duel with his mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi – the amped-up dark side Anakin can only match Obi-Wan telekinetically, not overwhelm him.

Darth Vader was a fearsome warrior, and he can boast some truly staggering feats. But he was never able to match his master Palpatine, as the Emperor proved on so many occasions over the years. As powerful as Darth Vader may have been, there’s no way he comes top in this ranking.

5

Luke Skywalker

The son of the Chosen One should not be underestimated

According to George Lucas, Luke Skywalker inherited all of Anakin’s potential – but he didn’t share his father’s weakness, and never fell to the dark side. Star Wars canon has offered only the faintest glimpse of Luke’s powers, with the Jedi Master effortlessly defeating a droid army in The Mandalorian season 2’s finale. His greatest feat was unquestionably in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, though, when Luke sacrificed himself by projecting his image across the galaxy to save the Resistance from Kylo Ren.

A beacon of hope in the New Republic Era

The Mandalorian and Ahsoka are set during the New Republic Era, when Luke Skywalker was at the height of his powers. This means it’s entirely possible Mark Hamill will return to play the part once again, demonstrating just how powerful Luke really is. One thing is certain; this is a man Palpatine came to fear, which means further feats may see him ascend on this ranking.

4

Emperor Palpatine

The Dark Lord of the Sith himself

Emperor Palpatine easily comes near the top of this list. The Dark Lord of the Sith has mastered so many dark side powers, even learning how to overcome death itself. What’s more, throughout most of the Skywalker Saga the man who would be Emperor benefited from the balance of the Force. Palpatine tipped the balance of the galaxy towards darkness, and his own abilities grew due to the dark side’s dominance. He did have a blind spot, though; his inability to understand love meant he didn’t see Darth Vader’s redemption coming.

Not all Palpatiine’s schemes worked out

Palpatine loved to claim that everything was working out as he had foreseen, but that’s an exaggeration; in reality, he was simply adept at spotting the currents of the Force. Even the clone troopers were initially commissioned by Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas as a weapon to be used against the Sith, but Palpatine turned this army to his advantage. Palpatine’s ego meant he had to see every successful plan as evidence of his foresight, rather than his adaptability.

3

Rey & Kylo Ren

The power of the Force Dyad

It’s impossible to differentiate between Rey and Kylo Ren, because there’s a sense in which they are yin and yang – two parts of a greater whole, the Force Dyad. Foretold by the Sith, the Dyad is a power beyond time and space, which means these two are together part of a vergence greater than anything seen before in Star Wars. Palpatine drained the power of the Dyad to rejuvenate himself, and then launched a lightning storm of unprecedented scale, proving the point.

It’s unclear whether Rey will operate at this kind of power level after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, given Ben Solo died by the end of the movie. Whether she does so or not, though, she will surely always have a trace of the power that was hers by the will of the Force. That means she’ll always number among Star Wars‘ most powerful beings.

2

The Force Priestesses

Mysterious beings tied to the Whills

Little is known of the Force Priestesses, enigmatic beings who exist within a Force vergence known as the Wellspring of Life. They are shapeshifters who mutate into forms that appear to represent different emotions: Serenity, Joy, Anger, Confusion, and Sadness. They knew the secret of how to become a Force Ghost, and they gave Yoda some important tips.

In one interview, Lucasfilm’s Dave Filoni teased that they may be a single being who somehow separated into five over time. “It’s one ancient being separated over a time that for our perception to be able to see her,” he explained. “She is these many different iconic things presented to us. But she died a long, long, long time ago, she is conscious in the Force, and she has a limited ability to manifest.”

1

The Mortis Gods

Avatars of the Force itself

Introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the Mortis Gods are avatars and personifications of the Force itself. Again, it’s impossible to differentiate these, because there’s a sense in which these powerful beings live in harmony with one another – or, rather, they’re supposed to. The Daughter represents the light side, the Son stands for the dark side, and the Father holds the other two in perfect balance. Unfortunately, that balance was unable to last – not when the Son became driven to domination and killed his sister.

It’s possible the true nature of the Mortis Gods will finally be revealed in Ahsoka season 2. Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren are stranded on the distant, extragalactic planet of Peridea, a world that bears some mysterious connection to the Mortis Gods. That means one of the greatest mysteries of Star Wars canon – their true nature and power – will potentially be revealed.