There is no debating that Anakin Skywalker – or more fittingly Darth Vader – is one of the most dangerous Force users in the Star Wars galaxy, leading to the question of just how many people he killed across all six movies. From Darth Vader’s first appearance in the original trilogy, he became one of the most fearsome, iconic villains in film history. This was largely due to his ruthless, evil presence across most of the original Star Wars trilogy.
This was only deepened in the prequel trilogy, which fleshed out Anakin Skywalker, the man beneath the mask. While his younger self was not widely considered as vicious and dangerous as the Sith Lord he became, both Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader killed many in countless battles across the galaxy. Here is every central Star Wars character or group in chronological order that Anakin Skywalker and his villainous alter ego Darth Vader killed in the movies. For the sake of brevity, this list does not include the comics, novels, or animated shows.
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The Trade Federation Army Attacking Naboo
Anakin Skywalker’s first battle came relatively early in his life. At just nine years old, Anakin Skywalker fought in the Battle of Naboo after an auto-piloting N-1 Starfighter took him into orbit. There, Anakin showcased his piloting abilities (and learned how to spin) when he faced off against the Trade Federation’s fleet. During the battle, Anakin – with the help of astromech R2-D2 – destroyed the ruthless Trade Federation’s Droid Control Ship, single-handedly disabling the invading army and killing the human and alien officers aboard the ship. That’s a minimum 25 kills, because the Lukrehulk-class Droid Control Ship had a command staff of 25.
The Tusken Raiders
Anakin’s next major kill in the Star Wars franchise came 10 years later when a 20-year-old Anakin Skywalker slaughtered an entire clan of Tusken Raiders on Tatooine. The Jedi Padawan returned to Tatooine after visions of his mother Shmi in pain, and learned she had been kidnapped by the Tuskens. He arrived too late to save Shmi’s life, and he gave himself over to the dark side of the Force, mercilessly killing every man, woman, and child in the Tusken village.
The Geonosians
The Star Wars prequel then took Anakin to Geonosis, on a rescue mission to save Obi-Wan. Anakin, Padmé, R2-D2, and C-3PO unwittingly entered a Geonosian Droid Factory, and they were attacked by multiple Geonosians. In an attempt to save Padmé, Anakin killed the Geonosians attacking them before being subdued by Jango Fett.
Count Dooku
The next major Star Wars character to meet their end at the hands of Anakin Skywalker was Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus. At the beginning of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin embarked on a rescue mission to save Palpatine from the Separatists. After an intense duel with Count Dooku, Anakin disarmed him and beheaded him under encouragement from Palpatine – the secret Dark Lord of the Sith, seducing Anakin to the dark side.
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Mace Windu
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is arguably Anakin Skywalker’s most deadly film, with Anakin largely responsible for the death of Mace Windu. After Anakin uncovered Palpatine as Darth Sidious, Mace Windu and three other Jedi attempted to arrest the Dark Lord of the Sith. Anakin followed, fearing Palpatine’s death after the Sith lord insisted he could save Padmé’s life. Mace Windu seemed to defeat Palpatine, and was about to murder him; Anakin cut off his arm, allowing Darth Sidious to throw Mace out the window to his death.
The Jedi Younglings & Cin Drallig
One of the most tragic scenes of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith surrounds Anakin’s murder of the Jedi Younglings and their mentor, Cin Drallig. Fearing the Younglings could grow to threaten his newfound power, Darth Sidious sent his new apprentice Darth Vader to murder all present at the Jedi Temple, manipulating Anakin into thinking this deed will allow him to save Padmé. While this scene was not shown in great detail, the implications alone make for one of Star Wars’ most harrowing plot points.
The Separatist Leaders
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith with his slaughter of the Separatist Leaders. Again, to secure his new seat as the Galactic Emperor, Palpatine ordered Anakin to travel to Mustafar – where Darth Vader’s castle would eventually stand – and wipe out any trace of Separatist leadership. From prequel characters such as Poggle the Lesser to Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray, the entire Separatist Council met their ends at the hands of Darth Vader.
The Rebels At The Battle Of Scariff
The next time Darth Vader is seen chronologically in the Star Wars film series is in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. At the end of the movie, Darth Vader personally gives chase to the Rebel Command Ship – attempting to recapture the Death Star plans. Aboard the ship, Vader ruthlessly murders several Rebels in pursuit of the schematics, before they escaped aboard Princess Leia’s Tantive IV.
Related: Did Owen Lars Know Anakin Skywalker Turned Into Darth Vader?
Captain Raymus Antilles
After catching up to the Tantive IV in the original Star Wars movie – later retitled A New Hope – Vader interrogated the ship’s captain, Raymus Antilles. Vader was told the Death Star plans were not on the ship’s main computer, causing him to push Antilles to reveal where they are. The captain is then killed and, tossed aside by the Sith Lord.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Arguably the most tragic of all of Anakin Skywalker’s many Star Wars victims is Obi-Wan Kenobi, his former best friend, and brother. After Obi-Wan, Luke, Han, and Chewbacca broke into the Death Star to rescue Princess Leia, Vader sensed the presence of his former master. Eager to finally get his revenge, Vader dueled Obi-Wan – a clash that ended in the Jedi’s death. While similar to Mace Windu in that Vader does not physically strike the killing blow – due to Kenobi becoming one with the Force – Vader is still instrumental in the death of his former master.
The Rebels At The Battle Of Yavin
After Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewbacca escaped, Darth Vader and the Imperials launched an attack on Yavin IV. The Rebels, now knowing the Death Star’s inherent weakness, launched an attack against the space station in what became known as the Battle of Yavin. Toward the end of the battle, Vader enters his TIE Fighter to stop the X-Wing bombers from destroying the station. Vader killed many Rebel pilots, including Dex Tiree and Luke’s friend Biggs Darklighter.
Admiral Ozzel & Captain Needa
The Empire Strikes Back is one of the darkest Star Wars films, and Darth Vader’s villainous ways continue. At the start of the film, Darth Vader uses the Sith Force choke against an Imperial officer named Admiral Ozzel for dropping out of lightspeed too close to the Rebel base on Hoth. Continuing a long-running habit of Vader’s of murdering hapless Imperial officers, Captain Needa meets his death in The Empire Strikes Back, also Force choked by the dark lord for losing track of the Millennium Falcon.
Related: Why Luke Skywalker Could Redeem Darth Vader (But Obi-Wan & Ahsoka Couldn’t)
Darth Sidious
Finally, the most important Anakin Skywalker kill in the Star Wars series comes in Return of the Jedi – when Darth Vader attacks Emperor Palpatine himself. Luke Skywalker’s attempt to redeem his father was ultimately successful, with Luke insisting he believed there was still good in Anakin Skywalker. Darth Vader was redeemed through his attempt to save his son, as he threw Darth Sidious down the reactor shaft on the Second Death Star, fulfilling his role as Star Wars’ prophesied Chosen One.
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