Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s New Villain Is Good News For Clone Wars Fans

The release of the new Star Wars Jedi: Survivor trailer at The Game Awards 2022 has given players a first look at some of the new enemies Cal Kestis and his allies will be facing, including one that has got fans of the Star Wars: Clone Wars 2003 micro-series more than a little concerned. From Clone Wars-era battle droids to a mysterious Force user, it looks like there will be lots of new adversaries to test Cal’s new Jedi skills. However, one in particular could prove to be a terrifying challenge if a new theory is to be believed.

There have been two Clone Wars animated series, both of which followed Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker through the conflict between the movies Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. The first of these ran from 2003 to 2005 and is now considered part of the Star Wars Legends timeline. Parts of this animated series were brought into the main timeline with the newer Clone Wars series (2008-2020). Now thanks to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s explosive new trailer, it looks like Respawn will also be looking to the 2003 series for inspiration.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s New Trailer May Feature A Gen’Dai

In the most recent Star Wars Jedi: Survivor trailer, an intimidating large purple-skinned humanoid is seen ordering his associate to remind Cal why Jedi are meant to be dead. Fans of the 2003 Clone Wars series immediately began to speculate that this character was a Gen’Dai, and as YouTuber Star Wars Explained makes clear, players should be alarmed if this is the case. Previously in Star Wars media, there has been one member of this species shown, and he was utterly terrifying.

Durge first appeared in the Star Wars: Republic comic series published by Dark Horse Comics in 2003’s The New Face of War arc. He then went on to appear in the 2003 Clone Wars animated series before featuring in a handful of other comic series. However, with Disney’s purchase of Star Wars and the new canon Star Wars timeline being established, Durge’s exploits and species seemed relegated to Legends.

Durge, and all Gen’Dai, are near immortal due to their species’ ability to regenerate. Gen’Dai are huge but boneless and, without their armor, are a formless mass of muscle and nerve bundles. As they lack most of the same vulnerable vital organs as other humanoid species, including lungs and hearts, Gen’Dai can survive even the most extreme injuries, such as dismemberment.

The unique physiology of the Gen’Dai gives them superfast reflexes and heightened senses, close to that of a Jedi. These abilities were shown to frighteningly good effect in the Clone Wars mini-series when Durge faced Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi. The two battled many times, and at one point, Kenobi believed he had defeated the Gen’Dai. However, Durge regenerated quickly and resumed his attack on the famous Jedi.

How Gen’Dai Could Work In Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Star Wars Explained speculates how using a Gen’Dai in a new Star Wars game and, in particular, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, might work in terms of combat. He theorizes that this character might be one that Cal will have to face again and again throughout the game. This makes a lot of sense given the Gen’Dai’s regenerative abilities and would also be a great way to introduce new Force abilities to the player. If Cal is facing an enemy that seems to be immortal, then it makes sense for him to seek out new ways to combat this threat.

Having this new character be a Gen’Dai also makes sense when looking at his relationship with the mysterious figure from the bacta tank. Many have been quick to identify the gold robes they are seen wearing as reminiscent of those of the High Republic Jedi, leading to speculation that this new Star Wars character is a High Republic Jedi. Given that Gen’Dai can live for thousands of years, and the High Republic era was only a few hundred years before the rise of the Galactic Empire, it is entirely possible that this enigmatic Force user could already know his Gen’Dai friend.

Gen’Dai have appeared in Star Wars games previously, such as Star Wars: The Old Republic, but were treated as regular enemies with no special abilities. Durge was a formidable opponent even for Jedi, with him killing several of the Order. In the end, he was killed when Anakin Skywalker forced him into an escape pod and then pushed that pod into a sun. Hopefully, Jedi: Survivor, like Jedi: Fallen Order, will embrace the soulslike combat and make this Gen’Dai foe much more of a challenge for players.

It’s also worth noting that Durge has since been reintroduced into canon in the Doctor Aphra comics, where he was dealt with by being shoved out of an airlock. If the alien bounty hunter seen in the recent Star Wars Jedi: Survivor trailer is a Gen’Dai, then it would mark only the species’ second appearance in canon.

Jedi: Survivor – It’ll Take A Lot For Cal To Kill A Gen’Dai

Hopefully, Cal’s battles with this new enemy will involve more tactics and perhaps using the environment to finally beat him. The only guaranteed method to kill a Gen’Dai was to destroy their brain, as that is the only part of the species that does not regenerate. As Star Wars Explained theorizes, this Gen’Dai could be an enemy players will face throughout the game, similar to the Second Sister Inquisitor in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Cal might do a little more damage each time, perhaps wearing down and irreparably damaging his armor until the final fight will be him in his true form of a jumble of nerves and muscle.

If this new character is a Gen’Dai, whether they are Durge or not, they will be a true challenge for any player. What makes Gen’Dai terrifying is how difficult it is to defeat them, even as a powerful Jedi. In the Clone Wars series, Kenobi literally blasted Durge to pieces using the Force, but six months later, Durge was back up and about working alongside Asajj Ventress. If this new character seen in the Star Wars Jedi: Survivor trailer is a Gen’Dai, then Cal is in real trouble.