Highlights
- Terrifying dark Jedi Beldorion, a Hutt member turned Sith, ruled a planet for hundreds of years and was defeated by Leia Organa.
- Mace Windu, a fierce Jedi Master, teetered on the edge of darkness due to his power and devotion to the Jedi Order.
- The Grand Inquisitor, a trusted servant of the Emperor, struck fear into the hearts of other characters as the highest-ranking member of the Inquisitorius.
The Star Wars Universe is wide-reaching, and between the current canon and Legends material, there are a vast number of important characters. While more recent projects such as Andor and The Mandalorian have brought more focus on characters without the use of the Force, there are many, both good and evil, with some ability to utilize it.
Star Wars: 10 Most Powerful Women Jedi, Ranked
Star Wars is filled with a history of great Jedi Knights, but there are fewer than there should be when it comes to truly great female warriors.
However, from Jedi whose abilities are terrifying to think about, those who have toyed with the dark side, and even those who have fallen to it and become dark Jedi, these force users can be absolutely terrifying at times throughout the history of the Star Wars Universe.
8 Beldorion
A Hutt Jedi (Legends)
- First Appearance: Planet Of Twilight (Novel)
- Scariest Moment: Dueling Leia Organa
Four hundred years before the Galactic Empire was declared, there was actually a member of the Hutt species who became a Jedi Knight. In spite of his strange appearance and seeming lack of mobility, Beldorion did manage to rise within the ranks of the Jedi. That is, before turning to the dark side and becoming a dangerous force.
After turning on the Jedi and joining the dark side, Beldorion went away to a planet called Nam Chorios and became the ruler of that world. There, he established a reign of terror which lasted hundreds of years, until after the fall of the Empire. In the Legends canon, it was actually Leia who defeated Beldorion after finding him on the planet. This hulking monster with red eyes and a lot of power was a terrifying thought for every Star Wars fan.
7 Mace Windu
An Intimidating Jedi Master
- First Appearance: Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace
- Scariest Moment: Attempting To Murder Chancellor Palpatine Without A Trial
Though he is unwavering in his defense of the Jedi Order, Mace Windu is terrifying for a number of reasons. One of the most proficient and fierce Jedi Masters seen in the franchise, Mace’s devotion to the light side has been questioned in the past due to his raw abilities, the lightsaber combat style he uses, and the unusual color of his blade.
While there is nothing in the cinematic universe or lore to suggest that Master Windu is a figure to fear, his intimidating nature and absolute devotion to the Jedi Order’s continued existence lead him to stray closer to the path of darkness than some Jedi Masters with his level of experience would let themselves be led.
6 Jerec
The Empire’s High Inquisitor (Legends)
- First Appearance: Dark Forces: Soldier For The Empire (Novel)
- Scariest Moment: Bathing In The Aura In The Valley Of The Jedi
Though there have been many Dark Jedi over the years, few of them have managed to gather others around them in the way that the Sith would. However, Jerec is a special case, appearing in the Star Wars: Dark Forces video games where he was the main antagonistic force players would have to defeat in the role of Kyle Katarn.
9 Inconsistencies In Star Wars Lore
Star Wars has built up some interesting lore throughout the years. But just as any long-running franchise. there are some inconsistencies.
Jerec became the leader of the Seven Dark Jedi after serving the Empire as an inquisitor for years. The new group he formed sought to drain the power of thousands of Jedi from the Valley of the Jedi. Even when working under Palpatine and Darth Vader, Jerec never became a Sith, but he was just as dangerous and terrifying as one, only ever seeking power for himself.
5 Dark Rey
An Evil Force Vision
- First Appearance: Star Wars: Episode 9 – The Rise Of Skywalker
- Scariest Moment: Threatening To Overcome Rey
Rey was a weapon to be feared, proving that her raw power in The Force might even surpass that of the supposed chosen one, Anakin Skywalker, himself. With Rey’s rise in power also came a flirtation with the dark side that could have resulted in disaster for the entire galaxy.
Rey should be feared, as should anybody with such potential and strength. In The Rise of Skywalker, she was even shown to fear herself. If Rey had joined Kylo Ren or Palpatine on the dark side, she would have helped bring about a reign of terror at least as horrific as that of the Empire. Her future will be explored further in her new upcoming film, but the fear that other characters have had for her will likely remain.
4 The Grand Inquisitor
Highest Ranking Of The Inquisitorius
- First Appearance: Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion (Season 1, Episodes 1-2)
- Scariest Moment: Interrogating Kanan Jarrus
The Inquisitor Order was one of the more terrifying additions to Star Wars lore since the original trilogy. While there were a number of members of this Order, it was the Grand Inquisitor, one of the most trusted servants of the Emperor, and Darth Vader himself, who made for the most terrifying character.
The Inquisitors were not generally considered Sith, making most of them lapdogs to Vader and Sidious, as all of them had force sensitivity and many were trained at least somewhat by the Jedi before Order 66. The Grand Inquisitor, through deeds, appearance, and capability, was a terrifying threat to many and struck fear in the hearts of other characters and viewers alike.
3 Anakin Skywalker
The Chosen One
- First Appearance: Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace
- Scariest Moment: Slaughtering Younglings
While Darth Vader was a Sith Lord, this seminal figure in Star Wars history was terrifying in many ways before he ever truly turned to the dark side. As a Jedi, Anakin engaged in behavior like mass murder of an indigenous species in the Tusken Raiders, and frequently broke Jedi rules, showcasing his potential for turning.
Star Wars: Every Appearance of Anakin Skywalker’s Force Ghost
Since his death, Anakin Skywalker has appeared a few times in Star Wars canon and Legends as a Force Ghost, providing balance when needed.
There was a lot of pain in Anakin’s life, but if he had truly become a Jedi in every way, he might never have turned. Instead, he engages in romantic relationships and entanglements, providing the primary weakness needed for Palpatine to turn him towards the dark side.
2 Taron Malicos
Leader Of A Nightbrother Clan On Dathomir
- First Appearance: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
- Scariest Moment: Trying To Persuade Cal Kestis To Join The Dark Side
A recent addition to the wider Star Wars canon, Taron Malicos was a Jedi General during The Clone Wars who fell to the dark side after finding himself stranded on Dathomir. This planet contained a clan of Nightbrothers, and after defeating several of them and their leader, Taron took over as the head of the clan, serving the Nightsisters.
This terrifying figure made a great antagonist for Jedi: Fallen Order. The desperate scramble for survival, followed by his usurping of such a dark clan, and his fall to the dark side, all contributed to a sort of madness that made every cutscene featuring the character truly terrifying. What’s more, is that he might not even be finished yet.
1 Sifo-Dyas
Commissioned A Clone Army
- First Appearance: Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The Lost One (Season 6, Episode 10)
- Scariest Moment: Haunting Yoda In Phantom Form
Sifo-Dyas was a figure mentioned much earlier than he actually appeared. Mentioned in Star Wars: Attack Of The Clones as the Jedi Master who ordered the clone army built, this Jedi had the gift of foresight and knew the Council would need an army for the coming war, but this great victory didn’t work out for him.
However, the project was hi-jacked by the Sith, and Palpatine eventually ordered the loose end cleared up. As such, Sifo-Dyas made few real appearances but did show up post-mortem in The Clone Wars show, as a terrifying apparition, prompting the only real view for fans of this legendary Master to be a truly spine-chilling ghost.
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