Let’s be honest—the dark side of the Force has always been compelling. The Star Wars universe just wouldn’t be complete without its iconic Sith Lords: cunning, ruthless, and motivated by ambition and power. If you came up through the movies, cut your teeth in the animated shows, or spent countless hours losing yourself in The Old Republic games, the power of the Sith is simply undeniable.
Across official canon and the broad Legends universe, here are 10 of the most powerful—and most memorable—Sith to have ever set foot in the galaxy.
1. Darth Malgus
For Star Wars: The Old Republic fans, Darth Malgus is one of the legends. Ruthless, practical, and obsessively driven, Malgus is a giant from the long-lost Sith Empire. Having survived almost fatal wounds, he sported a respirator mask that echoed Darth Vader’s—a mere one of several similarities attesting to his legend. Although not present in today’s canon, his influence on Sith legend is seminal.
2. Kylo Ren
Ben Solo’s decline from promising Jedi to conflicted dark side user ranks among the sequel trilogy’s greatest arcs. While not technically a Sith, Kylo Ren tapped into raw power, emotional turmoil, and the legacy of Darth Vader and Darth Sidious. His capacity to deflect a blaster bolt in mid-air and link through space-time via the Force attests to his remarkable—and sometimes tempestuous—ability.
3. Asajj Ventress
Trained by Count Dooku but never formally accepted under the Sith’s Rule of Two, Ventress worked as an independent dark side warrior. A former Nightsister with mastery of Force magic, Ventress’s journey in The Clone Wars presents a complex, fierce, and profoundly tragic anti-heroine. Her mix of mysticism and martial ability ranks her among the saga’s most interesting Force users.
4. Ulic Qel-Droma
One of the main characters in the Tales of the Jedi comics, Ulic Qel-Droma, was once a star on the rise for the Jedi Order. Talented in both lightsaber fighting and Force powers—including telepathic manipulation—Ulic’s dark side fall was both tragic and highly resonant. Tempted by the Sith as a part of their Great Sith War, he emerged as an incredibly powerful Sith Lord, bringing war to the galaxy. Although he eventually tried to redeem himself and come back into the light, the damage he had done rippled through the history of the Jedi. His legacy remains a strong warning about how even the best lights can be corrupted by darkness.
5. Savage Opress
Savage Opress was muscle and fury in the flesh for the dark side. Born as a member of the Nightsister clan and shaped through dark incantations, he was formed into an instrument of destruction—initially by Count Dooku and subsequently by his brother, Darth Maul. Savage raged through the Clone Wars period with unremitting ferocity fueled by loyalty, retribution, and raw fury. Lacking the artistry of other Sith, his raw power and ferocity made him a terror for even the most experienced Jedi. Though his quest was doomed, his part in the resurrection and ascension of Maul made a lasting impact on the Star Wars universe.
6. Darth Desolous
Lesser publicized but lethal, Darth Desolous was a former Jedi Master who turned on the Order and initiated a bloody campaign that eradicated thousands of Jedi. Although his showings are largely limited to The Force Unleashed and expanded universe materials, he serves as the frightening possibility of a Jedi seduced by the dark side.
7. The Stranger (Qimir)
The latest addition by The Acolyte, Qimir, aka the Stranger, is among the most compelling new dark side characters. He was once a Jedi, but he now works behind the scenes, with an off-the-beaten-path lightsaber and a cortosis mask that blinds Jedi senses. His healing talents and detachment from emotion imply there’s a lot more to learn about his ability—and his history.
8. Marka Ragnos
A giant figure of the early Sith Empire, Marka Ragnos was a golden age ruler. His power in the dark side was so vast that his presence lasted for centuries, shaping events long after his body died. Ragnos is the symbol of the ancient, mythic origins of Sith power in the Old Republic era.
9. Freedom Nadd
Freedon Nadd’s fall from Jedi to Sith Lord turned the planet Onderon into a dark side stronghold. His teachings laid the groundwork for subsequent Sith like Exar Kun, and his spirit haunted Jedi hundreds of years after his death. Nadd’s story demonstrates how one individual’s embracing of the dark side may have far-reaching effects on galactic history.
From ancient warlords to contemporary fallen heroes, the Sith embody more than mere villains—they’re the personification of obsession, power, and the eternal allure of the dark side.