Legends may no longer be considered a part of Star Wars canon, but the greatness of these characters cannot be denied!
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What’s a universe without great characters? There are countless heroes and villains throughout the Star Wars Universe that we have all grown to love. From alien warriors covered in fur to an evil Sith Lord who rules the galaxy and looks like Yzma from the Emperors New Groove. Star Wars canon is full of them, but I want talk about our favorite non-canon Jedi, Sith, and the like. I’m referring to Star Wars Legends and for those of whom are not as well versed with Legends, I will happily explain.
History VS Myth
In 2012, George Lucas sold the Star Wars franchise to Disney. This decision meant that all those beloved books that had been published weren’t part of the Star Wars universe anymore. They separated the Star Wars books into two categories.
Canon, meaning all books after 2014. Non-canon, meaning all books before 2014 are no longer part of the main story or characters. If there’s a golden Legends banner on the cover, its a Legends book. If there is no banner at all, then its a Canon book. Sounds simple but when you are at a book store and you see literally hundreds of books, it’s hard to discern the seemingly few canon books in comparison.
These Legends are not part of the current time-line. They are myths, and like all good myths, they must be told…
Now Our List!
Check out our list of the top 6 Star Wars Legends characters and then let us know your favorites in the comments!
Top 6 Star Wars Legends Characters
6 Revan
“Savior, conqueror, hero, villain. You are all things, Revan… and yet you are nothing. In the end, you belong to neither the light nor the darkness. You will forever stand alone.“―Darth Malak
Prodigal Knight
Revan was born around 3994 BBY in the Outer Rim. He was later found by the Jedi Order and apprenticed to the Jedi Master Kreia. Revan had a strong hunger for knowledge which helped him to quickly become the most promising pupil. With his friend Malak, he became a Jedi Knight.
He began to grow angry at the Jedi Order’s inactivity in the Mandalorian Wars. This led to his decision to take part in the war and to start the Revanchist movement to fight the Mandalorians as the Republic Military’s Supreme Commander.
Revan and his forces pushed back the Mandalorians, saving many worlds at the price of falling to the embrace of the dark side practices. On Malachor V, Revan defeated the Mandalorian leader Mandalore the Ultimate and used the Mass Shadow Generator superweapon to destroy both the armies and the planet but winning the war in the process.
Dark Lord Of The Sith
Then, Revan and Malak, after having become heroes of war, vanished into the Unknown Regions to investigate a mysterious Sith that started the war. They discovered a hidden Sith Empire ruled by Emperor Vitiate. He mind controlled them into submission. They broke free from his mind control and used the Star Forge to give themselves an empire.
Finally they returned intent on unifying the galaxy to destroy the Sith. They returned to the galaxy as conquerors and battled the Jedi and the Republic in the Jedi Civil War. Malak betrayed him by attacking his ship during a mission. He almost died, but Jedi, Bastila Shan, healed him and saved him.
Revan
The Jedi Council wiped his memory as a Sith and trained him as a Jedi. Alongside Bastila and his new friends, Carth Onasi and Mission Vao and others, Revan was tasked to relocate the Star Forge. Across his journey, Revan fell in love and married Bastila. He led the remaining Republic fleet against the Star Forge and killed Malak in battle, destroying the Sith Empire he created. After disappearing for a while he reappeared as a result of visions. He was led to a Sith Lord where he was betrayed and imprisoned for 300 years.
I will now take this moment to strongly encourage all you poor souls, who have not yet played the Knights of The Republic video game, to swiftly do so. You’ll be happy did so.
5 Darth Krayt
“I have been through death and conquered it. I have returned with my power multiplied. The dark side of the Force lives and manifests itself through me! I reach into the dark side now and send ripples through it to all who serve it—know that I live!“―Darth Krayt
A’Sharad Hett
A’Sharad Hett was not always a sith lord bent on living forever. Once a Tuskan Raider turned Jedi Master, Hett was the Padawan of Jedi Masters Ki-Adi-Mundi, and later, An’ya Kuro.
When he was young, Jedi assassin Aurra Sing murdered his father. He would later defeat the assassin in battle. During the Clone Wars, he served the Republic as a General and was a inspiring leader who led his troops from the forefront of the line. He eventually became friends with a young Anakin Skywalker and helped Anakin to deal with the destruction that had been brought on by the war. He managed to survive the Clone Wars, and was one of the few Jedi to escape the Great Jedi Purge.
Upon returning to his home in Tatooine, A’Sharad swore vengeance on the Galactic Empire. However, after a meeting with Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, he was exiled from Tatooine and discovered that it was Anakin Skywalker who became the Sith Lord Darth Vader, who he had helped in the purge of the Jedi.
Darth Krayt
Overwhelmed with guilt, A’Sharad became a bounty hunter. While on a mission he came to Korriban, where he was trained as a Sith by the Dark Lord XoXaan. Hett eventually fell to the dark side after being captured and tortured by the Yuuzhan Vong. Now a Lord of the Sith, he went by the new name of Darth Krayt.
Krayt became the founder and leader of the One Sith. Darth Krayt ruled the galaxy for seven years before the alliance between rightful Emperor Roan Fel and Galactic Alliance admiral Gar Stazi threatened his rule.
There is more to the story of Darth Krayt, but I will leave that for you to discover. He is one of the most interesting and powerful Sith to ever exist in Star Wars.
4 Darth Nihilus
“He is a wound in the Force, more presence than flesh, and in his wake life dies…sacrificing itself to his hunger.”―Visas Marr
Lord of Hunger
Before becoming a Sith Lord, he lost everything during the Galactic Republic’s war against the Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders. He survived the Mass Shadow Generator super weapon during the final battle at the planet of Malachor V. The shadow obliterated almost everything on and around the planet. It made Nihilus crave Force energy. He became a wound in the Force.
Wounds in the Force were most often centered in locations where traumatic events took place, such as Malachor V or Alderaan, but they could also form within individuals such as Darth Nihilus. Basically, whenever a lot of people died at once.
He was found by the Sith Lord Darth Traya, who told him that she could teach him to feed his endless hunger. He accepted her offer of apprenticeship and began training at the Trayus Academy on Malachor V. He soon became a Dark Lord of the Sith.
There is much more to the tale of Darth Nihilus, but that would be a disservice to those who want to learn for themselves. He is a unique figure in the galaxy, a wound. He is feared by not only his foes, but allies alike. He truly is a Sith like no other.
3 Jaina & Jacen Solo
“Mom and Dad never act that weird unless they’re worried about us three little darlings.“
“That’s for sure. They sure do worry.“
“Come on, Jacen. If you were our parents, wouldn’t you worry?“―Jaina and Jacen Solo discuss their parents Han and Leia
Solo Twins
Their parents are Han and Leia Organa Solo, and they also had a younger brother, Anakin Solo. All three of them trained with Grand Master Luke Skywalker, who was their uncle.
During the Yuuzhan Vong War, they went to Myrkr on a mission to destroy the Voxyn queen. Anakin Solo was killed and Jacen as the new leader, killed the queen and ended the voxyn before he was captured by the Yuuzhan Vong.
While Jaina Solo stayed a Jedi, her brother Jacen became the fearsome Darth Caedus, who soon started a civil war within the Galactic Alliance.
The story of the children of our favorite heroes Han, Leia, and Luke are some of my favorite Legends stories. It’s eerily similar to the sequel films now that I look back on the two, however, the execution is superior than the new films in my opinion.
2 Prince Xizor
“You see, to contend with Xizor is to lose.“―Xizor
Prince Of Crime
A Falleen Prince of the House Sizhran and the leader of the criminal organization Black Sun during the Galactic Civil War. Xizor was a charismatic public figure in society with his headquarters in the city planet Coruscant. Xizor’s Palace was his home outside Falleen.
Following the Battle of Hoth, Xizor was considered one of the most influential beings in the galaxy, on the level of Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader, due to being the head of Xizor Transport Systems and already a trillionaire during the last years of the Galactic Republic. Once the wars ended, Xizor quickly began to create a close relationship with Emperor Palpatine.
His excellent marksmanship and martial arts training made him a deadly opponent whether he was armed or not.
Xizor is a great character that not enough Star Wars fans know about. Fortunately, we may be seeing him in the canon universe one day sooner than later based on rumors and speculation. In the meantime, take a day to Shadows of The Empire and see his first appearance.
1 Mara Jade
“I’m a fighter. I’ve always been a fighter. The few times when I have been at leisure, I’ve been miserable. I want challenges, I crave them.“―Mara Jade Skywalker
Emperor’s Hand
She was raised as an assassin for Emperor Palpatine and became a high-level Force-user. As the Emperor’s Hand, Jade killed Rebels and corrupt Imperials with cold ruthless will, even as a young woman.
Jade
After Palpatine’s death, she followed his last order, which was to kill Luke Skywalker. However, the death of her Master caused her to go rogue. She joined the smuggler Talon Karrde, and became his second-in-command. Mara Jade was a good pilot and mechanic and trained in the use of both a blaster and hand-to-hand combat without the Force.
Skywalker
Mara continued to work for Karrde and to train with Luke at his Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4 for a little while. After marrying Skywalker, Mara Jade joined the New Jedi Order, becoming a Master.
Mara Jade can be viewed as the classic story of a bad ‘guy’ turned good, but it’s the execution and portrayal of her mindset that makes her so appealing.
