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The Sith are the antithesis of the well-known Jedi Order; where the Jedi crave peace, calm, and balance, the Sith desire power and control. The Dark Side of the Force is seductive for a great many reasons. Allowing your baser instincts to consume you grants you power faster, though in the long run it will consume you. Knowing this, one must wonder what power could be gained by someone who not only gave in to their impulses, but harnessed them to control the Dark Side more completely? These Sith Lords might just hold a clue.
Darth Bane
No list of influential Sith can be written without the inclusion of Darth Bane. A pivotal figure in the "Star Wars" expanded universe, he is credited with establishing the Rule of Two, which fundamentally shaped Sith philosophy and strategy. Originating from a harsh background as a miner on Apatros, Bane rises through the ranks of the Sith by embracing the dark side of the Force following his experiences and teachings at the Sith Academy on Korriban. Disturbed by the self-destructive tendencies within the Sith order due to infighting and perceived weakness, Bane envisions a new order where only two Sith exist at any time: a master to embody the power and an apprentice to desire it. This ensures both the survival and secrecy of the Sith, allowing them to operate behind the scenes and gradually accumulate power. By annihilating the existing Sith with a thought bomb at Ruusan, Bane eradicates the old order, setting the stage for a more cunning and potent lineage of Sith to emerge.
Darth Tenebrous
Darth Tenebrous, also known as Rugess Nome, is primarily featured in the novel "Darth Plagueis" by James Luceno. As a Sith Lord and a master of Darth Plagueis (yep, that one), Tenebrous is a unique figure within the Sith Order, distinguished by his exceptional intellect and mastery in science and engineering, which he uses to advance Sith knowledge and power. His approach to the dark side of the Force is heavily analytical, focusing on maximizing Sith longevity. Tenebrous's reign as a Sith Lord includes the training of Plagueis, preparing him to eventually perpetuate the Sith lineage through cunning and manipulation. His legacy is marked by his obsession with prophecy and the eventual betrayal by his own apprentice, highlighting the cyclical nature of the Sith's quest for power. Wielding rare Red Force Lightning and being able to foretell his own death, Darth Tenebrous held powers most Sith never mastered.
Darth Nihilus
Darth Nihilus, one of the most enigmatic figures in the "Star Wars" expanded universe, emerges as a central antagonist in the video game "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords." Known as the "Lord of Hunger," Nihilus is driven by an insatiable craving to consume Force energy, a unique affliction that stems from his traumatic survival of the Mass Shadow Generator's activation during the Mandalorian Wars, which decimates the planet Malachor V. That is a deep lore cut, to be sure, but here is the truly evil Sith connection; this catastrophic event leaves Nihilus with a shattered body and a dependency on the Force for sustenance, leading him to drain the life force from living beings around him, or even entire planets. His appearance is strikingly ghost-like, with his visage concealed behind a haunting mask that helps bind his dissipating form. His withering became so dire that he bound his spirit to the mask and armor he wore to stave off death. As a Sith Lord, Nihilus wields terrifying power, symbolizing the destructive capacity of the dark side when driven by uncontrolled desire and loss, ultimately facing defeat by the hands of the game’s protagonist and their allies.
Darth Treya
Also known as Kreia, she is a pivotal character in "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords." Originally a Jedi Master, Treya becomes disillusioned with the Jedi Order's dogmatism and blindness to the broader currents of the Force. Her journey into the dark side begins as she seeks to understand all aspects of the Force, ultimately leading to her adopting the Sith title of Darth Treya and becoming a mentor at the Sith academy on Malachor V. Treya's philosophy centers on the belief that the Force manipulates individuals to its own ends, and she becomes determined to end its influence by severing the galaxy’s connection to it. Despite this fact, she wields the Force like few others, at one point controlling her three lightsabers telekinetically in combat… Simultaneously. Her complex character is defined by betrayal; she is betrayed by her own Sith apprentices, leading to her eventual quest for revenge against both the Sith and the Jedi. Darth Treya's nuanced view of the Force challenges the traditional dichotomy between Sith and Jedi, making her a unique figure in the Star Wars universe.
Darth Vader
One of the most recognizable characters in cinema history, most people who have never seen a Star Wars film still know of Darth Vader. Born on the desert planet of Tatooine to Shmi Skywalker as Anakin, he is a slave who exhibits extraordinary Force sensitivity. Discovered by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, he is believed to be the prophesied Chosen One who will bring balance to the Force. Anakin's Jedi training under Obi-Wan Kenobi is marked by his exceptional skills and impulsive nature. His transition to the dark side is driven by a mix of fear, ambition, and manipulation by Emperor Palpatine, who promises the power to avert the death of his secret wife, Padmé Amidala. Anakin’s transformation into Darth Vader is complete with the fall of the Republic and the Jedi Order. As Vader, he becomes the fearsome enforcer of the Empire pulling off some of the wildest Force moves ever seen, until his eventual redemption through the love of his son, Luke Skywalker, whom he saves from the Emperor, sacrificing his own life in the process. This act fulfills his destiny as the Chosen One, restoring balance to the Force.
