The great thing about theStar Warsuniverse is that it has a huge range in terms of tone and style. Some episodes are geared toward children while others are somber political dramas aimed at an adult audience. But regardless of the demographic, the Sith and Empire remain a very formidable and terrifying force across the franchise.
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These are characters that give themselves completely to corruption and the Dark Side of the Force that transforms them into scary individuals that kill and torture at a moment’s notice. Here are some of Star Wars' scariest villains in the entire series.
10Crosshair
One of the scariest parts about Crosshair is that he used to be a good guy. Unlike Darth Vader, somebody whose fall from grace was orchestrated by the Emperor, Crosshair chose to betray his Bad Batch brothers and side with the Empire against them.
His slow, scratchy voice also gives him a creepy mystique that makes his sniping abilities even scarier. It’s unclear how Crosshair’s story will end, but he’s already established himself as one of the scariest andbest clones Star Warshas to offer.
9Savage Oppress
Most fans are aware of Darth Maul because he was a favorite of The Phantom Menace, but they may be surprised to learn that he actually has a brother. Savage Opress is bigger and stronger than Maul, and together, the two of them are a force to be reckoned with.
What makes him even scarier is that the Night Witches use their dark magic to increase his abilities. He might not be as graceful a fighter and force user as other Sith, but in terms of raw power, he’s definitely terrifying.
8Grand Moff Tarkin
Since he only appeared in one movie, casual Star Wars fans forget just how terrifying Grand Moff Tarkin really is. In fact, he was the one who ordered the destruction of Alderaan, Princess Leia’s home planet. Tarkin existed as an officer in the Republic long before the Empire’s rise.
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He is exactly the type of person to be scared of in regard to the Empire. He’s not a Sith like Darth Vader. Instead, he’s just a highly ambitious military officer that used the Empire’s ruthless politics to rise to power himself.
7Darth Maul
He barely spoke in his first appearance, but Darth Maul instantly became a fan favorite. There weren’t any Star Wars characters like him when he showed up on the scene. He had a dual-sided lightsaber, an ominous cloak, horns, and sharp teeth.
His agile fighting style was able to take ontwo very strong Jediat once. However, it was his return in The Clone Wars that really turned him into a menacing threat. First, he had spider legs before getting mechanized legs that really upped his terrifying look.
6Mother Talzin
Mother Talzin is a character that has yet to have a live-action appearance, but that doesn’t make her any less scary. Many fans think of the Corce as two sides, the Sith and the Jedi. However, the Force can be utilized by many different individuals for many different purposes.
Mother Talzin uses it to become a witch of sorts, attacking Jedi in a terrifying manner few other individuals can do. She and her witches even used it to heal Darth Maul, giving him a new lease on life.
5The Grand Inquisitor
Inquisitors weren’t really a thing before Star Wars Rebels. It was suggested that Jedi werehunted across the galaxy by bounty hunters, but there wasn’t really a dedicated team of force users that pursued them. The Grand Inquisitor’s introduction in the first season was especially terrifying.
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He wasn’t as scary in his live-action debut in Obi-Wan Kenobi, but the ease and dedication with which he hunted down the Ghost’s crew were pretty ruthless. He also had a new kind of lightsaber that made his fighting style particularly brutal.
4Triple Zero
If there were ever a Star Wars character deserving of a live-action adaptation it’s Triple Zero. He’s a protocol droid similar in appearance to C-3PO, except he’s all black. Along with his R2D2-like sidekick, BT-1, the two of them are a pair hell-bent on murder and destruction.
While BT-1 specializes in weaponry, Triple Zero is a sadistic droid that loves to torture people in unimaginable ways. He might come off as fairly harmless, but underneath his metal exterior, he might be the most psychotic entity in the entire galaxy.
3Emperor Palpatine
Emperor Palpatine is terrifying on multiple fronts. First off, he just has a scary look to him. His warped face and black cloak are extremely ominous when someone stands in his presence. Then, he’s absolutely terrifying just because ofhis overwhelming Sith power levelthat taps into the Dark Side of the Force.
However, the scariest part about him is his patience and tenacity in playing the long game. Palpatine implemented a decades-long plan to destroy the Republic and establish the Empire. That kind of determination is truly horrifying.
2Grand Admiral Thrawn
It’s hard to imagine a more cold and calculating mind in the galaxy than Thrawn. He’s aligned himself with the Empire, but he has a very distinct place in its structure. He doesn’t seek political power the way most politicians do. Instead, he’s merely interested in achieving victory so that he can position himself to help his people.
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Unfortunately for the Rebel Alliance, this means he’s their enemy. And Thrawn’s analytical mind is so powerful that just being in his presence is enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine.
1Darth Vader
Of course, it’s hard to top the most brutal, well-known, and iconic character in all of Star Wars. From the moment he emerged on the screen, fans of all types have been obsessed with Darth Vader. Speculation ran rampant as to whether or not he was a man, machine, or some combination of the two.
As the character’s history and nature were fleshed out, fans only became more interested in him, and with good reason. His fall from revered Jedi to feared Sith Lord,with an excellent TIE fighter, is a great character arc that resulted in him becoming an absolutely terrifying force across the galaxy.
