The Star Wars galaxy is filled with fictional histories that can be traced back far beyond the theatrical films. It should come as no surprise, then, that the Jedi Order, the most well-recognized faction from the franchise, also has a rich background of characters.
During the height of the Galactic Republic, there were hundreds of Jedi Padawans, Knights and Masters spread throughout the galaxy, venturing forth in a quest to maintain balance in the Force. While many of these Jedi characters have minor roles in their medium (film, television, novelizations), there are a select few that played a major part in the franchise.
Many of these Jedi have endeared themselves among fans and thus have become a large part of pop culture in the real world. From the high-flying lightsaber acrobatics of the prequels to the quest to defeat the Empire, even someone who isn’t into science fiction will likely have an awareness of the Jedi Order.
With phrases like “may the Force be with you” becoming mainstream since the release of Episode IV: A New Hope, the Jedi have certainly made their cultural mark. However, with so many to choose from, it’s not easy to decide who should rise to the top. After all, there are a ton of options to pick, but not all of the Jedi were necessarily that memorable.
There were many very powerful Jedi throughout the galaxy, many of whom became legends among the galaxy. From their use and knowledge of the force to lightsaber combat, learning the ancient Jedi religion was no easy task. However, for those select few who mastered the Force, a spot in galactic history awaited.
All of the following background and biographical information on these characters comes from Wookieepedia, a Star Wars resource website. With that being said, here are the top 25 most powerful Jedi in the Star Wars canonized universe.
25. Aayla Secura
With her fair-blue skin and head tails, Jedi Master Aayla Secura was perhaps as well known for her striking appearance as she was for her skills with the Force. A Twi’lek hailing from the planet of Ryloth, Secura trained under the tutelage of another powerful Jedi, Quinlan Vos.
Secura was known for her calm demeanor, even in battle, and also for her ability to teach others. She even helped to train the iconic Ahsoka Tano when the Clone Wars broke out across the galaxy. While fighting on the frontlines of some of the most fearsome battles of the war, Secura eventually became a general and would go on to command her own clone trooper corps.
One of her most heroic moments came during the Battle of Quell, when she commanded clones aboard her flagship during a mission alongside Tano and her master, Anakin Skywalker. The fate of the galaxy might have turned out very differently if not for Secura’s actions. She was able to help get the trio out of danger, and after a series of misadventures, eventually guide them all back to safety.
Sadly, Aayla Secura’s life would come to a tragic end, like so many others, when Order 66 was implemented by Emperor Palpatine. While fighting alongside her clones on the lush jungle planet of Felucia, Secura was cut down by a barrage of blasts in the back from her soldiers, bringing an end to the crafty Twi’lek. Her death was one of the first of the Great Jedi Purge, and surely one of the most significant.
24. Agen Kolar
Agen Kolar is definitely a memorable Jedi, but as we’ll soon find out, it was for all of the wrong reasons. Kolar was a Zabrak, the same species as many other famous characters like Darth Maul and the Nightsisters. While the horns protruding from his head cast a fearsome sight, his personality was exactly the opposite.
Notoriously calm and wise, Kolar became a great tutor to many young Padawans during his life, and was one of the more celebrated Jedi of the Order. Despite this calmness, he also knew when it was time to fight and was definitely able to hold his own.
Kolar was one of the best lightsaber duelists of his time and a Jedi Master who occupied a seat on the Jedi High Council. He first came to prominence during the Battle of Geonosis in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. While Kolar’s apprentice lost his life during the battle, the Jedi Master didn’t let this phase him and continued to fight in a number of large skirmishes during the Clone Wars.
The life of this Jedi was once again cut short by Emperor Palpatine, although this time, the Sith Lord would take care of things directly. Kolar was part of a contingent of Jedi Masters that attempted to arrest Palpatine in his Senate offices. However, this was not to be, as the chancellor revealed his true identity as Darth Sidious, and with a fearsome barrage, lunged at the Jedi. Kolar, despite being a gifted duelist, was no match for the Dark Side and was dispatched with a single strike.
23. Yaddle
Before Grogu, aka Baby Yoda, burst onto the scene in 2019, Yaddle was the only other known member of Yoda’s species. She is also to date the only known female that we’ve seen of her species. While she only has a small part in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, she was a highly respected member of the Jedi High Council.
By the time of the prequels, Yaddle was already hundreds of years old and had trained many Jedi under her tutelage. One of her Padawans, Oppo Rancisis, even made it onto the Jedi High Council himself, and some of Yaddle’s additional Padawans also advanced far within the Jedi ranks.
While she was not the most adept with combat or a lightsaber, Yaddle was known to be extremely wise and scholarly. Reportedly, she spent a ton of time in the Jedi Archives pouring through various texts in an effort to get closer to the Force. It is likely, though, that she had an innate Force-sensitivity based on her species, just as Yoda and Grogu did.
Her ultimate fate is not known, as her history somewhat fades after the events of the Battle of Naboo. The only fact that is certain is that Yaddle was no longer on the Jedi High Council when the Clone Wars broke out, and did not seem to take place in any of the wide-scale fighting. Even so, Yaddle is a unique Jedi in the Star Wars universe, and is a name that many hardcore fans will instantly recognize, despite her small role in the overarching story.
22. Jaro Tapal
First introduced in the video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Jaro Tapal quickly established himself as a master of the Force, a gifted Jedi, and a skilled swordsman. Sadly, he would meet a similar fate as many others on this list, but his martyrdom inspired his apprentice to take up his fight.
A purple-skinned Lasat, similar to Zeb Orrelios from Star Wars Rebels, Jaro Tapal quickly rose through the ranks of the Jedi Order. His military prowess and skills in battle would soon see him elevated to the rank of general during the latter half of the Clone Wars. While commanding his own clone battalion, Tapal was able to cut through battle-droid squadrons with ease and led a number of important missions.
His most important moments would come during the training of his apprentice, the young Padawan Cal Kestis. While walking the young boy through a training exercise, Emperor Palpatine executed Order 66, and the clone battalion turned on both Tapal and Kestis. Although he was able to dispatch a number of foes and get Cal to safety, Jaro Tapal would lose his life during the skirmish.
With Tapal’s death, Cal Kestis took up his mission of bringing balance to the Force. Kestis’ journey would send him across the galaxy and culminate in a battle with Darth Vader, all in the name of his slain master. This made the deceased Jedi one of the symbols through which the Rebellion could eventually be born.
21. Luminara Unduli
Charging into the fray with her distinctive black headdress, Jedi Master Luminara Unduli was instantly recognizable on the battlefield. Hailing from the planet Mirial, Unduli was a wise and respected master who first made her mark known in the Arena Battle of Geonosis.
However, Master Unduli was not only a gifted Jedi on the battlefield. While she was not on the Jedi High Council, she was one of the wisest and most knowledgable members of the Order. As such, she often sat in on meetings between the Jedi Council and various galactic Senators, helping to mend various issues that would come up.
When her skills were needed on the frontlines, though, Unduli was always ready. She fought alongside the best Jedi of the order, like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, and was able to hold her own against the dark warrior Assajj Ventress. She did all of this while also combating the nuisance of her Padawan, Barriss Offee, who would betray the Jedi Order and plan an attack on the temple. Sadly, though, Unduli, like so many others, would not live to see a prosperous galaxy beyond the Clone Wars, as the Imperials had other plans.
After the war came to an end, she would end up being captured by the newly-formed Galactic Empire and executed. Despite this, though, rumors would persist that she had survived the purge of the Jedi, and had gone into exile. Unfortunately, a Rebel crew would eventually find Unduli’s remains, confirming that the Jedi Master had met her demise.
20. Yarael Poof
Yarael Poof’s long neck and stoic expression became a constant on the Jedi High Council over the course of a few hundred years. Born on the planet Quermia, Poof was known as one of the wisest and most fair-mannered Jedi Masters in the Order.
Beyond this, his skills with the Force were unmatched, and his mastery of the Jedi Mind Trick made him an extremely formidable foe. Throughout his centuries, Poof participated in a number of important missions in galactic history. His most important role, perhaps, was at the request of Chancellor Soh, authorizing the Jedi to hunt down the Nihil marauders after the Great Disaster of the High Republic era.
Poof was also present at the dedication of the Starlight Beacon and became increasingly present in galactic affairs as the years went on. As the Republic continued through the ages, Poof would eventually weigh in when the High Council discovered young Anakin Skywalker. He would end up joining with the Council’s decision to allow the boy to be trained as a Padawan, something that most of the Jedi originally did not want to do.
Poof’s life would come to an end during an unspecified mission shortly before the outbreak of the Clone Wars. However, Poof’s influence on the Jedi Order would remain throughout the Clone Wars. Years after the Republic fell, Darth Vader would even fight a vision of Poof while trying to resurrect his deceased wife, Padmé Amidala.
19. Stellan Gios
The Jedi Order was at its peak during the era of the High Republic, with hundreds of skillful Jedi spread across the galaxy. One of the most high-profile and well-known was Stellan Gios, who rose through the ranks to eventually become a Jedi Master.
Gios was recruited into the Jedi Order at a young age and soon showed remarkable abilities with the Force, and was skilled enough to eventually be appointed his own Jedi Padawan. Often considered one of the most well-rounded and respected members of the Order, Stellan Gios would come to be the voice of reason during the Great Hyperspace Disaster.
His shining moment would come during this crisis. Gios would send starships to aid the Hetzal system after it was bombarded with hyperspace debris, putting the systems’ millions of inhabitants at risk. Along with a contingent of other skilled Jedis, he would help save a great number of these citizens from certain doom.
These actions eventually resulted in Stellan Gios becoming a member of the Jedi High Council. Soon, he would go on to take other younglings under his wing and became a teacher and mentor for many Jedi, including the notable Padawan Bell Zettifar.
While his name is not as well-known as others on this list, Stellan Gios made his mark on galactic history and helped to save an entire planet’s people. That alone makes him worthy of recognition among the Jedi Order, and it is why he is still respected today.
18. Jocasta Nu
Despite her advanced age and frail looks, Jocasta Nu was one of the Order’s most important Jedi Masters during the waning years of the Galactic Republic. As the Chief Librarian of the Jedi Archives, Nu assisted Jedi all across the galaxy, acting as a liaison for the archive’s main headquarters on Coruscant.
While her duties with the Jedi Order were mostly administrative, she still possessed a mastery of the Force. At one point, she was even a member of the Jedi High Council and played a large role in many of the Council’s affairs.
Her place in the galaxy’s history, though, was set in stone during the end of the Clone Wars. Once the Empire came to power, Jocasta Nu was one of the few Jedi who escaped death and went into hiding. However, she soon returned to Coruscant in order to try and preserve the Jedi archives.
In her quest to save the Jedi Order, though, Nu would meet her destiny. She encountered the Grand Inquisitor in the archives and was able to hold him off, but was no match for her next foe: Darth Vader, who quickly cut her down.
Even though Jocasta Nu did not survive, her demise was not in vain. The chief librarian’s wisdom and knowledge would live on through the ages. Years later, it was revealed that she kept a secret vault of Jedi artifacts. This vault would eventually be discovered by Luke Skywalker, which would greatly help him in rebuilding the Order.
17. Shaak Ti
Shaak Ti was one of the most recognizable Jedi Masters of the Clone Wars era, not only for her striking appearance but also because of her confidence in battle and ability to command. A Togruta from the planet Shili, Shaak Ti’s influence over the Jedi High Council was felt even after her death.
Ti was a master of both ends of the emotional spectrum. While she was oftentimes calm and collected in meditation, she was also a fierce warrior and skilled duelist. The Jedi Master participated in a number of critical battles during the Clone Wars, fighting across planets from Kamino to Geonosis and beyond. As a Jedi general, she engaged squadrons of battle droids on the frontlines, fighting alongside dozens of clone troopers.
Beyond the battlefield, Shaak Ti also became entangled in the conspiracy theory surrounding the clones and their inhibitor chips that commanded them to carry out Order 66. She was one of the few Jedi Masters who uncovered this mystery. Despite her attempt to reveal the full scale of the inhibitor chips, she was unable to prevent them from being activated at the end of the war.
As Anakin Skywalker, now known as Darth Vader, ransacked the Jedi Temple under the orders of the Emperor, Shaak Ti secluded herself in meditation. Sadly, the new Dark Lord of the Sith found her and quickly dispatched her. Although Ti had been murdered, she left a message for potential survivors of the purge, and her knowledge of the Force would live on.
16. Loden Greatstorm
One of the most unique Jedi Masters of the High Republic era, Loden Greatstorm was perhaps one of the greatest teachers that the Order ever had. With his mastery of the Force and its properties, Greatstorm was able to bring many Padawans under his tutelage.
The Twi’lek had incredible knowledge of the Force and was able to use it to his advantage in numerous situations. One moment seen in the novel Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule had Greatstorm saving his apprentice, Bell Zettifar, via levitation to prevent the Padawan’s certain death.
Always looking to improve the lives and skills of the Jedi around him, Loden Greatstorm was known across the Order as someone who could bring out the best in others, even in the youngest students. His recognition as an expert tutor was acknowledged by all of his peers, and despite not being on the Jedi High Council, the members of that body saw him as one of the best.
While his name may not have been the most memorable throughout the course of galactic history, Loden Greatstorm definitely left his mark on numerous apprentices. Many of his Padawans, including Bell Zettifar, would go on to participate with him in numerous skirmishes, including the Battle of Elphrona.
The Jedi Master’s ultimate fate is not yet known, although he was captured by the Nihil at one point and held prisoner. Perhaps we will find out more about his story in the near future.
15. Plo Koon
Jedi Master Plo Koon was not one to talk out of character, and definitely let his actions speak louder than his words. As a Kel Dor, Koon required a special breathing mask to survive beyond his homeworld. However, behind this facial covering lay a Jedi who was one of the bravest and most respected warriors of the Clone Wars.
Koon was a member of the Jedi High Council and was deeply involved in the Clone Wars from the very beginning. After the Battle of Geonosis, he soon took command of his own clone trooper battalion and participated in numerous large skirmishes as a general. This included helping the Jedi seek out and destroy the Separatist battle cruiser Malevolence.
Beyond the battlefield, Koon was especially close to many younglings, including Anakin Skywalker’s apprentice, Ahsoka Tano. When Tano was framed for a bombing at the Jedi Temple, Plo Koon pushed for her innocence, and when it was discovered that she had been set up, he encouraged the rest of the High Council to let her back into the Order.
Ultimately, Koon would be yet another victim of Emperor Palpatine and Order 66. While embarking on a mission to Cato Neimoidia, his own clone troopers shot his starship down, and he perished in the ensuing crash. His death, like Master Aayla Secura’s, would be one of the first in the Great Jedi Purge, similar to the demise of Jedi all across the galaxy when the Emperor executed his deceitful plan.
14. Ezra Bridger
One of the only Padawans on this list, Ezra Bridger was naturally gifted with the Force. Born on Lothal on the exact day that the Galactic Empire was founded, Bridger eventually rose from a lowly fighter into one of the most powerful leaders of the Rebel Alliance.
Headstrong and fiery, Ezra Bridger came under the tutelage of one of the last surviving Jedi Knights, Kanan Jarrus. As a member of a small band of Rebels from the starship Ghost, Jarrus helped teach Bridger how to hone his senses and use the Force to his advantage. Soon, Ezra was assisting the Rebel group on dangerous missions across the galaxy.
However, even with his powerful connection to the Light Side, Bridger was not immune to the persuasions of darkness. At one point, he encountered the former Sith Lord Maul, who attempted to take him as his apprentice. However, with Jarrus’ help, he was able to resist the bait, and the two continued their training. Eventually, Bridger became an extremely gifted Force-sensitive and duelist with a lightsaber.
While he never technically advanced beyond the rank of Padawan, Ezra Bridger became one of the most influential Jedi throughout the Rebellion and the galaxy at large. While he disappeared into hyperspace during an attempt to stop Grand Admiral Thrawn, most people believed that Ezra would one day return and help to bring further balance to the Force. This inspired the rest of the Ghost crew, including Ahsoka Tano, to embark on a mission to find him.
13. Kanan Jarrus
Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus is perhaps one of the most unusual cases in the history of the galaxy. From his unlikely training and apprenticeship of Ezra Bridger to his loving relationship with Ghost captain Hera Syndulla, Jarrus was definitely not a run-of-the-mill Jedi.
Spending his early life at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, Kanan learned the ways of the Force from a variety of skilled Jedi, including his own Master, Depa Billaba. From sparring with droids to honing his Force abilities, Jarrus soon became one of the most gifted young Jedi at the Temple. His life would soon change, though, when Order 66 was implemented, and he was forced to go into hiding to survive.
Soon, Jarrus would join the Rebels as a member of the Ghost crew, where he would go onto train Ezra Bridger into a great young Jedi. He would also begin his relationship with Hera, and they would eventually have a child together, despite the typical Jedi adage of rejecting love.
At one point during his fight against the Empire, Kanan lost his sight in battle. This never broke his spirit, however, as he continued to wage war as a member of the Ghost crew for a number of pivotal moments, including the mission to Ryloth.
His most shining moment came on Lothal, when he held back a wall of flames to let his friends, including Ezra and Hera, escape certain doom. Sadly, Kanan Jarrus died helping them escape, although the Force gave him his sight back, if just for a moment, allowing him to see Hera one more time.
12. Avar Kriss
Widely regarded as the noblest and honorable Jedi of the High Republic era, Jedi Master Avar Kriss embodied everything that the Order stood for. A selfless and strong-willed woman, Kriss possessed a unique skill set that allowed her to understand the Force in a way that few others ever could.
Kriss could see and hear the bonds between Force users and interact with them, similar to musical notes. This allowed her to visualize many different qualities among living beings through this special ‘network’. While this skill was not unheard of, virtually no Jedi were attuned to it, making Kriss’ ability extremely valuable among the Order.
Her noble cause and desire to bring peace to the galaxy led Avar Kriss to Hetzal after the Great Hyperspace Disaster. There, she oversaw preparations to stop hyperspace debris from extinguishing life on multiple moons, while also working alongside Jedi like Stellan Gios to help rescue many inhabitants.
This mission made her a hero in the eyes of the Galactic Chancellor, who offered her a position as the Jedi Marshal of the Starlight Beacon space station. Kriss would use this role to further enhance her role as peacekeeper, while also helping to maintain the delicate balance of the Force.
Avar Kriss was seen as the best and brightest of the Order, even among her contemporaries like Master Yoda. Her compassion and sensibility made her a unique asset to the Jedi, and her name would go on to garner great recognition and remembrance in the Jedi Archives.
11. Kit Fisto
Ever the optimist, Jedi Master Kit Fisto helped negotiate one of the major alliances of the Clone Wars, commanded his own clone trooper battalion, and led on the frontlines of battle. From the first skirmish all the way to the beginning of the Empire, Fisto made an impact in numerous key events of the war.
A Nautlolan from the planet Glee Anslem, the amphibious Kit Fisto was adapted to many environments, just like others of his kind. This allowed him to fight in many different climates that other Jedi were not able to traverse. Soon, he was made a member of the Jedi High Council, and participated in many talks about the outcome of the war.
His most shining moment came during the campaign on Mon Cala when he was able to convince the planet’s two native species, the Mon Calamari and the Quarren, to put aside their differences and fight as one unit against the Separatists. This marked one of the major defeats for the Confederacy during the Clone Wars, and was seen by some as a turning point in the fighting.
Sadly, although Kit Fisto was one of the most powerful fighters on the Jedi High Council, he was no match for the Dark Side. As the end of the war came about and Palpatine’s true intentions were revealed, Fisto journeyed with a group of Jedi Masters to arrest him. Unfortunately, the Sith Lord proved to be an overwhelmingly gifted duelist. Although Fisto was able to hold out for a few moments, Palpatine swiftly ended the Jedi’s life.
10. Ki-Adi-Mundi
Don’t let his soft-spoken nature fool you, Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi was one of the most adept warriors of the Clone Wars. As a Cerean, his large skull possessed a binary brain, which allowed Mundi to observe multiple sides of an argument at the same time. This would come in tremendously handy in both battle and on the Jedi High Council.
As a wise and powerful Master, Mundi would become one of the earliest generals of the Clone Wars, and would soon command one of the largest clone battalions. He would helm multiple campaigns of the war on numerous planets, including the Outer Rim Sieges and multiple battles on Geonosis.
A shining moment in Mundi’s career as a Jedi came towards the end of the war, when Jedi Master Quinlan Vos was captured by the Separatists’ leader, Count Dooku. Mundi helped helm a mission to rescue Vos, and succeeded with ease, garnering him further respect among the Jedi High Council.
Ki-Adi-Mundi’s pressuring and calm demeanor allowed him to speak freely with even hardened Jedi Masters like Mace Windu. Despite his abilities on the battlefield, he most often preferred to use conventional tactics, and resorted to his lightsaber as a last resort.
Unfortunately, Mundi would be yet another victim of Emperor Palpatine’s malicious Order 66. While leading a battalion on the planet Mygeeto, Mundi’s clone troopers turned against him and shot him in the back. Ki-Adi-Mundi became one of the first victims of the Great Jedi Purge, and despite his death, remained one of the most prominent Masters of his era.
9. Ahsoka Tano
One of the most well-known and skillful Force users in history, Ahsoka Tano did not consider herself a Jedi. Despite this, her influence on the Jedi Order and the galaxy-at large cannot be understated. From her humble beginnings as a young Padawan to a fierce warrior who passed on what she had learned, Ahsoka left a mark on the Force that was felt for generations.
The young Togruta was first inducted into the Jedi Order as a Padawan under Anakin Skywalker. While Skywalker was initially hesitant to take her in, Ahsoka soon proved herself an extremely proficient fighter, and would accompany her Master on numerous missions throughout the Clone Wars.
However, after being framed for an attack on the Jedi, Ahsoka became disillusioned with the Order and would soon leave its ranks. However, she never stopped her training and would soon join the Rebel crew of the Ghost after the emergence of the Empire. This allowed her to continue the fight for freedom while also going on to help train the potential future generations.
Even the fall of the Empire would not be the end of Ahsoka’s adventures. A few years after the galaxy was freed, the Mandalorian Din Djarin brought his adopted “son” Grogu to her. Upon meeting the powerful youngster, Ahsoka would hone her training skills once again, and help teach Grogu how to further control his Force abilities.
A remarkable Jedi and one of the most powerful warriors of her time, Ahsoka Tano played a pivotal role in nearly every era of the Skywalker saga. Her ferocious tenacity, combined with her caring nature, has endeared her among Star Wars fans, and she remains one of the franchise’s most popular characters.
8. Ben Solo
While he was certainly not as powerful as his uncle, Ben Solo still had the legendary Skywalker blood running through his veins. A troubled and conflicted youth in his teens, Solo fell to the Dark Side in adulthood. In the end, though, Solo lived up to his family name, and helped bring peace to the galaxy as grandfather had done decades earlier.
As the son of Leia Organa and Han Solo, Ben seemed predetermined for greatness. Even as a child, he possessed a close connection to the Force and was shaping up to become a masterful Jedi. Unfortunately, Emperor Palpatine, who had survived his apparent death, had other plans. Palpatine was able to secretly influence Ben towards darkness, and he would soon take up the moniker of Kylo Ren.
Ren would eventually wage war throughout the galaxy as the Supreme Leader of the First Order, slaughtering anyone who dared to stand in his way. Eventually, the Force would steer him towards the mysterious Rey, and it was discovered that the two were a mythical dyad in the Force. This dyad with Rey, along with the influence of his deceased parents, would help Ben Solo re-emerge and return to the Light Side.
Sadly, fate would bring death to Ben Solo, just as it had for the rest of the Skywalkers. In a final battle with Emperor Palpatine, Rey was killed. Ben, in a singular act of goodness, gave his life to revive her. While this would end the Skywalker bloodline, the family’s legend and Ben Solo’s sacrifice would live on in galactic history.
Ben Solo was one of the most unique individuals in the galaxy. Conflicted by his familial legacy and the influence of the Force, he was drawn towards the Dark Side. The end of his life, though, saw him return to finish off evil in true Skywalker fashion. This makes him one of the most influential Jedi to have ever lived.
7. Qui-Gon Jinn
Qui-Gon Jinn was a Jedi Master who was perhaps just as important in death as he ever was in life. Born on the galactic capital of Coruscant, Qui-Gon joined the ranks of the Jedi Order as a young boy and quickly became one of the most talented Force users of his time.
Jinn started off his career as a Padawan under Dooku, who would eventually abandon the Jedi and become the Sith Lord Darth Tyranus. This event had a profound effect on Jinn, who would go onto become a Jedi Master himself and take on his own apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, Dooku’s abandonment would also make Jinn weary of the stringent Jedi Code that he had grown up with.
By Kenobi’s accounts, and by his own admission, Jinn viewed the Jedi Order as righteous, but flawed. These were lessons that he would impart in Kenobi, who would, in turn, impart these lessons in his own apprentice, Anakin Skywalker. These lessons were perhaps prophesied in the Chosen One who would bring balance to the Force.
Jinn would die nearly ten years before the onset of the Clone Wars in a duel with Darth Maul. However, with his dying breathe, he was able to pass on his final words of wisdom to Kenobi: to train the Skywalker boy as his own, as he was the Chosen One. As he passed away, he found ways to commune with Kenobi through the years as a Force spirit.
This would begin a trend of Jedi who could interact with the physical world beyond death, such as Kenobi and Master Yoda. This ability was likely taught to them by Qui-Gon Jinn, and allowed the Jedi to leave a legacy even after their demise.
6. Mace Windu
The majority of Jedi in the Republic era possessed either blue or green lightsabers. Thus, the purple blade of Jedi Master Mace Windu became a feared sight across the battlefields of the Clone Wars. Deeply attuned to the Force and considered the Jedi’s best fighter, Windu was seen as the “champion” of the Order.
Windu was perhaps the opposite of Qui-Gon Jinn. Brought up under strict adherence to the Jedi Code, Windu followed the traditions and rules of the Order to a tee. This often led to conflicts with other Jedi that did not view the Order’s structure in such a black-and-white manner. In particular, Windu would squabble with Anakin Skywalker throughout much of the Clone Wars.
Headstrong and witty, Windu was often the loudest voice on the Jedi High Council, and this would often translate to the frontlines of the war. As a general commanding his own clone trooper battalion, Windu was at the forefront of numerous battles, including the Battle of Malastare and the Battle of Dantooine.
Windu was one of the few Jedi that were able to see through the cloud of darkness that had been created by the Sith. At the end of the war, he would lead a contingent of Jedi to go arrest Palpatine. Just when it seemed that Windu had the upper hand, though, Anakin Skywalker intervened, and Palpatine sent the Jedi Master plunging hundreds of feet to his death. This marked the beginning of Order 66 and the demise of the Jedi’s greatest warrior.
5. Rey Skywalker
Despite being told that she came from nothing, the girl who was once known only as Rey came from humble beginnings to take up the mantle of the galaxy’s most powerful family. While her true lineage was more sinister, Rey rejected the Dark Side and embarked on a journey that would take her across the planets.
Born on Jakku, Rey grew up as an orphaned scavenger, searching for a life of meaning. Her fate saw her intertwined with a rogue First Order stormtrooper, Finn, and Rey would soon become a part of the Resistance. Leia Organa knew that the girl possessed significant skill with the Force, and sent her off to her brother Luke for training.
After honing her skills with both Leia and a reluctant Luke Skywalker, Rey would soon embark on a mission to stop the villainous Kylo Ren. It would be here that she’d learn that she not only shared a Force dyad with Ren, but was also the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine.
Despite showing off significant patches of darkness, Rey was able to fend off her demons and help bring Kylo Ren back to the light side as Ben Solo. This allowed her to vanquish Palpatine once and for all. In order to honor her adopted family, she took on the name of Rey Skywalker so that the legacy of the galaxy’s greatest heroes could continue.
Rey Skywalker was a reluctant hero who became one of the most powerful Jedi ever known. While she became the last of her kind after the deaths of Palpatine and Solo, Rey was the symbol of hope for oppressed peoples, and would continue to seek out the mysteries of the Force in an attempt to create a new Jedi Order.
4. Obi-Wan Kenobi
One of the most influential teachers in galactic history, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi’s career spanned decades. Obi-Wan would spend much of his life in hiding after the Jedi Order fell, however, he never disappeared completely, and played a pivotal role in the Rebellion’s struggle against the Empire.
Good-humored, somewhat sarcastic, but always incredibly wise, Obi-Wan rose quickly through the ranks of the Order to eventually sit on the Jedi High Council. Along with his Padawan Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan participated in almost every important battle of the Clone Wars, embarking on journeys across planets as a general.
Incredibly attuned to the Force, Obi-Wan, along with a few others, could sense that darkness was looming on the horizon. Despite this, he was unable to stop Emperor Palpatine’s evil plan, and Anakin would fall to the Dark Side and become Darth Vader. Although Obi-Wan was forced to hide on Tatooine, he would watch over Anakin’s son, Luke, for most of his childhood. Even when he was cut down by Vader on the Death Star, Obi-Wan would appear to Luke as a Force ghost for the majority of his life.
One of the most well-known and respected Jedi to have ever lived, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s wisdom knew no bounds. From the battlefields of the Clone Wars to lecturing Luke Skywalker on Dagobah, Obi-Wan played a major role in the galaxy’s struggle for freedom. He has entrenched himself as one of the most popular Jedis among throngs of fans, and that likely won’t change any time soon.
3. Anakin Skywalker
Anakin Skywalker likely played a bigger role in galactic history than any other Jedi on this list. Strong-willed, hot-headed, and rarely eager to listen, Anakin’s life story makes up the core of the first six Star Wars films. Simply put, there is no Skywalker saga without him, and Anakin’s choices, both on the Light Side and the Dark Side, would forever alter the Jedi Order.
Born into slavery on Tatooine, Anakin was incredibly gifted with the Force. He possessed the highest midi-chlorian count that the Jedi High Council had ever seen, greater even than Master Yoda’s. The Jedi soon branded him the Chosen One who would bring balance to the Force. Despite showing significant potential, he soon fell in love with Padmé Amidala, and as the Clone Wars broke out, the two began a secret relationship.
However, darkness tempted Anakin, and in an attempt to save his wife, succumbed to the Dark Side as Darth Vader. Sadly, fate had other ideas, and Padmé would die in childbirth. This made Vader a total servant of the Dark Side, and he would ravage the galaxy, slaughtering the remaining Jedi without remorse and helping to mold the Empire into a dictatorship.
Unfortunately, the one thing that Vader didn’t account for was the love he had for his son Luke. Decades after his wife’s death, a final confrontation with his son brought the Sith Lord back to the Light. Thus, Anakin was reborn just long enough to look into Luke’s eyes before he became one with the Force, fulfilling his prophecy.
The tragedy of Anakin Skywalker is the pinnacle of the Star Wars story. The boy who became the Chosen One, who fell to darkness, and was redeemed in death. Anakin’s tale would impact every major galactic event for almost half a century, and his triumph over the Dark Side made him a legend that would never be forgotten.
2. Luke Skywalker
Likely the most well-known and mythical Jedi Master in galactic history, Luke Skywalker’s journey is the quintessential hero’s tale. From an ill-mannered farmhand to the most powerful Force user of his time, Luke helped to free the galaxy from tyranny and played a colossal role in both the Rebellion and the Resistance.
Although he was unaware of his lineage as Darth Vader’s son, Luke would soon embark with Obi-Wan Kenobi on a mission to rescue his sister, Leia Organa. This would become the first domino in Luke’s path towards becoming a Jedi. After training with Master Yoda, Luke would soon learn to hone his skills and became a gifted swordsman while also furthering his Force abilities.
After he was able to bring his father back to the Light Side of the Force, Luke started a new Jedi Order, recruiting Force-sensitive younglings from across the galaxy. Unfortunately, his nephew, Ben Solo, would destroy all that he had built, causing Luke to retreat into exile. However, just when all was lost, Rey would help to renew Luke’s spirit of hope, and he passed on what he had learned to the young girl.
Luke’s life would come to an end doing perhaps the thing he did best: saving his friends. Force-projecting onto the planet Crait in order to help the Resistance escape, Luke died knowing that he would not be the last Jedi and that Rey would carry on his legacy.
The symbol of hope for multiple revolutions, Luke Skywalker’s role in history could be defined in different ways: hero, martyr, icon. Any of these descriptions would be correct, as the Jedi Master who longed for adventure as a child, ended up going on the galaxy’s greatest adventure. His name is synonymous with heroics, and his legend lived throughout the ages.
1. Yoda
Judge him by his size, you should not. Master Yoda was the wisest and most-powerful Jedi of his time and could possibly be considered the greatest Jedi in the history of the galaxy. While his origins and species were shrouded in mystery, the one certainty was that Yoda harbored the knowledge of hundreds of years and was the culmination of the Jedi Order’s teachings.
Yoda was one of the eldest known Jedi, over 900 years old by the time of the Galactic Empire. These centuries of knowledge allowed Yoda to pass on his wisdom to numerous Padawans, from the High Republic era to the end of the Clone Wars. He would also help Luke Skywalker evolve into the Jedi Master that he would eventually become. However, Yoda was not all talk, either, as he was a gifted duelist and was able to combat enemies like Count Dooku and Emperor Palpatine in lightsaber combat.
Even when he died of old age, Yoda was still passing on information. Not only was he able to commune as a Force ghost, but he could also interact with the physical world, as seen in Star Wars: The Last Jedi when he conjured a bolt of lightning. This is an ability that has not been demonstrated by any other Jedi up to this point.
There is no doubt that Yoda is an extremely powerful and Force-sensitive Jedi Master. He represents the best of the Jedi religion and has influenced events in galactic history for literally hundreds of years. From his wise quips to his teaching abilities and combat prowess, there could be no other choice than Master Yoda for this top spot. His was a legend in his life, and he continued to be a legend after his death
Who do you think are the top five most powerful Jedi? Let us know in the comments below!