The Star Wars franchise has introduced countless powerful Jedi, wielders of light and dark sides Force powers who have demonstrated their skills in phenomenal feats. The most famous of these are, of course, the Skywalkers – Anakin Skywalker and his son Luke, stars of George Lucas’ saga. But, as the franchise has expanded across the timeline, many other powerful Jedi have been introduced in different mediums in Star Wars. It is, of course, very difficult to compare different Jedi in terms of power level.
The Jedi venerate wisdom above raw power. Some Jedi hail from species with longer life spans than humans, meaning they have had more time to cultivate their gifts. And then, of course, there is the will of the Force and simple luck – the factors that mean a less competent duelist can successfully beat a more powerful Jedi in a duel. Still, going from what has been seen to date, here’s a ranking of 40 major Jedi from weakest to most powerful – using their feats and accomplishments as indicators.
40
Gungi
A Wookiee Jedi who survived Order 66
A Youngling during the Clone Wars, the Wookiee Jedi Gungi was one of the more unlikely Order 66 survivors. It’s difficult to say how he made it out alive; was it because of his Jedi skills, his Wookiee strength, or the sacrifice of his master? Whatever the truth may be, Gungi showed his power in the Force when he worked with Clone Force 99 on Kashyyyk. His final fate is unknown, but the fact he was on Kashyyyk – a world ravaged by the Empire – bodes ill.
39
Barriss Offee
Model Padawan turned Jedi traitor
Originally Luminara Unduli’s Padawan, Barriss Offee became a Jedi Knight during the Clone Wars. She was sensitive enough to the Force to sense the growing darkness but lacked the wisdom to realize she needed to resist it as a Jedi. Instead, Barriss turned against the Jedi Council. Her power and skill were demonstrated in several shadowy combat scenes with Ahsoka Tano, but she never really demonstrated her true potential in the Force. She briefly became an Inquisitor, but left, ultimately evolving into a Jedi Healer.
38
Jocasta Nu
Chief Librarian of the Jedi Archives
Played by the late Alethea McGrath in the prequel trilogy, Jocasta Nu was a Jedi archivist noted for her wisdom rather than her power. She somehow survived Anakin Skywalker’s sacking of the Jedi Temple and established a repository of Jedi knowledge that would ultimately help Luke Skywalker rebuild the Order. Palpatine feared Jocasta Nu’s knowledge and with good reason; although she was captured by the Empire when returning to Coruscant, she was able to manipulate Darth Vader into killing her, so the Sith would not profit from her knowledge of the light and dark sides of the Force.
37
Eno Cordova
A Jedi scholar, not a warrior
First introduced (by hologram) in Jedi: Fallen Order, Eno Cordova is an unusual Jedi. A scholar first and foremost, he appears to have sensed the rise of the dark side, and he worked hard to secure the future of the Jedi by hiding records of Force-sensitive Younglings. Eno Cordova survived Order 66, but did not live through the Dark Times. He consistently demonstrated far more insight than raw power.
36
Yord Fandar
A by-the-books Jedi Knight
A straight-laced and by-the-books Jedi who served during the High Republic Era, Yord nonetheless demonstrated a great deal of creativity and adaptability over the course of The Acolyte. He was the only Jedi who really figured out how to use the Stranger’s own cortosis armor against him, briefly deactivating his enemy’s lightsaber, but sadly even this wasn’t enough for Yord to triumph. He never had the change to really demonstrate his full potential.
35
Jecki Lon
A tragically ill-fated Padawan
The Padawan of Master Sol, the Theelin Jecki Lon proved something of a prodigy during the High Republic Era. Jecki was notable for her intense focus on training, continuing to practice combat forms even when she was accompanying her master on missions. Her skill was demonstrated when she went up against the Sith Lord known as the Stranger, because she was able to use Jar’kai – wielding two blades – and unmasked him. Sadly, she was unprepared for the Stranger’s own treacherous methods, and she died before ever fulfilling her true potential.
34
Vernestra Rwoh
The youngest Jedi Knight of the High Republic era
A Jedi of the High Republic Era, Vernestra Rwoh was something of a Force prodigy, a Mirialan who was knighted when she was just 15 years old. Remarkably sensitive to the guidance of the Force, Vernestra – sometimes nicknamed “Vern” – modified her lightsaber into a lightwhip in response to its guidance, and this proved useful during battles with Nihil pirates and carnivorous plant creatures known as the Drengir. Rebecca Henderson plays the older Vernestra Rwoh in The Acolyte, but there’s as yet no indication of her power levels by that point in the timeline.
33
Aayla Secura
A highly skilled Jedi Master
Hailing from the old Star Wars Expanded Universe, Jedi Master Aayla Secura was incorporated into George Lucas’ prequel trilogy, where she was played by Lucasfilm employee Amy Allen. The Twi’lek Jedi was noted for her phenomenal martial arts skills, but unfortunately, most of her Clone Wars feats have been erased from Disney canon, making it very difficult to place Aayla Secura on this ranking of Jedi according to canon. Hopefully, Star Wars will revisit Aayla Secura going forward.
32
Stellan Gios
A Jedi Master of the High Republic
Stellan Gios was as notable for his political skill as he was for his power in the Force. Stellan protected Chancellor Lina Soh when the Nihil attacked the Republic Fair on Valo, and he became seen as a hero for his actions there. He tragically sacrifices himself to save others during the Nihil attack on Starlight Beacon, a space station they brought down on an inhabited planet. Stellan’s true power has seldom been displayed, but he kept remarkable company, working alongside prodigies Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann. This, more than anything else, suggests he should be considered a powerhouse.
31
Depa Billaba
Kanan Jarrus’ Jedi Master
The Padawan of Mace Windu, Depa Billaba is one of the few Jedi to have mastered the lightsaber form known as Vaapad. Unlike other lightsaber forms, Vaapad encourages a Jedi to embrace their emotions, using them to fuel an aggressive attack; Mace and Depa are the only known practitioners of Vaapad not to have fallen to the dark side. Depa is best known to modern viewers as the Jedi Master of Kanan Jarrus, briefly appearing in the opening scenes of Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 1, episode 1, when she gave her life on her Padawan’s behalf.
30
Saesee Tiin
A member of the Jedi Council
Some Force sensitives possess special talents, and the Iktotchi Jedi Saesee Tiin is a perfect example. He was known to be an unusually powerful telepath, although sadly no Star Wars stories have shown that power in operation. He was also one of the best lightsaber swordsmen among the Jedi of the prequel era, possibly using his telepathic abilities to sense an enemy’s intentions before they struck. That may explain why he was so easily defeated by Darth Sidious in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith when he proved unable to anticipate the Dark Lord of the Sith.
29
Yaddle
One of Dooku’s first Jedi victims
Yaddle was briefly seen serving in the High Republic Era, where she was respected for her wisdom and sensitivity to the Force. Her most notable appearance in canon was in Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi, where she trailed Dooku to a meeting with Darth Sidious and died at his blade. Yaddle acquitted herself well during the duel, but at the same time didn’t demonstrate the kind of power seen by entries higher in this list. Still, this was toward the end of her life, so it’s possible this did not show Yaddle at her strongest.
28
Kanan Jarrus
A Padawan survivor turned Jedi teacher
Born Caleb Dume, Kanan Jarrus is one of the most important characters in Star Wars Rebels. Kanan survived Order 66 thanks to his master, Depa Billaba, who sacrificed herself on his behalf. Kanan developed a close relationship with the Force, effectively using it to see after he was blinded by Darth Maul. This intense bond with the Force enhanced his powers, as demonstrated in his death when he held a powerful explosion back with a telekinetic shield. This act alone proves just how powerful a Jedi Kanan was.
27
Luminara Unduli
Barriss Offee’s Jedi Master
Another Jedi Master who served in the Clone Wars, Luminara Unduli was a Mirialan Jedi known to be very difficult to defeat in combat. She was played by Mary Oyaya in Lucas’ prequel trilogy, where she made a lasting impression, initially developed as part of the Star Wars Expanded Universe. Few of Luminara’s feats survive into Disney canon, but she’s still considered one of the Jedi’s greatest, a fearsome warrior who only fell because of the Sith’s treachery.
26
Ki-Adi-Mundi
A notable member of the Jedi Council
A Cerean Jedi, Ki-Adi-Mundi, served during the prequel era and did not survive Order 66. He was particularly noted for his skills with the lightsaber; Ki-Adi-Mundi even numbered among the few to have practiced Makashi, the art of lightsaber dueling, which means he was one of the few Jedi who could have successfully defeated even Count Dooku in combat. Ki-Adi-Mundi’s phenomenal reflexes allowed him to deflect several blaster shots when he was unexpectedly attacked by clone troopers, but he was eventually overwhelmed.
25
Cere Junda
A Jedi who gave Darth Vader a run for his money
A formidable Jedi Master, Cere Junda cut herself off from the Force after her Padawan was turned into one of Darth Vader’s Inquisitors. Her faith restored, she became a key figure in organizing the Hidden Path to save Jedi from the forces of the Empire. She ultimately met her end in a duel with Darth Vader, and put up an impressive fight that places her quite high up this ranking.
24
Elzar Mann
An unorthodox Jedi of the High Republic era
A controversial figure among the Jedi of the High Republic, Elzar Mann had a unique relationship with the Force that often granted him insight others did not possess. Unfortunately, for all his power, Elzar often lacked wisdom; he received a vision from the Force about a pirate attack on Valo’s Republic Fair, then arrogantly assumed his mere presence had averted it. Elzar’s story will no doubt be central to Star Wars: The High Republic Phase III, where hopefully he will find his balance and ascend this list of powerful Jedi.
23
Ezra Bridger
The main character in Star Wars Rebels, Ezra Bridger, is a very powerful Force-sensitive indeed. Ezra is particularly notable for an unusual Force power that allows him to bond with animals, an ability he used to spectacular effect when he called a flock of purrgil – space whales – in to help against Grand Admiral Thrawn in Star Wars Rebels’ series finale. Eman Esfandi portrayed Ezra in live-action for Ahsoka, showing how the character grew during his exile.
22
Ahsoka Tano
Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan who left the Jedi Order
Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, is a remarkable Force-sensitive who left the Jedi after she lost faith in the Council. Ahsoka grew in power during the Dark Times, continuing to develop her powers and practice according to Jedi philosophy even though she did not count herself among their number. She is one of the precious few to survive an encounter with Darth Vader, granted with the help of her close friend Ezra Bridger, who rescued her from death using the World Between the Worlds.
21
Shaak Ti
The Jedi Master in charge of training the clones
Played by Orli Shoshan in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, the Togruta Jedi Master Shaak Ti served on the Jedi Council during the Clone Wars. Shaak Ti had a reputation for skillfully using telekinesis in battle, a sign of her ability to multitask in even the most heated situations. Many of Shaak Ti’s most exciting adventures are unfortunately non-canon, as is her death; two alternate death scenes were considered during Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the SIth, although both were cut. Reference books have nonetheless confirmed Shaak Ti died during Order 66 and the attack on the Jedi Temple.