Summary

• Darth Vader ranks second only to Emperor Palpatine in of power, with legendary Force feats and combat skills.
• Count Dooku's cunning and strategic mind makes him a formidable Sith leader during the Clone Wars, adept in all Force powers.
• Jabba The Hutt's centuries-long reign as a powerful crime lord instilled fear and awe in the Star Wars galaxy, holding unlimited resources.

Star Wars is renowned for its villains, many of whom number among the most exciting characters in film and TV history. When George Lucas created the Star Wars franchise, he established a galaxy where the shadow of terrifying villains like Darth Vader and Palpatine loomed large. Since then, Star Wars has only continued to expand its repertoire of iconic villains.

It's always fascinating to consider how villains rank in power. There are different types of power, of course; some beings have political or military power, while others have raw physical prowess. Given this is Star Wars, many of the most powerful villains are strong in the dark side of the Force. Taking all these factors into s, here is our official ranking of 20 major Star Wars villains, excluding some whose stories are as yet incomplete.

20 General Armitage Hux

The Star Wars sequel trilogy

General Armitage Hux was trained by Supreme Leader Snoke, and appears to be t second-in-command of the First Order alongside Kylo Ren - giving him a great deal of military power. However, he's something of a joke in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which revealed he's a lot less capable and competent than Snoke would have wished. Hux fell out of favor after Kylo Ren's ascension, actually turning traitor.

19 Director Orson Krennic

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

A high-ranking member of the Empire, Orson Krennic successfully oversaw the creation of the Death Stars. He had good instincts; as seen in James Luceno's novel Catalyst, he was the one who realized the potential of Galen Erso's research to unlock the power of kyber crystals. Krennic was ruthless and ambitious, willing to sacrifice anything to ascend through the ranks of the Empire, but he tended to overreach.

18 Cad Bane

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

A Duros bounty hunter who lived from the tail-end of the Old Republic Era through to the aftermath of the Empire's fall, Cad Bane was considered the most feared bounty hunter after Jango Fett's death. His infamy grew during the Clone Wars, and he was even hired by Palpatine to conduct missions against Jedi - such as kidnapping Force-sensitive younglings. Cad Bane had something of a vendetta against Boba Fett, one that ended in his death.

17 Asajj Ventress

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

A powerful Nightsister warrior, Asajj Ventress was recruited as an agent of the Separatists - and it's pretty clear Count Dooku considered her as a potential apprentice. As dangerous as she may be, though, Ventress never really received the dedicated dark side training that would make her a real threat, and she was defeated time and again. Ventress also lacked the political and military influence to rank higher on this list; she was a competent threat in battle, but lacked resources of her own.

16 Jango Fett

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

There are many different kinds of power. Jango Fett is a Mandalorian warrior and bounty hunter, a major antagonist in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. He may lack political power, but he's a formidable combatant who was known as the best bounty hunter in the galaxy. He also seems more than willing to work through intermediaries, which is a rarer skill for a bounty hunter. Jango Fett was probably one of the most dangerous non-Jedi before the Clone Wars, so he ranks well for those who lack the Force.

15 Boba Fett

Boba Fett took after his "father," becoming one of the most dangerous bounty hunters in the galaxy - although it's doubtful he ever quite exceeded his father, given he lacked the same skillful combatants to test himself against. Unusually, Boba became a leader among bounty hunters, which is why he's ranked as more powerful than Jango; he was even trusted by Darth Vader himself. Boba Fett's current status is a lot more questionable, as he seems to have become a quasi-hero in The Book of Boba Fett.

14 Moff Gideon

The Mandalorian

One of the most important villains in The Mandalorian era, Moff Gideon was a member of the New Republic. Ruthless and manipulative, he had been personally responsible for brutal acts of genocide during the Empire's Operation: Cinder, and he'd successfully repurposed Mandalorian beskar and cloning technology to his own ends. Moff Gideon is not a villain to underestimate.

13 Dryden Vos

Leader of the Crimson Dawn criminal syndicate, Dryden Vos was a skilled and ruthless tactician - one of the most powerful crime lords in the entire galaxy. At the height of his power, he had the resources to rival the likes of the Hutts, making him a formidable player during the Dark Times of the Empire's reign. He was also skilled in Teräs Käsi, a combat style designed to fight Jedi, and taught by Darth Maul himself.

12 The Grand Inquisitor (The Inquisitorius)

Leader of the Imperial Inquisitors, the Grand Inquisitor is a force to be reckoned with. Once a Temple Guard at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, he lost faith in the order and ultimately fell to the dark side. The Grand Inquisitor is a skillful and manipulative villain, reporting directly to Darth Vader and Palpatine. He had first pick of the dark side secrets the Emperor allowed the Inquisitor to study, meaning he knew many techniques that his peers were unaware of. The rest of the Inquisitors would easily come below him in power level.

11 Kylo Ren

The Star Wars sequel trilogy

The grandson of Darth Vader, Kylo Ren would rank much higher on this list if not for the fact he was never truly loyal to the dark side. In truth, Kylo Ren never fell to the dark at all; rather, he was trapped by it, manipulated by Palpatine and Supreme Leader Snoke. The division in Kylo Ren's heart meant he never truly embraced his potential as a villain, even if he did briefly wind up ruling the First Order.