Emperor Palpatine, otherwise known as Darth Sidious, is certainly the most successful Sith Lord in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
In doing so, Return of the Jedi happened at the site of another of his greatest accomplishments - the Death Star. The superweapon space station has intriguing, ancient roots in Sith history, and while the forces of good thwarted him, the Death Star is an important symbol of Palpatine’s destructive power and how he sured all Sith who came before him.
The Death Star Was The Perfect Sith Superweapon
The Sith had long searched for their perfect superweapon to eradicate hope from the galaxy, and although it took a long time to build the Death Star, Palpatine finally delivered. As Dawn of Rebellion notes, “The idea of a massive, spacegoing, planet-destroying super-weapon dates back millennia.” The Star Wars RPG sourcebook also details, "It wasn't until the rise of Darth Tyranus and Darth Sidious... that the idea of a mobile battle station would start to become reality." This proves that although many Sith Lords had dreamed of building such a weapon, Emperor Palpatine actually achieved the feat, further cementing his name in the dark annals of Sith history.
As with lightsabers and superweapons of yore, kyber crystals powered the Death Star’s massive laser, best showcasing the glowing rocks' inherent destructive capabilities if corrupted by the dark side. The quote from Dawn of Rebellion, however, proves Palpatine's Andor, where prisoners build the weapon that will be used to further tyrannize them and decimate any semblance of defiance in the galaxy.
What Other Sith Superweapons Have Been Confirmed In Canon?
The Death Star is the culmination of the Sith’s long-standing hope to destroy anyone who will not bend to their will, but other remarkable superweapons can be found throughout the Sith’s vast history. Malachor was home to many such weapons, including one that petrifies living beings. The aftermath of the weapon’s terror was shown in the the Sith created another dark side weapon using the bones of the fallen to enhance their powers.
The Sith Lord Darth Momin, also made his fair share of terrifying superweapons. Momin created the Fermata Cage, which froze people in time, and a giant engine that could destroy a city. If it weren’t for the Jedi’s intervention, Darth Momin would have used the cage to preserve the horrific looks on his victim’s faces. Instead, he was thwarted and destroyed - although his spirit visited Darth Vader many centuries later. Ultimately, Darth Momin’s sinister toys and the Malachor superweapon are far less all-conquering than the Death Star, and while the battle station was later improved upon during the sequel trilogy, it still clinches Palpatine the title of Star Wars' best Sith Lord.
