As Yoda would say, fear leads to anger, anger then leads to hate, hate leads to suffering, this is the path to the dark side. The antithesis of everything the Jedi order stands for, the dark lords of the Sith seek only power and dominion over the galaxy far, far away. Through a corrupted use of the Force, characters like Darth Vader, Palpatine, and Kylo Ren have sought to rule and possess the known universe.
There are many ways to become a master of the Sith, but there are more than a few similar tropes that are prevalent on the dark side. From the color red to the desire for "unlimited power," the Sith have often fallen into some tropey territories.
Black And Red Motifs
Evil wears many masks, and that can certainly be said for of the dark side of the force. The Sith have evolved from the Separatists of the Trade Federation to the Galactic Empire to the infamous First Order, but they all seemingly have one visual in common. The use of red and black in their designs never changes.
Black clothing, black cloaks, and black military gear are often accompanied by red highlights, red accents, and red-armored guards, it's all there. Even characters like Darth Maul were saturated in the color motif.
Red Lightsabers
Perhaps one of the biggest and most obvious indicators of a Sith Lord was their red lightsabers. Created by a red Kyber Crystal, this iconic weapon of the Jedi turned to the dark side was one of the biggest things that separated them from other force s in the galaxy.
Whether created synthetically or by unfiltered rage corrupting the crystal itself, the angry red glow of a Sith lightsaber is one of the most intimidating elements in the galaxy. Simply put, it's a weapon designed to make a statement and inspire fear across the stars.
Aggressive Nature And Techniques
Anger and hate are two of the pillars of the way of the Sith. By letting their uncapped aggressions flow through them like fiery energy, the Sith create a more aggressive and violent fighting style that can either be their greatest advantage or the source of their downfall.
Where most Jedi are defensive and calculating, many Sith Lords immediately go for the offense and try to rip and tear their way through their opponents. Great examples of this violent technique include Asajj Ventress and Kylo Ren, warriors who often let their emotions drive their attacks. Sometimes it works, but it can have disastrous after-effects.
Quick To Anger
With notable exceptions like the regal and robed Palpatine and the genteel Count Dooku, many Sith lords are short-tempered and prone to fits of rage. Although Kylo Ren might be the most extreme example, even characters like Ventress and Vader have their less-than-professional moments.
Calling back to the phrase about fear leading to anger, anger leading to hate, and hate leading the suffering, it's used as an illustration of the effects of the dark side. It's the use of rage, anger, and hatred that make the Sith so reckless on their quest for power.
Reliance On Technology
If there's one advantage that the Sith have over the Jedi, it's their technological abilities. Aside from things like blasters, the cloning techniques on Kamino, and forms of medicine, the Jedi don't rely on the use of technology nearly as much as the Sith do in the series.
The Sith's use and reliance on technology make them a bigger threat on a more galactic scale. From alternative lightsaber stylings to space stations big enough to destroy entire planets, the dark side certainly has a thing for technological warfare.
Unnatural Sciences
"The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be... unnatural." What some might call dark magic or mad science in other genres, the Sith use to a great extent to ensure victory, especially in the extended universe.
The arts of Sith Alchemy is a dark and dangerous subject matter in the Star Wars universe, and these dark arts can range from manipulation of Midi-chlorians to even raising the dead. Covering the fields of necromancy to human experimentation, nothing was sacred in the Sith's quest for absolute power.
Dark Force Powers
Like the Jedi, the Sith have a thorough understanding of the powers of the Force, however, their abilities differ greatly. Where Jedi can commune with the cosmos and explore the mind's potential, their evil counterparts can summon lightning, manipulate lifeforce, and frequently choke their victims to death.
In a sense, the Sith have the same palette of abilities that the Jedi have, only their powers are corrupted by a dark and sinister nature. That being said, different doesn't always equal better.
Desire For Control
Like so many tyrannical despots, Palpatine's, and by extension the Sith's, ultimate goal was absolute power. The conquest of the galaxy was always at the forefront of their agenda. As the Jedi strove to maintain order and Justice, the Sith desired control and obedience from other systems.
Seeing as how the Empire was inspired by fascist regimes, the Sith taking a totalitarian stance truly isn't that much of a stretch. Considering the Sith are responsible for crimes like genocide and human experimentation, the desire for control and power might be putting it lightly.
Signs Of Corruption
While not as prevalent in all Sith, most of them bear some sort of physical sign of corruption. It might be something as subtle as a scar or a war wound, but it also might be something as obvious as yellow eyes or facial mutilation. Either way, the corruption of the Force flowing through them is obvious.
As quoted by Master Yoda, hate leads to suffering, and all Sith Lords are suffering to a certain degree. Pain keeps them in power, and it keeps the darker energies flowing. That's why figures like Vader and Kylo Ren are so tragic at the end of the day.
Use Of The Force But No Connection
The Sith might be able to use the Force, they might be able to manipulate its abilities, and they might even be able to alter the forces of nature with it, but they are still separate from being one with the universe. It's that separation from being completely whole with the Force that keeps them in the dark.
By seeking to control the Force rather than understand it and abide in it, the Sith have turned away from the essence that binds the universe together. Through their unnatural ways, they have corrupted the Force and themselves in the process.
