The Ultimate List of the All-Time Greatest Characters From The ‘Star Wars’ Universe

Kelsey Berish | September 16, 2024 7:04 pm

On May 25, 1977, George Lucas introduced an entire galaxy of characters in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. From there, the universe expanded with more movies and television shows, and fans became infatuated with Boba Fett, Ashoka Tano, Grogu, aka Baby Yoda, and so many more.

Keep reading because the force is strong with the best characters in Star Wars.

Jyn Erso

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Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Studios

When she learned her father placed a weakness in the Death Star, Jyn Erso took it upon herself to bring it down. Used to working alone, Jyn teams up with the Rebel Alliance, ultimately getting the information to Princess Leia.

When it comes to Star Wars, Jyn is easily one of the best characters.

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Han Solo

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Han Solo is a smuggler turned good guy after teaming up with Luke and Leia to take down the Empire. The captain of the Millennium Falcon, Solo, is never far from his best friend and co-pilot, Chewbacca.

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A fan-favorite character, the sarcastic Solo eventually becomes one of the greatest leaders in the Rebel Alliance.

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Darth Vader

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Considered one of the greatest villains in cinematic history, Darth Vader is a Sith Lord who, once, was believed to be the chosen one and bring the force into balance.

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Sadly, Anakin Skywalker turned to the dark side and became Darth Vader under the tutelage of Chancellor Palpatine.

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Ahsoka Tano

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The Padawan of Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, is a hero in the Clone Wars. Even though she is left out of the live-action films, Ahsoka is seen fighting alongside Anakin in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and has appeared in her own live-action series on Disney+. She has also made appearances in other live-action Star Wars shows on Disney+.

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She quickly became one of the best characters in the franchise, with her leadership and skills with two different-sized lightsabers. Eventually, Ahsoka takes a different path from the Jedi and creates white weapons, showing she is neither a Sith nor a Jedi.

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Darth Maul

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Fans can't help but be impressed with the Sith Lord Darth Maul. After seemingly dying in The Phantom Menace, Maul is saved by his brother Savage Opress and, after getting robotic legs, stops at nothing to find Obi-Wan and take him out.

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He is a skilled warrior and is known for his double-bladed red lightsaber.

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Din Djarin, Aka Mando

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A Mandalorian who travels the galaxy after the fall of the Galactic Empire, Din Djarin, aka Mando, is tasked with taking care of The Child, keeping him safe, and finding him a Jedi master to train him in the ways of the force.

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Played by Pedro Pascal in The Mandalorian, the character quickly became a fan favorite.

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Obi-Wan Kenobi

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A master Jedi who promised to train Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi is by far one of the best characters in the franchise.

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Played by Alec Guinness and then Ewan McGregor, Obi-Wan fights in the Clone Wars and then is tasked with protecting a young Luke Skywalker after thinking he killed his Padawan, the child's father.

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Luke Skywalker

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The entire original Star Wars franchise pretty much began with Luke Skywalker's journey from Tatooine to becoming a Jedi Master. After finding R2-D2, Luke finds Leia and teams up with Han Solo, eventually bringing down the Galactic Empire and his father, Darth Vader.

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Mark Hamill plays both a teenage version of the character as well as an older version in the later trilogy.

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R2-D2

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R2-D2 is one of the best characters in the Star Wars universe because it is due to his bravery that Luke Skywalker embarks on his mission to find Obi-Wan, "Old Ben," and ultimately rescue Princess Leia from Storm Troopers.

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In the end, the entire rebel leader group of Luke, Leia, and Han Solo are together, thanks to R2-D2.

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Yoda

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It's difficult not to like Yoda, one of the wisest Jedi Masters and the one who eventually trains Luke Skywalker, even though he sense much anger in him, just like his father, Anakin, aka Darth Vader.

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While Yoda tends to speak in riddles, he is one of the best characters in the galaxy.

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Qui-Gon Jinn

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Qui-Gon Jinn was the first person to see Anakin Skywalker's potential, asking Yoda and the other Master Jedi to allow him to train the young boy in the ways of the force.

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While he was a skilled fighter, Qui-Gon ultimately gets defeated by Darth Maul during the Duel of the Fates.

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Boba Fett

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The son of Jango Fett and one of the many genetic clones, Boba Fett, is first introduced in Return of the Jedi. From there, fans see the bounty hunter as a young child on the planet of Kamino as well as in the animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars.

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Thought to have perished in Return of the Jedi, fans were stunned when he reappeared in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.

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General Grievous

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A Separatist military strategist, General Grievous is a huge droid with a deep-seated hatred for the Jedi, especially Obi-Wan Kenobi. Even though he is technically a villain in the Star Wars franchise, his ruthlessness and lightning-quick fighting style make him one of the best characters in the galaxy.

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While the character gets taken out in Revenge of the Sith, Grievous is also seen in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

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Emperor Palpatine

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What makes Emperor Palpatine one of the best characters in the Star Wars franchise is the fact that he was able to fool everyone, including the Jedi Masters. While most people knew him as the Chancellor, Palpatine turned out to be Darth Sidious, a Sith Lord.

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He eventually turns Anakin Skywalker to the dark side, swaying him with the promise of saving his wife from death.

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Mace Windu

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Played by Samuel L. Jackson, Mace Windu is a Master Jedi who wields a purple lightsaber, the only one in the Star Wars franchise. He is actually the first one to suspect an attack on the Jedi order.

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A strong leader during the Clone Wars, Master Windu eventually gets taken out by Darth Sidious and Anakin Skywalker.

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Grogu, Aka Baby Yoda

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When Grogu, aka The Child and Baby Yoda, was first introduced in The Mandalorian, he stole the hearts of pretty much everyone who watched the series. A young Jedi who is strong with the force, it is Mando's mission to find him a master.

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By the end of the series, Grogu has trained with Luke Skywalker in the ways of the force, and has gone on numerous adventures with Mando.

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Chewbacca

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The co-pilot on the Millennium Falcon, Chewbacca, is a fierce fighter and the best friend of smuggler Han Solo. A Wookie, Chewy bands together with Luke, Leia, and Han to take on the Empire.

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He is featured in the original trilogy while making appearances in the sequel films alongside an older Han Solo.

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Princess Leia

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Adopted by Bail Organa and his wife to live on the planet of Alderaan, Princess Leia is kept hidden in hopes of keeping her safe from her father, Darth Vadar. Too bad the sassy Princess doesn't like being told what to do.

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One of the Rebel Alliance leaders and founder of the Resistance, Leia, is the twin sister of Luke Skywalker and can also feel the force.

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Captain Rex

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While he is not in any of the Star Wars films, at least not by name, it doesn't detract from the fact that Captain Rex is one of the best characters in the franchise.

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Second-in-command to Anakin Skywalker, Rex is a clone affiliated with the 501st legion and is a fierce and loyal soldier who will do whatever it takes to keep his troops safe. Unlike the other clones, Rex finds his inhibitor chip and does not get swayed by Order 66.

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Asajj Ventress

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Featured in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Asajj Ventress is a highly-skilled assassin who is trained in the ways of the dark side. That being said, she is not a Sith, even though she wants to be, because the Rule of Two doesn't allow more than two Sith Lords at a time.

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Trained by Count Dooku, Ventress finds herself in more than one fight with Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka.