Sith

The Sith are a fictional order of Force-users in the Star Wars universe who pursue power through the dark side of the Force. They are the principal philosophical and military adversaries of the Jedi Order. In most canon material, Sith ideology centers on the belief that passion and personal gain grant power, and that restraint or compassion weakens the strong.

Historically, the term “Sith” has both a species origin and an order. The Sith species from the planet Korriban rose to power millennia before the Republic but were opposed by Jedi. The modern Sith Order emerged after Darth Bane reformed the tradition, instituting the Rule of Two: a Master and an Apprentice, so only two Sith could exist at any time, ensuring that ambition was channeled and that the power did not dissipate in infighting. The Rule of Two has been cited in both canon and Legends as a core feature.

Practices and symbols: Sith strive to acquire power through political manipulation, military action, and mastery of the dark side, including abilities like Force choke and Force lightning (depictions vary). They wield lightsabers with red blades, often produced by synthetic kyber crystals. They train through a chain of apprenticeship in which the apprentice eventually defeats the master to take the throne. The Sith’s leadership is usually unstable, with frequent plots and power struggles.

In Star Wars media, the Sith have appeared as major antagonists across films, animated series, novels, and comics. Notable Sith Lords include Darth Sidious (Palpatine), Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker), Darth Maul, and Darth Tyranus (Count Dooku). Their portrayal varies between canon and Legends, but the core concept—an order dedicated to the dark side and to defeating the Jedi—remains constant.