The Debate
The discussion regarding the final battle in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is whether or not Rey truly defeated Palpatine on her own. In their epic showdown, Palpatine and Rey face off on the Sith Citadel in Exegol with Palpatine and a whole army of Star Destroyers. The only Jedi, Rey, goes against the dark side by herself. So, did Rey, in fact, defeat Palpatine in their last showdown, or did the Sith Lord end up bringing his own downfall by himself with his lightning? Well, fans everywhere are incredibly divided on that question, which causes some fierce fan arguments. To some fans, it shows that Rey has become a true Jedi Master, and to other fans, it was nothing but luck that led Rey to win. However, based on canon, we have only one explanation, even though many fans disagree with it. Star Wars Day sale 2026 lets fans recreate the dueling lightsaber using a neopixel lightsaber and bring to life every last moment remembered from this iconic duel. Join us in this blog as we retrace every last second of the battle.
Canon occurrence
Palpatine sits on the massive throne, dark as pitch, inside the Sith Citadel. Rey travels to Exegol after she discovers the Sith wayfinder, confronting him with Leia Organa’s lightsaber in one hand and hers in the other. Palpatine scoffs, vilifying Rey, believing she is another weak descendant of a Jedi. He reveals to her that it was he who was behind the creation of Snoke and was manipulating Kylo Ren remotely. Unbeknownst to Rey, the Emperor drains her and Ben Solo of their Force dyad, restoring himself to youth and full strength. With the flick of his wrist, he hurls Ben Solo to his death in a dark abyss under the throne.
Palpatine unleashes force lightning from both hands at Rey. The latter bravely stands her ground, blocking it with both of her lightsabers that she holds crossed out in front of her. Rey unleashes the lightning at Palpatine’s chest. It instantly vaporizes him, disintegrates his body, which crumbles, breaks, and explodes while Palpatine screams in agony as his power is turned on himself. Tired to her bones, Rey succumbs to her fatigue and dies. Ben Solo emerges from the abyss, climbs down to where she lies, and gives her the last of his life force, sacrificing himself for her survival.
Released from Palpatine's reign, the Sith fleet goes berserk, and each Star Destroyer plummets to Exegol's surface. The Resistance cheers as the entire galaxy watches from afar. Rey later buries the two lightsabers in the sands of Tatooine and takes on the last name Skywalker. She is seen at the end of the saga, alone, watching two suns setting over the desert.
The Core Question
The big question isn't whether Palpatine met his end. We all saw him explode and never come back. The real mystery is who triggered that explosion. Was it Rey tapping into her Jedi strength? Or did his own frail body finally give in? The film intentionally keeps this unclear. Fans are divided. Some believe Rey merely reflected his energy. Others argue she actively defeated him by channeling all the Jedi. To get to the bottom of this, we need to dig into the details of their duel. Many fans use their Neopixel lightsaber to reenact this fight at home. The Star Wars Day sale 2026 makes screen-accurate hilts more affordable than ever. We should examine Palpatine's state before and after the fight. The clues from the film and novelization point to a definitive answer.
Proof of Rey's victory
Two Lightsabers and Deflection
Rey takes a bold stance against Palpatine, wielding two lightsabers crossed in an X formation. This isn't just a defensive move; it's an active technique. Instead of merely absorbing the lightning, she pushes it back. The novelization paints a vivid picture of her channeling the strength of past Jedi, with voices like Mace Windu and Yoda guiding her. As she stands firm, Palpatine screams in agony and fear, hinting at a decisive victory rather than a stroke of luck.
The Jedi Order Speaks Through Her
In that pivotal moment, all the Jedi who came before Rey lend her their power. The film features voice cameos from nearly every significant Jedi, including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka Tano. Rey transforms from a position of vulnerability to one of triumph, boldly declaring herself "all the Jedi" in the face of "all the Sith." This is a powerful assertion of victory, not just a passive response. In that moment, the Force itself rallies behind Rey against Palpatine.
She Walks Away Alive, but with bens help
As Palpatine disintegrates completely, Rey endures the encounter but collapses from sheer exhaustion. Thankfully, Ben revives her by transferring his life force, bringing her back from the brink of death. If she had merely reflected an attack, she wouldn't have collapsed afterward. Instead, she poured every ounce of her energy into ensuring the Sith Lord's permanent defeat. By walking away from that battle, she truly claims victory by any measure.
Evidence That Palpatine Lost to Himself
Destruction of Palpatine's body
The Emperor's lightning is actually what leads to his downfall. Rey doesn't stab him or push him with the Force; instead, she simply redirects his own attack right back at him. Palpatine meets his end when his own Force lightning bounces back and overwhelms his already fragile cloned body. His decaying form just can't handle the power he unleashed.
Sense of superiority
Before that lightning showdown, Palpatine had completely drained Rey and Ben of their energy, restoring himself to full strength. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed Ben into a chasm, showing he had the upper hand for most of their fight. His defeat only came about because he decided to unleash lightning again. It's interesting to note that he could have chosen any other attack, but the film doesn't delve into that.
Rey's immediate death
After the battle, Rey collapses from sheer exhaustion and dies. It's Ben Solo who has to give up his life to bring her back. A true victor shouldn't need someone else to resurrect them. If Ben hadn't managed to climb out of that chasm, Rey would have remained dead. The film literally kills Rey and then revives her through Ben's sacrifice, which makes her victory feel like it relies on outside help.
The Most Likely Canon Explanation
The most well-rounded perspective takes into account both sides. Palpatine's lightning ultimately destroyed his own body. He unleashed that deadly power. Yet his cloned body was already decaying and unstable. The reflected lightning merely pushed him over the edge. Rey's role was redirecting that energy back where it came from. That redirection demanded incredible strength from her. She drew on the voices of every Jedi who ever existed. Without that connection, the lightning would have killed her instead.
So both truths coexist without contradiction. Palpatine's arrogance led him to use lightning against a Jedi. That arrogance had served him well against Luke Skywalker. But Rey was not Luke skywalker , and she refused to die or give in. With the support of past Jedi, she pushed the lightning back. Palpatine's defeat came from his unstable body, unable to cope. Rey's victory came from accepting help from those before her. In that moment, neither side truly triumphed alone. A neopixel lightsaber from the Star Wars Day sale 2026 lets you explore both interpretations.
Importance of this duel
The showdown between Palpatine and Rey wraps up the nine-film Skywalker saga. Can a Palpatine truly defeat another Palpatine? Rey carries the blood of the Sith Lord in her veins. Yet she chooses the Jedi path and the Skywalker name. This moment serves as a powerful thematic conclusion. A person's identity is not solely determined by lineage. Rey demonstrates that legacy is a choice, not something you are born into.
This scene highlights the resilience of the Jedi. Palpatine was hell-bent on wiping out the Jedi Order. Yet in Rey's darkest hour, the voices of the past return to guide her. The dark side wins some battles but ultimately loses the war. Fans continue to discuss this moment because it challenges traditional narratives. Luke triumphed by refusing to fight in Return of the Jedi. Rey prevails by harnessing the strength of all who came before her. Both paths are valid, but they manifest in strikingly different ways on screen. Owning a Neopixel lightsaber keeps this debate alive in your own home.
Final Verdict
The canon answer is clear despite ongoing fan arguments. Palpatine's own lightning destroyed his unstable cloned body. He fired the bolt that ultimately killed him on Exegol. However, Rey actively redirected that lightning with purpose and strength. She channeled every Jedi who ever lived to push the energy back. In terms of analysis, a passive shield would not have destroyed the Sith Lord. Rey won the final battle by using Palpatine's power against him. She did not strike him down in anger like a Sith would. She defended herself and let the dark side consume its master. That is a Jedi victory through and through. Palpatine lost because he could not imagine losing. And that arrogance is what finally ended the Sith forever. Before you rewatch this legendary duel, upgrade your collection. A neopixel lightsaber delivers the most accurate blade effects for this fight. The Star Wars Day sale 2026 starts soon across major retailers. Own Rey's yellow blade or Palpatine's red hilt today. May the Fourth be with you when you make that choice.
FAQs
Was Palpatine killed by Rey with her own force?
No, Palpatine's own lightning destroyed his unstable cloned body. Rey redirected the lightning back at him with help from past Jedi. She did not strike him down directly with a blade.
Why did Palpatine's body explode instead of just dying?
His cloned body was already decaying before the fight began. The reflected Force lightning created overwhelming feedback inside him. His physical form could not contain that much power any longer.
Did Rey actually die during the final battle?
Yes, Rey collapses and dies from exhaustion after Palpatine explodes. Ben Solo transfers his remaining life force to revive her body. She would have died without Ben's sacrifice.
Who was stronger in that fight, Rey or Palpatine?
Palpatine had the upper hand for most of the confrontation. He drained Rey and Ben's dyad power moments earlier. However, Rey won the final exchange through deflection and Jedi support.
What is the most accurate canon explanation for Palpatine's death?
Palpatine's own lightning was reflected at his unstable body. The feedback overwhelmed his decaying clone form completely. Rey won by redirecting his power, not by generating her own killing blow.
