Who are the most powerful Force wielders in the galaxy, if not Starkiller? This mysterious being made an indelible imprint in the Legends timeline, leaving thousands of fans with a fascinating tale and awesome abilities. But who is this dark apprentice and what makes him so popular? The answer to those questions reveals a lot about betrayal, redemption, and sacrifice.
Being the bridge between prequels and original trilogies, Starkiller played a direct role in the creation of the Rebel Alliance. Many Star Wars fans are wondering if there is a Starkiller character and whether he is part of the official canon. This article will explain his origin, training, powers, and legacy.
The character was introduced to the fans through the video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed that came out in 2008. With Lucasfilm's decision to reclassify all Expanded Universe materials as Legends in 2014, everything changed for the character. After reading this article, you'll be able to know why Galen Marek became such an iconic figure.
What Is Starkiller's Real Name?
The true identity of Starkiller is Galen Marek, and his name is the beginning of his story and the basis of his character development throughout the Legends timeline. He was born on the planet Kashyyyk, home to the Wookies, during the period when the Empire came to power, and was the product of a union of two Force-sensitive people who survived the initial Purge through Order 66. His father, Kento Marek, was a Knight of the Jedi Order who had escaped the first Purge and was living in secrecy with his wife Mallie.
The truth about their presence was found out by Darth Vader, who brought with him stormtroopers to deal with the threat of the remaining Jedi on the planet. Vader confronted the father in a deadly lightsaber duel that ended in death, leaving his son Galen witness to the horrific event that became the foundation for his entire life. The dark lord of Sith did not kill the child, sensing his extraordinary potential as a warrior and forging him to be a secret apprentice to fight against his master.
The term "Starkiller" is used much later on as a codename symbolizing Galen's role as a deadly tool across the galaxy. Darth Vader wiped out almost all of Galen's childhood memories and created a new identity for Galen, based on darkness and loyalty. George Lucas had initially thought of using "Starkiller" as Luke Skywalker's last name during the developmental stage of this character. Darth Vader saw Galen as his final weapon against Emperor Palpatine, a silent killer that could assist him in overthrowing his boss and taking control of the galaxy.
Why Darth Vader Chose Galen Marek
Vader chose to spare Galen Marek because of his own desire to overthrow the tyrant Emperor Palpatine. As a Sith Lord, he had been serving under the orders of his master for a very long time now and desired to become the ruler of the whole galaxy. The immense power wielded by Palpatine made Vader unable to confront him alone, as he required an ally.
In accordance with the Rule of Two, the Sith Master has to be replaced with an apprentice someday in the future. According to Vader, Galen Marek was the perfect choice to take on this age-old responsibility due to the immense Force sensitivity of the boy that he had not seen for years. Since the boy was young, he could easily be molded by Vader to his liking as his years-long manipulation would instill loyalty in him.
For Vader, Galen was important not only as a weapon but also as an insurance policy against any kind of betrayal by Palpatine. The secret apprentice could give him the opportunity that his status as the servant of the Emperor had deprived him of. If the time comes when Palpatine decides to replace Vader, Galen could be an alternative to him.
The Sith Lord knew that he could use Galen's intense hatred of the Empire. By convincing him that the Jedi Order and the Empire were equally corrupt organizations, he made sure that his disciple would not raise any doubts. Such psychological pressure and harsh training gave Vader the ability to use his apprentice as a tool for any purpose.
Who Is Starkiller in Star Wars?
So who exactly was Starkiller in Star Wars? He served as a secret apprentice to Darth Vader during the dark era between the movies Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, operating completely outside the Empire's chain of command. His main duty consisted of finding Jedi who survived Order 66 and murdering them one after the other. His story can be found in the game The Force Unleashed, taking place some twenty years before the events of Episode IV. Starkiller worked completely beyond the chain of command, known only to Vader and several people around him.
Emperor Palpatine did not know about such a secret weapon at first, but he would learn the truth later during the course of the game. Starkiller feared being exposed to Palpatine constantly, which Vader used as one of his many tools to control Starkiller. His missions actually helped in laying the groundwork of what would later turn out to be the Rebel Alliance, even though the methods of Starkiller were far from harmless. Every Jedi murdered by him made his dark side powers stronger while helping Vader with his secret plans against the Emperor.
The apprentice took up this position unquestioningly for a long time, feeling like no more than a weapon to be used by his master. But doubt would come, ultimately resulting in the dramatic change of the Sith assassin into the unlikely hero. This is one of the most remarkable character development stories in the entire series of Star Wars Legends, proving that redemption can occur even in the most villainous heart through love and sacrifice. The evolution of the character from being just a mere tool into a conscious being is the main focus of the game.
Galen Marek's Early Life and Training Under Vader
Darth Vader started training Galen the moment he took him from Kashyyyk. From the first days of captivity of the child, he subjected his apprentice to unrelenting lessons in the ways of the Dark Side that made his apprentice an outstanding warrior out of constant suffering and hard practice. Lessons for his apprentice were carried out on Darth Vader's flagship, named the Executor, because the Sith Lord personally observed his apprentice's achievements. He thought that extreme circumstances create the best warriors, therefore putting his apprentice into life-threatening situations.
He never forgot to remind his apprentice of his main goal, which was to overthrow Emperor Palpatine and take over the galaxy by himself and his apprentice. This goal drove every single training lesson of his apprentice: lightsaber duels, Force manipulation, tactics. But at the same time, Darth Vader told his apprentice about the extraordinary power of Palpatine, thus teaching him the great danger of their conspiracy. Nevertheless, while they had the same goals, their relations remained distant and even cruel on the part of the Dark Lord.
Every encounter drove home the lesson that any expression of defiance or emotional vulnerability was going to be met with punishment given in full force. Galen learned that he had to block off his emotions entirely, knowing that being vulnerable only resulted in even harsher punishments and more pain. The secretive nature of his life only added another layer of psychological torture, since he could not socialize with other Imperials as normal people do. This way, he was bound to be completely dependent on his master for anything he needed, forging a connection that would be put to the test at some point.
This training, however, revolved around the combat application of Force; the philosophy was not really stressed here. Galen learned how to convert his anger and hate into deadly attacks, gaining power with every completed mission. Eventually, as an adult, he became one of the most dangerous beings in the universe, able to fight several Jedi warriors at once. But under all this cold efficiency, the traumatized boy was hidden away somewhere inside him.
Starkiller's Missions Across the Galaxy
One of Starkiller's initial missions was to hunt down Jedi Master Rahm Kota, an experienced fighter who survived the Purge due to his wits and led his personal militia army. Finding Kota in several star systems was difficult, but eventually, Starkiller caught up to the Master aboard an orbital shipyard near Nar Shaddaa. Although he was an experienced and powerful warrior, Starkiller's dark-side powers overwhelmed him, even blinding the Jedi Master in the process. Kota managed to escape, though, but it further reinforced Starkiller's image of being a powerful Jedi hunter.
Another important mission for Starkiller was the elimination of Jedi Master Shaak Ti, who survived Order 66 and went into hiding on the jungle planet Felucia. Shaak Ti dedicated her life to protecting the natives of the planet and raising her young apprentice Maris Brood, making the mission even more difficult than expected for Starkiller. He landed on the dangerous terrain of Felucia and fought through the natives of the planet before meeting his target. She felt his presence through the Force and fought fiercely, but Starkiller's brute strength eventually triumphed.
The battle with Kazdan Paratus revealed the determination of the apprentice, as he pursued another Jedi survivor residing on Raxus Prime. Paratus constructed a mechanical body, resembling a spider, for protection purposes and formed a group of droid followers, which made him quite an unpredictable adversary. Starkiller managed to overcome hazardous obstacles and break through the defenses of Paratus in order to defeat the Jedi Master for good. Every completed mission helped him to establish his reputation and become closer to the dark side, but doubts began to arise.
PROXY, a training droid designed by Vader to impersonate different kinds of opponents, accompanied Starkiller during his missions. He had to cope with Jedi, Sith, and other types of warriors in deadly simulations, which were aimed at killing him as his master. Despite the danger of such cooperation, PROXY became one of the closest companions of the apprentice, providing him with company in his loneliness.
Starkiller participated in other missions, too, where he infiltrated the Empire's operations on Imperial Raxus Prime, including infiltrating a TIE fighter factory. He also went to Cloud City, where he had to face different challenges and collect information that was crucial for his missions. Most importantly, one of his missions included infiltration of the Death Star, where Starkiller would eventually face the Emperor. These different missions highlighted his versatility as an assassin and an infiltrator.
The encounter with Maris Brood on Felucia was especially important for the story because she symbolized what could become of Starkiller, should he continue his career as an assassin and an infiltrator. She had turned to the dark side like him, and she was overwhelmed by rage and despair because her master died. This made Starkiller reflect on his future and, eventually, undermined the conditioning of Vader.
Starkiller's Relationship With Darth Vader
The connection between Starkiller and Darth Vader was the driving factor in The Force Unleashed. It was an intricate relationship based on manipulation and dependency of Starkiller on his mentor. For Galen, Vader was not only a father but also a tormenter, as he was the only one that he knew since the death of his family. That created a strange link when Starkiller constantly tried to gain some recognition from his mentor even though he suffered from abuse all the time.
Vader on the other hand manipulated him on purpose. He made sure that Starkiller felt lonely emotionally and was entirely dependent on his mentor. Vader toyed with Starkillers emotions all the time. He used to act hot anf colf towards starlkiller. This confused him alot and made him into a master pleaser. Manipulation worked well with physical abuse, making a weapon out of his apprentice that was ready to obey his masters orders blindly.
But along with the respect came fear. He saw his master’s strength with his own eyes and knew what the results of failing would be. But this fear helped him to succeed in every mission and even go beyond his abilities. But at the same time, this fear also gave birth to some hidden hatred that would later manifest itself and influence his transformation. It was becoming harder and harder for him to accept the situation of inferiority anymore because of the realization of his own potential.
The final betrayal, the one that broke their relationship, came when he found out about Vader’s plans. The young man faithfully served his master, but instead of helping him in the fight against the Emperor, Vader used him as a tool. And when his master found him no longer useful to himself, he betrayed him completely.
From Sith Assassin to Rebel Hero
The changes that happened to Starkiller began with meeting Juno Eclipse, the pilot of his personal ship known as Rogue Shadow. Juno was once an Imperial officer who started to doubt the way the Empire works. This compassionate woman softened his heart gradually, and he started to feel some emotions he had not felt before. He realized that he was just a scared kid, not a Sith assassin, and started having inner conflicts. For the first time in his life, Starkiller cared about somebody else and started doubting himself and his teachings from Vader.
Doubts grew stronger after betrayal by Vader, who showed Starkiller that he had no intention of sharing his power. Starkiller understood that all the time he had been used by Vader for his plans, and this made him lose his loyalty. He managed to survive thanks to his willpower and got a new goal.
This betrayal ended his allegiance to the dark side completely, and he promised to destroy the Empire and its tyranny. His process of redemption included contacting Senator Bail Organa and other members of the resistance movement and joining them with his abilities. However, because of his past as an assassin, he had to prove his loyalty by taking part in some risky operations. Starkiller did many difficult missions, gradually becoming the hero he should have been all along.
During this time, Starkiller's connection with Juno grew even stronger, and she provided emotional support, which made it possible for him to hold on to his new way of thinking. While others were questioning his abilities to do the right thing, she trusted in his ability to be good. This was important for his character development because now he had something more to fight for besides his revenge.
Starkiller's Powers and Lightsaber Combat
Starkiller was a very strong practitioner of the Force whose powers reached their highest levels thanks to Vader’s training. Starkiller could use telekinesis, which meant that he was able to lift very heavy objects and move them around; he pulled out a Star Destroyer from space orbit. It was easy for Starkiller to produce force lightning and use Force grip from anywhere in the universe.
He was also a very proficient user of a lightsaber. He used two lightsabers at once in an unusual reverse grip style. The fact is that Starkiller used his Force powers during fights and combined them with sword strikes. Thus, with the help of two sabers and Force powers, he attacked his opponents.
Starkiller's strength was a product of his unique sensitivity, brutal training of the Sith, and continuous fights.
Starkiller's Final Sacrifice
However, the climax of the fight between Starkiller was on the Death Star where the incomplete space station witnessed the final stand that would take the life of this character. It happened because the Emperor captured the leaders of the rebellion in their very first meeting and Starkiller, together with Vader, came to save them. In fact, the Emperor had known about the rebellion since the beginning and made Starkiller realize the situation.
That day, this man had to choose one of two things – either join the Emperor and the dark side, or die fighting against him to save the leaders of the rebellion. That is when the climax of Starkiller's life and his destiny was reached because now he had to decide what to do next and whether to become only Vader's tool or gain something more. He decided to be saved and attack the Emperor with all his strength while the Emperor used dark energies in response.
However, such efforts drained him of all the power he had left, and even his strong physique could not withstand this kind of burden. Starkiller passed out of exhaustion after warding off the attack of the Emperor and used his last seconds to help the Rebels get away. As a result of this selfless act, Senator Organa and other leaders managed to escape, thus allowing the Rebel Alliance to keep on resisting tyranny. Darth Vader took his former apprentice's body away, and this deed indicates emotions which are usually not shown by the Dark Lord.
It should be mentioned that the consequences of this battle were not limited to the battlefield itself. The Rebel Alliance received important motivation because of the sacrifice made by Starkiller, and this fact encouraged people to join them in their fight. This example shows that even the one born into the darkness can choose the light side.
Why Starkiller Isn't Canon
There was a radical shift in the canon of the Star Wars series back in 2014 when Lucasfilm decided to reclassify all of the Expanded Universe as Legends. As a result of this decision, hundreds of works along with their respective characters were excluded from the timeline of the universe. The company needed more creative freedom in order to create new stories not bound by any continuity requirements.
For many fans who grew to know and like Starkiller in various episodes, it was quite disappointing to learn that he was no longer canon. The character's storyline was among the best examples of the Extended Universe material, combining great narration with good gameplay mechanics. Nonetheless, his adventures still go on within the Legends and can be read by new readers.
Though many fans have hoped that there will be some way to bring back Starkiller, this would require drastic changes in order to fit into the new canon. It is possible that his power levels will need to be toned down, and the timeline of the Rebels' formation is also different now from what was established previously. Dave Filoni has mentioned the impact that Starkiller had on him and his animated series, and though he liked the character, he respected the canons. There are no official plans to include him again, but it cannot be denied that he influenced the franchise greatly.
The process of re-categorization of the Expanded Universe did not happen without much consideration on the part of Lucasfilm. Though they understood how important those stories were for fans, they thought that a single canon would be more convenient for their future work. Thus, it has become possible to come up with completely new characters and stories that are connected to the Legends Universe.
Could Starkiller Return to Canon?
The issue of whether Starkiller may eventually make his way back into canon has been a controversial one. At the moment, there have been no official announcements by Lucasfilm concerning the possibility of such an event. The return of the character would imply making several adjustments in order to fit the character in the new timeline, since the formation of the Rebel Alliance is different from the previous continuity.
His high power level would also become a problem for the writers of Lucasfilm. In The Force Unleashed, the character demonstrated certain abilities that were greater than those of many other Force users in canon. The appearance of this character would mean the necessity to make certain changes that would reduce his abilities, which would disappoint the fans.
Nevertheless, some fans believe that it is possible to reimagine the character instead of adapting him to the new continuity. In such a way, the company would preserve his legacy. The character would probably look considerably different from his Legends predecessor.
Why Fans Still Love Starkiller
The path from the dark side to redemption that Starkiller takes is one that touches on the common experiences of redemption and self-discovery that every person faces at some point in their life. Starkiller's story has continued to resonate and send an important message to many audiences all over the world.
The unlimited power that he possesses has been a factor that has helped in attracting players that love games involving a character who has infinite potential. It is hard to forget the moment when Starkiller plucked a Star Destroyer out of orbit. His interactions with the Juno Eclipse demonstrate the power of love to bring about a person's redemption from the darkest conditioning.
This was enhanced by the way in which players got to control his powers through the game's unique gameplay experience.
Another point of appeal for fans is the moral ambiguity of the character, which differentiates him from traditional heroes or villains who can be viewed as purely good or bad. His inner conflict shows people’s experiences of being unsure, feeling guilty, and seeking redemption. This gives him depth and makes him relatable despite his superhuman powers.
The Starkiller character often comes up in the list of the most powerful Force-users in the series. His unique look and style of fight have generated plenty of fan artwork and costumes. The merchandise with this character is still popular, meaning that Starkiller became much more than a mere video game character.
FAQs
Is Starkiller canon?
No, Starkiller exists only in Star Wars Legends. Lucasfilm reclassified all Expanded Universe materials as non-canon in 2014.
What is Starkiller's real name?
Starkiller's real name is Galen Marek. He was born on Kashyyyk to Jedi Knight Kento Marek and his wife Mallie.
Who trained Starkiller?
Darth Vader trained Starkiller as his secret apprentice. Vader discovered Galen after killing his Jedi father and raised him to be a weapon against Emperor Palpatine.
Why isn't Starkiller in the Star Wars movies?
Starkiller was created for the 2008 video game The Force Unleashed, which takes place in the Legends timeline. The movies follow official canon, where his story never occurred.
Is Starkiller the most powerful Force user?
Starkiller is among the most powerful Force users in Legends, capable of pulling a Star Destroyer from orbit. However, his power level was exaggerated for gameplay, and debates about the strongest Force user remain subjective among fans.
