Dark side of the Force / Legends The dark side of the Force , called Bogan or Boga by ancient Force - sensitives on Tython , was an aspect of the Force . Those who used the dark side were known as either Darksider s , Dark Side Adepts , or Dark Jedi when unaffiliated with a dark side organization such as the Sith . Unlike the Jedi , who were famous for using the light side of the Force , darksiders drew power from raw emotions and feelings such as anger , hatred , greed , jealousy , fear , aggression , megalomania , and unrestrained passion . Definition . The dark side was an aspect of the Force , a metaphysical power that bound the galaxy together . The first known users of the dark side were the ancient Rakata , an alien species that conquered a large portion of the galaxy around 30 , 000 BBY . These aliens were able to harness the dark side to create engineering feats unheard of in their time , such as the hyperdrive and the Star Forge . However , the Rakatan Infinite Empire eventually collapsed when the Rakatans lost their connection to the Force . In 25 , 053 BBY , long after the fall of the Infinite Empire , the galaxy was creating a new government , the Galactic Republic . Prior to the dawn of this new era , scientists , philosophers , priests , and warriors gathered on the planet Tython to discuss and investigate an anomalous energy present throughout the galaxy . The group was able to discover Ashla , what became known as the light side of the Force . Eventually however , members of the group discovered and began to advocate the use of Bogan , or what would later become known as the dark side . At first the group founded the Je ' daii Order , the predecessor to the Jedi Order . The Je ' daii Order advocated using both sides of the Force and placed heavy emphasis on maintaining balance between the two . However , during a Rakatan invasion of Tython , the effects and demands of the war forced the Je ' daii to cast aside the balance in exchange for the power of the dark side to defeat their enemies . After the Rakata had been defeated , the main Je ' daii group wanted to return to the balance . However , after seeing the horrors of the dark side – wielding Rakata , some Je ' daii wished to forbid the use of Bogan and only focus on Ashla . Meanwhile , other Je ' daii saw the dangers of the galaxy and claimed they needed Bogan to survive and defend themselves . This impasse split the order and led to a civil war . These two groups clashed on the planet in a decade - long conflict known as the Force Wars of Tython . In the aftermath of the war , the followers of Ashla developed the Jedi Order , while the followers of Bogan seemingly faded from history . The dark side did not present a significant threat again until 24 , 500 BBY during the First Great Schism of the Jedi Order . Once again , however , the followers of the dark side , including the first known Dark Jedi Lettow General Xendor , were defeated by the members of the Jedi Order . Those who followed Xendor came to be known as the Legions of Lettow , and embraced combat in place of meditation , and focused their emotions on battle rather than peace . Several members of the Jedi Order would eventually take up these teachings and embrace the dark side in 7000 BBY , sparking the Hundred - Year Darkness . Although the Dark Jedi were again defeated and eventually exiled , it was this conflict that allowed for the creation of an enduring dark side organization , as these Exiles were the predecessors to the Sith . Nature of the dark side . The difference between the dark and light sides appeared to be in how they feel to those who are aware of them . The light side at times was described as a flowing river : soothing , constant , with hidden strength . In contrast , the dark side was described as a roaring fire : obviously powerful , seductive , and potentially dangerous . Darth Revan and Darth Bane mentioned the difference between the two sides of the Force . They claimed that while the light side represented the compassion and tranquility of all beings of the galaxy , the dark side focused on individual passion and strength . They also mentioned that while the light side was about maintaining the status quo , the dark side was about change and evolution . The dark side was seen as having been used for selfish purposes , although many darksiders who were accused of such selfishness claimed that the dark side was simply a means to achieve an end . One of the most notable examples was Anakin Skywalker , a Jedi who embraced the dark side with the intentions of saving his wife after seeing her die in a vision , even at the expense of the Jedi Order . Many found the dark side to be addictive , unable to resist its pull the more they were subjected to it . Even as their physical bodies slowly decayed , Dark side users became more powerful in the Force . However , some users , like Mara Jade , noted that the use of the dark side was a practical matter , as the power it granted was more efficient when performing destructive Force powers like telekinesis . Like the light side , the dark side was often treated as a semi - sentient entity with purposeful designs . It has been theorized by some ( notably Vergere ) that there is no such thing as the dark side but only malevolent intent in the user , since most dark - side users already possessed negative intentions or else fell victim to the temptations of absolute power and domination . Darth Sidious also hinted that there was truly only one Force that was above such things as " positive and negative , black and white , good and evil . " He stated that the only difference was that the Jedi saw the Force as a power in itself , while the Sith believed it was a means to power . This theory was fervently opposed by the Jedi Master Yoda . Additionally , Darth Plagueis believed that there were distinct differences between the energies of the light and dark sides as well as distinct differences in how one drew upon each . Allure of the dark side . The Sith call it enlightenment ; however , no records explain exactly how a conversion to the dark side takes place . For some , the dark side was extremely attractive and almost impossible to reject . Every time a person in tune with the Force called on the dark side , they became more addicted to the power it brought them . The dark side ' s corrupting influence could take control of a Force user in certain moments . Although the Jedi primarily characterized the dark side as little more than a dangerous shortcut to power , those who embraced the dark side did so for various reasons . Some believed the dark side to be more generous than the light , as it provided power , strength , and determination . Many of the original Dark Jedi in the Great Schisms of the Jedi Order held this idea and believed it foolish of the Jedi to restrict themselves to a lesser interpretation of the Force . Some fell to the dark side for the sake of knowledge , such as Anakin Skywalker in his fight to discover a way to save the lives of his wife and children . Some fell to the dark side because of a natural connection with it . In some cases , Jedi who had had limited control over the light side found their power and natural talent massively stronger in the dark side . Others fell because they saw the light side and the endless rules that the Jedi demanded to maintain it as too much to follow , as well as too limiting to their influence on the galaxy . They saw the dark side and its tenets of free passion , action , and emotion as a much better alternative to a life of sterile servitude under the light . Some also converted because they felt that the dark side at least got things done , instead of the patience and pacifism of the light . Among these people were Darth Karrid , Darth Vader and Yuthura Ban . Others believed that it was a necessary evil in dire times , such as Darth Caedus and Darth Revan , while Darth Traya embraced it so she might be able to find a way to destroy the Force as a whole . She also believed that the contrast of the dark side was necessary for a lightsider to truly understand the Force . Some embraced the dark side not out of personal desire , but as a means to battle the Jedi , as Aurra Sing did . For many , like Darth Talon , Irek Ismaren , Darth Bane , Darth Nox , Vestara Khai , Starkiller , and Mara Jade , the dark side was the first side of the Force to which they were introduced and thus they did not succumb to it . Often the call of the dark side was felt following a personal tragedy , as Shaela Nuur , Obi - Wan Kenobi , and Anakin Skywalker experienced following the death of loved ones . Others turned to it in times of need or distress , such as Exar Kun , Darth Krayt , and Komari Vosa . In addition , it was possible to be drawn to the dark side by proximity to a nexus of dark side energy , such as Malachor V or the Valley of the Dark Lords on Korriban . Though their pasts and situations were varied , almost all who turned to the dark side did so because they faced challenges and difficulties that they felt the light side was incapable of helping them overcome . The changes these individuals underwent that led them to the dark side were clearly a result of their life experiences up to that point , and their willingness or unwillingness to resist the emotive forces that pulled one over the threshold of its allure and power . Among the most powerful of those emotive forces — which lightsiders were ever cautioned to " resist " and darksiders were ever admonished to " embrace " — are fear and anger , for both can lead to hate , which , as Yoda was quick to caution , ever lies only a stepping - stone away from the realm of the dark side . Fear was most often the starting point in a slide to the dark side — for , like a plague , it could quickly and rampantly affect individuals , groups , entire populations of cities , and even planets ; and like a stream that becomes a raging river , it led naturally to anger , chaos , and unbridled power , if left unabated . When fear was thus allowed to fester and go unchecked , it could take hold and create a concentration of dark side energy that bordered on being something that approached a vergence or nexus in the Force . Those who were Force - sensitive could , often with great facility , detect such concentrations . Such detection occurred , for example , by a young Anakin Skywalker and his Master Obi - Wan Kenobi when they arrived on the planet Radnor : " " Anakin reached out to the Force to feel what he could about the mission ahead . He exchanged a glance with Obi - Wan . The Force was dark here . Fear had gripped the population of both cities — and with fear came desperation , anger , and chaos " . " Corruption of the dark side . The dark side , much like a strong , addictive narcotic , affected not only the mind of the user but the appearance as well . As one immersed oneself deeper within the dark side of the Force , its malevolent power took a toll on the body . Darth Bane explained that the reason for this physical degradation was because flesh and bone lacked the endurance to channel the immense power of the dark side indefinitely . Revan also explained that while the light side and Jedi teachings were devoted to preventing physical change through the Force , the dark side changes had to be accepted by the Sith , or they would fail due to their attempts at moderation . Many darksiders experienced a change in the pigmentation of their eyes , as their normal eye color would transform into luminous , sulfuric yellow , a blood red or dark orange , usually with fiery red rims around the irises . Further transformations could also occur could also turn the white of the eyes black or reddish in color , as well as the skin around the eyes . The most severe transformations would cause the darksider to appear to be aging rapidly , as the skin would lose pigmentation , becoming pale and mottled while veins became increasingly visible and hair would lose color . At some point , the user ' s voice could also be altered , becoming a few pitches lower and raspier . The effects generally progressed over time and immersion in the dark side , and would not immediately affect one ' s appearance . Darth Tyranus and Galen Marek , for example , did not suffer any of the physical degeneration of the dark side , and their eyes only assumed the yellow hue during moments of anger . Luke Skywalker suffered none of these effects during his brief bout of intense anger that allowed him to disarm Darth Vader , nor did Kyle Katarn during either of the times that he was ( at least partially ) driven by the dark side against Jerec and later Desann . In contrast , Teneniel Djo , after calling on the dark side to kill a Nightsister in the Battle of Dathomir , instantly acquired a burst blood vessel in her face , something common to the Nightsisters . Of those that embraced the dark side , different individuals would experience different symptoms : Darth Malak , for example , experienced a change in eye color and acquired a slight pallor , but no other effects that could be explained naturally ( although he required a vocabulator after his jaw was severed ) . Only those that devoted almost all of their being to the dark side , such as Darth Sidious , would have their appearance radically altered . It should be noted that Sidious ' s most drastic physical alterations occurred during the lightsaber duel with Jedi Master Mace Windu ; Windu using his own lightsaber to deflect Sidious ' s Force lightning caused the uncontrolled energy to radically alter Sidious ' s physical features . Darth Caedus had his eyes change hue , but after a year of using the dark side , nothing else had occurred . In time , the corruption could go beyond mere cosmetic details and directly impair physical abilities . King Ommin of Onderon was a proficient Sith sorcerer for most of his life , and the dark side held him under its decaying influence until he eventually became incapable of movement and needed support from a cyborg exoskeleton in order to survive . Another extreme case of dark side corruption was Darth Zash , whose extensive study of the dark side led to immense physical degradation and eventually a fatal terminal condition . The worst case of this transformation would be Darth Nihilus , who was completely consumed by the dark side both mentally and physically . Eventually , he became an aberration of the dark side that existed only to consume life . The dark side could have an even greater effect on the mind , as the user often stopped trusting people and become quick to anger . Following Anakin Skywalker ' s transformation into Darth Vader , he believed his wife was plotting to kill him with Obi - Wan Kenobi . His paranoia and anger lead him to strangle her through the Force . Continued immersion in the dark side could even result in insanity , as in the case of Dark Jedi Boc Aseca , Alema Rar , and Joruus C ' baoth . It should be noted however , that the individuals who went insane were all disturbed or traumatized even before their conversion , and the dark side simply exacerbated their conditions . It was possible for these corrupting powers to be potent enough to affect those who were simply near a nexus of dark side energy . Colonel Tobin of Onderon , a man who had no known sensitivity to the Force , was so affected by the presence of Darth Nihilus and the " Ravager " that he fell into madness and exhibited the appearance of one who had immersed themselves in the dark side . While the dark side could destroy a body , it was also capable of sustaining one . The hateful , passionate , determined energies of the dark side were so powerful that it could prevent death for a body that was far past the point of death for a normal being . King Adas of Korriban survived for almost three centuries . Darth Sion , who suffered grievously in the Great Sith War and the Jedi Civil War had the appearance of a walking corpse . His flesh was " cracked and scarred " and he had " several thousand fractures in his skeleton , " according to a Republic medical officer . He survived through the power of hate , according to Darth Traya , and called upon the dark side to make him near - immortal . After Darth Maul was cut in half by Obi - Wan Kenobi on Naboo and fell down a reactor shaft , he should have died . However his rage and desire for revenge fueled the dark side to keep himself alive , to the point when he returned twelve years later . However this severe use of the dark side might have caused his descent into insanity . Darth Vader had his legs and arms amputated shortly before having his lungs seared as he was burned alive on Mustafar . His life was saved only after intervention by his master , Darth Sidious , and his dark side healing abilities . After his transformation into a cyborg , Vader called heavily upon the dark side to marginalize his wounds so he could again be self - sufficient . Fear of the dark side . As the dark side was often associated with darker emotions , darksiders were portrayed to the galaxy as savage and evil . The Jedi Order disagreed so strongly with the purpose of the dark side of the Force that they distanced themselves from anything possibly related to the dark side . They also made it part of their mission to neutralize any and all practitioners of the dark side by whatever means necessary , though killing them was usually a last resort . After the Ruusan Reformation , the order placed many limitations on Jedi to protect order members from temptation by dark side influences . For the most part , the Jedi Order forbade members romantic attachments , relationships with their families , and any type of action based on anger . These limits came from the belief that those Jedi who had deep personal attachments with loved ones also had motivation to use the power of the Force selfishly for protection , personal enrichment , or the pursuit of more power . Anakin Skywalker fell to the dark side in large part because then - Chancellor Palpatine knew of his secret marriage to Padmé Amidala , and he was able to prey upon that vulnerable emotional connection . Many — especially those who had embraced the dark side — believed this to be a result of fear . Often those who held this belief looked down upon the Jedi and other lightsiders , criticizing them for cowardice and inaction . Many Sith and even a few Jedi mocked the Jedi Order for claiming to strive to understand the Force while refusing to study everything it had to offer . They claimed that the Jedi scrutinized a single layer of the Force , while they dug beneath layer after layer , understanding and evolving . Many Sith Lords have expressed this viewpoint . Darth Malgus claimed that the Jedi refused to accept that the Force encouraged conflict , allowing those who survive to understand it better . Darth Sidious claimed that the Sith embraced all aspects of the Force , not just " the dogmatic view of the Jedi . " And Darth Nox stated that the thing that united the Sith was that they " did not repress their emotions , and they embraced everything that the Force allowed . " As the dark side was often associated with infamous historical figures , such as Exar Kun , Darth Revan , and Darth Sidious , it is unsurprising that many throughout the galaxy would harbor such animosity to its users . Many expletives were also associated with the dark side , including " By the Dark Side ! , " " Chaos take me ! , " " Holy Sith ! , " " Sith Blood / Spit ! , " and " Minions of Xendor ! " Death of dark side users . Certain dark side users , upon being killed , would explode in a blast of blue energy . Darth Sidious exploded in this way in 4 ABY after being thrown down a reactor core shaft in the second Death Star by a redeemed Anakin Skywalker . In 9 ABY , Joruus C ' baoth also exploded in a blast of blue energy after being stabbed by Mara Jade ' s lightsaber . Darth Nihilus and Dark Jedi Jerec did not explode , but rather dissolved into dark side energy upon their death , leaving no remains of their bodies . It remains a mystery why these individuals died in this manner while other dark side users , such as Darth Tyranus , did not . Mysteriously , when Shaak Ti was struck down by Galen Marek and thrown into the mouth of a giant sarlacc , she died in a way similar to the explosions mentioned above , but was in no way a dark side user . The reason her death occurred in the manner it did has yet to be clarified . It may be that this occurred when a more powerful Force - user was killed and thus Force " side " affiliation may be irrelevant . The Four Stages of the dark side . The Four Stages of the Dark Side was a thesis presented by the Jedi Master Tolaris Shim that outlined her beliefs on what constitutes a complete fall to the dark side . Based on the events surrounding the fall of Ulic Qel - Droma , Master Shim studied deep into the histories of those Jedi whose personal motivations drove them to the dark side for one reason or another . Sometime shortly after the end of the Great Sith War , Master Shim presented her findings to the Jedi assembly . These findings would be the standard by which Masters identified the signs of one ' s potential corruption by the dark side . Stage 1 : Temptation . Tolaris Shim believed that because a Jedi was in tune with the Force and could use it to whatever ends they saw fit , situations would arise that tempted the Jedi toward selfish applications of the Force . Rushing to help friends , facing obvious perils , and ending disputes quickly were all acts of haste that according to Master Shim would result in steps onto the dark path should the individual act first and contemplate later . Knights like the charismatic Exar Kun were less " honor - bound . " Intrigued with tales of the dark side told by Master Vodo - Siosk Baas , Kun was easily seduced by what he perceived as unrestrained power — power that was his for the taking . Stage 2 : Imperilment . According to Master Shim , a hasty , indecisive Jedi can be quite a catastrophe to themselves . Also , any Jedi who believes that a " shortcut " through the path of the dark side will be lined with signs redirecting him back toward the light is only deluding himself . Shim felt that a Jedi cannot be blinded by the idea of doing what they perceive to be right , by any means necessary . She also believed that if one accepts the darkness by which they are surrounded as a means to power , then the next stage has no bearing on their concerns . Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker was conflicted in this manner . To save his wife from impending death , Skywalker believed that he could do so through the power of the dark side , while remaining uncorrupted by it . Because he accepted the dark side as the power necessary to bring about good , he was completely given over to it . He too , like Exar Kun and Ulic Qel - Droma before him , succumbed fully to the power of the dark side , yet as Darth Vader , Anakin did not realize that he may have had to turn in order to bring balance to the Force . Stage 3 : Submission . Master Shim believed that once a Jedi accepts the dark path , the end justifying the means becomes irrelevant . Situations like attempting to destroy the Sith through infiltration , or trying to save loved ones from death have caused several famous Jedi to explain away their actions based on the desired outcomes . At this point , their fall to the dark side is nearly complete . On occasion , Jedi who wander away from the light suddenly become aware of their poor decisions . According to Master Shim , these Jedi are not so far beyond redemption . Jedi Master Atris , having succumbed to the dark side influence of Sith holocrons in her possession , was restored to the light following a fierce confrontation with the Jedi Exile . Some Jedi , such as Exar Kun , found the power of the dark side intoxicating and so fully surrendered themselves to it . To Master Shim , these individuals are no longer orthodox Jedi but twisted perversions of their former selves . It is then the responsibility of the Jedi to either bring the dissenter back into the fold , or eliminate them . Stage 4 : Redemption / Atonement . Tolaris believed that a Jedi who is only slightly tainted by the dark side could atone for their actions through meditation , reflection , and absolution . She also believed that a Dark Jedi was beyond atonement , and therefore only eligible for redemption . According to Master Shim , a redeemed Jedi is one who has performed a selfless act of heroism without using the dark side to obtain results . Such acts include saving the life of another through completely selfless action ( such as Darth Vader saving his son from death by destroying Emperor Palpatine ) , or helping to right a wrong one has helped to create ( such as Ulic Qel - Droma assisting in the defeat of Exar Kun ) . This happens from time to time , but on many occasions Dark Jedi were beyond redemption , some outright refusing to be returned to the light side . To this effect Master Shim noted that a Dark Jedi who does not want to relinquish his powers cannot be saved . While pondering the ideas behind Master Shim ' s dissertation , Tionne Solusar was interested in how Tolaris would view certain Jedi of more recent times , Jedi who were corrupted , restored , and believed redeemed by their colleagues . Tionne provided an account of the dark side journeys of Anakin Skywalker , Luke Skywalker , and Kyp Durron , but Tolaris ' interactive holorecording passed the same judgments on all three : that any Jedi who kills innocents while under the influence of the dark side cannot be redeemed . Manifestations of the dark side . The dark side was known to manifest itself in many different ways , even in the absence of life , which was the supposed source of the Force . Locations where the dark side ran strong were sometimes called dark side nexuses , and could be the result of many different occurrences . These locations were so potent that they could imbue nearby objects with a dark side aura . The Valley of the Dark Lords on Korriban became a nexus of dark side power as a result of the long - term presence of the Sith , as well as their lingering spirits . The tombs within the Valley were especially saturated with dark side energy , causing the relics within to have a permanent dark side aura . Within these tombs , as well as Freedon Nadd ' s on Dxun , the dark side was known to coagulate into visible pools of energy . These pools would tempt passersby to bathe in the dark energies , pulling them closer to the dark side . Other dark side nexuses include the planet Vjun , which was the result of horrors attributed to the widespread insanity that gripped the planet in 29 BBY . After research into Midi - chlorian manipulation resulted in their madness , the populace of Vjun proceeded to slaughter one another , tainting the planet . Byss became a dark side nexus due to the presence of the clones of Darth Sidious and his alchemical experimentations . Jedi Master Yoda used the Dark Side Cave on Dagobah to test Luke Skywalker , as the dark energies would produce visions of possible dark futures . The dark side could also center itself around people and objects . The Sith Lord Darth Sidious was so powerful in the dark side that a nexus of darkness followed him wherever he went . Darth Vader was also known to exude a similar aura . Indeed this was true for many Dark Lords , such as Darth Malak , whose dark energy was felt by Bastila Shan as he approached the " Leviathan " . Sith artifacts carried with them potent dark power as well , such as Sith holocrons and the Scepter of Ragnos . Wounds in the Force . A wound in the Force was the result of a massive and sudden loss of life . As the Force is derived from life , it would become traumatized and wounded , affecting the places and people involved . The wound would never heal , and always hunger for life to fill the hole where life once existed . Such wounds could cause great harm to any life that came in contact , corrupting it or devouring it . Proximity to these wounds could often cause a rapid fall to the dark side or worse . Well - known Force wounds included Malachor V , the Jedi Exile , and Darth Nihilus . Malachor V was once an agricultural world in the possession of the old Sith Empire . During the Mandalorian Wars , Jedi General Revan massed his fleet of Republic warships over the planet , which was a taboo world for the Mandalorians . Unable to resist battle , the Mandalorian fleet attacked , and fought savagely . However , the Jedi General in charge of the Mass Shadow Generator , a superweapon designed by Bao - Dur , gave the order to activate it , crushing both fleets in the gravitational forces of the planet , and sending thousands of vessels crashing into the surface of the planet . The world ' s crust shattered , leaving a dead planetoid floating in space , surrounded by wreckage . The same Jedi General , unable to bear experiencing thousands of deaths through the Force — deaths that she caused — shut herself off from the Force , and thus created a wound within herself . When later standing trial before the Jedi Council , the Masters would comment on how empty she felt , as if they were staring into the death of the Force . Darth Nihilus , yet another product of Malachor , would become such a powerful wound that the dark side would completely devour his mind and body . He would roam the galaxy , hunting Jedi and other Force - sensitives to feed on . He was able to wipe all life off the planet of Katarr , and cause anyone near him to be slowly drained of life . His constant pursuit of Force - sensitives to consume earned him the title " Lord of Hunger . " Force wounds like Malachor V could also be used to break the will of Jedi , corrupting them and turning them to the dark side . Revan ' s widespread use of this technique was one of the primary reasons he was able to amass such an enormous army of dark siders so quickly , as virtually all of them were former Jedi that he had corrupted . Strength of the dark side . A common point of debate among Jedi and their dark counterparts was the strength that laid behind the dark side . A major claim of darksiders was that the stronger , darker emotions that fueled their power also lent them an edge over other Force users . The Jedi , and other groups who held to the light often claimed that the dark side was a shortcut to power , but also to suffering and destruction . It is true that many darksiders noticeably advanced in their command of the Force following their conversion , like Darth Caedus . Many were in fact capable of incredible feats of destruction , such as causing stars to go supernova , the Devastation of Katarr and Force storms , powers that seemed incomprehensible for a single being to wield . The Sith often claimed that the Jedi were weak and foolish for not tapping into the dark side , which they considered to be the stronger side of the Force . While the dark side did provide for a more visual display of power , such as Force Storms , the Jedi were capable of the same amount of power , but could not apply it in such terrible , destructive ways . However , these powers came with a price . Abilities such as Force storm and the unique variant of Force drain employed by Darth Nihilus required extraordinary immersion in the dark side , and the practitioners of such dark powers invariably suffered terrible physical degradation . Darth Sidious for example aged very poorly as the dark side consumed him from within . When Sidious returned from his death at the hands of Anakin Skywalker , his power in the dark side was seen to be so potent that the cloned bodies he inhabited were quickly consumed by the simple act of housing Sidious ' s spirit . His incredible power , combined with the fact that the clones were not as suitable for housing his essence as his original body had been , meant he had to transfer his spirit into fresh clones very frequently . Darth Nihilus presented what was perhaps the most extreme example of this issue . As his power grew , he became so consumed by the dark side that his physical form was eventually destroyed , forcing him to encase his spirit in his armor . Conversely , while the dark side could provide its practitioners with destructive capabilities beyond that of light side practitioners , it fell short of the light side when it came to biologically sustainable healing . While the dark side could be used to improve one ' s vitality and repair one ' s body as the light side could , the results of utilizing the dark side in such a manner were almost always temporary . Nearly all dark side based healing based powers worked only so long as the practitioner actively channeled the dark side , and whatever malady the power was meant to treat often returned in full force the moment they ceased to do so . Darth Bane ' s and Darth Vader ' s use of dark side healing abilities present a few good examples . In Bane ' s case , while he was at one point able to hold off the effects of a deadly poison by strengthening himself through the pain and suffering of others , he still required the assistance of the healer Caleb to actually cure himself . Vader was capable of using the dark side to heal the necrotic and useless tissue of his lungs to the point where he could operate in standard atmospheric conditions , but he had to maintain intense concentration on the dark side to do so . If his hate abated or his concentration slipped , his lungs returned to their injured state . The case of Darth Sion presents the most extreme usage of this power , with both it ' s greatest strengths and weaknesses showcased perfectly . Sion was capable of using the dark side to hold his broken , clinically dead body together by feeding off the extreme pain that such an existence constantly caused him . This pain fueled his rage , and as such his strength in the dark side , which permitted him to hold his body together through increasingly violent traumas . If near to a dark side nexus like Malachor V , he became essentially unstoppable . However , the instant he was convinced to let go of his hate and anger by Meetra Surik , his body gave out and he died . The light side , on the other hand , could provide accelerated healing in a permanent , biologically sustainable fashion . However , there are a few dark side practitioners who have demonstrated the ability to heal themselves in a more permanent fashion . Count Dooku , for instance , was able to purge his body of a deadly biological weapon during a negotiation with Jango Fett after the latter attempted to use it to extort him . Darth Plagueis was able to use his midichlorian manipulation technique to permanently regenerate nearly all of the wounds he sustained at the hands of Maladian assassins , even decades after the incident . However , Plagueis was the only known user of this ability , which did not use the energies of the dark side to directly heal the subject in any case . Additionally , it is not known whether Dooku utilized the dark side specifically to heal himself , or if he drew on his Jedi knowledge to do so . It was also noted by Jedi Master Yoda that the dark side was quick to aid a Force - user in combat , often to great effect . Asajj Ventress , a young Dark Jedi , was able to fend off three Jedi , kill one , and pull another to the dark side during the Deception on Ruul . During her rescue of Viceroy Nute Gunray from Republic custody , Ventress was able to kill numerous clone troopers , cripple the " Tranquility " , and escape both Luminara Unduli and Ahsoka Tano . Darth Sidious called upon the dark side and was able to quickly slay three Jedi Council members and persuade Anakin Skywalker to assist him in killing the fourth . Skywalker himself , as Darth Vader , was able to kill many Jedi single - handedly during and the subsequent Great Jedi Purge . Luke Skywalker utilized the power of the dark side to defeat Darth Vader during their final duel , drawing on his rage to bolster his combat effectiveness for a short time . Jacen Solo , after his transformation into Darth Caedus , proved able to essentially stalemate Grand Master Luke Skywalker during a lightsaber duel , despite Skywalker ' s overwhelming power in the Force . The combat prowess exhibited by these individuals may have been the result of a lack of moral restrictions darksiders placed on themselves . When in battle , however , the dark side itself lent to their ferocity and determination . One weakness that apparently lay in the dark side , which could be seen as giving the Jedi the upper hand , was the strife inescapably associated with it . The Sith Lords could never ultimately destroy their foes because they were bound to , sooner or later , turn upon each other , with each one constantly striving for more power at the expense of others , and seeking to dominate everything around him . This flaw became particularly pronounced if there was no reigning Dark Lord to keep the lesser ones in check . The Rule of Two , introduced by Darth Bane , drastically limited the number of true Sith in an attempt to turn this weakness into a strength . However , this too caused problems due to two possibilities it failed to make note of : First , Bane never accounted for the possibility of a failed apprentice ' s training taking up most of the master ' s lifespan , precluding the training of a new pupil . Bane himself scrambled to attain immortality and buy more time to train another apprentice when he believed Darth Zannah to be a failure . In this case , Bane ' s fears were unfounded , as she successfully killed him shortly thereafter , though it did highlight this primary problem with the Rule of Two . As demonstrated by Darth Tenebrous , a Sith Master of Bane ' s Order could circumvent this problem by concurrently training two apprentices in secret , though this was rarely done . Secondly , the possibility of one of the two Sith Lords converting to the light side and killing the other was never considered . This was seen in the life of Darth Gravid , who turned to the light side and destroyed several Sith artifacts and treasures before his apprentice killed him . This particular problem also brought an end to the original incarnation of the Order of the Sith Lords when Darth Vader renounced the dark side and killed his Master , Darth Sidious . An additional flaw with the Rule of Two was that Bane created it in the hopes that each Sith Master would be forced to kill their master to claim the title . Bane hoped this would ensure that each generation of Sith was stronger then the last . However the rule was flawed in that many Sith apprentices killed their master ' s through trickery or ambush , rather than a direct challenge . Also unlike previous Dark Lords , who fought hundreds of potential rivals for their power . The Rule of Two made it so that each Dark Lord claimed the title simply because they were the only candidate . For these reasons , the Rule of Two was abolished by the One Sith . Another fatal weakness that has been repeatedly illustrated in the dark side is a lack of focus that seems to stem from a reliance on emotions such as pride , anger , and fear , which heighten powers but also lead to clouded judgment . This issue often leads to darksiders being brought low by their hubris , even in situations where victory would otherwise seem assured . For example , Obi - Wan Kenobi defeated both Darth Maul and Darth Vader , despite the fact that he was the less viable combatant in both situations . Darth Malak was similarly defeated by Revan during their final duel despite drawing on the massive dark power of the Star Forge ( though Revan may have simply been more powerful than Malak even when taking the Star Forge ' s energies into account ) . Count Dooku felt threatened by Anakin Skywalker and allowed his pride to blind him to Skywalker ' s true power , leading to Dooku ' s demise . As such , it would seem that the dark side may offer it ' s adherents a more tangible sort of power : one that is direct and physical , while the light side provides a more subtle kind of power , that of focus and understanding . To their detriment , the power of the light side is one which darksiders often fail to understand and tend to underestimate . However , this weakness was not absolute , and it was indeed possible to wield the dark side without succumbing to one ' s own pride or rage . In a manuscript entitled " The Book of Anger " , Darth Sidious stated that while he believed that anger was the most potent catalyst for drawing on the destructive energies of the dark side , he realized that it could impair one ' s judgment . As such , he cautioned that keeping one ' s anger under control was vital to mastering the dark side , emphasizing that a strong will and high levels of intelligence were needed to exercise this control . In keeping with this sort of philosophy , advanced practitioners of the dark side could , even in the heat of combat , keep their emotions in check as their Jedi counterparts could . Darth Vader was a prime example of a darksider with this capability . It also should be noted that the training methods of darksiders were often brutal , as exemplified by the Sith . One common result of this tendency was that the weaker darksiders often died before ever getting the chance to fight a Jedi , which may help to explain their high success rate against Jedi – more weak Jedi survived their training to fight the strongest of the Sith . Despite this disparity , the followers of the light proved victorious in the majority of large scale conflicts with dark side adherents . This trend was due almost exclusively due to the infighting that inevitably occurred between the various darksiders during said conflicts . However the Jedi were not always victorious in their war against the Sith . A number of times the Jedi Order has been defeated in galactic conflict , such as the Great Galactic War against the reconstituted Sith Empire . Also the Jedi Order and the Republic has been brought to the brink of destruction on at least three occasions , such as the Jedi Civil War aftermath , the Jedi Purge of Palpatine and later of Darth Krayt . Dark side powers . Those who wielded the dark side found many abilities of the Force easier to use , with some Force powers available only to Dark Jedi . Light - side Jedi could use some dark - side abilities , but most preferred not to since dark - side abilities had aggressive , destructive , or perversely manipulative tendencies . Luke Skywalker , for example , used Force Choke at Jabba ' s Palace , which was almost unheard of for a Jedi to use , unless unarmed . Luke was also known to use Force lightning , one of the dark side ' s most iconic abilities . Powers commonly associated with the dark side of the Force are : Powers of the Sith . As the Sith were a cult not only devoted to the dark side , but the accumulation of power by way of the dark side , many dark - side powers were known exclusively to them . Their ancient and infamous practices of Sith alchemy allowed for the creation of monsters and other terrors , while Sith magic focused more on mental manipulations and physical manifestations of the dark side . Sith Alchemy was the source of monsters and other creatures that terrorized the galaxy for millennia . Pioneered by some of the first Dark Jedi to leave the Jedi Order , such as XoXaan , Karness Muur , and Ajunta Pall , Sith Alchemy resulted in the creation of the Behemoth from the World Below , Leviathan monsters , battle hydra s , rakghoul s , and Sith war behemoth s . This ancient knowledge was later used to create the Technobeast , monsters that brought Belia Darzu to fame and characterized the Sictis Wars . Exar Kun was also a master of this power , using it to mutate the remaining Massassi warriors on Yavin 4 and create the terentatek . Thousands of years later , Darth Plagueis mastered this ability and was able to create life . His apprentice , Darth Sidious , was also extremely proficient in Sith Alchemy , creating the Chrysalide and authoring " The Creation of Monsters " , the third manuscript of the " Dark Side Compendium " . Sith Magic was used throughout the ages as a way to manipulate and intimidate opponents . Unlike regular Force powers , Sith Magic required incantations , rituals , or specific hand gestures , and the individual powers were referred to as " spells . " These spells were often employed to create illusions , used to confuse or attack an enemy . Aleema Keto was extremely capable in this aspect , and used it to create an entire herd of space grazer s to attack a Republic fleet at Koros Major . Zannah was also a practitioner of Sith Magic , and often summoned her victims ' worst fears to torture them . Sith magic also involved the use of amulets and talismans to enhance the power of the caster . Sith magic may have been involved in the creation of the Muur Talisman , which housed the spirit of Karness Muur for many millennia . This magic also aided in the summoning of ancient dark - side spirits , such as Freedon Nadd ' s ghost . Dark side organizations . Dark Jedi . The oldest dark side cult , Dark Jedi were considered dangerous heretics by the orthodox Jedi of the time for giving in to the dark side of the Force . However , the earliest Dark Jedi left the order not out of a desire for power , but because they believed that the Jedi Code was too limiting in its tenets . The earliest of these individuals organized themselves into the Legions of Lettow , formed by ex - Jedi Xendor . The Legions were exterminated by the Jedi Order 500 years after the formation of the Republic . Millennia later , the Dark Jedi arose again to fight the order in the Hundred - Year Darkness , armed with alchemic knowledge this time . The conflict ensued for a full century , resulting in the last of them becoming exiles of the Holy Order . A second resurgence occurred when a gang of Dark Jedi attempted to gain control of an ancient superweapon called the Cosmic Turbine . The incident resulted in the destruction of the Vultar system . During the Jedi Civil War , Dark Jedi joined Revan ' s empire as Sith - in - training . Throughout the post - Ruusan galaxy , Dark Jedi continued to be a problem , some trying to claim themselves as Sith , though they were merely pretenders seeking greater power . The true Sith made their presence known hundreds of years later , though the pretenders continued their claims . A group of Dark Jedi , called the Dark Acolyte s , served the Order of the Sith Lords during the Clone Wars as a counter to the Jedi Order . An amalgamation of Dark Jedi , called the Dark Side Adepts , served the same Sith Order as the replacement of the Jedi during the reign of the Galactic Empire . Dark Jedi would later serve Lumiya ' s Sith in Lord Caedus ' s takeover of the Galactic Alliance . During the Galactic Empire ' s era , a group of Darksiders from Byss , loyal to the Empire , intended to integrate their Guard ' s ranks . The Sith . The most infamous dark side cult , the Sith were a sect of Force - sensitives bent upon the destruction of the Jedi and domination of the galaxy . Originally a species native to the planet Korriban , the cult was formed from the Dark Jedi survivors of the Hundred - Year Darkness . Following their exile from known space , these Dark Jedi landed upon the uncharted world and were worshiped by the Sith species for their powers and " magic . " They were proclaimed the Lords of the Sith , and established an expanding Empire . The Empire would eventually fall but the Sith religion would survive , taking on numerous forms over the years . These included the Sith Triumvirate , the Order of the Sith Lords , and the One Sith . The Sith were also seen as the masters of the dark side , and the pinnacle of dark - side power . They perfected the art of dark - side mutations , allowing for the use of Sith alchemy and other Sith magic . The leader of the cult , the Dark Lord of the Sith , was considered the embodiment of the dark side itself , and all power of the dark side would flow from them . With such great influence , the Sith religion inspired many cults that weren ' t technically part of the Sith Order , nor were they composed of actual Sith . Instead , they were founded and made up of Sith devotees and other Force - sensitives dedicated to prolonging the teachings and the memory of the Sith . Such cults included the Naddist s , the Disciples of Ragnos , Revanites , and the Krath , all of whom sought the annihilation of the Jedi and the rise of the Sith to ultimate domination over the entire galaxy . Infinite Empire . The Infinite Empire , established by the Rakata of Lehon , was the earliest known galactic government . The Rakata were finally able to traverse the galaxy following their invention of the hyperdrive , which utilized the power of the Force . When exploring the stars , they came across several more primitive species , and saw this as an opportunity for domination rather than galactic cooperation . The Rakata conquered many planets and enslaved their native species , including the Duros , Kumumgah , Selkath , Wookiees and Humans . Their influence and reach seemed infinite and their temples could be found on planets such as Honoghr all the way into the Clone Wars . They taught the Sith King Adas to create holocrons and attempted to usurp his control of the planet Korriban . Although they were driven off - world , the battle resulted in the death of Adas , who had once seemed invincible . The Rakata also had great influence on the natural history of the galaxy , being the cause of the Wroshyr Trees and other massive flora on Kashyyyk , as well as the Tusken Raiders and Jawas of Tatooine ( their violent response to the Kumumgah rebellion caused a deviation of the species and the transformation of Tatooine into a desert world ) . At the pinnacle of their power , the Rakata created the Star Forge , a massive space station - factory that fed off the power of the dark side and churned out fleets of warships and war droids . The Star Forge further corrupted its builders and the Empire began to fracture , straining from huge slave revolts and a plague that killed only the Rakata . Soon the plague robbed them of their sensitivity to the Force and the Infinite Empire crumbled . After retreating to their homeworld , their relics were left throughout the galaxy for a future conqueror to find . Prophets of the Dark Side . The Prophets of the Dark Side were the leaders and clergymen of the Dark Force religion , which was founded by renegade Sith Lord Darth Millennial on Dromund Kaas . Headquartered in the Dark Force Temple on Dromund Kaas , the Prophets searched deep into the dark side of the Force in order to divine future events . The group was discovered by Palpatine before the Clone Wars and made subservient to him and his future Empire . The Sith Lord installed Kadann as Supreme Prophet , and titled his new servants as the Emperor ' s Mages . The group became extremely influential following the rise of the Galactic Empire and served as close advisors to Palpatine . However , the Prophets splintered as a result of their closeness to Palpatine , with some remaining loyal to him and the Empire and others joining Kadann on Bosthirda . The schism occurred after Palpatine dismissed Kadann ' s visions of the Battle of Endor and the Emperor , along with Imperial Intelligence and several renegade Prophets , created the propaganda religion , the Church of the Dark Side , in direct response . Following Palpatine ' s death at Endor , former Emperor ' s Hand Lumiya became the Dark Lady of the Sith . She , along with her apprentice , Carnor Jax wished to eliminate the remaining Prophets , and sent Azrakel to slaughter them on Bosthirda . Bando Gora . The Bando Gora were a cult of dark - side worshippers who terrorized the Outer Rim Territories in the time around the Battle of Naboo . Eventually they launched an onslaught against the planet Baltizaar , and were on the verge of victory when the Republic requested aid from the Jedi . A task force soon arrived on planet , but the Jedi mission was ultimately a failure . During the fighting two Jedi were killed and the Bando Gora was able to capture three Jedi as prisoners of war . One of the hostages was Komari Vosa , the Padawan of Jedi Master Dooku who had just been passed over for knighthood . Already on the dark path following her rejection , Vosa succumbed to the dark side during her torture in captivity . She was able to free herself and kill her captors and fellow Jedi captives , gaining control of the Bando Gora . Making her headquarters on the graveyard moon of Kohlma , Vosa set into action a plan for galactic domination . She would use one of the galaxy ' s most popular narcotics , death sticks , to brainwash beings into devotion to the cult . Unfortunately for Vosa , the Bando Gora caught the attention of Darth Sidious , who saw the cult as a threat to " his " plan for galactic domination . His apprentice , Darth Tyranus , the new identity of Vosa ' s former master , put a bounty on her head . The bounty hunter Jango Fett was able to defeat Vosa and destroy the Bando Gora , thus proving himself worthy to be the Prime clone of the Grand Army of the Republic . Nightsisters . The Witches of Dathomir were Force - sensitive women who organized themselves into clans on the planet Dathomir . Although there were many different clans with different rules and laws , all of the laws forbade the use of the dark side . Those who utilized the dark side of the Force were banished from their clans , sent into exile in the wilds of Dathomir . In the waning days of the Old Republic , two exiles , Gethzerion and Baritha began to gather other outcasts to form a new clan of Witches devoted to the dark side . This new clan would come to be known as the Nightsisters , a feared sect of female warriors and sorceresses . Nightsisters in the galaxy were rare , as it was unlikely for any to obtain passage off Dathomir ; however , it was not unheard of . Mighella served Black Sun Vigo Alexi Garyn as a bodyguard , Charal was able to make her way to Endor , and several sisters allied themselves with the CIS during the Clone Wars . During the reign of the Empire , Gethzerion allied herself with Palpatine , hoping to attain transport off Dathomir . Palpatine , fearing her power , wouldn ' t allow her or any other Nightsisters to escape the planet , and so began to imprison the witches and quarantine the planet . Although many escaped their prisons , none were able to escape the planet following the blockade . Gethzerion later tried to broker a deal with Imperial Warlord Zsinj , but he double - crossed her , resulting in the destruction of the clan . This would not be the end of the Nightsisters , however , as Tamith Kai would recreate the group around 23 ABY . Many of these Sisters joined the Shadow Academy , while one became a Sith . Sorcerers of Tund . The Sorcerers of Tund were a sect of Force - sensitives on the planet Tund who were descended from Sith mages banished there . The mages were under the belief that all sentient beings were Force - sensitive , as the only other species they had come into contact with as of yet were the Rakata of the Infinite Empire . The Sorcerers rarely left Tund and were recognizable by their all - concealing outfits . They called the Force the " Unity , " and although they had contact with the Jedi , they refused to join their order . Their explorations of the Force were known to drive them to madness , but their mastery of Force " magic " was undeniable , as seen in their ability to create intricate illusions and shapeshift . Eventually the sorcerers came under the leadership of Karnak Tetsu , who unleashed a reign of terror following the Great Sith War . Following this , the Jedi took it as their responsibility to ensure that the sorcerers didn ' t descend into darkness , however they were forced to abandon their vigil during the Republic ' s twilight . Rokur Gepta was able to join the group , learn their secrets , and then destroy them , becoming the last of the Sorcerers . Behind the scenes . Bogan was the name given to the dark side of the Force in early drafts of " " and was established as canon in the Expanded Universe by the " The New Essential Chronology " . It was also said to be what the ancient Jedi and Sith called the dark side in " " and called Boga . With the release of " " , Bogan is now known to have originated with the Tythan s , where Bogan was one of two moons that orbited Tython . Those who subscribe to theory of the Unifying Force believe that there is no dark side of the Force , nor is there a light side . Media . ( From the audio adaptation of the )