Sith training Sith training was the method by which a Force Adept was forged into a full - fledged Sith . Methods and Specifications . While all methods of Sith training had the same goal of crafting the initiate into a powerful , dark side - fueled weapon , there were many different methods and traditions for doing so , as a result of the frequent reformist actions undertaken by the various Sith regimes . However , many aspects remained constant . Firstly , as the Sith were possessed of considerably higher standards than the Jedi , their training was a great deal more intensive and much more exclusive . As it was geared towards weeding out the weak , it was quite often potentially lethal . Sith adepts were taught to draw upon their rage and use the Force as a weapon and a tool for personal advancement . Overt displays of power , such as advanced Force techniques and martial prowess , were focused on . Entry . Entering Sith training depended heavily on which organization was dominant . The Sith Empires relied on academic institutions for teaching prospective Sith , while the Rule of Two Sith Lords relied on a much more exclusive system of scouting out prospective students and recruiting them . The primary difference between the two is that the academy system was applied during periods when the Sith were massed together into a political and military force , which required large numbers , while the Rule of Two system was applied because the Sith limited their numbers to two , so a much higher standard was needed . Entry into the Sith academies was again dependent on the rules of the dominant organization . Under Darth Revan ' s empire , prospective students had to be sponsored by one of the academy instructors , while under Lord Kaan , the only requirement appeared to be Force sensitivity , and the rigorous training regimes themselves were relied upon to weed out unfit candidates . The " Sacrifice " . An action stressed by such notables as Lumiya , the sacrifice was not so much a training method as a test of the initiate ' s dedication , and as such consisted of forcing the adept to kill a loved one . The placement of the sacrifice often depended on both the discretion of the teacher and the needs of the acolyte , though it appeared common to place it at the start to ensure commitment , or at the close as a test . For example , Darth Tyranus performed his sacrifice at the start of his training ; the subject being his old friend Sifo - Dyas , while Darth Caedus performed his at the end , his sacrifice being his aunt , Mara Jade Skywalker . Darth Maul ' s sacrifice was a unique case , differentiated from other cases . As Maul had been trained since a young age by Darth Sidious , his master was the only individual that he retained any attachment to . As such , Sidious was the subject of Maul ' s sacrifice . However , rather than forcing Maul to actually kill his master , the goal of the test was to force Maul into a situation where he would have to sacrifice his attachment to Sidious , and demonstrate the desire to kill him . Sidious survived , and Maul proved his worth . It should also be noted that the student didn ' t actually have to kill or assail his subject himself , but merely facilitate his death . Such was the case with Anakin Skywalker , who cut off Mace Windu ' s lightsaber hand , leaving him defenseless before Darth Sidious ' wrath . While he was simply an accessory to murder rather than the actual killer , Skywalker ' s action split him from the Jedi , leaving the Sith as his only option . Training Regimes . The training regimes under the large scale Sith organizations appeared based around a classroom mentality to keep students competitive and isolated rather than cooperative , with academy instructors teaching several students at a time . During the reign of Darth Revan , the standard class size appeared to be three to four individuals who would learn from a single instructor . During Kaan ' s reign , the number was increased to well over twenty . Under this system , the training was highly competitive , with all the students vying for recognition . The most talented students were often glorified , while the weak ones were pushed out of training . In addition to the classroom instruction , students were expected to study and practice on their own . Also , it was not unheard of for Sith masters to take an apprentice under their wing and tutor them individually , as shown when Darth Malak took on Bandon as his student . During Kaan ' s reign , such activities were against the rules and had to be kept secret from the academy headmaster , though they still took place . This training method became the standard after Darth Bane ' s reformation , with the Sith becoming based around a single master and apprentice . According to Darth Sidious , the purpose of Sith training was to force the apprentice to struggle for every scrap of knowledge he / she attained . Conversely , the master withheld as much as possible for as long as possible , the goal being to prolong his / her own life for as long as possible . Sidious also cautioned that while an apprentice strong enough to serve as an effective agent or enforcer was practically required , one must be careful not to choose an apprentice who was too strong or able . Combat training . Combat training in the academies was performed in the classroom . It was conducted by first teaching the students the basics of lightsaber combat , then steering them towards a form that best suited their physical attributes . Under Revan ' s Sith Empire , the instructor would teach approximately three to four students , tutoring them individually through sparring . Under Kaan ' s reign , the twenty students would be trained by the resident Sith Blademaster , who would collectively teach them through repetition of sequences . In addition to the classroom instruction , the students were also provided with facilities for private practice . During Malak ' s reign , a sparring ring with a number of cages holding Republic prisoners of war was established , and the students would duel them in lethal bouts to the death . In the lieu of Republic P . O . W . s , the cages would also contain beasts captured from the local wilderness , and trainees would be graded on their performance against them . Ultimately , due to the Sith focus on martial prowess , several Sith academies were actually specialized towards training Sith who focused on physical combat and lightsaber skills . Such combatants were known as Sith warriors and marauders . Under the Rule of Two , combat training , as with all other forms of instruction , was performed according to the discretion of the reigning master and the needs of the student . For example , Darth Bane trained Darth Zannah through the use of pre - practiced sequences , much as he had been taught . Darth Vader , on the other hand , trained his apprentice only in the basics , then engaged him in frequent , and brutal , sparring matches , encouraging his apprentice to improvise and develop his own combat style rather than formally train him in existing methods . On occasion , such training was omitted entirely , as the student already possessed ample knowledge of combat techniques . Such was the case with both Darths Tyranus and Vader , as both were former Jedi renowned for their martial prowess . However , fully trained Sith duelists were known to continue partaking in combat training in order to keep their skills sharp . Certain academies were known to use the supposedly non - lethal Sith training saber during combat instruction . Training sabers consisted of a metal shaft balanced to imitate a lightsaber with a mock hilt on one end . The shaft was covered with microscopic barbs of the Pelko bug , which caused paralysis on contact with skin , mimicking the effect of losing a limb . However , such sparring swords were not universal , and were eschewed entirely by the Rule of Two Sith . Force application training . Like everything else during the reign of the Sith empires , this skill was taught in a classroom environment . A single master would teach the multiple students to draw on their anger and focus on offensive applications of the Force . Training would start with simple skills , such as telekinesis , and advance incrementally , culminating in powerful displays such as telepathy or Force lightning . Under the Rule of Two , while Sith training continued to employ these elements , it also focused on concealment . Abilities such as Force stealth were stressed , as Sith frequently had to move about public places , but needed to remain hidden from Jedi . In fact , Rule of Two Sith Lords refined the technique to the point where they could conceal their Dark side signatures from powerful Jedi , while in the same room , and appear completely benevolent . Interrogation and Assassination . As the Sith empires were often in a state of war against the Republic , these abilities were emphasized . In the Sith academies , interrogation and torture was actively taught to apprentices , often on live subjects , such as prisoners of war or local criminals . Rule of Two Sith made active use of the Drain Knowledge ability for this purpose . Under the Sith empires , assassination was considered such a vital skill that entire academies were devoted towards training Sith assassin s . Such killers were taught to feed off the Force presence of their targets , becoming stronger , and also gearing themselves to confront Jedi targets . They relied on ambush tactics and often wielded more mundane melee weapons , such as Force pikes , as opposed to lightsabers . Under the Rule of Two , most apprentices were taught to become capable assassins , often acting as the Sith master ' s enforcer and primary agent . The concealment techniques stressed by the organization were geared towards this purpose . However , such training was not universal , as some apprentices , such as Darth Tyranus , had to operate as public figures , and some , such as the cyborg Darth Vader , were simply incapable of such abilities . Other . There were numerous other branches of Sith knowledge that were not taught in the academies or by the Rule of Two masters , as the apprentice was expected to research such abilities himself . Darth Zannah learned Sith sorcery from several ancient manuscripts in her master ' s possession , mastering many unique and frightening abilities , which provided her with an edge over Darth Bane when she finally confronted him . Darth Maul learned the ancient skills of " Mechu - deru " , which he used to modify his personal protocol droid into a capable assassin and create his Dark Eye probe droids . History . Sith Training under the Empires . The Korriban academy had been established by the old Sith Empire and had been a training center for prospective Sith for centuries . However , with the defeat and retreat of the Empire , the academy was abandoned . Under Exar Kun , formalized Sith training was effectively ruled out , as most of his acolytes gained their power through possession by Sith spirits , and he himself had been personally tutored by Freedon Nadd and self - taught with Sith holocrons and manuscripts . When Darths Revan and Malak arose , the Sith academy on Korriban was reestablished by the two . Relying on a system of instructors tutoring several students at a time , the academy trained the numerous Jedi and Force - sensitives who flocked to Revan ' s banner in the ways of the Sith . Under Malak ' s sole reign , the academy remained active , churning out new Sith warriors to fuel Malak ' s vicious war effort . However , when Malak was slain by the redeemed Revan , the Sith were left without a strong leader to unite them . Turning on each other , they sparked off the Sith Civil War , and the Korriban academy became the center of the fighting . It was eventually left deserted as the conflict moved on . When the Sith Triumvirate arose to fill the power vacuum , the center of Sith training moved to the Trayus Academy on Malachor V . As these new Sith operated covertly , and only aimed to destroy the Jedi , the Academy focused on training Sith assassin s rather than an army of Sith Warrior s . When the head of the Triumvirate , Darth Traya , was betrayed by the two other members , Sion and Nihilus , the Sith Order was split between the two remaining leaders . They peacefully went their separate ways , Sion remaining in control of the Trayus Academy , while Nihilus established a mobile facility onboard his ship , the " Ravager " . Both were destroyed by the Jedi Exile . When the Sith Empire returned and invaded the Republic , they quickly reconquered Korriban and reestablished the academy . Any individual discovered to be Force - sensitive would be sent , willing or not , to the academy as an acolyte . Groups of acolytes were instructed by a single Overseer and , much like the previous incarnations of the academy before them , would attempt to rise beyond the other acolytes as to be noticed by a visiting Sith Lord in the hopes of becoming their apprentice . Various trials existed , such as judgment of prisoners and tests of endurance . Students would often venture out into the wilderness or explore the ancient Sith tombs as part of their tests . After the final disappearance of the Sith Empire , the Korriban academy would remain abandoned for many centuries . Sith Training during the Resurgencies . When Darth Desolous arose , he reigned as the sole Dark Lord of the Sith , and as far as is known , he trained no apprentices . When Darth Ruin arose and brought about the Fourth Great Schism , numerous Jedi flocked to his banner . While his training practices remain unknown , he is known to have raised a massive army of Sith . While he was ultimately assassinated by his followers , the new Sith Empire he established would rise many times again to assail the Jedi and the Republic . When Lord Kaan arose , he led one of the most successful Sith campaigns in history . Reclaiming Korriban , he again reestablished the academy . Installing Lord Qordis as headmaster , Kaan based the academy around a classroom system , with single instructors tutoring as many as twenty students at a time . Sith Training under the Rule of Two . When Darth Bane reformed the Sith Order in the wake of the New Sith Empire ' s destruction , he limited their numbers to only two . The reigning Dark Lord would train only a single apprentice , who would eventually succeed him through assassination . This ensured several things ; the Sith would remain a covert organization ; and the Sith would grow increasingly stronger with each new master , as weaker apprentices would simply die . This also left the training of apprentices at the discretion of the master . As things became based on a single teacher tutoring a single student , formalized training regimes were discarded , as masters began crafting their techniques on both personal preference , and the needs of the student . For example , Bane trained his student , Zannah , much as he himself had been trained , relying on the scheduled and repetitive regimes applied by the Korriban academy during his time there . Darth Vader , on the other hand , trained his student , Galen Marek , through tests . He provided Marek with only the basic skills in any application , then placed him in situations that forced him to improvise and develop on his own , the goal being to allow Marek to grow unaided rather than guide him down a determined path . Vader ' s master , Sidious , trained one of his previous apprentices , Maul , similarly . Sith training under the Rule of One . When Darth Krayt reformed the Sith Order after the destruction of the Galactic Empire , he reestablished the Korriban academy and returned to the old training methods . He eventually moved the training center to the Temple of the Sith on Coruscant , abandoning the academy again . Sith training was again based on the old method of instructors teaching multiple students . In addition to this highly competitive system , the teaching institution itself was a dangerous place , with combat droids roaming the halls to keep students on edge and teach constant wariness .