Star Wars canon has featured many great dark side s, but the new stories are still missing the best-ever Sith Lord. Characters like Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader are powerful Sith Lords, and Star Wars canon has introduced some new ones as well, but there were even greater dark siders in the old Expanded Universe. Some of these Sith have been confirmed to still exist in canon, but Legends' best Sith Lord has yet to receive the same treatment.
Several fan-favorite Star Wars Legends characters have already made their way into canon, proving that there is still a place for Expanded Universe villains in new stories. Grand iral Thrawn, best known as the main villain of Timothy Zahn's "Heir to the Empire" trilogy, became the primary antagonist of the last two seasons of Star Wars Rebels, despite taking place at a different point in the timeline. With more Sith from Legends being made canon again, Star Wars can easily give similar treatment to its best-ever Sith Lord: Darth Krayt.
Why Darth Krayt Was Legends' Best Sith Lord
Darth Krayt was the best Sith Lord in Star Wars Legends because of his unique history and philosophy, which set him apart from his predecessors. Krayt was not only a byproduct of the main Star Wars saga, but the entire Expanded Universe, as well, with each era playing a different role in his development. Originally a Jedi named A'Sharad Hett, he survived Order 66, learned from an ancient Sith Holocron, was tortured by the Yuuzhan Vong, and several key moments of his life were affected by the Skywalker family. Having Darth Krayt's story shaped by everything that came before made him the perfect villain for the Star Wars Legacy era.
Another trait that set Darth Krayt apart was his view on the dark side, abandoning Darth Bane's Rule of Two by creating the One Sith. This caused the gatekeepers of ancient Sith Holocrons to look down on Krayt, denying him knowledge that could've saved his life, but his new philosophy had several benefits. Like the Sith who preceded Bane, Krayt recognized the advantages of a large Sith Order, able to spread their power and control more directly across the galaxy. However, unlike the Sith who fought each other or deluded themselves into thinking they were equals, many of Krayt's acolytes were raised to be loyal to his vision.
This ensured that Krayt had plenty of fellow Sith Lords to carry out his plans and continue his legacy after he was gone. Krayt was also a master strategist, letting his One Sith grow in secret for over a hundred years as they waited for the right time to strike, which finally came when Krayt framed Luke Skywalker's Jedi Order and manipulated the Fel Empire into declaring war against the Galactic Alliance. Krayt's century of preparation and careful planning had paid off, as the One Sith's strength through numbers helped them win the Sith-Imperial War, place Darth Krayt on the throne, and decimate the Jedi Order for a second time.
How Darth Krayt Could Still Fit Into Star Wars Canon
While much of Darth Krayt's backstory was built on elements unique to Legends, there are many ways he could return to canon. Krayt was shaped by each era of the Expanded Universe, so he could be molded by different parts of the canon timeline as well, making him a byproduct of more recent Star Wars stories. Because Krayt spent time in hibernation, he could wake up at any point in Star Wars' far future, plaguing the descendants of Rey just as he did Luke's in Legends. Krayt's One Sith could also be discovered earlier in the timeline, creating a threat between Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
However, many crucial parts of Krayt's story from Legends can still apply to canon if slightly altered. A majority of Krayt's backstory in the prequel era can stay the same, from being raised a Tusken to surviving Order 66, as it wouldn't contradict anything. Krayt's fight with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Tatooine can be canon too, given that parts of Kenobi's exile remain free to explore. Krayt learning from an ancient Sith Holocron is easy to translate, and while the Yuuzhan Vong aren't canon, the vonduun crabs that plagued Krayt were confirmed to exist in Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #9 by Daniel Jose Older and Toni Bruno.
Krayt could even use the First Order and the return of Emperor Palpatine to his advantage while the One Sith remained in hiding. When Jacen Solo became Darth Caedus in Legends, Krayt used this as a distraction so that the One Sith could grow strong in secret, so he could use the chaos caused by Palpatine's return in the same way. Krayt could strike while the galaxy is still recovering from war, or he could manipulate both sides as he did in Legends. Not every part of Darth Krayt's story could work in Star Wars canon, but the fundamental aspects could certainly be reworked to fit the new timeline.
Star Wars Can Learn From Darth Krayt (Even If He Doesn't Return)
Even if Krayt doesn't return to canon, the Star Wars franchise can still learn from him to create new and exciting villains. While Krayt certainly played a familiar villain role in Star Wars Legends, he also had many characteristics that made him unique. Krayt's story demonstrated just how compelling a villain's backstory can be, both for giving context to the main story and for tying the whole franchise together. The Star Wars sequel trilogy made the mistake of killing Snoke before revealing anything about his history, so future projects should avoid this by taking the Darth Krayt approach.
However, the most important lesson that Star Wars must learn from Krayt is giving new villains compelling motivations. Most Sith are driven purely by greed and lust for power, and while this was partly true for Krayt, he created the One Sith because he believed it was the only way to bring lasting order to the galaxy. He also wanted to save himself from the Vong's vonduun crabs taking over his body, adding a sense of urgency and desperation to his plight. Star Wars canon is missing its best-ever Sith Lord by excluding Darth Krayt, but whether he returns, he can serve as an example of doing a villain right.
