Remarkably, Luke Skywalker has a higher kill count in the Star Wars canon than Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine combined. Of course, the Dark Lord of the Sith during the Galactic Civil War were brutal as they wielded the dark side of the Force to oppress the galaxy. However, the galaxy’s new hope still took more lives than either Vader or the Emperor, despite his journey from a farm boy to a heroic Jedi Knight.

It’s pretty interesting to think about which Star Wars characters have taken the most lives in the established canon. At least from what we can see on screen, Luke Skywalker doesn’t have the highest kill count out of any character (but he’s pretty close). However, the surprising fact remains that Luke’s kill count far exceeds his father’s and even Emperor Palpatine’s, whose direct kill count is pretty small, considering how often he simply orders others to enact his dark will.

How Luke Skywalker’s Kill Count Compares To His Father

The First Death Star Was Fully Operational (And Fully Staffed)

Accounting for everything that’s been seen across movies, books, and more entries in the established Star Wars canon, Luke Skywalker’s official kill count sits around 1.5 million lives (including droids). Of course, this is largely due to the Battle of Yavin and Luke being the one to fire the proton torpedo down the thermal exhaust port, triggering a chain reaction that blew up the Empire’s first Death Star. A major victory for the Rebel Alliance in the name of galactic freedom, Luke’s role in the Battle of Yavin was the first real time the galaxy was shown that Palpatine’s Empire could be defied.

In comparison, Emperor Palpatine’s direct kill count is more than likely only in the double digits in the Star Wars canon. Palpatine killed Mace Windu and the Jedi who tried to arrest him in Revenge of the Sith, his own master Darth Plagueis, Maul’s brother Savage Opress, and more than likely his own family if the events of Legends’ Darth Plagueis novel follow the canonical history (which has yet to be fully revealed). That said, Palpatine is still responsible for oceans of blood, albeit indirectly via his apprentices, agents, and the power of the entire Galactic Empire itself.

Additionally, Darth Vader’s official kill count is more impressive at around 150,000. This includes all the Jedi Vader murdered during Order 66, the Separatist leaders on Mustafar, the countless Jedi survivors and Rebels he’s slain during the Dark Times, Palpatine’s own Sith Eternal followers on Exegol, and even the mulтιтudes of droids he destroyed as Anakin Skywalker during the Clone Wars. However, Vader still doesn’t hold a candle to his son’s kill count, thanks to the first Death Star’s destruction.

Luke’s Kill Count Will Always Be Mᴀssive Because Of The Death Star

Without The Battle of Yavin, Anakin/Darth Vader Definitely Has The Higher Numbers

Because of how many people were on board the moon-sized battle station, there aren’t many other characters who can top Luke Skywalker’s kill count (who don’t also have some connection to planet-killing battle stations). However, excluding the Battle of Yavin puts Luke’s kill count in the double digits at a more reasonable 80 or so. Likewise, 28 of those are Moff Gideon’s Darkstoopers that Skywalker destroyed at the end of Mandalorian season 2.

Without Luke’s having the Death Star, Darth Vader’s kill count is naturally miles higher than his son’s. Anakin Skywalker was a Jedi hero during the Clone Wars, and a merciless Sith Lord during the Dark Times for two decades before the first Death Star was even blown up. It’s also worth noting that Anakin blew up his own orbital station during The Phantom Menace as a boy, albeit a much smaller one with the Trade Federation’s droid control ship (but it still counts).

We’ve Only Seen A Fraction Of Darth Vader’s True Kill Count

The Emperor’s Fist

That being said, it’s also worth remembering that these kill counts are the only ones we know about that have been seen on screen, confirmed on a page, etc. Without a doubt, Darth Vader’s kill count is more than likely even higher than 150,000 considering how long he served as Palpatine’s dark apprentice and chief enforcer. There’s bound to be plenty of kills that we just don’t know about yet/happened off-screen. Still, it’s highly unlikely the Dark Lord of the Sith would have enough to surpᴀss his son’s numbers, thanks to the first Death Star.

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  Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader

  Conceived by the will of the Force itself, Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring the Force into balance. Anakin struggled to balance competing attachments to the Jedi Order and his wife Padmé Amidala, and ultimately fell to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. For years he served as Palpatine’s right hand man, but he was ultimately redeemed by the faith of his son, Luke Skywalker. Now a Force Ghost, Anakin continues to act as an agent of balance.

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  Luke Skywalker

  The son of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, Luke was brought up on the desert planet Tatooine. Initially mentored by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke fired the fateful sH๏τ that destroyed the Death Star, and he became a rebel hero. Despite the fears of Obi-Wan and Yoda, Luke’s faith in his father was proved well-founded when Vader returned to the light. With the Emperor defeated, Luke dedicated himself to bringing back the Jedi; his first attempt ended in tragedy due to Palpatine’s manipulations, but Luke’s legacy lives on in Rey.