The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities…that have never been seen before in the Star Wars movies. While it’s not more powerful than the light side wielded by the Jedi, the powers granted by the dark side are various and quite formidable. To that end, some truly terrifying dark side powers have never graced the big screen in the history of the entire galaxy far, far away (that are worth highlighting).

During the time of the Skywalker saga, the number of Sith Lords was much smaller compared to the Jedi Order, thanks to Darth Bane’s Rule of Two. However, they were no less powerful, and those who came before them displayed some incredible abilities as well. Keeping that in mind, here are some of the most terrifying dark side powers wielded by the Sith (sourced from the official canon and non-canonical Legends).

10

Sith Alchemy

Seen in The Clone Wars & Rebels

In animation, Darth Sidious and Count Dooku were shown using secret Sith alchemy in The Clone Wars. Used to permanently alter the state of an object or being, alchemy in general was rejected by the Jedi Order as a treasonous act against the Force itself, let alone the practices relying solely on the power of the dark side. Using Dooku’s blood and relationship with his old Jedi master, the Sith were able to cast illusions and deceive Yoda from afar when he ventured to the Sith world of Moraband.

Palpatine was also shown using Sith alchemy when he attempted to enter the Force vergence known as the World Between Worlds. Trying to tether himself to Ahsoka Tano and Ezra Bridger, Sidious tried and failed to gain access to all time and space by casting blue flames into the vergence meant to capture the Jedi. Additionally, Kylo Ren’s broken helmet was also reforged using Sith alchemy. A special form of dark side magick is also wielded by the Dathomiri Nightsisters, granting them rare abilities like raising the unᴅᴇᴀᴅ.

9

Thought Bomb

It Nearly Wiped Out All The Sith

The “thought bomb” was the product of an ancient Sith ritual first performed by the Old Republic Sith Emperor Lord Vitiate. Once triggered, the thought bomb had the power to wipe out all Force-sensitives and life across an entire world. Created using the focus and willpower of several Sith Lords, Darth Bane discovered a holocron from Darth Revan who’d recorded the full thought bomb process centuries prior.

As a result, Darth Bane manipulated the Human kinship of Darkness into triggering a thought bomb, deceiving them by making them think that they would survive the process. Once they wiped themselves out, Darth Bane was free to instigate the Rule of Two. This ensured the legacy of the Sith by consolidating the dark side’s power into the singular master and apprentice.

8

Force Feeding

Made Famous By Darth Nihilus

Darth Nihilus was one of the most powerful and frightening Sith Lords during the Old Republic era. Essentially Star Wars’ version of Galactus, Nihilus developed an all-consuming hunger for the energies of the Force and those who wield them. Continuing to crave the Force itself, Nihilus would become increasingly powerful whenever he drew in and drained the energy from others as well as entire planets. However, this power was ultimately a curse, as he was eventually controlled by his great and never-ending hunger.

7

Force Shadow

Dark Side Recon

During the Rakatan Infinite Empire (which was recently re-canonized thanks to references in Andor), Force hounds were Force-sensitive agents of the Rakatans who were sent out to discover worlds rich in the Force and other Force wielders. To that end, a key power at their disposal was the Force shadow, a form of dark side reconnaissance where they could form mental projections of themselves as an invisible shadow across great distances, allowing them to stalk and observe their prey, only perceptible to the most capable of Jedi.

6

Force Destruction

An Explosion Of Power

Force destruction (or a Force repulse) is an ability where a dark side wielder would draw in a considerable amount of power. They could then expel and direct this power out as a wave of destructive energy using their own body as a conduit, completely obliterating those in their vicinity to great effect. This power was most famously shown used by Galen Marek aka Starkiller, Darth Vader’s secret apprentice from the Force Unleashed games, which are now considered to be non-canon Legends. Nevertheless, Force destruction was also used by the most powerful Sith Lords of the Old Republic, including the Immortal Emperor Vitiate and Darth Bane.

5

Spirit Possession

Tethering To Objects or Places

The ability to retain one’s consciousness after death and become a Force ghost was a power reserved only for the Jedi and those who were of the light. Even then, it often required special training. Conversely, the Sith were much more limited in their options for life after death, hence their obsession with prolonging their lives and achieving immortality (so they’d never lose their accumulated power).

To that end, a cursed option was for the Sith to tether their spirits to objects and/or locations. For example, the spirit of the Sith architect and heretic Darth Momin came to reside within his own mask, allowing him to possess and control those who wore it. Likewise, Darth Bane’s spirit was tied to his tomb, while Darth Vader cursed the spirit of the Grand Inquisitor to guard an old Jedi Outpost, meant to lure and trap potential Jedi.

4

Force Scream

An Act Of Powerful Rage

The Force scream was a powerful expression of rage from dark side wielders. It was the act of making the darkest and most powerful emotions physical via shockwaves through the Force, capable of destroying both physical and mental defenses. While an involuntary Force scream was seemingly shown at the end of Revenge of the Sith when Darth Vader learned of his wife’s demise as droids and equipment were crushed in his vicinity, the Force scream could be used on command as well. As such, it’s a very dangerous and powerful tool in a Sith Lord’s arsenal, depending upon the depths of their darkest emotions.

3

Memory Walk

A Special Kind of Dark Side Torture

The memory walk was a truly disturbing form of torture implemented by the Sith. Essentially, some Sith Lords could reach into their victims’ minds, effectively forcing them to relive their worst memories and experiences until they broke. As such, one can only imagine how the power could have been used in the movies, either by Darth Vader or Kylo Ren.

2

Force Misting

A Recent Power From The High Republic’s Azlin Rell

During the High Republic Era, the Jedi Order clashed with the Nihil marauders, who threatened to tear the Republic apart. Their leader, Marchion Ro, also commanded a force of Nameless creatures who could drain and feed on the Force. Existing as a major threat to the Jedi, the monsters could paralyze the guardians of peace and justice with hallucinogenic fears until they were nothing more than crumbling white husks.

During the Jedi Order’s darkest hour, they allied themselves with Azlin Rell, a former Jedi who’d fallen to the dark side and yet wanted to bring the threat of the Nameless to an end. During one such encounter with the creatures in Charles Soule’s new Trials of the Jedi novel, Azlin Rell was able to use the dark side to make three of the creatures spontaneously explode into “clouds of gray-blue mist”. As such, Screen Rant’s Tom Bacon has taken to calling the brand-new Force power “Force Misting”.

1

Supernova Manipulation

Used By Naga Sadow In Legends

In 5000 BBY, the Dark Lord Naga Sadow in Legends had mastered the ability to trigger entire supernovas. Amplifying his power using Sith crystals, Naga Sadow was able to rip the core right out of a star, triggering a supernova which he could then guide toward his enemies, vaporizing them instantly. As such, it’s one of the most remarkable Sith powers that will most likely never be shown in the Star Wars movies, given how overpowered and truly terrifying it is.