All 9 Times Darth Vader Fought Palpatine In Star Wars Canon (& Who Won)

Like many Sith masters and their apprentices, Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader have fought and clashed several times in the established Star Wars canon. Having become Palpatine’s apprentice during Revenge of the Sith, there were multiple instances in which Vader attempted to defy and even kill his master. While Palpatine clearly bested his apprentice time and time again up until Vader’s redemption in Return of the Jedi, some encounters were closer than others (and some even ended in stalemates).

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According to Darth Bane’s Rule of Two, there must always be a master to embody the dark side of the Force, and an apprentice to crave it. The apprentice is meant to gain enough power to eventually overthrow and kill the master, becoming a new Sith Lord with their own pupil. As such, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise to learn that Vader tried killing Palpatine using the dark side many times before the Emperor’s ultimate defeat. To that end, here is every time Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine fought in the Star Wars canon (and who won).

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9

The Immediate Aftermath Of Revenge of the Sith

Darth Vader #1 (2017)

At the end of Revenge of the Sith, the new Darth Vader is rescued from his defeat on the lava world of Mustafar by his new Sith master. Given cybernetic armor and life support systems to keep him alive, Vader is awoken by Palpatine to learn that he killed his wife Padmé in his anger. Overwhelmed by grief and rage, Vader uses the dark side of the Force to destroy several of the nearby rods, as was seen in the final prequel film. However, Marvel Comics’ canonical 2017 Darth Vader series continues the scene further.

Not only does Vader destroy the droids, but he then turns on Palpatine, angered as his master had promised that they could work together to save her life. Slamming Palpatine against the wall using the Force, the new Sith apprentice is talked down by his master who encourages Vader to use his new pain to fuel his power in the dark side. Released, Palpatine then hits Vader with a blast of Force lightning, warning his apprentice against ever attacking him with the Force again, promising to finish “what Kenobi could not“.

8

Darth Vader’s Kyber Vision

Darth Vader #5 (2017)

Vader’s first task from Palpatine after Revenge of the Sith was to kill a Jedi and corrupt their lightsaber’s kyber as his own, bleeding the crystal using his pain and rage through the dark side of the force. An ancient tradition of Sith initiates when crafting their own crimson-bladed lightsabers once they become apprentices, Vader experienced a poignant Force vision while corrupting his kyber crystal. This vision showed Vader an alternate path where he sought penance for his recent crimes, killing Palpatine before surrendering to Obi-Wan Kenobi, begging for forgiveness and a justified execution for all he had done.

Using a green lightsaber with uncorrupted kyber, Darth Vader is shown dueling Palpatine in this vision. Trading blows, Vader eventually gains the upper hand and slays his dark master before leaving to find Obi-Wan. While simply a vision of an alternate path (which Vader rejects), it’s a critical sequence that shows what might have been, and the victory Vader likely would have had if he’d turned away from the dark side.

7

Vader And Palpatine Sparring On Coruscant

Star Wars #25 (2020)

Shortly after Darth Vader crafted his own Sith lightsaber, Palpatine aka Darth Sidious is shown sparring with his new Sith apprentice in Marvel’s Star Wars #25 (2020). Showing his apprentice that the dark side itself is the Sith’s true weapon over a lightsaber, Vader learns how to fight like a Dark Lord of the Sith, rather than the Jedi Knight he once was. As such, the lesson is very much learned after Palpatine disarms Darth Vader before forcing his apprentice’s submission using his impressive powers in the dark side.

6

Darth Vader’s Droid Army vs Palpatine’s Apprentice Replacements

Darth Vader (2015)

In the aftermath of A New Hope, Marvel’s 2015 Darth Vader series features the moment when Vader learns that the identity of the Rebel pilot who blew up the Death Star was his very own son, a boy he never knew existed, as Palpatine had told him that he killed Padmé in his anger. This prompted Vader to begin making plans to overthrow his master, including the secret formation of a hidden droid army. As such, this was one of the first times Vader truly began working toward Palpatine’s demise.

Meanwhile, Palpatine allowed the same scientist who helped create Vader’s armor to provide him with new potential apprentices, as the Emperor had grown displeased with Vader following the Battle of Yavin and the loss of the Death Star. That said, Darth Vader proved himself to be the superior warrior, defeating all of his potential replacements, which earned some of his master’s respect back. Likewise, Palpatine was impressed that Vader had been making moves against him, even if he knew all about his apprentice’s “secret” droid army. As such, the Sith Lords’ post-New Hope conflict very much ended in a stalemate.

5

Darth Vader’s Punishment on Mustafar

Darth Vader #6 (2020)

In the immediate aftermath of The Empire Strikes Back and Luke rejecting his offer to join him, Darth Vader refused multiple summons from his master to investigate the specifics behind his wife’s demise, as seen in 2020’s Darth Vader series. Filled with grief rather than anger and rage, Vader was punished by Palpatine upon his return to Coruscant. Attacking Vader and using the Force to crush and rip away his cybernetic limbs, Palpatine dumps Vader on the very same lava bank where he rescued him at the end of Revenge of the Sith.

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Identifying himself as the one responsible for all of Vader’s power and existence, Palpatine promises his apprentice’s death should he try to use the Force before regaining the proper emotions the Sith use to fuel their power in the dark side. As such, this dark lesson was simply the first act of Palpatine proving the full levels of power he would always have over Darth Vader in the dark side of the Force. However, it certainly motivated Vader to renew his efforts to kill his master in the era between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

4

Vader and Palpatine’s Clash On Exegol

Darth Vader #11 (2020)

After using spare droid parts to make himself mobile in 2020’s Darth Vader series, Vader begins a determined and rage-filled pursuit of his master, one that leads him through the Blood Net of hyperspace anomalies to Palpatine’s secret Sith world of Exegol. Gaining control of a giant kaiju-sized creature known as a Summa-Verminoth, Vader rides the creature to battle, fully intending to destroy Palpatine once and for all. However, Palpatine is always prepared, using the Force to summon two giant crustacean creatures to attack Vader and his beat before destroying the Verminoth himself using the dark side.

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Palpatine then invites his rogue apprentice inside the Sith temple on Exegol, where his countless Sith Eternal followers are already hard at work creating the Final Order fleet seen in The Rise of Skywalker. After killing several of the Sith Eternal acolytes Palpatine claims could always replace him, Darth Vader is shown the large mound of corrupted red kyber at Palpatine’s disposal. With the kyber amplifying his master’s “unlimited power”, Vader is subsequently forced to submit to Palpatine once again in the Star Wars canon.

3

Darth Vader and Palpatine Spar During Crimson Dawn Trilogy

Hidden Empire #4 (2022)

Amid the Crimson Dawn comics trilogy, where Lady Qi’ra tried to kill Vader and Palpatine by unleashing what she believed was an ancient Sith Lord trapped in suspended animation, Palpatine and Darth Vader briefly spar with their lightsabers. Discussing the necessity of the Rule of Two and what will happen if a third Sith is indeed freed, it seems Palpatine felt the desire to wield his lightsaber, having ruled so long with no need to wield it. However, what’s fascinating is that Vader continues his assault after Palpatine concludes their sparring session, his lightsaber inches away from his master’s head, only to stop when Palpatine repeats himself.

2

Darth Vader’s Final Dark Side Endgame

Darth Vader #50 (2020)

In the months just before Return of the Jedi, Darth Vader tried one last time to overthrow his master using the dark side, desiring to bring more order to the galaxy and to bring Luke to his side (eventually). Seeking alternative forms of power outside his master’s purview, Darth Vader is shown in Darth Vader #50 armed with new weapons, new power sources derived from a planet drained of its life and energy, and a new droid army. He even gained new allies calling themselves the Schism Imperial, a secret cabal of Imperials who also believed order could only be brought the galaxy with Palpatine’s demise.

However, Palpatine had foreseen and even secretly encouraged Vader’s efforts and schemes, as it allowed him to show his apprentice that only he had ever been ready to fully embody the dark side’s power. As such, Vader’s final attempt to kill his master as a Sith Lord came to an end much like his previous attempts had: kneeling before and submitting to Palpatine. As such, this recent victory and submission of his apprentice was likely why Palpatine never saw Vader’s ultimate redemption coming.

1

Darth Vader’s Redemption As The Chosen One

Return of the Jedi

As seen in Return of the Jedi, Darth Vader becomes the ultimate victor between himself and Palpatine. Wanting to save his son from Palpatine’s wrath, as Luke had refused to believe his father was too far gone and couldn’t be redeemed back to the light, Vader picks up Palpatine and throws him down a reactor shaft at the cost of his own life. This sacrificial act redeemed Anakin Skywalker, fulfilling his role as the galaxy’s prophesied Chosen One despite his decades as Darth Vader in the Star Wars timeline.

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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.

Created By

George Lucas

Cast

Bob Anderson
, Hayden Christensen
, James Earl Jones
, Matt Lanter
, Matt Lucas
, Jake Lloyd
, David Prowse
, Sebastian Shaw

First Appearance

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

Died

Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi

Alliance

Jedi, Sith

Race

Human

Movies

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

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TV Shows

Star Wars: The Clone Wars
, Star Wars Rebels
, Obi-Wan Kenobi
, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi
, Ahsoka

Franchise

Star Wars

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Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious

The senator for Naboo, Palpatine rose to power and influence during the dying days of the Republic. In reality, his public persona was just a mask; he was really Darth Sidious, greatest of the Sith Lords, and he used his political skills and Machiavellian cunning to bring down both the Republic and the Jedi. Palpatine ruled his Galactic Empire for decades, until he was betrayed by his apprentice, Darth Vader. Even this wasn’t enough to stop the Emperor, however, as he was resurrected by his followers – only to be defeated once again.

Created By

George Lucas

Cast

Ian McDiarmid
, Sam Witwer
, Ian Abercrombie

First Appearance

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

Died

Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise Of Skywalker

Alliance

Sith, Empire

Race

Human

Movies

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker

See more : All 9 Cosmere Stories In Arcanum Unbounded, Ranked
TV Shows

Star Wars: The Clone Wars
, Star Wars Rebels
, Star Wars: The Bad Batch
, Obi-Wan Kenobi

Franchise

Star Wars

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Upcoming Star Wars Movies	Release Date
The Mandalorian & Grogu	May 22, 2026

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Category: Entertainment

9 The Immediate Aftermath Of Revenge of the Sith

Darth Vader #1 (2017)

8 Darth Vader’s Kyber Vision

Darth Vader #5 (2017)

7 Vader And Palpatine Sparring On Coruscant

Star Wars #25 (2020)

6 Darth Vader’s Droid Army vs Palpatine’s Apprentice Replacements