Anakin Skywalker/Legends

"He is the Chosen One. You must see it."

- Qui-Gon Jinn

Anakin Skywalker was a legendary Human male Jedi Knight in the waning days of the Jedi Order, as well as a General (originally Commander) in the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars. He was the son of Shmi Skywalker, the husband of Senator Padmé Amidala, and the father of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa Solo.

Anakin was discovered on Tatooine by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn at the age of nine, and was trained in the ways of the Force by Obi-Wan Kenobi. During his training, he was slowly swayed to the dark side of the Force by his own arrogance, recklessness, and fear of loss, as well as by the Sith Lord Darth Sidious. He eventually took on the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith, becoming Darth Vader shortly before the formation of the Galactic Empire.

Early life (42 BBY–32 BBY)
"You should be very proud of your son. He gives without any thought of reward."

- Qui-Gon Jinn

Anakin was born in 41.9 BBY on an unknown world, possibly Tatooine, the planet he was raised on from around the age of three years old. His mother, Shmi Skywalker, claimed that her son was born without a father, though she could not explain how it had happened. Qui-Gon Jinn interpreted this as being part of a prophecy about the Chosen One who would, in a time of great darkness, come forth and "bring balance to the Force". The wise Jedi Master suggested that Anakin may have been conceived by the midi-chlorians, especially since Anakin had a midi-chlorian count of over 20,000; even greater than that of Grand Master Yoda. Much later on, it was suspected that Sith Lord Darth Plagueis, who claimed he could influence the midi-chlorians to create life, was behind Anakin's conception, though this has never been proven.

Childhood and discovery
"Clouded, this boy's future is."

- Yoda



At the age of three, Anakin and his mother became slaves to the vile Gardulla the Hutt. Years later, he and his mother were lost in a podracing bet to a curmudgeonly Toydarian junk shop owner named Watto. When Qui-Gon Jinn and Padmé Amidala encountered him, he was a kind, selfless nine-year old in service to Watto. Even at a young age, Anakin had a reputation for being able to build or repair anything. This was evidenced by the creation of a protocol droid named C-3PO, as well as a podracer. Both were constructed from salvaged parts and completed by the time he was nine. As a child prodigy, Anakin excelled at mathematics and engineering.

Anakin was also daring and adventurous as a child. He would often risk his own well being to help others, with little forethought or regard for the consequences of his actions. When he was only 5 years old, Anakin scaled an immense dune to chase a herd of banthas away from hunters, despite almost collapsing from exhaustion several times. Sometime later, while bartering with Jawas, Anakin came across a wounded Tusken Raider and cared for it. Ironically, about 14 years later, Anakin slaughtered every single Tusken Raider in the Valley of the Spirits in revenge for killing his mother, Shmi.



A short time before the Boonta Eve Classic Podrace, Anakin, his friend Kitster Banai, and several other youths narrowly avoided a run-in with Gardulla. Hearing of children who had been captured and imprisoned by Sebulba in hopes of being sold to Gardulla the Hutt, Anakin and his friends disguised themselves as Jawas, snuck into Gardulla's estate, and freed the Ghostling children. "You fly like your name, Anakin. You walk the sky like you own it. You show promise."

- Republic spacer

At about eight years of age, Anakin had his first experience with the Sith. While rummaging through Watto's junk heap, he located an ancient war droid. Hoping to recover a holoprojector for Watto, Anakin incidentally activated a disturbing holograph, drowned in cries and screams and the strange mention of the word, Sith. Perplexed, Anakin rushed to the stranded Republic Fighter Corps member who'd told him earlier of the angels on the moons of Iego. The spacer, in shock, told him of the 4,000-year-old wrath of the Sith and how they eventually turned inward and fought each other to their doom. He spoke of the belief that one Sith Lord had survived and extended the order's existence to this day. Little did Anakin know that such rumors would soon play a major part in his life.

Leaving Tatooine
"Anakin, this path has been placed before you. The choice is yours alone."

- Shmi Skywalker



Anakin's life would forever change in 32 BBY. By happenstance, Anakin met Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, along with Jar Jar Binks, and a young woman named Padmé Amidala, while working in Watto's shop. Anakin instantly became fascinated by the young woman, and asked is she was an angel. Little did Anakin know, Padmé was in fact, Her Royal Highness Queen Amidala of Naboo in disguise as a simple handmaiden.

During a sandstorm, Anakin offered his newfound friends shelter in his home with his mother. There, Qui-Gon and Padmé told Anakin of their plight on how they ended up being stranded on Tatooine during their way to Coruscant. Overwhelmed with compassion, Anakin volunteered to enter a podrace. The prize money for winning would enable Anakin's companions to purchase the parts needed to repair their starship. Though Anakin's mother Shmi objected to the plan, Anakin recalled her words that: "The biggest problem in the universe is nobody helps each other."

- Shmi Skywalker Afterwards, Shmi reluctantly agreed to let her son race.

Qui-Gon was able to win Anakin's freedom based on a wager he made with Watto when entering the boy in a podrace. Normally, Humans lacked the fast reactions needed to operate such a tremendously high-speed land vehicle. However, Anakin's latent Force sensitivity manifested in the form of limited prescience, which gave the impression that the boy had lightning-fast reflexes. At the time, Anakin, who dreamed of being a Jedi but lacked knowledge of the Force, believed his Force sensitivity was only his instinct that told him what he needed to do.

While he was able to free Anakin, Qui-Gon was unable to secure Shmi's release as well. Even after the crisis in which Anakin and his new companions were entangled ended victoriously in the Battle of Naboo, neither the Jedi nor the Republic made any effort to emancipate her. Anakin's duties as a Jedi prevented him from freeing his mother himself, though she eventually obtained her freedom from Watto through the aid of a moisture farmer named Cliegg Lars.

Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon's apprentice, was also amazed at Anakin's unprecedented midi-chlorian count and strong force potential, but initially disagreed on the need to train him, believing the boy was already too old and had acquired too many emotional attachments to become a Jedi.

The revelation of Anakin's gifts cemented Qui-Gon Jinn's belief that he was indeed the Chosen One, though many on the Jedi Council were skeptical. Qui-Gon asked the Council to allow him to train Anakin as his student, after his current apprentice, Obi-Wan, completed the trials. This request was denied&mdash;Anakin was much older than usual, and the Council was concerned that his prior experiences would interfere with his training. In particular, he exhibited much fear and anger, left over from his days as a slave, and further compounded by the separation from his mother and home. They believed he would simply not be able to master the level of emotional detachment required by a member of the order. With nowhere to go on Coruscant, and no way to get back to Tatooine, Anakin followed his new friends on their mission to free Naboo, and Qui-Gon asked him to watch after his actions so as to learn the will of the Force. "He is the Chosen One&hellip; he will&hellip; bring balance&hellip; train him."

- A dying Qui-Gon Jinn to Obi-Wan Kenobi

Ultimately, Anakin ended up fighting in the Battle of Naboo in a vicious starfighter battle above the planet. He helped to lead Naboo and Gungan forces to victory over the Trade Federation by single-handedly destroying the orbital Droid Control Ship, thus rendering the Trade Federation's ground forces inactive.



However, the celebration was tainted with the death of Qui-Gon Jinn, slain by the Sith Lord Darth Maul. Qui-Gon's dying wish was for Obi-Wan to take up Anakin's training.

Kenobi felt he could not refuse and took it upon himself to train Anakin. Anakin's heroic efforts during the battle, combined with Qui-Gon's last wish, changed the Council's opinion, and reluctantly they allowed Obi-Wan to begin Anakin's training&mdash;though quietly the Council was concerned that Anakin was too difficult a student for young Obi-Wan to handle. "You will be a Jedi. I promise."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi

Meanwhile, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine promised Anakin that he would watch the young Jedi's career with great interest. This would be the beginning of a long friendship between the young Jedi and the new ruler of the Republic.

Another politician, Padmé Amidala, was one of Anakin's first glimpses of the Galaxy beyond Tatooine. He was fascinated with her as a child, and as he grew to adolescence, this developed into a tragically flawed romance. They would eventually have two children who would be called Luke and Leia, both of whom later became central figures in the Rebellion and New Republic eras.

Adolescence (32 BBY–22 BBY)
"The boy has exceptional skills." "But he still has much to learn, Master. His abilities have made him&hellip; well, arrogant."

- Mace Windu and Obi-Wan Kenobi

Anakin and Obi-Wan began with a rough start. Obi-Wan wasn't the one to see the potential in the boy, even considering him dangerous. The only reason he continued to train the boy was because of Qui-Gon's dying wish for him to do so. He felt it a duty, and he didn't feel he had the ability to train him. Anakin, on the other hand, knew he was just different. Because of how different he was, Anakin tended to keep to himself, not branching out and not really wanting to. He felt a special attachment to Obi-Wan, since he was like the father he never had. Slowly but surely, Master and apprentice begin to form a special bond throughout Anakin's adolescence.

Obi-Wan's apprentice
"Master Yoda, I gave Qui-Gon my word. I will train Anakin. Without the approval of the Council if I must." "&hellip; Agree with you, the Council does. Your apprentice Skywalker will be."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda



As a young adult, Anakin developed as arrogant and somewhat socially awkward, doubtless in part because of his rapid transition from scrapyard slave to rising star of the Jedi Order. His natural abilities placed him leaps and bounds above his peers, and this fed his ego as well as distancing himself from other learners of his age. He frequently showed off, chafed against authority, and displayed little respect for Obi-Wan, whom he partially viewed as inferior. Despite this perception, he did state that Obi-Wan was like a father to him and he claimed he had the wisdom of Master Yoda and the power of Master Windu, but this praise may have been just another expression of Anakin's own arrogance, as he amended that he himself was "beyond" Kenobi in many ways and felt he was holding him back. His relationship with his master was complicated and contradictory. Frustrated, he would turn to another mentor for advice&hellip;

Anakin's early friendship with Palpatine continued, with the Chancellor lending Anakin a sympathetic ear, and saying things to further fuel his pride. It is likely that Palpatine's reassurances also had the effect of perpetuating Anakin's lack of control&mdash;whenever he was chided or reprimanded by Obi-Wan, Palpatine would reassure Anakin that he had done right, hence Anakin never quite had the impetus to change his behavior.



While on Coruscant, Anakin did not give up his love of tinkering with machines, and the halls of the Jedi Temple were said to be littered with his droid creations. Still craving thrills and adventure at the age of twelve, he salvaged a pair of race wings and secretly participated in the highly dangerous and illegal garbage pit races held in the lower levels of Galactic City. During one such race he was nearly killed by a Blood Carver named Ke Daiv before Obi-Wan managed to reach him.

About three years into his training, Anakin and Obi-Wan had their first mission together to investigate cult leader Kad Chun. The next mission they took was to the living planet of Zonama Sekot to find Jedi Knight Vergere, who had recently vanished on a mission there. Unbeknownst to them, Wilhuff Tarkin and Raith Sienar had followed them to exploit Zonama Sekot's ability to fuse organic and high-tech into starfighters quickly. On the planet, the colonists sold "seed-partners" which bonded with their hosts and allowed the planet to customize a starfighter for the individual. Anakin attracted many more seed-partners than anyone, and he named his new ship Jabitha. When Tarkin and Sienar arrived, the planet revealed its sentient consciousness to the Jedi, explaining that Vergere had left with the mysterious "Far Outsiders" in order to protect Zonama Sekot. Anakin and Obi-Wan could not rescue her, but they could stop Tarkin's attack.

In a fit of uncontrollable rage, Anakin telekinetically burned Tarkin's Blood Carver bodyguard, Ke Daiv, from the inside out. This display of dark power worried Obi-Wan greatly. Anakin was captured, however, and brought before Tarkin. But Obi-Wan destroyed Tarkin's flagship, and Zonama Sekot activated its planetary hyperdrive. Zonama Sekot vanished for the Unknown Regions.

Sienar and Tarkin returned to the Republic, but Jabitha died, away from her creator. Obi-Wan and Anakin returned to Coruscant.

Becoming a Jedi
"If the prophecy is true, Anakin will be the one to bring balance to the Force."

- Mace Windu



In 28 BBY, Anakin constructed his first lightsaber in the caves of Ilum. While he was constructing it, he had a dark vision of Darth Maul, the Sith who had killed Qui-Gon. Anakin managed to defeat this specter and awoke to find he had constructed a lightsaber with a blue blade.

When Anakin was 13, he killed the T'surr slave trader Krayn on Tatooine by burning a hole in his chest. This allowed him to free Padawan Siri Tachi, as well as freeing several other slaves of Krayn. Not long after, the young Jedi and his Master were called upon, along with Siri Tachi, now a Knight, Soara Antana, Ry-Gaul, and their Padawans, Ferus Olin, Darra Thel-Tanis, and Tru Veld, respectively, on a mission to Radnor to help with the evacuation of the planet due to a deadly toxin. He and the other Jedi and their Padawans later discovered that the toxin was connected with Avoni raiders, which were in turn connected with Galen, a Radnoran. Galen was taken custody, but the Avoni did not pay for their crime.

A simple Jedi training mission to Ragoon-6 got Anakin and Obi-Wan tangled up with a mysterious man who was the son of Xanatos. Further research on him revealed that he was from Nierport VII, collected Sith artifacts, and was extremely wealthy for what seemed like little reason. After a podracing escapade, further information was found on the man, who was trying to take over the marketing of bacta through a mining venture. Anakin, after being captured by the man, found out, along with Obi-Wan, that the man was trying to impress a Sith Lord, and planning to kill the youth. Master and apprentice were able to escape, stopping Omega's mining of titanite in the process.

Outbound Flight
"Sometimes a Jedi's most important duty is to stand and wait. I presume you've mentioned that to Anakin on occasion?" "Not more than twice a day."

- Mace Windu and Obi-Wan Kenobi



A little before this, Anakin and Obi-Wan were sent to Barlok to monitor the overbearing Jedi Knight Jorus C'baoth and his Padawan, Lorana Jinzler, in their negotiation mission there. Unknown to them, Kinman Doriana, on behalf of Darth Sidious, had planned the negotiation to work splendidly in Jorus's favor, gaining him enough prestige to go ahead with his pet project, the Outbound Flight Project.

Anakin and his master were again sent to observe the self-acclaimed Jedi Master C'baoth on this project, at least until its last stop within the known Galaxy. Obi-Wan did not approve fully of Jorus's overseeing of the project, but nonetheless, they let it slide, disembarking the venture on Outbound Flight's last stop, Roxuli. Anakin, however, greatly admired C'baoth, whom he saw as an example of a great leader. These views would also shift to his view of a better Galaxy and ruler in Palpatine.

Not long after, when Anakin was fourteen, the boy and his Master were given another mission: investigate a Senator's son's disappearance. In order to investigate a band of renegade students of an elite senatorial school on Andara, Anakin's idea was that he and Ferus Olin would penetrate the school by posing to be Senators' sons. Ferus did not like the plan and warned Anakin of it; however, Anakin dismissed his caution due his rivalry with Ferus. When the mission was over, Anakin had gotten too involved with the society in Ferus's view. This caused Anakin to get in trouble with Obi-Wan when Master and Padawan reunited.

Yaddle's sacrifice
"The legacy of this mission is pain."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi

When Anakin was fifteen, he, Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Yaddle were sent on a negotiation mission to Mawan to settle a devastating civil war between three crime gangs. These gangs, led by Decca the Hutt, Feena Shaan, and a man called Striker, caused the rest of the population to take refuge underground. Unbeknownst to them, the chaotic planet was a trap set by Striker. He released a fatal chemical weapon that killed Yaddle when she absorbed it through the Force, saving the city of Naatan in the process. The weapon was intended by its vengeful maker to kill Anakin and Obi-Wan, but it failed because of Yaddle's sacrifice. Anakin and Obi-Wan brought peace to Mawan, but Anakin felt responsible for the death of the Jedi High Council member.

Anakin's guilt about Yaddle's death caused friction between him and Obi-Wan, who felt that he was less than capable of teaching the mischievous Anakin properly. When sent on a rescue to the Uziel system to a planet called Vanqor, the two were forced to try and reconcile their differences, first going through a mess with gundarks, then, under the influence of a drug called the Zone of Self-Containment, Anakin was taken prisoner by the insane scientist Jenna Zan Arbor. Siri Tachi, Ferus Olin, Garen Muln, and Clee Rhara, who were sent on a mission but received the distress signal whilst en route, picked up Obi-Wan, who was on TY44, a moon of Vanqor, and taken to the planet itself. There, they helped him rescue Anakin.

Trailing Jenna Arbor and Roy Teda
"The capture of Zan Arbor is the safety of the Galaxy."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi



Jenna escaped, however, and did not resurface again until Anakin was sixteen. From information given them by Tyro Caladian, they found out that she'd appeared on Romin, a focus of corruption and villainy and a shelter for criminals. In order to infiltrate the planet, he, his Master, Siri, and Ferus disguised themselves as a band of thieves looking for refuge on the planet. They found that Jenna had allied herself with Roy Teda, the ruler of Romin, and Granta Omega, who also was at qualms with the Jedi. Before the Jedi were captured, civil war erupted. The underworld was trying to overthrow Teda. In the midst of it, Roy and Jenna fled. The criminals contacted the Jedi, thinking they were really criminals, trying to find a way offworld. However, Jenna recognized Anakin from their previous encounter, and Roy ordered his men to seize the Jedi. Before they could do so, Mace Windu and a team of Jedi arrived just in time, and arrested Roy and Jenna. Since they were trying to get to Omega, and they knew the two would lead them to him, they set the two captives free.

Only a few weeks later, Obi-Wan and his apprentice trailed Jenna and Roy to Falleen, where they had managed to set up the Blackwater Systems facility to mass-produce her drug, the Zone of Self-Containment. When they were found, Jenna was forced to destroy the facility and Roy Teda fled.

Not long after, Anakin and Ferus were again paired when the trail of Jenna and Roy led back to Coruscant. Sano Sauro, who was a friend of Granta Omega, and Bog Divinian, started to make anti-Jedi accusations in order to convince the Galactic Senate to lessen or completely dissolve its support of the Order. The vote was about whether the Jedi should be involved in the Senate's activities. It was all a part of Sauro and Omega's plan to leak the Zone of Self-Containment into the Senate's vents and assassinate Chancellor Palpatine. Anakin and Ferus, who were learning to forget their rivalry and understand each other, managed to prevent the assassination attempt on the Supreme Chancellor. Omega's plan was uncovered, but not in time to save twenty-one Senators as several other Senate employees from being killed by seeker droids programmed by Teda. Unbeknownst to him, since Jenna and Granta had no more use for him, a seeker droid killed him, as well. Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Siri set off to find Omega, leaving Ferus to protect the Senators and Palpatine.

Confronting old adversaries
"Omega. He knows we are coming."

- Anakin Skywalker



Tracking Omega and Zan Arbor to Korriban, four Jedi pairs&mdash;Anakin and Obi-Wan, Siri and Ferus, Ry-Gaul and Tru Veld, and Soara and Darra&mdash;traveled there to confront and stop them. The apprentices were split up from the Masters to better accomplish the mission. The investigation of Dreshdae led them to the Valley of the Dark Lords. Because of the dark side power of the planet, the Padawans, instead of working as a team, started fighting amongst themselves. Anakin found out about Ferus's advanced training, and was very jealous of him. Because of all of the friction, the way to Omega was catastrophic, as were the traps. Divided, the team of Padawans couldn't function well. Because of this, the confrontation with Omega was a disaster, causing Darra to sacrifice herself for Ferus and was riddled with blaster fire to the chest. She died moments later. This ever caused friction between Tru Veld and Anakin, her death being partly Anakin's fault, since, when Tru's lightsaber was damaged, Ferus decided to fix it, but Anakin knew that the way Ferus had done it would make the weapon's energy deplete much faster. Anakin said nothing in order to make Ferus look bad, but it caused Tru to be unable to block the bolts that killed Darra. Obi-Wan was forced to kill Granta Omega with a stroke of his blade. Zan Arbor managed to elude capture, and wasn't seen again by the Jedi or the Republic.

Ferus, blaming himself for Darra's death, resigned from the Jedi Order.

Growing up
"You sure sprouted, eh."

- Watto



Some time later, Anakin and his master were sent on a diplomatic mission to a planet wishing to join the Galactic Republic. They soon found out, however, that the planet's indigenous population considered thievery an important social asset. During their stay, Anakin's lightsaber was stolen. He searched for it, ashamed to tell Obi-Wan that he lost it, and soon had to admit defeat. Asking Obi-Wan for help, he found that the Jedi Knight knew the lightsaber had been stolen, and, using a trick of the Force, "acquired" it from the thief. Obi-Wan had merely been waiting for Anakin to admit that he'd lost it.

Obi-Wan and his apprentice, still sixteen, were then assigned to the task of protecting Senator Simon Greyshade from assassination. Simon had recently filled the station of senator of the Commonality that his assassinated cousin had left. Simon's cousin, Jheramahd Greyshade, was thrown off the roof of 500 Republica in an attempt to stall the passage of the Financial Reform Act, which the Senator supported. The Financial Reform Act was a bill that addressed and was meant to reduce the amount of corruption that was causing the Senate, and, through them, the Republic, to disintegrate.

Senator Greyshade, who had received a death threat, was now under protection by the Jedi duo. Commander Zalin Bey of the Senate Guard and her unit of Senate Guards were assigned to investigate Jheramahd's assassination.

Anakin and Obi-Wan had their hands full protecting Simon from myriad assassins: droids; Keluda, a Dug; and Princess Tsian, who had the benefit of diplomatic immunity. When Princess Tsian was arrested, Keluda moved in to get the hit on Simon; however, he was killed when his blaster bolt was reflected back at him.

Sagoro Autem and Isaru Omin continued the investigation of the Senator's murder, turning up several disturbing facts. Sagoro's brother, Venco, had assassinated Jheramahd, and convinced Reymet Autem to unwittingly help him in another assassination, this time an attempt at Simon's life, which failed. Sagoro managed to let his son escape with help from Riao Siao; however, when this was found by Omin, too late for him to arrest Reymet, Sagoro's son, he arrested his partner. Sagoro took the blame and disgrace for what his son had done, and was removed from the office of Senate Guard. Simon Greyshade was safe once more.

Because it was found that the assassination and assassination attempt was because of the Financial Reform Act, it never got a vote. Some say that this was the cause of a good portion of the seceding planets that would soon make the Confederacy of Independent Systems, and could have prevented the Clone Wars had it been passed.

Adult life (22 BBY–4 ABY)
"He was the best starpilot in the Galaxy&hellip; and a cunning warrior."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi



At the age of nineteen, Anakin and Obi-Wan, along with Luminara Unduli and her apprentice, Barriss Offee, were sent to Ansion to settle a border dispute that could have caused the extremely strategic planet to secede to the Confederacy. If Ansion fell, so would countless other worlds. The Jedi had to influence two constantly feuding armies to settle their dispute and come to an agreement. Little did they know that Presidente Shu Mai of the Commerce Guild was pulling the strings to cause Ansion to secede. However, the Jedi foiled her plot, moving the Ansionian clans Januul and Borokii to agree to staying in the Republic. Because of her status as Presidente, Shu Mai was not discovered to be a part of the matter.

Reunited with Padmé
"Ani? My goodness, you've grown."

- Padmé Amidala



After an attempt on her life by bounty hunter Zam Wesell, Anakin was personally assigned to protect and escort Padmé Amidala, now the Senator of Naboo, back to her homeworld. Anakin had not seen her in ten years, though he thought about her every day since their parting at Naboo. His childhood fascination with her had turned into a powerful infatuation. To avoid looking conspicuous, the two traveled as refugee's back to Naboo. In conversation, he revealed his affection for her, a distrust of the political process, and his view of the need for one strong leader. Over a short time, his infatuation for her blossomed into something more&mdash;love. Eventually Padmé began to return his feelings, even dressing provocatively around him to garner his attention. It was at Padmé's lake retreat where the two lost their inhibitions and shared their first kiss. Both seemed entranced with the other and their different social castes. However, Padmé eventually came to her senses, and while Anakin was more concerned with his feelings and living in the present moment (even suggesting they could keep their relationship a secret), Padmé was more concerned with duty and obligation. Padmé had foresight enough to know their current situations would not allow for a relationship between them. Anakin's pursuit of a relationship with her was in violation of Jedi tradition, which held that although Jedi were not required to be celibate, they were to avoid attachment to all but the Force itself.

"You're asking me to be rational. That is something that I know I cannot do. Believe me, I wish I could just wish away my feelings, but I can't."

- Anakin Skywalker

Anakin suffered recurring nightmares about his mother, Shmi, and went against the spirit of his orders to protect Padmé by bringing her to Tatooine to find Shmi. Upon landing on Tatooine, Anakin headed straight to Watto's shop, where he found out that Cliegg Lars had freed and married his mother.

After speaking to Cliegg Lars, the moisture farmer who had freed and married Shmi in the years since Anakin had been away, he found that she had been carried off by Tusken Raiders, and set out in pursuit on a swoop bike. The young Jedi discovered their camp beyond the B'Thazoshe Bridge, and slipped into the tent that contained his mother, most likely locating her with his Jedi senses. Battered, sleep-deprived, and dehydrated, Shmi Skywalker died in his arms. "I killed them. I killed them all. They're dead. Every single one of them. And not just the men, but the women, and the children too! They're like animals, and I slaughtered them like animals! I hate them!" "To be angry is to be Human."

- Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala



Anakin allowed the shock of her death to catalyze an explosion of his long-nursed anger and selfishness. He flew into a rage, killing everyone present&mdash;even, as he confessed to Padmé later, "the women and children." A number of Jedi, including Yoda, and the deceased Qui-Gon Jinn, sensed the shock of this massacre, amplified by Anakin's powerful Force presence bordering the dark side. His acts of hatred led to that specific area of Tatooine to become a location of darkness, corrupting the creatures that lived nearby, much like that of the former world of Malachor V. Padmé was clearly troubled by what he had done, but had invested herself too much in him to be truly repulsed; she tried to soothe him with sympathy and told no one about Anakin's hideous act. He claimed that one day he would have the power to stop people from dying. "You're not all powerful Ani." "Well I should be! Some day I will be, I will be the most powerful Jedi ever! I promise you, I will learn to stop people from dying! It's all Obi-Wan's fault! He's holding me back!"

- Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker

Anakin learned that his friend and mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, had been taken hostage by the Geonosian-engineered Confederacy of Independent Systems forces. Honoring Master Windu's words to protect the senator at all costs, he followed Padmé to Geonosis to save Obi-Wan. At the same time, they were ignoring Windu's instructions to remain on Tatooine. On Geonosis, Anakin and Padmé were soon captured as well and sent to meet their demise in a gladiatorial execution arena, wherein, faced with their impending fate, they professed their undying love to one another. The timely arrival of the Jedi, and eventually the clone troopers, allowed both of them to escape and fight in the ensuing battle. "No one act in itself crosses someone to the dark side. One does not stumble into the dark side by accident. It is a choice."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi



Anakin and Obi-Wan pursued Count Dooku, Sith Lord and mastermind of the Confederacy. Once they caught up with Dooku, Anakin (against the better advice of his Master) foolishly rushed Dooku with a headstrong attitude. It was the Padawan's undoing &mdash; Dooku unleashed a powerful barrage of Force lightning on Anakin, knocking the youth unconscious, and leaving his Master to face Dooku alone. Obi-Wan put up a valiant fight. However, his skills proved no match for the more powerful and experienced Dooku, and was soon incapacitated. As Anakin recovered from the Force lightning, he witnessed Dooku raising his lightsaber to deliver the final blow against the fallen Obi-Wan. Anakin, calling upon the Force, leapt into the path of Dooku's lightsaber, blocking it with his own, nobly saving his Master's life in the process. Anakin then used his Master's lightsaber as well as his own in the ensuing duel with Dooku. The extra lightsaber gave Anakin a tactical advantage. However, it was short-lived. Dooku was able to destroy one of the lightsabers, leaving Anakin with just the one. The intense duel continued, and finally ended when Dooku viciously severed Anakin's right forearm with his lightsaber. Anakin's forearm was replaced soon after with a mechanical prosthetic.



In the first days of the Clone Wars, Anakin married Padmé at Varykino on Naboo in a secret ceremony performed by a Naboo holyman, with C-3PO and his counterpart, R2-D2, as the only witnesses. They would later struggle to keep this illicit relationship secret.

The Clone Wars
"You are strong and wise, Anakin, and I am very proud of you. I have trained you since you were a small boy. I have taught you everything I know. And you have become a far greater Jedi than I could ever hope to be."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi

With the onset of the Clone Wars, Commander Anakin Skywalker was already becoming a storied hero. An unparallelled starfighter pilot, Anakin flew missions over several worlds, including Kamino, Balamak, and Virujansi, solidifying his fabled reputation. He even earned the seldom-heard title of Tan, in recognition of his exceptional piloting skills. He custom-modified his Delta-7 Aethersprite starfighter, named Azure Angel, into a unique and deadly vessel that time and time again outperformed any ship on the battlefield.



Dubbed the "Hero With No Fear", war molded Anakin into a man, but it continued to nourish his ego. It was also a lie. Anakin had no fear for his own life, but he was terrified for the lives of his Master, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, the troops under his authority, and even R2-D2, who accompanied Anakin whenever he could. It was difficult to rein in Anakin as he increasingly had trouble following the strict doctrine governed by the Jedi Code, especially when the Order itself was complicit in ambiguous moral acts by waging a full-scale war. But above all else, Anakin feared for his beloved Padmé. He wrote to her whenever he could, and also tried to meet with her on several occasions, but because of their duties they saw each other very rarely. And the few times they did, Padmé was usually in danger. "He is a cunning warrior, and our best pilot."

- Kit Fisto

At the Battle of Muunilinst, Commander Skywalker was charged with orchestrating the aerial assault on the homeworld of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, a pivotal member of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. His piloting talents and leadership of a group of clone pilots led to a victory.

A mysterious vessel caught his eye during the fray, and he was drawn from the battle despite Obi-Wan admonishing him. He followed the enigmatic fanblade to Yavin IV. Beneath the jungle canopy and amongst the remains of ancient Sith temples, Anakin dueled with Asajj Ventress. Their intense lightsaber attacks illuminated their dark surroundings. In the end, Anakin was able to defeat Asajj by taking one of her lightsabers, which immediately glowed even more, and repeatedly striking her, having brief visions of Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Yoda deeply troubled by what he was doing. His strikes caused the ground beneath to crack, and she fell apparently to her death but, in fact, later escaped. As he stood victorious, he gave a loud yell of anger, knowing that he had won. This had only been accomplished, though, by feeding his dark urgings.

"But he is reckless with his gifts."

- Adi Gallia

On the rain-drenched world of Jabiim, during the Battle of Jabiim, Skywalker came into his own. As Obi-Wan was thought to have been killed by a Separatist attack, Anakin led a cadre of similarly "orphaned" Padawans. The loss of his Master and the horrors on the battlefield of Jabiim would have lasting effect on his life; he became even more fiercely independent and more frustrated by his failings. However, in the deep of the battle he received an urgent transmission from Palpatine to personally evacuate the planet. This ploy may have been made to save Anakin from being killed on the battlefront. "Anakin broadcasts his emotions like a jamming beacon. I can't even think straight around him."

- Tae Diath

Respecting the Chancellor's power and friendship, Anakin had to comply with his wishes, though it was hard for him to desert his friends in the final front. Before leaving, the thirteen-year old Padawan Aubrie Wyn gave Anakin her Master's holocron to return to the temple. Sadly, in the following five days as Anakin left the front, all of the members of the Padawan Pack were killed in action. When the transports arrived, only a few made through the storms. Then Anakin became faced with a hard decision&mdash;as the last surviving Jedi on Jabiim, he ordered the evacuation of the planet. Enraged, Captain Orliss Gillmunn pulled a blaster on Anakin, who reacted instinctively with Force Choke-restricting Gillmunn's wind pipes. Such a horrific act was all too natural for him, though it was the first time he'd used the Force in this manner. Gillmunn, leader of the disenchanted Jabiimi loyalists, swore to never forget this betrayal as the Loyalist Jabiimi were left to their fate. Once again, Anakin had failed and the battle for Jabiim was lost.

Two days after the evacuation, the wounded were taken to New Holstice, where Anakin would first meet A'Sharad Hett, the Tusken Jedi, and his apprentice, Bhat Jul, and practice as healers. One of the wounded was Master Sora Mobari, who was injured in a explosion by Ithorian terrorists and not responding to treatments. Anakin, unable to accept this, tried a different method&mdash;he used the same Force technique that he used to crushed Gillmunn's windpipe, and used it to massage Mobari's heart. Hett was horrified, so he tried to reason with Anakin, saying that she was suffering needlessly. Anakin insisted she would live, but in spite of his efforts she succumbed to her injuries. Anakin was unable to accept that he couldn't save people from death; this experience would reinforce his desire to save the people he loved from death. Hett later shown Anakin a memorial created for all the Jedi killed since the birth of the Republic. It comprised of supposedly immortal memory moths that whispered the names of the Jedi over and over again. Anakin released a few memory moths for all members of the Padawan Pack&mdash;Kass Tod, Mak Lotor, Tae Diath, Elora Sund, Vaabesh, Windo Nend, Zule Xiss, and Aubrie Wyn&mdash;and his own master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. A'Sharad Hett released one for Sora Morbari. He reassured Anakin that she was severed from the Living Force days ago and nothing could have stopped her from dying. Anakin came under the tutelege of Ki-Adi-Mundi as a campaign began on the world of Aargonar.

Not long afterwords, Anakin was reunited with Kenobi, who had escaped from captivity.

After his heroic actions at the Battle of Praesitlyn, Anakin was endowed with the title of Jedi Knight, despite the fact that he never went through the traditional final test of the Jedi Trials before being knighted.



Anakin also participated in the Battle of Rendili. It was his idea to use his starfighter to place concussion charges on critical weak points of the Rendili Dreadnaught-class cruisers. Although Jedi Master Saesee Tiin objected to it, Anakin's pride couldn't let him pass up any chance for a victory. Without permission, he proceeded to carry out his plan during the battle. His plan was a success, and helped achieve a Republic victory. After the battle Anakin returned to Coruscant, where he was ambushed by Dark Jedi Asajj Ventress in one of Galactic City's industrial sectors.

She discovered Anakin listening to a secret holodisc recording of his beloved Padmé. She destroyed the holodisc, and taunted Anakin with threats to kill Padmé, after which the two engaged in a vicious lightsaber duel. It was during this battle Anakin received a vertical scar near his right eye, and two small scars on his left cheek from her lightsaber. Despite being maimed, Anakin persevered. Asajj had made the fatal mistake of underestimating the young Jedi Knight's fierce desire to protect the ones he loved from harm. During the battle Anakin used the Force to entangle her in electrical cables, and sent her plummeting to the depths of Coruscant below. As on Yavin IV, she survived the fall, but was too weak to pursue Anakin.



During the Outer Rim Sieges, Obi-Wan and Anakin were only occasionally removed from one another, being dispatched as a team to various battlefronts, commanding the Open Circle Fleet. "I won't fail you." "No, Anakin, don't fail yourself."

- Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan-Kenobi

Shortly before the Second Battle of Coruscant, Obi-Wan and Anakin were sent to the icy planet of Nelvaan to seek out Grievous. The Nelvaanians hailed Anakin as "Ghost Hand", and the shaman of Rokrul village sent him on a quest to save their people from a threat that had vanquished all their champions.

Anakin entered a cave where he experienced visions of a great hunter, who lost his arm in battle. However, he fought back, and continued to slay monsters with a new black, spiky arm. As he slayed the monsters, his power grew until it was out of control, the spiky black arm turning into a spiky black labyrinth that encompassed and destroyed everything the warrior held dear.



Padmé's voice was screaming as the sinister black labyrinth of evil that had once been the great warrior's arm turned back upon the source and morphed what remained of the great hunter into an eerie face&mdash;the face of Darth Vader, whom Anakin would soon become.

When Anakin recovered from this vision, he happened upon a Techno Union laboratory where they were experimenting on the Nelvaanian men, developing them into brutish drones with a blaster cannon for an arm. With the help of the last Nelvaanian who was not completely transformed by the scientists, he convinced the drones to assist him in destroying the factory, an act which cost him his robotic arm. Many of the scientists tried to escape, but Anakin caught up to and killed them in rage. In a show of support, the Nelvaanian men tore off their artificial arms as well.

Transformation to Vader
"Soon I will have a new apprentice&hellip; one far younger and more powerful."

- Darth Sidious



Shortly before the war's end, the First Battle of Cato Neimoidia handed Anakin and Obi-Wan a valuable clue to the identity of the mysterious Darth Sidious: Nute Gunray's mechno-chair. It carried a unique holotransceiver that bore intelligence capable of leading the Republic forces to their ultimate quarry, the ever-elusive Dark Lord. Mace Windu took up the lead on Coruscant, whilst Anakin and Obi-Wan tracked the lead in the Outer Rim Territories. Adventures for both teams awaited as the trail in the Outer Rim led back to the Works on Coruscant, in time for an attack on Coruscant by the Confederacy. Anakin and Obi-Wan rushed back to Coruscant after their visit to Tythe. Back on Coruscant, just as the identity of Darth Sidious loomed ever closer, the battle overhead delayed and dissolved the investigation. Mace Windu joined the battle, clashing with General Grievous, who eventually escaped, though injured, and captured Chancellor Palpatine, taking him to his flagship, Invisible Hand. "Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny."

- Yoda

Before the Separatist armada was able to flee Coruscant, Anakin and Obi-Wan raced back from the Outer Rim in an attempt to rescue the "captive" Chancellor. Arriving in the thick of the battle, they stormed the Confederacy's flagship, Invisible Hand, in their Eta-2 Actis-class interceptors. The two Jedi fought their way through the ship until they reached the General's Quarters atop a tower, where Palpatine was being held hostage. His arms were strapped to the General's chair, and the two Jedi went to free him, but Count Dooku then entered the room, escorted by two B2 super battle droids, to confront the heroes. Palpatine claimed that they were no match for Dooku because he was a Sith Lord. Obi-Wan casually brushed aside Palpatine's words of fear, boldly proclaiming, "Sith Lords are our specialty". "Aren't you a little old to be afraid of the dark?"

- Count Dooku onboard Invisible Hand

Unlike their first encounter with Dooku, Obi-Wan and Anakin fought together against him in a coordinated duel, until the Sith Lord used the Force to choke Kenobi while he simultaneously back-kicked Anakin and threw Obi-Wan across the room, rendering him unconscious and pinning him with a piece of a walkway dislodged by the Force. Anakin fought on with Dooku, eventually letting his emotions get the better of him as Dooku taunted, unleashing all his fear, anger and hatred, and eventually slicing off Dooku's hands, rendering the Sith Lord helpless. It was an act of vengeance from their previous duel, in which Anakin lost his right hand.



Pleased with this outcome, Palpatine urged Anakin to kill Dooku. After Anakin's hesitation to give in to the Chancellor's wishes, with two lightsabers (including Dooku's own curved, red-bladed lightsaber) crossing at Dooku's neck, he beheaded the shocked Count, killing him instantly. Anakin did not yet have the knowledge that Palpatine was also Darth Sidious, and he did not know that he was being used to betray Dooku so that Palpatine could train the young Jedi in the ways of the dark side. Anakin immediately regretted this action, citing that it is not the way of the Jedi to kill a foe that had already surrendered. Palpatine, however, eased Anakin's conscience by claiming that such an action of violence was "only natural" in such a situation.

Anakin freed Palpatine from his bonds and escaped the Quarters, carrying an unconscious Obi-Wan on his back, ignoring Palpatine's words to leave him behind. However their escape was short lived as they were soon captured and brought before General Grievous on the bridge. R2-D2 created a distraction, which allowed Anakin and Obi-Wan to escape from their bonds and attack the general's bodyguards and droids. Unfortunately, Grievous was able to escape the Jedi as his flagship began to break apart. Anakin managed to pilot what was left of the ship to a rather hard landing on a platform in an abandoned industrial area on Coruscant.

Upon his return to Coruscant, Anakin was reunited with his wife and she informed him of her pregnancy, which he was overjoyed to hear. He was later troubled by visions of Padmé dying in childbirth. "Anakin Skywalker, we have approved your appointment to the Jedi Council as the Chancellor's personal representative. You are on this Council, but we do not grant you the rank of Master." "What? How can you do this? This is outrageous! It's unfair! How can you be on the Council and not be a Master?"

- Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker



Dark times followed when Palpatine made Anakin his representative on the Jedi Council. The other Jedi reluctantly accepted Anakin's placement on the Council, but denied him the rank of Jedi Master. "No Jedi in this room can match my power&mdash;no Jedi in the Galaxy! You think you can deny Mastery to me!"

- Anakin Skywalker to the Jedi Council

Further, the Jedi Council urged Anakin to keep tabs on Palpatine, although Obi-Wan was against this decision. This led Anakin to lose his trust in the members of that governing body. He revealed to his beloved wife that he was plagued with uncertainty. "What kind of nonsense is this?! Put me on the Council and not make me a Master? It's never been in the history of the Jedi. It's insulting!" "Oh, calm down, Anakin. You have been given a great honor. To be on the council at your age&mdash;it's never happened before."

- Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi

As he continued to meet with Palpatine, the Chancellor slowly began to plant the seeds of the dark side in Anakin. Playing to his fears of Padmé dying, he told Anakin the story of a Sith Lord, Darth Plagueis, who was so powerful he could stop people from dying. Eventually Palpatine revealed his true self, and offered Anakin the chance to learn the ways of the dark side and use its power to save Padmé. Anakin realized that Palpatine was Darth Sidious and promptly reported this to Mace Windu. After instructing Anakin to remain at the Jedi Temple, Windu and three other Jedi&mdash;Agen Kolar, Saesee Tiin, and Kit Fisto&mdash;went to arrest the Chancellor. Palpatine dueled with the Jedi, slaying three of them almost immediately. Windu and Palpatine continued to fight until Windu came out on top, pointing his weapon at the throat of the cowering Sith (although Palpatine appeared to have lost, this might have been staged for the purpose of gaining sympathy from Anakin, his hopeful protégé). Back at the Jedi Temple, meanwhile, Anakin brooded over an overwhelming thought: with Palpatine's death, he would lose the chance to save his wife from what happened in his dreams.

A fateful choice
"What have I done?"

- Anakin Skywalker



Anakin arrived just in time to see Windu preparing to kill Palpatine. Palpatine then attacked Windu with Force lightning while pleading to Anakin for help. Trying desperately to block Palpatine's lightning, Windu screamed at Anakin not to listen. During this battle, Palpatine went through a physical transformation as he struggled to intensify his dark side powers with his own life force, his face becoming hideously deformed and his eyes turning yellow. Windu prevailed and expressed a desire to kill Palpatine and end the Sith; however, Anakin confronted him, stating that Palpatine must stand trial, and that to execute him is not the way of the Jedi. This was out of his regret for killing Dooku before in a juxtaposed situation, but clearly more out of his fear for losing the chance to save his wife from death. Windu ignored Anakin and prepared to kill Palpatine, but in a flash, the panicked Anakin drew his lightsaber, severing Windu's arm. Before Windu could respond, Palpatine used Force lightning to send Windu plummeting to his death. "I pledge myself to your teachings."

- Anakin Skywalker to Palpatine

Upon realizing the enormity of what he had done, Anakin was stricken with guilt and questioned his actions, but was too emotionally drained to resist Palpatine, who stated that he was fulfilling his destiny. He further encouraged Anakin to embrace the dark side and become his apprentice. Anakin said he would do anything Palpatine desired; all he wanted was to save Padmé's life and the help to do so. Palpatine promised Anakin that, together, they could find the secret, tacitly admitting that he did not have the ability to hold back death. Anakin then pledged himself to the Sith Order, and Sidious endowed him with a new name: Darth Vader.

Showdown on Mustafar and aftermath
"Twisted by the dark side, young Skywalker has become. The boy you trained, gone he is&hellip; consumed by Darth Vader."

- Yoda



In order to increase the dark side's hold over Vader, Palpatine ordered him to lead the 501st Legion of clone troopers into the Jedi Temple and kill every Jedi and Padawan inside. Vader did this without question, killing venerable Jedi and younglings alike. Some of the Jedi children approached him, unaware that he was to be their destroyer. The atrocities made by Vader and the 501st Legion resounded in a smoke rising from the pillars easily visible from the Senate building.

Palpatine then commanded Vader to travel to the planet Mustafar, where he was to kill the Separatist Council, including Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray, Sidious's former ally who had invaded and occupied Naboo before being defeated by Anakin during the Battle of Naboo thirteen years before. Until he died, Gunray pleaded with Vader, claiming that Lord Sidious had promised them peace, however, Vader killed him without replying. Vader then exited the room for a second, looking down onto the terrain of Mustafar as if it were his empire.



After Obi-Wan informed Padmé of Vader's malefactions and sympathized with her, she went to Mustafar to try to reason with Vader, afraid for him and wanting to leave public life to live together and raise their child. When he heard this, Vader told Padmé that he could remove Palpatine as Emperor and that they could rule the Galaxy together, something that he would later repeat to their son, Luke. Padmé, shocked at this revelation, declined his offer, realizing that her husband was truly gone. Unbeknownst to her, Obi-Wan stowed away on her ship to find Vader. "You underestimate my power!"

- Darth Vader to Obi-Wan Kenobi

Upon seeing Obi-Wan, Vader thought that Padmé had betrayed him and brought Obi-Wan along to kill him. Overwhelmed by his anger and rage, he used the Force to choke Padmé until she lost consciousness. Obi-Wan tried to reason with his former pupil, but that was not to be as Obi-Wan thought that Vader was corrupt beyond redemption.



Using Force cocoons to cool themselves throughout the scorching heat, Vader and Obi-Wan fought an intense battle throughout the mining complex and down the river of lava outside. The battle ended on the banks of the lava river, where Obi-Wan leaped towards safety to claim the high ground, pleading with Vader to concede defeat and return from the dark path. Ignoring his fatal tactical disadvantage, together with his overwhelming pride, Vader attempted to catch up with and destroy his former master, only to become severely maimed and immobilized by Obi-Wan's blade.

With his ability to use the Force grievously reduced, Vader tried to claw his way up the talus, using only his remaining prosthetic limb. As he did this, Obi-Wan and Vader exchanged their parting words. "You were the Chosen One! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them! Bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness!" "I hate you!" "You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you."

- Obi-Wan and Vader



Shortly after the conversation, Vader's body ignited into flames and he was nearly immolated after sliding down to the edge of the burning river bank. During their last conversation until 0 BBY, Obi-Wan retrieved Vader's lightsaber from the ash-covered beaches of the lava river, and left after witnessing the graphic incineration scenario as the flames that had burned Vader started to calm down. Keeping himself alive with the Force and his unbreakable will, Vader struggled with near-fatal third-degree burns and severe lung damage, not to mention emotional pain. Darth Sidious arrived and found Vader barely alive beside the lava river. He took him back to Coruscant and repaired the damage to his body through intensive cybernetic enhancement at the Emperor Palpatine Surgical Reconstruction Center. He ordered the medical droids to keep him awake during the process so the pain would make him stronger. His new robotic arms and legs were an enhanced version of the same technology that transformed Grievous into a cyborg. Upon his revival as a cyborg, Vader questioned his master about Padmé. Sidious told him that he had killed his wife in his anger.

Overwhelmed by his despair in the belief he had killed his wife and unborn child, which was seemingly a self-fulfilled prophecy, Vader destroyed med droids and severely damaged the facility with his rage. He broke his bindings on the operating table and struggled to walk under the sheer weight of his new mechanical legs. Palpatine smiled as he realized that Vader's hatred would serve him well. The only thing that remained in Anakin's life was his service to the new Emperor. The personalities of Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader were further separated by his extremely painful physical and emotional wounds which resulted in a great change in his appearance and character.



Though much of his potential power had now been lost, Darth Vader became the brutal second-in-command of the Galactic Empire, being granted the rank of Executor. He had the blood of many millions, including almost the entire Jedi Order, on his hands. During his 23 years of service to the Emperor, Vader carried out many horrible deeds, including torturing Leia Organa (whom he did not realize was his own daughter), as well as nearly killing his son, Luke Skywalker.

Redemption
"I know there is good in you. The Emperor hasn't driven it from you fully."

- Luke Skywalker



At the time of the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, Luke Skywalker risked everything, including turning himself over to Imperial forces, in order to assure the victory of the Rebel Alliance and the redemption of his father. Luke was brought to Emperor Palpatine on the second Death Star by Vader. The Emperor relentlessly attempted to lure Luke to the dark side by tormenting him with thoughts of the defeat of the Rebel Alliance and the death of his friends, though Luke kept on trying to restrain himself from fighting his father. Vader, sensing Luke's thoughts, finally discovered he also had a daughter, Leia Organa, Luke's twin sister. Vader then threatened to corrupt Leia, but Luke ignited his lightsaber again and attacked Vader with anger and hatred, slowly converting to the dark side. Then finally, Luke sliced off Vader's mechanical right hand, defeating the Dark Lord. Palpatine cackled with triumph, urging Luke to "fulfill [his] destiny, and take [his] father's place at [Palpatine's] side". Vader realized that he had been betrayed, just as Count Dooku had been betrayed decades previous.

Just then Luke saw his father's right severed arm, and seeing that it was mechanical, just like his, he realized that he was about to become Vader's successor. Using a combination of Obi-Wan's teachings and the light side of the Force to calm himself down, Luke tossed his lightsaber away, refusing the Emperor's offer to join him as his new apprentice and declaring that he was a Jedi like his father before him. Enraged at the failure of his plans, the Emperor unleashed a barrage of Force lightning attacks upon Luke. Defiant in the face of evil, Luke suffered the wrath of Palpatine, and Vader could do no more than watch as Luke Skywalker lay dying.



Anakin never forgot the pain Count Dooku had once inflicted upon him with the lethal power of Force lightning, and could not bear to see his son in such agony. He had been unable to save his mother, he had let Mace Windu die under his Master's power many years before, and he had killed his own wife and had ensured his own downfall, but he could save his son. Anakin Skywalker would not stand by and let his son fall. From this moment on, Vader ceased to exist, and Anakin Skywalker was reborn. In a final heroic effort of self-sacrifice, rectifying his mistake by not helping Windu kill Palpatine before, Anakin reemerged from the mind of Vader and struggled to his feet to rescue his son from the Emperor. He literally overthrew his dark Master, completely lifting him off the ground with his great strength, casting the Emperor down the Death Star's reactor shaft to his death. However, it was at the cost of his own life. Anakin was badly wounded in the process by the startled Emperor's flailing arms still issuing forth lightning, and his breathing apparatus short-circuited, but this single act served to redeem his past actions.



Nearing death, Anakin asked Luke to help him remove his mask, so that he could see his son with his own eyes. Luke helped disconnect the mask and saw his father for the first time. Underneath, Anakin was bald, with white skin from not being exposed to natural light for over twenty years. However, his eyes were no longer the fiery yellow they were, but a shining blue filled with guilt and regret for his own sins. After seeing his son directly, he told Luke that he was right about him (as was his mother)&mdash;that there was good still in him&mdash;and to tell his sister, Leia, the same. With these last words, Anakin Skywalker died and became one with the Force. His final words were: "You were right&hellip; you were right about me. Tell your sister&hellip; You were right."

- Anakin Skywalker's dying words

Luke escaped the exploding Death Star in a shuttle with his father's body, and reached the forest moon of Endor where his armor was cremated in the manner of a Jedi (since Anakin's body had apparently vanished). During the celebration, Luke saw what appeared to be a vision of a forgiven Anakin (whole and without the artificial body of Vader), Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Yoda smiling down upon him. With the deaths of the last two Sith Lords, Anakin had finally brought balance to the Force. His destiny fulfilled, Anakin Skywalker had passed on into the embrace of the light side of the Force.

Aftermath (4 ABY and beyond)
"Maybe Vader had died heroically, but ten minutes contribution did not make up for years of atrocities."

- Leia Organa, after her first and only visitation from the Force ghost of her father



Anakin Skywalker's specter would continue to appear throughout the years. Shortly after the Battle of Endor, Anakin appeared before his daughter, Leia Organa, in Salis D'aar, the capital of Bakura. There, he begged his daughter for forgiveness for his past crimes. However, Leia had only recently learned of her parentage and was unable to ignore that he had committed gross crimes, including the Destruction of Alderaan, while serving Emperor Palpatine. After that, Anakin Skywalker never reappeared before Leia again. However, in 8 ABY, upon discovering her grandmother's diary Leia realized that her father wasn't the evil monster that she thought he was and learned to forgive him. In 10 ABY, Leia Organa Solo named her youngest child Anakin Solo in remembrance of her father's redemption.

Shortly after the Battle of Endor, Anakin visited his son once more. He pleaded for Luke to redeem and undo the damage that Vader had done to the young man known as Flint, as he was now unable to do it himself.

Five years after the Battle of Yavin, when Qu Rahn was killed by Jerec, Rahn beheld the Force spirits of Anakin Skywalker and Halagad Ventor in his final moments and realized nobody was beyond redemption. "Stand firm!"

- Anakin to his grandson, Jacen Solo

In 30 ABY, during the Yuuzhan Vong War, Anakin Skywalker would speak to his grandson, Jacen Solo, before Jacen eventually defeated Onimi, the true ruler of the Yuuzhan Vong.

During the events of 35 ABY, while Luke Skywalker was fixing R2-D2, the Jedi Master encountered a hologram of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala in which Anakin says to his wife he had a dream that Padmé died from childbirth.

A year later, Luke also viewed a hologram of Anakin slaughtering Jedi in the Jedi Temple, yet another hologram recorded by the astromech droid. Not long after, during the Swarm War, the shocking revelation behind the death of Leia and Luke's mother was revealed when Luke witnessed his father Force-choking Padmé in another hologram projected by R2-D2.

"I feel I'm reliving parts of Anakin Skywalker's life. I'd be crazy if I didn't try to learn from that."

- Jacen Solo

In 40 ABY, Jacen Solo flow-walked back to the Raid on the Jedi Temple to see why Anakin had turned to the dark side and if he had made the right choice. Shocked at what he saw, Jacen became confident that his reasons for turning were far greater than that of Anakin's and, in the end, Jacen accepted the path of the Sith.

Legacy
"&hellip; A special destiny is not always something joyous, or easy to bear. My father had a special destiny, and see where it took him."

- Luke Skywalker

Anakin Skywalker, being the Chosen One of Jedi prophecy, left behind a great legacy. Since he married and started a family, Anakin openly defied the Jedi Code to follow his heart. His love for his family turned out to be a double-edged sword; Darth Sidious, by preying upon the young Jedi's fear of loss, managed to seduce him over to the dark side. However, in the end, it was Anakin's love for his son, Luke Skywalker, that redeemed his soul. Even though Anakin was the Chosen One, Luke served indirectly as the catalyst that allowed Anakin to fulfull the Jedi prohecy, and slay Emperor Palpatine - an act which fractured the Galactic Empire. During Anakin's tenure as Darth Vader, he helped Palpatine nearly eradicate the entire Jedi Order. However, this action in the end allowed the Jedi Order to be rebuilt by Anakin's son, Luke Skywalker. "Sometimes things must be broken in order to be rebuilt."

- Jacen Solo

Luke was able to take the little training he received from Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi and carry on the Jedi legacy. In the years following the Battle of Endor, Luke Skywalker established the New Jedi Order. In the following years, it would go on to be a major player in galactic affairs, and would serve the New Republic for many years to come. After 28 ABY, the Order served to help defend the Galactic Alliance during the Yuuzhan Vong War, and later the Swarm War. Anakin's daughter, Leia Organa Solo, would go on to be a key player in the Rebel Alliance, and ultimately serve as the Chief of State of the New Republic from 11 ABY&mdash;17 ABY.

Appearance
"Ani?&hellip; Ani? Is it really you? Oh, you look so handsome."

- Shmi Skywalker Lars after seeing her son



Anakin appeared as an average Human. As an adult, he stood 1.85 m in height. His hair went from straight and blond as a child to wavy and light brown as an adult. Anakin also wore his hair long, a trait common among Jedi Knights. After losing the majority of his right arm (from the elbow down) to Count Dooku, he was given a cybernetic prosthetic replacement that was later destroyed, then rebuilt by him and covered with a black leather glove.

During the Clone Wars, he acquired a vertical scar near his right eye, the result of a lightsaber duel with the Dark Jedi Asajj Ventress. Anakin dressed in traditional Jedi garb, though ominously, he wore darker colors than most Jedi (dark brown and black). His surcoat on his tunic was made of synthetic leather, and his lightsaber bore no resemblance to his mentor's weapon, which further separated him from other Jedi.

After his redemption and return to the light side of the Force, when he at last fulfilled the Jedi prophecy and slew the Emperor, Anakin's dying wish was that he should see his son Luke "with his own eyes." Luke complied, and removed the fearsome mask that had caged his father's face for over twenty years. What was revealed was the ghostly pale visage of a sad and withered man in his mid-forties. His head bald and browless, Anakin's skin was pasty white from not having been exposed to sunlight for over two decades, his face still carrying the worst scars of a tragic duel. His weary eyes stared out from dark, sunken sockets at his son, and back at a life filled with sorrowful regret. Once more they shined blue, as Anakin Skywalker made peace with the Force and forever joined it.

After Anakin died, he retained his individuality and became a Force ghost. In his Force ghost form, Anakin appeared in his early twenties, with all of his organic limbs and none of his physical scars from the Clone Wars. This could partially be explained by saying Anakin "died" when he fell to the dark side.

Talents
"Powerful Jedi was he, powerful Jedi."

- Yoda



Anakin Skywalker was a man of many talents. He was known for his exceptional piloting skills and was a Jedi ace. Some would go as far to argue he was "the best starpilot in the Galaxy". During Anakin's tenure as a slave, he made a name for himself by being a podracer. He was one of the few Humans with the reflexes to actually pilot a podracer, thanks to his Force sensitivity. Anakin even won the Boonta Eve Classic race, which won him his freedom. Young Anakin also attracted the attention of many in the Republic; during the Battle of Naboo, he piloted a Naboo starfighter and destroyed the Droid Control Ship. His efforts no doubt single-handedly helped win the battle. It was only a shadow of his skills to come; during the Clone Wars, Anakin was one of the Republic's best and most famous star pilots. His abilities garnered the attention of both Chancellor Palpatine and his peers. At the Second Battle of Coruscant, Anakin was able to safely land Invisible Hand, even though he was only flying half a ship. "He is powerful. Potentially more powerful than even myself."

- Darth Sidious

Anakin was also known to be an exceptional mechanic. At the age of nine he created, with limited resources, the protocol droid C-3PO to aid his mother. For the Boonta Eve Classic race, Anakin entered his custom-built podracer. When meeting up with his former slave owner, Watto, Anakin proved his identity to him by fixing a machine Watto was tinkering with. During the Clone Wars Anakin extensively modified a Delta-7 Aethersprite starfighter into a fully customized starship known as Azure Angel. His modifications paved the way for the Eta-2 Actis interceptor. Anakin tinkered with his mechno-arm as he did his starfighter. Adding to his ability to interface with droids, Anakin was also fluent in understanding the electronic language of droidspeak.



Anakin's unprecedented midi-chlorian count made him one of the most powerful members of the Jedi Order. However, it also made Anakin arrogant. When he came to the Jedi Temple at the age of nine, he began to develop at a much faster and accelerated pace than his fellow Padawans. He also had the ability to use the Force to asphyxiate people, a sign of his burgeoning dark side proclivities. "Skywalker is arguably the most poweful Jedi alive, and he is still getting stronger."

- Mace Windu

Anakin was one of the most talented lightsaber wielders in the Jedi Order. As a Padawan, Anakin practiced Ataru. He abandoned it after his defeat at the hands Count Dooku on Geonosis and turned to the power of Djem So. It proved most effective; his mastery of Djem So, along with his feint in using the opening stance of Shien, was able to overpower and defeat Count Dooku during their second duel, which took place onboard Invisible Hand. Anakin also used Djem So against his fight with his former friend and Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar. Though Anakin was able to give Obi-Wan a good fight in their fierce duel (the two appeared evenly matched), Obi-Wan's patience and experience with Soresu paired with Sokan was enough to defeat Anakin. The loss made Anakin much weaker with the Force.

Power and Force potential
"&hellip; you are so far less now than what you were, you are more than half machine, you are like a painter gone blind, a composer gone deaf, you remember where the power was but the power you can touch is only a memory&hellip;"

- Anakin's thoughts after the revelation of Padmé's death

The fact that Anakin was born with the highest known midi-chlorian count in galactic history and considered to be the Chosen One leads to various conclusions about his Force potential and power. During his lifetime he did not achieve his full potential due to his destiny as a tragic hero. Before his fall to the dark side, although extremely young, Anakin was one of the most powerful living Jedi. "I see you becoming the greatest of all the Jedi, Anakin. Even more powerful than Master Yoda."

- Palpatine

In a duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin lost his three remaining limbs at Mustafar, and suffered serious burns that resulted in loss of midi-chlorians, which in turn resulted in reducing his Force potential dramatically. Had he not suffered his Mustafar injuries, he might have become the most powerful person to ever live, more powerful than any other Force user. However, after his death, he became one with the Force, thus achieving his full potential. Obi-Wan Kenobi said to Darth Vader just before his death: "If you strike me down I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine." If that is, in fact, true, the conclusion would be that when one unites with the Force he/she reaches the peak of his/her power.

Anakin's possible "father"
"The Force is unusually strong with him, that much is clear. Who was his father?" "There was no father. I carried him, I gave birth, I raised him&hellip; I can't explain what happened."

- Qui-Gon Jinn and Shmi Skywalker

In light of information revealed by Palpatine to Anakin, it becomes distinctly possible that Darth Plagueis or Darth Sidious may in fact be Anakin's "father". It is known that Darth Plagueis had the ability to create or sustain life through manipulation of midi-chlorians, and Anakin's conception bears a notable resemblance to this concept. Though Sidious told Anakin he never learned the secret from his master, it is unknown whether Anakin was a key in rediscovering the secret or merely an extremely powerful pawn. It is also very possible that Palpatine was just lying, as he usually does, deceiving Anakin on his path to the dark side of the Force. Another possibility is that Sidious himself could have been Anakin's "father" if he had learned the power to influence midi-chlorians from his master. Also, Palpatine calls Anakin "[his] son" many times.

Also, Anakin managed to achieve the Force ghost state, which Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Obi-Wan Kenobi had but without the evolution Qui-Gon had nor the training Yoda and Obi-Wan had. Since, Anakin was "created" by the Force, he was already one with the Force. Anakin probably didn't realize that or maybe didn't know that his former master, Obi-Wan, learned the ability when he killed him.

It is impossible to know for certain what the truth is, yet these remain as distinct possibilities.

Anakin's lightsabers
"This weapon is your life."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi to Anakin Skywalker



Anakin built and used at least two lightsabers during his time as a Jedi. In 28 BBY, as a young Padawan, Anakin traveled to Ilum as a test of skill to construct his first lightsaber. While constructing his lightsaber deep inside one of the caverns, Anakin encountered a vision of Darth Maul. After a struggle, Anakin managed to defeat this dark incarnation. Upon awakening, Anakin discovered he had constructed a lightsaber with one of the sapphire Adegan crystals that grew in Ilum's caverns. This crystal gave Anakin's lightsaber blade a distinct blue glow. The design of the hilt suited his practice of Form IV. This lightsaber would go on to be used by Anakin up until 22 BBY, when it was destroyed shortly before the Battle of Geonosis.

The second lightsaber was created sometime shortly after the Battle of Geonosis. Anakin's second weapon was a powerful creation that portrayed his skill of mechanical engineering. This one was specifically designed for a master of Djem So, as Anakin was soon to become one.

In 19 BBY, after his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar, the lightsaber was taken by Anakin's former Master, where he kept it on Tatooine. In 0 BBY, Obi-Wan passed it down to Anakin's own son Luke, whom Obi-Wan had been watching over.

"What is it?" "Your father's lightsaber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. An elegant weapon, for a more civilized age."

- Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi

In the hands of Luke Skywalker, Anakin's blade was wielded against numerous foes, even against Anakin himself as the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader. During a duel on Bespin between Luke and his father, Vader sliced off Luke's right hand, sending both Luke's hand and lightsaber into the depths of Cloud City. The lightsaber, along with Luke's hand, would later be recovered.

A few years after Anakin's death at Endor, Joruus C'baoth, a mad clone of Jorus C'baoth, would use Luke's severed right hand to create a clone of the Jedi, Luuke Skywalker. Wielding the blade of Anakin, Luuke went on to duel Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker. After Luuke was killed by the combined effort of Luke and Mara, Luke recovered his father's weapon and presented it to Mara as a gift. The lightsaber would remain in Mara's posession for many years.

Behind the scenes
"&hellip; and in the time of greatest despair, there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as: THE SON OF THE SUNS."

- Journal of the Whills, 3:127

Anakin's unusual birth, him being the Chosen One, as well as the hints that a Sith Lord engineered this event, can be a reference to the Dune novel, in which the Bene Gesserit order conducts an eugenics (Human cross-breeding) program to create a superhuman, the Kwisatz Haderach, whom they could control, but when this superhuman is finally born (as the protagonist Paul Atreides), he eventually rebels against them. "However, after all of his limbs were severed and he was extremely burned on Mustafar he lost much of his Force potential. As Darth Vader, Anakin was believed to have had roughly 80% of the strength of the Emperor. Had he sustained none of his injuries on Mustafar he would have been twice as powerful."

- George Lucas

In Sanskrit, the name "Anakin" means "warrior". Creator George Lucas took the name from his friend and fellow film director, Ken Annakin. Additionally, the name could itself refer to him being the Chosen One&mdash;splitting into "An Akin" would translate the name as "Peerless" or "Without Equal". The name may also be derived from the name "Anakim", found in the Old Testament. It is one of several names used to identify a race of giants "the sons of God saw daughters of men and took them wives of all they chose' [Genesis 6:2]".

On both the 2005 DVD cover of Revenge of the Sith and the film's poster, the scar on the right side of Anakin's face is absent in the photo.

Hayden Christensen was not the first actor in Star Wars to fight with a lightsaber in each hand. During the battle in the Geonosian's arena, one Jedi, Joclad Danva, can be seen fighting battle droids with a saber in each hand.

Portrayal
Anakin was played in the films by Jake Lloyd as a child, Hayden Christensen as a young adult, and Sebastian Shaw as a dying, elderly, and redeemed person. Christensen himself portrayed Vader in the black-armored suit in Episode III, while David Prowse did so in IV, V, and VI, except for the fight scenes in V and VI, in which swordsman Bob Anderson wore the suit. Anakin/Vader's voice in the original trilogy and Revenge of the Sith was performed by James Earl Jones. In the radio drama adaptations, Brock Peters performed as Vader, with David Birney performing as Anakin on the final episode of the Return of the Jedi radio drama. In the Clone Wars cartoon, he was voiced by Jerome Beidler as a child and Mat Lucas as an adult.





In the original Return of the Jedi, the appearance of Anakin's redeemed Force ghost was a robust, middle-aged man with graying brown hair and a kindly face, but upon release of the Special Edition DVD version of Return of the Jedi, Anakin is in his twenties just before his fall to the dark side. George Lucas stated that redeemed Jedi would revert as a Force ghost in their pre-fall form. It should also be noted that the DVD release has digitally removed Shaw's eyebrows (as the unmasked Vader), presumably motivated by Lucas reasoning that since his baldness was caused by the severe burns sustained on Mustafar, then his eyebrow follicles would have likewise been destroyed. The fact that the unmasked Vader originally did have eyebrows can either be accounted to an oversight in the makeup design, or possibly serves as some evidence that Vader's volcanic fate was not conceived prior to filming Return of the Jedi. Thus it should further be pointed out that although horribly scarred, Anakin's face in Return of the Jedi bears no scar tissue that is clearly indicative of severe burns of the sort shown at the end of Revenge of the Sith. An in-universe explanation provided is that Vader had been using the Force to slowly heal his wounds, thus accounting for the missing scars.

Appearances



 * Urchins
 * Star Wars: Episode I Racer
 * Podracing Tales
 * Star Wars: Obi-Wan
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode I Journal: Anakin Skywalker
 * Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles
 * Star Wars Republic: Emissaries to Malastare
 * Jedi Apprentice Special Edition: Deceptions
 * Jedi Apprentice Special Edition: The Followers
 * Rogue Planet
 * Jedi Quest comics
 * Jedi Quest series
 * Star Wars: Zam Wesell
 * Outbound Flight
 * A Jedi's Weapon
 * Star Wars: Racer Revenge
 * Star Wars Republic: Honor and Duty
 * The Approaching Storm
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * The Lesson
 * Nobody's Perfect
 * Boba Fett: The Fight to Survive
 * Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 14:2:12: CIS Jammer Prototype Destroyed
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * Legacy of the Jedi
 * The Cestus Deception
 * The Hive
 * MedStar: Intermezzo
 * MedStar II: Jedi Healer
 * Jedi Trial
 * Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
 * Secrets of the Jedi
 * Boba Fett: A New Threat
 * Boba Fett: Pursuit
 * Reversal of Fortune
 * Star Wars: Obsession
 * Sithisis
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: Revenge of the Brick
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * The Last One Standing
 * The Last of the Jedi: Underworld
 * The Last of the Jedi: Death on Naboo
 * Sandstorm
 * Darth Vader: Extinction
 * Star Wars Empire: Betrayal
 * Resurrection
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Skippy the Jedi Droid
 * Star Wars Empire: In the Shadows of Their Fathers
 * Star Wars Rebellion 0: Crossroads
 * Thank the Maker!
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
 * The Truce at Bakura
 * Marvel Star Wars 92: The Dream
 * Tatooine Ghost
 * Junior Jedi Knights: The Golden Globe
 * Junior Jedi Knights: Lyric's World
 * Junior Jedi Knights: Promises
 * Junior Jedi Knights: Anakin's Quest
 * Junior Jedi Knights: Vader's Fortress
 * Junior Jedi Knights: Kenobi's Blade
 * Force Heretic III: Reunion
 * The Unifying Force
 * The Lost Lightsaber
 * Dark Nest I: The Joiner King
 * Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen
 * Dark Nest III: The Swarm War
 * Bloodlines