Star Wars: The 10 Best Sith Armor In Star Wars Canon & Legends

Summary Other Sith like Darth Bane followed Vader's style, donning stunning armor for aesthetic and functional purposes.

Darth Bane's armor in Legends was unique due to orbalisks while Naga Sadow's armor was inspired by Roman military officials.

Different representations of Sith troopers in canon and Legends depict unique armor styles; Emperor's Royal Guard had armor for protection.

Darth Vader was Star Wars' first Sith Lord, and he set a pattern for many Sith to wear absolutely stunning armor. In truth, armor is quite unusual for the Sith; many, such as Darth Maul and even Darth Sidious, tend to be seen wearing dark robes instead. Still, following Darth Vader's pattern, other Sith in Star Wars have donned armor that's spectacular to see, each iconic for its own different reasons.

Darth Vader, of course, wore armor for a very simple reason: he had no choice. Many of the other Sith armors on this list are purely aesthetic, while others serve an important function as well. Here's our pick of the best Sith armors in canon and Legends.

Related The 10 Best Sith Helmets In Star Wars Canon & Legends Sith helmets are a long-standing tradition in Star Wars, and these 10 are the very best from canon and Legends movies, books, and TV shows.

10 Darth Bane Wore Two Powerful Suits Of Armor

His Armor Was Alive In Star Wars Legends

Close

Known best as the Sith who instituted the Rule of Two, the spirit of Darth Bane was shown in Star Wars: The Clone Wars wearing an impressive suit of armor. In canon, Darth Bane wore what has been called the Ancient Sith Armor, a dark and impressive outfit that is deliberately evocative of Darth Vader. Looking at Legends, though, he wore something rather different.

In Legends, Darth Bane encountered a parasitic race known as orbalisks while visiting the planet Dxun. Orbaliisk hides were so strong they could even deflect lightsaber blades; they settled across Darth Bane's body, feeding off his dark side energy, burrowing into his skin but preserving his life in a dark form of symbiosis. While wearing the orbalisk armor, Darth Bane was essentially invulnerable.

9 Naga Sadow’s Armor Was Inspired By Real Ancient Armor

It Was Elaborate And Plated With Gold

Close

In canon, the Sith Lord Naga Sadow has only been briefly mentioned in Michael Kogge’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: A Junior Novel. Here, Naga Sadow is described as leading the Sith during the Great Hyperspace War. However, Star Wars Legends paints a detailed picture of a terrifying warlord and master alchemist.

Naga Sadow's armor, which can best be seen in the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic, looks to have been based on the armor of Roman military officials. Also described as ancient Sith armor in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Naga Sadow’s armor was buried along with his body on the Sith planet Korriban. Though it held no special characteristics of its own, it was important enough that Naga Sadow decided to be buried in it.

8 Sith Trooper Armor Appears Differently In KOTOR And In Canon

Their Armor Looks More Like That Of A Stormtrooper In Canon

Close

Depending on whether a person is referring to canon or Star Wars Legends, a Sith trooper can look very different. In Knights of the Old Republic, Sith troopers were the infantry deployed by Darth Revan and Darth Malak during the Jedi Civil War. These troops wore silver armor specifically designed to invoke fear, making these troops almost look faceless in the process. They clearly foreshadowed Imperial stormtroopers.

In canon, however, these Sith troopers appear as a part of Darth Sidious’ Sith Eternal in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. These loyal troops served to protect the reborn Sith, dedicated to the rebirth and protection of Darth Sidious. Their armor, while strikingly similar to that of the stormtroopers, is instead dyed an imposing shade of red.

7 The Emperor's Royal Guard Has A Simple Set Of Armor

Their Main Job Was Protecting The Emperor

Close

Similar to the Sith troopers that would come later in Star Wars canon, the Emperor’s Royal Guard were tasked with the protection of Darth Sidious during the reign of the Empire. These outfits were created before the fall of the Republic during the Separatist Crisis, when Chancellor Palpatine created the Red Guard to slowly take over protection of the Senate. This impressive force was later composed only of the most skilled from the Imperial military.

Best known for their flowing red robes and sleek helmets, these guards were incredibly dangerous in a fight. Aside from their robed uniform, they also sometimes wore light armor to accompany the Emperor to more dangerous locations. When wearing their robes, they hid several weapons, such as electrostaffs and blasters.

6 The Emperor's Shadow Guard Has Armor That Reflects Their Name

This Special Sect Of The Emperor's Guard Could Use The Force

Close

The red-wearing faction of the Royal Guard was not the only one in Star Wars Legends, as there was also a Shadow Guard beholden to the Emperor as well. Trained by Darth Vader himself, this section of the Guard was composed exclusively of Force-sensitive individuals. They could not speak, having been completely broken by the Empire, but could have once been Jedi before the Great Jedi Purge.

With armor so similar to their regular Royal Guard counterparts, the Emperor's Shadow Guard were only as imposing as their oppressive presence allowed. They were, however, abile to use a special sort of lightsaber known as a lightsaber pike. Being so similar to the Inquisitors that would come later, it is possible that they served as the initial inspiration.

5 The Sith Stalker Armor Appeared In The Force Unleashed

It Was Worn By Darth Vader's Apprentice, Starkiller

Close

When a set of armor has its own name, it is sure to be something special. This is the case for the Sith Stalker Armor, famously worn by Galen Marek in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. This armor is especially unique, as it was not only worn but directly grafted to the skin of those who wore it, specifically Sith assassins trained by the likes of Darth Vader. Galen initially saw this armor in a vision, and only puts it on should the player choose to finish the game with the dark side ending.

Not only is it quite frightening to look at, but the armor shares a few similarities with that of Darth Vader. The armor includes a breathing apparatus, though it is not quite as advanced as the one used by the Sith Lord himself. Many Sith assassins who were grafted into this armor had their hands replaced with dangerous prostheses as well, complete with a set of metal claws. Starkiller's Sith armor made its way into canon in a surprising Andor Easter egg, but its fate is unknown.

4 Warb Null’s Armor Was Imbued With Sith Magic

It Enhanced His Abilities, But Slowed Him Down

Close

Originally known as Shas Dovos, War Null was once a metalworker on the planet Onderon. However, his entire life was changed after he was tricked into making a suit of armor by a Sith spirit. This armor was filled with Sith magic after its construction, and once he put it on Shas Dovos was transformed into the "Dark Jedi" Warb Null.

Although the armor was incredibly imposing, it wasn't particularly safe. It was only partially lightsaber resistant and had a specific weakness around Warb Null's neck, which led to his eventual death at the hands of Jedi Knight Cay Qel-Droma. It also slowed him down considerably, leaving him to rely on his powerful Sith magic.

3 Darth Malak’s Mouthpiece Replaces His Lower Jaw

It Is The Only Real Armor He Wears

Close

Best known as the main villain of Knights of the Old Republic, Darth Malak is an interesting showcase of what happens when a Jedi loses faith in the Jedi Order. Losing faith in them during the Mandalorian Wars, he fell to the dark side along with who would eventually become Darth Revan. The two would later be at odds throughout the course of Knights of the Old Republic, with Revan fighting to stop Darth Malak from building his Sith Empire.

Though this was not the only time they were at odds. Revan is the one who severed Malak's jaw from the rest of his face, causing him to wear the big metal covering that he is so well known for. It is an interesting piece of armor with a specific bit of backstory, made even more apparent by the fact that it is the only armor that Malak wears.

2 Darth Revan’s Armor Was Both Strong And Iconic

This Recognizable Armor Can Change Throughout The Game

Close

Darth Revan is one of the most well-known Sith in all of Star Wars Legends, appearing as the main protagonist of the beloved video game Knights of the Old Republic. After having their memories ripped away from them by the Jedi, Revan was sent by the Republic to find the Jedi Knight Bastila Shan. This would eventually bring them into direct conflict with Darth Malak, their one-time Sith apprentice.

Although Revan is so well known for the mask featured in all of their promotional material, their armor actually changes throughout the game. However, Revan's more recognizable Sith attire was actually created through the use of the Star Forge, an incredible machine capable of mass-producing countless items, including droids and ships. This was done by imbuing it with dark side energy, creating the armor so many know Revan for.

1 Darth Vader’s Suit Was The Original Sith Armor

The Suit Kept Him Alive And Looked Intimidating In The Process

Close

Easily the most iconic suit of armor in this list belongs to Darth Vader, shown as the earliest Sith on screen in 1977. This suit is made of sterner stuff, including obsidian and durasteel, allowing Darth Vader to weather blows others simply would not be able to. The boots of the suit even had magnetic clamps, allowing him to attach to any metal surface.

The most important fact about the suit is that Darth Vader simply would not be able to live without it. After his fight with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar, Anakin Skywalker was left wounded and disfigured. This iconic fight led to one of the most iconic sets of armor in all of Star Wars, only adding to the legend that is Darth Vader.