Summary

GivenDarth Vader ’s considerable intelligence information , experience , and strength , it seems strange that he never took control of the Empire ’s war machine – but there ’s a honest ground for this separation of power inStar Wars . Though , during the originalStar Warstrilogy , few make out of Darth Vader ’s true identity operator , Palpatine would have been aware of Anakin Skywalker ’s famed exploits as a General for the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars . As a Jedi , Anakin led the clone into countless struggle , egress victorious due to his force in the Force , his ingenious tactical skill , and his out - of - the - box scheme .

And yet , oddly enough , Palpatine ’s Sith apprentice never had a true leading role in the Imperial military other than a de facto " Commander " title . Once the Empire rose to world power , plenty of other officers stepped forward to assume control , andDarth Vader was given power over the Inquisitorsinstead , a mathematical group of dark - side - wielding Force - sensitives ( many of whom were former Jedi ) tasked with hunt down any remainingOrder 66 survivorsthat might bewilder a menace to the newGalactic Empireand the Sith ’s return . This choice was clearly deliberate , however .

Darth Vader is one of the most crucial characters in all of Star Wars , and these 10 story from the cartoon strip , movies , and television set show are the very skillful .

Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker with a cracked mask in Obi-Wan Kenobi to the left and Force choking someone in Rogue One to the right in a combined image

The Sith Never Fit Into The Empire’s Structures

What Palpatine want , above all , was for the Sith to have entire ascendency over the galaxy . The Empire was part of that programme , but not the whole write up . He needed the Empire to be , on the whole , self - sustaining . Its resources and connection needed to be uncommitted to him at all time so that the Sith Lord could exert his dark will over the rest of the galax . In essence , the Imperial machine was just a shaft in Palpatine ’s quest for total domination , rather than the actual end goal .

The Imperial machine was just a tool in Palpatine ’s quest for total domination , rather than the actual oddment goal .

By creating an majestic war machine and organization that was ego - sufficient and work by others , Palpatine and his learner , Darth Vader , could centre on propagate and hoarding the mogul of the dark side . As such , Vader did n’t fit into the regal military structure either – he was too engaged hunting down scallywag Jedi who could potentially overthrow the Sith , ensuring that the light ’s legacy was snuffle out for good . The Empire and its resources could help him achieve that goal , but he had a very one - raceway mind , while the Empire as an administration was fundamentally build up on , and sustain by , cooperation .

Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2

Conceived by the will of the Force itself , Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One , destined to bring the Force into balance . Anakin struggled to balance competing attachments to the Jedi Order and his married woman Padmé Amidala , and ultimately fell to the saturnine side , becoming Darth Vader . For old age he dish up as Palpatine ’s ripe hand man , but he was in the end ransom by the faith of his son , Luke Skywalker . Now a Force Ghost , Anakin cover to act as an agent of Libra the Balance .

Darth Vader’s Personal Agendas Meant He Was Poor At Tactics

While Anakin Skywalker may have been an telling General as a Jedi , Darth Vader was too selfish and exclusive - given to become and remain a true military loss leader . Just expect at the Battle of Hoth inThe Empire Strikes Back . The Empire was waging state of war on the Rebellion , but Vader only had eyes for one target : Luke Skywalker . Personal agendas have no topographic point in accurate , military warfare . Vader was too focused on hunting down those who could harm him personally – and by annexe , Palpatine – rather than the elaboration or endurance of the Empire itself .

Anakin Skywalker was the Jedi General of the 501st Legion during the Clone Wars , who would later serve him raid the Jedi Temple after Order 66 was enacted .

If Vader had been more tactically minded , and if he had n’t been so hellbent on settling his personal vendettas , the fight of Hoth might have ended very other than . What if he had focused on Rebel leadership , like Mon Mothma , alternatively ? The Rebellion could have been decimated . Instead , Vader acted “ egotistically , ” and the rest is history . Vader may have been known as the " Supreme Commander of Imperial Forces " in Legends , but in realness , he was anything but .

Sidious, Tyranus, Maul, and Vader.

Those who wield the dark side are n’t meant to pass the armed forces – they are meant to utilize it and abuse it for their own gain .

Interestingly enough , this same issue becomes apparent again two contemporaries after , when Vader ’s grandson , Kylo Ren , briefly takes control of the First Order inStar war : The Last Jedi . Kylo , much like Vader , was so focused on his hatred of Luke that the Resistance once again live to see another day . Those who exert the benighted side are n’t meant to lead the military – they are meant to use it and abuse it for their own gain , as Palpatine , Darth Vader , and even Kylo Ren have so harshly demonstrated throughoutStar Wars .

Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas . After the release of Star Wars : Episode IV- A New Hope ( primitively just titled Star Wars ) , the enfranchisement quickly exploded , spawn multiple continuation , prequels , goggle box shows , video games , cartoon strip , and much more . After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise , they rapidly expanded the universe on Disney+ , starting with The Mandalorian .

Darth Vader and some Imperial stormtroopers

Custom Image by El Kuiper

Palpatine Vader, their guards, and stormtroopers as part of the Empire in Star Wars

Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader Split By a Lightning Bolt

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

Darth Vader at the Hoth base in The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars Franchise Poster

Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.

Star Wars

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader