Starkiller, Darth Vader's Secret Apprentice: Force Powers, Rebel Alliance Role, & Canon References Explained

While it’s a well-known fact in Star Wars that Darth Vader was hopeful to overthrow Emperor Palpatine, it’s perhaps lesser known that, in Star Wars Legends, he began this process long before the original trilogy era by recruiting an apprentice known as Starkiller. Born as Galen Marek, Starkiller’s story was revealed in the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video games, which followed his journey from the child of two Jedi to one of the galaxy’s most powerful Sith apprentices. Though the games are no longer considered canon, Starkiller’s story still matters, and is certainly worth knowing.




The Force Unleashed was released in 2008, around the same time that the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie and TV show launched – which means that Starkiller has been around for just as long as many iconic Clone Wars characters have, including Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex. His story, however, is one of tragedy and betrayal, yet also perseverance and redemption. Here’s everything we know about Darth Vader’s secret apprentice in Legends, from the beginning of his story to the end.


Galen Marek’s Origin

Galen Was Born A Powerful Force User


Galen was born to two married Jedi, Kento and Mallie Marek, during the Clone Wars. Kento and Mallie had wed in secret and fled the Jedi Order shortly after to live their lives more freely together. After Order 66 was enacted, the Marek family remained on the run for a while before ultimately settling down on Kashyyyk. Tragically, however, Mallie died during a fight against the Trandoshans on the Wookiee homeworld, and the attention of the Jedi’s involvement brought the Empire there, where Vader fought and killed Kento as well.

Starkiller from The Force Unleashed next to Din Djarin in The Mandalorian season 1's poster

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Galen, as the child of two Jedi, was extremely powerful in the Force. Vader, taking note of this, had an interest in the boy who was left aimless without his parents. Already harboring a grudge towards his own Sith Master and eager to begin searching for a way to eventually overthrow him, Vader took Galen with him from Kashyyyk, opting to secretly train the child as he grew to prepare him for a life spent serving Vader.


Apprenticeship To Darth Vader

Starkiller Was Extremely Loyal To His Master

Star Wars the Force Unleashed Starkiller Darth Vader

Upon their return to Vader’s iconic ship, the Executor, Vader provided Galen with the codename “Starkiller,” and the memories of Galen’s past were repressed as he spent the next two decades training under Vader. This training was far from easy; Vader was often quite brutal with his apprentice, but this was something Galen embraced and even enforced upon himself. Starkiller grew very close to Vader, and he remained loyal to his master even after a major instance of betrayal, which included Vader killing him in front of Palpatine – and then reconstructing him for continued servitude.

Galen trained all his life to help Vader overthrow the Emperor, though Vader would later reveal that this was never the true plan.


Galen wasn’t just a learning apprentice of Darth Vader, however. He also acted as Vader’s enforcer and personal assassin, hunting down targets throughout the galaxy on behalf of his master. Starkiller completed a variety of missions for his master, but his ultimate test arrived when he was tasked with hunting down Shaak Ti on the planet Felucia. After being reconstructed by Vader, Starkiller was given permission to pursue his next objective of raising an army against the Emperor in any way he chose, so long as he cut his ties to Vader. Eventually, however, Galen’s disillusionment won out.

Role In The Rebel Alliance

Galen Was A Key Part Of Its Origin


At first, Galen’s role within the Rebel Alliance was still on behalf of Vader, uniting the forces in the way Vader had told him to. Over time, however, Galen became more connected to the people he was working with, and he began to believe in the cause he was starting to fight for. He became allies with the likes of Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and even Leia Organa herself, and he himself became an important symbol to those who were just beginning the unified fight. Starkiller was set to act as the Rebellion’s figurehead until Vader went against his word and showed up.

This moment has become a meme in retrospect, with Galen insisting ”
You agreed to stay away!
” and Vader responding ”
I lied
.”


Vader revealed the truth about Starkiller to the gathered senators, and he took the rebels to be executed. Galen barely survived his encounter with Vader, but he was set on rescuing his new allies once he had recovered enough to do so. Now fully exchanging his codename “Starkiller” for his birth name, in addition to considering himself a Jedi, Galen ventured to free the rebels from where they were being held on the Death Star. Galen ultimately lost his life to this endeavor, setting aside his life to ensure that the Rebel Alliance lived on.

Starkiller’s Force Powers Explained

Starkiller Was Extremely Powerful In The Force

Star Wars Force Unleashed's main character Starkiller AKA Galen Marek


Because of Starkiller’s immense strength in the Force, he could use a wide and impressive variety of different Force powers. He first mastered dark side Force powers, which led to him struggling to utilize light side powers, particularly those used outside a combat setting. Once Galen had turned to the light side, however, he was able to master these powers, giving him a powerful balance between the two. Starkiller excelled in a number of different powers, but the following are those he was most proficient in.

Starkiller/Galen Marek’s Force Power Proficencies

Force Deflection

Force Lightning

Force Speed

Jedi Mind Trick

Telekinesis (incl. Force push)

Tutaminis


All Canon References To Starkiller

His Story Is Slowly Being Folded In To Canon

Sithstalker helmet in Andor episode 4

Starkiller has yet to become folded into Star Wars canon following the rebranding in 2014, but there are certain elements of his character and his story that have appeared throughout new stories. In Andor, a variant of Starkiller’s armor, called Sithstalker, can be seen in Luthen Rael’s gallery on Coruscant, where he often convenes with Mon Mothma as a cover for their secret rebel discussions. This is certainly the clearest Starkiller connection that exists in canon, though there is a major story element that seems to have taken inspiration from his character as well.


Star Wars The Force Unleashed Important Canon Story George Lucas LucasArts Starkiller Vader Rebels

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While Vader may not have an apprentice like Starkiller during the Dark Times, he does have a team of assassins just like Galen: the Imperial Inquisitors. It seems that these Inquisitors are acting as canon replacements for Starkiller, with them hunting down Jedi and other Force-sensitives at Vader’s command. While many still hope that Starkiller himself will become canon one day, Star Wars has certainly made a point to pay tribute to him in various ways.