Knights of Ren: Ranking the Members by Threat Level in Star Wars Canon

The Knights of Ren are a compelling group of dark side fighters in the Star Wars universe, though they haven’t been featured much in the films. Distinct from the Sith, they serve a mysterious figure known as “The Shadow.” Details about the Knights of Ren and their past have been slowly unveiled in various books and comics since they first appeared in The Force Awakens in 2015.

The Knights of Ren first showed up in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, but they actually existed as a group of dark side users much earlier, all the way back to the time of the Empire – and even before that. Here’s a list of every named and known (or hinted at) member of the Knights of Ren, ranked from least to most dangerous according to official Star Wars sources.

Knights of Ren During The Imperial Era (Most Didn’t Last Long)

A recent Marvel comic series called Crimson Dawn, which takes place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, showed us a group of Knights of Ren working with Lady Qi’ra to take down the Sith. Very few of these Knights survived into the time of the New Republic and Kylo Ren. Here’s a look at a ranking of these lesser-known characters:

Fyodor was one of the Imperial Era Knights who participated in a raid on Darth Vader’s castle. He was ultimately killed by Vader, but not before achieving a small act of defiance: he famously spat into Vader’s bacta tank – the liquid used for healing – right before his death.

Bazzra was a Twi’lek and a member of the Knights of Ren, known for her particularly harsh language. She was killed while the Knights were working with Crimson Dawn, not long after Fyodor’s death.

Massif, possibly named after the dog-like creatures of Tatooine, was the smallest of the Knights during the time of the Empire (but size wasn’t important to them). He didn’t appear in the sequel trilogy, and his current whereabouts are a mystery – though it’s believed he survived, giving him an advantage over some of the other Knights.

The current status of Marinda is unclear, but she once had a close and trusted relationship with Ren.

Marinda’s distinctive white braids sparked rumors that she could be Barash Silvain, a powerful Jedi Master from the High Republic era and the creator of the Barash Vow. The two characters have strikingly similar hairstyles and were both created by Star Wars author Charles Soule.

Trudgen

Trudgen was famous for his enormous vibrocleaver and his habit of keeping trophies from his defeated enemies – his helmet, for example, was made from the remains of an Imperial Death Trooper he’d killed. Though he had a limited connection to the Force, known as The Shadow, Trudgen usually preferred to fight with brute strength rather than relying on his powers.

Ap’lek

Ap’lek stood out among the Knights for his unique fighting style and customized vibro-axe. He used the Force to make his attacks even more powerful, and he specialized in surprise attacks from behind, relying on trickery as his main tactic.

Kuruk

Kuruk served as both pilot and sniper for the Knights. He used a device called “The Shadow” to sharpen his senses, making him an incredibly accurate long-range fighter. Along with Cardo, he was unique among the Knights in that he didn’t rely on close-combat weapons. Because of this, Kuruk usually stayed back during fights, allowing him to survey the battlefield and pick off his targets from a distance.

Ushar

Ushar was the Knights’ go-to interrogator, and he excelled at using fear to get people to confess. He actually enjoyed making others feel scared and helpless.

According to official sources like the visual dictionary for The Rise of Skywalker, Ushar enjoyed tormenting prisoners. He believed those who pleaded for mercy deserved a drawn-out punishment, while those who resisted earned his respect and a swift death.

Ushar fought using a powerful war club that could create forceful blasts, and also carried several highly destructive baradium explosives.

Cardo

Cardo was one of just two Knights active during both the Imperial and New Republic periods, and he was incredibly powerful in combat, often described as a heavily armed, mobile weapon.

He was the Knights’ expert in heavy weaponry, equipped with a specially made arm cannon that could fire lasers, grenades, and flames. Beyond combat, his skills as an engineer made him one of their top armorers. While a valuable member, he, like many of the Knights, hadn’t fully developed his Force abilities, preventing him from reaching the highest ranks.

Vicrul

Vicrul was unique in that he served during both the Imperial and New Republic periods, and he was more sensitive to the Force than many of his fellow Knights.

I’ve heard stories about Vicrul, and they’re terrifying. They call him the ‘Reaper of Souls’ – a truly chilling nickname. He’s one of the Knights of Ren, and from what I understand, he’s absolutely brutal, using this vibro-scythe to take down anyone who stands against him. It’s not just about the fighting, though. He actually gains power from every life he takes, and he uses something called ‘The Shadow’ to really mess with people’s heads, filling them with fear. He’s been a Knight for a long time, and honestly, he’s one of the most powerful – it’s just strange he never stepped up to lead.

Tava Ren

Tava Ren is a newer character in the Star Wars story, first appearing in the Marvel comic series Legacy of Vader. She took charge of the Knights after Kylo Ren left to become a leader in the First Order, a period between the events of The Force Awakens and Rise of Skywalker when Kylo wasn’t leading the Knights himself.

Okay, so in Legacy of Vader, we meet Tava Ren, and let me tell you, she’s a serious threat – apparently a rival to Kylo Ren! We see a face-off between them, and while she does manage to get away, it’s a close call, and the story definitely leaves her future hanging in the balance. It’s a thrilling setup, and I’m eager to see where things go for her.

Despite everything, it’s now clear that Tava Ren has a powerful link to the dark side, known as “The Shadow.” She confidently took charge of the Knights, demonstrating both impressive lightsaber abilities and the strength derived from her connection to this dark power.

Ren, Leader of The Knights Before Kylo

Before Kylo Ren, the Knights of Ren were led by a mysterious figure known only as Ren. First appearing in the Rise of Kylo Ren comic, this charismatic dark side warrior was easily recognized by his unique, reflective mask and was the initial leader of the group during the time of the Empire and the early New Republic.

Like all the powerful Knights of Ren, Kylo Ren fought with a red lightsaber. His time as leader ended when his apprentice, Ben Solo, defeated him and took control of the Knights, pushed by the influence of Snoke, shortly after Ben destroyed Luke Skywalker’s Jedi training grounds. Despite his fall, Kylo Ren was a skilled and formidable member due to his long experience and command of the dark side.

Qimir/The Stranger (Teased As The First Ren)

As a huge Star Wars fan, I’ve been completely captivated by the hints surrounding Qimir, also known as The Stranger, in The Acolyte. It’s looking more and more like he was the very first Dark Side user – the original Ren – and basically started the whole ideology way back during the High Republic. What’s really fascinating is that he wasn’t about Jedi or Sith. He ditched both sides, wanting to find followers and use the Force on his own terms, without restrictions. It’s a really cool twist on the usual light vs. dark dynamic!

It’s now confirmed that the design of Qimir’s helmet and overall look were deliberately created to hint at a connection to the Knights. Similarly, a musical theme reminiscent of Kylo Ren was intentionally included in the soundtrack of The Acolyte.

If Star Wars officially reveals that Qimir is the First Ren, he’ll immediately become known as one of the most dangerous enemies the Jedi have ever faced. He proved this during the High Republic era by effortlessly defeating a whole group of Jedi Knights.

2025-11-02 05:11