In the Star Wars universe, there’s a whole host of powerful Jedi across the movies to keep the peace in a galaxy far, far, away. Using the mysterious Force, they (mostly) maintained order against the known Sith Lords and their armies. Inspired by knights and samurai, the Jedi are easily the most iconic element of Star Wars and the subject of numerous theories since 1977.

While the original trilogy only had a handful of Jedi Knights, the prequels and the sequel trilogy expanded the scope of the franchise. There’s a wide range of Jedi with varying backgrounds, which is what makes the Jedi an interesting group of people, especially when they break tradition and train an unconventional apprentice. Some are exceptionally powerful and are usually at the heart of the stories. What defines a Jedi as powerful often varies, but it is a combination of their knowledge of The Force and skill with a lightsaber, as well as how they choose to use their abilities.

Updated on August 9th, 2023 by Timothy Lindsey: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.

15 Ezra Bridger

Ezra Bridger Star Wars Rebels
Lucasfilm

Ezra Bridger first comes along as a street kid in Star Wars: Rebels. Alone for a big part of his life after his parents' imprisonment, he joined the rebel crew of the Ghost and was trained by fellow Jedi-in-hiding Kanan Jarrus. Bridger helped Jarrus and Co. fight the Empire by carrying out missions that involved them inflicting their will on Imperial bases and depots.

Bridger became an increasingly powerful Jedi. He helped free his people on his home planet of Lothal from the clutches of the Empire. His strength as a Jedi helped push the Empire closer to its demise. Much like Luke Skywalker, Ezra Bridger's Jedi abilities were game-changing and helped create many problems for the Empire. Once it fell, he and Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn were taken into hyperspace by Purrgil (space whales). Ashoka Tano, who Ezra saved, is hot on their trails. Her journey to find them both could very well be addressed in Ahsoka.

14 Ki-Adi-Mundi

Ki-Adi-Mundi from the Star Wars franchise

Ki-Adi-Mundi was one of the elite members of the Jedi Order and Council. Movie viewers get a chance to see him sit alongside Master Yoda, Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and many other respected warriors in the prequel trilogy. He was one of its most experienced members in the last days of the Galactic Republic.

He was named one of the Jedi Generals of the Grand Army of the Republic, which was sadly what led to his death as he was betrayed by clones on the planet of Mygeeto when Order 66 started. Fans see that happen in Revenge of the Sith (2005). However, he was trained by Master Yoda, which helped give him the knowledge and experience to become one of the most respected Jedi in the galaxy.

13 Plo Koon

Plo Koon in Clone Wars
Disney Platform Distribution

Like Mundi, Plo Koon is also one of the most respected members of the Jedi Council and has unique facial features. He was also named a General of the Grand Army of the Republic. What sets him apart from Mundi is his ability to be a fantastic pilot. However, he was shot down and killed by clones during Order 66 on Cato Niemoidia.

It is definitely fair to say that he was one of the bravest Jedi. He went on extremely dangerous missions, including tracking down Separatist warships and arresting a young Boba Fett. Koon also helped discover a young Ahsoka Tano, whom he shares a very strong bond with. His combat skills were extremely noteworthy, as were his Force capabilities. Saying that he isn't one of the best members of the Jedi Order is absurd.

12 Count Dooku

Christopher Lee as Count Dooku
20th Century Fox

A former Jedi turned Sith, Count Dooku is one of the most respected and powerful force users in the galaxy. Even before his turn to the dark side, he was a well-respected member of the Jedi council and was the master of Qui-Gon Jinn.

Dooku was incredibly well-trained with a lightsaber and a powerful force user, and his first true mark towards the dark side was when he killed Jedi master Yaddle as shown recently in Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi. Once turned to the dark side, Dooku is strong enough to not only take on both Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi in combat but also hold his own against Yoda. However, he was not wise enough to resist the Dark Side.

11 Leia Organa

leia uses the force the last jedi
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Yes, Leia Organa was a Jedi. In fact, she was quietly one of the strongest Jedi. Fans get a glimpse of that in the old trilogy with Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983), as she can sense Luke's feelings. She senses Luke when he is in trouble after his duel with Darth Vader on Bespin, and then she knows Luke is safe after the explosion of the Darth Star.

In The Rise of Skywalker (2019), an older Luke tells Rey that on the last night of her training, she could sense the death of her son (Ben Solo/Kylo Ren). She chose to end her time as a Jedi knowing that her lightsaber would be picked up by someone else to continue her path. That person ended up being Rey. Leia's ability to use The Force and her senses helped turn Ben Solo back to the good side. Her Jedi abilities were absolutely game-changing in the fight against the Galactic Empire and the First Order.

Related: The Most Important Star Wars Planets and Moons

10 Grogu

Grogu Mandalorian Star Wars Lucasfilm
Disney+

Despite his adorable appearance and not yet having appeared in a Star Wars film, Grogu deserves a spot on this list. He uses his powers to save Din Djarin throughout Disney+ favorite The Mandalorian. After a short amount of training with Luke Skywalker, Grogu's true powers were shown, and he could potentially even rival Master Yoda as one of the most powerful Jedi

Grogu began his Jedi training and did well, despite his heart not truly being in it. His power is still extremely impressive and is likely to develop even further without the proper training. Unfortunately, he chose to return to his life alongside Din Djarin instead of finishing his Force training with Luke Skywalker. His access to the Force is unlocked and his potential is high, but his skills are basic.

9 Ahsoka Tano

Clone Wars version of Ahsoka
Cartoon Network

Ahsoka Tano is one of the strongest Jedi in the Star Wars saga because, like Leia, she knew when it was time to step away from being a Jedi for a time. That happened towards the end of The Clone Wars because she realized that the Jedi Order was somewhat flawed. She also needed a break from that way of life. Tano later comes back as more of a rebel fighter in an effort to fight the Sith and the Galactic Empire.

In The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, fans see her back to her old Jedi ways as she helps train Grogu, a former youngling who escaped Order 66. Yes, she wields her lightsabers better than most. But, what makes her an elite Jedi is her ability to follow the path that she thinks is best for her. Her ability to trust The Force is what makes her so powerful. Fans will see that in Ahsoka, which releases later this month on Disney+.

8 Qui-Gon Jinn

Qui Gon Jinn in Star Wars
Lucasfilm Ltd.

Apprentice to Count Dooku, master to Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the Jedi master that discovered Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon Jinn is one of the most important Jedi in the Star Wars universe. While he did die at the hands of Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace, the power of a Jedi is not only in lightsaber combat but in the knowledge of the force.

Qui-Gon is able to come back to the land of the living after having died. He appears to be the first Force Ghost and the one who teaches Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi this power. Qui-Gon Jinn is the best example of Obi-Wan's famous line "Strike me down and I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."

7 Mace Windu

Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu
Lucasfilm

An instant fan-favorite with help from his flashy purple lightsaber, Samuel L. Jackson's Mace Windu was Master of the Jedi Order until the time of the Battle of Geonosis, at which point he gave the title to Yoda. Mace Windu lead hundreds of Jedi to the Battle of Geonosis and even killed the infamous bounty hunter Jango Fett.

On that fateful night depicted in the underrated Revenge of the Sith, Windu joined Kit Fisto and went to arrest Senator Palpatine. Remember that epic, tragic duel? Mace Windu was about to win — when Anakin Skywalker betrayed him. Windu will always be remembered and cherished as a quintessential "good guy" by fans of the galaxy far, far away...

6 Ben Solo/Kylo Ren

Adam Driver in Star Wars
Lucasfilm
Disney

Despite spending most of his screen time as the feared leader of the First Order, Kylo Ren, the Jedi behind him is truly a powerful one. His power went so far as to scare Luke Skywalker, which says enough about the power that was inside the whole time.

Unfortunately, like his grandfather Anakin, Ben turned to the Dark Side and used his powers to work against the Jedi. Despite all of this, he still deserves this spot because, at the end of his life, he showed he was still good deep down and just needed someone (that is, Rey) to believe that about him.

5 Rey Skywalker

Daisy Ridley in Star Wars as Rey
Lucasfilm Ltd.

Rey Skywalker was never officially part of the Jedi Order, which makes her power all the more impressive. In an incredibly short space of time, Rey learned to tame her powers despite no formal training. When she approached Luke for training, he feared a similar situation to Ben Solo and was resistant to helping her.

But Rey’s resilience paid off, and she learned enough to keep the endangered Jedi Order alive and bring hope back to the galaxy. Rey learned from those that came before her, while also forging her own path and finding the true power of the force inside her.

Related: Star Wars: Best Villains in the Franchise, Ranked

4 Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader

Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
20th Century Fox

Anakin Skywalker is perhaps the focal point of the whole Star Wars universe. It was his turn to the Dark Side that set the Original Trilogy into action, and made him a cautionary tale (and, in some cases, an inspiration) for the characters of the Sequels. But in the Prequel trilogy, he proved his absolute power many times. One of these examples is his overpowering Count Dooku, despite his robotic arm.

His tragic destiny to become Darth Vader is perhaps the most powerful act of them all, as he never gave up. By the end of the Original Trilogy, it is clear Darth Vader has become disillusioned with the life he’s led. In one final act of strength, he throws Palpatine into the core of the Death Star while being attacked by Force Lightning. All Anakin needed was someone to believe in him, which Luke did right through to the end.

3 Obi-Wan Kenobi

McGregor Obi-Wan Kenobi 2022 Lucasfilm
Disney+

In A New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi is mild and unassuming; he’s just an elderly weird neighbor of Luke’s on Tatooine. But he faced up to Darth Vader himself (not for the first time) and at that moment proved his age was not a burden on his strength. Indeed, that strength was always there. In the prequels, Obi-Wan is the smooth-talking yet dedicated Jedi that earned him a place on this list.

He was a devoted Padawan who witnessed his Master die, but rather than giving up, he decided to keep pushing for a better galaxy. After his face-off with Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan fully understood his power and used it to train Anakin Skywalker the best he could. Obi-Wan Kenobi was one of the most successful Jedi generals during the Clone Wars and managed to Survive Order 66 and in exile even helped save Princess Leia and fight Darth Maul one last time.

2 Luke Skywalker

Hamill Luke Skywalker Star Wars
Lucasfilm

Despite his late start in Jedi training, Luke Skywalker excelled and became one of the most powerful Jedi of his time. His humble beginnings made him seem like a complete non-threat, but this was the opposite of the truth. His yearning for adventure was sated when he met Jedi Master Obi-Wan, and in a short space of time, he’d gotten the knack of the way of the Jedi and put his powers to very good use. Unlike his father, he never fully gave in to the Dark Side, and made a huge positive impact on the galaxy, even bringing Darth Vader back to the light after many thought he was lost for good.

In his final moments, Luke proved his strength by projecting an image of himself to save the Resistance, one of the greatest Jedi acts in the whole universe. He took the wisdom of Obi-Wan Kenobi that there were alternatives to fighting, and Yoda's saying that a Jedi only uses the force for knowledge and defense, and in the end, Luke Skywalker's use of the force made him an inspiration across the galaxy once more. From fighting stormtroopers to saving hundreds of lives, Luke Skywalker constantly proved his strength as Jedi was not just in skill but in his heart.

1 Yoda

Yoda in Star Wars
Lucasfilm

Jedi Master Yoda is the most powerful of them all. This should come as no surprise, as he was the head of the Jedi Order in the prequels and was revered for his abilities during the original trilogy. Yoda’s power is unmatched and was a real threat to Darth Vader and the Imperials.

Without his guidance, some of his fellow Jedi on this list (including Luke Skywalker) would not have been trained at all. Even in death, Yoda manages to return to impart a lesson on Luke Skywalker and shows just how powerful he still is. Without Yoda, the Star Wars franchise would look completely different — and not in a good way.