The 10 best pirates in Star Wars history

With Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Centered on piracy in a galaxy far, far away, the Star Wars The franchise's long pirate history has seen renewed popularity. From the first Star Wars properties, the franchise has included a vast array of pirates of varying origins and levels of amorality, arguably the first being Crimson Jack, who now apparently had his live-action debut in Skeleton Crew. Of course, with 47 years of stories and two continuities, there are plenty of iconic pirates in the world. Star Wars franchise.

Despite their relative prominence in non-film material, pirates are rarely seen or mentioned in major Star Wars the saga films themselves. Lando Calrissian refers to Han Solo as a pirate on several occasions, and the pirates – some of whom have larger roles in non-film material – have supporting or secondary roles. From the original Legends continuity to the modern canon, here are some of the best pirates in the world. Star Wars franchise history.

10

Jod Na Nawood

So far, little has been revealed about Jod Na Nawood – pirate and protagonist of Skeleton Crew. Although Jod Na Nawood is apparently a Force-sensitive member (or former member) of the Jedi Order, his actual Force sensitivity is dubious at best. Nawood is first shown using the alias “Silvo” and leading a pirate attack on a merchant frigate – a decidedly un-Jedi action – and his apparent Force powers are absent when most needed.

Interestingly, Jod Na Nawood is apparently the modern version of Crimson Jack from the canon – the franchise's first prominent pirate leader who debuted in the original Legends continuity. A modern canonical version of Crimson Jack has already appeared in the recent Quiet legacy comic series set in the sequel era, possibly confirming that Jod Na Nawood will survive the events of Skeleton Crew. Of course, “Crimson Jack” could simply be a nickname for Nawood.

9

Kragan Gorr

Introduced in the modern canon animated series Star Wars ResistanceKragan Gorr is a Quarren pirate captain who led the Warbird gang during the sequel trilogy era. As shown in ResistanceGorr was part of a ploy in which the Warbird gang would attack the Colossus while the First Order feigned opposition. In fact, the Warbird gang worked with the First Order, at least for a while.

Kragan Gorr proves himself to be a bold and unscrupulous leader, capable of playing both sides of conflicts as needed, with Gorr fighting alongside the First Order and the Resistance at different points. Gorr was bold enough to demand increasingly higher dues from the notoriously brutal First Order and fight his forces after the regime betrayed him. Of course, Kragan Gorr would also turn against the Resistance later on, attempting to use Clone Wars-era Super Battle Droids to take control of the Colossus.

8

Maz Kanata

Maz Kanata plays a supporting role in Star Wars: The Force Awakensowning an ancient castle that serves as a safe haven for the galaxy's criminal element. Maz Kanata herself is over a thousand years old by the events of The Force Awakens and has a certain degree of Force sensitivity, offering her wisdom – and Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber – to Rey. Although Maz Kanata is a benevolent character, she is a famous pirate who once led her own crew.

As shown in High Republic-era comics and other modern canon sources, Maz Kanata's title of “Pirate Queen” is well deserved, although she was more of a Robin Hood-like figure than a ruthless ruffian. Kanata provided a safe haven, as well as credits and equipment, for smugglers and other pirates, making her a highly respected and influential figure in the underworld. Interestingly, the modern canon iteration of Dexter Jettster was once a member of Maz Kanata's pirate crew.

7

Garris Shrike

In the modern Star Wars canon, Han Solo's mentor is Tobias Beckett, as shown in 2018 Solo: A Star Wars Story. Beckett is loosely based on a character from the original Legends continuity – Garris Shrike – a bounty hunter and pirate who features prominently in A.C. Crispin's 1997 novel, The Paradise Trap. While Beckett is a morally gray character, Shrike is an abusive and violent antagonist.

Garris Shrike had numerous criminal activities, including piracy. Many of Shrike's subordinates were Corellian orphans, including young Han Solo. Although Solo is defined as more of a smuggler than a pirate, his expertise in piracy is in part due to Shrike. In a final, brutal encounter with Han Solo, Garris Shrike is killed by a rival mercenary before he can tell Han Solo who his late parents were.

6

Sidon Itano

Delphidian pirate Sidon Ithano – known by many names, including “Crimson Corsair” – made his live-action debut in The Force Awakens as a background character in Maz Kanata's castle. While on the run from the First Order, Finn almost joins Ithano's pirate crew, but the destruction of the Hosnian system and the attack on Maz Kanata's castle thwart this endeavor. Despite his status as one of the Outer Rim's most notorious pirate captains, Ithano is one of the most benevolent pirates in the world. Star Wars franchise.

On a mission to find lost treasure that once belonged to Count Dooku, Ithano and his crew discover Kix, a clone doctor who was frozen in stasis at the end of the Clone Wars and thus did not witness the fall of the Republic and near-destruction of the Jedi. . Ithano allowed the clone to join his crew and would later participate in the final defeat of the Clone Wars mastermind. As seen in Star Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerIthano and his crew fought against Palpatine's Sith Eternal forces during the Battle of Exegol.

5

Hondo Ohnaka

One of the most famous pirates in the world Star Wars franchise is Hondo Ohnaka, introduced into the modern canon Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 1. Ohnaka immediately establishes himself as a cunning and resourceful threat to Republic and Separatist forces (despite his jovial demeanor) by capturing Count Dooku and later Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi to triple the ransom price for the Republic. Hondo Ohnaka would become a recurring character on The Clone Warsopposing and assisting the heroes in equal measure.

Although Ohnaka never formally joined the Rebellion, he was an ally of the fledgling movement, playing a role in the successful liberation of Lothal.despite their once proud pirate crew falling apart during the Empire's reign. The remnants of the gang were, however, rebuilt under the command of another Weequay pirate known as Skragg. Hondo Ohnaka remained active during the sequel trilogy era, establishing the transportation company Ohnaka Transport Solutions.

4

Crimson Jack

Crimson Jack was a notorious pirate captain and antagonist in some of the original original films. Star Wars stories set after A New Hope. Although the story of Crimson Jack and Han Solo before A New Hope Unrevealed, the two were rivals before Solo and Chewbacca joined the Rebel Alliance. The theft of the Death Star plans during the Battle of Toprawa would unwittingly prove invaluable to the opportunistic pirate captain. With their DP20 Corellian ship, Crimson Jack's crew would attack a damaged Imperial Star Destroyer and commandeer it, gaining a deadly new flagship in the process.

Crimson Jack would renew his rivalry with Han Solo and Chewbacca by capturing and robbing them shortly after the events of A New Hopepreventing the smugglers from paying their debt to Jabba the Hutt. After repeated encounters and betrayals, however, Crimson Jack and Solo would have a final battle in deep space. In their duel, Han Solo would prove to be the quicker draw, detonating Crimson Jack and ending their rivalry.

3

Dharus

Dharus, whose species is not specified, is a privateer in the original Legends continuity. Although initially a pirate, Dharus and his crew of Buccaneers became nominal allies of the Rebel Alliance at the start of the Galactic Civil War. Although Dharus and his crew remained officially independent, he was an officially hired privateer for the Rebellion and part of his agreement was that a member of the Rebellion would travel with him as an observer.

Each rebel observer was mistreated by Dharus and his crew, to the point that each inevitably requested to be transferred out of position. Despite that, Dharus was a valuable asset to the Rebellion, who orchestrated his rescue when he was captured by the Empire at one point. Dharus would retire from piracy around the end of the Galactic Civil War in 19 ABY, although he briefly came out of retirement to form and lead the mercenary gang known as the Dhashaan Shield.

2

Nym

Nym is one of the player characters and protagonist of the video games in the Legends continuity Star Wars: Starfighter and Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter. Pirate Captain Feeorin, Nym is one of the most benevolent pirates in the original Legends timeline, despite his rude and aggressive behavior. Although Nym was a pirate feared throughout the galaxy, he was known for avoiding bloodshed during his attacks and typically targeted sinister organizations like the Trade Federation.

In addition to leading the Lok Revenants, Nym was also an exceptional pilot, piloting the Havoc, a highly customized Scurrg H-6 bomber. Nym's frequent clashes with the Trade Federation would make him an invaluable ally to the Naboo Resistance during the Invasion of Naboo and later to the Galactic Republic during the Separatist Crisis. Nym and the Lok Revenants would remain in control of the planet Lok throughout the Clone Wars and the Galactic Civil War, with Nym being a rebel sympathizer.

1

Xim the Despot

Xim, the Despot, is perhaps the Star Wars the galaxy's most notorious pirate leader in the original Legends continuity. 1980 Brian Daley novel Han Solo and the Lost Legacy references Xim the Despot as an ancient tyrant whose long-lost treasures are highly sought after by underworld figures like Han Solo. The treasure, it seems, would be little more than military technology long outdated by the Empire's reign.

Before the establishment of the Galactic Republic, Xim would establish an Empire that conquered vast portions of the galaxy for decades. Xim's empire would go to war with the rival Hutt Empire, however, which resulted in Xim's defeat and capture and the subsequent fragmentation of his regime. A few decades later, the Galactic Republic would be formed as a much more benevolent force in the world. Star Wars Galaxy.