Summary
In the galaxy far, far away ofStar Wars, the Force has become a quintessential influence on the lives of its denizens. Even in ancient times, Force users have waged wars on their beliefs inhow the Force should be used, to the point where the first Jedi and Sith were formed. However, despite the many changes to the hierarchy and doctrines of the Jedi and Sith Orders, something remains the same: Both Jedi and Sith fluctuate towards both the Light Side and the Dark Side.
While a Jedi falling to the temptations to the Dark Side is a tale as old as time, stories of the Sith turning back to the Light Side are few and far between. Among the many brutal Siths of theStar Warsuniverse, some of them have seen the error of their ways and have actually tried making peace with themselves and others as renewed members of the Light Side. However, just what were their stories?
Updated on July 12, 2025, by Rhenn Taguiam:With the third game in the Jedi: Fallen Order series rumored to be the last entry in Cal Kestis' riveting story, fans of the Star Wars franchise might be wondering if there’s more to Jedi and Sith lore than the game can reveal. And with The Acolyte series showing that there is the more to Jedi and Sith than their inclination towards the Light and Dark Sides of the Force, some may wonder if other characters in the franchise have had similarly intense relationships with the Force. This is all the more true with the Sith, as some members of this Order have actually renounced their allegiance to the Dark Side and have made the transition back to the Light.
Sith Lord Training
Changing Moment
Experiences eventually taught him that true strength was found in peace
Throughout a player’s experience inStar Wars: The Old Republic, quests, conversations, and even holocrons would give insights into life throughout The Old Republic era ofStar Warslore. These would give gamers a better look atStar Warsbefore the likes of Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia Organa existed - as the prequel MMO would set the stage in the secret rise of the Galactic Empire and the downfall of the Jedi Order in the Prequel and Original Trilogies.
Such a situation came in the form ofKel’eth Ur, a former Sith Lord on Dromund Kaas who was active in the reconstituted Sith Empire after the Great Hyperspace War - an era of “the original” Sith Empire set much earlier than The Old Republic. According to a holocron, Kel’eth Ur would declare the Sith’s strength through passion as temporary, with only peace leading to true strength. Seeing as this point of view reflected Jedi philosophy, Emperor Tenebrae ordered Kel’eth Ur’s execution. Whether or not Kel’eth Ur had turned his back on the Dark Side prior to his death is unknown.
The Dark Apprentice(1994)
Powerset
Jedi Training, Telekinesis, Dark Side Abilities (Force Lightning, Mental Manipulation, Dark Side Tendrils)
Luke defeating the spirit of Dark Lord Exar Kun helped Kyp return to his senses, but the damage had been done
When Luke Skywalker declared he saw great potential inKyp Durron, the youngster proved the Jedi Master right for beingone of Luke’s most prodigious students. At an early age, he used his rudimentary control over the Force to escape a youth of slavery alongside Han Solo and Chewbacca, with a star-killing superweapon called the Sun Crusher in tow. Unfortunately, the Jedi Master’s dismissal of teaching Kyp “more” of the Jedi’s ways has reminded him of his restrictive life in slavery, making this disappointment the perfect opening for Dark Lord Exar Kun to slowly corrupt the Jedi.
Kyp forcibly took the Sun Crusher to destroy the Cauldron Nebula to kill his Imperial captor and destroy the Carida system as revenge for taking his brother. While Luke eventually removed Exar Kun’s influence, it was too late - Kyp discovered that his brother was actually alive, and the Sun Crusher’s attack had accidentally killed him in the crossfire. Since then, Kyp has devoted his life to redemption. Throughout the rest of his life, he has been deemed both a war hero and a mass murderer for his involvement in various conflicts. Being a maverick Jedi, Kyp actively fought smugglers and was instrumental in defending the galaxy against the Yuuzhan Vong. However, his disappointment in the rule-heavy Jedi Order made him cross paths with his former master. Eventually becoming a Jedi Master himself, Kyp believes the Jedi should trust in the Force, not in their regulations.
The Blind Sith Whose Light Came In The Form Of An Exile
First Appearance
Star Wars Knight of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords(2004)
Force Sight, Sith Training, Telekinesis
When Visas Marr met exiled Jedi Meetra Surik, she realized the dark future Darth Nihilus showed might not be as set in stone as he thought
WhenDarth Nihilus fed upon the Force-rich life in Katarr(which, at the time, housed a secret Jedi Conclave), onlyVisas Marrwas left alive in the devastation. Upon waking up without her eyes and with her Force Sight extensively fractured, the Force Sensitive surrendered herself to Darth Nihilus - who manipulated her into thinking that the only way for order to prevail in the universe is through the complete consumption of the Dark Side. When Visas discovered a disturbance in the Force rippling through the galaxy, she sought permission to bring its source to Darth Nihilus for recovery.
This leads to her encounter with Jedi Exile Meetra Surik, who was on a mission to find missing Jedi Masters who may have survived the assault in Katarr. Throughout the events ofThe Sith Lords, pursuing the Light Side will have Surik spare Marr’s life after their duel - prompting the latter to forsake Darth Nihilus and ask the younger Surik to become her new master. While Marr would teach Surik the ways of Force Sight, Surik would help Marr see that the galaxy may actually have hope to see the light once again. Marr would become instrumental in defeating Darth Nihilus, with her reward being the beautiful sights of Katarr after the entire ordeal.
Star Wars: The Old Republic(2011)
Sith Lord Training, Dark Side Abilities (Force Lightning, Force Paralysis), Telekinesis
Dueling a Jedi Knight and being spared cemented his decision to forsake Darth Angral and the Sith while still retaining his values of honor
For someone likePravenwhose nature as a Sith pureblood meant he was trained in the Dark Side rather early, one might think his ascension into a Sith Lord was a matter of fate or destiny. However, despite his early intense hatred towards the Jedi, Praven follows a strict personal code that prioritizes honor over anything else. When a mission in Tatooine has Praven cross paths with the Hero of Tython (the player) inThe Old Republic, choosing the Light Side will have the player spare Praven’s life and convince him to forsake the Dark Side.
After surrendering to Republic authorities, Praven is surprised that his request to meet the Jedi Order was accepted and he was even welcomed into their ranks as a Padawan. Renouncing his title as Sith Lord, the Padawan Praven became involved in the eventual Galactic War between the Republic and the Empire. Praven was assigned to Corellia and had participated in the Battle of Corellia as a vital ally to the Republic, protecting civilians and troops alike with other Jedi reinforcements.
Sith Lord Training, Dark Side Abilities (Essence Transfer)
Realization that Sith Absolutism is flawed and had to introduce Jedi principles to “perfect” the Sith
Essence Transfer was one of the reasonsDarth Sidious became one of the most fearsome charactersinStar Wars, with this ability to transfer one’s consciousness being so rare that only a handful of beings were aware of it. This rarity can be attributed toDarth Gravid, a Dark Lord of the Sith among the Order of the Sith Lords from way back in Darth Bane’s era. Once a possessor of tremendous Sith lore such as that of Essence Transfer, Darth Gravid’s studies made him believe that the Sith’s dedication to the “absolute” Dark Side would be its own undoing.
The Dark Lord instead attempted to incorporate the Light Side as well as empathy and altruism, known Jedi doctrines, into his teachings. This practice slowly led to his insanity, to the point where he began destroying Sith artifacts and holocrons to truly “preserve” the Sith Order. Darth Gravid would be slain by his apprentice Darth Gean, although his actions would set back the Order for hundreds of years. While not technically one who “turned back” to the Light, Darth Gravid seemed to undergo some twisted version of the process.
Presumably already a Sith Hunter during his travels
Amongthe web seriesStar Wars: Visions,the Roninmay have been its most enigmatic but also most stylish character offerings. In “The Duel” short film that takes cues from Akira Kurosawa’s samurai films, the Ronin is seen staying in a village in Genbara that is suddenly besieged by bandits. When he learns that their leader is a Sith named Kouru, the Ronin challenges her to protect the people in the village.
Kouru remarks that the Ronin’s skill in swordplay likely means he’s a Jedi, but the reveal of a red blade shocks her. Their battle sends them across various locales, resulting in the Ronin stylishly killing Kouru. When members of the village ask if the Ronin is one of the legendary Jedi, the Ronin simply reveals his red lightsaber. He entrusts Kouru’s red kyber crystal to the village chief’s son, telling him it will ward off evil. It’s revealed that the Ronin already had multiple red kyber crystals on him, hinting that he may have been a Sith Hunter all this time.
A three-day battle convinced him to return to the Light
Introduced ina player’s journey inStar Wars: The Old Republic, the Jedi Padawan Sajar would be revealed as formerlyDarth Jadar, a skilled Dark Side user who once lured Jedi Master Tol Braga in a trap meant to kill him. However, Tol Braga’s skill in combat forced their fight to endure for three days, with both parties citing rhetoric on both sides of the Force. The fight ends with Braga convincing Darth Sajar to abandon the Dark Side and instead become a part of the Jedi Order.
Since then, Sajar had become Braga’s Padawan and began his studies of the Light Side. When an unfortunate incident causes Sajar’s Dark Side to resurface that led to the deaths of many, Sajar decided to die serving the Light instead of surviving and succumbing to the Dark Side. If players come to Sajar’s aid and accepts his request to let him aid outside combat, Sajar returns to Braga and asks for forgiveness in his previous actions. He then thanks the players for helping him see the Light.
A lover’s sacrifice allowed him to return to the Light
Originally introduced in the comics, George Lucas lovedQuinlan Vosso much that he retconned him into first appearing inThe Phantom Menace. However, Quinlan rose to prominence inThe Clone Warswhere his retrocognitive talents were put to use in tracking missions. Unfortunately, a failed mission to assassinate Count Dooku with Asajj Ventress would put Quinlan at his mercy, transforming him into his new apprentice, Admiral Enigma.
When the Jedi captured Engima, he pretended to be Quinlan and was more than willing to prove his loyalty to the Jedi by assassinating Dooku. In truth,Quinlan was consumed by eviland a desire to kill Darth Tyranus, take his place, and learn the identity of his master, Darth Sidious. When events isolate Dooku with his former apprentices, the Sith Lord decides it’s time to simply get rid of the both of them. Ventress jumps in front of her lover to protect him from Force Lightning, prompting Quinlan to realize the error in his ways and return to the Light. He defeats Dooku but offers mercy, with Ventress responding that there may still be hope for redemption.
Sith Assassin Training, Force Abilities (Telekinesis, Mind Tricks)
Protecting her lover from a lethal blow allowed her to fully return to the Light
BeforeAsajj Ventressbecame infamously known asthe dual-wielding Sith Assassinof Count Dooku, she was a former Padawan whose master’s death plunged her to the Dark Side. She channeled her grief in killing warlords, a skill admired by Count Dooku. While Asajj served loyally under him as a dependable Dark Acolyte, her potential was seen as a threat, and Darth Sidious tasked Dooku in killing her. After being left for dead, Asajj managed to survive and eventually roamed the galaxy as a bounty hunter.
Asajj eventually enters a reluctant partnership with Quinlan Vos and eventually falls in love with him. Quinlan’s mission to kill Dooku made Asajj cross paths with her former master multiple times, culminating in a final conflict between the three of them. Overwhelmed by a powerful Dooku, Asajj doesn’t depend on her Dark Side powers and instead feels her connection to the Living Force and sacrifices her life, saving Quinlan from Force Lightning. This act had allowed the Light Side to fully engulf her, letting her renounce her evil ways, while her apparent death had done the same for Quinlan.
Jedi Master Training, Force Abilities (Alchemy), Military Strategy
Jedi Knight Revan persuaded his spirit after death to return to the Light after acquiring his blade, motivating him to let go of his pain and regret
Back in the days of the First Great Schism,Ajunta Pallwas a Jedi Master whose studies into Force Alchemy led to his banishment, an act that would make him wage war with the Jedi Council in the Hundred-Year Darkness. The defeated Pall and his forces found a new home in Korriban in the Outer Rim, where they subjugated the Force-sensitive Sith who considered Pall the Jen’air or “Dark Lord.”
Ajunta Pall eventually found the first Sith Empire, with its traditions expanded by his successors after death. In the events ofKnights of the Old Republic, Jedi Knight Revan encounters the spirit of Ajunta Pall in his quest to get the Sith Lord’s sword. After Pall reveals his past and his regrets, Revan encourages him to let go of his pain and rejoin the Light. Through Revan’s encouragement, Ajunta Pall finally lets go of his anguish and becomes one with the Force.
