Summary

Grand Admiral Thrawnis one ofStar Wars’more unequalled villains , so much so that he ’s arguably a better villain thanEmperor Palpatine . Hailing from the Unown Regions , Thrawn gained the Emperor ’s favorand quickly rose through the rank of the Imperial Navy , becoming one of Palpatine ’s skillful military drawing card . However , Thrawn is now capable of surpassing Palpatine as a sincerely redoubtable baddie in the beetleweed far , far aside .

In the wake of Palpatine ’s death inReturn of the Jediand the Empire having been shattered , Grand Admiral Thrawn has ultimately pass from exile during theNew Republic Eraas see inAhsoka’sfinale where he made his live - activity debut ( encounter by Lars Mikkelsen ) . Now , Thrawn is positioned to become successor to the Empire and will likely essay to wreak back royal regulation across the galaxy . To that death , here are 10 of the biggest elbow room in whichThrawn is a betterStar Warsvillain than Palpatinehimself .

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Emperor Palpatine laughing maniacally in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.

10Grand Admiral Thrawn Plans For Defeat

He’s Not Afraid To Lose

One of Thrawn ’s not bad strengths is his power to accept defeat while also finding ways to turn losses into primal advantages . He ’s more content with losing a battle if it means he can win in the farseeing full term . This is something that has been prove more than once both inStar Wars Rebelsand most of late inAhsoka . While Palpatine had his own schemes and contingency , it certainly seems as though Thrawn is more unforced to withdraw for the sake of a greater scheme .

9Thrawn Is Not A Sith (And That’s A Good Thing)

Thrawn Can Earn More Imperial Loyalty

It ’s been build in theStar Warscanon that the Imperial hierarchy had its problems with the Sith . While Palpatine largely kept his honest nature hidden , Darth Vader surely faced his reasonable share of challenge due to his more open identicalness as a Dark Lord of the Sith , so much so that an entire mystic order of Imperial drawing card was once formed in a bid to destroy him . Regardless , the fact thatThrawn does not wield the Forcecan be seen as an advantage , as he ’ll likely have an easier metre motivating the various warlords of the Imperial Remnant to give him their allegiance .

8Thrawn Didn’t Approve Of The Death Star

He Knew The Empire Needed More Than Superweapons

While the Emperor decide that the Death Star would assure total ascendency over the galaxy with entire systems living in fear of the superweapon ’s capabilities , not every royal drawing card was convinced of its proposed potential , and this included Thrawn . Having opposed Project Stardust , Thrawn justly deduced that the Death Star was nothing more than a massive target that would motivate the Empire ’s enemies to tantalise and unite . Thrawn was also more concerned in a diversified range of military unit , rather than lay waste to resources on one singular weapon . sure enough enough , the Empire ’s rule might have lasted longer had Palpatine imagine more like his Grand Admiral .

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7Thrawn’s Empire Will Be Even More Dangerous

The New Empire Will Be Carefully Remade

Palpatine ’s Empire was more impulsive and somewhat volatile , and this was by design . Palpatine favored infighting and difference within the majestic hierarchy as a means to keep himself in great power . However , it stands to reason thatThrawn ’s Empire will be far more focusedand cautiously reconstructed from the ashes . Thrawn will likely postulate that his forcefulness be extremely ordered and focused in their service , allowing the Grand Admiral to full tactical maneuver and gain the most time value from them like objet d’art on a chess add-in .

6Thrawn Has Unorthodox Dark Side Allies (Nightsisters)

Magicks Are Providing New Advantages

Thrawn has taken longtime enemies of Palpatine ’s and turned them into key allies with theNightsisters of Dathomir . Having been deport to the Nightsisters ' original homeworld in another galax know as Peridea , the Nightsisters entered Thrawn ’s Robert William Service in central for raptus back to the knownStar Warsgalaxy . Thrawn has already made groovy use of their dark magicks to resurrect his forces as see inAhsoka , and it ’s also been teased that Dathomir has become Thrawn ’s new base of operation . The magicks of the Nightsisters may do more for Thrawn than the traditional blue side powers used by Palpatine and the Sith .

5Thrawn’s Motives Go Beyond The Empire

Thrawn Has His Own People

While Palpatine ’s singular focus was on retain his power over his Empire for as long as possible , Thrawn ’s goals are arguably bigger and more compelling . While he does seem determined to lead and fetch rescript back to the galaxy , it ’s also worth consider that his own people may still need his backing in the Unknown Regions as reveal in the canonical novel by Timothy Zahn . Known as the Chiss Ascendancy , the entire reason Thrawn was sent to the more well - live persona of the galaxy was to find ally , excuse his loyalty to Palpatine in a bid to turn the Empire into an friend for his own masses .

4Thrawn Doesn’t Have To Hide His True Identity

Palpatine Had To Perform

Palpatine ’s status as Darth Sidious was a closely guarded secret he fain kept enshroud . Palpatine was a facade , a false grimace Sidious endure for decades as he seek to turn the Republic into his Empire , though it was also one he continue to weary to mask his true major power during the Dark Times and the dawn of the original trilogy . This is n’t something Thrawn has ever had to worry about in the slightest , and he ’s always been his true self : a originative and deliberate commander using unorthodox gambit to decimate his antagonist , open of discovering weaknesses his fellow ship’s officer would n’t have even call back of exploiting .

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3Grand Admiral Thrawn’s Weapons Were Better Than Palpatine’s

TIE Defenders Could Have Crushed The Early Rebellion

In the name of diversifying the Empire ’s force rather than wasting resource on the Death Star , Thrawn ’s TIE Defender programwould likely have decimated the Rebellion before it even truly became the Rebel Alliance . Were it not for the incompetence of inferior majestic policeman blend with the sabotage efforts of the Spectres and their Jedi poor boy Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger , the Empire might have back up Thrawn ’s course of study . Their true reward was the investment funds put into every starfighter and its pilot , fit out each observational TIE with advanced weaponry and shields untypical of more traditional TIEs due to a desire for measure over quality .

2Thrawn Can Make The Empire Look Attractive

A Restoration of Order

Thrawn also has the unequaled opportunity to try and make his imperium take care more appealing . Since it ’s been go in the backwash ofReturn of the Jediand the definitive Battle of Jakku , the New Republic has obviously struggled to wield order as it ’s still trying to find its feet in the new wandflower . As such , Thrawn ’s attempt to rejuvenate the Empire could be leveraged as a restitution of order , an idea he could use to win over the galaxy that his interpretation of the Empire might be better than the New Republic , while also being dear than Palpatine ’s Empire of the past .

1Thrawn Is More Adaptable Than Palpatine

The Grand Admiral Can Be More Flexible

In the end , Thrawn is plainly more patient and flexible than Palpatine . Palpatine was positive due to his world power in the dark side and his power to foresee coming events . He had his rump of power for over two decades prior to his demise . This likely lead to his uncompromising nature , believing that his reign and Empire were unvanquishable so long as his enemies were crushed as before long as they go forth . However , Thrawn is far more adaptable and willing to study his opponents in theStar Warscanon , ensuring that his victories are effectual and lasting , while also being uncoerced to concede when tactically advantageous ( rather than pressing the offence ) .

Sidious, Tyranus, Maul, and Vader.

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Thrawn and Palaptine Better Star Wars Villain Featured

Grand Admiral Thrawn in front of a picture of the Sith Army in SWTOR

Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) speaking with Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) in Ahsoka

Thrawn Origins New Star Wars Villains

Emperor Palpatine and Darth Sidious in Revenge of the Sith in Star Wars

Tarkin and Thrawn in Star Wars Rebels.

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Palpatine and Thrawn in Star Wars History Image

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Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious