One scene inStar Wars: The Clone Warssubtly rewrote the history of the Sith.Disney officially canceledThe Clone Warsafter season 5, but the story was far from over. Thirteen episodes released in 2014 under the banner “The Lost Missions,” and they featured some of the most important and exciting stories in the TV show’s history. One of these saw Master Yoda begin his quest to become aForce Ghost, a mission that took him to the ancientSith homeworld of Moraband.
This chilling arc saw Darth Sidious attempt to use the old Master-Apprentice bond between Yoda and Dooku to his own advantage. Yoda prevailed against all the powers of the Sith, though, and even against the spirits of ancient Sith Lords who were found on Moraband - notablyDarth Bane, founder of theRule of Two. As exciting as this was, though, a subtle detail in the episode revealed the ancient history of the Sith, and rewrote its lore forever.
The Clone Wars Hints Darth Bane Died On Korriban
Sith spirits aren’t like Force Ghosts
It’s important to understand thatSith spirits and Jedi Force Ghosts are not the same thing. A Jedi becomes a Force Ghost by letting go, trusting in the will of the Force, and they gain tremendous power after death; they retain their consciousness, and they are able to travel across the galaxy, manifesting in the presence of others and even manipulating the Force. In contrast, a Sith preserves their consciousness after death by using aForce powercalled essence transfer, binding their soul to a place or person, or perhaps even possessing another.
This is the power Palpatine sought to use on Rey inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. It’s likely a Sith can only possess the body of someone who is subject to the dark side at the time of their death - explaining why Palpatine wanted Rey to give in to her anger and strike him down.
And here is the intriguing thing;The Clone Warsrevealed Darth Bane’s spirit was bound on Moraband. It’s a fitting resting place for the Sith who redefined his order, and whose millennia-long masterplan came so close to conquering the galaxy for good. Importantly, though, the implication is that - as far as canon is concerned - Darth Bane likely died on Moraband. He is known to have been killed by his apprentice, Darth Zannah, so they must have fought to the death on a world steeped in the dark side.
Darth Bane’s Canon Fate Is Clearly Different To Legends
He didn’t die on Ambria after all
According to the oldStar WarsExpanded Universe, Darth Bane and Zannah fought on the planet Ambria - another dark side vergence, but not one with such historic importance to the Sith. That story has actually been alluded to in canon as well, with one issue ofBuild the Millennium Falconreferring to legends in which Bane died on Ambria. Note that these are legends, though, and they are contradicted by the fact Bane’s spirit was on Moraband - suggestingStar Wars: The Clone Warsrevealed his true fate.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Cast
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is an animated series that explores the intense conflict between the Republic and the Separatists. Featuring a mix of loyalty shifts and alliances, it delves into complex mysteries of the Force and showcases pivotal moments for characters like Anakin Skywalker and Master Yoda.
