The Ultimate Showdown: The One Star Wars Character Capable of Defeating Thrawn, the Galaxy's Most Terrifying Villain

Grand Admiral Thrawn, known for his tactical brilliance in both the Star Wars canon and Legends, is highly respected. Created by the renowned author Timothy Zahn, Thrawn was considered one of the Empire's greatest strategists in both the old Expanded Universe and Disney canon. In the Legends universe, he came close to overpowering the New Republic, while in the canon, Palpatine acknowledged that only Tarkin or Thrawn could have effectively countered the rebellion.

However, despite his impressive reputation, Thrawn does have vulnerabilities. He is known for extensively studying his adversaries, familiarizing himself with their tactics. This leaves him susceptible to being caught off guard by clever commanders who act unpredictably or designate other leaders to take charge mid-battle. Additionally, Thrawn tends to underestimate the power of the Force, which ultimately led to his defeat in the finale of Star Wars Rebels. Nonetheless, this setback was merely temporary, as Thrawn is set to make a comeback in the upcoming Ahsoka Disney+ TV show. While defeating Grand Admiral Thrawn is no easy feat, there exist 11 characters in the Star Wars universe who possess the ability to overcome him under the right circumstances.

11 Gial Ackbar

Admiral Gial Ackbar is renowned for his exceptional command skills in the New Republic, particularly for his remarkable leadership during the battle of Endor. In the Legends, Ackbar's tactical prowess grew to such an extent that even Thrawn, a formidable adversary, found him intimidating. Thrawn resorted to elaborate measures, including engineering a political scandal, to avoid a direct confrontation with Ackbar as depicted in Zahn's "Thrawn trilogy." However, fate brought them face-to-face at the Battle of Bilbringi, where Ackbar demonstrated his capability to outmatch the Grand Admiral, although it was not solely his leadership that secured the victory over Thrawn.

10 Garm Bel Iblis

One of the most intriguing rebel leaders in Legends, Garm Bel Iblis, was a founding member of the Rebellion who chose to break away from Mon Mothma and establish his own resistance group. Similar to Ackbar, Bel Iblis gained the respect and recognition of Thrawn, who considered him a formidable strategist and a potential threat. Bel Iblis assumed command of the New Republic forces during Thrawn's assault on Coruscant, where he implemented a retreat strategy using cloaked asteroids as a decoy. Although Thrawn ultimately displayed superior strategic prowess at the Battle of Qat Chrystac, Bel Iblis remains a significant adversary to him.

9 Wedge Antilles

Best recognized for his exceptional piloting skills, Wedge Antilles' fame extended beyond the cockpit as he evolved into a highly adept tactician and esteemed military commander. Throughout his illustrious career, Wedge showcased his expertise by effectively countering Imperial menaces like Ysanne Isard and played a pivotal role in the triumph over the extragalactic invaders known as the Yuuzhan Vong. Notably, during practice exercises, he even outmaneuvered Admiral Ackbar, suggesting that Wedge, at the pinnacle of his abilities, could have surpassed the formidable Grand Admiral Thrawn.

8 Mace Windu

Jedi Master (and General) Mace Windu is renowned for his exceptional combat skills and effective leadership during the Clone Wars. However, his true advantage against Thrawn would stem from his mastery of the Force, specifically his unique ability known as shatterpoint. This extraordinary power enables Windu to perceive the vulnerabilities in both his adversaries and the surrounding circumstances, allowing him to swiftly adapt to their tactics. While Thrawn may possess countermeasures for Force-sensitive individuals, such as the Force-blocking creatures called ysalamiri, it remains uncertain how effective these measures would be against the shatterpoint ability. It is worth noting that ysalamiri can only restrict the Force within a limited area, while shatterpoint would still remain fully functional for Mace even outside of their influence.

7 Ezra Bridger

Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger stands out among the Star Wars characters for his remarkable achievement of defeating Grand Admiral Thrawn. Despite the vast difference in tactical prowess between Thrawn and Ezra's Phoenix Squadron, the young Padawan possessed a distinct advantage. In the climactic finale of Star Wars Rebels, Ezra received a warning from the Force about Thrawn's imminent arrival on Lothal. Leveraging this foresight, he devised a brilliant strategy to vanquish the Grand Admiral. Utilizing the Force, Bridger ensnared Thrawn and his flagship within the tentacles of the purrgil, the space whales of the Star Wars universe. Though Thrawn may undoubtedly glean insights from Ezra's triumph, it is evident that, even within the canon, he remains vulnerable to the powers of the Force.

6 Gilad Pellaeon

Gilad Pellaeon, the protege of the Grand Admiral in Star Wars Legends (and potentially in canon as well), should not be underestimated. After Thrawn's death, Pellaeon took command of the Imperial Remnant and established himself as a renowned leader and military strategist. Due to his close association with his mentor, an older Pellaeon might even outmaneuver Thrawn in a tactical encounter. However, there is a crucial difference. Thrawn thoroughly studies artwork to gain insights into his adversaries' culture and anticipate their tactics. While Pellaeon hails from the Core World Coruscant, he has never had a strong attachment to any particular world or culture.

5 Ahsoka Tano

Ahsoka Tano's exceptional combat skills and leadership in the military have been well-documented, but there is no evidence to support the notion that she could outmatch Thrawn in his own domain. However, similar to formidable individuals like Mace Windu and Ezra Bridger, Tano possesses a profound connection to the Force, granting her abilities that Thrawn may struggle to anticipate or counter. It is likely that Ahsoka will rely on a combination of her Force powers and her extensive experience as a Commander for the Republic to outmaneuver Thrawn in the upcoming Ahsoka TV series.

4 Darth Vader

Darth Vader should never be underestimated. As the Dark Lord of the Sith, he actively participated in the Clone Wars, acquiring knowledge from some of the most skilled tacticians of the Old Republic. While Thrawn possesses a deep understanding of Darth Vader, being one of the rare individuals aware of Anakin Skywalker's true identity, his limited comprehension of the Force would prove to be a disadvantage. This is especially evident in the Legends continuity, where Darth Vader frequently employs deception and manipulation rather than relying solely on sheer physical strength.

3 Luke Skywalker

Although Luke Skywalker is far from an inept military leader, he's no match for Thrawn - as proven in the "Thrawn trilogy." However, where he may find success is in a personal confrontation. Thrawn often relied on ysalamiri to shield himself from Force-based attacks, but these defenses would prove futile against Luke. In the Legends universe, Luke Skywalker acquired immense Force abilities as he grew older, rendering him immune to the effects of ysalamiri. With this advantage, an older Luke Skywalker could easily catch Thrawn off guard and successfully capture him.

2 Tyber Zann

In the Legends universe, Tyber Zann was a student of Grand Admiral Thrawn who eventually turned against him and became a notorious crime lord. Their rivalry reached a boiling point in the video game Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption, when they clashed over control of the Imperial military training academy on Carida. While Thrawn managed to achieve one of his objectives by stealing a Sith Holocron, Zann was able to outmaneuver him and force him to retreat. This demonstration of Zann's tactical prowess solidifies him as one of the few individuals capable of defeating Thrawn through military means alone.

1 Palpatine

Palpatine's unparalleled power as a dark side being surpasses even the formidable Grand Admiral Thrawn. With his strategic brilliance, Palpatine not only eradicated the Jedi Order and established the Empire, but also posed a greater threat to the New Republic in Legends. In canon, he further unleashed the First Order, ultimately leading to the destruction of the Republic. Palpatine's unimaginable power allowed him to effortlessly summon Force Storms, rendering even Thrawn unable to evade their wrath. While Thrawn is undeniably impressive, Palpatine remains the ultimate villain in the Star Wars universe.