In a galaxy full of droids, lightsabers, Star Destroyers, and countless other technological marvels, it pays to be smart (especially if you charge for your services). But being technologically savvy isn't always enough in the Star Wars universe when wars are waged between Republic and Empire, Jedi and Sith.
Sometimes wisdom, ingenuity, or a good strategy are enough to prove intelligence. From the original '70s Marvel series and '90s Legends tales, to the current High Republic new canon series, Star Wars comic book characters, both familiar and new, through their actions, have proven why they should be placed among the smartest in the galaxy far, far away.
10 Emperor Palpatine seems to always be one step ahead of his enemies
A true master of manipulation, Emperor Palpatine has orchestrated some of the most devious plots across the entire Star Wars saga, the most prominent being the establishment of the Empire.
In Legends comics, Palpatine has returned in various forms, always having one last trick up his sleeve to preserve his life and his hold on the galaxy. In current comics like Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith, he furthers his manipulative hold over Anakin. Palpatine seems to always be one step ahead of his enemies.
9 Lumiya (Shira Brie) plays a role in the skywalker legacy
Lumiya first appeared in the Marvel Star Wars comics in 1982 as Shira Brie. She's played many roles throughout the galaxy such as Imperial spy and Lady of the Sith. Her allegiances varied many, many times, often acting as a double agent for both the Empire and Rebellion.
She would play a hand in much of the Skywalker legacy, becoming a powerful enemy to Luke as well as a manipulative force for Jacen Solo. Her skills range from pilot and spy to powerful Force user, making her a deadly opponent. It is through all these roles and accumulative experience with both the dark side and the light that make her so formidable.
8 Doctor Aphra is impressive, most impressive
Chelli Aphra has established quite a criminal career, impressing even Han Solo and Darth Vader in the times she's crossed their paths. Fans must be impressed too considering she stars in her own book. Her intellect and technological expertise place her among some of the smartest in the galaxy.
She impressed Vader so much that he hired her to covertly work for him on numerous occasions. This partnership didn't last, however, and Aphra and her companions soon found themselves on the run. But someone who can simultaneously impress and evade Darth Vader is intelligent and resourceful.
7 The wisdom of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker (Legends) is incomparable
Luke Skywalker, in most canon stories, follows his path to becoming a Jedi. He experiences trials and challenges between film episodes, but the character learns and displays true wisdom the older he gets in Legends tales. When Luke Skywalker becomes a Jedi Master, he commands the battlefield, not just with his impressive lightsaber skills but with his wise mind.
In Legends, Luke has destroyed a resurrected Palpatine, thwarted a rebuilding Empire, and guided his great, great-grandson to his destiny. The movies and the stories between them only show a sliver of the great mind Luke would develop.
6 Princess, general, Jedi knight Leia Organa wields a strategic mind
Leia proves time and time again why she's a powerful ally and a strong leader. She's decisive and resourceful in every iteration of her character. From the old Marvel series, through her Legends appearances where she explores her latent Force abilities, to the current canon books, Leia wields a strategic mind fit for traversing a galactic war setting.
She's played so many different roles in many comic book series. Whether readers are fans of Princess Leia escaping the Death Star, General Leia tracking down a captured Han Solo, or Jedi Knight Leia battling a corrupted Luke Skywalker, a story exists that will satisfy them.
5 Darth Wyyrlok III, keeper of sith lore
In the Star Wars: Legacy comic series, first published in June 2006, Darth Krayt ruled the new Sith Empire over 100 years after the Battle of Yavin. Second in command to Krayt was Darth Wyyrlok.
Wyyrlok proved the extent of his dark side power time and time again against battles with the remaining Jedi and Cade Skywalker. Wyyrlok was truly irreplaceable when it came to his knowledge of Sith lore. He was as much an archivist in the dark side of the Force as he was its champion, and his understanding of it helped Krayt maintain his rule for years.
4 Morrigan Corde's duplicity allowed her to establish many ties
Along with being a skilled bounty hunter, pilot, weapons expert, and more, Morrigan Corde's most resourceful trait was her duplicity. She used her intelligence, and her access to other's, to gain information on the Empire, the Jedi, and the Sith, simultaneously, while using an alias.
Corde was a master at deceiving others to get what she wanted. Her motives depended on who she was allied with at the time. Throughout Star Wars: Legacy she established many ties that she could then use and manipulate to get what she wanted.
3 The most resourceful bounty hunter in the galaxy, Boba Fett
Boba Fett may not be the smartest based on pure intelligence alone, but his strategic, cunning, resourceful mind places him among the rest. This bounty hunter has gone toe-to-toe with some of the most powerful beings in the galaxy and lived to do it again.
In Charles Soule's new series, Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters, Boba Fett is given some canon spotlight. He's caught in the crossfire of Darth Vader and the Empire and Jabba the Hutt and his hunters, as they both compete for the prize of a frozen Han Solo.
2 Marchion Ro is the bane of the high republic
If Palpatine is the biggest threat to the galaxy during the Skywalker saga, Marchion Ro was the biggest threat during the High Republic era. Holding the title of Eye of the Nihil, Ro has orchestrated multiple schemes against the Jedi and the High Republic.
While Ro is a skilled fighter, capable of holding his own against trained Jedi, his cunning, strategic mind is what makes him so deadly. His plan has set in motion horrible actions that prove the Sith are not the only opposing force in the galaxy the Jedi need to worry about.
1 Grand Admiral Thrawn, the ultimate strategist
First appearing in Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire, the first installment of the Thrawn Trilogy, Grand Admiral Thrawn quickly rose in popularity for having the most prolific military mind the Republic had ever faced. While not as deep as the novel, the Thrawn Trilogy comic book adaptation still presented Thrawn as the composed, artistic, 5-D chess-playing leader that he is.
Thrawn's origins and rise through the ranks of the Empire are beautifully rendered in the Star Wars: Thrawn mini-series published by Marvel in 2018. In all stages of his life, no matter his position, Thrawn could craft a complex plan and had the vision to execute it.