Summary

• The Sith's secret Force power, revealed in "The Acolyte," gave Palpatine an edge in combat - getting into enemies' minds.
• This explains why Palpatine couldn't be defeated in combat by even the most skilled Jedi.
• The Rule of Two established by Darth Bane aimed to ensure each Sith was greater than their master, shaping the evolution of the Sith.

Star Wars has given the Sith one Force power that makes Rule of Two - a mandate that requires there to be only two Sith at any one time, a master and an apprentice. The Rule of Two was established by Darth Bane, and he believed it would ensure every Sith was greater than their master.

The Jedi learned just how dangerous the Sith were in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Mace Windu led two other Jedi Masters to arrest Palpatine, but he killed two of them with ease. Later, Master Yoda engaged Darth Sidious in a one-on-one duel, swiftly discovering he was outclassed. This point is driven home in Matt Stover's novelization of Revenge of the Sith, which portrays Yoda's shock as he realizes the Sith have evolved and the Jedi remained static. But now, 19 years after Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars has revealed just why Palpatine was so unbeatable.

The Acolyte Made The Sith So Much More Dangerous

Introducing a new Force power

The Acolyte's Sith Lord - officially known only as the Stranger - was determined to ensure his existence remained a secret. In The Acolyte episode 5, he took on the Jedi in a devastating battle.

This dark side power explains why, a century later, Palpatine would be able to effortlessly kill two Jedi Masters in battle.

There had never been anything quite like it in Star Wars before; a live-action clash between a large group of Jedi and a single Sith, who lashed out with brutal efficiency. Most troubling of all, though, was the fact that he demonstrated a subtle and dangerous Force power that gave him in edge in combat; he got into his enemies' minds, confusing them, making them doubt themselves, slowing their reactions. This dark side power explains why, a century later, Palpatine would be able to effortlessly kill two Jedi Masters in battle.

Palpatine Could Only Be Defeated Through Spontaneous Reaction, Rather Than Strategy

We now understand why he lost

Return of the Jedi arguably sets up this Force power, because Palpatine is clearly exploring Luke Skywalker's thoughts and emotions all the way through their encounter. The Acolyte takes an idea that was already present, though, and effectively weaponizes it - just as the Sith would do. It becomes the secret to the near-invincibility of the Sith. But it also explains why Palpatine could only be defeated through something truly spontaneous - as seen in both Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

As powerful as he may be in the dark side, Palpatine's vision of the future was clouded by the light. He couldn't envision a reality in which Darth Vader turned on him because of love, not hate, and so was wrong-footed when his apprentice attacked him in Luke's defense. Likewise, he had no idea the spirits of the Jedi would come to Rey's assistance on Exegol, meaning he couldn't anticipate her defense. The Sith really are almost unbeatable in Star Wars - but they still have a major weakness.