When someone says Jedi, most of us picture a space knight with a lightsaber. But did you know there are seven ranks of Jedi? And that some of your favorite heroes with lightsabers aren’t actually Jedi Knights at all?
The Jedi Order used ranks for training and leadership. The lifetime, rigorous training, from youngling to master, allowed Jedi to hone their skills and deepen their relationship with the Force.
Disputes over rank could lead to disharmony. Qui-Gon Jinn was ready to leave the Jedi Order completely over the Council’s initial decision not to train Anakin Skywalker. Years later, Anakin was outraged at not being granted the rank of Master – despite having a place on the Jedi High Council.
Ahsoka Tano rejected the rank of Jedi Knight after becoming disillusioned with the whole Jedi Order.
The Jedi Order and its seven distinct ranks were destroyed at the end of the Star Wars prequels, in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
However, survivors such as Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Kanan Jarrus were able to pass on the legacy of Jedi training to Luke Skywalker (who later trained Rey and others) and Ezra Bridger.
Jedi Ranks in Order
7. Jedi Initiates (younglings)
Younglings were Force-sensitive children brought to Coruscant to be trained as Jedi.
The Jedi Council recruited younglings from across the galaxy, from all species. Children were taken as young as toddlers to live in the Jedi Temple Creche.
Younglings were trained by Jedi Masters including Grand Master Yoda.
The children learnt to wield a lightsaber by the time they were eight. Younglings then underwent a rite of passage to find a Kyber crystal and construct their own lightsaber.
To graduate to padawan, younglings would have to successfully pass the initiate trials. Those that didn’t pass would either return home or join the Jedi Service Corp.
One of the most shocking Star Wars scenes ever was Anakin Skywalker’s murder of Jedi younglings. The terrifying moment appeared in Revenge of the Sith, with follow-on storylines appearing in The Mandalorian and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
6. Padawan
A padawan was an apprentice Jedi Knight.
Once a youngling passed their initiate trial, they were selected or assigned as padawan to a Jedi.
Padawans would live with their master for around 10 years, training in combat and extensive Force meditation. They also accompanied them on missions, as Obi-Wan Kenobi did with Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace.
Padawans traditionally wore part of their hair in a long, right-shouldered braid. Those without hair, such as Ahsoka Tano, used silka beads for the braid.
To become a Jedi Knight, padawans would have to successfully complete the nine-step Jedi Trials.
The formal title and training process for padawans was mostly lost after the collapse of the Jedi Order. However, Luke Skywalker was able to receive some training from surviving Jedi Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda.
In the Star Wars sequels, Rey was able to convince a reluctant Luke to begin her training. After his death, Rey was further trained by his twin Leia Organa. Leia was not a Jedi but had received training from Luke.
5. Jedi Knight
Jedi Knights were full members of the Jedi Order, sworn to uphold peace and justice in the Galactic Republic.
They undertook missions and activities as directed by the Jedi Council.
During the Clone Wars, Jedi Knights also took on the role of military leaders.
Supreme Chancellor Palpatine – secretly Sith lord Darth Sidious – had nearly all Jedi Knights killed by issuing Order 66. The latter was a secret command programmed into clone troopers to destroy the Jedi.
The memory of the Jedi and their resurgence in Luke Skywalker and later Rey was an important symbol of hope and freedom across the galaxy.
4. Jedi Master
The rank of Jedi Master was bestowed on experienced, high-achieving Jedi Knights. There was no trial or test to become a Jedi Master. Instead, the rank was awarded at the discretion of the Jedi Grand Master.
Jedi Masters were encouraged to study and develop their own connection with the Force. They would often oversee the early education of younglings.
Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu and Luke Skywalker are among the most well-known Jedi Masters in Star Wars.
3. Jedi High Council Member
The Jedi High Council was made up of 12 Jedi Masters, responsible for governing the entire Jedi Order.
The Council worked closely with the Galactic Senate as part of the Jedi Order’s role as guardians of peace. They also oversaw youngling initiate trials and padawan Jedi trials.
New members were chosen by the Council itself and overseen by the presiding Master of the Council.
The Council was based in the Jedi Grand Temple on Coruscant.
Anakin Skywalker was an exception to the rule of Council Members being Jedi Masters. He was granted a seat on the Council as Chancellor Palpatine’s personal representative. However, much to Anakin’s outrage, he was not granted the rank of master.
2. Master of the Council
The Master of the Council was the elected leader of the Jedi Council, appointed by its members.
Yoda and Mace Windu both served as Master of the Council.
While the position held strong leadership responsibility, it was still outranked by one last category of Jedi – Grand Master.
1. Jedi Grand Master
The Grand Master was head of the Jedi Order, a position most famously held by Yoda.
The rank of Grand Master was reserved for long-serving and exceptionally wise Jedi Masters.
Star Wars has only named four Jedi Grand Masters: Yoda, and three from the High Republic Era (Pra-tre Veter, Lahru and Ry Ki Sakka).
Over his 800 years in the Jedi Order, Yoda is estimated to have trained close to 20,000 Jedi.
Read more: 17 Best Lightsabers Ranked with Character Images
Star Wars Character Ranks
| Character | Rank | Film/Show |
|---|---|---|
| Luke Skywalker | Padawan (unofficial) Jedi Knight Jedi Master | Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi The Mandalorian The Book of Boba Fett Star Episode VII: The Force Awakens Star Episode VIII: The Last Jedi |
| Anakin Skywalker | Padawan Jedi Knight | Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones Star Wars: The Clone Wars Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith |
| Obi-Wan Kenobi | Jedi Knight Jedi Master | Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones Star Wars: The Clone Wars Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Obi Wan Kenobi Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope |
| Yoda | Jedi Grand Master | Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones Star Wars: The Clone Wars Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi |
| Rey | Padawan (unofficial) Jedi Knight/Master | Star Episode VIII: The Last Jedi Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker |
| Mace Windu | Master of the Council | Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones Star Wars: The Clone Wars Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith |
| Ahsoka Tano | Padawan Jedi Knight (qualified, but rejected rank and left the Jedi Order) | The Clone Wars The Clone Wars Star Wars: Rebels The Mandalorian The Book of Boba Fett |
| Qui-Gon Jinn | Jedi Master | Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace |