Ranking the Top 6 Star Wars Teachers in the Galaxy

If you’re going to make it big in the galaxy, you’re going to need a quality teacher to show you the Way. Whether you’re a new bounty hunter, a Padawan™, or just a rookie Rebel, it can be a lot to take in.

Fortunately, the galaxy is also filled with some truly memorable mentors and role models. Here are our selections for the top 6 teachers in Star Wars™.

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6. Yoda

Much of Yoda’s™ backgrounded is shrouded in mystery. But he is known, for good reason, as a legendary wielder of the Force and a Master Jedi™. He’s lived through centuries of galactic history, including the High Republic™ and the Clone Wars™.

As a result, Yoda has a lot of experience to share. His near millennium’s worth of wisdom has guided some very powerful Jedi, including Luke Skywalker™. The sage advice of Yoda is so powerful he has even transcended his galaxy to pass into our own pop culture vernacular. But he’s also further up this list because he truly failed the Jedi Order™. Under his leadership, their arrogance blinded them to the growing dark side. Yoda remained closed off to true balance and helped lead Anakin Skywalker™ astray by suppressing his emotions.

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5. Obi-Wan Kenobi

Obi-Wan Kenobi™ is the quintessential elder mentor who trains a young hero embarking on their hero’s journey. Even as a Padawan, he had a wizened air about him, much different than the radical Qui-Gon Jinn™. Like Yoda, Obi-Wan believes in the Order with all his heart. That’s why he is a steadfast moral compass to young Jedi and an excellent trainer in the ways of the Jedi. Luke and Leia Organa™ both got a crash course in the Force thanks to Obi-Wan.

However, still similar to Yoda, he also failed Anakin Skywalker. And that failure cost the galaxy dearly. Anakin could have been a turning point for the Jedi much earlier than what occurred — had his superiors listened to him with more compassion, they might have foreseen the cracks in their teachings. Instead, Obi-Wan only opened his mind later in life, after they had both been burned.

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4. Darth Sidious

No, we’re not being mind-controlled to say this. Just listen! He is an evil tyrant. There is no denying that. But Darth Sidious™ is, first and foremast, a master manipulator. Who else could have orchestrated the downfall of an entire galaxy from within the shadows?

Furthermore, he did all of this while learning the secrets of the Sith™ and then passing that knowledge onto his planned successor: Anakin Skywalker. Sidious’ teachings were so compelling that he swayed the Chosen One away from the Jedi Order. He forged Anakin into Darth Vader™, a weapon equipped with horrific power, through mere discussion. If it were a matter of whose student became the most powerful, Darth Sidious would surely win.

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3. Ahsoka Tano

Next is Ahsoka Tano™, another Force-wielder whose path is irrevocably influenced by Anakin Skywalker. Ahsoka came of age during the Clone Wars. Her Padawan training, with Anakin as her Master, was full of death, destruction, and every other hardship of war. From her Master, she learned creative problem solving, fierce independence, and a distrust of authority.

As a teacher, Ahsoka strives to understand those she mentors. After all, Anakin gave her the gift of accepting her decision to walk away from the Jedi path. That understanding allowed Ahsoka to grow into a person who lets their protegées discover what works for them. Still, she does struggle with Sabine Wren™. For a time, the Master and Padawan even parted ways out of frustration. Eventually, Ahsoka makes her way back to Sabine. Acceptance of differences is just as important as expertise when it comes to teaching.

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2. The Mandalorian

Everybody wants to have the cool parent or guardian they can bring in to show and tell. That’s Din Djarin™. While he really doesn’t want the job at first, The Mandalorian™ comes to love Grogu™ so much that he risks whatever it takes to make sure The Child is safe.

Plus, as we’ve seen before, the sign of a successful teacher is one who gives their student autonomy. Mando never forced Grogu to live by the rules of a Mandalorian™. In fact, he did everything in his power to make sure Grogu could continue his Jedi training if he wished. He also made sure he passed on his own knowledge should it ever help his little green ward. By allowing Grogu to make his own decision, Mando ensured that he and Grogu would fight side by side forever.

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1. Hera Syndulla

The top spot on this list does not go to a hardened soldier or an ancient Force-wielder. Instead, the fighter pilot Hera Syndulla™ is the best teacher in the Star Wars galaxy. With her guidance, a whole crew of mismatched outcasts reached their fullest potential. Rivalries were squashed, heroes were empowered, and a family was born.

Hera’s Ghost crew helped spark the entire Rebellion against the Empire. It takes a truly remarkable individual to lead a team against such unbeatable odds. Thanks to Hera’s encouragement, Ezra Bridger™ received his training from Kanan Jarrus™ and somehow even Chopper™ found it in his little droid heart to do good. She also led her crew into finding a long-lost species in Wild Space™. Now that’s a teacher who gets results.

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If you had to embark on a journey across the stars, who would you pick as your mentor?

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