Ah, the Knights of Ren. If you’ve been even remotely awake during the last decade of Star Wars media, you’ve heard of them. A crew of shadowy, dark side warriors who ride the coattails of Kylo Ren himself. Mysterious, dangerous, and… barely explained. Seriously, what’s the deal with them? We got just a taste in The Force Awakens, and then they kinda vanished for a while, only to reappear in The Rise of Skywalker. But what were they really all about?
Let’s dive in and pull back the veil of mystery—because there’s more to these guys than just creepy armor and the occasional lightsaber.
The Knights of Ren’s Mysterious First Appearance
First time we see the Knights of Ren is in The Force Awakens, but let’s be real: it’s about as exciting as a wet napkin. There’s that flashback with Kylo Ren and his posse, and bam—mysterious, brooding warriors. But, uh, they don’t do much. Honestly, they looked more like a medieval cosplay gang than actual threat level 1000. Still, it was enough to get us all wondering, “Who are these guys?” and “Why does Kylo look like he’s about to host a heavy metal concert?”
Fast forward a couple of years, and we still didn’t get much more than that. Every Star Wars fan was left like, “Come on, I need more backstory here!” Thankfully, the comics and books finally delivered, but they had us in suspense for far too long. It’s like when you start a Netflix show and they dangle a juicy plotline but leave it unresolved for the entire first season. Ugh.
The Beginnings: Who Even Were the Knights of Ren?
Alright, time to break it down. The Knights of Ren weren’t always just Kylo Ren’s backup dancers. The Knights were actually created by someone named Ren—not Kylo, but a totally different person. Ren was once a Jedi (surprise!) who went rogue and dipped into the dark side of the Force. This Ren eventually founded the group, which was kind of a mishmash of former Jedi, rogue Force users, and straight-up power-hungry folks. What they all had in common? A complete disregard for traditional Jedi or Sith codes.
According to The Rise of Kylo Ren comic (big shout-out to Charles Soule for fleshing out some of this), Ren (the original) created a new order. So the Knights of Ren weren’t even Sith, but they were like the dark side’s chaotic, rebellious cousin who never showed up for family reunions but still got invited for the drama.
Kylo Ren & His Knights—A Match Made in Darkness
So here’s where the whole Kylo Ren thing kicks in. Kylo, whose birth name was Ben Solo, was training under Luke Skywalker. We all know how that turned out (spoiler: not great). But The Rise of Kylo Ren comic shows us his descent into darkness. It’s like watching someone go from casual binge-drinking to knocking over their own furniture at a party. Kylo gets seduced by Ren (the OG Ren, not Kylo) and starts feeling all sorts of ways about the Force, and boom—he joins the Knights of Ren.
At first, Kylo was just a fanboy of this Ren guy. But as he soaked in the dark side, he eventually took over the crew, leaving behind his whole “Ben Solo” identity to fully embrace Kylo Ren. There’s something kinda tragic about it, but also wicked cool. Kylo Ren is a force (pun intended) of his own at this point, and he’s got his gang—who’ll follow him into whatever dumpster fire he wants to start next.
The Knights of Ren: Not Your Average Dark Side Crew
Now, let’s be clear: the Knights of Ren aren’t your regular Sith. They don’t follow the “Rule of Two” (the whole Master-Apprentice dynamic that the Sith love). Nope. These guys roll deep, and they do things their way.
Their philosophy is pretty simple—embrace the dark side, do whatever feels right (and terrible) in the moment, and rack up as much power as possible. Unlike Sith, they don’t spend their time scheming to kill each other for supremacy. Instead, they focus on working together to spread chaos and terror across the galaxy. Think of them as Star Wars‘ version of a biker gang, but with lightsabers, jagged blades, and a vibe that screams “we’ve never met a city we didn’t want to destroy.”
Anyway, here’s the kicker: these guys are bad news. Their weapons are wicked unique—everything from crossguard lightsabers (yup, the one Kylo’s rocking) to jagged bladed weapons that look like they came from a dark side blacksmith who was having a really bad day.
Here’s Where the Plot Thickens: The Knights of Ren and Their Deadly Skills
Let’s get into it. These guys? Total experts at wrecking stuff. Each Knight brings something to the table. One’s got a crazy axe (Trudgen, I’m looking at you), another wields a giant hammer, and we’ve got one or two who throw down with lightsabers that are more practically brutal than sleek and shiny.
Not all the Knights are Force-sensitive, but most are. Some, like Kylo Ren, even wield the Force like it’s their personal playground. The funny part? They never talk about what they’re after, so it’s unclear if they’re working for an ultimate goal or just reveling in destruction.
But let’s be real, even if they’re just messing around in the galaxy’s dark corners, they still do some damage.
- Kylo Ren – Of course, the leader gets the cool crossguard lightsaber, with all the feels.
- Trudgen – This guy’s got an axe, because why not? It’s badass, and he’s hell-bent on bringing the hurt.
- Mystery Knight #3 – So, yeah, there’s this Knight that wields a spear. Not much is known about him, but I’ll bet he throws some sick javelins.
Their Time to Shine (Kind Of) in The Rise of Skywalker
And then… The Rise of Skywalker happens. At last, the Knights of Ren are given more screen time, though I won’t say they were the highlight of the movie. Their role is, like, mildly important but also feels kind of underwhelming.
They roll in with Kylo Ren, looking super intense, and there’s this whole “Kylo’s big bad gang” energy. They face off with Rey in a battle that’s full of cool moments, but ultimately, they don’t last long. Honestly? It felt like The Rise of Skywalker was more about wrapping up Kylo’s redemption arc than diving into the Knights of Ren as a long-term plot element.
Fast forward past three failed attempts at engaging with them… they’re gone. Poof. Vanished. It’s like they were a pivotal part of Kylo’s past, but they didn’t really get a meaningful sendoff.
The Knights of Ren—A Legacy Left Hanging
So, did we ever really get a satisfying conclusion to their story? Well, meh. The Knights of Ren basically exist to give Kylo Ren a posse, but there’s still a lot of mystery surrounding them. What were they trying to achieve? Why did they follow Kylo to the bitter end?
For some, they’ll be remembered as the dark side’s “b-team,” which is a little harsh, but honestly, it’s a vibe. I’m not mad about it. Just kinda meh. But who knows? Maybe we’ll get more lore on them in future Star Wars content—crosses fingers.
The Knights of Ren: So, What’s Their Real Legacy?
As much as we may wish for more, the Knights of Ren will probably remain an elusive part of the Star Wars lore. Their role in Kylo Ren’s rise and fall, their mysterious weapons and combat skills—these things make them fascinating, but ultimately, they didn’t get the full spotlight they deserved.
