Emperor Palpatine

Palpatine is the major antagonist in Star Wars fiction. He first became a senator of Naboo and then he became the chancellor when the former chancellor was ousted.

He began to put into plan his most grand scheme and was able to lure Anakin Skywalker to the dark side of the force and rechristened him as Darth Vader. He would be the most powerful man on the galaxy, until he was killed by a redeemed Anakin Skywalker.

Characteristics

In Star Wars fiction, Palpatine is described as a manipulative and ambitious politician, a ruthless emperor, and an evil Sith Lord. The Star Wars Databank describes him as "the supreme ruler of the most powerful tyrannical regime the galaxy had ever witnessed" and Stephen J. Sansweet's Star Wars Encyclopedia calls him "evil incarnate". In A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader is depicted as the ultimate Star Wars villain, but as critic James Berardinelli notes, "With the arrival of the Emperor (a gaunt-looking Ian McDiarmid) [in Return of the Jedi], Vader has turned into a second fiddle." Darth Vader himself reminds Moff Jerjerrod, "The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am."

As a Senator, Palpatine is portrayed as "unassuming yet ambitious". In Cloak of Deception, James Luceno writes that Palpatine carefully guards his privacy and "others found his reclusiveness intriguing, as if he led a secret life." Despite this, he has many allies in the government. Luceno writes, "What Palpatine lacked in charisma, he made up for in candor, and it was that directness that had led to his widespread appeal in the senate. ... For in his heart he judged the universe on his own terms, with a clear sense of right and wrong." In Terry Brooks' novelization of The Phantom Menace, Senator Palpatine claims to embrace democratic principles. He tells Queen Amidala, "I promise, Your Majesty, if I am elected Supreme Chancellor, I will restore democracy to the Republic. I will put an end to the corruption that has plagued the Senate." A Visual Dictionary states that he is a self-proclaimed savior.

As Emperor, Palpatine abandons any semblance of democracy. Sansweet states, "His Empire ... was based on tyranny, hatred of nonhumans, brutal and lethal force, and, above all else, constant fear." In Matthew Stover's novelization of Revenge of the Sith, Count Dooku anticipates the coming of the new government: "A government clean, pure, direct: none of the messy scramble for the favor of ignorant rabble and subhuman creatures that made up the Republic he so despised. The government he would serve would be Authority personified. Human authority." The Emperor enforces his will through clandestine, Force-sensitive agents known as the Emperor's Hands. The Star Wars Encyclopedia calls them "the Emperor's eyes and ears throughout the galaxy" who "communicate with him ... through the Force." Prominent Hands include Mara Jade and Roganda Ismaren.

The apprentice of Darth Plagueis, Palpatine is "the most powerful practitioner of the Sith ways in modern times." The comic Sithisis by Derek Thompson, printed in Star Wars: Visionaries (2005), reveals the extent of Darth Sidious' power as he performs a terrifying Sith ritual that manipulates people and places across the galaxy. Palpatine is so powerful that he is able to mask his true identity from the Jedi. In Shatterpoint, Mace Windu remarks to Yoda, "A shame Palpatine can't touch the Force. He might have been a fine Jedi."

The Databank explains that the Force "granted him inhuman dexterity and speed, agility enough to quickly kill three Jedi Masters" in seconds. Palpatine is a master lightsaber duelist and skilled at using Force lightning to attack his opponents. Stover elaborates on the duel between Palpatine and Yoda: "From the shadow of a black wing, a small weapon ... slid into a withered hand and spat a flame-colored blade. When the blades met it was more than Yoda against Palpatine, more the millennia of Sith against the legions of Jedi; this was the expression of the fundamental conflict of the universe itself. Light against dark. Winner take all."During the duel, Yoda realizes, "He had lost before he started."

Stover also states that when fighting Mace Windu, the Jedi Master manages to reflect Palpatine's own Force Lightening back at him using his self-developed fighting style, the Vaapad. Although much the change in his appearance during the Third film is a result of this, almost no explanation is given as to why Palaptine's eyes turned yellow.

According to the Databank and New Essential Guide to Characters, Palpatine possesses great patience and his maneuverings are as a dejarik grandmaster moves pieces on a board.

Abilities

Saber Skills:
Palpatine was a master in the art of lightsaber combat, having mastered all six forms. His skills were so great he killed three jedi masters in seconds with his saber, and nearly overpowered the mighty Windu. Mace Windu managed to disarm Palpatine moments before Anakin Skywalker entered the room. It is possible that Palpatine had sensed Anakin coming through the Force and was simply feigning defeat to gain Anakin's sympathy, knowing that the only way to break Anakin's connection to the Jedi was to force Anakin to choose between loyalty to them and his promises of the power to govern life and death.  Palpatine also fought on par with master Yoda, who was one of histories greatest masters of lightsaber combat.

Force Mastery:
Palpatine was maybe the greatest master of the force lightning technique. He once reduced three dark prophets to charred bones at the same time with lightning, using only one hand. Palpatine used lightning to easily wipe out a small army of stormtroopers. Force lightning was Palpatine's weapon of choice, being able to overpower most jedi with it.  Galen Marek felt like a Star was igniting in his chest when he deflected the Emperors force lighting to protect the senators and his friend General Kota from the Emperor.

Palpatine's greatest power was his uncanny ability to see the future. This power helped him in manipulating events.

Palpatine was able to dominate the wills of others. He corrupted the entire planet of Byss, and dominated the wills of the inhabitants, and even fed off their life energy. During the time of the clone wars he clouded the minds of the entire jedi order. As Yoda once said: "The shroud of the dark side clouds everything.  Palpatine had the same influence over Luke and Galen, making them have the overwhelming feeling to kill Darth Vader.

Palpatine's most powerful force technique was his wormholes/force storms that would shatter the Fabric of Space itself. Palpatine was able to crush entire star fleets, or tear surfaces off planets with his force storms. He was even able to send them lightyears away and ravage a city, or teleport someone(Luke) to where he wants.

Palpatine was a master of sith alchemy, being able to mutate creatures with the dark side, or empower objects or armies. He even wrote the book Creation of monster that detail his knowledge of alchemy.

Palpatine was able to retain his identity after death, and inhabit other bodies, thus making him nearly immortal.

Palpatine was no doubt the most powerful practitioner of the dark side.
Master/Apprentice Relationships

Known Masters:
Darth Plaguis

Known Apprentices:
Darth Maul
Darth Tyranous (AKA Count Dooku)
Darth Vader

"Hands" of the Emperor:
Mara Jade
Lord Cronal
Sariss