You think you can turn him? Pathetic child... I cannot be betrayed... I cannot be beaten. I see his mind... I see his every intent. Yes... I see him turning the lightsaber to strike true! And now... foolish child... he ignites it... and KILLS HIS TRUE ENEMY!!” ―Snoke to Rey just before being betrayed by Kylo Ren[src]



Supreme Leader Snoke is the secondary antagonist of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Snoke is the supreme leader of the First Order and Kylo Ren's former master. In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Snoke was revealed to be an artificially humanoid alien created by the resurrected Darth Sidious to seduce Ben Solo to the dark side and rule the First Order through Sidious's control.

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Background

Snoke was a humanoid alien who was originally the leader of a group of mute alien navigators from the galaxy's Unknown Regions called the Attendants. He was also a seeker of arcane lore and kept his gathered lore scattered in bases across the galaxy. Unknown to all, Snoke was created by Darth Sidious through dark side science on the hidden Sith world of Exegol prior to the rise of the Galactic Empire. In spite of being a puppet of Sidious, Snoke had free will and made his own choices. Ultimately, Snoke was little more than a tool for a test; Palpatine created Snoke specifically as a means of choosing and creating a worthy Sith Apprentice and successor by way of testing if the student was capable of surpassing and killing the teacher through cunning and deceit. Snoke also journeyed to Mustafar and recovered an obsidian stone from beneath Vader's castle.

At an unspecified point in his life, Snoke became the Supreme Leader of the First Order, much to the surprise and occasional outrage of many Imperial remnants. He trained at least two apprentices, with his most prized pupil being Ben Solo, the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, the nephew of Luke Skywalker, and the grandson of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader and Padme Amidala. Snoke was critical in the seduction of Ben to the dark side, and when his turn was complete, Snoke christened him as Kylo Ren after Ben killed the leader of the Knights of Ren becoming the new master of the group.

Snoke's rise to power was a surprise to the surviving Imperial leaders that survived the Battle of Jakku, such as Gallius Rax and Brendol Hux. As a result, Snoke was able to orchestrate their deaths or personally kill them himself, consolidating his power thoroughly.

Personality

Snoke was a sophisticated and calculating individual, knowing how to act in situations of danger or when things do not go like he wanted. However, he was also a subtle manipulator as he exploited Force-sensitive individuals, such as Ben Solo, only for their power without them catching on to his true intentions.

Snoke had tendencies unusual for practitioners of the dark side of the Force; he displayed little emotion, as he was usually very calm and collected, as did not appear to be in any form of worry or distress despite the circumstances against him and the First Order. When Starkiller Base was being destroyed, he calmly expressed his wishes without showing any form of anger or annoyance, a stark contrast to his apprentice Kylo Ren, who is prone to violent outbursts when faced with frustration. However, despite this, Snoke did demonstrate a considerable level of anger and frustration after learning of failures from Armitage Hux and Ren; though he only directed his anger and frustration towards Hux. Despite his calm and level-headed demeanor, Snoke can be incredibly sinister and subtly cunning, a feature he employs when earning obedience from individuals. He was also exceedingly predatory; he preyed upon the fears, weaknesses and and hopes of his underlings to keep them under his control and anticipate their actions. Like Snoke's creator Sheev Palpatine, he was evil and sinister, however, Palpatine was a far more evil and darker individual; then Snoke ever was.

Snoke's reason for choosing Ben Solo as his apprentice (as explained in the novelization of Star Wars: The Force Awakens) is that as Anakin Skywalker's grandson, he is a focal point in the Force; a perfect balance of light and dark. Snoke also has a dislike for Luke Skywalker. In the film's novelization, Snoke was displayed to believe that Vader's compassion, sentiment, and love for his son, Luke, was the reason for the fall of the Galactic Empire. He also passed on that belief to Ren during the latter's apprenticeship.

Snoke was very wise; wise enough that he had seen the rise and fall of the Galactic Empire and had hundreds of years of experience at his disposal. He knew that the future was always in motion, and thus, for this reason, his motto had become "Be careful or die". It was partly due to this that he was smart in keeping the First Order from making the same mistakes as the Empire did, and would not hesitate to instigate plans that would force his enemies to reveal themselves. Snoke also knew that visions from the Force were often incomplete and that he could not see all ends or outcomes, and for that reason, he was also cautious. In the novelization of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it was on Hux's suggestion that use of Starkiller Base might force the Resistance to reveal itself which led to his approval of the superweapon's use. He further kept his personal secret base mobile, so as never to be located by his enemies. Furthermore, once Snoke had seen that Kylo Ren had fulfilled his purpose and once Rey and the Resistance were destroyed, he intended to rethink Ben's future or kill him; a testament to his cunning. Additionally, Snoke's calculations and analysis showed him that he did not need Rey for her powers like Palpatine needed Luke for his, but the Supreme Leader still mused that in times past, she would have made a good apprentice.

Snoke was sadistic, as he enjoyed tormenting his enemies with the Force on a physical and emotional level. He did this to Rey with thoughts of her parents, and the same to Ben when he played with his mind and his soul. Snoke, additionally, was not an individual who tolerates failure, so if anyone from the First Order failed in what they were supposed to do, Snoke would not have hesitated in killing them.

Regardless of Snoke's evil, he had great respect for his enemies; such as Luke Skywalker, whom he respected for the fact that the Jedi Master sought the same knowledge of the Force that he did. Indeed, having met Luke once, they had shared knowledge with one another regarding the Force.

Sharing several traits with Sheev but at a greater scale, as Snoke was ultimately a tyrannical leader, however, his callousness and negative traits proved to be his downfall, as he repeatedly mistreated his then-apprentice Kylo Ren, such as for his failure to defeat Rey, a Force-sensitive individual who had never utilized a lightsaber in combat before; leading to Snoke being betrayed and murdered by his own apprentice.

Like Palpatine, Snoke was extremely arrogant and overconfident to the point of underestimating his opponents and he also relied too heavily on his Force powers; for example, he failed to realize that Force visions were not absolute, because he did not see a vision of him being killed by Kylo Ren, which leaded him to let his guard down. Thus; Snoke's arrogance and overconfidence proved to be his downfall, as he could only watch in horror as he was killed by Ben, the very man whom he thought never would or could betray him.

Physical appearance

In appearance, Snoke was heavily disfigured, with large scars across most of his long face and skull. He was quite frail-looking and had large hands and deathly pale skin. Snoke's deformities were partly due to severe damage caused by osteoporosis. But regardless of his illness and disabilities, Snoke stood at an imposing height; well over seven feet tall. His icy blue eyes, according to Rey, were not unlike the dark side cave on Ahch-To. He was physically hundreds of years old (though his exact age is not known, though witnessing the rise of the empire he is at least 53 years old) and he wore golden khalat robes, a complete opposite of the dark robes that often were associated with dark side Force-users. He also wore soft slippers on his feet due to his frail state and his ever-present disabilities, which left him in constant, unending pain. Additionally, he wore a ring made from obsidian collected from the foundations of Fortress Vader on Mustafar that was engraved with runes of the Four Sages of Dwartii, figures who believed in the active study of the dark side of the Force.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Power of the Force: Snoke was extremely powerful and had an extremely strong connection to the Force, wielding unparalleled levels of knowledge and skill, Snoke's powers in the Force made him one of the most powerful Force-users in the history of the galaxy. He was able to overpower both Ben Solo and Rey individually, despite the two latters being exceptionally powerful Force-users in their own rights. Snoke's Force powers were surpassed only by Sheev Palpatine, who was his creator, and by Luke Skywalker at his peak, which explains why Snoke feared the last Jedi and saw him as a threat. Force Sense: Snoke was able to sense an awakening in the Force, which he knew Kylo Ren could feel as well. Telepathy: Snoke utilized Telepathy to mentally communicate over small or vast distances with other individuals. He and Sheev Palpatine were able to do this with Ben Solo throughout the latter's life, eventually leading to his corruption to the Dark Side. He could sense Ben's emotions and intentions, though he was only able to sense that Ben was about to kill "his true enemy", but assumed that it was Rey and not himself. Mind Probe: Snoke possesses skill with the Mind Probe that was naturally superior to that of his apprentice, as he easily pried into the mind of Rey to discover Luke's location, which caused her extreme agony. Telekinesis: Snoke utilized Telekinesis for combative and utilitarian purposes, which he was known using to choke and throw his opponents. He was notably able to deactivate Rey's shackles from across a room, in a similar fashion to his creator, Sheev Palpatine. Force Grip: Snoke utilized Force Grip to lift his opponents off the ground and into the air, sometimes by the neck, to immobilize them. His telekinetic grip allowed him to restrain his targets effortlessly and manipulate their movements. As demonstrated on both Rey and Hux, Snoke could make his targets glide along the floor or fly through the air while barely concentrating or exerting visible effort. His power in this regard is so strong that he doesn't even have to be in close proximity to his intended target, as he was capable of using his powers on General Hux even though they were not even on the same starship (or solar system, as his ship had not entered the same system yet at that point). Force Lightning: Snoke was able to use Force Lightning; which he blasted against the floor like a shockwave to knock his apprentice Ben off his feet. Unknown ability: He had the ability to manipulate Ben and Rey's dyad connection.

Snoke was extremely powerful and had an extremely strong connection to the Force, wielding unparalleled levels of knowledge and skill, Snoke's powers in the Force made him one of the most powerful Force-users in the history of the galaxy. He was able to overpower both Ben Solo and Rey individually, despite the two latters being exceptionally powerful Force-users in their own rights. Snoke's Force powers were surpassed only by Sheev Palpatine, who was his creator, and by Luke Skywalker at his peak, which explains why Snoke feared the last Jedi and saw him as a threat.

Abilities

High-Level Intellect/Master Tactician/Leader/Manipulator: Snoke is highly intelligent and wise. As the leader of the First Order and the Knights of Ren, Snoke is a highly skilled tactician and a capable leader. Snoke's skill in manipulation is so strong that Snoke even managed to manipulate and deceive Ben Solo into becoming his apprentice, turning him against the New Jedi Order.

Appearances

Snoke sends Kylo Ren and the First Order on a search for Luke Skywalker following his disappearance. At Starkiller Base, Ren and General Hux contact Snoke via hologram to report the progress of their individual assignments. While Snoke is irritated when Ren admits his search has been delayed, Hux proposes using the Starkiller superweapon against several New Republic planets who have been caught supporting the Resistance, which Snoke authorizes. After Hux is dismissed, Snoke confides in Ren of an awakening in the Force and urges Ren to kill his father to overcome the Light side's temptation and fully embrace the dark side.

After capturing a scavenger named Rey who had seen a piece of the map to Luke, Ren seeks for Snoke's guidance after she was able to resist and counter his interrogation. Ren claims that the girl was strong in the Force, to which Snoke orders Ren to bring her to him, however, Rey manages to escape before this can happen. Later, Ren was defeated by Rey in a duel while the Resistance attacked the base, causing the planet to collapse. Moments before the base's total destruction, Hux contacts Snoke, who calmly orders Hux to bring Ren to him in order to complete his training.

Sometime after the destruction of Starkiller Base, Snoke began directing several maneuvers designed to eliminate any possibility of hope returning to the galaxy. He empowered General Hux to pursue and destroy the Resistance fleet and was delighted when Hux found a way to track the fleet's movements through hyperspace, thereby allowing the First Order to immediately pinpoint their location, wherever they might be.

Snoke then summoned Kylo Ren to him, and after questioning if his apprentice was recovering, he proceeded to belittle Ren for his failure, saying that the young warrior was weakened by the conflict in his heart since his father's death, emphasizing his displeasure by electrocuting his apprentice with a blast of Force lightning. He also stated that for all his attempts to emphasize Darth Vader, Kylo Ren was little more than a child in a mask before dismissing him. At some point, Snoke uncovered and used his Force powers to manipulate that exists between Rey and Ren. Through the Force, both Rey and Ren could see each other and communicate from different locations in the galaxy, so Snoke tried to manipulate them into revealing Skywalker's location in order for him to eliminate the Jedi once and for all.

Believing she could restore Ben Solo to the light, Rey sought Ren out and was brought to Snoke aboard the Supreme Leader's flagship, the Mega-class Star Dreadnought Supremacy. Using his skills with the Force, Snoke tortured Rey, successfully probing into her mind and discovering Skywalker's whereabouts, laughing with sadistic glee at the idea of killing Rey and Luke.

After obtaining the knowledge he sought, Snoke commanded his apprentice to execute Rey, believing she represented a threat to both himself and the dark side. He was confident that Ren would not turn in spite of Rey's faith in his former persona, that of Ben Solo. While reading his apprentice's mind, he was able to detect Ren's new resolve and thought that his apprentice had decided to strike Rey down, when Ren was in fact aiming for his master. He failed to detect Ren using of the Force, subtly turning the Skywalker lightsaber in Snoke's direction, instead believing Ren's actions were to cut Rey down. The blade activated straight through the Supreme Leader, cutting him in half. Shocked and disbelieving, Snoke fell to the floor and died, his reign ended by the man he never thought could betray him. Despite his bodyguards' efforts to avenge their leader, the entire Elite Praetorian Guard was destroyed by the combined efforts of Ren and Rey.

Snoke's death created an immediate power vacuum that Ren took advantage of by assuming his fallen master's role as the new Supreme Leader of the First Order, much to the displeasure of Hux. Although Ren desired to rule the galaxy with Rey at his side, the aspiring Jedi rejected his offer, leading Ren to falsely implicate her in Snoke's assassination.

It is revealed that Snoke was a genetically-enhanced being created by Darth Sidious after he came back to life. During Snoke's reign, Sidious bided his time in the Unknown Regions building a massive Sith fleet.

Relationships

Allies

Snoke commanded Armitage Hux with absolute authority, and Hux, in turn, was absolutely loyal to Snoke. However, where he valued Kylo Ren, Snoke saw Armitage as a tool, and a warmongering cur to be kept tight on a leash. He approved of Hux's plans, particularly when they suited his needs, but when Hux's plans went awry, he would not hesitate to punish him, as he did when Hux failed to stop the Resistance from escaping the First Order's fleet and when his forces failed to stop BB-8 from escaping on the Millennium Falcon. Additionally, Snoke had personally either killed or orchestrated the death of Armitage's father, Brendol Hux during his unexpected rise to power, only sparing the younger Hux due to his usefulness.

Snoke's relationship with Phasma is unknown. He commanded her with absolute authority and she worked dubiously in his name.

Enemies

Snoke hated Luke because of his status as the last Jedi Master, but at the same time he was terrified of the latter, due to him being an immensely powerful Force-user, if Luke were to remain at large, Snoke knew a new generation of Jedi would rise again, however, at the same time, Snoke respected Luke for the knowledge he sought regarding the Force, he even tells Ben Solo that if he had Luke by his side instead of him, he would be able to take over the galaxy. As such, Snoke saw Luke as a threat and sought to eliminate him and end the Jedi for good. On the other hand, when Luke found that Snoke had been corrupting his nephew, Luke viewed Snoke forevermore as his enemy.

Snoke and Leia were sworn enemies, not only because of how Snoke corrupted her son, Ben Solo, turning him into Kylo Ren. Leia also knew the threat Snoke and the First Order posed to the galaxy, and to that end formed the Resistance to fight him when the New Republic could not.

Snoke viewed Rey as a true threat, due to her having the heart of a Jedi and the fact that she was strong enough without training to fight Kylo Ren evenly due to the fact that she was the light to his apprentice's darkness, as a result, he intended to kill her as soon as he was able to prevent her from fully becoming a Jedi. However, despite his hatred for Rey, Snoke mused that had he found her in the past, she could have been a fine apprentice.

Snoke took Ben as his apprentice after corrupting him through the dark side of the Force. After luring him to his side, Snoke rechristened Ben as Kylo Ren, after he joined the Knights of Ren. During his time as Snoke's apprentice, Ren was devoutly loyal to the Supreme Leader and listened to his teachings closely. Snoke believed Ren was the finest apprentice he had ever taught and considered him to be a focal point in the Force because of his relationship to Darth Vader as his grandson.

Furthermore, Snoke believed that if Ren fully embraced the dark side, he was destined for greatness beyond imagining. However, upon learning that Rey defeated Ren without proper training, Snoke was infuriated and began rethinking his apprentice's future, planning to change his purpose due to his instability. Snoke's faith in his apprentice was irreparably damaged, and the ancient dark side Force-user began to see Ren as little more than an instrument, calling him a child in a mask that was pretending to be Darth Vader.

Ultimately, this would lead Snoke to his undoing, as Ren realized and felt humiliated by his master's abuse. When Ren brought Rey before Snoke, the growing feelings that his apprentice had for the young Jedi only further encouraged him to defy his master. Snoke ordered Ren to kill Rey, but Ren chose to save her life instead of obeying him. As Snoke waited for Ren to kill Rey, who was at his mercy, Ren subtly used the Force to manipulate the Skywalker's lightsaber, making the Supreme leader think he was going to follow his order, before activating the blue blade of the weapon, cutting Snoke in half. Snoke, surprised and dying, could only look on in shock as he was killed by the very man whom he thought would and could never betray him.

Trivia

His appearance was created using motion capture (CGI). His actor, Andy Serkis, also played Gollum in the Middle Earth films, also via motion capture. Andy Serkis is the second major Middle Earth actor to play a Star Wars villain after Christopher Lee who played Count Dooku in the Prequel Trilogy.

His name was officially unveiled on May 28, 2015.

Andy Serkis has confirmed that Snoke's horribly deformed face was inspired partially by injuries of World War I veterans who came back badly scarred or deformed.

Andy Serkis also revealed that Snoke also was stricken with severe osteoporosis that left him "as twisted as a corkscrew".

Andy Serkis considers Snoke to be a much darker character than Palpatine.

Snoke carries an artifact on his person that reveal his fanaticism with Darth Vader: The ring on his finger is made from obsidian from beneath Fortress Vader on Mustafar.

The role of Snoke in the sequel trilogy mirrors the role of Darth Sidious in the original trilogy. The case of Snoke is similar to the roles of both Kylo Ren and General Hux in the sequel trilogy, who respectively mirror Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin in the original trilogy. The difference being that, Snoke is betrayed and killed in the second installment of the trilogy, and for different reasons. Likewise, his telling Kylo Ren to "fulfill his destiny" mirrors Sidious telling Luke the same thing in Return of the Jedi . Both villains are also shortly after uttering this line betrayed and killed by their respective right-hands (Darth Vader and Kylo Ren).

Snoke is the first artificially humanoid creation in the Star Wars universe.

Gallery

Screenshots

Miscellaneous



