Star Wars is a franchise that has spanned the last four decades. With over ten films, several TV series, and countless books and video games, the Star Wars universe is a gold mine of sci-fi content for every fan to obsess over. From terrifying planets covered in lava, like Mustafar, to the underground culture of the Mandalorians, there is a never-ending amount of places, characters, and stories to explore. One thing that Star Wars has become known for in particular is its wide array of characters and their range in power.
While Jedi are considered the most powerful warriors of the galaxy by any standard, there are plenty of characters that do not wield the Force who are almost as powerful as Jedi. Whether its renowned bounty hunters like Boba Fett or hardcore soldiers like Cara Dune, there are a number of characters whose strength rival that of the Jedi. These are the strongest non-Jedi characters in the Star Wars franchise.
Related: Star Wars: How Powerful is Grogu?

8 Han Solo

One of the most beloved characters Star Wars is the smuggler Han Solo. In the beginning, Han was a skeptic scoundrel who wanted nothing to do with the Rebellion. With some convincing from Luke and Leia, Han managed to realize that there was more to life than money. Han’s gun-slinging skills would prove to come in handy when he became a valuable asset to the Rebellion by helping Luke destroy the Death Star by shooting Vader away so that Luke could compelte his mission. This space cowboy showed off his skills in A New Hope when Greedo confronted him on behalf of Jabba, but Han stood his ground in the shootout.

7 General Grievous

While many initially believed General Grievous to be a malformed human supported by a suit like Darth Vader, according to Screen Rant, this General is a Kaleesh cyborg. Being over seven feet tall, the lizard-like Grievous is most known for his incessant cough and his collection of lightsabers from Jedi he’s murdered. Leader of the Seperatist Droid Army, Grievous led a great many battles during the Clone Wars, including the attack on Dathomir, which nearly wiped the Nightsisters from existence. Grievous’ appearance is horrifying enough, but when he splits his arms apart and wields a total of four lightsabers, Grievous proves to be a worthy adversary. While Grievous was trained in the Jedi arts, he himself is not a Jedi.

6 Cara Dune

A relatively new addition to the franchise is Cara Dune, former Rebel shock trooper turned mercenary after the Galactic Civil War. She was then employed as a Marshal of the New Republic. Cara’s training as a special forces warrior makes her exceedingly powerful in all aspects of combat with a special preference for hand-to-hand combat, as proven in her fight scenes in The Mandalorian. While Cara is an admirable warrior, able to handle anything thrown at her, her social skills seem somewhat lacking as she struggles to form and maintain relationships, making her friendship with Din Djarin rather exceptional.

5 Fennec Shand

Present in The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and as a guest in The Bad Batch, Fennec Shand is an elite assassin with exceptional sniping skills matched by no other. While many believed that Fennec was murdered in The Mandalorian, she was saved by Boba Fett, to whom she now owes a debt. In The Book of Boba Fett, Fennec aids Boba in recovering his armor and his old ship. She acts as Boba Fett’s right hand and who better to have than the sharpshooting Fennec Shand with new cybernetic upgrades to keep her alive.
Related: Star Wars: How the Franchise Has Remained Popular Since 1977

4 Chewbacca

Chewbacca is a Wookie from Kashyyyk. At over 900 years old, Chewie is still strong and kicking. With his trusty crossbow in hand and his immense size and strength, Chewbacca is one of the most powerful characters in the Star Wars universe. Chewbacca’s been through a great deal in his lifetime: from suffering as a slave to serving as a fine warrior, Chewbacca is a powerful character capable of handling anything thrown his way. After Han Solo saved Chewie’s life, Chewie swore a life of loyalty to Han, and they remained best friends up until Solo’s death in The Force Awakens.

3 Boba Fett

A clone made without the advanced aging so that Jango Fett could have a “son”, Boba Fett has had it rough. From watching his father get decapitated in front of him to growing up surrounded by killers like Aurra Sing and Cad Bane, Boba Fett’s fate to become his father was predetermined not only by his genes but by his upbringing. Boba Fett is one of the fiercest bounty hunters in the galaxy and while many believed he was doomed to a gruesome death in the Sarlacc pit on Tatooine, in The Book of Boba Fett, it was revealed that his Mandalorian armor saved him from death, and he managed to escape.

2 Din Djarin

The main protagonist of the hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian, Din Djarin AKA The Mandalorian is a powerful bounty hunter able to take on any challenge. From the moment he is introduced in the show, it’s clear that The Mandalorian is not to be trifled with. Din was orphaned as a child and was adopted by Mandalorians and trained in their ways of combat and their culture. With a hatred of droids, this cut-throat bounty hunter seems to have no weaknesses, except for The Child AKA Grogu, whom he takes under his wing, acting as a father-figure for the Child. Despite this, Din’s skills from his Mandalorian have managed to keep the enemies away from the highly coveted Child.

1 Jabba the Hutt

Jabba the Hutt is a disgustingly grotesque being known as a Hutt. While Jabba’s physical movements are limited, that doesn’t make him any less powerful. Considering the crew of bounty hunters and pirates that do his bidding, not to mention his pet rancor, Jabba is one of the most powerful beings in the franchise. While he is not the head of his family, Jabba had an unmatched amount of control over the outer rim, knowing everything that went on in order to keep his spice trade intact. This gangster’s criminal empire spanned decades, from The Phantom Menace to his death in Return of the Jedi.

Read Next