Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order allows players to explore new and old planets in the Star Wars universe that were never closely examined in movies and television. Throughout Cal Kestis' journey, he encounters the inhabitants of some of these planets, and while some are friendly, like the Wookies on Kashyyyk, others are far more dangerous. For example, while on the planet of Dathomir, Cal meets Taron Malicos, a cloaked figure who appears as an ally, before revealing himself as the franchise's deadliest Sith.
Before becoming another victim of the Dark Side, Malicos was once a skilled Jedi and brilliant general during the Clone Wars. However, during Order 66, he was forced to fight his clone battalion and flee. Crashing on the planet of Dathomir, Malicos was spending an unhealthy amount of time surrounded by the Dark Side magic that permeates the planet. Dathomir is home to witches known as Nightsisters, who aren't a part of the Dark Side but instead manipulate its power for their own benefit.
During his time on Dathomir, Malicos' mind was starting to become corrupt, and he killed the leader of the Nightbrothers, Viscus, becoming their new ruler. Slaughtering those who stood in his way, Malicos ruled with violence. But his thirst for power didn't stop with ruling the Nightbrothers. With his combat skills honed, his desire to be the deadliest led him down another path. After discovering the magic of the Nightsisters, Malicos wanted its secrets for himself and manipulated the last surviving sister, Merrin.
Merrin was the only Nightsister to survive General Grievous' massacre, which killed most of her clan. Since she was too young to remember who had killed her people, Malicos led her to believe it was the Jedi who did it. He continued to try and coerce the secrets of Nightsister magic out of her. Learning some of the techniques that Merin knew, Malicos' skill grew and even amplified his already existing abilities.
Aside from his combat skills with a double-bladed lightsaber, Malicos' skill in the Force made him a terror on the battlefield. He often used the Force to conduct intricate combat maneuvers that involve flipping and erratic movements. On top of that, he's highly skilled in using the Force for telekinesis, able to throw large boulders and other objects at opponents with ease. But this ability is only one facet of why Malicos is the deadliest Sith, and not a root cause.
Taron Malicos' time on Dathomir greatly amplified his connection to the Dark Side to dangerous levels. Living on a planet that emits immense dark energy made Malicos into a sponge, absorbing all of its power and giving him a desire for more. Had he escaped from Dathomir sooner, it's possible he wouldn't have turned to the Dark Side. But with a growing hunger for power and a planet that consistently fed him strength from the Dark Side, Malicos was able to adapt his mind and combative style to his new beliefs, becoming the deadliest Sith in the franchise.
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