Ap'lek, a male humanoid individual with Force-sensitive abilities, was a member of the group known as the Knights of Ren. He served under the command of first Ren and subsequently Kylo Ren. However, during the final Battle of Exegol, Ap'lek and all of his fellow knights were defeated and killed by Ben Solo after his redemption.
Ap'lek became a member of the Knights of Ren by 28 ABY. This group was under the leadership of a figure only known as Ren. At some point, he acquired a vibro-ax that had previously belonged to an ancient Mandalorian executioner.
In 35 ABY, following Ben Solo's redemption after the pursuit of Rey, Ap'lek and the other Knights of Ren were guarding the entrance of the Sith Citadel. Solo was attempting to enter to help Rey defeat Darth Sidious. After Rey used their Force-bond to give him the Skywalker lightsaber, Ben quickly dispatched all of the Knights of Ren. Before Ap'lek was Force pushed into a chasm and fell to his death, Ben grazed Ap'lek's ax.
Ap'lek possessed Force-sensitive abilities and was skilled in the ways of the [dark side of the Force](/article/dark_side_of_the_force], although his powers were not fully developed. As a Knight of Ren, Ap'lek possessed exceptional combat skills that were difficult for most to overcome. Unlike the other Knights, Ap'lek favored deception and strategic planning over direct confrontation, using feints and misdirection to ensnare his opponents.
Despite his considerable skills as a warrior, [Ben Solo](/article/ben_solo], his former leader after his redemption, swiftly eliminated Ap'lek during the Battle of Exegol. After being grazed by the Skywalker lightsaber, the injured Ap'lek was propelled into a chasm via the Force, resulting in his death.
Ap'lek's weapon of choice was an ancient Mandalorian executioner's ax, modified and crafted from beskar alloy. The ax was equipped with ultrasonic vibro-tech, enabling it to cut through armor and bone with relative ease. Complementing Ap'lek's preference for stealth, the Knight of Ren carried a smoke canister on his waist, which released smoke capable of impairing an opponent's vision and disrupting their sensors.
Much like the other Knights of Ren, Ap'lek typically wore black clothing. Specifically, Ap'lek wore a water-resistant oiled cloak, along with lightweight plastoid armor beneath his black tunic. He also had gauntlets with raised teeth, which helped with parrying and securing edged attacks. Ap'lek's helmet had a menacing expression and was crudely made, patched together from damaged armor pieces.
Lukaz Leong, a stunt performer, played Ap'lek in the 2019 film Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker. However, in the movie's credits, he is only credited as "Knight of Ren."