During the Clone Wars, the designation of Dark Acolyte was given to particular followers of Darth Tyranus, who was the Sith Lord identity assumed by Count Dooku. Individuals such as Asajj Ventress, Sev'rance Tann, and Savage Opress each possessed this title while serving under Dooku's command for a time.
A Dark Acolyte, functioning as an agent for the Confederacy of Independent Systems' leader, wielded significant command over elements within the Confederacy military. Ventress, specifically, was additionally labeled as a Sith acolyte. Tann, along with other Acolyte members, took part in the First Battle of Geonosis. Subsequent to Opress's departure, Tyranus later selected Quinlan Vos, a former Jedi, as a new apprentice. Tyranus, in a discussion with Ventress, asserted that Vos was a complete Dark Lord of the Sith rather than a simple acolyte, although Vos eventually turned against Tyranus. Darth Sidious, Tyranus' Sith Master, referred to Ventress, Oppress, and Vos as Dooku's three dark disciples in the work The Secrets of the Sith.