Taron Malicos

During the Clone Wars, a conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Taron Malicos, a Jedi Master, distinguished himself as a highly respected general within the Jedi Order and the Grand Army of the Republic. Malicos gained recognition for his strategic thinking and his ability to inspire his troops. In 19 BBY, the Republic enacted Order 66, a directive encoded within the behavioral modification biochips implanted in the Republic's clone troopers. This directive commanded the troopers to turn against the Jedi, accusing them of treason. Malicos was subsequently betrayed and attacked by his own clone troopers. He defeated them and escaped in his Delta-series fighter, surviving the Great Jedi Purge orchestrated by Darth Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith.

Following Order 66, Malicos' starfighter crashed in the Swamp of Sacrifice on the planet Dathomir, a world shrouded in red mist. Brother Viscus and his clan of Nightbrothers, Dathomirian Zabraks who served as warriors for the Nightsisters clan of Dathomirian witches, witnessed the crash. Malicos, filled with fear and rage, attempted to escape, but the Nightbrothers captured him and took him to their village. At some point, Malicos, unable to resist the influence of the Force on Dathomir, embraced the dark side of the Force.

During his imprisonment, Malicos sought to divide his captors through manipulation. After Malicos escaped, the Nightbrother warriors hunted the fallen Jedi through the Halls of the Nydak, a series of halls and natural chambers near the Nightbrother village. Malicos was eventually recaptured and brought to the dungeon, where he killed several Nightbrother warriors. Consequently, the remaining Nightbrothers brought him before Viscus. Malicos engaged Viscus in combat in the Collapsed Settlement, ultimately gaining the upper hand and killing the Nightbrother leader. With his final words, Viscus declared that the Nightbrothers would never submit to Malicos.

Following Viscus' death, Malicos seized control of the Nightbrothers. In the Halls of the Nydak, the Nightbrothers laid down their weapons and pledged allegiance to Malicos, who became their new leader. He ruled through fear, leading the Nightbrothers to worship him due to his power in the Force and becoming his enforcers. Malicos visited the Strangled Cliffs and the Brother's Bastion, drawn to the energy emanating from the ruins of the Tomb of Kujet, a Zeffonian palace that had served as the throne and burial site of Zeffo Sage Kujet. After entering the Tomb, he succumbed to the dark energy within and gathered a significant number of Nightbrothers, who then occupied the site.

Malicos eventually encountered Merrin, a witch from the Nightsisters clan, in the Swamp of Sacrifice. A tense negotiation ensued, during which she warned Malicos that the Nightbrothers would kill him if he did not leave Dathomir. Malicos countered by asking Merrin to join him, asserting that the Nightbrothers were no match for her. Inside Kujet's Tomb, Malicos wanted Merrin, who feared his ambition, to guide him through the ruins, but she believed it was cursed. Malicos urged her not to be afraid, and she promised to teach him her magick. Malicos claimed that the Jedi had massacred the Nightsisters during the Clone Wars. In exchange for her magick lessons, he would help Merrin exact revenge. This agreement established an alliance between Malicos and the Nightsister. Malicos and his Nightbrothers subjected Merrin to rantings.

In 14 BBY, while on Dathomir, Malicos, concealing his Jedi past by posing as a "Wanderer," met Cal Kestis, a former Padawan and fugitive from the Imperial outside of the Tomb of Kujet. Malicos noticed that Kestis had met Merrin and was surprised that he had survived an encounter with her, realizing that the lightsaber Kestis carried had saved him. The "Wanderer" claimed to enjoy traveling and studying extinct cultures and dead philosophies, explaining to Kestis that the Clone Wars had affected Merrin's world, forcing her to witness the death of her family. When Kestis inquired further, he explained that the ancient tomb ruins held power that tempted the Nightsisters, warning him to stay away to avoid corruption.

Kestis asked Malicos how long he had been on the planet, and the former Jedi chuckled, saying he had been there long enough and that Dathomir had provided him with sanctuary when he needed it, shelter when he was weak, and enlightenment when he was lost in the dark. Kestis, skeptical, questioned Malicos about his knowledge of the Nightsisters, and the fallen Jedi described it as an observation of the many things he had seen on Dathomir. Kestis pressed for clarification, prompting Malicos to state that his observation did not need to have meaning, noting that great minds had lost themselves in pursuit of order. Chuckling, Malicos advised Kestis to be cautious of the world's many mysteries. Kestis then left the planet to continue his journey.

Kestis eventually returned to Dathomir and discovered the outsider's rise to power through the Force power of psychometry. However, he was unaware that the outsider was actually the "Wanderer," Taron Malicos. Kestis found Viscus' corpse and learned that he had been the leader of the Nightbrothers, killed by the outsider. Ultimately, Kestis disregarded Malicos' advice and entered the ruins of the Tomb of Kujet.

After Kestis emerged from the Tomb, Malicos questioned him about his visit to the ruins, suspecting that things had not gone as planned and reminding Kestis of his warning. Kestis was reluctant to talk, but Malicos persisted, believing that Kestis was lost and defenseless on the planet. When Kestis demanded to know the "traveler's" true identity, Malicos revealed that he was a former Jedi. Malicos claimed that they had much in common, though Kestis doubted it. The former Jedi explained that they were both survivors of the Jedi Purge, forced to kill and escape the clone troopers, and that the darkness of Dathomir had almost consumed him, but he had conquered it by mastering the power within.

Kestis realized that Malicos was the leader of the Nightbrothers, and the fallen Jedi laughed, confirming it and explaining that he had become their leader because of his strength in the Force. Kestis disagreed with his actions, but Malicos asserted that these were desperate times, which would devour them if they did not unite. However, when Kestis stated that he did not want Malicos' help, the former Jedi pointed out that Kestis' broken lightsaber suggested otherwise, suspecting that Kestis had witnessed something terrible in the ruins. The former Jedi continued, stating that there were many terrible places on Dathomir, trying to persuade Kestis to join him in controlling the planet's power, but he failed. Merrin arrived and said that she was familiar with Malicos' offers to join his cause, but Malicos asserted that she had overstepped her bounds.

Merrin accused Malicos of trying to recruit a Jedi despite telling her that the Jedi had killed her sisters. Malicos replied that she had previously been told to "deal with it" and lacked power. Merrin stated that the planet had driven Malicos mad and that her misplaced loyalty had allowed Malicos to lead the Nightbrothers astray; she declared that the Nightsisters did not betray each other. Malicos responded that her sisters were gone, and Merrin confirmed this with the surrounding graves. Kestis and his droid, BD-1, wanted to leave, but Merrin summoned Nightsister Zombies. Malicos chuckled, stating that Merrin was foolish with her uncontrollable powers. Wanting Malicos and Kestis to feel her wrath, Merrin had the zombies she controlled attack them. Malicos told Kestis to run, and both fled. Later, Kestis left the planet once again.

When Kestis returned to Dathomir, Merrin approached him inside Kujet's Tomb. Merrin expressed surprise at the Padawan's return, describing it as fearless but unwise. Kestis told her that Malicos had lied about the Jedi conducting the massacre on Dathomir, as the Separatist Confederacy and its leader, the Sith Lord Count Dooku, had orchestrated the attack by ordering the Kaleesh cyborg General Grievous to annihilate the Nightsisters. In return, the Nightsister explained that Malicos had promised her revenge if she taught him magick.

With the extent of Malicos' intent revealed, Merrin and Kestis decided to stop the darksider together, with the latter approaching the fallen Jedi inside the Tomb of Kujet. Malicos again attempted to convert Kestis, telling him that he wanted to create something new and better, but Kestis disagreed. Having failed to recruit the Jedi, Malicos ignited his two lightsabers and attacked him. During the duel, Malicos lifted Kestis and slammed him to the floor. While the Padawan was on the ground, Malicos broke a chunk of rock from one of the tomb's walls with the Force and was about to kill Kestis with it before Merrin used magick and crushed the rock into small pieces. She then hurled energy balls at the fallen Jedi, though Malicos deflected them with his lightsabers.

Malicos then threw one of his lightsabers at the pillar Merrin was standing on and pulled it down with the Force, though the Nightsister jumped down to where Malicos was and told Kestis to get back up before disappearing. The duel continued, with Merrin appearing several times to assist Kestis, throwing magick energy at Malicos. Eventually, Merrin grabbed Malicos with her magick and buried him alive underneath the floor of the Tomb, thus killing him and leaving both the young Jedi and Nightsister victorious in the duel.

After the duel, Merrin revealed to Kestis that Malicos wanted her to attack the Jedi's fellow crew on the luxury yacht Stinger Mantis, Cere Junda and Greez Dritus, but saw that they were not threats. Merrin then joined the crew of the Stinger Mantis, and when they later revisited the Tomb of Kujet, Kestis asked her if Malicos had always been unhinged. Merrin confirmed that the fallen Jedi's behavior had seemingly changed upon Kestis' arrival, viewing the Padawan as either an opportunity or a threat. In response, Kestis noted that he was glad they had stopped Malicos despite not knowing his precise endgame.

Between 12 BBY and 11 BBY, during a mission to the Outer Rim planet Murkhana, Merrin fiercely bought up Malicos in a heated argument on "choices" and "trust" with Kestis and defected Imperial analyst and agent Chellwinark Frethylrin.

Taron Malicos was a tall, muscular human male with gray hair, blue eyes, and light skin. After his betrayal and years on Dathomir, Malicos succumbed to darkness and madness. He became power-hungry and manipulative, influencing the Nightbrothers, whom he saw as savages craving strength. His wild hair and ragged beard symbolized his lunacy.

Malicos also exerted power over Merrin, asking her to teach him magick while lying about the Jedi's role in the massacre of her sisters. He was also evasive, keeping his true identity secret and shrouded in mystery. When Kestis sought to know his identity, Malicos portrayed himself as a "wanderer" studying ancient cultures and philosophies.

On Dathomir, Malicos gained scars and wore horns from slain Nightbrothers, a reminder of those who opposed him. Scarred physically and mentally, he lost faith in the Jedi, believing they were doomed by their traditions and past glories. He wanted to create something new and better in their place. Malicos believed Merrin could not control her power, claiming she was possessed, as shown by her releasing Nightsister Zombies to attack Kestis and himself.

Malicos was a skilled lightsaber combatant, favoring two single-bladed lightsabers in battle and proving himself a strong practitioner of Jar'Kai. His abilities helped him kill Brother Viscus and impress the Nightbrothers. When he fought Kestis, Malicos easily handled Kestis' attacks and was only defeated with Merrin's help.

Powerful with the Force and competent in telekinesis, he could control one lightsaber telekinetically while wielding the other. Malicos could lift multiple boulders simultaneously and fling them at opponents, as he did to Kestis. He could throw his lightsabers accurately and restrain Kestis telekinetically, flinging him around easily. Malicos could also use the Force to augment his physique and aid him in combat.

He was a formidable Jedi General, trained motivator, and cunning tactician. Noted for his competency and courage in leading clone troopers, the Jedi Order counted Malicos as one of their most trusted battlefield commanders. Junda recalled Malicos as skilled at strategy and likely to embrace fame and glory as a successful leader despite the Jedi overlooking accolades. Dritus wondered if Malicos was a war hero and if that was how he controlled the Nightbrothers. Junda and Dritus agreed that Malicos would no longer have his fame and glory from the Clone Wars.

Taron Malicos carried two red-bladed lightsabers, stored on his black utility belt. He wore black and red robes that exposed his scarred chest, a ragged black cloak, and brown boots. Malicos displayed horn trophies from slain Nightbrothers on his robes and used a Delta-series fighter to escape Order 66.

Taron Malicos made his debut appearance in the video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. This game was brought to us by Respawn Entertainment, published by Electronic Arts, and released on November 15, 2019. The voice of Malicos was provided by Liam McIntyre. A collection of concept art for the character was showcased in The Art of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, a reference book that launched on November 19, 2019. The final clothing design that made it into the game was from concept art created by Jordan Lamarre-Wan. In concept art by Jose Daniel Cabrera Peña, Malicos was visualized with red and black robes reminiscent of the Nightsisters' color palette, and he sometimes appeared younger. In another set of concept art by Peña, Malicos was depicted as various species, including a Devaronian, a Siniteen, and a dark, demon-like humanoid with intensely fiery green eyes.

Within the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order "Battle Grid" sandbox mode—introduced via an update in May 2020 and accessible through the "Meditation Training" menu after the main story is completed—Malicos can be pitted against other characters in the game while Cal Kestis watches, or he can become an opponent for the player, who controls Kestis. Adding Malicos to a battle costs 20 points out of the 100-point allowance for the spawn grid. Malicos is also a feature in the "Combat Challenges" game mode, where Kestis faces waves of enemies across various planetary backdrops from the main story, appearing as the wave two enemy in the "Fortress Inquisitorius" challenge.

This article operates under the assumption that all optional conversations involving or mentioning Malicos in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order are triggered, and that Kestis has collected all optional items that mention Malicos. In Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, these optional elements do not alter the primary storyline, which means Malicos does not have any alternative narratives.

During April 2023, McIntyre discussed his role as Malicos in an interview with Dexerto at Supanova Expo. He mentioned that he wasn't aware he was cast for a Star Wars game until he arrived on set. McIntyre remembered being told by the game developers that he would be playing a Jedi, describing his character as "an old man with a cane and the cane happened to be a lightsaber." As a long-time Star Wars enthusiast, particularly of the X-Wing game series, McIntyre was delighted to receive a Jedi role and commended Cameron Monaghan, Cal Kestis' actor, as "a good leading man."

When questioned about potential tie-in media or a spinoff related to Fallen Order, McIntyre stated he had no knowledge of such projects. However, he did reveal that while Malicos appears to be defeated near the game's conclusion, unused footage from the recording sessions might suggest a different outcome for the character. He also mentioned that there was an "idea of Malicos surviving in certain ways" but he did not "know canonically where they've fallen on that, on the stuff that we filmed that didn't make it into the game." McIntyre expressed his acceptance of the developers' decision to exclude this idea from the final version.

On July 5, 2023, EA Community Manager "CG_Tusken_Meathead" published a "Kit Reveal" post featuring Malicos for the Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes game, making him available in the "Conquest" game mode. A Galaxy of Heroes designer explained that upon first encountering Malicos in Fallen Order, they were compelled to include him in their game due to his Force abilities and eccentric personality, which they felt provided a "compelling narrative" for a character.

The developer known as "CG_Coffee" struggled to defeat Malicos in Fallen Order and subsequently insisted that he would be "really good" for the game. The designer designated Malicos as an "Unaligned Force User" because of his lack of friendship with Merrin and his betrayal of Kestis in Fallen Order. Malicos' physical attributes and powers in Galaxy of Heroes are based on his portrayal in Fallen Order.