While Anakin Skywalker was, without a doubt, one of Star Wars’ most powerful Jedi, and he remains one of Star Wars’ best characters, there’s one key reason he can’t be the single most powerful Jedi overall. Anakin is a key player in Star Wars, even now.
In fact, his upcoming appearance in Ahsoka season 2 confirms he will still be important in the franchise moving forward. Yet, as he’s now in Force Ghost form, there are some limitations to how much his character can develop, including the fact that, sadly, Anakin was never and will never be the most powerful Jedi.
Anakin Skywalker's Midi-Chlorian Count Is About Potential, Not Power
After being introduced in the original trilogy as a formidable villain and then, shockingly, Luke Skywalker’s father, Anakin/Vader returned in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, surprising everyone by being not an already evil character on the wrong path, but an innocent child who loved his mother and just wanted to help.
There were a number of other critical aspects of Anakin that were confirmed in that movie, and in the larger prequel trilogy, ranging from the notion that he was the Chosen One to the fact that his midi-chlorian count was higher even than Master Yoda’s.
For some time, that was misinterpreted as Anakin being more powerful than Yoda, but now that we know more about what midi-chlorians are, we know that’s not quite true. Midi-chlorians actually measure potential, not current power, in the Force. Therefore, Anakin was not automatically more powerful, but he had the potential to be.
Yoda Would Always Have Been More Powerful Than Anakin
Unfortunately, Anakin never reached his full potential. It is, in fact, Master Yoda himself who solidifies that Anakin was not Star Wars’ most powerful Jedi, as Yoda was not only more powerful but also had centuries more experience than Anakin. Therein lies the sad truth that Anakin could never claim this 'most powerful' title.
Anakin, particularly compared to Yoda, although this is true on a wider scale as well, was simply not experienced or mature enough to be the most powerful. Even when he was placed on the Jedi Council in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Anakin still struggled with impulsivity and a lack of control, among other things.
Because of this, there was just no way for Anakin Skywalker to be Star Wars’ single most powerful Jedi. However, that shouldn’t detract from what a brilliant character he was and how much raw power he possessed regardless.
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