In the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Rey and Kylo Ren seem to be near equals, but which one is truly more powerful by the end of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker? The pair share a unique bond, and later in the movies, it’s revealed Rey and Kylo Ren are connected by a Force dyad. Just as Snoke suggested it in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Rey’s force abilities were a response to Kylo’s skills, which meant they could eventually become equal in power. But sharing the Force isn’t the same as being able to wield it successfully. Outside their connection, there are a few factors that might tip the balance toward one person in particular: Rey.
When she was first introduced in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rey had no idea she was Force-sensitive. Meanwhile, Kylo Ren had Luke Skywalker as a master for years before turning to the dark side. Clearly, one had more knowledge and experience than the other, but that alone is not enough to make Kylo Ren more powerful. When she quickly learns how to use mind tricks and then beats Kylo at the end of The Force Awakens, it might’ve seemed as if her skills came out of nowhere, but two key factors helped Rey catch up with Kylo’s experience and surpass him.
Putting aside the dyad accelerating her connection to the Force, at the end of the day, Rey is a survivor. Before she discovered she could use the Force, Rey spent most of her life alone in Jakku. As a young girl, she learned how to survive and adapt to a harsh environment, and she did all of that by herself. This requires incredible inner strength and plenty of smarts, but most importantly, it made her someone capable of adapting to her circumstances on the fly. She's also a quick learner, mastering moves faster than Luke or Anakin ever could, as shown in the comic Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - Allegiance #3. Furthermore, Luke realized the sheer power Rey held when she first arrived at Ahch-To. All Rey needed to do was harness that power.
While Kylo Ren believes he’s one of the most powerful beings in the galaxy due to his heritage, Rey knows she needs to learn and seek knowledge, making her open to different fighting styles and techniques. She uses every advantage she can, including utilizing weapons and the environment in her favor, as seen in her training session in The Rise of Skywalker when she flings her lightsaber to distract the training droid and grabs a stick to impale it against a tree. Or when she climbed rocks and sliced a tree to escape Kylo in The Force Awakens. Sometimes survival instincts can triumph over traditional training, and that is the case with Rey.
Of course, Kylo Ren is not an easy opponent to defeat. He’s the better warrior with the lightsaber, and in the last movie, he managed to control his emotions far better than Rey. This allowed him to win their duel on the ruins of the second Death Star (though she did beat him in the end, thanks to Leia sacrificing herself), as Rey struggled to pierce his defenses. But this was at Rey’s lowest point in the series, as she was battling the dark side more than anything else. When she’s in control, like she was at the end of The Force Awakens, she shows a natural, raw ability to channel the Force that likely comes from her lineage. Kylo Ren might be the grandson of Anakin Skywalker, but she’s a Palpatine and perhaps the only one who could claim to be equal to Kylo’s heritage. Her raw talent combined with the survivor skills she picked up in Jakku gives Rey just enough of an edge over her dyad partner.