Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker introduced an ancient Sith Wayfinder, and it now seems this was one of the oldest dark side technologies. The unexpected return of Emperor Palpatine left both Rey and Kylo Ren scrambling to find a way to the ancient Sith redoubt of Exegol, and it didn't take them long to discover the only way to get there was through the use of a Sith Wayfinder. Only two of these Wayfinders existed, attuned to take over a ship's navigational computers and guide them to Exegol. Since then, official tie-ins have explored the technology behind these Wayfinders, suggesting they were prototype Holocrons programmed to guide Force-users to specific destinations.

The Jedi had light side versions of the Wayfinder, too. Luke Skywalker was seen with a mysterious compass in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and it is implied this guided him to Ahch-To, site of the first Jedi Temple. The Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Visual Dictionary confirmed this was another type of Wayfinder, known as a "Star Compass" by the Jedi. But the precise origin of Sith Wayfinders and Jedi Star Compasses - the circumstances surrounding their creation, and the reason they were kept - has remained a mystery.

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The Bad Batch Confirmed Prototype Star Compasses Predated The Jedi

Star Wars Bad Batch and Last Jedi Star Compass

Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 2, episode 5 dropped a surprising clue about the Wayfinder's origin. The episode saw Clone Force 99 head on an Indiana Jones-style treasure hunt, as they explored an ancient race who existed before the Jedi. The quest began after Omega discovered a strange compass that led the group to a long-abandoned world, and that ultimately guided them to a strange device powered by something resembling a kyber crystal. There were no real clues about the identity of these "Ancients," and viewers speculated they were either galactic warlords known as the Rakata or the Zeffo from the Jedi: Fallen Order game. Whatever the truth may be, though, the compass Omega used was markedly similar to Luke Skywalker's Star Compass. Lucasfilm has since confirmed this was no coincidence, meaning it must be the same technology.

The History Of The Sith Wayfinders & Jedi Star Compasses Is Becoming Clear

Star Wars The Last Jedi Luke Skywalker Compass Sith Wayfinder

This means it's now possible to speculate about the history of Sith Wayfinders and Jedi Star Compasses. One faction of the Sith, called "Darkseekers," traveled the galaxy looking for potential rival dark side factions. Their mission was simple; to eliminate all potential threats to the Sith, while stealing Force powers and technology. Presumably Darkseekers discovered the Ancients of Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 2, episode 5; or perhaps they heard rumors of them, and explored their ruins. Either way, they must have stolen the technology. Sith value secrecy, and they would find Wayfinder technology irresistible. Adam Christopher's novel Shadow of the Sith hints the Sith then advanced the Wayfinder design, creating the first Holocrons.

The Sith seem to have developed Wayfinders and Holocrons first, but the Jedi then imitated and adapted the technology. The war between the Jedi and Sith would have demanded more secrecy from the Jedi as well, which would explain why they started using Star Compasses to conceal the location of specific worlds. It surely wouldn't be long before they, too, learned to make use of Holocrons as well - figuring out new ways to pass on crucial lessons to the next generation of Star Wars heroes.

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