One of the best things about the beloved Star Wars show, The Clone Wars, is how it takes characters from the prequels and furthers their arcs, making them even more adored by fans. But, the show also produced a slew of original characters who are excellent, from Ahsoka Tano to Hondo Ohnaka.
The first season of the series established most of the huge players, Rex, Ahsoka, Anakin, a lot of the Jedi, and Separatist leaders. Still, from season 2 onwards, some of the show's very best characters emerged.
Saw Guerrera
The Clone Wars marked the debut of Saw Guerrera, a character who has been fairly prominent in the Disney era of Star Wars, with a crucial role in a feature film and involvement in the other animated shows in the franchise.
He is in four episodes and has one arc, the liberation of Onderon, and is pretty great alongside his sister Steela throughout. What arguably puts him on this list, ahead of other solid characters who are not in many episodes, such as Rush Clovis, is that he represents the more extreme side of the rebellion in a very well-done way.
Pong Krell
Another character who only appears in one arc and four episodes, but still makes an impact, is one of the series's best villains, Pong Krell.
There are many reasons the Umbara arc is widely considered one of The Clone Wars' best, and Pong Krell is a huge one. Not only is he a total badass, but he is a huge part of Rex's growth through the arc, as he embraces individuality and the idea of not following orders blindly.
Savage Oppress
Speaking of great villains, Savage Opress is arguably a bit of an underrated one in the series, overshadowed not only his brother but also his other masters throughout the show, such as Ventress and Dooku.
He is quite simply a brute, possessing pure unadulterated strength and ferocity that he unleashes through a double-bladed lightsaber. He has some great moments in his limited time in the show, especially alongside his brother, and is a significant part of some of the show's greatest episodes.
Mother Talzin
The character who helped Savage become so violent was Mother Talzin, who used magick to increase his size and strength severely.
Magick is a pretty fascinating part of Star Wars since it is largely unexplored and not often used. Talzin, however, is an incredible user of the phenomena. As the leader of the Nightsister clan, she is creepy, powerful, influential, and a brilliantly unique character.
The Ones (& The Force Priestesses)
A highlight of both The Clone Wars and Rebels is the exploration of the Force that the show performs, looking at it from different perspectives and with more intricacies than the films could.
Through this scrutiny, two sets of fantastic, fascinating characters are introduced, The Ones on Mortis. The Father, the Son, and the Daughter are incredible beings who represent the dark, the light, and balance, respectively, and provide total and complete confirmation of Anakin's status as the Chosen One. As for the Priestesses, they are shrouded in mystery and insanely attuned to the Force, helping Yoda on his journey to becoming one with the Cosmic Force when his time in the Living Force is over.
Pre Viszla
Undoubtedly one of the most consistently terrific parts of The Clone Wars is when the series goes to Mandalore and deep dives into the people and the culture of Mandalorians.
Introduced in "The Mandalore Plot," as attempts are made on the life of the Duchess of Mandalore, Pre Viszla is a great Mandalorian character who introduces the Darksaber on screen and has two excellent lightsaber battles under his belt. His importance in the Duchess's story and in Mandalore's history at the time of the war cannot be overstated.
Bo-Katan Kryze
Pre Viszla was, of course, the leader of Death Watch, a great group which Bo-Katan Kryze was also a member of, leading her own subgroup, the Nite Owls.
Debuting in season 4 episode "A Friend In Need," Bo-Katan is a good character while with the Death Watch, but when she leaves the group following Viszla's death, her character becomes just amazing. Now with roles in Rebels and The Mandalorian, her story and character are only getting better and better.
Duchess Satine Kryze
Rounding off the trio of top-tier Mandalorians, who are phenomenal throughout The Clone Wars, is the one who surprised fans the most with her past and feelings for Obi-Wan, Duchess Satine Kryze.
Satine's story with Obi-Wan is an exceptional layer in the Jedi's character and helps fans get more invested in Satine. Satine may be a pacifist, but she is a total badass whose intelligence, unwillingness to back down, and dedication to her cause and the protection of Mandalore is admirable.
Various Clones
Many clones such as Rex, Cody, Fives, and Echo debuted in the first season of the show. But there are many, many incredible clones spread throughout the other six seasons, which are also fan favorites.
Clone 99 came into the show in season 3 and was a hit. CT-5597, a.k.a Jesse, debuted in "The Deserter" in season 2 alongside other great clones, Cut Luquane, Hardcase, and Kix, who are all well-loved. Dogma, Gregor, Tup, and more all debuted after season 2 and impacted fans in some way.
Maul
One of the only prequel trilogy characters to debut after the first season of the show, and by far the very best character to enter the show after season one, is Maul, donning new legs and dropping the Darth following his 'death' by Obi-Wan.
There is not one bad episode involving Maul. In fact, between the takeover of Mandalore arc, his return arc, and the Siege of Mandalore, he is a crucial aspect of some of the best stories in all of The Clone Wars. He has some incredible quotes, amazing battles, and a rivalry for the ages with Obi-Wan.
NEXT: Star Wars: 5 Reasons Maul Is The Best Television Villain (& 5 Of His Contenders)