Yoda was the oldest and wisest Jedi who ever lived, prompting several essential stories about the Grandmaster outside the Star Wars movies. From the time of the High Republic to the fall of the Galactic Empire, Yoda had countless adventures that shaped the Star Wars saga between the films. The variety of Yoda stories across different mediums is astounding and offers multiple ways to see the character in action. These stories also add greater depth to Yoda's character by showing how different aspects of his character were shaped by shocking revelations and unfathomable challenges.
This makes Yoda's life outside the movies crucial to understanding his journey as a Jedi Master, answering questions that were never fully explored on the big screen. Yoda's relationships with other Star Wars characters are fully developed outside the movies as well, enriching various character arcs across the saga. 10 Star Wars stories showcase Yoda at his best, follow him at his lowest point, and create engaging tales that are essential to the franchise.
10 The 2D Clone Wars Micro-Series Featured An Action-Packed Yoda (Legends)
Yoda's first TV appearance came in Genndy Tartakovsky's Star Wars: Clone Wars, which showcased the Jedi Master in his most action-packed form. The very first shot of the series had Yoda igniting his green lightsaber as he rode into battle, and the 2D animation meant the series had no limits on the action. Clone Wars season 2 contained an arc where Yoda saved Luminara Unduli and Barris Offee almost single-handedly, while the final season 3 episodes had him team up with Mace Windu to fend off the Separatist invasion of Coruscant. Yoda may have been powerful in the prequel trilogy, but Clone Wars took his abilities to the next level.
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9 Yoda Experienced A Vision Of Order 66 In "Sharing The Same Face"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 1, episode 1 "Ambush" was adapted by Jason Fry into a short story for Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Stories of Light and Dark. It reveals that Yoda had a Force vision of Order 66 at the beginning of the Clone Wars, sensing that one of his clone troopers, Jek, would eventually have "feelings of disbelief and regret" only for them to be immediately "replaced by the need to obey." This is a reference to the inhibitor chips designed to make the clones execute Order 66 without question, and unfortunately, Yoda and the Jedi Council were unable to put the pieces together in time.
8 Jedi: Yoda Pit The Grandmaster Against An Old Friend (Legends)
Yoda made many friends over his 900 years of life, and he was forced to confront one of those friends during the Clone Wars. Jedi: Yoda saw him lead an army against a king he had befriended 200 years before, and while he sought a peaceful resolution to the conflict, forces on all sides made it near impossible. The story demonstrates the challenge of a person living for so long and seeing the galaxy change around them, making the conflict especially personal for Yoda. It also highlights that the Jedi were no longer peacekeepers, taking up arms against their former friends rather than trying to forge peace between both sides.
7 The Clone Wars Season 6 Revealed How Yoda Became A Force Ghost
Yoda experienced a second, more detailed vision of Order 66 in The Clone Wars season 6 as part of his journey to becoming a Force Ghost. Knowing that Yoda would need to preserve his consciousness after death, the spirit of Qui-Gon Jinn guided his old friend to a group of Force Priestesses who challenged him to see if he was worthy. These episodes finally explained Yoda's conversation with Obi-Wan Kenobi at the end of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith and brilliantly explored the Force's nature. Yoda learning the technique in a flash of light also provides a possible explanation for how Anakin Skywalker became a Force Ghost.
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6 Yoda: Dark Rendezvous Explored The Grandmaster's Relationship With Dooku (Legends)
Yoda: Dark Rendezvous added a greater sense of tragedy to the Clone Wars and especially to Dooku's relationship with his old master. When Dooku offered the Jedi a peaceful end to the war, Yoda suspected a trap but agreed to meet anyway because of a promise he once made to Dooku. Yoda vowed that he would always welcome his old Padawan back into the Jedi Order, and Dooku himself was surprised to learn this, leading to a gripping confrontation of words between the two. Sadly, Yoda and Dooku were unable to reconcile and the Clone Wars continued, ending with Dooku's death and the fall of the Jedi.
5 Star Wars Rebels Season 2 Showed How Powerful Yoda Really Was
Yoda was always strong with the Force throughout the Star Wars saga, but Star Wars Rebels illustrated just how powerful the Jedi Master could be. Rebels season 2, episode 18 "Shroud of Darkness" sends Ezra Bridger, Kanan Jarrus, and Ahsoka Tano to the Jedi Temple on Lothol, where they each encounter Yoda in their own way. Yoda communicates with Ezra all the way from Dagobah, teaching him the importance of fighting the right way. Rebels co-creator Dave Filoni confirmed that Yoda created the visions that Kanan and Ahsoka experienced, demonstrating how Yoda could influence several people from far, far away.
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4 Luke Learned About His Teacher's Past In Yoda's Secret War
The 2015 Marvel Star Wars comic series shifted the focus to Yoda for an arc to explore the Jedi Master's past. The story centered on Luke reading about Yoda's mission to save a group of Force-sensitive children in the years before Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. This was a clever way to expand on Yoda's history and build up Luke's anticipation before he even knew what the Jedi Master looked like. It makes sense why Luke would have expected to meet a great warrior on Dagobah rather than a small hermit, but Yoda's Secret War proved Yoda was right that "size matters not."
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3 Yoda's Marvel Comics Series Sent Him On Adventures Through Different Eras
Yoda received his own comic series in 2022 with Star Wars: Yoda, chronicling the Jedi Master's adventures from the High Republic era to the Clone Wars. As one of the oldest characters in Star Wars, Yoda can have stories throughout the ages that show how he and the rest of the galaxy changed. One of the highlights of the series was seeing more of Yoda's relationship with Dooku before he left the Jedi Order, recognizing his former Padawan's flaws but still trying to guide him on the right path. The final issue will bring the series full circle and have Yoda face his greatest fear in the caves of Dagobah.
2 "The Trial Of Dagobah" Focused On Yoda's Time In Exile
Yoda spent countless years alone in exile on Dagobah, which became one of the stories for Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Special #1. He may have projected confidence around Luke in The Empire Strikes Back, but "The Trial of Dagobah" featured a Yoda plagued by doubt and shame, struggling to survive the planet's harsh conditions. Yoda is normally portrayed as a wise Jedi who has answers for other characters, so it's always refreshing to see a different side of the Jedi Master. He even refused to wield a lightsaber, nearly costing him his life, but he reminded himself that a Jedi has the Force and vowed to continue surviving.
1 Yoda Tested Luke's Resolve In "Slippery Slope" (Legends)
Despite primarily focusing on Luke, "Slippery Slope" from Star Wars Tales #15 is one of Yoda's most fascinating stories. When a bounty hunter discovered their location on Dagobah, Yoda ordered Luke to stop him from leaving at all costs. Rather than killing the bounty hunter, Luke appealed to his pride by pointing out that revealing their location would also mean revealing he was beaten by a Jedi. Yoda simply notes that it was an interesting approach, leaving Luke to wonder if he passed another test or failed. It also questions whether Yoda really wanted Luke to kill Darth Vader or if he simply wanted him to make the choice himself.