Few of the Sith Lords in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) are more distinct-looking than Darth Malak, who wears a metal covering over where his missing jaw ought to be. The answer of what exactly happened to it, however, might not be clear to some Star Wars fans. Fortunately, there are plenty of places to turn to for answers, including the supplementary Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide made for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game. The truth is that Malak's missing jaw is heavily wrapped up in his mysterious backstory, as well as his complicated relationship with Revan.
The injury occurred during a lightsaber duel between Revan and Malak. Given that Revan is one of Star Wars' best video game Jedi, particularly in terms of combat skills, it's little surprise that the conflict ended poorly for Malak. As to how it began, some sources in the Star Wars universe claim that it was because Malak disagreed with Revan's methods, viewing the latter as going too soft on their enemies. Considering that it's entirely possible for Revan to return to the Light side of the Force in Knights of the Old Republic, there's some weight to Malak's argument. More than that, though, the loss of Malak's jaw is reflective of the rapidly-dissolving relationship between the two Sith Lords at the time.
Why Revan Cut Off Malak's Jaw In Star Wars: KOTOR
The timeline of Malak and Revan's partnership can be difficult to keep track of, especially considering how complex both of their achievements and ambitions are. There's good reason why many Knights of the Old Republic fans feel that Revan's story is too difficult for Star Wars to tell properly. The two began as part of the Jedi Order, and even in their youth they were close, according to the expanded universe of Star Wars Legends. Throughout the war, Malak considered Revan to be his honorary master. The title became more official once Revan earned the title of the new Dark Lord of the Sith.
However, holding the same place under Revan for much of his lifetime seemed to drive Malak to aim for a more ambitious position. Knights of the Old Republic establishes that Revan's near-death was a result of Malak attempting to usurp their place as the Dark Lord of the Sith, taking the mantle of one of Star Wars: KOTOR's most powerful Sith Lords. It's unlikely that the betrayal came entirely out of nowhere. Instead, it's more probable that tension between the two was building up for quite some time. This would explain why Malak lashed out at Revan, and why the disagreement culminated in a lightsaber duel and permanent scarring on Malak's part. Malak may have even held some resentment towards Revan as a result.
To this day, Malak's appearance is one of the more unique character design choices in all of Star Wars' video games, and the reveal of his face is so jarring as to be one of his most impactful moments in Knights of the Old Republic. His legacy is significant enough that KOTOR's Darth Malak got a Black Series figure in late 2022, nearly twenty years after the game first came out. The fact that many of his most iconic traits are tied into Revan's backstory is also a mark of how engaging Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic's narrative is. It's little wonder that so many Star Wars fans still praise it even now.