Supreme Leader Snoke is one of the most mysterious characters introduced in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Despite his immense power and influence over the First Order, very little is known about his backstory. One of the most notable things about Snoke is his heavily scarred and disfigured appearance. So what could have caused the extensive damage to Snoke’s body?
Snoke’s Backstory is Largely a Mystery
In the Star Wars films, Snoke claims that he witnessed the rise and fall of the Galactic Empire. This means he is likely centuries old. However, his exact origins remain unknown. Some fans have theorized that Snoke is a survivor from the planet Exegol. Others believe he could be a cloned body inhabited by the spirit of deceased Sith Lord Darth Plagueis. But these are just theories, and Snoke’s history has not been definitively revealed.
This lack of backstory makes it difficult to pinpoint exactly how and when Snoke sustained the injuries that deformed his appearance. However, we can make some educated guesses based on the extensive scarring seen on his head and face. The scars indicate serious damage that would have nearly killed a normal person. Some of the potential causes are explored below.
Theory 1: Lightsaber Combat
One possible cause of Snoke’s disfigurement is wounds from lightsaber combat. Lightsabers can easily cut through flesh and bone, leading to horrible scarring and deformation. Snoke’s face looks like it was nearly sliced in two at some point. This level of injury points to a vicious lightsaber duel.
As a powerful Force user, Snoke was likely trained to wield a lightsaber in battle. It’s plausible his facial scarring came from a duel in which he narrowly avoided being cut in half. The heat from lightsaber blades would have instantly cauterized the wounds, preventing death but still leaving permanent damage.
Darth Sidious bore similar scarring from his own lightsaber fight with Mace Windu, so this theory fits with Sith history. However, we do not know if Snoke was ever officially a Sith himself. Still, a brutal lightsaber injury sustained centuries ago could account for his appearance in the sequel trilogy era.
Theory 2: Force Lightning
Another possibility is that Snoke’s wounds were caused by Force lightning. We know Force users can conjure lightning from their hands to electrocute enemies. When directed at a person, the electricity can burn flesh and fuse bone, essentially cooking the victim alive.
Emperor Palpatine’s face became deformed after his own Force lightning rebounded back at him while fighting Mace Windu. The bolts melted his skin and permanently disfigured him. Snoke may have suffered a similar incident sometime in the past. Perhaps he accidentally directed Force lightning at himself, resulting in the horrific scarring.
Kylo Ren warns Rey that Force lightning is a power only available to Sith Lords. However, Snoke uses the ability several times in The Last Jedi. This suggests he has tapped into the dark side, making a Force lightning injury possible even if he isn’t an official Sith.
Theory 3: Crash Landing
There’s also a chance Snoke’s scars were caused by a catastrophic spaceship or shuttle crash. We know that even fairly minor crashes can leave burn scars and other permanent damage. A truly disastrous collision that Snoke somehow survived may have been the cause of his warped visage.
In the Aftermath trilogy books, we learn Snoke kept a luxury star yacht for traveling the galaxy. Perhaps Snoke’s ship was shot down or experienced a critical systems failure. If the ship exploded or caught fire as he escaped, he could have received full-body burns and other trauma.
Spaceship crashes are not uncommon in Star Wars, so this explanation makes logical sense. The damage would have had to be incredibly severe to cause lasting scars centuries later, however. But it’s certainly plausible that a catastrophic crash landing marred Snoke’s appearance forever.
Possible Crashes:
| Year | Type of Crash | Injuries Sustained |
|---|---|---|
| 500 BBY | Ship engine explosion | Severe burns to face and upper body |
| 200 BBY | Shot down by pirates | Head trauma, broken bones |
| 100 BBY | Hyperdrive malfunction | Multiple lacerations |
Theory 4: Dark Side Corruption
The dark side of the Force can have physical as well as mental corrupting effects on those who wield its power. Prolonged use of the dark side is known to cause yellowing eyes, pale skin, and decaying teeth.
Snoke’s appearance could simply be the result of centuries of immersion in the darkness. Such long-term corruption may have warped his body in extreme ways over time. He’s clearly experienced some degree of physical decay if this theory is true.
We know that Snoke was skilled at manipulating the dark side. Kylo Ren even declares him to be “wise” in the ways of the dark side. If Snoke used dark powers for so long, the unnatural decay could have restructured his entire face into the twisted form we see in the films.
Examples of Dark Side Physical Corruption
| Character | Signs of Corruption |
|---|---|
| Darth Sidious | Pale, wrinkled skin |
| Count Dooku | Yellow eyes |
| Darth Maul | Red and black tattooed skin |
| Anakin Skywalker | Yellow eyes, pale skin |
Theory 5: Experimentation with Sith Alchemy
Some Star Wars legends describe Sith Lords using secret dark side rituals to twist and modify their bodies using the Force. This forbidden practice is known as Sith alchemy.
By tapping into extreme dark powers, followers of the Sith could supposedly mutate their own flesh and transform their appearances. Darth Plagueis was one such Sith alchemist who manipulated midi-chlorians to create unnatural life.
Perhaps Snoke learned similar abilities during his training in the dark side. Twisted by a desire for power, he may have used Sith alchemy to alter his own body, inadvertently creating the deformities he now bears.
The effects of such wicked experimentation could explain his unnatural height and elongated face. While not canon, Sith alchemy could account for Snoke’s deformities in legends.
Other Sith Alchemists
| Sith Lord | Notes |
|---|---|
| Darth Scabrous | Used Sith magic to transform bodies |
| Darth Andeddu | Used midi-chlorian manipulation to extend his life |
| Darth Vectivus | Experimented with creating life |
Theory 6: Interrogation Torture
As the Supreme Leader of the First Order, Snoke frequently uses harsh interrogation techniques to extract information from enemies. Perhaps his own disfigurement came from similar interrogation torture earlier in life.
Devices like the IT-O Interrogator inflict severe pain and suffering during torture sessions. Over the course of many brutal interrogations, the subject would be left permanently maimed and scarred.
Kylo Ren uses such techniques under Snoke’s orders to torture Poe Dameron in The Force Awakens. If Snoke went through similar torture interrogations to gain intel, it could explain his horrific appearance.
First Order Torture Methods
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| IT-O Interrogator | Injects drugs and electrocutes subject |
| Mental probes | Inflicts immense psychological pain |
| Starvation | Deprives subject of food and water |
| Beatings | Blunt trauma from guards |
Theory 7: Self-Inflicted Dark Side Rituals
In some cases, followers of the dark side intentionally scar their own bodies as part of Sith rituals. These extreme practices are meant to show dedication to the Sith cause. They also symbolize a detachment from physical appearance and embrace of dark power.
Cutting and burning oneself with knives, brands, and acid are methods used in these self-mutilation ceremonies. The injuries suffered during such rituals would certainly lead to disfigurement like Snoke exhibits.
As Snoke rose to power over the First Order, he may have conducted these dark rituals on himself to cement his devotion to the darkness. His scars could be a result of his own fanatical torture in service to the Sith philosophy.
Self-Harming Sith Rituals
| Ritual | Method |
|---|---|
| Blood Marking | Cutting skin with knives |
| Searing | Burning flesh with hot metal |
| Disfigurement | Splashing acid on face |
Conclusion
Supreme Leader Snoke remains one of the biggest mysteries of the Star Wars sequel trilogy. The origins of his extensive facial scarring and deformation are never explained in the films. However, the violent nature of the dark side provides several possible explanations for his appearance.
Lightsaber combat, Force lightning, crash landings, dark side corruption, Sith alchemy, torture, and ritual self-harm could all account for Snoke’s disfigurement. Until Lucasfilm reveals his backstory, Snoke’s scars will continue to prompt speculation and theorizing from fans.
Regardless of how his wounds occurred, they symbolize Snoke’s connection to the sinister, brutal history of the Sith. His twisted exterior reflects the evil that dwells within as Supreme Leader of the First Order and puppet master behind Kylo Ren’s fall to the dark side.