Kylo Ren, once leader of the Knights of Ren, faces his former disciples on Exegol in The Rise of Skywalker. The duel symbolizes his rejection of the dark side, as he defeats them with the Skywalker lightsaber passed to him by Rey. Their clash represents the death of Kylo Ren and the rebirth of Ben Solo, severing ties with his corrupted identity and paving the way for redemption.
The battle between Kylo Ren and the Knights of Ren in The Rise of Skywalker stands as one of the most symbolically charged moments in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
It is not just a physical confrontation but a pivotal clash between a former master and his once loyal disciples.
Kylo Ren, having led the Knights of Ren into darkness and chaos, ultimately turns against them—highlighting the fracture between his personal struggle and the path he once embraced in the darkness. This duel encapsulates the broader demise of Kylo Ren as the embodiment of darkness and offers a tactile representation of his internal conflict and evolution.
More importantly, this fight is a profound narrative moment that symbolizes the collapse of Kylo Ren’s dark path.
The Knights—the eerie emanation of past choices and influence—stand as the final hurdle separating Ben Solo from redemption.
Their battle is a reckoning, where Kylo must sever ties with a brotherhood that ties him to a corrupted identity. It illustrates the painful but necessary shedding of an old self to embrace a new destiny, elevating the fight beyond its cinematic spectacle into a deeply personal and mythic event.
The Knights of Ren, introduced in canon as a mysterious cult of dark warriors, are defined by their allegiance to the dark side and their worship of “Ren”—a term epitomizing their veneration of the lightsaber as a symbol of power and violence.
Unlike traditional Sith or Jedi orders, the Knights represent a blend of Sith fury and independent dark side mysticism.
Their identity is rooted in chaos and brutality rather than structured dogma, embodying a philosophy that reveres strength through fear and combat prowess.
While canon provides only limited details, much speculation and legends point to their connection with ancient dark side traditions that predate the Sith as commonly known.
Some speculate that the Knights draw from forgotten Force cults or rogue warriors who rejected Jedi and Sith orthodoxy.
This enigmatic background makes the Knights of Ren not just a fighting force but a symbol of the wild, untamed dark side—obscure, unpredictable, and deeply intertwined with Kylo Ren’s dark past.
Ben Solo’s transformation into Kylo Ren marked his ascension to the mysterious and feared leadership of the Knights of Ren.
His lineage as a descendant of the Skywalkers and his status as the strongest dark side user in the galaxy reinforced his authority over the group. Empowered by Supreme Leader Snoke’s guidance, Kylo harnessed not only his formidable Force abilities but also the violent fanaticism of the Knights to serve as enforcers and agents of the First Order’s tyranny.
Despite their collective power, the Knights operated largely as extensions or shadows of Kylo’s own fractured identity.
They were his tools in spreading chaos, yet their presence reminded him constantly of the darkness he claimed but struggled to fully master. In many ways, the Knights represented his inner turmoil—a dark reflection of his ambition, rage, and conflicted nature.
The seeds of conflict between Kylo Ren and the Knights of Ren were sown as the latter's loyalty was ultimately to the dark side itself, rather than to Kylo as an individual.
Emperor Palpatine’s machinations in The Rise of Skywalker exploited these fractures, sending the Knights to hunt and destroy their former master, demonstrating the tenuousness of Kylo’s command and status.
This plot twist reveals the brutal truth that within dark side brotherhoods, power and allegiance are inherently unstable, prone to betrayal and overthrow.
Symbolically, this betrayal represents Kylo’s complete rejection by the brotherhood he once led, a theme echoing the loneliness that has haunted him throughout his dark journey.
His destruction of the Knights in battle becomes an act of both defiance and liberation—a severing of chains forged from twisted mentorship and corrupted loyalty.
The fight scene between Kylo Ren and the Knights of Ren on Exegol is a striking blend of tension, choreography, and raw emotion.
Initially, Kylo is disadvantaged, weaponless and facing six brutal warriors, compelled to rely on his innate Force abilities and sheer physical skill.
The scene builds suspense with the stark contrast of his vulnerability against the disciplined aggression of the Knights, heightening the stakes of the confrontation.
The battle’s turning point arrives when Rey, connected to Kylo through their unique Force dyad, passes him the blue lightsaber once wielded by Anakin and Luke Skywalker.
Armed with this symbol of legacy and hope, Kylo’s fighting style transforms dramatically. He slices through the Knights with precise fury and newfound confidence, decisively ending the threat. This shift not only showcases his mastery over the dark side but also marks the rekindling of his connection to the Jedi heritage.
Kylo Ren’s combat style contrasts sharply with the Knights' brutal, weapon-heavy approach. While the Knights employ raw aggression and sheer force, often relying on multiple weapons and overwhelming numbers, Kylo’s fighting is characterized by passionate, unrefined raw skill paired with powerful Force manipulation.
His style is furious and chaotic but devastatingly effective, driven by emotional intensity and personal resolve.
His most significant advantage lies in his mastery of the Force, which he combines cunningly with the traditional lightsaber combat techniques of the Skywalker lineage.
The blue saber is more than a weapon; it is a symbol of his dual heritage and potential redemption, enabling Kylo to dominate his attackers not just physically but symbolically—reclaiming power from shadows that once consumed him.
The duel serves as a profound metaphor for Kylo Ren’s internal transformation—his rejection of the darkness represented by the Knights of Ren and the painful acceptance of his true identity as Ben Solo.
The Knights themselves symbolize the path Kylo must abandon, a tangible embodiment of the darkness and chaos that threatened to consume him. Defeating them is an essential step in breaking the chains of his Sith persona.
Equally significant is Rey’s act of handing him the Skywalker lightsaber, bridging his past with his future.
The saber represents hope, legacy, and the light side’s resilience. Its passage from Rey to Kylo marks a transfer of trust and power, symbolizing that Kylo’s redemption is not only possible but inevitable—a crucial turning point in his story.
Fans and scholars have long debated the incomplete story of the Knights of Ren, imagining alternative narratives where these warriors possessed greater backstories, training, and Force abilities.
Had they been developed as formidable Force users or elite dark warriors, the dynamic of the final duel might have posed a far more significant challenge to Kylo Ren, testing the limits of his power and resolve.
Speculation also envelops the Knights’ loyalty toward Kylo—were they genuinely jealous of his strength or skeptical of his authority from the beginning? Could underlying resentments or ideologies have driven their betrayal? Exploring these theories deepens the mystery of the Knights and highlights missed storytelling opportunities within the saga.
Kylo’s battle with the Knights of Ren significantly advances his redemption arc, illustrating the tangible rejection of his dark past and commitment to change.
Though brief, the scene resonates deeply with fans because it encapsulates core themes of identity, loyalty, and transformation.
It also demonstrates that personal growth often requires confronting and defeating the very forces that define us.
Despite their pivotal role in this moment, the Knights of Ren remain enigmatic figures—one of the saga’s most underexplored groups.
Their legacy endures as a symbol of the seductive, yet treacherous, nature of dark side allegiance and as a compelling narrative element linking Kylo’s fall and redemption.
The climactic destruction of the Knights of Ren by Ben Solo marks the ultimate severing of his ties to Kylo Ren. This act is not just a literal victory over former allies but a symbolic death of the dark persona that had haunted him.
By overcoming the Knights, Ben physically and spiritually frees himself from the Ren legacy embedded in his identity.
This duel stands as a powerful moment of rebirth—a final defiance against the dark side’s grip and a step toward redemption. It seals Kylo’s transformation, reflecting that even in a galaxy overshadowed by darkness, the light can prevail when one has the courage to confront and overcome their past.
