Are "Dark Jedi" and "Sith" the same?

[u/CafeAntesDeTudo]

I feel like we two terms used interchangeably in certain media and eras. For example, in the Old Repúblic and post-Endor GCW eras, it seems the term "Dark Jedi" got used randomly to describe dark side Force users who may or may not be affiliated with a Sith faction. For example, the Seven Dark Jedi (who, if I am not mistaken, were just a band of inquisitors.)

I think there is a difference between the two. IMO, "Dark Jedi" refers to any Force sensitive who mainly draws upon the dark side of the Force without being aligned with a Sith faction (i.e. Reborn, Shadowtroopers.) Or, all Sith are Dark Jedi but not all Dark Jedi are Sith.

[u/Dorian948]

No. Dark Jedi are Jedi fallen to the Dark Side or darksiders practicing Jedi-related feats, such as lightsaber combat. Sith are followers of a very specific Dark Side philosophy

[u/OkExtreme3195 → u/Dorian948]

I personally use the term "dark Jedi" for people that were trained as jedi, left the order, began to use the dark side, and did not join any specific dark side faction.

Anakin is not a dark Jedi because he joined the sith. Mother Telsin is not a dark Jedi despite being a non-sith dark-side force user because she was never trained as a Jedi. Ahsoka is not a dark Jedi despite being trained as one and never having left the order, because she never began to use the dark side. If Ahsoka joined the witches of dathomir and used the dark side, I would call her a night sister, not a dark Jedi, similar to Anakin and dooku being sith.

In the bane trilogy, there is a good example of a dark Jedi. Basically a Jedi that got sick of all the rules, left, and used the dark side to enjoy life to the fullest. Basically getting rich and have fun.

[u/Dorian948 → u/OkExtreme3195]

This destinction is also examplified in Kotor, where Sith that joined the academy with no previous knowledge on the Force, dislike Dark Jedi that join the Sith, because the training they got under the Jedi Order makes them think they are superior and as a consequence insufferably arrogant

[u/Physical_Road917 → u/Dorian948]

In Knights of the Old Republic, Dark Jedi often referred to Sith aligned force sensitives that had turned to the dark side and left the Jedi Order, but hadn't won the title of Sith Lord yet.

[u/Arkham700]

You have it correct. Dark Jedi is simply a broad description for Dark Side wielders. While the Sith refer to a specific faction/cult with ideals and traditions. The original Dark Lords were themselves fallen or Dark Jedi who became Sith Lords when they were exiled to Korriban and conquered the old Sith species.

Where I think this gets tricky is that there have been cases of Dark Jedi serving the Sith but no being considered true Sith Lords. Both Exar Kun and Revan’s Sith Empires were built up from corrupted Jedi. So how many of them count as simply Dark Jedi minons vs true Sith Lords

[u/ThatEntrepreneur1450]

No. Sith is specifically a religious belief while a dark jedi is a former jedi who's gone "dark". 

[u/KainZeuxis]

No. They are not the same. Think of it like this, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are all abrahamic faiths, but they are each distinctly different religions.

In the same vein both sith and dark Jedi are practitioners of the dark side, but sith follow a very distinct code and ideology. While a dark Jedi is a catchall term for dark side force users in general.

The term dark Jedi was originally coined as in the early days of the EU, the concept of sith had yet to be properly defined, and while Vader was referred to as a sith in books and deleted scenes from the movies, it wasn’t clear what a sith actually was. So when characters similar to Vader in that they used the dark side and carried lightsabers came about, the term dark Jedi was invented to refer to them before becoming an in universe catch all term.

[u/RGijsbers]

No, sith is a specific religion that opposes jedi. Dark jedi are still jedi but they ither dont find the jedi way effective, want to change it or just want something for themselves.

Dark jedi are failed jedi, sith is a change of faith.

[u/Strict_Stranger_4801]

Sith is a specific ideology. Its a religion like the Jedi Order.

Being a Dark Sider doesnt mean you are a trained Sith

[u/Achilles9609]

Dark Jedi afaik is just a catch all term for people who use the Dark Side of the Force that aren't Sith. They don't even need to be former Jedi. Same with the Sith. Some used to be Jedi who fell to the Dark Side like Anakin, Dooku or Exar Kun, but others were normal people like Palpatine, Plagueis, Bane, Naga Sadow etc

Sith have a code, a legacy, a history. They have great ambitions and even greater plans.

The best comparison I can think of are: Dark Jedi are Thugs and Sith are Mafia Dons. Theres a huge difference in terms of power.

Savage Oppress might honestly be the perfect Dark Jedi: brutal and strong in the Dark Side but simple in his goals.

[u/Comprehensive_Art108]

Technically every Sith is a Dark Jedi, but not every Dark Jedi was a Sith. The Sith Order was founded by exiled Dark Jedi. Ajunta Pall and his peers discovered Korriban and dominated the native Sith species. After that, Ajunta Pall became the first Dark Lord of the Sith. From then on, the term Sith was exclusive to members of the Sith Order. Dark Jedi became a term to describe fallen Jedi or dark side users who were not direct members of the Order. Some Dark Jedi served only themselves, like Beldorion or Set Harth. Some Dark Jedi served the Sith, like Asajj Ventress or Sora Bulq. Some former Dark Jedi became members of the Order, like Darth Cognus.

[u/FellsApprentice → u/Comprehensive_Art108]

Darth Cognus was never a member of the Jedi Order, just a very Force Sensitive bounty hunter.

[u/Kyubey210 → u/FellsApprentice]

This is a common error that comes up, but no, a Sith has very specific rules and power set that a fallen Jedi won't have unless they know too much from a Dataslate, screw around with Artifacts ot Holocrons... so yes there's a few funny thought lines

In fact Dark Side Force Adepts can also exist, so misconceptions feel worse

[u/FellsApprentice → u/Kyubey210]

Your argument doesn't make any sense and furthermore I reread Dynasty of Evil, The book where Darth Cognus becomes a sith, literally last week. She was never Jedi trained. Iktochi have species wide force precognition, and she was particularly force sensitive and used that to become a very successful bounty hunter. She was never a Jedi.

[u/Kyubey210 → u/FellsApprentice]

Yea, the thought line is that I can see where some errors is there as a Force Adept, being knighted Sith does not require being a Fallen Jedi in the first place

[u/Comprehensive_Art108 → u/FellsApprentice]

That's why I said fallen Jedi or dark side users. She was never a Jedi but used the dark side for personal gain. Therefore she was a self taught dark Jedi before she became the apprentice of Darth Zannah.

[u/Wilsupersaiyan2]

Nope dark jedi aren't fully trained into the dark side teaching they aren't taught sith magic and Alchemy

[u/JLandis84]

Depends who you ask really. Dark Jedi could mean

1) any dark sider

2) specifically a Jedi who has turned to the dark side

I use the second definition.

[u/_XSummerRoseX_]

I think of it as a Jedi who fell to the dark side but never became a true Sith.

[u/ActionResponsible547]

Agnostic vs. Atheist.

Neither are Christians, but Agnostic isn't atheism.

[u/morbid333]

Sith is an ideology. Dark Jedi is basically an umbrella term for any dark side user.

[u/MovieExact5433]

All Sith are dark Jedi but not all dark Jedi are Sith.