Count Dooku

Count Dooku

Biographical information

Homeworld: Serenno

Born: 102 BBY, Serenno

Died: 19 BBY, Invisible Hand, Coruscant system

Physical description

Species: Human (Serennian), Vampiric species (briefly)

Gender: Male

Height: 1.96 meters

Mass: 86 kilograms

Hair color: White

Eye color: Brown; Yellow and Red (vision; dark side)

Skin color: Light

Chronological and political information

Affiliation(s): House Serenno, Jedi Order, Hawkbat Clan, Thranta Clan, Jedi High Council, Galactic Republic, Numidian Prime strike team, Lost Twenty, Sith

Independent Movement for Self-Determination

Confederacy of Independent Systems

Masters: Yoda (Jedi), Darth Sidious (Sith)

Apprentices: Rael Averross (Jedi), Qui-Gon Jinn (Jedi), Grievous (lightsaber trainee), Asajj Ventress (assassin), Savage Opress (Sith), Quinlan Vos (Sith)

"Soon enough, you will stop denying the truth of so very many things. And you will understand that I am not a traitor, but a visionary! Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hatred leads to suffering. But what the Jedi failed to teach you, what I have learned, is how to persevere, to pass through the suffering, and achieve ultimate power!"

―Dooku, to Quinlan Vos

Dooku, a Force-sensitive human male, was a Jedi Master that fell to the dark side of the Force and became the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Tyranus during the final years of the Galactic Republic. After leaving the Jedi Order, he claimed the title Count of Serenno and, during the Clone Wars, served as Head of State of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. He was the second apprentice of Darth Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith whose plan to conquer the galaxy relied on Dooku leading a pan-galactic secessionist movement against the Republic. As such, Dooku immersed himself in the dark side and worked tirelessly to advance his and his master's plans, but ultimately forgot that treachery was the way of the Sith.

Born in 102 BBY during the High Republic Era, Dooku was taken by the Jedi Order after being abandoned by his family and learned the Jedi arts as the Padawan of Yoda, the legendary Grand Master of the Jedi Order. A political idealist, the corruption in the Galactic Senate—as well as the traditions of the Jedi—disillusioned him, causing Dooku to voluntarily leave the Order and return to his homeworld where he reclaimed his title and heritage as a nobleman. His former peers believed his decision was misguided but still held him in high esteem. Unknown to the Jedi, however, Dooku not only renounced their ways but his commitment to the light side of the Force as well. Having sworn his allegiance to Darth Sidious, Dooku became the Dark Lord's apprentice and adopted the secret name of Darth Tyranus. Throughout the first decade of Sheev Palpatine's chancellery, Dooku used his resources and charisma to recruit entire star systems to the Separatist cause. At the same time, he oversaw the development of two vast armies that would be pitted against each other in the conflict to come: the Separatist Droid Army, which consisted entirely of battle droids manufactured on Geonosis; and the Grand Army of the Republic, composed by clone troopers bred on Kamino and modeled on the bounty hunter Jango Fett.

After years of maneuvering the galaxy into a state of war, the Clone Wars began when the newly formed Republic Military invaded Geonosis in 22 BBY. As leader of the Separatists, Dooku delegated military authority to a cadre of subordinates personally trained by himself, including General Grievous and Asajj Ventress. While Grievous was trained only in the art of lightsaber combat, Ventress was strong with the Force, affording her the opportunity to learn the ways of the dark side from Dooku. The Sith, however, remained faithful to Darth Bane's Rule of Two; and as such, Dooku was compelled to betray his disciple after Sidious became suspicious of his own apprentice's intentions. Though he sought to replace Ventress with Savage Opress and later Quinlan Vos, Dooku ultimately remained beholden to his master's will. By the third year of the war, Dooku and Grievous succeeded in abducting Chancellor Palpatine from the Republic capital of Coruscant in 19 BBY. During the ensuing Battle of Coruscant, he was confronted and defeated by the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, who summarily executed the Count via beheading at the Chancellor's behest. In the days following Dooku's death, Palpatine revealed to the Jedi that he was, in fact, Darth Sidious, who betrayed his apprentice in order to replace him with the younger and more powerful Skywalker. With the subsequent fall of the Jedi Order, Sidious consolidated his power upon declaring himself Emperor of the Galactic Empire. As for Skywalker, he succeeded the late Darth Tyranus as Sidious' third and last apprentice, resulting in his transformation into Darth Vader and proving his slain victim's words of sensing fear, hate and anger.

Biography

Early life

Jedi induction and initiation

Dooku was born in 102 BBY during the High Republic Era, on the planet Serenno to the planet's ruler, Count Gora, and his wife, Countess Anya. Rapidly, the child's Force-sensitivity manifested, scaring his father, who hated and feared those he dismissed as "freaks." Gora contacted the Jedi Order and told them to take his son. However, instead of waiting for the Jedi seekers to arrive, Gora abandoned the infant outside his palace on the edges of the forest without clothes or any form of identification. A seeker rescued Dooku before he froze to death or was eaten by spine-wolves, and brought the child to the Jedi Grand Temple on Coruscant.

Life as a youngling

Dooku was raised in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, where he learned the ways of the Force alongside other younglings.

Dooku was integrated into Hawkbat Clan alongside fellow younglings Zang Arraira, Arath Tarrex, and Sifo-Dyas, under the direction of the Jedi Master Tera Sinube. During his time as a Jedi youngling, he continuously strove to excel, working himself hard to achieve better results than his peers and always striving to remain within the boundaries of the rules set by his teachers. Dooku therefore distanced himself from the other younglings rather than try to befriend them. His talents made him clash with fellow youngling Arath, largely due to the latter's jealousy over Dooku's superior abilities. Arath frequently insulted Dooku, calling him 'His Excellency' due to his imperious and somewhat aristocratic manner. Dooku and Sifo-Dyas were close friends during their time as younglings, and on one occasion in 90 BBY accompanied Grand Master Yoda and Masters Sinube and Yula Braylon to Serenno for the galactic festival being held there with other Jedi in tow.

As the Masters were demonstrating the proper lightsaber stances, a pair of children set off some thunderburst caps and ran off, Dooku thought he recognized one of them and followed them out to the fairgrounds. There he found the two being harassed by a trio of thugs that were threatening to kidnap them, Dooku used his Force powers and an electroblade to force the criminals to back off. Afterwards the pair introduced themselves as Jenza and Ramil, though the later was less than thankful for the Jedi's assistance. When she learned Dooku was from Serenno, Jenza offered to give Dooku a tour of the homeworld he never knew.

They explored the celebration together playing games and tasting the food, becoming fast friends as they got to know each other. Eventually Jenza took Dooku to the Great Assembly, where she showed him the seals of the seven houses and told him the legend of how her ancestors liberated the planet from the Sith Empire. Though before they could leave Dooku felt drawn to an ancient carving of a beast, that was identified by Jenza as a Tirra'Taka. Ignoring her warning that it was bad luck, he moved to touch it, and as his finger brushed the stone, a groundquake caused the building around them to collapse.

Though Dooku attempted to lift the debris off of them himself, it took the intervention of Master Yoda to free the two from the rubble. Once the other Masters helped the Grand Master remove the collapsed structure from the area, Count Gora of Serenno furiously confronted Yoda when he heard Dooku's name being voiced, yelling at the Jedi that he never wished to see his son again. It was here that the young Jedi learned that Gora was his Father and Jenza his sister.

Shocked and confused by his father's behavior, Dooku later questioned Yoda about how he was brought into the Jedi Order. The elder Jedi revealed that Gora had contacted the Jedi upon discovering his son's Force-sensitivity, and that he had left Dooku outside his castle walls without clothes or identification. Dooku would learn shortly after that being left on the edge of the forest put him at risk of being eaten alive by spine-wolves had he not been found. Upon arriving back at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, his injuries were quickly healed and the young Jedi quickly threw himself back into his training. Dooku using this practice to vent his frustrations at Count Gora for abandoning him, and furthermore to think deeply about what he might have been if he had never become a Jedi. At this time an attendant arrived with a communications devise that would allow him to speak to his sister, and they stayed in contact for many years.

Some two years later, after a lesson in the Jedi Archives Sifo-Dyas revealed to Dooku he had come into possession of the journal of the expelled Jedi Klias Teradine, which revealed to him the existence of the Bogan Collection inside the Jedi Archives. His friend convinced him that they should break in to see the dark side artifacts, and Dooku used sand levitation to get past the magnetic lock. There they witnessed many dark objects, weapons and scrolls the Jedi had collected over their history. Dooku in particular was drawn to a piece of metal that seemed to connect him to the same Tirra'Taka he had first encountered on Serenno. This frightened the boy, who lashed out through the Force and accidently threw Sifo-Dyas through a cabinet, alerting the Chief Librarian, Restelly Quist, to the goings on.

The two initiates were brought to the infirmary where Sifo's injuries were treated, and they were confronted by Masters Yoda and Braylon, who each expressed a deep disappointment in how they had broken the rules and betrayed their trust. As the Masters were lecturing them, their discussion was interrupted by the arrival of Lene Kostana, who expressed great concern over the security of the Bogan Collection since two younglings had been able to break in. Dooku and Sifo-Dyas watched the Masters debate their conflicting views on how best to train the next generation to confront the Dark Side, and afterwards they were assigned to decipher the Lothal Agricultural Papyri under the watchful eyes of Librarian Quist. As they served their penance, they had another encounter with Lene Kostana who was surprised that Yoda was still using the same treatises as punishment for misbehaved younglings, and playfully referred to the Grand Master as a goblin which offended Dooku. As she left Sifo-Dyas discovered she slipped him a book: The Bestiary of Darth Caldoth. Dooku encouraged his friend to tell someone about the text, but Sifo refused.

This event greatly disturbed Dooku who began to think Master Kostana might secretly be a Sith, one day he confronted her on a Balcony demanding to know why she gave his friend the Sith script. She said the book was a test, though Dooku sensed a great deal of frustration and anger in her which he believed legitimized his theory. The two engaged in a short duel, during which Master Kostana played an act of goading him on, using the tale of Darth Sakia as a lesson by comparing Dooku's curved-hilt lightsaber to the fictional Sith's weapon, and revealing she was aware of Dooku's curious connection to the Tirra'Taka. Unfortunately Kostana quickly lost control of the situation as Dooku began a frenzy of attacks that began wearing down her defenses. Their fight was broken up by the timely intervention of Master Yoda who calmed the initiate down and convinced him that he had jumped to conclusions. The Grand Master then chided the Altiri on her constant need to test the initiates by exposing them to dark side artifacts. Following this event Dooku began to spend more time with Master Kostana, as he started to look to her as a mentor figure, since he took a great deal of interest in her work studying the dark side, her theories concerning the sith, and even her pet convor Ferana, he visited her nearly every time she returned to the Temple following her missions.

The Grand Master's apprentice

"Master Yoda has come to Moraband, although why, I do not know. We shall, however, use the strong bond that once existed between you and your master to allow us to see things that we otherwise could not."

―Darth Sidious to Dooku

At one time, Dooku was the Padawan of Yoda, the Grand Master of the Jedi Order.

In 86 BBY, Dooku later completed his Initiate Trials and hoped to be selected as the Padawan apprentice to Lene Kostana due to her mission in hunting down relics associated with the dark side. During the Padawan Tournament, Dooku fought and defeated Sifo-Dyas in a duel with one hand behind his back and blindfolded. However, Kostana selected Sifo-Dyas as her apprentice which upset Dooku, though this disappointment subsided when he learned that Yoda had decided to take him as his apprentice. On one occasion, Yoda took Dooku on a voyage to Lahsbane in the Mid Rim as part of his training. During a mission to Kashyyyk, Dooku watched as his master faced a giant Terentatek.

Sifo-Dyas's vision

"Sifo-Dyas understood. He saw the future. That is why he helped me."

―Dooku

Sometime during 85 BBY, Dooku's friend Sifo-Dyas received a Force vision of a deadly solar storm hitting the planet Protobranch. After informing the Jedi Council, Dooku supported Sifo-Dyas and Kostana's suggestion that they warn the planet, but was forbidden to by Yoda and the Council, who pointed out that Force visions were not absolute and the future was always in motion. Frustrated with the Council, Dooku, Kostana and Sifo-Dyas went behind the Council's back to inform Tavetti, the senator who represented Protobranch, of the vision. During the conversation, Dooku was slightly unnerved by Tavetti only expressing concern for Protobranch's resources rather than its people. Afterwards, Dooku, Kostana, Sifo-Dyas and a reluctant Yoda went to the planet itself. Ultimately, Sifo-Dyas's vision came to pass; a powerful solar storm hit Protobranch, killing much of the population, with the Jedi themselves barely surviving. The events with Protobranch shook Dooku's respect for the Republic and the Jedi Council, feeling the latter was somewhat responsible for the deaths that occurred by not taking Sifo-Dyas's vision seriously and refusing to act quicker. He was also disgusted by the fact that the Republic's primary concern was the loss of Protobranch's resources and not its inhabitants.

Funeral of Anya

In 82 BBY, a twenty year old Dooku attended the funeral of his mother, Anya, on Serenno. It was here that his father Gora physically and verbally assaulted him, referring to his son as a "freak." Shortly afterward, Dooku joined Sifo-Dyas and his master Kostana on a mission to track down a relic on Asusto. However, the pair were ambushed by the Presagers of Hakotei and Dooku was briefly captured to be used as part of a dark side ritual. It was during his brief captivity that he experienced a series of visions of his future, and he used Force lightning for the first time in order to kill his captors. After which Master Kostana and Sifo-Dyas taught him a cleansing ritual involving arm wrappings that was designed to keep him centered in the force.

Jedi Master

"You know, My Lady, Count Dooku was once a Jedi. He couldn't assassinate anyone. It's not in his character."

―Mace Windu, to Padmé Amidala

He eventually attained the rank of Jedi Master and gained a seat on the Jedi High Council. He would eventually take Rael Averross as his Padawan training him to Knighthood. Dooku had also set aside his first blade and created his own curved-hilt lightsaber,[18] which produced a blue blade. Dooku used his lightsaber when he and Yoda demonstrated their lightsaber skills to a group of younglings, amongst them the Togorian Jak'zin.[19] Furthermore, Dooku was the main lightsaber instructor for Thranta Clan.[9]

Dooku also rendered help to Mother Talzin of the Nightsisters, who were based on the world of Dathomir,[20] giving her a lock of his hair.[7] Averross eventually introduced Dooku to the Naboo senator Sheev Palpatine on Coruscant after Dooku delivered an address to the Galactic Senate.[9]

Training Qui-Gon

"Qui-Gon Jinn would never join you." "Don't be so sure, my young Jedi. You forget that he was once my apprentice, just as you were once his."

―Obi-Wan Kenobi and Dooku

Dooku was the Jedi Master of Qui-Gon Jinn, who eventually achieved the same rank in the Jedi Order.

Dooku in 68 BBY would take a 12 year-old Qui-Gon Jinn as his second Padawan after Rael Aveross. On the evening of Qui-Gon being assigned to him, Jinn presented himself to his new Master in Dooku's quarters, Dooku observed that Jinn was frightened. After a moment of silence, and pressing him, Jinn confessed that he was. He asked his apprentice why and after looking into himself through the fear, Jinn answered that he was not afraid of Dooku, but of not becoming a Jedi, that he was afraid of failing. Of not being worthy. Dooku then summarized it as Jinn being afraid of himself, of a future not being the one he wanted. Jinn confirmed it, fearing that Dooku will reject him for his apparent cowardice. Dooku instead said that it was very wise, surprising Jinn. Smiling, he would explain that most Padawans would deny their fear, and even if they admitted it, they would not have Jinn's self-knowledge. He then further praised Jinn for his honesty, insight, and intelligence.

To help Jinn understand the Jedi Temple more completely, Dooku decided to take him throughout most of the Temple, including the Padawans' sparring dojo, and the one for full Jedi Knights, and the Great Assembly Room. Their last stop was the Jedi Archives, where they examined holocrons of various eras, not to study them, but simply for Jinn to learn his way around. While doing so, a particularly old holocron, more ancient and of a different shape than the rest, caught Jinn's eye. When he questioned his Master about it, he was shocked by the expression on Dooku's face, almost as if he considered it an enemy. Dooku answered that it was a holocron of Jedi prophecies. Jinn asked if there are Jedi prophets, to which Dooku replied not any longer. He explained to Jinn that the mystics sought undue knowledge of the future which led them down dangerous paths. Those drawn too deeply into them were often tempted by the dark side. Dooku then finished by saying that is why the Jedi study prophecy no longer, then turned to leave, which meant Jinn had to follow. Jinn then asked Dooku if just wanting to know the future can lead to the dark side. Dooku simply replied that it takes more than that.

After training Qui-Gon for several months the Council sent him with his apprentice to Shurrupak to participate in a battle on its surface, which was Qui-Gon's very first. When they landed on the surface the encountered his first apprentice, Rael Aveross, whom Dooku introduced to his new apprentice.

Qui-Gon Jinn eventually graduated to Knighthood and became a Master himself, and took a Padawan of his own: Obi-Wan Kenobi. Dooku maintained some contact with Jinn, who spoke very highly about his apprentice Kenobi to his former master.

Leaving the Jedi Order

Dooku became a Jedi renunciate, leaving the Order despite his years as a Jedi and the bond he once shared with his former Master.

Over time, Dooku had become disillusioned with the Jedi Order (who he thought had become disconnected to the force and too engaged in politics), the Republic, and the Galactic Senate's corruption. In 42 BBY, he returned to his ancestral home with Master Kostana and Sifo-Dyas after his sister Jenza pleaded for his help. He reclaimed his family title of Count of Serenno by overthrowing his brother Ramil, who was the current count at the time. With his reclaimed title, he also took possession of his family fortune, one of the largest in the galaxy. Dooku then informed Yoda that he was resigning from the order, becoming the twentieth member of The Lost Twenty before saying goodbye to his old friend Sifo-Dyas, promising that they would see each other again.

Joining the Sith

The apprentice of a Dark Lord

"There is no good or evil. Only those with power, and those without it."

―Dooku

Having sworn his loyalty to Darth Sidious, Dooku became Darth Tyranus, Lord of the Sith.

Despite his newfound wealth and power, however, Dooku all but disappeared from public life after his resignation. Most believed that he had gone into a sort of self imposed exile with the intention of founding an offshoot of the Jedi Order. However, at some point during this period, Dooku was approached by Darth Sidious, who saw the former Jedi as a potential leader for a Separatist movement. Using the Count's frustration with the Galactic Republic, the Dark Lord turned Dooku to the side of the Sith. Dooku desired both power and the elimination of the corruption that plagued the Republic. He was given the name Darth Tyranus.

After accepting Sidious's offer, Dooku helped his new master to implement much of the groundwork necessary to begin the Clone Wars. The most important project that he oversaw during that time was the creation of a clone army intended for use by the Republic during the planned war. Hoping to give the project a strong layer of legitimacy and to hide his own involvement, he suggested to Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas the idea of creating the army for the Republic, which could be held in reserve in case of civil war. Sifo-Dyas, who was greatly troubled by the Republic's tumultuous political situation and the Jedi Council's apparent complacency, agreed to order the army from the Kaminoans. After this was done, Dooku needed to make certain that Sifo-Dyas would remain silent about the army so as not to alert the Jedi Council. As such, he contacted Lom Pyke of the Pyke Syndicate and instructed him to murder Sifo-Dyas by way of shooting down his shuttle during a mission, after which Dooku was given Sifo-Dyas's body. However, unbeknownst to Dooku, the Pykes had captured Valorum's aide, Silman, and imprisoned him as insurance against possible betrayal by Dooku.

Setting the groundwork

Tyranus and his new Master conspired to grow a clone army, using the bounty hunter Jango Fett as a template.

On one of the moons of Bogden, Dooku recruited the bounty hunter Jango Fett as the template for the Clone Army. Along with a considerable salary, Dooku agreed to pay Fett with an unaltered clone for himself. In order to ensure the elimination of the Jedi when the time was right, Dooku and Sidious had the clones outfitted with bio-chips in their brains which could be used to trigger a protocol that would cause the clones to murder their Jedi superiors. After hiring Fett, Dooku moved onto another phase of the Sith plan by beginning to bring together galactic-level businesses, as well as planets and peoples tired of the Galactic Republic, to create an alliance of Separatists.

Dooku, at the behest of Sidious, went to Sullust to discuss an alliance between the SoroSuub Corporation and himself. In truth, Dooku was to seek out the Kaldana Syndicate. After a tour of one of Sullust's cities, Dooku met newly knighted Jedi Jak'zin and was invited to dinner with him and Representative Kap Klyp. Dooku informed Sidious of this complication and told him find out why Jak'zin was there. At dinner, Dooku denied rumors that he was creating another order of force users and assured Jak'zin that he was looking after his family's business interest on Serenno. Following dinner, Dooku followed Jak'zin and learned about the mission of learning about the Kaldana Syndicate. Dooku agreed to help Jak'zin on his mission. The two made their way into the syndicate's base. There, Dooku and Jak'zin discovered that the syndicate was smuggling weapons and were surrounded by the syndicate's gang. Dooku and Jak'zin fought the gangsters. After defeating the gangsters, Dooku killed Jak'zin and then spoke with the surviving gangsters. After making a deal with the syndicate, Dooku left Sullust.

Forming the Confederacy

"He is a political idealist, not a murderer."

―Ki-Adi-Mundi to Padmé Amidala

Count Dooku, the public persona of Darth Tyranus, instigated the Separatist movement to destabilize the Galactic Republic.

At some point, Count Dooku recruited fallen Dathomirian Jedi Asajj Ventress to act as his assassin and Sith apprentice. Several years after his resignation from the Jedi Order and the death of his former apprentice, Qui-Gon Jinn, Dooku re-entered the public eye in a spectacular fashion, commandeering a Republic HoloNet station in the Raxus system and delivering a rousing speech in which he thoroughly lambasted the corruption and shortcomings of the Republic. In a galaxy in which many Outer and Mid Rim systems were chafing under the ineffectual and corrupt bureaucracy of the Republic, Dooku's speech set the stage for the Separatist movement. He began meddling in the affairs of many planets, supporting anti-Republic coups on worlds such as Ryloth and interfering in the political processes of Kashyyyk and Onderon, among others. He also began to publicly rally systems and corporations to his cause to become the Confederacy of Independent Systems, and publicly spurned every opportunity to negotiate with Palpatine. At some point after the creation of the CIS, Dooku piloted his personal Sith Infiltrator to Dathomir.

During the time leading up to the Clone Wars, Dooku also met several times the governor of Eriadu, Wilhuff Tarkin, in an attempt to convince him to join the Separatist movement. He alluded to the governor that war was inevitable, and that he desired the support of the powerful Outer Rim world for his cause. In truth however, these meetings had been orchestrated by Palpatine to test Tarkin's loyalties, and Tarkin remained firm in this commitment to the Republic. Dooku also promised Trade Federation Viceroy Gunray that he would assassinate Senator Amidala, whom Gunray despised, if he signed Dooku's treaty. Gunray accepted the offer; Dooku thus dispatched Jango Fett to carry out Amidala's assassination. Despite the failure of Fett's mission, Dooku was able to have the Trade Federation, the Banking Clan, the Techno Union, the Commerce Guild, and the Corporate Alliance all sign his treaty on Geonosis, formalizing the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Dooku assured them that the Jedi and the Republic would be overwhelmed by their combined forces.

The Clone Wars

Battle of Geonosis

"Fought well you have, my old Padawan." "This is just the beginning."

―Yoda and Dooku

The Jedi confronted Dooku on Geonosis, where he was guarded by Jango Fett and an army of Separatist battle droids.

The Separatists's assassination attempts on Amidala prompted an investigation by Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, who tracked Fett to Geonosis. There, Dooku was meeting with leaders of the commerce guilds, and listened as they pledged their assets to his Confederacy. Kenobi overheard their discussion, but was captured by droidekas while transmitting his findings back to the Republic. Dooku visited Kenobi in his prison cell, feigning shock at the Jedi's capture and inquiring as to his presence on Geonosis. Denying involvement with the bounty hunters, Dooku instead spoke of his former apprentice, Qui-Gon, suggesting that Jinn would have joined Dooku's movement had he learned the truth that the Sith were in control of the Senate. Though Obi-Wan refused to believe Dooku's words, the Count attempted to recruit him in apparent opposition to Darth Sidious, and left Kenobi to his fate when he rejected the offer.

Dooku oversaw the attempted execution of Amidala, Kenobi, and Skywalker in the Petranaki Arena, but proceedings were forestalled when Master Windu and his Jedi assault team arrived to rescue the condemned trio. Windu was soon outnumbered by battle droids, and Dooku watched as the Jedi were surrounded on the arena floor. He offered to spare their lives if they surrendered, but Windu refused. In a regretful tone, Dooku gave the order to terminate them, but the survivors were spared by Yoda's arrival with the clone army from Kamino. War broke out across Geonosis.

Dooku fought against Yoda before retreating as Geonosis fell to the Republic's clone forces.

Dooku oversaw the battle, assuring his allies that his Master would not let the Republic get away with the invasion, but eventually chose to retreat. Before leaving, Dooku was given the designs to the ultimate weapon by Archduke Poggle the Lesser, assuring him that the designs would be safe with his Master. Escaping on his speeder with an escort of two Geonosian fighters, Dooku made for his secret hangar but was pursued by Kenobi and Skywalker's gunship.

As Dooku prepared to leave, he was confronted by Kenobi and Skywalker. He subdued Skywalker with Force lightning and fought Kenobi, eventually overpowering and wounding him in the shoulder and leg. As Dooku prepared to make his killing move, Skywalker leapt into the battle. The two fought until Dooku cut off Skywalker's right arm, but Yoda again arrived to save his allies. Dooku engaged in a Force duel with his old master and, unable to best him, challenged Yoda to a lightsaber battle. The fighting was fierce but brief, and cut short when Dooku brought down a pillar over Kenobi and Skywalker, forcing Yoda to break off his attack to save them. Dooku fled in his solar sailor as his forces retreated into space.

Tyranus reported directly to Sidious on Coruscant, confirming that the Clone Wars had begun as intended by the Sith Lords.

Dooku rendezvoused with Sidious, who was very impressed, in The Works on Coruscant, informing him that the war had begun as planned. Dooku and his Master recruited the cyborg General Grievous to lead the droid army. Grievous was trained by Dooku in the Jedi arts, using lightsabers taken from his Jedi kills. When the Bryx sector seceded, Dooku placed General Horn Ambigene on Pzandias. He also named Ambigene the Commander of Organic Training. Later, Dooku commanded his droid army to seize control of the major hyperspace routes following Geonosis, separating the Republic from the majority of its army.

Dealings with the Hutts

"Soon, the Jedi will not only be at war with you, Count, but with the Hutt clan as well."

―Darth Sidious, to Darth Tyranus

Dooku fought with Anakin Skywalker, a rising Jedi Knight and the prophesied Chosen One, on several occasions during the war.

Dooku made a deal with Ziro, uncle of Jabba the Hutt, to have Jabba's son, Rotta, kidnapped and the act blamed on the Jedi. Dooku sent Ventress in her Trident-class assault ship, the Trident, to Tatooine to carry out the kidnapping. She took Rotta to the abandoned monastery on Teth with two battalions of battle droids, where she was contacted by Dooku and then by Lord Sidious, who assured them that the Jedi would be provoked into war with Hutts as well as the Separatists. Dooku ventured to Tatooine and spoke with Jabba, claiming that the Jedi were behind his son's kidnapping, and had Ventress and her spy droid, 4-A7, provide "evidence" that Skywalker and his apprentice were responsible. Though he assured the Hutt his droid army was mounting a rescue, Dooku was informed by Ventress that Skywalker had eluded her and was escaping with Rotta.

After her defeat, Dooku had Ventress lie that Skywalker had killed the Huttlet. Jabba, believing Dooku, allowed him to send battle droids to deal with Skywalker personally. After his MagnaGuards shot Skywalker down, Dooku went into the Dune Sea. He contacted Ziro, informing him that Jabba believed his story, and assured him that he would be master of the Hutt Clans. Dooku also had Ziro take Senator Amidala prisoner when she learned of Ziro's deal. Dooku confronted Skywalker, dueling across the dunes, until Dooku realize the Huttlet was with Skywalker's apprentice, Ahsoka Tano. However, he anticipated this and had MagnaGuards wait for her, taunting Skywalker with a hologram of Tano's desperate fight. Skywalker fled in pursuit, taking Dooku's speeder, but the Dark Lord simply laughed. However, after Jabba learned the truth of his uncle's deal, Dooku left Tatooine and informed Lord Sidious of his failure. Sidious told him to allow the Jedi their victory, knowing that the engines had turned in their favor.

Negotiations with the Toydarians

"I sense you are one who respects strength, your highness. Our droid armies outnumber the Republic clones a hundred to one." "Perhaps, but I have heard that a single Jedi equals a hundred battle droids."

―Dooku and Katuunko

Yoda thwarted Dooku's plan to recruit the Toydarians into the Confederacy of Independent Systems.

At the start of the Separatist occupation of Ryloth, Dooku was informed by TX-20 that the Jedi were sending Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan to Toydaria to establish supply lines to the Republic garrison and the Twi'lek people. Dooku contacted Senator Lott Dod of the Trade Federation to prevent the Republic from doing so.

Dooku learned that King Katuunko was considering joining the Republic and was going to speak with his former master Yoda on the neutral moon, Rugosa. He sent his apprentice, Ventress, to convince him to join the Separatists. Ventress was able to make a deal with Katuunko and Yoda; If Yoda and his three troopers defeated her droid battalion, the Toydarians would be allowed to join the Republic, but if her droids captured Yoda, Katuunko would join the Separatists. Dooku approved of her deal, believing that Yoda made a mistake in venturing far from Coruscant. However, Yoda was able to defeat her droids, and Katuunko told Dooku that he would be joining the Republic upon seeing Ventress's treachery. Dooku urged him to reconsider, but to no avail, and ordered Ventress to kill the king. However, Yoda prevented the murder, and Dooku watched as Ventress made her escape, telling Yoda that his old master was fortunate he was not there in person.

The Malevolence

"In this war, a step ahead of us Dooku always seems."

―Yoda

Dooku and General Grievous oversaw the Malevolence as its ion weaponry was tested against an entire Republic fleet.

Dooku joined General Grievous aboard the heavy cruiser Malevolence in the Abregado system. When a fleet of Republic cruisers entered the system, Dooku ordered Grievous to jam their communications and to use the cruiser's secret weapon, the ion cannon, to disable and destroy the fleet. Dooku sent out hunters to make sure there were no survivors, though he later learned that a group of survivors had destroyed the pod hunters. As Dooku, Grievous, and the Malevolence searched for the survivors, Skywalker arrived and found them first. Dooku ordered Grievous to destroy the rescue ship, but the effort failed.

After Grievous attacked a medical convoy near the Ryndellia system, Dooku gave the droid general his next target: the Republic's Outer Rim Medical Center. En route to the target, Dooku informed Grievous that the Republic had launched a strike team under Skywalker to attack the Malevolence, and warned him not to underestimate Skywalker. After the Malevolence's hyperdrive was disabled, Dooku arranged for Senator Amidala to be captured while en route to negotiations with the Banking Clan, but the ploy failed and the Malevolence was destroyed. Dooku attempted to contact Grievous for an update, but the general angrily cut communications while fleeing the scene of destruction.

Gunray's rescue

"There is no margin for error this time, child. You must prove yourself worthy of being my apprentice." "I am worthy, as you shall see."

―Darth Tyranus and Asajj Ventress

The Sith conspired to retrieve Nute Gunray, believing the Neimoidian would break under Jedi interrogation.

With Viceroy Gunray captured by the Republic, Sidious informed his apprentice of the dangers of allowing him to be interrogated by the Jedi. Though Dooku planned to send Ventress to either free or silence Gunray, Sidious questioned the dark-sider's competence after previous failures. Dooku gave Ventress her mission, but warned her that she would have to prove herself worthy of being his apprentice. He bribed Senate commando Faro Argyus into helping Ventress free Gunray, and the mission was ultimately a success.

Testing Grievous

"General, the ongoing stalemate in the war has become unacceptable. There is concern you have lost your focus. Lord Sidious demands more dramatic results: more dead Jedi." "You expect victory over Jedi, but all you give me to fight them is battle droids. Bah!"

―Dooku and Grievous

Dooku allowed the Jedi to ambush Grievous, testing the cyborg warrior at the behest of his Sith Master.

After Gunray's escape, Dooku, frustrated with the ongoing stalemate, arranged a test for General Grievous. He laid a trap for Jedi Master Kit Fisto, his former apprentice Nahdar Vebb, and their clone troopers at Grievous's fortress in the Vassek system. He deactivated Grievous's MagnaGuards and offered an "alternative prize" to Fisto during his pursuit of Gunray. After Grievous's first confrontation with the Jedi and the death of his pet roggwart, Gor, Dooku contacted him telling him that he arranged for this test. Grievous then cut communications with Dooku to finish off the Jedi. Grievous later informed him of Fisto's escape, and the Count suggested there was room for improvement.

Dooku's capture

"I still don't get it." "Get what?" "How a bunch of drunken pirates managed to catch Dooku when we couldn't."

―Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi

Dooku was forced to work with the Jedi against the pirates who captured them for ransom.

Dooku captured Skywalker and took him aboard his command ship. Skywalker was rescued by Kenobi and the two of them confronted Dooku. Dooku made his escape to his solar sailor as the Republic forces arrived. Dooku was soon thereafter shot down by Skywalker and Kenobi and crash landed on Vanqor where he hid in a cave. He next caused a cave-in, forcing Skywalker to lose his lightsaber which Dooku took, and then sealed the cave off. Dooku found Weequay pirates at his solar sailor. Thereafter, Dooku approached the pirate's captain, Hondo Ohnaka, who offered him passage to Florrum for a price. Dooku agreed to pay him while secretly planning to kill all the pirates upon their arrival on Florrum due to not trusting them. However before he could, Dooku's lightsabers were stolen from him by Hondo's monkey-lizard Pilf Mukmuk. Dooku warned them that they were not dealing with a Jedi, but a Sith Lord. However, he was outnumbered and ransomed off to the Republic by the pirates. Kenobi and Skywalker checked to ensure the pirates had actually captured him. Dooku warned the Jedi that the pirates were devious and that they would not allow them to leave.

Dooku was proven correct when he, Kenobi, and Skywalker were tied together. Thus, Dooku was forced to work with the Jedi to escape before the Republic arrived. During their 2nd escape attempt, Dooku was saved by Kenobi before they were captured by Hondo and his men. However, after Republic representative Binks and his escort disabled the power, Dooku made his escape by choking a guard. He then killed Turk Falso and forced him to kill another Weequay with his own blaster. At that point, he stole their shuttle and made his escape.

The Defoliator test

"When Count Dooku sees how successful my weapon is against civilian targets, I will no doubt be promoted to a more, hmm, substantial position within the Alliance."

―Lok Durd, on the Defoliator project

Dooku approved of Lok Durd's plan to field-test the defoliator on civilian targets.

Dooku observed General Lok Durd's test of his new weapon—the Defoliator—on the world Maridun. After the initial success of the weapon tested on grass and two battle droids, Dooku asked to the general to test the weapon on living targets. Durd assured him that he would test it on the Lurmen colonists.

Occupation of Ryloth

"Your Tactical Droid has informed me of the pitiful job you have done protecting our investment on Ryloth."

―Dooku, to Wat Tambor

Dooku ordered the Separatist forces to destroy the city of Lessu before evacuating Ryloth.

During the initial start of the Republic's return to Ryloth, Dooku assured Tambor that the Republic forces were spread thin in its sector and that it would be suicide for the Republic. After the Republic landed and were moving on the capital of Lessu, Dooku was informed by TA-175 of Tambor's pitiful job in protecting the Separatist's investment on Ryloth. Though Tambor claimed that the tactical droid was exaggerating, Dooku warned him that he was no match for Windu. Dooku then ordered Tambor to evacuate with what valuables he had and to destroy what was left. Dooku told Tambor that the charred ruins of Ryloth would demonstrate to the galaxy the cost of a Republic "victory." Dooku then contacted Tambor again, shocked that he had not left yet. Dooku then ordered him out before Windu and the Republic arrive. He then gave TA-175 orders to bomb the capital after they leave. After the Republic arrived and captured Tambor, Dooku ordered TA-175 to bomb the capital.

Dealing with the Death Watch

Dooku supported a regime change on Mandalore, favoring Pre Vizsla and his Death Watch organization.

Dooku secretly supported the Death Watch movement on Mandalore. Dooku spoke with its leader, Governor Pre Vizsla of Concordia, about the Jedi Council's investigation on Mandalore. Dooku assured him that if the Republic sends an occupation force to Mandalore, the people would rebel and join the Death Watch. Dooku had Vizsla send one of his assassins to Coruscant to eliminate Duchess Satine Kryze from interfering with their plans. Unfortunately, the Duchess stopped their plans. Dooku warned Vizsla that without his forces, Death Watch would only hold the planet for a day. Dooku assured him that he had other ways of accomplishing their goals.

Following these events, Dooku betrayed the Death Watch. Vizsla was left with a lightsaber scar on his face as a "parting gift" from Dooku but managed to escape, vowing vengeance on the Sith Lord.

Continuing the war

"After our attack, chances of peace will disappear."

―Dooku

War profiteers in the Galactic Senate secretly worked with Dooku to prolong the Clone Wars.

Dooku endorsed a peace initiative being offered by the Separatist Senate. However, Dooku had General Grievous carry out a mission to ensure that Lord Sidious's plans continue unhindered. Dooku assured Republic senators Lott Dod, Gume Saam, and Nix Card that they would ensure that the banks would be deregulated and they would receive their profits.

Dooku then offered his assistance to Pantoran Chairman Papanoida when his daughters were kidnapped.

Dooku then attempted to coerce Pantora, a moon of Orto Plutonia to join the Separatists by sending the Trade Federation to blockade the planet.

After the attack, Dooku sent a message saying that the Republic had killed the very sponsor of the peace initiative, Mina Bonteri. In truth, Dooku had sent his agents to kill Bonteri. Dooku then sent bounty hunters Robonino and Chata Hyoki to intimidate Senators from voting against the military enhancement bill. Dooku then sent them to eliminate Senator Amidala.

Ventress's "demise"

"I would hate to think you are training your own Sith apprentice to destroy me…" "Never! My allegiance is to you and you alone." "Then you must prove it. Eliminate her."

―Darth Sidious and Darth Tyranus, on Asajj Ventress

Tyranus disowned his apprentice, Asajj Ventress, when Sidious began to suspect him of harboring treacherous intentions.

Tyranus was then contacted by Lord Sidious about his assassin, Ventress, and how she was becoming powerful. Sidious believed that Dooku was training his own apprentice and was planning to replace him. Dooku assured Sidious that his loyalty was to him alone. To prove his loyalty, the Count was ordered to eliminate Ventress. Dooku tried to convince Sidious not to do this, but he complied. Dooku then contacted Ventress at Sullust, informing her that he recalled her reinforcements. Ventress implored Dooku to help destroy the Jedi, but he told her that she was no longer his apprentice and that she would soon die. Dooku then contacted the tactical droid, TJ-912, aboard its Destroyer and ordered it to destroy Ventress aboard the flagship. TJ-912 carried out Dooku's orders and informed him that she was dead. Dooku ordered TJ-912 to withdraw. Dooku then informed Lord Sidious that Ventress had been destroyed, proving his loyalty to his master.

Dooku then came under attack by Ventress and her fellow Nightsisters posing as Jedi at his palace on Serenno. Though his senses were dulled by their poison, Dooku was able to fight them off with his Sith lightning. The attempt on his life failed but Dooku never found out the identity of his attackers. Dooku was then contacted by Mother Talzin, who was aware of the loss of his prized assassin, who was of one of her Nightsisters. She then offered Dooku one male from her planet to replace her. Dooku took her up on her offer.

Dealings with the Nightsisters

"We could certainly use the power of the Nightsisters against the Jedi." "Such a generous offer, Count. But our loyalty is reserved for only each other. The only reason I am aiding in your search for a new assassin is because long ago, you chose to help me. After this matter is resolved, I hope our paths never cross again."

―Dooku and Talzin

Dooku then traveled to Dathomir to speak with Talzin. Dooku proposed an alliance between his Separatists and her Nightsisters. Talzin refused his generous offer. Talzin then asked Dooku if knew the Sith warrior, Darth Maul. Dooku remembered that he was killed 10 years ago on Naboo by Kenobi. Talzin then offered one of her Nightbrothers from Maul's village, as his new assassin. Dooku, with the "loss" of Ventress and the Jedi attacks, agreed to her offer and left.

Training Maul's Brother

"I foresee we will do great things together. I shall teach you the ways of the dark side. Soon, your powers will rival that of the great Sith Lord Darth Maul. We will be even more powerful than Lord Sidious. We shall rule the galaxy together, my apprentice."

―Darth Tyranus, to Savage Opress

Tyranus found a new secret apprentice, Savage Opress.

Dooku was then given the Nightbrother, Savage Opress, by Talzin on Serenno. Dooku was impressed by the Opress's sight and how Talzin described him as the fiercest of his kind, assuring him that Opress would serve Dooku well. Dooku then sent Opress on a mission to secure the outpost on Devaron from the Republic. Dooku was then informed by Opress of his mission's success and returned to him on Serenno. Dooku then told Savage how they would do great things, be more powerful than Lord Sidious and the former Darth Maul, and rule the galaxy together.

Dooku then trained Savage in lightsaber combat and his dark side powers. Dooku was a harsh taskmaster who tortured Opress with his Sith lightning. After Dooku's first training session with Opress, he sent him on a mission to Toydaria. Dooku told him to bring King Katuunko to him alive. However, Opress failed Dooku when he killed Katuunko and brought him aboard his flagship. Dooku then punished him with his Sith lightning. Ventress then revealed herself to be alive and Opress's true master. The two of them then fought Dooku but were unable to defeat him. Opress then force-choked Dooku and Ventress and then tried to kill them both. Dooku and Ventress made their escape, then Dooku was then confronted by Ventress, but was able to defeat her. Just as he was about to kill her, Dooku was blinded and Ventress made her escape. Dooku then ordered his battle droids to kill Opress, but they failed to stop him from escaping.

The Citadel

Dooku contacted the Citadel's warden, Commander Osi Sobeck about Jedi Council Member Even Piell's information on the Nexus Route.[48] Dooku then reprimanded Sobeck, but gives him another chance to get the information from his escaping prisoners.

Battle of Mon Cala

"The whispering of his name can rekindle hope, and hope is something we cannot allow our enemy to possess."

―Dooku, to Riff Tamson, on Lee-Char

Riff Tamson led Dooku's droid forces at the Battle of Mon Cala.

During the Battle of Mon Cala, Count Dooku supported the Quarren in their civil war against the Mon Calamari. The Mon Calamari King Yos Kolina had died but the Quarren led by Chieftain Nossor Ri contested his son Prince Lee-Char's claim to the throne. Dooku dispatched Commander Riff Tamson as a Separatist observer to the Quarren on Mon Cala. Dooku was assured that Chieftain Nossor Ri and his Quarren were with them. In return for supporting the Separatist cause, Dooku promised Tamson that Mon Cala would be his to rule. Under Dooku's orders, Mon Calamari captives from Mon Cala city were enslaved.

After the Mon Calamari and Republic received Gungan reinforcements from Naboo, Dooku sent Tamson reinforcements, but ordered him to keep them in reserve. Dooku also ordered him to continue to hunt down Prince Lee-Char and reminded Nossor Ri that the Quarren had to support the war effort if they wanted Separatist support. Tamson also received Karkarodon enforcers from his homeworld of Karkaris to secure the Separatists hold on the planet. Despite Dooku's best efforts, his plans to conquer Mon Cala collapsed after the Quarren switched sides after learning that Tamson planned to crown himself as the new ruler of Mon Cala. Together, the Quarren, Mon Calamari, Republic, Jedi, and Gungans managed to drive the Separatist from Mon Cala.

Dealings on Naboo

"The Sith control everything. You just don't know it."

―Dooku, to Anakin Skywalker

Dooku set a trap for Skywalker on Naboo, using himself as bait to lure the young Jedi Knight away from his forces.

Dooku then formed an alliance with Gungan priest, Rish Loo to provoke a war between the Naboo and the Gungans. Dooku promised Rish Loo that he would most influential in his new order. However, Rish Loo's plans were exposed by Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, Senator Amidala, and Representative Binks freed Boss Lyonie from his mind-control. Dooku informed his master of General Grievous's capture by the Gungans. Dooku agreed to capture Skywalker in order to trade him for Grievous. Dooku had Rish Loo lure Skywalker to his lab. Once there, Dooku killed Rish Loo for his foolishness. Dooku and his MagnaGuards fought Skywalker, eventually subduing him. Dooku then contacted Amidala, offering to exchange Skywalker for General Grievous. At first, Amidala refused, but agreed to it when Dooku's MagnaGuards started to torture Skywalker.

Dealing with slavers

"I see the queen has given you a long leash."

―Dooku, to Anakin Skywalker

Skywalker confronted Dooku on the Zygerrian homeworld, and was subdued by a barrage of Force lightning.

Dooku then accompanied Zygerrian slaver, Commander Darts D'Nar, and his forces as they moved into "occupy" the Togruta colony of Kiros. Dooku then convinced the governor, Roshti, to be taken to a "safe haven." Dooku and Zygerrian Prime Minister Atai Molec then contacted him as he negotiated with General Kenobi. Dooku then ordered D'Nar to bring Kenobi to him on his knees. Dooku and half of Scintel's kingdom then demanded the Zygerrian Queen, Miraj Scintel, kill Anakin Skywalker.

When she refused, Dooku was asked to come to Zygerria by Prime Minister Molec. Lord Sidious sent Lord Tyranus to ensure that the Queen would carry out Skywalker's execution. Dooku then spoke with the Queen and the Prime Minister about Skywalker and his friends' situation. Dooku was intrigued by her plan to enslave the Jedi, but Dooku's plan was to eradicate the Jedi. He also warned her that her power over Skywalker was an illusion, since he was once a Jedi. When the queen refused to allow Dooku to execute Skywalker, Molec saw her as unworthy of being queen, in which Dooku then force-choked Scintel as Skywalker arrived. Dooku then fought Skywalker and ordered the Royal guard to kill Skywalker for the Queen's murder before he escaped. Dooku then contacted Keeper Agruss and ordered him to execute Kenobi and Captain Rex.

Dooku later appeared through a hologram to Lux Bonteri in which he denied killing Mina Bonteri and ordered him killed for treason.

Kidnapping plot

Skywalker's interference prevented Dooku from leaving Naboo with Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine.

Dooku then hired bounty hunter Moralo Eval to carry out a kidnapping of Palpatine. Following Eval's escape with help from fellow bounty hunters Cad Bane and Rako Hardeen (Kenobi in disguise), Dooku brought other bounty hunters to participate in this mission for him. He tested them by putting them inside the box. Dooku became impressed with Hardeen's performance, especially how he was able to kill Kenobi. Dooku then had Eval fight Hardeen till he lost. He then appointed Bane as leader of this team to carry out Palpatine's kidnapping.

On Naboo, Dooku listened to Bane's plans. However, he implanted a listening device in Hardeen's rifle case, revealing that he knew that Hardeen was Kenobi all along. The bounty hunter's mission was merely a diversion to distract the Republic troops, while Dooku carried out the kidnapping. However, his plan was foiled by Kenobi and Skywalker who managed to stop his plot before he escaped.

Extermination of the Nightsisters

"The time has come at last to take revenge on Asajj Ventress and the witch, Mother Talzin. I have learned Ventress has returned to Dathomir. Go there and wipe the witches out. All of them."

―Dooku, to Grievous

Dooku ordered Grievous to exterminate the Nightsisters of Dathomir while Mother Talzin tortured him through magick.

Remembering their treachery with Savage Opress, Dooku, at the behest of Lord Sidious, dispatched General Grievous to wipe out Mother Talzin, Ventress, and the Nightsisters on Dathomir. However, Dooku was tortured by Talzin through her magick, demanding he call off Grievous and his army. Dooku contacted Grievous, ordering him to find Talzin before she killed him. Dooku was saved when Grievous apparently "killed" Talzin in a secret chamber of the Nightsister village.

Following the Nightsister massacre, Dooku spoke with Grievous about Savage Opress. He feared that with Talzin gone, Savage would be a danger to him and his master, as he was becoming more powerful. Dooku also sensed something else coming.

Onderon rebellion

Dooku then supported Sanjay Rash as he usurped the throne of Onderon from Ramsis Dendup. Following Rash's reports of the rebels, Dooku dispatched super tactical droid general, Kalani to take command of the Separatist forces. Following the rebels victory over the droid gunships, Dooku ordered Kalani to withdraw what remained of the occupation force to Agamar, much to Rash's disapproval, which ended with his death.

Retribution on Florrum

"Hondo Ohnaka, we meet again. As I remember the last time we meet face to face I was your prisoner and you attempted to bargain me off to the highest bidder." "But can you blame me, I mean a Sith lord, what a handsome price you would of-" "Silence. You are going to pay the price for your treachery."

―Dooku and Hondo Ohnaka

Dooku deployed Grievous against Hondo Ohnaka, the pirate who once held the Count as a prisoner for ransom.

Still having a score to settle with Hondo Ohnaka for holding him captive in the past, Dooku dispatched General Grievous to Florrum to seize and dismantle all of Ohnaka's possessions. He then had Grievous take Ohnaka away to a prison cell. Ohnaka survived the assault but much of his base was left in ruins.

Alliance with Ravna

"How many times must I tell you, Kenobi? Do not underestimate the power of the dark side!"

―Dooku

Dooku tried to recruit Ravna to his cause, only to be betrayed by the Dark Lord.

Dooku traveled to the planet Bray. There, he met the Dark Lord Ravna at the Citadel of Light and formed an agreement between himself and Ravna. Dooku hoped to use Ravna's ability to infect any living being into unknown violent species to transform millions of clones and swiftly end the Clone War. When Jedi Masters Kenobi and Gallia arrived at the Citadel alongside the 212th Attack Battalion, Dooku introduced the Jedi to Ravna and subdued Gallia with his Force lightning.

However, Dooku was ultimately betrayed by Ravna who sought to infect all beings in the galaxy and proceeded to transform Dooku. After destroying his super battle droid, Dooku stood by as Ravna's followers attempted to infect Kenobi and Gallia. However, Dooku gave into his anger when Kenobi insulted him and called him pathetic, causing Dooku to strike at Ravna with force lightning. In the chaos of the fight, Dooku told Kenobi and Gallia to destroy Ravna and his followers, a resolution the Jedi saw to by using the Force to collapse the Citadel while Ravna was still inside, thereby burying the creature while Dooku escaped.

Order 66 revelation

"It is done, Master. The clone in question is now dead, and the Jedi still suspect nothing." "Good. Destroy the evidence. When the time comes, no one will be able to stop our plan to execute Order 66."

―Darth Tyranus and Darth Sidious

As the clone army's benefactor, Tyranus was in secret contact with the Kaminoans during the Clone Wars.

Dooku was later contacted by Admiral Trench. Through Trench's line held on Ringo Vinda, he informed Dooku how one of the clones had murdered his Jedi general in a trance-like state. Dooku informed his master that Order 66 might be revealed. Thus Sidious ordered Dooku to kidnap the clone and examine him. Dooku then ordered Trench to kidnap the clone. After the admiral succeeded in doing so, Dooku applauded him and ordered him to send the clone to him.

Following Trench's failed kidnapping, Dooku, going by Tyranus, contacted Kaminoan Prime Minister Lama Su about the trooper. Dooku then asked for the inhibitor chip. However, the inhibitor chip was then stolen by the renegade trooper. Tyranus made it clear that only he and Sifo-Dyas knew about the chip's true purpose and that the Jedi must not learn this. Following the death of the renegade trooper, Dooku was then given both chips by his master and was ordered to destroy them.

Recruiting Clovis

"Lord Tyranus, the Republic fleet will be arriving shortly." "Very good, my Lord. Clovis has blindly played his part. It now appears he coordinated the entire Separatist takeover." "And because of this treachery, the banks will be firmly placed under the control of the Supreme Chancellor."

―Darth Sidious and Darth Tyranus

Dooku engineered the rise and fall of Senator Rush Clovis as head of the InterGalactic Banking Clan.

Sometime later, Dooku was contacted by Sidious and was ordered by his master to once again recruit Senator Rush Clovis and name him the new head of the Banking Clan. Dooku then contacted Clovis via the medical droid treating him. Dooku offered to pay the Confederacy's interest on their loans as well as supply Clovis details of the Muuns' secret accounts, in exchange for him becoming head of the Banking Clan.

After Clovis took his position on Scipio, Dooku contacted him to congratulate on his appointment. Dooku then announced that he wished to collect on his "investment" or he will reveal the truth behind's Clovis's appointment. He also threatened that the Confederacy would not pay back their loans. Thus Dooku forced Clovis to raise the Republic's interest rates to keep the bank afloat. Dooku then arrived at Scipio, accompanied by the Confederate fleet and ordered his super tactical droid, Commander Kraken, to begin the invasion. Soon after, Dooku arrived on the planet and went to Clovis's office. There, Dooku informed Amidala of the deal he made with Clovis. Dooku ordered her arrest, but Separatist Congress Leader, Bec Lawise, said that their Senate would not approve of this. Dooku then forced Amidala to shoot Lawise.

Dooku was then informed by Sidious that the Republic fleet would be arriving shortly. Soon after, Republic ships led by Anakin Skywalker began attacking Kraken's fleet. Arriving onboard Kraken's flagship, Dooku ordered Kraken to withdraw their forces from Scipio. Kraken protested and claimed that there were droid forces still on the planet. Dooku dismissed Kraken's concerns and ordered the droid to withdraw. Kraken obeyed and retreated along with the Confederate fleet, abandoning the droid forces on the planet.

Tyranus revealed

"Tyranus? You are the man called Tyranus?" "I told you everything you needed to know on Geonosis all those years ago, Kenobi. You should have joined me."

―Dooku to Obi-Wan Kenobi

Tyranus was chastened by Sidious, who warned his apprentice to beware the price of failure for a Sith.

Dooku was then informed by Sidious that the Jedi had learned of a secret that Dooku failed to hide. Dooku was ordered by his master to go to Oba Diah and sort this out. When Dooku proved to Sidious clumsy once again, his master force choked him and informed him that he was now at the price of failure. Dooku soon learned that the Pykes had kept Silman, the former Chancellor's Valorum aide who accompanied Sifo-Dyas, alive. Dooku then went to Oba Diah to eliminate this loose end by killing Silman. However, Dooku was confronted by Kenobi and Skywalker. He fought them before he was surrounded by Lom Pyke and his men, who revealed that he was Darth Tyranus. Tyranus then revealed that he was telling Kenobi the truth on Geonosis about the Sith Lord. Tyranus then killed Lom Pyke and, though he and Skywalker continued to briefly fight atop a cargo freighter, escaped.

Yoda's journey to Moraband

"We have failed to break Master Yoda. He is strong. We will need more time if we are to defeat him and the Jedi."

―Darth Sidious, to Darth Tyranus

Sidious attacked Yoda through the Force, utilizing the bond that once existed between Tyranus and his old Master.

Dooku was then informed by Kraken that Lord Sidious demanded his presence on Coruscant. Arriving on Coruscant in the Works, he was greeted by Sidious, who then led him to the tower's ceremonial chamber. Both he and Lord Sidious felt that Yoda was on the Sith homeworld of Moraband for some unknown reason. Dooku then allowed Sidious to use his blood to create an illusion for Yoda due to him being his former master with both using their Sith lightning. In the ritual, Dooku and Sidious were confronted by Yoda, Anakin Skywalker, Captain Rex, and a squad of clone troopers who were tasked with eliminating the Sith. Dooku attacked the clones with Force lightning and dueled with Skywalker and was eventually killed by him. At the end of the ritual, they had failed in breaking Yoda and knew they needed more time to defeat him and the Jedi.

Crystal Crisis on Utapau

Grievous fought with Obi-Wan Kenobi while attempting to secure a large kyber crystal on Utapau.

Towards the end of the Clone Wars, Count Dooku and General Grievous took interest in a massive kyber crystal on the neutral planet of Utapau. They hired several Sugi mercenaries led by Endente and Amani outcasts to excavate the crystal and to guard it respectively. Dooku and Grievous were also aided by Governor Torul Blom, who had secret contacts with Endente. When the Jedi Master Tu-Anh stumbled upon their operation, the Separatists sent two IG-100 MagnaGuards to assassinate her. However, her death attracted the attention of Master Kenobi and the Jedi Knight Skywalker, who traveled to Utapau to investigate.

Investigating Tu-Anh's death and the presence of MagnaGuards, Kenobi and Skywalker traveled to the plains of Utapau to investigate a group of Amani outcasts. While traveling through Utapau's wilderness, the two Jedi were captured by several Sugi mercenaries who brought them to Endente, who informed them about the Confederacy's interest in the kyber crystal. When the Jedi offered to buy the crystal for twice the amount, Endente informed Dooku via hologram about the Jedi and demanded more compensation to offset the Jedi offer. Dooku ordered him to kill the Jedi and promised that he would send Grievous to "give him what he deserved." Later, the two Jedi managed to overpower their captors and steal the crystal.

The actions of the Jedi, Kenobi and Skywalker, prevented Dooku from gaining possession of the kyber crystal.

As Endente and his Sugi comrades prepared for a counter-assault to recover the kyber crystal, they were contacted by Dooku who informed him that Grievous was coming to meet them on the plains of Utapau. Fearful of reporting his failure to the Sith, Endente told Dooku to send Grievous to meet them at Pau City instead on the pretext that the Amani could no longer be relied upon to guard the crystal. Endente informed the Sith Lord that they had a friend in the Utapau government, Governor Blom. Despite their efforts, Endente and his forces failed to recover the crystal from the Jedi, who made their way to Pau City's spaceport.

Grievous eventually learned of Endente's failure and executed the Sugi mercenary. After a struggle, Grievous, with the help of Governor Blom, managed to recover the crystal from the Jedi and loaded it onto his shuttle. Grievous managed to load the crystal onto his supply ship. The Jedi followed him aboard but Dooku managed to capture Kenobi. Following Kenobi's capture, Grievous gave a report to Dooku, who ordered him to execute Master Kenobi and to deliver the crystal urgently to Serenno; stressing that he would tolerate no failure. Despite Grievous's efforts, the two Jedi managed to destroy the crystal and Grievous's fleet. Grievous alone escaped to report the failure to his master.

The Dark Disciple and Asajj Ventress

"Vos is a Dark Lord, as I am, and he knows better than to turn against his kind." "A Dark Lord?" "Oh, yes. He has sworn allegiance to the dark side. He and I will take down Lord Sidious once and for all, and rule the galaxy together. Hopefully, you'll have been disposed of by then."

―Darth Tyranus, to Asajj Ventress

Jedi Master Quinlan Vos and Asajj Ventress plotted to assassinate Dooku.

During the waning days of the Clone Wars, Count Dooku commanded an assault on the planet Mahranee, which led to the genocide of the Mahran species. In addition, Dooku also issued orders that all Mahran be killed on sight. Dooku's assault was witnessed by the Jedi Council on Coruscant, who at the suggestion of Master Obi-Wan hatched an unusual plan partnering maverick Jedi Master Quinlan Vos with the Nightsister bounty hunter and Dooku's former apprentice Asajj Ventress. After partnering with Ventress as a bounty hunter, Vos eventually revealed his true identity. Seeking revenge against Dooku for his actions against her and her people, Ventress agreed to help Vos by training him in the ways of the dark side.

After Vos completed his training, Ventress received word from the Separatist contact Sumdin that Dooku was going to visit Raxus Secundus, where he was due to receive the Raxian Humanitarian Award for his services to the Confederacy. For that trip, Dooku was accompanied by his military commander General Grievous. Before receiving the award, Dooku gave a patriotic speech to a large crowd defending the Separatist cause and attacking the Republic and the Jedi. During the public banquet, Asajj took the opportunity to meet up with Dooku and challenge him to a duel at the overlook nearby. Dooku agreed but secretly contacted Grievous for reinforcements. However, Vos anticipated this and managed to lock Grievous in a room.

Together, Ventress and Vos confronted Dooku at the overlook. After exchanging pleasantries over a glass of Alderaanian wine, Dooku engaged the assassins in a lightsaber duel. Using his mastery of the dark side, Dooku overpowered the two assassins and used the Force to hurl them against some nearby pillars. Despite Vos's best efforts, he was unable to best Dooku and was taken captive by the Sith Lord. Ventress managed to escape following a scuffle with Grievous but was unable to rescue her lover Vos. Dooku then struck Vos unconscious with Force lightning and spirited his Jedi captive away to his palace on Serenno.

Vos was captured and taken to Dooku's castle on Serenno, where the Jedi was turned to the dark side of the Force.

On Serenno, Count Dooku tortured Quinlan Vos for a prolonged period. To sow discord between Vos and Ventress, he showed the Jedi Master a hologram of Ventress killing his former Master Tholme. When Vos initially refused to believe Dooku's account, the Sith Lord presented Vos with Tholme's lightsaber. Using his psychometric abilities, Vos realized that Dooku was telling the truth. Shortly later, Ventress and Boba Fett's bounty hunter syndicate launched a mission to rescue Vos. However, they were forced to flee empty-handed after Vos, who had given in to the dark side, attacked Ventress. Following the attack, Vos became Dooku's new Sith apprentice. Despite turning to the Separatist side, Vos secretly planned to force Dooku to lead him to his master, Darth Sidious, and then kill the two Sith Lords.

Rescue of Quinlan Vos and death of Asajj Ventress

Tyranus killed Ventress and tried to use her death to push Vos fully to the dark side.

Together, Dooku and his new right-hand man Quinlan Vos launched a renewed military campaign against the Republic. Vos quickly gained the moniker "Admiral Enigma" among the Republic media. After receiving intelligence from Admiral Wullf Yularen that Dooku was planning to attack the planet Taris, the Jedi Council hatched a mission to rescue Quinlan Vos. With the help of Ventress, Kenobi and his former apprentice Anakin Skywalker infiltrated Dooku's Providence-class dreadnought and made their way to the bridge, hoping to encounter "Admiral Enigma." Instead, they encountered Dooku. While Skywalker dueled with Dooku, Ventress and Kenobi managed to "rescue" Vos from his cell. However, Vos and Dooku had anticipated the rescue and arranged for Vos to appear in an emaciated state. While Ventress sensed that Vos had turned to the dark side, his Jedi colleagues eagerly welcomed Vos home.

Quinlan Vos's "rescue" gave Count Dooku a high-level spy within the Jedi Order. Using his high-placed position within the Jedi hierarchy, Vos leaked intelligence on two Republic operations to Dooku. This allowed the Separatists to sabotage an asteroid supplies warehouse and to evacuate a listening post on Vanqor prior to a Republic attack. After discerning that Vos had turned to the dark side, the Jedi Council sent Vos on a mission to kill Dooku. With the help of Ventress, Vos and the Jedi learned that Dooku's dreadnought was last sighted above the crystal-covered planet of Christophsis. Vos managed to infiltrate Dooku's dreadnought and engaged the Sith Lord in a lightsaber duel. Despite besting Dooku, Vos refused to kill him and instead demanded that Dooku lead him to Darth Sidious.

Unknown to both Dooku and Vos, they had been tailed by Kenobi and Skywalker. The two Jedi Knights promptly arrested Dooku and his apprentice and transported them to the Venator-class Star Destroyer Vigilance as prisoners. While being marched to the Vigilance's brig, Vos managed to free Dooku, who in turned freed Vos. After killing the Jedi Knights Akar-Deshu and Kav Bayons and two dozen Clone troopers, the two dark siders escaped the Vigilance aboard Ventress's ship Banshee. Ventress attempted to fly them back to Dooku's dreadnought but they were shot down by the Vigilance and crash-landed on Christophsis.

Ventress's sacrifice undermined Tyranus's plans for Vos, who reclaimed his status as a Jedi.

Dooku and his fellow travelers survived the crash but the Count sustained a serious injury since he had not been properly strapped in. After navigating through Christophsis's crystal-covered landscape, they managed to reach a local Separatist base that was built into a giant crystal tower. Upon arriving, Dooku was informed that Darth Sidious was seeking an audience with him. During a brief hologram conversation, Dooku requested help from his master to get offworld. Shortly later, Kenobi and Skywalker launched a full-scale assault on the Separatist base.

Together, Dooku and his opponents made their way into an outlying crystal sanctum. On the way, Dooku was struck by a blaster blast and was knocked unconscious. While Ventress wanted to let him die, Vos insisted on keeping him alive. While Vos assisted the battle droids in the defense of the base, Ventress moved Dooku into the crystal sanctum. After stirring, Dooku taunted Ventress by deriding her as a "grant" and claiming that Vos had much potential as a Sith Lord. Ventress responded that Vos had "bigger plans" for Dooku. When Vos entered the sanctum, Ventress confronted him about his decision to join Dooku and the dark side.

While Ventress and Vos were preoccupied, Dooku took the opportunity to attack his former pupils with Force lightning. He wanted to kill Vos, but ended up striking Ventress, who pushed Vos out of the way. Though Quinlan managed to stop Dooku, Ventress was mortally wounded. Dooku then attempted to goad Vos into killing him, but realizing that the act of murder led to the dark side, Vos refused and reaffirmed his Jedi identity. While Vos comforted his dying lover, Dooku took the opportunity to rendezvous with Sidious's starship and fled off-world. Despite failing to kill Dooku, Vos was pardoned by the Jedi Council after he rejected the dark side and continued serving the Jedi war effort.

Search for Maul

"I left you here to make you an offer. While Grievous is a creature of limited scope, you see much more. You abandoned the Jedi when you understood the Sith were gaining power. Now I suggest you abandon Sidious and serve me."

―Maul, to Darth Tyranus

Tyranus was taken prisoner by Maul, Sidious's first apprentice.

Dooku assisted his master in interrogating his former apprentice Maul about his Shadow Collective at the Spire on Stygeon Prime. However, Maul then made his escape with his Mandalorian super commandos to Zanbar. Dooku then dispatched General Grievous and Tey-Zuka to attack and cripple Maul and his forces. Dooku then contacted Grievous after Maul's forces retreated. Dooku hoped this attack would draw Talzin out.

Dooku, accompanied by a pair of MagnaGuards, then went to Ord Mantell to capture Maul and level the city. Dooku was then confronted by Brother Viscus and the Nightbrothers. Dooku was easily able to defeat the Viscus and his men. However, Dooku was then surrounded by Maul's forces before he had the chance to kill the defeated Viscus.

Tyranus killed Jedi General Tiplee while fighting alongside Maul.

Dooku was offered a deal by Maul; to abandon Lord Sidious and serve Maul. Dooku refused, knowing that Sidious was more powerful than they realized. Maul told him that together with Talzin, they would be Sidious's undoing. Dooku then spoke with Talzin, warning that betraying Sidious would be a folly. Talzin told him that Sidious was ready to replace him with a new apprentice. She then revealed to Dooku how Sidious came to her promising to make her his right hand but betrayed her when he took Maul. She also revealed that Maul was her son. When the Republic forces boarded their ship, Dooku decided to assist Maul in killing the Jedi, but not before secretly freeing Grievous. Together they fought Jedi Generals, Mace Windu, Aayla Secura, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Tiplee. Dooku then killed Tiplee and then escaped with Maul and Commanders Saxon and Kast aboard a gauntlet fighter.

Dooku was then taken to Dathomir by Maul. There, he was taken to a chamber in the Nightbrother village to have his life-force taken from him to allow Talzin to regain her form. Dooku was then possessed by Talzin when Grievous and Sidious arrived. However, she was no match against Sidious's skill while inside Dooku's body. Dooku was freed when Talzin became whole. He then assisted his master in fighting Talzin until Grievous killed her. Despite Maul's escape, Sidious assured Dooku that their future was certain.

Death

"You did well, Anakin. He was too dangerous to be kept alive." "Yes, but he was an unarmed prisoner. I shouldn't have done that. It's not the Jedi way." "It is only natural. He cut off your arm, and you wanted revenge."

―Sheev Palpatine and Anakin Skywalker, on Dooku's death

Dooku was disarmed and executed by Skywalker during the Battle of Coruscant.

Later on, Dooku became a part of Sidious's plan to capture Palpatine during the battle of Coruscant. However, Dooku was unaware that Sidious's true intentions were for Anakin to kill him and replace him as Sidious's apprentice. Dooku held Chancellor Palpatine captive aboard General Grievous's flagship, the Invisible Hand. He engaged Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi in a brief, but fierce lightsaber duel when they came to the Chancellor's rescue. Dooku defeated Kenobi, who was incapacitated and knocked unconscious when the Count used the Force to pin Kenobi to the ground with a metal balcony. He then took the opportunity to mock and goad Skywalker, saying that the young Jedi knight had great fear, hate and anger in him, but was refusing to use them. However, Dooku was soon overpowered by an angered Skywalker, who, with one slash of his lightsaber, severed both the Count's hands at the wrists. Skywalker then caught Dooku's lightsaber out of the air and crossed it with his own blade at the Count's throat. Unsure how to proceed, Skywalker contemplated taking Dooku as his prisoner and delivering the Separatist figurehead to the Republic, until Chancellor Palpatine then betrayed his apprentice by prompting Skywalker to execute the maimed Count. Although Dooku was visibly shocked by the Chancellor's and his own master's order, he remained silent. Despite the fact that Dooku was an unarmed prisoner, Skywalker drew the two lightsabers together, decapitating the leader of the Confederacy.

Legacy

"At the time I thought Dooku was an old fool. But now, now I see he and I are the same. One step behind. The dark side has never been stronger."

―Maul

Grievous was confident in his combat skills, having learned the Jedi art of lightsaber combat from the late Count Dooku.

After escaping from the Invisible Hand to Utapau to meet with the Separatist Council, Grievous reported Dooku's death to Sidious, who dismissed his apprentice's death as a necessary loss, promising the General that he would have a new apprentice soon. Not long after, Skywalker replaced Dooku at Sidious's side after he fell to the dark side and became Darth Vader. Sidious then issued the destruction of the Jedi Order and the Separatists.

During the Siege of Mandalore, Dooku's Sith predecessor Maul confessed to his followers that he had originally viewed the Count as nothing more than an old fool. In the wake of Sidious's grand plan coming to fruition, however, Maul mused that Dooku and himself were the same, pawns of their master who were always one step behind.

Following the end of the Clone Wars, the newly-created Security Bureau of the Galactic Empire conducted loyalty purges, during which much propaganda material featuring Dooku was destroyed. However, rare specimens of Ansibella Dellu's work-in-progress poster survived.

Speculation began to circulate after the war's end that Dooku had in fact never left the Jedi Order despite their claims to the contrary. This rumor bolstered the idea that the Jedi had been traitors to the Republic since before the start of the war but some, amongst them Grand Moff Tarkin, remained skeptical.

In later years, Sidious considered Dooku a proton torpedo, as he served his purpose and then was gone, assuring Vader that he had him, a superior candidate, in mind. While having a Force vision surrounding Luke Skywalker, Sidious appreciated that he was a simple boy who didn't look like an "old wizard" just as Dooku.

Skywalker succeeded Tyranus as Sidious's apprentice, becoming the Sith Lord Darth Vader.

In the years following the fall of the Galactic Empire, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker traveled the galaxy to rediscover the history of the Jedi Order that had been suppressed by the Empire. In his search for knowledge, Skywalker became aware of Dooku. During his self-imposed exile on Ahch-To, Skywalker wrote a book he titled The Secrets of the Jedi, which chronicled the information he had learnt on his travels. In the book, Skywalker included an illustration depicting Dooku along with information pertaining to the Sith Lord. Skywalker wrote about Dooku's reasoning for leaving the Jedi Order as well as his instrumental role in Sidious's conspiracy. Skywalker described Dooku's death at the hands of his father as an execution in cold blood.

Fifty years after Dooku's death, a treasure hunt known as the Race for the Lost Treasure of Count Dooku occurred on Ponemah Terminal. Those taking part hoped to find kyber crystals, but were surprised to find the treasure was a clone trooper who had been held captive for the last 50 years. The trooper, Kix, had learned the truth of Order 66 after being confronted about it by his friend Fives. Kix was saved by the pirate crew of Sidon Ithano and joined the crew.

Personality and traits

"Dooku! For once, you came to do your own dirty work." "Sometimes, things are just that important."

―Anakin Skywalker and Dooku.

Dooku was a charismatic statesman deft at manipulation and deception.

Dooku was an aging human male who had light skin, brown eyes, white hair, and a height of 1.96 meters. He was a connoisseur of wine, and favored technique over brute strength in lightsaber combat.

Dooku was once a respected Jedi and, during the Separatist Crisis, he was viewed as a "political idealist" by his former peers. During his time in the Order, Dooku chafed at the Jedi's disdain for technology.

However, Dooku became increasingly disillusioned with the Galactic Senate's corruption and the arrogance and apparent complacency of the Jedi Order, eventually coming to desire the downfall of both institutions he'd once served. In his thirst for greater power, Dooku turned away from the light and ultimately joined the dark side of the Force. As a Sith Lord, Darth Tyranus was a menacing, intelligent, powerful, manipulative, arrogant, and immoral, yet charismatic statesman whose methods included torture, assassination, and even genocide. Because the Order served the Republic, Dooku believed the Jedi were dishonored and were not to be trusted. Dooku also protested the failure of the Republic, bringing numerous systems to the Confederacy, yet his true motives remained hidden. The Count truly dreamed to rule a new Sith Empire at Sidious' side.

Tyranus obediently served Sidious while dreaming of taking his Master's place as the reigning Dark Lord of the Sith.

He was also willing to betray his own followers and allies such as Asajj Ventress and Pre Vizsla, though he showed some regret over abandoning Ventress, angering his own master, Darth Sidious. Dooku was very vindictive, as shown when he ordered devastating attacks against Mother Talzin and Hondo Ohnaka for crossing him in the past. Dooku was also quite fearless, and was willing to sacrifice himself in a final attempt to fully convert his last apprentice, Quinlan Vos, to the dark side by tempting Vos to strike him down after he mortally wounded Vos' lover, Ventress.

Dooku's loyalty to Sidious however, ended in his undoing, as the latter eventually betrayed him by instructing Anakin to kill him. When Sidious instructed Anakin to kill a disarmed and beaten Dooku, Dooku was in a state of disbelief. At that point, Dooku gained a new understanding of what had transpired—he had been used and betrayed by his own secret master.

Powers and abilities

"Powerful you have become, Dooku. The dark side I sense in you." "I have become more powerful than any Jedi. Even you."

―Yoda and Dooku

Darth Tyranus was a powerful Force wielder and a skilled lightsaber duelist.

Dooku was a highly skillful lightsaber duelist even in his old age. During his time as a Jedi he was known as one of the Order's finest swordsmen; it was said that only Yoda was his superior and that Mace Windu was his only worthy opponent. On Geonosis, Dooku was able to easily defeat both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker one immediately after the other, and then go on to fight Yoda himself. Dooku proved able to compete with Yoda but was unable to defeat his former master and was forced to retreat. He would often prove to be equal and even superior to Anakin and Kenobi even as their skill grew during the Clone Wars, dueling Anakin on several occasions to a stalemate and even both simultaneously on at least one occasion.

Among the most skilled swordsmen the galaxy had ever seen, Dooku was a practitioner of the second form of lightsaber combat, Makashi. Makashi—also known as Form II—was a style designed specifically for lightsaber-to-lightsaber duels. As such it was considered obsolete in a time when most Jedi were more likely to face blaster-wielding opponents. The style's rarity gave Dooku an advantage when engaging in lightsaber duels, as few of his enemies were trained to defend themselves against it. Makashi relied on precision, speed, and economy of movement rather than wide-sweeping strikes that characterized later styles, and Dooku's curved-hilt lightsaber was designed especially for that.

However, in spite of his almost unrivalled sword mastery and decades of experience, Dooku was still vulnerable to Form II's greatest weakness; its lack of kinetic power. This was demonstrated during several of his encounters with Anakin Skywalker, particularly in instances where Anakin was significantly angered. During Dooku's attempt to kidnap Palpatine on Naboo, the Count was very nearly overwhelmed by Anakin's brutally direct Djem So attacks, and managed to fend Anakin off only through use of the Force.

During their final encounter onboard the Invisible Hand, Dooku suffered the same issue,[source?] but because Skywalker's power had by that time significantly increased, the young Jedi's ferocious swordplay battered through Dooku's defenses, draining his reserves of Force energy and leaving him physically exhausted.

Dooku wielded a curved-hilt lightsaber, favoring the second form of lightsaber combat.

In addition to his formidable lightsaber skills, Dooku was enormously powerful and skilled in the use of the Force. He demonstrated great prowess and strength in the use of telekinesis. During his duels with Ventress and his escape from Hondo's pirates, he displayed great skill at using telekinesis in finer, more precise tasks, such as disarming Ventress while also levitating her against a wall during her failed attempt to kill him with Savage Oppress. He was even capable of telekinetically manipulating people's motor skills, such as when he Force choked while simultaneously forcing Turk Falso to take out his blaster and shoot his comrade, while he performed a similar feat when he made Padme Amidala aim at and shoot Bec Lawise.

Tyranus was also highly skilled in the use of Force lightning, using it as both a means of torture and execution, and was able to use it in conjunction with telekinesis, usually to send a person flying with his lightning or even to levitate his opponents while using his lightning on them, as he demonstrated on Ventress and two Nightsister assassins.

Equipment

"That lightsaber. It's—Where did you get that?" "I made it, of course."

―Jak'zin and Dooku, on Dooku's lightsaber

Dooku was presented a Sith Infiltrator for his use after becoming a Sith apprentice.

Conscious of his aristocratic status, Dooku preferred to wear elegant garments—whether as a member of the Jedi Order, the Count of his homeworld Serenno, or as the Sith Lord Darth Tyranus—befitting his elevated station. His wardrobe included a hand-woven tunic made on Vjun and a Serenno cape, that was an emblem of the Count of Serenno, held by a clasp of Serenno silver.[89] In addition, his sleepwear consisted of exquisite pajamas that he purchased from one of the most exclusive tailors in the galaxy. Dooku's pajamas were stitched only from the finest silks, its elegant patterning rivaled only by the prominent monogram on his front pocket.

In addition to the various capital ships he made use of as leader of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Dooku also owned several personal vehicles. After becoming apprentice to Darth Sidious, he was presented with his own Sith Infiltrator. During the Separatist Crisis, the Geonosians gifted Dooku with a personal Punworcca 116-class solar sailer and Flitknot Speeder Bike, both of which he used to escape the Battle of Geonosis and throughout the ensuring Clone Wars.

Behind the scenes

Portrayal

"He's very aloof, very self-contained, obviously completely fearless. He is extremely intelligent, perhaps more so than almost anyone else. He's obviously a man of immense power. I don't suppose that the question of moral values enter into his head. He's not immoral—he's amoral. Morality is a word that doesn't figure in his vocabulary at all. It's power. Which is something that exists very much in our world today."

―Sir Christopher Lee's thoughts on his character Dooku.

Christopher Lee with George Lucas on the set of Attack of the Clones

Dooku was portrayed by Sir Christopher Lee in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Kyle Rowling portrayed Dooku during most of the character's lightsaber sequences, due to Lee's inability to enact these physical scenes because of his age. Rowling's head was digitally replaced with Lee's during post-production.

Concept art of Dooku by Dermot Power

Dooku's character underwent multiple development iterations during the creative process of Attack of the Clones; artists Iain McCaig and Dermot Power experimented with various female Sith designs, including dark queens, robotic warriors, and vampiric witches as well as a shape-shifting alien concept that eventually evolved into Zam Wesell, until George Lucas eventually decided on the idea of a battle-scarred Jedi warrior who parted ways with the Jedi Order. The final designs of the character were intended to reflect the menacing atmosphere conveyed by Peter Cushing's portrayal of Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.

Christopher Lee reprised his role in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars film, while Corey Burton voiced Dooku in the subsequent TV series.

Character origins

The name "Dooku" was based on the Japanese word "doku," meaning poison. In the Galician and Portuguese languages, "do cu," pronounced exactly as in "Dooku," means "from the ass" or "of the ass." For this reason, Dooku's name was changed to "Dookan" in Brazil.

Tyranus—or more properly, Tyrannos—is an ancient Greek word, originally used to describe someone who ruled a city-state after overthrowing the preexisting government. It was a legitimate form of government and the word's meaning was not unfavorable in itself, but over time, as democracy developed, it gained negative connotations and came to mean "oppressor" or "tyrant."

Discrepancies

Age of Republic - Count Dooku 1, Master & Apprentice, and Dooku: Jedi Lost all establish that Dooku left the Jedi before Qui-Gon Jinn's death. However, the 2019 Fantasy Flight Games sourcebook Rise of the Separatists states that Dooku credited Jinn's death as his reason for leaving the Order. As Rise of the Separatists is only a roleplaying sourcebook, this article assumes Count Dooku 1, Master & Apprentice, and Jedi Lost are correct.

During a question session for The Clone Wars: The Lost Missions, Dave Filoni revealed that Darth Sidious had Dooku and Maul as Sith apprentices concurrently. However, in the fifth slide of Sidious's Databank biography gallery, it is established that the Sith Lord brought Dooku into the Sith Order sometime after becoming Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. This slide is placed after those which cover the events of The Phantom Menace, the film in which Maul was thought to be killed. Therefore, Dooku would have become a Sith after Maul. This article assumes this latter interpretation is correct.