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- "I will not be undermined by creatures bred in some laboratory!"
- ―Pong Krell
Pong Krell was a male Besalisk Jedi Master who served as a Jedi General in the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars. A powerful Jedi and a recognized war hero, he was relentless in his tactics on the battlefield, seeking success at all costs. As a combatant, he was an especially ferocious lightsaber duelist; the advantage of four arms allowed him to wield two double-bladed lightsabers at the same time. As a general, Krell found insubordination intolerable and required strict adherence to command from all of his soldiers.
As the Clone Wars went on, Krell foresaw the fall of the Jedi Order and the rise of the Galactic Empire, secretly turning to the Dark side of the Force and allying himself with the Sith Order. During the Battle of Umbara, he chose to sabotage the Republic's war effort in an attempt to join the ranks of Darth Sidious and Count Dooku. When his duplicity was uncovered, The 501st Legion, which was under Krell's command at the time, worked with the 212th Attack Battalion to mutiny against him. Ultimately, the clones successfully detained him in the brig of the Umbaran airbase. When Captain Rex decided to execute Krell for treason, the act of doing so was taken from him by CT-6922 "Dogma," who shot Krell in the back, ending the fallen Jedi's life.
Biography
Early life
Pong Krell was born on the Deep Core world of Ojom. By the time of the Clone Wars, Krell was already a Jedi Master by the time the war broke out. He was known as a great war hero and for having the highest casualty rates of any Jedi General in the war.
Clone Wars
Pong Krell foresaw how the Republic would be destroyed from within, thus paving the way for the rise of a New Order. This vision, coupled with his lust for power, ultimately caused Krell to abandon the Jedi way and become affiliated with the Sith.
Battle of Umbara

Krell commanded the Battle of Umbara with Rex as his second-in-command.
During the Battle of Umbara, General Krell was ordered by the Jedi High Council to go to Umbara in place of Anakin Skywalker's absence. He then assumed command of the forces of the 501st Legion.
Taking the airbase

Krell and his forces under heavy fire
Krell then led the 501st to the outskirts of the capital. Krell, against Captain Rex's concerns, decided to attack the city by going along the main road instead of flanking the capital. Along the way, they were attacked by a pair of flying Banshees, and Krell swiftly killed both creatures. The clone troopers then reached the main path to the capital. However they were ambushed by Umbaran Soldiers, and forced to retreat from the path. Krell and his forces then held their ground against the militia and their Zenuas 33 Umbaran starfighters. Krell was then contacted by Obi-Wan Kenobi, who told him that the capital was being supplied by a nearby airbase. Pong Krell and the 501st then went to take the base. As they were doing so, they were attacked by Impeding Assault Tanks and Umbaran mobile heavy cannons, and as a result sustained heavy casualties. Pong still refused to send reinforcements to help them, even though Appo suggested sending reinforcements. Rex came up with a plan to destroy the enemy tanks, and it was sending two clones to the airbase to hijack two starfighters. In the end, it succeeded, and the clones piloting the commandeered starfighters destroyed the assaulting tanks, allowing the 501st Legion to carry out their assault on the airbase.
Dissent within the ranks
After the airbase was seized, Krell refused to let the clones use captured Umbaran fighters to destroy a DH-Omni Support Vessel that was supplying the Umbarans. Instead he ordered the troops to march directly into missile fire to take the capital. The clones didn't like this. Ultimately, CT-5555, Hardcase, and CT-5597 disobeyed Krell and destroyed the supply ship, supporting Kenobi's attack on the capital, though at the cost of Hardcase's life. When General Krell learned of Fives' insurrection, he ordered Sergeant Appo to bring the dissenters to the watchtower. Krell ordered Fives and Jesse locked up the brig after being clear about their treason, and later ordered them to be executed.
Krell's treachery

Krell slays his own troops
The troopers refused to go through with the execution, and a last minute plea from Fives caused the execution squad to disobey Krell ad well. Later, Krell received a transmission about Umbarans stealing clone armor, and warned Rex about it. The troopers went to attack the presumed Umbarans wearing clone armor, and sustained heavy casualties. Thanks to Rex, the 501st Legion later realized that the troopers they were fighting were not Umbarans, but the 212th Attack Battalion, and came to the valid conclusion that Krell had purposely tricked them into attacking one another, when Waxer, before dying, told Rex that it was Krell who ordered the 212th to attack the enemy forces, who then turned out to be the 501st Legion. Captain Rex later decided the best way was to arrest Krell. The 501st and 212th teamed up and went to arrest Krell. When they reached the airbase the clones surrounded Krell in an attempt to arrest him. Though Krell admitted he did tell his men to kill each other, he refused to surrender. After using a Force repulse on the clones, he was able to kill several 212th and 501st Clone Troopers before jumping out of the watchtower and landing on the surface of the airbase. Krell managed to fight his way through the clones and ran into the Umbaran Forest. Though Rex and his men pursued, Krell still was able to kill many of the pursuing clone troopers. Tup tricked Krell into being captured by a Vixus. The Vixus grabbed Krell and managed to disarm him of one of his lightsabers, though he eventually cut himself free, but Krell was shaken down by the Vixus. Tup stunned him and the rest of the clones transported him back to the airbase.

Pong Krell, moments before he is killed.
When Krell was in confinement, Rex interrogated him, asking why a Jedi would turn against the Republic. Krell answered by stating that his abilities extended beyond those of any Jedi and that he foresaw the fall of the Jedi Order. He then revealed that he had a desire to become Count Dooku's next apprentice adding that if Rex left him in the brig, the Umbarans would soon come and free him. Later the clones decided to kill Krell as he would be a threat to all of them. When Rex pointed his pistol at Krell, Krell taunted him, resulting in Rex's steady hand becoming shaky as Rex questioned his decision. Then trooper Dogma, Krell's most loyal soldier, stole one of Five's blaster pistols and shot Krell in the back, killing him.
Legacy
Krell's fall during the battle demonstrated that Jedi could fall to the dark side if they fell to despair with the way the war was going. Krell's betrayal was remembered by the Jedi, and Anakin Skywalker used it as an example of how there would be Jedi that would disappoint the Order. Ki-Adi-Mundi would later recall the betrayal of Krell, and the later betrayal of Barriss Offee, when debating the fallen Jedi Quinlan Vos.
Eventually, in 19 BBY, Krell's vision of a new order came to fruition, with the execution of Order 66, and the formation of the Galactic Empire.
Personality and traits
During the Battle of Umbara, Pong Krell displayed a low opinion of Clone Troopers, but he was especially antagonized by Clone Captain 7567. Krell also had intolerance of insubordination, and was extremely confident in his style of command. Krell was also known to use deadly force to put insubordinate troopers back in place, as ARC trooper CT-5555 tried to criticize Krell's leadership of the troopers, and Krell used the point of a lightsaber blade to prevent him from speaking further. Although Pong Krell was a highly skilled combatant, he rarely chose to fight alongside his troops unless absolutely necessary. Krell also had reckless strategies, and intentionally remained away from most of the fighting to covertly assist the enemy forces. Pong Krell revealed his true self when his troops tried to arrest him. He took pleasure with killing many clones with ease. In this time, the Jedi Order had become meaningless to Krell and he believed that the Jedi were too naive, and Krell chose the Sith for the path to greater power.
Powers and abilities

Pong Krell wielding his lightsabers.
Pong Krell was an extremely skilled Lightsaber wielder. He could spin his lightsabers like buzz saws to have devastating effect, and easily massacred scores of Clone Troopers as they tried to arrest him. His lightsabers were identical, and folded in the middle to make them easier to carry. Krell was also skilled with The Force, as he used a Force repulse on the first group of clones that tried to arrest him. Krell was skilled at hand-to-hand combat, as shown when he fought 501st Clone Troopers with his bare hands.

Krell unleashing a Force repulse on several clones
Krell was also trained in Force jump, which he used to escape the watchtower of the Umbaran airbase. Also, he was able to use telepathy to taunt clone troops while hiding in Umbara's jungles. Krell used this ability to confuse them, by making his voice echo in every direction. Pong Krell could also sense emotions through the Force. In addition, he could foresee future events, for he prophesied the fall of the Jedi and the Galactic Republic, and the birth of the future Empire.
Weapons
Pong Krell's lightsabers
Main article: Pong Krell's lightsabers
Pong Krell's lightsabers were Double-bladed lightsabers constructed and wielded by Pong Krell during the Clone Wars. They were identical, and could be folded in the middle to make them easier to carry on his utility belt. The lightsabers also were unique for having a low buzzing sound when being wielded, distinguishing them from other lightsabers.
Relationships
Allies
Enemies
- Anakin Skywalker (ally turned enemy)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (ally turned enemy)
- CT-7567 (ally turned enemy)
- CT-5555 (ally turned enemy)
- CT-5597 (ally turned enemy)
- CC-1119 (ally turned enemy)
- Kix (ally turned enemy)
- Tup (ally turned enemy)
- Dogma (ally turned enemy) (killer)
- Unidentified 501st Clone Trooper (Umbaran airbase) (ally turned enemy)
- Unidentified 501st Clone Trooper (Arrest of Pong Krell) (ally turned enemy) (victim)
- Unidentified 501st Clone Trooper 2 (Arrest of Pong Krell) (ally turned enemy) (victim)
- Other clone troopers (allies turned enemies)
Trivia
- Pong Krell appeared in the episodes "Darkness on Umbara", "The General", "Plan of Dissent", and "Carnage of Krell".
- In "Carnage of Krell," when Rex and his men march to the tower, Rex is in the center of the group where Anakin would be. As the clones prepare to arrest Krell, Krell says "It's treason, then," before going on his rampage These scenes are direct references to scenes in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith.
Behind the scenes
Pong Krell first appeared in the fourth season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, where he was voiced by Dave Fennoy.
External links
Appearances
- Star Wars: Galactic Defense
Darkness on Umbara (First appearance)
The General
Plan of Dissent
- "The Shadow of Umbara"—The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark
Carnage of Krell
Sabotage (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: Dark Disciple (Mentioned only)
- Dark Disciple (audiobook) (Mentioned only)