Originally posted by The Ellimist
Contrary to TOR wankers er, popular belief, there have not been any omniscient sources to confirm that Vitiate is more powerful than any Sith preceding him. Even if we consider the TOR encyclopedia to be third person omniscient, being more powerful does not mean that you are a deadlier overall combatant, and so there is still room to debate the issue.
TOR Encyclopedia is the "definitive guide" of galactic history up to the point of SWTOR original stories.
Definitive: (of a conclusion or agreement) done or reached decisively and with authority.
Moreover:
The Sith Emperor has mastered the dark side's power to become the most dominating Force-user the galaxy has ever seen.
From (Star Wars: The Old Republic: Codex Entry titled "The Emperor's Fallen Jedi (Knight)."😉
I suppose that you take all sources about Palpatine at face value. Then why such double-standards for Vitiate? Not liking a character is acceptable and a matter of personal choice but outright dismissing official information about the same character is not an ethical stance to adopt in debates. Even some trolls do not stoop to such level.
Originally posted by The Ellimist
Valkorion takes credit for many feats that demonstrate a potent understanding of various dark side rituals and sorcery, but his actual combative demonstrations are scarce, and those which exist are almost always on some sort of Force nexus.
Vitiate's actual combative demonstrations are scarce? Care to enlighten?
Originally posted by The Ellimist
He has easily beaten a strike team of four featless Jedi,
Tol Braga is not featless:
Tol Braga stalemated a member of the Dark Council as well; this conflict lasted 3 days (the longest confrontation I am aware of).
Keep in mind that the Emperor's Wrath found Hero of Tython as the Jedi's finest earlier (before confrontation with Vitiate). Hero of Tython definitely became the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy during the events of Act III.
Therefore among the members of the Jedi Strike Team, two are confirmed powerhouses.
SWTOR original stories are not feats-centric adventures. You won't come across many characters with impressive showings under their belt in the original stories because that will be too much (unnecessary) content to create and developers do not have that much time. Therefore, power-scaling approach becomes necessary to figure out capabilities of protagonists.
I cannot say much about Leeha Narezz and Warren Sedoru but they are also officially counted among the most powerful Jedi of the Order. Therefore, it is safe to assume that they would have decent Force abilities. Sedoru, in particular, had the ability to read the minds of others.
Originally posted by The Ellimist
and has one-shotted some marginally powerful characters like Darth Marr,
Darth Marr is marginally powerful? 😂
Darth Marr is among the most successful members of the Dark Council in galactic history and his combat prowess is stated to be second to none. He 'easily' defeated (officially powerful) Darth Lachris in a confrontation [intended to test her abilities]. Darth Lachris would go on to become the greatest assassin of her era and would not taste defeat until she meets Emperor's Wrath II.
Read the entire account here: http://www.swtor.com/info/news/blog/20150205
About Darth Lachris
A powerful Sith Lord with a despotic temperament, Darth Lachris has never failed in war. Her successes in the Empire’s battles have brought her to Balmorra, where she faces the challenge of putting down a resistance that has remained one step ahead of the military since the fight for the planet began. Darth Lachris is sharp and wary, expecting a scheme behind every action her enemies take. Trained by Dark Council member Darth Marr, she is a warrior at heart with an embittered understanding of political necessity–and a lust for all the galaxy’s bloody pleasures.
Originally posted by The Ellimist
but that's about it.
Really?
Originally posted by The Ellimist
What has he actually done off-nexus that makes people think him to be so deadly as a combatant?
1. Confrontation with the Jedi Strike Team led by Master Tol Braga took place on a space station.
So there's that.
2. Valkorion one-shotted Darth Marr in another setting in space; the Eternal Throne.
3. Valkorion downed scores of Starships with his powers in a setting known as the Asylum; a skyport located in the atmosphere of a gas giant.
Therefore, I don't see the reason to assume that Valkorion is not potent in a neutral setting.
If we start scrutinizing characters using your logic then many characters have some questionable showings including Palpatine.
Originally posted by The Ellimist
Indeed, his performance in the Revan novel, although before his prime, elucidates just how awful of a fighter he is, getting disarmed by a saber throw from the Exile that allegedly would've killed him had she aimed for his body,
1. A
Lightsaber-throw attack can kill any (human-like) living being.
2. Vitiate was preoccupied with Revan; Meetra Surik took advantage of the circumstances at hand.
Every character (including Abeloth) have a share of embarrassing moments. But you only single Vitiate out among them. This is another sign of double-standards.
Originally posted by The Ellimist
getting knocked on his ass by Revan, etc.
😬
Revan sent an entire Strike Team packing across the arena with his telekinetic powers. Those on the receiving end included Satele Shan, Darth Marr and Lana Beniko. Revan is among the most capable telekinetics of the mythos.
Revan had a nearly oneness-like moment when he sent Vitiate packing across the hall. And Vitiate was caught off-guard during this moment.
Originally posted by The Ellimist
This is hardly surprising; Valkorion has pretty much no experience having to actually fight people who are on remote parity with him, and when he does, he usually loses.
Examples?
Originally posted by The Ellimist
Did I mention he was scared of Freedon Nadd, who Exar Kun is far more powerful than?
Where it is stated that Vitiate was scared of Freedon Nadd? It would be opposite.
Vitiate entrapped many spirits inside the Jedi Temple and siphoned their energy to fuel his own.
Originally posted by The Ellimist
Exar Kun, meanwhile, is able to put Luke into a coma, and he does this as a spirit - which, as confirmed by the author, is weaker than his flesh form even when taking into account Yavin's nexus. He also has the aid of Kyp, but it's stated that Exar is only able to access "some" of his powers with him, and Kyp himself notes that his Force abilities with respect to sensing are feeble compared to Exar's, so the evidence points towards full power Exar > spirit Exar + Kyp. He also does this right after having helped Kyp lift the sun crusher out of the gravity well of a gas giant, which is stated to have tired him. This is a later version of the Luke, mind you, who defeats the reborn Emperor in a lightsaber duel. On their first encounter, the reborn Palpatine comments that Luke could give him a tough fight [albeit lose].This alone is a far greater combat feat than anything Valkorion has ever done, given that he relies heavily on everyone else being far weaker than him, along with prep, rituals and nexuses.
Good to see your newfound appreciation of Exar Kun.
Now, Vitiate is more powerful and masterful in the ways of the Force then Exar Kun. So do you really think that Vitiate cannot defeat Luke Skywalker? I'd say he can.