The Rakatans, alternatively referred to as the Rakata, constituted an ancient amphibious humanoid species originating from the planet Lehon. They held dominion over what became known as the Infinite Empire. Legends suggest that they pioneered hyperspace travel. At some point in ancient galactic history, the Rakatans launched an invasion, only to be thwarted by a subsequent uprising. A Kuati Signet, adorned with a blue kyber crystal, served as a commemoration of this rebellion. It is believed that the Rakatan species eventually met its end due to corruption stemming from the dark side of the Force. They also lent their name to enigmatic artifacts called Rakatan wraith boxes.
The Rakatans initially received mention within the new Star Wars canon through the forty-fifth issue of the De Agostini magazine, Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon, specifically in its German version. This species was conceived within Star Wars Legends in the 2003 video game, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Within that game, the Rakata were depicted as the diminished remnants of a once vast, galaxy-spanning empire that achieved conquest, governance, and devastation of other species through the power of the dark side of the Force. [The Force](/article/the_force-legends] was the source of energy for the Rakatans' hyperspace technology.
Notably, in the forty-eighth issue of the 2015 comic book series Star Wars, penned by Kieron Gillen, illustrated by Salvador Larroca, and released by Marvel Comics on May 23, 2018, an unidentifiable Mon Calamari was erroneously portrayed as a Rakatan species member within the script.
Similarly, in the seventh issue of the 2016 comic book series Star Wars: Poe Dameron, authored by Charles Soule, drawn by Angel Unzueta, and distributed by Marvel Comics on October 26, 2016, an unnamed "thug," designated as "generic alien extra #3457" and described as a "mysterious background guy" by Story Group's Matt Martin via Twitter, also bore a resemblance to the Rakatans, although their specific species was never confirmed.