Maul is kidnapped from his Jedi training by Sidious at an early age. Sidious orders Maul to forget what he had learned from the Jedi, and indoctrinates him in the ways of the dark side of the Force from youth. Maul has no memories of his homeworld of Iridonia, and is incapable of emotion aside from bloodlust and rage. Sidious molds him into an implacable killing machine, severely punishing any show of fear or mercy. Marked by Sith tattoos that cover his entire body, Maul is described as the ultimate tool of the dark side.

Sidious abandoned Maul on an isolated Outer Rim world, forcing him to survive alone while being hunted by hordes of assassin droids. After a month's time, his master returns and challenges him to a duel, which the weakened Maul quickly loses. Sidious then tells Maul that he has failed and is soon to be replaced. Overwhelmed by hatred, Maul nearly defeats his master. When Maul's emotions are finally spent, he prepares to die, only to be met with Sidious's satisfaction. By wanting to kill his own master, Maul has in fact passed the final test. His master proclaims him Darth Maul, Dark Lord of the Sith, and takes him to a new home on Coruscant.