Welcome back, my nerfherders! Hero’s Shade here
with another Death Analysis blog.
*Checks outside*
Uhh, it hasn’t been that long since my
last one, has it?
Oh. Ohhhhh…
Well, better late than never, I guess. And Happy
New Year! I hope you all enjoy this one, as it’s been a long time coming.
In Case you were
Wondering…
As of Disney’s assimilation of Lucasfilm
properties, the question always arises of whether to use Disney or Expanded
Universe aka Legends Star Wars material as sources. My philosophy in regards to
this debate is that something is only “non-canon” if it contradicts something
else and absolutely cannot fit into a series of events (for example the comics
where Vader redeems himself and becomes a Jedi Knight with white armor or where
Yoda uses the Force to destroy the Death Star). As far as Disney is concerned,
as well as the impression it wants to give the general public, is that all EU
events “didn’t happen” and are irrelevant in favor of its sequel trilogy and
spinoff movies. However, this is actually not the case, as EU material has
consistently been used as a source for Disney Star Wars properties such as the
ongoing Marvel comics, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels (I also
did a blog on this, shameless plug). Even before the Disney retcon there
were stories that didn’t fit in the EU canon, such as the Force Unleashed
games, and others that had a clear continuity such as the Legacy of the Force
book series. Essentially, the EU was a collective consciousness for multiple
authors to add their own ideas and expand upon the central Star Wars universe,
and Disney’s movies are merely an expansion of that rather than a replacement.
You’ll find that I consider Legends Luke a more consistent and faithful
portrayal than Disney Luke, and I hope to make that clear throughout the rest
of this blog. Please keep in mind, this is not meant to polarize opinions or
ostracize fans of The Last Jedi, this is true even as an unbiased observation
based upon the central themes of hope, unification, balance, and redemption
that Luke Skywalker is meant to represent in the Star Wars mythos. However, I
will be using Disney Canon movies as well for a reference or to use something
as an example outside of sequential art.
Tl;Dr, I’m using both but mainly Legends Luke.
If you disagree with that, you may consider this a composite.
A̶l̶s̶o̶ ̶I̶ ̶j̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶
̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶E̶x̶p̶a̶n̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶U̶n̶i̶v̶e̶r̶s̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶I̶ ̶o̶b̶s̶e̶s̶s̶i̶v̶e̶l̶y̶
̶w̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶r̶y̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶ ̶a̶b̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶
̶n̶o̶b̶o̶d̶y̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶o̶o̶k̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶
̶t̶r̶i̶g̶g̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶m̶e̶
Backstory
To truly understand Luke’s role and impact in
the Star Wars universe, one must understand its history. Nearly every event in
some form or another leads up to, references, is a result of, or revolves
around this one character and the events and people surrounding him (I know
that sounds Gary Stu-ish, but bear with me). The original six films are
centered mainly around the Skywalker Saga, and practically every word spoken in
every scene of A New Hope alone has spawned two sequels, thousands of books and
comics, dozens of video games, a sequel trilogy and spinoff movies, and a
simple one-off reference to the Clone Wars resulted in three prequel movies,
one hand-drawn miniseries, a feature length animated movie and two following CG
animated series, one of which is still ongoing.
Even with our meta-fiction perspectives aside,
the events of A New Hope and the Original Trilogy in general are the most
pivotal in the entire Star Wars canon, and I say that even keeping hundreds of
billions of years of history in mind.
Now, enough beating around the bush and onto the
history lesson. I know I can drone on a bit, but please, do try and stay awake.
Since before the universe’s conception, there
has existed a presence. It is without shape, without time, and it encompasses
all things. This has come to be known as the Cosmic Force. The Whils, physical representations of this Force, imbued the new and
growing living organisms of the material universe with Midichlorians, which
allowed the living things to tap into a minute amount of the Cosmic Force, and
manifest it through them and into the physical world as the Living Force.
All beings have a connection to the Force, yet
the evolved multi-cellular organisms
who possessed especially potent ability to
manipulate it are known as “Force-sensitive”. The humanoid beings who were born
from the planet Tython were especially gifted Force-sensitives, as the planet
and its surrounding moons, Ashla and Bogan, were plentiful wellsprings of the
Force. These inhabitants were once peaceful monks known as the Je’Daii, who
lived isolated from the rest of society and focused solely on their philosophy
and relationship with the Force. Their belief system revolved around the
concept of Je’Daii-Bendu, or “Mystic Center”, which was a belief that the Force
was one and not two separate parts, there was only balance, reflective of the
moons that orbited the planet, all are part of one system and each depending on
the existence of the other. If a Je’Daii monk found him/herself drifting off to
the Light or Dark Side, they would be sent to learn more on Ashla (which was
always facing the sun and bathed in light) or Bogan (which was shrouded in the
shadow of the planet and never touched by light) to discover its secrets and
then return to Tython to regain balance.
However, invaders from the outside world, the
Sith (who were an actual race back then before the Dark Je’Daii adopted their ways) and the
Ricottan Empire sieged Tython. Little did they know, they had just become
exposed to a war as old as time, a conflict that existed within the Force
itself, and all war at any point in time or space was, and is, the same endless
battle. This exposure caused the Je’Daii to become more aware of outside forces
and grow more warlike. Gone were the days of balance, unification, and understanding,
Je’Daii who fell to one side were now banished to the moons, split off into two
factions who would wage war on their home planet’s surface.
Centuries later, the Light Side won and sent the
Dark Jedi off into the far reaches of space, where they would come into contact
with the Sith planet Korriban and they and their offspring would interact and
interbreed with the Sith, themselves becoming Sith Lords. The strongest and
most powerful in the Dark Side were descendants of this ancient race (Palpatine
is theorized to be one and likely is). The Sith Empire believed that peace was
a lie, and that it was not only the right of the strong, but their duty to
enforce their dominion over those weaker than them. Thus, they attacked the Old
Republic, who formed an alliance with the newly formed Jedi Order and forced
them to retreat back to Korriban.
“Revan was power. It was like staring into the
heart of the Force itself.”
-Kreia
Fast forward to about 4000 years before the
Original Trilogy, where the Old Republic is caught in the middle of a conflict
known as the Mandalorian War. And that is where the most influential figure in
the Star Wars canon aside Luke himself comes in, Revan. Revan was one of the
first Jedi to become a Sith Lord, and the first to voluntarily return to
the Jedi order. He was also one of the only Jedi to have a wife, as he
disagreed with the Jedi teachings that attachments were a path to the Dark
Side, as it was that attachment that brought her back from the Dark Side. Revan
nearly single-handedly ended the war by challenging Mandalore the Ultimate to
single combat and winning, and the armor he wears is Mandalorian armor he dons
in memoriam of a Mandalorian soldier he witnessed killed. And most importantly,
he is HK-47’s favorite meatbag.
His understanding of both the Light and Dark
Sides mirrored the Je’Daii-Bendu of old, valuing balance above all else. It was
as if he enacted the will of the Force itself. His Sith Holocron is most
invaluable to Jedi and Sith alike (Essentially the Sun Tsu’s Art of War of the
SW universe) , it is kept in the Jedi Council archives during the Prequel Era,
and Palpatine keeps it after the destruction of the Jedi Temple and rise of the
Empire.
Inspired by Revan’s teachings, roughly 500 years
later Sith Lord Darth Bane founded the Rule of Two. Under this new principle,
there could exist many practitioners of the Dark Side (see Assaj Ventress,
Savage Oppress, and the Inquisitors) , but only two Sith Lords at a time, a
master and an apprentice. This virtually eliminated the in-fighting that made
the Sith race endangered and ensured a healthy and lengthy rule of Sith Lords
for a few more millenia.
During this period of time, Force-sensitives
across the universe experienced strange visions and prophecized the coming of a
Chosen One foretold in the Journal of the Whils, who would be the most powerful
Force user who ever lived, destroy the Sith, and bring balance to the Force.
Unbeknownst to the Jedi Council, those last two parts are not mutually
inclusive.
One of the later Sith Lords, Darth Tennebris
(we’re getting close boys and girls, hang in there!), who was actually the
father of the Mos Eisley Cantina band (still waiting on Cantina Band: A Star
Wars Story, Lucasfilm) conducted extensive research and experiments on the
Midichlorians. Through these studies, he was able to create the ridiculously
named Maxichlorians, which he intended to use to gain immortality and
eventually possess the Chosen One, a plan that was cut short by his own
apprentice, Darth Plagueis, whom you’ve no doubt heard of. No? Well, it’s not a
story the Jedi would tell you.
Plagueis rejected the idea of the Rule of Two
and instead continued his master’s research in the Midichlorians in an attempt
to gain immortality and rule an everlasting Empire, a Rule of One. As a Muun
banker, he come across a young Naboo politician by the name of Sheev Palpatine,
whom he took under his wing as Darth Sidious. He killed his own family and
seized their assets, working his way up the political ladder.
Unbeknownst to Plagueis, Palpatine was more of a
traditionalist and was already training an apprentice behind his back, Darth
Maul. Nonetheless, Palpatine played along with his grande plan until he learned
everything from him. The two would often meditate on attempting to subjugate
the Force itself, which retaliated by birthing the Chosen One who would end the
dominion of the Sith forever, a twist of irony that wouldn’t occur to Palps
until about 40 years later during the Battle of Endor. When he no longer needed
Plagueis, he got him drunk and killed him in his sleep and declared himself the
soon-to-be Emperor of the Galaxy.
And in one fell swoop, like a domino effect, he
got the now General Jar Jar Binks to enact an amendment to surrender him
emergency power over the Senate, used Maul to expose the first Sith seen by a
Jedi in 1000 years sparking paranoia and uncertainty amongst the Jedi Council,
and allowed said Jedi Council to acquire custody of Anakin Skywalker, who was
believed to be the Chosen One, which of course allowed him to be close to
Anakin nearly at all times. Yoda suspected that because of the Rule of Two,
there must be a master to Darth Maul. Palpatine diverted their attention to
another apprentice of his, Count Dooku, and through trade negotiations secretly
formed a Separatist alliance, as well as their own droid army lead by General
Greivous.
Meanwhile, the Republic declared war and forced
the Jedi to act as Generals of a Clone Army. Thus, the Clone Wars began. Anakin
was guided by the Jedi master Obi-Wan and eventually rose to the rank of Jedi
Knight. As the war raged on, Separatist and Republic forces seized control of
key positions in the galaxy, both of which Palpatine had a hand in. It was like
a game of chess where he had control over all the pieces on the board, and each
piece was renewable and expendable.
Late into the Clone Wars, Anakin begins
experiencing visions of his secret lover Senator Padme Amidala-who is also
pregnant- crying in agony and dying. Palpatine being aware of this used his
knowledge of the Dark Side and the Midichlorians taught by Darth Plagueis, that
one could achieve immortality and resurrect the dead, leaving out key details
to still appear innocent, of course (or at least to the gullible and stubborn
Anakin).
Years later after Dooku and Greivous were
defeated by Anakin and Obi-Wan and the Republic was preparing negotiations to
end the war, the Jedi Council suspects Palpatine as the Sith Lord they’d been
searching for, as well as the one behind the mass production of the Clones and
orchestrating the events leading up to the war. Mace Windu and the remaining
Jedi Masters attempt to arrest him, but the majority of them are killed leaving
only Mace who nearly defeats him, but then Anakin arrives muks everything up.
He cuts off Mace’s hand as Sidious delivered a lethal dose of Force Lightning
and blasted him out the window. This left only Anakin and Sidious, allowing him
to dominate his mind and take him as his apprentice whom he newly dubbed Darth
Vader.
Palpatine staged the event as an assassination
attempt and branded the Jedi as terrorists and traitors. Thus, he instructed
the clones to execute Order 66, a pre-programmed secret emergency protocol to
eliminate the Jedi. He then instructed Vader to storm the Jedi Temple, who
massacred all Jedi he came across, even the Younglings. Where there were once
10,000 Jedi Knights protecting the galaxy, there were now only a handful,
dispersed and forced into hiding. This incident was known as the Great Jedi
Purge (as an interesting side note, Hk-47 predicted this. Never change, you lovable murderbot).
Enraged and heartbroken, Obi-Wan battled Anakin
on the lava planet Mustafar, where the latter suffered serious burns that
incinerated the lower half of his body and permanently scarred his face and
skin. He had the High Ground, Anakin. You shouldn’t have tried it.
Barely alive, Palps with the assistance of his
Clones and droids began reconstructive surgery on him immediately and outfitted
him with cybernetic implants and a suit designed in the likeness of an ancient
Sith Lord to induce fear while also serving as a life support system. He
informed Vader that Padme, as well as the children she was carrying, had died.
Once the realization set in that Vader had been used and manipulated into being
Sidious’s pawn, it was already too late. Though his armor was intimidating on
the outside, the inside was made with inferior technology meant to handicap and
weaken him. The blinking lights and beeping kept him awake, and it tugged and
scraped against his burned and exposed flesh as he moved. One of the buttons on
his chest-piece would deactivate the system, forcing him to readjust his
lightsaber stance to always to defend his chest, and if electricity was
anywhere near the interior it would cause the entire system to malfunction.
These were designed deliberately by Palpatine to keep Vader’s latent powers at
bay, as he feared Vader destroying and replacing him, fulfilling the Rule of Two.
This was also to constantly remind Vader who the master was, and instill in him
pain and hopelessness.
But this was hardly a setback for Vader, as he
accepted this new lease on life and allowed it to define him. His pain, anger,
and despair only fueled his power in the Dark Side, and despite these drawbacks
he became one of the most powerful and feared Sith Lords of all time, and it
remained that way for about twenty years.
That is, until a scrappy young Rebel pilot (You
can wake up now, we’re FINALLY there!) who was strong in the Force destroyed
the Imperial Superweapon, the Death Star. This bemused and intrigued Vader, who
hired the bounty hunter Boba Fett to locate and apprehend this pilot. Although
he managed to escape, he did get a name: Skywalker.
Hearing this name filled Vader with an intense
fury unlike any he had felt before, and invigorated him immensely. But most
importantly, knowing the true fate of his son had opened up Vader to something
he hadn’t felt, nor did he ever dream of feeling in a long time: Hope.
Luke Skywalker was raised on Tatooine, the
birthplace of his father, by his aunt and uncle on a moisture farm after he,
along with his twin sister Leia, were hid away from the Empire. He grew up
under the protection of Obi-Wan, but from afar as his aunt and uncle didn’t
want to expose to the world outside, or the remaining Jedi to use him as a tool
for winning the war, as Obi-Wan believed him to be the true Chosen One. But
Luke could not be hid from his destiny forever. He met up with the droid R2-D2
who showed him a recorded message from the captured Princess Leia, and thus the
adventure began.
As we know, Luke would eventually face Vader and
the Emperor in his throne room, where, in his last moments protecting Luke, he
was successfully turned back from the Dark Side and killed the Emperor. Doing
so exposed him to the Force Lightning Sidious was emitting, causing a system
failure in Vader’s breathing apparatus. Thus ended the reign of the Sith Empire
as the Prophecy foretold. As for who the real Chosen One was, well, that is up
for interpretation.
Though, Luke did bring balance to the Force as
the Grandmaster of the New Jedi Order, as he did not forbid or shelter them
from learning of the Dark Side but instead how to carefully harness it along
with the Light Side in moderation. He was also known to use Sith
lightsaber dueling techniques as well as Dark SIde force abilities like Force
Choke and Force Lightning. The black robe he wears in Return of the Jedi is
white on the inside, symbolic of how though he has been surrounded by darkness,
he never truly faltered from the light.
This is probably also true in regards to his
romantic life, as his wife and mother to his children Mara Jade was once the Emperor’s Hand, an assassin who was sent to kill him
as part of a contingency plan after the fall of the Empire. Nat 20 Charisma
roll.
Weapons and Equipment
Lightsaber
“An elegant weapon, from
a more civilized time.”
-Obi-Wan Kenobi
Designed after the Force
Sabers and Proto-Sabers that came before, the
Lightsaber is instantly recognizable as the weapon of a Jedi, both in the Star
Wars universe and in reality. Deactivated, it is a lightweight metal hilt that
can be ignited to release a stream of concentrated and suspended plasma,
powered by Kyber crystals which act as a prism for the Force. Effectively,
Lightsabers are powered by the Force itself, and the heat, length, and
thickness of the blade are dependant on the user. It is because of this that
Jedi are encouraged to allow their crystals to choose them and construct their
own Lightsabers, forming a Force Bond with the crystals and creating a more
effective weapon.
Because of the blade of a Lightsaber being
hotter than the surface of the sun and each edge being a cutting point thanks
to its roundness, the blade can cut through most anything, but it does have
limitations. It cannot cut through the hyper-dense Beskar Mandalorian metal,
the hide of a Zillo Beast, or the blade of another Lightsaber. The particular
Lightsaber pictured above once belonged to Anakin Skywalker.
He has a second Lightsaber he built himself,
this one having a green blade. He made it after he was disarmed by Darth Vader
at Cloud City. With the shortage of Kyber crystals thanks to the Empire raiding
and destroying Jedi temples, Luke was forced to use a synthetic crystal to power
the saber. This however did not hinder the effectiveness of the blade. If
anything, he wielded it better than the old one.
Luke also wields a shoto-Lightsaber, pretty much
just a short Lightsaber, which he built with a red crystal and used to fight
the Lightwhip-weilding Lumiya.
Blaster Pistol
A long-range firearm that that shoots plasma bolts
that can pierce most targets and armor, though these projectiles can be stopped
with heavy metal plating or deflected with a Lightsaber. Blasters also have a
stun function that release a mid-range pulse that immobilizes targets.
Training and Experience
Luke learned the basic fundamentals of the Force
and Lightsaber combat from Obi-Wan Kenobi, who continued to pass on his
teachings as a Force Ghost. Luke further sharpened his skills as a Jedi under
the tutelage of Master Yoda on Dagobah for approximately three months.
He faced off against Darth Vader multiple times,
and came out on top during the Battle of Endor. During his time in the Rebel
Alliance, he was a skilled pilot, combatant, and marksman. He defeated the
Emperor’s Hand, Mara Jade, and the Emperor himself (with Leia’s help) after he
had resurrected by transferring his essence into a clone.
He has shown adaption to exotic weapons by
defeating Lumiya while using a new Lightsaber combat form to accommodate his
shoto-saber. He has proven his worth as a General against the master Tactician Grand
Admiral Thrawn, who in spite of the
species-ist Empire climbed up the ranks through sheer genius intellect and
indomitable will, and nearly crushed the New Republic (It wasn’t technically
Luke who beat him in the end, but it’s still noteworthy). He is also an expert
at converting Sith and other Dark Side practitioners to his side, and once
recruited a Sith Lord to help him combat a celestial being, Aboleth the Mother.
He also fought against the Yuuzhan Vong, alien beings immune to Force abilities
(though they could still be affected by things caused by the Force like
manipulating the surrounding area or hurling objects, similar to how yellow
objects are immune to Green Lanterns).
He has also mastered the seven forms of
Lightsaber dueling:
-Form 1: Schii-Cho
A highly simplistic and traditional style of
weaponized combat based on fencing. Holding the lightsaber outstretched and
fully extended in a defensive stance allowed them to keep opponents at bay.
-Form 2: Makashi
Makashi practitioners held their lightsabers
closer to their bodies, focusing more on shifting weight and balance, and
making their opponents disarming them more difficult. It also has a sub-form
that allows for dual-wielding (see Asaaj Ventress).
-Form 3: Soresu
A form most famously used by Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Soresu takes the strengths of the previous two and combines them into one
resilient fighting style. It allows for rapid movement while also minimizing expenditure
of stamina.
-Form 4: Ataru
An aggressive, yet accurate and precise combat
form. It requires the use of acrobatic maneuvers such as leaps and flips, and
is most notably used by Master Yoda.
-Form 5: Shien and Djem So
Form 5 included two Lightsaber dueling forms
developed side by side. Shein was designed for defensive stances, blocks and
deflects most useful for defending against long range attacks such as blaster
bolts. Djem So was characterized by straightforward and powerful strikes and
counterattacks designed for ending fights quickly. Most famously used by Anakin
Skywalker.
Form 6: Niman
An all-around, focused form that offers no
specific advantage or disadvantage. Form 6 practitioners were encouraged to
implement Force-based attacks in conjunction with Lightsaber strikes.
The Seventh form, Vapaad, is a specialized
Force-augmented fighting style that can technically be considered a Force
ability, so I’ll list it in the next section.
Abilities
The Force
“The Force is what gives
a Jedi his power. It’s an energy field created by all living things. It
surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together.”
-Obi-Wan Kenobi
The Force, specifically the Living Force,
encompasses the entire Star Wars universe and is imbued in all living things.
Those who are Force-sensitive have a strong enough connection to the Force that
they can harness it to a degree that they can manipulate certain aspects of
existence.
Force abilities depicted in the movies usually
don’t deviate very far from sensing, mental and emotional manipulation, and
moving objects with the mind or hand gestures, but these are mere parlor tricks
compared to the highest capabilities of the Force, as it is described as what
binds matter together and believed to be the very fabric of reality. The EU
allowed the full potential of the Force to be demonstrated, as they were not
bound by the same plot elements or visual effects limitations in the films.
And Luke being especially gifted in the Force,
as well as his studies and understanding in both the Light and Dark Sides,
allowed him access to the rarest and most powerful of Force techniques,
sometimes even being able to tap into the Cosmic Force itself.
Luke Skywalker, being a Chosen One, a Jedi
Grandmaster, and the most powerful Force user who ever lived, is capable of the
following abilities:
Force Push
The user extends their hand and manifests the
Force in front of them to blast opponents or objects away with concussive
force. The effectiveness of the technique is dependant on the user’s bond with
the Force, and the hand gesture is not necessarily needed as there existed
alien Jedi and Sith with strange biological features and Force users who had
their limbs amputated such as Darth Vader who are still capable of using it.
Force Grip
Allows the user, as the name would suggest, to
grip a being or object with the Force and move it similarly to Telekinesis.
Again, the size and weight of the object that the user can lift or move is
dependant on the strength of the user’s connection to the Force.
Force Choke
A Dark Side variant of Force Grip. Allows the
user to strangle a target. If a being had no neck or trachea, a similar
technique could also be used to induce organ failure.
Force Crush
A more violent variant on Force Grip that
collapses and condenses the target.
Force Sensing
A Force-sensitive can peer into the Force in
order to gain awareness of events and surroundings. It can be used to sense
danger and react accordingly similar to that of Spider-Sense. It can also be
used to sense the emotions and intent of others, demonstrated by Sidious as he
often used it against Vader to tell if he intended to kill him. As Obi-Wan
quoted in A New Hope, “It was as if millions of voices
were crying out in terror, and were suddenly silenced” when he felt the Death
Star’s destruction of Alderaan, it does not have to be consciously activated,
though doing so increases its potency.
Precognition
The Force can also grant its users visions of
future events. These visions can also be forced on others such as the Force
Vision Palpatine gave to Anakin to manipulate him in Revenge of the Sith.
It also has its applications in combat:
Obi-Wan and Anakin
predicting each other’s next move and readjusting
Tutaminis
Tutaminis refers to both an aspect of Jedi
philosophy and the technique of absorbing and projecting philosophy. It can be
used to absorb Force attacks from opponents, but it can also be used to absorb
non-Force energy light blaster bolts, or even, in rare cases, the energy of a
lightsaber blade. Yoda can be seen using this technique against Palpatine to catch and
project back his Force Lightning.
Force Shield
Self-explanatory. Like the other Force abilities,
its potency relies on its user’s strength in the Force. It can be used in
conjunction with the Force-absorbing properties of Tutaminis.
Shatterpoint
"I can see every
flaw. All I have to do is pour the Force into the cracks…"
-Cade Skywalker
A Force ability that requires immense focus in
order to change one’s perception to detect weak points in people and objects
and project the Force in those precise locations. Doing so causes the object to
fragment into pieces much more easily than it would with excessive blunt force.
It can also be used on living beings to re-open old scars and wounds. Luke’s
niece Jaina Solo used Shatterpoint to break a piece of Beskar armor in the
Legacy of the Force novels.
Force Lightning
A Sith technique where the user allows a violent
torrent of anger to flow through them and out their fingertips, manifested as
lightning. Most commonly it is depicted as blue, though those more experienced
in using it such as Sidious can produce a hotter and more powerful purple
lightning.
Red force lightning is the purest in the Dark
Side, an exceedingly powerful and rare force ability reserved for those truly
gifted in the Force. Revan could completely disintegrate other Sith Lords with
his red lightning. Though it is non-canon, Luke can be seen using red
Force Lightning in the Hoth expansion
pack of The Force Unleashed.
There is a yellow variant (though Luke’s version
of the ability appears as green) of Force Lightning known as Force Judgement,
or Electric Judgement. It specifically targets those with malicious intent
while leaving the innocent untouched. Plo Koon used this ability on Dreed
Pommel who was holding a hostage, only harming him and leaving the hostage
unharmed. It is especially potent against those with a connection to the Dark
Side, a sort of evil-killing technique.
There is also Kinetite, which is a projection of
electricity into a sphere used outside the body rather than projected from
inward.
Force Movement/Force
Speed
A Force ability that allows a significant
increase in physical capabilities, particularly agility. It allows the user to
leap further and higher than normal. Yoda most notably uses it to compensate
for his old age and small size and uses it in conjunction with Form 4
Lightsaber dueling. Force Speed significantly increases the user’s speed, as
the name would suggest.
Jedi Mind Trick
A persuasion tactic used to plant ideas in
one’s head. One need simply utter a phrase or a suggestion to cause someone to
believe something. It can be considered a mild form of mind control or
hypnotism. Weak-willed individuals are more prone to this ability, and such
targets can become delirious and disoriented. (The Stormtrooper who hit his
head in the doorway was the same guy Obi-Wan used the Mind Trick on.)
Dominate Mind/Mind Twist
The Dark Side equivalent of the Mind Trick. This
is full-on mind control. It can be used to enslave others to do their bidding,
though it was more commonly used in interrogations or torture. It could be used
to make the target believe they are choking or burning to death and they would
experience the pain and die (unless stopped) as though it was real.
Force Fire
An ability that activates friction between air
molecules to create fire. It requires intense focus as the user must
concentrate on both the molecules and controlling the fire.
Battle Meditation
A technique that bolsters allies and allows them
additional focus during battle, while also instilling fear into and weakening
enemy forces. This can backfire if stopped suddenly, as it can cause delirium
and incoordination, so it must be eased off slowly if utilized.
Force Healing
Accelerates the body’s natural healing
processes. It cannot regenerate things such as lost limbs, but it can mend
broken bones and damaged organs in short periods of time. It can be used on
someone else or on the self. There is also a variant of Force Healing that
heals against toxins known as Detoxify Poison.
Force Projection/Force
Illusion
Casts an illusion that can interact with objects
but is intangible to those who attack it. Luke’s Force Projection is so
especially powerful that he can manifest a lightsaber that works as effectively
as a real one, and those who use the Force to locate him will sense his
projection rather than his body.
Force Concealment
Also known as Force Shroud, Force Stealth, or
Bury Presence, Force Concealment allows a Force-sensitive to hide their
presence, making them difficult to detect by both Force users and non Force
users. Palpatine used this ability to hide himself being a Sith Lord from the
Jedi Council for over thirty years.
Force Drain
A self-explanatory ability the drains the Force
and essence from the target. The Force drained from the target adds to the
user’s own power. Darth Nihilus once used this ability to drain the life force from an entire
planet along with its inhabitants. Luke and Leia used Force Drain to completely
deplete the power of a resurrected Palpatine (who had cloned himself and
transferred his essence into that clone), allowing him to be swallowed up by
his own Force Storm.
Vapaad
The Seventh form of Lightsaber Combat, developed
by the Jedi Master Mace Windu. Vapaad was named after creatures that would
catch their prey with appendages so blindingly fast they were impossible to
count. As such, it is an incredibly fast, dangerous, and deadly fighting style
that channels the Dark Side. It is most effective against those strong in the
Dark Side, as it fed off their power and further increased the speed, power, and aggressiveness of the user. In essence, as
a Force ability, it can be described as a combination of Force Movement, Force
Speed, Tutaminis and Force Drain. Mace Windu when using Vapaad against
Palpatine was described in the Revenge of the Sith novelization as “an oblate
sphere of purple fire, with dozens of blades attacking from every angle”.
Deadly Sight
Mr. Palpatine, I don’t
feel so good…
An insane Dark Side power that allows the user
to completely disintegrate their targets simply by looking at them. Though
incredibly deadly, it is known to cause tremendous strain after using it.
Spacefolding
This is a book-only
ability so there are no available images, so here’s a picture of a wormhole.
Spacefolding, or Fold Space, is the ability to
tap into the Cosmic Force to bend the very fabric of spacetime. It can be used
to transport objects or oneself across the universe by bending space around
that person or object. Luke learned this ability after it was used by Aboleth.
Force Storm
Described as the ultimate Dark Side ability, a
Force Storm requires the user to master several Force powers before being able
to use it. It essentially penetrates and tears open the fabric of reality,
opening up a singularity that displaces matter across space-time and devastates
the surface of planets. Provided the user can survive, it can allow them to
travel through time.
Oneness
I am one with the Force,
the Force is with me...
A state of being where a Force-sensitive
literally becomes one with the Force, no longer channeling it through them or
using it, but they themselves being a living embodiment of the Force. Jacen
Solo achieved Oneness to completely solo (I swear that pun wasn’t even
intentional as I was writing this) the final battle against the Yuuzhan Vong.
It completely healed all his injuries and vaporized all enemies on the
battlefield (said enemies were immune to Force powers, a detail that’s
unquantifiable, but impressively bullshit nonetheless).
Force Ghost
“Strike me down and I
shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.”
-Obi-Wan to Vader
Upon death, a Jedi fades seemingly into
nothingness, becoming one with the Living Force. Not many Jedi were familiar
with this technique, nor did the Sith who failed to achieve serenity due to
their path on the Dark Side, despite their many efforts to achieve immortality.
Similar to Oneness, one’s being can manifest as a physical representation of
the Living Force, only without the physical form. It allows Jedi to communicate
with and influence others, as well as create projections. They also possess
power over natural forces, as Force Ghost Yoda demonstrated by summoning a bolt of lightning from the sky.
There are a TON of Force abilities still, I only
listed the ones that I felt would be the most practical in a combat setting.
Here is a list of all of
them, or at least all of them known to the editors
of Wookiepedia.
Hax Resistance
Luke also shows resistance to the more haxy
Force abilities such as spatial hax and vaporization.
Feats
“The
ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.”
-Darth
Vader
Vader was NOT
exaggerating.
Destructive
Capacity
Luke was known for ripping Imperial
Star Destroyers out of the sky (in fact
the downed ones on Jakkuu in The Force Awakens were his doing) and he scales a town
level feat from Ahsoka Tano and an Island
level feat from Vader. He knocks out Boba Fett while blind and unarmed (one of the many times he defeated
him). He once used the Force to augment his
strength to break free from full-body
metal restraints, while drugged. He once
rebuilt Vader’s temple then proceeded to deconstruct it along with the enemy
ships. He scales to ancient Sith Lords like Darth Nihilus and Emperor Vitiate,
who lifewiped entire planets with the Force. Even more impressively was the
Force capability of Naga Sadow, who, taking notes from Sephiroth (the move is
even called Supernova!), would destroy
stars with the Force and hurl the
cores directly at enemy fleets. Talk about a literal
Star War.
Durability
In Return of the Jedi, Luke endured the full
brunt of the Emperor’s Force Lightning. He also tanked his Force Storm, which
was capable of tearing away the surface of planets. In the Dark Nest: Swarm War
audiobook, he rooted himself with the Force and rendered himself immovable even
to the black hole in the center of the galaxy. “Nothing could dislodge him; not
one of Lando's asteroid tuggers, not the Megador's 16 ion engines, not the
blackhole at the center of the galaxy itself.” Even if you consider this hyperbole,
the Force is the same energy he can shield himself with that he can dish out
with, meaning his Dura is potentially as high as his DC when he enhances it
with the Force.
Speed
Luke can perceive TIE fighters moving at full
speed as though they were in slow motion, and given TIE fighter top speed is
1500 km/h, this gives him supersonic
reactions. During the Yuuzhan
Vong war, he moved so fast he appeared as though he was wielding 30 lightsabers
at once.
Weaknesses
Though Luke is incredibly gifted in the Force,
it is possible to harm him if he does not react or shield himself in time.
Force Heal also has its limitations, considering it didn’t heal the hand that
was cut off by Vader. Force Fire and Force Storm also have their weaknesses, as
they require concentration to avoid losing control of them. Using Deadly Sight
can tire him out quickly if for some reason it doesn’t kill the enemy.
Summary
I actually like the Last
Jedi despite its flaws… but I like the EU way more
Advantages
-Star level DC
-Moon level dura from tanking Force Storm,
likely higher with Force Shield.
-Force sensing and precog
-Mind control and persuasion
-Has “evil-killing” techniques like Force
Judgement and Vaapad
-Fold Space
-Deadly Sight
-Can still fight as a Force Ghost
Disadvantages
-Can be defeated if his opponent has higher DC
and is faster
-Force Fire, Force Storm, and Deadly Sight have
huge drawbacks
-Force Heal is limited
-”Subverting expectations” and
Hollywood’s unhealthy obsession with deconstructing heroic archetypes
-A little short for a Stormtrooper
Conclusion
*teleports
away*
“Nothing
personell, kid”
BOY, did this one take a while. Do you have any
idea how many books I had to read and how many Force powers there are? There’s
even a Force Smell for cryin’ out loud! And for all the other awesome stuff
Luke does that I didn’t list here, check out this cool Respect
Thread. I know this may be a lot to take in but I hope
there’s one thing you take away from this: Star Wars is f*cking awesome.
I am Hero’s Shade and may the Force be with you.
