The Legendary Lightsaber-Weilding, Legacy-Fullfilling, Lactose-Drinking Leader: Luke Skywalker!

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.

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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

-Does a great Joker impression

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.