The lightsaber is the traditional weapon of the Jedi and the Sith, and here is your guide to all seven lightsaber forms seen in Star Wars . When Luke Skywalker start saw his father'due south lightsaber, he was fascinated by it. "This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight," Obi-Wan Kenobi explained to him. "Not equally clumsy or as random as a blaster. An elegant weapon for a more civilized fourth dimension."

Years later, Luke would begin to teach others the ways of the Jedi, and some of his notes are preserved in the in-universe guidebookSecrets of the Jedi. At that place, he reveals just why a lightsaber is dissimilar any other weapon. "It's said that wielding a lightsaber is less similar swinging a sword and more similar directing a electric current of ability," he wrote. "When you're attuned to the Force, your thoughts and actions all become part of the same menstruation of energy, which is then directed through the kyber crystal and into your lightsaber's blade." Consequently, while real-world fighting techniques can be identified on occasion in lightsaber combat, they've been heavily modified.

There are seven forms of lightsaber combat. By the prequel era, all Jedi seem to be trained in forms I and III, but every bit Padawans they are then encouraged to experiment with other forms and find one that suits them. Naturally, in that location is a fashion to these things; sure forms are better suited to gainsay, thus condign more than common when the galaxy is at war, while others are defensive and thus seen in more peaceful times. The best Jedi volition have mastered multiple lightsabers forms, switching betwixt them when the need arises. Hither's everything you demand to know about all vii forms.

Form I: Shii-Cho

Shii-Cho is generally regarded as the oldest lightsaber form, and the most elementary; every bit a event, every Jedi begins by learning Shii-Cho, and often a Jedi will fall dorsum on this fighting style when all other techniques accept failed. Form I is basic but constructive, and it can appear quite brutal and ambitious considering information technology involves a fast flurry of strikes; the appearance is misleading, however, considering a Jedi only really becomes a master of Form I when they take attained an inner peace in which the lightsaber blade is essentially an extension of their being. Practitioners of Form I e'er skid back to a defensive posture after attacking, and consequently while Sith learn Shii-Cho, they usually ditch it in favor of more genuinely aggressive forms. Near all the Jedi seen inStar Wars: The Clone Wars resort to Shii-Cho on occasion.

Form Ii: Makashi

No doubt the commencement few Jedi (and Sith) to wield lightsabers operated at a significant reward, but they before long became far more common. Consequently, information technology became necessary for the Jedi to create new fighting styles, assuasive one Force-user with a lightsaber to successfully defeat some other. Makashi is a graceful form suited to skilled duelists, and it relies on careful and controlled strikes instead of ability and strength. Information technology has also been designed to accommodate more experimental lightsaber designs, such as the crossguard lightsabers common during the Hundred Years of Darkness, or even the use of a second shoto blade. Makashi cruel out of fashion when the Sith were believed extinct, but there were still a few Jedi who practiced information technology, including Ki-Adi-Mundi. Count Dooku was a master of Makashi, proud of his reputation as a fearsome duelist, and indeed that pride may well have been 1 of the things that led him to the dark side. Dooku trained Asajj Ventress in this class, and Yoda was able to recognize his handiwork at a glance.

Class III: Soresu

Soresu is the Third Form, mostly believed to have been developed in response to the growing number of blasters in the galaxy; it allows Jedi to block and fifty-fifty reflect back equalizer bolts. Past the time of the prequel trilogy, all Jedi were trained in Soresu, in function because this is actually a tremendously useful exercise. "At first, [Padawans'] primary focus was defence force, learning to cake light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation blasts while wearing special helmets that obscured their sight," Luke Skywalker notes in the in-universe guide volumeSecrets of the Jedi. "By doing and then, they could learn to let the Strength exist their guide. Only afterwards mastering the defensive arts could they begin to report offensive techniques nether the tutelage of some of the finest duelists the Jedi Lodge had to offering." Obi-Wan Kenobi was a master of Soresu, and Kanan Jarrus was besides skilled in Form III.

Grade IV: Ataru

Ataru is one of the about aggressive forms, relying heavily on Force-assisted acrobatics, and as such it has been mastered but by the Jedi who are strongest in the Force. It is focused entirely on law-breaking, and is at its best in one-on-one duels, when the chief of Form IV attempts to bring a battle to as swift an stop every bit possible. The all-time Ataru masters ricochet around their surroundings, launching sweeping strikes that seem to come out of nowhere, forcing an opponent on the defensive. Information technology was about visibly used by Master Yoda in his duel with Count Dooku inStar Wars: Episode Ii - Attack of the Clones, simply Anakin Skywalker besides was proficient in Ataru. Because Ataru is and so aggressive, many of its masters have proved susceptible to the seduction of the dark side, and in fact it was pop with Sith.

Class V: Shien & Djem And then

Anakin Skywalker's favorite form, however, was Form V. This was adult by practitioners of Grade Iii who saw the need for a more offensive edge, and then information technology incorporates many of Soresu's strengths - including the use of solid blocks and parries - with stronger counterattacks and ripostes. Shien is mainly used in gainsay taking place at a altitude, and excels at swatting back equalizer bolts, but Djem And so is a variant designed for blade-on-blade combat. Djem So uses an anarchistic contrary grip, a personal favorite of Ahsoka Tano. Interestingly, many Jedi felt this form was not faithful to the Jedi way, because it came perilously close to using the Force itself for offense rather than defence.

Form VI: Niman

Form Half dozen, Niman, is ofttimes viewed equally a synthesis of previous forms. Information technology was the last form to proceeds widespread credence among the Jedi, and it emphasizes residuum in the Force. A master of Niman will avoid the traditional weaknesses of all other forms - but, importantly, none of the benefits will exist quite as effective. Co-ordinate to theKnights of Fate sourcebook, the Jedi who adult Niman wanted to triumph without dominating their opponent; they wanted to defend themselves and fifty-fifty evangelize justice without the temptation of ability. A Niman practitioner ofttimes blends lightsaber gainsay with utilize of the Strength itself, and as such this form became popular with many Jedi who were disinterested in the art of combat. It is surprising, therefore, that Darth Maul depended on Niman inStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, perhaps suggesting his teacher had wanted to deliberately subvert the Jedi's favored combat manner.

Form Vii: Juyo (or Vaapad)

The final lightsaber gainsay form, Vaapad, is the most controversial. According to diverse sourcebooks, it probably originated millennia agone, as an outgrowth of Form I. Unlike other forms, Vaapad encourages a Jedi to embrace their emotions, using them to fuel a relentless assault. Consequently, most Jedi who have trained in Vaapad have ultimately fallen to the dark side, and for a long time Form VII was banned outright. In the Star Wars prequel era, Mace Windu became the sole known master of Vaapad, developing the grade to control his inner darkness and aqueduct it into worthy goals. Windu himself was wary of teaching others Vaapad, lest they fail to master it equally he had done, and thus succumb to their emotions rather than control them.

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Thomas Salary (4962 Articles Published)

Tom Bacon is one of Screen Bluster'southward staff writers, equally well as a Peer Mentor for new writers and a member of the Care Team, offering support and a listening ear to members of the Comics group. A lifelong fan of major franchises including Star Wars, Medico Who, and Marvel, Tom is delighted his childhood is back - and this time information technology's cool. You can discover him on Twitter @TomABacon. A graduate of Border Hill Academy, Tom remains strongly continued with his alma mater as a volunteer clergyman. He's heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he'due south into British politics too.

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