Force power

Force Powers are the manifestations of a Jedi/Sith's connection with the Force. Various abilities have been seen in both the movies and Star Wars games licensed or developed by Lucasarts, where 'official' names and definitions are given.

The term 'Force Power' originated in Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, where they could be gained via a system of Force 'points'. The game has twelve powers (though more are presented below), each labeled as being Neutral (later known as 'Core'), Light and Dark. Note that some powers although have different names, describing the same power in different levels or ways of use. The names are often preceded by Force.... For example, Grip is mostly known as Force Grip.

According to the theory that the Force is one, the Light and Dark powers actually don't describe the Force, but they define how an individual uses it: to harm directly his enemies, or help himself overcome situations. Thus the aggressive abilities belong to the Dark Side, while those that are healing, defensive or diversive belong to the Light Side.

This is demonstrated in the games: In Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, the dark Jedi cast powers that belong to the Light Side (like Persuasion). In Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Kyle Katarn, who belongs to the Light Side, makes use of Grip and Lightning, possibly because of his experience while fighting Maw, and later in Dromund Kaas. This, along with Force Strike and Force Throw, indicates that Jedi of high level can use these abilities according to their wisdom, since their high experience averts them from slanting towards the Dark Side. In some Star Wars computer games however, using abilities of an opposing alignment is more explicitly penalized, by costing more Force power to harness.

Core

The Core powers are the first a Jedi or Sith learns, and, for the most part, directly affect his own body or objects without actually harming or benefiting other people. Core powers, also known as Universal Powers, are usually not associated with any particular side.

• Telekinesis - This ability is used to lift objects and move them, including the wielder and enemies, in a desired direction. While training Luke Skywalker on Dagobah, Yoda tells him that the size/weight of an object is only relevant in the mind of the practitioner, and that once the mental distinction about an object's size can be dispelled, objects of any size can be moved. Yoda demonstrates this by lifting Luke's X-wing starfighter out of the swamp. This is not constant across the entirety of the expanded Star Wars universe, or even the movies, however. In "Episode III" for Playstation 2, for example, Obi-Wan requires Anakin's assistance to move objects or open doors multiple times throughout the course of the game, and even Yoda himself appeared to have difficulty moving the pillar that was threatening to crush Obi Wan and Anakin in the movie Episode II: Attack of the Clones (though he might have been exhausted after just facing off against Count Dooku). In the Clone Wars saga, which aired on Cartoon Network, Yoda is shown using the Force to cause whole starships to crash into each other.
  • Force Push/Pull - Telekinetic abilities to pull or push objects away, as well as enemies. The greater the user's aptitude, the heavier the object that can be manipulated or the more wide the arc or radius of the force 'wave'. It can be used to pull weapons from enemies. Force pull was used by Luke to get his lightsaber from the snow in the wampa cave, as well as by Obi-Wan Kenobi to pull sabers, blasters, staves, and other varied weaponry to his hands in the prequel trilogy.
  • Force Strike - To a large extent, Force Push and Force Strike are the same power, with Strike being the more destructive version. In The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon Jinn used Force Strike in a frey to throw a team of battle droids away. Force Strike, although technically a neutral ability, is often considered to have traces of the dark side due to its more aggressive usage.
  • Force Leap/Jump - Uses the Force to augment the user's natural leaping ability. Force users adept in this can perform incredible vertical/horizontal leaps with impunity. This ability appears to be somewhat basic and is performed many times in the Star Wars movies, notably essential when Obi-Wan killed Darth Maul. It is also seen in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back when Luke jumps out of the carbonite machine and again in Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi when Luke is battling Vader for the last time. This ability is essential for practicers of Form IV lightsaber combat, like Yoda.

• Telepathy - The ability to mentally communicate over small or vast distances. Palpatine uses this ability in Episode III to contact Anakin in the Council chambers, and convince him to come to Palpatine's aid. Also, Luke uses it to contact Leia in Episode V.

• Burst of Speed - Makes the user able to maintain sprinting speeds (even moving in awkward directions like backwards) for as long as the effect lasts. Since Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast it seems that the power may bend the subjective time of the caster making everything slower. Greater aptitude grants boosts to speed and/or greater duration. The ability first appeared in the book "Shadows Of The Empire" during a fight between Luke Skywalker and Guri. It is further shown in the films at the beginning of Episode 1 when Droidekas sent by Nute Gunray attempt to kill Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn. The duo use a burst of speed to evade the deadly droids. It could be argued that Darth Sidious used this power against Mace Windu's party of Jedi when he leaped from his chair and skewered two Jedi.

• Force Sense - Used within the Jedi Order to sense the future, possible danger, a person's location, or the presence of the Dark Side. In Episode II, when Obi-Wan Kenobi is in the club on Coruscant he senses the bounty hunter hired by Jango Fett and strikes her down with a lightsaber. In Episode III, Yoda uses this power to avoid being assassinated. Also, in Episode II Anakin senses Padme is in trouble when she is sleeping in the beginning of the movie. Empathy is a Light-Side power that is similar to this versatile force ability.
  • Seeing - Enhances the bearer's visual and spatial perception even in the dark or behind walls. Trained users can have their sight amplified to the point that they are able to counter-attack Persuasion and Blinding. The Dark Jedi Master Jerec relied on this power constantly because of his physical blindness.
  • Farsight - Makes the mind of the Jedi fly through space and perceive all around. This is a key ability, as it allows the user to see events over great distances that have occurred in the past, present, or future. The most notable practitioners of this power are Yoda and Darth Sidious, although most Jedi Masters apparently had skill in it. The Galactic Battlegrounds PC game suggests that clone troopers gained a substantive advantage over their adversaries by virtue of their Jedi commanders passing on knowledge of incoming enemies.
  • Psychometry - The mental technique of picking up impressions and traces of information about the object touched and the events that have surrounded it. The Kiffu are able to use this power, and, particularly, Quinlan Vos is skilled with its use.

• Force Suppression- Certain Force powers are not instantaneous in effect, but last for a period of time on a target. Examples of such powers include but are not limited to Force Aura, Burst of Speed, and Energy Resistance. Force Suppression instantly cancels such powers on the target. The greater the user's skill in this ability, the stronger the removed powers active on the target. This power completely breaches any Force defenses on a user, and is thus unaffected by things like Force Resistance or Immunity. Force Suppression is frequently demonstrated by Darth Revan in Knights of the Old Republic.

• Saber Throw - Throws the lightsaber in a boomerang fashion, cutting its way through objects, and returning to the hand of the caster with Force Pull. In the movies, it is demonstrated by Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi, when he duels Luke. Yoda also uses this tactic to kill a clone trooper in Revenge of the Sith. It is a double-edged power because the user is caught unarmed for a few seconds, making its usage rare for the most part. Kyle Katarn demonstrates this ability very often in the computer game Jedi Outcast.

• Cloak - Rarely ever used, this power channels the Force to bend light around the user, rendering him invisible to others. The liability of this can be seen when machines/aliens that can scan beyond the visible light portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as infra-red, easily note the person. However, in Star Wars: Galaxies, when this power is used, it "clouds the minds of those nearby into not seeing the Jedi." Cloak is very similar in effect to the power Force Camouflage which is often used by Cathars, such as Juhani from Knight of the Old Republic. However, Force Camouflage not only manipulates light, but dampens sound as well.

• Battle Meditation - This power can influence the course of an entire battle, raising the morale of allies, and sapping the will to fight from enemies. The most prominent people to master this ability were Nomi Sunrider and Bastila Shan. It has been speculated that Emperor Palpatine used this power for his fleet during the Battle of Endor and with his death, the shock of the sudden removal of this influence threw the fleet into chaos and allowed the Rebel fleet to defeat them; it is far more likely though that the Grand Admiral Nial Declann was the Battle Meditator, as Palpatine was occupied with turning Luke Skywalker to the Dark Side. Jedi Clone Joruus C'baoth is believed to possess similar ability. Battle Meditation can be performed by both Light and Dark Jedi, as shown by Bastila in Knights of the Old Republic.

• Battlemind - Through the focus of this power, one's morale and fighting spirit is augmented. Mace Windu calls upon this technique in addition to more Dark Side-related abilities to exercise Vaapad (see lightsaber combat).

• Malacia is a rare Jedi power that induced extreme nausea and dizziness in its victim. The ability was completely incapacitating but did not cause any lasting damage. Oppo Rancisis taught the skill for two decades but few of his students ever mastered it.

• Morichro - A power not taken lightly by the Jedi for its fear of misuse, it is nonetheless a neutral ability that puts an opponent in a suspended state by shutting down particular bodily systems. Yaddle is a master of this power, as her student Oppo Rancisis is with Malacia, a more potent variation of this technique. The Sith tend to avoid this ability in favor of more aggressive powers.

• Force Resistance - This power offers protection from some direct Force Power attacks, possibly entirely negating their harmful effects. Greater user aptitude can make the user almost immune to enemy attacks with the Force, although the effects of this ability are brief in either case. This power is often used by Jedi in the computer game Knights of the Old Republic.

• Energy Resistance - This power shields the user from various energy attacks, whether they are in the form of fire, electricity, etc. It does not shield users from Force powered attacks, and quickly fades. This power is also featured prominently in KOTOR.

Light

To the Light Side are powers who benefit the Jedi personally by protecting or defending him. Those that affect others often make no direct or permanent harm to targets, but rather help the Jedi overcome them in peaceful ways (eg Force Blinding).

• Cure/Heal - The Jedi Healer uses the Force to accelerate the natural healing process rapidly for a short duration. Initial levels require meditation, but greater aptitude usually grants faster regeneration, without need of meditation.

• Empathy - A related Light Side version of Force Sense. The Force endows the user with the skill to read the thoughts and emotions of another being. The Jedi Council often uses this talent to test Jedi initiates and potential members of the order, for example when Mace Windu used his datapad to test Anakin's skills in Episode I. Force Sense differs from Empathy, because Empathy involves thoughts, feelings, and emotions, while Force Sense involves instinct and presence of humanoids, droids, etc. Darth Vader senses that Luke has a sister though he tries to suppress his feelings. This trait seems to run strong in the Skywalker family through Anakin, Leia, Luke, and to some extent, Shmi. (When she tells Qui-Gon that Anakin was meant to help him).

• Combustion - The ability to cause an object to explode through concentration. Yarael Poof has been known to use this power.

• 'Jedi mind trick', Affect Mind or Persuasion - This power can confuse and persuade others, making them bend to the user's will. It usually only works on those who are weak-minded. Used by Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan in Attack of the Clones and A New Hope, and Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi. Toydarians and Hutts are immune to it, however.

• Projection - Creates an inanimate apparition that looks like the caster. This ability, which first appeared in Mysteries of the Sith, is normally of limited use.

• Illusion - The ability to make animated apparitions not limited to the image of the wielder. Yarael Poof casts illusory forms to elude a direct contest. This power has been known, however, to have also been used by the Sith Naga Sadow.

• Force Stealth - This versatile power can not only be used to mask one's physical presence, but also one's Force presence. With this power, the bearer can, in effect, turn completely invisible. It is very useful in planning surprise attacks or avoiding dangerous confrontations. In a New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi may have used this on board the Death Star for a diversion while returning from the tractor beam controls. Darth Sidious may also have used this to evade detection even on the Jedi Temple's homeworld. Aayla Secura also used this technique to hide herself from wild quarra beasts that had gathered around her; she walked past them without the beasts realizing she was there. This technique also appears to hide emotions as well; trying to track Aayla through the fear she senses with her antenna, Aurra Sing was confused when she hence lost the Jedi's trail.

• Enhance Ability - The Force boosts the user's abilities, empowering his or her strength, dexterity, and endurance. Yoda uses this ability to overcome the infirmities of old age, which is quite necessary for a practitioner of Form IV lightsaber combat.

• Alter Environment - Various techniques that allow the user to manipulate nature, enabling the creation of such phenomena as Force whirlwinds or fog over limited areas. Plo Koon's strength with this power is augmented by his considerable knowledge of physics.

• Force-Meld - This is a technique where number of Force users join their minds together through the Force, drawing strength from each other. This allowed the Jedi fighting the Yuuzhan Vong to form as a single, powerful entity. Also, Luke's students defeat Exar Kun's Force ghost in this manner.

• Force Aura - This power temporarily strengthens a Jedi's defense and ability to resist most forms of attack, be they physical, energy, or Force related, lessening the damage if any. Increasing expertise strengthens the effect, until the Force shields the user in a protective armor so powerful that very few things can penetrate it. Bastila Shan uses this power occasionally in Knights of the Old Republic.

• Hibernation Trance - This is an ability of a Force user to go into a very deep hibernation state. This slows down the Force user's metabolism and breathing to a standstill. A fully trained Force user can stay in this state for up to four days.

• Protection - A power generally only achieved by high-ranking Jedi masters, Force protection will make the bearer invulnerable to a wide range of physical weapons, energy weapons, and Force powers. The ultimate in terms of defense. Normally only Jedi thoroughly devoted to the Light Side can learn this power; thus it is a curiosity that Jerec, one of the Dark Jedi that Kyle Katarn faces in Dark Forces II, can use this ability. Quite possibly, it is a result of his learnings at the Valley of the Lost Jedi.

• Dissipate Energy (or Absorb)- The ability to disperse Force energy, and to even absorb or redirect it. A trained Jedi may contain the energy of all kinds of Force attacks used against them. As the energy used to perform Force-related powers is limited, a Jedi can use the enemy's attacks to their own benefit, instead of receiving damage from them. In Attack of the Clones, Obi-Wan used this to contain Count Dooku's Lightning with his lightsaber. Mace Windu did a similar thing, only that he redirected the lightning against Darth Sidious. Yoda is so skilled with the Force that he uses his palms to absorb dark lightning, as he did in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.

• Blinding - With this power, a Jedi can obfuscate any person's vision, making it very difficult for the Jedi to be spotted, targeted, or defended against. This power can be countered by Sense.

• Force Light - This immense power is used to purge a Dark Side manifestation from a nexus point. Yoda uses this ability on Dagobah.

• Animal Friendship - The ability to calm an animal. Anakin Skywalker uses this technique to still the reek and ride the creature. Jacen Solo uses this ability to have a dragon help him in The Crystal Star.

• "Force Block" - This power is never fully named but described as a "force blocking power". The user effectively forms a wall around an opponent using the light side of the Force and renders them powerless and blind to the Force. This was used to permanent effect by Nomi Sunrider against Ulic Qel-Droma in "Tales of the Jedi".

• Force Valor - This potent ability increases the physical and mental attributes of the user and all allies around him for a very brief period. The greater the expertise of the user, the stronger the effect. Yoda is often considered to be the most skilled user of this power. This ability appears in the game Knights of the Old Republic.

• Stasis Field - Unless the targets resist successfully, all hostile creatures within a certain radius of the Jedi become completely paralyzed and vulnerable to attack. However, even those that manage to shrug off this power become slowed, unable to attack or defend effectively in battle. This ability is featured prominently in Knights of the Old Republic, where it is used for "crowd control." This power is tailored specifically for life; it does not affect droids.

Dark

To the Dark Side belong powers used to harm or kill targets. Some (like Rage or Drain) are used to benefit the caster personally, like some powers of the Light Side, with the difference that these can be used at the expense of his own health or another individual's Force reserve. It is often stressed (particularly in the Star Wars games) that the powers themselves are not inherently evil, but rather reflect the alignment of the force-user (Jedi/Sith), these powers are often labelled as "evil" due to their common usage, or because of the people who use them. Some of these powers can be used for good, just as some powers traditionally considered light can be used for malevolent purposes. Although it is said that users of dark powers become evil only when the powers are used for personal gain, it has been reported that continuous use of these abilities has a corrupting effect on the force-user.

• Force Grip - Often believed to be an enhanced combination of two neutral force-powers (force pull and force push), the force grip (as shown by Darth Vader in A New Hope) can be used to grip a target's neck. Normally it's effected by lifting the target off their feet, choking them until they suffocate, and, optionally, slamming the target into a wall or sending it flying over a precipice. While the attacker can quite simply break the target's neck, death by strangulation appears to be favored by the Sith (and, most prominently among them, Darth Vader). It was used briefly by both Darth Tyranus against Obi-Wan Kenobi at the beginning of Revenge of the Sith, and by a deluded Anakin against the pregnant Padme, and briefly against Obi-Wan. Some Jedi are also able to make use of this ability, as evidenced by Luke using it to dispatch two of Jabba's guards.
  • Crush - Possibly the darkest Force ability known to both the Jedi and the Sith and used only by the greatest of the Sith Lords, this deadly Force ability lifts the opponent, whose body literally implodes as it is crushed from within.
• Force Lightning/Sith Lightning - This power was first portrayed by Emperor Palpatine in Return of the Jedi. Force lightning is a purely energy-based specialty attack of the Sith. Force energy takes the form of lightning bolts which exit the force-user's body through his fingertips. The greater the user's aptitude, the more power the lightning bolts possess and the more they fork, allowing the possibility of striking multiple foes at once. In certain Star Wars computer games, Force Lightning is even capable of draining the energy of the opponent, preventing him from accessing his own Force abilities. Force Lightning is often used as a form of torture as it not only causes severe physical damage but also extreme agony to the victim. However, a single powerful blast may be sufficient to kill a person instantly. Although Force Lightning is a potent ability, it can be countered by the lightside power Dissipate Energy. In Episode III, Force Lightning appears to deform Palpatine's face, leading some to belive that the power harms the user as well, but this view is controversial. It is thought by some that Sidious' physical appearance as Chancellor Palpatine was an illusion created with force energy, and that the lightning merely melted the illusion away.

• Chain Lightning - This variant of Force Lightning is different in that now the target is one and there is a chance that the lightning will move to another person. It appears only in the Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith game, and curiously is used by Kyle Katarn and Mara Jade who belong to the light side.

• Rage - For a short time, this power augments the speed, strength and fiercness of the caster, at the expense of health. A noted ability of Sith Marauders, this power may have been used by Luke to defeat Darth Vader in The Return of the Jedi. An important technique for Form VII and only Master Windu has been able to use it properly without falling to the dark side.

• Insanity - This causes the targets to suffer from paranoia and doubt, such that they flee from the user. This power does not affect droids. Seen in Knights of the Old Republic.

• Force Throw - Causes objects to be hurled towards a target. Darth Vader used this to hit Luke in The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Maul used it in The Phantom Menace in order to hit a switch and open a door while fighting, and Count Dooku used it in Attack of the Clones to drop part of a pillar onto an unconscious Obi-Wan Kenobi and an injured Anakin Skywalker. A skilled force-user can throw multiple large objects simultaneously at great speed, as evidenced by Darth Sidious during his duel with Yoda in the Senate chamber. During the same duel, Jedi Master Yoda hurled a spinning delegate seat at Sidious.

• Drain - Same as Heal, except that the user drains the target's Force reserves to fuel the regenerative process, or to replenish their own strength in the Force. Greater aptitude allows exceptional execution speed and the ability to drain multiple target at once. A very few (such as Exar Kun and Darth Nihilus have taken this ability to such heights that they can feed on entire worlds at a time; Kun was also able through this power to entrench his soul in the Massassi temple on Yavin IV. Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine fed off the inhabitants of his retreat world of Byss collectively with his dark side adepts.

• Plague - This malicious power causes the target to suffer as though afflicted with a terrible poison. Seen in the computer game Knights of the Old Republic.

• Destruction - Certain gifted Sith warriors are able to perform devastating explosive attacks upon their enemies. This ability, fueled by the Sith's hatred, can create a massive energy field and throw it at any direction. This power is used often by the Dark Jedi Boc and Jerec in the game "Dark Forces 2: Jedi Knight."

• Deadly Sight - The power of the dark side is capable of making Sith masters inflict damage upon their enemies merely with their sight. With this power, the user can also damage entire groups within the field of vision.

• Storm - Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine was able to generate and control, to a limited degree, self-sustaining storms of warped spacetime for a limited-duration. These storms could range from the size of a small starship like a freighter to huge maws capable of obliterating whole starfleets. The smaller storms are more easily controlled, and can be manipulated from greater distances. No other known Force user has exhibited this talent.

• Mind Control - A more advanced, and more malicious, form of "Persuasion/Suggestion", allowing one to enter another's mind and control brain activity. Darth Sidious seems to have perfected this ability to an extent not before seen.

• Thought bomb - Perhaps the most destructive Force power ever displayed. Only known to be activated by Lord Kaan and members of the Brotherhood of the Dark during the Battle of Ruusan, the Thought Bomb exterminates all life within a large radius (known to be potentially as large as planets) by targeting the brain or nucleus (with one-celled organisms and such) and wiping out all information in it. Force sensitive beings are sucked towards the source of the bomb, as if by an immense gravity well. Ever since Lord Kaan detonated the Thought Bomb, Ruusan has been left uninhabited. The only people to ever escape a Thought Bomb were Darth Bane and the young girl he took as his apprentice.

• Force Scream - This power is an involuntary reflex of a Dark Jedi as a result of frustration from battling an opponent. If a Dark Jedi is being beaten and frustrated by his foe, he may let out an enraged scream, amplified through the Force, that triggers shock waves that ripple through the Force, devastating both the Dark Jedi and those who are unfortunate enough to be in close proximity. The Force Scream has been called “a wave of hatred, amplified and fuelled by the dark side, that is capable of smashing through mental and physical defenses with ease”. A number of references to Dark Jedi in Old Republic archives often mention the Dark Jedi losing control, violently, in the final moments of battle. Anakin Skywalker once screams Dooku's name in battle on the planet Tythe. With all the force and wrath in the scream, an entire building's roof collapsed.

Characters capable of wielding Force Lightning

List of characters in Star Wars who could wield Force Lightning. Note that some of them are not Sith:

• Darth Revan
• Darth Malak
• Jedi Exile
• Darth Traya
• Darth Nihilus
• Darth Sion
• Plo Koon
• Quinlan Vos
• Count Dooku (Darth Tyranus)
• Emperor Palpatine (Darth Sidious)
• Asajj Ventress
• Joruus C'Baoth
• Tavion
• Luke Skywalker
• Jacen Solo
• Jaina Solo
• Kyp Durron
• Kyle Katarn
• Mara Jade
• Kadann
• Desann
• Jaden Korr
• Rosh Penin