Form V/Legends

"I prefer more straightforward tactics.''" "''Master of understatement."

- Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi

Form V: Shien / Djem So, also known as The Way of the Krayt Dragon, or The Perseverance Form, was the fifth of seven forms recognized as canon by the last Jedi Council for lightsaber combat. It was developed by practitioners of Form III: Soresu, who felt that the defensively-minded form would unnecessarily extend time spent in combat by forcing its users to wait for an opportunity to strike, rather than creating their own openings.

Shien, considered the classical Form V, was more adept at blocking blaster bolts, whereas Djem So, developed later, was designed for lightsaber combat. Both Shien and Djem So were designed to use the opponent's attack against them, as evidenced by Shien's focus on returning blaster bolts to their origin.

Description
"You will find it easier to deflect blaster fire with this form&mdash;and it shall also guard you against critical strikes by your opponents."

- Zez-Kai Ell



Form V was created by Form III masters who desired a more offensive style, since the defensive nature of Form III could lead to prolonged combat, sometimes dangerously. It evolved into an accepted style by combining the defensive maneuvers of Form III with the more aggressive philosophy and tactics of Form II. Form V also required a higher level of physical strength than the other lightsaber forms, due to its focus on complete domination of opponents. The form was developed alongside Form IV at a time when the Jedi were increasingly called upon to actively keep the peace.

Some Jedi, noting its dedication to domination and strength, felt that Form V encouraged an inappropriate focus on controlling others. Others, including noted lightsaber combat instructor Cin Drallig, were cautiously neutral about the form. However, its proponents maintained that Form V was an effective and powerful tool for the Jedi Order.

Form V had two distinct variations: Shien and Djem So, and most users had a preference for one or the other.

Shien
To the Jedi of the ancient Republic who developed and employed the classical Form V, Shien, the form was known as the Perseverance Form. Shien was described as being well adapted to guarding against blaster fire and enemy strikes without compromising one's ability to launch powerful counterattacks, though was less effective against a single opponent. Shien was known to have existed at least as early as the Jedi Civil War. With its focus against blaster fire, Shien kept in mind that Jedi were often outnumbered by their opponents and needed to defend themselves while retaining offensive capability.

Additionally, there was an ancient Sith variant of this classic lightsaber form called Sith Shien. Sith Shien was known to focus on quick and aggressive attacks against the user's opponent. Shien practitioners were known to favor, or at least regularly utilize, reversed grips.

Djem So
"Form V's Djem So variation is devoted specifically to lightsaber dueling."

- Cin Drallig



Like Shien, Djem So was created by Form III masters whe felt that Soresu was too passive. However, where as Shien specialized in blast-deflection, the more advanced Djem So focused on lightsaber dueling. Utilizing a combination of blocks and parries, Djem So maintained a proper foundation in terms of defense against both ranged and melee attacks, but rather than counter only when necessary as per Soresu training regimens, the style encouraged actively pressing the offense. Immediately after defending against an opponent's strike, a Djem So stylist would follow with an attack of their own, bringing the force of the opponent's own blow against them and seeking to dominate the duel, combining Force-enhanced strength with powerful blade combinations to overpower and overwhelm an opponent's defenses. Djem So placed a heavy focus on brute strength and pure power, with wide, powerful strikes and parries.

Applications


"You will doubtless encounter many situations with multiple assailants. To better protect yourself from blaster fire without compromising your offensive capabilities, use the Shien form."

- Kavar

Despite its metaphorical and literal strength, Form V was not without its weaknesses. Shien was particularly weak against a single opponent and Djem So was known for having a lack of mobility. However, a skilled duelist in Form V was capable of compensating for these weaknesses and employing the form effectively in combat.

Djem So primary emphasis was on strength and power, allowing a user to make good use of his/her own physical size and strength. It was for this reason that Sith blademaster Kas'im advised the fledgling Darth Bane to study Djem So; Bane's imposing stature would serve to complement Form V. Power attacks from a Djem So user could drive an opponent back just through sheer kinetic force, throwing them off balance and leaving them vulnerable to further attacks. This focus on brute force strikes and power blows was not just to penetrate an opponent's defense, but to physically push them back and leave them unable to counters.



Unlike Soresu or Ataru, Djem So required the user to not only counterattack, but press the assault, combining Force-enhanced strength with powerful blade combinations to overpower and overwhelm an opponent's defenses. Djem So's focuses on sheer power and strength, both physical and Force-imbued, made it the perfect counter for Makashi, a lightsaber form focused on dueling, finesse, and elegance, especially when employed by a skilled practitioner. This was exemplefied by Anakin Skywalker's final confrontation with Dooku. In their first engagement, Skywalker applied Shien against Dooku, and held his own against the masterful duelist for a considerable length of time before being defeated. Over the course of the Clone Wars, he would develop his practice in both Form V varients, honing his skills against both mechanical opponents and Dark Jedi. When the time came for their final bout, Skywalker deceived Dooku with a Shien opening stance and Ataru acrobatics before suddenly reverting to Djem So. The Sith was barely able to deflect his blows and eventually was scorched by his own blade being forced back onto his own shoulder. Using Form V, Anakin pushed Dooku back with powerful attacks, which he executed with mind-numbing speed. He was additionally bolstered by his use of rage in the fight, though this caused him to lose control and brutally execute the Sith Lord after disarming him.

As Darth Vader, Skywalker demonstrated similar tactics and applications with Form V, though his swordwork was highly distinct due to the cumbersome prosthesis and heavy life-support armor hampering his mobility, which forced Vader to reconfigure his fighting method completely, with his early attempts at dueling being awkward and clumsy. Vader continued to favor Form V, as the brute force-oriented nature of the style put his cybernetically-enhanced strength to good use, but he also started to include elements of multiple fighting forms in his own method. By the time of the subjugation of Kashyyyk, Vader had largely overcome the limitations of his suit, regaining a measure of his old agility, but also relying on more simplistic moves and power blows to combat the elaborate fighting forms favored by surviving Jedi of the era. Olee Starstone observed that Vader borrowed elements from all combat techniques, even the most advanced, while his moves themselves demonstrated crispness and unpredictability. While Vader still drew on his anger to a certain extent, he kept a much better handle on his emotions, not wishing to be blinded by rage run amok again. Ultimately, Darth Vader's practice of Form V lacked polish, but he wielded it masterfully and with utter confidence, prevailing against many of the greatest Jedi duelists of his era.



Luke Skywalker proved to be a gifted duelist, largely self-taught after only brief training sessions with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda. Instinctively mirroring Vader's Form V method, Luke actually was able to hold his own against Vader, a masterful Sith duelist at the height of his prowess, during their Duel on Bespin, even gaining ground on the Sith Lord. However, due to his lack of experience, he was left unable to counter Vader's unrestrained aggression, barely able to fend off Vader's power strokes while his own counters were simply shunted aside. Giving ground and cornered, Luke lost his hand. Spending the following year advancing his skills through practice and adoption of techniques specified in Obi-Wan Kenobi's journal, Luke develops advanced lightsaber skills, evidenced by his highly refined blast-deflection. In his rematch with Vader, Luke stands toe-to-toe with the Sith Lord, even managing to overcome his experienced opponent through a powerful offensive frenzy, a remarkable achievement considering his lack of formal training. However, in an even greater display of self-control, Luke ceased his attack immediately upon rendering his foe helpless.

Known moves and maneuvers
"Form V focuses on strength and lightsaber attack moves."

- Cin Drallig



The Shien opening stance was a high guard position, with the hilt held in a two-handed grip above the user's head, and the blade angled upwards and behind the user. The dominant leg would be back, enabling powerful step-through strikes to be utilized. Another Shien position consisted of an unorthodox horizontal attack stance which was used to perform long, sweeping strikes to take down several enemies at a time. Shien users were also proficient in a maneuver referred to as the "Barrier of Blades", which defended the user from blasterfire and redirected some of the incoming blasts. "Shien Deflection" was another technique familiar to users of that Form V variant, allowing practitioners to simultaneously deflect weapons fire and leap towards an opponent.

The Djem So attack stance consisted of holding the lightsaber above the head, angled back and down at an approximately forty-five degree angle. The characteristic Djem So attack was dubbed the "Falling Avalanche", an overhand power blow that crashed down upon an opponent with incredible force. Djem So users also employed a tactic known as the "Fluid Riposte", which involved a smooth transition from parrying an attack to a counterstrike.

Djem So lightsaber design


Lightsabers belonging to Djem So practitioners sometimes had a solid casing (either as a whole or in multiple sections for maximum protection against power surge deterioration) and a heavily shrouded or beveled blade emitter. The beveled emitter was designed to designate separate facets of the blade for either offensive or defensive purposes. Their hilts also commonly included ridged, occasionally thick, hand grips, as Djem So required its users to maintain a solid grip on the lightsaber hilt. However, many types of weapons could be wielded effectively by Form V practitioners, even curve-hilted lightsabers, weapons traditionally associated with Form II, as demonstrated by Darth Bane. Bane noted that curved lightsabers fit better into the palm, allowing greater power without costing precision. They also altered the angle of attacks ever so slightly, which gave Bane a unique dueling style, one that his opponents were not usually prepared to meet. Other weapon types wielded by Form V practitioners include lightsaber pikes, as shown by the Shien practitioner Kazdan Paratus, or saberstaffs, as shown by the Jedi Master Zez-Kai Ell.

Practitioners
"Peace through superior firepower"

- Jedi maxim on Form V



Form V had been in existance for millenia, with Shien being practiced by Kavar, Zez-Kai Ell, and Vrook Lamar during the Jedi Civil War, while Jedi Knight Ulic Qel-Droma favored Djem So. The Cold War era Jedi Rojo Trace was also versed in Djem So, drawing on this knowledge during a brief bout with a Sith Blademaster; Shak’Weth. During the New Sith Wars, Form V was mastered by the Sith Blademaster Kas'im, who instructed numerous apprentices and acolytes in it's use, including Darth Bane.

To the Jedi of the Clone Wars era, the most prominant Form V practitioner was Anakin Skywalker, who mastered both varients. Other advanced practitioners included Cin Drallig, Adi Gallia, Plo Koon,, Luminara Unduli, Even Piell, and Sora Bulq. Ahsoka Tano originally specialized in the reverse-grip varient of Shien, though her master, Anakin Skywalker, began providing her with training in Djem So. Obi-Wan Kenobi also possessed knowledge of Shien, as evidenced by his precise blast-deflection skills and his occasional preference for the reversed grip during the Naboo Crisis. The Anzati Jedi Nikkos Tyris also practiced this style, and trained his Jensaarai followers in it before his death. Other Form V duelists include Khaat Qiyn, Aayla Secura and Zelice Sturm. Dooku provided Grievous and his IG-100 MagnaGuards with training in Form V, along with the other six classic forms.

During the Dark Times, Darth Vader continued to specialize in Form V, providing his secret apprentice, Starkiller with training in the form. Starkiller came to favor the reversed-grip varient of Shien in combat. Kazdan Paratus also favored the Shien style. Luke Skywalker instinctively mirrored Vader's practice of Djem So in combat, training it to students of his New Jedi Order. Records of Form V would also be recovered, and practitioners of the form during this time would include the Jedi Battlemaster Kyle Katarn

Jedi of large stature often chose to use Form V, because it required less agility than other forms of lightsaber combat.

Behind the scenes


Form V, along with the other 6 classical saber forms, was invented by David West Reynolds and fencer Jack "Stelen" Bobo for the Fightsaber part of Star Wars Insider 62.

Form V (Shien and Djem So), along with the other lightsaber forms, appears in Star Wars: Galaxies as part of moves and techniques employable by Jedi characters. This has not definitively been clarified to be canonical. Form V also had a non-canonical appearance as part of Darth Vader's role in the fighting game Soulcalibur IV, where it comprises part of Vader's fighting style.

While Darth Sidious is sometimes believed to be a Form IV user, no source has confirmed his lightsaber form. Due to comments from Nick Gillard that Sidious has been shown to use several different forms proficiently, it is possible that he has mastered most of them. It is possible that the Jedi Exile was trained in the use of Form V after her return from exile. However, it is also possible that she was a Jedi Consular and learned the Force forms instead.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Darth Bane: Path of Destruction
 * Darth Bane: Rule of Two
 * Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * The Cestus Deception
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith novelization
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight
 * Coruscant Nights III: Patterns of Force
 * The Force Unleashed novelization
 * Star Wars Galaxies
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Soulcalibur IV
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Soulcalibur IV