Force lightning

"How does one defend against such power?''" "''A wise master does not reveal all his secrets at once. In due time, my apprentice."

- Savage Opress and Dooku, after electrocuting Opress with a barrage of Force lightning

Force lightning was a Force power utilized by the Sith. The technique involved a discharge of electricity from the practitioner's fingertips, resulting in electrocution and even disfigurement if the target was hit with it. Targets could deflect the discharge using a lightsaber. Some powerful Force-users were also capable of absorbing it using only the Force.

In some cases, the lightning intensity was so high that the victim's skeletal system started glowing and could be seen through his or her skin&mdash;as demonstrated with Mace Windu &mdash;or even through a heavy armor. One variant of Force lightning which harmed all individuals of the close vicinity of the user was Force Storm, which the Sith Lord Darth Sidious was also capable of using.

Behind the scenes
Force lightning first appeared in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, the final film of the original Star Wars trilogy. In the Expanded Universe, now re-branded as Star Wars Legends, Force lightning had a number of useful variants and could be summoned even by Jedi. These uses, however, are no longer considered canon and in canon media only practitioners of the dark side of the Force have been observed using the skill.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Galactic Defense
 * Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
 * Star Wars: Darth Maul&mdash;Son of Dathomir
 * Dark Disciple
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Lords of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
 * Return of the Jedi Read-Along Storybook and CD
 * Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side!
 * Epic Yarns: Return of the Jedi
 * The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight
 * Star Wars: Darth Maul&mdash;Son of Dathomir
 * Dark Disciple
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Lords of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
 * Return of the Jedi Read-Along Storybook and CD
 * Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side!
 * Epic Yarns: Return of the Jedi
 * The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight
 * Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side!
 * Epic Yarns: Return of the Jedi
 * The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight