Electrostaff/Legends

"Do you really think I would be foolish enough to arm my bodyguards with weapons that could actually hurt me?"

- Grievous to Obi-Wan Kenobi

The electrostaff was an electronic melee weapon constructed of lightsaber-resistant phrik alloy equipped with electromagnetic pulse-generating tips.

Characteristics


"Resistant to the energy outpourings of a lightsaber, the phrik alloy staffs were potent weapons, but like any weapon they needed to find their target..."

- Mace Windu

Though some staffs could penetrate and neutralize ray shields, most were simply used as blunt-force melee weapons. They were designed to be longer than most lightsaber blades, enabling the user to fight Jedi while remaining out of the Jedi's range.

As with force pikes, the emitters on the ends had different power settings, going from a stunning jolt to a deadly charge. Thus the electrostaff could be used to only incapacitate an opponent instead of killing him outright, (As is shown in the duel between General Grievous and Jedi Master Eeth Koth.) or even as a torture device. (As used by Cad Bane during his interrogation of Bolla Ropal.)

History
"Let`s see what you can do with that staff."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi to Magnaguards

The Separatist forces used electrostaff-wielding droids, known as IG-100 MagnaGuards, to guard General Grievous during the Clone Wars, as well as to assist him against Jedi and abduct Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in 19 BBY. The electrostaffs used by these MagnaGuards were lined with focusing rods along the shaft that fed into a power cell and electromagnetic field generator that energized a power cycling coil. This is what produced the purple sparks and beams that were visible at the ends of their electrostaffs.

Behind the scenes
Electrostaffs were weapons created for Revenge of the Sith out of George Lucas's desire for a non-lightsaber melee weapon that could combat a lightsaber.

In the audio commentary for the second volume of the Clone Wars cartoon series, it is revealed that the production team of the series jokingly referred to the electrostaffs as "fart staffs" because of their sound.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * The Eyes of Revolution
 * Star Wars: Republic Commando
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars Official Movie Storybook
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars Volume 1: Shipyards of Doom
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes
 * Star Wars: Obsession
 * Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Reversal of Fortune
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith / comic / junior novel / video game
 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed game
 * Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Reversal of Fortune
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith / comic / junior novel / video game
 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed game
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith / comic / junior novel / video game
 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed game
 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed game

Non-canon appearances

 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * "Sith make the best pancakes"
 * Star Wars: Grievous Getaway