Mind trick/Legends

"The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi

The mind trick was a Force technique employed by Jedi to influence the thoughts of the weak-minded. In particular, it was often invoked to coerce the target of this power into agreement by suggestion, to cause one to reveal information, or to appeal to a sensory impression for distraction (e.g., to imitate the sound of footsteps emanating from a corridor for sneaking past a guard). This tactic allowed its practitioners to resolve matters in a non-violent way. However, some species-for example, Hutts and Toydarians- were not susceptible to its effects.

Examples of the mind trick in action

 * In 33 BBY, while in a cantina on Dorvalla, Darth Maul used the mind trick on the bartender so that she would "bring him his drink and leave him alone."
 * In 32 BBY while on Naboo, Qui-Gon Jinn used the mind trick to convince the leader of the Gungans, Boss Nass, to allow Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi to depart in a bongo with Jar Jar Binks. Later, on Tatooine Jinn attempted to convince Watto, a Toydarian junk dealer, to allow him to use Republic credits to buy spare parts for Queen Amidala's royal starship. Watto asked Jinn if he thought he was "some kind of Jedi, waving his hand around like that." He claimed that mind tricks don't work on Toydarians&mdash;only money.
 * In 22 BBY on Coruscant, Obi-Wan Kenobi refused the offer of a slythmonger for Cilona-extract "death sticks," which were powerful narcotics. Kenobi convinced the slythmonger with a wave of his hand that he didn't want to sell him death sticks, and instead he wanted to "go home and rethink his life." A few days later, Padm&eacute; Amidala asked Anakin Skywalker if he was going to use the mind trick on her, to which he replied that it would only work on the weak-minded, implying that Padm&eacute;'s mind was too strong - and Anakin knew it.
 * Around 21.7 BBY Jedi Master Yoda used the mind trick to make Captain Typho, who was responsible for Padmé Amidala safety, to recommend that they need to save Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee on Ilum, which was a "slight deviation" from their route. Although Padmé clearly recognized the trick, she still happily ordered Typho to go to Ilum.
 * In 19 BBY Obi-Wan again used the mind trick to avoid any unnecessary entanglements, on the sinkhole world of Utapau. In order to procure transport needed to track down General Grievous, Obi-Wan used the Force to persuade a local Utai dragonmount-handler to assist him. The Utai allowed Kenobi to ride Boga, a loyal varactyl mount, to reach the tenth level of Pau City. Later when he returned to Coruscant, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda were greeted along with Senator Bail Organa by a guard; the guard said that he had taken the Jedi into his custody, but Obi-Wan Kenobi employed the mind trick and the guard then replied that it would be better if the Jedi stayed with the Senator.
 * In 0 BBY Obi-Wan once more made use of the Jedi mind trick, this time to convince an Imperial officer that himself and Luke Skywalker did not have the droids for which the Empire was looking, and that it would be best if they moved along. Obi-Wan also used it to distract some Imperial officers while he was disabling the tractor beam holding the Millennium Falcon captive onboard the first Death Star, although this was clearly not a direct mind trick, perhaps more of a force manipulation, as Obi-Wan Kenobi uses the same trick in 19 BBY, towards the end of the Clone Wars.
 * In 4 ABY Luke Skywalker used the mind trick to convince Bib Fortuna to allow him an audience with Jabba the Hutt. Jabba later criticized Fortuna for falling for such a mind trick. Luke tried to use it on Jabba, who told Luke that his "mind powers will not work on him."
 * In 7 ABY, Corran Horn, who was on an undercover mission, tried to use the mind trick on a stormtrooper on Thyferra, trying to convince the trooper that Corran could go about his business. It failed miserably, and the only reaction he prompted from the stormtrooper was "You can go about your business? Your business is my business, void brain" - Horn ended up having to spend a couple of days in a bacta tank.
 * In 12 ABY, Kyle Katarn used the mind trick to get an Ugnaught worker to open a door for him.

Employing the Jedi mind trick
When using a Jedi mind trick, a Jedi often waved his or her hand to aid in the persuasion. The Jedi adopted a peculiar tone of voice along with a casual facial expression. The sentient being that was the object of the mind trick tended to adopt a casual tone of voice but a peculiar facial expression. He or she, if possessing a relatively weak mind, then agreed to whatever was being told to them without being able to think for themselves.

In gaming
Various games represent the Jedi mind trick as a means of slipping past opponents without being seen. In one instance it was named "Force Persuasion", but accomplished the same thing, probably a name to apply only to this variant of use. A mind trick in the game is employed, and your character becomes invisible to (an) opponent(s). Other instances in games employ the mind trick so that using it makes your opponents join your party by attacking other of your opponents; usually the effect wears off. In Knights of the Old Republic and its sequel, Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, usage of mind-affecting Force abilities follows the movies more closely. Learning these abilities gives the player additional choices in conversations, which can be used to persuade NPCs to do something beneficial for the player - for example, pay a greater reward than the player would normally receive or share some secret information.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * X-Wing: The Bacta War
 * Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast