Force lightning/Legends

"Now you will experience the full power of the dark side."

- Emperor Palpatine

Force lightning was a well known dark side Force ability. It was a purely energy-based attack used most commonly by, but not restricted to, the Sith. Force energy took the form of lightning bolts which exit the Force-user's body through his fingertips or palms; Force lightning could be executed with either one or two hands. The greater the user's aptitude, the more power the lightning bolts possessed and the more they forked, allowing the possibility of striking multiple foes at once. This Force power was often used as a form of torture as it not only caused severe physical damage but also extreme agony to the victim's emotional and spiritual capacities. However, a single powerful blast may have been sufficient to kill a person instantly. It is unclear why Palpatine kept electrocuting Luke Skywalker for so long, but it is likely that Palpatine, harboring extreme antipathy toward the Jedi, sought to maximize the intensity and duration of Luke's suffering in order to satisfy himself with the tormenting of the last of their kind.

The intensity varies based on a number of factors, but a skilled user can render a target unconscious with only a short burst. Depending on the level of intensity, Force lightning could apparently ground itself on an ignited lightsaber. Strong lightsiders are sometimes able to resist Force lightning, and it can also be blocked with a lightsaber. (It is unclear what role, if any, Force proficiency plays in using a lightsaber to deflect Force lightning.) Nevertheless, a sufficiently powerful Force-user could blast through the defenses afforded by a lightsaber, as seen when Darth Sidious blasted Jedi Master Yoda's lightsaber right out of his hand during their duel in the Senate chamber. Force lightning could also be absorbed and redirected by a Jedi of sufficient skill; Yoda demonstrated this ability by both reflecting and absorbing it during a fight with Count Dooku (probably Force Absorb).

There is a less powerful, light side version of Force Lighting, called Electric Judgement. This light side version was used by Jedi Master Plo Koon and Jedi of the New Order.

Effect of Force lightning


It is thought that very intense use of Force lightning could drain the user physically, and possibly result in severe facial and body deformations. This is considered by some to have been shown when Darth Sidious unleashed a barrage of Force lightning on Mace Windu, but it reflected back upon him by the Jedi Master's lightsaber. Nevertheless, this view is controversial; it is thought by some that Sidious's physical appearance as Chancellor Palpatine was an illusion created with Force energy, or a physical form of concealment, and that the lightning merely melted it away.

Deformities like the Chancellor's&mdash;to lesser extent&mdash;have been the product of intense use of the Force and long-time immersion to the dark side, so perhaps the lightning did not actually cause the transformation. Testament to this are the bloodshot yellow eyes, rotten teeth and sharp, dirty fingernails that replaced the Chancellor's clear blue eyes and healthy teeth after the lightning was redirected to him. Nevertheless, it is clear that Palpatine's lightning caused him some physical damage, external or internal, though to what extent is unknown.

According to the official explanation, the lightning reflected upon Palpatine had scarred and deformed him.

Following Palpatine using Force Lighting on Luke Skywalker it was found that his bones had undergone calcification and he was forced to rest for a number of days until his bones returned to normal status. Count Dooku's brief barrage on Anakin Skywalker also charred Anakin's body a bit, and when his robes had been taken away for laundry, droids discover several charred holes blasted through the robe.

Force lightning users



 * Though a powerful Sith Lord, Darth Vader's usage of force lightning was suppressed, due to his robotic arms he had after his battle with Count Dooku and after the disastrous confrontation on Mustafar (although this is compensated through his trademark use of Force Grip). Vader's cybernetics also made him much more vulnerable to the effects of Force lightning, and this vulnerability would eventually contribute to his death.


 * Darth Malak used Force lightning as a means of torture to turn Bastila Shan to the dark side. It was intended to give her "a taste" of the dark side's power and hatred.


 * Emperor Palpatine used Force lightning to punish Luke Skywalker for his refusal to join him, beginning with an agonizing but non-lethal quantity and working his way gradually upwards toward lethality. When Darth Vader turned on the Emperor, Palpatine used the lightning at a much higher intensity, yet Vader was still able to endure it long enough to hurl his master into the reactor core.


 * Darth Tyranus used the technique to incapacitate Anakin Skywalker during the Battle of Geonosis. He also attempted the technique on Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was able to block with his lightsaber, and Master Yoda, who managed to reflect and dispel the energy with his bare hands. In addition, he uniquely used this power to stabilize the heartbeat of General Grievous after Grievous's body was mangled in a shuttle crash.


 * Force lightning is not strictly available only to those who have fallen to the dark side. Jedi and other lightsiders who are strong of will and character can learn this power without falling to the dark side–but its use is always inherently corrupting, and shunned by most Jedi. Force lightning is a purely offensive power, but it can be used in ways other than destroying your opponent. Some members of the New Jedi Order used Force Lightning, but it remained very controversial among it's members


 * Other Force-sensitives known to have used the power include Jerec, Vialco, Shaardan, Atris, Quinlan Vos, Mara Jade Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, Jacen Solo, Jaina Solo, Kyle Katarn, Mighella, and Plo Koon.

Appearances



 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Darth Maul
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Battlefront II
 * Empire at War
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
 * ''Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy