Shiak

"Shiak is "stabbing". Jedi tradition holds that shiak is an honorable method of inflicting serious injury because it causes the least visible injury to the opponent's body."

- Cin Drallig

In lightsaber combat, shiak was the act of stabbing an opponent and was considered relatively honorable by the Jedi. Jedi usually stabbed in the leg or arm, however Sith preferred stabbing opponents through the chest or the stomach, often guaranteeing certain death to the unfortunate victim.

Notable uses


Jedi Consular Raana Tey received a shiak strike from Shel Jelavan, though it did not immediately end her life.

The Mandalorian Scientist Demagol and his Zeltron daughter, Chantique, both received a shiak strike from Exar Kun's doubl-bladed lightsaber during the Mandalorian Wars.

Jedi Master Meetra Surik received a killing blow from behind from Sith Lord Scourge, when he unexpectedly turned on his allies during their attack on the Sith Emperor

Jedi Master Ven Zallow was defeated by Darth Malgus's shiak during the Sacking of Coruscant, killing him.

Jedi Master Orgus Din was impaled by Darth Angral after trying to assault Angral's cruiser.

During a skirmish on Tython, Darth Zannah applied shiak against the Echani Jedi Master Raskta Lsu from behind, ending the Jedi's life. In that same battle, Johun Othone died at Zannah's hands in a similar manner when she drove her lightsaber through his chest after he was injured by Zannah's master.

Shiak was used by Darth Maul when he stabbed Jedi Master Siolo Ur Manka. He used it again on Qui-Gon Jinn during their duel on Naboo. . Maul performed shiak again on Finn Ertay From behind during the Clone Wars when the two dueled and again on Sabo over Florrum. The Sith Lord executed Satine Kryze with a shiak strike by pulling her onto the Darksaber with the Force.

Shiak was used by Anakin Skywalker. Killed a T'surr slave trader named Krayn by stabbing him through the chest. He also applied this technique to Tal Merrik from Behind, a turncoat senator working for Death Watch who was trying to hold Satine Kryze hostage. The Jedi Knight also applied this technique to kill the powerful Force-wielder known as the Son from behind and his Father and again on Several Zygerrians the during Battle of Kadavo

Obi-Wan Kenobi attempted to use shiak on Durge during the Battle of Muunilinst, but failed due to the durable nature of Durge's species. He also used the technique against B1 battle droids on Christophsis, in addition to numerous other battles during the Clone Wars.

Shiak was used by Asajj Ventress when she impaled Jedi Master Fay from behind. She used it again on Senate Commando Faro Argyus when he tried to take all the credit for the rescue of Nute Gunray. , She also applied this technique with the Force Choke to Clone Recon Commando Colt the during Battle of Kamino and again on the Bounty Hunter Oked on Tatooine after Battle of Dathomir.

Warden Osi Sobeck received a shiak strike from behind from Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano, when he attempted to assassinate Wilhuff Tarkin during the Battle of Lola Sayu.

Count Dooku applied shiak to kill Gungan Minister Rish Loo during the Skirmish on Naboo.

General Grievous "rewarded" Gha Nachkt's finding of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker's astromech droid R2-D2 and cracking his never-been-erased memory banks by impaling him through the back. He also used it on the Nightsister Daka during the Battle of Dathomir.

Barriss Offee used shiak on Clone trooper Trap when he tried to infect her with a brain worm.

Jedi Master Pong Krell used shiak to slay several clone troopers on Umbara after he revealed his fall to the dark side.

The Ming Po Tryla received a Shiak strike from behind from the Death Watch's Secret Mandalore Pre Vizsla for attempt kill Ming Po Grandfather and Chieftain Pieter during the first skirmish on Carlac.

Zabrak Nightbrother Savage Opress used shiak on Jedi Master Adi Gallia on Florrum after goring her with his horns. Darth Sidious used this maneuver to kill Nightbrother Savage Opress during their duel on Mandalore and used it again on Jedi Master Agen Kolar, when a team of Jedi Masters went to arrest him.

During and after the Great Jedi Purge, Shiak was used by Darth Vader multiple times. During Vader's attack on the Jedi Temple in 19 BBY, his first Jedi victim was Gatekeeper Jurokk by igniting his lightsaber through Jurokk's head. He also killed Chief Librarian Jocasta Nu by lifting her into the air and impaling her through the chest. Shortly afterwards, in the hidden passageways underneath the Temple, he would kill Sha Koon in a similar manner. Grand Master Yoda used Shiak to slay Several Clone troopers on Jedi Temple. An unidentified clone trooper of the 501st legion was killed in this manner as well. Later that year, when he assailed a secret meeting of surviving Jedi, the first to die by his blade was the Jedi Knight Sia-Lan Wezz, having been impaled by the Dark Lord; he then sliced off her hand as she fell dead. Vader also ended the life of Jedi Master Hylon when he impaled him through the chest atop Mount Dijandi on Otavon XII. Jedi Padawan Drake Lo'gaan was also stabbed through the chest by Darth Vader, though unlike Hylon, Lo'gaan survived the blow. Also, shortly after the Battle of Yavin in 0 ABY, Vader again applied shiak in a battle against a hyenax pack on the planet of Vaal, where he stabbed one of the attacking animals through its skull.

The simulacrum of Darth Phobos was defeated by Galen Marek stabbing her in the back. Marek himself was impaled by Darth Vader on the bridge of the Executor when Darth Sidious "discovered" him and was then flung into space. He would survive the betrayal, though he spent six months on the Empirical recovering.

During their showdown on Mustafar, X1 threw his lightsaber at his brother, X2. However, X2 dodged, and X1's blade ran him through instead, causing him to stagger off a nearby cliff to his death.

Jacen Solo killed his former student Nelani Dinn with shiak after immobilizing her with cho mok and shiim strikes during their mission at The Home near Bimmiel.

Darth Caedus skewered Jedi battlemaster Kyle Katarn with this technique, though Katarn would survive the encounter.

Shiak was used by Jaina Solo to defeat Yuuzhan Vong Warmaster Tsavong Lah, killing him by running her lightsaber through his neck during the Battle of Ebaq 9. Thirteen years later, she used it again on her brother, Jacen Solo, by then Darth Caedus, impaling him through the abdomen when she ambushed him during their final duel. Caedus survived the blow, however.

Relin Druur lifted Saes Rrogon with the Force and stabbed his former Padawan with his own lightsaber, killing him instantly. Luke Skywalker accidentally killed Dyon Stadd by stabbing him in the chest when the dark side being Abeloth disguised herself as him.

Darth Nihl used this technique against Zabrak Jedi Master Wolf Sazen during the Massacre at Ossus, though Sazen would survive the battle.

Imperial Knight Elke Vetter received a shiak strike to her right leg from Darth Talon. Talon herself was later stabbed through the stomach by Cade Skywalker.

Shiak used by Darth Krayt, when impaled the Imperial Knight Mohrgan Fel through the chest during his raid on the Imperial Palace. He used it again on his former adviser, Darth Wyyrlok, during a battle for control of the One Sith. Krayt himself was a victim of two shiak strikes. The first time this happened, he was stabbed through his upper back by Imperial Knight Azlyn Rae when she and her allies attempted to assassinate him, though it failed to kill him. Later, he was fatally impaled through the chest by Cade Skywalker during their final showdown.

Imperial Knight Antares Draco skewered Emperor Roan Fel from behind when he attempted to release a sample of Omega Red on Coruscant, fulfilling his oath to kill his Emperor if he fell to the dark side and could not be redeemed.

Behind the scenes
Originally, Shaak Ti was going to be killed in Revenge of the Sith by General Grievous when he held a lightsaber behind her heart and ignited it, killing her. However, this scene was deleted from the film and Shaak Ti was later killed by Galen Marek on Felucia, making it non-canon.

In the video game Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy the player, if he or she stays on the light side, can stab any opponent in the game. However, if a player chooses to turn to the dark side, Jaden Korr kills Rosh Penin by shiak. After Jaden leaves, Kyle enters and finds Rosh who is severely injured, who says he was sorry that both of Kyle's students had failed him. Before Rosh dies, Kyle assures him that he had become a Jedi.