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{{Eras}}
 
{{Eras}}
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{{Citation}}
{{Force_power
 
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{{Force power
 
|image=[[File:BZZZZZZ.png]]
 
|image=[[File:BZZZZZZ.png]]
 
|name=Force lightning
 
|name=Force lightning
  +
|alternate=Storm of Midnight Fire<ref name="Dooku: Jedi Lost" />
|alternate=
 
 
|alignment=[[Dark side of the Force]]<ref name="Episode VI">[[Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi|''Star Wars'': Episode VI ''Return of the Jedi'']]</ref>
 
|alignment=[[Dark side of the Force]]<ref name="Episode VI">[[Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi|''Star Wars'': Episode VI ''Return of the Jedi'']]</ref>
 
|area=
 
|area=
  +
|purpose=
 
|inventor=
 
|inventor=
 
|notable practitioners=*[[Darth Sidious]]<ref name="Episode VI" />
 
|notable practitioners=*[[Darth Sidious]]<ref name="Episode VI" />
*[[Dooku|Darth Tyranus]]<ref name="EpisodeII">[[Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones|''Star Wars'': Episode II ''Attack of the Clones'']]</ref>
+
*[[Dooku|Darth Tyranus]]<ref name="Master & Apprentice">''[[Master & Apprentice]]''</ref><ref name="EpisodeII">[[Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones|''Star Wars'': Episode II ''Attack of the Clones'']]</ref>
*[[Son]]<ref name="Altar of Mortis">{{TCW|Altar of Mortis (episode)|Altar of Mortis}}</ref>
+
*[[Momin]]<ref name="Dark Lord 22">[[Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 22|''Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith'' 22]]</ref>
  +
*[[Snoke]]<ref name="Episode VIII">[[Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi|''Star Wars'': Episode VIII ''The Last Jedi'']]</ref>
*[[Talzin]]<ref name="Massacre">{{TCW|Massacre}}</ref><span>
 
  +
*[[Son|The Son]]<ref name="Altar of Mortis">{{TCW|Altar of Mortis (episode)|Altar of Mortis}}</ref>
*[[The Bendu]]
 
 
*[[Mother Talzin]]<ref name="Massacre">{{TCW|Massacre}}</ref>
|era=
 
  +
*[[Rey Skywalker|Rey]]<ref name="Episode IX">[[Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker|''Star Wars'': Episode IX ''The Rise of Skywalker'']]</ref>
 
|affiliation=*[[Sith]]<ref name="EncyclopediaSith">{{SWE|groups|sith|Sith}}</ref>
 
|affiliation=*[[Sith]]<ref name="EncyclopediaSith">{{SWE|groups|sith|Sith}}</ref>
*[[Nightsisters]]<ref name="Massacre" /><span>
+
*[[Jedi]]<ref name="Master & Apprentice" />
*[[Force wielder]](s)}}
+
*[[Force wielder]]s<ref name="Altar of Mortis" />
  +
*[[Nightsisters]]<ref name="Massacre" />}}
{{Quote|How does one defend against such power?''"<br />"''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|Witches of the Mist}}
+
{{Quote|How does one defend against such power?''"<br />"''A wise master does not reveal all his secrets at once. In due time, my apprentice.|[[Savage Opress]] and Darth Tyranus, after assaulting Opress with a barrage of Force lightning|Witches of the Mist}}
'''Force lightning''' was a [[The Force|Force]] [[Force power|power]] utilized by the [[Sith]].<ref name="EncyclopediaSith" /> The technique involved a discharge of electricity from the practitioner's fingertips,<ref name="Episode VI" /> resulting in electrocution and even disfigurement if the target was hit with it.<ref name="EpisodeIII">[[Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith|''Star Wars'': Episode III ''Revenge of the Sith'']]</ref>
 
  +
'''Force lightning''' was a [[Force power|power]] that [[Force-sensitive|Force users]], such as the [[Sith]] and even [[Light side of the Force|light siders]] like the [[Jedi]], could conjure through the [[Dark side of the Force]].<ref name="EncyclopediaSith" /><ref name="Master & Apprentice" /> It was an offensive technique which involved a discharge of electrical energy from the practitioner's hands<ref name="Episode VI" /> and was capable of inflicting severe pain on the target of this attack as well as possible disfigurement.<ref name="EpisodeIII">[[Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith|''Star Wars'': Episode III ''Revenge of the Sith'']]</ref> A variant of the ability, known as '''Chain lightning''', involved a burst of lightning that would spread from the first target to those around them, another variant used by Sidious was the power to produce a [[Dark Aura|dark aura]], a miniature storm of malevolent Force energy and lightning that slowed the movement of, and tortured all caught within its radius.<ref name="Battlefront II">''[[Star Wars Battlefront II]]''</ref> Its use was forbidden by the [[Jedi Order]].<ref name="Expert Guide">''[[Star Wars Expert Guide]]''</ref>
   
  +
Force Lightning occurred in at least four colors; '''blue''', '''green''', '''yellow''' and '''red'''. The standard color was a bluish-purple as demonstrated by Palpatine, Dooku, Snoke, and Rey; Nightsister Magic equivalents were green like [[Magical ichor]] as demonstrated by [[Mother (title)|Mother]] [[Talzin]]. Lord [[Momin]] used yet another version that was yellow. It would appear that the most powerful manifestation was "red" as it was used by the [[Son]] (the manifestation of the Dark Side itself) and the disembodied spirit of [[Anakin Skywalker|Darth Vader]] when he entered the portal in his castle on [[Mustafar]]. Anakin blasted the illusion of his master, [[Darth Sidious|Emperor Palpatine]] with red Force lightning after the latter tried to bar him from going to the balcony to see Padme.<ref name="Darth Vader 25">[[Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 25|''Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith'' 25]]</ref> Momin planned to pour the Force with his version of Force lightning into his engine at the moment of ignition and use it to slow down time, trapping the expressions of horror and pain on the city's inhabitants forever.<ref name="Dark Lord 22" />
Targets could deflect the discharge using a [[lightsaber]]. Some powerful Force-users were also capable of absorbing it using only the Force,<ref name="EpisodeII" /> but only for a short while, and at the price of immense effort.<ref name="Character Encyclopedia">''[[Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded]]''</ref> [[Gungan personal energy shield]]s were also capable of repelling Force lightning.<ref name="Weapons Poll">{{SW|url=news/poll-which-star-wars-weapon-would-you-use|text=Poll: Which Star Wars Weapon Would You Use?}}</ref>
 
  +
 
A Jedi and Sith could deflect the lightning with a [[lightsaber]]; a powerful [[Jedi Master]], such as [[Yoda]] was capable of deflecting the attack using [[Force deflection]]<ref name="EpisodeII" /> but only for a short while and with immense effort.<ref name="Character Encyclopedia">''[[Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded]]''</ref> [[Gungan personal energy shield]]s were also capable of repelling Force lightning.<ref name="Weapons Poll">{{SW|url=news/poll-which-star-wars-weapon-would-you-use|text=Poll: Which Star Wars Weapon Would You Use?}}</ref> [[Mace Windu]]<ref name="EpisodeIII" /> and [[Rey Skywalker]] were both able to deflect [[Darth Sidious]]' lightning back onto him using lightsabers, in Rey's case two. The force of his own reflected lightning the second time was what ultimately destroyed Darth Sidious for good.<ref name="Episode IX" /> [[Quinlan Vos]] with his lightsaber was able to deflecting the Force lightning of [[Dooku]] back onto him.<ref name="Dark Disciple">''[[Dark Disciple]]''</ref>
  +
  +
Other dark side wielders besides the Sith were able to harness the ability. [[Mother (title)|Mother]] [[Talzin]] conjured her own version of Force lightning that was powerful enough to block Darth Sidious' lightning.<ref name="Son of Dathomir, Part Four">[[Darth Maul&mdash;Son of Dathomir 4|''Darth Maul&mdash;Son of Dathomir'' 4]]</ref> [[Supreme Leader]] [[Snoke]] used it to subdue his apprentice, [[Ben Solo|Kylo Ren]] when the young [[Knights of Ren|knight]] lost control of his anger. Snoke's use of Force lightning varied from previous practitioners as he projected energy against the floor, causing it to bounce upward and knock the target off their feet.<ref name="Episode VIII" />
  +
  +
Light siders like the Jedi could also use this power. [[Dooku]], during his time as a member of the Jedi Order, utilized it spontaneously during a painful Force vision to kill some [[Presagers of Hakotei]], without any known prior training<ref name="Dooku: Jedi Lost">''[[Dooku: Jedi Lost]]''</ref> and also used it on [[Shenda Mol]] to save his [[Padawan]] [[Qui-Gon Jinn]] whilst on [[Numidian Prime]].<ref name="Master & Apprentice" />
  +
 
In some cases, the intensity of Force lightning was so high that the victim's skeletal system glowed and could be seen through his or her skin&mdash;as demonstrated with Mace Windu<ref name="EpisodeIII" />&mdash;or even through [[Vader's armor|heavy armor]].<ref name="Episode VI" />
  +
  +
Rey briefly unleashed a blast of Force Lightning on a [[AAL-1971/9.1 Troop Transport|First Order transport]] on [[Pasaana]] while she and Kylo Ren were both trying to bring the transport to themselves with the Force, and in her anger, she accidentally unleashed lightning upon it, destroying it immediately. And during the [[Battle of Exegol]], Darth Sidious unleashed a barrage of Force Lightning that disabled the [[galaxy fleet]] above.<ref name="Episode IX" />
   
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]]<ref name="EpisodeIII" />&mdash;or even through heavy armor.<ref name="Episode VI" />
 
 
{{Stub}}
 
{{Stub}}
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
[[File:Adventures of Luke - Force Lightning.jpg|thumb|250px|Sidious blasts [[Luke Skywalker]] with lightning in [[Ralph McQuarrie]] artwork seen in ''[[The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight]]'']]
+
[[File:Adventures of Luke - Force Lightning.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Darth Sidious blasting Luke Skywalker with lightning in [[Ralph McQuarrie]] artwork seen in ''[[The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight]]'']]
Force lightning first appeared in [[Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi|''Star Wars'': Episode VI ''Return of the Jedi'']], the final film of the [[Original trilogy|original]] ''[[Star Wars]]'' trilogy. In the Expanded Universe, now re-branded as [[Star Wars Legends|''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.
+
Force lightning first appeared in the [[1983]] film [[Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi|''Star Wars'': Episode VI ''Return of the Jedi'']], the final film of the ''[[Star Wars]]'' [[original trilogy]].<ref name="Episode VI" /> In [[Star Wars Legends|''Star Wars'' Legends]], a few [[Jedi/Legends|Jedi]], such as [[Luke Skywalker/Legends|Luke Skywalker]], used a variant of [[Force lightning/Legends|Force lightning]].<ref name="DNI:TJK">''[[Dark Nest I: The Joiner King]]''</ref> The [[Databank (website)|Databank]] entry for Force lightning, however, says that in current [[canon]], it's exclusively a [[Dark side of the Force|dark-side]] power.<ref>{{Databank|force-lightning|Force Lightning|archivedate=20170710190140}}</ref>
  +
  +
There has been a debate about the consequences of Force lightning in an individual. In ''Revenge of the Sith'', after having been bested by Mace Windu, Darth Sidious uses Force lightning against the [[Jedi Master]], who repels it with his lightsaber, deflecting it on Sidious and disfiguring and scarring the [[Sith Lord]]'s body.<ref name="EpisodeIII" /> However, previous to the Force lightning's appearance in ''Sith'', Sidious blasted [[Luke Skywalker]] with Force lightning in ''Return of the Jedi'' several times and Skywalker wasn't disfigured or scarred.<ref name="Episode VI" /> Though an official explanation of this inconsistency has yet to be given, [[Lucasfilm Story Group]]'s [[Matt Martin]] has shared his thinking for what the explanation could be, as he never saw it as an inconsistency. In his mind, it was Sidious' own fault that his disfigurement took place, assuming that he overexerted himself, causing the Force lightning's voltage to be higher unlike when he later attacked Skywalker.<ref name="Matt's Explanation">{{Twitter|missingwords|status/1034554469596319746|[[Matt Martin]]|quote=This is not an official answer but I just always assumed there was more going on with Palps and it wasn't just a result of the lightning itself. Maybe he overexerted himself and that caused it? Maybe he had the voltage turned up higher? IDK, but I never saw it as an inconsistency}}</ref>
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
{{Scroll box|
+
{{Scroll_box|
  +
*{{Galaxy of Adventures|Jedi vs. Sith - The Skywalker Saga}}
  +
*''[[Dooku: Jedi Lost]]''
  +
*''[[Master & Apprentice]]'' {{Flash}}
  +
*[[Age of Republic - Darth Maul 1|''Age of Republic - Darth Maul'' 1]]
  +
*''[[Star Wars Journeys: The Phantom Menace]]'' {{Mo}}
 
*''[[Star Wars Journeys: Beginnings]]''
 
*''[[Star Wars: Galactic Defense]]''
 
*''[[Star Wars: Galactic Defense]]''
 
*''[[Star Wars: Force Arena]]''
 
*''[[Star Wars: Force Arena]]''
  +
*''[[5-Minute Star Wars Villain Stories]]''
  +
*''[[Star Wars Battlefront II]]''
  +
*[[Age of Republic - Count Dooku 1|''Age of Republic - Count Dooku'' 1]] {{Co}}
 
*[[Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones|''Star Wars'': Episode II ''Attack of the Clones'']]
 
*[[Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones|''Star Wars'': Episode II ''Attack of the Clones'']]
  +
*{{Galaxy of Adventures|Yoda vs Count Dooku – Size Matters Not}}
 
*[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)|''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' film]]
 
*[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)|''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' film]]
 
*{{TCW|Dooku Captured}}
 
*{{TCW|Dooku Captured}}
  +
*{{TCW|The Gungan General}} {{Flash}}
 
*{{TCW|Nightsisters (episode)|Nightsisters}}
 
*{{TCW|Nightsisters (episode)|Nightsisters}}
 
*{{TCW|Witches of the Mist}}
 
*{{TCW|Witches of the Mist}}
Line 46: Line 72:
 
*{{TCW|Voices}} {{Vision|Yoda}}
 
*{{TCW|Voices}} {{Vision|Yoda}}
 
*{{TCW|Sacrifice}}
 
*{{TCW|Sacrifice}}
*''[[Darth Maul—Son of Dathomir, Part One]]''
 
*''[[Darth Maul—Son of Dathomir, Part Two]]''
 
*''[[Darth Maul—Son of Dathomir, Part Three]]''
 
*''[[Darth Maul—Son of Dathomir, Part Four]]''
 
 
*''[[Dark Disciple]]''
 
*''[[Dark Disciple]]''
  +
*''[[Dark Disciple (audiobook)]]''
  +
*[[Darth Maul&mdash;Son of Dathomir 1|''Darth Maul&mdash;Son of Dathomir'' 1]]
  +
*[[Darth Maul&mdash;Son of Dathomir 2|''Darth Maul&mdash;Son of Dathomir'' 2]]
  +
*[[Darth Maul&mdash;Son of Dathomir 3|''Darth Maul&mdash;Son of Dathomir'' 3]]
  +
*[[Darth Maul&mdash;Son of Dathomir 4|''Darth Maul&mdash;Son of Dathomir'' 4]]
 
*[[Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith|''Star Wars'': Episode III ''Revenge of the Sith'']]
 
*[[Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith|''Star Wars'': Episode III ''Revenge of the Sith'']]
  +
*[[Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 1|''Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith'' 1]]
 
*''[[Lords of the Sith]]''
 
*''[[Lords of the Sith]]''
  +
*[[Age of Rebellion - Darth Vader 1|''Age of Rebellion - Darth Vader'' 1]] {{Flash}}
  +
*[[Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 25|''Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith'' 25]] {{Vision|Darth Vader}}
  +
*''[[Leia Organa: Ordeal of the Princess]]'' {{Flash}}
 
*''[[The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight]]''
 
*''[[The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight]]''
  +
*''[[Star Wars: The Original Trilogy – A Graphic Novel]]''
 
*''[[Star Wars Battlefront]]''
 
*''[[Star Wars Battlefront]]''
*''[[Star Wars Annual 1]]''
+
*[[Star Wars Annual 1|''Star Wars Annual'' 1]]
  +
*[[Doctor Aphra 33|''Doctor Aphra'' 33]]
  +
*{{Galaxy of Adventures|Yoda – The Jedi Master}} {{Flash}}
 
*[[Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi|''Star Wars'': Episode VI ''Return of the Jedi'']] {{1st}}
 
*[[Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi|''Star Wars'': Episode VI ''Return of the Jedi'']] {{1st}}
  +
*{{Galaxy of Adventures|Luke vs. Emperor Palpatine - Rise to Evil}} {{Flash}}
*''[[Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Read-Along Storybook and CD]]''
 
 
*''[[Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side!]]''
 
*''[[Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side!]]''
  +
*[[Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (paperback novel)|''Star Wars: Return of the Jedi'' junior novelization]]
}}
 
 
*''[[Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Read-Along Storybook and CD]]''
  +
*[[Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi|''Star Wars'': Episode VIII ''The Last Jedi'']]
  +
*''[[Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Expanded Edition]]''
  +
*''[[Star Wars: The Last Jedi: A Junior Novel]]''
  +
*[[The Last Jedi Adaptation 1|''The Last Jedi Adaptation'' 1]]
  +
*[[Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker|''Star Wars'': Episode IX ''The Rise of Skywalker'']]}}
   
===Non-Canon Appearances===
+
===Non-canon appearances===
*''[[Epic Yarns: Return of the Jedi]]''
+
*''[[Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes]]''
  +
*''[[Revenge of the Sith: Episode III (LEGO Star Wars)]]''
  +
*''[[Star Wars Epic Yarns: Return of the Jedi]]''
 
*{{The Freemaker Adventures|Return of the Kyber Saber}}
 
*{{The Freemaker Adventures|Return of the Kyber Saber}}
  +
*{{The Freemaker Adventures|Trouble on Tibalt}}
*{{Droid Tales|Crisis on Coruscant (episode)|Crisis on Coruscant }}
 
  +
*{{The Freemaker Adventures|The Pit and the Pinnacle}}
*{{Droid Tales|Gambit on Geonosis}}
 
  +
*{{The Freemaker Adventures|Flight of the Arrowhead}}
  +
*{{The Freemaker Adventures|Return of the Return of the Jedi}}
 
*{{Droid Tales|Crisis on Coruscant (episode)|Crisis on Coruscant}} {{Flash}}
 
*{{Droid Tales|Gambit on Geonosis}} {{Flash}}
 
*''[[LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens]]''
 
*''[[LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens]]''
   
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
 
*{{SWE|groups|sith|Sith}}
 
*{{SWE|groups|sith|Sith}}
*''[[Star Wars in 100 Scenes]]''
 
 
*{{LEGOCite|Classic|75093|Death Star Final Duel}}
 
*{{LEGOCite|Classic|75093|Death Star Final Duel}}
 
*''[[Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know]]''
 
*''[[Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know]]''
 
*''[[Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded]]''
 
*''[[Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded]]''
  +
*''[[Star Wars: Destiny Two-Player Game]]''
*{{Databank|force-lightning|Force Lightning}}
 
  +
*{{Destiny|Across the Galaxy|link=|cardname=Burst of Lightning}}
*{{Databank|sith|Sith}}
 
  +
*''[[Star Wars: The Dark Side]]''
  +
*{{SWKidsYoutube|wQ0GhIIgQAk|The Sith <nowiki>|</nowiki> Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures Fun Facts}}
  +
*''[[Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: New Edition]]''
  +
*''[[Star Wars: How Not to Get Eaten by Ewoks and Other Galactic Survival Skills]]''
  +
*''[[Star Wars: The Secrets of the Jedi]]''
  +
*{{Databank|anakin-skywalker|Anakin Skywalker|archivedate=20170706054025}}
  +
*{{Databank|asajj-ventress|Asajj Ventress|archivedate=20190531005019}}
 
*{{Databank|force-lightning|Force Lightning|archivedate=20170710190140}}
 
*{{Databank|sith|Sith|archivedate=20170911135720}}
  +
*{{Databank|the-force|The Force|archivedate=20191001004924}}
   
 
==Notes and references==
 
==Notes and references==
Line 81: Line 136:
   
 
{{Interlang
 
{{Interlang
|de=Macht-Blitz#kanon
+
|de=Macht-Blitz
  +
|es=Rayo de la Fuerza
|ru=Молния Силы/Канон
 
  +
|fr=Foudre Sith
  +
|hu=Erő villámlás
  +
|ja=フォース・ライトニング
  +
|ko=포스 번개
  +
|nl=Force Lightning
  +
|pl=Błyskawica Mocy
  +
|pt=Relâmpago da Força
 
|ru=Молния Силы
  +
|tr=Force Lightining
  +
|uk=Блискавка Сили
 
}}
 
}}
  +
[[Category:Dark side powers]]
+
[[Category:Dark side powers|L]]

Revision as of 15:55, 20 February 2020

This article covers the Canon version of this subject.  Click here for Wookieepedia's article on the Legends version of this subject. 
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Warning: The following parameters in the infobox are unrecognized: notable practitioners


"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 Darth Tyranus, after assaulting Opress with a barrage of Force lightning[src]

Force lightning was a power that Force users, such as the Sith and even light siders like the Jedi, could conjure through the Dark side of the Force.[10][3] It was an offensive technique which involved a discharge of electrical energy from the practitioner's hands[2] and was capable of inflicting severe pain on the target of this attack as well as possible disfigurement.[11] A variant of the ability, known as Chain lightning, involved a burst of lightning that would spread from the first target to those around them, another variant used by Sidious was the power to produce a dark aura, a miniature storm of malevolent Force energy and lightning that slowed the movement of, and tortured all caught within its radius.[12] Its use was forbidden by the Jedi Order.[13]

Force Lightning occurred in at least four colors; blue, green, yellow and red. The standard color was a bluish-purple as demonstrated by Palpatine, Dooku, Snoke, and Rey; Nightsister Magic equivalents were green like Magical ichor as demonstrated by Mother Talzin. Lord Momin used yet another version that was yellow. It would appear that the most powerful manifestation was "red" as it was used by the Son (the manifestation of the Dark Side itself) and the disembodied spirit of Darth Vader when he entered the portal in his castle on Mustafar. Anakin blasted the illusion of his master, Emperor Palpatine with red Force lightning after the latter tried to bar him from going to the balcony to see Padme.[14] Momin planned to pour the Force with his version of Force lightning into his engine at the moment of ignition and use it to slow down time, trapping the expressions of horror and pain on the city's inhabitants forever.[5]

A Jedi and Sith could deflect the lightning with a lightsaber; a powerful Jedi Master, such as Yoda was capable of deflecting the attack using Force deflection[4] but only for a short while and with immense effort.[15] Gungan personal energy shields were also capable of repelling Force lightning.[16] Mace Windu[11] and Rey Skywalker were both able to deflect Darth Sidious' lightning back onto him using lightsabers, in Rey's case two. The force of his own reflected lightning the second time was what ultimately destroyed Darth Sidious for good.[9] Quinlan Vos with his lightsaber was able to deflecting the Force lightning of Dooku back onto him.[17]

Other dark side wielders besides the Sith were able to harness the ability. Mother Talzin conjured her own version of Force lightning that was powerful enough to block Darth Sidious' lightning.[18] Supreme Leader Snoke used it to subdue his apprentice, Kylo Ren when the young knight lost control of his anger. Snoke's use of Force lightning varied from previous practitioners as he projected energy against the floor, causing it to bounce upward and knock the target off their feet.[6]

Light siders like the Jedi could also use this power. Dooku, during his time as a member of the Jedi Order, utilized it spontaneously during a painful Force vision to kill some Presagers of Hakotei, without any known prior training[1] and also used it on Shenda Mol to save his Padawan Qui-Gon Jinn whilst on Numidian Prime.[3]

In some cases, the intensity of Force lightning was so high that the victim's skeletal system glowed and could be seen through his or her skin—as demonstrated with Mace Windu[11]—or even through heavy armor.[2]

Rey briefly unleashed a blast of Force Lightning on a First Order transport on Pasaana while she and Kylo Ren were both trying to bring the transport to themselves with the Force, and in her anger, she accidentally unleashed lightning upon it, destroying it immediately. And during the Battle of Exegol, Darth Sidious unleashed a barrage of Force Lightning that disabled the galaxy fleet above.[9]

Behind the scenes

Adventures of Luke - Force Lightning

Darth Sidious blasting Luke Skywalker with lightning in Ralph McQuarrie artwork seen in The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight

Force lightning first appeared in the 1983 film Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, the final film of the Star Wars original trilogy.[2] In Star Wars Legends, a few Jedi, such as Luke Skywalker, used a variant of Force lightning.[19] The Databank entry for Force lightning, however, says that in current canon, it's exclusively a dark-side power.[20]

There has been a debate about the consequences of Force lightning in an individual. In Revenge of the Sith, after having been bested by Mace Windu, Darth Sidious uses Force lightning against the Jedi Master, who repels it with his lightsaber, deflecting it on Sidious and disfiguring and scarring the Sith Lord's body.[11] However, previous to the Force lightning's appearance in Sith, Sidious blasted Luke Skywalker with Force lightning in Return of the Jedi several times and Skywalker wasn't disfigured or scarred.[2] Though an official explanation of this inconsistency has yet to be given, Lucasfilm Story Group's Matt Martin has shared his thinking for what the explanation could be, as he never saw it as an inconsistency. In his mind, it was Sidious' own fault that his disfigurement took place, assuming that he overexerted himself, causing the Force lightning's voltage to be higher unlike when he later attacked Skywalker.[21]

Appearances

Non-canon appearances

Sources

Notes and references