Force Lightning: An Ability Exclusive to the Sith?

Recently, I was having a discussion with some friends of mine about Force Lightning, its place in the Saga, and if it was just an ability for the Sith. Some of them were under the impression that Jedi could be able to use this ability, and still not turn to the Dark Side.



"A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack - Master Yoda



From my point of view, I see Force Lightning as a power exclusive to the Dark Side: for one, we have NEVER seen a Jedi use it before (and Count Dooku does not count, considering he was already a Sith, and Yoda sensed the Dark Side in him), and the way I see it, it is a move ENTIRELY for attacking purposes. You cannot use that ability to help someone, and there are plenty of other ways to assist someone rather than using Force Lightning. Every single time we see it used, it is for the sole purpose of killing, especially from The Emperor.


Now, my point that I was trying to make to them was: A Jedi cannot use Force Lightning and still be considered a Jedi, because once they use that (which is a tool of the Dark Side), they have crossed that line into the Dark Side. Force Lightning is a projection of one's hatred and anger, focused into a long-range attack. Even Sidious tells Yoda right before he launches the lightning:



"Now you will experience the full power of the Dark Side!" - Darth Sidious



Notice that, once Yoda regained his stature, he answered back with a Force Push, a non-lethal Force Power; if it was truly something that Jedi could use while still being good-hearted, Yoda would not have hesitated in using it, especially given the fact that the fate of the galaxy was at stake over this confrontation. Palpatine tells Mace Windu that "You will DIE!!" right before he attacks him with Force Lightning, yet again showcasing that it is solely a Dark Side power. Now, I am not saying that a Jedi COULDN'T learn it, because he/she very well could, but all I am saying is once they do seek out that power, they are no longer a Jedi, as in, they are taking steps towards the Dark Side.








~*~*~*Anakin_Darth~*~*~*

 

What about Kyle Katarn? He is a powerful practitioner of Force Lightning as well as teh Battlemaster of Luke's Jedi Order.
~Azure_Angel

 

As far as the movies go it's just a Darkside power. In video games you can use Force Lightning even if you are a Lightside character but since it is a Darkside power it costs you more in the Force Points part of the game to use it. I'm pretty sure the EU has Luke casting what is called "Bolt of Justice" or something.

 

Hmm, I think electricity is a very powerful attack against an unarmed opponent, judging by Anakin in AotC. It might be a rare attack even for the sith.

 

"Electric Judgment", which, if I recall correctly, is actually more lethal, but it's true that the Jedi only use it for defense, at least the "good Jedi". Cuz you've also got yourself your "Grey Jedi", but that's a whole 'nother thing

 

Lots of characters, both in the movies and in the Expanded Universe, have utilized a form of lightning whether it be Force-lightning or Electric Judgement. I think the difference is in the way the indivdual uses the power. Of course, Emperor Palpatine inflicted pain and suffering with his Force-lightning technique however, don't the Jedi who utilize this power defend others and themselves with it? Not provoking the attack but rather using it as a defense when attacked?

 

What i dont get is why everyone here is centered aroudn Force Lightning only being able to be used as an attack. It can be far more, for instance if you have and exceptionaly powerful opponet Force Lighting can be used to ripp the lightsaber from their grasp, like Sidious did to Yoda. Or if someone is dying Force Lightning can be used to keep somewone alive, for instance Count Dooku keept Grevious alive by sendign electricity through his body to keep his heart beating until he could get the General into his cyborg body, as well Cade Skywalker used the same tecnique to keep his dying master alive and save him. Force Lightning is not inheariantly evil, it all depends on how you use it.
~Azure_Angel

 

Yep, it seems like anyone with a lightsaber can stop the attack. Luke was a fool to throw his away. It could be a very handy Jedi power to heat up a meal.

 

Force lightning has many positive uses if one uses it in a way other than a weapon. But most see it as a dark siders power.

 

I think it is exclusive to the sith, as your its likely that a force practioner would need hate to create lightning.
It funny in AOTC that after Count Dooku has fired lightning at Yoda, Yoda says "powerful you have become, the dark side i sense in you". At the time i was like " no **** yoda". but looking back now, perhaps that line hints that both light and darkside users can use force lightning.

Perhaps the Jedi thought it would be a trick that would push a user to the dark side, and left it in the archives.

But i still like the idea that only sith can use it

 

I would venture to say that regarding any element of the force, either the Jedi or the Sith 'can' use it. Whether they choose to do so or not is another question.

Consider the force choke. Vader uses it 'almost' exclusively until ROTJ, when Luke uses it on Jabbas guards. How did he learn this? Did Yoda teach him? Sinister explained in a thread on the ROTS boards some time ago that Luke using the force choke showed how dangerously close to the dark side he actually was.

For the Sith, everything is based upon the self, the physical, and making the physical self more and more powerful. Force lightning is the most powerful physical manifestation of the force known and is used solely by the Sith in order to attack and ultimately kill their opponent.

The Jedi kill only in self defense and (in the movies and novelizations) never use force lightning. As others noted above, the Jedi use other powerful force methods. This is likely so because force lightning physically represents hate. The more you hate, the more powerful your abilities with force lightning. The Sith manifest and magnify hatred, which makes the force lightning all-the-more lethal for them. Vader, despite his hatred, could never master it due to his mechanical arms and spinal implants for risk of shorting himself out, as happened when the Emperor zapped him in ROTJ.

True, Sidious used force lightning on Windu after he lost his saber in what seemed like a self-defense move. But after Anakin 'offed' Windu's saber hand, Sidious went on the attack and killed the defenseless Jedi Master out of sheer hate, 'revenge' and total self-satisfaction, just as he later sougth to do to Luke several decades later on DSII.

Perhaps when Vader tells Luke: "You don't know the POWER of the dark side" he was speaking of the Emperor's talent with force lightning. Vader experienced it personally against Dooku in AOTC and of course witnessed Windu's demise in ROTJ.

Finally, as Sidious uses his force lightning against Windu, he shouts: "Power! Unlimited P*O*W*E*R!!!!!

 

I'd say it's more exlusive to the Dark Side than it is to the Sith. There's an important distinction between the two as that would mean any Force Sensitive could access it with enough training, just that it could start their corruption.

 

I pretty much agree with the consensus so far, in the movies Force lightning is shown as dark side power only. That's not to say the Jedi can't do it, but to do it would be to harness feelings that the Jedi do not allow themselves to feel. They indeed do not attack, while the lightning is shown only as a method of attack (in the films).

Yoda speaks of the dark side as being more "powerful", but I don't think he means that the Sith have greater abilities than the Jedi. There's nothing to suggest that the Jedi can't do the Force tricks the Sith use. The difference is the Jedi choice not to use them. They only use their powers for the good of all. That's why it's easier and quicker to be a Sith, than to learn to reign it all in, follow the Force's will and not your own.

 

I see electricity as a pretty elite power. Anakin didn't expect it at all and Darth Maul sure could have used it against Obi-Wan. Maybe a jedi like Mace Windu might have been able to learn it, if he had more time, but it's pretty unlikely.

 

Very good points so far!



For me, the real display of my point comes from Yoda's teachings to Luke in Empire, in that he relates to Luke that the Jedi uses The Force only for knowledge and defense, and never for attack. If you look at all six movies in the Saga, The Force, nine times out of ten is used for defense, either by defending their self, or another person. The Jedi favor the Force Push, and The Sith favor the Force Lightning attack.


If you want to go by the 'Revenge of the Sith' video game, did you notice that Anakin recieves the Force Lightning ability AFTER he becomes a Sith? He uses it to attack the Jedi, and he never uses it for anything else. It is a move destined to kill someone, and, as someone said above, I do not see how it could be used to defend someone in a non-lethal way. Either way you look at it, using Force Lightning is a lethal move, and even by 'defending' someone else, you will eventually kill or mortally wound the individual you are defending against. Remember, as Mace Windu said in Clones: "We are keepers of the peace, not soldiers", and, as Anakin noted in Episode III: "The Sith rely on their passion for their strength......", as in, their passion to kill and destroy. It is an outward notion of hatred exemplified by their fighting style and way of life. Notice how, throughout Episodes I-III, while Palpatine was under the cover of a "good Senator/Chancellor", his eyes were not yellow, but when he attacked Mace Windu, his eyes were stained yellow, after he exerted all his hatred. Just think of what those who use Force Lightning throughout the Saga say before/after/during its usage:




After Count Dooku attacks Yoda with Force Lightning in 'Attack of the Clones': - "Powerful you have become, Dooku. The Dark Side I sense in you......"


Before Palpatine attacks Mace Windu with Force Lightning in 'Revenge of the Sith': (both times) - "No, no, no, YOU WILL DIE!!!!", and "Power!!!! UNLIMITED POWER!!!!!"


Before Darth Sidious attacks Master Yoda with Force Lightning in 'Revenge of the Sith': - "Now you will experience the full power of the Dark Side!"


Before The Emperor attacks Luke Skywalker with Force Lightning in 'Return of the Jedi': - "If you will not turn, then you will be DESTROYED!!!" (There were a few more from the Emperor here, but I figured this one was most effective)



Each and every time it is used, it is used for the sole purpose to kill. No saving, no defending, just for a one-hit death move. Like I said before, I have no doubt that a Jedi COULD learn it, but he would have to learn to hate, which the Jedi do not do (that is a projection of hatred, which is a Sith trait).






~*~*~*Anakin_Darth~*~*~*

 

For me, the real display of my point comes from Yoda's teachings to Luke in Empire, in that he relates to Luke that the Jedi uses The Force only for knowledge and defense, and never for attack. If you look at all six movies in the Saga, The Force, nine times out of ten is used for defense, either by defending their self, or another person. The Jedi favor the Force Push, and The Sith favor the Force Lightning attack.


Yes but as I and another previously noted, I can see force lightning being used for other than attack, which would not go against Yodas teachings.

 

I appreciate your point of view, but can you please explain this notion further?






~*~*~*Anakin_Darth~*~*~*

 

As seen on screen, it is a strictly sith action. That is all. Seriously though, lightning is fueled by dark energy anger and hatred.


Rebel: It would be in your best interest to play nice.

 

What I would like to know is, how some think that Force Lightning can be used by a Jedi without the Jedi using/projecting hatred, since it is a move destined to kill. How can one use that ability without crossing over to the Dark Side and/or not creating hatred in themself? I understand those who say that Jedi COULD use it for other things, but HOW do they do the things you have mentioned without using their hatred?







~*~*~*Anakin_Darth~*~*~*

 

Force Lightning: An Ability Exclusive to the Sith?

Force Lightning/Sith Lightning - This power was first portrayed by Emperor Palpatine in Return of the Jedi. Force lightning is a purely energy-based specialty attack of the Sith. Force energy, in the form of lightning bolts exits the Force-user's body through their fingertips. The greater the user's aptitude, the more power the lightning bolts possess and the more they fork, allowing the possibility of striking multiple foes at once. In certain Star Wars computer games, Force lightning is even capable of draining the energy of the opponent, preventing him from accessing his own Force abilities. Force lightning is often used as a form of torture; not only does it cause severe physical damage, but also extreme agony to the victim. However, a single powerful blast may be sufficient to kill a person instantly. Although Force Lightning is a potent ability, it can be countered by the Light Side power Dissipate Energy.

Courtesey of Wikipedia

 

You have to take Wikipedia with a grain of salt, it's not written by anyone official. I could have written that for all we know.

 

Yeah I realise that. I posted it because the basic's are evident from the movies of how un-official sources view these points.

 

I have tried looking up 'Force Lightning' on the Star Wars.com Databank, and every single time I have searched for it, it always said 'a trait used by the Sith' or something similar to that.











~*~*~*Anakin_Darth~*~*~*

 

^ Exactly, nowhere in the movies is their evidence for a jedi producing Lightning. Only a powerful Sith could with the darkside as their ally. The jedi could force choke if they wanted to in relation to this other Sith trait, but to produce lightning you can't be a jedi. You have to become a sith and a powerful one at that.

 

Force lightning is "used by" the Sith, but why only them?

The Jedi do not teach or employ it -- perhaps simply because it is far too dangerous, too alluring and seductive. For "once you start down the path to the darkside . . ."

Yet Vapaad is also a fringe dark power. It too is considered dangerous, and few Jedi dare use it. In the EU Mace is skilled in its use -- the ROTS novelization even describes Windu repelling Sidious' force lightning using Vapaad to channel it back toward the Sith Master, thus deforming him in the process.