Entertainment
10 Best Force Powers in Star Wars
In a galaxy far, far away, George Lucas envisioned a universe in which the battle of good and evil became a pop culture phenomenon. Perhaps the most beloved and devoted franchise in media, Star Wars has provided the world with some of the most incredible characters. We’ve become so enamored with the Jedis and Sith Lords because of the power they wield: the Force. A mysterious, metaphysical energy field created by all life that surrounds, penetrates, and binds everything in the universe together, the Force is not inherently good or evil, but it is channeled through two primary philosophical aspects: the Light Side and the Dark Side. It’s those approaches that create the epic battles in the galaxy.
There are only certain Force-sensitive individuals who can harness its power to gain supernatural abilities; quite an arsenal of Force powers, actually. For this list, we are going to examine the greatest Force powers at users’ disposal, going through some of the most iconic moments in which we saw them in action. They’re more than just a Force check or Jedi mind tricks, but in terms of cinema, they certainly make for some of the greatest moments in Star Wars history.
10
Force Spirit
For those who might need a little extra boost, they can often be visited by the galaxy version of a ghost: a Force spirit. The power is the preserved consciousness of a deceased Force-sensitive being. Unlike ordinary beings who dissolved into the Cosmic Force upon death, these individuals retained their memories, personalities, and forms to guide and mentor the living. This technique is exclusively tied to the light side of the Force, as it requires complete surrender of the ego and detachment from worldly powers.
The first modern Jedi to rediscover the ancient secret was Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), who in turn passed his knowledge to Yoda (Frank Oz) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor). This legacy was passed down to help guide Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who then learned to manifest as Force spirits to guide the next generation of Jedi. The most famous example occurred during the original trilogy in which Obi-Wan (Alec Guinness) guided Luke in the trench run of the Death Star, later returning to him on Dagobah and Endor.
9
Shatterpoint
One of the rarer Force abilities in the Star Wars universe is known as shatterpoint. This power allows its user to sense and exploit crucial weaknesses in objects, people, or events that can alter the outcome of a situation. Call it Jedi intuition. By applying this Force pressure to the focal points, its user can break otherwise indestructible elements and alter the course of fate. Its most prominent user is Jedi Master Mace Windu (Terrence C. Carson), whose powers were explored further in the Legends novel Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover.
As seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, he perceived that Count Dooku (Corey Burton) was a major shatterpoint of the Clone Wars. He sensed that if Dooku had been killed in the arena on Geonosis, the entire devastating galactic war might never have started. He was also able to sense the shatterpoints surrounding Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter), sensing that he would either doom the Jedi Order or save it. He also recognized that Supreme Chancellor Palpatine’s (Ian Abercrombie) shatterpoint was the chosen one, Anakin. Unfortunately, Mace Windu was killed before he could alter that fate.
8
Force Whisper
Perhaps the most famous power on this list is the Force Whisper, colloquially known as the Jedi Mind Trick. This power is a telepathic Force ability that allows its user to manipulate the thoughts, feelings, and actions of another sentient being without violence. It’s a persuasion technique frequently used to avoid conflict, bypass guards, interrogate subjects, or plant information. There are limitations, though. Species with highly independent minds are completely immune to the trick.
The very first time Star Wars fans would have witnessed Force whisper in action on film was Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope. Here, Obi-Wan Kenobi uses the technique on Imperial stormtroopers in Mos Eisley, famously waving his hand and stating, “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.” Later, the mentor used the Force whisper to encourage Luke during his trench run. Obi-Wan Kenobi was notorious for this skill, as in Star Wars: Episode II— Attack of the Clones, the younger iteration of the character uses the mind trick on Elan Sleazebaggano (Matt Doran), a drug dealer attempting to sell him death sticks. Obi-Wan commands the dealer to stop his illicit trade by uttering, “You will go home and rethink your life.” In the sequel trilogy, Rey (Daisy Ridley) showcases her ability with it, using the mind trick on a First Order stormtrooper.
7
Force Vision
Force vision allows Force-sensitive individuals to perceive events in the past, present, or future. From vague premonitions to immersive, dreamlike states, this power is used by both Jedi and Sith to seek warnings, guidance, or hidden truths. Through Jedi teaching, it’s emphasized that the future is always in motion; thus, Force vision is a means to show only possible outcomes or paths. It’s also very subject to interpretation, as it can be influenced by the viewer’s emotions and fears.
One of the most prominent examples in the Skywalker Saga comes in Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back, in which Luke sees himself beneath Darth Vader’s (James Earl Jones) mask, serving as a warning of the dark path he might take should he give himself over to anger. In hindsight, this scene became even more valuable upon learning the origin of the iconic villain. For Anakin (Hayden Christensen), he’s plagued by a Force vision of his wife, Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman), dying in childbirth, which drives him to the dark side in desperation, ultimately becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. Perhaps Padmé might have died sooner had Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eickstein) not had a vision of her assassination, which allowed her to track her down and stop it in The Clone Wars.
6
Force Drain
Now, for something that the dark side loves to use: Force drain. This power allows its practitioner to siphon life essence and Force energy from living targets to heal, empower, or sustain themselves. Rather than drawing on the natural harmony of the Force, the Force-sensitive individual relies on parasitically feeding on the death and suffering of others. Force drain can manifest on different scales, including physically targeting their victim, draining at a distance, targeting multiple victims, and, at their absolute peak, some Sith Lords can consume the life force of entire planets.
The use of this power has extended throughout Star Wars lore across multiple platforms. In the video games The Old Republic and Knights of the Old Republic, the Sith Emperor Vitiate (Doug Bradley) performed the apocalyptic ritual on the planet Nathema while Darth Nihilus drained the entire Miraluka colony on the planet Katarr to sustain himself. Before that, in Tales of the Jedi comics, Exar Kun drained the energy of the entire Massassi species on Yavin 4 to trap his spirit inside his temple for millennia. In Star Wars: Episode IX—The Rise of Skywalker, Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid) notoriously drains the life force and Force Dyad energy from Rey and Ben Solo (Adam Driver), allowing him to rejuvenate his frail body to an immense state of power.
5
Telekinesis
Perhaps the other most infamous Force power is telekinesis, though casual fans liken it to the Force choke. Though that’s one ability under the telekinesis umbrella, we’re going to lump all its power into one. This ability authorizes its user to manipulate matter with the mind using the Force. It is one of the most fundamental, versatile, and frequently used Force powers by both sides. The power can range from a saber throw, which can guide a lightsaber through the air, to a Force barrier, in which a concentrated shield of kinetic energy is formed to deflect projectiles.
The scale of this power varies drastically depending on the user’s skill, focus, and training. An average Patawan might be able to lift a small rock or retrieve a lightsaber, while legendary Force users might be able to rip starships out of the sky. And right in the middle is Darth Vader choking the life out of those who cross him. In the franchise’s canon, telekinesis is seen quite often. In The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda famously demonstrates the power by telekinetically lifting Luke’s sunken X-wing from the swampy waters of Dagobah. In Star Wars: Episode VIII—The Last Jedi, Rey and Kylo Ren use telekinesis to simultaneously pull on the Skywalker lightsaber. Needless to say, the range of this power is vast and quite useful.
4
Force Lightning
One of the more visually iconic and recognizable powers is known as Force Lightning. This destructive ability allows a Force-user to shoot crackling arcs of electrical energy from their fingertips. It is predominantly a dark side ability as it is fueled by negative emotions, hatred, anger, and malice. Its power can inflict excruciating pain and is used to torture or kill. Light side Force-users have been known to manifest a variant of the energy projection, even being able to block it with their lightsaber or neutralize the electrical energy via tutaminis or Force absorption.
Force lighting is a signature weapon of the Sith. In Return of the Jedi, Emperor Palpatine used it to torture Luke. Count Dooku frequently used his blue lighting to incapacitate Obi-Wan and Anakin during his duels in Attack of the Clones and The Clone Wars. Mother Talzin (Barbara Goodson), leader of the Nightsisters, used a greenish, magical variation, drawing on the energy of Dathomir rather than raw Sith hatred. The Son (Sam Witwer), the physical manifestation of the dark side realm of Mortis, wields an incredibly powerful red force lighting.
3
Force Healing
Now, for something for the light side: Force healing. In the Star Wars realm, Force healing is a rare and powerful ability that allows its user to mend injuries, cure poisons, and save lives by transferring their vital life energy into a wounded target. Depending on the severity of what needs healing, the selfless act often physically weakens the practitioner. That said, they can often recover their strength through rest and meditation.
The evolution of this lore was brought into the mainstream Star Wars on two massive occasions. In Rise of Skywalker, Rey heals a wounded Vexis in the desert and later channels the energy to heal Kylo Ren after impaling him with his lightsaber. Not to be outdone, their Force dyad came in when Ben Solo gave his remaining life force to resurrect Rey after she perishes, defeating Darth Sidious. The more adorable iteration of the power came in The Mandalorian at the hands of Grogu, who used his ability to heal Greef Karga’s (Carl Weathers) fatal, venomous wound. Star Wars fans have debated why characters like Obi-Wan or Anakin didn’t use this power to save their loved ones in earlier stories.
2
Force Storm
An extension of Force lighting is the even more powerful Force storm. This incredibly destructive, volatile ability combines deep dark side energy, Force lighting, and complex rituals to manipulate space and weather. It’s a cataclysmic ability that can even rip holes in space-time. It’s not a power that any ordinary Force-sensitive individual can conjure, though it has been seen throughout the Star Wars universe, including the Legends expanded universe and via the games.
The most vibrant occasion came at the hands of Emperor Palpatine. In the Dark Empire comic series, Palpatine uses his anger to conjure titanic storms, even reaching thousands of light-years from his fortress world of Byss to Coruscant. The galactic devastation scorched planetary surfaces and opened wormholes across the galaxy. His usage expanded in The Rise of Skywalker as he conjured a localized storm, marking its sole movie appearance. Another prime example is Bendu (Tom Baker), an enigmatic, neutral Force entity who summons a hurricane-force wind and lightning over the planet Atollon to attack both Imperial and Rebel forces in Star Wars Rebels.
1
Midi-Chlorian Manipulation
It’s one thing to shape a battle; it’s another to shape the entire future and history — that’s the overwhelming power of midi-chlorian manipulation. The profound and dangerous ability directly influences microscopic, intelligent life forms within the cells of living beings. By communicating with or altering these organisms, the user can heal the sick, drain the Force energy from others, and, most importantly, create life itself. It’s the latter that became Star Wars‘ most famous application. The lore behind midi-chlorians acts as a bridge between the physical self and the cosmic Force. A higher concentration per cell allows an individual to channel the Force better than others.
The concept came to fruition when the Sith Lord Darth Plagueis conducted extensive experiments to create new life. It is said that it was the catalyst for Anakin Skywalker’s immaculate conception by the Force. Plagueis sought eternal life by coaxing midi-chlorians to cheat mortality. The Force fought back against his unnatural experiments, which caused the attempt to alter the galactic balance to conceive Anakin as the Chosen One. There are some who believe this power is useless or futile, but in the grander picture of the Skywalker Saga, it’s a crucial plot point that shaped the story.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login