Star Wars: 5 Infamous Force Powers From Legends That Need To Become Canon

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As a seasoned bounty hunter with decades of experience traversing the vast expanse of the Star Wars galaxy, I’ve encountered my fair share of unique and powerful abilities wielded by Jedi and Sith alike. Some of these powers were so intriguing that I couldn’t help but wish they had a place in the current canon.

In the “Star Wars” universe, the Force binds everything together in the galaxy, granting extraordinary abilities to both Jedi and Sith. Since the release of “A New Hope” in 1977, this concept has been a central theme in countless stories. However, following Disney’s $8 billion acquisition of LucasFilm in 2012, most tales set outside the main movies and select TV shows were reclassified as “Star Wars Legends” and deemed non-canonical. Consequently, the Force’s powers, as depicted in these stories, no longer hold validity.

In spite of the modifications, “Star Wars” persistently reshapes the concept of the Force, determining its users and methods. In the upcoming series “Star Wars: The Acolyte,” set in the High Republic Era, a group of witches on Brendok refer to the Force as the Thread and employ it to engulf adversaries in darkness. In “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” an earlier introduction featured the Nightsisters of Dathomir, who subsequently emerged in live-action in “Ahsoka,” and they hold that the dark side of the Force empowers them to cast spells. On the other hand, the most frequent application of the Force entails Jedi and Sith characters, who channel its energy on opposing sides of battles between righteousness and wickedness.

Despite varying labels and associated beliefs, the Thread, Magick, and the Force represent the same underlying power. Looking towards “Star Wars Legends” for ideas, the existing canon could significantly broaden the scope of what Force-wielders are capable of achieving.

1. Darth Nihilus’ force-eating powers were on another level

In the “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords” game developed by LucasArts and Obsidian Entertainment, Darth Nihilus emerged as one of the most powerful Sith beings. Although specifics about his background are vague, it is known that Nihilus was once a Jedi who survived a Mass Shadow Generator attack during the Battle of Malachor V. The devastation and turmoil around him transformed Nihilus into a Force-feeding entity. His form, which derives nourishment from the dark energy of the Force, replaced his original humanoid physiology. In terms of appearance, Darth Nihilus is quite intimidating with his white, skull-mask and long, dark cloak concealing his figure.

In simple terms, Darth Nihilus possesses extraordinary abilities that defy the limits of imagination. He can suck the very life force from entire planets and bring about catastrophic events, effectively erasing chosen planets from existence. An exemplary demonstration of these formidable skills is depicted in “Star Wars Tales” #24 by Chris Avellone, Dustin Weaver, and Michael Heisler. Here, Nihilus annihilates an inhabited planet teeming with Force-sensitive beings, leaving only one survivor, Visas Marr, who later becomes his apprentice.

With his immense powers, Nihilus stands out as an intriguing villain for Disney’s “Star Wars” series. At present, he continues to be part of the “Legends” lore due to his ability to consume the Force being considered too strong for the current storyline. However, should “Star Wars” introduce a Galactus-like entity in the future, Nihilus is prepared to unleash his fury upon the universe.

2. Certain Jedi could phase through objects

One less-discussed Force power, now considered part of the “Legends” lore, is the capability to pass through walls.

The Force ability called Phase, which allows users to pass through solid matter, is introduced in “Star Wars: Republic – Emissaries to Malastare,” where An’ya Kuro uses it, and later shown in “Fate of the Jedi: Abyss” when Bazel Warv employs it against Mandalorian Supercommandos. However, since these stories are no longer considered canon, Phase is no longer a part of the “Star Wars” universe.)

In “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope,” if Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) had the ability to phase, as depicted in imagination, his escape from dangerous situations like being trapped in a trash compactor would have been much simpler. However, these stories remain unaltered. Introducing this power in future tales could lead to intriguing scenarios, such as a Jedi phasing through a lightsaber attack during combat or effortlessly passing through sealed off areas. This would introduce an abundance of new possibilities for battles and missions.

3. Force Blinding is exactly what it sounds like

In the 1997 computer game “Star Wars: Jedi Knight – Dark Forces II” and its expansions created by LucasArts, there was a skill called Force Blinding. This skill enabled Jedi and Sith characters to generate blinding lights using the Force from their hands. These lights were powerful enough to momentarily leave those directly exposed in darkness. Both light and dark side users possessed this ability. In the game’s narrative, players could temporarily blind NPCs; however, they could also be momentarily blinded themselves when struck by this power. (Force Blinding could be countered by Jedi utilizing Force sight, a “Legends” ability allowing users to see through solid objects or dark spaces.)

In the expansive “Star Wars” universe, the use of Force Blinding became less significant as both Jedi and Sith wield lightsabers which emit light and power. For instance, in the popular animated series “Star Wars Rebels,” Kanan Jarrus experiences blindness following a close-range encounter with Darth Maul’s saber. Consequently, alternative methods of causing blindness have emerged to replace Force Blinding as a primary cause within the revised “Canon” stories.

As a dedicated gamer immersed in the Star Wars universe, I can’t help but ponder over the possibility of Force Blinding making a comeback. Although it hasn’t been shown to be an overpowering or unrealistic ability so far, I believe that under specific circumstances, its return could be entirely plausible within this captivating Disney-crafted world. It would indeed prove to be an invaluable asset when confronting a particularly formidable adversary.

4. Deadly Sight is one of the Sith’s strongest lost abilities

In the “Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II” game, Deadly Sight is a particularly powerful and lethal ability wielded by the Sith.

In “The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force” (written by Daniel Wallace), Deadly Sight is presented as an uncommon Jedi ability that seldom appears, even during galactic conflicts. This Sith skill enables the wielder to tap into intense emotions such as anger, rage, and hatred, transforming them into a piercing gaze that can incinerate enemies almost instantly. Even when not fully charged, this power is lethal, causing victims to become badly burned or mutilated versions of themselves. Imagine Cyclops’ visor and optic blasts, but fueled by emotions rather than a mechanical device and much more hazardous.

In a comparable fashion to Darth Nihilus’ formidable abilities in “Star Wars,” Deadly Sight poses significant dangers and challenges for combatants. If a Force-user, be it a Sith or Jedi, could unleash a destructive attack capable of eliminating numerous enemies simultaneously through the Force, this power would pose a serious threat to our heroic protagonists. This potential ability, despite its dark and malevolent nature, would undeniably be tempting for any Force-wielder to harness. The spectacle of employing such an devastating attack would undoubtedly rank among the most epic and morally questionable moments in the “Star Wars” saga.

5. Force Smell was an unusual but effective power

In the novels “Star Wars: Dark Force Rising” by Timothy Zahn and “Star Wars: Children of the Jedi” by Barbara Hambly, one of the Jedi’s less common abilities was the use of the Force through their sense of smell.

As a fan, I can tell you that the Force’s ability to enhance one’s sense of smell, or Force Smell as it’s called, is an intriguing power. It enables users to identify specific scents and odors with great precision, much like a bloodhound following a trail. Luke Skywalker used this skill to track down Grand Admiral Thrawn’s agent Niles Ferrier by detecting the distinctive scent of a cigar. Later on, it came in handy when he located Emperor Palpatine’s battleship, the Eye of Palpatine, by zeroing in on its unique odor. This superhuman sense of smell made Jedi exceptional trackers. However, given their other extraordinary abilities, Force Smell eventually took a backseat in the official Star Wars canon and was relegated to “Legends.”

In the “Star Wars” saga, it’s not difficult to picture how the ability of Force Smell could have been beneficial. With this skill, Jedi could enhance their tracking and detection abilities significantly. This unusual yet efficient power may find a niche within the franchise under appropriate circumstances and when wielded by suitable characters. Given that super-smelling seems somewhat otherworldly, it would be more logical for certain Jedi, such as those of Wookiee descent, to possess this ability and utilize it on behalf of their teammates. Despite its unconventional appearance, Force Smell is a valid power worth considering.

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2024-07-20 19:00