This page is an archive of a community-wide discussion. This page is no longer live. Further comments or questions on this topic should be made in a new Knowledge Bank page rather than here so that this page is preserved as a historic record. jSarek 08:17, 7 January 2008 (UTC)

Darth Vader can not use force lighting, because of his severed arms. Robotic hands can't summon the force lighting. However Darth Vader can still use other forms of the force, such as force choke. —Unsigned comment by Ultimate529 (talk • contribs).

Because Force choke does not require electricity. Electricity would short-circuuit Vader.--Darthtyler (talk) (HSM RKY) 03:35, 25 June 2007 (UTC)

Yes, we know this. Unit 8311 16:13, 25 June 2007 (UTC) Vader more than likely could use Force lightning. But actually summoning it would have killed him. Jasca Ducato Sith Council 21:09, 25 June 2007 (UTC) Does this mean that Vader couldn't use force lightning, for risk of killing him, but could manipulate other's Force lightning using the force..? [however, judging from the circumstances of his death, it doesnt seem so...]Darth Blight 22:07, 26 June 2007 (UTC) One cannot manipulate another Force-sensitive to use the Force against their will, not even Palpatine could do that. Vader couldn't use Force lightning because it would've killed him. Jasca Ducato Sith Council 09:26, 27 June 2007 (UTC) And furthermore, Vader was physically unable to do it, wasn't he, because of his metallic appendices.. Titan Sithspit! Talk to me! 21:11, 29 June 2007 (UTC) No, he could still use of Force powers, such as Force choke, through his mechanical arms. It was jsut the fact that electrical Force powers would short-circuit his mechanical parts, which would, in turn, kill him. Jasca Ducato Sith Council 22:26, 29 June 2007 (UTC)

Keep in mind, though, that the canonical proof for this is scant at best. All we have is a short sentence in Rise of Darth Vader saying "his arms and legs were mechanical, and he could never cast Force Lightning". It doesn't even say, "because his arms and legs were mechanical, he could never cast Lightning", so if I wanted to be really difficult, I could say that it was just a list of unrelated disabilities he had, and that his inability to cast Lightning was because of something else. And the part about him being unable to cast the power because his mechanincal limbs would short-circuit are fanon speculation AFAIK. Canonically, we don't know why having mecha-limbs negated his electrical capacities. DarthMRN 02:32, 30 June 2007 (UTC) George Lucas has confirmed this theory, and in fact it originated from him. And although we may not like it, his word is as canon as the films themselves. So there's your confirmation. 24.3.202.85 16:50, 30 June 2007 (UTC) If that is true, I will concede that the proof is better than previously thought. So where might I find this interview? DarthMRN 23:30, 30 June 2007 (UTC) Um, I couldn't point you to any one interview, but he's said it several times. It's commonly known. 24.3.202.85 01:55, 1 July 2007 (UTC) I *believe* it was said in the Rolling Stone interview, but don't quote me on that. jSarek 10:48, 1 July 2007 (UTC) I looked at an online except from RS 975, from June 2, 2005, called the Cult of Darth Vader , but it mentions nothing about the lightning. Does it perhaps come from the magiazine article? Oh, and anon: The common knowledge part is AFAIK some deeply rooted fan speculation. And if the above 2005 issue is the erliest place where the limbs and lightning are confirmed, it has to be, for the theory has existed far longer than that. DarthMRN 13:39, 1 July 2007 (UTC)

saying "his arms and legs were mechanical, and he could never cast Force Lightning". It doesn't even say, "because his arms and legs were mechanical, he could never cast Lightning", so if I wanted to be really difficult, I could say that it was just a list of unrelated disabilities he had, and that his inability to cast Lightning was because of something else. And the part about him being unable to cast the power because his mechanincal limbs would short-circuit are fanon speculation AFAIK. Canonically, we don't know why having mecha-limbs negated his electrical capacities. DarthMRN 02:32, 30 June 2007 (UTC) In the Revenge of the Sith Visual Dictionary, under Darth Vader, in the Data File, it says -"As a result of having artificial arms, Darth Vader will never be able to conjure Sith lightning-nor be invulnerable to it."- Thats probably why Vader suffered so much in Return of the Jedi. And why Palpatine wasn't effected by it in Revenge of the Sith. Although Palpatine was left physically deformed. Whoa! That was pretty heavy stuff. Not only is it indisputable proof of Vader being electrically handicapped, but it is canonical proof that Force Deflection, Force Protection and Force Absorb all require organic hands to cast. Stupid, stupid Visual Dictionary... DarthMRN 02:32, 13 July 2007 (UTC) Then what power was he using when he deflected Han's blaster bolts? And please don't tell me it was because of that stupid indestructible glove introduced in The Glove of Darth Vader . 24.3.202.85 04:50, 13 July 2007 (UTC) Okay, I won't tell you that. jSarek 06:37, 13 July 2007 (UTC)



There are types of materials that are able to deflect lightsabers and blaster bolts as seen in episode 3 when Obi-wan and the magna guard are fighting when trying to save Palpetine.