2021 Edit
Note: A star (☆) denotes that the marked subject is server-canon only, meaning that it has been established in roleplay in-game and cannot be found on sites such as Wookieepedia. In many cases this is to fill in limited available information on a subject, in others it may be because it was introduced in a way that does not directly conflict with existing canon and was accepted by other players and the DM team.
FORM I: SHII-CHO
As the most ancient style of lightsaber combat, Shii-Cho was developed during the transition period from swords to lightsabers. Lightsabers were wielded in a manner similar to swords, so many of the maneuvers, such as attacks or parries, remained unchanged, as the key principles of the old sword-fighting methods continued to be incorporated. The simplicity and persistent methods of the form led it to being dubbed the “Way of the Sarlacc” and the “Determination Form”. Shii-Cho swordplay was simplistic and raw. In the hands of a master, the bladework was described as “like watching water flow over the falls.” However, less adept practitioners displayed much more basic and somewhat clumsy performance. In combat, Form I encouraged deliberate tactics, calling for continuous, step-by-step advancement while cutting off the opponent’s angles. Shii-Cho was specialized towards engaging multiple opponents, the wide, sweeping motions being ideally suited towards attacking numerous adversaries. However, Form I was not as useful against single opponents, as such enemies had complete mobility and could find a weakness in Shii-Cho’s comparatively clumsy bladework.[10] Shii-Cho fostered an emotionally-heated mindset, which resulted in the considerable temptation to execute combat with lethal intent, requiring great restraint to exercise the form without going too far. Despite the pull to kill, the style was designed for the purpose of disarming without seriously injuring.
As the most simplistic form, Shii-Cho was the first form taught to initiates within the Jedi Order. Form I training provided the basic knowledge of the sword-fighting principles and blast-deflection skill that was required for practice of all the other forms. In order to teach students to draw upon the Force rather than rely on their senses, early level Shii-Cho blast-deflect training was conducted with a blindfold, forcing the initiate to rely upon his instincts. Later training was conducted through the use of sequences and velocities, the continuous repetition making the moves instinctive reflexes. These training regimens were carried over to all following lightsaber combat forms, which used similar methods. Shii-Cho philosophy emphasized victory without injury, and as such, the sun djem mark of contact was traditionally employed by Form I practitioners. Keeping with the use of sun djem, one of the attacks utilized by Form I practitioners was referred to as the “Disarming Slash”, consisting of a strike directed at the opponent’s weapon in an attempt to rip it out of their grasp.
Form Specific Maneuvers:
- Disarming Slash: A strike directed at the opponent’s weapon in an attempt to rip it out of their grasp or destroy it.
- Sarlacc Sweep: A wide sweeping attack in which the duelist struck against multiple enemies.
FORM II: MAKASHI
Makashi was the most dueling-centric of the seven forms, developed during an era where engagements with Darksiders and rogue Jedi became an almost routine activity. Form II’s primary purpose was to serve as a counter to the first form; Shii-Cho. Makashi relied on precision swordplay to counter the sweeping movements demonstrated by Shii-Cho, and a heavy focus on protecting one’s weapon to avoid being disarmed, the primary goal of Form I. Form II emphasized fluid motion and anticipation of a weapon being swung at its target, and so required very fluid movements of both the blade and the body. Timing, accuracy, and skill, rather than strength, were relied-upon to defeat one’s opponent. With a skilled practitioner, the results were deadly. Makashi users were often elegant, precise, calm, confident to the point of arrogance. Form II users were supremely confident in their chances for victory, and often looked so relaxed when they were fighting they even appeared to be dancing. Makashi duelists also trained themselves to avoid enslavement to form, as such enslavement opened the practitioner to be defeated by predictability and the unforeseen.
Due to Form II’s emphasis on blade manipulation, and its many fluid one-handed moves, Makashi practitioners often wielded lightsabers that were specialized for such use. The most prominent weapon for this purpose was the curved-hilted lightsaber. These weapons were used because the curved hilt fit better into the palm, granting better blade control and allowing for greater precision and strength. In addition to this, wielders often created highly decorated weapons, and occasionally included blade-guards. The other, considerably rarer, weapon type was the Lightfoil.
Form Specific Maneuvers:
- Contentious Opportunity: A tactic based upon recognizing and exploiting an opening in the opponent’s defense before swiftly moving to strike the exposed enemy.
- Makashi Riposte: A defensive technique where the duelist slightly alters the angle of an opponent’s attack before quickly retaliating with a counter strike.
FORM III: SORESU
The original purpose of the Soresu form was to counter blaster-wielding opponents, as the previous combat styles focused on lightsaber dueling. Becoming the most defensive of the seven forms, Soresu utilized tight moves, subtle dodges and short sweeps designed to provide maximum defensive coverage, leaving the duelist less exposed to ranged fire. Over time, Form III came to transcend this basic origin and become an expression of non-aggressive Jedi philosophy. Soresu utilized motions that occurred very close to the body, in an attempt to achieve near-total protection and expend as little energy as possible while executing moves. Form III stressed quick reflexes and fast positional transition, in order to overcome the rapidity with which a blaster could be fired. This technique minimized the body’s exposure, making a well-trained practitioner nearly invincible. Form III involved preparation for prolonged battles where the user observed and learned as much as possible about their opponent’s or opponents’ technique while engaged in combat. Also, by being more capable in lengthy battles, a Soresu user had the ability to gain control of a combat situation, creating multiple options for the Jedi employing the form. A Form III user could choose to kill, disarm, or even reason with their opponent.
Truly focused masters of Soresu were very formidable due to their strong defense technique. However, Form III merely facilitated survival rather than victory. Form III initiates were more than capable of defending themselves from attack, but they needed a large amount of experience to learn how to effectively counter-attack and entrap opponents. Masters had to maintain an incredibly strong focus on the center of the combat circle, since the defensive tactics of the form included guards and parries engaged very close to the body. Jedi who left small lapses in their otherwise strong defense left little room to avoid injury.
Form Specific Maneuvers:
- Circle of Shelter: A technique where the duelist creates a protected area around themselves and their allies, making it difficult for enemies to penetrate.
- Deflecting Slash: A technique where the duelist redirects the momentum generated by deflecting an enemy projectile into a slashing attack at an adjacent target.
FORM IV: ATARU
Ataru was an aggressive combat form relying on a combination of power, strength, and speed. Practitioners of Ataru were always on the offensive, attacking with wide, fast, and powerful swings, constantly calling upon the Force to aid in their movements and attacks. By allowing the Force to flow throughout their body, they could overcome their physical limitations and perform amazing feats of acrobatics, such as somersaults and backflips, not only for attack, but also to evade the attacks and strikes of their opponents.
The standard components of Form IV focused on application of and smooth transition between the three axes of rotation in a three-dimensional space; the su ma. Specifically, the jung su ma (spinning), ton su ma (somersaults), and en su ma (cartwheels). Those who used Form IV could move at high speeds and could rain strong blows, jumping and attacking through the air. Powerful and quick spinning attacks could be utilized from all angles, either from ground or air. A master in Ataru combat could appear like a blur to their opponents, attacking from all directions—from the front, the sides, overhead, or behind. The Force not only allowed them to perform athletic feats not possible otherwise, but it also helped guide their actions and movements in combat.
Form Specific Maneuvers:
- Hawk-Bat Swoop: Was intended to allow a combatant to quickly strike their opponent without giving them a chance to react.
- Saber Swarm: Numerous short strikes were aimed at the adversary.
FORM V: SHIEN/ DJEM SO
Form V was created by Form III masters who desired a more offensive style, since the defensive nature of Form III could lead to prolonged combat, sometimes dangerously so. It evolved into an accepted style by combining the defensive maneuvers of Form III with the more aggressive philosophy and tactics of Form II. Form V also required a higher level of physical strength than the other lightsaber forms, due to its focus on complete domination of opponents. The form was developed alongside Form IV at a time when the Jedi were increasingly called upon to actively keep the peace. Form V had two distinct variations: Shien and Djem So.
Classic Form V, Shien was developed first. Known as the “Perseverance Form”, Shien was designed to protect against enemy blaster fire and strikes without compromising one’s ability to launch powerful counterattacks. With its focus against blaster fire, Shien kept in mind that Jedi were often outnumbered by their opponents and needed to defend themselves while retaining offensive capability. However, it lacked effectiveness against single opponents.[66] Shien practitioners were known to favor, or at least regularly utilize, reversed grips.
Whereas Shien specialized in blast-deflection, the more advanced Djem So focused on lightsaber dueling. Utilizing a combination of blocks and parries, a Djem So user maintained a proper foundation in terms of defense against both ranged and melee attacks, but rather than counter only when necessary as per Soresu training regimens, Djem So actively pressed the offense. Djem So placed a heavy focus on brute strength, utilizing wide, powerful strikes and parries. Power attacks from a Djem So user could even knock an opponent back just through sheer kinetic force, throwing them off balance and leaving them vulnerable to further brute force strikes and power blows that sought not just to penetrate an opponent’s defense, but drive them back and leave them unable to counter.
Form Specific Maneuvers:
- Barrier of Blades: Defended the user from blasterfire and redirected some of the incoming blasts.
- Falling Avalanche: An overhand power blow that crashed down upon an opponent with incredible force.
- Fluid Riposte: A smooth transition from parrying an attack to a counterstrike.
- Shien Deflection: Simultaneously deflect weapons fire and leap towards an opponent.
FORM VI: NIMAN
Form VI attempted to balance all elements of lightsaber combat, combining the techniques from Forms that came before into a less intensely demanding combat style. In practice, Form VI was a combination of older forms (Forms I, III, IV, and V), and all of them in moderation. In the blending, much of the individuality was lost, but the strengths were spread evenly, and there was little weakness in it. Due to its “jack-of-all-trades” nature, the success of this form was largely dependent on the practitioner’s intuition, improvisation, and creativity in combat rather than the rote responses derived from other forms. This broad generalization made Form VI well suited for diplomats, as they could spend their time training in the areas of politics and negotiation instead of combat training.
Form Specific Maneuvers:
- Draw Closer: It consisted of the duelist telekinetically seizing an opponent and pulling the enemy into the path of his/her blade.
- Pushing Slash: The duelist would slash an opponent before blasting him aside with a Force push.
FORM VII: JUYO
Juyo was described as the most vicious form of lightsaber combat, and was said to be filled with both fury and “malignant grace.” The form came to be known as the most difficult and demanding in all of saber combat. Skilled combatants with Juyo were said to be able to “eviscerate a lone enemy.” The form is both chaotic and erratic, with a heavy focus on offense.
Characteristics of Juyo include bold, direct motions, qualifying them as more open and kinetic than Form V, but with a less elaborate appearance than Ataru. The tactics of Juyo are not nearly as graceful or linked as those of Ataru, instead as “seemingly unconnected staccato sequences.” One of Juyo’s largest strengths is its unpredictability. The form was said to necessitate greater energy than Form V, due to a broader wielding of a user’s focus and a deeper emotional link. Despite the challenges inherent in the use of the form, it could serve as a pathway to considerable power.
☆ Healer’s Stance Variant
A very old and rarely-taught version of Juyo, the Healer’s Stance variant relied on the central idea of “purifying” dark side corruption and Force energy using a mental construct called the Forge, a technique originally developed by ancient Jedi healers.Users of the Healer’s Stance would learn to use this “Forge” to turn a powerful positive emotion, typically love or compassion, into a grounding “fire” which they could use to rid themselves of negative emotions such as fear, doubt, and hate. They were taught that feeding siphoned dark side energies into the fire of the Forge would allow them to purify that energy and use it to empower themselves by turning it against their opponent.
Like normal Juyo, the Healer’s Stance was still dangerous to use and difficult to maintain as it required great physical stamina and constant use of the Force. Although it was grounded firmly in Light Side principles, it nonetheless risked Dark Side corruption by willingly accepting its energies in the attempt to purify them.
Form Specific Maneuvers:
- Assured Strike: Trading sheer power for a near-certainty of landing a hit.
- Vornskr’s Ferocity: Involved “ferocious” attacking of an opponent.
- Swift Flank: The user leaped or dashed around an opponent to make a quick strike. The speed of the maneuver was intended to catch opponents off guard.
- ☆Volkov’s Gambit: This carefully-timed maneuver required the user to parry an attacker’s strike and then swiftly push back with the Force directly against their opponent, creating the chance of injuring the enemy with their own blade.
- ☆Lightbringer: A technique originating from the Healer’s Stance variant of Juyo but applicable to other Forms, the Lightbringer was the art of taking on a dark side wielder’s Force-based attack (usually Force Lightning), purifying the dark side energy, and redirecting it back at the original user. This maneuver was extremely difficult to master, as it could only be practiced in active battle against such an opponent.