Yoda's Lightsaber Form Hints He Was Vulnerable To The Dark Side
The Jedi Order has many different forms of lightsaber combat, and the style Yoda uses suggests that he may have been vulnerable to the dark side.
With the various forms of lightsaber combat in the Star Wars universe, the form that Master Yoda employs suggests of a possible weakness to the dark side's sway. The history and practices of the Jedi Order have always been deeply fascinating. Their lore is famously rich and complex, so it may come as no surprise that they have multiple disciplines when it comes to wielding their weapon of choice, the lightsaber. As a result, a Jedi's preferred lightsaber form has the potential to reveal something about the user that audiences have not yet seen. In Master Yoda's case, it may reveal a chink in his moral fortitude.
There are a total of seven different forms of lightsaber combat in Star Wars, all of them varying in terms of the favoring of offense or defense, the use of Force powers, among other things. As an example, Obi-Wan Kenobi prefers to use Form III, a.k.a. Soresu, which solely focuses on defense entirely, as well as analyzing an enemy for openings. In another case, Ahsoka Tano favors Form V, either called Shien or Djem So, which requires quick transitions between defensive stances and fierce attacks, as well as allowing the utilization of a reverse blade grip. Yoda employs Form IV, which is called Ataru. As seen in his battles throughout the prequels, this particular form relies heavily on aggressive attacks and acrobatics, as well as an emphasis on using the Force to enhance their movements, strikes, and agility. The fact that Yoda, the Grand Master of the Jedi, uses this form is very interesting, as it reveals that he had the potential to be turned to the dark side of the Force.
Yoda's Dark Side Potential May Explain Why He Threatened Palpatine
Granted, those who employ Ataru are not as susceptible to dark side corruption compared to those who use other lightsaber forms (e.g., Form VII, a.k.a. Juyo/Vaapad, specifically requires the use of anger and other negative emotions). However, it could be argued that Yoda's favoring of this form of combat could have allowed him to at least flirt with dark side usage on more than one occasion. Such potential could be the reason as to how he was able to deflect Emperor Palpatine's Force Lightning attacks during their duel in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. While it may be true that Yoda's centuries of study and training could have given him the knowledge he needed to counter Force Lightning, the fact of the matter is that he still knew how to react, thus increasing the likelihood of his weakness to the dark side.
What Would Yoda Have Been Like As A Sith Lord?
Yoda was the Grand Master of the Jedi for a reason. He has been around for centuries and was by far the wisest when it comes to the ways of the Force. Such seniority and experience would be Yoda's deadliest asset if he were ever to defect to the Sith. His vast intelligence and knowledge of both the light and dark side of the Force, combined with his aggressive fighting style, would make him a major force for the Jedi to reckon with, possibly making him and even greater threat than Palpatine himself. Perhaps he would change his combat method to Juyo, as it would allow him to continue his ferocious form, while also utilizing his anger and the dark side to boost his already masterful skills, much like his other would-be Sith counterparts.
All of this just goes to show how powerful Master Yoda really is. His ability to resist the dark side of the Force while also being adept at such an offensive fighting form shows the true strength of his willpower and dedication to both the light side and the Jedi Order. Thanks to Star Wars' intricate lore, Grand Master Yoda still continues to surprise audiences with the tiniest of details, and this instance will certainly not be the last time.
Related Topics About The Author
Nathaniel "Nate" Johansen is a newer member to the Screen Rant family, having started in March 2022. Though this is his very first job as an entertainment journalist (with previous employments being at both a supermarket and a summer camp), he has a lot of knowledge about the industry, as he has a Bachelor's degree in Film and Digital Media from the University of North Georgia (U.S.). While in school, he learned many skills in terms of film production such as video editing, sound recording, camera operation, directing, and, of course, writing. He has also collaborated with fellow students on the sets of several short films, one of which was a nominee for an award at the Georgia Film Festival. Nate adores all things superhero, and thus has a wealth of knowledge concerning franchises like DC and Marvel, but he also has many other ideas concerning Star Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, RWBY, among others. When he is not writing for Screen Rant, he enjoys playing video games, his favorite games being from Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed franchise. He also frequently plays Dungeons and Dragons and other board games with his friends, as well as both reading and writing (clean) fan fiction. Nate hopes to one day write and produce his own television/web shows, and possibly start up his own film production company. He may have a long way to go, but he believes that his time at Screen Rant is a step in the right direction.
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