Lightsaber Combat Forms

"If you spent as much time practicing your saber techniques as you did your wit, you'd rival Master Yoda as a swordsman."
"I thought I already did."
"Only in your mind, my very young apprentice.

 - Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker

Form: "Zero" - "Saya no uchi"

Influence: Peace

Classes: All

Corrupted: Incorruptible

Description:

- "Saya no uchi" is a truncated phrase. A full-length phrase is "Saya no uchi de katsu", those of which meaning is: Victory in the scabbard of the sword.
 

Form: I

Influence: Beginning, Basis

Classes: All

Corrupted: All

Description:

- Form I is designed as the basis for beginners to learn from.  It helps hone Force skills in combination with basic weapon blocks and attacks.  It established basic to advanced fencing skills in combination with the Force.

 

Form I Table

Basic Advanced Master
1 3 7
Lightsaber Prerequisites: None None Basic Form II, Basic Form III
Power Prerequisites: Force Enhanced Attributes I, Lightsaber Combat I, Enhanced Senses I Enhanced Senses II, Force Enhanced Attributes III Knightly Enhanced Attributes I, Lightsaber Combat III, Enhanced Senses IV, Combat Sense I
 

Form: II - Makashi

Influence: Lightsaber-to-Lightsaber

Classes: Guardian, Consular (Basic Only)

Corrupted: Sith Warrior, Sith Alcolyte

Description:

- Form II was designed to be specific towards lightsaber combat.  It requires an exacting precision of blade manipulation, which can result in a very powerful form of combat.  It is rather archaic as far as the Jedi Order has considered it, as it is rare to find ones self fighting a lightsaber wielding foe.  The Sith, expecting to combat the Jedi, may often practice this form of combat.

 

Form II Table

Basic Advanced Master
2 4 8
Lightsaber Prerequisites: Basic Form I Advanced Form I, Basic III Master Form I, Advanced Form III
Power Prerequisites: Combat Sense I Enhanced Senses III, Combat Sense II Knightly Enhanced Attributes III, Knightly Enhanced Senses I, Combat Sense IV
 

Form: III - Soresu

Influence: Defense

Classes: Consular, Guardian

Corrupted: Not Corrupted

Description:

- Form III is the ultimate in defensive lightsaber combat.  The master of this form is near invincible against any opponent.  It is highly expressive of the non-aggressive stance of the Jedi Order.  It similarly relies on precise manipulation of the blade, like form II, to maximize defensive protection and provide minimal target area.  However it is not focused on lightsaber combat.

 

Form III Table

Basic Advanced Master
2 4 6
Lightsaber Prerequisites: Basic Form I Basic Form II Advanced Form I, Basic Form IV
Power Prerequisites: Combat Sense I Force Enhanced Attributes III, Enhanced Senses III, Lightsaber Combat II, Combat Sense II Knightly Enhanced Attributes III, Lightsaber Combat III, Knightly Enhanced Senses I, Combat Sense IV
 

Form: IV - Ataru

Influence: Force and Lightsaber

Classes: Consular, Guardian

Corrupted: Sith Warrior, Sith Alcolyte

Description:

- Form IV relies heavily on the use of the Force to aide the Jedi in combat.  Acrobatics are a heavy part of this form of combat.  It incorporates all the abilities of the Force to increase reflexes, senses, and abilities such as running, jumping, flipping, etc.

 

Form IV Table

Basic Advanced Master
2 4 6
Lightsaber Prerequisites: Basic Form I Basic Form V Advanced Form I, Basic Form III
Power Prerequisites: Combat Sense II Force Enhanced Attributes III, Enhanced Senses III, Lightsaber Combat II, Combat Sense III Knightly Enhanced Attributes III, Lightsaber Combat III, Knightly Enhanced Senses I, Combat Sense IV
 

Form: V - Shien

Influence: Defense and Offense

Classes: Guardian, Consular (Up to Basic ONLY)

Corrupted: Sith Warrior, Sith Alcolyte

Description:

- Form V is a highly focused lightsaber form which relies on lightsaber attacks and strength.  It turns the blast deflection made famous by Form III users and makes it an offensive weapon against the user's attacker.

 

Form V Table

Basic Advanced Master
2 4 8
Lightsaber Prerequisites: Basic Form I Basic Form III Advanced Form I, Basic Form IV
Power Prerequisites: Combat Sense I Force Enhanced Attributes III, Enhanced Senses III, Lightsaber Combat II, Combat Sense III Knightly Enhanced Attributes III, Lightsaber Combat III, Knightly Enhanced Senses II, Combat Sense IV
 

Form: VI - Niman

Influence: Diplomacy and Defense

Classes: Consular

Corrupted: Not Corrupted

Description:

- This form is referred to as the "diplomats form."  It combines forms I, III, IV and V into one, but with moderation.  While they are not as intense and able in combat, they are more thought filled and able to deal with political situations.  By the time of the rise of Palpatine to the Chancellorship Form VI was the standard training form of the Jedi.  Form VI is still deadly when yielded, but is not the form of choice of most combat oriented Force users.

 

Form VI Table

Basic Advanced Master
2 3 5
Lightsaber Prerequisites: Basic Form I Basic Form III Basic Form IV, Basic Form V
Power Prerequisites: Combat Sense I Force Enhanced Attributes III, Enhanced Senses III, Lightsaber Combat II, Combat Sense II Enhanced Attributes IV, Lightsaber Combat III, Enhanced Senses IV, Combat Sense III

Form: VII - Juyo/ Vaapad

Influence: Overwhelming

Classes: Guardian

Corrupted: Sith Warrior

Description:

- Form VII is the hardest form to master.  It requires the user to be a master of multiple other combat forms.  It requires an intense level of control to provide bold, strong attacks.  Form VII practitioners are capable of shifting tactics that can overwhelm their target.  The intensity at which the Form VII master operates has been described as near-Sith in use, though it does not go that far.  Mace Windu, the creator of form VII, appears outwardly calm in the use of Form VII, but inside their is an intensity unmatched by other forms.   Due to Windu's death, Vaapad is considered a lost art.

 

Form VII Table

Basic Advanced Master
6 (Juyo) 7 (Juyo) 8 (Vaapad)
Lightsaber Prerequisites: Advanced Form I, Basic Form II Basic III, Basic Form IV No Longer in Existance
Power Prerequisites: Knightly Enhanced Attributes III, Knightly Enhanced Senses I, Combat Sense III Lightsaber Combat III, Knightly Enhanced Senses III, Force Focus I, Combat Sense IV No Longer in Existance
 

Form: Form VIII - Sokan

- Subclass of Form IV

Influence: Evasion and mobility with swift strikes

Classes: Consular, Guardian

Corrupted: Not Corrupted

Description:

- Sokan emphasizes, more so then Form IV, evasion and mobility combined with swift strokes of the lightsaber that are aimed at vital areas of the target.  Quick tumble movements are included.  Combatants make use of terrain for advantage.  An example of Sokan principles can be seen when Obi-Wan Kenobi uses the advantage of high ground against Anakin Skywalkers and quickly uses slashes to remove his legs at the knee and his remaining biological arm.

 

Form VIII Table

Basic Advanced Master
3 4 5
Lightsaber Prerequisites: Basic IV Basic V, Basic III Advanced IV
Power Prerequisites: Combat Sense II Force Enhanced Attributes III, Enhanced Senses III, Lightsaber Combat II, Combat Sense III Knightly Enhanced Attributes III, Lightsaber Combat III, Knightly Enhanced Senses I, Combat Sense IV
 

Form: Form IX - Shien

Influence: Swiping Assaults

Classes: Consular, Guardian

Corrupted: Sith Warrior

Description:

- Shien is somewhat a resemblance to fighting with a Katana.  A shorter blade might be preferable to the practitioner of Shien.  The primary use of the blade is in a horizontal (or alternatively vertical) hold position with a fast arc cut from that position.  Very much like you might see in Highlander.

 

Form IX Table

Basic Advanced Master
3 5 7
Lightsaber Prerequisites: Basic I, Basic II Advanced II Basic V
Power Prerequisites: Combat Sense I Combat Sense II Knightly Enhanced Attributes II, Lightsaber Combat III, Knightly Enhanced Senses I, Combat Sense III
 

Form: Form X - Jar'Kai

Influence: Dual Wielding

Classes: Guardian

Corrupted: Sith Warrior

Description:

- Jar'Kai are focused on learning to wield two lightsabers at once.  Each weapon is used for a specific purpose, for instance, one lightsaber is used for strikes while the second is used for defending.  Some practitioners of Form VI (Niman) learn some aspects of this form, but do not tend to complete it.

 

Form IX Table

Basic Advanced Master
3 5 7
Lightsaber Prerequisites: Basic II, Basic III Advanced III, Basic IV Advanced IV
Power Prerequisites: Combat Sense II Combat Sense III Knightly Enhanced Attributes II, Lightsaber Combat III, Knightly Enhanced Senses I, Combat Sense IV