Summary
Anakin Skywalkeris one of theStar Warsgalaxy’s most powerful characters, using a variety ofForce powersthroughout both the modern canon and the original Legends continuity. Before his tragic turn to the dark side, Anakin was an exceptional – albeit volatile – member of the Jedi Order whose mysterious origin and astounding aptitude for using the Force led many to believe he was theprophesized Chosen One. Although the prophecy turned out to be true, Skywalker doomed himself and the Jedi Order by becoming the Sith Lord Darth Vader.
Both the Legends and modern canon continuities establish that Anakin Skywalker lacks a father, having been created bymidi-chloriansand born to the human Shmi Skywalker. The Legends timeline elaborates further in James Luceno’s novelDarth Plagueis, revealing that the titular Sith Lord and his apprentice, Darth Sidious (Palpatine), unsuccessfully attempted to exert control over the Force itself, corrupting its very essence with the dark side. The Force, via midi-chlorians, responded to their attempted tampering by creating Anakin, who would become a powerful Jedi and key contributor to the fall of Darth Bane’s Sith Order.
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13Telekinesis
Great effect throughout the Clone War
One of the most basic and well-known applications of the Force is telekinesis. Typically, telekinesis is one of the first powers a Jedi learns, and the ability has a wide variety of applications.Jedi can throw their lightsabers, guide the weapon’s trajectory, and call it back to them when well-trained in telekinesis.The ability is also used to push opponents to the ground, incapacitating or even killing them, depending on the Force push’s intensity and environment.
Anakin Skywalker is, unsurprisingly, a master of telekinesis, using the power to great effect throughout the Clone Wars. Many of Anakin’s most impressive feats can be found in the original Legends-era Clone Wars multimedia project, with Skywalker effortlessly repelling numerous superbattle droidswith a single application of telekinesis in the first chapter of theStar Wars: Clone Warsmicroseries. In the 2008Star Wars: The Clone Warsmovie, Anakin uses telekinesis to blast Count Dooku with a gust of Tatooine sand.
12Force Speed
Used the power to escape droidekas
Jedi also typically use the Force to enhance their physical abilities. Force speed is a particularly useful Force application, allowing a Jedi to flee a dangerous situation, defend themselves from fast-moving attacks, and reduce travel time when rushing to confront an opponent. Obi-Wan Kenobi and his mentor Qui-Gon Jinn famously used the power to escape droidekas inStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, with the duo appearing as blurs when fleeing the droids.
Like Kenobi, Anakin became a master of Force speed as well, particularly in the Legends continuity. Anakin cuts down a large contingent of battle droids in a matter of scant seconds in the 2004 novelJedi Trial, by David Sherman and Dan Cragg. Justin Lambros and Rick Lacy’s short comicThe Brinksees Anakin escaping the pull of the vacuum of space with a powerful application of Force speed.
11Force Jump
Using it in both films
Another rudimentary Jedi ability is using the Force to enhance one’s jumps. Anakin is particularly adept at this power, using it in both the movies and materials exclusive to Legends and the modern canon. InStar Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Anakin uses Force enhanced jumps several times on Geonosis, and he uses the power to escape an elevator car aboard the Invisible Hand inStar Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
In an incredible display, Anakin uses multiple Force-enhanced jumps on Teth, leaping from STAP to STAP and cutting down their B1 battle droid pilots, as shown in the modern canon’sThe Clone Warsmovie. Another spectacular example of Anakin chaining Force jumps can be found in the Legends continuity’sClone Warsmicroseries. In his duel withAsajj Ventresson Yavin IV, Anakin pursues the murderousSith acolytein the jungle,using the Force and his environment to keep up with the Rattataki.
10Jedi Reflexes
Precognition and functionally
As noted by Qui-Gon Jinn inThe Phantom Menace, Jedi use the Force for precognition, functionally giving them astoundingly fast reflexes. This application of the Force is so basic that even an untrained Force-sensitive – if strong enough – can use this ability unconsciously. Anakin Skywalker has been using this Force power since early childhood, and it famously helped him win his freedom.
Anakin has a limited degree of podracing experience by the time he encounters Qui-Gon Jinn. Podracing, notably, is so treacherous and demanding on one’s cognitive speed that no human can successfully compete in podraces – save for Anakin, that is. Piloting his customized podracer, Anakin famously won first place in the Boonta Eve Classic inThe Phantom Menace, defeating highly experienced racers, securing his freedom, and allowing him to begin the path toward Jedi Knighthood.
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9Force-Enhanced Strength
Exceed the natural limitations of their respective species
Throughout the Clone Wars, in bothStar Warscontinuities, Anakin demonstrates incredible skill at using the Force to enhance his physical strength. This relatively rarely seen ability allows beings to far exceed the natural limitations of their respective species’ strength, an invaluable power for a Jedi. In both the Legends and modern canon continuities, Anakin tends to use Force-enhanced strength during lightsaber duels.
Anakin is already physically strong to begin with, but with the Force augmenting his strength, he overpowers opponents like MagnaGuards in the modern canon’sThe Clone Warswith ease. In the Legends timeline’sClone Warsmicroseries, Anakin’s Force-enhanced lightsaber strikes break the stone beneath Asajj Ventress, sending her hurtling down a deep pit. The Legends-era novelization ofRevenge of the Sithdescribes Anakin as using Force-enhanced strength multiple times in his duel with Count Dooku, battering theSith Lord’s defenses and swatting away a piece of heavydurasteel.
8Force Sense
Detect the environment around them
As Jedi develop their connection to the Force, they gain (and gradually improve) their ability to detect the environment around them. By reaching out with the Force,Jedi can detect the feelings and intentions of others, know when a friend or ally is in danger, and protect themselves from potential ambushes. Anakin’s first use of the Force sense is inAttack of the Cloneswhen he senses an assassination attempt on Padmé, allowing him to quickly cut down a pair of deadly kouhuns.
Perhaps more passively, Anakin’s Force-enhanced senses allowed him to instantly find the correct tent in aTusken Raidercamp where his mother was held. Anakin similarly sensed the presence of both Padmé and Palpatine upon revealing the latter’s true identity to Mace Windu, causing him anguish and leading him to come to Palpatine’s aid for the sake of Padmé. Anakin’s uses of Force sense were rare, but typically centered on those he cared about.
7Force Vision
Allow one to see the past
Similar to Force sense, Force-induced visions allow one to see the past, present, and potential futures. Sadly, Anakin’s most prominent Force visions are rife with tragedy. InAttack of the Clones,Anakin has visions of his mother dying, which leads him to travel back to Tatooine to save her, only to arrive tragically too late, with Shmi dying in his arms.
Anakin experiences a haunting Force vision in theClone Warsmicroseries, seeing a metaphor for his grim future in a village of Nelvaanians. One exceptional warrior – known as the Ghost Hand – becomes consumed by a dark and addictive power that conquers his enemies but takes away his loved ones in the process. Palpatine exploits Anakin’s Force visions inRevenge of the Sith, with Anakin fearing the death of Padmé, leading him to fall to the dark side to save her, only to seemingly cause her death himself.
6Jedi Mind Trick
Anakin rarely uses Jedi Mind Tricks
Jedi Mind Tricks are an iconic Force ability, despite their questionable nature. Using the Force to make a being more suggestible, a Jedi can avoid violence or keep a low profile, though the Jedi Order stresses the importance of considering the potential ramifications of the power and using it responsibly. Anakin rarely uses Jedi Mind Tricks, buthe is demonstrably skilled at using them.
In the modernStar Warscanon, Anakin uses mind tricks on several occasions inThe Clone Wars. Working in tandem with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Mace Windu, Anakin nearly breaks the mind of thebounty hunter Cad Bane, and he also uses the ability on his own to influence Shahan Alama, an associate of Bane. The Legends continuity’s novelization ofAttack of the Clonesby R. A. Salvatore reveals that Anakin uses mind tricks during his brief interrogation of Zam Wesell and to make the patrons of a night club return to their drinks when he and Obi-Wan disarmed Wesell.
5Beast Control
Force-user to flora and fauna
Since the Force is itself a component of the natural galaxy inStar Wars, it is unsurprising that there are Force powers that directly connect a Force-user to flora and fauna. Beast control, also known as animal empathy, allows a Jedi toconnect to an animal on a deeper-than-possible level, allowing them to prevent an otherwise hostile animal from attacking them or bond with an animal. Obi-Wan Kenobi is a master of this ability, though for Anakin, it is one of the few powers he struggles with.
Anakin uses a partially successful application of beast control inAttack of the Clonesagainst an enraged reek, calming the beast for a moment and allowing him to leap onto its back. In issue 2 of the modernStar Warscanon’sObi-Wan and Anakincomic by Charles Soule and Marco Checchetto, Anakin struggles with beast control, though he nevertheless continues to practice it. In the Legends continuity’s video gameStar Wars: The Clone Wars, Anakin rides a maru on Alaris Prime, possibly bonding with it via the Force.
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4Force Barrier
Larger barriers can protect against larger-scale attacks
A powerful defensive ability typically associated with Jedi and other Force users(though occasionally used by Sith and other dark side users), Force barriers are shields created by the Force. Jedi and Sith use small barriers to block blasterfire and even lightsaber strikes while larger barriers can protect against even larger-scale attacks. There is only one instance of Anakin Skywalker using a Force barrier in eitherStar Warscontinuity.
During the final episode of the Zillo Beast story arc inThe Clone Wars, the titular monster is rampaging through Coruscant. Although the Republic is armed with a poison gas that can kill the Zillo, the creature puts Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in immediate danger, prompting a team of Jedi and several Senate commandos to close ranks around him. While clone pilots kill the Zillo with poison gas missiles, Anakin, Yoda, and Aayla Secura combine their might to create a protective Force barrier around themselves and Palpatine, protecting them from the deadly gas.
