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- "Those who wish to incorporate a second blade may wish to use a lightsaber shoto in their off-hand, for its shorter blade allows for a greater range of motion."
- ―Skarch Vaunk on dual-blade combat in The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force
The lightsaber shoto, commonly referred to as shotos, but also known as short lightsabers or lightdaggers, were essentially lightsabers with a shorter blade, whose purpose was primarily to serve as an off-hand weapon for those duelists seeking to employ the twin-bladed technique of Jar'Kai, but were also utilized by those Jedi and Sith whose stature made wielding full sized lightsabers impractical, or, in some cases, impossible.[6]
Purpose and usage[]
- "Time to break out the shoto and give 'em something new to fear! Two blades—are definitely—better than one!"
- ―Ahsoka Tano
A male Sentinel with a blue-bladed shoto.
The primary purpose of a shoto in lightsaber combat was to counter attacks by an opponent's weapon while freeing the primary lightsaber for a return strike. To this end, shoto wielders were required to become proficient in the lightsaber techniques of Jar'Kai in order to reduce risk of injury to themselves due to the increased dexterity needed to master the use of both blades simultaneously. Masters of this technique could deliver a high number of attacks in a very short time, potentially overpowering opponents quickly rather than engaging in a protracted duel. Shotos were also used to counter lightwhips.[8]
Some ambitious duelists took this strategy a step further by dispensing with the use of a regular lightsaber entirely, and instead wielding two shotos simultaneously. By doing so a combatant sacrificed reach and leverage in exchange for unparalleled speed, dexterity and range of motion. It is worth noting that any handicap inherent in this form could be compensated for with sufficient knowledge of Ataru, whose acrobatic maneuvers could be used to regain the ground automatically lost when shortening one's own blades. The renowned Jedi Master and High Council member during the Old Sith Wars Vandar Tokare was a prolific applicant of this technique[2], as was the Dathomirian Dark Acolyte Saato.[9]
For some, however, the use of a shoto is not a choice, but a necessity. Throughout history many diminutive individuals both Jedi and Sith have adopted the shoto due to the physical impracticality of wielding a full-scale lightsaber. The Jedi Grand Master Yoda, for example, wielded a shoto as his primary weapon, as did his contemporary Yaddle and the ancient Sith Acolyte Toki Tollivar.
Unlike a normal-sized lightsaber, the lightsaber shoto was crafted so that it could be used effectively as a thrown weapon.[4]
History[]
Yoda demonstrates his mastery of the shoto against his former apprentice Dooku's curved-hilt lightsaber.
The first shotos, referred to as short lightsabers, were introduced during the Old Sith Wars; one of the most notable users of this secondary blade was the ancient Jedi Master Kavar, who used a matched lightsaber and shoto with blue beams. Uthar Wynn's Sith apprentice and deputy at the Sith academy on Korriban, Yuthura Ban, wielded a red-bladed shoto as her primary weapon. The Sith Lord Freedon Nadd's short lightsaber was a bronze-bladed shoto, which was later taken from his tomb on Dxun by a strike team sent by Meetra Surik.
Fallen Jedi Master Sora Bulq employing a shoto in his off-hand.
During the Clone Wars era, the rebellious Jedi Master Sora Bulq carried a shoto of the same color as his standard lightsaber which he used in a duel against the Jedi Master, Mace Windu.[10] Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker's Padawan Ahsoka Tano wielded a yellowish-green shoto.
Luke using his shoto against Lumiya
During the Galactic Civil War in the Nagai–Tof War, the Grand Master of the New Jedi Order, Luke Skywalker, constructed a shoto with a red blade that was made from materials from the Stinger and powered by the blaster’s power pack to counter the unusual nature of his opponent, Lumiya's lightwhip during their Skirmish on Kinooine.[11] Luke used the shoto when he practiced his saber training with three Marksman-H combat remotes before the Second Battle of Endor.[12] During the Battle of Iskalon, Lando used the shoto while being underwater to bring down the Nagai's tower.[13] Luke also used his shoto during the Battle of Zeltros.[14] Many decades later, Luke would use it again to combat Lumiya during the Battle of Gilatter VIII while his twin sister, Leia Organa Solo dueled Alema Rar.[15]
The Dark Jedi Picaroon C. Boodle's and the Jedi Grand Master Yoda's lightsabers were small enough that they may actually have been technically classifiable as a shoto, though they were not used as such. During the Swarm War, the Dark Jedi Lomi Plo also used a purple-bladed shoto in her duel against Jacen Solo and Luke Skywalker.[16]
When Luke Skywalker became aware of the re-emergence of Lumiya during the events of the Second Galactic Civil War, he had his wife Mara Jade construct a shoto.[17] Shotos were considered an essential item to have when fighting a lightwhip because they countered the advantage that the lightwhip had: the ability to go in more than one direction. Mara Jade constructed a shoto with a blue blade, while Luke's shoto had a red blade. Mara also used her blue-bladed shoto to battle her nephew Jacen after discovering he had fallen to the Dark Side.[18]
Behind the scenes[]
In the RPG video games Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Knights of the Old Republic II, the shoto is referred to as a "Short Lightsaber." Its main purpose is as a side weapon. Shotos as depicted in other media, however, seem to have significantly shorter blades.
Appearances[]
Non-canon appearances[]
Sources[]
"Disturbance in the Force" — Challenge 66 (Unlicensed)- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords: Prima Official Game Guide (as short lightsaber)
- "Heroes of Revenge of the Sith" on Wizards.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- "The Force Unleashed Preview 2" on Wizards.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide
- The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force (First identified as Lightsaber shoto)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars The Complete Season Three
- Keeping the Peace
- Cartel Market Specials: Week of May 29, 2017 on The Old Republic's official website (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide
- ↑ Star Wars (1977) 96
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Star Wars Roleplaying Game Saga Edition Core Rulebook
- ↑ The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force
- ↑ Star Wars Lightsabers: A Guide to Weapons of the Force
- ↑ "Repel All Boarders!" — Star Wars: The Clone Wars Comic 6.18
- ↑ Star Wars (1977) 96
- ↑ Star Wars: The New Droid Army
- ↑ Jedi: Mace Windu
- ↑ Star Wars (1977) 96
- ↑ Star Wars (1977) 100
- ↑ Star Wars (1977) 102
- ↑ Star Wars (1977) 104
- ↑ Legacy of the Force: Exile
- ↑ Dark Nest III: The Swarm War
- ↑ Legacy of the Force: Tempest
- ↑ Legacy of the Force: Sacrifice