The Jaw-Dropping Revelation Ahsoka Unveils About The Inquisitors' Lightsaber

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 4.

Summary

The spinning blades of the Inquisitors' lightsabers are designed to intimidate their foes, however, this attribute ends up exposing a vulnerability. Unlike their counterparts in the Legends era, the Imperial Inquisitors in the current canon are purposely trained with limitations to avoid them becoming excessively formidable.

The Inquisitors' lightsabers, with their spinning blades, can be easily predicted and exploited by Jedi who are not intimidated. In one specific duel, Inquisitor Marrok showcases the vulnerabilities of these lightsabers. The Imperial Inquisitors, originally from Star Wars Legends, were introduced in the current canon through Star Wars Rebels. This gave them new lore and solidified their sinister reputation in the new timeline. These Inquisitors utilize double-bladed lightsabers that have spinning blades, which although advantageous in some ways, ultimately reveal a weakness in their design.

The current canon’s Imperial Inquisitors are deliberately trained to have limitations to prevent them from acquiring excessive power and skill. Their purpose is to locate Jedi who have survived the Empire’s Jedi Purge, either eliminate them or convert them to the dark side, and assist Darth Vader in pursuing more formidable adversaries. The lightsabers used by the Inquisitors are different from the usual saberstaffs and, unlike the various modifications made to traditional lightsabers, the key feature of the lightsabers used by these Jedi hunters serves a different purpose than combat.

The Inquisitors' Lightsaber Is For Intimidation, Not Combat

Lightsaber variants have specific functions in combat. Curved-hilt lightsabers, for example, are well-suited for styles like Makashi (Form II), which was Count Dooku's signature style. On the other hand, crossguard lightsabers provide their wielders with a lethal advantage in a saber-lock. Inquisitor lightsabers, similar to typical saberstaffs, offer Inquisitors an extended reach with a second blade, increasing their offensive and defensive surface area. However, the added spinning feature of these sabers serves primarily to intimidate enemies rather than provide practical advantages. Inexperienced Jedi who are on the run from the Empire often experience fear when confronted with the spinning blades of an Inquisitor's lightsaber, weakening them in combat against these agents of the dark side.

Ironically, this intimidation tactic becomes a weakness for the Inquisitors when they encounter formidable and experienced Jedi who are not easily intimidated. In the Rebels season 1 finale, Kanan Jarrus overcame his fears and effortlessly disarmed the Grand Inquisitor. Ahsoka Tano similarly triumphed over Marrok in Ahsoka episode 4 "Part Four: Fallen Jedi." Since Tano was never intimidated by Marrok in the first place, his attempt to instill fear with his weapon's spinning blades only made it easier for her to deliver a fatal strike.

The Spinning Blades Can Be Predicted - Meaning They Leave An Inquisitor Vulnerable

Inquisitor lightsabers are ineffective against Jedi who remain unfazed by them since their spinning blades expose vulnerable hilts for Jedi lightsaber strikes. In addition, a weakness of these lightsabers is their predictable and consistent spinning speed, allowing skilled Jedi to anticipate the blade pattern and easily strike through them. Therefore, these weapons prove to be impractical. Although Imperial Inquisitors may succeed against novice Jedi, both Rebels and Ahsoka demonstrate that they are no match for the Jedi Order's most powerful warriors.

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