The Unmatched Power of Ahsoka: Why Sabine Wren Fades in Comparison

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Ahsoka episodes 1 and 2.

Summary

Sabine Wren's insufficient Force sensitivity greatly contributed to her defeat against the more strongly connected Shin Hati. Her loss can also be attributed to her lack of recent training, despite receiving guidance from Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus and Ahsoka Tano.

Shin Hati's past and her full range of abilities remain undisclosed, but her affiliation with the Force implies her natural aptitude and pursuit of power. In the final moments of Ahsoka episode 1, Sabine Wren and Shin Hati confront each other in a heated clash over the map leading to Thrawn. Initially, Sabine holds her ground against Shin, but the tide swiftly turns in Shin's favor, resulting in Sabine sustaining a clean lightsaber wound to her abdomen. Ahsoka Tano promptly tends to Sabine's injuries, but the encounter serves as a stark revelation to both Sabine and the viewers of her evident inferiority to her adversary.

Sabine Wren Has A Lower Level Of Force-Sensitivity

Despite Sabine Wren's previous experience wielding the Darksaber, it is surprising how swiftly and decisively she was defeated by Shin. Despite receiving instruction in lightsaber combat from Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus and being trained for multiple years by Ahsoka Tano herself, Sabine was easily defeated by Shin. If Ahsoka had not intervened, it is likely that Shin would have triumphed over Sabine. Nonetheless, there are several factors that contribute to Sabine's inability to hold her ground against Shin.

Sabine’s connection to the Force, as noted by droid professor Huyang, is exceptionally weak. Huyang even remarked that her level of attunement to the Force is inferior to that of any Padawan he has come across. This disparity in Force-sensitivity is one of the main factors that distinguishes Sabine from Shin, which likely explains why she struggled so much during their duel. With the Force on his side, Shin possesses a heightened sense of spatial awareness, enabling him to wield his lightsaber with precision and anticipate his opponent's moves. On the other hand, Sabine's lack of Force abilities means she can never master a lightsaber as effectively as someone who possesses that power. Therefore, she must rely solely on her swordsmanship skills to overcome this inherent disadvantage.

Not much has been disclosed about Shin Hati's background currently. While she demonstrates skill with a lightsaber, her complete potential in utilizing the Force remains undisclosed. Nevertheless, considering her master Baylan Skoll's fascination with power, it is plausible that he specifically selected Shin for her Force connection. Similarly driven by the pursuit of power, it is reasonable to presume that she possesses a natural aptitude for the Force.

Sabine Hasn't Kept Up With Her Training

Sabine's lack of practice played a role in her failure to defeat Shin. In the series, it was evident that she had stored her armor and lightsaber with other discarded items in her room. When she finally used her lightsaber to confront Shin, it had likely been the first time in a while that she had handled it. Despite her rusty skills, Sabine impressively held her own against Shin, who had clearly been refining her abilities. However, now that Sabine has resumed her role as Ahsoka's companion and adorned her Mandalorian armor, her next encounter with Shin in Ahsoka may unfold differently. Catch new episodes of Ahsoka on Disney+ every Tuesday at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.