Unstoppable: 6 Star Wars Characters Who Defied Death after Being Struck by Lightsabers

This article contains spoilers for episodes 1 and 2 of Ahsoka. It is quite surprising to see how many Star Wars characters are able to survive lightsaber injuries. Lightsabers, powered by Force-infused kyber crystals, are known to be extremely dangerous weapons in the galaxy, especially in the hands of skilled Jedi or Sith. However, as the franchise progresses, lightsabers appear to be losing their lethality, with numerous characters managing to survive being stabbed by them. Ahsoka, the Disney+ TV show, is the latest example of this plot armor, allowing a character to escape what should have been a fatal lightsaber attack. This issue has persisted for a long time, both in the Star Wars canon and in legends.

Darth Maul, Maw, Kylo Ren, and Finn are among the characters who have survived wounds that should have been lethal. Darth Maul's survival is particularly astounding, considering he was cut in half. In one instance from Star Wars Tales, Darth Vader intentionally impaled himself to eliminate a "resurrected" Maul, although he only pierced his cybernetics. Similarly, in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, he stabbed his secret apprentice Starkiller but with the intention of merely injuring him. Surprisingly, there have been five characters in the canon who have survived lightsaber stabbings that were supposed to be fatal.

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5 Cal Kestis

In the thrilling conclusion of Jedi: Fallen Order, Cal Kestis finds himself locked in a heated battle with the formidable Darth Vader at Fortress Inquisitorius. Despite being clearly overpowered, Kestis is caught off guard when the Dark Lord of the Sith employs telekinesis to seize Cal's very own lightsaber and impale him with it. Unlike Count Dooku's superficial blow in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, this brutal attack leaves Cal's survival and swift recovery quite astonishing.

4 Kylo Ren

The final lightsaber duel of the Star Wars Skywalker Saga occurs on Kef Bir, the Ocean Moon of Endor. Kylo Ren and Rey engage in fierce combat amidst the wreckage of the Second Death Star. Initially, Kylo Ren gains the upper hand, but Rey emerges victorious when he becomes distracted by Princess Leia's voice resonating through the Force. Seizing the opportunity, Rey employs Kylo Ren's own crossguard lightsaber to deliver a fatal blow.

Out of all the characters mentioned, Kylo Ren's survival appears to be the most logical outcome. Regretting her aggressive act, Rey utilizes her Force healing ability to restore Kylo Ren's physical well-being. According to Star Wars canon, this act of healing possesses the power to guide an individual towards the path of light, thus playing a significant role in Kylo Ren's redemption.

3 Grand Inquisitor

Introduced in Star Wars Rebels, the unnamed Grand Inquisitor plays a minor role in Obi-Wan Kenobi as a rival to Reva Sevander, also known as the Third Sister. In episode 2 of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Reva takes extreme measures in an attempt to overthrow him as the leader of the Inquisitors, ultimately stabbing him and seemingly killing him. However, three episodes later, the Grand Inquisitor resurfaces on Jabiim and taunts Reva, claiming that his desire for revenge allowed him to survive the impalement. This claim is questionable at best, as it is typically only powerful Sith Lords who are able to endure fatal injuries by drawing upon the dark side to sustain themselves.

2 Reva Sevander

Ironically, Reva herself experienced the same type of injury not once, but twice. Flashbacks revealed that she was a survivor of Order 66 and was stabbed by the newly anointed Darth Vader during the attack on the Jedi Temple. Miraculously, Reva managed to survive without relying on Force healing or bacta treatments. Determined to seek revenge on Darth Vader, she joined the Inquisitors, but her plans were unsuccessful as the Sith Lord once again impaled her – this time using her own lightsaber. Surprisingly, she survived Vader's fury once more, and the Grand Inquisitor failed to eliminate her.

1 Sabine Wren

In the final scene of Ahsoka episode 1, Sabine Wren engages in a fierce duel with the dark Jedi Shin Hati, resulting in a brutal stabbing. The following episode opens with Sabine in a medical facility, undergoing recovery without any indication of Ahsoka Tano utilizing her Force abilities to heal her wounds. This leaves open the possibility that Ahsoka possesses this power. Unfortunately, this implies that Sabine Wren joins the ranks of Star Wars characters who inexplicably survive being stabbed by lightsabers. Catch new episodes of Ahsoka every Tuesday at 6pm PT / 9pm ET exclusively on Disney+.