Lightsaber Combat Form II

Form II

Makashi was established to contend with the threat of lightsaber wielding Force-sensitive antagonists, namely the Sith Order. A duel between two practitioners of Shii-Cho favored the more aggressive combatant, which was seriously disadvantageous to the Jedi Knights. In contrast to the rapid slashes and sweeping blows of Shii-Cho, Makashi employs gentle deflections, subtle feints and nimble jabs with an emphasis on weapon retention. The development of Form II led to the oft repeated maxim ‘this weapon is your life’ regarding the lightsaber.

The elegance and efficiency of Makashi was much more compatible with the Jedi way than the escalating ferocity of Shii-Cho. It allowed a dedicated adherent to exercise greater emotional control while exhausting their opponent with a seemingly effortless defense before finally executing a sudden riposte. Although practiced concurrently with later forms, Makashi was regarded as the salvation of the Jedi Order up until the defeat and apparent destruction of the Sith. By the time of the Clone Wars however, Makashi had fallen into disuse due to the preponderance of blaster weaponry in the galaxy.

Although the Makashi duelist enjoyed many advantages, this form suffered from a few significant flaws. It was entirely focused on contending with a single opponent and required a user facing more than one assailant to rely on their proficiency with the Force to stagger one foe, or else to switch to another form. Form II was also ill-suited to contend with ranged opponents necessitating that the lightsaber wielder quickly close with a target, rely on ranged Force powers, or simply withdraw. Finally, the Makashi reliance on turning strikes aside becomes far less effective against lightsaber wielders with superior physical strength.

All of the known Makashi masters perished by the end of the Clone Wars and only the most rudimentary understanding of Form II techniques were inherited by the last known Jedi, making Makashi effectively a lost art by the ascendance of New Republic.

Skills: Deception

Advantages: Accurate Attack, Defensive Attack,  Precise Attack, Second Chance (opposed check to resist being disarmed), Taunt, Uncanny Dodge, Weapon Bind.

—Return to Table of Contents—