Lightsaber Combat Form III

Form III

Soresu originated as a refinement on Shii-Cho’s blaster deflection maneuvers. It is similar to Makashi in that it minimizes movement and energy expenditure to allow the practitioner to defend over a prolonged engagement without tiring but unlike that earlier form, it is equally effective against close and distant foes. A skilled Soresu user can close with ranged combatants in broad steps while maintaining a tight defense even against multiple attackers. A master of the form can appear as the calm center in a raging storm of battle.

For one who is attuned to the Force, Soresu establishes nearly impenetrable resistance to most contemporary modes of attack and by the time of the Clone Wars was considered far more versatile than Makashi. Many Jedi habitually studied one or two favored Shii-Cho attacks while pursuing broader expertise in Soresu. If one Jedi was sorely beset, Soresu’s array of deflections, pivots and slips could ward off attackers until help arrived. Because Jedi students are always paired with a master, it was rare for a defender wait long for assistance. Nevertheless, Form III expertise certainly enabled a practitioner to forestall an extended onslaught if necessary.

As the utmost exemplification of the Jedi’s use of the Force for defense, Soresu’s shortcomings lie in limited offensive options. Even a master of the form, such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, usually employed another style or Force abilities in order to best an opponent. Proper use of Form III requires a calm, even relaxed state of consciousness and few but the most advanced Jedi Masters can maintain this disposition while readying an offensive tactic from another style or a Force power. Soresu’s attacks are so close to the body that they must usually be performed in response to offensive action on the part of the target, either as an intercepting strike or a counterattack.

Several Soresu users survived into the age of the Empire and it is likely that significant knowledge of the form persists into the New Republic era. Luke Skywalker received instruction with Obi-Wan Kenobi who was the last living master of the form. The last padawan’s Jedi Master, Depa Billaba, also favored Soresu.

Advantages: Assessment, Defensive Attack, Redirect, Second Chance (resistance checks against Damage with the force descriptor), Seize Initiative, Uncanny Dodge

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