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There’s a lot of awesome and striking armor in theStar Warsuniverse, most notably, the iconic Stormtrooper armor. Across the various shows, movies, and games, there is plenty of armor to see, but it’s almost always worn by the troops that take the battlefield. The Jedi of the galaxy far, far away tend to avoid getting decked out in armor, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.
Some of the most famed Jedi inStar Warsutilize Jedi armor to remain protected when their battle is a bit more complex than a standard lightsaber duel. Jedi armor may not be as striking as, say, Death Trooper armor, but there seems to be a growing movement among theStar Warsfan base to appreciate this protective garb. With how useful it can be for a skilled Jedi, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jedi armor popping up more and more.
Protect vital spots of Jedi without limiting battle abilities
Affiliation
Jedi Order
Jedi armor is as simple as it sounds: it is a type of armor worn by those within the Jedi order. In the standard canon, it is known as Jedi Commander Armor, likely because it is often seen being worn by high-ranking Jedi capable of calling themselves Commander or General. The armor was eventually reworked further and was named the Jedi Reconnaissance Armor.In the Legends canon, Jedi armor was even more varied, with previous iterations of the Jedi even utilizing full suits of custom armor in their battles against the Sith.
One look at the most common Jedi armor should make it clear that it can’t be compared to the effectiveness of something like Clone Trooperor even Stormtrooper armor. Its coverage armor is lesser than other examples, but this prevents the armor from hampering a Jedi’s abilities. If a Jedi were forced to storm into battle with clunky armor, they might end up being at higher risk of death, especially if they were forced to wear a helmet that hampered their vision.
Why Did The Jedi Need Armor?
The need for Jedi armor sprang up across the series for a variety of reasons, though it was pretty much always used when they were faced with war. The armor was intended to add additional protection to vital areas that could be hit while they are focused on bigger enemies. The smaller plates of armor served as a small way for Jedi to help tip the scale in their favor whenfaced with overwhelming blaster fire. The Jedi could have entered the battle in their standard robes, but that would mean a stray or lucky blaster shot could spell the end for even the most skilled warrior.
In the bookStar Wars: The Secrets Of The Jedi, Luke Skywalker describes Jedi armor in his own words:
Because of the Jedi’s dangerous position on the front lines, traditional robes weren’t always enough to protect members of the Order from the constant barrage of attacks unleashed by the Separatists' droids. To meet this threat, many Jedi incorporated armor — usually modified from standard-issue Clone Trooper gear — into their ceremonial garb.
Which Notable Jedi Wore Armor?
Known Jedi Armor Wearers
There haven’t been many major instances of Jedi wearing armor, and for good reason. Some would argue that the very idea of armor goes against the way of the Jedi during the prime era of theStar Warsmovies. However, this doesn’t mean that the armor is particularly rare either.
Obi-Wan Kenobi can be seen wearing Jedi armor throughout the animated seriesStar Wars: The Clone Wars.Bothnew hero Cal Kestisand his master Jaro Tapal of theStar Wars Jedigames can be seen wearing different versions of Jedi armor at different times. Even Baylan Skoll fromAhsokacould be said to be wearing Jedi armor. When looking at these instances, it becomes clear that not all Jedi armor has a uniform appearance. The two that most closely resemble one another are the armor that Obi-Wan and Jaro Tapal wear.
How Effective Is Jedi Armor?
The question of Jedi armor’s effectiveness is a tricky thing. It depends on the coverage of the armor, the situation any given Jedi is in, and their combat prowess. A Jedi with less confidence in combat may want more armor coverage at the cost of mobility.A more skilled Jedi, like Obi-Wan, may only be interested in minimal armor to protect vital parts of his body as he rushes around the battlefield.
The standard Jedi armor worn by Obi-Wan, and in turn the most common kind of Jedi Armor during the Clone Wars era, was the same material used for Clone Trooper armor. The armor plates were made from plastoid, a durable material that was standard for armor in militaries all the way throughthe rule of the Empire. This material wasn’t capable of shrugging off direct blaster fire or stopping a lightsaber swing, but it offered protection against glancing shots, small arms fire, and a variety of blunt force and weather effects. Jedi armor wasn’t capable of stopping a wave of blaster fire, but it could add a layer of confidence to a skilled Jedi, allowing them to feel more comfortable heading into a war zone.
Star Warsis available to stream on Disney+.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise originally created by George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd with the 1977 motion picture. The science fiction franchise follows the adventures of characters (both humanoid and alien) in outer space including those who can wield a mystical power known as the Force. Since the release of the original trilogy of movies, the franchise has expanded to include multiple films and branched out to other media like comics, video games, tv shows, theme park attractions, and more. The IP and Lucasfilm were sold to Disney in 2012.
