The showdown on Mustafar was devastating for Anakin, who would become Darth Vader. He suffered severe injuries, losing limbs and being burned, which left him in great distress.
But there’s more to the story than meets the eye.
When Obi-Wan struck Anakin, it might have looked like just a regular swing of his lightsaber. However, it was much more than that Obi-Wan actually made multiple cuts in that single moment.
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The High Ground Strike That Sealed Anakin’s Fate
We all know the famous duel on Mustafar, between Anakin and his former Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
In a key moment, Obi-Wan used a tactical advantage by securing the higher ground. Anakin, driven by intense anger, couldn’t think straight.
He tried to leap and surprise Obi-Wan. But Obi-Wan, not easily fooled, quickly countered and cut off Anakin’s limbs.
It looked like Obi-Wan only struck once, but he actually made several cuts. Want to know how he did it? Keep reading to find out.
Obi-Wan’s Tactical Use of Mou Kei for Victory
When Anakin jumped to try and get behind Obi-Wan, it wasn’t just a simple attack.
Obi-Wan actually cut him several times.
He didn’t just swing his lightsaber wildly; he used a special technique called Mou Kei.
This move is known for cutting off many limbs at once and is considered a last resort in lightsaber fighting.
The Star Wars database explains that Mou Kei means “to dismember.”
Using Mou Kei really showed the deep sadness of what was happening.
It’s a technique that Jedi only use when there’s no other choice left.
It tells a lot about what the person using it is feeling—it means they’re ready to do whatever it takes, even if it’s really hard on them.
For Obi-Wan, it was about choosing the less terrible option: either let Anakin keep going down a really bad road or end things once and for all with a strong and final move.
There is also fan that created the fight on Mustafar by using the Clone Wars animated series they have created the fight with better.
From the fight they have added Obi-Wan sliced Anakin twice during midair, I will leave the video for you to enjoy.
The Forbidden Technique: Mou Kei’s Canonical Roots
In the intense finale of ‘Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones,’ Dooku battles Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. During this fight, Dooku cuts off Anakin’s right arm, which is similar to the Mou Kei move.
This moment hints at the sad events that happen later in Mustafar, where Obi-Wan uses a move like Mou Kei on Anakin.
However, this powerful attack was first mentioned in the story “Dooku: Jedi Lost,’ showing us a part of lightsaber fighting that’s rare and usually not allowed.
Mou Kei’s appearance in ‘Dooku: Jedi Lost’ adds more depth to the Jedi’s history and links stories and characters from different times in the Star Wars world.
It reminds us of the tough choices Jedi have to make and what happens because of those choices, like what we saw with Obi-Wan on Mustafar.