After watching ‘Tales of the Jedi,’ specifically episode 5, a fan noticed that Anakin wasn’t just training Ahsoka to survive Order 66.
He was also, unintentionally, training his 501st Legion to fight against the Jedi. If we look back, Ahsoka’s training helped her survive during the Clone Wars era.
However, it also helped Anakin’s clone troopers understand how to deal with the Jedi and their lightsabers.
Finally, it was the 501st Legion, led by Anakin, who stormed the Jedi Temple and eliminated every Jedi inside.
Anakin’s Rigorous Training Techniques
As I mentioned earlier, episode 5 of “Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi” delves into the harshness of Anakin’s training for Ahsoka.
As part of Ahsoka’s training, Anakin developed an intense method to teach her how to defend against blaster bolts.
He would have the clones, including members of the 501st, fire upon her in a controlled environment while she focused on deflecting the attacks.
This intense and realistic training allowed Ahsoka to become highly skilled in dealing with overwhelming firepower, a skill she would use countless times in battle.
This tactic not only honed Ahsoka’s reflexes but also gave the 501st a firsthand look at how a Jedi responds under pressure, inadvertently providing them with key insights into how Jedi defend themselves in combat.
The Training Actually Paid Off During Order 66
When Order 66 was executed, everything Anakin had taught his clones came full circle.
After his fall to the dark side and transformation into Darth Vader, Anakin led the 501st Legion in a merciless attack on the Jedi Temple.
The 501st, once loyal to the Jedi, now turned their blasters on the very beings they fought beside. Having spent years under Anakin’s guidance, the clones were uniquely prepared for this brutal task.
They had intimate knowledge of Jedi combat techniques, and learned directly from one of the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy.
As they stormed the Jedi Temple, the 501st used the strategies Anakin had taught them to counter Jedi defenses.
This familiarity with Jedi reflexes and their reliance on blaster bolt deflection gave the clones an edge, allowing them to anticipate how the Jedi would react.
Ironically, Anakin’s intensive training had unintentionally prepared his legion to be more effective in defeating Jedi, including younglings and Jedi Masters alike.
By turning to the dark side and leading the charge against the Jedi, Anakin had, in essence, turned his own teachings against his former allies.
The 501st Legion, soldiers who once saw Anakin as a heroic figure, were now tools in his conquest, using the very tactics they had perfected under his leadership to betray the Jedi Order.