This Lightsaber Form Was Rejected By The Sith And The Jedi

When it comes to lightsaber combat, most of us know the seven classic forms – Shii-Cho, Makashi, Soresu, and so on.

But there’s one technique that barely gets mentioned, even though it’s one of the most deceptive, clever, and dangerous forms ever created. It’s called Tràkata, and both the Jedi and the Sith turned their backs on it.

So why did they reject it – and why is it suddenly back in canon thanks to The Acolyte?

What Tràkata Actually Is

Tràkata isn’t about power or defense – it’s about timing and deception. The whole idea is to take advantage of a lightsaber’s unique ability to turn off instantly. You use that to mess with your opponent in the middle of a duel.

Let’s say you’re locked in a blade clash. Instead of pushing through, you turn your saber off for a split second, move your hilt past their block, and then turn it back on right behind their guard. That’s one of the key moves – people call it Pass the Blade. There’s another one where you catch their saber with yours, shut it off fast, and let them stumble. It throws them off just enough to give you an opening.

And when it’s paired with Jar’Kai – that’s the dual-saber style – it becomes even harder to read. You’re swinging from both sides and switching your blades on and off unpredictably. Honestly, it’s wild.

Both the Jedi and Sith Said “No Thanks”

What surprised me is how both the Jedi and the Sith had issues with Tràkata. The Jedi said it was “unsportsmanlike.” They thought it crossed a line – fighting with deception instead of discipline. Their focus was always on honor and control. This felt like cheating to them.

On the other side, the Sith dismissed it for showing “weakness.” That one actually makes a weird kind of sense. The Sith believe in raw power, domination, and fear. Tràkata relies on trickery, and if you need tricks, maybe you’re not strong enough in their eyes.

So yeah, both groups turned their backs on this technique. Not because it didn’t work – but because it didn’t fit their ideas of what a fight should be.

It Still Showed Up in Some Fights

Even with the stigma, Tràkata kept showing up in key moments – quietly, and often only once.

Obi-Wan Kenobi used it for a second when he fought Maul and Savage Opress on Florrum. I noticed Marrok do the same thing in Ahsoka, right before Ahsoka finished him off. He turned off part of his blade and threw her balance off. It was quick, but it was there.

You can pause at 0:42  – 0:43 of the video below to see what I’m saying.

There are also examples in Legends – Corran Horn used it to take down a Vong commander. Tahiri Veila pulled it off during a duel with Ben Skywalker. And in the Visions short “The Elder,” Tajin Crosser used a similar trick to finish off the Elder by turning off his saber, sidestepping, and reigniting it at point-blank range.

I think the most interesting part is that these moments usually come during high-stakes fights. It’s never someone showing off. It’s a desperate move, or a smart one, used when nothing else works.

The Acolyte Made It Canon Again – And It’s Brutal

Then came The Acolyte, and everything changed. Qimir, also known as “the Stranger,” used Tràkata in his fight on Khofar. It wasn’t just one move – he built his entire style around it. Turning the blade on and off, misdirecting Jedi mid-swing, breaking their rhythm. And it worked. He cut down several Jedi in one encounter, and the way he fought clearly confused them.

Even Master Sol started using Tràkata during their rematch. At that point, it wasn’t just a trick anymore – it became part of the flow of combat. And for the first time, the episode guide actually named it. Tràkata is officially canon now.

What really stood out to me was how effective it was against trained Jedi. They couldn’t predict what was coming, because it didn’t follow the usual rhythm of lightsaber combat. That’s what made it so dangerous.

I Think It’s Here to Stay

What’s cool is that we’ve seen hints of this coming for a while. Cal Kestis briefly used a similar move in Jedi: Fallen Order.

Darth Vader’s modified saber, with dual kyber crystals, could change blade length mid-fight. The way it deactivated and reactivated in battle feels like a cousin to Tràkata.

Now that The Acolyte has shown how effective it is, I think we’ll start seeing more of it. Not just from villains, either. Sometimes, when the stakes are high, characters drop the rules and do what works.

Bonus: Lightwhips and the Forbidden Forms

While I was looking into Tràkata, I came across something else that really caught my attention – lightwhips. These aren’t just flashy lightsaber variants. They have a real history, and in some rare cases, they were actually used as a counter against the Sith’s deadliest techniques: the Forbidden Forms.

Lightwhips are basically flexible, plasma-based whips with weaker cutting power than regular lightsabers. They’re hard to use and kind of dangerous to wield since the tendrils can be unpredictable. But that flexibility gives them a unique advantage – especially when facing styles that rely on raw aggression and overwhelming force, like those used by certain Sith Lords.

There’s this old Jedi, Cervil the Uncanny, who left behind records saying that lightwhips were sometimes the best option against Sith who used those Forbidden Forms. Even Jedi Knight Vernestra Rwoh brought that up during the High Republic Era. She had a Force vision showing her how to modify her lightsaber into a whip mode and practiced it in secret. Later, when she was stranded on the jungle moon Wevo, she used it to rescue her Padawan and even defeat him in a duel to keep him from falling to the dark side.

So while lightwhips aren’t widely used, they’ve always had a place in the Jedi’s toolbox – especially when things get unpredictable. Kind of like Tràkata, they don’t follow the usual rules of lightsaber combat. And maybe that’s exactly why they’ve stuck around, quietly, waiting for the moment they’re really needed.