We may know that Darth Vader’s suit helps him survive and gives him power. Yet, we may not know how it operates, including the buttons on the front chest plate.
What do Vader’s buttons on his suit do? They help keep him alive, as well as other key functions.
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Vader’s Suit and Buttons
After his duel on Mustafar, Darth Vader is equipped with a suit that keeps him alive. Fans who have read about Vader’s suit know that it contains a complex life support system.
The life support system is connected to the computerized control panel on Vader’s chest to regulate breathing. A cable runs from the panel to his breathing apparatus and heart regulator.
Vader also has a function box on his belt to help his respiratory system.
The first purpose of Vader’s suit buttons then is to help him breathe. However, this is about as far as the explanation goes in canon.
As this article explains, “the purpose of the buttons” remains a “mystery” in films, official books, and comics.
We thus need to look to Legends for a complete description of what the buttons do.
What Do Vader’s Suit Buttons Do?
The buttons on the front of Vader’s chest could be the most important part of the suit. As this video explains, they serve as the control box for his life support system.
All data from the rest of his body are sent here to keep him alive.
Although Vader’s suit has changed over time, we see three buttons on the top left, two on the top right, and four switches on the bottom.
The top left area controls Vader’s pulmonary, respiratory, and neural systems. As with the rest of us, these systems are vital for keeping someone alive.
Vader’s charred lungs need pulmonary (lung) support and require help to serve as the main organs of the respiratory system.
His blood vessels carrying oxygen also need to be monitored and supported.
Likewise, the chest buttons controlled signals coming to and from Vader’s central and peripheral nervous system. Earthly science helps illustrate how important these top left buttons are.
The two larger buttons on the right of Vader’s suit are the automatic control and the manual override functions.
The blue automatic button allows his suit to run the operations for him, while the red manual one lets Vader take control of the functions, as with overriding autopilot or cruise control in a car.
The four command switches on the bottom are responsible for resetting his system (the one on the far right) and programming (the other three).
Like a computer, Vader could reset his system, if necessary, and update its software or apps. In addition, two rods to the left and right of all the buttons served as life function sensors.
They could indicate if the entire system is working correctly or if an area needs adjustments.
Altogether, we get a sense of how important the buttons are to keeping Vader the feared Sith lord that he is.
More on the Suit’s Buttons
Like the above video, this article draws on the 2011 Dan Wallace book Darth Vader, A 3-D Reconstruction to describe what the buttons do.
Yet, the article also adds how Vader’s chest plate was vulnerable to attack and how books like The Force Unleashed II showed that the buttons got damaged in combat.
In addition, Palpatine took advantage of the control box’s sensitivity to electricity to keep Vader under his control.
This video emphasizes that the buttons were installed by Palpatine to keep his apprentice by his side, obedient to his commands.
The buttons, like the rest of the suit, serve as Vader’s private torture chamber. The buttons may work more as a control mechanism than the operation center for the life support system.
However, other commentators stress the operational aspects of the buttons and show that they had more to do with keeping Vader alive and functional.
As with the above description, we could see how this would be more important.
Vader’s Buttons
We might conclude that the buttons were mostly for function and partly for punishment.
We can find out about how Vader’s buttons work from a non-canon source, and how they keep him breathing and control his heart, nervous system, and other vital areas to allow Vader to pursue the Rebels.
They also helped the Emperor control Vader, at least for a time.
Todd Wahlstrom is a creative and analytical freelance writer and life-long Star Wars fan. He has covered such topics as Darth Vader, the Jedi, Boba Fett, and AT-AT Walkers. Todd has published a non-fiction book, holds a Ph.D. in history, and enjoys hiking, running, and reading about science.