Before we get into the main topic, let’s put your Star Wars knowledge to the test. Here’s a question for you—can Darth Vader use Force Lightning?
Most fans would say no, and there’s a good reason for that. But what if I told you that, in Star Wars canon, there was actually a time when Vader did unleash Force Lightning? And not just any lightning—his was red. Another cool thing I want to hint at is that Vader uses the red Force Lightning on his own master, Emperor Palpatine.
Star Wars canon confirms that Vader can, in fact, use Force lightning.
The Only Time Darth Vader Unleashed Red Force Lightning
If you want to check it out for yourself, this moment happens in the Darth Vader (2017) comic series. The story builds up from issues #20 to #25, but if you’re looking for the exact moment when Vader uses Force Lightning, you’ll find it in issue #25.
In this storyline, Vader asks Palpatine for control over Mustafar, claiming the fiery planet as his own. Palpatine agrees, and as an additional gift, he gives Vader an ancient Sith artifact—the helmet of Lord Momin.
While on Mustafar, Vader uses the helmet to aid in constructing his fortress. However, in the process, it activates something unexpected—a portal that opens into the Force realm. When Vader steps through, his body remains in the real world, but his soul is pulled into this strange dimension, where he begins reliving fragments of his past.
Inside, Vader wanders through memories of his former self, seeing visions of Shmi Skywalker and his childhood on Tatooine. But things take a dark turn when he reaches the Jedi Temple, where he finds himself facing the entire Jedi Council.
What follows is one of the most intense moments in the comics. Instead of his usual lightsaber, Vader manifests twin red sabers seemingly created from his very essence. He charges into battle against the Jedi Masters, cutting them down with ease.
His journey continues, bringing him to a vision of Palpatine locked in combat with Obi-Wan Kenobi. It’s a haunting sight—his Sith Master battling the Jedi he once saw as a brother. The duel ends with Palpatine overwhelming Obi-Wan using Force Lightning.
Then, in a moment unlike anything we’ve seen before, Vader steps forward and unleashes a blast of red Force Lightning straight at Palpatine. It’s a display of sheer power, proving that within the Force realm, Vader wields an ability beyond what we’ve ever known him to have.
After defeating the vision of his master, Vader finally reaches his final destination—where he sees her. A vision of Padmé stands before him, waiting in silence. The sight alone is enough to shake him, but as he approaches, their conversation takes a chilling turn.
The vision of Padmé looks at him and utters, “Anakin Skywalker is dead.” Then, without hesitation, she turns and jumps off the cliff. As she falls, a bolt of red lightning strikes her midair, and she vanishes into nothingness.
Vader stands there, alone once more, left with nothing but the echoes of his past and the undeniable truth—Anakin Skywalker is truly gone.
Other Force Lightning Colors
In the movies, we’ve mostly seen Sith Lords like Count Dooku and Palpatine wield Force Lightning. Dooku’s blue lightning struck Anakin during Attack of the Clones, while Palpatine famously unleashed his purple “unlimited power” against Mace Windu in Revenge of the Sith.
But did you know that Force Lightning isn’t limited to just blue? It actually comes in different colors, and yes—they’re all canon, though rarely seen in the films.
Red Force Lightning
Let’s start with the rare red Force Lightning. We now know that Darth Vader has unleashed it, making it a major revelation. But he’s not the only one. Another powerful being, The Son from the Clone Wars Mortis Arc, also used red Force Lightning
Green Force Lightning
Next on the list is Green Force Lightning, and if you’re familiar with The Clone Wars, you probably already know who wields it—Mother Talzin. She unleashes this rare form of lightning in Season 6, The Disappeared Arc, during her attempt to achieve immortality. However, her plans are thwarted when Jedi Master Mace Windu intervenes, leading to a dramatic confrontation.
Yellow Force Lightning
We’ve also seen Force Lightning take on a yellow hue, though it’s far less common than the blue or red variations. One of the only known users of yellow Force Lightning in canon is Darth Momin, a Sith Lord and dark-side scholar introduced in Darth Vader (2017) #22.
In the comics, Momin was an artist obsessed with capturing suffering through the Force. He used his lightning in a terrifying experiment, channeling the dark side into a weapon designed to freeze an entire city in its final moments of fear and agony.