Throughout all of his appearances in the Star Wars continuity, Obi-Wan Kenobi has shown off a variety of different Force powers. Each iteration of the character seems to be more and more powerful than the last, adding on to the powers introduced previously. After his most recent appearance in Disney’s Obi-Wan Kenobi series, there are many different possibilities as to where he can go from here, both in terms of power and in terms of story.
However, not all of Obi-Wan’s Force powers are canon. After Disney acquired the Star Wars brand in 2012, many Force abilities were relegated to Star Wars Legends and rendered non-canon. Even so, Obi-Wan remains one of the most powerful Jedi in history even without some of these otherworldly Force abilities.
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10 Telekinesis Was A Powerful Tool Of The Force
Obi-Wan Kenobi
One of the most recognizable abilities in a Jedi’s toolkit, telekinesis is a blanket term for a variety of different things one can do with the Force. For example, not only does this term cover the ability to move objects from afar, but it also refers to grander abilities such as crushing objects or freezing them in place. Obi-Wan uses this ability frequently, but it is at his most powerful during his final duel with Darth Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi where he is seen using the Force on a scale similar to the Dark Lord himself.
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9 Obi-Wan Was Capable Of Absorbing Energy In Legends
Star Wars: Clone Wars “Chapter 9”
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars TV show – which aired on Cartoon Network in 2003 – saw Obi-Wan demonstrate some tremendous Force powers. In “Chapter 9” of this series, Obi-Wan Kenobi fights against a bounty hunter named Durge along with a fleet of Droidekas. During this fight he is seen using an energy absorption ability known as Tutaminis, manipulating the Droidekas’ blaster bolts. This ability, however, is not canon.
8 Even As A Padawan, Obi-Wan Could Tame Beasts
Master & Apprentice
Many different Jedi have been seen using the Force to tame beasts throughout Star Wars canon, and Obi-Wan was no different. As described in the novel Master & Apprentice by Claudia Gray, as a Padawan, Obi-Wan used this ability to connect to a varactyl, a massive feathered reptile from the planet Utapau. Aside from Obi-Wan, both Ahsoka and Grogu have used this beast-taming ability to pacify otherwise dangerous creatures.
7 Obi-Wan Could Use The Force To Hide His Presence
Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game
Referring to a Jedi’s ability to use the Force to conceal their location, Force Stealth was a power used by Jedi in a variety of ways. In Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, the ability is described as being used by both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda to hide their power in the Force during their exile. Although this ability is no longer canon, it still offers an interesting answer to how some of the Jedi were able to remain hidden after Order 66.
6 Obi-Wan Understood How To Use The Dark Side
The Movie Trilogy Sourcebook
1993’s The Movie Trilogy Sourcebook revealed that Obi-Wan Kenobi knew how to use the dark side of the Force to either injure or kill those they interacted with. While the specifics on how such an ability is used are never fully explained, the sourcebook makes it clear Obi-Wan never used these abilities or fell to the dark side of the Force. This has since been rendered non-canon, though it is interesting to think about the repercussions of a Jedi knowing so much about the dark side.
5 Force Sense Allowed Obi-Wan To Feel The Death Of Alderaan
Star Wars (1977)
One of the most recognizable moments from Star Wars involves the destruction of Alderaan and Obi-Wan’s connection to it. Here, Obi-Wan senses through the Force that millions of people have cried out in fear only to be swiftly silenced, signaling the destruction of Alderaan. This ability is one called Force Sense, a common Force power among Jedi that allows them to connect with other beings through the lifestream that is the Force.
4 When He Died, Obi-Wan Became A Force Ghost
The Empire Strikes Back
Acting as the original Force Ghost seen in the franchise, Obi-Wan was a pioneer for this ability on screen. Manifesting as a Force Ghost not only allowed him to stick around after his death at the hands of Darth Vader, but it also meant that he could continue assisting with the training of Luke Skywalker. Since the first instance of this ability in The Empire Strikes Back, several Jedi including Yoda, Anakin Skywalker, and even Luke himself have all found a way to show up as Force Ghosts.
3 Obi-Wan Eventually Mastered The Art Of Battle Meditation
The Movie Trilogy Sourcebook
Best known as the signature Force power of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic character Bastila Shan, Battle Meditation was a common power used by Jedi in Star Wars Legends. This allowed a single Jedi to inspire legions of others, boosting their ability to fight and raising the capabilities of a group acting in coordination with one another.The Movie Trilogy Sourcebook explained that Obi-Wan had mastered this ability by the end of his exile on Tatooine, though he never had the chance to use it while it was canon in Star Wars Legends.
2 Obi-Wan Could Use The Force To Heal Himself And Others
The Life and Legend of Obi-Wan Kenobi
Using an ability that was later re-canonized for Rey and Ben Solo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi was previously able to use the Force to heal both himself and others. In the Star Wars Legends novel Jedi Quest: Path tor Truth he used this power in an attempt to heal his arm after it had been paralyzed. Obi-Wan’s power later became so great that in The Life and Legend of Obi-Wan Kenobi he used Force healing to age more slowly, an ability that is no longer canon.
1 Jedi Mind Tricks Are One Of Obi-Wan’s Most Famous Powers
Star Wars (1977)
The Jedi Mind Trick is not only Obi-Wan’s most famous ability, but it is one of the most famous Force abilities in all of Star Wars. This ability allows a Jedi to trick more suggestible individuals into going along with something they want or need. The most famous instance of the Jedi Mind Trick occurs when Obi-Wan Kenobi tricks a group of Stormtroopers into letting them pass, saying that C-3PO and R2-D2 are not the droids they are looking for, cementing both the quote and the power in the franchise’s history.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
The Padawan of Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi became a Jedi Knight after his master’s death. Obi-Wan trained Anakin Skywalker as a Jedi, with his own apprentice knighted after the Battle of Geonosis. The Jedi Master became a key player in the Jedi during the Clone Wars, and was heartbroken when Anakin turned to the dark side; Obi-Wan critically wounded Anakin before taking to the shadows, watching over the young Luke and Leia for years. He sacrificed himself for his two charges, becoming a Force Ghost and continuing to mentor them.
- Cast
- Alec Guinness , Ewan McGregor
- Movies
- Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope , Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back , Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi , Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace , Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones , Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
- TV Shows
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars , Star Wars Rebels , Obi-Wan Kenobi
