Why didn't the Jedi carry shields?

Question

The Jedi used lightsabers mainly to repel projectiles, but, in my opinion, this would be better job for a shield. A "lightshield" as the Jedi are stylized futuristic paladins.

A lightsaber seemed a poor defense against:

• multiple shooters,
• weapons with a high rate of fire,
• very fast or invisible projectiles,
• explosive rounds or other forms of fragmented weaponry such as shotguns

If they carried lightshields perhaps they would be able to expand into other areas of the Force without having to focus on repelling projectiles with their lightsaber. The only weapon lightsabers seem effective against are blasters so why don't Jedi also carry a shield?

Answer 1

The Jedi did not carry shields because of their use of the Force. Simply put, they don't need them.

• Besides a shield's obvious bulk, they also signify a more militaristic appearance and mindset. The Jedi make every attempt to appear as defenders of the peace, not promoters of war.

• Their use of lightsabers as defensive weapons, enhance their appearance as promoters of negotiation, not force, diplomacy before arms. Don't be mistaken, part of the Jedi's training is to lead troops into combat, but that is a secondary role, and one most do not enjoy.

But most importantly:

• Using the Force, a Jedi can determine if a blaster bolt is going to hit him or not.

• Once he decides a bolt WILL hit him, he uses his lightsaber in conjunction with the Force to deflect the bolt.

• If he has a need to attack an opponent at range who is shooting at him, and if he has the particular training, he can return the blaster bolt to the target. No, not every Jedi can do this, but most are able.

• Yes, there is shield technology in the Empire but there is another reason they would not use it. (See Gungan Personal Shield below.)

• Most Jedi use an open hand to direct their manipulation of the Force. No, most don't NEED to use gestures for simple applications, but even Yoda would use his hands to manipulate the Force if an object were massive or ungainly enough. A shield would have both hands filled all the time.

• Yes, there are Jedi who use two-bladed techniques (see Niman/Jar'Kai), but those styles also use Force powers which enhance those weapon proficiencies with enhanced agility, enhanced speed and coordination which are more internal/personal/defensive uses of the Force.

Answer 2

Lucas originally envisioned it as an Japanese movie with an asian cast, or so I've heard from friends (the sort who are even more nerdy than I). Darth Vader's helmet for instance, vaguely resembles a samurai's helmet in general shape.

If this were true, Japanese swordsmanship doesn't make use of shields. The katana is a two-handed sword and parries strikes and blows as needed.

Answer 3

The Jedi don't use shields because there aren't any in universe that would work against a lightsaber

Deflector shield technology in the Star Wars universe is not capable of producing a man sized field that can be powered by a man portable power source that can stop a lightsaber. The closest thing they have is the smaller fields that can hold a door against the vacuum of space, but they are not portable, and Jacen and Jaina have disabled them before with a lightsaber (Young Jedi Knights series)

What about the Gungan shields

During Phantom Menace we see those shields failing under blaster fire, something we know lightsabers are directly stronger than. It wouldn't be worth carrying a shield around that can only withstand a few shots, especially since it have to come with a trade-off in maneuverability.

with those special cases resolved, lets move to the real answer -

You can't turn a light saber into a shield, the physics of that universe don't work that way

The important parts of the lightsaber for this answer are the primary crystal and the focusing crystal. Without both of these, when you turn on the lightsaber, you get either a explosion or a slagged lightsaber casing (Young Jedi Academy books, Jedi Academy books). (a smaller explosion than a thermal detonator, so still not militarily applicable). We also learn from Corran Horn, Jedi master that when you mess with the length of the blade it grows weak and unstable (I,Jedi and the yuzhong vong books) to the point that striking anything is enough to able to short circuit the beam.

Basically, the reason that there are so many lightsabers that are exactly the same blade length is because that is the length that they are the most effective at and most Jedi don't find the trade offs worth it

One other small nitpit, that makes sense to me but I don't have a source for, is what material exactly are you going to use as a splash to divert the energy outward in a shield shape? Lightsabers cut through anything. Some materials are resistant but none would hold up to repeated use. Who wants to take equipment into the field that might fail at any moment? Like I said, no source but without a way to do that, I don't see how a lightshield would even be possible.

Answer 4

As depicted in the Star Wars movies, the Jedi were more of an elite, plainclothes police force than soldiers. As peace officers, travelling with all the accoutrements of a soldier was inappropriate to their function. Also, if you're taking automatic weapons fire, a shield is the wrong answer. You should be returning fire and urgently seeking cover, which is what a running Jedi deflecting bolts with his saber would be doing.

Answer 5

The easiest answer i can come up with is they used the air of force around them to dampen the blaster blows and such. You can also see in the sith's case, they used very strong battle armor at times to dampen impact and blaster bolts.

Answer 6

Just to be clear if we are including recent events on Star Wars: Rebels then a "lightshield" wouldn't be that hard to replicate. If the Inquisitor managed to make his two lightsaber blades spin as fast as he did with a machine imagine if it were designed better and the user was trained to enhance its speed with the Force. It would be spinning so fast it would be a lightsaber shield for deflecting and attacking, kind of like they all would have Captain America shields made of lasers.

Answer 7

A light shield could potentially be done in the following manner. The saber would still have all of the traditional parts. However, the lens would have to be altered to have a double divot or, a water-drop shaped lens. This would allow the beam to be dispersed over a larger area in a circular shape. The beam emitter would simply have to be adapted to control properly for the width of the blade/shield.

Also, for best positioning of the light-shield it should probably be worn on or, as a part of a bracer. This provides a few advantages; namely that being disarmed is more difficult. The fixed position also allows for a free hand to utilize for powers with somatic components to them, i.e. hand movements. The saber would have to be reshaped but, you can do it in a side-by-side method or a circular method.

Also, the shield does have advantages itself. There is a wider area to deflect a blaster bolt over. They could come in varying sizes as regular lightsabers do; bucklers, full shields, and great/tower shields. The larger shields would even be great for cutting through doors, walls, ceilings, and floors.

However, the light-shield would not work with the 7 lightsaber forms in the traditional sense and would have to be adapted to them or, have a form all of its own. Also, it requires the second hand to some degree even as a buckler. So, it does limit the wielder's Force use somewhat or, at least can limit it. A lightsaber is a highly specialized weapon and to truly master the shield would me you'd have to focus on training with it as well. This gives it another reason why it was abandoned by the Jedi because it was simply not a feasible to teach to a youngling or for a Jedi Knight to have the time to focus on with their other duties.

I do remember reading a brief excerpt from somewhere a while back about how they did exist. But, they were a old relic of the Hyperspace War and not many Jedi used them even then. After that they became a training tool for younglings that they'd eventually give up before they became Padawans. After a time they were taken from the training completely and pretty much forgot about.