Jedi Trials



"What about the trials?''" "''I have spoken with them about this, too, and they agree that you have proven yourself many times over during your service on Ruusan. Assigning you to Valorum's guard was your final test."

- Valenthyne Farfalla, as he knights his Padawan, Johun Othone

The Jedi Trials, also known as the Trials of Knighthood, Jedi rituals, or Jedi ceremonies, were the challenges by which Jedi Padawans were given as pre-requisites for achieving Knighthood, and were sometimes retaken by Knights to earn the rank of Jedi Master. The trials were administered by the Jedi Council to any Padawan they deemed worthy of becoming a Jedi. The primary trials were a set of four, and were the Trial of Skill, the Trial of Flesh, the Trial of Courage, and the Trial of the Spirit. Other less formal trials, often from the old Order for apprentices' promotions to Padawans, included learning and gaining a thorough understanding of the Jedi Code, and the construction of a lightsaber.

History
"This is to be a test of your knighthood. You and your companions must make your own way through the difficulties you will encounter."

- Arca Jeth, speaking to Ulic Qel-Droma

Jedi trials date back as far as 4,000 BBY, and very likely much earlier than that. It is known that, in the days when Jedi Masters trained multiple Padawans simultaneously, the trials were less formal, though all four trials were still implemented as preliminary exams for a Padawan's transition into Jedi Knighthood. Upon successful completion of said testing, the Master would then declare their student a Jedi, Knight of the Galactic Republic.

After the Ruusan Reformations (that marked the year 1,000 BBY) when enrollment into the Jedi Order became more institutionalized, the trials themselves became more formal as well. They were carried out in a special Jedi Trials Chamber within the Jedi Temple, overseen by the Jedi Council and also the Padawan's own Master. If the Padawan was successful in completing the series of challenges, the Master would then prepare their apprentice for the Knighting ceremony. Should the apprentice be unsuccessful in completing the trials, they were permitted to take them again, until they passed.

Trials Program
"You will need all of your skill to survive."

- Spirit of Kento Marek, to his son

At the Jedi Temple, a computer program was created that would pit simulacrums of long dead Jedi and Sith against the prospective Jedi Knights. Using the specialized projectors in the Jedi Trials Chamber, the program would create an opponent that proceeded to attack and taunt the Padawan. Each test was created using specific parameters set by a Jedi Master. If the Padawan was able to defeat the simulacrum, the phantom warrior would dissolve, and the program cut out.

After the Temple was left in ruin, the Program went wild. Darth Vader reprogrammed the computer to project not only in the Trials Chamber, but in the Jedi Archives and the High Council Chamber as well. His apprentice Starkiller was able to overcome three different simulacrums, and pass the Trials.

Knighting Ceremony
Occurring in the Hall of Knighthood within the Jedi Temple, the Knighting ceremony was a special time for Padawans, who were transitioning from mere learners to officially be inducted into the Jedi Order. The presiding Jedi Master would first place his lightsaber above the kneeling Padawan's right shoulder, then the left shoulder, and then back to the right shoulder, severing the Padawan braid in the process. This ceremony would be held in the Hall of Knighthood. The following phrase was said to the newly ordained Jedi Knight:


 * "Step forward, Padawan. [Name of Padawan], by the right of the Council, by the will of the Force, I dub thee, Jedi (cuts braid) Knight of the Republic."

In times of turmoil, the trials could be bypassed at the discretion of the Jedi Council if the Padawan had shown great skill, courage, or dedication to the Order. In such cases the apprentice was considered to have passed the trials through their various accomplishments, negating the need for formal testing. For example, both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker earned the rank of Jedi Knight without participating in formal trials, but rather passed their trials through their actions: Kenobi, through his duel with the Sith Lord Darth Maul, and Skywalker for his heroism during the Clone Wars.

The New Jedi Order
"This one has been watching. She is very proud.''" "Proud? I could've been killed!" "''No. This one taught you too well."

- Jedi Master Saba Sebatyne, after Leia Organa Solo's Trial of Skill

In Grand Master Luke Skywalker's New Jedi Order, apprentices became Jedi Knights once their Masters felt that they had attained sufficient skill. The trials were a tour in the ruins of the Massassi temple, usage of Force powers in order to overcome obstacles, as well as practicing combat techniques with training remotes and Jedi training droids. They were also given missions to complete both with their Master and on their own.

For instance, Padawan Jaden Korr was dubbed Jedi Knight in an informal conversation with Skywalker and Korr's Master, Kyle Katarn. Katarn explained to Korr that, in the light of his achievements during the crisis of the Disciples of Ragnos, promotion was warranted to the status of Jedi Knight.

During the Yuuzhan Vong War, Knights were known to have become so due to their great achievements during the war, and were able to forego any formal trials. The survivors of the Mission to Myrkr, who were dubbed Jedi Knights in a formal ceremony, are an example of this.

Trial of Skill
"Now&mdash;A warrior's test! If you won't use the lightsaber&hellip;then use your Jedi power as you did to protect your daughter!"

- Master Thon, speaking of Nomi Sunrider's inherent skill with Jedi Battle meditation



The Trial of Skill usually consisted of a lightsaber duel with an adversary, or displaying particular skill in Force applications. The apprentice had to be sufficiently trained as a warrior, proving a working knowledge with the Force and basic mastery of lightsaber combat. Training for this trial was usually based on lightsaber combat training. Note that actually winning a lightsaber duel is not necessary, but survival certainly is.

Notable examples

 * Nomi Sunrider using her inherent ability with Jedi Battle meditation against the space pirate Gudb and his gangster companions.


 * Revan's lightsaber duel with Juhani in the grove near the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine, or his duel with Darth Bandon.


 * Kazdan Paratus' defeat of a simulacrum using his knowledge of droids and technology.


 * Obi-Wan Kenobi's lightsaber duel with Darth Maul on Naboo.


 * Aayla Secura's duel with the Morgukai warrior Bok on Kintan.


 * Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber duel with Asajj Ventress on Yavin 4.


 * Galen Marek's duel with the Sith simulacrum, Darth Desolous.


 * Luke Skywalker's lightsaber duel with Darth Vader on the second Death Star.


 * Kyle Katarn's first lightsaber duel with Yun.


 * Leia Organa Solo's lightsaber duel with Dark Jedi Alema Rar.


 * Mara Jade's duel with Luke Skywalker's clone.


 * Tenel Ka Djo's fight with Tamith Kai.


 * Corran Horn's fight with the Jensaarai.


 * Gantoris fighting his own Master.


 * Kam Solusar's fight with two Dark Jedi.


 * Ben Skywalker's duel with Tahiri Veila.


 * Jacen and Jaina's duel with each other.


 * Zekk's duel with Vilas.

Trial of the Flesh
"And he endured an atrocious Trial of the Flesh at the hands of Count Dooku."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi, speaking of Anakin Skywalker



The Trial of the Flesh involved the apprentice overcoming great physical pain, hardship, or loss. It could also test the Jedi's mastery of detachment from physical pleasure and people. It is not the loss itself that qualifies as a pass, but what the Jedi learns from the experience.

Notable examples

 * Sunrider not returning home and agreeing to complete her Jedi training, despite the pain of her husband's death, her fear of using lightsabers, and the dangers of the galaxy as a whole.


 * Revan's first duel with the fallen Bastila Shan on the Rakatan Temple, or enduring interrogation and torture at the hands of Saul Karath.


 * Obi-Wan Kenobi losing his Master Qui-Gon Jinn, during their duel against Darth Maul on Naboo, and not giving into vengeance to defeat Darth Maul.


 * Aayla Secura suffering through an ordeal where her memories were wiped with glitteryll and being sold into slavery on Ryloth.


 * Anakin Skywalker's loss of his right forearm during a duel with Count Dooku on Geonosis.


 * Galen Marek facing and defeating the spirit of his father in the Jedi Temple.


 * Luke Skywalker's loss of his right hand on Bespin during his duel with Darth Vader.


 * Kyle Katarn overcoming his anger after learning Jerec was the one who killed his father.


 * Ben Skywalker overcoming the loss of his mother at the hands of his cousin.


 * Tenel Ka overcoming the loss of her left arm and refusing to have a mechanical replacement.


 * Mara Jade sacrificing her ship and opening her mind completely to Luke Skywalker for comfort.


 * Jacen and Jaina Solo dealing with the death of their little brother.


 * Kyp Durron accidentally killing his own brother.


 * Corran Horn dealing with his wife being kidnapped.


 * Most, if not all, Luke Skywalker's first Jedi trainees dealing with nearly losing him at the hands of the ghost of Exar Kun.


 * The death of Gantoris' entire colony.


 * Kam Solusar's torture at the hands of Darth Vader.


 * Tionne experiencing her grandmother's execution.


 * Kirana Ti watching her sister die.


 * Zekk being orphaned.

Trial of Courage
"One thing remains. Vader&hellip;you must face Vader. Then, only then, a Jedi will you be."

- Yoda to Luke Skywalker



To pass the Trial of Courage, apprentices would fight courageously in battle, complete missions with a low chance of survival, or defeat a superior enemy.

Notable examples

 * Sunrider finally agreeing to take up Thon's lightsaber, and using it to battle and defeat Bogga the Hutt's gang of thugs.


 * Revan confronting the fallen Bastila and redeeming her, then finally facing off with Darth Malak in the Star Forge.


 * Aayla Secura's rescue of Tholme and Nat Secura from the dungeons of Kh'aris Fenn.


 * Anakin Skywalker's bravery throughout the Clone Wars, which saw him dubbed "Hero With No Fear."


 * Galen Marek defeating the insane Jedi Kazdan Paratus, or defeating Council member Shaak Ti, or invading the half complete Death Star I and confronting Darth Vader and Darth Sidious.


 * Luke Skywalker's final confrontation with Darth Vader and Darth Sidious on the second Death Star.


 * Katarn defeating Jerec and the six Dark Jedi.


 * Luke Skywalker's entire class of Jedi trainees facing and defeating the spirit of Exar Kun.


 * Mara Jade standing against and killing Joruus C'baoth.


 * The entire team of the Mission to Myrkr.


 * Obi-wan Kenobi's challenging Darth Maul on Naboo.

Trial of the Spirit


"Facing the mirror."

- Even Piell

To pass the Trial of the Spirit, apprentices had to look deep within themselves, on a quest of self-discovery. Often times, apprentices did not like what they saw, and it could be a highly traumatic experience.

Notable examples

 * Sunrider accompanying Thon to Ambria's Meditative Canyon, and facing the darkness in the great chasm below.


 * Revan resisting the temptation of the dark side that Bastila gave him on the Rakatan Temple.


 * Juhani coming to terms with the death of her Master Quatra by her own hand, before following Revan back to the light side and learning that Quatra was alive and just testing her ability to deal with failure and the lure of the dark side.


 * Aayla Secura's ultimately successful struggle with her desire for revenge against Quinlan Vos, which triggered her descent into the Dark Side as the thrall of Volfe Karkko on Kiffex.


 * Anakin Skywalker's vision during his mission on Nelvaan.


 * Luke Skywalker's vision in the Dark Side Cave on Dagobah.


 * Katarn resisting Jerec's temptation to give into the dark side by striking down his partner, Jan Ors.


 * Kyp Durron facing and resisting the darkness within the Massassi Temple on Yavin 4.


 * Galen Marek's vision of himself in the Jedi Trials Chamber.


 * Mara Jade's decision to defy the Emperor's last command and spare Luke Skywalker.


 * Tenel Ka Djo facing her grief at believing Jacen Solo to be dead.


 * Corran Horn resisting the urge to cheat on his wife in order to save her life.


 * Kam Solusar's turn from the Dark Side with the help of Luke Skywalker.


 * Jaina Solo's resistance to the Dark Side, with the help of Kyp Durron.


 * Zekk's turn from the Dark Side, with the help of Jaina Solo.

Other trials
"Isn't it the test of a Jedi to build his own lightsaber?"

- Gantoris



During the days of the old Order, there were less formal trials for Initiates to become a Padawan. The first was a test of one's knowledge of the Jedi Code. This was usually done periodically throughout the Initiate's training with the master asking the Initiate occasional questions until he/she had proven to the master a thorough understanding of the Jedi Code.

The second was the trial of lightsaber construction in which the Initiate meditated with the Force and constructed his/her own lightsaber. During the time of the Galactic Republic, Jedi Padawans were required to construct their own lightsabers before becoming Knights.

There were two other notable trials that were usually undertaken in concert with the others.

Occasionally, an Initiate would be called upon to perform an additional task or quest. This could take the form of solving a judicial case, providing aid to a citizen in need, or similar situations. Another trial would be for the Initiate to complete a task to see the dark side for themselves and find a way to conquer it. Revan did this when he redeemed the fallen Cathar apprentice Juhani.

After completion of these trials and the promotion, Padawans were often taken on as formal apprentices by a Knight or Master, or they would continue training until taken under tutelage. As the centuries passed up until the Great Jedi Purge, these trials were eventually abandoned and Initiates could only become Padawans when taken under tutelage by a Knight or Master. Also, the practice of sending Padawans to other branches of the Jedi corps began after the trials were abandoned.

The Almas Academy
The Jedi apprentices of the Almas Academy underwent an alternative series of trials, that included the Test of the Lightsaber and the Test of the Droids. During the Clone Wars, Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi was sent to the Academy, to review its trials and decide whether or not to continue with the Academy's program. He decided in favor of keeping it.

Notable variations on Trial practices and special cases
In certain extraordinary circumstances the precise aspects of the trials were not strictly adhered to.

Examples of this:
 * The Padawan Darsha Assant was assigned a mission to protect a Black Sun operative from assassination and it was implied that this mission would count as her Trials. Padawan Assant was killed by Darth Maul during this mission.


 * Padawan Johun Othone was knighted by Jedi Lord and Master Valenthyne Farfalla after agreeing with the Jedi Council that Othone's service during the New Sith Wars warranted promotion. His final test and deciding factor was his full acceptance of being assigned to Supreme Chancellor Valorum's personal security detail.
 * The promotion of Obi-Wan Kenobi to the rank of Jedi Knight immediately following his victory over the Sith Lord Darth Maul. This accomplishment as well as other circumstances surrounding this event such as the death of Qui-Gon Jinn and his wish for Obi-Wan to train Anakin Skywalker, was deemed enough to warrant the promotion of Kenobi to Jedi Knight.


 * The promotion of Barriss Offee following her actions on Drongar and the subsequent Republic withdrawal of the planet. She did not suffer any loss, faced no Sith or Dark Jedi, but looked internally when discovering the bota-induced state of mind, realizing that the misuse would be of the dark side.


 * The promotion of Anakin Skywalker following his heroic actions in the Battle of Praesitlyn.


 * Revan was already a Knight before he led some of the Jedi in the Mandalorian Wars, and became the Dark Lord of the Sith. When he became an amnesiac after the war, he was made into a Padawan when he was taken in for Jedi training again.  His actions throughout the war with Malak served as his new trials to allow him to re-achieve the rank.

Appearances

 * Tales of the Jedi 5: The Saga of Nomi Sunrider, Part 3
 * Tales of the Jedi: The Freedon Nadd Uprising
 * Tales of the Jedi: Redemption
 * Knights of the Old Republic: Commencement
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 34: Vindication, Part 3
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Darth Bane: Rule of Two
 * Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Rogue Planet
 * Star Wars Republic: Rite of Passage
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones comic
 * Republic Commando: Hard Contact
 * MedStar I: Battle Surgeons
 * MedStar II: Jedi Healer
 * Jedi Trial
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith novelization
 * Star Wars Republic: The Hidden Enemy
 * Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight
 * Champions of the Force
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
 * Young Jedi Knights: Crisis at Crystal Reef
 * Destiny's Way
 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
 * Young Jedi Knights: Crisis at Crystal Reef
 * Destiny's Way
 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed