Rey completes her unorthodox journey to Jedi knighthood in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, but which of the seven lightsaber forms does she use? Rey picked up and used a lightsaber for the first time in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and continued to use Anakin Skywalker’s lightsaber in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, despite not receiving any real training on Ahch-To. In the year between The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, however, Rey finally trained as a Jedi under General Leia Organa’s tutelage. Based on her fighting style in The Rise of Skywalker and Leia’s preferred form, Rey’s lightsaber form can be extrapolated.
In both Star Wars continuities, there are seven forms of lightsaber combat, and each one has a distinctive style and purpose. Although Jedi and Sith are fundamentally different religions, the two share a common origin and thus share similarities, such as the use of lightsabers and their seven forms. Form I, Shii-Cho, is the most basic lightsaber form, with nearly all lightsaber users being proficient in it, but few specializing in it. Form VII, Juyo, taps into the dark side of the Force, making it forbidden by Jedi until Mace Windu created Vaapad, a variation that uses the Force instead of its dark side.
Rey didn’t use any of the lightsaber forms in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. As an experienced melee fighter whose preferred weapon was a quarterstaff, Rey improvised a new fighting style. Lacking discipline and now using a far more hazardous weapon than her staff, Rey prevailed against Kylo Ren due to his severe injuries and unwillingness to kill her. When fighting Snoke’s Elite Praetorian Guards, however, Rey somehow defeated her assailants, with difficulty. Rey becomes far more formidable by The Rise of Skywalker, however. Given that she studied Luke’s ancient Jedi texts and was trained by Leia, Rey most likely used a variation of Form VI, Niman.
Form VI, Niman, takes elements from the previous five forms and combines them into a pastiche that’s proficient in all situations, but lacks the specialization of other forms. Form II, Makashi, is tailor-made for one-on-one battles between lightsaber users, while Form III, Soresu, specialized in defensive maneuvers, particularly against blaster-wielding opponents. Considering that Rey studied the sacred Jedi tomes, she’d have likely learned of all seven forms and combined them, using techniques from all forms as necessary. Given Rey’s tutor and on-screen fighting style, however, her specific fighting style may be more robust than a single form.
Though there are seven lightsaber forms, all lightsaber users fight with a personal style, using a single form uniquely or combining several forms. Obi-Wan Kenobi was a practitioner of Form IV, Ataru, as Qui-Gon Jinn’s padawan, but became the undisputed master of Form III upon becoming a Jedi. Luke was perhaps the greatest practitioner of Form V, Djem So, but he occasionally used techniques from Forms III and IV. Rey was trained by Leia, another Form V user, and her battles with Kylo Ren were as much an internal struggle with the dark side as an external one. With this in mind, Rey was most likely a Form VI user who often mixed in elements of Leia’s Form V and the aggressive Form VII.
Rey’s use of Niman is also a fitting choice for her character. As a former scavenger who now represents the legacy of the Jedi, Rey preserved remnants of past eras throughout her life. From her life among derelict Imperial and New Republic vehicles on Jakku to taking care of the Millennium Falcon and Anakin Skywalker’s lightsaber in the Resistance, Rey is no stranger to keeping the legacy of the Star Wars saga alive. This makes Niman an appropriate lightsaber form for Rey, as it combines the elements of other forms into a unique and versatile style.
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