A distinct fighting style was invented by the Sith's Dark Lord Darth Desolous. This style integrated a cortosis-based defense alongside a hand-to-hand weapon. Desolous himself instructed a legion of Pau'an soldiers in this unique combat method, which they then utilized in Desolous's conflict against the Jedi Order. After Desolous's demise, the Jedi created a copy of the Sith Lord to act as an adversary during the Jedi Trials. This copy replicated the fighting style of the original Desolous.
This fighting style, which merges cortosis shields with melee weapons, was created by Darth Desolous, the Jedi Master from Pau'an who turned into a Dark Lord of the Sith. The shield was typically used to deflect incoming attacks, leaving the opponent vulnerable to a rapid retaliation. Due to the shield's construction from cortosis ore, a material resistant to lightsabers, it proved effective even against the signature weapon of the Jedi Knights.
Sometime after 3522 BBY, Darth Desolous conceived his unique martial art. Following his expulsion from the Jedi Order for delving into Sith teachings, Desolous proceeded to train a military force of Pau'ans in his combat style, deploying them in a campaign against the Jedi. Desolous and his forces killed nearly two thousand Jedi before being defeated in a battle on the world of Yaga Minor.
Later on, the Jedi constructed a simulacrum of Darth Desolous to serve in the Jedi Trials, a series of challenges Padawans faced to earn the rank of Jedi Knight. The simulated figure replicated the fighting style of the genuine Desolous, wielding a cortosis shield alongside a lightsaber with a red blade. In 3 BBY, the simulacrum engaged Sith apprentice Starkiller in combat, employing the technique, but was ultimately defeated.
The martial arts style of Darth Desolous is mentioned in his databank entry within the Krome Studios-created versions of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed for PlayStation 2, Wii, and PlayStation Portable, which were released in 2008. The description aligns with the style exhibited by the Desolous simulacrum within the game itself. The Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Prima Official Game Guide also alludes to this style indirectly, cautioning players about Desolous's capacity for swift counterattacks.