A female Lannik Jedi Guardian is seen wearing armor
During periods characterized by intense armed conflict, it was not uncommon for Jedi to find it necessary to equip themselves with battle armor. The sight of Jedi warriors encased in armor was quite typical during the New Sith Wars. Similarly, Jedi from the Old Sith Wars era often donned pieces of armor, especially shoulder guards, to provide protection to specific areas of their bodies. This practice was also prevalent among many Jedi during the New Sith Wars.
The design philosophy behind Jedi armor centered on achieving a balance between providing protection and ensuring the wearer's ease of movement. It was intended to be lightweight and comfortable, thus maximizing the wearer's mobility. However, the range of motion afforded by Jedi armor was significantly less than what was possible when wearing traditional Jedi robes. In the ancient conflicts between the Jedi and the Sith, battlefields were frequently so densely populated with combatants that unrestricted movement was challenging, even without armor. This congestion could render combatants vulnerable and immobile, potentially explaining why Jedi of those times prioritized protection over complete mobility.
Notably utilized by the Army of Light under the command of Lord Hoth during the New Sith Wars, Jedi armor was crafted to be comfortable, light, and to allow the wearer to effectively channel the Force.
In the Pius Dea period, as well as the early Ductavis eras, Jedi Knights were known to wear full suits of metal armor, complete with helmets adorned with horns. This particular style of armor achieved lasting fame, as Luke Skywalker had knowledge of it in his youth, even though more than 10,000 years had passed since its use.
During the time of the Great Galactic War and the subsequent Cold War, which followed the signing of the Treaty of Coruscant, a significant number of Jedi Knights opted to wear either partial or complete sets of heavy armor when engaging in combat.
Throughout the New Sith Wars, Jedi showed a tendency to personalize and modify their armor, while some chose to forgo armor altogether.
Around the time of the Great Galactic War (and sometimes later), it was typical for Jedi armor to include kamas, while Sith armor often featured capes.
Following the Ruusan Reformation, the Jedi, having dissolved their military forces, also discontinued the practice of wearing armor.
Approximately one thousand years later, the Clone Wars erupted. On certain occasions, Jedi warriors, fighting alongside clone troopers, would don standard clone trooper armor. For example, General Obi-Wan Kenobi wore clone trooper armor during the Battle of Muunilinst to shield himself from the attacks of Durge and his swoop-mounted assassin droids.
During this period, Jedi Knight Bardan Jusik gained recognition for wearing clone trooper armor in battle, and later even full Beskar'gam.
As the war progressed, many Jedi adopted chest plate armor that bore a resemblance to modified clone armor designs. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi are examples of Jedi who wore these designs. It was also common for Jedi to continue wearing modified clone trooper gauntlets along with chest plates.
In the aftermath of the Clone Wars, the few Jedi who managed to survive Order 66 went into hiding to avoid becoming victims of the Great Jedi Purge. Some of these Jedi abandoned traditional Jedi attire and began wearing battle armor to conceal their identities. Bultar Swan, for example, adopted battle armor, but ultimately fell victim to the Jedi Purge. Other Jedi, such as Drake Lo'gaan, supplemented their robes with pieces of clone trooper armor. A clone of Galen Marek also acquired a set of Hero's Armor, as well as Experimental Jedi Armor developed on Kamino.
During the Yuuzhan Vong War, certain Jedi wore padded jumpsuits. Luke Skywalker and Jacen Solo wore such jumpsuits during their mission to Belkadan early in the conflict.
In an interview, Dan Thorsland, who served as the editor of the Tales of the Jedi comic book series, expressed that wearing armor is inconsistent with the Jedi way of life:
This view contrasts with the portrayal of Jedi in Jedi vs. Sith—which is set during the New Sith Wars—where most Jedi are depicted wearing armor. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Saesee Tiin are both shown in full armor in Star Wars: Clone Wars, although Tiin's armor primarily functions as a spacesuit. On the other hand, the Knights of the Old Republic games maintain consistency with typical Jedi attire by implementing a game mechanic where Force-sensitive characters (including the player) can wear battle armor, but doing so restricts the use of many Force powers, such as Force speed. This can be interpreted as a balancing mechanic, but it aligns with Thorsland's statement about the incompatibility of armor and the Jedi way, although some armors do not restrict Force usage.
The concept of Imperial Knights appears to completely disregard this notion, as their standard attire includes armor, yet it does not impede their ability to use Force powers in any way.
