Jedi Trials

Since the founding of the Jedi Order on Tython, the Jedi trials have been a fundamental aspect of its traditions. In the era preceding the establishment of the High Council and the standardization of instruction within the Jedi academy, the Trials lacked formal structure, being administered by a Padawan's master and notorious for their severity, bordering on the impossible. Over time, the trials experienced a gradual relaxation, with standards significantly declining during the New Sith Wars. To address this issue, the High Council, following the Ruusan Reformation, officially established five standardized tests to be conducted within the Jedi Trials Chamber located in the Coruscant Jedi Temple. This specialized chamber, situated deep within the Temple, boasted a cutting-edge hologram projector capable of generating realistic simulacrums of both ancient Jedi and Sith. Beyond the combat-oriented aspects of the Trials, the room was engineered to assess a range of skills, designed to simulate the unpredictable situations a Jedi might encounter in the field.

The High Council, along with the current battlemaster, oversaw the Trials, which concluded upon completion of all tests. Successful Padawans were then prepared by their Masters for the Knighting ceremony. In the days leading up to the scheduled ceremony, the Padawan would engage in a full day of intense meditation within the preparation chamber atop the Tranquility Spire. As the moment arrived to ascend to the Hall of Knighthood, the Padawan would enter the dimly lit chamber, kneel before the Order's Grand Master, and have their Padawan braid severed. Apprentices who did not succeed in completing the trials were given the opportunity to retake them until they achieved success.

Within the pages of The Jedi Path, Restelly Quist, the long-deceased Chief Librarian, recounted a tale she had heard regarding the simultaneous completion of multiple Trials. According to the story, during the eighth hour of the Trial of Skill, three Padawans undergoing the Trials concurrently were each confronted with an additional trial. While battling an endless wave of holographic warriors, one student realized the illusory nature of the warriors, thereby completing both the Trial of Insight and Skill. Another student, fueled by the belief that their life was in danger, successfully defeated numerous foes, thus passing the Trials of Courage and Skill. The third student, however, succumbed to exhaustion and failed to complete the Trials.

Although exceptions to the standard trial process were rare, they did occur. During times of crisis, the High Council could, at its discretion, waive the trials if a Padawan had demonstrated exceptional skill, courage, or dedication to the Order. In such instances, the apprentice was deemed to have passed the trials based on their accomplishments, rendering formal testing unnecessary. Following the re-establishment of the academy on Coruscant, Master Valenthyne Farfalla knighted Padawan Johun Othone in recognition of his courageous service during the New Sith Wars and his unwavering commitment to the Order, even after the passing of his Master, Jedi Lord Hoth. Later in the Order's history, both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker attained the rank of Jedi Knight without undergoing formal trials, instead passing their trials through their actions: Kenobi, through his confrontation with the Sith Lord Darth Maul, and Skywalker, through his heroic deeds during the Clone Wars. Mace Windu characterized Ahsoka Tano's efforts to clear her name as her "Great Trial."

The Galactic Empire's dissolution of the Order in 19 BBY brought the Trials to an end, consigning them to obscurity for decades as the Galactic Civil War fractured the galaxy. At the war's conclusion, Yoda, a survivor of the Great Jedi Purge, instructed Luke Skywalker in the ways of the old Order. While conventional trials were not conducted, Skywalker knighted himself and established a new Order. Integrating his limited knowledge of the old ways with his own insights, Skywalker mandated that his inaugural class explore the ruins of the Massassi Temples on Yavin 4, demonstrate proficiency in the use of Force powers to overcome obstacles, and showcase combat skills using training remotes and Jedi training droids. Additionally, they were assigned missions to complete both alongside their Master and independently.

During the brutal Yuuzhan Vong War, Knights were exempted from formal trials due to their significant contributions during the conflict. The survivors of the Mission to Myrkr, who were formally recognized as Jedi Knights in a ceremony, exemplify this. As the Order gradually recovered holocrons and rebuilt, the New Order was able to reinstate formal trials.

Among the Order's collection of assessments, the Trial of Skill stood as one of the most enduring. While the evaluation incorporated various displays of lightsaber proficiency, the battlemaster primarily sought to gauge a potential Knight's capacity to maintain focus and discipline amidst distractions. In its earlier, less structured form, the trial involved acrobatic feats and the use of the Force to levitate objects during storms. As the test became integrated into the more standardized academy curriculum, the High Council stipulated that each participant undergo a three-part evaluation encompassing physical, mental, and combat challenges. Standard physical challenges included tests of climbing, tolerance of heights, endurance, escape techniques, and leaping ability. The subsequent mental challenges assessed skill in levitation, further endurance, resilience to duress, and reflective thinking. The final segment of the trial required the student to confront an adversary, whose species, allegiance, and composition (whether flesh and blood or a sophisticated simulacrum) could vary. These tests of conflict, dueling, and mental fortitude pitted Padawans against droids, fellow students, the Temple Battlemaster, or even the Grand Master, demanding that they withstand their attacks. Other students might face multiple opponents, some wielding lightsabers, others manipulating perception or altering the environment within the chamber. Furthermore, the Council could utilize the simulacrum program to dispatch a host of Sith Lords to test the stamina of a young Padawan.

Throughout the Order's history, numerous noteworthy trials have been administered, demonstrating remarkable ingenuity. One of the earliest documented attempts was by young Rouggle during the Golden Age of the Old Republic. Rouggle, a contemporary of Thame Cerulian, failed the test when the manipulation of the tiles beneath his feet caused him to fall. During the Clone Wars, Anakin completed this trial by defeating Asajj Ventress on Yavin 4. One particularly intriguing case involved Kazdan Paratus, who successfully overcame his opponent by rapidly constructing a series of droids. The final recorded test occurred during the reign of the Empire, when Sith Lord Darth Vader dispatched his secret Apprentice Starkiller to the Temple to confront a simulacrum in the form of Darth Desolous, a deceased Pau'an Sith. Employing his advanced abilities to weaken the projection, the assassin used the Force to topple a statue onto the holographic foe, thereby completing the test.

Given the paramount importance of courage in a Jedi, the Trial of Courage was deemed essential, even for those not specializing in combat. To preserve the element of surprise, details of individual tests were generally kept confidential. Prior to standardization, acts of battlefield heroism or confrontations with Sith Lords were considered sufficient for passing. However, given the relative peace of the Republic's Golden Age, the Council sought a more relevant form of challenge. The Council could simulate a perilous mission within the Trials Chamber or dispatch a student on an actual mission outside the Temple. These tests carried the potential for significant danger, highlighting the Council's selectivity in permitting candidates to undertake the Trials.

Notable examples include the assignment of Darsha Assant to retrieve Oolth, a Black Sun intelligence operative, from the depths of the Coruscant underworld. Although she initially succeeded in capturing him, Oolth ultimately perished. Assant was later intercepted and killed by Sith Lord Darth Maul, resulting in her failure of the Trials. Subsequently, Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi faced Maul after the Zabrak Sith had slain Kenobi's master, the esteemed Qui-Gon Jinn. Kenobi's victory over Maul on Naboo was recognized by the Council as fulfilling the requirements of the Trials. Kenobi's own Padawan would also bypass formal Trials, with the Council acknowledging Anakin Skywalker's bravery throughout the Clone Wars as sufficient.

The Trial of the Flesh represented the most arduous assessment within the Temple. This trial, which involved the apprentice enduring significant physical pain, hardship, or loss, sometimes resulted in death or dismemberment. Throughout history, bloodshed of some kind was a common element of the Trial. During the height of the Pius Dea Era, the Order subjected its apprentices to bursts of energy applied directly to the skin, a practice known as The Burning. Although this form of torture was eventually abandoned, battle scars were accepted as evidence of passage during the New Sith Wars. It was not uncommon for Padawans who defeated a Lord of the Sith on the battlefield to simultaneously pass the Trials of the Flesh, Skill, and Courage. During the Arkanian Revolution, Squire Kinning lost an arm in order to pass the tests. During the Golden Age, the Council considered the separation of Master and Padawan at the end of their shared journey as a significant trial, given the typically close nature of their relationship.

During the Clone Wars, Padawan Anakin Skywalker lost his right forearm in a duel with Count Dooku on Geonosis. While this occurred due to recklessness, Master Kenobi persuaded the Council to accept it as the Trial of the Flesh. During the Dark Times, Sith assassin Starkiller confronted and defeated the simulacrum of his father within the High Council Chambers of the Coruscant Temple. In the reformed Order during the New Republic era, Apprentice Tenel Ka overcame the loss of her left arm and refused a mechanical replacement, thus passing her test.

During the Galactic Civil War, Luke Skywalker passed the Trial of the Flesh by losing his right hand in his battle with his father, Darth Vader, in Cloud City.

To successfully complete the Trial of the Spirit, apprentices were required to embark on a journey of self-discovery, delving deep within their own souls. This test was designed to pit a potential Knight against their most formidable adversary: the darkness residing within themselves. Often, apprentices found the experience unsettling, and it could prove to be deeply traumatic. Consequently, this Trial was frequently referred to as Facing the Mirror. While sharing some similarities with the Trial of Skill, this test typically did not involve physical movement. Instead, Padawans entered a deep meditative state to confront their inner fears and demons. Given the intensely personal nature of the test, the High Council refrained from dictating its specifics. The Padawan was responsible for creating the scenario that would unfold during the journey. Due to the inherent risks associated with such profound meditation, a Master was always present to guide the student back after they had been pushed beyond their comfort zone in their thoughts. The most severe consequence of a failed trial was awakening from meditation in a state of mental and emotional breakdown.

During the final years of the Order, thousands of Jedi underwent this test. Whether confronting visions of nexu or other dangerous adversaries, the test consistently proved to be emotionally taxing. Although somewhat unconventional, the High Council acknowledged that Anakin Skywalker had indeed passed the Trial (during the spiritual throes of a cavernous Force vision antecedent to a heroic tribal rescue) while on Nelvaan in 19 BBY. There, on a mission, Skywalker entered a deep meditative state and witnessed his future self as Darth Vader, the Dark Lord of the Sith. Decades later, Skywalker's son, Luke, would be prompted to undergo the same trial on the swamp world of Dagobah. In accordance with tradition, the exiled Grand Master Yoda observed the test from nearby as young Skywalker entered the mysterious cave that emerged from the muck. Inside, Skywalker briefly dueled with his father, Darth Vader, before decapitating him. As Vader's helmeted head rolled past Skywalker's feet, the mask shattered, revealing Luke's own face staring back at him.

Another notable test occurred at the Temple on Coruscant, although the ancient structure was in ruins and the Jedi Trials Chamber was inaccessible. The Sith assassin known as Starkiller had once again infiltrated the Temple and proceeded directly to the Holocron Chamber within the Tower of First Knowledge. After opening a holocron belonging to his father, Kento Marek, the assassin entered a trance and envisioned dueling a purely dark side version of himself. Rejecting Darth Vader and the dark side to avoid becoming the shadow figure he had fought, Starkiller departed from the Temple for the final time.

The Trial of Insight served as the final assessment within the Trials of Knighthood. Introduced into the Trials program after recognizing that a Jedi, while capable of defeating a Sith, could be vulnerable to common thieves, this test aided Jedi in perceiving the reality before them through the use of the Force. The ability to see through illusions, accurately assess an individual's character, and uncover lies was crucial for mission success. To successfully complete the test, Padawans were prohibited from consulting the Jedi Archives for potential solutions; such knowledge would render the test invalid. The Trial might require a Padawan to analyze and interpret the High Riddles of Dwartii or decipher fragmented text within scattered files. In some cases, a field of stones would be laid out on the floor of the Trials Chamber, and the Padawan would be tasked with identifying the single grain of sand among them.

While not officially sanctioned by the High Council due to its dissolution, Sith apprentice Starkiller undertook this Trial during the years preceding the Galactic Civil War. Due to the Temple's damaged state and malfunctioning computers, Starkiller encountered a simulacrum that was able to manifest within the Temple Archives. Assuming the form of Darth Phobos, a long-deceased Theelin Sith Lady, Starkiller was compelled to see past her disguises as she transformed her image into that of his beloved pilot and friend, Juno Eclipse. Although initially challenging, Starkiller crushed the Sith simulacrum beneath a pile of rubble, thereby defeating the program.

As a satellite facility of the Jedi academy on Coruscant, the Academy on Almas adopted a different approach to instruction compared to the main school at the Jedi Temple. When a student was deemed ready to undertake the Trials, a group of Masters was summoned to oversee them. A set of three tests was designed to effectively assess potential Knights, with some considering them less rigorous than those of the main academy, while others viewed them as more challenging. During the Clone Wars, Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi was dispatched to the Academy to evaluate its trials and determine whether to continue the Academy's program, ultimately deciding in favor of its continuation.

The first test involved an inquiry by the Almas Council into the student's comprehension and application of the Jedi Code and its principles. The student's application of the Code and its relevance to their individual circumstances were scrutinized and analyzed until the Council was confident that they grasped the Jedi philosophies and embodied the essence of a Jedi. Upon successfully passing the first trial, the student was sent to the academy's basement, where they were instructed to meditate for five days. Successful completion of the meditation authorized them to proceed to the third and final test. The final test typically took place in the deserts of Almas, where students underwent a fusion of the Coruscant trials. In the desert environment, students confronted their fears through combat, demonstrations of the Force, or any other skill they possessed.

The Trials of Skill, the Flesh, Courage, and the Spirit were initially mentioned in "Chapter 21" of the animated microseries Star Wars: Clone Wars, which was broadcast on Cartoon Network on March 21, 2005.

Starkiller's Trial of the Spirit is portrayed differently in the PS2/Wii version of The Force Unleashed. In this version, Starkiller arrives in the destroyed High Council Chamber and enters a trance, where he witnesses a seemingly resurrected Kento battling Darth Vader. As his master falters and is about to be defeated, Starkiller rushes to his defense. The two engage in a deadly battle, with Kento urging him to abandon his anger. Starkiller gains the upper hand and fatally stabs his opponent. As he dies, Kento apologizes to Starkiller for his life's trajectory, addressing him as "son." Realizing his opponent's identity, Starkiller embraces Kento's collapsing body, only to discover that the entire fight was an illusion. Disturbed by the experience, Starkiller silently departs from the temple.