Force barrier, also called Force (war) shield, Force of Will, or Lesser Force Shield, was a Force power that could be used for both offense and defense. This power, which was neither light nor dark in alignment with the Force, allowed a user to generate a wall or barrier of Force energy surrounding a designated target, whether it was themselves, an ally, or an enemy.
The Force barrier was a fundamental application utilizing the Force. Its manifestation varied from person to person, sometimes appearing as a shimmering stasis field of Force energy, and other times being invisible. In battle, these barriers could absorb a diverse range of energy-based and physical attacks. They functioned solely as a defensive measure, unable to be used as a solid "wall". The barrier's resilience depended on the user's strength, often withstanding only a few attacks before collapsing. In certain instances, these barriers have demonstrated the ability to repel both high and low-frequency sounds. Obi-Wan Kenobi employed this technique when a bounty hunter attacked him with a sonic boom grenade launcher.
The Umbaran Shadow Assassins were the first to use this technique, but it was later adopted by both the Jedi and the Sith. Masters trained their students to use Force barriers until it became an instinctive reaction. By at least 4000 BBY, Jedi Masters would prepare their students for combat by teaching them to master Force barrier. Master Arca Jeth was one such master, training his three apprentices to instinctively create Force shields. Jedi apprentices on the ancient library planet of Ossus also learned Force shielding before going into battle. During the New Sith Wars, students at the Sith Academy on Korriban were taught to use Force barrier as a reflex, practicing it alongside their lightsaber skills in the Academy's dueling ring. In Luke Skywalker's New Jedi Order, younglings were taught to create shimmering Force barriers to protect themselves as they began to understand the Force. Jacen and Jaina Solo, Skywalker's niece and nephew, were already skilled in creating Force barriers at the young age of five, having been taught directly by their uncle.
While training with Thon on Ambria, Nomi Sunrider, her daughter Vima, and Thon were attacked by Bogga the Hutt's gang of pirates. When the thugs fired upon Thon and his apprentices from their hovercraft, the Jedi Master used the Force to deflect the incoming attacks. Later, when the gang surrounded and seemingly captured the Jedi trio, Thon again used the Force as a shield to repel the incoming attacks. The pirate Gudb described Thon's shield as being strong enough to stop a sandcrawler.
Emperor Valkorion of Zakuul employed a slightly different version of the force shield to defend himself from an attack by his own son, Arcann. This shield appeared to only cover his hand, yet it seemed to protect him from every strike of Arcann's lightsaber.
During the Freedon Nadd Uprising, Jedi Knights Dace Diath, Nomi Sunrider, Kith Kark, and Shoaneb Culu combined their Force abilities to create a defensive war-shield against the attacking Naddists. Although the Force barrier they created was invisible, it successfully repelled the attacks the Jedi faced as they advanced.
During the Duel on Tython, Jedi Lord Valenthyne Farfalla used Force barrier both offensively and defensively against Darth Bane. As fellow Jedi Master Raskta Lsu fought Bane, Farfalla shielded Lsu from Bane's dark side attacks with a Force barrier. When the Dark Lord attempted to attack Worror Dowmat (who was empowering the Jedi through his battle meditation), Farfalla again erected a Force barrier around Bane to stop him. Farfalla gathered energy from the light side of the Force and released it in a concentrated burst, trapping Bane in a stasis field of light side power. However, this was insufficient to subdue a Dark Lord of the Sith. The shield shattered into fragments as Darth Bane broke free.
Darth Vader used a partially visible Force barrier, or Protection bubble, to defend himself while fighting Rebel terrorists after the bombing of Coruscant in 19 BBY.
After being kidnapped by Lord Hethrir, Jacen and Jaina Solo, then five years old, tried to protect themselves and their brother Anakin with a shimmering Force barrier. Hethrir's Force abilities were superior, however, and he easily caused the twins' barrier to collapse.
Jacen Solo once protected himself and Admiral Cha Niathal from an explosion south of the Galactic Senate by enveloping their taxicab in a Force shield, which absorbed the full force of the blast.
In the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, both Jedi and Sith that Galen Marek battles use this technique. Rahm Kota, Shaak Ti, and even Darth Vader employ it, even using it to block Galen's lightsaber and Force lightning. The Emperor used a lightning-based version of this power that not only shielded him but also harmed the approaching opponent. These masters often used it when preparing for a powerful Force attack, such as when Kota throws his lightsaber into the air to initiate a ground slam, Shaak Ti when preparing to launch a Force sphere, Darth Vader when about to unleash a Force blast, and the Emperor when about to use Lightning grenade.