Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan met her match inAhsoka, when Ahsoka Tano found herself unable to beat Baylan Skoll in battle - and herlightsaber formwas the reason. Trained by the Chosen One himself, Ahsoka Tano is undoubtedly one of the best lightsaber duelists inStar Wars. She crossed blades with Sith assassins like Ventress, and even defeated Darth Maul in a duel. But, surprisingly, Ahsoka found herself unable to defeat Baylan Skoll inAhsoka;she fought him twice, one almost dying, and the second time running away.
This is all the more surprising given Anakin trained Ahsoka in Form V, Djem So, which is designed for combat. Like many practitioners of Djem So, Ahsoka uses two lightsabers; one a normal length, and the other a shorter shoto blade. This allows her to use one blade to block and parry, while she uses the other to attack. Surprisingly, though, this very lightsaber form is the reason Ahsoka couldn’t beat Baylan.
Baylan’s Lightsaber - & His Form - Are Very Unusual
Baylan Has A Similar Form To Anakin Skywalker - And A Very Different Lightsaber
It’s easy to see there’s something strange about Baylan’s lightsaber; the orange blade color alone makes that clear. More importantly, though, the lightsaber seems to have an unusual weight to it, meaning Baylan has modified the lightsaber form Shien because he’s using a heavier sword that has a crushing impact when it strikes.It’s likely Baylan is using an unusuallightsaber typecalled a “Great Lightsaber,” an oversized weapon typically used by beings who have larger, powerful frames.
Shien is another variant of Form V; like Ahsoka’s own Djem So, it’s designed for lightsaber combat. Worse still for Ahsoka, this is a form she has a history of struggling against; it was the favored form of Anakin Skywalker himself, and she’s lost to Anakin many times before. Like Baylan, Darth Vader would have killed her - had she not been rescued via theWorld Between Worlds.
Why Ahsoka Couldn’t Effectively Use Two Lightsabers Against Baylan
Her Greatest Strength Became A Weakness
Ahsoka first clashed with Baylan inAhsokaepisode 4, and it’s notable that she didn’t use her second lightsaber against him. This is partly because she was trying to use one hand to grab the starmap; but there’s another reason, one that is far more disturbing. Baylan uses his Great Lightsaber to launch devastating blows, andthe sheer weight of his attack meant Ahsoka struggled to block him. She frequently needed both hands on a single blade to push back against him.
Later, Ahsoka briefly fights Baylan again when she arrives at Peridea. This time, Ahsoka tried to use both blades to her advantage; she attempted to press in close, ensuring Baylan didn’t have room to swing. Even then, there were moments where she was forced to use both the standard and shoto blades on a block - an unconventional move that she’d normally never need. There’s one moment where she came close to a killing blow; butBaylan grabbed her hand with his own, using his strength against her in a different way.
Baylan May Well Be Too Much For Ahsoka
He’s The Perfect Weapon
“You can’t defeat me,” Baylan Skoll told Ahsoka after he’d blocked that would-be death blow. Ahsoka knew better than to disagree; she was aware he’d almost killed her once, and she wasn’t too proud to admit he could well do so again. Instead, she used an unexpected interruption as a diversion, slipping away.She’d rightly realized that Baylan should not be her focus here.
When it comes to a one-on-one duel, Baylan really does seem to be the one person Ahsoka can’t beat. Every one of his strengths plays to her own weaknesses; the crushing force of his blows means Ahsoka will inevitably wind up on the defensive. But Anakin’s Padawan does have one advantage; she has friendships, and she can trust the likes of Sabine Wren to have her back. That could well be her salvation inAhsokaseason 2.
