Shoto
From Wookieepedia, the Star Wars wiki.
The shoto (sometimes simply called short lightsaber) was a lightsaber with a shorter hilt that produced a drastically shorter blade than its more common counterparts. Relatively rare in comparison to ordinary lightsaber types, shotos were sometimes used in the off-hand of a Jedi or Sith duelist.
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[edit] Purpose and construction
Essentially the purpose of a shoto in lightsaber combat was to counter attacks by an opponent's weapon while freeing the primary lightsaber for a return strike. To this end, shoto wielders were required to become proficient in the lightsaber techniques of Niman or Jar'Kai in order to reduce risk of injury to themselves due to the increased dexterity needed to master the use of both blades simultaneously. Masters of this technique could deliver a high number of attacks in a very short time, potentially overpowering opponents quickly rather than engaging in a protracted duel. Shotos were also used to counter lightwhips.
Other than blade and hilt length, the shoto was little different from a normal lightsaber; it utilized the same types and number of crystals, could be upgraded with different parts, and took the same Force-sensitivity to construct.
[edit] History
The first shotos, referred to as short lightsabers, were introduced during the Old Sith Wars; one of the most notable users of this secondary blade was the ancient Jedi Master Kavar, who used a matched lightsaber and shoto with blue beams. Uthar Wynn's Sith apprentice and deputy at the Sith Academy on Korriban, Yuthura Ban, wielded a red-bladed shoto as her primary weapon. The Sith Lord Freedon Nadd's lightsaber was a bronze-bladed shoto, which was later stolen from his tomb on Dxun by an expedition team sent by the Jedi Exile. During the Clone Wars era, the rebellious Jedi Master Sora Bulq carried a shoto which he used in a duel against the Jedi Master, Mace Windu. The Grand Master of the New Jedi Order, Luke Skywalker, later constructed and used one to counter the unusual nature of Lumiya's lightwhip.
The Dark Jedi Pic's and the Jedi Grand Master Yoda's lightsabers were small enough that they may actually have been technically classifiable as a shoto, though they were not used as such. During the Swarm War, the Dark Jedi Lomi Plo also used a shoto in her duel against Jacen Solo and Luke Skywalker.
During the events of the Second Galactic Civil War, when Luke Skywalker became aware of the re-emergence of Lumiya, he had his wife also construct a shoto. As the weapons were considered an essential item to have when fighting a lightwhip because it countered the advantage that the lightwhip had, the ability to go in more than one direction. Mara Jade constructed a shoto with a blue blade, while Luke's shoto had a red blade.
[edit] Behind the scenes
In the RPG video games Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Knights of the Old Republic II, the shoto is referred to as a "Short Lightsaber." Shotos as depicted in other media, however, seem to have significantly shorter blades.
Shōtō is also a Japanese term used for swords between 1-2 shaku (roughly 30-60 cm) in length.
[edit] Appearances
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
- Star Wars: Darth Maul
- Jedi: Mace Windu
- Jedi: Count Dooku
- Star Wars Republic: Trackdown
- Star Wars Republic: The Siege of Saleucami
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
- Star Wars 96: Duel With a Dark Lady (First appearance)
- Star Wars 102: School Spirit
- Dark Nest III: The Swarm War
- Betrayal
- Tempest (First identified as shoto)
- Exile
- Sacrifice
- Clone Wars Volume 1: The Defense of Kamino
