Cal Kestis is a unique Jedi among the known survivors of Order 66, and will be once again showcase his unique talents in the upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. It takes place in 10 BBY, making Obi-Wan Kenobi concurrent with Jedi: Survivor on the Star Wars timeline. While Cal is gifted with unique Force powers, this is not the only thing that makes him a special character in canon. Jedi survivors in the time of the Empire are few and far between, but Cal stands above the rest.
[Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.]
While the details of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor are still minimal, Cal already established himself as a unique character in the game's prequel, Fallen Order. The events of that game saw Cal Kestis become recruited by former Jedi Knight Cere Junda to find a Holocron containing a list of Force-sensitive children to rebuild the Jedi Order. Along the way, Cal assists the Wookies of Kashyyk, forms a friendship with a Nightsister named Merrin, confronts the Imperial Inquisition, and manages to find the Holocron. However, upon realizing that this would only put the Force-sensitive kids in more danger, he opts to destroy the list. After these events, Fallen Order's ending leaves room for a sequel in Jedi: Survivor.
What makes Cal so compelling is that he is not a typical Jedi as most fans have seen in Star Wars. Having been a child padawan at the time of the Great Jedi Purge, Cal does not have great ties to the Jedi Order or even most of the Jedi characters that would still be alive at the time. Despite this, Cal becomes a fully fleshed-out character in his own right with many qualities that differentiates him from the other Jedi survivors of the time like Yoda, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and even his companion Cere.
Cal's Unique Force Psychometry Allows Him To Learn Lost Secrets
One of the obvious things Cal has over all other Jedi survivors is his unique ability of Force Psychometry, otherwise known as Sense Echo. This ability allows Cal, who was knighted in Fallen Order, to feel Echoes of the Force and pick up on memories and talents of past individuals through the objects they left behind. While other Jedi, including fellow survivor Quinlan Vos (whose fate is currently ambiguous), also have this power, Cal exhibits a uniquely powerful command of it which allows him to learn various new skills and Force powers throughout the game. As noted by Cere, Force Psychometry is a rare talent that only manifests in a small amount of Force Users.
Cal's Lightsaber Can Shift Between Three Major Formats
Cal's lightsaber is certainly one of the most unique things about the character. After he rebuilds it, Cal can swap between all three of the major styles of lightsaber combat. Initially having only a single blade, Cal eventually finds another lightsaber, which he melds with his original saber, forming a double-bladed lightsaber capable of quick, wide-sweeping strikes. While the narrative significance of Cal's Fallen Order lightsaber was ruined, it is nevertheless an impressive weapon with a great gameplay feel.
After rebuilding his saber at Ilum, Cal gains a second kyber crystal which allows him to split his double-bladed lightsaber into two fully functioning blades, thus allowing him to dual-wield. While a few other individuals were capable of such a feat, Cal is the only known current Jedi survivor to have accomplished building and uitilizing a lightsaber capable of shifting between all three weapon formats.
Cal Kestis Is The Youngest Jedi Survivor of The Great Jedi Purge
Cal is the youngest currently known Jedi survivor in the Galactic Empire. Having only been just a child when the Great Jedi Purge began, he is far younger than Jedi Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi, Quinlan Vos, and Yoda and even younger than fellow padawan Ahsoka Tano. As of Fallen Order, Cal Kestis is roughly 18 years old, with him being less than 10 years older than Luke and Leia would be at the time. Cal's relatively young age opens up the possibility for the character to appear in many events leading up to the Original Trilogy.
Cal's Unyielding Morals And Drive Truly Set Him Apart
Finally, the last thing that sets Cal above the other Jedi survivors is his drive. Unlike the others, Cal comes out of hiding to take on the Empire head-on. While Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka are mostly keeping a low profile, Cal and his crew actively fight with the Rebel Alliance and attack high-profile locations, including Fortress Inquisitorius. What's more, that is what Cal wants to do. When first arriving on Kashyyk, Cal is given the choice to use the fighting between the Rebels and the Empire as a distraction to slip by but chooses to intervene to help the local Wookie populace, where he meets Fallen Order's version of Saw Gerrera. He does not cower, nor does he insist on staying hidden, he chooses to fight for what he believes in which is very unlike the other Jedi survivors at that time.
Additionally, Cal has his moral code that he follows, even if other Jedi may not agree. He chooses to destroy the Holocron of the Force-sensitive children because he knows that it would only put them in danger. This is expressly against Cere's wishes and prevents a new Jedi Order from being developed for a long time, but he does it anyway. This is because he values the lives of the children more than rebuilding the Jedi. It is this distinct moral code that makes Cal try to talk with and empathize with the dark side-aligned Merrin, who could become a Nightsister Jedi in Survivor as a result of his efforts. He follows his own beliefs instead of what others tell him. While it would be unfair to say the other Jedi survivors do not also follow their moral codes, Cal certainly sets himself up to be the most brazen in his beliefs.
Cal Kestis offers much to players looking for a unique Jedi protagonist and the success of Fallen Order, as well as the hype for Jedi: Survivor confirm that many fans believe Cal to be a compelling protagonist. His unique abilities coupled with his very solid morals and characterization make him stand out from the other Jedi survivors currently in canon. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor looks promising with such a unique and compelling character at its helm and many players cannot wait to see what becomes of him.