Since the release of The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars fans have often wondered how powerful Jedi Master Yoda really is. With his enigmatic background, peculiar behavior and interesting speech patterns, he has always been a mystery in the Star Wars universe. Even if his years of solitude on Dagobah and his extreme old age seemed to slightly change him, it was always clear that Yoda was a master of the Force.
In the years since his initial appearance, Yoda has been a staple of Star Wars lore, even with minimal screen time in both the films and series, and very little literature exploring his origins. With his words and snippets of Jedi wisdom, Yoda lives on in the hearts and mind of fictitious Jedi, and real-world fans. But what power does he truly have as a Jedi Master? There must be a reason he was on the Jedi Council and trusted to train so many generations of Jedi Knights.
As the Star Wars faithful know, size matters not. Yoda’s first true show of the Force was when he lifted the X-wing from the bog, when Luke Skywalker could not. His true power here, however, was not the fact that he is a tiny, green Jedi lifting a large object, but in his power as a teacher. Yoda’s connection to the Force and its associated powers is rarely used as a weapon, but to teach Padawans the ways of the Jedi. More than any other Jedi to date, Yoda is the most influential teacher and role model that the Jedi possessed. He is a leader in the truest sense of the word and that, combined with his personal abilities, just may make him the most powerful Jedi of all.
In physical manifestation of the Force, Yoda is almost unstoppable by all but the most powerful Force users. In Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones, there is no question that Yoda bested Count Dooku in both lightsaber technique and use of the Force. He was unable to bring Dooku to justice because he opted to save the injured Obi-Wan and Anakin. In Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Yoda occasionally finds himself in the thick of battle. In the season 1, episode 1 “Ambush”, the tiny Jedi Master finds himself facing an entire droid army with only three clone troopers to back him up. He almost single-handedly takes out droids and transports in the Clone Wars episode without breaking a sweat, and even has a sense of humor while doing it.
The prequel trilogy introduces the Jedi Council with Yoda as a clear leader among the most powerful Jedi. With the thousands of active Jedi, it is no small feat to be among the top twelve, which is a signifier of his power and influence among the order. In Charles Soule’s novel, Light of the Jedi, it is revealed that Yoda has been a part of the council for hundreds of years, and he was highly respected for his understanding of the Force during the High Republic era. Through his connection to the Force, Yoda was able to help the Jedi pinpoint a small piece of a wrecked starship moving at near lightspeed, from across the galaxy. It is also mentioned that Yoda keeps his own counsel as a Jedi Master, showing that Yoda has been a respected Jedi for generations.
Perhaps the most important aspect of Yoda’s power is seen in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, when Yoda appears to Luke as he attempts to destroy the ancient Jedi texts. Yoda, as a Force ghost, directs a bolt of lightning, destroying what Luke could not, and leaves Luke with yet another lesson. Though he rarely shows his full strength in battle, and never defeats a Sith Lord, Yoda’s strength lies in his connection to the Force and his ability to teach. Both of these skills extend beyond death, and that is his true strength as Star Wars' greatest Jedi Master.