Throughout the Star Wars franchise, Yoda has been depicted as one of the most powerful Jedi to ever live, with the ability to use many rare and unique Force powers. Introduced in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda instantly became a popular character as Luke Skywalker’s eccentric Jedi master. Since then, other Star Wars projects have greatly expanded upon Yoda’s character and story arc. During the Republic Era, Yoda was the Jedi Grand Master, meaning that he led the Jedi Council. Yoda proved himself capable of a variety of Force powers, including telekinesis, mind tricks, sensing people and droids, and even interpreting visions of the future.
In addition, Yoda was proficient in several rare Force powers, for example, Yoda was one of the first Jedi to learn how to communicate with the living after death. The first Jedi to learn this power was Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s former master. In Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 6, episode 11, “Voices,” Qui-Gon contacted Yoda and sent him on a journey across the galaxy and even to the Sith homeworld of Moraband to learn this skill. Due to this, Yoda was able to appear as a Force ghost to Luke in both Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Video games like Star Wars Battlefront II also revealed that Yoda possessed the ability to Force heal. Similar to Grogu and Rey, Yoda could manipulate the Force to heal wounds, which he used in battle to heal both himself and his soldiers.
However, Yoda’s advanced skills raise the question of why he was able to use so many different Force powers. One reason for this was Yoda’s age, at the time of his death, Yoda was already 896 years old, giving him plenty of time to practice his skills. Although he was a teacher, Yoda also continued to learn from other Jedi, such as Qui-Gon Jinn, throughout his lifetime. Thanks to his enormous lifespan, Yoda was able to gain training and knowledge from many generations of Jedi. In addition, Yoda’s species possessed a naturally strong connection to the Force. While little is known about Yoda’s unnamed species, the few that existed were all Force-sensitive. This included Grogu, who had a high midi-chlorian count and extraordinary Force powers even as a baby. As an experienced adult, Yoda had already honed his natural abilities. These factors explain not only Yoda’s mastery of normal Force powers, but his ability to use physical and mental Force powers unseen in any other Jedi.
Force Powers That Only Yoda Has Used
Several of Yoda’s unique Force powers connect to lightning. Throughout the Star Wars franchise, Sith were able to harness the dark side of the Force to create lightning. Most Jedi had to counter this ability by blocking the lightning with their lightsabers. In contrast, Yoda was able to absorb the energy with the palms of his hands. Formally called Force deflection, Yoda used this skill to fight both Count Dooku and Darth Sidious in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith respectively. In addition, Star Wars: The Last Jedi introduced a new Force power. As a Force ghost, Yoda was able to summon lightning from the sky, rather than his hands, to burn the ancient Jedi library on Ahch-To.
Yoda also used distinct mental Force powers. While other Jedi were able to communicate telepathically, such as Luke calling to Leia in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda took this power even farther. In Star Wars Rebels season 2, episode 18 “Shroud of Darkness,” Yoda not only spoke to Padawan Ezra Bridger, but appeared before him on Lothal. Although this power only worked in Jedi temples, Yoda could telepathically speak with Jedi across the galaxy. The canon book Dark Disciple also revealed that Yoda had the little-known ability to learn the history of someone’s soul through touch. Yoda used this skill to test Jedi Master Quinlan Vos, learning that he had fallen to the dark side. Due to his species’ strong connection with the Force and his own years of experience, Yoda possessed many rare powers that no other Jedi had in Star Wars canon.