Ahsoka Tano is one of the most popular characters in the Star Wars universe. As Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan learner, many fans wonder if Ahsoka is Force-sensitive like Jedi Knights. The quick answers are: yes, Ahsoka Tano is Force-sensitive, and she demonstrates her Force abilities throughout the Star Wars animated shows and novels.
Ahsoka’s Backstory and Jedi Training
To understand Ahsoka’s Force abilities, it’s important to know her backstory. Ahsoka Tano was discovered as a young child when Jedi Master Plo Koon brought her to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. She was raised and trained as a Jedi, becoming skilled with a lightsaber and the ways of the Force. Anakin Skywalker was assigned as her Jedi Master, and she fought alongside him as his Padawan during the Clone Wars.
Discovery and Recruitment by the Jedi Order
Ahsoka first appeared as a young child in the Clone Wars movie. She was discovered by Plo Koon on the planet Shili, her homeworld, when she was around three years old. Master Plo recognized she was strong with the Force and brought her to the Jedi Temple. This is similar to how many Jedi are discovered as younglings across the galaxy and brought to the Temple for training.
Jedi Initiate Training
Once at the Temple, Ahsoka would have begun initiiate training under Jedi Master Yoda, learning about the Force and the Jedi Code. Initiates at the Temple undergo years of training in the ways of the Force, lightsaber combat, and Jedi philosophy before being selected as a Padawan by a Jedi Knight or Master.
Assigned as Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan
When Ahsoka was 14, Yoda assigned her to be Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan learner. Anakin was frustrated at first to be saddled with a Padawan during the war, but the two soon formed a close bond and fought together throughout the Clone Wars. Under Anakin’s guidance, Ahsoka developed impressive skills with a lightsaber and mastery over the Force.
Examples of Ahsoka Using Force Abilities
Throughout the Clone Wars animated series and novels, Ahsoka Tano displays proficiency with various Force powers expected of a Jedi Padawan of her skill and experience level. Here are some examples of the Force abilities Ahsoka uses:
Telekinesis
Ahsoka frequently employs telekinetic Force abilities to move and manipulate objects with her mind. She uses this to pull enemies’ weapons away from them, push battle droids back, or lift objects to retrieve them. Her fine control of telekinesis grows over the course of her training.
Force Jump
Ahsoka can use the Force to enhance her natural leaping ability to execute huge force-empowered jumps across distances and up to high places. This assists her mobility in combat.
Force Sense
Ahsoka exhibits the ability to sense events, people, and disturbances in the Force. This helps her detect danger, track enemies, and stay aware of Anakin’s location on the battlefield. Her senses continue to grow more refined with training.
Force Speed
By channeling the Force, Ahsoka can briefly increase her speed, allowing her to react faster and evade attacks. She uses bursts of Force speed in combat to avoid incoming fire or launch rapid counterattacks.
Force Healing
Ahsoka demonstrates some ability to use the Force to heal wounds and injuries in herself and others. For example, she heals a wounded Wookiee after a battle. However, her healing powers are not as developed as more experienced Jedi.
Beast Control
Through the Force, Ahsoka can influence and calm hostile non-sentient creatures. She uses this to tame a giant reptavian living on Felucia, allowing her and her clone troopers to safely traverse its territory.
Force Barrier
Ahsoka can create brief barriers or shields with the Force to deflect blaster bolts. This requires intense focus and energy, so she cannot maintain barriers for long.
Growth in the Force Over Time
When we first meet Ahsoka in the Clone Wars movie, she is a headstrong and immature 14 year old newly paired with Anakin. She has raw talent and ability, but lacks refinement. However, as she gains experience fighting in the Clone Wars, she matures and her Force abilities grow. Here are some key milestones in the development of her Force powers:
More Advanced Telekinesis
Initially Ahsoka can only move small objects with telekinesis. As she practices diligently under Anakin’s training, she can telekinetically lift and manipulate much larger things like crates, boulders, and sections of wall.
Stronger Force Sense
Ahsoka’s innate senses grow sharper through the Force. She learns to trust her feelings and read situations and threats through the Force. Her danger sense and battlefield awareness increase over time.
Growth in Lightsaber Combat
While linked to her Force abilities, Ahsoka’s lightsaber skill also improves with training and experience. She can hold her own against powerful villains like General Grievous and Asajj Ventress. Her dueling technique reflects her growth in using the Force.
Maturity in The Force
As Ahsoka ages and matures, so does her connection to the Force. She lets go of fear, impatience and anger, becoming more focused and thoughtful. This mental and emotional growth allows her to access more advanced Force abilities.
Ahsoka After Leaving the Jedi Order
In Season 5 of the Clone Wars, Ahsoka is falsely accused of terrorism against the Jedi and ultimately leaves the Jedi Order. Even though she is no longer a Jedi, she continues to use her Force abilities to help others and fight evil. Here are some examples of how she retains and grows her Force powers after leaving the Order:
Returns to Fight in Siege of Mandalore
Though not a Jedi, Ahsoka leads Republic clone troopers alongside Obi-Wan during the Siege of Mandalore. She proves herself a formidable warrior with her lightsabers and Force skills.
Force Visions
During her exile after Order 66 and the Empire’s rise, Ahsoka receives several Force visions that guide her path and actions, showing her growing sensitivity to the Force.
Fights Inquisitors
Ahsoka duels several Inquisitors, elite dark side agents hunting Jedi survivors. Though out of practice, she defeats them in lightsaber combat and Force ability.
Holds Her Ground Against Darth Vader
When Ahsoka confronts her fallen master Darth Vader, she demonstrates amazing power and skill. She matches Vader in lightsaber combat and uses the Force to survive his relentless onslaught.
Ahsoka’s Force Abilities in Key Battles
Looking closely at how Ahsoka wields the Force in important battles provides more evidence of her Force sensitivity and abilities:
Battle of Christophsis
| Force Ability | How Used |
|---|---|
| Telekinesis | Pulls down a wall onto advancing droids |
| Force Jump | Jumps from rooftop to rooftop chasing bounty hunter |
| Force Speed | Burst of speed to avoid point-blank shots |
In Ahsoka’s first battle as Anakin’s Padawan, she shows creative use of telekinesis and other Force abilities even though she is still quite young and inexperienced.
Infiltration of the Jedi Temple
| Force Ability | How Used |
|---|---|
| Force Sense | Senses the presence of Barriss Offee in the Temple |
| Force Barrier | Blocks incoming shots from nanodroid assassins |
While framed for attacking the Jedi, Ahsoka uses the Force to evade clones and identify the real culprit. Her Force barrier blocks many quick shots that would have killed a non-Force user.
Duel with Sixth Brother
| Force Ability | How Used |
|---|---|
| Telekinesis | Rips Sixth Brother’s lightsaber from his hand |
| Force Sense | Reacts to and avoids Sixth Brother’s attacks |
Years after leaving the Order, Ahsoka proves her ongoing Force mastery when she defeats the Sixth Brother Inquisitor. She outmatches him with superior lightsaber skill and Force ability.
Conclusion
The evidence clearly shows that Ahsoka Tano is strongly Force-sensitive. She undergoes substantial Jedi training under Master Yoda and Anakin Skywalker, developing impressive Force powers like telekinesis, Force sensing, healing, and barriers. Her Force abilities grow and evolve across the Clone Wars as she matures. Even after leaving the Jedi Order, Ahsoka continues to use the Force at a very high level, holding her own against Dark Side adepts. She demonstrates all the hallmarks of a highly Force-sensitive individual trained in the Jedi arts.
