The new trailer for The Acolyte shows Dafne Keen’s Jecki Lon, a Padawan, training – but not using a lightsaber. Excitement is building for The Acolyte, the next Star Wars Disney+ TV show set roughly a century before the Skywalker saga. Marketing has picked up over the last few weeks, with Lucasfilm releasing a flood of official images from The Acolyte, and even a new trailer for Star Wars Day. But they’re raising an odd question about Jedi training at this point in the Star Wars timeline.

One official image shows Dafne Keen’s Padawan Jecki Lon, a half-human half-Theelin character, training with a metal staff instead of a lightsaber. It was generally assumed this was a behind the scenes shot, perhaps with CGI to be later used to turn this into a lightsaber. To many viewers’ surprise, though, the new trailer for The Acolyte shows this is actual footage. Why isn’t she using a training lightsaber?

What Is A Training Lightsaber & Why Isn’t Jecki Using One?

Training lightsabers were introduced in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, when Yoda was seen running a group of Younglings through the basic sequences that would allow them to one day master a lightsaber form. Training lightsabers are different to normal blades, in that they only generate enough power to cause pain rather than maim or injure if anything goes wrong. They’ve existed for a long time; Master Yoda gave away his first training lightsaber to a Youngling during the High Republic Era.

The problem with training lightsabers, though, lies in the simple fact they do still cause a degree of pain. This can make it difficult to master certain sequences, because a single error diisrupts a Youngling or Padawan’s flow. For this reason, tie-iins have indeed previously confirmed that Jedi sometimes train with wooden swords or even metal bo-like staffs that simulate a lightsaber. That’s clearly what Jecki is doing in The Acolyte trailer.

What Lightsaber Form Is Jecki Practicing?

The Acolyte‘s footage is breathtaking, with Jecki demonstrating tremendous skiill as she sweeps the staff around her. It’s easy to imagine how impressive this would look with a lightsaber – and that may well be the point. Jedi view lightsabers as a weapon of last resort, preferring to avoid the kind of “aggressive negotiations” Anakin Skywalker was famous for. A show of skill may well be all that’s needed to persuade enemies to give up.

Lightsaber form
Description
Practitioner

Shii-Cho (Form I)
A basic but effective form that can appear quite brutal and effective
Most prequel Jedi demonstrate this on occasion

Makashi (Form II)
A form designed for duelists
Count Dooku

Soresu (Form III)
A defensive form that excels at swatting back blaster bolts
Obi-Wan Kenobi

Ataru (Form IV)
An energetic form that relies on Force-assisted leaps and dexterity
Yoda

Shien & Djem So (Form V)
An aggressive combat form
Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano

Niman (Form VI)
A defensive, balanced form
Darth Maul

Juyo or Vaapad (Form VII)
An aggressive form that taps into a lightsaber-wielder’s dark side
Mace Windu

Given Jecki’s flourishes are probably for show, it’s difficult to say exactly what lightsaber form Jecki has practiced. She certainly has the kind of dexterity required for the more complex forms, meaning it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her master Makashi or even Ataru. Dafne Keen is an energetic actress known for the physicality with which she plays roles such as X-23 in Logan, so she’s be perfect for an Ataru swordsman. It will be exciting to learn the truth when The Acolyte airs.