TheStar Warsuniverse is massive. There are enough shows, movies, books, games, and comics to fill a fan’s waking hours for a decade. Most who enjoyStar Warsexperience it on the same reasonable level. This can lead to sudden surprises when something from a novel or a tabletop game from 20 or 30 years ago pops into the movies or shows. Cortosis, a mysterious metal that can short out lightsabers, popped intoThe Acolyte, prompting a deeper look at the element’s history.
Thelightsaber is an excellent weapon. George Lucas borrowed a bit from Gordon R. Dickson and Harry Harrison to create the perfect Excalibur for his new hero. In the decades since Luke picked up his first blade, the lightsaber has remained the most iconic symbol of the franchise. Fans have seen dozens of lightsaber duels and all-out wars with hundreds of warriors. Every hardcore devotee knows the mechanics behind the iconic weapons of the Jedi and the Sith. That ensures that any new development shocks the world.
What is Cortosis inStar Wars?
Cortosis is a rare and extremely unique metal with unique properties. Mining operations on the planets Mokivj and Dinzo seem to be the only places to acquire cortosis. Cortosis is very fibrous and highly conductive, exhibiting the ability to absorb and transfer immense quantities of energy. The most conductive metal in real life is silver, which is why most electrical contacts include it. Cortosis far exceeds any earth-bound metal in conductivity. Cortosis can absorb and dissipate a blaster bolt upon contact. When a lightsaber hits cortosis, its impact seems to disperse the blade’s energy. This reaction is so violent that most lightsabers briefly short out and deactivate. Few materials in the galaxycan block a lightsaber, let alone turn it off, making Cortosis a highly sought-after resource for those who find themselves fighting Jedi.
Cortosis only comes up a few times in the modern canon or the old-fashioned Legends continuity. Here’s a short list of some of the characters known to use cortosis:
Where did Cortosis first appear?
Cortosis first appeared in Michael A. Stackpole’s 1998Star WarsnovelI, Jedi. The story is deep in the Legends continuity, and therefore no longer canon. It ties into Stackpole’s previousX-Wing Rogue Squadroncomic series and Kevin J. Anderson’sJedi Academy Trilogy. The Legends continuity was a little divided over how cortosis worked. Some depictions show it repelling lightsaber bladeslike beskar steel doesin modernStar Warsstories.I, Jediintroduced the idea in the same way it works today. Cortosis deactivates lightsabers, making it an impossibly immense threat in the Legends continuity. That raises another unique question.
Why don’t people use Cortosis more often?
The obvious answer as to why cortosis doesn’t pop up moreoften inStar Warsis that it’s extremely rare. There simply isn’t enough to go around. It only appears to occur naturally on two planets in the massive galaxy. Mining cortosis is difficult, expensive, and extremely dangerous. In the Legends continuity, cortosis required a thorough refinement process before it could be used. Those stories suggest that unrefined cortosis is heavily electrically charged, making it potentially deadly to touch. Cortosis is also far less practical than any other source of armor. While its unique fibrous structure allows it to disperse energy, cortosis is extremely brittle when it comes to physical force. Most cortosis armor is an alloy, mesh, or weave with other,more durable substances. Cortosis is rare, expensive, dangerous, and terrible at blocking anything that isn’t a lightsaber.
Cortosis is a fascinating material that changes the way people fight Jedi. While it may seem to makeThe Acolyte’s Stranger somewhat unbeatable, most cortosis users find themselves struggling tocompete with the Force. The added element of the Stranger’s helmet blocking out psychic attacks adds another interesting power to this rare material. Cortosis might not appear very often, but it’s a solid counter to the mightiest weapon in the galaxy.
