There is no way that you have wondered if “What in the name of force is this” being you’re a hardcore fan of “Skywalker Saga” flicks and stumbled upon the Holocrons.
Well, you probably know why Holocrons are all the rage if you’ve been keeping up with Star Wars: The Clone Wars or Star Wars Rebels.
These little gadgets made their first impression and are still causing quite chaos in the Star Wars universe since they appeared in the Clone Wars Season 2 premiere back in 2009.
These Holocrons are pretty darn special as both the Jedi and the Sith have been using them for ages. Moreover, it has played a crucial part in different Star Wars events.
In fact, as new series and films expand our knowledge of the galaxy far, far away, we can expect to see even more Holocrons popping up and blowing our minds.
What Is The Holocron Used For?
These devices are like information-storage powerhouses, holding precious knowledge and ancient lessons that can be played back as interactive holograms.
Imagine a pocket-sized polyhedron that fits snugly in your hand, is made of some kind of crystally material, and can only be opened by those with Force sensitivity.
Sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi flick, right?
Once opened, these little storage gems become all kinds of physically manipulable. The mechanical bits move, giving its users access to all the knowledge stored inside.
Moreover, the secrets these things hold are just something else. According to Jedi Master Jocasta Nu, “Holocrons contain the most closely guarded secrets of the Jedi Order.”
However, the Sith Holocrons are no slouches either. They’re chock-full of treasured knowledge of the dark side, and just as coveted as their Jedi counterparts.
With all the practical and historical value these things hold, it’s no wonder they were often safeguarded in Sith and Jedi Temples.
It’s like these little devices are the Fort Knox of the Star Wars universe!
Why Can Only Jedi Or Sith Open A Holocron?
Did you know that the first-ever Holocrons were made by the Dai Bendu?
Unlike their Jedi and Sith successors, these monks didn’t discriminate based on your Force alignment.
Their Holocrons were like an open house party, welcoming even the least skilled Force-users to come and partake in their knowledge.
It’s like they were the original influencers of the Force, spreading good vibes to anyone who wanted to join in.
But the Jedi and Sith were not as chill as the Dai Bendu. They were all about passing on their knowledge only to their own kind – light-side and dark-side experts, respectively.
That’s why Holocrons made by them had an extra layer of security – the Force-related kind.
And just like people, every Holocron is unique, based on the teachings held inside. So one must listen to what it’s trying to tell you before it will open up.
However, light-side and dark-side adepts have a better chance of accessing Jedi and Sith Holocrons.
Although rumor has it that a Jedi trying to access a Sith Holocron would need to have the willpower of a thousand bandhas and the focus of a laser beam.
Besides that, just being in the presence of a Sith Holocron could make a Jedi feel like they ate too much space-chili. So, they must think twice about what they are about to do!
The Different Types Of Holocrons
Well, there are three types of Holocrons in total. First, we got the OG Holocrons, made by the Dai Bendu.
Then we got Jedi Holocrons, which are like crystalline cubes or dodecahedrons, and Sith Holocrons, which are palm-sized pyramids or tetrahedrons.
And the crazy thing about these is that they are locked up tighter than a stormtrooper’s helmet.
The Jedi and Sith Holocrons are only accessible by the most Force-sensitive ones out there.
That’s why they’re the perfect way to pass down information that’s top secret, guarded wisdom, or some serious skeletons in the closet.
Now, we know what you’re thinking. “Three types of Holocrons? That’s it?” No, because there’s more.
Back in Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones (2002), the props department crafted a new type of Holocron.
They called it the Great Holocron, and it made its canonical debut in a reference book in 2015. It is a pentagonal dodecahedron with crystal facets and all sorts of mechanical bits and bobs.
And yeah, it’s actually affiliated with the Jedi Order.
How Many Jedi Holocron Are There?
So back in the day before the Galactic Republic, Jedi were cranking out Holocrons like nobody’s business. Like, hundreds of them, crazy isn’t it?
Most of them were kept in the Jedi Archives on Coruscant, but some of the Jedi locked them up tight so nobody can use the dark side powers.
But then came the Empire’s Great Jedi Purge, and all those Holocrons in the temple were straight-up lost. And to make matters worse, the recipe for making these Holcrons was lost too.
Are Holocrons Sentient?
While Legends used to go crazy describing Holocrons, we don’t know much about their Canon counterparts, but what we do know is pretty similar.
So, it’s safe to say that Holocrons in both Legends and Canon work in basically the same way.
Basically, they are created and accessed through the Force. They’ve got crystal structures that can channel the Force, like the Kyber crystals in a lightsaber.
Jedi Holocrons are even smart enough to detect a user’s Force skills and can block access to info that’s too advanced for them.
But they aren’t alive, they’re just imbued with the Force, which allows for some interesting interactions with Force-users.
In Star Wars Rebels, we see that when a Jedi Holocron and a Sith Holocron are opened at the same time by a light-side adept and a dark-side expert and they can fuse together and give answers to both users.
So, when Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger and former Sith Lord Maul combined their Holocrons, they got pointed toward Tatooine.
For Ezra, this led to a chance encounter with Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. For Maul, it meant a showdown with his long-time nemesis.
But Holocrons are pretty rare, and after the Empire’s Great Jedi Purge, most of them were lost.
And even if anyone knew how to make them, they would probably need a Jedi or Sith Master to open them.
So, unless one is Force-sensitive or has got one of these relics lying around, they are out of luck.
The Difference Between A Wayfinder And A Holocron
And some fans were left scratching their heads, wondering why the filmmakers didn’t just introduce a Sith Holocron instead.
The accompanying visual dictionary tried to explain away the controversy, but it just made things more confusing.
So, what’s the difference between a Wayfinder and a Holocron?
It’s like comparing a book to a compass. Holocrons are like books, full of knowledge and wisdom. Meanwhile, Wayfinders function like compasses or partial maps, guiding users to specific locations based on the data stored within them. It’s like the difference between reading a map and following a GPS.
According to Canon, Jedi were some of the galaxy’s first-known “way finders,” using their Force-enhanced instincts to explore the stars and navigate hyperspace.
But as technology evolved, Wayfinders likely served a different purpose. In the end, it all comes down to personal preference.
Are you a bookworm who likes to read up on everything, or do you prefer to get straight to the point with a GPS-style device?
Anyway, it seems like we’ll be seeing more of both Wayfinders and Holocrons in future Star Wars shows and movies.
