Anakin Skywalker’s Secret Force Power Explains How He Built C-3PO

Anakin Skywalker had a very unique Force power in Star Wars, and it helped him to create C-3PO. There are a number of canon Force abilities in Star Wars, some much better known than others. While abilities such as the Jedi mind trick have been part of Star Wars from the very beginning, others have been introduced in newer additions to Star Wars movies and TV shows.

As Anakin was the Chosen One, it’s little surprise that he showcased a whole host of Force abilities when he was introduced as a young boy in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. In addition to his shockingly high midi-chlorian count, a concept that was also introduced in the prequels’ first movie, he displayed increased intuition and sharp reflexes. One of Anakin’s Force powers revealed in The Phantom Menace was particularly unique, though, and it was the very reason he was able to create C-3PO when he was still a small boy.

Star Wars Has Revealed A Force Power That Helps With Technology

One of Star Wars’ Force powers is increased technical insight, although it has rarely been seen in the franchise. Anakin was the first Force-sensitive character to exhibit this ability on screen, with his creation of C-3PO as a child. This power was rather subtle, and it was quite easy to miss as a Force power. In the years since The Phantom Menace, however, Star Wars has confirmed that this is in fact a canon Force ability.

Ram Jomaram, a Jedi Padawan who has made numerous appearances throughout The High Republic books, had this same Force power. In fact, in the High Republic Era, multiple Padawan learners in addition to Jomaram exhibited this increased technical insight. These skills included the ability to intuitively understand technology and sense how circuitry is meant to work, enabling the Padawans to become masters of technology.

Anakin’s Force Power Explains How He Built Threepio (& A Podracer)

Although Anakin was clearly an exceptional child in The Phantom Menace, and most audience members would have known he was the person who ultimately grew up to be one of Star Wars’ most powerful Sith, it was nevertheless a bit odd that he was able to create a protocol droid at such a young age. This would have required an incredible amount of skill for anyone, a child especially, but it was particularly unusual because Anakin had such limited resources. He and his mother were enslaved to Watto at the time, after all.

It makes sense, given that, that Anakin’s ability to build C-3PO when he was only 9 years old was indicative of a Force power he possessed. This would also explain how he managed to build a podracer, yet another incredible feat Anakin revealed in The Phantom Menace. This technological skill coincided with Anakin’s ability to pilot the podracer, which tied into the Jedi-like reflexes and intuition he was already exhibiting. Anakin was in fact the only human to finish a podrace, let alone win one, which is clearly reflective of how exceptional his abilities in the Force were.

Why Anakin Stopped Cultivating His Technological Gifts

At least on screen, Anakin’s passion for and prowess with technology seems to fizzle after The Phantom Menace. He goes from a child on Tatooine constantly tinkering with and fixing technology to a Jedi Padawan more focused on conventional uses of the Force. This seems to be at least partially due to the focus of the Jedi Order at the time.

In the High Republic Era, the Jedi prioritized exploration, experimentation, and expanding one’s knowledge, both in terms of the Force and more broadly. This was made clear even in The Acolyte, which was set toward the end of this era, as the Jedi were searching the galaxy for Force vergences. That was not the Jedi Order Anakin Skywalker grew up in, though. By the prequel trilogy era, the Jedi were already immersed in politics and well on their way to war. There simply wasn’t the same opportunity for Anakin to develop his technological skills.

That doesn’t mean that Anakin entirely did away with his unique Force ability, though. He remained gifted with technology and continued to utilize that skill by making upgrades to his cybernetic hand, altering his lightsaber, and, eventually, making his red lightsaber as Darth Vader dual phase. It’s a bit of a shame that Anakin didn’t get to cultivate this power more because it was so unique, but Star Wars heavily hints that Anakin Skywalker’s incredible technical skills were in fact a Force power that enabled him to build C-3PO.