In the Star Wars universe, the secret to staying alive is apparently (spoiler alert) becoming a Sith Lord. A Force-sensitive individual apparently can bring the dead back to life with the help of Force Revival or Force Resurrection. We won’t be discussing the possibility of resurrecting the dead but we will learn the many Star Wars survival tips that will keep you from becoming a Force ghost.
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Use the Force to Stay Alive
When Darth Maul was cut in half by a young Obi-Wan Kenobi, he kept himself alive by using the Force, particularly by focusing his hatred on the then Jedi-in-training. He managed to stay alive long enough for his brother to find him. Before his rescue, he survived by eating vermin and replacing his lower limbs with spider-like legs. We’re talking science fiction here, of course. In real life, you can also survive seemingly lethal injuries if you know what to do.
You probably heard about Aron Ralston and his story of survival, which was the basis of James Franco’s 127 Hours. Ralston, who was canyoneering alone, accidentally dislodged a boulder which pinned his right hand against the canyon wall. He managed to escape after six grueling days by cutting his arm off with a multi-tool.
The Force in this case is Ralston’s survival skills and will to live. He knew he had to consume his water and food gradually so he could last longer. When both ran out, he was left with the option of dismembering himself or face certain death. He knew he had to break his bones and cut through his arm to set himself free. The Star Wars survival tips you can pick up here is to learn about different survival skills and to never give up when things go bleak.
Prepare to Defend Yourself
Most Star Wars characters have their own iconic weapon. Each Jedi Knight and Sith Lord, for example, has their own unique lightsaber. Chewbacca has his bowcaster while Han used a modified BlasTech DL-44. Rey had her quarterstaff and Luke’s lightsaber before getting her own yellow lightsaber.
You can’t carry a lightsaber or blasters in real life, though. What you can do is build your everyday carry kit and, you know, carry it every day. Pack your EDC kit with essential survival gear including small non-lethal weapons you can use to defend yourself like pocket knives, stun guns, and pepper sprays. Of course, you need to check local laws before carrying such items.
First Jedi Rule: Survive
Obi-Wan described the objective of prepping perfectly in Revenge of the Sith. In order to survive disasters and such, you need to be prepared.
As mentioned above, an EDC kit is one way you can prepare for any life threatening situation. Other EDC items include a lightweight and BPA-free water bottle, snacks, lighter, LED flashlight, whistle, car escape tool, emergency blanket, a small first aid kit, phone and charger or powerbank, and a multi-tool.
Ralston had a multi-tool with him when he went on his life-changing canyoneering trip. This shows he was a bit prepared though he could’ve done better. He did bring some climbing gear, a gallon of water, and some food but he only wore a T-shirt, shorts, bike shorts, wool socks, and a pair of running shoes. Ralston could’ve brought his phone and called for help.
(Related: Top Canyoning Gear Essentials You Need)
In case that didn’t work, a lighter would be useful to start a fire to keep him warm, get other people’s attention, and even to sterilize his small blade before cutting off his arm. A lightsaber would’ve been real handy (see what we did there?) since it can slice limbs off fast and clean like what happened to Luke courtesy of his dad Darth Vader, Count Dooku, Aqualish, Zam Wessell, Mace Windu, General Grievous, and Anakin Skywalker thrice. The elder Skywalker lost both arms on separate occasions while Luke returned the favor in Return of the Jedi when he cut off one of Vader’s mechanical hands.
The multi-tool Ralston brought with him had a dull blade. While it eventually did the job, he could have benefited from something more up to the task. Ralston also had to make do with the tubing from his CamelBak hydration bladder as tourniquet.
A true survivalist knows to bring a first aid kit with the right contents, including an actual tourniquet. It’s not enough, however, to just have a first aid kit. You need to know how to use its contents properly. Basic first aid training is thereby recommended.
Don’t Go Solo
Ralston also failed to tell anyone he was going on a solo canyoneering trip, which is a big no-no. Just look at what happened to Luke Skywalker while he was scouting the icy wastelands of planet Hoth on his own. According to Gizmodo, Luke should have died of hypothermia even if Han Solo stuffed him inside his dead tauntaun.
Science says the tauntaun would no longer be generating heat several minutes after it died. This means Han had to find a safer and warmer place for Luke before the tauntaun carcass becomes a grave.
The point here is to always inform someone before you go so they’d have a clue where to look if something goes wrong. Let someone know of your whereabouts and the time you’re expected back. If Ralston mentioned something to someone, people would have known where to look for him in case he wasn’t able to save himself.
Luke was lucky Han found him in the vast ice wasteland. It would be pretty difficult to spot his almost lifeless body considering he was also wearing something light that blended with the snow.
Practice Your Shot
For some, it remains a mystery why stormtroopers can’t hit a thing. While it’s true that during actual warfare, the chances of hitting a target compared to missing it completely is higher than you’d expect, it does seem otherworldly that these stormtroopers still can’t hit even slowpokes C3PO and R2-D2.
According to Nerdist, the inaccuracy of the Galactic Empire’s elite warriors is the work of the Force. That explains why the blind Chirrut Imwe avoided getting shot during his casual stroll in Rogue One while muttering, “I am one with the Force, the Force is with me.”
The Force aside, if you own or plan to buy a firearm for self defense, it’s imperative to know how to use it. You can’t defend your home and family if you don’t know how to fire your gun. It’s that simple.
First thing’s first, you must acquire your firearm legally and with the intention of using it only to defend yourself. Secondly, enroll in a shooting class. Take the time to practice using your weapon with the help of a professional shooting trainer. It’s not enough that you know how to fire a gun, you also need to be a good shot. Keep practicing to become a better shot so you’re better equipped to defend your loved ones when the need arises.
Learn to Adapt
One of the most glaring Star Wars survival tips you can learn from Star Wars: The Last Jedi is to adapt. Luke exiled himself in Ahch-To after Ben Solo decided to go to the dark side and killed his padawans. In the planet where the Jedi Order first came to be, Luke made do with what was around him to survive. He lived on weird-looking giant fish he got from the waters using his 70-foot fishing spear. Luke also drank the green milk of the thala-siren, which we’re assuming is full of nutrients.
In case hermit Luke runs out of fish, there are lots of porgs on the island he can roast like what Chewie did while waiting for Rey. When it comes to life and death, you’d do anything to survive including eating cute creatures and drinking neon green excretion.
(Related: 10 Survival Movies Every Prepper Can Learn Survival Skills From)
You need to learn every survival skill you can learn. Start off by knowing how to start a fire. You need fire to cook, boil water, stay warm, see in the dark, send signals, scare away threats, and other life-saving tasks.
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Prepare for the Worst
So it’s been Sheev Palpatine all this time. Many of you were probably surprised to see Darth Sidious still alive and discover that he was, in fact, pulling the strings all along. Even more surprising is the existence of the Final Order and the Sith Eternal. Luckily, our heroes still managed to grab a win over Palpatine and his horde despite being caught unaware of the brewing threat.
The worst thing that could happen is to be caught unprepared. We’re not just talking Star Wars here. When it comes to prepping, you need to consider all the possible disasters and emergency situations. You need an emergency preparedness plan for hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, fires, volcanic eruptions, landslides, drought, and other natural disasters you can think of.
Aside from that, you also need to be ready in case government falls or society breaks down. You also have to prep for mass shootings, kidnapping, home invasion, military invasion, riots, financial crisis, power grid failure, internet collapse, and other scary scenarios.
One way to prepare for the worst is to stock up on food, water and other basic needs. Make sure the food items you stockpile have a long shelf life. They should also be easy to prepare.
(Related: 15 of the Best Survival Foods To Stockpile For The Apocalypse)
Emergency gear such as a tent, sleeping bags, flashlights, rechargeable lanterns, fire starters, radio, portable stove, personal water filters, water purification tablets, emergency blankets, ponchos, paracord, whistle, signal mirror, compass, axe, hatchet, and weapons are just a few that come to mind. For a more detailed list of survival gear you should keep in your home, check out this list from Skilled Survival.
I Have A Bad Feeling About This
Trust your instincts. If you think you’re in a potentially dangerous situation, find a way out immediately or at least be prepared to deal with it properly.
Have a bug out bag ready in case you have to evacuate your home. It’s best to wait for instructions from local authorities on what to do in case of an impending emergency or natural disaster. However, if you feel that you need to take action immediately, go ahead and do so.
It’s better if you already have an evacuation plan prepared. This should include a bug out place where you can stay while it’s not safe to go back home yet. Take your loved ones if you think they will be safer there.
(Related: The Ultimate Survival Gear Checklist For Your Bug Out Vehicle)
Another example of this Star Wars survival tip is to always be wary of exits. Every time you enter a building, scope the place out and look for the exits and other areas where you can hide in case of trouble.
With all the films under the franchise, you’re bound to get a lot more Star Wars survival tips. The few we have compiled in this list is just the tip of the iceberg. Take these ones in for now before you go on a Star Wars movie marathon. When you finally do, be a little more wary of the useful survival tips you can learn. And speaking of survival tips, there are tons waiting for you to learn over at Gentleman Pirate Club.
