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Midi-chlorian manipulation was a form of Sith alchemy mastered by Darth Plagueis. Requiring immense knowledge of the dark side of the Force, it was the ability to create, maintain, or save life through the influencing of midi-chlorians to a certain degree. Palpatine told Anakin Skywalker that Plagueis used this power to save the ones he loved from dying. Indeed, Plagueis was able to use this ability to make creatures give birth without a second partner, referred to by his droid servant 11-4D as the Magister's "pregnancies". Plagueis testing his abilities found he was able to bypass the defense the normally inherent immunity to telepathic defenses of a Yinchorri by manipulating the midi-chlorians that under normal circumstances protect a Yinchorri from all forms of telepathic influence. Plagueis was able to kill the comatose Darth Venamis and then bring him back to life several times, before the Bith's organs failed, and Plagueis granted him everlasting death. In addition, he turned this power on himself, in order to heal his many injuries afforded to him by the Maladian assassins who almost killed him in 52 BBY, and was confident that he would stop aging at all with this power. However, despite all this, Plagueis was still unable to keep himself from dying at the hands of his apprentice.

Darth Plagueis stated that a child born of this power would be the embodiment of the Force. The Muun tried to impose his will on the Force into creating a Forceful being, but considered this a failure, as Anakin Skywalker was created by the Force itself to bring an end to the Sith once and for all. Later, Palpatine used the promise of this power's effects to entice Anakin Skywalker further to the dark side.^[1] He had also made the same proposition to Ferus Olin, telling him that he would teach him powers to defeat Darth Vader and the power over life and death.^[2] Palpatine himself also possessed this power to a limited degree, having participated with Darth Plagueis in the aforementioned experiment that ultimately resulted in Anakin's conception.^[3] However, he was unable to fully master the ability prior to slaying Plagueis, forcing him to utilize Transfer essence regarding clones to cheat death.^[4]

Behind the scenes[]

The concept of Midi-chlorian Manipulation appeared in Revenge of the Sith, in form of a story of an ancient Sith, Darth Plagueis, who was allegedly able to create life and defeat death by manipulating midi-chlorians. In the rough draft of the film, Palpatine seduces Anakin Skywalker to the Dark side, revealing Anakin's mysterious birth in the process.^[5] Despite George Lucas scrapped the scene, the idea that the Chosen One may have been actually the result of Darth Plagueis' experiments became a popular theory among fans. The 2012 Star Wars Legends novel Darth Plagueis combined the presented interpretations of Skywalker's birth stating that Plagueis was indirectly responsible for Anakin's creation yet the Force conceived Anakin as a way to stop the Sith.^[3] Lucas himself initially said the mystery of the Chosen One's birth is up to the audience to interpret, since it bears no relevance to the outcome of the events.^[6] However, in the interview given to Paul Duncan, author of the book Star Wars Archives: Episodes I-III, 1999-2005 he clearly stated that Anakin was created by the Will of the Force by the midi-chlorians, verifying the circumstances of Anakin's birth proposed in Episode I. Lucas also stated that the legend of Darth Plagueis' abilities was a lie.^[7]

This ability bears resemblance to the real-world alchemic concoction called the elixir of life, which was said to grant the drinker eternal life and/or eternal youth, and create new life.

Appearances[]

• "The Tenebrous Way" — Star Wars Insider 130 (Mentioned only) (First identified as Midi-chlorian manipulation)
• Darth Plagueis (and audiobook)
• The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader (Mentioned only)
• Yoda: Dark Rendezvous (and unabridged audiobook) (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith (First mentioned)
• Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith 2 (Mentioned only)
• Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (and unabridged audiobook) (Mentioned only)

Non-canon appearances[]

• Tag & Bink: Revenge of the Clone Menace (First appearance)

Sources[]

• Vader: The Ultimate Guide
• The New Essential Chronology
• Star Wars Fandex Deluxe Edition
• "Secrets of the Force" — Star Wars Insider 123
• Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side
• Star Wars: Beware the Sith (Indirect mention only)
• Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide: Updated and Expanded (Indirect mention only)

Notes and references[]