“That creature, Savage Opress, is growing stronger and stronger as each day passes… He is a threat to all of us, even the Jedi.”

Hello folks, this would be my first respect thread on one of my favourite combatants, Savage Opress, of which I hope to be the most comprehensive on record. This content of this blog will be split into four parts:

1. Force Accolades
2. Physical Attributes & Force Augmentation
3. Lightsaber & Martial Arts Skill
4. Force Powers

For the best reading experience, I'd recommend you peruse in blog format.

I’d also recommend after reading that you check out my combat analysis on Opress, a breakdown of the combative applications of his power and his strength and weaknesses as a fighter.

But without further ado, may I present… Savage Opress!

Force Accolades

Prior to transformation, Mother Talzin is impressed by the power of Savage’s hatred:

“This one is strong. A perfect male specimen. Such hate, the sheer power of it.”

Mother Talzin commenting on Savage

Talzin’s transformation ritual grants Savage “fearsome abilities”:

After Savage is handpicked by Asajj Ventress to become her apprentice, Mother Talzin uses dark magic to grant him fearsome abilities…

Ultimate Star Wars

Dooku claimed that in time Savage could be Maul’s equal, and appeared to believe that their combined strength would be greater than Palpatine’s:

“Soon your powers will rival that of the great Sith Lord Darth Maul.

We will be even more powerful than Lord Sidious.”

Count Dooku speaking with Savage

Under Dooku’s tutelage, Savage achieves “crude mastery” over the Force:

A brutal training regime takes place. Unlike Jedi training, Sith training is fuelled by fear and hate. Force lightning is blasted from Dooku’s fingertips into Savage Opress’ body until he finally gains a crude mastery of the Force and proficiency with a lightsaber.

Star Wars Insider 122

Savage is “massively powerful” presumably as both a combatant and a Force wielder:

Serving as a foil for the final confrontation between the former master and his jilted apprentice is the massively powerful Opress.

The Must-See Conclusion to an Epic Three-Part Clone Wars Arc, StarWars.com

According to Dooku, Savage grew progressively stronger over time:

“I can sense him, Grievous.

That creature, Savage Opress, is growing stronger and stronger as each day passes…

Count Dooku speaking with Grievous

Savage is described as a considerable threat to both the Jedi and the Sith:

After winning a competition among his Nightbrothers, Savage Opress is transformed by Nightsisters magic into a terrifying opponent for the Jedi.

Ultimate Star Wars

However, Dooku and Asajj Ventress discover that their creation has a will of his own, and that he has grown more powerful than either of them had anticipated – perhaps even more powerful than the combined forces of the Jedi and the Sith.

The Must-See Conclusion to an Epic Three-Part Clone Wars Arc, StarWars.com

“You consider him a threat?”

“He is a threat to all of us, even the Jedi.”

Count Dooku speaking with Grievous

Dooku and Ventress are said to have required all their power to overcome Savage when enraged:

When Opress realised that Ventress was merely using him to satisfy her own revenge, he turned on her as well as Dooku. It took all the power of both darksiders to fend off Opress' attack.

Star Wars Fact File 31 (2014)

He turned on both Ventress and Dooku, who were force to work together to defeat the powerful Savage.

Star Wars Fact File 31 (2014)

Savage’s growth in power was potent enough to cause a disturbance in the Force, a disturbance felt by various beings across the galaxy that had had past encounters with him:

“I can sense him, Grievous. That creature, Savage Opress, is growing stronger and stronger as each day passes…

…With the Nightsisters eradicated, there is no one left to control him. Something is rising, something sinister.”

Count Dooku speaking with Grievous

“Why so tense?”

“I'm not sure. I thought I sensed someone from my past.”

“Who is this someone?”

“A monster.”

Ventress speaking with Latts Razzi

“I sense a disturbance, something sinister.”

“All the way out here?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know what or who it is?”

“No, but whatever it is, it feels familiar.”

Anakin speaking with Ahsoka Tano

Physical Attributes & Force Augmentation

Strength

Talzin regarded Savage, prior to his transformation, to be in perfect physical condition:

“This one is strong. A perfect male specimen. Such hate, the sheer power of it.”

Mother Talzin commenting on Savage

Talzin’s transformation ritual greatly amplified Savage’s physical abilities:

In a mystical, ancient ceremony, the Nightsisters use their magic to mutate Savage Opress into an even more brutal warrior than he was before. He gains great height and size, his horns lengthen, and he develops a disturbing, unmatched ferocity.

Star Wars Insider 122

Savage easily breaks through a pair of binders merely by flexing:

Source: The Clone Wars - Strange Allies

Savage possessed the strength to easily lift and throw humanoids.

Prior to his transformation, Savage launches Ventress against a wall:

Savage throws Kenobi across several meters:

Flattens Ventress with a palm strike and flings her across a room:

Tosses a thug one-handed across several meters:

Savage’s physical attacks possessed massive force and could do serious damage.

Prior to transformation, Savage was strong enough to shatter stone with his punches, no doubt post-transformation Savage could do even more damage:

Knocks Ventress down with a punch:

Incapacitates a Jedi with a knee strike:

Generates enough force to impale and mortally wound Adi with his cranial horns:

Head butts Darth Sidious and sends him flying:

Trashes some droids, the poor things:

Savage overpowers Embo with a series of punches, creating sparks and leaving dents in his helmet:

Savage grips Ventress' throat and chokes her, leaving her unable to break free:

Savage lifts up Feral with one hand and crushes his throat:

Breaks the wrist and then neck of a Black Sun thug with ease:

A guard approached Savage with his weapon drawn. The Sith grabbed his wrist and Maul heard the bones break, the weapon falling to the floor as the Falleen screamed. Savage grabbed the green head, twisting the Falleen's neck until it broke, then slammed the luckless soldier down to the floor.

Darth Maul: Shadow Conspiracy

As a result of his immense strength, Savage could easily overwhelm and sometimes utterly crush his opponents when armed with a melee weapon.

Savage butchers a squad of clones wearing plastoid armour with ease:

Savage dispatches Jedi Master Halsey with a rapid series of strikes:

Kills a Padawan with a single strike:

Savage butchers a Hutt with one stroke, reducing him to pulpy puddle:

Gallery

Source: The Clone Wars - Strange Allies

Savage proved strong enough to disarm Dooku with a single blow, despite Dooku, as a Makashi master, being expert at deflecting attacks using superior leverage and positioning:

Noting that prior to receiving proper training, Dooku deflected his attacks easily:

Later and when amplified by rage, he launches Ventress into the air with a swing:

Still amplified by his rage, Savage launches Anakin & Kenobi across several meters:

Then proceeds to drive them back simultaneously for almost a minute:

Alone, an unprepared Kenobi is quickly and easily overwhelmed by Savage:

And later Savage staggers him with a swing:

Savage easily drove back Adi Gallia with his “enormous” strength, of which her skills as a lightsaber duellist are described as next to useless against:

Savage reined blows down on the slim Jedi, roaring as he tried to crash through her defences. Little by little Adi fell back, all her skill no match for his enormous strength.

Darth Maul: Shadow Conspiracy

Pushes back Darth Sidious with his strength, an exceptionally powerful Force user, though it should be noted that according to the director - Dave Filoni - he was holding back:

Sidious is also described as being strained by the Maul & Savage’s combined strength:

Maul stared up at his Master’s face. He saw the strain as Sidious called upon the Force to keep the brothers at bay. But there was something else there too – a terrible pleasure. Sidious began to grin.

Darth Maul: Shadow Conspiracy

Durability

As a Zabrak, Savage is naturally resistance to pain:

…their physiology, which includes a secondary heart and some resistance to pain, gives them surprising endurance in battle.

SWTOR Codex: Zabrak

As a demonstration of his pain tolerance, despite having an injured and possibly broken leg, and an arm severed, recovers quickly, and carries his brother’s weight:

Savage’s armour rendered him effectively impervious to blaster bolts, with only colossal amounts of blaster fire doing him any real damage.

Savage tanks a blaster shot, maintaining his momentum:

Savage withstands a barrage of blaster fire from over a dozen battle droids and three Droidekas armed with twin blaster cannons:

Despite having already endured multiple blasts of Force lightning, Savage is still then able to reach Dathomir and Mother Talzin, only then momentarily collapsing.

He could also endure glancing blows form a lightsaber, continuing to fight seemingly unhindered:

Source: The Clone Wars - The Sith Hunters

Savage was easily able to shrug off physical attacks.

Shrugs of Halsey’s barrage of physical attacks:

Endures punches from Ventress, which appear to have little effect:

Easily endures a kick from Adi, which only serves to anger him:

Savage withstands multiple kicks to the knee from Kenobi before it gives:

Noting that Kenobi, as a master of Ataru, a style that involves in part pouring the Force into physical strength, would be able to strike with much more power.

Savage withstands five successive blasts from Dooku’s Force lightning:

Noting that a single blast of said lightning has KO’ed Sora Bulq, and that Savage more than capably engaged Anakin & Kenobi immediately afterwards, instead the pain likely served only the empower him.

Speed & Agility

Contrary to what many might believe, and despite his size and emphasis on strength, Savage remains very fast & agile, and capable of blitzing lesser Force users.

Savage is no stationary or lumbering target, and easily able to evade attacks.

Prior to his transformation, Savage evades a pair of axes in mid-flight:

Savage easily evades and disarms Jedi Master Halsey:

Savage dodges an attack from Kenobi while carrying a body:

Savage evades and outmanoeuvres Ventress in hand-to-hand:

Evades a stab from Kenobi:

Another evasion of an attack from Kenobi:

Noting that Ataru as well as amplifying strength, also amplified speed and agility.

As well as evading attacks, Savage can himself react and attack exceptionally fast.

Savage blitzes three guards before they can react:

Savage blitzes a group of thugs before most of them can draw their weapons:

Source: The Clone Wars - Strange Allies

Savage severs the arm of a Jedi Padawan before he can even engage:

Source: The Clone Wars - The Sith Hunters

Moves fast enough to bypass Koon’s defences and swipe his breath mask:

Source: The Clone Wars - The Sith Hunters

I consider this an impressive feat in the respect that for an experienced fighter, shouting a warning to a trooper shouldn’t have led to a considerable drop to his defences.

Savage decapitates the Black Sun leaders before anyone can react:

Before anyone could react, Savage had ignited both blades of his saber and hurled the weapon, sending a spinning sheet of scarlet plasma knifing through the gloomy hall. The lightsaber returned to Savage's hand, its circuit of the room complete, and he deactivated the blades. The soldiers of the Black Sun and the Death Watch stood there, momentarily stunned. Then all heard five thumps from behind the thrones, and the five headless bodies of the Black Sun leaders collapsed where they stood.

Darth Maul: Shadow Conspiracy

Note how they are all dead before the Falleen even realised what was happening.

Savage reacts and activates his lightsaber in an eye blink:

In an eyeblink, Maul and Savage had their lightsabers drawn and ignited, and were sending laser blasts ricocheting all around the chamber.

Darth Maul: Shadow Conspiracy

Savage was even able to track and intercept the speed of Darth Sidious, to who many moved with invisible speed, though Sidious was in this instance holding back.

Savage was also capable of acrobatics to move about the field.

Savage flanks Kenobi, swivelling around him in a blur:

Savage performs a Force leaps to flank Darth Sidious:

Lightsaber & Martial Arts Skill

Though he possessed little formal training, Savage remained a skilled lightsaber duellist and was highly capable in martial arts, I’d recommend reading my combat analysis blog to get a more detailed breakdown of his capabilities as a fighter.

Under Dooku’s tutelage, Savage becomes proficient in lightsaber combat and master with his weapon:

A brutal training regime takes place. Unlike Jedi training, Sith training is fuelled by fear and hate. Force lightning is blasted from Dooku’s fingertips into Savage Opress’ body until he finally gains a crude mastery of the Force and proficiency with a lightsaber.

Star Wars Insider 122

The count trained Opress in lightsaber combat, and despite Savage's initial lack of skill in the discipline, helped him to harness his rage until he became a master with the weapon.

Star Wars Fact File 31 (2014)

It should also be noted that he received further training from his brother, Darth Maul.

Savage’s recklessness, impulsivity and strength made him unpredictable and formidable fighter:

An unpredictable warrior, he makes for a formidable opponent thanks to his reckless, impulsive nature and sheer brute force.

Star Wars Insider 122

Savage wielded a saberstaff or double-bladed lightsaber with great proficiency, which has been noted to be a very difficult weapon to master by multiple sources:

Using a double-bladed lightsaber is dangerous and difficult, because the weapon relies on totally different manoeuvres from those mastered during standard lightsaber exercises.

The New Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology

Wielding double-bladed lightsabers is incredibly dangerous, and unskilled Sith have ended their own lives -and the lives of those around them - when attempting to use such a weapon before their training is complete.

SWTOR Encyclopaedia

A familiar image from the last Sith War, the dual-bladed lightsaber is known as a Sith weapon, but there is nothing inherently wicked in its design. Using one takes years of study, and few Jedi – besides myself – can instruct you.

Skarch Vaunk, Jedi Battlemaster in The Jedi Path

The double-bladed lightsaber is traditionally used as a training device, but because it can be much more dangerous to its wielder than an enemy, most Sith have eschewed the weapon in favor of the single-bladed lightsaber.Ultimate Star Wars

Savage in particular has demonstrated a high level of proficiency with the saberstaff below, employing a range of moves and manoeuvres as well as excellent balance:

Savage was capable of the cho mai technique, a precision attack that involved severing an opponent’s hand, hence indicative of “a superior lightsaber master.”

Choi mai translates as “to cut off the weapon hand.” Because this strike instantly ends an opponent’s ability to use a weapon but does not kill, cho mai is always the preferred move in combat. The precision of cutting off only a hand is considered the mark of a superior lightsaber master.

Cin Drallig, The Marks of Contact in Jedi vs Sith: An Essential Guide to the Force

As an example, here Savage severs the hand of Padawan Tatsu:

Source: The Clone Wars - The Sith Hunters

Savage engages Anakin & Kenobi simultaneously, driving them back for almost a minute. Noting Anakin and Kenobi are among the most exceptional duellists in the Order, yet Savage loses only a horn:

Savage prior to receiving more training proves more than a match for Asajj Ventress in lightsaber combat and H2H (though Ventress was at an inherent disadvantage with only one lightsaber) and later with Kenobi:

Noting that against their combined strength, Kenobi & Ventress are described as no match:

Source: The Clone Wars - The Sith Hunters

Savage after receiving more training, duels evenly with Jedi Master Plo Koon, defeating him (through virtue of superior speed) by removing his breath mask:

Gallery

Source: The Clone Wars - The Sith Hunters

It should be noted that Koon was a master saber duellist and considered to be among the greatest Jedi and lightsaber duellists in the Jedi Order at the time.

Savage’s duels and easily drives back Adi Gallia, who as a Jedi Council Member who has gone toe-to-toe with General Grievous, and was regarded as one of the best Jedi in the Order:

"Though the cruisers carried some of the best Jedi in the Order- including Windu, Adi Gallia, Eeth Koth, Plo Koon, Micah Gilett, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Qui-Gon's Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi- the Yinchorri possessed cortosis-weave armor that could resist lightsaber cuts."

The New Essential Chronology

Savage holds off Kenobi’s Ataru assaults, Kenobi himself easily one of the greatest duellists and masters of Ataru in mythos, though of course he had Maul beside him.

Savage manages to keep up with Darth Sidious in lightsaber combat, and although Sidious was holding back, Filoni regards his performance superior to Saesee Tinn, Kit Fisto and Agen Kolar, who last only a fraction of the time, all some of the most exceptional duellists of the age.

“You know getting taken out by Sidious is pretty good, ranks up there… he puts up a better fight than the Jedi Council did I’ll say that much for him.”

Dave Filoni in Wrath of the Sith

Savage was also highly skilled in blaster deflection and redirection.

After receiving training from Dooku, Savage deflects blaster bolts from a circle of over a dozen battle droids and Droidekas, suffering only a handful of hits:

Deflects and redirects a blaster shot back at the shooter:

Savage successfully deflects blaster fire where his brother fails, despite missing an arm and therefore forced to wield his two handed weapon with one:

Deflects blaster fire from a group of highly skilled marksman, latter accompanied by a “horde” of Hutt thugs, demonstrating “astounding skill”:

…the bounty hunters hired by the slugs were actually quite capable – and they were fighting in surroundings they knew well.

Darth Maul: Shadow Conspiracy

He kept firing his blasters at the pursuing bounty hunters, who were leading a horde of Hutt servants armed with blasters, electro-jabbers, and other weapons.

Maul and Savage continued to spin their red lightsabers with astounding skill, batting every laser bolt that came near them into the crowd.

Darth Maul: Shadow Conspiracy

Savage deflects and rapidly redirects blaster fire at a number of Mandalorian guards, noting Savage bypasses the shields they were using to defend themselves:

Finally Savage was highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat, prior to his transformation going toe-to-toe with Asajj Ventress, herself an expert martial artist:

Force Powers

Telekinesis

Though Savage’s powers in the Force are largely limited to telekinesis, he is nonetheless extremely potent in this field, and puts his power to effective use.

On a basic level, Savage could unleash potent and wide ranging Force pushes.

Savage blows open a door (after weakening it with a lightsaber) with a Force push, killing a pair of Toydarian guards caught in the blast in the process:

Force pushes a large shuttle of a platform:

Blasts a pair of guards with a Force push:

Source: Darth Maul - Death Sentence

In perhaps his most potent display, Savage combined with Maul generates a Force push that sends scores of armoured soldiers flying, pushing the Jedi Masters back and sweeping the Padawan clean off his feet:

It should be noted that the battalion in question is at least one hundred in number:

And that in the aftermath it appears mostly wiped out, indicating that those caught in the blast were likely killed, indicating combined they generated colossal force:

Source: Darth Maul - Death Sentence

Savage Force pushes Jedi Master Grohto:

Source: The Clone Wars - The Sith Hunters

Savage Force pushes three Clone troopers off a platform:

Source: The Clone Wars - The Sith Hunters

Force pushes Adi with enough Force to temporarily stun her:

As well as Force pushes, Savage was capable of unleashing telekinetic waves and repulses, an ability usually reserved for those who have mastered the Force.

Savage throws off Anakin & Kenobi with a Force repulse:

Generates a Force repulse – without gesturing – that blows away Dooku & Ventress:

Savage generates a Force wave that blows away and destroys over a dozen droids. Anakin & Kenobi, several meters away, are also caught in the blast and thrown down:

Unleashes a Force wave that launches Maul, Jedi Master Drud and several soldiers:

Source: The Clone Wars - The Sith Hunters

Blows apart a cell made from glass alloy of Mandalorian iron, killing a Mandalorian in the process:

They lead Satine to a prison cell in her own palace, shutting her in a little room with a cot, desk, and chair, behind a door made of Mandalorian iron.

Darth Maul: Shadow Conspiracy

Savage was also highly proficient in lifting and gripping objects and opponents.

Savage lifts a pair of stone obelisks while being blasted by Dooku’s lightning:

Though it should be noted that Savage grew progressively stronger since.

Demonstrates telekinetic precision by stopping a knife in mid-air:

Telekinetically chokes and flings a guard with enough force to kill him:

Force chokes and kills King Katuunko despite Anakin & Kenobi’s attempts to restraint him.

Empowered by his rage, Savage Force chokes both Dooku & Ventress then throws them against a wall:

Savage lifts a pair of guard droids then smashes them against a wall:

Savage launches a Mandalorian into a prison cell with enough kinetic force to damage and ignite his jetpack, which is presumably made from durasteel:

Savage grips then nonchalantly crushes the throat of a Mandalorian:

Savage Force chokes a Mandalorian in motion, then throws him across the room:

Savage was also proficient with saber throw, swiftly decapitating the Black Sun:

And that's a wrap folks, I hope you enjoyed this thread and find it useful in the future.