# How many times did Darth get each limb chopped off? (No spoilers boxes, please.)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [February 26, 2006, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217 "2006-02-26T20:51:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2006, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/1 "2006-02-26T20:51:28Z")
The first time, I could understand because they were just flesh, so Duku was a surprise. But when Obi chopped off his arm he should have ordered a stronger alloy or something.
I never saw the last Star Wars movie, or is was that the third Star Wars movie? I’ve read very few books and saw all the other movies so I know what happens. I’ve lost count of how many times each limb was cut off and by whom. Does anybody know?
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### Author:  [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/2 "2006-02-26T21:29:53Z")
In Attack of the Clones, his right arm is cut off around the elbow by Count Dooku, and replaced with a mechanical-looking replacement.
In Revenge of the Sith, both arms and legs are cut off by Obi Wan Kenobi. The mechanical arm is cut off above the elbow, so some flesh is cut off too. They’re all replaced by the Darth suit and mechanical replacements.
In Return of the Jedi, his right arm is cut off by Luke around the area of the first cut (so some of the mechanical is left). No replacements.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2006, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/3 "2006-02-26T21:36:01Z")
[Everything you always wanted to know about the chopped off limbs in Star Wars, but were afraid to ask.](http://www.runleiarun.com/choppedoffhands/start.html)
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### Author:  [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2006, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/4 "2006-02-26T21:48:33Z")
However, the question remains: If arms and pieces of him keep getting replaced, when does he stop being Darth and instead become something entirely new? You can never piss off the same dark lord twice, it seems.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/5 "2006-02-26T21:58:15Z")
> [@ZebraShaSha](#):
>
> However, the question remains: If arms and pieces of him keep getting replaced, when does he stop being Darth and instead become something entirely new? You can never piss off the same dark lord twice, it seems.
WAG: as long as his head stays intact, he’ll always be Vader.
Off-topic: When the Batman cartoon in the 90s changed to _The New Adventures of Batman and Superman_, Mr. Freeze appeared, but was only a head in a mechanical suit. His character changed from someone trying to save his stricken wife (who had been cured in the _Subzero_ movie) to a hideous monster who wanted to make others suffer like he did (first, losing his wife to a horrible disease and then not being able to be with her after she was cured).
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### Author:  [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/6 "2006-02-26T22:08:03Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#):
>
> [Everything you always wanted to know about the chopped off limbs in Star Wars, but were afraid to ask.](http://www.runleiarun.com/choppedoffhands/start.html)
That there takes care of all my chopped limbs needs for quite some time.
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### Author:  [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/7 "2006-02-26T22:12:35Z")
Palpatine chops Vadar too, in a book. Seriously, better alloys!
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/8 "2006-02-26T22:22:31Z")
> [@Biggirl](#):
>
> Palpatine chops Vadar too, in a book. Seriously, better alloys!
Better alloys are no match for the POWER OF THE FORCE!!!
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### Author:  [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2006, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/9 "2006-02-27T00:35:56Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#):
>
> Better alloys are no match for the POWER OF THE FORCE!!!
That’s what duct tape is for. 😃
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### Author:  [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2006, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/10 "2006-02-27T01:24:08Z")
> [@ZebraShaSha](#):
>
> However, the question remains: If arms and pieces of him keep getting replaced, when does he stop being Darth and instead become something entirely new?
Replace enough pieces and he becomes the ship of Theseus. Or maybe George Washington’s axe – it’s tricky to tell them apart.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/11 "2006-02-27T01:31:47Z")
Um, both arms weren’t cut off by Obi-Wan. When he’s crawling back up the bank away from the lava, the camera zooms in on his prosthetic hand digging into the ash as he crawls up.
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### Author:  [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2006, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/12 "2006-02-27T01:59:29Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#):
>
> Um, both arms weren’t cut off by Obi-Wan. When he’s crawling back up the bank away from the lava, the camera zooms in on his prosthetic hand digging into the ash as he crawls up.
…Yep, you’re right. :smack: I abandon to you the Throne of Nerd.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2006, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/13 "2006-02-27T02:02:29Z")
Heh, in my opinion, that’s one of the best scenes in the movie-where you see the artificial fingers flexing into the dust.
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### Author:  [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/14 "2006-02-27T03:14:33Z")
> [@ZebraShaSha](#):
>
> However, the question remains: If arms and pieces of him keep getting replaced, when does he stop being Darth and instead become something entirely new? You can never piss off the same dark lord twice, it seems.
A very similar question came up in the finale of the second Marvel comics Micronauts series.\* The evil Baron Karza created the body banks, both new techniques for preserving and transplanting organs and a huge repository of spare parts. He used his control of the body banks to gain control of the nobles and the wealthy. Eventually, he took over the planet. He ruled for centuries, using the body banks to stay young and healthy. Eventually, our heroes kill him. But, they need his power armor in order to stop a doomsday device triggered after his death. Arcturus Rann, the hero who actually puts on the armor, wonders ‘He lived for centuries. Every bit of him must have been replaced a dozen times. But, he always wore this armor. I wonder, did we bury Karza when we buried those bones. Or, is his soul still here in this armor?’
Re Mister Freeze
The moment when Freeze reveals that he’s now just a head was marvellous. He was such a tragic character to begin with. Why has he started destroying people’s lives? Because he has finally given life back to his wife, but now they can never be together.
- Yes, it’s a comic book based on a toy line. That’s about as fair an assessment as saying Buffy is abbout a cheerleader who kills monsters. There were battles against strange aliens. But, there was also personal drama and well developed characters.
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### Author:  [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2006, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/15 "2006-02-27T05:45:51Z")
> [@Biggirl](#):
>
> Palpatine chops Vadar too, in a book. Seriously, better alloys!
_Please_. If you’re going to bring up this topic at least get the names right. There are _nerds_ in attendance here!
1. Darth _VADER_, not “Vadar”
2. _Darth_ is not a first name, it’s a title. So you don’t say “how many of Darth’s limbs were chopped off?”, you say “how many of _Vader’s_ limbs were chopped off?” Or, if we’re being respectful, use the full name.
3. _Obi-Wan_ is Kenobi’s first name, not “Obi.” A certain Gungan has been known to address him using the inappropriate shorter version, but we don’t like to speak of him.
4. Count _DOOKU_, not “Duku”
As has been astutely pointed out by **Guinistasia** , Darth Vader’s mechanical forearm was the only one of his four limbs to come out of the climactic _Episode III_ lightsaber battle intact. However, Luke Skywalker (Anakin/Darth Vader’s son) does chop off Vader’s mechanical hand near the end of _Episode VI: Return of the Jedi_. Which is, chronologically, the _last_ Star Wars movie…from a certain point of view. As for the “better alloys,” there are few, if any, materials that are lightsaber-proof. However, prosthetic-limb mechanics seem to be fairly impervious to blaster-fire. Luke takes a hit to his mechanical right hand at the beginning of _Return of the Jedi_. Aside from a cosmetically inconvenient hole in the skin, the hand works just fine for the remainder of the film.
I’ll just go back to my videogames & comic books now…
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2006, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/16 "2006-02-27T05:53:16Z")
Obi is fine-plenty of us refer to Obi-Wan as Obi.
As for “Darth”, it’s his title, but Obi-Wan used it in ANH. “Only a master of evil, _Darth_.” I think that would be sarcastic, though, much like Palpatine’s “So be it, _Jedi_!” in ROTJ (one of the best lines of the movie, I might add. Ian McDiamid is god).
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### Author:  [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2006, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/17 "2006-02-27T06:37:37Z")
> [@vaderspal](#):
>
> …As for the “better alloys,” there are few, if any, materials that are lightsaber-proof…
Cortosis ore and Phrik alloy being a couple of them, IIRC.
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### Author:  [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2006, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/18 "2006-02-27T07:15:58Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#):
>
> Obi is fine-plenty of us refer to Obi-Wan as Obi.
OK, I’ll grant a pass on that one. 🙂
> [@Guinastasia](#):
>
> As for “Darth”, it’s his title, but Obi-Wan used it in ANH. “Only a master of evil, _Darth_.”
I forgot about that. It reinforces my suspicion that “Darth Vader” was originally supposed to be a full name, and GL decided later that “Darth” would designate Sith. Or did this come from the EU? I never got into the books or anything. I never liked the idea of “Darth” being a title, personally. I think it’s such a cool name I’d like it to be Vader’s alone. But I didn’t write the damn thing.
> [@Guinastasia](#):
>
> I think that would be sarcastic, though, much like Palpatine’s “So be it, _Jedi_!” in ROTJ (one of the best lines of the movie, I might add. Ian McDiamid is god).
Agreed!
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2006, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/19 "2006-02-27T07:25:59Z")
> [@vaderspal](#):
>
> I forgot about that. It reinforces my suspicion that “Darth Vader” was originally supposed to be a full name, and GL decided later that “Darth” would designate Sith.
That’s been my suspicion for a while. I read the novelizations of the original three movies when I got into them in the early '90s, and I remember “Darth Sidious” being in there. Amazon says the novel of _Star Wars_ came out in 1986, almost a decade after the movie.
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### Author:  [@AndyPolley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyPolley)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2006, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-did-darth-get-each-limb-chopped-off-no-spoilers-boxes-please/346217/20 "2006-02-27T13:51:18Z")
> [@ZebraShaSha](#):
>
> However, the question remains: If arms and pieces of him keep getting replaced, when does he stop being Darth and instead become something entirely new? You can never piss off the same dark lord twice, it seems.
I think there’s a tiny hint of subtle foreshadowing in RotS with the creation of General Grievous as a main villain. Maybe it was the constant coughing coming from what seems to be a droid? I dunno. He’s apparently schooled in the ‘Jedi arts’ (by Palpatine?) and he is certainly “more machine than man (or whatever) now…” I think Lucas is trying to hint that this may have been the path of Vader if he wasn’t redeemed at the end of the whole saga. This of course implies that Grievous has been around for a while, even though that would ruin the line about there’s only 2 Sith at any given time. Of course, Count Dooku’s existence ruins that line anyway…
None of this explains why Grievous annoyingly shouts “ROGER ROGER ROGER!!!” in Star Wars: Battlefront II.
It’s also said that the emperor desired Luke because he’s more intact than Vader & would become a more powerful Sith Lord. Vader was something of ruined potential.
Oooh! That’s also why Vader can’t shoot force lightning like Palpatine & Dooku! He needs natural hands to channel the Sithy energy through!
I’ll be over here playing video games if you need me.
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