Luke Skywalker deflecting blaster bolts from a training remote onboard the Millennium Falcon is an iconic Star Wars moment, which the franchise has since used to expand Jedi lore. In A New Hope, we were led to believe that Luke using this training remote and covering his eyes was something Obi-Wan Kenobi improvised on the spot. After all, Obi-Wan didn’t bring much with him, so the training remote must have belonged to Han Solo.

Star Wars reference guides later explained that the training remote on the Millennium Falcon was designed to train military recruits. Soldiers could practice their marksmanship while dodging blaster bolts, and since Han once served the Empire, it makes sense he would have one. However, Star Wars decided to incorporate this remote into Jedi history.

Star Wars Has Confirmed The Jedi Always Used Training Remotes

It’s one of the first things younglings practice at the Temple

The Star Wars prequel trilogy revealed that using a training remote was a common Jedi practice, not something Obi-Wan created. In Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Yoda’s entire class of younglings can be seen blocking blaster bolts with their eyes covered. Obi-Wan may have had to use different equipment for Luke, but he still gave basic Jedi instructions.

The Jedi training remote also appeared on Huyang’s ship in Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 5, episode 7 “A Test of Strength.” Because Huyang is confirmed to have been built around the same time as the Jedi Order was created, this could have implied that the training remotes were 25,000 years old. Thankfully, Star Wars has recently clarified how long Jedi have used these devices.

We Now Know The Training Remotes Were Invented During The High Republic Era

Thanks to Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures

Training remotes have appeared throughout the Star Wars: The High Republic publishing initiative, but we’ve now learned they were created during this era. In Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures season 2, episode 12 “Unmasked,” set approximately 200 years before the Star Wars movies, Kai Brightsatar and his friend practice with a training remote. During the session, the remotes are specified as “new,” implying that this is a recent invention.

Since the Jedi were in their prime during the High Republic era, it makes sense that an iconic part of Jedi training came from this time. Hundreds of years later, it had become a common practice for even the youngest Jedi, preparing Padawans to face countless armed opponents. It’s funny to think the Jedi training remote started as Millennium Falcon junk but is now an important part of Star Wars lore.