Why don't Jedi/Sith fight only using force powers?

First of all hi, I'm new to the community.

Aren't force powers more efficient than lightsaber combat? Why do Jedi/Sith decide to fight using lightsabers? In my opinion a jedi/sith using the force will defeat a jedi/sith using the lightsaber. As an example for my question, when Darth Sidious fights Mace and the other master he draws his lightsaber first to fight. Why doesn't he just use force lightning?

Originally posted by Darth N
First of all hi, I'm new to the community.

Aren't force powers more efficient than lightsaber combat? Why do Jedi/Sith decide to fight using lightsabers? In my opinion a jedi/sith using the force will defeat a jedi/sith using the lightsaber. As an example for my question, when Darth Sidious fights Mace and the other master he draws his lightsaber first to fight. Why doesn't he just use force lightning?

Originally posted by Darth N
First of all hi, I'm new to the community.

Aren't force powers more efficient than lightsaber combat?

No. For example, when Bane fights the technobeasts he relies mostly on his lightsabre as he knows it's more energy-efficient.

Originally posted by Darth N
Why do Jedi/Sith decide to fight using lightsabers?

Because they can cut through nearly anything, they can deflect blaster fire etc.

Originally posted by Darth N
In my opinion a jedi/sith using the force will defeat a jedi/sith using the lightsaber.

So you have two Jedi/Sith, both with Force powers and you think the unarmed one will win?

Plus, in "Path of Destruction" Kas'im states that a more skilled lightsabre duellist is fully capable of beating someone more powerful in the Force.

Originally posted by Darth N
As an example for my question, when Darth Sidious fights Mace and the other master he draws his lightsaber first to fight. Why doesn't he just use force lightning?

Probably because they'd have just blocked it with their lightsabres.

Originally posted by Darth N
First of all hi, I'm new to the community.

Aren't force powers more efficient than lightsaber combat?

Why do Jedi/Sith decide to fight using lightsabers?

In my opinion a jedi/sith using the force will defeat a jedi/sith using the lightsaber.

As an example for my question, when Darth Sidious fights Mace and the other master he draws his lightsaber first to fight. Why doesn't he just use force lightning?

First off, welcome to kmc, this place can get heated at times so try not take anything personal.

As far as this thread goes, you also have to take into account the fact that jedi don't use too many offensive powers (aside from the basic tk) which means that they have limited arsenal of techniques vs the sith. I also believe that the average jedi and sith are fairly equal in terms of strength in the force so their ability to wield a lightsaber is what decides a fight but we have to keep in mind that a lot of characters (off hand im not sure how well that is represented in the movies) use the force when they are in lightsaber combat.

Aside from the many uses that lightsabers have when utilized against normal adversaries and troubling obstacles, I believe Count Dooku puts it best.

It is obvious that this contest cannot be decided by our knowledge of the Force... but by our skills with a lightsaber.

If two Force-wielders are evenly matched in terms of power, then it is possible that they could not overcome each other.

It also seems apparent that the Jedi and the Sith move to using the Force when it is more practical or achieves better results. For example, Dooku flinging Kenobi away, or Kenobi dropping a piece of scenery on many droids (both from Episode III).

Originally posted by Publius II
Why do Jedi/Sith decide to fight using lightsabers?

Because without lightsabres they'd get killed.

Originally posted by Publius II

Probably.

No, they would get slaughtered. Does the name 'Grievous' mean anything to you?

Originally posted by Publius II
PIS, and it was supposed to look cool.

What's PIS about the fact that lightening would have been useless as they'd have just blocked it?

He's just cranky.

Originally posted by chilled monkey
Because without lightsabres they'd get killed.

And we've seen plenty of Jedi in the EU deflect entire swaths of blasterfire with the Force. Tott Doneeta, a random Jedi in the Exar Kun period, blocked fire from the guns of a starship with a wave of his hand.

No, they would get slaughtered. Does the name 'Grievous' mean anything to you?

And so long as you're bringing Grievous up; Obi-Wan, after quickly besting him in a duel, sends him flying several dozen meters through the air with a Force-push when the two are separated by mere inches. Kit Fisto floors him with a similar attack, and Mace hurls him off of a train after a somewhat prolonged duel, again with a Force-push. Some of the only scenes in which he repeatedly dodges Force-attacks are in the last volume of the CWC - which is contradicted by LoE and therefore the G-canon RotS novel - are possibly N-canon, although there may be one in the first volume when he attacks the exhausted, terrified, and stunned Jedi on Hypori.

What's PIS about the fact that lightening would have been useless as they'd have just blocked it?

And most Jedi never even encounter a Sith, so unless they're particularly weak with the Force - in which case they're probably not comparatively good with a lightsaber either (see Johun Othone) - they realistically should be able to do just fine without a weapon.

So again, lightsabers exist to make the movies look cool. It's that simple. Most Jedi and Sith - especially the latter, whom Sidious notes would only use a lightsaber to "humiliate" the Jedi - should have no need for one.

Caedus and Vader deflected blaster bolts with their hands, but you can't block a lightsaber blade with your hand unless you're wearing a Mando guantlet.

Publius, even the two greatest Jedi Masters Luke and Yoda used lightsabers. Sith used lightsabers - the greats like Kun, Bane and Sidious used lightsabers because they were symbols of power. Jedi used them for symbols of hope.

Originally posted by Darth Truculent
Caedus and Vader deflected blaster bolts with their hands, but you can't block a lightsaber blade with your hand unless you're wearing a Mando guantlet.

Don't forget the body armor Publius that kept Vader alive. That was armor tough.

It clearly wasn't lightsaber resistant. Several other blows inflicted notable damage, yet the one he consciously chose to block didn't go through; there was simply a wisp of smoke.

A strong Force shield could prevent the damage and Vader certainly had the power to throw up that kind of shield.

So there you go.

on a side note I would love to see someone strong in the force like Luke I guess fight some dark jedi or sith or whom ever and use the dissipate energy force power with his hand all the way down a lightsaber and grab the attackers hilt. that would be sweet. IMO.

Originally posted by Publius II
It clearly wasn't lightsaber resistant. Several other blows inflicted notable damage, yet the one he consciously chose to block didn't go through; there was simply a wisp of smoke.

Well the armor did also take a strike from Luke that would have taken his arm and his neck off.

On his shoulder, not the back of his hand. And if it was cortosis, it would have simply shut the lightsaber off.

Not all cortosis has that affect.