Force lightning was a power that Force users, such as the Sith, could conjure through the dark side.[7] It was an offensive technique which involved a discharge of electrical energy from the practitioner’s hands[1] and was capable of inflicting severe pain on the target of this attack as well as possible disfigurement.[8] A variant of the ability, known as Chain lightning, involved a burst of lightning that would spread from the first target to those around them, another variant used by Sidious was the power to produce a dark aura, a miniature storm of malevolent Force energy and lightning that slowed the movement of, and tortured all caught within its radius.[9]. Its use was forbidden by the Jedi.