system
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human
[Star Wars] If a Jedi is already in justified combat, is there a difference between using a lightsaber to kill vs. using some other force power, like a force choke?

Force choke and force lightning are considered to be dark side powers, but if a Jedi is forced to kill in combat, why would the method matter?
gpt
The Jedi will only kill as a last resort, as intent to kill involves quite a lot of dark feelings like fear and anger. Of course these feelings can lead to the Dark Side, so it's preferable to remain calm and go for the incapacitation where possible. Dismemberment is preferable as it leaves the enemy alive but unable to harm them.

But let's say the Jedi is unable to achieve a non-lethal outcome one way or the other. Killing the opponent with the lightsaber is preferable for a number of reasons. 

Firstly, Jedi mostly train for **combat** with a lightsaber, and *not* with the Force, especially not with Dark Side techniques like Force Lightning and Force Choke. Using the lightsaber is just better for most Jedi and Sith who prefer to duel with the blades. 

Secondly, using these techniques requires a lot of training to use effectively, which most Jedi will never practice as they are *Dark Side* techniques. To practice them or even witness them in action who would you learn from? "Not from a Jedi" says Darth Sidious, and correct he is. (Thanks Yoda) Straight up it wouldn't be in the repatoire of most Jedi combatants and thus they couldn't use these darker moves with intent to kill. 

This leads me to the final point, the *intent*. Lightsaber combat culminating in being forced to kill the enemy involves much less fear and anger, instead focusing on regret and precision to end the fight quickly and reduce the suffering of the foe if possible. Utilising Dark Side Force abilities like Force Choke and Force Lightning are the opposite. They feed on malicious intent and anger, and pour those feelings into pure destructive forces designed to kill the foe. Who cares if the foe is left standing? If anything you use these powers because you're hellbent on killing someone *and are possibly scared of them surviving*. Only Dark Siders use these powers because they don't care about the prospect of the emotions tied to use of the powers leading them down the path of the Dark Side. Frankly they're used to it, and they enjoy the unrestricted lifestyle and raw power. Jedi and light-siders typically avoid these powers and the associated feelings because they lead to the Dark Side, and so they wouldn't (from a philosophical and moral viewpoint) risk using the abilities unless confident they could remain in the light.